Chapter 385: Choices Of The Heart
"Disgrace to all soldiers they were..." Devil shook his head dejectedly. "It took only minutes for them to spill everything they knew."
Considering that the captured cultists were Grandmasters, he had hoped they would have been tougher nuts to crack, yet this time not even Michael needed to get his hands dirty, since even their chief had been more than willing to cooperate.
They had assumed doing so would earn them quick deaths, but alas, they quickly realized their mistake when Devil began to play with them until their last breath.
Some people simply did not deserve to be graced with mercy.
The other members of the crew were also in sour moods, though for entirely different reasons.
Given the large operation they had managed to discover underground, they had hoped finding leads to the cult’s rulers would have been a simple matter from now on.
Sadly, reality often proved disappointing.
Whoever stood at the top was deeply paranoid. The cult was structured so that its branches never came into contact with one another. They knew nothing about each other’s locations or members.
If one branch encountered a member of another, they would simply reveal the severed-tail tattoo etched into their palms and refrain from interfering in each other’s affairs. However, the situation was complicated by the fact that the tattoo alone did not confirm membership... It merely indicated that the individual shared the cult’s worldview and their disdain for the felines.
As such, trying to bring in everyone who bore the mark for questioning would be futile at best and counterproductive at worst. Given that the cultlings were tasked with operating undercover, it was highly unlikely that those who had hurled insults at Ruby earlier were part of their ranks... they were most likely just ordinary civilians.
But the cherry on the top was that if a branch wanted to get in contact with the leaders, they wouldn’t have relied on electronic communication, rendering Michael’s Bypasser technique powerless, nor would they use birds that could potentially be traced if one were to keep a close eye on the sky. No, their primary method of establishing contact was with...
Moles.
"Trained, living beings that dig the ground... completely untraceable." Michael clicked his tongue in displeasure. "This will complicate things."
Because Venus’ capital was so densely populated, it had been partially terraformed to resemble Earth. Who would have imagined that one of the creatures, allowed to roam freely in Magmorious, could serve the goals of the cultists?
As for the purpose of the branch, Michael and Ruby had raided. It was simply to study the effects of the plague on the felines and report their findings to the higher-ups.
"So, essentially, we’re at a dead end..." Victoria exclaimed.
"Unfortunately, overthrowing a cultist group that has been slowly spreading its roots since the end of the AI disaster won’t be that easy." Claire sighed.
"In that case, I suggest we meet with Livia to discuss things further." Robert suggested, his eyes sparkling.
Richard gazed at the Lord suspiciously. "Admit it... You just want to meet with your girlfriend."
Ever since the crew had arrived in the capital, they had spent every waking hour in the feline district. Meaning Robert had yet to be reunited with his beloved after spending so much time apart.
"Was I that oblivious?" Robert chuckled, not even trying to deny it.
Michael was inclined to agree. Focusing too much on one issue would make them unable to see the whole picture.
’Not to mention that Robert prioritizes the others’ well-being above his own.’ He thought. ’He deserves a little rest, plus it could benefit Ruby’s mental state as well.’
Michael cast a glance at his feline companion, who had wrapped her tail around his waist, reluctant to let go.
’Am I imagining it, or is she more clingy than usual?’ Michael wondered. ’Well, it’s not like I mind, so I won’t bring it up.’
After bidding goodbye to the local authorities and receiving a salute from the felines, the crew temporarily left the feline district.
Given the potential danger of the plague spreading, they had to be tested to ensure that none of them had come into contact with the illness.
Due to Livia’s importance as Minister of Defense, she was located at the very center of the capital. Notably, the further the crew moved from the feline district, the less hateful the glances Ruby received became.
"If I had to guess, the cultists can’t afford to shift the perception of the entire populace at once. So they focused on those housed nearby the felines to apply pressure." Michael mused aloud. "Certainly a smart use of resources. Had we stayed in the district the whole time, this wouldn’t have come to light."
While Michael was still deep in mental analysis, Robert unexpectedly approached him.
Evidently, something was off. The Lord was supposed to be rejoicing about being reunited with his girlfriend, yet his face had grown paler and his hands and feet were trembling.
"C—Can I ask you for some personal advice?" He said, clearly troubled.
Michael was intrigued.
"Anytime. What is it?"
Robert took a deep breath.
"You see... after we parted, I came to learn that the reason Livia started cultivating was because of the talk you had with her. Thanks to you, she realized she doesn’t want to die of old age, leaving me behind."
The Lord met Michael’s gaze.
"Now that I think about it, I’ve yet to show my appreciation... thank you."
Robert’s voice grew shaky.
"You know... every time we talk, I get the sense that you’re wiser than most people your age. And since you’re in relationships with a few women at the same time, I feel like, out of everyone in the crew, you’re the one I can really open up to about this."
After a brief hesitation, Robert took out a small, intricately decorated black box.
When he opened it, Michael had to squint. Inside lay a golden ring, its diamond sparkling with a mesmerizing light, resting on a red cushion.
Even to the untrained eye, it was clear the jewelry wasn’t some cheap trinket but a genuine treasure... Likely worth more than a mortal could ever hope to save.
"Honestly... I’ve been on and off about this for a very long time." Robert admitted, his voice trailing off. "But when Livia decided to start cultivating not because she was interested in the benefits, nor because she was hungry for power, but merely because she didn’t want to cause me pain by dying before me, I..."
He paused briefly.
"I knew she was the one. Believe me, when she makes up her mind about something, it’s almost impossible to change it. The fact that she did all because of me... it made me realize that I truly love her."
Before anyone could spot the ring, Robert hid it as quickly as he had taken it out.
"So... I am planning to propose to her."