Shadow Slave

Sunny remained silent for a long time, then leaned back with a sigh. His thoughts were dark and heavy. Deep in his heart, an ember of anger smoldered, divorced from all reason, pushing him to do dangerous and short-decided things. It was almost as if the Sin of Solace was whispering into his ears.

'Kill them all... how hard would it be to simply kill them all?' Probably not much easier than slaying the Winter Beast, and with much more dire consequences.

Shaking his head, he looked at Jet. They had never spoken about it directly, but she definitely knew the real reason why the great clans were coming to Antarctica. After all, Soul Reaper had a much more extensive information network... she was deeply embedded into the hierarchy of the government, and had a personal connection to some of its leaders.

Of course, the government was only a second-rate player in the grand scheme of things. Still, they played an important role, and as such, had access to a lot of secrets. He lingered for a few moments.

"...What do you think will happen now?"

Jet covered her mouth with a hand, yawned, and then smiled. "Right now? Well... let me think. I guess the first thing that will happen is that I am going to receive a message from the old man." Just as she finished the sentence, her communicator lit up, displaying a new notification. Soul Reaper chuckled quietly, then concentrated on the screen of the military-issue device.

"See... it's a curse, to always be right. Give me a minute."

Sunny waited for her to finish reading the important message... and it was important indeed.

The old man Jet had mentioned was none other than Saint Cor, the Wake of Ruin, one of the two government Transcendents. Sunny had met him briefly after coming to East Antarctica, and the man definitely left an impression.

Wake of Ruin was a tall, gaunt man in his late fifties. Although his skin was showing signs of aging, his hair still remained perfectly black, like the feathers of a raven. The Saint had sharp features, a piercing gaze, and a stern demeanor, acting like a person who was used to both wielding power and bearing responsibility.

scent - it reminded him of the

Cor... was not a likable person. However, it was

was strangely low-key - but his age alone told volumes about what kind of man he was, and what ordeals he

the legendary figures like Immortal Flame and Nightwalker, since he had been a young child when the Spell first descended.

become Transcendent later than the members of the Second Generation

of Ruin was allowed to be the exclusion from the rule and did not serve any of the Sovereigns hinted that there was

was the field commander of the whole Antarctica operation. ...And Jet seemed to enjoy quite a close relationship with the veteran Saint. She was one of his most trusted agents. So, it wasn't a surprise that Soul Reaper would be

'Lucky me.'

the government, but as Soul Reaper's confidant, he would

and ears inside Valor thanks to Nephis and Cassie... and enjoyed the friendship of one of the heirs of

I am better connected

the Evacuation Army. Waiting for Jet to finish reading the message,

of Seishan's sisters...

- Ki Song's adopted daughters - were all a bit

Mordret, as

gave him a sly glance, making Sunny blink a couple

on about?! I didn't mean it that way! I was

there would have been an innocent smile on its lips, and