The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 68
“Is that so? I thought you’d refuse, Vilkanos.”
Despite using the child’s life as leverage, Myron seemed surprised by the acceptance.
Myron Devesis knew well his position in the past and how the world viewed him. Having struck a deal, he would save the child’s life. But that didn’t mean he would adhere perfectly to honesty and duty.
He would save the child’s life only to dissect and research the body to his liking, until he knew more about the Vilkanos constitution than Aseph himself.
“…Vilkanos, at the family’s core, is meant to protect people. Ignoring a dying child now to eliminate a future threat is putting the cart before the horse.”
“Tsk, tsk, not quite.”
Myron Devesis raised his hands and shook his head from side to side.
“It seems you’re the one who knows his way with words. It’s the common people, not you, who bear the burden of the future’s threats. All the while, you’re willing to exchange the life of your dying son for it.”
“…Think what you want.”
“Good, good. That’s the Vilkanos I know. Then, I’ll take the research lab here. And I’ll take it right now.”
That was precisely what was hoped for. Homun’s condition was getting more and more dire by the second.
As Myron Devesis strode towards the bed, Aseph blocked his way.
“…Ruslan, move the child, please.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Even though Aseph had decided to entrust Homun to Myron Devesis for treatment, he did not want to hand him over until the treatment actually began.
Ruslan carefully picked up Homun and followed behind Myron Devesis.
“Bea.”
Aseph spoke softly. But, as expected, there was no reply.
Bea, following them at the back, glanced briefly towards Aseph. That was the extent of their exchange.
The usually cheerful-faced butler, who was not following them but looking at the door, had a voice as dry as his sharp gaze.
“If you think about it, especially in the manner that Zephyr came to Vilkanos from the start, it’s clear that the child is only being used as bait to target something here. However, there are too many inconsistencies for it to make sense.”
“Yes.”
Aseph seemed to understand what the butler was implying.
Having faced Myron Devesis alongside the former Guardian, the butler was one of those who had deeply felt his infamy. He had faced Zephyr once.
Yet, even knowing they were the same person, the butler had not treated Bea Westwind, who entered the mansion, as an enemy. He might have been cautious, but not hostile.
However, it was different now. The butler’s statement was akin to saying that the inquisition into Zephyr had finally concluded.
No, rather, it was more accurate to say that the butler’s true knowledge of Zephyr had now come to light.
“Truly, like a different person. But it didn’t seem like post-war trauma.”
Even Aseph had doubted whether the butler had misjudged the person until now.
The Bea seen just moments ago was exactly as the butler had described from the past. A body moving solely for Myron Devesis’s benefit.
Or was their relationship always so deeply trustful?
If Myron Devesis could harness the power of Vilkanos, the world could become more cruel than when he roamed freely in the past.
If this had been the empire, Myron Devesis, without any significant weapons or followers, would have been executed on the spot. And so would Zephyr for reviving him.
That this place was not the empire was, in a way, fortunate.
What was peculiar was Myron Devesis’s attitude towards Vilkanos. Despite his irreverent demeanor, he seemed not to want to be at odds with Vilkanos.
His brazen attitude rather hinted at what he was scouting for. It was a behavior fitting someone who knew his own circumstances well. After all, he had once died because of Vilkanos. He was cautious until he gained confident strength.
Another point. Despite his threats and taking Homun’s life as hostage, Myron Devesis consistently treated Homun as the successor of the Grand Duchy.
So what exactly had happened?
No matter the circumstance, one thing was clear: Myron Devesis could not be left to his own devices.
To prevent a recurrence of the past, it was right to make it as if his resurrection had never happened before it became widely known. However, those who feared Myron Devesis were the nobles of the empire, the magicians, and they would be the most disadvantaged by his return.
Instead, Vilkanos could be the greatest shield and spear capable of stopping him. There was already a record of having thwarted him once.
In fact, Vilkanos could take a higher stand in the empire because of Myron Devesis’s resurrection. It was an opportunity to properly take revenge against the mages who had repaid them with betrayal for removing a common enemy.
Nevertheless, the situation was not so simple to contemplate.
It was all due to the child, and Bea, who had become as though she was someone else.
“…It would be best to observe for a while.”
Aseph came to a somewhat dull conclusion.
However, it was a mistake to think that they would quietly follow along just because they had made the suggestion first.
❖
Several days passed without incident. Myron Devesis had quietly holed up in the laboratory during this time.
While Aseph didn’t impose any restrictions on Myron Devesis, fearing harm might come to the child, he did keep him under surveillance.
And as expected, Myron Devesis made a mess of the laboratory under the pretense of moving to treat Homun and then fled.
Then, Aseph’s heart sank when he realized.
Not only Homun but also Bea had disappeared with him.
