*Warning - Graphical Bloody Scenes*
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After meeting with the Crimson Blades, Leon immediately headed to the secret chamber to access the archives.
But since it was already high in the morning, he was keen not to meet any of the officials nor his Imperial Brothers along the way.
For if they knew that a top secret mission was entrusted to him, their camps would be on high alert and investigate.
He didn't want any conflict right now. He wanted to solve the threats, before he tackled the fight for the throne.
When he was a child, he was already subjected to the disdain and scorn by the nobles attempting to disqualify him for the throne. They even attempted to harm his mother queen.
It had only subsided when he was assessed as a class D, making him more unworthy to be even considered as a member of the Imperial Family. The aristocrats thought that it was the Emperor's move to send him to the borders to participate in war to kill him indirectly.
It was different now that he already had a reputation and accomplishment from the very place that he was supposed to die.
Who would have known that he would grow into a barbaric war hero? The aristocrats from the First and Second Prince's camp were alarmed.
Leon knew this all, that is why he had always been careful enough to carry out his missions. With the help of his Father Emperor, they would make his mission as though he would just be sent to do menial tasks.
Yet only the two of them and a few sworn allies would know what the mission really was.
This time was no different. For they really do not know how deep the power of the Spectre is. The worst case would be there were already people planted to spy the Empire.
Realizing this, he again reprimanded himself for the actions and thoughts he had in Silvertown.
Asking for Eli's hand in marriage was a foolish move! His father, the Emperor, was right! He could have brought her and Little Han straight to their doom! He was fortunate that Eli was firm in her decision.
That somehow sobered him up.
For now, he needed to at least eliminate the immediate threats before thinking about completing his own family.
His crystal blue eyes shined with determination.
Walking on the marble pavement, Leon set his eyes on the massive Wisteria Tree at the centre of the secret garden. The tree stood majestically at the centre showing off its massive produce of light pink flowers blooming beautifully.
However, despite its beauty, Leon didn't waste time and walked towards its trunk. Examining it, he traced an invisible magic array. Activating it, a spectral door appeared, shining on pinkish light.
He touched the surface of the spectral door. "Hong!" He heard a sound of ringing inside his head while the door slowly opened. What was behind the door was a dark underground passageway.
Leon didn't hesitate and took a step inside the passageway. As soon as he entered, the door closed and disappeared from the garden. The light stones mounted in the walls automatically shined, giving the passageway ample light.
After walking a few minutes underground, he finally reached into a massive door. Inspecting it, he found a key hole. Taking out the key given by his father, he immediately used it to open the massive door.
Soon the massive door opened itself and Leon saw a massive library hall ahead. It was about five floors high, and a massive light source was placed at the center of the hall making it conducive for the visitors to carry their chosen books at the centre of the hall to read.
But before he moved, he noticed a presence from his far left. On high alert, he discreetly touched his sword.
"What brings a young Seirende in the archives?" Leon heard a deep old voice ringing on the entire library hall.
Calming himself down, he politely replied, assuming that the voice was the guardian of the most sacred archive of the Empire,
"Greetings, esteemed guardian of this archive. I am here at my Father Emperor's permission to view the records seized from the Riverfort Asani incident."
"This humble one is named Leon Andrae de Seirende, Third Prince of the Seirende Empire." He respectfully assumed a greeting position.
"Hmm.. hmm.. So seldom to have a visitor here in four years. Who would have thought that you would like to seek the memoirs of that madman… Come ye, I'll guide you to their location." As the voice was speaking, Leon could hear steps approaching from the dark corner on his far left.
Soon, he saw the source of the voice, it was an elder looking leprechaun. Dressed in green hat and robe, with his white beard as long as the hem of his robes, he stood near Leon, half his height.
Fixing his spectacles, he beckoned Leon to follow him while commenting,
"For four years, your father dumped these records in this chamber without any intention to look into it.
Now his son appears to be interested in it! I'll tell you I have finished reading it, it was all mundane writing. I have long evaluated it as just a madman's memoir!"
"Great elder, this madman's memoir might save some lives.. I am here to investigate what had instigated his wrong doings." Leon politely replied.
"What for? The Asani was long gone, there was no saving those people.." The elder leprechaun said with a hint of sadness.
"The Asani of the Riverfort was saved. She is alive up until this day.." Leon said, as if comforting the elder.
"What?! How merciful heaven was! It seemed like I had been cooped up with this chamber for so long that I didn't know what's happening to the outside world!" The elder replied in relief and helplessness.
"However.. The hidden forces had discovered her existence again. I am here looking for clues to figure them out for a counter attack.." Leon said coldly.
"Hmm, good good. Protect that one last person, whom the Creator favors!"
"I will do my best elder!" Leon said resolutely.
He was then brought to a particular bookshelf. But before he attempted to reach out, he could fill multiple layers of S class protection spell wrapping the bookshelf.
He was left in wonder? Who put this complicated spell in here?
Four years ago, his grandfather had long been dead.
Is it the two grandmasters? No, they aren't. The array didn't have a familiar mana trace from either of the Grandpa.
He didn't want to admit it, but he didn't have a choice but to look at the elderly leprechaun beside him. 'Is he also an S class? But there were only two official ones in the Empire..'
While he was figuring it out, the elder leprechaun had already deactivated the multilayer protection to have Leon access the files.
He then snapped his fingers and transported himself, Leon and the wooden bookshelf into the reading area at the centre of the hall.
"Aren't you going to investigate? It is easier to do it here.. Go on and do your thing. These old bones won't disturb you anymore." After saying this he mystifyingly faded in thin air.
Awoken by the words of the elder, Leon refocused himself and started to open the oldest record from the book. He was fortunate that the records were already organized chronologically. It had saved him time sorting out the papers.
Taking a deep a breath, he started to read the contents of the memoirs -
--
"Year 1567, a night during the fourth week of spring,
I was undercover looking for clues for a potential subject when I heard a drunken man lamenting about a cursed child he was rearing.
Intrigued, I have interrogated that man…"
--
"Year 1567, the fifth week of spring.
After investigating and convincing the family for a long time, I have finally managed to get myself an Asani!
Oh my fortune! I am sure that she was already the last, and it was a mundane attempt of his late parents to save their child!
Who would have known that the adoptive parents would happily sell her to me for just a few bags of shinnies! Looking at her, she was rather two young yet, her body didn't even have the trace of a mana network.
It wasn't a problem. It's just two short years, I can finally start my plan.."
--
"Year 1569,
The girl was already seven years old.
Examining her body, I was baffled.. She was already seven! Why are there no traces of mana receptors!"
--
"Year 1570,
What in the world was happening? I've examined countless samples of her blood and pieces of her flesh, but yet no traces of mana receptors were found?!
Was this girl really an asani?!"
--
"Year 1575,
I do not believe that there was anything different from an asani to the normal human!
What is it in their bodies that they were able to change their constitution once in their life?!
I needed to know!
Curses!"
--
"Year 1580,
My hypothesis was right! It won't work if I will just examine her flesh and blood as small samples!
Hahahaha!
Skinning and opening up her body parts was the best way! Her receptors are not dying that way!
The next step was to figure out how to extract them.."
--
"Year 1581,
A great breakthrough to the countless years of my study!
Through years and years of attempts, I have finally found that it was possible to physically transplant the mana receptors to another body!
It was only irritating that I had to hear her annoying begs and cries! But I don't have any choice, to keep the receptor alive she must be completely conscious!
If not I would have knocked her out for good.
Anyways, I am only one step closer to getting their abilities!
Soon the Spectre will acknowledge me and grant me a high position!"
--
"Year 1581, winter
The subject wolves have been accepting the receptors quite well. So far, only the wolves have the resistance to take on this asani's receptors, the dwarves and halflings would immediately explode! What a waste!
However, I have a hunch that because the wolves that I have used aren't as intelligent as the dwarves or halflings, they were able to accept the receptors easily with no resistance.
I have to figure out this early how would I apply it on humans. I need them to be like fools or in a state without a sense of self..."
--
"Year 1582,
All receptors had been extracted except from the brain and the heart.
I have also discovered that this girl had the ability to regenerate her receptors after I harvested it! In the future I will have her as a receptor farm!
I must carry out this operation perfectly. She mustn't die!
If I have successfully extracted her brain and heart receptors, the first phase of this study will be complete!
The next step was to finally try it on a living human and attempt to achieve the very first man-made open paths!"
--
