Chapter 196
The clans were using the Unholy Sun Sect to set an example for other active heretics, warning them not to dare to look at the heirs of their clan ever again in the future.
It was an effective move.
But Oliver knew that the sect master of the Unholy Sun Sect was not someone who could be easily found… he was probably still hiding away from the prying eyes of the clans, a dangerous heretic lurking in the shadows, biding his time.
Well, given the fact that he knew the disaster beast egg was in the hands of some exorcist, there was no way he would let himself be exorcised.
Oliver turned his head and looked at the group of exorcists who had contributed the most.
The small group consisted of three men and two women. All of them were dressed in proper uniforms, and from his angle, a tall man seemed to be the leader of the group by the way he moved forward.
There was an air of authority about him, his movements sharp and decisive, marking him as someone used to command.
Their movements were well-defined and coordinated, even in such a place.
Just as Oliver was staring at them, one of the two women in the group turned around and looked in his direction.
It was at that moment when their eyes suddenly met.
Oliver quietly withdrew his gaze since the woman had already seen him. He kept his expression neutral, though a flicker of curiosity stirred within him.
It might look rude to the other party, after all.
However, even though he had retracted his gaze, he could still feel her eyes fixed on him.
It was an unsettling sensation, as if she were peeling back layers to see what lay beneath.
To confirm his suspicions, he moved around, away from the group, but he could still feel her gaze following him. Each step felt heavier under the weight of her unyielding attention.
Unable to bear it any longer, he looked back and met her eyes once again.
His eyes seemed to question why she was so insistently staring at him, but the other party did not show much reaction.
Her face remained impassive, her gaze steady, as if she were trying to decipher a puzzle.
Oliver shook his head and decided to leave for the moment and look around for the person he was supposed to receive the mission from.
As he left the premises, the gaze also vanished from his back.
Just when he thought he had finally managed to shake her off, he was blocked by a tall shadow.
Looking up, it was the same woman who had been staring at him earlier, and now she was blocking his path.
“What is it?” he asked in a calm voice. He kept his tone measured, hiding the irritation that simmered beneath the surface.
“…”
The woman kept staring at him under the hood as he looked back at her.
Her features were striking, with long brown hair and green eyes full of life.
Suddenly, the woman kneeled on one knee before him and said in a resolute voice, “Young master,” she looked at him, “Why are you here alone without your escort?”
Her tone indicated a level of respect that she bore towards the main family, not particularly towards Oliver but towards his status instead.
It was the kind of respect ingrained through years of discipline and tradition.
Nonetheless, she used the term because she was not aware of who he was out of the many heirs.
An heir walking around without any escort was not only unsafe but also quite disrespectful to themselves as well, generally.
This was not the central or residential area of the clan, and walking around without any escort was not looked upon lightly.
Not only did escorts show off the heir’s potential with their strength—the stronger the escort, the more precious the heir was to the clan—but they also demonstrated the ability of the heir to command such a person.
Anyways, right now, he had other things to deal with.
“I am here secretly, no one knows of it,” he told her simply. His words were clipped, trying to convey the finality of the matter.
“This… young master, if the elders learn of this, they will be furious.”
The woman wore a complicated expression as if not knowing what to say. Her brows furrowed slightly, concern etched in her features.
“They won’t know as long as you don’t open your mouth. Moreover, I have a reason to be here too. Once the matter is settled, there will be no issues.”
Oliver glanced at the woman. To be able to find his identity just by looking at him once—he didn’t know how she did that—but since she could see through the cloak of darkness, it must mean she was quite powerful.
He made a mental note to remember her, someone with such sharp perception would be valuable, or dangerous, depending on the circumstances.
“Young master, forgive me for being bold, but after the recent attack on Young Master Oliver by the heretic sect, you should not be careless when there’s an increased risk of retaliation from the remaining forces of those heretics.”
The woman spoke with a tone of hidden disgust. Her lip curled slightly as she mentioned the heretics, her disdain barely concealed.
“My team and I have been actively exorcising these pests; however, they are quite tenacious and good at hiding. It is best not to be careless even within the clan.”
Her words implied that even she, who was stronger than him, would not underestimate those heretics easily, and he must not do so at any cost either.
“Alright, I will keep your words in mind,” he said, since he could tell she was very loyal to the clan just from the strain in her voice. There was a sternness in her tone that spoke of her dedication, a trait he couldn’t help but respect, even if only slightly.
“I will leave as soon as I am done,” he told her.
“Young master, if I may ask something…” she interrupted as she looked at him trying to meet his eyes through the fabric of cloak.