There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 324 - 316. A Splash of Cold Water

Chapter 324: Chapter 316. A Splash of Cold Water

Rexon, despite being the center of the Federation, was lacking in tourism since it was originally built as the strongest fortress.

Unlike Shiroin which kept the ancient cultural aspect as its selling point, or Althrea which became the mecca of commerce and entertainment industry, Rexon was rather bland in that commodity. It was made to look sturdy as well as elegant, housing wealthy conglomerates and politicians.

But it wasn’t like the Capital would be devoid of any entertainment. In this day and age, everything could be created and built artificially as long as there was enough money. Of course, everything was proportionately expensive, but the people who lived in Rexon had no shortage of money to spend.

One of those recreational places was a building offering several fishing ponds; from a basic rectangular pond to an artificial sea. It could be enjoyed with company, or rented privately for a steeper price. This recreational activity was especially popular among the elderly or those who had retired from any strenuous activity. The sense of serenity one could get as they waited for the fish to take their bait was oddly addicting, akin to meditation.

A particular fishing establishment in the southern part of Rexon had a regular customer who always came in on Wednesday. Someone in his sixties, who looked stoic and still bore the trace of his heyday as an active esper. He lived a life as a retired old man now, but most still knew him as the former Guildmaster of Celestia; Darleon Belthera.

As usual, the manager was already waiting for him in the lobby. The old man always came on the same day and the same hour, ten in the morning. He would always pick the same venue--an imitation yacht overlooking an artificial sea--and leave exactly at three in the afternoon. It had been the same for the past three years, after he relinquished the Guildmaster position to his son.

"Good morning, Sir. We have prepared your room as always," the manager greeted the old man as usual. "Would you like to order your lunch now?"

"...no, I’ll think about it later," Darleon said.

There was a slight delay in the old man’s answer, which surprised the manager. Not only the delay, Darleon also sounded a bit distracted and low in spirit, which was unusual. But the manager only smiled and bowed politely. "Understood, Sir."

Well, it wasn’t his business, although he made sure to tell his employees that the old man might be in a sensitive mood, and they had to be careful while sending his lunch later.

A wise decision, because the old man was indeed in a sensitive mood today. Or rather, his mind was a tangle of mess. He recalled the event that transpired a few days ago, when one of his disciples came to meet him.

It was a good day. He realized after retiring, how lonely his life was. Now that he wasn’t at the frontline anymore, and lived his life peacefully reading books at home, no one came to visit him. Not his children, not his disciples. Of course, he knew they were all busy, so he did not resent them or anything.

Still, it was nice when one of his disciples called him, saying he would visit him.

Askan Bellum was an esper he had nurtured from the start. The Steel Blood was one of the children he raised and sponsored since their awakening; his people, so to speak. It was one of the reasons why the man got thrown to a branch office after Varion took the Guildmaster’s seat.

’It’s been a while, Askan. Are you doing well in Althrea?’

’I try my best not to bring shame to your name.’

Darleon couldn’t help the smile on his otherwise stoic face. Askan had always been one of his best. He might be lacking in power, but the man did not lack in determination; always genuine, always sincere, always working hard to better himself. If only Varion had Askan’s personality, it would be perfect.

No--no, he shouldn’t think like that about his own son.

’How could you bring shame to my name? You even managed to climb another floor,’ he diverted the topic back so he didn’t have to sigh at the thought of his one and only son. ’I thought being sent to Althrea will hinder your growth, but it seems I’m mistaken.’

’There’s a lot of strong espers in Althrea,’ Askan said with a lowered gaze.

’Ah, that’s right. Bassena Vaski sure is a walking wonder,’ Darleon nodded in agreement. Someone like him usually ended up in the Capital, but alas, the Mallarcs already got to him before Celestia could. ’I also heard he acquired a guide now, so he must be constantly in peak condition.’

’...ah, yes.’

Darleon could sense the instant shift in Askan’s demeanor; the furrowed brows, the tensed shoulder, the clenching fist. It was enough to tell him something was wrong. Something that had to do with either Bassena Vaski, or the guide who had become more famous these days.

’What is it, Askan?’ he asked. ’Do you have a dispute with them?’

He saw the younger esper flinch, and once Askan lifted his gaze to look at him, Darleon saw something ominous. There was sadness inside those eyes; regret and guilt.

’I’m sorry, Teacher, but...there’s something you need to know.’

And oh, it was something ominous alright. Between the shock of what he heard, and the disappointment of knowing that his disciple didn’t come for him solely to pay respect to his teacher, he ended up slapping Askan across the mouth.

’What kind of bullshit are you spouting now?’ he said coldly.

Askan did not answer immediately, just stayed still as blood dripped from his torn lips; eyes trained on the floor to wait for his teacher’s anger to subside. Such a view gripped Darleon in guilt, and he slumped down in his seat again. He knew Askan; he knew the man wasn’t someone who spout bullshit.

’I’m sorry,’ he admitted his hastiness. But it was hard to accept that his son could do something so despicable, even if he knew Varion had questionable morale. ’Has it been proven? The evidence--’

’They have; a lot of it,’ Askan replied, and Darleon could hear the slight tremble. ’CCTV recordings, documents...victim testimony,’

’But are you sure it’s Varion?’

’...the victim...said he heard them mentioning the Guildmaster,’

Darleon realized that Askan was getting shakier the more he talked about the victim; the guide. So he knew the guide personally. Was that why Askan couldn’t keep a blind eye to this?

’So why are you telling this to me? I’d be better if I don’t know--’

He stopped, because he knew how pathetic he sounded even then. To wish that he didn’t know his son’s wrongdoing...how low had he become?

’The Crimson Summoner wants to meet you,’ Askan said. ’In exchange for not processing the evidence.’

’Meet me?’ Darleon widened his eyes. ’For what?’

Askan paused in hesitation. But he saw the man take a deep breath before speaking what he had been thinking. ’I think...he wants Celestia to change--no, for Celestia to return to how it supposed to be.’

Darleon stared blankly at the calm sea in front of him. The fake sea. The calmness, the beautiful cerulean color, the fish swimming beneath; everything was artificial. He knew that, but he told himself it was real. Did it matter anyway whether it was real or fake, as long as he could enjoy his peace?

Yes. That was what he had always told himself all this time. The might, the splendor, the glory of Celestia; he knew it was fake. It had been fake for so many years now, hiding invisible filth beneath. But he told himself it was fine, as long as it stayed hidden.

Just like this fake sea.

But it wasn’t like this all the time, he knew that. The Celestia that he raised with his hands wasn’t like this at the start. When did it start? When did it spread? Why did he let it fester and corrode like miasma?

He took a deep breath and leaned back against the folding chair. He didn’t give his response immediately. Only after thinking hard about it for two days did he decide to accept the meeting.

But even now, even while he sat here waiting, Darleon still didn’t know what he truly wanted. Did he want to protect his son? Did he want to solve the dispute? Did he want to change Celestia? Could he even do something now, when he no longer had any real power?

He didn’t know.

But he decided that at the very least, he had to listen to what Trinity wanted. From Celestia, from Varion, from him.

"Oh, this is not bad," as he pondered about it, he could hear the voice of a man; young, but calm and firm.

Darleon turned toward the door; he had been so deep in thought that he didn’t even realize the door was opened--or was it opened in the first place? He watched the man climb the yacht and sit on the other chair not far from him. The casual clothes, and the nonchalant attitude; it almost felt like they were truly there for fishing.

He had never met this man before, but there was no doubt about the person’s identity. The red hair swayed in the artificial breeze, and the crimson eyes which showed nothing.

Darleon was no longer the Guildmaster of the number one guild in Eastern Federation, but that didn’t mean he had lost his aura and charisma. But even while they were on his turf, those crimson eyes told him he couldn’t use his past glory to pressure this man.

So this is Radia Mallarc.

The man turned and smiled at Darleon, speaking lightheartedly. "Should I start throwing the bait first, then?"

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