Chapter 81: Tensions Rise
Brute and Diana, despite their suspicions, couldn’t openly question Bai’s identity.
The recent incident with Rolof, who had been exposed as a Fallen Demonspawn, yet had received no apology from the Empire, had taught them a valuable lesson.
Since the Legendary Knights had accepted Bai, it was best to keep their opinions to themselves, though they remained wary.
“If Miss Bai can identify it so easily, then that’s even better,” Prince Kruse said, handing the crystal ball to Bai. “Take this. If you find any other clues, let us know.”
The crystal ball was a special device, designed to capture and store residual energy. It wouldn’t last long, but it was enough for the investigation.
It was important to note that the demonic energy afflicting Ares was different from the Demonic Rune corruption that had consumed Rolof.
The former was a lingering, destructive energy from a demonic attack, which would worsen his injuries but wouldn’t transform him into a Fallen Demonspawn.
The latter was a direct corruption by the source of demonic power, the Demonic Runes themselves.
Of course, not everyone who was corrupted had actively sought it out. Most had simply been exposed to the runes and been consumed by them, transformed into monsters.
If every demonic wound resulted in transformation, the war would have been over long ago.
Ares’s condition was the former. With proper treatment, he would survive.
“Understood,” Bai said, taking the crystal ball.
She already had a suspicion. The attacker was likely Ice Lily, the demon she had met in Vikarn Port.
The Ice Demon race was incredibly rare, so rare that, excluding Bai herself, Ice Lily was likely the only one left.
That’s why she had been so protective of Bai, treating her like a younger sister.
If Isabelle had encountered an ordinary Shadow Demon, she wouldn’t have given her a second glance, let alone shown such concern.
But Ice Lily had no motive to assassinate Ares. The Ice Demons were neutral, and had never participated in the war, let alone a targeted assassination.
And besides, Ares wasn’t exactly a “high-value” target…
And Ice Lily, on her own, wouldn’t have been able to carry out such a perfect assassination, and escape without a trace.
So, until she had more information, Bai decided to keep her suspicions to herself, listening quietly.
“As you can see, this was a targeted attack, timed to disrupt the Imperial Festival. It was the work of demons,” General Kweil said, his expression grim. “I’ve informed Queen Shaya, but she claims to know nothing about it, and that it has nothing to do with the Abyssal Demon Realm’s official policy.”
In reality, when Kweil had informed Shaya, her attitude had been… dismissive. Perhaps the fact that the Emperor of the North Empire had been so easily taken down had lowered him in her esteem.
However, no one suspected this was an official act of the Abyss. With Queen Shaya, their representative, about to attend the festival, it must have been the work of a rogue demon commander.
The Abyssal Demon Realm was just as fractured as the Savage Lands. At least the Savage Lands had Queen Arachne to maintain a semblance of order. The Abyss’s council was just another form of “survival of the fittest.”
“And besides the assassination attempt, the scepter, which controls all of the Empire’s Authorities, has been stolen,” Prince Kruse added. “Or rather, the scepter was the primary target. The assassination was secondary.”
“Perhaps they intend to disrupt the festival,” Brute said, his voice a low rumble. “A war-mongering faction from the Abyss? But if, as Miss Bai said, this was the work of the Ice Demons, then that contradicts everything we know about them.”
The Ice Demons were known for their neutrality. But their continued existence, despite their small numbers, was a testament to their individual strength.
And although Ares’s injuries were consistent with a frost-based attack, that didn’t necessarily mean it was the Ice Demons. Other demons could wield ice as well.
Brute’s words were a subtle jab at Bai’s earlier assessment, a point not lost on the others.
Diana, a smirk on her lips, said nothing, but her silence was a tacit agreement.
Bai’s expression remained unchanged, her senses focused on the lingering domain energy. It was familiar.
She was almost certain it was Ice Lily. She had fought her before, and although she had been no match for her, she had experienced her [Frost Calamity] domain firsthand. The residual energy was identical.
“Miss Bai was only offering a possibility. We have no other leads at the moment,” Prince Kruse said, playing the role of peacemaker, though his words were clearly biased towards Bai. “Since our friends from the Savage Lands have their own theories, perhaps they would care to share them.”
Bai was now, for all intents and purposes, one of them. The beastkin, before the war, had been their enemies, their current alliance a fragile one, born of necessity.
Of course, the Empire hadn’t requested the beastkin’s assistance in the investigation; they had insisted on being involved.
They had their own reasons, besides witnessing the “miracle” of the festival.
Why was Ares attacked? What was the motive? Could the same thing happen to Queen Arachne?
Although confident in their queen’s superior strength, the situation was still alarming.
Beneath their rough exterior, the beastkin were not as foolish as they appeared.
