Slicing through Facades

Pavone's veins almost popped at this. So this was what that benefactor planned all along.....

It was not enough to destroy his honor. They wanted to start a coup.

The statements he made did not go to Lovushka and the Simians. They gave it directly to the Avians who would be placated in the statements...

And make them go against their own Head.

"Great suggestion!" 'Sordido' clapped his hand. "May Pavone Blanc D'Argent come to the stage?"

Everyone turned to him, and those eyes pressured him to go up there and let himself get stabbed.

He looked at the cloaked figure not speaking a word. He can sense something devious in him, something absolutely wretched....

"It must be you." He hissed, but he did not know what this boy's name is.

This also adds confusion because if that cloaked figure was the benefactor.....

Who is this pretending to be his brother?

Had there always been two of them? No...

The attacks so far towards Volken and Rabuka seemed to be the work of an individual that uses Cermin, not a group.

Speaking of which, where is Cermin Drychspiel? He saw him and that girl he saved earlier, but they were nowhere to be found.

"Are you too scared to do it, Sir Pavone Blanc D'Argent?" The impostor wearing his brother's face offered his hand to him.

He gave this boy a fatal glare, and took his hand. "I am not scared. Just wondering what it would feel like to be resurrected."

"Oh, our tester never felt this good in his life, fully revitalized. He was brought back completely unscathed, the scar healing within a blink of an eye."

Pavone was forced to go upstage, his Council members all staring at him with deep anger.

He sat on the chair, and hissed at the impostor. "Just get it over with, you fraud."

He gave the cloaked figure a certain look as it approached him, holding a knife.

Everyone caught their breaths.

The figure raised its hands to the air, aiming for his heart----

But 'Sordido' stopped him.

"I... I can't after all....." He suddenly cried in tears.

"Brother, I can't see you get killed... It's too much to bear despite what you and father have done to me."

The audience suddenly went in chaos, not understanding what was going on.

"Did he just call Blanc D'Argent's son 'brother'?"

"But I thought he only has one child!"

Lord Blanc D'Argent was first wearing a smile at all times, just like any politician would in public. He does not show any of his worries and wears a completely plastered face.

Even when his son was being forced to climb up to the stage to get stabbed, he just looked like he was just going to enjoy the show.

He was aware after all that the machine works, so he does not worry about Pavone dying.

However, his fake expression finally fell to the floor the moment 'Sordido' stopped the cloaked boy from lowering his knife.

"You have kept me hidden in the dark for so long, that I started to despise you. Giving my family financial aids straight from the Academy's pockets to sustain me..."

"And to keep me and my mother's mouth shut. I cannot bear it anymore, that's why I sought vengeance against you."

Pavone struggled from the straps of the resurrecting chair, his eyes bloodshot.

"SHUT UP! DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD HE SAYS, HE'S AN IMPOS--- MPFH!"

His mouth was covered by dark gloves. The cloaked figure grinned as he placed a handkerchief to gag him, shushing him with a finger to his lips.

'Sordido' kept on crying. "Brother, I kept on loving you despite how you forced me to live my life as a lie. All I wanted was to be part of your family, but you would not allow me to."

Lord Blanc D'Argent stood up from his seat. "This is all fallacy! He cannot prove his claim!"

"Oh, but he can."

Councillor Verita also stood up from her chair.

"Is it true that you used the school's funds to sustain your illegitimate son?" She asked, using her Mage Focus to make him say the truth.

Lord Blanc D'Argent raised his hand up. "Do not test me, Verita!"

His Mage Focus was a combination of Pavone's and Sordido's Mage Focus. They were all Clairo Mages that controls other people's Mage Focuses besides Hero ones.

He can turn back any attacks towards him and bring it back to the enemy, hurting their own Mage Focus. Depending on the strength of the attack, he can ruin it entirely.

Councillor Verita clutched her throat as she felt her Mage Focus being fought off and burning, but then---

Slash!

Before he can fully destroy her powers, a knife swung and cut the hand that he held up!

It was not cut off entirely, but the scar was very deep, cutting through the center of his palm halfway.

"Ahhhhh! You!!!!!!"

He looked at the cloaked figure who threw the knife, who did not say anything.

"Father! You are hurt! Quick, you must go to the resurrecting machine to heal yourself!" 'Sordido' offered, rushing towards him 'worriedly'.

"Do not touch me, you little ingrate---"

"Tell us if he is your son or not." Councillor Verita said in a strong, determined tone. "Now!"

"Yes! This bastard is my son, and I am using project funds to let his worthless whore of a mother keep on feeding him!"

"I thought he would still be useful because of his Mage Focus that is a weaker version of mine, but who knew he would bite the hands that fed him!"

Everyone's eyes went wide at this revelation. Even Lord Pedrix Blanc D'Argent himself, whose mouth moved against his own will.

He quickly bolted for the resurrecting machine, and grabbed Pavone out of the chair.

He sat down, and told his son. "Make sure they all stay back! Use your powers to protect me!"

He then turned to Ronin. "And you bastard assistant of that bastard Vyrill, get it over with and resurrect me or I will have my son cut you limb from limb!"

Ronin just took his knife back from the speechless audience, and returned.

They have all fallen into his trap.

He had not just revealed the truth, he will now steal the Flame of a Councillor too!