Chapter 675: Shocking realisation
The remaining food lay untouched on the table, and the woman who was supposed to be taking care of them had not come back to take the dishes, which was curious.
Mayumi’s gaze drifted toward it before looking toward Elion.
"You looked very certain when you told Maya it was safe."
Elion rubbed a hand over his face. "I know."
"But then you suddenly looked as though someone had stabbed you."
"That was about how it felt," he admitted, glancing toward the closed door of the room where Eva had been taken. "I made a mistake."
"At least you noticed before it was too late," she said. "Though I’d feel considerably better if we knew what it was supposed to do."
"So would I."
The system hadn’t told him exactly what was in the food, which suggested that it wasn’t entirely certain either.
Something was definitely there, though, and Elion had kept that part to himself, merely telling the others that he wasn’t sure. That was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth.
The substance wasn’t exactly a poison. In fact, it might have been a perfectly ordinary ingredient for the people living here, though, according to the system, it became harmful in excess, whatever it was.
’Could it be what’s messing with these people’s minds?’ he asked inwardly, his gaze wandering toward the abandoned food.
[That, or the threads] the system suggested. [It could be both, depending on the ability’s conditions]
This place seemed increasingly dangerous the longer they remained here. That elderly woman alone had been a sage, and Eva had mentioned other important people, most likely figures of similar strength.
The possibility made their chances of leaving in one piece dwindle considerably.
Elion felt like beating himself up.
’Ahhh! Why did we even come here?’
How was it fair for something like this to exist in a place where young talents, most of whom had barely reached the middle ranks, were supposed to compete and hone their abilities?
’Or is this just my terrible luck?’ he wondered. ’Maybe we should simply run away in the middle of the night.’
The best-case scenario was that he was being paranoid and the elderly woman was the strongest person here. However, the master both she and Eva had spoken of, along with the convergence of those threads, suggested otherwise.
A far more powerful figure must have resided somewhere within this place. Now, Elion deeply regretted ever requesting that meeting.
He highly doubted they would be able to leave through the same entrance if this master controlled it.
As he considered that possibility, something suddenly occurred to him, something that almost made him want to kick himself.
He was almost certain now that they had control over that entrance!
After all, these tragic people in this place would have been able to leave and go as they pleased at some point in time, before their lost their will, but it was clear they hadn’t.
In which case, the person who had control of the gate could allow people to enter and leave at their leisure!
If it could stop people from leaving, then most certainly, unwanted outsiders, or intruders, would never be able to enter without them allowing it!
’This was all a trap!’
The realisation struck like a clap of thunder in his ears. His eyes trembled, his pupils narrowing into pinpricks as he looked toward the door of the room where Eva had been taken.
’Those threads... they’re more than just links connecting these people to the master!’
If he could use the World’s Eyes’ Infinite Perspective to perceive his surroundings from different viewpoints regardless of where he stood, what was stopping a being potentially stronger than a sage from doing something similar?
Those threads might allow it to manipulate its puppets and see through their eyes as well!
’Ack! Shit, shit, shit!’
Elion pressed a hand over his mouth, drawing a curious look from Mayumi. ’What’s going on with him now?’ she wondered, watching his expression change into one of utter dread.
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. With his other hand, he grabbed a fistful of his hair, digging his fingers into it before pulling at it until it hurt painfully.
"Ahhh..." he groaned, making Mayumi straighten in her chair.
"Um, are you okay?" she asked, her eyes widening in concern. "Oh my God, is it the poison?"
She rushed toward him, but he stopped her as he rose to his feet, a grim expression settling over his face. Then he gave her a pale smile.
"Mayumi, my dear friend... we fucked up." A wry laugh escaped him, while Mayumi could only tilt her head, wondering what he meant.
...
"So you’re saying we walked into a trap?" Maya asked grimly.
"Yep," Elion replied. "A very elaborate one at that..."
He had gathered everyone as soon as the realisation struck him. Fortunately, Eva was already asleep, so there was no need to send her away just to speak privately.
Maya had also produced a talisman inscribed with a silencing formation, summoning a barrier that prevented any sound from escaping.
Elion had just finished explaining his findings and the evidence behind his conclusions. As the others slowly digested the information, their expressions grew increasingly grim.
"So everything we did in front of her..." Cole began, his voice trailing off as he considered the possibility.
"Could have been watched," Elion replied. "I can’t say for certain, but I’d rather assume it was."
Mayumi glanced toward the window, where the guards remained visible beneath the lamps, then rose and drew the curtain across it.
"And everyone outside could be watching us for this master as well."
Elion nodded, feeling another surge of irritation at how long it had taken him to consider something so obvious.
He had noticed the threads, followed their direction, and even wondered whether they were controlling the inhabitants, yet somehow failed to think about what else those connections might allow.
Maya looked down at the talisman in her hand.
"This stops sound from leaving the room. It won’t conceal us from anything that can already see us."
"Eva’s eyes are closed," Nora said quietly. "She’s been asleep since before we gathered here."
"That helps," Maya said, nodding, though she didn’t sound particularly reassured. "But we should keep this discussion short, since, you know, there are literally eyes everywhere."