Chapter 357: Beelstone (Bonus)
The businessman had already shoved both women aside and was forcing his way toward the back exit.
And by the time Bert stumbled into the streets outside, the Hero was no longer behind him.
The businessman sprinted through the crowded roads without looking back, shoving pedestrians aside as he ran.
Several horse-drawn carriages screeched to a halt while steam-powered vehicles blasted their horns after he cut directly across the roadway.
Finally, after turning into a deserted side street, Bert stopped to catch his breath.
However, as soon as turned around, he felt his blood go cold.
His eyes widened to the sight of Dark Nova who was now standing a few paces before him.
Norman’s expression was blank, and his irises had turned completely black, leaving only white pupils staring back at his target.
Before Bert could utter a word, Dark Nova seized him by the throat.
The businessman screamed as his feet left the ground. Then a thunderous burst followed.
The two figures shot into the sky with terrifying speed, Bert’s cries echoing throughout the district before disappearing into the evening clouds.
Dark Nova only came to a stop after they were several kilometers above city level.
Bert looked downward in horror, seeing as the entire city stretched beneath him like a miniature world.
His body trembled uncontrollably, knowing that it was certain death if he dropped from there.
Dark Nova then raised the other hand, showing Bert the dark-purple crystal in his palm.
Speaking in a calm tone, he said. "In the last twenty-four hours, I have arrested dozens of the animals buying and selling these. And every trail leads back to you."
Bert shook his head a couple times as he stared at the crystal. "I-I don’t know what that is!" he blurted out. "I’ve never seen it before!"
Dark Nova’s expression remained unchanged as he continued; "Several of the criminals I apprehended consumed these in an attempt to increase their strength before confronting me, but they failed."
"From what I have uncovered, it is called a Beelstone. And I can sense demonic energy lingering within it, so I already know it reached you through a demon."
"I also know you are the one responsible for distributing these throughout both the Undercity and the Main City."
His grip tightened slightly around Bert’s throat.
"So now, you are going to tell me every individual connected to this operation. Names, descriptions...any will do."
Then, Dark Nova loosened three of his fingers, keeping the businessman suspended in the sky with nothing more than his thumb and index finger.
"If I remove one more finger..."Dark Nova said quietly, "...you will fall. I hate liars, so think very carefully before you answer me."
Bert’s entire body trembled. "I-I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!"
He swallowed painfully before forcing the words out. "The demon... he always appeared as a young boy. Black hair... he has some freckles but I don’t know his real name....I swear that’s all I know about him!"
Dark Nova remained silent.
Bert hurriedly continued, desperately recalling every face, middleman, courier, and buyer he could remember.
One after another, he revealed names, meeting places, routes, and descriptions of everyone connected to the Beelstone trade.
But among everything he confessed, one particular revelation caused even Dark Nova’s expression to change.
His eyes widened had widened at the mention of Chief Enforcer Roland.
Not as a participant in the trade itself, but as someone who had accepted regular bribes to deliberately overlook transactions involving the Beelstones.
The very same Chief Enforcer Roland who had publicly delivered the Kingdom’s official findings regarding Lady Audrey’s crimes...
The same man who had stood before the people and declared the investigation complete...
That man was accepting money to turn a blind eye to dealings that directly involved demons.
The Beelstone functioned much like a performance-enhancing supplement.
Once swallowed, the crystal granted its user a temporary increase in both mana output and overall physical capability and even the effectiveness of one’s skills were elevated by roughly an entire rank above the user’s natural limit.
For many, it appeared to be nothing more than a miraculous power booster.
However, there was a hidden cost.
Embedded within every Beelstone was the soul of a demon.
Anyone who consumed one stood an alarmingly high chance of having their body completely overtaken by that imprisoned soul.
The exact conditions that triggered the possession were unknown for now.
Some individuals continued functioning normally for a time, while others simply had their bodies becoming vessels controlled by the demon within.
Once possession was complete, there was no distinction between host and parasite.
This also created an entirely new problem as Demons hidden within possessed bodies became exponentially harder to detect.
Unless they willingly revealed themselves or made use of their magic, even experienced mages would have no reliable way of distinguishing them from ordinary people.
⸻
Elsewhere in Gritnia...
The front doors of a modest home opened as a young boy stepped outside.
He had black hair, and light freckles scattered on his cheeks.
This was Glen. A student at Belsorth Academy and Ishtar’s friend.
He closed the door behind him before walking calmly toward a vintage brown sedan parked several houses away from his own.
The back door opened before he even reached it, allowing him to climb inside smoothly.
Waiting for him was a brown-haired woman dressed in refined formal attire. To the public, she was Rosalind, one of Gritnia’s members of Parliament.
But truth, this body no longer belonged to that Rosalind. Just like Glen, it now served as the vessel of a demon.
The woman went straight to the point. "What is causing the delay with obtaining Ishtar Dessendre? He is growing impatient with the both of us."
Glen had this visible annoyance on his face. "There are two problems. The girl has gained control over the power of Carrion."
He paused before continuing. "And she lives under the protection of Mr. Ethan Stark."
"In case you haven’t heard, that’s the second most powerful man in this country, second only to the King."
Rosalind’s face remained emotionless. "You need to hasten your efforts, because sooner or later...He will lose his patience and when that happens, we will be the ones to suffer for it."
"Tch." Glen clicked his tongue in irritation.
Without another word, he pushed the door open, stepped back onto the street, and walked away from the sedan.
———
Later that night...
Ethan’s sedan came to a stop before the gates of the Arcorys Residence.
Percival stepped out from the passenger side just as Hayley emerged through the entrance.
The siblings exchanged nothing more than knowing smiles as they crossed paths, neither of them feeling the need to interrupt what was about to happen.
Hayley continued toward the driver’s side before opening the door and slipping into the front seat. "Hey."
"Hey." Ethan replied with a smile.
Then, he reached into the compartment beside him and produced a small light-blue box.
He held it out toward her. "We have to show we’re actually engaged... right?"
Hayley’s smile widened as she accepted it.
She slowly opened the box, revealing a beautifully crafted silver ring with a sapphire set at its center.
Her eyes widened and for several seconds, she simply stared.
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I... liked the sapphire better, it matches your eyes."
"It’s so beautiful," she said, unable to take her eyes off the ring.
Then, she carefully handed the box back to him before extending her left hand, a gentle smile forming on her lips as she pointed at her ring finger.
"Put it on me."