Chapter 42

Chapter 42 - Sudden Thought

Then for the other two, they were much harder to explain for Alice. 

The bloodline inheritance is actually a complex blend of all kinds of different categories of spells. In the record, it was not written who or what had caused it to happen so she could only reverse engineer the method how it was developed by taking the effect apart piece by piece and using the spells that she has to determine how to recreate it. 

Using a high enough level of Mental magic, a user could put an entire bloodline into a dream like state. And by creating special formation upon the foundation where they are living, they could also write down conditions into a formation on when the spell would trigger. Dark based magic is self explanatory as the creator would likely be related to demons if they are doing such a thing to benefit them. So they just need to put what they know into the formation for it to determine. 

For the rest, Alice did not get into, but it would certainly not be a low amount. 

The final point where a demon king's bloodline would be preserved is likely a fail safe for the demon race. After all, any bloodline that was able to attain the position of Demon King must have something going on. So as long as that bloodline gets passed down, the chance that a new demon who can bear the title comes from that blood is higher than that of an average demon. 

As for the specific method, it is likely through a formation like the previous proposed method of activation. 

So, after some research on that data, Alice eventually came to the conclusion that these predecessors were pretty smart. It is just that they failed to consider one point. That point is the slow downfall of the succeeding Demon Kings. After all, by the time of her body's father the hidden basement library had long been abandoned and untouched. 

This very important inheritance and information was all kept hidden and untouched for so long that she even thought that without her presence they would remain concealed forever. 

With her hard work, all of these research details finally found their way to their rightful place. For if any other previous demon king had them, they would have long since been sold or stolen. Thankfully that had not happened as who knows how the world would go if that were the case.

All of this info was relayed to her quite a while ago. Actually, it was while Felicia had been leaving to keep watch over the hero party who arrived at the demon king castle. 

Being as smart and strong as she was, Alice had long since scanned the entire library when she had discovered it and while she did not absorb all of the info, what she did manage to skim through was thus said to her then. 

Now? Who knows what she has been up to. After all, even the clones that I had thought that I understood have changed so drastically in form and shape that they seem almost unrecognizable. 

But as long as everyone ends up right, none of the rest matters. After all, Luke and Alice still have no reason to conflict right now. So all I can hope for is that they never turn their heads towards each other. I wouldn't know what to do then...

But that would be a story for long into the future. For now, what I should pay attention to is that we now know of something suspicious going on. 

"This alone may not be enough to incriminate them, but if we take this back to the Empire it can lead to an intense search and political move that can buy us some time. Once that happens, we can take the opportunity to search further to uncover their true motives underpinning them."

Hearing this from Vanessa, I knew that we had hit the jack pot. In addition, I had found another document that seemed rather suspicious once I looked further into it.

On it was another correspondence, this time it was sent here to the elder. It was about thanks for them sending some unknown 'material' over in rather large quantities. Although I have not checked their warehouses, there is a more than zero chance that this could lead to a bigger clue. 

The main thing is that the date here is that the material was delivered here for a few days before we rescued that lion prince. Although that does not prove anything on its own, when you factor in the fact that at the time this was done by that fox it starts to point towards a deeper conspiracy. 

At the very least, this Elder council is in league with the Shadow Serpent who is a mercenary type of service that is hidden underground and banned by most human nations. So suspicions are high that they are involved with each other. 

Whether there are any other factors or forces involved is getting too much for my head though. 

I simply handed the document over to the others so that they could all discuss it together while I rested my head for a bit. 

But as that happened, a thought came to me. 

"Hey guys?" Calling everyone together, although it broke their focus, they knew that I would not interrupt their thinking for no reason. 

"What is it?" Vanessa questioned.

"Do you think they will recognize some documents missing?" Of course I was talking about those herbivorous logistics workers from before. After all, we had simply just taken a map to the office and the overall structure of the base. By now, they might have noticed that the map was missing and informed the others. 

When I thought of that, so did the others and their expressions all went pale. Just in case, I went to get the stealth cloak and the rest of the group hurried to neatly put the documents to where they remembered all of them were. Then, going under the cloak, we quickly and quietly headed back into the passage. 

I hope that they had not locked down the passage. If we did all of that sneaking only to end up fighting our way out, it would not only alert the opponents, but it would also make all the time difference that we wanted to make by escaping the place and taking the evidence back before they could react then become meaningless since the beast folk race could simply sue that the hero had infiltrated into their territory with no notice and that we were invading.

Doing that, they could unite other forces that were dissatisfied with us to unite to pressure humanity. Although this would not fracture race relations, during this important time while the Demon King was still active, it would be a big opportunity for him to build up forces for a strong counterattack while we were infighting.

Hoping that things had not progressed to the worst moment, we quickly went back up, but I scanned the area around the opening to the base with my spatial awareness. 

In case an attack was unavoidable, we would like to at least know that before hand so I quietly checked only to find no ambush there that I could sense. 

With my enhanced spatial awareness, unless they were aiming cannons here like that doctor was, there would be no chance of them evading my sight now. 

But just in case, Vanessa came in front with her shield held up covered by the stealth cloak still. 

If they are not there, then it is for the best. 

"Hmm... I can't see anyone. Looks like the coast is clear." Vanessa said uncertainly while looking above the trapdoor.

As a precaution, she remained ready at the front with Luke right behind her to help her if needed. Thankfully, the worst case scenario had not arrived yet. After returning to the base outside of the basement, we quietly all got out with the documents hidden on us. There were three documents that we ended up taking and had three of us carry the sheets. 

They were divided up among myself, Mellie and Luke as they all believed that being on our three bodies would make it safest. But there seems to be no need for such precautions as we were not in the worst case scenario for now. 

But that situation could change at a moments notice. For now, we should check the document room to see if they have found out anything yet. So we traced our steps and followed the map to head back to that room again. This time, the door was actually still open so we were able to safely walk right in.

Doing this, we entered the room and found that the group was still there. It was just that where we had placed the map, a person was there looking through the documents likely trying to find the map. 

Just in case, I decided to place the map in a different location to give the illusion that the map was simply misplaced. After informing the others, I quietly placed the map slightly out of view of the people there.

It seemed that I was right on time as they started to speak up right after I did so and so we took a few steps back. In case they accidentally bump into us and potentially ruin this stealth we have going on.

"Are you still looking for that map? You were the last one to use it and you said you placed it there. No, I get it. You are trying to get out of work by pretending not to see the map aren't you?" The fox supervisor said with a glint in its eyes. 

"N-No sir! I simply can't find it here!" The nervous bull beast man stammered. 

The fox then stood up and glared at the figure. When the bull started to sweat a lot more, the figure then stood up and headed over there himself. At a glance, he looked around and saw that there was indeed no map there.

"Has anyone looked for the map after the bull used it?"

The others all shook their heads to which the fox sighed and snapped to get everyone's attention. 

"That map is more valuable than your lives! As herbivorous beasts, either man up and state the truth or find that map soon! Every minute you waste a body will be falling!" The fox yelled. The other beast folks all widened their eyes as they stood from their seats.

"Yes sir!" Echoed all the workers who then scrambled up and went to search all over clumsily to find the map as soon as possible. Some of the beasts gave the bull the stink eye as they passed by but continued to search for the map.

After two minutes, the map was finally uncovered by the rampaging beasts as we had quietly fled the room to watch through the doorway. Although they ultimately found it, the fox was still dissatisfied with their performance and then pointing at the bull and another beast before showing a sinister smirk.

"You two, will be dealt with by the prison guards."

The two were shocked and panicked. The deer folk who was pointed trembled and collapsed onto the ground as the bull ran up to the fox and held his leg and begged him to reconsider. With a click of his tongue, the fox shook off the bull's grip and left the room. But as he was leaving, he did not see the flash of red that glowed in his eyes as the bull stood up. 

"Seems like you are accepting of your fate. Very well-" Before he could finish, the fox turned to notice a large fist and horns expanding in his vision. Before the others could stop him, the bull had ran through the fox With his horns and quickly punch date fox into the ground before getting up and running.

Before the bull could run off too far, they were then caught up by a spear in the side as a hidden guard had emerged and stabbed through his side. 

"No please-" But the bull was cut off as the spear then pulled out and cut across his throat. From both wound areas, a layer of purple spread through him as he the collapsed foaming at the mouth. 

"Stinking bull. You really think that things are still like they were before when the lion was in business? Now that the lion is gone, the previous respect for strength now changed. You even dared to attack one of the fellows of that guy's race. You will suffer quite a bit for this, y'know?" The guard then emerged from the shadows as they slithered onto the corridor. 

Lifting up the bull by the head with his terrified eyes, the guard then stared at the other beasts at the office. With a small hiss, another guard came and lifted the fox over to be sent to heal. The other beasts all stood in fear until they both left.

We who were watching from the sidelines then followed the snake dragging the bull. Since they did not kill the bull directly, they would likely be detaining the bull so we could follow them to the place they imprison these fellow beasts. So we quietly kept pace with the slithering guard as we eventually returned right back to the main office of that fox once more.