Chapter 175 — The Chancellor

Chapter 175: Chapter 175 — The Chancellor

Chapter 175 — The Chancellor

Far from the bustling streets of the Alchemy Tower, a room sat hidden behind layers of stone.

There were no windows.

No decorations.

Only a single altar stood in the center of the room.

An eighteen- or nineteen-year-old woman lay restrained across it.

Her wrists and ankles were bound tightly, and a gag prevented her from screaming. Tears streamed down the sides of her face as she stared at the masked figure standing over her.

The figure wore a strange mask.

It resembled a tiger.

But it wasn’t the kind of mask someone might wear for a festival or performance.

Its features were sharp and ferocious, the mouth twisted into a sinister expression while the eyes seemed to glare down at the woman.

And above the forehead was the same sideways eye symbol that had appeared on the bodies discovered in the cellar.

The masked figure looked down at the trembling woman.

"Shush, shush now."

His voice was calm.

Almost gentle.

"It’ll all be over soon."

The woman shook her head desperately.

Tears continued to fall.

"Don’t cry."

The Chancellor reached toward a small bag beside the altar.

His fingers were just about to enter it when—

Knock. Knock.

His hand stopped.

For several seconds, there was silence.

The Chancellor slowly turned toward the door.

"Ugh."

Clear irritation entered his voice.

"Yes?"

Another knock sounded.

"What is it?"

The door opened.

Another masked individual stepped inside.

This one wore a mask resembling a monkey.

But like the tiger mask, it wasn’t remotely playful.

The monkey’s face was twisted into an expression of rage. Its eyes were bloodshot, and its teeth were exposed in a vicious snarl.

Above its forehead was the same third eye.

The newcomer bowed.

"Excuse me, Chancellor."

The Chancellor’s irritation was obvious.

"Go ahead."

The monkey-masked individual hesitated.

"There is something you need to know."

"I’m waiting."

The newcomer straightened.

"One of the independent Beast God worshippers appears to have been captured yesterday."

The Chancellor paused.

Then he laughed.

"Oh?"

He tilted his head.

"How?"

"This one must have been an idiot."

The Chancellor shook his head.

"The Beast God bestows intelligence upon these fools, and they still find ways to get themselves caught."

He clicked his tongue.

"It baffles me."

He turned toward the altar again.

"So?"

"The worshipper had abducted a girl for a sacrifice. Everything appeared to have gone according to plan."

The monkey-masked individual paused.

"Until Victor Ashcroft intruded upon his residence."

The Chancellor stopped moving.

"Victor Ashcroft?"

"Yes, Chancellor."

The Chancellor slowly turned his head.

"The boy who recently returned from Region G?"

"The same one."

The room fell silent.

The Chancellor’s attention sharpened.

"What happened?"

"Victor found the girl. He then discovered the cellar where the worshipper had been keeping his previous sacrifices."

The Chancellor remained quiet.

Then he gave a low laugh.

"Interesting."

He began walking slowly around the altar.

"We were already planning to watch him."

The monkey-masked individual nodded.

"His behavior was suspicious before this incident."

The Chancellor stopped.

"Of course it was."

His fingers tapped lightly against his arm.

"To disappear for six months in Region G..."

His voice became quieter.

"And return alive."

He looked toward the monkey mask.

"Region G borders the Sanctuary’s barrier. It’s the last place someone could disappear before reaching it."

The Chancellor’s eyes narrowed behind the mask.

"Six months."

A pause.

"Then he returns with a cultivation breakthrough."

He gave a quiet laugh.

Silence settled between them.

"We don’t know what happened to him."

The Chancellor’s voice was calm again.

"But the Sanctuary is the obvious possibility."

The Chancellor stared at him for several seconds.

"Have someone watch him."

"Yes, Chancellor."

"Get close to him."

The Chancellor’s voice became firm.

"I want to know what he does. Who he talks to. Where he goes. Everything."

He paused.

"But don’t alert him."

The monkey-masked figure nodded.

"Understood."

"For now, don’t make a move against him. Simply observe."

"Yes, Chancellor."

The Chancellor turned back toward the altar.

"And keep me updated."

"Your will will be done."

The monkey-masked individual hesitated.

Then corrected himself.

"The Beast God’s will will be done."

A faint smile seemed to form beneath the tiger mask.

"Good."

He waved his hand.

"Now leave."

The monkey-masked figure bowed deeply.

"Yes, Chancellor."

He turned and walked out.

The door closed behind him.

Silence returned.

The Chancellor stood motionless for several seconds.

Then he looked down at the woman.

"Now..."

He tilted his head.

"Where were we, darling?"

He paused.

"Ah."

His hand reached toward the bag.

"That’s right."

He pulled out a piece of red chalk.

The woman began shaking violently.

The Chancellor ignored her.

He pressed the chalk against her forehead.

Slowly, carefully, he drew the sideways eye.

Then he continued.

Symbols followed.

Strange markings crossed her upper body and continued downward toward her abdomen.

They weren’t words that belonged to any language that could be recognized.

They were remnants of something ancient.

The Chancellor whispered as he worked.

His voice gradually changed.

The calm tone disappeared.

The words became rougher.

Older.

Almost unnatural.

The markings were finished.

The Chancellor set the chalk aside.

Then he reached for the beast claw.

It was nearly ten inches long.

Dark.

Jagged.

Symbols had been carved into its surface.

He held it above the woman.

She stared at him with terrified eyes.

"You should feel blessed."

His voice was almost reverent.

"You are being sacrificed for the Beast God."

The tiger mask’s expression seemed to become even more sinister.

"This will be over quickly."

The claw descended.

The woman screamed.

The sound echoed through the chamber.

For several seconds, her cries filled the room.

Then they weakened.

Her body went limp.

Her head slowly fell to the side.

The Chancellor stood over her.

He didn’t speak.

Instead, he placed one hand against the wound and began chanting.

His other hand rose to the symbol on her forehead.

His thumb pressed against the sideways eye.

He closed his eyes.

His head tilted slightly.

Then he began to pray.

The words were ancient, harsh, and almost impossible to distinguish.

They flowed together in a strange rhythm, sounding more like something remembered from another age than a prayer spoken by a human being.

The Chancellor continued for several sentences.

His voice became deeper.

Lower.

Almost as if another voice were speaking through him.

Then—

Silence.

His hand slowly withdrew.

He dragged his blood-covered fingers across his own face.

The tiger mask remained completely still.

Yet the expression seemed almost pleased.

Then something began to happen.

A strange energy emerged from the woman’s body.

It was dark red.

Spiritual Energy, but twisted into something foul.

It poured from her like smoke escaping from a dying flame.

The energy gathered above the altar.

Then it split.

One portion disappeared into a dark portal that opened above the room.

The other surged toward the Chancellor.

His body suddenly trembled.

The energy rushed into him.

His head snapped backward.

A guttural sound escaped his throat.

"Haaa..."

His fingers tightened.

His entire body shook as the corrupted energy flooded into him.

Then he laughed.

A deep, almost joyful laugh.

"This never gets old."

The Chancellor lowered his head.

Through the narrow openings of the tiger mask, his eyes could be seen.

There was something deeply wrong in them.

The dark energy continued flowing into his body until the final trace disappeared.

The room became silent again.

The Chancellor stood alone beside the altar.

The ceremony was finished.

He slowly raised his head.

The tiger mask’s carved expression appeared to smile.

A vicious, vindictive smile.

And beneath it, the Chancellor began to laugh.