Chapter 82 - THEIR CONVERSATION

"But they almost ended up killing Veronica," Arthur mumbled as he was a bit annoyed. "So, what are you doing here now with the Synetian soldiers?"

"I'm here to gather some proof," Felix answered. He stopped there as he didn't want to disclose any further information.

Arthur realized his motive and complained in a cold voice, "You are not telling me anything. I know you too well for you to keep secrets from me. Do you want to make me mad?" He could easily get mad when he wanted to.

The sky was full of dark clouds. The moon was completely hidden from view. This made the darkness surrounding the area that much more grim. The only thing that was the proof of any sign of life was the constant noise made by various types of nocturnal insects.

Felix sighed. While sitting, Felix turned around and spoke as he kept her head down, "Master, once I swore to be loyal to you for the rest of my life. I still am your loyal servant. I've given my whole life to serve you. However, I cannot go back to Utahill right now. At least for once please let me do something for Joana - the woman I loved."

"You want to take revenge," Arthur concluded knowingly. He wasn't surprised. If it was him, he would do the same. He could read the mind of his oldest subordinate like a book.

Their love didn't come and go like seasonal birds. Once they loved, the love was forever.

Felix loved Joana with all he had and he was dreaming to have a family with her. Now that she was gone, he would only focus on his mission. Not ever he would gaze at a woman as affectionately as he did when Joana was alive.

Felix told him, "This is the only way I can rest before death."

Arthur reprimanded his subordinate, "Don't talk about death too early. You have yet to finish so many unfinished businesses."

Felix nodded. "I know. I haven't forgotten about our promise. After I'm done with this one, I will go back to your side."

Arthur stepped forward and sat on the big rock beside Felix's. "If you work alone, it will take forever. Let's work together," he suddenly suggested.

Felix looked at him in surprise. He paused for a bit and then tried to decline, "But, Master…"

Arthur didn't let him finish his words. He interrupted, "Felix, I'm still your brother in arms before I'm your Master. Furthermore, I'm afraid that if you work alone, it'll take forever. Neitherof us have can afford such amount of time. I can't wait forever. Sebastian and his team are slow. They need your guidance." His big hand patted Felix's shoulder, giving him assurance and letting him know how important he was.

Felix suggested to him, "You can always ask other members to help you."

"I don't want to be tracked down. It's bothersome." Arthur rejected the offer. His eyes landed on Felix's hand and he commented, "I see she gave you the diary."

Felix nodded. "Yes, Miss Veronica is a generous lady. I owe her big time."

Arthur remarked, "You better. She is the one who found out about the circumstances surrounding Joana's death and retrieved her diary. Without her, it would be hard to get a clue what she left behind."

Thanks to that, he got to see how the timid, naïve girl grew up. He had to admit that she was a brave girl to be able to come all this way to here. She even coped with his acting. If he ever needed a partner in crime, she would be a good choice. But, he decided not to think about that for now.

Felix asked him, "How do you know about the diary?" he didn't know anyone other than him and Veronica knew about the existence of the diary.

Arthur shortly explained, "I've read it after she brought it back. You should read it."

Felix opened the diary and began to read. Whenever he was mentioned, his heart squeezed tightly and suffocated him. After reading the last page, he shut the diary and said with a groan, "I've caused her so much suffering and yet I knew nothing."

The dark clouds moved away by then. The silver full moon was now proudly showing its face in the sky. The two men were bathed in the silver moonlight as were their surroundings. The whole place seemed to transform because of it from how it was just a while ago.

Arthur looked at the sky and stayed quiet for a while before saying, "It wasn't your fault, Felix. It's just that you two were too unfortunate."

Felix covered his face. He didn't cry or anything. He just stayed like this for a long time. After that, he uncovered his face and gazed at the diary again. He commented, "There must be hidden notes in the diary if she can't even write my name in the diary. She was afraid that someone would find it and I'd be in danger. What happened to the last three pages? Did you tear them?"

Arthur denied, "No, it was like that from the beginning. Veronica discovered the diary like this."

Talking about Veronica, Felix said, "Miss Veronica is a unique girl. She wanted me to assist her in uncovering the truth."

Arthur chuckled, "That's what she would say. Don't involve her too much. The less she knows about this kind of thing the better. No need for an outsider to be involved too much in such a risky business."

Felix wanted to laugh but held back. "Outsider? She is the reason I can do something about this investigation." He stopped before asking, "Are you worried about her wellbeing?"

Arthur brushed aside his claim, "Don't talk nonsense. She has no experience and she will just annoy you."

The more Arthur spoke about her, the more Felix became astounded. "You are joking, right? This is the first time you ever shielded a woman. You even let her sleep with you but you don't want to flirt with her. You always keep guarding her."

Arthur had a reason for that. He explained his actions to him, "That's because she is naïve. You have no idea what kind of headache she gives me. If I don't keep an eye on her, she will cause a problem for sure. She always does."

"Haha, I see." Felix didn't probe further. If his master didn't want to admit, he didn't want to force either. Love didn't give them a pleasant feeling anymore. He changed the subject, "I think Lord Alexander has some sort of role in this war."

Arthur furrowed his eyebrow. His expression became serious as they were talking about the main issue. "Only him or his entire family?"

Felix shook his head. "I'm not sure. I've been looking for clues. They are so good at hiding their tracks though." He had been tracking them for so long. If he still couldn't get enough information, it meant that Lord Alexander was really sly which was not exactly unexpected.

Arthur inquired, "About Alexander sending mercenaries, how does he know that you were Joana's lover? Did he read the diary's last three pages or sent a spy to follow her?"

Felix shared his opinion, "I don't have solid proof but I think it's a spy. He is too obsessed with her. It's disgusting." His expression was filled with hatred and disgust.

Arthur couldn't help but comment, "He is a tyrant, and her family was scared to be killed. He was fascinated by Joana's charm. Who wouldn't be? Her family members were too scared to die. So, they wanted to sell her off. But, Joana was too strong-willed. There was no possibility that she would give in and agree to marry a heartless bastard. I think that's what drove her to become a priest in the first place."

Afterward, he added, "I forgot to mention. The crystal magic balls were stolen from Tybu's Magic Tower by a magician. He came to Utahill two months before the war broke out. He was captured by Sabastian's men." He told him everything he heard from Sebastian in short.

"From the Magic Tower!" Felix exclaimed in surprise. "It's weird. Why would a migrant come here during autumn? It's not easy to adjust in a winter country that easily."

Arthur was happy to see that Felix did not lose his touch. He agreed, "Yes, his daughter caught a cold and he didn't have enough money. Without a good connection, he was forced to sell the crystal magic balls in the black market."

Felix rubbed his rough chin in deep thought. "The story is too good to be true. There are no flaws. It will make anyone believe his tragic story. If they are truly related, then Lord Alexander went to great lengths to make this plot believable. What is he thinking? Does he want another Great War or there is something in the desert that he seeks?"