Chapter 442: Veiled Threat

“Twice, huh?” Rael repeated, feeling as if his mind had begun to clear again.

Since he had seen what really happened, the headache that had been plaguing him vanished as well, and in place of it, his memory of the actual event returned.

A deep frown appeared on Rael’s face.

So he can just manipulate someone with his words, is that it? Rael thought. Even with so much mental resistance, I was barely able to notice it.

It was scary to even think about.

What if he had a conversation with Lucien, and during the conversation, his thoughts and memories were rewritten?

He wouldn’t realize it, and he was pretty sure there weren’t that many people under Grade 5 or 6 who could resist it either.

But with those thoughts swirling inside his mind, he couldn’t help but think there was something else that he had forgotten, or maybe something that had been altered while he wasn’t paying attention.

However, Rael’s eyes soon widened as he recalled every single event that had happened from the moment he arrived in the Hollow Kingdom territory.

The soldier who had guided them to the jail did so without putting them in handcuffs or taking any sort of precautions.

Added to that, Rael was certain there were more jails than the one they had been taken to, and coincidentally, this jail happened to be right next to Lucien’s inn.

The soldier also forgot to unlock the door, and the sheer fact that Melina could’ve been the ruler of a foreign kingdom should’ve been enough for the soldier to at least take her to the palace’s guesthouse, Rael thought, his surroundings blurring as he closed his eyes, recalling the entire situation in perfect clarity.

And that was when he finally noticed something peculiar.

Right before she abruptly began walking toward the inn, her fingertips twitched.

Her fingers kept twitching on the way to the inn, only stopping when she sat down and ordered a drink.

“…”

Can he manipulate the minds of people across long distances without even directly speaking to them? Rael pondered as a shiver ran down his spine. I definitely can’t rule out that possibility…

“Melina, how long have you known this guy?” Rael asked out of nowhere.

“Him? Uhh… Not sure, I don’t keep track of when I meet people,” Melina replied sheepishly. “Though he’s always been my informant, and he always tries to make me drink rat poison.”

She let out a sigh. “Basically, I don’t remember when I met him. But wait… are you jealous or something? Pfft… What is your wife—”

“How many times has he tried to poison you?” Rael cut her off.

Melina tilted her head. “Once or twice. But can we get going now?”

“Just a sec,” Rael said, narrowing his eyes. “Why do you trust him as your informant?”

“Trust him? Pfft… Must I tell you about every single informant I trust?” Melina replied skeptically. “Just so you know, this guy isn’t my only informant. I’ve got several dozen, and I trust each of them the same.”

Hmm… A shit question on my end.

Rael shook his head and decided to spice things up.

“If you can’t remember when you met him, how do you know he’s always been your informant?”

Melina raised a brow. “Huh? I mean—”

“How clear is your memory of him?” Rael interjected as he stood up and walked over to her, stopping in front of her and leaning down so his eyes met hers.

“What was the weather during your previous meetings?”

“What is the best piece of intel he has ever told you?”

Melina’s eyes began to blur, and right as she opened her mouth, as if to answer, Rael placed his hand over her mouth, silencing her.

“Don’t reply to me, and don’t think about the questions directly. I believe the way his powers work is that whenever you think of a certain false memory, it further solidifies it as the truth inside your mind,” Rael said, and after a few seconds, he took his hand away from her mouth.

“That’s all,” Rael stated. “Sorry about that… I got a little carried away.”

Melina puffed her cheeks, clearly pouting.

“Don’t ever gag me again,” she said and stood up before storming out of the inn.

Rael stared at her parting figure for a few moments before letting out a sigh.

“Thanks, Chop-E,” Rael said. “I’m sure we would’ve been a little fucked had you not shown that.”

“It is my pleasure, Rael,” Chop-E replied with a subtle smile. “But may I suggest something?”

Rael raised a brow. “What is it?”

“I believe coming to definite conclusions on such powers is suicide, so for all our sakes, please remain on guard and don’t, for even a second, think that what just happened was all that his power had to offer,” Chop-E said in a surprisingly mature tone.

Rael speechlessly processed Chop-E’s words before finally nodding.

“I guess you can read my mind as well, huh? Well… In the end, they’re just theories, but thanks for the tip.”

Chop-E gave him a thumbs up and walked out of the inn as well, with Rael trailing not too far behind.

Rael tried to sense where Lucien had gone, but just like during his sweep of the Hollow Kingdom near the Elmlot mountain range, he couldn’t find him.

It was almost like he had vanished.

Still…

The stronger I get, the weaker I feel. Why are there so many strong people in this universe? Why can’t I just be lazy and strong… or strong and lazy? Not like it matters, I’m still weak.

Rael sped up his pace, eventually catching up to Melina who had been steadily making her way toward the royal palace of Indra.

He really wasn’t sure what Lucien would do next, but worrying about it would just make him more mentally vulnerable.

Therefore, Rael simply sucked it up like a champ and put those thoughts aside.

Instead, he decided to put his full focus on the meeting with Ignatiel Vendros, the ruler of the Hollow Kingdom.

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