There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 343 - 335. Blinded Affection

Chapter 343: Chapter 335. Blinded Affection

With the vision, it wasn’t a question anymore that the House of Horin was trying to get rid of Varion. If his father hadn’t found him on time, someone would probably found Varion in a crazed state, or died from ’mental disturbance’. People would think it was stress from losing the reclamation project and moving on.

From the words he spewed unconsciously during that state, there was also a possibility that the clan wanted him to attack Trinity openly using Celestia’s espers to create chaos, and they would take advantage of said chaos to try and capture Zein again.

Whatever it was, it would be a bad end for Varion either way.

In the end, Darleon agreed to their deal after Radia modified it greatly. The old man would create a faction inside Celestia as intended, as well as look for any evidence they could use against the House of Horin. Meanwhile, Varion would stay hidden.

"You will stay here under Mortix and the Mallarc’s protection. As long as you’re in Mortix Hill, no outside force would dare to come without risking the House Council’s trial," Radia told the man, who had lost his vigor with the shower of dreadful fact and the visual memory reading.

At this point, Varion had no other choice but to agree. It wasn’t like he could ask another Old House to shelter him. Now that Varion had given in to his situation, Radia turned toward the father.

"Belthera, you should go back to Rexon and pretend that Varion is missing. Make chaos inside Celestia and create an investigation force," he said. "You should know who to pick; take those currently residing in other branches too."

"Ah yes, I understand," Darleon nodded. His attitude became meek, and rather than an ally with equal status, it felt more like he was under Radia’s command.

But that was of course preferable for those in Trinity’s—no, Zein’s side. Bassena crossed his arms and nodded in satisfaction, half of it because it meant Askan Bellum would be out of Althrea. "Mm, that’s a natural way to create a faction."

"The Iron Shield Company will sponsor your investigation team. The fund should be ready by the end of the week," Radia continued.

"...understood."

"Use the investigation team as a distraction from what you should be really looking for."

"Yes...I’ll try," the old man lowered his gaze. There was a clear hesitation in his voice that prompted the other to look at him skeptically, and after realizing this, Darleon added immediately. "I’ll try my best, but you must know how hard it is."

He wasn’t trying to bullshit his way out, or even being pessimistic about things. He was actually quite realistic. As someone who had been crossed out of the family registry, it would be hard for him to even go back to that place. The most he could do right now was probably look for the evidence of Varion’s contact with them.

But of course, it wasn’t Radia if he didn’t have a plan already. "Can you try to get inside the House’s compound?"

"I could try..." the old man replied with confusion, before widening his eyes as his gaze moved to the summon that had been standing behind Radia all the time. The one who could generate portals. Suddenly, his voice became more energized. "I—I can try asking them for help in finding Varion. They’d probably let me inside the yard at least to erase suspicions."

"Good, you should do just that," Radia nodded in satisfaction. It was always nicer when he didn’t have to spell everything in detail. "Tell me before you proceed with your visit."

"Alright," the answer this time came a bit firmer, with more conviction.

* * *

"Do you think he’ll do it well?" Zein asked while stirring his warm bowl of instant noodles. After all the stressful events, Han Shin was craving some stimulating, stress-relief food, and Zein didn’t mind joining.

Starring disapprovingly at the unhealthy meal, Radia replied with a sigh. "We have his son. We might ’protect’ Varion, but the man is essentially a hostage," he said, before adding with a smirk. "Why? You don’t believe he could take over Celestia?"

"I don’t know," Zein shrugged, staring at the reddish soup in contemplation. "I had hoped in him when you told me how he was righteous and such, but..."

Seeing how much he tried to protect his son was pretty annoying. He didn’t go as far as justifying Varion’s actions, but the old man still wanted them to forgive Varion with a simple apology. Zein had already expected the old man to shield his son, which was why he hit Varion as soon as the man woke up without any warning, before the father could come up and prevent him from doing so.

"I can see your point," Radia leaned on the couch with an unlit golden needle in his hand. "Well, we can say it’s his biggest weakness—other than being inept at politics."

"What? Spoiling his son is his weakness?" Han Shin sneered.

"Love," Radia said with a soft but regretful voice, causing everyone to look at him. "He loves his wife, and he loves the son who resembles his wife the most."

Radia stared at the flame of his lighter, a subtle smile played on his lips. "He had lived without tasting what being loved by his father was like, so he poured all of his love and affection into his son, doing everything the opposite way," he shook his head, before putting the golden needle between his lips and lighting it, continuing after a deep inhale. "He was so careful not to hurt his son that he couldn’t see how it hurt other people instead."

Despite being strict and upright, he was blind to his son’s actions, secluding himself from outside affairs as if it could shield him from how much Varion had been abusing his power and authority. On top of that, Varion’s lashing out about how many opportunities he missed because his father left the clan caused a pang of guilt in his heart.

Han Shin clicked his tongue. "That’s just as horrible, isn’t it?"

"Perhaps," Radia chuckled. "But a parent’s heart is complicated. He might condemn what his son did, but the moment he looked into Varion’s eyes, he probably wavered."

Not one of them would be able to understand it, honestly, until they held their child in their hand. A lot of parents had the same problem; thinking their child could do no wrong, or knowing their child did something wrong yet still shielding it. It happened to even the most upright person, and it seemed like Darleon wasn’t an exception.

"Well, that’s why it’s called ’weakness’, isn’t it?" Radia shrugged. "By the time he realized his son had grown spoiled, it was too late. It’s only my conjecture, but...he probably groomed his disciples to be his ’ideal’ children to compensate for his inability to correct his son."

As proof, his disciples were actually the ones who kept the principle and soul of the original Celestia at heart. And it was in those disciples’ hands that Radia hoped Celestia could be righted.

Zein stared at the summoner in fascination. "You...surprisingly have a lot of insight about this matter."

Radia smirked and answered lightheartedly. "Well, it’s because I’m a lucky person with healthy parents...in a lot of ways."

Zein raised his brow. Now that he thought about it, except for Radia, none of them had living parents. Well, except for Han Shin—but that father of his might as well be non-existent in his life, so...

"Ah...I missed your parents! It’s been a long time since they’ve been around," Han Shin stirred in his seat, for the first time looking cheery and bright today.

"Heh—having fun as always, I bet," Radia smirked. His parents had immediately left to explore the world the moment he took the Chairman’s position, becoming the adventurers they had always wanted.

Zein stared at the two with interest, and Bassena explained while putting a plate of cut fruits beside the bowl of instant ramen. "Well, you know our conditions. Since we spent a lot of time in Radia’s house, his parents felt like our parents."

"That’s right. They even came to our graduations, you know," Han Shin laughed briefly, and Radia curled his lips at the healer’s cheerful reply.

"Seems like you forgive me now?"

Han Shin was startled and turned his face away. "Hm-hmph! It’s...it just doesn’t feel right to keep being upset in this situation," he pursed his lips, feeling bashful that he couldn’t keep his upset act. His eyes caught the sight of the guide calmly slurping on the noodles and smirked. "But Zein, you’re kinda cold earlier."

Honestly, none of them expected Zein would straight-up hit Varion like that, even asking Han Shin to heal the man so he could hit Varion even more. The guide sounded like he could do the interrogation by himself if they let him do it.

"Well, I’m more or less working for a rogue guild for thirteen years," Zein replied nonchalantly.

Ah...that made sense. They all nodded in agreement. What Zein did was probably very mild compared to what a rogue guild did in daily basis.

"Anyway, why didn’t we just read his memory from the start? Why are we going through all that questioning trouble?" Zein shifted the topic. If they used that vision reading on the captives, they would have been able to see who ordered them, at the very least.

"We might not receive Darleon’s cooperation otherwise, also..." Radia smiled deeply, "The skill only works on a willing participant."

Zein stopped his fork midair, and so did the others. "What?"

With a chuckle, Radia explained. "The other person has to consent to it for the skill to work. Without that limitation, I would have used it for the other captives. I certainly would have told you to bring the clan’s espers back alive."

But Radia already knew these people were trained to be loyal even in the face of death, so the skill wouldn’t be usable.

"But if Varion knew that, he might make it so that the skill wouldn’t work to minimize his humiliation," he continued.

"Oh..."

Radia took a deep drag and laughed softly while shaking his head. "I bet he’s thinking the Guildmaster’s seat is still his, and that he’ll settle the score once he’s back."

"How cute," Zein smirked and went back to his noodle. But he caught a pair of amber eyes narrowing at him, so he chuckled and patted his esper’s cheek. "Not your kind of cute."

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