Rover, You Set Me Up!

When Rover saw the figure on the tombstone, he couldn't resist taking a few extra looks.

So handsome!

But that wasn't the point. What mattered was that the stone could see through his mask's disguise and reflect his true face.

"Isn't it wondrous? This is the Truth Stone, a great creation of alchemy. Before it, all falsehood shall cease to exist!"

The voice echoed through the room, but it sounded exceptionally childish, like a child putting on airs and affecting a grand tone.

There was no one in sight. Anyone who came here would have been creeped out.

But Rover remained perfectly calm, even taking the time to look around.

Colorful gemstones hung all over the room, and extravagant lights flashed without pause.

"A place like this is far too gaudy for a tomb, and this stone tablet is downright shallow."

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, brilliant as lightning, as he looked at a certain spot in the room.

A figure appeared immediately afterward.

Sure enough, it was a child with a pale face, dressed in a suit and tie, like the young master of an old-world noble family.

But a powerful predatory intent lurked in those eyes.

It was as though the one before him wasn't a person, but weak prey about to be devoured.

Yet to him, hunting wasn't about filling his stomach, but about the thrill of the hunt and the slaughter!

The boy looked first at the stone tablet. His expression suddenly changed, then returned to calm.

"My sincerest apologies. I thought you were some riffraff sent by the chairman. I never expected someone so important to turn up."

"Rover, we hold you in the highest regard. That's one of the few things our faction and the chairman's people agree on."

"If you join us, I can guarantee that the great Edward III will grant you a position second only to his own. You'll stand above us all!"

The boy raised both hands toward the sky. When he mentioned Edward's name, his face was filled with fervor, even a trace of filial devotion.

"Aren't you with the Fractsidus? Is there a split within the Fractsidus, or are you planning to turn on your superiors?"

"Turn on our superiors? As if they're worthy!"

Utter arrogance appeared on the boy's face.

"The Fractsidus is nothing more than a tool to us. Father only joined them because they were useful. When the day comes that this tool has no value left, it'll be time to bury them!"

Hearing this, Rover's eyes flickered.

This Edward III was indeed no easy adversary, but wasn't he underestimating the Fractsidus a little too much if he thought he could use them?

After all, that chairman didn't seem like a fool either. How could he let himself be used without conditions?

"And who is Edward III?"

"My great master, and my father!"

"What are you trying to do?"

"Seek the truth. The absolute truth, the truth that controls everything!"

The boy answered without hesitation, sincerity on his face.

"Are you Xiutake?"

"Hahaha... My dear Rover, you've mistaken me for someone else. Xiutake is merely my disappointing younger brother. He's in the room behind me. Only by defeating me can you proceed."

"And I don't think I've told you: you have to break through both sides of the twin space to escape safely. Your decision to split your forces was correct, but if either side is defeated, you'll be trapped here forever!"

"Is that supposed to be difficult?"

Rover shrugged and spoke dismissively.

"Wonderful! Confidence is a fine thing. I like you. We really are so much alike!"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Father's eldest son. You may call me Pride, or you may address me by my codename, [Arrogance]!"

"All right, Pride. Now can you tell me what's going on at this base?"

Rover was relaxed, as though he were chatting with an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

"That's a secret. If you're willing to join us, I'll share it with you without reservation. I swear on my father that all you have to do is say 'I'm willing,' and you'll get the answer you want from me!"

"I'm willing!"

"Hahaha!!!"

Arrogance suddenly burst out laughing, his voice full of triumph at having pulled off his scheme.

All at once, the tombstone shook violently and transformed into countless swords and blades, all aimed at Rover.

"Poor Rover, I forgot to tell you. You must not speak a single lie before the Truth Stone, or you'll suffer punishment by the blade. Are you ready?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the blades shot forth together, the wind howling around them as they carried terrifying force!

"Slash!"

Without hesitation, Rover swung the Blood Oath Covenant and sliced the blades in half as easily as chopping vegetables.

But it wasn't over. The broken blades were immediately reforged into even more weapons, which attacked again!

"Bakudō number sixty-four, Hyapporankan!"

Rover put away his sword and waved a hand. Countless slender pillars of light descended from above, intercepting each weapon and pinning them firmly to the ground.

"That's it?"

"You think you can escape? How naive. The Truth Stone's punishment will be carried out!"

Arrogance sneered. The next moment, the blades broke free of their restraints, moving even faster than before!

Cold light flashed, and Rover stood rooted to the spot, as if startled or unable to react in time. The blades pierced straight through his body!

Blood poured from his seven orifices, and he was wounded in an instant!

"That's it?"

Pride mocked him without restraint, his eyes full of contempt.

"So the famous Rover amounts to nothing after all. The chairman and his people thought so highly of you, but I never expected you to be this pathetic..."

Before he could finish, Rover exploded with a bang, cutting Arrogance off.

"What's going on?"

His eyes widened as he searched the room, then suddenly whirled around.

The real Rover stood behind him, holding a strange little sphere.

"What trick did you use?!"

"Never seen one before, have you?"

Rover held the sphere to his mouth and blew it up like a balloon.

It immediately turned into another Rover, indistinguishable from the original.

Even the Truth Stone couldn't tell them apart.

"This is a portable Gigai. Isn't it amazing? Want to play with it?"

The smile vanished from Arrogance's face, and his expression gradually darkened.

"All right, now it's your turn!"

"Spill every secret this base has," Rover said, "and I'll spare your life."

"Dream on!"

Arrogance refused outright.

"Is there something wrong with your head? Did you forget your promise just now? Do you want to be sliced to pieces too?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Truth Stone once again transformed into countless blades and charged at Pride!

"Rover, you set me up!"