THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR-Chapter 329: NO. ABANDON THE INVESTIGATION.
The platters gradually emptied as the evening progressed, tension giving way to comfortable silence. David finished his final bite, setting down his cutlery with the precise movement of someone accustomed to both battlefield precision and noble etiquette. Shay remained victorious on his lap, now curled against his chest like a contented cat claiming its territory.
David stroked her auburn hair with absent affection, his thoughts already shifting to matters beyond the dining room's intimate battlefield. The others had accepted temporary defeat, retreating into their own thoughts as servants silently cleared the remains of the feast.
"Seraphina," David said finally, breaking the contemplative quiet. "Your report on the Chamber of the Whisper's Creed."
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Seraphina dabbed her lips with practiced elegance, her cloth barely disturbing her impeccable appearance. With a gesture both subtle yet commanding, her fingers traced arcane symbols in the air—a display of talent that would have terrified most imperial mages. A shimmering parchment materialized between her palms, the edges still crystallizing as if condensing from the very atmosphere.
David observed the spell with quiet satisfaction. When they'd first met, Seraphina had been trapped between levels—a low-ranking imperial cultivator whose progress had mysteriously plateaued, her true witch heritage suppressed by conventional training. His intervention had required her to abandon decades of imperial cultivation techniques, essentially starting anew. The parchment-summoning spell, trivial as it might seem, represented significant progress along her reclaimed witch's path.
David's thoughts stirred as his fingers absentmindedly stroked Shay's hair. Her witch cultivation is progressing well, he mused silently. I wonder, which circle has she reached now?
The question hung briefly in the air before Seraphina proceeded with professional focus. "Since our last telepathic communication authorizing our initial investigation, we've methodically mapped Valemir's criminal infrastructure," she began, unrolling the parchment to reveal a detailed schematic of the capital, complete with glowing markers indicating various points of interest. "We infiltrated every significant black market and questionable establishment, seeking any connection to the Whispering Creed."
She tapped a section of the map that illuminated in response. "Results were minimal until approximately yesterday, when we identified a middleman operating under the name 'Kaz.' We've compiled a physical description and established his connection to multiple smuggling operations throughout the southwestern district."
"We took down a lot of gangs while gathering the information," Vivian interjected, leaning forward eagerly. Her crimson eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement, a stark contrast to the timid lady's maid she'd once been in Aethelwarin Castle. "They never even saw us coming. One moment they were counting their illegal profits, the next—darkness and silence."
David's eyebrow raised slightly. "Gangs? How many?"
"Approximately twenty-five criminal organizations have been... neutralized," Shay murmured from her position against his chest, the vibration of her voice sending subtle ripples through his body.
David couldn't entirely mask his surprise. Even Luna, normally imperceptible within his shadow, shifted slightly—a rare acknowledgment of being caught off-guard. These were women he had once known as domestic servants and administrative assistants if requred, transformed into something deadly beyond conventional understanding.
"You shouldn't be surprised," Angelica commented, her executioner's pragmatism evident in her tone. Unlike the others, she had always been a weapon—David had merely refined her edge. "The resources you provided accelerated their development considerably. The ancient texts on mana manipulation, the enchanted weapons calibrated to their affinities..."
She left the most significant factor unspoken, unaware that her words skirted the edge of a secret shared by everyone else in the room except herself. The other women exchanged knowing glances, a silent acknowledgment of what Angelica had yet to experience. They alone understood David's extraordinary technique—the "Sacred Essence Cultivation"—that had awakened latent potential within each of them through intimate cultivation sessions.
The method required direct transfer of his cultivated essence, a process that bound them to him through pleasure as much as power. Angelica, despite her combat prowess and loyalty, remained outside this inner circle, her potential still constrained by conventional limits that the others had transcended.
The hunger in their eyes as they gazed at David spoke volumes—desire for his touch intermingled inextricably with ambition for greater strength. Only Shay, temporarily satiated by her position of privilege, seemed content with mere proximity. The others radiated barely suppressed need, their power bound to his in ways that Angelica could sense but not fully comprehend.
David absorbed their collective attention like a dark star, neither encouraging nor discouraging the silent offers evident in their posture and gaze. His thoughts were already processing the intelligence gathered, calculating next moves with characteristic precision.
"Anyways," Seraphina interjected, her professional demeanor barely concealing deeper yearnings. Her fingertips brushed the parchment with unnecessary precision, a displacement activity to distract from thoughts that had nothing to do with intelligence gathering and everything to do with the ache of David's absence these past months.
"As I was saying, our main objective now is locating Kaz and—"
David's hand rose in a gentle yet unmistakable command. "No. Abandon the investigation."
The dining room temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Katrina's eyes widened in understanding, while confusion bloomed across Shay and Vivian's features.
"Why?" Katrina ventured, leveraging her status as the eldest of the former maids to voice what the others were thinking.
Angelica leaned forward, her executioner's instincts having already reached the same conclusion as David. "We underestimated the Creed," she stated matter-of-factly. "They clearly possess resources beyond our initial assessment if they can deploy a puppet with power equivalent to a King-ranked swordsman."
"But we're Master-ranked now," Vivian protested, crimson eyes flashing with the confidence of newly acquired power. Her hand unconsciously moved to where her obsidian blade would hang at her hip. "We've trained specifically to counter King-ranked opponents."
"Point of correction," Seraphina interjected, her voice cutting through Vivian's objection with surgical precision. "The entity that attacked us was suppressing its true capabilities. Its actual power signature matched Monarch rank, not King."
The revelation settled over the table like a shroud. Each woman recalculated their earlier brush with death, mentally replaying the warehouse confrontation with the new understanding that they had faced something far deadlier than initially believed. Silent gratitude for David and Luna's timely intervention reflected in their expressions.
David's lips curved into a knowing smile as he regarded Seraphina. "You noticed the suppression techniques. Impressive."
His approval warmed her more than she cared to admit.
"It seems the Creed may have a witch among their ranks," he continued, phrasing it as a statement but his raised eyebrow transforming it into a question directed at Seraphina.
She nodded, professional pride momentarily overshadowing her personal desires. "Most likely. The power manifestation I observed deviated significantly from conventional human magic channels. The energy patterns shared similarities with ancient witch covens from the northern territories—complex, primal, dark and distinctly non-imperial in origin."
"Huh," Shay sighed, frustration evident as she nestled against David's chest. The tactical discussion was necessary but interrupted her precious time with him.
David's hand moved to stroke her hair reassuringly. "Focus on your training for now. I'll provide more specific instructions later." He shifted slightly, prompting Shay to reluctantly rise from his lap as he stood. "Angelica."
The black-haired executioner straightened immediately, her posture shifting from relaxed dining companion to attentive operative in an instant. "Yes?"
"I want you to monitor the 'heroes' summoned by the Empress for the ceremony. Make contact with a minister named Salomonis va Ferrum. Gather whatever intelligence he possesses, then inform him the flame remains safe."
Angelica's brow furrowed slightly. "How will I identify this minister?"
A cryptic smile played across David's lips. "Don't concern yourself with that detail. Simply look for the most conspicuously inconspicuous official in attendance. You'll recognize him immediately."
Before Angelica could press for clarification, David smoothly turned and extended his hand to Vivian, who accepted it with barely contained excitement. He pulled her to her feet with effortless grace.
"I have a promise to keep," he murmured, his voice dropping to a register that sent visible shivers through Vivian's body.
Her crimson eyes widened, pupils dilating as her breath caught audibly in her throat.
"PROMISE?!" The word erupted simultaneously from four throats, indignation and shock perfectly synchronized.
The others remained unaware of the night when, during David's self-imposed communication blackout to manage his fractures, Vivian's thoughts had somehow pierced through his barriers. In that unexpected connection, she alone had spoken with him, extracting a promise that upon reunion, she would be his first priority. While the others had planned an elaborate competition to determine who would claim David's initial attention to the bed, Vivian had secured her victory through means none had anticipated.
"Bitch,"
Seraphina breathed, the uncharacteristic vulgarity slipping past her usual composure as David swept Vivian into his arms.
As he carried her from the dining room, Vivian cast a triumphant glance over his shoulder at her sisters-in-arms. Her expression held equal measures of desire for David and satisfaction at outmaneuvering her rivals. The door closed behind them, leaving the others in a silence charged with competitive determination.
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A/n: Hall Of Fame
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