'That's a cool-looking assassin,' Dhein thought after seeing a hooded adventurer with a mask. The versatile dark suit under their robe looked very efficient, being able to hold every weapon and tools the user might need.
Dhein had dreamed of wearing one, he bet he could take on a full monster with that sort of equipment. However, it would be strange for someone who could command gods to need the use of man-made battle equipments no matter how advanced.
When he and Fiorelle entered the kingdom of Selense, the king immediately requested an audience with them. So now, they were on their way to the king's castle.
The servants frantically welcomed the scion of divinity and the child of spirits into the castle. The stone fortress, though old, looked neat and well-maintained. Dhein could tell that Selense had a great ruler.
The two stepped into the pristine red carpet leading to the throne room. Upon seeing Dhein and Fiorelle, the king's face instantly lit up.
"Welcome, Lord Theocheirós and Lady Wixorn. It is an absolute honor to have you visit our humble domain," said King Petre Garvill V.
"Please, be comfortable. Could I offer you some food? Drinks? Are you here for some local goods?"
Dhein lowered his head slightly and then spoke.
"Greetings, Your Royal Highness. I would love to experience all the best things this kingdom has to offer, but I'm afraid my time won't allow me to do so. I am here for an important matter."
The glow on the king's wrinkly face vanished, replaced by sudden seriousness and melancholy.
"I see. If I have to guess, as expected, it should be about the treason investigation."
Dhein nodded.
"You are correct, King Garvill."
He looked at Dhein with worry in his eyes.
"Tell me, Lord Theocheirós. Am I being suspected by Emperor Venilon?" he asked.
Dhein replied instantly.
"You would have to ask him that yourself. But even if you are, we can't blame him. We've already discovered that the inner imperial sectors have been infiltrated by the terrorists."
While the king responded with silence, Dhein took his time to scan the throne room. Aside from the king and a few guards and servants, some of his advisors were also present.
Finally, King Garvill spoke.
"My people are honest. At least our integrity is one thing we can surely boast about, so I can confidently say none of my subjects would betray His Majesty. Lady Wixorn, you know I'm telling the truth."
"That is reassuring to hear," Dhein said, looking at the ones inside the throne room. He had already conditioned his mind to think that any of them could be a traitor and turn into that cursed abomination they saw back in the slums of Olcour.
"In any case, now that I'm here, all disloyalty should be unveiled," he added.
In the corner of Dhein's eye, he saw one soldier standing by flinch.
'Interesting,' he thought.
"You're free to investigate however you like, Lord Theocheirós," the king stated.
'Alright, I guess it's time to shake things up a bit.'
Dhein took a step forward, observing the people around him carefully. He also didn't forget to use the subtle changes in Fiorelle's facial expressions to determine if someone had lied.
He wanted to pretend like he knew something. Using intimidation and suspense, he tried to get a reaction out of anyone like he did from that one soldier guard.
By doing so, even if it didn't give him enough evidence, it would at least serve as a hint as to who he had to avoid and keep an eye on.
"King Garvill, I heard the queen hasn't been well lately," he said while pacing in front of the servants lined up in the side.
The king let out a tired sigh.
"That is true, my lord. We've called the best medics in the empire. They all tried their best to make a diagnosis but to no avail. She gets weaker day by day, sometimes she's talking nonsense while she hallucinates and I don't know what to do."
Dhein turned to the child of spirits and then said:
"Fiorelle, would you mind looking into it?"
"Not at all, Lord Theocheirós," she answered.
Dhein turned back to the king.
"Your Highness, if you would allow her..."
The king nodded without hesitation.
"Servants, please guide Lady Wixorn to the queen's chamber."
With that, Fiorelle left the throne room and went to see the bedridden queen.
Dhein observed the reactions of the ones inside the throne room.
'No reactions, huh. So the queen's not involved?'
The Spirit Clan weren't exactly known for their medical expertise. If the best medics in the empire failed to cure the queen, then Fiorelle had a very slim chance herself.
However, when Dhein discovered that the queen of Selense had suddenly developed a mysterious illness, he couldn't help but think it was connected to the cursed food the terrorists had distributed. Maybe they had managed to feed it to her in some other way. If that was the case, the queen was a ticking bomb within the castle. Whenever the perpetrators decided, they could kill King Garvill, ensuing even more chaos and imbalance in the empire. That was the last thing they needed.
Since the best medics couldn't figure it out, it was highly likely that that was the case. He could only hope he was wrong.
"By the way, Lord Theocheirós, how is the search for the imperial princess coming along? I heard that she is hiding in the Callex Region," the king said.
Dhein let out a sigh.
"They are searching in vain."
The king's eyes widened.
"What... what do you mean?"
That one guard in the side had been looking particularly anxious. Silver Cloud must have already warned his colleagues that Dhein now knew about their plans since he dropped the letter, and have been anticipating his arrival to this kingdom. That was Dhein's best assumption for now. So he had been expecting a 'warm welcome' from his enemies.
'He must be the one...'
Dhein looked at the guard before replying to the king.
"Shina is not in Callex Region. She is here in your kingdom."
With his breath hitching, the king muttered.
"Then why did you give the wrong information to the emperor? You know the consequences of that."
Dhein had realized that the threat the terrorists posed was far too great for him to prioritize Shina's wish. For her safety and the empire's, her freedom would have to wait for now.
When the time came, they would just tell Emperor Vedis the truth. Shina and her father could talk and maybe reach an understanding.
Dhein knew Vedis was smart. If Shina could just express how she really felt...
"I'm sure he would understand soon," Dhein answered.
And at that moment, that one soldier dropped his weapon.
He looked at Dheinyrus in the eyes, the blood from his face draining away.
One thought surfaced on the soldier's mind:
'He knew?'
Did the scion of divinity just manipulate the entire imperial army into storming their hidden lair in the Callex Region?
The soldier's entire essence had culminated into a singular, pure emotion:
Fear.
He went to the length of betraying his own kingdom to protect his family from those devils. He was prepared to burn the world to keep his loved ones safe.
But it was over now. All thanks to this man.
'How did he figure it out?'
'Does he also already know about the princess' real identity?'
'Does his father also know?'
Those questions plagued the 'soldier', but he had no more time to think about it. It was already too late.
Dheinyrus somehow solved their schemes. Their progress in the Callex Region were now about to be exposed all because of this damned divinity's scion.
His life is now over.
The veins inside his body bursted open as the false flesh claimed its space from within. All of his organs had been crushed, causing the blood to escape through his mouth. His skin was torn apart by the new entity that emerged.
The whole room froze in fear as they saw for the first time the monster that had been hiding amongst them.