Chapter 64: Teetering on the Brink of Rupture

The witch's voice was soft and captivating, carrying a mature allure. It swirled through the room like a rich fragrance, making one drowsy and yearning to crawl under the witch's skirt to become her loyal dog right then and there.

The deep blue, almost violet eyes swept over the syndicate manager before her. The Azure Witch parted her pink lips and asked a question she had once posed countless times to the high-ranking members of the syndicate.

"Charles, tell me, who killed Tina Isabella?"

Who killed Tina Isabella?

Wasn't it you?

Charles shuddered violently, an image involuntarily flashing through his mind—a widely circulated recording within the underground market of the Oran Kingdom: the fall of the legendary mage.

The recording clearly and unambiguously documented the entire process of the Azure Witch brutally murdering the former president of the Stardust Assembly.

There was simply no room for debate or denial; this was a罪证 (piece of incriminating evidence) recorded in history and etched into the hearts of all the kingdom's people.

This middle-to-high-ranking syndicate member still remembered that the reason this recording became so widely circulated seemed to stem from a suggestion made by one of his colleagues.

The underlying motivation was to deliver a devastating blow to the reputation of the ancient Mage Association.

In this bloated and decaying kingdom, nothing grabbed attention more than a hero being brutally tortured and killed.

Even the royal family, who maintained order, and the Holy See, which propagated orthodoxy, tacitly permitted the matter.

It wasn't until Olivia unleashed a fireball that smashed half of Crystal City to ruins that all such recordings vanished entirely from the market.

"Speak!"

The chill inside the carriage pierced through his marrow, seemingly freezing the internal organs in Charles's chest and abdomen.

He exhaled a breath laden with ice crystals and shouted with a trembling voice:

"It, it was you! You killed Tina Isabella!"

"You are a sinner of the kingdom, an evil witch!"

"I warn you, the grandmother's best friend of the cousin of my second uncle is an executive of the syndicate! If you dare..."

"If you dare, spare my life!"

Charles uttered words of humble entreaty with the toughest attitude he could muster in his entire life.

However, the witch behind him remained unmoved, instead bursting into a series of low, mad laughter.

"Hahahaha..."

"You all know I killed her. Everyone knows I killed her. Even I myself know I killed her."

"My memories are so vivid, as if this happened only yesterday..."

"Yet, she was such a gentle person, such a considerate person, someone who never quarreled with others, someone who so carefully cherished her own child..."

"How could I possibly bear to harm her?"

"It's impossible! It's simply impossible!"

"All of this is fake!!!"

The witch's voice suddenly pitched higher, then abruptly ceased, shifting into a bone-chilling, level tone:

"There's no need to be so terrified, Mr. Charles. I said I wouldn't harm you."

"I have another question I'd like to ask you. Do you know in what year the Kingdom Financial United Savings Bank—your syndicate's predecessor—was founded?"

"Hmph♪, the Holy See has the history of the Holy See, and the history of the Mage Association and the Enclosure Academy can be traced back even further than the founding of the Oran Kingdom."

"And the 'Adventurers Guild', the 'Dwarf Clans', and the 'Dragon Domain', which lost their lineages and vanished into the river of history 367 years ago, 546 years ago, and 698 years ago respectively, all have complete, verifiable ruins."

"So answer me now, where does the history of the syndicate come from?"

Hearing this, Charles blurted out without a moment's hesitation:

"The syndicate also began in that era. Its founder, Stderr Wiggin, responded to the call of the First King, supporting victory after victory with the vast wealth in his hands."

"Mr. Stderr Wiggin's contributions are absolutely no less than those of any other legend!"

Hearing this, the Azure Witch's intoxicating, alluring eyes narrowed slightly, as though she had finally grasped that fleeting flash of inspiration in her mind.

"Is that so?"

"We all know the fairness of the First King, Heinleth. Even toward different races, he granted sufficient respect after founding the kingdom."

"Then here is the question: why are there only seven seats at the Round Table Council instead of eight?"

Charles froze, his brow furrowing as he carefully recalled the syndicate education he had received since childhood.

That's right.

Why were there only seven, and not eight?

—

"Hi♪, Olivia, would you care for a glass of Lion County's signature mellow wine?"

Amidst the wrecked and ruined villa, Alena emerged from the cellar, looking somewhat awkward as she gazed at the black-haired woman searching for her, offering a greeting with complete lack of self-awareness.

Olivia, however, remained expressionless, her fox-like eyes brimming with undisguised disappointment.

"Bitch, are you really that cowardly? Why did you run? Why did you hide?"

The baroness pressed her lips together, maintaining her smiling demeanor.

"Perhaps it's because I'm afraid to die..."

"So much so that you've thrown away even your face? Huh!?"

"Why didn't I notice before how shameless you are!"

Olivia said furiously.

Then, pointing at Ron, she yelled at Alena:

"Even a minor has more spine than you! He knew to protect you in danger, but what about you? Where was your magic?"

With that, she glared hatefully and exasperatedly at the blonde youth. "Ron, don't you sit there looking smug. I'm not praising you. I'll settle tonight's accounts with you when we get back."

"And in the future, stay away from this bitch, or you won't even know when you've been sold out!"

Alena's expression did not change in the slightest; she maintained that same smiling, indifferent look toward everything.

Yet, when Olivia directed her scolding at Ron, Alena covered the corners of her lips with her palm, a bitter smile escaping her.

After all, she still lacked the courage to face her dear friend.

The black-haired woman's hatred for the witch was a matter known to all.

And the fact that the witch had murdered Olivia's mentor was something even Alena herself could not refute.

She did not know whether her speculations and the direction of her investigation were correct,

nor did she know if Olivia would completely break ties with her upon learning her true identity,

or even worse, harbor such deep resentment as to deal her a fatal blow.

Just like that night six years ago, she had lacked the courage to accept this heinous act, abandoning a friend in dire straits and choosing to flee.

Perhaps only by listening to her friend's angry reproaches and mockery, feeling the slivers of disappointment directed at her, could she find a shred of peace for her tormented soul.

After all, having committed the crime, she deserved to be treated thusly.

"Uh, actually, being cowardly isn't necessarily a bad thing."

At that moment, Ron seemed to sense someone needed assistance, and under Olivia's glaring gaze, he patted Alena on the shoulder.

Faintly, a halo of holy light seemed to encircle him as he patted his chest proudly and said:

"Take me, for example! I'm also very cowardly and afraid of trouble!"

You?

Hearing this, the corners of Alena's mouth twitched.

When a person is rendered utterly speechless, they indeed can only manage a helpless smile.