Chapter 227: The Chief Master Order

Soren’s heart pounded.

Before he realized what he was doing, he had already risen from his chair.

His sudden movement attracted the attention of the people seated nearby, but he didn’t notice them. He just stared at Aisha.

For the first time, Soren realized that he might have never truly understood the woman he had been engaged to.

***

Deep within the Association Tower, a place accessible only to a select few with strict authorization, the atmosphere was far less lively.

The chamber was enormous, its walls reinforced with layers of protective materials and energy barriers. This section of the tower was reserved for the Chief Master and the Admiral. Even high-ranking officials required special authorization to enter, and unauthorized access was strictly prohibited.

At the center of the chamber stood a massive Regeneration Chamber.

Inside it lay Zeke Valaerion.

His eyes were closed, and his body remained motionless beneath the transparent cover. Several tubes and energy conduits were connected to the chamber, supplying the necessary resources to sustain his body while the machine worked to repair his damaged tissues.

The Regeneration Chamber was designed to restore vitality, repair injured cells, and help a body recover from the effects of dark energy.

However, there was a limit to what it could do.

It couldn’t remove the miasmic energy inside Zeke’s body, nor could it completely suppress the corruption that had already spread through him.

On either side of the chamber, countless energy stones had been arranged into small mounds. Their surfaces had lost their former brilliance, and many had turned dull and gray after their purifying energy was exhausted.

Despite the enormous number of energy stones already used, the results were far from satisfactory. It hadn’t done anything!

The man standing before the chamber sighed.

Lucas Valearion, the Chief Master of the Association, looked as though he had aged ten years in a single night.

His usually composed face was drawn with exhaustion, and his eyes remained fixed on the unconscious man inside the chamber.

He had already used thousands of energy stones stored within the Association Tower in an attempt to suppress and purify the miasmic energy in Zeke’s body. Yet, even after exhausting such a tremendous amount of resources, the corruption remained.

Lucas closed his eyes briefly.

He had seen countless Sentinels suffer from miasmic corruption throughout his years at the Association. Some recovered, while others succumbed to the contamination before they could receive proper treatment.

But this was different.

The person lying inside the chamber was his son.

And despite possessing power that surpassed almost every other Sentinel on the planet, Zeke was now in a condition where even his own father could do little to help him.

Lucas opened his eyes again and turned toward the man standing silently behind him.

"Ares."

The lieutenant straightened immediately.

"Yes, Chief Master."

"Where is the miasma-suppressing pod I ordered you to retrieve from Zeke’s residence?"

Ares’s expression changed slightly.

He had been expecting this question ever since he returned to the Association without the equipment.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then, knowing he couldn’t keep the matter from Lucas, he explained what had happened at the residence and how Aisha had refused to hand over the pod despite his repeated attempts to persuade her.

He also mentioned the two days she had requested.

The moment he finished speaking, Lucas’s expression darkened.

"What did you say?"

His voice was low, but the pressure that accompanied it made Ares’s back stiffen. "She refused to return the pod?"

Ares lowered his head. "Yes, Chief Master."

"Then why didn’t you take it by force?!" Lucas’s roar shook the chamber.

Ares clenched his fists at his sides, knowing that the Chief Master had every reason to be angry.

He should have taken it by force from the beginning. The Chief Master had specifically ordered him to retrieve the equipment, and he had returned empty-handed because he had allowed himself to be swayed by the circumstances.

But how could he have acted so carelessly?

The woman in question wasn’t just any Guide. She was someone Zeke had looked upon favorably.

Ares had witnessed the way his superior treated Aisha, and even though he didn’t fully understand their relationship, he knew better than to disregard it.

He had hoped that giving her two days would be enough to resolve the matter without creating unnecessary trouble. Moreover, he was hoping there could be other way. After all, even with the miasmac suppressing pod, it would stabilize and completely heal Zeke.

Unfortunately, the Chief Master was in a much hurry.

Lucas shook his head in frustration. "Even if she was someone Zeke favored, you should have been able to retrieve it. That equipment belongs to the Association. Does she think she can keep it because she doesn’t want to return it?"

Ares remained silent.

There was no point in defending himself. He had failed to carry out a direct order, and he knew that no explanation would change that fact.

Lucas looked at his son again.

The Regeneration Chamber continued operating, its lights flashing at regular intervals, but Zeke showed no sign of waking.

For a brief moment, the Chief Master’s expression softened.

Then, he exhaled slowly and forced himself to regain his composure. "Forget it. You must have been under considerable stress after what happened to the Admiral. You weren’t thinking clearly, and that woman took advantage of you."

Ares lowered his gaze further.

He didn’t agree with the last part.

Aisha hadn’t exactly taken advantage of him. She didn’t seem to be that type of person. If she was, Zeke wouldn’t even glance at her and bring her to the Association.

But he didn’t dare voice that thought. The Chief Master had already made up his mind.

"The pod must be transferred to the Association Tower by dawn. I don’t care what you have to do, but this time, you will bring it back."

"Yes, Chief Master."

Ares acknowledged the order and turned around.

He had barely taken a step toward the exit when Lucas spoke again.

"And bring that Guide with you."