On the other side, the Vitality Hall
"Are you really not going to tell me?"
Gorth's voice was gentle as he calmly watched Vane, who was trying to shrink into a corner.
"Say... say what?"
Vane swallowed hard, took a step back, and bumped into the cold wall.
The next instant, vines suddenly sprouted and bound him, suspending him in mid-air.
"Caw--! Third brother, what are you doing?!"
Gorth ignored his shouts and, under Vane's horrified gaze, took off his boots.
"Third brother, I misjudged you! How could you do this to your brother... Haha! Stop, stop! What is this?! Haha!"
Vane's words came to an abrupt halt, replaced by an uncontrollable burst of maniacal laughter.
The vines climbed up to Vane's feet and began to tickle him with a high-frequency, gentle rhythm.
"Haha! Stop, third brother! Haha! I'm going to die! I'm really going to die! Hahaha..."
Vane went wild in mid-air, tears streaming down his face, his cheeks flushed red.
"What are you doing? Why can't I watch?"
Ifrit grumbled in dissatisfaction, trying to pry open Gorth's fingers with her little hands.
"Nothing..."
Gorth maintained control over the vines, his tone completely calm.
"It's just a friendly exchange between brothers. Why don't you go upstairs and watch TV?"
"But I'd rather see the fourth one..."
"Let's go watch TV."
"... oh."
Ifrit pouted and was led upstairs by the vines.
"Haha! Stop, stop! I can't take it anymore! I can't breathe... Haha..."
Vane's laughter began to crack, and his struggles lessened.
Fuji stopped moving instantly. Gorth looked at Vane, whose eyes were somewhat unfocused, and asked curiously:
"What exactly did you do in Iberia? Can't you even answer that?"
"Ha... ha... Third brother..."
Vane was breathing heavily, his eyes revealing an unprecedented determination.
There are always some things... that are more important than life itself!
Gorth looked at him silently, and he nodded in understanding.
"Then let's continue."
"Wait a minute! This plot isn't right, I request to start over... Haha! No! Haha! Stop!"
"You're really stubborn..."
Seeing Vane's eyes rolling back and drool dripping from his mouth, Gorth finally loosened the vines.
"If you don't want to talk about it, then forget it."
Gorth lifted Vane and moved him onto the cushion.
"You could have easily survived with the [Immortal Body] skill, but you insisted on enduring it... I wouldn't have noticed you used a skill."
Vane's body trembled slightly, and he retorted with unusual stubbornness:
"How could I... possibly use my skills on you..."
"You're almost touching me with your words."
Gorth was speechless and threw Vane's boots back at him.
"If you don't want to talk about it, fine. Can you handle it yourself?"
Vane took a breath, and his powerful recovery began to show.
He sprang to his feet, his movements so agile they were almost unrecognizable compared to the convulsing man.
"The shame of the past will be washed away! The glory must be defended!"
"Just wait, all of Iberia will usher in a revolutionary new era led by me!"
His speech was full of momentum, if one ignored his still slightly red eyes and the beads of sweat on his forehead.
Gorth: "..."
He paused for a few seconds, then spoke honestly.
"Now that you mention it, I'm even more curious."
Vane's impassioned expression froze, and cold sweat seemed to seep from his forehead again.
Gorth didn't ask any further questions, and stood up to walk towards the unfinished painting.
"Alright... just remember not to overdo it. If things get really bad, tell the boss."
Vane paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile.
"How can we resolve this? They've already seen me; how can we find someone else to take the blame...?"
"..."
"Huh?"
... beep beep beep...
"Teacher... are we going to die?"
Irene was too weak to kneel. After being brought here by that group of perverts, the mastermind behind it all ran away.
The two of them tried to break the blockade, but it was no use to the group of perverts; in fact, it seemed to only fuel their enthusiasm.
Upon hearing his beloved student's words, Dario offered words of comfort without any expression.
"It's alright, they haven't hurt us yet..."
"But they didn't let us go either..."
Are you scared?
No...
Irene shook her head, her expression somewhat subtle.
Seeing you like this, I can't be scared at all.
Dario's expression froze as he tried to break free from Bloodline Heir's embrace.
However, this only made the other person hold him even tighter. Feeling the sudden movement behind him, Dario dared not make any further moves.
With a sigh, Dario looked at the other three people besides the two of them.
Two men in black robes were unconscious, but there was one more...
"Young Aegir, do you know them?"
"Ah ah--"
The boy, who had been untied by Irene, shook his head and pointed to his throat.
"Can't you speak...?"
Irene's gaze held a hint of pity, which only deepened Dario's somber mood.
Dario felt a heavy heart, just as he was trying to find more clues from the mute Aegir boy—
A flash of light appeared, Bloodline Heir stirred in unison, converging without hesitation towards the center of the light.
"Quiet."
As Vane's voice rang out, the Bloodline Heirs froze instantly.
Dario frowned.
Victorian... but this doesn't confirm the other person's identity.
"It's you!"
Irene reacted, pointing her longsword at Vane, her face flushed red.
"You pervert... you freak! What exactly do you want to do!?"
Despite not understanding what Irene was saying, Vane remained calm and, taking advantage of the moment when the master and disciple's attention was diverted, immediately issued an order through the Bloodline Heir Network.
[All units! Change my profile immediately! Don't use mine!]
[Also--regardless of whether you can do it or not... immediately mimic clothing!]
The Bloodline Heir paused for a few seconds, and under the astonished gazes of Dario and Irene, the bodies of the Bloodline Heir closest to them began to writhe violently.
Dario's breath hitched, for as he watched two of the Bloodline Heirs, their facial features shifting and changing, revealed his own!
In that instant, he wasn't thinking about his own safety, but rather...
If these monsters can transform into other people, then among the people...
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Irene's scream interrupted Dario's thoughts. Following his apprentice's gaze, Dario fell silent.
Several monsters, with muscular male bodies, yet possessing the petite faces of their own apprentices...
Dario: Mental Damage +10086
Fortunately, after mimicking the face, Bloodline Heir began to mimic the clothes of Dario and the other two, and the little bird, who had almost fainted, barely managed to maintain his consciousness.
As Dario regained consciousness and looked at the scene before him, a name suddenly jumped into his mind.
The ability to freely change form, absolute control over derivatives, and this power...
Dario's voice was grave as he asked in Victorian:
"Shapeshifters... what are you trying to do by infiltrating Iberia?"
He directly misjudged Vane as a member of the terrifying Royal Court — the Shapeshifters —who were most skilled in infiltration and transformation.
After all, all these characteristics match the Shapeshifter's abilities described in the intelligence too well!
Vane, whom he misunderstood...
It's done!
Vane was overjoyed and wished he could do a backflip right then and there.
The pot's been thrown out! Perfect!
Forcibly suppressing the upturned corners of his mouth and maintaining a calm demeanor, Vane slowly turned around.
Great! Now all we need to do is verify their identities and shift the blame!
"You actually recognized me? Not bad for you..."
Dario's heart skipped a beat. The other party had admitted it—was they going to kill him to silence him?!
He immediately signaled to Irene with his eyes, his body tensing slightly.
Even if it costs him his life, he will create an opportunity for his apprentice to escape and deliver the message!
However, his resolve was barely formed when it was thwarted by his own disciple's startling question—
"No matter who you are!"
Completely oblivious to her teacher's hint, Irene blushed and launched into a soul-searching question at Vane in Victorian:
"How could you let them run naked in the wilderness?!"
Irene's voice was exceptionally loud due to her excitement and indignation, stunning Vane and Dario.
Dario: "...?"
A blank look appeared on his face as he stared at his beloved disciple in disbelief.
Child, we are discussing an infiltration crisis concerning the safety of Iberia, not a city appearance inspection!
Vane gripped the ground frantically with his toes, using every ounce of his acting skills to keep his voice steady.
"... This is necessary for the plan."
"What kind of plan would require going naked!?"
Irene persisted, Vane's temple throbbed with anger.
"You... shouldn't you be more concerned about the plan itself?!"
"Does your plan really have to be carried out with a group of people completely naked!?"
Irene perfectly embodies the Inquisitor's inquisitive nature!
The pursuit continues! The Inquisitor is still on the chase!
"Unless your plan itself is immoral!"
"[Vampire's profanity!]"
Vane finally couldn't hold back any longer and growled angrily.
"Can you change the subject?! We're discussing a very serious issue of defense infiltration right now!"
Irene's expression grew even more serious:
"As Inquisitor, it is my duty to maintain harmony, stability, and moral order in Iberia!"
"And you—commanding a group of people to run naked in broad daylight, behaving strangely, with suspicious motives, and speaking evasively..."
She looked Vane up and down, and then made her judgment, word by word.
"--You're a pervert!"
Vane: Red Temperature. jpg
Dario silently sheathed his weapon, beginning to doubt his own judgment.
Seeing Dario's actions, Vane became even more anxious.
"You have to believe me! I came to Iberia with a really dangerous mission to complete!"
"Um."
"I'm really not a pervert!!"
"Um."
"..."
Vane finally stopped struggling, took two steps back, and smiled.
"Is it too late to find Kristen and leave Terra...?"