Chapter 328 - Are You Really Gone?

The site where Varian's rented space shuttle was destroyed was now bustling with awakeners and space shuttles.

Shortly after the attack occurred, the relevant departments of Infini City sent their best agents to the site.

The technicians, the surveyors were the first to arrive.

Then shortly, the reporters joined followed by spectators.

The most active were the juniors of level 5 and level 6. They didn't even care about the potential danger and spectated from a distance.

The princes and princesses of level 7 and level 8 also joined.

Them joining proved this was no small matter. There were two core issues too big to be ignored. 

One. The target was Varian—arguably, the best genius of his generation, even a bit higher than Charles.

His renting the space shuttle was confirmed to be an abrupt decision.

So, the mastermind was actually in the city, following Varian's every movement!

Two. He was assassinated just in front of Infini City.

This was a loud slap on their faces.

If the enemies could blatantly kill others in the backyard of Infini City, who could feel secure?

If Varian's popularity was responsible for 50% of the audience, the remaining 50% were here to question the breach of security.

They needed an explanation and a promise.

There were many who came for Varian and also for security.

Ahri was one of those many.

"I can't believe this," Ahri said with a blank face. She was watching the site from a space shuttle from afar.

There were several holograms in her space shuttle, connecting her to others in her circle.

"Varian…is he really gone?" Her best friend brought up the name and an instant, the group chat exploded.

"Who killed him?"

"Hey! Are you sure he's dead?"

"Well, the man was burnt to ashes. Heck! even ashes aren't left. He's just erased out of existence." A boy adjusted his glasses and said.

Somehow, others could feel a trace of complacency in his tone. Their impression of him worsened.

Even Ahri, who bore a grudge against Varian felt disgusted. He broke down her pride twice.

She acknowledged his strength and his victory made her realize his genius.

Thus, despite wanting to go get back at Varian for knocking her out in the trial, Ahri never wished for him to die.

She even wanted to find him again for a duel. This time, not to win, but to learn. She never thought she'd think like this, but she respected someone other than her brother for the first time.

But alas…

"Ridiculous!" Ashtarh gritted his teeth as he stared at the debris on the hologram. He could already guess the explosives used for this assassination.

They were strictly forbidden.

He even knew how strict Infini City's security was. Any space shuttle would have to pass through at least three security barriers.

So, just how did those assassins get in with the weapons? 

They weren't from the inside. From the video recordings, that much was clear. 

They somehow bypassed the mechanisms and sneaked in.

A thought struck his mind and Ashtarh's eyes widened.

Crack!

The armrest of his chair broke as his venomous voice roared. "Traitors!"

"Traitors!" Every expert concluded and their gaze narrowed.

Not just any traitor, but someone of a high ranking.

Everyone was angry and furious, but one person didn't move at all.

"O-Old man, don't die." Eve Xander patted his old friend. He tried to console, but only a sigh came out.

"Aii~"

Richard was one of the first to arrive. A few minutes passed but he stood frozen like a statue.

Even his breathing came to a halt as his face turned ashen. His eyes completely lost focus and from time to time, his teeth chattered.

Others couldn't hear it, but Eve Xander clearly could.

"Y-Young Master."

"Young Master."

"….Master."

Eve Xander clenched his fists and turned his head away in frustration. Xanders were now in a confrontational relationship with the Military, but that was only since Julius came to power.

For most of his and Richard's lives, Xander and the Military worked closely. Thus, they formed a bonding from early childhood.

They lost friends, families, progeny…only their friendship remained.

But now, one of the friends was on the verge of breaking apart.

Eve tapped his comm and said in a grave tone. "Search! Use all our resources! Find the motherfucker who had the galls to do—"

The space suddenly trembled prompting Eve to look up. 

"Wha—?"

From the site, a huge pressure effused. Interweaved in that pressure was the killing intent to slaughter every being!

It was like higher gravity on drugs.

The high awakeners were fine, but the level 5s and level 6s fainted. It didn't matter that, unlike the high awakeners, the level 5s and level 6s were in their spaceships. Only those far away managed to be conscious.

"Report to me in ten minutes." A chilly voice came from the source of the pressure and the personnel nodded.

Evander stood at the site as he silently waited. He had lots of work, but everything could wait.

No. Everything else must wait.

'Varian...what is happening...'

Shortly after, his comm rang.

"We chased the assassins' space shuttles, they blew themselves up in the end."

Evander read the message and snorted in anger.

His pitch-black eyes turned blood red and a monstrous wave of killing intent leaked out of his body.

The level 6 Awakeners watching him from the far distance instinctively turned away instinctively.

Only high awakeners could stare at him. It wasn't a pleasant sight though.

He looked like a ghost that crawled out from hell. Even level 7s felt a sense of dread in their hearts. Their backs were already drenched in sweat.

Even the level 8s had sweat rolling down their foreheads. Only the few level 9s were unfazed.

However, they too maintained a safe distance from Evander.

'What if he loses control and attacks me?' The Level 9s all thought.

Unknown to anyone, one person was completely unbothered by Evander's pressure.

It was a woman with completely normal features. With an average face, average body, and even more average temperament, she was the kind of girl everyone neglected.

She stared at the site where Varian was supposed to have died. Her eyes flashed with intense light and slowly her eyes began to turn bloodshot. She bit her lips to not scream out the pain searing her heart.

She controlled her breathing and didn't stand out from the rest. But before she knew it, she felt the familiar iron taste.

Her lower lip was bleeding heavily, and the warm red liquid flowed from her lips all the way to her tooth the middle path.

But amidst all the chaos, somehow, she got a feeling from the place.

She felt it. 

She didn't know why or how.

But he was alive!

Her eyes slowly turned normal and she was about to leave. But upon spotting a luxurious space shuttle in the far-off distance, she paused.

With his state of mind, Evander didn't notice this.

He was waiting. Waiting for the test report!

Despite knowing the end result, Evander waited for that desperate hope.

Finally, the teams answered.

"We can't find any traces of space movements. We did find his items and DNA. There's no chance he escaped. Varian is…gone."

Even though he already expected those words, when he finally heard them in person, Evander couldn't help but close his eyes in pain.

"Grhhh." He groaned in pain but quickly suppressed it.

He mustn't show his emotions here. Even though he felt like everything came crashing down, even though he felt terrible, even though he was devastated, he must stay strong. Or at least, he must put up a brave front.

If he flew into a fit of rage, who would comfort Sarah?...Though he knew no amount of comfort could be enough.

Thinking of Sarah, Evander's mood worsened further. 

She fainted when she heard the news. Even while unconscious, she kept crying out. 

"Varian...please come back."

"Varian...please don't leave me alone."

"If you go, who will talk to me?"

"Who can I share my smiles with?"

"And do you know? Because you liked Anna's cooking, I even learned a few dishes...though they're not as good, I'm trying...I want to see you happy...so please, please be safe."

Looking at her tear-stricken face, Evander blamed himself for everything.

'If I can't save him, then I'll punish everyone responsible.' His gaze cooled and he said in a cold voice.

"Close the perimeter. I don't care if it's an officer, a businessman or a high awakener, check every goddamn person!

If they refuse, inform me."