Chapter 104: Invitation

Inside a well decorated room, the sounds of papers being flipped resounded softly.

At this moment, Alexis was alone in his office looking through some documents with a serious expression on his face.

The papers he was looking through right now contained the reports regarding Count Orpheus’s case.

"Just what the..." His frown got deeper as he got to know more information about the Count’s atrocities.

It turned out that the cases of missing children as early as a year ago could be traced back to him.

The documents also showed photographs of malnourished children who couldn’t even be identified anymore.

"I regret killing him so easily now..."

If he had known earlier, then he would have liked to turn him over to the headquarters.

"I’m sure that those priests in Ligera wouldn’t have been so merciful as to give him such a quick death."

Alexis shook his head, "Well, it’s not like I can do anything about it now. I just hope that he’ll rot in the underworld."

Tok— Tok— Tok—

Hearing the knocks on the door, he raised his head and said, "Come in."

Creak—

"Pardon me, Chaplain Alexis. I have come to report about the two children, Regis and Pandora’s background."

The nun said with a respectful expression after closing the door behind her.

"Ho?"

Alexis had an interested expression on his face as he promptly lowered the documents he was holding.

"Go on."

Seeing how interested he was, the nun cleared her throat before speaking.

"According to our investigation, the two of them originated from the village located in the south of the fortress. However, their origins could be traced back to the now fallen Toran City."

"We tried looking for more clues about the two of them, but found nothing. So we hypothesized that they were survivors of the Toran City Demon Incident."

With his chin propped up in his hand, intrigue flashed in Alexis’s eyes, "Anything else?"

"Yes, Chaplain..."

For some reason, the nun had a hesitant expression on his face.

Though this only lasted for a moment before she continued speaking, "We have also found out that the village they came from before coming here is near the Goblin Forest."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Alexis asked curiously.

"Well, we have been simultaneously investigating them and Count Orpheus. It was the that we found out that Fiollo Orpheus, the infamous son of the Count, also took the mission of routinely clearing the monsters in the Goblin Forest..."

"...then upon rigorous investigation, we have found out that Fiollo and his companions didn’t come back from the Goblin Forest..."

"...this fact intrigued us so we asked the villagers for more information. It was then that we found out that Regis and Pandora were with them when they entered the Goblin Forest..."

As Alexis kept listening, he made sure to concentrate and not miss even a single word.

***

In a luxurious room, a blonde boy could be seen full of bandages as he laid on the bed.

"Ughh... will I still be able to walk after this?"

It was none other than Killian.

Currently, he helplessly stared at his legs that were raised a little above his head while being covered with bandages.

"Well I guess it’s fine. I got my revenge already, so whether I’m able to walk or not, I don’t care anymore."

Since the time he decided to take revenge for his family’s fall, he had already made up his mind to do everything even if it took his life.

He had also decided to take his life after getting his revenge since he didn’t have the will anymore.

"Right. I’m all alone now. I guess it’s better for me to follow my family in the after lif–"

Tok— Tok—

Before he could finish his words, knocks sounded on the door.

Though confused as he did not know anyone that would visit him, Killian still spoke out loud with a curious expression, "Come in!"

Creak—

A surprised glint flashed in his eyes as he saw two figures enter the room.

The figures looked to be no older than him as they both had the same charismatic crimson color of irises.

They were none other than Regis and Pandora.

"Yo! How’s your recovery going?" Regis was the first one to break the silence as he sat beside Killian’s bed.

Killian chuckled helplessly and pointed at his two raised legs, "Fine, I guess? Anyway, what are you doing here?"

He was confused since he didn’t think that Regis would still contact him after the incident.

"I’m just here to thank you and properly introduce my sister and I." Regis replied with a smile on his face.

"Sister?" Killian’s eyes wandered over to the quiet Pandora.

She currently had a blank expression on her face while still having a polite attitude towards him.

"Yes!" Regis nodded before introducing them to each other, "Killian, this is my sister, Pandora. She was the one who helped us with the mist and deal with the Count."

"And Pandora, this is Killian. The friend I made inside the dungeon. Like us, he had also formed his first aura star."

Pandora nodded politely towards Killian before her expression returned to its usual blankness.

"Err... Hi."

Killian awkwardly greeted her, but received no response.

He then redirected his gaze towards Regis and said, "How about you? Didn’t you also have injuries?"

"Yes, but not as bad as yours."

"That’s good, then. I wish you goodluck in your journey ahead."

Looking at his eyes, Regis had one thought in his mind, ’So you’re really going to leave since you already got what you wanted, huh?’

"Very well."

He closed his eyes as he spoke before opening them in the next moment, "To be honest, I came here with a proposition in mind."

"Oh?" Killian raised his head and met Regis in the eye, "What is it?"

’It wouldn’t hurt to listen, I guess...’

Although he had already made up his mind, he still couldn’t help but become curious about what he had to say.

After all, the scene of Regis’s prowess was still vivid in his mind.

At this moment, Regis spoke, "Say– What do you plan to do after you recover?"

’I just really want to be with my family...’

"Nothing, really. Maybe build my family back from scratch."

Killian responded with a shrug.

’Bullshit.’

"Well, would you think about it if I tell you that I want to create an Adventurer Party?"

"Huh? An Adventurer Party?"

"Yes. And I would like you to be a part of it."

"Well, I don’t know about tha–"

"Don’t worry, I’ll give you time to think. Though hopefully you’ll be able to decide by tomorrow."

"Why do you want to recruit me?" Killian asked with a curious expression.

Regis shrugged in response, "The three of us already formed a star despite our young age. So I think it will be amazing if we all grow stronger together."

’Grow... stronger together, huh?’

His words seemed to have touched Killian’s heart as he remembered the days he had with his family.

At this moment, Regis and Pandora stood up from their seats.

"Anyways, we’ll get going now. Get well soon and make sure to think about it, okay?"

However, just as the two of them walked towards the door, Killian spoke, "Wait!"

"Hmmm?"

Regis looked back with a curious expression on his face.

"I don’t need to think about it."

"I..."

***

In a well decorated office...

Alexis was currently staring at the ceiling as thoughts circulated in his mind.

"This complicates things. The Count’s son was really a bad person, but to die at the hands of..."

He didn’t continue his words and changed the topic instead.

"Besides that, Regis and Pandora both already have their first stars. That boy, Regis, can even be compared to the monsters in the Royal Capital."

"In fact, I think he might even be more talented than the other species..."

"Regis, Pandora, and even Killian, the last descendant of the Gladius Family... all three of them are very talented..."

At this moment, Alexis was at a crossroad.

’Should I interrogate them, or should I just let this pass?’

’It’s bad to tolerate crime, especially murder, but their situation can be justified. Besides, they are also survivors of Toran City...’

"Ugh, damn it. Let’s just go with it!"

Unable to take it any longer, Alexis groaned before picking up a document and writing on it.

The words that he was writing would decide Regis and Pandora’s fate from here on out.