Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

C50: Confronting Baron Silvas!

Something stirred in front of the wardrobe.

Kai could distinctly see an outline of a figure if he focused hard enough.

It felt like a very cheap copy of Brock's Chameleon Blood Essence to him. Not to mention, Kai had become very sensitive to these things for a long time.

The illusion disappeared, then.

His appearance had slightly changed. The blue eyes now glistened dark black, but the blue hair was the same. He was clean shaved, though there were minor changes about his face that ordinary Contestants could never see at one glance.

He is Arlen, alright, Kai sneered. No Contestant I have seen till now was as prepared as him.

"So, you could sense my presence," Baron Silvas said, his wand rising, pointing at Kai. "I hope you aren't flattering yourself, Red. The fault lies with me. I have yet to master the Disillusionment Charm."

Shae gaped at Arlen.

She didn't know Arlen was in her room, Kai could tell. The thought troubled her, but much of her fear still had its roots in Kai's presence.

"How did you know I was here?" the Baron asked.

"The same way you knew I would come here," Kai replied, smiling.

Both men then turned their heads to look at Shae.

Her hand reached down to the blanket, wrapping it around her shoulders in response. Her right hand was still holding the wand pointed at Kai.

"It all troubled me," Kai said without flinching. "The mutiny within Silver Hunters Guild. Late Baron Silvas' sudden heart attack. The sudden rise of his younger brother, who was also the leader of Thunder Faction's branch on the 3rd floor. Not only that, he somehow convinced all the three leaders of major organizations overnight as if he knew about the mutiny.

"Tch-Tch! I only knew one man from Thunder Faction. You had once told me you intended to use those drops on a top-tier 3rd-floor Contestant. The rest was just a matter of calculated guesses."

"A very far-fetched guess," the Baron nodded.

"It doesn't seem so far-fetched now," Kai said. "You are here, aren't you? It's your turn to talk."

"Remember my last advice?" Arlen asked smiling as Shae covered her mouth in shocked silence. "I hinted to you to use your materials properly. Well, the first thing I did after returning to the Primordial Tower was to send my people in search of a Contestant with Hippogriff's Talons as material.

"Eventually, you were bound to go to a smithy. I just didn't know you were fool enough to go to Thousand Armor Smithy. Heh! It didn't take me long to find you. It shocked me to learn about you being called the heir of Ser Morgan Tussy. I will give you that. Marine Roland told me a great deal after you had gone back for a mission, though. He didn't survive my questioning. I am sorry."

"Don't bluff. I am not a child," Kai snorted. "So, when I proclaimed my intention last night, you knew exactly who was making trouble for the Guild. You came running for Shae's safety, then. Am I right?"

"Yes." The Baron nodded. "You lack morals, Red. But I never considered you a fool. I at least understand you that much."

"Indeed," Kai agreed. "If you understand me that much, then you must know already why I am here."

"You are here to meet me, Baron Silvas," he declared. "But... Why do you presume I will grant your wish?"

Just as Arlen asked that question, a monstrous amount of Mana exploded out of him.