Chapter 317
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Chapter 317: Clone Assassination
In the eyes of many, Duke Murray’s proposition wasn’t just a “proposal” but “a stroke of fortune” and “a noble’s mercy.”
Anyone who could seize the benefits from this opportunity would surely secure a place in history. It was a venture worth risking everything.
Yet, “Viscount Edmond’s” reaction stunned everyone.
“Sorry, I need to think it over.”
The room fell silent. Except for Duke Murray, who maintained a calm composure, everyone else was visibly shocked.
They couldn’t comprehend Viscount Edmond’s hesitation. What was there to consider?
Who did he think he was? Just another minor noble from distant lands.
“What is there to consider?”
Baroque, a senior priest enthralled by psychic hypnosis, had long been convinced he was an old friend of Edmond’s. The question burst from him in a tone filled with anxious concern.
Bai Yan shook his head slightly. “So, do all the major players in this venture know about it?”
Duke Murray smiled knowingly.
“Of course, you should already know who I represent.”
The subtle grin from Duke Murray sparked quiet understanding among the crowd.
It was no secret—he represented the Saint, the “Pupil of Dark Light.” Among the many Dark Night Saints, the Pupil of Dark Light managed the secular affairs, rumored to be the wealthiest individual in the Kingdom of Dark Light.
Compared to the aloof Incarnation of Dark Light, the spiritual leader detached from worldly concerns, the Saint wielded influence that resonated deeply with the populace.
“I’ll join in,” Earl Edward announced with resolve. “With your assurance, I’ll invest as much as needed.”
But another noble, a wine magnate, hesitated. “But Belan World doesn’t seem like a safe haven. I was thinking of moving my family there…”
Duke Murray nodded. “The current unrest in Noah makes it unsafe for continued residence in the native world.”
Bai Yan mused silently. Earl Edward’s family had connections to a black wizard he’d once encountered in Tatsumi City. This clan had long supplied wines to high society, even for sacred rituals.
“I know of another habitable world,” Duke Murray offered. “Its environment and development make it suitable for refuge.”
“That’s excellent!” The wine magnate’s face lit up with relief.
Bai Yan remained deep in thought. His hesitation about Duke Murray’s proposal stemmed not from uncertainty about the business itself but his distrust of the man.
Duke Murray appeared to be an ordinary person, yet Bai Yan’s abilities failed to penetrate his thoughts—a rare and unsettling anomaly.
This mistrust resonated with the isolation Bai Yan had come to understand in Maryse. Possessing the ability to peer into others’ minds often eroded faith in humanity. The corruption and deceit that seemed ever-present in society made genuine trust a scarce commodity.
Even so, Duke Murray left without pressing Bai Yan for an answer, a move that only deepened the latter’s suspicion.
As the banquet wound down, a sudden shift in the air drew Bai Yan’s attention.
A waiter, moving unobtrusively
moments earlier, discarded
his tray and produced a sleek,
high-tech weapon. Without
hesitation, he aimed at Duke
Murray and fired.
The advanced weaponry, alien
in the retro-styled Kingdom of
Dark Light, released a white
beam that would have struck
true—had an invisible barrier
not intercepted it.
A female supernatural
bodyguard, hidden among the
guests, reacted swiftly,
casting defensive magic that
nullified the attack.
Undeterred, the assassin
continued firing, his expression
blank and resolute.
Meanwhile, Duke Murray
sipped his wine, unfazed by
the chaos.
“Who dares?” Baroque
thundered, his anger palpable.
Dark energy erupted from him,
enveloping the assassin in a
pillar of black light,
immobilizing him.
Though Baroque could have
ended the attacker instantly, he
chose restraint to avoid
suspicion of a cover-up.
Bai Yan watched, feigning
surprise. In truth, he had
sensed the assassin’s intent
earlier but allowed the events
to unfold, hoping to glean
insight into Duke Murray’s
character.
Approaching the restrained
figure, Duke Murray inquired,
“Who sent you? Colonial
rebels? The Air Alliance? Night
Union? Or someone
domestic?”
The assassin remained silent.
Suddenly, Duke Murray’s
expression shifted.
“This man is a clone from Noy
Military, likely sent by the
Night Union,” he declared. “He’s
here to release a biochemical
weapon.”
At that moment, the assassin’s
body exploded, releasing an
invisible toxin. Panic surged
as the deadly substance
spread rapidly.
Time froze. Bai Yan,
harnessing his mind power,
assessed the scene. The toxin
threatened to wipe out
everyone present. Though
tempted to act, he hesitated,
sensing an imminent twist.
As expected, salvation came in
the form of a fissure tearing
through space. The deadly
substance was drawn into the
void, neutralized in seconds.
A towering figure emerged—a
brown-haired man with an
unyielding presence.
“It’s Chris!”
The legendary leader of the
Knights of the Divine Blade
had arrived.
Chris’s presence reassured the
crowd. He acknowledged their
gratitude but remained
focused. “I sensed danger
while pursuing the Order of the
Moon Witch and came to
investigate.”
When pressed about the
attack, Duke Murray attributed
it to tensions over Belan
World’s resources, speculating
that the Noy Military aimed to
monopolize them.
However, Bai Yan felt the
explanation lacked credibility.
If the Night Union wanted to
disrupt operations, killing
Duke Murray wouldn’t achieve
much—they could easily
replace him.
The banquet concluded amidst
unease. Bai Yan left, the
snowfall outside mirroring his
own turbulent thoughts.
As he boarded his carriage, he
resolved to strengthen himself
further, knowing the path
ahead would demand nothing
less.
