Chapter 124
“A chance? What chance? We haven’t uncovered any secrets, and Ruon hasn’t even manifested his ability yet. What chance are you talking about?”
The strength of Mathes and Arje is so evenly matched that neither side can confidently claim an advantage. But if Ruon were to manifest his ability now? If they were to uncover the enemy’s secrets? The situation would change.
Serdin clearly knew this. So why was he spouting such nonsense…?
It was obvious. So obvious that it didn’t even warrant a scoff.
“Mathes hasn’t uncovered our secrets either. And Psyche hasn’t manifested her ability yet, just like Ruon.”
Instead of answering, Rezus slowly looked Serdin up and down. He had already figured out Zephyros’s main ability and weakness, but he hadn’t shared it with anyone. He had anticipated this kind of situation.
Even now, Serdin was spouting nonsense about charging in, blinded by his obsession with Psyche. If Rezus had shared what he knew, it was obvious what would have happened.
He wasn’t in his right mind, and neither was Serdin.
“So, you’re saying we should charge in now.”
“…….”
“What, are you suggesting we all die together?”
How absurd. Muttering under his breath, Rezus tilted his head back toward the ceiling. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them and pressed his temples firmly as he spoke.
“If a war breaks out now, who do you think will die first? Use that reckless brain of yours and think for a second.”
“…….”
“The powerless hostages will be the first to die like dogs. It’s an answer that even a child could figure out, and yet here I am, having to explain it to you in detail. Amazing.”
Serdin, who had been glaring at Rezus in silence, gritted his teeth so hard that the sound of grinding echoed faintly.
“Ha……. Why can’t you think two steps ahead instead of just one?”
Striding quickly, Serdin walked toward the table where Rezus was sitting. The distance between them closed in an instant.
“What if Ruon, unable to endure the torture, spills our secrets first? Did you not think that far?”
Serdin leaned forward threateningly, bracing himself on the table as if he might shatter it, now standing right in front of Rezus.
“If anything, now—when neither side has uncovered the other’s secrets—is the most opportune moment to strike! Doesn’t that thought even cross your mind?”
Rezus quietly studied Serdin’s face. That irrational face that had been spouting nonsense from the moment he barged in.
The more he looked at it, the more unpleasant it became, but as the leader of Arje, he had an obligation to prevent Serdin from acting out any further.
“Fine, let’s say you’re right.”
Though anger boiled inside him, he maintained a calm expression on the surface.
“Let’s assume Ruon eventually can’t endure the torture and spills the secrets someday.”
“Yes, and when that happens…!”
“But not now.”
Rezus firmly cut off Serdin’s words.
“Even if we charge in now and luckily win, Ruon will definitely die.”
“No. You don’t know that.”
“…….”
“As long as Psyche is in our hands, they won’t easily kill the hostage. If they kill Ruon, Psyche dies too. Do you think they don’t know that?”
Rezus simply stared at Serdin in silence. After a brief pause, his lips parted.
“How old is Ruon now?”
“……Eighteen.”
“And the average age for ability manifestation?”
“…….”
“It usually happens between fifteen and twenty, but every direct descendant of our family has manifested within three months of their coming-of-age ceremony. Without a single exception.”
His voice carried a tone of exhaustion. It was clear he was annoyed at having to explain this now.
“It means Ruon doesn’t have much time left before his ability manifests.”
He let out a short sigh, then added in a calm tone,
“Time is on our side. You should know that, right?”
If it were unclear when Ruon would manifest his ability, the situation might have been different. But knowing it would happen soon, it was only right to wait at least until then.
“…….”
Serdin seemed unable to find any more words to argue back, his lips twitching silently. However, the look in his eyes made it clear that what he really wanted to say was something else entirely.
It wasn’t the look one gives to a leader. It was the look one gives to a despicable bastard.
A bastard who threatens an innocent, vulnerable woman and does vile things.
Rezus wasn’t angry about that. In fact, that was exactly the impression he wanted to give.
That was also why he continued to force betrayal on Psyche, even though he already held Mathes’ secrets. Since she wouldn’t cooperate anyway, using that as an excuse to humiliate her and ruin their relationship would naturally lead to him getting over his feelings for her.
His feelings for Psyche were poison to him. So, he needed to cut them off as quickly as possible. Crucially, facing Mathes after Ruon manifested his ability would lead to a more overwhelming victory.
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