Chapter 200 — The Order

Chapter 200: Chapter 200 — The Order

Chapter 200 — The Order

Victor looked between Elder Benton and Alondra.

For a moment, he felt like he was being stared down by two grown tigers. Neither of them said anything. They simply waited for him to explain what had happened.

Victor shook his head slightly.

There was no getting around this.

He glanced toward Space Witch.

She was still unconscious on the alchemy table and didn’t look like she’d be waking up anytime soon.

So much for getting any help explaining this.

Victor looked back at Benton.

"Well, I guess I should start from the beginning."

Benton nodded.

"That would be good."

Alondra remained silent.

"About four or five days ago, I started looking into the disappearances around the Tower."

Victor explained how he’d used the public missing-person records to track where people had disappeared. After marking everything on a map, he’d noticed several patterns forming in different parts of the Tower.

One of those patterns eventually led him to the shopping district.

Then the meat market.

Victor didn’t explain every little detail. He focused on what mattered.

The Evil God worshipper running the market.

The bodies hidden behind the freezer.

And most importantly, what the man had told him before Snake Mask arrived.

"He’d only been recruited about five days ago," Victor said. "Snake Mask approached him and offered him power. After that, he had to sacrifice at least one person every day."

Benton’s eyes narrowed.

"And if he stopped..."

Victor paused.

"They’d get rid of him."

Benton’s expression changed.

"Are you sure that’s what he said?"

"Yeah. I’m certain."

Benton went quiet for a moment.

"Then they’re actively recruiting."

Victor nodded.

"They’ve been quiet for a long time," Benton continued. "But lately, the number of disappearances around the Tower has been increasing."

His expression grew more serious.

"Something may be boiling in the background."

Victor frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Benton looked directly at him.

"I mean that whatever they’re planning could quickly become much bigger than what you’ve been dealing with so far."

He paused.

"And if it does, it’ll reach a point where there’s not much you can do to help."

Victor didn’t argue.

He knew Benton was right.

In the grand scheme of things, Victor was still just a drop of water in this massive ocean.

Alondra finally spoke.

"Then how did the two of you end up like this?"

Victor glanced toward Space Witch.

A small laugh escaped him.

"Well... that’s mostly because of her and Snake Mask."

He explained the fight.

Snake Mask’s strength.

The strange technique he’d used to force his cultivation even higher.

The demonic figure that formed around him.

Then Victor explained what Space Witch had done.

"She created this massive dragon out of spatial energy."

Alondra immediately shook her head.

"This girl never learns."

She looked toward Space Witch.

"She used that technique at full power?"

Victor nodded.

Alondra sighed.

"Of course she did."

Her eyes stayed on the unconscious woman.

"It’s not something she should be using recklessly. It draws far too much from her inner power."

"How bad is it?" Victor asked.

"She’ll be feeling it for weeks."

Victor looked toward Space Witch again.

She had pushed herself that far just to stop Snake Mask.

Benton glanced at her as well.

"What are we going to do with her?"

Victor barely heard the question.

There was something else he’d been wanting to ask ever since the fight ended.

"What was that symbol on her back?"

The room went silent.

Only for a second.

But Victor noticed.

"I saw it after the explosion," he continued. "Her clothes were destroyed, so I covered her with what was left of my jacket."

He watched both of them.

"It looked like an upside-down alchemical flask."

Alondra looked at Benton.

Benton looked back at her.

Neither spoke.

That was enough to make Victor even more curious.

Finally, Benton looked at him.

"That’s none of your business."

Victor held his gaze for a moment.

Then nodded.

"I understand."

There was no point pushing him.

But Victor noticed something important.

Benton hadn’t asked what symbol he was talking about.

They already knew.

Victor stored that away for later.

There was still another question he wanted answered.

"Then why was she following me?"

Benton didn’t respond immediately.

Victor continued.

"She’s obviously connected to you."

Benton glanced toward Alondra before looking back at Victor.

"I sent Space Witch to watch you after your first day back in the Tower."

Victor wasn’t surprised.

"First, I still suspected you might have some connection to the Evil God Organization. I needed someone watching you in case I was right."

Victor nodded slightly.

That made sense.

"And second, I wanted to learn more about you."

Benton paused.

"So far, the main thing we’ve learned is that you’re very good at getting yourself into trouble."

Victor couldn’t really argue with that.

"You’re not wrong."

He shook his head.

"Originally, I just wanted to live a normal life. Slowly get stronger and protect the people I care about."

Victor looked away for a moment.

"But it seems that kind of life just isn’t fated for me."

Benton studied him.

Once again, he found Victor strange.

Those weren’t the kind of words he expected to hear from a fourteen-year-old boy.

Sometimes Victor spoke as if he’d lived much longer than his age suggested.

And Benton still had no idea what had happened to him during those six months he was missing.

Victor pushed himself off the alchemy table.

"Well, I still have a few other locations I need to check."

He moved his arm slightly.

Thanks to Alondra, most of the pain was already gone.

"And I need to let my friend know I’m okay. So I should probably get going."

Benton nodded.

"I understand."

Victor started toward the door.

"Victor."

He stopped and looked back.

Benton’s expression had become more serious.

"The friend who’s been helping you..."

Victor waited.

"She isn’t strong enough for situations like this."

Victor’s face tightened slightly.

"From what I’ve gathered, she was with you tonight. Maybe you should stop bringing her into situations where people like Snake Mask could appear."

Victor didn’t answer.

He knew Benton was talking about Lyra.

And worse, he knew Benton was right.

When Snake Mask appeared, Victor’s biggest concern hadn’t been himself.

It had been her.

He remembered ordering Lyra to run.

Then Snake Mask trying to stop her.

If Space Witch hadn’t appeared when she did, Victor would’ve been forced to reveal the Black Phoenix Form.

And even that might not have been enough.

If Snake Mask had decided to attack Lyra instead...

Victor’s jaw tightened.

He didn’t want to think about it.

He cared about her too much to keep putting her in situations she wasn’t strong enough to handle.

Victor gave Benton a small nod.

Then he turned toward the door.

Before he reached it, he heard movement behind him.

Victor stopped.

Space Witch was slowly pushing herself upright.

Their eyes met.

Victor stared through the openings of her white mask.

For a moment, he remembered the fight.

Snake Mask’s spear flying toward his heart.

The sudden wave of spatial energy knocking him out of the way.

Space Witch had saved his life.

Then there was the way they’d fought together afterward.

Almost like they’d done it before.

And finally, there was that symbol on her back.

Victor had a lot of questions for this woman.

But now wasn’t the time.

He gave her a small smile.

Then he turned and walked out.

The door closed behind him.

He needed to find Lyra.

For several seconds, nobody inside the room spoke.

Then Benton walked over and locked the door.

Click.

Alondra immediately turned toward Space Witch.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay?"

Space Witch nodded.

"Yeah. I’m fine."

She shifted on the table.

A small wince crossed her face.

Alondra stared at her.

"Fine?"

Space Witch ignored the comment.

"To be honest, fighting Snake Mask would’ve been impossible without Victor."

Benton looked toward her.

"He’s very strong for a Rank One Spirit Gathering cultivator," she continued. "Too strong."

Her eyes moved toward the door Victor had just walked through.

"I’ve been watching him for a while now. I’m almost positive he’s hiding much more strength than he’s showing us."

Benton’s expression grew serious.

"It would make sense."

He went quiet for a moment.

"Now more than ever, I believe he was inside the Sanctuary."

Alondra’s expression immediately changed.

"Are you certain?"

"No."

Benton shook his head.

"But too many things about that boy don’t add up."

The room went quiet.

Alondra glanced toward the closed door.

"If you’re right, that changes things."

She looked toward Space Witch for a moment before turning back to Benton.

"Should we introduce him to the Order?"

"No."

Benton answered immediately.

"Not yet."

Alondra waited.

"I still don’t know if he’s truly on our side."

Benton looked toward the door Victor had disappeared through.

"But we’ll find out soon enough."