He Wants to Protect Elaine

"Someone's been killed... Thanatos killed someone!"

There were quite a few Cabinet ministers present, and everyone still remembered the head Elaine had cut off on the spot during that meeting years ago.

Some people had already fainted from fright.

"Murdering someone in public is simply lawless!" The one who spoke was Lowell's father, Cabinet Minister Lorin.

Once someone spoke up, accusations began pouring in.

"Absolutely deranged!"

"How could he be so cruel..."

"Who is the poor victim? Heavens, this is His Highness's birthday banquet."

Yumian and the others forcefully pushed through the crowd, all freezing when they saw the scene before them.

"Big Brother!" Before Yumian could go over, someone grabbed his arm.

He whipped around, seeing only Hovis's hard profile.

"Your Highness." Hovis had arrived with his people and casually tugged Yumian back.

Ning Zhao said, "First, make sure everyone is safe."

He put it tactfully, but what he really meant was that Elaine needed to be restrained.

After all, there was probably no one present who could defeat the Galaxy Knights' strongest fighter.

Just as Hovis was about to go over, Yumian grabbed him hard.

"Stop!" Yumian sharply called Hovis back, then turned to Ning Zhao. "Your Highness, I'm afraid this is not within the Capital Police Bureau's jurisdiction, is it?"

Hovis slowly pulled his hand free. Yumian was no match for him in strength.

A gentle voice interrupted them.

"Someone has died. How could that not fall under the Capital Police Bureau's jurisdiction?"

Noah walked to Ning Zhao's side and suggested, "Of course, the guards could go over first. That is their duty, after all."

Yumian shot him a cold look. "Why are you butting in?"

Noah flinched.

In terms of status and position, he had no way to defy or resist Yumian.

Hovis said, "Yumian, you are obstructing an investigation."

Yumian's breath caught, and the taste of blood spread through his mouth.

Lindsay rushed over and held him down, whispering, "Calm down."

There was another reason people in the capital called Elaine "Thanatos": when he killed, his eyes turned the same red as the Grim Reaper in paintings.

There had always been rumors that the Carlos family was cursed. In the current situation, Yumian could not afford to lose control.

The guards cautiously approached and heavily surrounded Elaine.

Lindsay was somewhat anxious. He could not exactly make Elaine take medicine in public.

Izel's expression was not much better. He walked past Ning Zhao toward Elaine, and Ning Zhao tried to grab him, but his sleeve slipped from his hand.

Before Izel could get close, Shi Sheng, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly raised his head and spread his arms in front of Elaine.

The small Omega was still breathing a little hard, but his gaze was fierce as he stared at the approaching guards.

Noah said, "Shi Yi, what are you doing?"

Shi Sheng gestured forcefully several times, moving quickly, but no one present could immediately understand him.

Ning Zhao turned to ask Yumian, "What did he say?"

"He said Elaine didn't kill anyone," Hovis answered before Yumian could. "It was self-defense."

Having handled many cases, Hovis could understand sign language as well.

Ning Zhao looked cautious, then heard Hovis say, "Your Highness, I'll take some people over to have a look."

"It can't be that whatever he says goes, right?" Noah said. "Shouldn't we restrain him first? Isn't that right, Your Highness?"

Ning Zhao said nothing, merely signaling for Hovis to proceed.

Shi Sheng stood in front of Elaine, stubbornly stopping everyone from getting close.

Yumian could no longer spare a thought for anything else. He rushed over to Shi Sheng. Lindsay tried to grab him but failed, then hurried after him.

"Don't be afraid." Yumian said to Shi Sheng, "Use your voice device. Tell us what happened."

Shi Sheng seemed to remember his voice device only then. He hurriedly took it out, his whole body trembling.

"This person was hiding in the washroom."

He pointed at the corpse on the floor. "He harassed me and Mother."

"Elaine saved me."

Shi Sheng fiercely swept his gaze over the guards like a little beast protecting its food, then pressed the voice device hard.

"Elaine saved me!"

At that moment, Shi Sheng hated his inability to speak more than ever.

Earlier, Mother had seemed to have something to say to him and asked Shi Sheng to accompany her into the washroom to freshen up.

Elaine had waited for him outside the door.

No one had expected an unfamiliar Alpha man to be hiding in the washroom.

His eyes were clouded, and for no reason at all, he attacked two completely defenseless Omegas.

While protecting his mother, Shi Sheng sharply sensed that something about this was wrong.

But it was too late. Mother fell during the attack, and Shi Sheng was seized by the throat.

The man was not in his right mind. Like a beast, he wanted to kill indiscriminately.

A hand gently settled on Shi Sheng's shoulder, interrupting his thoughts and argument.

Shi Sheng shuddered all over and immediately fell into an embrace smelling of blood.

"It's all right. It's over now." The Alpha's voice was slightly hoarse, but his tone was as calm as usual. "Don't be afraid."

Shi Sheng's body, which had been tense all along, instantly went limp. He hurriedly looked up.

Elaine's eyes had returned to their original color.

When he had come to save Shi Sheng earlier, Shi Sheng had not noticed anything unusual about him at first.

It was not until Elaine dragged the man outside by the throat in the same manner and mercilessly drove his sword through him that Shi Sheng noticed the change in his eye color.

The Elaine from that moment had been different from usual.

Shi Sheng had never seen Elaine like that—no, rather, that was the frightening Elaine people spoke of.

But Shi Sheng had never cared.

Only in that moment had Elaine not been the Alpha as gentle as the morning sun in Shi Sheng's heart.

No matter how Shi Sheng tried to stop him, he had still taken a life so easily.

It was as if he could not hear Shi Sheng's hoarse voice or feel how tightly Shi Sheng held him.

Shi Sheng looked up at Elaine, his eyes terribly red.

"Did I scare you?" Elaine wiped away the tears at the corner of Shi Sheng's eyes. "Sorry."

Shi Sheng's mind was a mess, as though he had just woken from a dream.

He shook his head hard, but Elaine avoided his gaze.

Elaine looked toward the person with the most authority present aside from himself.

The moment he moved, the guards around him instinctively assumed defensive stances.

Shi Sheng pressed his lips together hard, tightly grasped Elaine's hand, and stared at the crowd.

Ning Zhao's attitude remained fairly mild. "Elaine, regardless of whether what you said is true, you should cooperate with the investigation. After all, a life has been lost."

"Yes." Noah said. "Isn't that only right? Or has the Marshal become so used to being lawless that he thinks he can casually cut off someone's head at His Highness's birthday banquet, just as he did in the Cabinet?"

The crowd erupted.

That was right. Everyone knew Elaine was quite used to killing people!

"Enough with your slander, Noah!" Yumian shouted.

Noah jumped in fright and hid beside Ning Zhao, who gave him a reassuring pat.

"I'm only stating facts..." Tears fell as soon as he blinked. "Your Carlos family really is terrifying. Forget it... Your Highness, I'm so scared. With their attitude, could the next head to hit the ground be mine..."

Ning Zhao said, "If you're afraid, go back first. I'll have someone escort you."

Noah's expression stiffened.

But some people in the crowd had been swayed by his words.

"That's right, no matter what, he shouldn't kill anyone!"

"The Carlos family gets their hands stained with fresh blood every year. Could they really have some kind of special hobby..."

"They are, after all, a family of killers cursed by the goddess..."

For the first time in his life, Shi Sheng felt hatred.

He had desperately tried to stop Elaine earlier because he was afraid this scene would unfold.

Elaine was a hero of the Empire. Why did they always have to accuse him!

His throat hurt terribly. He picked up his voice device, wanting to say something, but Elaine gently pressed down his hand.

"Stand farther away. Don't be afraid." He softly comforted Shi Sheng and had him stand aside with Yumian.

Then he turned his head slightly and, with a small exertion of strength, pulled his sword from the corpse's throat.

Blood gushed out again.

Someone screamed once more.

"Thanatos... Wh-what is he going to do!"

"How could he bring a sword into the banquet!"

But Elaine merely lowered his eyes and wiped the blood from the blade. Then, with a flick of his hand, he threw something at Hovis.

Hovis caught it, his expression turning grave.

Elaine's expression remained calm. "A secret military wanted order. Does Commissioner Hovis recognize it?"

His fingers moved, and the longsword in his hand automatically folded into the size of a dagger before sliding back into his sleeve.

"This man is an enemy agent on the secret wanted list. Under Imperial law, I have the right to execute him on the spot at any time."

The Alpha slowly raised his eyes. "Does anyone still object?"

The room fell deathly silent.

Hovis was not as shocked as the others. He stepped forward to compare the corpse's face, then carefully confirmed it before returning to Ning Zhao.

"Your Highness, that is indeed the case."

Ning Zhao sighed softly. "In that case, clean up the body. Hovis, I'll trouble you with the aftermath."

Hovis nodded and ordered his men to clear the scene.

Lindsay and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.

Noah stared at the scene before him in shock, unable to process how things had taken such a sudden turn.

Ning Zhao walked over, intending to soothe the Carlos family, but found that Elaine ignored everyone and merely lowered his head to speak with Shi Sheng.

"Are you all right?" Elaine looked at Shi Sheng, whose face was still somewhat pale. "Don't be afraid. It's over now. We'll go home right away."

Shi Sheng slowly nodded, released Elaine's hand, and went to help his mother up.

Mother Shi was still shaken, clutching Shi Sheng's hand tightly.

"My child, are you all right? How... how did someone suddenly get killed? This is too terrifying!"

Shi Sheng patted the back of Mother Shi's hand and turned to look at Elaine.

Elaine walked over. "I'll have someone take your mother home."

Mother Shi instinctively took a step back, her face full of panic.

The killing intent and scent of blood on the Alpha were too heavy. Yet he spoke in such an ordinary manner, which only made him seem even more frightening to others.

Elaine fell silent for two seconds, then asked Shi Sheng, "Do you... want to go back and stay with your mother?"

His expression and tone were calm, but he did not look into Shi Sheng's clear eyes.

He did not dare meet those clear eyes.