Chapter 168

Its burning eye swung to Isaac after overhearing his muttering. The four, on the other hand, straightened themselves up and gave the Three-eyed the most formal greeting in their cultures.

Isaac simply laughed as he was left ignored, grabbing for a cigarette.

Snap!

The end of the cigarette was sliced off the moment it was lit.

Rude. Why dont you just stay still.

Isaac looked at the bearer of the claws that cut his cigarette and had now tapped his cheek. A giant tiger with a coat of gold and black stripes glared back at him.

Kukuku. I see hes frozen still in fear.

Isaac lazily looked over to see who was mocking him. There stood a black wolf.

Almost everyone looked at Isaac nervously, paralyzed in fear and at the Three-eyeds mercy, but Kunette and Rizzly glared furiously at the tiger and werewolf.

Isaac pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly as he threw away his cigarette.

I apologise. I wasnt taught manners when I was young. Ill be careful.

Hmph! I see he knows where he stands.

Isaacs companions watched nervously, knowing that he was planning something if he simply backed down like that, while the tiger and werewolf belittled Isaac with a snort.

Now now, why dont we head inside.

Colins intervened. The tiger and werewolf b.u.mped into Isaacs shoulder as they moved past him haughtfully, and Isaac followed behind with an ever-present smile.

The meeting room of the airs.h.i.+p. Anything that anybody could expect in a meeting room was there.Isaacs place at the head of the table was naturally taken over by the Three-eyed and Isaac sat on his left with a smile. The four who followed in afterward carefully found their seat next to Isaac nervously, as if sitting next to a ticking time bomb. At the opposite side sat the tiger, werewolf, and Colins.

So why have the inspectors come to visit us today? I thought all the talks were finished. What does the Grand Council want?

Isaac spoke the moment everyone found their seat, but the inspectors ignored Isaac completely. They acted as if he didnt existthat is, until Rizzly angrily slammed the table and shouted.

Watch your manners! Sir Isaac is the Lord of New Port City!

Kik! I see youve lost your pride as a North Bear, tamed by humans for so long. You should know a lord of mere humans isnt something worthy of respect. Ha, what am I saying? How could a race that transforms into humans to feed off their crumbs possibly have any pride at all?

Rizzly growled at the wolfs taunt.1EDN: While the species was first referred to as a werewolf, the author and other characters often refer to this species as a wolf, in the same way we could call Rizzly and the North Bears simply bears.

May I take it as the Black Wolf Tribes official stand?

Come at me all you want. Our tribe isnt so weak as to be defeated by a humans herd of cattle.

The wolf didnt back down, baring its fangs at Rizzly. Unable to hold his anger, Rizzly transformed into a bear, putting everyone on edge. Isaac watched the sparks fly with glee.

Why dont you stop that and get to the point?

Isaac spoke, and Rizzly sat on his chair still angry, though controlled.The wolf snorted tauntingly at Rizzlys actions as if his point had been proven.

Rizzly growled once again, but Kunette kept him in check.

Stop. And you too.

It seemed that not even the wolf could slight Kunette, flinching at her stare. The wolf looked at Isaac in anger before sitting on his chair.

So what is someone so important doing all the way out here?

The Three-eyed didnt even react to Isaacs question and got back on his feet.

Make your preparations. We will be leaving soon.

The Three-eyed spoke and left the room, followed by the wolf and tiger. Isaac laughed to himself at the empty meeting room.

Look at the dog bark woof woof.

Ahaha. Please understand. From the Three-eyeds point of view, just being present with a human is already more than courteous.

Colins smiled apologetically to everyone still in the room. Isaac was more surprised that the other four were convinced by his explanation.

Are the Three-eyed really that important?

Rather than important

Rizzly failed to continue his words, which Colins took over.

Rather than that, its because the Three-eyed are very few in number; theyre endangered.

Endangered?

Yes. Their numbers dwindle below 100. They suffered the most casualties during the 7 Days of Calamity.

So thats why they are treated so dearly?

Theres no one better than them when it comes to teaching children.

Everyone nodded in agreement to Colins. Their third eyes ability to perceive their targets talent and create an appropriate teaching program made them the keenest of teachers.

There werent many non-humans in the College, because the Three-eyed teaching was much more effective than the College. By focusing on the students talents, more could be achieved with much less time.

But because they are so conservative and stubborn, and they also despise humans

But he seemed to know the damsel?

The royal family and the heir to the Pendletons are too powerful to be ignored.

Rivelia shook in terror remembering her childhood. Isaac had been wondering how horrible it could have been when Colins clapped to interrupt the mood and spoke.

Now, we dont have time, so Ill deliver the message quickly. As the Director of Security, Sir Isaac must take charge of the mission to exterminate an angel.

Whys an angel coming out all of a sudden?

Isaac and the others eyes opened wide open in surprise.

I havent heard of an angel appearing.

Kunette stared and spoke to Colins, to which he shrugged.

Thats related to why we suddenly came here. We found evidence that the Expeditionary Forces joined hands with a demon during the a.s.sa.s.sination plot on Sir Isaac. The Directorate of Surveillance failed to track down the demonic power that escaped Anton, but the Inspectors succeeded.

The Inspectors managed to do what the Surveillance failed?

Because the Inspectors have their own independent network of information.

Ill let that pa.s.s. But why is that related to me?

Rather than tracking it down per say, we just happened to catch it by chance. The Inspectors were staking out Count Milros when the demonic power entered their mansion.

The Milros Im familiar with?

Yes.

Isaac took out a cigarette and stared at Colins, who was still smiling.

Then what about the angel?

The Inspectors were keeping a watch on Milros for fear that they were infected by angels.

And the Surveillance didnt know about that either?

Lies!

Kunette furiously got on her feet, fuming in anger. Colins put his hands up in innocence, beckoning away from them.

Im just a messenger.

Well. Fine. I was supposed to take over all matters related to angels and demons anyway. But why are the Inspectors watching me?

The Grand Council is suspicious of you.

Suspicious?

Yes. Too many coincidences cant be attributed to luck alone. The reason why the Inspectors were just watching Count Milros is because the angel that infiltrated them hadnt done anything yet; theyve been completely silent.

The angel? Isnt this place h.e.l.l to them? I thought just breathing the same air pains them?

Thats why we werent able to intervene. Count Milross lands are considered a Cla.s.s 1 fief, given its stable order and finances. But the angel made a move just now.

How?

It spread a plague.

A plague that I a.s.sume only the angel can cure?

Thats right. The victims cant help but feel grat.i.tude when theyve been saved from the brink of death. And theyll bear resentment towards the doctors and government that failed to treat them. The patients themselves would protect the angel even if we came probing.

Thats pretty smart. So whats that got to do with suspecting me?

It turns out that the angel who infiltrated Count Milross household is a Blue Rose that the Grand Prince of Milros brought from New Port City.

Ah. I remember. There was quite a lot of ruckus about that right? How they were going to send in their knights and all. How did that end?

Isaac reminisced and asked Rivelia.

Count Milross successor took the Blue Rose back to his lands. The family failed to convince their grand princes against his desires, and she was married to him as concubine but the Blue Rose was an angel?

Yes. She is the same angel who ran away after failing her scheme in New Port City. That is why the Grand Council is suspicious of Sir Isaac. You could say that Count Milros is an in-law of his. And it was Count Milros who pushed the hardest to send Sir Isaac to New Port City. And now, weve found evidence that the demon joined hands with them too. I dont have to say anymore, right?

Just for that?

Its not just that. Look at whats happened. You, who was considered a mere invader, have fulfilled the conditions to be crowned as Duke already. You own vast territories and unimaginable wealth, and you also hold the position of Director of Security in Central. The Grand Council is afraid that the angels and demons had you infiltrate this world from the start. They even consider the recent a.s.sa.s.sination plot as an inside job to weaken Centrals power.

Isaac laughed emptily, baffled.

An inside job you say?

Its still just a suspicion. That is why we, the Inspectors, were sent in. Depending on how you manage the Milros crisis, the Grand Council will decide.

That was such bulls.h.i.+t that Isaac almost found it refres.h.i.+ng.

The Three-eyed selected who would join them for the trip. He allowed Kunnette, Rizzly, and Reisha to join but refused Rivelia. Rivelia argued that her position as the Vice-Director of Security necessitated her presence, but against its third eye, all she could do was remain silent and stay behind.

Having received Rivelias irritated farewell, Isaac boarded an ordinary airs.h.i.+p. Isaacs special s.h.i.+p needed to remain as proof that he was still in New Port City.

The moment the s.h.i.+p took off, the Three-eyed took Kunette, Rizzly, and Reisha elsewhere, saying he had to teach them a lesson on manners once more. Isaac stayed at the observatory, watching the view under him from the windows with a cigarette.

You were here.

Isaac turned around to see Colins approaching him with a smile. Isaac turned back again without a word, but Colins pranced around Isaac as if he was wanting to strike a conversation.

1EDN: While the species was first referred to as a werewolf, the author and other characters often refer to this species as a wolf, in the same way we could call Rizzly and the North Bears simply bears.