Who is the Malevolent One?
What could possibly be worst than a bandit that goes through all your security measures as easily as a knife through butter and then trashes your best men mercilessly?
What could be worst than that?
The answer;
Someone who does all that and then brags about it in a projecting 'Thank you' letter.
Yes, that's right,
Hector never read out the letter. The moment he opened said letter, it's contents were projected high into the air in large Royal blue Astral print.
A spot where it could be viewed clearly by all.
Hector's hands began to shake as he held onto the letter and his eyes were wide with unbridled rage before...
"Arrrgghhh"
... He yelled and released the full might of his cultivation base. It's pressure suffocating those present, his men included. For in the state he was in at that moment, he could not be bothered to discern ally from foe.
He just wanted to catch that son of a bitch.
A Cosmic phenomenon began to form behind him and was slowly rising above his head.
Immediately Edvard noticed this, he discarded of his sense of safety and rushed to grab Hector's arm, because he knew if that phenomenon should completely form, it would be dangerous to all, himself -obviously- included.
The touch of a hand on his arm broke Hector's concentration enough for him to view the damage he had begun to cause. Even to his sons.
The phenomenon dispersed and his pressure was reined in.
After all, to all his senses the culprit was not at the scene.
Or so he thought...
Hal was leaning against a tree a few distance away, invisible to all their senses.
'I can't believe you stayed' Grimiore berated
The pressure from Hector had been spreading to their location slowly but surely. But Hal had been convinced of leaving in time should it get too close to comfort.
'Of course I stayed, what was the point of leaving such a 'appreciative' letter and not savor the look on their faces'
He chuckled as he watched San's face grow Redder and redder from both anger at the 'Malevolent one' and stress from trying to survive Hector's pressure.
'I see it as an unnecessary risk' Grimiore insisted
'Of course YOU do. I already did not let Rita come along, the least I could do is tell her a detailed story, one that involves all the twist and turns that comes along with a genius plan'
'What twist and turns. You told the victims and I quote 'This was too easy'' Grimiore was outraged
'Rita doesn't need to know that, I plan to embellish the story as much as I want' Hal said with a stroke of his chin
'Oh? Will you embellish the story for Melinda too?'
'Not your business'
'I'll take that as a no' Grimiore said with a grin
'You don't get it, it's complicated'
''Complicated' must be code for 'she'd see right through you''
'Plain as day' Hal agreed with a nod
He watched the scene for a short while after and then...
'I've seen enough. Now they want to start saying boring stuff'
...he left.
Meanwhile...
"Are you done acting like an insane person?" Gregory asked with a snarl.
Hector said nothing. He was embarrassed by his outburst. But he still felt he was justified.
He flicked his wrist and the letter was shredded into little bits, the message in the air also finally faded.
"Karon"
He called and Karon stepped forward, followed closely by four others who he directed to lift the Edgar brothers and take them back to the castle. He followed soon after and after a go ahead from Hector, the other men followed as well.
The other Great family heads as well as the Plebeian trio hastened to remove their men as well.
The Gang members on the other hand would have to wait for their other members who had been notified and would be at the Confluence soon to take away their men as well.
"Um, your Mayorness..." Tod began
"Shut up Tod, It should be your Mayor Highness..." Bale interrupted and prepared to bow in a flustered manner before Hector would angrily interject...
"You can leave!"
The two did not need to be told twice and hastened to follow after their men.
San alone stayed behind and continued to stare at the spot the message had been projected.
His face was almost back to normal albeit blank.
"So, this 'Malevolent one' told you where to find the confluence"
Hector continued a conversation he had been having with the (at the time) reluctant to answer, Fidwud Head.
San had no trouble discussing it anymore.
"Yes, Or at least, it was his representative that came to my home and told me" he said clearly
"Representative?" Ford frowned, San had not mentioned this before.
"He or it called itself the 'Bogeyman'" San said with a nod
The Great family Heads exchanged looks, but San saw none of this as he turned around and walked away.
He didn't ask for permission.
He did not beg to leave.
He just... Left. Disheartened and defeated by a being whose face he had never seen.
The Great Family Heads spared him a brief glance before they looked to each other and could see they had all come to the same conclusion.
"This is not the place to discuss such matters" Hector said in a deep voice and the other three nodded and returned to their various homes.
They would check up on their injured men and then converge at Edgar castle for a summit.
...
Edgar Castle
30 minutes later....
The atmosphere was grim. All around. there were frowns on every face, not only because their vault of co joined wealth had been completely cleaned out but also because of the injuries their men had sustained.
The only good news was that, thanks to Cultivation and as long as there was constant absorption of Cosmic Energy they would be in tip-top shape in a few days.
The news however did not stop the four from glaring at each other from across the ornate table.
Why? You ask.
Well, it was clear to them all that there was only one way anyone could have known the location of the confluence. Someone had told this 'Malevolent one' where it was and for some reason they could not yet comprehend, he in turn. decided to tell the Plebeians.
"I think it's very clear" Hector began
"Yes it's clear. We have a Rat!" Edvard exclaimed
"Pfft. A rat? Oh please. This was obviously done by one of you three" Ford said
When at first they heard this, the three paused and were ready to refute such a Claim until they realized that this was a more likely scenario.
They all kept a tight leash on their subordinates and there was no way one of them would leak the information without the knowledge of their leader.
Even an attack on their Representative and other subsequent events could have been done to cover their tracks and hide their immense greed and secret plots.
So the question now was;
Who among the Four was the so called 'Malevolent one'?
Their suspicion against each other instantaneously rose to an all time high and just like that...
... The plan of Hal, the Malevolent one to "Divide and conquer" officially began.