Revenge: A Path of Destruction
Chapter 176: I have to do this

Chapter 176: I have to do this

Immediately after Cassius’s lips parted and his calm, commanding voice finished echoing across the Great Hall, Nelson rose from his seat. His silver knight tunic caught the flickering light of the pulsing green runes as he raised one hand, summoning a massive holographic screen that appeared at the center of the eight-pillared circle.

The image on the screen was clear and crisp, despite its origin being from a distant surveillance feed. It showed a man standing beneath a streetlight on a rainy night—a sharp jawline, silver-white hair, and eyes that seemed to glow faintly, even under the grainy visual filter. Alex.

Nelson’s voice carried the practiced weight of command, sharp and steady.

"I’m sure we’ve all been briefed about this man, so I won’t waste your time reiterating his history. What you need to know is this—we believe he is currently somewhere in Europe. It’s the closest continent to the Earth Domain, and considering the breach in Geb Fortress and what we’ve uncovered about his connections, it’s only logical he would’ve headed here next."

The image flickered, then shifted—to a poised woman with flowing blue hair, wearing a pristine white coat lined with the emblem of the World Association. Her name was displayed in glowing characters beneath her image.

Lauren.

"The situation has taken a turn," Nelson continued, his expression tightening just slightly. "We issued a high-level bounty to make his movements difficult—bait to stir the underground, to limit his ability to move freely or hide in the shadows. To be honest we already knew that the bounty would be useless, as we accounted for disguises, illusionary artifacts, even high-grade identity shifts. The bounty was never meant to actually catch him—it was a net, not a spear. But..."

He gestured at the image on screen.

"This woman—Lauren , current daughter to the President of the Association and the one to take over after him—has picked up the signal. She has been seen making her way into the branch quarters of the association. Which means the association are taking the bounty seriously. Which is not what we intended."

Freya shifted in her seat, her petite form still and silent, her sharp eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"If the global government gets wind of our involvement," Nelson continued, "they will interfere. And if that happens, our hands will be tied. We do not want a continent-wide investigation pointing back to the Wind Clan."

His voice dropped to a final, definitive note.

"Now that you’re informed... suggestions?"

There was a beat of silence, heavy with thought, then a smooth, measured voice answered first.

---

**Soren**, seated on the fifth pillar, leaned forward slightly, his green cape fluttering with an unseen breeze.

"I suggest we leak false trails. Plant credible but misleading sightings of Alex in North Africa, South America, and parts of Central Asia. Have our operatives release minor footage through various underground forums, stir the pot, and spread confusion. With three conflicting leads, the Association’s focus will fragment, giving us more room to move here in Europe."

Nelson gave a slow nod, considering the proposal.

---

Then, a deeper, more gruff voice cut in. Henrik, on the third pillar, spoke with a low growl.

"Let’s cut off the bounty at its root. Track down the person who submitted it to the central guild system and trace their connection to us. Then eliminate them. If there’s no digital or magical trace of the bounty’s source, it becomes a loose thread without origin. The Association might lose interest if the trail goes cold."

Freya let out a soft scoff at Henrik’s blunt approach.

"That why you’re all brawns and no brain, didn’t you hear, we are the one who issued the bounty" said Freya as she looked at Henrik with a face of someone looking at an idiot.

---

The third to speak was Marc, the youngest, his youthful voice lacking the weight of years but sharp with insight.

"Both plans are sound, but I think we need to approach Lauren directly—not to threaten, but to influence. What we know about her is that she’s logical, ambitious, and hates being manipulated. Why don’t we just invite her over to the clan, using the disguise that it’s we want to collaborate together and find him

There was a moment of silence after Marc’s words. Even Nelson blinked, surprised at the maturity of the suggestion. Freya raised a brow and finally gave a slow nod of approval.

Cassius finally moved.

His eyes, which had remained closed throughout the briefing, now **opened slowly**, revealing deep green irises filled with endless winds—serene yet suffocating. His voice was calm, nearly a whisper, but carried through the Great Hall like a storm on the horizon.

"Since you have come to a conclusion..." he said, "**I don’t need to tell you what to do.**"

He stood, rising from his throne like a god of wind given form, the air swirling gently around his body.

"You have **my authority.** Now go—**find me that boy named Alex.**"

As his voice faded, a surge of invisible pressure swept through the chamber like a gust of hurricane wind. Instantly, all seven knights rose from their seats and dropped to **one knee** in perfect unison.

"Yes, Father!" they shouted, their voices thundering across the hall like crashing waves.

As the others left the hall, their footsteps fading into silence, only Nelson and Cassius remained.

The heavy air between them lingered like a storm waiting to break.

Nelson, who had maintained an unwavering calm throughout the meeting, now allowed a trace of emotion to slip into his expression. His shoulders slackened, and a look of helplessness crept into his eyes as he turned toward the throne.

"...Is it really alright for you to do this, Father?"

Cassius, who had been sitting in cold stillness with a face carved from stone, slowly opened his eyes and met Nelson’s gaze. For the first time in the meeting, emotion touched his features—a faint shadow of sorrow.

"I’m sorry, Nelson," Cassius said, his voice low, heavy with weight. "But this is the only way."

Nelson clenched his fists at his sides, the calm on his face fracturing. Frustration welled up in his voice as he bit down on his lower lip.

"Then what about us?" he asked, pain breaking through in his tone. "Do our feelings mean nothing to you?"

Cassius looked at him again, and this time, the sadness in his eyes deepened.

"Of course they matter," he said quietly. "But I... I need to do this. For her. And for myself."

Nelson said nothing for a while. He turned away briefly, jaw tight, trying to swallow the bitterness rising in his throat. When he finally spoke again, his voice was steadier, almost pleading.

"Can’t you just tell him the truth?" he asked. "I don’t know him. Maybe If you told him everything... he’d understand."

Cassius didn’t respond right away. He stared at Nelson for a moment, then slowly looked up at the ceiling of the hall, as though searching for an answer in the runes that pulsed faintly overhead.

"I’ve thought about it," he admitted. "More times than I can count. And yes... part of me wants to tell him. But it won’t change anything. Not what’s coming. Not what needs to be done."

A long silence followed, broken only by the gentle hum of the mana-infused runes etched into the walls around them.

Then, Cassius rose slowly from his throne. His regal bearing was still intact, but there was a weariness to his movements now, a quiet ache behind each step as he descended from his seat.

He paused before the large double doors, the wind swirling faintly around his cloak, and turned slightly to look over his shoulder.

"I want you to remember something," he said. "I love all of you. Even if I’m not truly your father. Even if I only took you in because of your talents... you are still my children."

He turned back to the door.

Behind him, he heard a stifled sob.

Nelson was standing still at the center of the hall, head bowed, tears slipping quietly down his face.

Cassius closed his eyes as he walked forward, placing one hand on the door.

"...I’m sorry, kiddo," he whispered to himself, just above a breath. "But I have to do this."

And with that, the doors opened, and the Lord of Wind disappeared into the storm beyond.

----------------------------------------------------------

"Hello everyone,

I’m reaching out to let you know that I’ll be taking a temporary break from writing for about a week. Recently, I visited a local clinic due to a fever, and the doctor advised me to take some time off to rest and recover. While writing itself isn’t typically stressful for me, balancing it with school responsibilities has been taking a toll.

To be honest, I’ve been pushing through despite feeling unwell, but it’s become clear that I need to prioritize my health. I didn’t want to leave you all wondering why I didn’t post a new Chapter today, so I wanted to give you a heads up.

I’m hoping to recover soon and get back to writing. Thank you for your understanding, and I appreciate your support.

Best regards, [oye_dee]"

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