Salvation Through Delusion C53

Chapter 53

Zab’s jaw twitched again, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened—that he’d failed to overpower Tyroc.

“This time was just luck,” he snarled. “Let’s see if it saves you again.”

He raised his hand to attack, but Tyroc’s quiet voice stopped him mid-motion.

“Your hand’s trembling.”

“What—don’t change the subject, bastard.”

“You were shaking even worse before you struck. What’s wrong? Can’t control your power? Or…” Tyroc tilted his head slightly, golden eyes glinting with mockery. “Has it weakened?”

“T—that’s absurd—”

Zab’s protest faltered when Tyroc’s faint laugh sliced through it.

“Ah. So that’s why you’ve been avoiding monster hunts lately. Though you’ve been sweeping the market for black mana stones.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Then attack again. Go on—I’ll make sure to fix your technique this time.”

Now every remaining gaze in the ruined room turned to Zab’s trembling hand.

He tried to keep it steady, but the harder he forced it, the more violently it shook. Someone whispered, barely audible:

“He really is shaking.”

Zab flinched. Too late, he hid his hand behind his back, only proving Tyroc’s point.

“Tyroc,” he spat, “if it’s a fight you want, I’ll grant your wish.”

“As if I’d ever wish for something so pathetic.”

Tyroc let out a quiet scoff and turned his back, heading for the door.

“Think you can run away and bury your lies that way?!” Zab shouted after him.

Feigning composure, he flicked his hair back and glanced around the room with a sneer.

“Hah! To think I’d see the day Tyroc runs off with his tail between his legs. Even if his family’s fallen, I thought he’d at least have the decency to save face. Don’t you agree? Honestly, if he’d just beg me to let him join as a member, I might’ve considered it.”

“Tyroc doesn’t need your permission,” Altan said sharply as she stood, brushing dust from her clothes.

Zab’s eyes slowly turned toward her, narrowing—but the strong-willed Alpha met his glare without flinching.

“Tyroc’s membership was never revoked when he became the dethroned crown prince.”

“That’s a lie.” Zab’s tone was venomous. “When he was stripped of his title, all affiliations were revoked. Everyone knows that.”

Altan shook her head calmly. “No. The late Grand Duke Borhumi made no such order. In fact, she defended his status, saying he had every right to remain a member. It’s recorded in the club archives.”

Zab let out a sharp, humorless laugh.

“Records can be forged. The Koons are snakes—they’d twist anything to preserve what’s left of their so-called divine heritage.”

“The club’s records can’t be altered—”

“Oh? So you’re saying I’m lying?” Zab cut her off, voice dropping dangerously. “Are you accusing me of slandering my own mother?”

“……”

“Say it,” he pressed. “Go on. Call me a liar. You dare?”

“…No, Your Grace.”

Altan bowed her head at last, retreating. Zab’s smirk returned, dripping arrogance, but as soon as he left the room his teeth clenched so hard his jaw throbbed.

The late Grand Duke Borhumi again. Even dead, that wretched woman mocks me.

From the moment of his birth, she’d compared him to that cursed child of House Koon—crushing him, belittling him, sharpening his inferiority into something poisonous.

And now, even in death, she humiliated him.

Shame and rage tangled within him, sharpening into a single, poisonous thought.

I’ll destroy him.

He had to crush Tyroc completely. To do that, he needed the  Sword of Serenity—and to claim it, he had to become emperor.

He turned to his aide, voice cold.

“Send word to Torida. I don’t care what happens to Adeye Rue. Make him talk before midnight. If he fails—tear down the entire Ewik estate until the secret chamber is found.”

Beep. Beep. Beep…

A rhythmic electronic tone blared inside my head, pulling me out of the blackness.

That sound—I knew it. Back when I went monster hunting, I used to set my nanobots to monitor my hearing while I slept. The alarm only triggered when danger was detected.

Meaning—something’s wrong.

Monster?

The thought surfaced instinctively as I struggled to open my eyes. My hand twitched upward on reflex—but it didn’t move freely.

Wait. Why can’t I—?

My mind snapped awake just in time to register the tight ropes binding my wrists behind my back. I was lying on a grimy floor that stank of damp and mildew.

[You were attacked with a chemical agent in the rear yard of the club. You’ve regained consciousness after 6 hours and 17 minutes.]

Ah. Right. The one who’d sprayed me must’ve been Torida—Baron Ewik’s bonded partner.

So he’d dragged me off here, thinking I’d kidnapped the baron from that resort.

“Ugh…”

I tried to sit up but nearly retched. Whatever drug he’d used, it had wrecked my system. My limbs felt like jelly.

Still, I gritted my teeth and surveyed my surroundings. Definitely underground. Looked like an old basement turned prison cell.

Damn it. There has to be something I can use to cut this rope.

I scanned the floor—but aside from a few crawling insects the size of my thumb, there was nothing.

Where the hell am I?

[Insufficient data to determine location.]

“What? You didn’t activate auditory tracking while I was out?”

[Impossible due to limited processor allocation.]

“You sound awfully proud of that.”

[It’s the truth.]

…Fair point. I swallowed my irritation; no sense arguing with a machine. I’d just end up sounding like a CEO whining about employee efficiency while paying minimum wage.

Not that I needed Mo’s report for long.

Clank.

The iron door creaked open. Two hulking men stepped in—faces practically stamped with thug.

One of them grinned when he saw I was awake.

“What, you’re already up? Damn, I was gonna wake you with something fun.”

What did he just say?

I instinctively pressed my bound hands against my backside, glaring. But they grabbed me by both arms and dragged me to my feet before I could resist.

Thankfully, the person waiting ahead wasn’t interested in my ass.

“Adeye Rue,” the man who’d drugged me said, “let’s skip the games. You smuggled Baron Ewik out of the resort, didn’t you?”

I squinted at him. “You’re Torida, right?”

The response wasn’t verbal—it was a slap that cracked across my face.

“How did it go?”

Tyroc stepped into his carriage and immediately addressed Rick, who’d been waiting inside.

He had ordered him to pursue someone the moment he’d left the Gold Room.

But Rick’s expression was unusually grim.

“Solongo vanished after leaving the club.”

Seeing Tyroc’s silence, he rushed to explain himself.

“I sent Enya to follow her immediately, per your orders—but it seems a skilled mage transported her away.”

Tyroc gave no reply, his jaw tightening. Rick hesitated before continuing.

“Still… it’s strange, isn’t it? Solongo rarely leaves Lantua’s side. Would she really cause such a stir over Rue’s disappearance alone?”

“They’re siblings,” Tyroc said flatly.

“Sure, but Adeye Rue’s the kind who drinks himself under a table and passes out for days. Why send her to find him?”

“Because he died once,” Tyroc muttered, voice edged with irritation. “And Lantua’s suddenly sentimental about that.”

Rick raised his brows, surprised by the tone.

“Strange. You don’t sound like someone who doesn’t believe in Rue’s change.”

Tyroc didn’t answer. He turned his gaze toward the window, the faintest scowl on his lips—as if annoyed at himself for being unable to respond.

“Keep eyes on Zab,” he ordered finally.

“Is there something about him that troubles you, my lord?”

“There is.” Tyroc’s golden eyes narrowed. “Adeye Rue.”

Rick nearly choked. His master—who’d never so much as looked twice at the most beautiful men and women of the empire—had just said that name in a tone that carried weight.

Tyroc’s brow twitched at his reaction.

“Zab’s reaction to Rue’s disappearance was too sharp. If he took him, there’s a reason.”

Rick nodded slowly. “True enough. Grand Duke Borhumi doesn’t make moves without purpose. And Rue isn’t just anyone—he’s the only brother of that ruthless money fiend, Lady Lantua. Judging from the lavish gifts she’s sent us, she values him more than people think.”

He hummed thoughtfully.

“But if Borhumi really is behind this… then Rue must be holding onto something worth taking.”