Chapter 69. Sinister Movements (3)
"Why were you hostile against Gluttony?"
"I had no choice if I wanted to live. Someone killed a doctor who held a peerless position even within Gluttony, and if they found out I failed to protect him, I would have suffered a fate worse than death."
It was a more reasonable reason than expected.
Hard to believe such words came from a member of Gluttony, that mad group that toyed with human bodies.
Verden continued asking.
"Recently, the number of missing people outside the city has surged. Why did Gluttony take them?"
"Because they're needed."
Drip.
A trickle of blood ran down Theon's neck.
"Be more specific."
"To obtain their life force… that's what I know. Not only humans, but demi-humans and even beasts are included."
"Life force? Then does that mean the Salamander's heart is connected?"
The Salamander's heart itself holds a powerful life force.
Even without knowing the reason, if their goal truly was life force, then it explained why Gluttony's giant had been searching for it.
At Verden's words, Theon's eyes widened.
"How do you know that… no, so it really was connected to the Ark. You leaked information about the Salamander's heart to Gray. Just how did you obtain that information? Even within Gluttony, it was being transferred in secret."
Verden did not answer.
Because he didn't know. He truly didn't know a single thing.
"I'll be the one asking questions. Then next, what are they trying to do with this life force?"
"I don't know exactly."
Under Verden's cold gaze, Theon shouted as if to prove he was sincere.
"I really don't know! After you killed the doctor, do you know how much hell I went through! How anxiously I lived under Gluttony's grasp, fearing they'd discover the doctor was dead!"
"That's none of my concern. And I don't think it's something that should come from the mouth of an assassin who tried to kill me."
It was an utterly sound argument.
At Verden's words, Theon clamped his mouth shut, then let out a sigh.
"I don't know what Gluttony is plotting, my position isn't that high. To be honest, I'm baffled myself. Until now we hid from the Ark's eyes, but now they're moving so brazenly that even the Principality has noticed."
"Then does that mean some kind of change has occurred inside, one that requires them to kidnap people openly?"
"Most likely. At any rate, what's certain is that after I followed the doctor, something happened."
A purpose that required human life force.
Verden couldn't even begin to guess the reason. He had seen and experienced many experiments at the magic tower, but there was no record of experiments dealing with life force.
After all, life force wasn't the same as aura, magic power, or holy power.
Perhaps with abnormal species it might be different, but humans using something as vague and indefinable as life itself—he had never heard of such a thing.
The next question followed.
"And those things? The giant stitched with human faces, or those humans with beast-like claws."
"transplants. That's what Gluttony calls them. They're humans, demi-humans, or magical beasts whose bodies were transplanted with other parts, creating beings that broke away from ordinary humanity. Some even had parts of abnormal species transplanted."
Unfailing stamina, madness-tainted aggression, grotesque movements.
transplants were not to be underestimated. Differences existed between individuals, but all of them undeniably possessed abilities beyond human.
'And this mage killed them so easily… what is he?'
Even within Gluttony, some information about the Ark existed.
But not a word about the gray-haired mage. It seemed the Ark had raised him in secret… but that was only a guess.
Even with his life hanging by a thread, Theon knew nothing about Verden.
"transplants, monsters in the literal sense. Then I'll ask the last question. Where were the people taken?"
"I don't know. The unit I belonged to only captured people and handed them over to other units…"
"Answer without hiding anything, and answer carefully. That answer may be your last."
"I really don't know the exact location where people are gathered. But I do know one place where information could be obtained. Give me a map, and I'll point it out immediately."
With suspicion, Verden handed him a map.
Theon quickly scanned it, then pointed at a spot in the middle of the mountain range.
"There's a cave here. It's a dwelling Gluttony often uses."
"Proof?"
"As you said, I've answered everything I know. If Gluttony finds out I leaked information, I'll be dissected alive. I'm already a traitor in Gluttony's eyes."
Verden didn't believe Theon. He didn't even consider believing him.
But it was worth going to the place he mentioned. After some thought, Verden released Theon's restraints.
"Lead the way."
"…Me?"
"Of course. You don't think I'd just take the word of someone who was part of a vile group like Gluttony, do you?"
'Damn it.'
Theon cursed inwardly.
If he guided them and Gluttony was there, this mage would kill them all, and his own survival would be uncertain. The mage never promised to spare him.
But if Gluttony killed Asher, that too was a problem.
If questioned why he brought in an outsider, there'd be no way out. Stabbing his own heart with a dagger then and there might be the best death he could hope for.
It was truly a dilemma.
Biting his lip, Theon eventually nodded.
***
"This is it?"
"Yes."
A natural cave hidden in the dark forest.
Since it was burrowed underground, the entrance barely protruded, and with the place being so desolate, it seemed the perfect secret dwelling.
Verden sent Theon ahead and slowly descended underground.
He did not use mana detection, relying solely on his senses while keeping his guard at its highest. He had no thought of sparing Gluttony's members—he planned to wipe them all out, leaving only one or two alive.
Drop, drop.
Water dripped from the ceiling to the ground.
After passing through a rather large cavern, at last, there were traces of someone's presence.
And then… a thick stench of blood filled the air. When Verden looked at Theon, the man seemed genuinely startled.
"The smell of blood…? Gluttony usually erases all traces when they leave, this shouldn't be happening."
Which meant, something unexpected had occurred.
Verden and Theon quickened their steps deeper inside. Scattered throughout were corpses that appeared to belong to Gluttony.
'Not a blade… traces of a blunt weapon?'
Heads smashed open, torsos crushed into mush.
It looked as if bones and organs had been shattered by some heavy strike, meaning, whoever it was, someone hostile to Gluttony had intruded.
'Could be the Ark.'
The only force Verden knew to be Gluttony's enemy was them.
Passing through the field of corpses, he advanced deeper inside.
Then, from the far end of the cave, noise could be heard. When Verden and Theon poked their heads out to look, a youthful man with brown hair, looking to be in his late teens, was fighting against an transplant.
The transplant's axe tore through the air with murderous force.
The young man barely evaded, missing by a sheet of paper, then leaped lightly backward. The moment he landed, he blurred into afterimages and rushed the transplant.
Thud!
His fist slammed the transplant into the wall. Yet, with its monstrous regeneration, the transplant lunged again. A close-quarters clash ensued.
But the young man's strikes landed, while the transplant's attacks couldn't touch him.
"Hrah!"
The young man's kick crashed against the transplant's neck.
Crack, a dangerous sound came from its bones. His hand blade then struck the throat, and spinning, he rose into the air, kicking the opposite side of its head.
The successive impacts tore the transplant's neck apart, its head ripping free.
Its body collapsed, lifeless.
The young man let out a long sigh and wiped sweat from his brow.
"Phew, damn thing really doesn't die easy. The path of justice is long and harsh, just like Master said."
Speaking to himself with a satisfied smile, he turned his head toward a corner of the cave.
"So, how long are you going to keep watching from there? You're not Gluttony, are you?"
He was speaking to Verden and Theon.
'Seems it really is the Ark. Never seen him before though.'
Since they were already noticed, there was no point in hiding.
Pushing the hesitant Theon forward, Verden revealed himself before the young man, and asked,
"Are you from the Ark?"
***
"Oh? Then you're Ark too? Hm, don't recognize your face… well, at least you don't look like Gluttony. Ah, are you from the Trials side?"
Were the ones opposing Gluttony split into Trial and something else? Or was he just probing?
So Verden gave only the truth, without mixing in lies.
"I'm more connected to your side. Ask Leira and Listener, they'll confirm."
"Leira-noonim and Listener? If you say their names, you must be real. Sorry, I'm new to the Principality, didn't know. My name's Locke. And you?"
"Asher."
"Asher…? Ah, wait! I've heard of you! You're that extra mage who barged into Leira-noonim's Trial, right?"
'Extra?'
Verden tilted his head.
Before he could ask, Locke continued.
"Now that I see you, yeah, it matches. A gray-haired, blue-eyed mage… Oh, and you look older than me, but don't bother speaking politely, I won't either. I only show respect to people stronger than me."
Whatever the reason, the name Asher had already spread within the Ark.
And the fact that Locke didn't know Verden wasn't part of the Ark, meant, as he had guessed before, that Listener had tacitly allowed the connection.
It saved him the trouble of persuasion.
"Fine, as you wish."
"Good. But what about that guy? Some Ark candidate I don't know?"
Locke pointed at Theon.
Verden shook his head.
"He's Gluttony. I captured him to extract information."
"Huh? Why capture a Gluttony for info?"
Locke tilted his head. Verden did the same.
"What do you mean?"
"You must not know since you're from the Trials. Every Gluttony member gets something weird transplanted, called a 'Fragment of Gluttony.' When it fully fuses with their aura or magic power, they can never reveal any information about Gluttony. I've never seen it, but they say if they try, boom! They explode at the cellular level."
Verden looked at Theon.
So he had claimed betrayal, but betrayal shouldn't even be possible. Yet, the man hadn't lied—since the lair he guided them to was indeed real.
"Then what is he?"
"Either he lied, or he was never truly Gluttony."
"Wait, I never lied!"
"Hm, hold on."
Locke pressed his fingers to Theon's neck.
Closing his eyes, he read Theon's physical state through his pulse, then opened them quietly.
"Doesn't feel like that foul aura Gluttony always has…"
After some thought, Locke came to a decision.
"We'll have to bring him to the Ark. The chance is slim, but just in case. If it's true, we could learn more about Gluttony's inner workings. If not, we deal with him then."
Theon's face twisted awkwardly.
He had lived, but it was nothing more than a reprieve, a life on borrowed time.
Verden asked,
"Then, do you know where the people Gluttony took are?"
"Oh, you're quick. I came as soon as I got that info myself. Fortunately, I secured the lead right here. I was about to head there straight away. Want to come along?"
An unexpected meeting with another Ark candidate besides Leira.
Since the information was in their hands, rejecting wasn't an option.
"Alright."
Verden accepted Locke's offer.