Chapter 522: Cowards Became Traitors
Sianor looked at Rachel and spoke up. "By the way, what option do you think Hagan will choose?"
Rachel paused mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air. "Hmm... I’m not sure."
She glanced to the side, then added, "You should ask Arden."
Sianor raised a brow. "Arden?"
Rachel nodded. "He’s the one who gave me that idea earlier."
Sianor turned and spotted Arden sitting not far away, eating quietly.
The moment Arden heard his name, he paused mid-bite.
He set his utensil down, then looked over with a small, polite smile.
"Sir Sianor?" he said, turning slightly toward him. "What would you like to ask?"
Sianor returned the smile. "I want to know what option you think Hagan will choose."
Arden adjusted his glasses with a light touch. "I think they won’t choose any of the options."
Sianor’s brows pulled together. "Not choose?"
Arden nodded. "Yes. All three options are too harmful for them."
He rested his hand lightly against the table as he spoke.
"They’ve grown comfortable as grand faction leaders, living with wealth and stability. Each option would strip away that comfort."
Sianor frowned slightly. "But they still have to choose, don’t they?"
Arden gave a small nod. "They do. And that’s why they’ll choose the fourth option."
Sianor blinked, surprised. "A fourth option? Do they even have one?"
Arden’s smile didn’t fade. "Of course they do. Like I said, people like them don’t want to change their current lives. So they always prepare a backup plan."
Sianor crossed his arms, studying him. "Then what is this ’fourth option’?"
Arden tilted his head a little. "It’s similar to the third option."
Sianor frowned deeper. "But you said they wouldn’t give up their status."
"They won’t," Arden replied calmly.
Sianor stared at him for a moment. "Then explain."
Arden shook his head lightly, picking up his utensil again. "It’s hard to explain clearly right now... let’s just wait and see."
Sianor fell silent. He glanced ahead, his expression thoughtful.
A fourth option, huh... he thought. Let’s see what they do.
---
Back in the main hall, night had already fallen.
Sianor and the others were waiting for Hagan and the rest, unsure what choice they would make.
The room felt tense, filled with quiet anticipation. No one spoke.
Even the guards stood still, listening for any sign from beyond the doors.
Then, suddenly, the large doors creaked open.
Everyone turned, expecting Hagan and the others to walk in.
But it wasn’t him or any others.
A single figure entered instead, riding a large black bird wreathed in dark flames.
The creature’s wings folded slowly as it stepped inside, heat rippling through the air.
Rachel’s eyes widened. Sorian frowned, his expression tightening.
"How... how can you be here?" Rachel asked, her voice low but sharp.
Sianor’s gaze sharpened as he studied the man. A rider on a black flame bird... and from the look on Sorian’s face...
Sorian stepped forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Black Chimera..."
The man smiled faintly, as if amused.
"That’s right," he said. "Pelion, the Chimera General of the Black Chimera."
The bird let out a low, crackling sound, embers drifting from its feathers.
Sianor’s aura shifted, subtle but unmistakable. The air around him grew heavier.
"How did you get in here?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with warning.
Before Pelion could answer, a Solrmian steward rushed in from the side, breathless.
"Sovereign Sianor!"
He stumbled forward, barely catching himself. "The guards... all of them have been killed."
Silence fell over the hall.
Sianor’s eyes hardened. Slowly, he turned back to Pelion.
"You..." His voice dropped. "How dare you come here and kill my guards?"
Pelion only smirked, completely at ease.
"Sianor, Sianor..." he said lightly, shaking his head. "Your guards... sorry about that. They were just too weak."
A few embers drifted to the floor and faded.
Sianor didn’t look at him. His eyes stayed fixed on the man before them. "What the hell are you doing here?"
The man chuckled under his breath, clearly unfazed. "Heh... I’m here to give you a deal."
Sianor frowned slightly, his posture still steady. "A deal?"
Pelion nodded once, casually, as if they were discussing trade instead of war.
"War is troublesome," he said. "It’s costly, and it takes too many lives. So..."
He paused, then smirked.
"My great Chimera Lord, Heinkel, thought of something better. Why not settle this in a simpler way?"
Sianor’s gaze didn’t waver. "Say it."
Pelion’s smile widened just a little.
"A tournament," he said. "Simple enough. If you win, we retreat. No more conflict."
He tilted his head slightly, watching for a reaction.
"And if we win..." he continued, voice calm, "you will accept us as a Grand Faction. An official one."
A quiet murmur spread among the people in the hall, but Sianor said nothing.
He stood still on the stage, staring down at Pelion.
Slowly, his brows pulled together. "You think this is a game?"
Pelion let out a soft laugh and shook his head.
"No... not a game," he said. "A real one. Something far more interesting."
Sianor’s expression darkened, his aura pressing faintly against the room.
"Damn you," he said under his breath.
Pelion didn’t react. The smirk never left his face.
"So?" he asked, spreading his arms slightly, as if presenting an offer too good to refuse.
"Do we have a deal?"
Sianor didn’t answer immediately. His eyes stayed locked on Pelion.
"...Before that," Sianor said calmly, "where is Hagan... and the others?"
Pelion smiled wider. "Oh... them?"
He let out a small chuckle. "They’ve already left."
He tilted his head slightly. "My subordinate escorted them... back to our base."
Sorien took a step forward. "You’re saying..."
Pelion nodded casually. "From now on... they are officially part of Black Chimera."
Sianor’s brows slowly drew together. "So that’s it... The forth choice."
Behind Rachel, Arden gave a small nod. "Yes."
He adjusted his glasses slightly. "I expected they wouldn’t accept any loss."
He paused. "But I didn’t expect this outcome."
Pelion watched their reactions with interest, clearly amused. "Hehe... survival instinct."
He shrugged. "Can’t blame them."
Then his gaze returned to Sianor. "So..."
He asked again, this time slower. "What will you choose, Sianor?"