Chapter 109: Thassa, Heart of the Monarch

Stepping through the black gate, what unfolded before them was not darkness but a dazzling, otherworldly space woven from black and white hues. The radiant light flickered incessantly, yet it was soft and gentle, never harsh to the eyes. With keen interest, Veil surveyed every corner, turning left, then right, occasionally stamping his foot. Each time his foot struck the vibrant floor, a subtle buzzing sound arose, rippling outward like waves upon water.

“You seem quite intrigued by this place,” Scanoli remarked, noting Veil’s evident enthusiasm.

“But didn’t you say it was dangerous? Why follow me inside then? From what I know, you’re not the type to recklessly chase danger,” Scanoli continued, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

“Am I not?” Veil chuckled softly, turning to glance at Scanoli with a knowing expression. “I did say I’m greedy. If there’s even the slightest chance that what I desire lies here, no matter the risk, I will enter.”

“Hmm?” Scanoli gave a crooked smile. He knew exactly what Veil sought. Pausing briefly, he then looked up and said, “The thing you want—I won’t contend for it, you can be sure of that. But I will say this: it truly is here. As for its exact location, well, that remains a mystery to me.”

“If you don’t know where it is, how can you be sure it’s here at all?” Veil frowned. This had been his greatest doubt from the start. How did Scanoli know about the sacred artifact? What was the source of his knowledge?

In this world, few were worthy of risking their lives for trust. Scanoli was certainly not one of them. No matter how amicable they appeared on the surface, deep within Veil’s heart, Scanoli bore the mark of absolute distrust.

For this enigmatic old man shrouded always in a faint mist, Veil’s feelings were nothing but wariness and vigilance.

“Want to know?” Scanoli’s eyes suddenly gleamed with a strange light, his face wearing the expression of someone willing to negotiate. Yet just as Veil expected him to reveal the secret, the old man let out a raspy chuckle, teasing, “Heh heh, I just won’t tell you!”

“Damn it!” Veil cursed loudly, turning his head deliberately away. But as he did, a faint curve lifted the corner of his mouth, and he snorted coldly within.

“Won’t reveal your hand, huh? Crafty old fox...”

Though Scanoli and Veil often bantered, their rapport seemed easy and natural. In truth, each was constantly probing the other, seeking to uncover hidden depths, to understand what cards the other concealed. Scanoli with Veil, and Veil with Scanoli, both engaged in this silent, mutual espionage.

Why? Simply put, to Veil, Scanoli was a beastman, not human. To Scanoli, Veil was human, not beastman. To either, the other was a foreigner, an outsider—and that alone explained everything.

That was all there was to it.

Since Veil had attained an eighth-tier mastery of ice magic, his perception had sharpened considerably. This allowed him finally to discern how Scanoli could peer into their innermost thoughts.

Scanoli’s so-called mysterious ability was merely a special wave of thought-energy, akin to a spiritual force. Invisibly, it invaded the mind, easily ensnaring those whose mental defenses faltered even briefly. At first, Veil’s awareness was insufficient to resist these waves, but with his increased perception, he could now detect them with ease. He chose not to resist outright, instead feigning ignorance, halting his thoughts the moment he sensed Scanoli’s intrusion, and replacing them with random, nonsensical musings to confound the attempt.

This tactic was effective, but Scanoli’s cunning meant he could fool it a few times. Yet after repeated failures, Scanoli sensed something was amiss, though he said nothing, pretending all was normal. Veil never expected to conceal this forever; his purpose was only to warn: you have crossed my boundary—no further!

“Kid...” Scanoli trailed behind, his gaze fixed on Veil ahead, a peculiar gleam in his eyes. “Calm and experienced in mind, yet bold and extreme in temper. Cunning and scheming, capable of restraint and expansion in action. Such a man, if lacking strength, is harmless, but should he ever reach the pinnacle...”

“But no strength? Is that possible? This boy’s power inexplicably doubled within mere days. Yet he never boasts, as if unsatisfied. At his age and with this dedication, mastery is only a matter of years,” Scanoli murmured thoughtfully.

“High Priest...” Nassa, who had been silent since entering the Wildwood, suddenly spoke in beast tongue, addressing Scanoli, “What occupies your thoughts?”

“Deciding... whether to kill or spare,” Scanoli replied, aware Veil could not understand their language, deliberately discussing Veil’s fate within his hearing.

“Are you speaking of me, Veil?” Veil’s voice was calm but steady.

Nassa’s face betrayed no emotion; he didn’t even glance at Veil, responding mechanically before falling silent.

“Hmm,” Scanoli nodded, “Our goal is to destroy the Demon Realm’s gate this time. That would eliminate the greatest threat to the Beast Clan. After a two-year respite, our armies could devastate human territory. If during this period the boy chooses to aid the Beasts, combined with our strength, he would be a crucial internal ally within the human world. But if he refuses, knowing our ambition to seize human lands, he will surely alert the humans to our situation. This would provoke the empire’s attention, leading inevitably to war.”

“So you’re torn between killing him or sparing him?” Nassa asked, turning to Scanoli without hesitation.

“High Priest, then I shall decide for you... once this mission is complete, kill him!” Nassa declared firmly.

“But he truly has value!” Scanoli protested.

At this, Nassa—usually as rigid as stone—surprisingly smiled. Pausing, he looked at Scanoli and spoke with unwavering conviction. Veil thought, How strange—wasn’t Nassa supposed to fear Scanoli? Yet now, he showed no signs of dread.

“So what? High Priest, I understand your reasoning, and though you are right, remember this: I will become king. Whoever stands in my way will be destroyed. To reach my goal, I will tolerate no threats or obstacles, not even the smallest.”

“Very well, I understand...” Scanoli sighed inwardly, nodding. To avoid alerting Veil, he kept his thoughts silent.

Both Nassa and Scanoli believed Veil remained unaware of their conversation. Yet the world is full of surprises. Though Veil understood no beast tongue, his companion Bark, with triangular eyes, did—and had previously explained some of the language to Veil. By chance, during their talk, a word repeated several times caught Veil’s attention: “kill.”

Kill? Who did they intend to kill? Could it be me?

A tumultuous storm surged within Veil’s heart, though his face betrayed no emotion. He carefully recalled the exchange between Nassa and Scanoli, and with his extraordinary memory, he etched every word into his mind, storing it meticulously for what might come.