Lord Shadow

However, Nathan did not have the chance to uncover all of its secrets because Sasha had warned him not to dig too deep toward the Research Department

And he stopped because he knew that there are some secrets, that once you knew, there is no going back

As for the title of the Head Researcher, there were other researchers that research other technologies and their research is sometimes outstripped Budiman importance.

But Budiman is still considered a bigshot in the Research Department because of his close relations with many of the inner circle of Pandemonium.

The Head Researcher of the Research Department is like a supervisor. Budiman was also given the most freedom. 

And what most people didn’t know was that Budiman is not the only Head Researcher. 

There are others. It was like the Professor title for the Research Department. And unlike the other professors, Budiman was given the freedom none of them have.

As long as he checks in every few years, building a few Battlestar for Pandemonium, he is free to go wherever he wants.

The Grain Palace has always been under Budiman possession. 

And since he had been roaming the world, while Budiman did meet a few prominent figures in the world in his journey, from what Nathan remembers, there was no such information that Loki had met Budiman.

But if they did…. what did Loki offer to Budiman to give the Grain Palace to him?

Nathan was puzzled.

Loki look at the puzzled face of Nathan and he immediately knew what he thinks about

‘It’s not what you think’ he said.

Nathan frowned and said

‘And what do you think I am thinking about?’

Loki smirks and said

‘I know you think that I got Budiman in my pocket. That I bribe him to get the Grain Palace.’

‘You didn’t?’

‘No’

‘Then, how it is now in your hands?’

Loki chuckles a bit and said

‘I ask for it’ When Loki answers like that, Nathan was speechless for a few seconds and then he said

‘That easy?’ Loki laughs a bit. He did not seem to care that Sasha is coming closer to this house. And he did not seem to be worried of anything.

Everything seems to be moving according to plan. 

Though, he had to make a few adjustments with the sudden appearance of the child, this amount of changes is acceptable.

Loki answers Nathan question

‘The Grain Palace belong to me in the first place. I have never relinquished my right to it. I got it from a giant Lamia in Greece. It was mine. I guess you didn’t know that. Well, that is understandable. When I was doing all that, I doubt you have as extensive of a network of secrets like you do now. And, well, you didn’t have the Book of Secrets back then’

Nathan then understood. 

While he knows of the Grain Palace he did not know its backstory. 

People close to Death Monarch or those who had been seeing him in the early days of the Fall, they rarely talk a lot about what happens in those early days

It was like they were protecting a secret. The funny thing was, that Death Monarch himself had never issued a gag order about his origins and his past

It is just something natural. Those who know him in his earlier days, is wary of sharing Death Monarch past, fearing that they might offend him

Not many people wanted to look at the sky above and wonder whether a sword or a thunderbolt is going to strike them down.

And with the Shadow Guards releasing rumors after rumors about Death Monarch, obscuring Death Monarch past even more, those who knows Death Monarch after the rise were left with only the mysterious image of Death Monarch that unfathomable guardian god of Pandemonium.

So, there is a hole in Nathan information. Loki did not know what Nathan is thinking as he continues talking

‘And it’s not like Budiman did not have any other space related items. He still has the Golden Pagoda of the Three Eyed Asura. That is also an items that have some abilities like the Grain Palace. But I must admit, that the Pagoda is more like some kind of defensive treasure. Unlike the Grain Palace which is stealthier.’

Nathan did not say anything else. He knew why Loki emphasizes the Grain Palace stealth. In Bolivia, he was caught unaware by Loki.

Thinking about it again, it might be because of the Grain Palace.

Loki smiles at Nathan and then he made a pulling gesture with his other hand with his finger pointing toward the grain. Both Riana and the baby was sucked into the Grain Palace.

Loki close his hand and the grain disappears. Nathan could now breathe easy. Loki would not kill Riana and her daughter.

Because while Loki could be cruel, he is not entirely heartless.

And now there is only Loki and Nathan in the house. There was silence for a few second before Nathan said

‘Kill me’

Loki shakes his head

‘Not yet. But I do think it is appropriate to make some preparation beforehand. After all, it is now the finale to this performance’ 

Saying this he put his hand together like he was praying. When that hand clapped with each other, it was like the sound of thunder was breaking out.

The green mist surges toward Nathan and envelops him. 

It tied his feet and his hand. And he was forced to float in the air as translucent chains connected the manacles on his hand and his feet

Loki smiles and he said

‘This is the finale. I hope you would be satisfied’

BOOOM!

And then a sound of explosion could be heard and with the sound exploding out, it created a powerful force. 

The shock coming from the sound created a powerful shockwave that surges toward the sky and burrow to the Earth

The powerful force tears apart the clouds above, making the sky clear of any clouds. Some unfortunate flying creatures that was late in running away was swept by this force.

The stronger one were flung a hundred kilometers away, but the weak tear itself apart. 

The ground around the area where Loki was standing cracked and then depressed down like some powerful force of gravity is pushing it down.

The pillars of the house cracks and crumbles, all of its protection was stripped away by that powerful force.

The sound of trees falling with a powerful snap echoes in the large forest. That force had flattened the forest around it.

And the green gas in the surrounding area were all absorbed toward the house, creating a storm of energy that distorts the Laws and the Concepts of Time, Space and affected reality itself.

That is how powerful the sudden surge of energy had accumulated in that instant. And right at that moment, Loki smiles, like his plan had borne fruit.

At the same time, somewhere in an empty island, there is a woman wearing a red smiling demon mask with horns on each side who is looking at her bracelet.

She was wearing flowing red robe. This woman is none other than Trisha the Red Smiling Demoness.

She looks away sometimes. 

But after a few second she would look back at her bracelet. She was waiting for something and then her bracelet glows and she nodded.

She got the signal. The moment that Loki had created that surge of energy, he had also sent a signal to Trisha.

Trisha knowing the full plan of Loki had always been in standby. This island she is in is not too far from Pandemonium and yet also not too close. 

If it’s too far, Loki fears that the signal would be distorted. Especially with Time and Space dilation is everywhere in the world right now

If it’s too close, someone might notice and that also would complicate things with Pandemonium.

Trisha knowing the plans knows that while Death Monarch declare his support for her lord, her lord plans is not to stay at Pandemonium and accept Death Monarch offer.

But who knows what Death Monarch would do? Maybe he would imprison Loki for his safety or he might put him in house arrest.

And it is not like Trisha could relay harden he heart to kill her former allies if they were to meet with each other

Their objectives are different. It is better not to meet with each other

She had sent her avatar with Greisha to Nowhere Land to make sure that the criminals there did not escape.

At the same time, Riana had also disappeared. Trisha then was sure that Riana went to meet with the Broker.

Riana shares with her everything about her life…except her relationship with the Broker. She did not broach her upon the topic and Riana herself also did not say anything about it.

She just hopes that Lord Loki would not be too hard on her second sister.

While her avatar was supervising the security and making sure that Greisha could do her job without mistake, her real body was here, finishing up the finishing touch of Loki plans. 

On her right wrist is a bracelet. The bracelet is now glowing intermittently. 

That is the signal. 

>>>>