Chapter 168 168: The Second Sire's Bet
Killian wiped the beads of sweat growing on his forehead, and he sighed.
"I didn't even have a match today. Maybe I shouldn't have watched them, then this wouldn't have happened."
Then he wouldn't be on his way to meet a Ruler.
"Don't worry too much." Evelyn assured. "I'm coming along too."
Killian sighed again, looking up at the broken ceiling. "How does your presence help me? I just don't want to be there."
Her expression became serious, and she dropped his hand. "Run away then." Her steps slowed.
The wall slid open to reveal a hallway, and they crossed inside. Killian stopped when Evelyn didn't follow them. "I didn't mean it like that—"
The wall slammed in front of him, dividing them. He dug his fingers into his head, resting an arm on the wall.
The two Coordinators continued ahead and he had to follow. He rubbed his face multiple times.
"Tsk. Tsk."
'Yeah. You can judge me now.'
"You better apologize to her later."
'You don't have to tell me.'
He raised his head when a bright blue light softly reflecting from behind a thin wall, from a curved path. He hurried to match the pace of the Coordinators.
The wall opened, leading to a shorter hallway with a room at the end. Killian entered staring at the door reflecting the blue light.
His eyes grew wider as they entered the room, expecting a lush grandeur than the designs of the Dorm Dragon.
The door closed behind him and the blue light dissipated. Everything was normal and the room was far smaller than he expected.
Killian looked up and found a frozen marker. "Ah, so the blue light was for direction."
After the grand entrance and the broken ceiling, even the terrifying display of authority, he had expected something more extravagant than a small room.
Keith and Reginald were laid on separate beds near the wall. The two Coordinators stood nearby like guards, and Killian stood beside them.
At the desk, seated alone without any attendant or guard was the Second Sire, and his black robe was off his body making the tattoos outline more visible.
Killian tried not to stare too much.
"You can sit."
Killian waited for the Coordinators to take a chair before him, but they didn't make a move. He stood there with them.
The Second Sire raised his head, looking at him.
"Oh, just me." He dragged a seat towards Keith's bed and sat there, putting his feet together. The moment he sat down, his senses tingled.
It was like being at Mr. Ten's room and feeling the sensation of being watched, except this one was more vague and he couldn't place where they were within such a small room.
'Why am I getting interrogated again? Or are those secretly watching just the guards and attendants of the Second Sire?'
He disliked it but he had no intention of causing trouble. He just needed to answer whatever questions were necessary and leave.
The Second Sire rested one arm against his chair.
"What is your name, young man?"
It was a direct question and having already come this far, Killian knew he couldn't leave it vaguely answered. "Killian Dominic."
The man briefly glanced to Keith. "I am his Patron, and I never knew he had a brother. Twins?"
Killian's expression shifted, and he lowered his head to hide his frown. 'So that was why he was looking at me? He thought I was Keith.'
Being mistaken for his younger brother, even by Rulers that should have a better sense of recognition, made him feel sour. He nodded once.
The Patron sighed, and laid his back on his seat.
"To be fair, I never met Keith either. I was informed there was a young man who could be the next World Order and was convinced to place a bet on him."
Killian already knew who convinced him, but he asked just to be sure. "If you never met him, how could you be so sure of his capabilities?"
Patrons were a big deal and only S-Rank Wardens who showed more than potential had one. Very few A-Rank Wardens could even get the attention of a Patron.
Patrons were usually Rulers or former Rulers who could fund and develop the mana reservoir and training of their selected Warden.
It wasn't something one could simply make a bet on.
"My designated angel convinced me."
The frown on Killian's face fell off. "Angel?" He had expected his scheming father to be the one who had done the convincing but an angel had been? "Why?"
The Second Sire smiled at Killian's question. The Coordinators listening stiffened when they saw his smile. "He had his reason. It was an intriguing bet."
"But not a safe one. Can I know the reason?" Killian insisted.
If there was a possibility that an angel had plans for his brother, long before Quara's kidnap and before he was identified as a Forbidden Element User, then he had to act fast.
"Do you not trust your brother's capabilities?"
"I could, because he is my brother. But an angel had no reason to. Saying because he's one of the few Lightning Element Users in existence can't be why."
"But it is. He is from the line of Ammon. Simply so."
Killian breathed in and out. Simply because his brother was the great-grandson of World Order didn't mean that he could be like World Order.
'They don't even train him properly and make him skip Ranks just to get humiliated.'
'Why do they pressure him so much? Is that how World Order became who he was?'
He forced a smile. "Well, what do you want me for? I am not interested in having a Patron. Especially not after I've seen how 'good' my brother was handled."
The Coordinators' breath hitched in unison. They clasped their hands together as if praying for Killian while he used such a tone with a Patron.
Second Sire's smile remained on his face. "You wouldn't want to have a Patron?"
"Not at all."
"It wouldn't be me, so you don't have to worry about your brother being envious or discarded for you."
"He might already feel discarded after not living his full potential because he is always being pushed forward." Killian retorted. "So no, I'll make my own path. That is something he should envy."
Silence lingered within the small room.
The Coordinators forgot how to breathe and each of them had their eyes on the two speaking.