Chapter 200 - Unaware, Aware

"So Million failed."

Vaellou, the leader of the Lunari house said with a pondering tone. He didn't know what to react. But while doing so, he glanced at Yeriyara, leader of the Solari House, who wore a darkened expression.

"I thought the Devil Himself was not a threat, said by a certain someone."

"Tsk!"

Yeriyara clicked her tongue, knowing that Vaellou is talking about her.

The representatives were having a meeting again Sunday midnight. They have already taken a move when a frightening report came.

[The third ranker in the AWR, Million Blades failed to kill the fourth. the Devil Himself.]

With that in mind, they hurried to the inconspicuous place where they would meet. This time, they went without invitation, and just as they expected, the others were there too.

"I thought the Devil Himself have a fatal weakness? Is this a lie?"

Yeriyara asked in a low voice. The director of the SSDA and his 'guard', the Nuke Empress are there too. She wanted to ask what happened in destroying the devil's trump card. However, she didn't have the guts to even talk to the living nuke.

"No, it's not a lie."

Ivan said.

"Ah, yes... the Drago House. Not only handling the biggest factories in manufacturing Artificial Spirits, they too have the biggest intelligence network. So tell me, how can you tell me it's not a lie?"

Gulethra, the leader of the Serpen House, said with snark. He, too, wanted to know. So he targeted Ivan while asking the question indirectly towards the man that gave them the information.

The man in the wheelchair heard this but didn't speak. In fact, he had yet to say anything from the beginning. Looking at him, smiling in silence, was unnerving.

"I just know that it's not a lie and that it was utterly destroyed by a 'bomb'."

Ivan said, not revealing anything more, leaving Gulethra dissatisfied. But hoping more info from his enemy would be dumb, therefore, he looked at the man sitting in the wheelchair for answers.

But that man was still silent.

"Excuse me, everyone, but I have an important report to make - to all of you."

Neracio, the director of the SSDA took everyone's attention. Once everyone's looking at him, he told them what the Empress had just reported while they were on their way here.

Even Seres was shocked to hear this.

"But no matter how strong the Ancient is, if it... if she stays inactive and passive, she wouldn't be a threat."

Vaellou commented as if trying to ease himself up. He was not the only one disturbed by this news.

"The Ancient is too mysterious, how can you say that she will not be a threat?"

As expected, Yeriyara argued.

"Then, what now? Who's the priority?"

Daikan spoke, leaving them thinking. Soon after, Gulethra replied in a passive-aggressive voice.

"I just want to know first, how Million couldn't kill the Devil Himself in his weakened state?"

"That's because he was protected by the Ancient, snake boy."

At that moment, a tall man entered the meeting room. This time, he was not acting weird and funny. He had a darkened expression, putting the Five Lords unease.

"Protected by the Ancient..."

The man in the wheelchair repeated this and shook his head, finally speaking up.

"No, I don't think that is the case. The Ancient would not protect an individual."

"How can you say that, mister?"

Million looked down on him and continued.

"I've been there and I can tell you what happened. The Ancient turned into a hellbeing, a fucking hellbeing!"

Shaking everyone's heart, he shouted something very absurd to the others' ears.

"Isn't that why the Ancient is terrifying in the first place?"

The Nuke Empress suddenly asked.

"I know, I know, but who knew? Who knew that these beings are real?"

Million said as if he's innocent.

"You should stop being ignorant. I believe you were just in a situation where you can be killed, aren't you? If you try to study, maybe you will know beforehand what to do in that situation."

The Nuke Empress continued berating Million but he could only respond with a glare. If anyone other knew what really happened, they would call the Empress a hypocrite. Just this afternoon, she was played by the Ancient's whims. Of course, she wouldn't tell that to others, not even her boss.

"Is that why you claim that the demonic brat is a threat?"

As if remembering something, Million looked at the man in the wheelchair.

"The Ancient called that brat literally the Devil Himself, a hellbeing too." he continued.

"The Ancient said that to you?"

"Loud and clear, mister."

Seres silently gasped before glancing at her father. Soon, that father replied.

"No, that's wrong too. My son is not a hellbeing, if he is, then I should be too, right?"

"Huh? What did you just say?"

Ivan almost stood up from his chair.

"You're the Devil Himself's father?"

Yeriyara asked and looking at the others' reaction, it doesn't seem like they know it either.

"Oh, I haven't told you? I thought it's already obvious."

The man smiled but nobody there really knows what's his emotions are.

"Dumbasses..."

Million whispered while looking over the Five Lords. The Five Lords glanced at each other. Looking at the director's reaction and his bodyguard's, it seemed that only the five of them didn't know that. However, the man didn't really say it out loud, how did the others know?

"Have you not heard of the Central Incident?"

Director Neracio butted in, letting the five recall the incident, and immediately made the connection.

"You're Professor Milliv?"

Daikan asked which the man in the wheelchair nodded.

"Weren't you killed by...?"

Ivan asked but didn't finish his words.

"By my son, yes." Professor Milliv didn't reveal any fluctuation on his face even though he just confirmed something horrible to others' ears.

"However, just like Dehian, I have revived."

Upon muttering that name, almost everyone glanced in one direction. They were all dumbfounded by what is there, lying on the floor, however, they wanted to avoid talking about it.

"Nobody needs to worry. Everything's under control. As for the Ancient, even if you provoke her, she wouldn't do anything. She will only show up when the time is ripe, that is why we need to act soon. Do I still have everyone's agreement?"

"Professor Milliv, these are all getting out of hand. You should be aware that none of us here actually wants to work with one another. I thought this was a one-time thing concerning eliminating the so-called 'greatest threat' but why are you saying it as if this... group... would stay together meeting like this in the long term?"

Yeriyara placed a complaint but Milliv was not the one who answered but the Nuke Empress.

"Solari Head, this is for the better for all of us. Are you thinking of going against all of us at once?"

"..." Yeriyara began to sweat as she felt the pressure, "Empress... Director Neracio, so you have completely taken your stance?"

"No, the Devil Himself is an Aberrant. Whatever their circumstances are, my job is to eliminate Aberrants."

It was Director Neracio who answered, making Seres internally sigh.

'This old man is good at acting.'

"Million, I want a complete detailed report from what happened when you try to assassinate Teren."

Professor Milliv said, making Million laugh.

"Who said I'm your lack-"

"I'll pay you."

"When do you need it?"

"I'll pay you more the sooner and better you write the report."

"Hehe, I guess this job will liven up my mood. I'm not the literature guy but expect it before the sun rises!"

Million widely smiled and exited.

"As for the others, everything's still under control. I'm already aware of the Ancient's involvement in all of this. That should be enough to support the time I said that the Devil Himself is the greatest threat, right?"

Afterward, the rest went back to each of their headquarters. Some rivalries were stuck in an argument but all of them happened outside the meeting room. Although Director Neracio and the Nuke Empress were still there.

"So, who is that girl?"

Milliv asked Seres for which she replied-

"You can call her Dehian."

"I see, so I'm not wrong. But... what is she doing there lying on the floor from the start?"

Seres glanced at the woman lying on the floor for a moment before answering.

"I told her that having a relationship within the SSDA is forbidden. That is why I made her break up with Teren."

"I see..." Milliv nodded before looking at Seres with a dumbfounded face, the first expression he had revealed which intrigued the two from the SSDA, "What did you just say? Break up?"

"Yes, Father, they're a couple."

"We WERE a couple. I've broken up with him."

The woman lying on the floor stood up while replying as if she was just not lying on the floor a moment ago.

"Dehian..."

Seres muttered after seeing this confident woman.

"Uncle Milliv, I can't believe I would see you here again."

"Yes, meanwhile, you stayed young since then, Dehian. But what is this about you and my son being a couple?"

"It's not me, that would be impossible. It's my naive self, Iesa Hun."

"Wait... Iesa Hun but that's-"

Not letting her uncle continue, Dehian put her hands up.

"Wait, she's coming out again, give me some time to rest first."

After saying that, Dehian turned around and went to the corner before curling up and making crying sounds.

"So... that's Iesa?"

"Probably" Seres nodded.

"Seres, those two... are in love with each other?"

Seres noticed that her father, Professor Milliv had a heavy voice upon asking this, as if anxious.

"From what I've observed... yes. Teren even wants to fight on his own for 'love'."

"Oh no...."