Chapter 63: The Man Who Controlled the Room

Summer raised an eyebrow because that title was certainly one way to get people’s attention.

The video already had millions of views, and the number was still climbing every few seconds.

She tapped on it and the screen immediately changed to a large conference hall packed with reporters.

Cameras were pointed toward a long stage, while dozens of microphones covered the table in front of one man.

He was Balian Devereaux, the sole heir to the Devereaux business empire.

He sat calmly in the center of the stage, wearing a white suit that made him look more like the head of a powerful company than an elite Sentinel.

His long white hair was tied neatly behind him, and his bright blue eyes were the kind that could easily hold people’s attention.

Even though he was only sitting there quietly, Summer could feel an aristocrat aura coming from him.

He looked a little cold, but at the same time, there was something about him that made people want to listen and even feel sorry for him.

Wasn’t that kind of strange? Summer could not even really explain why he had that effect on people.

Maybe it was because he had two fluffy snow leopard ears on top of his head.

“Mr. Devereaux.” One of the reporters raised her hand. “Are you saying that Sentinel Archer Reed should not have been arrested even after destroying military property?”

Balian leaned slightly toward the microphone.

“No,” he answered calmly. “I’m saying it is strange that this world keeps asking high-ranking Sentinels to risk their lives for everyone, only to treat them like pests the moment they become inconvenient.”

The entire room immediately became louder.

Reporters started talking over each other, cameras flashed nonstop, and Summer slowly stopped eating her cookie.

Well. Now she understood why this press conference had become such a big deal.

The noise in the conference hall grew louder, but Balian did not look bothered at all.

He waited until the reporters settled down before speaking again.

“Sentinel Archer Reed did not suddenly wake up one morning and decide to destroy military property for fun,” Balian said. “He acted because the military tried to take down his brother, Captain Ilya Noctis.”

Several reporters immediately started raising their hands, but Balian continued before anyone could interrupt him.

“Captain Noctis has already lost one arm because of a polluted creature. He also lost one of his legs because of a serum created by the government.”

Summer’s fingers stopped halfway toward the cookie bag.

It was actually the first time Summer heard the explanation behind Ilya’s missing limbs.

Balian’s expression remained calm, but his voice became colder. “And yet, when his pollution level became unstable, the military’s answer was to point their weapons at him again.”

The room immediately became noisy. One reporter quickly asked, “Are you saying Sentinel Reed was justified in attacking the military base?”

“I am saying that if someone tried to kill my brother after the government had already taken enough from him, I would not expect myself to remain calm either.”

That answer caused an even bigger reaction.

Balian leaned back slightly in his chair. “Sentinel Reed had every right to be angry, and he also had every right to question the death of Zhen Yuze, the Defense Minister’s son.”

Another reporter frowned. “But why would Sentinel Reed have the right to interfere with that case?”

“Because Zen was Captain Noctis’s former Guide,” Balian answered without hesitation. “His death directly affected Captain Noctis, yet for an entire year, the Defense Minister refused to allow a proper autopsy.”

His bright blue eyes swept across the reporters in front of him. “If there was truly nothing to hide, then why refuse?”

Summer couldn’t help but feel impressed because this man truly knew how to control the room.

Not long after, a man walked over to Balian’s side and handed him a folder.

Balian opened it calmly, then turned several pages toward the cameras.

“Now,” he said, his voice still calm, “I finally know why the Defense Minister was so determined to stop that autopsy.”

Balian pulled out one of the reports and held it up where the cameras could see.

“The autopsy found an extremely high amount of performance-enhancing drugs in Zhen Yuze’s body,” he said.

A wave of whispers spread across the room.

Balian continued before anyone could interrupt him. “These drugs are commonly used by military soldiers to keep their stamina up during long missions. In Guides, they can also force the mind to stay active longer and temporarily increase mental strength.”

Summer frowned as she listened because that already sounded dangerous enough.

Balian turned another page. “But the amount found in Zhen Yuze’s body was far beyond normal use.”

Several reporters immediately started talking at once. One of them raised his voice. “Are you saying he was being drugged?”

Balian’s expression did not change. “I’m saying the evidence strongly suggests that he was given these drugs repeatedly.”

Then Balian placed another document on the table. “And that is not the only thing we found.”

His gaze sharpened slightly. “We also found records showing that the Defense Minister had been selling the same drugs to lower-ranking Sentinels and Guides.”

Balian looked straight into the cameras. “They were told it was a ‘magic drug’ that could help them become stronger, train longer, and close the gap between themselves and higher-ranking ability users.”

A reporter asked, “Was it approved for public use?”

“No.”

That single answer made the whole room explode with noise again.

Balian waited until the shouting died down. “These people were not properly informed about the risks,” he continued. “Some of them believed they were buying a safe shortcut to become stronger.”

His fingers rested lightly on the folder. “Instead, they were being sold a military drug with serious side effects.”

Balian did not explain much more after that, but he probably did not need to.

By now, everyone in the room, along with the people watching the press conference, had seen enough to understand that the person who had pushed Zhen Yuze closer to death had not been Ilya.

It had been his own father.

“Miss Summer Beaumont.”

A nurse called her name, causing Summer to immediately turn off the replay. “Dr. Rory is ready to begin your evaluation.”