Chapter 1855

Chapter 1855

The band began playing and Claudette’s father moved smoothly through the small groups, addressing every one of note. He met Kyl MacDuul, Tyune, and Moonlight Blade with the same warm smile and boisterous laugh.

She tried not to display how anxious it made her to see them talking. Next to her, Neshamah laid a hand on her arm. “Don’t let it bother you. If nothing else, these small talks are definitely meaningless. Your father wouldn’t just leave things to chance.”

“Yes, I know,” Claudette replied in a tight voice. Then she spared a glance for Yust, who simply glowered toward Moonlight Blade, not even bothering to hide his antagonism. Claudette’s anxiety was such that she almost snapped at him to stop, but she also knew that it didn’t matter. In a way, being here was a slow-release relief.

Soon, the pretenses would be laid bare.

After a suitable amount of time had passed, the Don rolled himself forward into the middle of the party and gathered the attention to himself. His speech began with a rousing flourish. Claudette folded her arms across her chest and listened to him wax poetic about how the structure of the System had prodded him on to greatness, always demanding more.

With the System’s help, the Don had discovered he could be more. And for that, he would be forever grateful.

The numerous and diverse figures, many which even Claudette didn’t recognize, listened silently to the monologue. They gathered in a loose circle, giving the Don their full attention while the workers made minute adjustments to some cleverly hidden mirrors, directly a spot-like type effect toward the Don. His smile was wide and his eyes were sharp in the center of that illumination.

He was a talented orator, grabbing the attention of these figures. But at the same time, it was slightly more complicated than that. Everyone gave him this moment; no matter their previous history, because pushing a Skill to a thousand was not a casual thing, let alone accomplishing this milestone three times.

“...I bet I can guess what all of you are wondering,” The Don looked around with glittering eyes. “What three Skills have reached a Mille? Well, since you all have so politely gathered in my honor, I see no harm and allowing you to peer behind my magnificent curtain and view my admirable clockwork.”

A strange hush fell over the crowd. Even Claudette stood a little bit straighter. After her shock at the revelation came wariness. Revealing which Skills had grown was not a usual part of these celebrations. And considering her father, he would not give something without cause.

The attendees knew it too. Their eyes became somewhat harsh; everyone understood the influence that the Don could wield when you owed him even the slightest favor. Yet no one spoke out against him. Because while they feared the consequences of his influence, they couldn’t help but be curious. They wished to understand what sort of foe Don Beigon would be.

“The first of my Mille milestones was Unilateral Bargain. After using it so much, that one has continued to grow... haha, I’d ask you to guess how high the Level has become, but I almost think no one will believe me, even if I tell you...” The Don looked teasingly around at the room, which regarded him stoically. No one needed to be informed about his ability to wield favors like daggers.

He raised a hand to his head and sighed, a victimized innocent. “So let’s dispense with that waste of time. The second Mille was Audacious Declaration. You know, about a hundred years ago, when my dearest Claudette was born-” He moved his hand and reached out toward her, as though to stroke her cheek from a distance. She forced herself not to recoil. “-I swore to myself that I would reach a third Mille. And look! Just like that, I’ve arrived.”

A few people clapped politely. Claudette flushed.

“As for my final Mille, it came from a relatively new Skill: Ruinous Determination. This Skill is the most unusual of the three, but I’ve found,” Her father’s expression shifted and his eyes locked onto Claudette. “...that this Skill fits my personality more closely than any of the others. Sometimes, all it takes is one particular Skill to change your entire outlook. To change your entire life to fit a new plan for the future.

“Anyway, I have one last announcement to reveal before I allow you to head outside and enjoy the enthusiastic nighttime hospitality of the people of Alymian.” The Don’s grin widened and something built in the air around him. Claudette’s hair stood on end, wondering if this would be the moment that started sealing her fate. After licking his lips, he continued. “Today, let it be known that I, Don Raphael Beigon, will soon challenge-”

Commandant Wick, his arms folded behind his back, walked down onto the sandy beach. His face burned with displeasure as he stalked down the bamboo stairwell toward Randidly. “You make a nuisance of yourself in front of your superiors. Have you forgotten the last lesson that I endeavored to teach you? Should I break another one of your subordinates so it sticks? Perhaps this time, the process will go more smoothly if I do it right in front of you.”

For the first few seconds after his arrival, Randidly’s face seemed clouded by confusion and exhaustion. His dark hair was messy, even as little bits of static discharge jumped across his head. His eyes were clouded. That clouded gaze shifted to the Commandant as he walked down to the beach, and Claudette could almost see the words register in his mind and suddenly his eyes ignited.

Pressure. That’s what Claudette felt from Randidly Ghosthound. Not the presence of an image or the power of physical stats, but an expansion of his self, so that he seemed to be leaning against the whole of the beach, pressing it beneath the whole of him.

Even the Commandant stiffened in front of that wild viciousness. “What? Do you have something to say?”

“Commandant please, let’s be civil.” Devick’s voice was breezy as she sauntered forward. Her eyes were bright as she examined Randidly. “You... you must be Randidly Ghosthound. I’ve heard-”

“Devick?” Randidly blurted out, his shock briefly overtaking his fury as he looked at the masked woman.

The entire gathering jolted slightly at the strangely intimate address. Even the Actus Suprem seemed to be taken aback by Randidly’s tone. Her golden masked face tilted to the side. “You... know me? Ah. You went to the Mountain and caused a ruckus. So- Heh, and I sense two very familiar presences around your back. Ahh.... How nostalgic. Randidly Ghosthound, you are truly everything I’ve heard and so much more, hehehe.”

She waved her fingers at him. Then Devick shrugged. “However... it would be inappropriate, for me to interfere in a little quarrel between two subordinates, yes? Oh, Mr. Ghosthound, I’m little Wick’s boss, so don’t worry about holding back. Fight to your heart’s content. I’ll accept the result, no matter which of you wins.”

Randidly was still confused as his gaze flicked to the ornate mask and headdress that Devick wore and then back to Commandant Wick, but once more that all-consuming fury rose within him, washing away his hesitation. But then, with a great effort of will, he tore his gaze away from Wick. He looked toward Claudette and met her eyes.

She watched him assert control and corral his emotions. Then he walked past Wick and Devick without acknowledging them. In order to not make things worse for Claudette, Randidly bit down his pride and desire for revenge and turned away.

Unfortunately, the two people Randidly dealt with were not so easily handled.

“Punk. Don’t you dare ignore me,” Wick stepped in his path. “What was her name again? Helen? Perhaps the two of you had a shallower connection than I thought. Wouldn’t she be hurt by how quickly you’ve forgotten the lesson she died to teach you?”

“You!” Spectral flames gushed across Randidly’s body with enough force that Claudette felt Wick waver. She could feel the sudden power that Randidly manifested like a slap in the face, even across the intervening distance. Beyond that, his emotions rose like a tidal wave and drowned out everything else on the beach.

He seemed only a moment away from lashing out, from crumbling beneath his fury and giving in to the violent impulses. Then, slightly at first but with growing determination, Randidly wrestled his own fury back.

A small smile played across Claudette’s face as she watched it.. Then she sent him a message. Randidly, you don’t need to do this for me. If anything, my father would be somewhat pleased if you beat the shit out of Commandant Wick.

So don’t hold back. Give them a taste of what we, the younger generation, have to say for the plans they’ve made without consulting us.