Free Web NovelChapter 396: 396. Undercurrents - 2
The shadow’s expression gradually shifted into a faint smile as he listened to the reports that had been gathered.
"They have already sensed our intentions."
The smile on his face widened ever so slightly, carrying an air of amusement rather than concern.
"At this point, they are most likely pretending to cooperate while quietly attempting to turn the situation around. They probably believe they are leading us toward our own traps while avoiding the path we intended for them."
Cindros listened without interruption. His face remained calm, and after several moments he gave a small nod.
"As expected."
The shadow’s smile deepened further.
"Fortunately, that changes nothing. Whether they follow the path we prepared for them or choose another route entirely, the destination remains exactly the same."
Unlike the shadow, however, Cindros did not appear pleased by that fact.
While the shadow seemed entertained by the developments, Cindros remained thoughtful. His eyes narrowed slightly as he considered the situation. A long silence settled between them before he finally spoke again.
"Have they reported back?"
The shadow answered immediately.
"Yes."
For the first time since the conversation had begun, a trace of relief appeared on Cindros’s face. It was small and fleeting, but it was there nonetheless.
Then he turned his gaze toward the distant mountains that stood beyond the palace walls. For several moments he simply stared into the distance before speaking in a quiet voice.
"Let us hope that all of us rot in hell."
The shadow figure stared at him silently. The smile on his face widened and widened further.
The expression gradually stretched beyond what should have been possible for any natural living creature. The corners of his mouth pulled unnaturally far apart, revealing rows of curved white fangs hidden beneath the darkness.
The smile became something grotesque and inhuman. A moment later, laughter escaped from his mouth.
It began as a low chuckle before steadily growing louder. The sound twisted and distorted with each passing second until it no longer resembled ordinary laughter at all.
The chilling noise echoed throughout the dark chamber, bouncing across the stone walls.
As the shadow’s laugh subsided eventually, without warning, a portal opened beside the shadow.
Two silhouettes emerged from the swirling gateway.
The first stepped forward with obvious confusion written across his face.
He was a phoenix, yet there was nothing majestic about his current appearance. He looked around aimlessly, studying his surroundings as though he had awakened in a completely unfamiliar world. His movements were uncertain, and there was an almost childlike bewilderment in his eyes.
Behind him emerged another figure.
This one bore similarities to the shadow standing beside Cindros.
Dark energy quietly radiated from his body, blending into the surrounding darkness so perfectly that it became difficult to determine where the shadows ended and where he began.
He remained completely silent. Cindros looked toward the bewildered phoenix and smiled.
"Welcome back, Ancestor."
The phoenix blinked. "Huh? Who are you?"
His posture lacked the dignity one would expect from a legendary figure. More surprisingly, there was not the slightest trace of cultivation emanating from him. He seemed no different from an ordinary mortal who had never cultivated a day in his life.
Cindros maintained his polite smile. "Ancestor, my name is Cindros. I am the current Emperor of the Ashfall Empire."
"Ashfall?"
Cindros nodded. "You must have lost all your memories."
The phoenix stared blankly.
"Huh? What memories?"
"Ancestor, you have been reborn. This is your last and final rebirth."
The moment those words were spoken, a wave of fragmented knowledge suddenly flashed through the phoenix’s mind. His body jerked violently. He staggered backward as countless unfamiliar sensations flooded his consciousness.
For several seconds he struggled to maintain his balance before eventually stabilizing himself.
His eyes widened. Slowly, he raised both hands and stared at them. He turned them over repeatedly as though examining them for the first time.
Moments later, his hands moved across his face. His fingers traced the contours of his cheeks, jaw, and forehead while he silently confirmed the reality of his own existence.
"I died." His voice was little more than a whisper.
"And this is my last chance."
A moment later, another thought occurred to him. "How did I die?"
Cindros answered with the same calm expression. "You were killed."
The phoenix stared into space for several seconds.
Then he slowly nodded.
"Even if I want to know what happened, I doubt I would understand the full situation right now. If I’ve truly lost my memories, then there is probably context that I’m missing."
Cindros smiled and nodded approvingly. "Your wisdom has not faded even after rebirth, Ancestor."
The compliment seemed to comfort the phoenix somewhat. At the very least, he appeared less lost than before.
After another moment of silence, he looked toward Cindros. "What is my name?"
Cindros smiled.
"Aliastar Ashfall."
***
It was finally time for William to leave the Veridian Capital. Seated within his carriage, he looked out through the window while Dereck sat across from him.
Earlier, William had expected hundreds of people to accompany the expedition. The reality had surpassed those expectations entirely.
There were not hundreds.
There were thousands.
Children stood among the crowd in overwhelming numbers.
Many of them were not even old enough to qualify according to the original requirements. Boys and girls of nearly every age could be seen among the gathering masses.
Some families had arranged crude carts with their own hands solely for the purpose of making the journey. Others carried everything they owned on their backs.
Many possessed little more than a few blankets and worn belongings. Yet despite their poverty, hope could be seen in their eyes. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
As the enormous caravan slowly began moving forward, Dereck glanced out the window before speaking.
"Aren’t there far more people here than you originally instructed to accompany us?"
William nodded. "It seems the condition of the people is far worse than we anticipated."
Dereck sighed. "I know that. However, I believe we should only take those who were selected."
William looked at him. "Why?"
"Because this isn’t a matter of simply transporting them. Once they arrive, they will need food, housing, clean water, medicine, and employment. We will be able to prepare for a few hundred kids. Looking outside now, I can easily estimate close to ten thousand. That includes adults, women, and children."
Dereck continued.
"Managing that many people is not a simple matter."
William slowly shook his head. "Sending them back would be cruel."
His gaze returned to the crowd outside. "I can see it in their eyes. For many of them, this is probably the first hope they have had in years. They believe I can help them escape their suffering."
