Book 17, Indigo Prefecture â Chapter 55, Beirutâs Craftiness
It had been Forhan who had leaked the information. This had already shocked quite a few people, but the sudden attack by the Grand Elder, who had personally executed ForhanâŚthis caused the entire hall to fall completely, utterly silent.
âI didnât expect that it really was him!â A long, low sigh echoed in the main hall.
The speaker was Gislason. At this time, Linley was looking very carefully at the Grand Elder. âThe Grand Elder actually straightforwardly executed her own son!â Linley was completely astonished.
âElder Brother, Forhan has already been punished in accordance with the rules of the clan!â The Grand Elder said in a cold, calm voice. âThis matter is concluded. Iâll leave for now.â
âAlright. You can go back and rest.â Gislason understood that his little sister was feeling terrible right now.
âWait a moment.â A voice suddenly rang out.
The Grand Elder had already started to leave, but now she came to a halt, turning to stare at the seated Beirut. In a low voice, she said, âLord Prefect, is there something else you need?â Although her voice was very calm and tranquil, Linley could sense the unbridled anger that was hidden within that calm!
Her son was already died, but Beirut still wouldnât give it a rest?
Linley couldnât help but look towards Beirut, who had a calm smile on his face. Beirut said, âAccording to the rules of the Four Divine Beasts clan, those who betray the clan shall have all their bodies and clones destroyed, correct?â
âCorrect.â The Grand Elder raised her chin, looking towards Beirut. âLord Prefect, why do you ask this?â
âI simply would like to ask, how many clones did Forhan have?â Beirut laughed calmly.
The Grand Elder was silent for a moment. The mask on her face prevented others from seeing her expression, but Linley could see that the Grand Elderâs entire body was trembling slightly. Clearly, she was already utterly livid.
âIncluding his original body, three clones in total.â The Grand Elder said in a low voice. âHowever, my sonâs original body was still at the Saint level. Thus, when I killed him, only two divine sparks came out. Lord Prefect, I wonder if my answer is satisfactory for you?â
âLittle Sis.â Gislason reproved softly.
The Grand Elderâs words and attitude were clearly hostile.
Beirut let out a calm laugh. âItâs fine. She just killed her own son with her own two hands. I can understand why she is in a poor mood. ButâŚGaia [Gaiâya], I hope that you will remember that your son was a traitor to the clan. He deserved his death!â Beirut spoke with no mercy or remorse.
The Grand Elderâs body shuddered once.
âAlright.â Beirut stood up. âThis matter is at an end! Dunnington, Phusro, Linley, come, letâs all go back.â
Linleyâs group immediately rose.
As Beirut walked past the blood-stained corpse, he glanced sideways at it and said calmly, âHurry up and dispose of the body. It is foul to behold!â After speaking, Beirut left, while Dunnington and the others followed.
As Linley left, he glanced at the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder just waved her hand, and the corpse on the ground transformed into dust.
âLetâs go. Letâs go. I didnât expect that Forhan was a traitor.â The Elders left, all disgusted. In but a few moments, the only ones remaining in the hall were Gislason and the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder stood in the center of the hall, not moving at all.
âLittle Sis, Forhan was a traitor to the clan. He deserved to die!â Gislason walked over, resting his hand on the Grand Elderâs shoulder. Once a person became known as a traitor to the clan, the other members of the Four Divine Beasts clan would hold that person in contempt. Even though Forhan was dead, nobody felt pity for him.
âI know.â
The Grand Elderâs voice was very low. âBut I still feel miserable. Alright, Elder Brother. Iâll go back now.â The Grand Elder didnât say anything else. She turned and immediately left. Her son had become a traitor to the clan and had been killed by her with her own two hands. Perhaps the person hurt the most by Forhanâs affair, in the entire Skyrite Mountains, was the Grand Elder.
Linley and the others flew down, entering their gorge.
âHaha, awesome, awesome!â Bebe laughed loudly. âI never liked that father-son duo. They lusted after the Bossâ Coiling Dragon ring from the very beginning, and I suspected them long ago regarding this event as well. So it really was them. An excellent death! An excellent death!â
Linley laughed as well.
He, too, had suspected Forhan, but he wasnât sufficiently certain. Why, however, had Beirut dared to act in such a way? Wasnât Lord Beirut concernedâŚthat Forhan might have been wrongly accused? How would Lord Beirut have resolved the situation, if that had been the case?
Linley was puzzled about this the entire time.
Beirut, Dunnington, Phusro, and Linley sat down within Linleyâs home, around that stone table. Linley hesitated for a moment, but in the end still voiced his puzzlement. âLord Beirut, how could you be so certain that Forhan was the traitor?â
Beirut looked at him, a hint of satire in his gaze. âYou were the one who told me that it was he!â
âI told you that I didnât have any evidence, just suspicions.â Linley said hurriedly.
âHahaâŚâ The nearby Dunnington seemed to have heard something enormously funny as he began to laugh loudly.
Linley couldnât help but feel lost. What was so funny? The nearby Bebe spoke out. âGrandpa, can it be that you really did learn about this early on from a Sovereign?â
âHow could I have known about this early on?â Beirut laughed. âIf I had known early on, I would have sent someone to warn Linley long ago. In truth, before today, I wasnât completely certain either.â
Linley was stunned. Not completely certain?
âBut Lord Beirut, you even invited Dunnington over, then did a forcible hypnotism. If Forhan hadnât been the traitor, wouldnât that have been embarrassing?â Linley immediately said.
âHahaâŚâ Dunnington once again started to laugh loudly as he glanced sideways at Beirut. âBeirut, stop intentionally teasing Linley. Iâll tell him!â Dunnington immediately began to explain the truth.
As for Linley, he listened intently.
âThis Lord Beirut of yours wasnât sure at all about whether or not Forhan was the traitor.â Dunnington laughed. âThatâs why he invited me over. After I hypnotized Forhan, I first did a quick review of Forhanâs memories!â
Normally speaking, there was no way to review a Deityâs memories.
But once a person was hypnotized and completely unable to resist, a terrifying figure like Dunnington was able to easily review the memories of the hypnotized person.
âAfter reviewing his memories for just a moment, I knew!â Dunnington laughed. âThat he was the traitor!â
âBut what if he wasnât?â Bebe immediately asked, and Linley looked at Dunnington as well, puzzled.
Dunnington laughed. âIf he wasnât? Easy!â
âThen I would have immediately allowed Forhan to regain consciousness.â Dunnington glanced sideways at Beirut. âAfterwards, I would say a few words of praise, along the lines of, âThe Azure Dragon clan really does live up to its name. Even I am unable to forcibly hypnotize him.ââ
Dunningtonâs words completely flabbergasted Linley, Delia, and Bebe.
Indeed, when a person was hypnotized, they would lose their consciousness. If Dunnington was successful in his hypnosis attempt, he could let Forhan regain his consciousness after investigating Forhanâs memories. Even Forhan himself would only have felt that his head had gone dizzy for a moment. He wouldnât feel much else.
âFormidable.â Linley sighed to himself.
If Forhan wasnât the traitor, Dunnington could just deliberately lie and claim that he had been unable to hypnotize Forhan. The end result would simply be that Gislason, the Grand Elder, and the others would feel that they had gained a great deal of face. After allâŚeven a supreme expert such as Dunnington had been unable to forcibly hypnotize an Elder of the clan.
âThis really was an excellent idea.â Bebe sighed in amazement as well.
âExcellent my ass.â Dunnington stroked his beard. âIf Forhan truly hadnât been the traitor, then I, Dunnington, would have suffered a blow to my reputation.â
âStop worrying.â Beirut began to laugh. âYour reputation wouldnât have suffered anything. Even if you publicly acknowledged that you were unable to hypnotize Forhan, others would just think that this innate ability of the Azure Dragon clan is incredible. They wouldnât think that you are weak.â
Dunnington raised his eyebrows, laughing.
His power was something that was publicly acknowledged, after countless shocking, world-shaking battles. The number one expert of the Chaotic Sea, aside from the Sovereign. Who would dare belittle him?
âLinley, Bebe.â Beirut suddenly said. âAfter this affair, although the Grand Elder has nothing to say for herself, in her heart, she certainly is unhappy. I think youâd best leave the Skyrite Mountains and come to my place.â
Leave the Skyrite Mountains? Linley couldnât help but turn and look at Delia.
âExcellent!â Bebe said jubilantly. âThe Skyrite Mountains are rather boring. I havenât even gone to Grandpaâs prefectural manor. I want to go and have some fun.â
âDelia, what do you think?â Linley looked towards Delia as he spoke to her through divine sense.
Delia looked at Wade, nestled in her arms, then replied through divine sense, âWade is still young. Itâs best not to make him tired by running all over the place. When Wade can take care of himself, we can go out wandering again.â
âRight.â Linley nodded. After their discussion through divine sense, Linley had come to his decision.
âBoss, wanna go?â Bebe immediately asked through divine sense.
Linley laughed, then shook his head. âLord Prefect, Bebe, I wonât go for now. Wade is still youngâŚand with Delia and myself living in the gorge with the other members of the Yulan branch, life is still fairly comfortable. As for what the Grand Elder will doâŚI wonât go to Bloodbath Gorge. Even if she isnât happy, what can she do?â
âFine, then I wonât pressure you to come.â Beirut laughed calmly and nodded.
âAlas.â Bebe let out a sad sigh. âBoss, you accompany Delia and your son, then. Iâll head there for now.â
Linley laughed and nodded. He could tell that although Bebe had always stayed here with him, Bebeâs heart wasnât here. âMost likely, Bebe is still missing Ninny.â Linley sighed to himself. âHowever, Nisse is in the Jadefloat Continent.â
That very night, Beirut, Dunnington, Phusro, and Bebe all left the Skyrite Mountains. The four clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan as well as a large group of other people came to send them off. Afterwards, Linleyâs life returned to a rare calm.
Linley spent the calm days accompanying his wife, his son, and training.
In the blink of an eye, three years passed.
Linley was currently in his room, reading a book, while his four divine clones were all in the midst of training.
âFather, the snow is so thick. Quick, come look!â
Suddenly, a bright, clear voice rang out in the room. Hearing it, Linley couldnât help but grin as he stood up, walking towards the outside. A youthful, tender-looking lad was outside, grabbing fistfuls of snow, while Delia was there playing with him.
âFather, look. Thatâs the snowman that I made.â Wade, seeing Linley come out, immediately ran over while calling out to him.
As Wade ran over, he leapt off the ground, giving Linley a flying hug. âFather, the snowman is over there. Look.â Wadeâs little face was tender and ruddy, so soft, it seemed as though one would be able to squeeze water out of his face with a pinch.
Linley liked Wade very much.
By contrast, when he had been in the Yulan continent, Linley had always been training when Sasha and Taylor had been growing up. He hadnât spent any time with his children.
âOh, Wade. This is the snowman you made?â Linley turned to look. The snowman was just a pair of snowballs, one large, one small, with a few gems serving as the eyes and nose. There were actually a total of three snowmen; two large ones and one smaller one.
âRight..â Wade nodded solemnly, as though this were a weighty matter. âFather, look. That one is you. That one is Mother. That one is me.â
Hearing this, Linley couldnât help but start to laugh.
âWade, stop hanging on to your father. Come down.â Delia said.
âOh.â Wade obediently let go of Linley and fell down, but the ground was slick. As he landed, he slipped and fell, and Delia couldnât help but immediately go help him back up.
Linley chuckled, then casually, leisurely began to walk forward on the snowy ground. With each step, he left a footprint behind. The snow had come to a halt long ago, but the snow on the ground was fairly thick. Everything within his field of vision had turned a silvery white color.
âFather, Father.â Wadeâs call rang out from behind.
Linley turned to look, but as he did, he saw out of the corner of his eyes his own footprint. He had left a deep impression in the snow, but a hint of green grass was still forcing its way out from within it. In that instant, when Linley saw that hint of greenâŚ
And when he heard his son calling from afar, âFather, Father!ââŚ
Linleyâs mind suddenly swept through the various events of recent years, from Deliaâs life-threatening crisis to his own despair, then his escape from that despair, followed by last few years of calm, blissful life.
âBOOM!â
A green spot of light suddenly sprang into existence within Linleyâs mind, and in the next instant, it transformed into a green sun, illuminating his entire mind.