1348 Suspicion

Eshala trusted her intuition fully, once.

The same intuition told her it's okay to believe the words of the traitor from Pala.

So, she sent a clone with lots of potential but only rank 9 strength to sneak into the borders of the kingdom five hundred years ago.

The news reached Isadora and the rest was history.

Eshala wasn't sure to this day.

What was the traitor aiming for?

The destruction of her clone? Death of Isadora? Something else entirely?

But what she was sure about was that she hated being used as a pawn, even if it's her clone.

"It's where the crown prince candidates have gone recently. Even you're asking the information now. What's going on in that backward place?" The voice exclaimed.

"Census." Eshala said in a sharp tone.

Listening to the carefree voice of the betrayer, her killing intent demanded violence. But things didn't work like that.

"Oh, yeah, here you go."

A thick digital file, enough to fill an entire city library appeared in front of her.

"You owe me one." The voice said.

"That's why I'll give you an easy death instead of a brutal one." Eshala responded.

"…If you put it like that, I have no choice but to be grateful. I didn't know you were a divine ranker at that time. Else, none of this would've happened."

"I don't care. Your life is mine." She ended the call there and opened the Census.

The vast information was quickly sorted and few specifics were quickly highlighted.

Eshala's pupils shrank as she read one specific line.

< It used to be a single star civilization before the stars split. The stars were fused a few weeks ago >

The words of the God Emperor surfaced in her mind.

'Double star system. The slivers are from double star sytem.'

But by itself, this information only warranted a slight suspicion. The real deal was the information she read about the man ruling this civilization.

< Went into seclusion on … >

< Reappeared recently on … >

< Another seclusion from … >

< Latest reappearance on … >

Whenever Contantine of Centaurus was active, Varian of Humanity was in seclusion. It was the case in Centaurus and the Tower.

Interestingly, there were strange rumors about Varian himself.

Rumors that said he could use multiple powers, rumors that he was the descendent of a god-like species and was only a half-human.

The Census concluded the reason for his abnormal growth speed to be an identified plant.

Yet…

'Even if everything they wrote is true, he could still be Constantine.'

As if that wasn't enough, a new possibility also emerged.

'And the holder of the slivers.'

If that's the case, then all his abnormalities could be explained.

"I'm thinking too much." Eshala shook her head.

There's a very low chance for Varian to be a rank 6. And there's less than one in a trillion chance for him to be the holder of the slivers. There were too many double star systems in the Alliance.

"But even though it's a near impossible case, removing the last bit of suspicion is the right thing to do."

With a snap of her fingers, a woman materialized in front of the Princess.

"Zahara."

"Your Highness, what's your command?"

"Send someone to kidnap the ruler of newly found civilization near Centaurus."

"Yes."

"Wait." Eshala pursed her lips.

The 7th Prince ordered for a military operation into the Pala Kingdom and was preparing the corps. He'd have kept a strict oversight on this region.

Any powerhouse moving into this region from the Jai's territory would get into his sight.

"Don't send a strong one. Do it without raising Samael's suspicion."

"As your order."

Eshala Starlight crossed her legs crossed and leaned back. Her eyes glowed with a holy light but there was a cold smile on her face.

*** *** *** ***

"And you lose. 33-10."

Varian took off the VR gear and slumped on the couch.

"Fuck."

"What a bad-mannered boy."

"Don't call me boy."

"Aren't you a 19 year boy? Boy? Boy~"

Glaring at Isadora who was enjoying herself a bit too much, Varian gritted his teeth. "You virgin grandma, shut up!"

"Y-You! You bastard womanizer! You shut up!"

"No, you shut up!"

"No, you!"

"…"

Sarah, Sia and Enigma looked at them with a speechless expression.

"Why is she behaving like me?" Sia, in her phantom form, asked with a depressed expression.

"I think he has an unknown power," Enigma answered with a serious expression.

"Oh?" Sarah and Sia perked their ears.

"When you are close to him, your mental age regresses by a decade."

"Enigma!" Sia looked at her with an expression as if she was betrayed.

"Girls, does anyone want to join the Throne of Blood? The new update has celestial troops!" Varian's eyes were glued to the holgram in front as he invited in an excited voice, apparently checking out the new features.

"No."

The three rejected without hesitation.

"Oh, come on!" Varian groaned. "Isadora?"

"No."

"You too?!"

"If you lose, you have to call me Princess for an entire day."

"That's too much! One hour."

"One day."

"Six hours."

"One day."

"Fuck! Okay!"

The duo started the new game.

Shaking her head, Sarah turned to the two. "He didn't even propose the penalty for her if she lost. Var is really lost in that new game."

Sia clenched her fist and lightly slammed it against her palm with a vengeful expression. "I know it's a temporary phase but sometimes, I have a strong urge to smash that and every war game company's office into pieces."

"Should we plan a trip?" Enigma asked, tilting her head. "I mean, we did technically tour Zion duchy. But Sarah, you didn't go anywhere. Do you have a place in mind?"

"If this problem with Pala sorts out, then I'll drag him for a vacation." Sarah chuckled.

"A romantic planet of flowers." Sia chirped.

"A planet of snow." Enigma proposed.

"A planet famous for desserts."

"How about a planet with liquid flowers?"

"Ermm, I want to visit the border area and watch the war." Sarah scratched her cheek and said.

Sia and Enigma looked at each other before standing up and joining Varian in the match.

"Damn my romantic ideas!" Sia furiously put on the VR set.

"Aesthetics! Do you have any sense of aesthetics?!" Enigma followed with a frustrated expression.

"You two can't appreciate the discipline and effort that goes into a war! Damn your tastes! I'll show you who's the real queen!" Sarah also grabbed the headset and joined the game.

The family…was definitely not weird.