Creak.
The iron door was pushed open.
Rhythmic footsteps echoed within the dim and damp dungeon. Aside from the empty cells surrounding him—the people driven mad by the magic potion having already been treated and released—only one person remained imprisoned here at this moment.
"..."
Wearing a brand-new prisoner's uniform and shackled in irons, Abel slowly raised his head. His hair was as messy as wild weeds, and his face was covered in a beard. He stared faintly at the newcomer.
"You are?"
It was an old man. Abel didn't know how he had sneaked into the dungeon; the key to this place was clearly only held by his Big Brother.
Could it be someone sent by Big Brother? What did he want this old man with a white beard and a black headscarf to do?
"Long time no see, my friend. Have you been well? I thought I would never see you again."
Sizing up Abel inside the cell, the old man's aged voice reverberated through the dungeon.
"I don't recall knowing you..."
Separated by the iron bars, Abel frowned. He had never seen the old man before him.
"Heh, what if I looked like this?"
Under Abel's astonished gaze, the old man's body suddenly twisted. His facial features began to blur, and as his flesh squirmed, his entire person visibly elongated until a new face appeared.
"You don't remember? We even drank together."
The voice changed into that of a young man. Along with that appearance, it was someone Abel was all too familiar with.
"Duke Wolf?! ...You bastard!"
Abel gritted his teeth, his eyes glaring dead at the existence before him.
Duke Wolf, one of the greatest nobles in the Empire, an esteemed existence second only to the Royal Family, and also the Royal Family's mouthpiece.
Abel's acquaintance with Wolf had been purely accidental. They had simply sat at the same table in a crowded tavern. Both had drunk some wine and began chatting idly.
He had thought Duke Wolf was a serious and earnest person, but unexpectedly, he was surprisingly humorous and witty. He and Abel, who was already a master of navigating social circles, hit it off immediately.
When Gaderia faced the war with Earl Mannier, this Duke Wolf came to Gaderia and found him.
It was also he who seduced Abel into revealing Gaderia's military deployment to the Royal Family.
Duke Wolf's requirement at the time was that as long as Abel told the Royal Family Gaderia's secrets, the Emperor would send troops to support them when Earl Mannier's great army attacked, saving his Big Brother and Third Brother.
As for the Gaderia Territory, it would belong to the Emperor after the war.
However, afterwards, Abel never expected that he had been deceived by him and had committed a grave mistake.
Not only did he betray his Big Brother, but the Emperor's troops also came to besiege and suppress Gaderia.
If Nanoda hadn't arrived in time, Gaderia would have been finished.
"Don't be so angry. The Emperor's message back then was indeed like that. It's not my fault he changed his mind at the last minute. After all, he is the Emperor of the Northern Empire; the army only listens to his orders."
The young Wolf grinned and continued.
"Want to get out? For the sake of our past friendship, I can help you."
"This is of my own making; I am willing to accept the punishment. As for you, how did you sneak into Gaderia? Big Brother couldn't possibly be unaware of an Imperial Duke's visit," Abel said coldly.
Disguise techniques? Magic? Abel couldn't figure it out. The reason Wolf could sneak into Gaderia likely had to do with his changing appearance.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That is truly a pity. This way, you won't have the chance to see your Big Brother one last time."
Wolf's smile sent a chill down Abel's spine.
"Why didn't I see it before? You lunatic! What exactly are you trying to do?!" Abel roared loudly.
"Did you know? In the original plan, Gaderia should have been finished back during the dragon disaster. However, some variables appeared, and I had to make some changes. Actually, I am quite satisfied with Gaderia's current state."
Stunned for a moment, Wolf's words made Abel feel cold from head to toe. Feeling his throat go somewhat dry, he spoke with difficulty.
"What the hell are you talking about...?"
"No good, no good. I've said a bit too much. I have to hurry. After all, this is a rare opportunity. Let's save the reminiscing for later. Once I succeed, we will meet again very soon."
Wolf shook his head and turned to leave.
"Wolf! You bastard! What exactly have you plotted?!"
Abel's roar came from behind. The corners of Wolf's mouth rose wildly; he was enjoying this moment immensely.
"Shh. I don't want to kill such an amusing friend just yet." Wolf left his final words.
Bang. The dungeon's iron door was closed. In the darkness, only Abel's roaring remained.
A few minutes later, a knock sounded on the door of Aaron's office.
The sun was already tilting west, and the afterglow spilled onto Aaron's bald head, reflecting a patch of orange-red onto the white ceiling.
"Come in."
Aaron felt it was somewhat strange. He hadn't scheduled to meet any guests today, so who would come at this hour?
One hand continued writing official documents with a pen, while the other hand quietly rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Yo, Big Brother. Did you miss me? I finally got out of there!"
The visitor's face resembled his own by fifty or sixty percent. His hair and beard had grown very long due to lack of grooming for a long time. He wore a brand-new prisoner's uniform, and the shackles that originally locked his limbs had vanished into thin air.
"Abel" opened his arms, seemingly wanting to give a passionate hug, and slowly walked closer to Aaron.
"You are not Abel. Who exactly are you?!"
Aaron could be certain. Although the person before him looked exactly like his second brother Abel, the aura he radiated and the look in his eyes were completely unlike him.
The real Abel should still be locked in the dungeon beneath the Lord's Manor.
"Sure enough, I can't fool you." "Abel" stopped his footsteps and grinned.
Aaron slowly stood up from behind the desk, his gaze turning fierce as he stared straight at "Abel".
"What kind of person are you?"
"Me? I am here to take away what is stored here... your life and this city!"
Wolf's tone was mocking, and he still maintained Abel's appearance.
"Then we'll have to see if you have the skill to take it..."
Seeing that Wolf didn't have any weapons in his hands, Aaron felt it was very strange. He didn't attack lightly but instead grabbed an ink bottle from the table and smashed it toward Wolf.
Crash!
One of Wolf's arms twisted and deformed, directly turning into a metal longsword. Ink splattered all over the ground, and the glass bottle was sliced in two.
In an instant, Aaron could be certain: this guy was also a Mage.
Aaron drew the longsword from his waist, waiting in full battle array. His intuition told him that this assassin disguising his appearance was definitely not an ordinary person.
At this moment, because of the arrival of the Demon Race's grand army, Nanoda and the soldiers had all gone to garrison the city walls. The defenses inside the Lord's Manor were extremely empty.
____
👻🔥The Director is back! But with a brand new look, heheh...🔥👻
New Story: Classroom of the Elite: Black Sphere Academia
✅ Unlock a 40-chapter backlog for ALL my series.
✅ Receive exclusive content and regular updates!
Help us reach these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 universal bonus chapter
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters for ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnut-chan