264 The Eye Of The Storm
Back in the grand hall, the air was tense as Terra stood before Alister, the woman she had pulled in kneeling by her side.
Alister called out softly, narrowing his gaze. “Terra, care to explain why you have brought this woman before me?”
Terra bowed her head slightly, then turned to face the woman. “I noticed that, among all who were present here, she was the only one wearing a rather peculiar set of equipment beneath her clothing.”
Terra proceeded to grab the Union uniform the woman was wearing by the shoulder and ripped it off, revealing a black metallic tech suit beneath. This caused the tense gaze of the Union director to ease slightly.
Alister then turned to Aethel, who had now calmed down, and said, “So, as I’m sure you see, this woman is a spy. Hence my summon’s hostile action toward her. I hope this clears up all earlier misunderstandings.”
Aethel slowly let out a sigh and said, “It does. I apologize for my earlier jump to conclusions.”
A murmur swept through the few remaining members of the press, who had been watching the exchange with a touch of awe and nervousness.
“Did… did she infiltrate the Union?”
“This is getting serious. Who would send a spy against the Union?”
“They have no idea who they’re dealing with.”
Terra raised the woman up by her hair again, causing her to grit her teeth in pain. Terra then adjusted her glasses, causing them to glint, her blue dragon eyes narrowing as she asked, “My lord, may I proceed with the questioning?”
Off to the side, Hiroshi nudged Ren with his elbow, leaning in close to whisper, “Alister’s dragons are no joke. Terra’s even scarier than Lady Aiko.”
Alister slowly narrowed his gaze toward the woman. “Go ahead.”
Looking at the Union director from the corner of his eyes, he then asked, “Or do you also have a problem with that, sir?”
Aethel locked eyes with Alister for a moment before he sighed and said, “You may do as you wish. I’m sure not only you but your guild members as well as the other guilds and the public still watching, and those who are recording, are all eager to find out who would want to ruin such a momentous day.”
“I am as well.”
Hiroshi leaned closer to Ren, curiosity in his voice. “What exactly did the Union director mean?”
“Is monumental—almost sacred—for all the megacities. It’s not only the guilds that hold it in high regard but also the people.”
“If the Union delays uncovering who’s behind this attempt on Alister, public dissatisfaction will skyrocket. Everyone is eager to know who dared to disrupt such a day.”
He glanced briefly at Alister and his dragons before continuing. “That’s also why none of the guild masters have interfered with Alister’s actions. If they did, it might look as though they were somehow involved in the assassination attempt themselves.”
“Or they would be downplaying the significance of what had happened.”
Kaida, listening closely, chimed in, “But what about Lady Aiko?”
Ren and Hiroshi’s gaze drifted to Lady Aiko, standing in the distance atop a pile of rubble from a broken building that had fallen earlier. The explosion from the bullet, where a misdirected stage light occasionally flickered across her figure, cast a glint across her glasses each time.
Ren adjusted his glasses again, his voice lowered. “I’m not entirely sure, but I have a feeling she can’t intervene. If she did, it would make the White Comets look weak—having their rising star and MVP targeted, only for her to halt the investigation. It would paint her in a bad light and might turn Alister’s growing fanbase against her.”
Kaida nodded thoughtfully. “Makes sense now,” she said, glancing between Ren and Hiroshi.
“Agreed,” Hiroshi added. “With that kind of reputation at stake, Lady Aiko can’t afford to interfere.”
Razorgrin, listening to the exchange, shifted slightly. “But… don’t you think Alister’s taking things a bit too far?”
Ren gave a slight, knowing smirk as he adjusted his glasses. “He has to,” he replied.
“A Summoner needs to be a little ruthless to command ruthless creatures. In Alister’s case, he commands powerful, prideful dragons. Think about it—if you encountered dragons of this caliber in a dungeon, do you think they’d allow even the slightest disrespect to go unchecked?”
The group fell silent as Ren’s words sank in, and they began to understand Alister’s situation.
Alister then spoke calmly, “Alright, proceed, Terra.”
Terra’s dragon pupils simmered intensely, focused on him. The weight of his command settled in her mind. “Understood,” she replied.
Redirecting her gaze to the woman she held up by her hair, causing her to shake with fear.
Just then—
VOOM!
The sound of wind whistling violently filled the hall as Draven burst through the door, dragging the battered and bruised assassin behind him. She was bloodied, her body filled with bruises and cuts, but somehow, she remained conscious.
As Draven threw her down onto the ground with a loud thud, the room fell silent for a heartbeat.
All eyes shifted toward him, the shock of the scene striking everyone like a physical blow.
Before Klaus could ask her what she was doing, Halzor, who had been observing from the sidelines, leaned in slightly and asked, “What’s up with her? She’s… extra cheerful today?”
15:34
The reporters, still gathered in the room, whispered to one another in disbelief.
“Did it… do that to her?”
“She’s barely alive—what happened to her? She looks like she was tortured.” ƒreewebɳovel.com
“Is she even conscious?”
“This is brutality… but then, they are dragons. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised.”
“But still, for an interrogation? I don’t know if she’ll last long enough to say anything.”
“Who knew the White Comet Guild could be this ruthless?”
A hushed murmur spread, with some even stepping closer to capture the scene on their devices, unable to tear their eyes away from the grim spectacle.
Suddenly, the ground trembled as Alzuring descended from the shattered window, his massive wings folding against his body. The shards of glass sparkled in the air as he landed with the precision of a predator.
Draven looked around the hall, his eyes finally locking onto Ivy, who had been standing nearby, watching the entire scene unfold. His gaze narrowed, and his voice was cold.
“You,” he yelled, pointing directly at her, “Human healer. Get over here.”
He paused for a beat, his finger still aimed at her.
“And heal her,” he commanded.
Klaus opened his mouth to protest, his brow furrowing as he crossed his arms. “Look, I get it, you’re a dragon, but you can’t just command members of—”
But before he could finish, Ivy flashed Draven a smile that was so bright it almost seemed out of place in the tense atmosphere.
She didn’t even hesitate; she hurried over to the wounded assassin, her feet quick as she moved toward her. With a respectful nod, she said, “Yes, sir.”
Klaus blinked, his words cut short. He stood there for a moment, processing what had just happened.
It wasn’t like Ivy to follow orders so quickly, especially with such enthusiasm considering her usually laid-back attitude.
Before Klaus could ask her what she was doing, Halzor, who had been observing from the sidelines, leaned in slightly and asked, “What’s up with her? She’s… extra cheerful today?”