Chapter 15: And So Aeron Starts a Solo Match
The lights in the main auction hall gradually dimmed, and the murmurs of the guests faded away. All eyes turned toward the auction stage as the auctioneer stepped up and announced the start of the event in a clear voice.
"Tch."
"What's wrong? Why so annoyed all of a sudden?"
"Nothing. Just that a shortcut's no longer an option."
Aeron had originally thought that if Capollo dared to take the stage himself, he would cosplay as Neon's top-laner Aphelios and give him a funny surprise.
Oh well. Since that wasn't happening, he'd have to find another opportunity.
Then, the first auction item was brought up—a colored glass shard said to bear traces of the Time Lord, refracting mesmerizing colors under the light. Bids rose one after another, quickly heating up the atmosphere.
"…Isn't this just a piece of glass?"
"Rich folks love stuff with fancy labels. The Averardo Vault is full of them."
"If I went and made one now, could I sell it for that much too?"
"In your hands, it'd really just be a piece of broken glass."
Aeron and Zani stood toward the back of the crowd, observing the auction from a distance.
If they followed the plan Aeron had previously arranged with Carlotta, he would use the Opal she provided to signal at the right moment, releasing the smoke he'd prepared to cover the entire venue. Then, the second young lady would arrive with Montelli's people to take control.
But Aeron had long since devised another plan. Carlotta wanted evidence and to purge the traitors. His goal, however, was simple—he just wanted Capollo's life.
Though the two objectives seemed similar, the methods and end goals differed. Either way, Zani wouldn't help him; Aeron still needed to create an opportunity to act alone.
As several auction items were successfully sold, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. That meant it was almost time for him to make his move.
So, while Zani wasn't paying attention, Aeron quietly withdrew the hand she had been holding for quite some time.
"Zani, I'll leave the rest to you."
Hearing that Aeron intended to go off alone, Zani turned her head, slightly stunned, and stared at him in confusion.
"Leave it to me? What do you mean? What are you planning to do?"
"Someone has to make sure Capollo doesn't slip away from here."
As he spoke, Aeron gestured toward the backstage and side exits of the main hall.
"I need to head over early and set up, to prevent Capollo from escaping during the chaos. You stay here, wait for the signal, and be ready to support the second young lady."
Zani furrowed her brows. Aeron's explanation sounded reasonable, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Though he usually seemed careless, he rarely deviated from the plan when it came to serious matters—especially in a dangerous environment like this.
"That's too risky. If you go alone and get caught, there'll be no one to back you up. Either we go together, or you wait until after I send the signal."
"No, that'll be too late. This might be our only chance."
Aeron immediately shook his head, rejecting Zani's suggestion, and prepared to leave.
"I said don't act recklessly!"
Zani tried to lower her voice, instinctively reaching out to grab Aeron, but he deftly stepped back, evading her hand.
"Zani."
Aeron grew serious, staring through the dim light at Zani's eyes behind her sunglasses.
"Don't worry, leave the rest to me. I won't interfere with the Second Lady's plan."
At this, Aeron paused briefly before adding, "If I'm not back in ten minutes, or if something unusual happens, don't wait for me. Just send the signal to Carlotta right away."
Had he not said this, it might have been fine, but now it sounded like he was preparing for the worst. A sudden sense of foreboding filled Zani's heart. She wanted to say more, but Aeron had already turned and walked away.
"You...!"
Zani gasped softly, not daring to make too much noise and draw attention, so she could only watch as Aeron disappeared in a direction she couldn't follow.
"Tch..."
In an instant, doubt flooded Zani's mind. Having spent so much time with Aeron, she knew he was just an ordinary person, not even a Resonator. This was the first time she had seen him take such a risk.
'...I'll deal with him properly when he gets back.'
For now, she could only curse that self-righteous priest in her heart while doubling her vigilance, anxiously waiting for the ten minutes to pass.
...
On the other side, unlike the anxious Zani, Aeron's steps were almost as light as a student heading off for vacation.
Relying on the route he had memorized earlier, he avoided the scattered servants and security personnel, weaving through the opulent corridors.
At this moment, his goal was crystal clear: find Capollo and settle their old score. As for what would happen afterward... why worry about that? It wasn't like he could die anyway.
If things went south, he could always leave Ragunna and head to Septimont—there were plenty of places to stay in a place as vast as Rinascita.
[Instant Mastery, activate.]
The trigger pull of the pistol, the bullet's trajectory, the recoil—all flooded his mind in an instant. The slashing angles and handling techniques of the dagger became clear to him in a flash.
Dagger in his left hand, gun in his right—tonight, he would make Capollo answer!
Following the memorized path to the private room, he arrived at a heavy, carved wooden door at the end of the corridor. Aeron held his breath, pressing his body against the wall, and could hear faint voices inside. Among them, an aged, arrogant voice stood out sharply.
No need to guess—that was Capollo.
So why hesitate? It's time to see if I can blow him away or not!
The mere thought of soon seeing the terror on Capollo's face made him so excited he could hardly contain himself!
Just as Aeron raised his gun, ready to blast the lock off the shabby door, something drifted past his vision.
It was a crimson petal.
Without a moment's hesitation, Aeron immediately turned and pulled the trigger, firing a bullet toward the enemy behind him.
"The Melody of Revenge... is always so rushed and monotonous."
Yet, with only a soft whisper, the fired bullet was deflected by a string of sound. The newcomer raised a hand slightly, and in the next moment, Aeron's entire right arm fell to the ground, blood gushing out.
And the attack didn't stop there.
Without giving Aeron any chance to catch his breath, a crimson whip-blade was already swinging toward him.
Gritting his teeth and pushing his body to the limit, Aeron raised his dagger with near-prescient instinct, turning his thoughts into a weapon to block an almost impossible-to-defend attack.
A figure with long greyish-white hair tied into two long braids, crimson pupils, and an elegance that chilled the soul appeared unexpectedly before Aeron.
"The Overseer of the Fractsidus would come to a place like this?"
"...Just here to clean up after a failed playwright, nothing more."
Phrolova stood quietly a few steps away, her crimson eyes devoid of killing intent, holding only a gaze of near-pity, as if observing a piece of art about to shatter.
Enduring the excruciating pain from his severed arm, Aeron leaned his shoulder against the wall to steady himself, forcing a mocking smile onto his face.
"I don't recall ever provoking someone like you."
"Disrupting the script and melody, an echo that should not exist... should be eliminated early."
In the next instant, a red glint flashed in Phrolova's eyes. Before Aeron could react, sound waves pierced through his body, pinning him firmly in place.
He opened his mouth but could produce no sound, only the light in his pupils rapidly fading.
"The final curtain has fallen," Phrolova approached the fallen Aeron, gently pressing her fingertips to close his eyes.
"Be silenced."
With those words, Aeron's body crumpled like a crushed paper puppet, collapsing soundlessly without further movement.
...
[Cause of Death: Strangulation]
[Rating: B—Aggressively attacked an elderly woman encountered mid-journey. Wheelchair transformed into myriad martial arts, formidable as a monstrosity. Fought with full strength but remained undefeated.]
[Proceed with resurrection?]
"Get up. I want a rematch."
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