Bloodstar System: Infinite Evolution Through Beast Slaughter

Questions came at him from every direction.

Joren flashed a bright smile, all eight white teeth on display. For a moment, he looked almost like some cheerful college kid.

Except this cheerful college kid had just walked out carrying two severed heads.

The contrast sent a chill through the reporters, though none of them could quite look away.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming out so late."

Gentle.

Courteous.

Completely harmless.

Nothing about him suggested the man who had been swinging two heads around only moments ago.

"That was an excellent question."

Joren cleared his throat, his voice warm and measured.

"As for the full details of House Hurst colluding with Fiends, along with the body of evidence gathered by Antares Command, this is an extremely complex case with far reaching implications."

"It would be difficult to explain properly in only a few sentences."

The reporters nodded furiously and raised their recorders higher.

Joren paused.

"So, in order to give the public the most authoritative and complete account possible, our respected Commander has decided to hold a major press conference at Alkaid Authority tomorrow morning at nine."

"At that time, Manester will appear in person."

"He will answer your questions, explain the case in detail, and announce the series of decisive operations that will follow."

Joren turned toward the cameras and smiled even more brightly.

"For matters of this scale, only a senior figure of Manester’s standing can give them the weight they deserve."

Camera shutters erupted again.

The reporters were disappointed that they had not pulled out an exclusive revelation tonight, but they had gained something valuable.

Commander Manester would be holding a press conference tomorrow morning.

...

On top of a black off road vehicle some distance away, Manester had still been stroking his beard with the satisfied air of a mentor watching a promising student.

Then he heard Joren’s announcement.

His hand jerked.

He nearly tore out several strands.

The smile froze on his face.

"That brat..."

A vein pulsed against his forehead.

"What does he mean, I decided?"

"When did I ever say I was holding a press conference?"

"He just threw me straight into the fire!"

This was shameless blame shifting.

Worse, it had been done so smoothly that there was not a single opening to attack.

Respected senior.

Commanding the bigger picture.

Joren had placed the crown on his head so neatly that Manester could not even take offense without looking petty.

Kyo stared for a moment.

Then he burst into thunderous laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

Tears gathered in his eyes as he slapped Manester on the shoulder.

"Nine tomorrow morning."

"Make sure you wake up early."

"Do not be late."

"Hahahaha!"

Manester glared at him, face black.

Yet when he looked back toward the young man surrounded by camera flashes, the irritation slowly faded from his eyes.

"Fine."

A sigh left him.

He took a specially issued cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and drew in a deep breath.

Smoke drifted across his face.

His gaze seemed to pass through it and return to the last decade.

Norcrest had spent those years swallowing humiliation.

The four great families had sunk their roots into every corner of the city and wrapped their hands around its economy.

Even Antares Command had often been forced to consider their reactions before acting.

Manester had wanted to move against them.

Of course he had.

But he had never dared.

Antares Command had not been strong enough then.

He could not afford to spend its precious strength on internal conflict and leave an opening for the Voidbeasts beyond the walls.

Back then, Beast Tides pressed from outside while the city itself remained unstable within.

To keep Norcrest standing, he compromised.

Even knowing House Hurst conducted filthy business in the dark, he looked away more often than he should have.

He called it preserving the larger picture.

Called it learning to bend with the world.

Put less politely, he had been afraid.

He had been weak.

"How many years has it been..."

Manester exhaled a ring of smoke, his voice rough.

"I dreamed of tearing those bloodsuckers out by the roots."

"But I spent too long worrying about everything."

"The edge wore away."

Then he smiled.

A real smile this time.

"With House Hurst gone, every other rat hiding in Norcrest will think twice before making a move."

"They will have to check whether their necks are hard enough first."

"I have swallowed this anger for more than ten years."

"Tonight, I finally get to spit it out."

He dropped the cigarette and ground it beneath his heel.

"It is only a press conference."

"Fine."

"I will talk for three days and three nights if I have to."

...

"Everyone."

Joren smiled at the crowd.

"That concludes tonight’s interview."

"Antares Command now needs to secure and inspect the scene."

"This is both a murder site and a Fiend nest."

"There may still be active blood poison or hidden mechanisms inside."

He paused deliberately and let his eyes pass across the throats of the reporters nearest him.

"It would be unfortunate if anyone got hurt."

A chill crawled across the backs of their necks.

The meaning of secure the scene was obvious.

Leave.

Or they might be dealt with too.

"You have worked hard, Frontier Marshal!"

"We understand. Official duties come first."

"Everyone, clear out. Do not interfere with the investigation!"

The crowd scattered.

Less than half a minute later, the street was empty.

A few people nearly forgot their streaming equipment in the rush.

At last, quiet.

Joren turned toward the soldiers of Antares Command, who were all watching him expectantly.

Alar and Jazz came over first.

"That was incredible!"

Alar’s eyes shone as he raised a thumb.

"But..."

He scratched his head and glanced toward the enormous field of ruins behind Joren.

"What do we do now?"

"You already tore House Hurst apart."

"What is left to inspect?"

Jazz looked equally puzzled.

Everyone was dead.

The buildings were gone.

What exactly were they supposed to secure?

Joren stared at the pair and shook his head as though disappointed by their lack of vision.

"Are you two idiots?"

He pointed toward the ruins, righteousness filling his face.

He looked like a judge who would never bend the law.

"I have grave reason to suspect House Hurst concealed evidence of its connection to the Fiends beneath its gold bars, equipment, and cultivation resources."

"To uncover the truth completely and give the people of Norcrest a proper explanation, everything must be dug out."

"Gold bricks."

"Rare medicine."

"All of it."

"These are crucial pieces of evidence."

Joren raised one hand.

"Pass down my order."

"Anything that looks valuable..."

He cleared his throat.

"Anything that looks suspicious is to be packed up and taken away."

Alar and Jazz stared at him for one second.

Then understanding struck.

Their eyes lit up like lamps.

"For the investigation."

"Exactly. We have to search everything."

Jazz slung the tower shield across his back and rubbed his hands together.

"Brothers, you heard the Frontier Marshal!"

"We are seizing..."

He corrected himself at once.

"Searching for evidence!"

"Move!"

The soldiers of Antares Command erupted.

They charged into the ruins with the enthusiasm of men who had just been promised a feast.

This was House Hurst.

The richest family in Norcrest.

These were not ruins.

This was a mountain of gold.

Joren watched the black tide pour in and nodded with satisfaction.

Now this was the kind of force he wanted.

Give men meat, and they would fight.