Chapter 102 - 100 — Victor Jasper
It was clear enough, the women here weren’t truly regarded as warriors.
"...is that what you think?"
"...what do you think? That women shouldn’t be warriors?"
Jenna’s voice came out tight as she stared at him. For a brief moment, the image of his mother surfaced in Zephyrion’s mind, and he forgot he was meant to be guiding the conversation.
"...I think women are amazing."
Jenna blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. Heat rushed to her face, and she quickly looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
First he acted indifferent, and now he said something like that, she was finding it harder and harder to understand him.
"...you’re... strange."
"...so? What did you see?"
"...I don’t think you’ll believe me." The last thing she wanted was to chase him away by sounding crazy.
"Try me."
But the moment she met his calm gaze, Jenna felt an unexpected sense of ease settle over her. Somehow, she felt like she could trust him.
"...a few days ago, I saw a Khavork in the forest... using fire."
Zephyrion’s eyes narrowed slightly as he grasped the implication.
"...two elements?"
"...I know how it sounds. If you don’t—"
"I believe you."
Jenna’s eyes widened. As she met Zephyrion’s steady gaze, her heart couldn’t help but flutter. It was then she knew...
’He’s different.’
Of all the men she had ever met, he was the first to look at her as an equal. Jenna unconsciously clenched her fists.
"...thank you."
...
Zephyrion’s steps remained calm as he made his way toward his quarters. Only seconds had passed since he left Jenna.
He had sensed no deceit from her, and given the situation, realized the girl hid far more than she let on. Regardless, he believed her words.
Now, the situation was starting to make sense.
’Two elements.’
Though the elemental energy that ravaged the lands had spread across the continent, mutating beasts into varying elemental forms, over the centuries the different elemental empires, especially the fanatics who believed their element was absolute, had wiped out every mutated beast not aligned with their own.
Basically, it was rarer to see a beast that could use fire in the Ferran Empire than a Ten Throne member dancing.
Regardless, the focus here wasn’t that. It was that the beast Jenna had seen had utilized two elements, something that was supposed to be impossible.
But Zephyrion knew just how wrong that was. He was living proof, after all.
Even so, he had spent the past seven years wandering the world as an assassin, encountering countless things and people.
And right now, a certain man came to mind.
The Iron Heresy. One of the Five Claws, an organization filled with mad scientists who carried out brutal and inhumane experiments.
’Victor Jasper.’
Victor was a rather infamous scientist within the organization. He had made it his life’s work to achieve the impossible, to be the first to break the limit and create a being capable of wielding multiple elements.
Zephyrion could vividly recall the thousands of deaths the man had caused through his twisted experiments.
Only someone like him could accomplish something like this.
’He’s involved.’
If that was the case, then the strange behavior of the beasts began to make sense. The last Zephyrion had heard, Victor had failed an experiment that led to the deaths of hundreds and had been hunted down by the higher houses.
If something like this had appeared here, then it meant the man had somehow found refuge within the forest... and had resumed his experiments using the beasts.
’This is why he assigned me here.’
Zephyrion wasn’t sure if Garrick knew the full extent of this mission, but there was no doubt it went far beyond the scope of a mere trainee.
Regardless, since Garrick had given it to him, he could not fail. Plus, should he fail this mission, he would lose his chances of participating in the Proving. Zephyrion couldn’t allow that.
Reaching this conclusion, his mind began to churn.
’The beasts hit the village... so it’s not just about them. It’s the people. He needs people for his experiments. The last attempt failed... which means he won’t stop. Another attack is coming.’
As that thought settled, Zephyrion’s eyes gradually grew cold. The image of Guren surfaced in his mind.
’He’s part of this too. He was already expecting the earlier attack. And that smell... I still can’t place it, but it doesn’t belong here. Not in a place like this. He’s getting help from them. If they strike again... he’ll be involved.’
Zephyrion suddenly halted his steps. Slowly, he turned, his gaze fixing on the large building of the village head’s house rising at the center of the village.
The next moment, Zephyrion vanished into the night air.
....
"Haha! Yes—yes, it worked! It actually worked!"
A fat, chubby man of short height and a bald head adjusted his round glasses as he stared intently at the Khavork within the glass chamber before him.
One side of the boar-like beast bore a thick, gleaming metal hide, while the other burned with blazing fire. More than a day had passed, yet the beast hadn’t exploded. It was a success.
"You see that, Dune? I told you, didn’t I? It was only a matter of time. I, Victor Jasper, will achieve the impossible!"
As Victor’s laughter echoed through the cavern, the slender figure standing silently behind him, Dune, let out a quiet sigh.
"...thousands of people died to get you here, Victor."
"Dune! Doctor. How many times do I have to tell you?"
Dune rolled his eyes but said nothing.
"...and besides, can’t you see it? Victor continued, his grin stretching wide, revealing his yellowed teeth.
"Those people didn’t die for nothing. They were part of something far greater. If anything, they should be grateful."
He spoke without the slightest hint of remorse, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"...grateful?"
"Of course! Do you have any idea what this means? Once word gets out, those stubborn idiots in the Heresy will regret ever cutting my funding. Just imagine their faces."