Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 182: Chapter 177: [Major Event: The Scepter Rebellion] Begins

”When did you join the Blood Eye Association?”

”When I was fourteen... Father took me to Red Crying Castle for an audience with Lord Nerva... A lord there in a red robe said I had great talent...”

Adonis’s lips twisted, his voice somewhat muffled, but the power of the Divine Technique still compelled him to speak.

”Later, Father claimed he was sending me to the Mage Federation... but it was actually to the Blood Eye Association... to receive my training...”

The veins on Paris’s sword hand bulged.

Red Crying Castle, Nerva...

Adonis here is only about twenty-two... He was fourteen eight years ago. Back then, Nerva Hodgson Heta had only inherited the title of Count Heta for two years!

The great Count Heta, a feudal lord of the Empire, was actually colluding with the Blood Eye Association, watching his own territory descend into chaos, and openly declaring independence?!

But after a brief burst of anger, he considered the broader implications. For now, he suppressed his emotions and continued to listen to the interrogation.

Reed, for his part, had no interest in the internal squabbles of the Harvia Empire. He simply continued to guide the interrogation.

”So the Blood Eye Association has been infiltrating the major families for a long time?”

”Not just infiltrating...”

Adonis suddenly gave a strange laugh.

”We... are seeds... When the Red Vulture’s banner rises... all seeds must bloom...”

Reed intensified the golden glow in his hand.

”State your specific mission.”

”Disrupt... create panic... prevent the formation of a noble alliance...”

”Depending on the situation, kill or corrupt Paris, Yed, Reya... and, Jon... The Governor specifically instructed... to give him a good scare...”

The gazes of the others couldn’t help but converge on Jon’s face.

Jon, however, simply narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable.

This ”Governor” Adonis mentioned was probably that old bastard who ambushed him before, a true high-ranking member of the Blood Eye Association.

But...

’That son of a bitch is pretty cheeky, trying to scare me? Does he think I was born yesterday!?’

Adonis’s memory seemed to be under some kind of protection. Whenever Reed tried to ask about the Governor’s true identity, he would struggle violently.

Left with no other choice, Reed could only frown and increase the output of Divine Power, moving on to other matters.

After a few more rounds of questioning, more intelligence about the Blood Eye Association was revealed, giving everyone a deeper understanding of the organization.

The light from the golden emblem in Reed’s hand had also dimmed slightly.

Such a long interrogation was not an easy task, even for an Official Level Priest.

A trace of fatigue flashed in the depths of his silver-gray eyes, and then he took a deep breath.

”Last question—how does the Blood Eye Association dare to openly cause chaos in Heta County? Aren’t you afraid the Empire will mobilize its legions to crush you?”

Adonis’s sweat-soaked hair clung to his pale skin. Hearing the question, he suddenly let out a hoarse, cold laugh.

Within the Light Cocoon, his broken lips twisted open, revealing blood-stained teeth.

”Crush us? The big shots in the Imperial Capital are probably in complete disarray by now... Who has the time to bother with a remote corner like Heta County?”

The words exploded like a thunderclap in the cold dungeon.

Viscount Paris took a sharp step forward, his hazel eyes contracting violently.

”What did you say?!”

A morbid excitement appeared on the young Mage’s face. Every word that came from his mouth seemed to be soaked in venom.

”The old king is dead... The Crown hangs in the balance... Those noble scions with Royal Family blood are busy tearing at each other’s throats right now...”

A sharp glint flashed in Jon’s ice-blue eyes from the shadows. The fingers of the hand hanging at his side curled unconsciously. ’Just as I thought.’

”Impossible!”

Paris’s voice trembled with disbelief.

”His Majesty Hain has been ill for a long time, but the Royal Family...”

”He breathed his last three days ago.”

Adonis cut Paris off, a cruel pleasure appearing on his ashen face.

”The Ravens from Red Crying Castle are much faster than the Imperial Capital’s official reports... You pitiful worms trapped in Birch Town, so cut off from information, are still dreaming of reinforcements from the Empire?”

Reed suddenly raised his hand, and the Thorn Sun Emblem on his palm lit up again.

”The exact time? Cause of death?”

”Heh... Who knows...”

Adonis’s eyes began to roll upwards unnaturally, clearly having touched upon some deeply sealed memories.

”Maybe poisoned by a son... or a daughter? After all, that Crown...”

His words suddenly became fragmented, and his neck twitched violently as if gripped by an invisible hand.

Black, web-like patterns suddenly appeared on the surface of the Light Cocoon. Seeing this, Jon immediately changed his hand seals to reinforce the barrier, but it was too late—thick black blood oozed from all of Adonis’s seven orifices, and his entire body went limp as if its spine had been removed.

”The backlash from a Shadow Pact.”

Reed quickly took half a step back to avoid being touched by the black blood, then said in a low voice.

”He must have touched upon a core secret.”

Paris stood there, gritting his teeth. His heavy breaths condensed into a white mist in the cold dungeon.

”If His Majesty has truly passed... the various legions will surely prioritize defending the Imperial Capital...”

The voice of this Lord, who had always been known for his diplomatic skill, was now trembling slightly.

”It’s not just that.”

”According to Imperial tradition, a vacant throne requires a royal election to be confirmed. During this time, all nobles with real power will be drawn into a political vortex.”

Jon knelt to inspect Adonis’s cooling corpse, his voice low.

”In other words, no one will be paying any attention to Heta County.”

The dungeon fell into a dead silence, the CRACKLE of the burning torches exceptionally harsh.

”We need to confirm this news immediately.”

Reed was the first to break the silence, wiping his blood-stained palm clean.

”We have special channels to contact the cathedral in the Imperial Capital.”

Paris nodded grimly, his iron gauntlets creaking as he clenched his fists.

”True or not, Birch Town must prepare for the worst.”

He turned to Jon, a do-or-die resolve burning in his eyes.

”Mr. Jon, those Mechanical Bodies of yours... what’s the fastest you can produce them?”

”If materials are sufficient, I can assemble twenty basic models within three days.”

”The Lord’s Mansion’s warehouses are yours to use.”

Paris said decisively, then tore the sigil from his waist and tossed it to an attendant.

”Go and ask Lord Yed to come to the conference room immediately! We need to replan all our defensive deployments!”

As the group hurried up the stone stairs, Jon lingered at the back.

He glanced back at the corpse in the depths of the dungeon, which was slowly being swallowed by darkness. Adonis’s final, twisted smile seemed to linger in the air.

[The Chaos of the Scepter]... In the game, this six-month period of turmoil was the initial phase when players entered the game and were introduced to this vast world.

Countless NPC factions would be ground to dust in this meat grinder, while new stars would rise to take their place on the stage of history.

And he, Jon, had never experienced this period in the game. But now, here he was, witnessing the beginning of the Major Event.

What role... would he play in this Major Event?

”Mr. Jon?”

Reed paused at the corner, calling out in confusion.

Jon retracted his gaze. The gilt-like firelight cast shifting shadows on the sharp contours of his profile.

As he stepped onto the final stair, the soul from another world had already distilled his complex thoughts into the simplest of action plans: increase his power, expand his influence, and bide his time.

It wasn’t really any different from his original plan.

And on a conscious level, a system prompt that had long been silent quietly lit up.

[Major Event ”The Chaos of the Scepter” has been triggered]

[Faction Contribution System has been activated]

[Current Affiliated Faction: Birch Town · Resistance Alliance · Giant God Workshop]

[Major Event Influence Counter Module activated]

[Current Influence: 1]

”Heh...”

The night wind blew away the stench of blood wafting from the dungeon, and Jon returned to the world of order.

Through the tall stained-glass windows of the Lord’s Mansion, he saw Reya in the courtyard talking with the frightened noble ladies. Her expression was focused and earnest, her red hair like a dancing flame in the light...

He saw Rosalind deftly negotiating procurement matters with various nobles. When she saw Jon approaching, affection flowed like water in her silver eyes...

And there were Xia and Xina, leading the Defender Army as they focused on casting Divine Techniques, moving through the corridors of the Lord’s Mansion...

As these vivid figures were reflected in his ice-blue pupils, a once-vague decision suddenly became crystal clear.

As Paris called his name from ahead, Jon strode into the long corridor of interwoven light and shadow. The sound of his boot heels striking the marble floor was like the resounding CLANG of Destiny’s gears locking into place.

’I came, I saw, I changed...’