Chapter 220. Fanatics in the shadows

Western Continent.

Iron Empire.

Waldhar State.

Sauna City.

Iron Vanguard Guild.

Dorian Vance stared at the projection on the wall with an expression of fear on his face.

He stood before his father, Malvin. Contrary to his usual arrogant demeanor, he was currently shaking.

His father was extremely angry. He had been in seclusion for a while now.

He had finally managed to break through. He was now an expert Rank 3 warrior.

When he came out of seclusion, he had been confident that the Iron Vanguard Guild would soar to higher heights because of his breakthrough.

But he heard a piece of news that not only left him angry, but extremely disappointed with his second son.

"Because of your late mother, who told me to take good care of you before she died, I have spoiled you too much! Not even your elder sister, who is more talented and exceptional than you, has enjoyed this level of tolerance from me." Malvin stood from the chair as he walked slowly towards his son.

Dorian didn’t dare to speak. His father had never been this angry with him before. He also understood the gravity and repercussions of his actions.

Had he known that the man he had offended on the ship would not only turn out to be the disciple of the third strongest person on the planet, but also someone who was a madman in his own right, he would have never attempted to use the man to flaunt his power.

Although the man had let him off, his father didn’t see things that way.

With the backing Aiden Vhorn had, getting rid of the Iron Vanguard Guild would be extremely easy.

"From now on, if I ever see you try to throw your weight around in the city ever again, you will no longer be my son," Malvin said.

"If Aiden Vhorn decided to harbor a grudge against us because of what you did, not even your elder sister, who is a professor at Alfina City University, will be able to protect us! You offended the disciple of a fucking legendary Rank 4 warrior! Do you even know what that means?"

Malvin roared. Dorian fell at his father’s feet.

"Father, I’m sorry. From now on, I will turn on a new leaf," Dorian said, hands shaking, voice trembling. "I won’t dare to cause trouble ever again!"

He knew his father was not the kind to hit his children. Had that not been the case, Dorian figured he would have probably been lying in the emergency ward of a hospital by now.

Malvin sighed.

He looked at his son, cowering on the ground in fear.

He didn’t like correcting his children because he treated them like adults who could make their own decisions. But this time, Dorian’s nonsense had gone too far.

But the boy was still his son.

He had to forgive him and give him the benefit of the doubt that he won’t try any nonsense like this again.

"Stand up." Malvin’s voice softened.

Dorian looked up at his father.

An expression of determination appeared in his eyes.

"I need to turn over a new leaf," he thought. "I really messed up big this time. I actually offended the disciple of a legendary Rank 4 warrior. Aiden Vhorn is personally a madman in his own right. The only reason why I am alive now is probably because he was not in a killing mood when I offended him. Had he killed me, not even Father would have been able to come to my aid. Instead of flaunting my background, I need to focus on getting stronger and become a better person."

"Thank you for giving me another chance, Father," Dorian said. "I won’t let you down."

"Alright," Malvin said warmly as he patted his son’s shoulder.

"But we need to head to Sauna City University and apologize to Mr. Vhorn. Whatever he requests of us, we need to do it to appease him and get in his good books," Malvin said.

"Yes, Father," Dorian replied.

He could only pray that Professor Vhorn wouldn’t kill him in a fit of anger when he saw him again.

****

Somewhere in the Western Continent.

Several cloaked figures were seated in a room.

"We’ve received orders from HQ." A woman whose voice commanded authority spoke to everyone in the room.

"The target is Aiden Vhorn, a.k.a. the Crimson Reaper and the Lodgekeeper."

A projection of a brown-haired, black-eyed fellow with crimson wings on his back, in a crimson battlesuit, appeared before them.

"I am sure we are all aware of who he is?" The woman added.

"Yes, ma’am."

The cloaked figures replied.

"He’s labeled a catastrophic threat by the Analyser," she added.

Everyone in the room gasped.

Someone labeled a catastrophic threat by the Analyser’s computations was someone who could not be allowed to live. He could become very troublesome to the Order if he was not eliminated.

The woman’s eyes scanned the room.

"From your expressions, it seems you understand the gravity of the situation and I don’t have to elaborate further," she said.

"Yes, ma’am," the cloaked figures replied.

"Good. You are all high-ranking members of the Order in the Western Continent, and key members of the Order Assassin Corps. Deploy your subordinates to get rid of him covertly. Step in to personally deal with him covertly if the situation demands it," she said. "The anonymity of the Order is our shield. Because of his backing, HQ commands we eliminate him in secret. If for some reason, your subordinates or any of you are captured, resort to self-detonation. Even if you don’t, and you are captured alive and interrogated, your detonative implants will kill you the moment you try to say anything."

"We will gladly sacrifice ourselves for the Order!"

"We will gladly sacrifice ourselves for the Order!"

The cloaked figures chanted.

"Good. Endra’s salvation through eternal rest of civilization cannot be stopped. If this Aiden Vhorn will stand in the way of that, he needs to be eliminated," the woman said with apparent devotion and fanaticism in her eyes.

She tapped her chest twice.

"For the Order, and for humanity!"

The other cloaked figures replied with devotion in their eyes:

"For the Order, and for humanity!"

"For the Order, and for humanity!"

They would do everything in their power to ensure that Aiden Vhorn dies.