Legacy of the Dark Sage

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Mannick's men guarding the middle formation's west side watched Kyran approach their defensive line. To them, he looked like a combination of a god of war and death in a black suit, holding two black swords dripping with blood. A thick veil of bloodlust and death seemed to flutter around him like a coat.

Kyran gave them a nod before making his way to the third section of the middle formation.

The soldiers standing guard could not help but hold their breaths as Kyran passed through. His oppressive presence was too much for them to handle.

Kyran immediately saw Mannick and Euan in the third section. There were a few officers with them. But when they saw Kyran, they excused themselves and cautiously left.

Mannick wore an indifferent expression while Euan was looking at Kyran with furrowed brows.

Kyran noticed Euan's look but ignored it. Clearly, the emperor was sizing him up.

"I may have caused this situation," Mannick said when Kyran was only two meters away.

"For sharing too much?" Kyran responded.

Mannick sighed, "Would you believe me if I say that I only said what was on my mind?"

"That's what I meant about sharing too much."

Mannick chuckled helplessly. Indeed, their situation was the result of him speaking his mind to Euan. That much, Mannick was aware of. Although, he was still unsure if this result meant he already broke the limit on how much he could meddle in the Human plane's affairs.

Euan was somewhat surprised at Mannick's attitude toward the newcomer. The latter had been respectful to Euan but there was still an unbridled aura about him. However, this aura was not present in Mannick when he spoke to the newcomer. There was even a feeling of awe and unwavering loyalty from his gaze.

Just who was this man? He did not appear to be older than Mannick. As a matter of fact, Euan felt the man was very young from his built and voice. Nevertheless, his domineering presence was visible in the naked eye.

Euan found the man's temperament familiar.

An image of a young handsome man with short black hair and dark gray eyes wielding a black spear while fighting in a training arena filled with other students flashed through Euan's mind. His eyes widened as the image appeared to overlap with the man before him.

Though this man was not carrying a spear, his temperament was similar to a Regis!

"You're from the Regis Clan."

It was not a question, but a statement. The more Euan observed the man, the more he was convinced the latter was a Regis. And not just an ordinary clan member, but a real family member.

True Void whistled. He was not entirely surprised that Euan guessed half of Kyran's identity just by his temperament.

[Looks like even if you decided to hide your identity as a Regis, the emperor will only tacitly accept that you did not want to reveal yourself.]

Kyran was a Regis through and through. It was because of this reason that Haylee also thought of the Regis Clan when she watched him fight. Even when Kyran merged his own techniques, which he developed after years of training in the Tower of Tribulation, with the Regis techniques, Haylee still noticed something. But what she noticed first was his temperament, not his techniques.

Kyran looked at Euan with raised brows. For him to recognize Kyran was a Regis meant he had been around one for some time.

Though the man before him did not have the Regis's signature gray eyes, Euan was positive he was a Regis.

Without commenting on Euan's statement, Kyran looked at Mannick again and asked, "I had a rough idea of what's happening but I still want you to tell me everything."

"Alright," Mannick replied.

Euan did not mind that Mannick did not bring up the topic of introduction, nor was he offended when the man did not confirm his identity. The latter's silence could be considered his tacit acknowledgment.

The three sat on boxes, which served as makeshift chairs. Mannick explained the current situation to Kyran while Euan silently observed from the side.

[Looks like the princess isn't the one who ordered the attack.]

Kyran did not comment on True Void's thoughts. Both knew the Crown Princess was busily unsealing the Macabre Glacier and left the rest to Lira.

Mannick said they had seen Lira among the enemy's ranks before the attack. Logically speaking, even if Lira were the Crown Princess's personal Royal Knight, she would not have the power to mobilize the army. Thus, Mannick and Euan believed Haylee issued a Royal Decree with the Grand Marshal's seal— only this could override the Emperor's authority. With the decree, Lira could act as Haylee's representative and have the army mobilize according to the Royal Decree.

Technically they were right. But Kyran and True Void knew the Crown Princess did not specifically order the attack on Emperor Euan. It was Lira's decision.

"Let's not rule out the possibility that Lira is moving according to her own judgment," Kyran said after much contemplation. He did not say this to defend Haylee, but because he could not directly tell them what Cyneah told them, he could only hint that the former had a different plan.

Kyran could not tell them what Cyneah saw because he did not want to reveal her existence. He still had reservations about the Royal Family's involvement in her situation. She said she had been living with her mother. But who was her mother? Was it the late Empress? Or a trusted handmaid of the empress who took her away? Why didn't the Emperor know about Cyneah? Was he not a doting father? Why did he not know that another 'princess' was born during the attack on the princess years ago? Why did Cyneah's supposed uncle want her dead? Was that her real uncle? If not, who was he? Is he related to the 'mother' who took care of Cyneah, or was he someone sent by the Royal Family?

Until Kyran knew the answers to these questions, he could not trust Euan fully.

Euan looked at the man skeptically. Normally, he did not like it when others casually called his daughter by her name or even showed any disrespect toward her, but surprisingly he did not feel that way toward the latter. He even felt that this man's attitude toward his daughter was familiar.

"As a father, I still hold a sliver of hope that this is only a misunderstanding and that my daughter has not bared her fangs at me. But as an Emperor, I cannot ignore the facts before me."

"How well do you know your daughter," Kyran asked while looking at Euan.

"Honestly, I don't know anymore," Euan replied with a bitter smile. "Since she is my heir, I taught her all the things she had to know in order to rule the empire, especially on how to conceal her emotions and thoughts before her enemies and subjects alike. She is a genius, yet before me, she is still inexperienced..."

His voice trailed off, and his expression turned grim, "At least, I thought she was..."

Kyran studied Euan for a moment. As the Emperor, the latter would definitely not show any weaknesses, especially in front of other people. However, the Euan right now was wearing his heart on his sleeves.

"We don't know to what extent the noble families' plot against his Majesty is on the way. For now, we must find the situation within the palace," Mannick told Kyran. "At least, we plan to have a team of four covertly enter the palace and understand the situation."

Kyran shook his head at once, "If Haylee issued a Royal Decree, it is likely that she already won over the parliament and the council. Going there will only result in falling into a trap.

"Rather than waste time understanding the whole situation, it is better to focus on strengthening our side. With the situation in Noser, the army's military strength is split. We must take this chance to rendezvous with the others and secure supplies while they are busy there."

Euan was surprised that the man knew about the situation in Noser. They had already considered what the latter had said, but Euan was hoping that Haylee's matter had not escalated yet.

As he pondered this, Euan realized what the man had said and repeated with a slight frown, "Rendevouz with the others?"

He looked at the man and asked, "Are you suggesting to join forces with the Regis Clan?"

Kyran looked at him with a complicated expression. But with half of his face covered, the two men did not see any change on his face.

Technically, what Euan said was not wrong. They would eventually join forces with the Regis Clan. But not at this moment. They could not go there because Ruin was still there. Even if Nolan were there to keep him busy, that guy was too unpredictable. His summons was far more sinister than Savagery's.

Besides, there was still Deception's threat. Kyran did not believe she had given up. She would definitely come back. She might have offended Ruin when she tried to make a move on Kyran, but that would not discourage her.

[I think we can trust him, Void Halfling. I also don't sense the princess's aura on him. He's safe.]

Kyran already knew that. He was only wary of Euan because of Cyneah. Nevertheless, True Void was right. It wouldn't hurt to have one more person he could use.

"We're not joining forces with the Regis Clan," Kyran started. "Not yet. Instead, we're going to join up with the others."

Before Euan could ask what he meant, Kyran lowered his scarf and removed his mask.

Euan was taken aback when he saw the man remove his 'face.' But his initial surprise was nothing compared to the shock he felt when he realized who the man was. Just as he was about to confirm the man's identity, the latter spoke, instantly leaving Euan dumbfounded.

"But I don't trust you."

Euan did not know how to respond. He thought Kyran did not trust him because of the army's mistake of attacking the Regis Clan. So he said, "I know what the army did to your family is unforgivable. And I will not make an excuse. But I will definitely make things right—."

Kyran shook his head, "I don't need you to make things right. The damage has been done. But that is not the reason why I don't trust you."

Without waiting for Euan to speak, Kyran raised his left hand, and a purple ring appeared above his palms.

"I can decide to end your life here, and no one will stop me."