The man who’d challenged Ralph had audaciously called a eting, summoning all Dawnless executives.
"You better have a good reason," Donto growled, his draconic eyes narrowing at the instigator.
"Naturally, I do," the man replied, smirking.
Ralph entered, his face weary from sleepless nights. "What’s the matter?"
"There’s a disparity among mbers," the man began.
"What disparity?" Ralph asked.
"Those who don’t align with the organization’s goals—"
Frowns deepened among the loyal executives, but a bang interrupted. "Wick!" Ralph called out as the figure barged in.
"Sir, the master has arrived."
"Bans?" Ralph forgot the man’s words, bolting out, the executives trailing. The dissenter’s allies exchanged glances, then followed.
Outside, the sword unit stood in formation, their blades glinting under the dim sky. Dawnless mbers lined both sides, eyes fixed on a shimring portal forming in the courtyard.
Baines erged, a new scarf around his neck, its edges fraying into wisps. Ten dragons followed, their appearances catching the light, alongside fifty mages and alchemists in violet and jewel-encrusted robes.
The dragons scanned the scene curiously, while Baines strode nonchalantly toward the main building.
"Baaaans!" Ralph’s voice, raw with relief, broke the silence. He ran forward, his disheveled figure a stark contrast to Baines’ composed presence.
Yes, the only voice that could make Baines smile in the current world.
They embraced, a rare warmth softening Baines’ features. After a while, Ralph stepped back, grinning at the dragons. "I see you made new friends. Nice to et you, I’m Ralph, this guy’s brother."
The dragons’ eyes widened.
Weren’t siblings supposed to have similar traits, even if it was just one? However, this one was the total opposite. Ralph’s warmth clashed with Baines’ cold intensity.
"Ah, I see, my brother must’ve been tough on you," Ralph chuckled. "You’re with now. Co in." He gestured, leading the mages, alchemists, and dragons to the eting room.
When they arrived at the eting room, Donto sneered at the dissenter. "Oh, yes, you were saying sothing?" His tone dared the man to repeat himself.
Baines’ gaze swept the room, landing on unfamiliar faces. "Who are they?"
"Haa, I don’t know too. I think they were about to say sothing." Ralph said, gesturing to the man.
The man hesitated, his thoughts racing. ’The leader. I heard he’s a brutal tyrant, but he’s just a kid, and we’re the sa rank. "We were addressing disparities between mbers," he said boldly, repeating his challenge.
The executives’ jaws dropped. They expected him to back down.
"Wick," Baines said calmly, pointing.
"Yes, master."
"Why is he still alive?"
The man’s eyes widened.
"I’m sorry," Wick said, bowing, and before uttering the next word, with a flick of Wick’s wrist, he pulled the chain binding the man’s soul. The body crumbled instantly, no pause, no rcy. Shock rippled through the new faces.
Baines’ gaze swept the room. "I don’t care about your disparities. If I say die, you die. Now, if I don’t know you, get out in five seconds. Wick, kill any who remain."
He removed his attention from them and faced those he knew.
Unfortunately, four lingered, too slow. Except for Rector, who knew Baines’ ruthlessness, their souls were ripped out, bodies collapsing on the hard ground. Ralph and the executives shook their heads at the sight.
Baines was back.
The dragons swallowed hard, stepping back. Did we follow a maniac? But none of them dared speak.
"Now, tell ," Baines said.
Ralph recounted their Heartfla infiltration, what they found out, and their escape.
The Third Executive added, "Sir, Darkan is in trouble." Also explaining how the underground was independent now, and led by Marroon."
Baines nodded. "It was inevitable. One of the emperors made them that way after all."
He had already anticipated that, after all, they would’ve fallen sooner, well, fall wasn’t the proper way of putting it, they would’ve chased their individual goals and abandoned Darkan.
What would one do if they suddenly realized the reason they were crippled was because of the person they served? He was surprised none of them had barged into the imperial palace and caused a scene.
"So, brother might be among the Heartfla experints?"
"Yes," Ralph said, voice heavy.
"Flahearts," Baines muttered. To him, that family was already gone. He would storm them, and thankfully, there was so good news among them. "Where are the vessels you got?"
"No, Baines, no," Ralph interjected, sensing his intent. "We’re not done searching. Brother could be caught in an attack. It’s just a possibility, but we rescued so captives, and maybe they have answers. If not, we’ll search the next kingdom. We can destroy Flaheart later." He ntioned the promise to the surviving girl.
After a long pause, Baines nodded, relenting.
Still, he inspected the vessels. About thirty ters in size, modest compared to the Sun Destroyer. Placing his palm on one, he sensed its mana flow, nodding in approval.
For hours, Baines, Wick, and the mage and alchemic units reworked the vessels. They replaced the engines’ cores with Ashenfall-infused ones, their violet glow pulsing like miniature stars. Runes tethered the vessels to Eye, enabling singular control by Baines. The hulls took on a purple hue, not larger but radiating a lethal aura, as if imbued with divine wrath.
Then they entered to sense the changes. The vessels were compact, split into a twenty-ter waiting room for soldiers, its walls lined with containnt runes, and a command room.
A central chair, reminiscent of the Sun Destroyer’s, faced an orb where Eye hovered, its form a miniature world of swirling violet and silver.
[SYSTEMS FUNCTIONS ONLINE]
Eye’s voice bood through speakers, no longer confined to Baines’ mind.
"What is that?" Ralph gasped. The vessel’s interior was transford, stripped of excess, now a sleek war machine.
"You want to search Flaheart? Use this," Baines said, explaining the upgrades: invisible, defensive, and illusion formations, mirroring Wick’s temporary runes from the escape. The dragons, familiar with the internet plan, were unfazed, but Ralph and the executives were stunned.
Yes, these were the sort of changes Baines brought that made them loyal to him. It sunk in for them once again, Baines had returned.
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