Descent Magic

"So you came after my family?" Heilang asked with a frown.

"Not every Burgundian met their requirements. And your sister happened to be chosen."

"What do they want my sister for?" Heilang pressed.

"I don't know much either. But according to my investigation, they have existed in the Rhine River basin for a very long time. They are an ancient organization, with influence even within the Holy See.

They seem to be searching for a mysterious ancient treasure. Your sister appears to be the key to opening it," Os said. "However, they have yet to determine the treasure's location."

After a pause, he gave a disdainful laugh. "They should just be a bunch of self-important lunatics."

"And yet you helped them?" Heilang shot back, suppressing his fury.

"Though they are a bunch of mystics, I cannot deny that they possess certain extraordinary powers. During those days, nightmares plagued me constantly, and I could barely sleep. Then they performed a ritual for me, and the next day, I finally had a good night's rest.

"Besides, they gave me terms I could not refuse. I could use this opportunity to swallow up your factories as well, so why not?"

"This just got complicated," Cassifa's voice echoed in Shaya's mind.

"Yeah," Shaya murmured softly.

"But you do not seem surprised?"

Shaya pondered for a moment. "The Fate template I used on him was called 'Ezio.' In that template, the organization called the Brotherhood that he belonged to had fought another organization called the Templars for thousands of years.

"And the real mastermind behind Ezio's family's deaths was also those Templars. Interestingly enough, the Templars were searching for something too.

"There are not that many coincidences in this world."

"You mean Fate Power created this organization?" Cassifa asked.

Shaya shook his head. "Since I have yet to adapt to this power, I do not yet understand how Fate Power functions after it leaves me. But I still know how much power was used.

"That small amount of Fate Power could not manifest an organization with such a long history and even some influence."

"You mean—"

"This organization may have existed from the beginning," Shaya said.

"Perhaps in the past, Heilang had only one enemy: Marquis Os. He and that organization might never have crossed paths.

"Or perhaps, although that organization had contacted Marquis Os, it was never Heilang's family they had their eyes on.

"Though those details remain unknown for now, one thing is certain: Fate Power connected two things that had originally been unrelated."

Cassifa fell silent for a moment. "Then it seems my earlier feeling was not an illusion."

Shaya raised his head at those words and looked at Os. "You noticed it too?"

"Mm," Cassifa replied.

"There is a seed buried inside him—an ancient Descent Magic."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Anyone in there? Open the door!"

Heavy, urgent pounding came from the door at the top of the stairs behind Shaya. The knocking was violent and disorderly, as though many people were pounding on it at once. Clearly, they were officials.

This cellar had only one exit. Heilang was surrounded now.

"They are here." Os looked at Heilang. "Looks like the place you chose was a little too close."

After a pause, he continued, "You have nowhere left to run. But you still need to save your sister. I think we can cooperate. Release me, and I can have these people let you go. I can also put you in touch with that organization."

Heilang said nothing. His hood concealed his entire face in shadow, making his expression impossible to read. For no apparent reason, Marquis Os felt his heart sink as intense unease gripped him.

"You have no choice."

"This is the second time you have said that to me today."

Heavy kicks continued pounding against the door above the stairs. Fortunately, the cellar door was sturdy enough, but it would not hold for more than a few minutes.

Yet Heilang did not seem flustered. He slowly moved to stand beside Os.

"This is not the first time I have witnessed the arrogance of nobles like you."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and held it above Os's chest.

"I will find her myself."

Marquis Os's expression gradually turned frantic. He struggled desperately, trying to break free of his restraints. "Without me, you will never find those people!"

Splat—

Heilang lifted a finger slightly. In that instant, a sharp spike shot from his sleeve and plunged into Marquis Os's heart.

Os's eyes flew wide as he stared at him in disbelief.

"As long as something exists in this world, it leaves traces. No one can hide perfectly, much less an organization this large.

"As long as there are traces, I will find them.

"At least I now know that my sister is alive, and that she is safe for the moment.

"I still have time."

Heilang leaned close to Os and whispered in his ear, "From the moment you entered this place, you had no choice either."

Os gave no answer. He had completely stopped breathing, his eyes still wide, as if he could not believe he would die in such an obscure, forgotten corner.

The whites of his eyes were swallowed by an inky blackness that seemed to seep from nowhere, leaving only endless darkness in his eye sockets.

But Heilang did not notice Os's abnormality at that moment.

Bang!

With a deafening crash, the door was kicked open. Heilang raised his right hand and retracted the Hidden Blade into his sleeve. Then he leaped lightly upward, bracing his hands against the walls on either side of the corner and concealing himself in the shadows of the ceiling.

Then, a group of uniformed men armed with flintlock guns poured in through the entrance. It was impossible to tell whether they were police or soldiers.

When they saw the lavishly dressed man bound to the rack, his chest soaked red with blood, every face turned grim.

"Marquis Os!"

After a brief silence, the lead secret policeman strode forward and pressed a hand to Os's neck to check his pulse.

Then he shook his head at the officers behind him.

Everyone's hearts sank at that moment. It was not that they cared much about Marquis Os; a marquis had died in their jurisdiction. Whether they were responsible or not, everyone here would be punished.

One of the policemen, about the same age as the lead officer, stepped forward and asked quietly.

"Mark, what do we do?"

Mark did not answer. Instead, he barked at the other officers.

"The body is still warm. The murder could not have happened long ago. Keep searching! The killer must be nearby!"

"Yes, Inspector!"

The policemen were about to turn and leave to continue searching for the killer, but then they seemed to notice something. One after another, they stopped and stared behind the inspector.

Their faces went pale. Their breathing nearly stopped, and terror was written plainly in their eyes.

Mark was puzzled, but then a chill cold enough to freeze the soul surged from behind him. His body tensed in an instant.

After a brief silence, Mark slowly turned his head, his movements somewhat stiff.

In that instant, his pupils shrank to pinpoints, and every hair on his body stood on end.

Os, who had been completely lifeless on the rack, was slowly rising.

His head and limbs hung limply backward, while his upper body slowly lifted in an impossible posture. His mouth gaped wide open. He showed no sign of life, more like a corpse capable of moving.

And the blood around him was actually flowing toward his heart.

The entire storeroom fell silent.

Seeing this, Heilang's gaze froze in the corner above. Shaya, who had been hiding in the darkness and watching everything, wore an amused expression as he teased, "That old man said this was the Age of Spiritual Decline."

"But this is Fate, isn't it?"

Shaya did not respond. Instead, he asked, "Come to think of it, do you recognize this thing?"

Cassifa recalled for a moment. "It seems vaguely familiar."