Chapter 234 — No More Secrets

Chapter 234: Chapter 234 — No More Secrets

Chapter 234 — No More Secrets

Victor didn’t have time to wait.

He needed to call Elder Benton.

But first, he needed distance.

Victor continued traveling for another few hours, putting as much space as possible between himself and the two Evil God cultivators. Only after he was confident no one had followed him did he finally slow down.

He found a large rock near the side of the cavern and sat.

Nala hopped down from his shoulder and stood beside him.

Victor leaned forward, resting his arms against his knees.

He needed to think.

Calling Benton was the easy part.

Convincing him to help was something else entirely.

More importantly, Benton alone probably wouldn’t be enough.

Victor had learned enough over the past few weeks to know the elder wasn’t working alone. There were too many connections.

Alondra.

Grace—or the Space Witch, if Victor’s suspicions were correct.

And the upside-down alchemical flask symbol he’d seen on her back.

There was almost certainly a larger group behind them.

Victor didn’t know what they called themselves or exactly how many people were involved, but if they were opposing the Evil God Organization, he needed them.

Because whatever he’d just discovered was important.

Those masked cultivators had taken Lyra somewhere deep within Region F.

That meant Victor might have stumbled onto some kind of Evil God Organization base.

Maybe even one of their headquarters.

And if Benton’s group had been fighting them for any length of time, a location like that was probably something they’d been searching for.

The problem was simple.

Why would they trust him?

Benton knew Victor well enough by now, but the people behind Benton didn’t.

To them, he was just a fourteen-year-old boy who’d disappeared for six months, returned far stronger than before, and somehow knew far more than he should.

Victor rubbed his face.

"What can I even tell them?"

The Black Phoenix Flame was out of the question.

Absolutely not.

No matter how desperate the situation became, revealing that secret was something he couldn’t take back.

But the Sanctuary?

Victor had already admitted to Benton that he’d been there.

Maybe it was time to tell him more.

Victor glanced at Nala.

The little Firebird stared back at him.

Having her here might actually make things easier.

If Benton knew anything about the Sanctuary or its inhabitants, Nala could help prove Victor wasn’t making everything up.

Victor took a slow breath.

There wasn’t much of a choice anymore.

Every minute he spent protecting his secrets was another minute Lyra remained in their hands.

He pulled out his citizen ID and called Benton.

After several moments, the connection went through.

"How can I help you, Victor?"

Benton sounded irritated.

"I believe I told you I would have your answer at some point today. Please tell me you’re not calling me right now to ask about it."

Victor shook his head despite Benton being unable to see him.

"No, Elder Benton. There’s been a change of plans."

His grip tightened around the citizen ID.

"I desperately need your help. Something happened, and it’s very serious. It involves the Evil God Organization."

Victor paused.

"And it involves Lyra."

There was a brief silence.

When Benton spoke again, some of the irritation was gone.

"We need to meet as soon as possible."

"Fine."

"Meet me in my office in an hour."

Victor grimaced.

"That’s going to be kind of difficult."

"Why?"

"I’m currently in Region F. Basement Level Five."

Silence.

Victor could almost picture Benton’s expression.

"But I’m already heading back."

Victor looked down at the citizen ID.

"Actually... is it safe to talk over these things?"

Benton paused.

"No."

His answer came immediately.

"Don’t say anything important. You never know who’s listening on these things."

Victor nodded.

"Understood."

Benton seemed to calculate the distance.

"Then I should expect you in roughly ten hours. Is that correct?"

"Yeah. Around that."

"Good. Hurry."

Victor was about to end the call when Benton spoke again.

"Do you still want me looking into Lyra’s parents?"

Victor hesitated.

For a moment, his mind returned to Valkor and Sierra.

He didn’t know what had happened to them after Lyra was taken.

He didn’t even know if they were safe.

"Yes."

He stood from the rock.

Victor’s expression hardened.

"But I suspect what I have to tell you is going to require more than just your help."

He paused deliberately.

"Anyone willing to go against the Evil God Organization."

Silence came from the other side.

Benton understood.

Victor could tell.

The elder didn’t confirm anything, nor did he ask what Victor meant.

Not over the citizen ID.

But the meaning was clear.

He was asking for whoever stood behind him.

"Okay," Benton finally said.

His tone was more serious now.

"Then hurry back."

"I will."

The call ended.

Victor looked at Nala.

"Come on."

She immediately jumped back onto his shoulder.

Victor took one breath.

Then Spiritual Energy surged through his legs.

Flash Step.

He disappeared into the darkness.

Nearly eleven hours later, Victor finally returned to the entrance of Basement Level Five.

He looked terrible.

His clothes were covered in dust and grime. His hair was disheveled, his eyes bloodshot, and exhaustion weighed heavily across his face.

He’d pushed himself nearly nonstop for roughly twenty-six hours.

His body was exhausted, but his mind was even worse.

Thoughts came slower now. Even simple decisions took more effort than they should have.

But there was no time to sleep.

Lyra was still out there.

Victor focused on the Soul Bond.

She was alive.

He could still feel her.

For now, that was enough.

Victor approached the guards.

One of them recognized him immediately.

The guard checked his citizen ID as usual, but Victor noticed him writing something down afterward.

Something he normally didn’t do.

Victor’s eyes lingered on the guard for a moment.

The thought stayed with him for half a second.

Then he dismissed it.

He didn’t have time.

Not right now.

The guard cleared him, and Victor continued toward the elevator.

He stepped inside and rode upward.

As the elevator carried him through the Tower, Victor leaned against the wall.

For the first time since realizing Lyra was gone, he wasn’t moving.

The exhaustion hit almost immediately.

His eyelids felt heavy.

His legs ached.

His Spiritual Energy had been drained and replenished so many times that even circulating it felt uncomfortable.

Victor closed his eyes.

Only for a moment.

The image of Lyra being carried deeper into Region G immediately surfaced in his mind.

His eyes opened again.

By the time he reached Tower Level Two, his legs felt heavier than they had during the entire journey.

Still, he kept moving.

A few minutes later, Victor finally reached Benton’s office.

Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

Victor opened the door.

Benton was sitting behind his desk.

The elder’s eyes immediately moved to Victor.

Then stopped.

For once, Benton didn’t immediately say anything.

Victor looked like he’d been through a battle.

Not necessarily a physical one.

Something worse.

His clothes were filthy. His eyes were bloodshot. Exhaustion was written across his face, and even the way he stood looked wrong.

Benton’s expression softened slightly.

"Sit."

Victor didn’t argue.

He crossed the room and lowered himself into the chair.

Benton gave him a moment.

Victor leaned back and closed his eyes for several seconds.

Silence settled over the office.

He needed to think carefully.

What he said next mattered.

Victor had survived so far by deciding exactly how much of the truth people were allowed to see.

It had worked.

Until now.

If he wanted Benton’s help—and the help of whoever stood behind him—he couldn’t keep dancing around everything.

Not anymore.

Victor opened his eyes.

His hand slowly moved toward his storage ring.

There was one thing he possessed that might be enough.

Rakasha’s feather.

Victor could only hope they recognized it.

And if they did...

Hopefully, they would understand that he was on their side.