Chapter 1568: Temporary Goodbye II

After spending a pleasant afternoon with her girlfriends, laughter still lingering faintly in her chest, Lory glanced at her watch. The smile on her lips softened into something calmer, more thoughtful.

Without another word, she made her way toward Cestine Palace. Thankfully, the palace corridors were quiet at this hour, bathed in the mellow hush of late afternoon. Her footsteps echoed lightly against the polished marble floors as she ascended the grand staircase to the third floor, where the royal library awaited.

The moment she pushed open the heavy wooden doors, a familiar scent greeted her.

Old parchment. Aged leather. Polished wood. The fragrance wrapped around her like a memory, warm, dignified, steeped in history. It was a scent that belonged only to places where time moved slower.

Golden light cascaded from the antique chandelier suspended high above, its crystals catching the glow and scattering it gently across the two-story chamber.

The towering shelves stretched upward in solemn silence, their spines aligned like disciplined soldiers guarding centuries of knowledge.

At the center of the room stood a large round table surrounded by seven elegant chairs. But elegance had surrendered to chaos.

Books lay open in uneven stacks.

Paper files were scattered across the polished surface, some sliding off and spilling onto the carpet below. Notes marked in ink trailed across loose pages, as though someone had been chasing thoughts too quickly to tidy them, and in the middle of it all sat Stephan.

He leaned forward slightly, one hand supporting his temple as the other turned a page with deliberate care. His brows were drawn together in deep concentration, completely immersed in the world before him. The golden light brushed against his features, softening the stern line of his jaw, yet his focus remained unshaken.

Lory approached without hurry, her steps nearly soundless against the thick carpet. It was only when she stood close enough to see the faint crease between his brows that Stephan finally sensed another presence. He lifted his head, eyes shifting from ink and parchment to her.

For a moment, a look of surprise crossed his face before being replaced by a wide, warm smile.

"Lory, you’re here?" He put down the book, then rose from his chair and bowed respectfully.

Lory rolled her eyes. "Ugh, Uncle Stevie, why so formal with me?" Lory gave him a familial hug.

Stephan chuckled softly and returned her embrace. "Regardless," he said, patting her back once before releasing her, "One must follow proper decorum. Otherwise, where would the royal family’s dignity be placed?"

"Yeah, yeah..." Lory relented playfully.

She released him and slid into the chair beside him. Placing both palms neatly on the table, she straightened her back like an obedient student. "So, you look busy. Do you need my help?"

Stephan looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh under his breath.

For a fleeting moment, she looked exactly like the little girl who used to sit beside him years ago, feet barely touching the floor, declaring in the same earnest tone—

’Uncle Stevie, you always look busy. Do you want me to help you?’ A quiet melancholy flickered across his features.

"What you discovered about Nazareth and Zalchana’s past, their connection to Lazarus, and the involvement of Luxemborough and the S.A.I.N.T. organization. Because of you, we are finally able to answer many questions that have been bothering us for so long." His expression turned grim, a flash of anger and loss flashing through his eyes, albeit only for a moment.

"It’s a group effort," Lory answered humbly but sincerely.

"Yes, but you still played the biggest role in exposing all these evil plans and lies that have been devised by our enemies. If you weren’t here... I—" His next words caught in his throat.

Bitterness, regret, and frustration flickered in his eyes. Stephan looked away and began gathering the scattered papers, stacking the books with precise, controlled movements.

Lory rested her chin on her palm, watching him carefully. "Are you okay, Uncle Stevie?"

His hands paused for just a second. Then he continued arranging the papers as if nothing had happened.

"What could possibly trouble a retiree like me, Princess?" he replied in a light, teasing tone.

She knew Stephan did not wish to speak of it. Thus, Lory thoughtfully shifted the subject.

Lory cleared her throat softly before speaking. "Actually... I came to tell you something." She straightened slightly, then grin mischivously. "I’m gonna leave tonight."

"Oh?" Stephan’s brows furrowed. "Where do you intend to go?"

"I want to investigate how the simultaneous Bael attacks happened around the world. After Li Xin, Lucas, and I discussed it... We all had a bad feeling about this."

Stephan grew thoughtful. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Yes. I find it odd as well. Moving Bael across nations is no simple matter. They are far larger than ordinary beasts. And their minds..."

His gaze darkened slightly. "I’ve tried."

Lory blinked. "You tried?"

"Yes, I tried to control one, you know, as an experiment," Stephan clarified calmly. "The Bael’s mind cannot be properly controlled. At best, I can seize it for a few seconds, but no more than that."

"And why is that?" Lory asked, genuinely curious.

When it came to mind control, no one surpassed Stephan, except perhaps his son, Fredhardt. It was one of the most terrifying abilities in existence, in her opinion. She had witnessed it before.

Dozens of ferocious creatures attacked each other at his silent command. The creatures broke through enemy lines without hesitation. It was a terrifying sight, and those who knew of his abilities often avoided him out of instinctive fear.

Despite his refined, scholarly demeanor and striking appearance, Stephan had lived much of his life without true friends until he met Marcus and the other Archknights.

After neatly stacking the last of the books, Stephan sat down beside her.

"It’s because the Bael is governed by only one thought," he said quietly. "To kill everything that moves." His gaze turned distant.

"And there is nothing beyond that."

"A perfect killing machine, huh," Lory concluded.

"Yup," Stephan agreed. "Very similar to the Demon Beasts during the Dark Age War."

"They were affected by demon parasites, weren’t they?" Lory pressed her lips together. "Which means it was caused by external influence... the same as the Bael."

"Yes." Stephan’s voice lowered. "But this time, it’s far worse."

"Why?" Lory frowned.

"Because this time," he said evenly, "it isn’t happening randomly. It is being controlled by humans. Humans like Theodore Navaro and Alexander Behrenn."

The words lingered in the golden air, heavy and unyielding.

"And in many situations," Stephan added, his gaze turning distant, "humans can be far worse than demons."

Lory sighed softly. "Yeah..."

Stephan’s expression hardened as he looked at her, the warmth in his eyes giving way to something colder.

"But Lory, be mindful of your safety. Theodore and Alexander are cruel men. They will not hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in the way of their ambition." His jaw tightened slightly. "Look at what happened to Samuel Albrecht... to the healers, even to their own allies, the underground Guild members, who knows how many have become their victims".

"I understand," Lory replied in a serious tone.

"But what about the Saintess?" Lory continued, a faint crease forming between her brows. "What role do you think she plays in all of this? I only interacted with her briefly... and even now, I still can’t determine whether she was aware of everything that happened or not."

Stephan fell silent.

"That woman..." Stephan murmured her name under his breath, as though testing its weight before letting it settle in the air. After a moment, he exhaled slowly.

"To be honest, I don’t particularly care," he said evenly. "Because to me, whether she knows or not does not change the outcome."

Lory looked at him, a quiet question in her eyes.

"Regardless of whether she is aware of the full scheme," Stephan continued in a calm, methodical tone, "the fact remains that she occupies an important position on Alexander and Theodore’s chessboard. She is visible, influential, and emotionally persuasive. That alone makes her valuable."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"And in my opinion, she would have to be incredibly na?ve not to realize that something is amiss around her. The power she was given, the relentless funding, the protection, the carefully orchestrated appearances across the world—none of it exists without purpose." His gaze sharpened.

He paused briefly.

"But either she overlooks it... or chooses not to see it. Whether that blindness is deliberate or not is another matter entirely." He cynically said.

"Nevertheless, when someone benefits from a structure built on manipulation and blood, ignorance does not absolve them completely. At the very least, she bears responsibility for failing to question the hands that elevate her."

Lory fell silent, her expression calm and thoughtful. She understood that eventually we are all accountable for the mistakes we made, whether we know it or not.

Lory fell silent, her expression calm and contemplative. She understood that, in the end, everyone was accountable for the consequences of their actions, whether they committed knowingly or in unknowingly.

"Well, whatever the truth is, we’ll find out sooner or later."

She let out a quiet sigh and pushed herself to her feet, lifting her arms in a small, unhurried stretch as if shaking off the weight of the conversation.

"Anyway," she said lightly, composure returning to her voice, "I should start preparing now."

"By the way, who are you going with?" Stephan’s eyes glint with warning.

"For a dangerous mission like this, of course, I’ll bring a big gun with me," Lory grinned widely. "I’m bringing Li Xin."

Stephan pursed his lips, pondering for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes... that is a very good choice."

He had heard from the boys, Fargo, Jay, and the others, about how powerful Zhao Li Xin was, and even more so, how deeply devoted he was to Lory. Stephan didn’t doubt them because he knew that when it came to Lory and Lucas, they never spoke lightly; if anything, they became far more critical and discerning.

For them to praise Zhao Li Xin so highly spoke volumes.

"Uh-huh." Lory rose from her chair in one smooth motion. "I’m going to prepare now. See you later, Uncle Stevie." She opened her arms.

Stephan smiled faintly and pulled her into a firm embrace. For a second, he held her a little tighter than usual.

"Promise me you’ll be careful," he said quietly. "Don’t do anything reckless."

He released her, but his hands remained on her shoulders as he looked at her deeply, like a father sending his child back into a storm, "And this time... come home soon."

Lory’s smile softened, bright yet reassuring, "I promise."