Chapter 79
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Chapter 79: Reno’s End
The blazing, fervent inferno has finally been quenched.
Maryse drew a deep breath as she gazed upon her bound father, her countenance fraught with complexity.
The steel chain appears to be an ordinary one, yet it holds magical power and embodies the concept of “binding.” It is impossible to break free from it quickly from the inside.
Just as her past self was once restricted, now this man is also restricted by himself.
No one can bind another’s heart… except oneself.
She suddenly felt a hint of fear.
Would the Savior of Babel Tower permit her to kill this man herself?
If she could truly do this… Maryse extended her trembling hand, and the tips of her fair fingers touched her father’s forehead as a plethora of familiar yet unfamiliar memories flooded in.
Her power has evolved.
Although Maryse had rarely practiced the ability of “mind-reading” deliberately, over the past twenty years, she had grown through the continuous process of automatic energy release and bloomed in battle.
Perhaps this new power may not be formidable in combat, but it certainly possesses immense utility!
Memory retrieval.
Though Maryse is currently unable to accurately retrieve all memories and can only randomly access some of them, with time and practice, this ability will grow increasingly powerful.
Her eyes were filled with continuously flickering images, scenes upon scenes emerging in her mind.
Those are memories of the past, memories that are hard to forget, memories from before the age of eight…
Maryse saw herself before the age of eight, surrounded by people, feeling such bliss, while her father genuinely and wholeheartedly doted on her at the time.
Indeed, the most important reason is that she is the most beautiful girl in the Augustus family; even the kings who reign over the Air Alliance covet her, and she holds tremendous strategic value.
But it was also because she is his daughter.
Later, Maryse witnessed more and more fragmented memories, incomplete yet truly allowing her to understand the man’s experiences spanning over a hundred years.
Previously, he had delved into darkness far beyond what she had imagined. The Augustus family, one of the five major families in Tatsumi City, was never an innocent presence.
However, collaborating with a cult remains a grave taboo.
Since reading “The Chaos Book” in the study, Reno has become increasingly unstable, his cognition altered. The book is believed to be a “malevolent” creation by a member of the Black Star Faction.
“So that’s how it was.”
Tears flowed uncontrollably down her face as Maryse’s emotions became incredibly complex.
Long-term exposure to “The Chaos Book” is the reason why you unconsciously act for the Black Star Faction… unaware of your own behavior in this regard.
However, however… Why are you genuine in this aspect towards me?
Can’t all the cruelty be influenced and manipulated by others?
The girl’s sole hope was shattered.
Reno gradually opened his eyes, his expression solemn.
“You came to know… the secrets of those families.”
Maryse couldn’t help but speak calmly, “The family’s secrets, the darkness, the things that cannot be spoken to outsiders, are now all under Babel Tower’s control. Please inform Phoenix about this.”
Why must I tell Phoenix?
Reno furrowed his brows slightly, unable to comprehend.
For some reason, Maryse breathed a sigh of relief at this moment, knowing she wouldn’t be forced to kill this man herself.
Although she had mentally prepared herself for the most extreme circumstances, for the sake of the “happiness” experienced before the age of eight, she should not act in such a manner.
The reason why Reno must die is singular – he must pay the price for serving the Black Star Faction.
However, his situation was quite unique. Maryse didn’t know how the Savior would handle this man and could only pray not to witness his final moment.
“The task is complete,” Maryse said.
She had regained movement and her body was once again free, no longer turning to look at her father.
Reno managed to “whitewash” the situation with the Black Star Faction, but Maryse’s heart remained filled with sadness because she knew that her father’s decision to abandon her was not influenced by anyone or anything, but rather stemmed from within his own heart.
“So, farewell.”
The black mist gradually enveloped her and Mu Ling beside her. They quickly left the area before the Augustus family guards could surround them.
Maryse knew in her heart that the family would not harm their maid, Irena, because she always possessed the opportunity to reveal Augustus’s many hidden secrets to the public.
That man was a wise person who would choose to fear the existence of the Babel Tower.
“Goodbye forever,” she whispered at last.
The two girls vanished into the black mist, and Reno fell into a long silence.
Suddenly, Phoenix was joined by the guards, and even Raven Reaper, with his bronze mask, as they entered from outside.
“How did you become so slow to this extent?”
Reno’s tone was unpleasant; he felt they had arrived too late.
Phoenix advanced with his hands behind his back. At this moment, his demeanor was completely different from before, as if he had become another person.
Increased confidence.
He smiled and said, “Father, Mr. Raven Reaper has already investigated… your collaboration with the Black Star Faction.”
Raven Reaper stood by, and the progress of the situation was far smoother than anticipated. With Phoenix’s aid, he effortlessly obtained further evidence.
Sufficient evidence to make the current head of the Augustus family suffer an ignominious demise.
As an exchange, he will have the Demon Hunt Agency make a determination, proving these affairs are entirely the crazy individual actions of Reno, completely unrelated to other family members.
He never imagined the informant would be Reno’s eldest son, whom he had always valued most.
“Perhaps, this is what nobility truly means.”
Raven Reaper muttered to himself in a cold, indifferent tone.
Reno’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at his weak and submissive eldest son, suddenly comprehending many things.
No wonder Raven Reaper, the solitary Night Watcher, would attend the party voluntarily. It seems the traitor to this family is not just that girl.
“Why do you have to do this?” Reno asked in a low voice.
“Hmm? Because it’s all for the family’s sake.”
Phoenix’s expression was filled with great astonishment, as if his father had uttered something of immense significance.
“Have you forgotten all the guidance you’ve given me through the years? You are now under the Black Star Faction’s control, though you remain unaware. It’s time for you to step down as head of the family.”
The smile on Phoenix’s face remained unchanged as he recalled his inner thoughts prior to being controlled by Maryse.
[You also know my thoughts, and I can guess your intentions.]
[Do you want to take revenge against that man? And I want to become the new family head. Let’s work together.]
[In the study lay hidden the man’s secret. Under my report, Raven Reaper from the Demon Hunt Agency has begun his investigation.]
[I won’t activate the alarm spell. How about it?]
Deal reached.
Although Maryse didn’t kill her father, Raven Reaper’s investigation proved very successful. By combining it with what she already knew, the position of family head would at least be transferred to another.
This is all for the family’s sake.
“Maryse warns you to be wary of Babel Tower’s existence, as she has become privy to many hidden secrets…. So it seems, even Babel Tower knows of your betrayal towards me….”
Phoenix was slightly stunned – Maryse is a member of Babel Tower?
The chains on Reno’s body melted away like wind. He stood up, about to speak, his expression full of anger.
“Phoenix, don’t be presumptuous, I have never colluded with the Black Star Faction!”
The frightening atmosphere startled Phoenix, who furrowed his brow and stepped back. Was this man going to fight to the death?
Reno advanced gradually, his accumulated dignity making the traitors fearful one by one, and even the guards nervously retreated.
“I am still the… what?”
Suddenly, thick black mist rose from all around, accompanied by an incomprehensible heaviness, as if countless whispers of sadness and pain murmured in low voices.
Reno flailed his arm, wanting to resist angrily, but his body gradually disappeared.
“What is this thing! Is it the Babel Tower?”
He was extremely shocked and unwilling to leave thus.
“All of my actions are for the family’s sake. This family cannot exist without me. Honor, survival, reciprocity… How could you possibly understand what family truly means?”
Raven Reaper’s physique was akin to a scarlet flowing flame, swiftly leaping skyward and plummeting down like a shooting star!
He fell from above and detonated the entire banquet hall!
“Boom!”
The enormous shockwave instantly expanded with unstoppable force! All present were shaken and sent flying!
Raven Reaper was attempting to dispel the dark mist’s influence!
But he could do nothing and could only watch as Reno vanished before his eyes.
“Once again, it was Babel Tower…” The eyes behind the mask were full of vigilance and doubt.
——
A few hundred meters from the Augustus family stands an ecological botanical garden previously closed to outsiders. Inside lies a landmark building called the “Glass Trestle”.
On the Glass Trestle, Bai Yan, dressed in autumn attire, silently lowered his prepared binoculars.
“The raging fire has been extinguished.”
He had known the final outcome hours ago, yet still came here quietly to observe the family affairs, utilizing Power Possession to replicate Mysterious Magic’s formidable senses and coupling it with a telescope to monitor its progress.
“Unfortunately, I still couldn’t see clearly. If I had gotten any closer, I might have been discovered.”
Bai Yan calmly retrieved his cell phone, its screen still frozen on the latest task settlement page.
“The new level has been completed, and the Babel Tower Legendary Point is increased by 150.”
“Achievement unlocked: Tactical Card – A Moment of Divine Luck!”
“Level up reward received: 100 Source Energy Points.”
“One ‘noble’ person has been successfully captured.”
The second to last level proved quite challenging, but Bai Yan managed to complete it and claim two rewards at once.
He constantly contemplated “A Moment of Divine Luck” and it manifested thus!
Divine Luck!
Bai Yan’s heart surged; he knew well how powerful this thing was, but unfortunately, it remained a disposable item and could not be used without limitation.
“Very good, very good. This way, we have an additional guarantee for surviving the ‘First Doomsday Crisis’.”
Moreover, the Source Energy Points have again surpassed five hundred!
“It is time for the summons again.”
Bai Yan muttered to himself with complex emotions.
