Chapter 162: Traitors Exposed

There wasn’t any clear evidence that he had to believe.

Just upon seeing Gaon, the thought that it was okay to believe, no, that he must believe, arose.

And Gaon possessed power that had no need to lie.

Why would he bother lying?

He could just do as he wanted.

At Asode’s words, Gaon smiled faintly.

And he turned his head to look at the blue-haired woman in the middle among those trapped in the prison.

The woman, Dealon Valen, who met eyes with Gaon like that, panicked.

Following that, Gaon’s gaze shifted to the side.

Dealon turned her head toward where Gaon’s gaze went, feeling relieved.

And she froze just like that.

Where Gaon’s gaze was directed was the green-haired man, Adro Valen.

H-How…….

Dealon panicked.

It was hard to believe how Gaon had pinpointed exactly her and Adro.

This doesn’t make sense…….

While Dealon was inwardly exclaiming in shock like that.

“These two.”

“So it’s two.”

“For now.”

“Thank you.”

Asode expressed thanks.

And at that moment, Dealon shouted.

“Grandfather, it’s not!”

It was to make an excuse.

However, Adro made a different choice.

Swaaa!

Adro’s high-grade water spirit attacked the fire prison.

A hole formed in the fire prison, and Adro immediately escaped through the hole and started fleeing.

It was an incredible fleeing speed.

Of course, while the speed was fast, there was no way Adro would succeed in escaping.

Hwaruruk!

Asode’s spirit, Kalteus, directly assaulted Adro and enveloped him.

“Aaaargh!”

Adro let out a scream and collapsed.

And not just the scream, but he expressed pain with his whole body and thrashed about.

The thrashing didn’t last long.

And the moment the thrashing ended, the scream also stopped.

Silence came with Adro’s death.

Dealon, who had tried to make an excuse, couldn’t open her mouth.

Those trapped together couldn’t open their mouths either.

And Asode silently looked at Adro’s corpse.

The one who broke the silence that seemed like it would continue endlessly was Asode.

Swish.

Asode turned his head to look at Dealon.

Dealon flinched at Asode’s gaze.

And Asode opened his mouth.

“What is not?”

Dealon didn’t say anything.

She couldn’t.

Asode’s eyes were too cold.

Just meeting those eyes felt like her blood was chilling and hardening.

To the point she wondered if the warm gaze she saw right before coming here was an illusion.

“What were you lacking…….”

And since Dealon said nothing, Asode let out a regretful voice and commanded Kalteus.

At the same time, Kalteus immediately assaulted Dealon.

Hwaruruk!

Like that, Dealon met the same end as Adro.

Gaon, watching Asode who killed two grandchildren in an instant, thought.

Completely different from Taylor.

Taylor, Rotes’s direct disciple, was the youngest of the Valen Dukedom.

In other words, Asode’s youngest grandchild.

As direct bloodline, their faces resembled a lot.

If time passed for Taylor, he would look very similar to Asode.

However, only the exterior was the same.

The interior was completely different.

Right then.

Asode looked at Gaon.

“Thank you.”

And he bowed deeply and expressed thanks.

Dealon and Adro were among the grandchildren with significant standing.

They were at the level to compete for the heir position.

In other words, if not for Gaon?

They would have returned as a great disaster later.

Following that, Gaon said to Asode.

“Can you gather the neutral faction in one place?”

“……?”

Asode made a puzzled face at Gaon’s words.

Gather the neutral faction in one place?

However, that was brief; soon realizing the meaning, his eyes flashed as he answered.

“Of course. I’ll gather everyone without missing even those attending, not a single one.”

“How long will it take?”

“If I leave right now, it should be 20 minutes.”

“Then I’ll go in 20 minutes.”

Like Dealon and Adro, there would be traitors in the neutral faction as well.

Gaon planned to gather the neutral faction and deal with all the traitors.

“Yes, see you later.”

Asode bowed deeply once more in greeting.

And he took those who came with him and went back the way they came.

After Asode left like that, Gaon also returned to the mansion.

And he talked with Roker.

“I want to lend my strength as well.”

“…….”

Gaon let out a groan and checked Roker’s condition.

Roker wasn’t weak.

There was a reason he became the next-next heir of the Schutaren sword family.

And his condition wasn’t bad either.

It was a state where he could fully do his part.

“Fine.”

“Thank you.”

Roker, who had worried what if he was told to stay quiet, smiled brightly at Gaon’s words and expressed thanks.

“Is there anything to take from here?”

“I’ve already secured the evidence.”

“Then let’s go.”

Gaon took the lead and left the mansion.

And he headed to where Asode went, the place where the neutral faction was gathered.

Not long after, Gaon arrived at the destination.

In groups of at least three or four, up to a dozen or so, they were talking here and there.

Murmur murmur.

“Do you know why Duke Asode told us to gather?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Perhaps he made a decision?”

“Would it be His Majesty the Emperor’s side……?”

“Be quiet, nothing’s decided yet.”

Most were talking about the reason they gathered.

And some who were talking spotted Gaon and showed wariness on their faces.

Gaon ignored their wariness.

And he looked at Asode who was a bit far away.

Asode also spotted Gaon and was rushing over.

Soon, Asode stopped in front of Gaon.

“You’ve come.”

And Asode politely greeted.

The situation already had all eyes focused.

At Asode’s polite appearance, not a single person missed showing a surprised reaction.

“Is everyone gathered?”

“Yes, everyone is gathered without missing a single person.”

“I see.”

Gaon nodded and swept his gaze around.

Surprise, puzzlement, wariness, panic—various emotions were visible.

Following that, Gaon waved his hand.

Then, people rose up from various places.

“Huh?!”

“Uh!”

“No, what is this!”

“What are you doing!”

Those who floated in the air against their will showed different reactions.

However, there was one common part.

They had restrictions or were hiding demonic energy.

In other words, traitors.

Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!

Those floating in the air froze at the same time.

Naturally, none survived.

All met death.

Those with restrictions, the Abyss members, burned fiercely inside the ice at the same time as death.

And those hiding demonic energy spewed out demonic energy instead of burning.

” “

” “

Silence came.

No one could open their mouth.

They just blankly looked at those who froze to death in the air.

The one who broke the silence was Asode.

“May I ask what you plan to do now?”

“First, I plan to clean up the guys who started the rebellion.”

Honestly, the rebellion in the Rios Empire had nothing to do with Gaon.

The rebellion itself was fine.

However, colluding with the demon world was unforgivable.

Moreover, kidnapping Roker and touching Schutaren was also unforgivable.

“Since the emperor’s side doesn’t seem to plan on cleaning them up.”

Of course, if the emperor’s faction planned to clean up the rebellion faction, he wouldn’t have stepped in directly.

However, from checking with his senses, the emperor’s faction didn’t seem to have thoughts of dealing with the rebellion faction.

There seems to be something.

Looking at the situation, no matter what, there was something.

Gaon planned to check thoroughly.

What thoughts the emperor’s faction, no, Emperor Larun had.

Why, with that strong imperial power, he was leaving the rebellion alone.

“I’m sorry.”

Asode apologized.

“It’s not something for you to be sorry about.”

“Thank you for saying that. Is there anything I can help with? If you tell me, I’ll do my best to carry it out.”

“Hmm…….”

Gaon let out a groan and thought for a moment.

Literally just a moment.

Having decided what to entrust to Asode, Gaon opened his mouth.

“Do you have a map of the imperial castle surroundings?”

“Yes, I do.”

Asode gestured behind him.

Then, a young man who seemed like an adjutant quickly took out a map from his bosom and handed it.

“Here it is.”

Asode, who received the map, held it out to Gaon.

Gaon immediately took the map and unfolded it.

Swaat!

And light shimmered on the map, marking red dots in various places.

Gaon handed the map back and said.

“There are arrays installed in the marked places. The culprits of this incident, you could say.”

“……!”

Asode’s eyes flashed.

And Gaon asked.

“Can you destroy them?”

“Of course. I’ll destroy every single one thoroughly without missing any.”

“Then I’ll trust and go.”

Gaon didn’t say more.

If it were someone else, he would have explained how to destroy the arrays, the dangers, etc.

However, for Asode, no need.

Just telling the locations was enough.

Because he would destroy them well on his own.

Gaon started moving again with Roker.

This time, the destination was the rebellion faction’s main base.

Swish.

Upon arriving near the main base, Gaon observed Roker’s expression.

He was suppressing it, but it was visible to Gaon.

Anger stronger than before.

Of course, he wasn’t worried.

Because he knew he wouldn’t be consumed by anger.

Right then, Roker’s anger grew one level more.

Swish.

Gaon turned his head to look forward.

Forward, there were those guarding the main base entrance.

As the main base, the level of those guarding the entrance was considerable.

“Are those the guys?”

“Yes.”

“You can handle them alone, right?”

“Of course. Thank you.”

Hearing Roker’s thanks, Gaon increased his speed.

And he passed right by those guarding the entrance.

“Huh……!”

One of those at the entrance flinched.

However, that was it.

He only noticed; not at the level to block Gaon, and Gaon continued moving as is.

Are they in a meeting?

The place Gaon was heading to was the center of the main base.

Coincidentally, they were gathered as if in a meeting.

Good timing.

Gaon smiled faintly.

It seemed he could save time.

Soon, Gaon arrived at the center.

And he could see.

A massive lake filled with crystal-clear water.

And a massive pavilion in the center of the lake.

Those who looked high in status, wearing luxurious clothes, talking in the pavilion.

Gaon slowed down and started approaching the pavilion slowly.

And soon, one person in the pavilion spotted Gaon, and following that, everyone’s gaze turned to Gaon.

“Who are you!”

Soon, the middle-aged man who seemed highest in status, at the head seat, stood up abruptly and shouted.

“How dare you, knowing where this is!”

“….?”

Gaon couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Considering the situation, the middle-aged man was definitely Vladious.

So he was even more puzzled.

He doesn’t know me?

Gaon hadn’t hidden his appearance.

He hadn’t hidden his energy either.

Yet, not knowing him surprised Gaon greatly.

At first, he thought Vladious was pretending not to know.

“Get down immediately, kneel, and show courtesy! What is Sir Bastik doing! Letting such a guy come this far!”

But no.

Vladious really didn’t know.

Gaon looked at those around Vladious.

Three types.

Those with restrictions.

Those hiding demonic energy.

Those with neither.

And surprisingly, all were showing surprised or dismayed faces.

In other words, unlike Vladious, they clearly recognized him.

Gaon looked at Vladious again.

Vladious was still spewing irritation and anger.

How could only Vladious not know?

Even if he’s a puppet, this is too much.

Looking at the situation, Vladious was a puppet for now.

Not the real leader of the rebellion faction.

Even so, it was too much.

Vladious seemed like a person missing a few screws.

He felt like there was something hidden.

I can find out gradually.

Gaon folded his thoughts about Vladious.

And he beckoned with his index finger.

Crackle!

Then, the pavilion’s roof turned to dust and disappeared.