Chapter 500: Anxiety Intensifies.
Roland knelt beside his brother as Robert leaned against the broken stationary suit. The older Arden’s face was drenched in sweat, his skin pale from the exertion and the rush of adrenaline that had yet to fully fade. The power armor he had used had suffered some damage but it was still operational, a testament to the genius of the craftsmen that took part in its assembly.
“J-just give me a moment… I’m fine.”
Robert panted, refusing to take Roland’s hand when it was offered. The two remained silent for a moment, both still trying to process what had just happened. Neither had expected their father to appear, and now they were each trying to make sense of it. Robert’s thoughts leaned in a more positive direction, but Roland felt far more suspicious.
Roland's mind swirled with questions about his father. They hadn’t seen each other in over ten years, and Roland had hoped never to see him again. The glance his father gave him sent shivers down his spine, reminding him of the deep mistrust he harbored. While this body belonged to Roland Arden, the soul inhabiting it was someone else’s. His recent dealings with the spiritualist had revealed that there were ways to expose his true identity, which could provoke any number of reactions from Wentworth Arden.
Though Roland had made adjustments to his runic equipment to help mask his soul from being examined again, he wasn’t confident it would hold up against powerful Tier 4 class-holders like that spiritualist witch. Even if his true identity remained hidden, he still didn’t know what his standing in the Arden estate would be. His father might have the power to pull him back and disrupt the life he had grown accustomed to. His secret wasn’t exposed yet, but Roland wasn’t sure how long he could keep it that way.
‘He did glance in my direction for a moment… Does he know? or was it about something else?’
Roland's mind raced as he tried to decipher both his father’s motives and the extent of his power. The spear his father had thrown was his only clue - it pierced through the magical barrier as easily as an arrow through paper and suggested he was at least on par with the Grand Knight Commander. However, his Marshal status hinted that he could be even stronger, possibly a Tier 4 class holder.
Roland considered trying to read his father's status, but with so many people around, he feared it might draw unwanted attention. The numerous mages in the vicinity could easily detect his attempt, and given that his father had already managed to conceal his troops from his golems' sensors, it was likely Roland wouldn’t be able to read his status anyway.
‘They might use it as an excuse to detain me and go through my status. I shouldn’t assume that he knows who I am just yet.’