The Broken Halo

’So he has narrowed it down to Akaza and me.’

Simon’s eyes remained on the Fourth Shroud through the narrow gaps in the grate.

Simon was not surprised that the rebel would come to this conclusion since it was a logical conclusion to come to.

After knowing that it was Sonya that attacked the rebels under the Eastern Warden, the demon who was acting as the Fourth Shroud could come to the conclusion that it was either him or Akaza that had the Murmur Bone, Operation Crownless Dawn, and the seal of the Eastern Warden.

And once the eastern faction investigated both of them, Simon would naturally draw more suspicion.

Why?

Because they would find out that he was their leader and he had accompanied Sonya to the Black Horn Office.

Also, unlike Akaza, he possessed an unknown background and there were still layers of mysteries surrounding him.

’The Black Horn has been infiltrated by the Black Banners, but it seems they don’t have the connections, network, and resources to obtain more information about the actual culprit of their nest’s destruction.’

Simon’s eyes flashed with a cold light as he stared at the Fourth Shroud.

He could not be allowed to leave the chamber with what he had learned.

Simon briefly considered capturing him.

That would be more valuable than killing him. The assassin might know the identity of the demoness speaking through the Murmur Bone, have more details about Operation Crownless Dawn, know what the codes like White Crown meant, and what was actually going on among the Black Banner.

However, capturing him inside the Black Horn Office was not going to be easy.

Why?

Because the demon was a Half-Step Greater Demon, and because Simon recognised the race.

A Nethri Demon.

When the Shroud channelled demonic energy into the needle at the prisoner’s neck, faint black-green veins appeared beneath the skin around his jaw, making Simon to know the demon’s race.

Nethris were born with poisonous blood and glands that allowed them to create different toxins through their demonic energy. Some could poison the air with their breath, while stronger members of the race could produce venoms capable of permanently crippling a demon’s demonic pathways with a touch or killing a demon with a light scratch.

The poisonous gas filling the chamber had come from him, but Simon was not worried about because of the robe he was wearing and because UnholyRegeneration.

He could also fight and kill a Half-Step Greater Demon.

However, restraining one alive with the First Hazard Officer present, the guards and Ossik outside, the chamber formations, and every powerful demon inside Black Horn was a different matter.

There was also the vice-leader.

He was only a Supreme Archfiend, but even in his injured state, keeping two prisoners under control would slow Simon down. Spatial teleportation could have solved part of the problem, yet the runes throughout the Office had locked the surrounding space.

Simon could feel the restriction clearly.

Any attempt to tear open space would fail and it could lead to severe injuries if he forced it.

’Capturing both is too greedy.’

Greed was useful only when the reward justified the danger.

In this case, it did not.

The Fourth Shroud would die.

The vice-leader would speak first, then he would also die.

The First Hazard Officer would also have to die.

’And I also have to think about Korran. I didn’t sense his presence when I entered, but I have to be careful.’

’And what about the captain? Isn’t he meant to be here since he’s stronger than his subordinates and since this has to do with something as important as the Black Banners and an intrusion?’

A second after Simon had this thought, a faint sound came from the clasp he was wearing.

Then the captain’s voice drifted into his ears.

"First, Second, hold your positions. Ossik and I will force the main door. The moment it opens, enter from both sides and keep the impostor away from the prisoner."

Simon’s eyes flickered.

’That makes more sense.’

Although attacking the Fourth Shroud from three angles was smart, it also meant Simon had very little time.

Once the main door opened, the chamber would be filled with guards and officials. Korran could also arrive at any moment.

Inside the treatment chamber, the Fourth Shroud continued questioning the vice-leader.

"Although they said you were unconscious, I still have to ask. Did you tell them anything?"

The vice-leader immediately shook his head.

"No. I would never."

The Fourth Shroud clicked his tongue and was about to speak. However...

BANG!

A heavy impact struck the main door, and the walls of the treatment chamber trembled.

The Fourth Shroud looked toward the entrance. Beneath his lowered hood, the black-green veins around his jaw became darker, while two narrow openings appeared close to his neck.

These narrow openings were poison vents and they were like gills, though they released poison instead.

"Move now and survive for a minute! Make sure the vice-leader doesn’t die!" the captain shouted through their communication device.

Clang!

The western grate opened first and the First Hazard Officer entered the chamber with a short blade in one hand. His gaze moved from the restrained vice-leader to the Fourth Shroud.

"Step away from him."

The Fourth Shroud chuckled softly.

"You think you can stop me alone? You? A mere Archfiend?"

The First Officer glanced in Simon’s direction with a deep frown. He was about to speak, but before he could, the Fourth Shroud threw two black needles at him without warning.

The Fourth Shroud knew he didn’t have time to waste, so he attacked as quickly as possible.

The First Officer twisted to the side while sweeping his blade across his body. One needle struck the metal and flew toward the wall.

The second should have missed his shoulder.

But Simon moved a finger, and a thin current of wind altered the needle’s path by less than an inch.

Puchi!

It entered the narrow gap beneath the First Officer’s arm, where the protective garment was weakest.

The demon stiffened.

His blade slipped from his fingers and struck the ground. He tried to take another step, but his knees folded beneath him.

The poison spread quickly.

Black veins climbed from his arm toward his neck, and before he could call for help, he collapsed beside the treatment frame and died.

The Fourth Shroud stared at him with a slightly surprised expression.

He had not expected to kill the First Officer so easily. Even if he looked down on him and called him weak, this was just too easy.

’Something or someone interfered with my needle.’

The Fourth Shroud narrowed his eyes, then he slowly turned toward the eastern grate.

"Why don’t you come out and let’s have a chat."

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