Chapter 98: Evidence (2)

Alexander Apple was receiving news about the extermination force in his territory.

With only good news coming in, a smile never left Alexander Apple's face.

"Leona, is it true that the extermination efforts are failing repeatedly?"

"Yes, I received word from my siblings this morning."

"Ha ha ha, what wonderful news."

Leona had a communication magic tool that only worked with black magic, allowing her to consistently receive updates from the field.

According to the black mages, the current situation of the extermination force was truly dire.

They had rushed in, thinking it was only orcs, and suffered many casualties from the orc warriors.

The knights' strength and morale were greatly reduced due to the poison spread in the castle.

They blindly rushed into the forest and were massacred by the ogres.

"Oliver, that fool, when do you think he will give up on the extermination?"

"According to my siblings, it won't be long. At most, within three days, they say."

"Excellent. Very good."

Leona's prediction was accurate. Three days later, news arrived that a messenger had reached the royal castle.

-The prisoner reports: The resistance of the orc group is too strong, and a mysterious epidemic is spreading, causing significant casualties among the knights.

The letter contained a lengthy defense, but in summary, it meant the extermination had failed.

"Ha ha ha, hahaha!"

Hearing the news, Alexander Apple was greatly pleased. It was the first time he had laughed so long in his life.

"That fool! His excessive ambition has finally led to failure!"

"My lord, congratulations. You will finally achieve your desire."

"All thanks to you and your sisters! I will never forget this merit!"

Alexander Apple prepared to leave for the royal castle.

He planned to go there as soon as possible to criticize Oliver Apple's failure and remove him from the position of crown prince.

"Will you come with me?"

"My siblings are on their way back... I should go to them first."

"Then join them and come to the royal castle afterward! I'll be waiting!"

Leona left the territory before Alexander Apple.

Leona headed to the location her sisters had mentioned through the communication magic tool.

As she got closer, her excitement grew.

Leona had spent a long time with Noctis and Marina, sharing both joy and sorrow.

Having been separated from her sisters for a long time, she planned to spend some time with them after this reunion.

However, when she arrived at the meeting place, it wasn't her sisters waiting for her.

"You're right on time."

Damian Hassen.

The sudden appearance of this guest made Leona's mind spin.

* * *

"You set a trap."

Leona said briefly. Damian Hassen replied with a tone of surprise.

"You're smarter than I thought. And you're also very calm. I expected it to take longer for you to figure it out."

Leona took a deep breath. She was still shaken.

But with the enemy right in front of her, she couldn't show any weakness. She tried to maintain a calm demeanor.

"Could it be that all the communications to my sisters were fake?"

"Very perceptive."

Leona felt a chill at his words.

It meant she had been playing right into the enemy's hands from the beginning.

"How long have you known about our existence?"

"Quite a while."

Damian said briefly. It seemed he had no intention of elaborating, so Leona didn't press further.

"Where are my sisters?"

"Do you want them back? Then you'll have to answer my questions."

Leona quietly bit her lip.

She had always been the one doing the threatening. This was her first time being threatened.

"Ask anything. But in return, you must guarantee their safety."

"Disgusting."

Damian suddenly said. Leona tilted her head.

"Seeing the likes of you, a human scum, caring for your family makes me want to vomit."

Despite Damian's condemnation, Leona showed no reaction.

To survive as a black mage, she had to be indifferent to such insults.

"Why did you approach Alexander Apple?"

"To establish a base. For us to be safe..."

"Base? Did you plan to establish a Pandemonium base in the Apple Kingdom?"

Leona sighed inwardly at Damian's words.

She had expected her sisters to be interrogated, but she didn't think they would reveal that much.

"...Yes. I collaborated with Alexander Apple to establish a Pandemonium base."

"Lie."

Damian said bluntly.

"Pandemonium was formed to bring down the empire. While Pandemonium black mages have appeared in other kingdoms, they don't establish bases."

Leona doubted her own ears.

"How do you know that...?"

"Moreover, Pandemonium black mages always bear a mark. But I don't see any mark on you."

Leona felt a chill.

Pandemonium was a highly secretive organization. Ironically, it was the most famous and least known organization.

Yet, the man in front of her knew too much about Pandemonium.

"Let me tell you my theory. You're not a member of Pandemonium. You're just a candidate."

This was also accurate. Leona's unease grew.

"To join Pandemonium, you must commit heinous acts. You must have planned this to join Pandemonium."

"...How do you know so much about Pandemonium?"

"I'm the only one asking questions."

Damian said firmly. Leona had no choice but to remain silent.

"When did you start collaborating with Alexander Apple?"

"...About five years ago."

"How did you help Alexander Apple?"

"I didn't do anything major. We just caused incidents, and Alexander Apple dealt with them."

"You repeated this to build Alexander Apple's power and influence."

Damian Hassen nodded, as if he had expected this.

"Why did you interfere with Prince Oliver's extermination?"

"Alexander Apple wanted the throne. He planned to use Oliver Apple's failure to remove him from the position of crown prince."

Leona answered honestly. She knew her sisters would have already revealed everything. There was no point in hiding it.

"I've answered many questions. Now, release my sisters."

"I appreciate your cooperation, but I can't grant that request."

Leona sighed deeply. She didn't believe him anyway.

She answered to gather information.

While answering, Leona secretly spread her black magic to check if anyone else was around.

She discovered that only Damian was there.

"This information should be enough to bring down Alexander Apple."

"Is that possible?"

Leona released her black magic. Numerous magic circles appeared beneath her feet.

"You don't value your sisters' lives?"

"There's no guarantee that following you will save them. It's better to kill you here and save them with my own abilities."

Leona belonged to the Destruction School, known for its powerful destructive black magic.

With a single gesture, she could turn the man in front of her into charcoal.

"It's a shame to kill you so easily... but the situation is urgent."

Leona snapped her fingers. The magic circle on the ground began to glow.

At that moment,

A flash of light from the sky, and a blade flew down, embedding itself in the magic circle.

The ground shattered with a loud noise, and the magic circle disappeared.

"Ah!"

Leona involuntarily screamed. Immediately after, someone landed where the blade had struck.

Seeing the man's face, Leona gasped.

"Rian Bluegreen!"

* * *

Although the orc group was defeated, Damian did not return immediately.

He used the black mages' communication magic tool to spread false news, buying time.

To corner Alexander Apple and the black mage by his side.

"Sir Rian Bluegreen should be approached by Your Highness."

"Trust me. I will persuade Sir Rian."

When the time came, Oliver Apple was sent to Rian Bluegreen.

"…Why are you here, when you should be focusing on the extermination?"

Initially, Rian Bluegreen did not welcome his visit.

As a supporter of Alexander Apple, he feared that a private meeting could lead to misunderstandings.

However, as Oliver Apple revealed the truth, Rian's expression changed.

"Don't speak nonsense. Why would Lord Alexander do such a thing!"

Rian Bluegreen initially did not believe Oliver Apple.

He had never thought highly of Oliver Apple, considering him a hopeless troublemaker and giving up all hope.

Concerned for the future of the Apple Kingdom, he believed that some procedural irregularities were acceptable.

Instead, the person he sought was Alexander Apple.

He believed Alexander Apple could succeed the king and become an excellent ruler, contributing to the kingdom's greater development.

Thus, hearing that Alexander Apple had collaborated with black mages to cause various incidents was hard to believe.

"I brought evidence, knowing you would react this way."

Oliver Apple brought two captured black mages.

Rian Bluegreen's face hardened as he sensed the black magic from the two.

"…These people were with the orc group?"

"If you doubt my words, ask Sir Michael and the other knights."

Rian Bluegreen's face showed conflict. He struggled to make a decision.

Oliver Apple relayed the final words he had heard from Damian.

"If you're still unsure, come to this place. You will see the truth."

Oliver Apple told Rian Bluegreen the location where Damian Hassen was.

When Rian Bluegreen arrived, Damian Hassen was questioning Leona.

"Since when have you been collaborating with Alexander Apple?"

"…About five years ago."

"How did you help Alexander Apple during this time?"

"I didn't do anything major. We just caused incidents, and Alexander Apple dealt with them."

"You repeated this to build Alexander Apple's power and influence."

Listening to their conversation, Rian Bluegreen felt dizzy.

"It's a shame to kill you so easily... but the situation is urgent."

However, the situation was too urgent to just stand in conflict. Rian Bluegreen quickly threw his sword at the magic circle.

The ground shattered from the sword, charged with magic power, and the magic circle was erased, canceling the black magic.

Rian Bluegreen landed where the sword had struck, pulling it out and looking at Damian.

"Did you send me here to see this?"

"Yes. Wasn't it quite interesting?"

At Damian's words, Rian Bluegreen looked troubled.

"Let's capture the black mage and talk."

As he said this, Rian Bluegreen looked at the black mage. The black mage's face twisted.

"You think you can capture me so easily?"

The black mage released a large amount of black magic. In that instant, Rian Bluegreen's body disappeared and reappeared in front of the black mage.

"…Gah!"

He grabbed the black mage's jaw, preventing her from chanting a spell. He crushed her hands to prevent her from making any seals.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

The black mage fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Rian Bluegreen struck her neck, causing her to immediately lose consciousness.

"…What's the next plan?"

Rian Bluegreen asked Damian, who nodded.

"We will go to the royal castle and hold Alexander Apple accountable for his crimes."