Chapter 126: Turmoil

Inside Higrove's Academy's main tower's top floor, a pudgy man in an amethyst-colored silk robe was standing against the window, gazing towards a particular section of the city. 

The place where the man's attention was focused on was a lavish white mansion. In front of the building surrounded by large marble pillars on a podium, the ten city council ministers were gathering wearing their official black robes with the golden eagle insignia etched on the upper right side of it, waiting for the Council Master, the current acting City Lord to come to the hastily erected pulpit, and address the gathered mixed audience. 

These ten old, robed geezers were all influential existences in the city. Apart from being patriarchs or at the very least elders in the families, they were also Professors in the local Academy. They all held considerable power, both in the martial world and as nobles. 

Despite being influential and used to looking down on people with disdain, all ten of them were now quivering with fear. The events that happened in the course of a single night and the morning caused them to shiver with trepidation. It was a miracle they were still standing there! After all, it wasn't just the City Lord who had ties with the Underworld, but all of them as well. It was almost a requirement to have some pull to be able to grasp such an influential position as theirs. Still, so far, they managed to avoid the disaster, and now they were trying their best to survive.

Amongst their group only the currently acting City Lord, the Council Master's hands weren't stained. He was an old and righteous man, who couldn't be swayed with mere worldly desires. He always enforced the law, acted justly, and favored no sides in any quarrel. In fact, if it wouldn't be against the law, he would have been the most likely successor to the now-vacant position.

Minutes passed as everyone waited for the arrival of this old man with bated breaths. Eventually, the crimson-colored double-doors opened, and an elderly man in a silver robe, matching his long unkempt hair and beard came forth, accompanied by two soldiers. With a stack of papers tightly gripped with both of his hands, he slowly walked up to the lectern, placed them down. His group of ministers silently took their places behind this man in an orderly fashion, keeping their eyes on their leader.

With his weary and baggy eyes, he scanned through the mixed crowd and coughed lightly a few times to wait for everyone to quiet down. After a few seconds, he coughed once, and began his already prepared speech. Although he was tired and that was clearly visible from his appearance, his voice was majestic and could be clearly heard even from hundreds of meters away.

"My fellow citizens, I stand before you with mixed emotions on this otherwise bright morning. From one side, I am happy, as a vile den of evil was found and destroyed last night, with the despicable monsters responsible being apprehended to justice. This is a happy moment, many lost and broken families could finally be reunited after suffering, and have a chance to recover. This is obviously a monumental and historic occasion.

On the other hand, I am filled with grief, sorrow, and anger. I grieve, because despite saving so many, who knows how many innocents were killed or suffered worse fates because of greed and lust. I am filled with sorrow as the lives we lost there will never be recovered. While we may have closed one den, who knows how many are out there? How many evil groups, bandits, thieves, murderers lurk in the shadows? 

And I am mad, filled with anger, as these acts could have gone unnoticed by the guards that swore to protect you, and by us, the members of this council, the people that were supposed to lead you towards a better future. We, the council have failed you. For this, I wholeheartedly apologize."

As he said these words, he stopped his speech and took this time to switch to the next paper. The audience loudly gasped, and the ministers shivered with fear. They only hoped to survive this calamity. 

---

At the top of the tower, the pudgy man loudly snorted. Even though he was miles away from the event, he could still listen to each and every word said. He didn't care for this rhetoric at all. What mattered was the last part of the speech…

On the other side of the city in the very depths of the Slums, there was one building that was different from the rest. While the others were run-down, or dilapidated, this one stood proudly with no signs of time on its clear surface. It was surrounded by a strange white fog, giving it a unique and magical protection.

All those who would foolishly trespass and tread closer and unknowingly tread into this mist would have their mind charmed and would only see and remember what the owner of this mansion wished. Those without any sort of protection or knowledge about it would be mere toys for this person.

So, despite its contrast to their surroundings, this particular building managed to evade the inquisitive eyes. On the second floor of this mansion, a feminine figure in black laced evening gown was standing against the window, looking towards the distance, in the direction of the speech that was just taking place. She had ebony long hair that like a waterfall cascaded down to the middle of her back. Her figure was perfect, slender where it needed and curvy where it mattered. She could be considered a heavenly beauty if one wouldn't take a gander at her face.

A huge, ugly scar ran through her face all the way from the top right corner of her forehead through her ruined right-eye and left half of her mouth making a second scar on her lips down all the way towards her neckline. She had a calculative look on her face, as she was intently gazing towards the distance.

A soft sigh left her lips, her breath creating flowers in the window's glass. She placed the black mask that she was gripping in her right hand back on her face, and with her angelic voice she loudly called out for her steward.

"Sebas! Come inside!" 

Upon her call, the door to the room opened up and a slim elderly butler stepped in. He bowed deeply in the doorway and while staying in that pose, he raised his head and looked at her mistress' back. He respectfully answered the call.

"How may I serve you, Madame?"

Turning around, her devil-faced black mask caused a momentary shiver to run through his old spine. It was such a realistic depiction added with her black lace dress that she always wore it gave her a very eerie aura.

Looking at her butler, her angelic voice that carried a distant sadness, contrasted her devilish appearance.

"After all these years, Sebas you are still disgusted about me?"

The elderly butler immediately shook his head.

"Nonsense madame! Please forgive these old bones, in my old years I have become senile, not worthy of the mistress." He hastily, but professionally apologized. 

She erupted into a light giggle as if her previous sadness was never there, to begin with.

"Oh, old friend… How could I ever be mad at you? You are my only family, you know that. Without your tender care, I wouldn't even be here today." 

Maintaining his subservient pose, the elder responded with a sliver of a smile on his face.

"I am unworthy of such words. Seeing the Mistress grow up was my utmost joy!"

The lady giggled once again. Arriving in front of the elder, she gently placed her silk laced glove covered right hand on the man's chin and gently lifted it, straightening his pose.

"Rise up Sebas, I should be the one paying my respects to you, not the other way around."

The butler didn't respond this time but looked deeply into the eye sockets of the devil-mask. After a moment, the woman lightly sighed and averted her gaze, looking at the window once again.

"The time has come Sebas. It is time for a change. It's time for the city to hear the real voice of the people."

Sebas, the elderly butler nodded upon hearing these words, and respectfully spoke. 

"Does Miss intend to go for the City Lord title?"

The lady shook her head upon the question. 

"No, I can't show my face, you know that. I am merely a shadow, the guiding hand." She said, keeping her gaze towards the distance. 

Then as if nothing could hide behind her peerless gaze, she paced through the entire city, until her eyes finally rested on a particular mansion in the far reaches of the city. This place was only recently rebuilt, on the ruins of a destroyed family. In this building's courtyard, a certain man adorned in golden breastplate was kneeling in front of a black-haired noblewoman. 

Her face contorted into a smile that was hidden behind her mask, however, her tone still managed to carry this satisfaction.

"I have a much better candidate for our plans..."