— So it's true…
Patriarch David was sitting on a chair, his hand resting against his cheek.
Across from him, Atela was also seated, her expression filled with determination.
— The situation is much more serious than I thought.
David leaned back against the chair and placed his hand over his face.
— Eight years ago, an organization called Selestia appeared and immediately began causing trouble for the Order of the Generous.
David continued speaking, completing the explanation.
— Until now, this organization operated in the shadows, which made them particularly difficult to stop… Even back then, we had no idea what their true motives were. All we knew was that they were searching for the Ava, just like all the other bandits.
Atela added that thanks to the second-ranked Generous, they had managed to locate the organization's base and destroy it.
But a few weeks ago, a new organization bearing the same name had appeared.
However, unlike the first one, this one was far more dangerous. It had extremely powerful members within its ranks.
And above all, it knew things it was never supposed to know—information that was meant to remain secret among the Generous.
The patriarch turned his gaze back to the young girl.
— In that case, I assume they know that you are the new guardian of the Ava.
Atela lowered her head while gripping her left arm.
— Yes… that's correct… and they're making sure the whole world knows it.
The patriarch let out a sigh, running his hand through his white hair.
— Even though it was incredibly risky for you to come here without informing anyone… my suspicions have now been confirmed.
— There is definitely a traitor among the Twenty Generous.
Atela had reached the same conclusion.
— When I learned that this organization knew about it, I immediately started asking questions. This information is supposed to be known only by the Generous. How could Selestia have obtained such confidential information without outside help? So…
— They could only have obtained that information with the help of one of the Generous.
David finished her sentence.
A silence settled between the two for a few minutes.
— In your opinion… who do you think is responsible for all this?
Atela thought for a moment before Maelle spoke inside her mind.
— I have recalculated the probabilities, and I believe that Hiro Kazao is probably not responsible for this situation.
Atela replied through telepathy thanks to their link.
— What made you change your mind?
— Something obvious. It's far too easy to blame him. Why would someone as intelligent as him risk leaking information when he knows full well that all suspicion would immediately fall on him? And besides, for both of us, that doesn't resemble his usual way of acting at all. It's far too reckless and conspicuous.
Atela rubbed her eyes in fatigue.
— I'm not really sure…
David stood up from his chair, saying that if they failed to identify the traitor, it could have enormous consequences.
— Especially since we are already at the gates of war…
The aquatic flowers decorating the walls of the room began to bloom as someone walked into the chamber.
Each of his steps made the water in the surrounding basins vibrate slightly.
As he approached them, David turned toward the newcomer without surprise, unlike Atela who was clearly intimidated.
Former patriarch of the Hyperion family and father of the current patriarch, but also the former ruler of the Empire: André Hyperion.
Dressed in a black suit and transparent glasses, he walked forward with a serious expression.
— Good to see you, Father,
David said in an almost casual voice.
— Stop calling me father. I've already told you to call me by my name.
He met Atela's gaze, and she immediately lowered her head.
— Hello, Master André Hyperion… it's a pleasure to meet you.
— This feeling… his aura… it's as calm as the patriarch's but… I can barely sense it. That's strange…
Atela suddenly realized something.
— Noa… when he helped me in the forest, I couldn't sense his chaotic energy. Normally, except when he struck, his chaotic energy was as controlled as that of an object… and I feel the same thing with Master André…
André told her that she could address him more casually instead of being so formal, which pulled Atela out of her thoughts.
— I allowed myself to listen to part of your conversation.
Atela looked slightly confused.
— Since when has he been here…?