"How things will go are not as clear as you might believe," the Chief Overseer transmitted, noticing Kyle's hopelessness. "If they were, I wouldn't be here."
"How can they not be clear?" Kyle asked with a hopeless and skeptical voice.
"Cost and benefit," the Chief Overseer transmitted. "You do not only represent yourself. You represent all of our talented Disciples. Your reputation has become too great. The Array of Stars can't erase your identity from history."
"Assuming we abandon you, the Contrast Empire will act differently from what you would imagine. Instead of saying that they have killed a criminal, they will say that, after further investigation, they had prematurely executed an innocent person."
This took Kyle by surprise. "Why?"
"Cost and benefit," the Chief Overseer repeated. "The cost is losing a small bit of trust and goodwill from the public, but it's worth the benefit. They will say that they would have noticed your innocence in time if the Array of Stars had fought for you. Sadly, since the Array of Stars immediately handed you over, the proceedings finished unusually quickly."
"Many people will hear of this, and their impression will be that the Array of Stars immediately abandons their talented Disciples at the slightest sign of trouble. If the Array of Stars abandoned someone like you, how could any less outstanding Disciple believe that the Array of Stars would protect them?"
"Metaphorically, the Contrast Empire will cut off a finger so that we may lose an arm."
"These schemes do not target one individual Seeker. These schemes target an Organization's health, millions of years into the future. Fewer outstanding Disciples now won't immediately affect our strength, but our future strength. A war between the Contrast Empire and the Array of Stars might result in an inconclusive result right now, but if the schemes pay off, it might change."
Kyle felt like the situation was far too complex and muddy. Sure, on a base level, he understood everything that was explained to him, but he couldn't determine the specific values.
By how much would the number of new Disciples lower? What was too much? How much would this loss in Disciples in the present affect the Array of Star's power a hundred thousand years from now? How much would a war cost? How far would the Contrast Empire push things? What could the Array of Stars do? What was their current plan?
"What's the decision?" Kyle asked.
"The decision is not in my hands, the Chief Overseer transmitted. "My superiors are currently talking to the Countess' superiors. My Avatar is waiting for instructions."
"Avatar?" Kyle asked.
"One of the necessary steps to become an Immortal is to create at least one Avatar," the Chief Overseer explained. "An Avatar is a copy of yourself, a clone, if you will."
Kyle blinked a couple of times. "Wait, so, is your Avatar his own person?"
"We share one mind," the Chief Overseer transmitted. "You can see an Avatar as a second pair of arms and legs, except that it's an entire body. I can control my Avatars just how you control your arms."
'Bro, what? Immortals have several bodies? I have so many fucking questions!'
Kyle glanced at the Chief Overseer. 'However, I don't think this is the right moment. Although I do have one that's relevant.'
"So, any kind of battle between you two would be meaningless right now?" Kyle asked, referring to the Chief Overseer and the Countess.
"One of my Avatars is in the Immortal Dimension, in our headquarters. Her other Avatar is also in the Immortal Dimension. Most likely, she's in the imperial city. She can't silence me, and I can't silence her," the Chief Overseer explained. "There is a way to kill all the Avatars of a Seeker at the same time, but neither the Countess nor I have that power."
Kyle looked back at the Countess. Ever since she had declared Kyle's status as a criminal, she hadn't really said much else. Most likely, she was also waiting for orders.
As Kyle looked at the Chief Overseer, he got the feeling that asking more questions was not appropriate. 'Most likely, he's just as nervous as I am.'
Kyle sighed as he remembered how he had felt when the Investigator had pointed her sword at him. 'For fuck's sake! I was all filled with acceptance and shit! Then, this shit happened! I fucking hate that my life is in the hands of people I've never even seen before! I don't even know what they're talking about right now!'
Several seconds of silence passed.
Nobody said anything.
Until…
"So, how's it going?" Sebastian asked Kyle via voice transmission. "I asked the guy beside you, but he just says that everyone's waiting for orders. I have no idea what's happening."
Kyle thought for a moment about what he should tell Sebastian and what he should keep secret. After all, there was probably a reason why the Chief Overseer didn't tell him anything. Additionally, he wasn't sure if the two Immortals could overhear their voice transmissions."
Well, it doesn't look good," Kyle transmitted. "The Array of Stars and the Contrast Empire are currently deciding our fate, and to be frank, no matter what decision is made today, the Array of Stars will get the shorter end of the stick."
"They have to decide what to sacrifice. The overall health of the Array of Stars, the Chief Overseer, the branch, or us. Something like that."
Sebastian looked at Kyle with a raised brow. "That doesn't sound like a decision that needs deliberation."
Kyle sighed. "I think so too."
Neither the Countess nor the Chief Overseer showed any signs of being able to overhear their voice transmissions, but that didn't say a lot.
"I think it's pretty clear," Sebastian transmitted. "Think about it. What's the difference between the Array of Stars and the Contrast Empire?"
"One's political while the other isn't?" Kyle answered, not sure if that was what Sebastian meant.
"Yeah, that plays a part, but that's not what I mean," Sebastian said. "Listen, there's one important difference."
"I've talked to many men who are willing to die for their country."
"I've yet to meet a single guy who would die for his employer."
Sebastian's words echoed through Kyle's mind.
After some seconds, Kyle sighed.
'I see,' he thought.
He remembered how the Countess had defended that one guy, who had destroyed the Teleportation Formation Array. That guy was dead, and the Countess could have probably denied any involvement without any negative repercussions.
Instead, she had said that the guy had attacked the Formation Array under their order.
She had defended him.
Kyle also remembered how hard the Contrast Empire had tried to deal with him.
Was it really only because of his power, talent, and allegiance?
Or was it also because he had killed their people?
'One is a strictly monetary bond, while the other one is a bond of identity and emotion.'
At that moment, the Chief Overseer took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Kyle looked at him.
"I'm sorry," the Chief Overseer said, looking at Kyle neutrally. Even though he was trying to seem cold and detached, Kyle could tell that the Chief Overseer felt pain, frustration, and regret deep inside.
"The Contrast Empire has evidence of you killing people in a safe zone," the Chief Overseer said to Kyle before turning to Sebastian. "As for you, the Contrast Empire has evidence of you
trying to murder an Investigator during their duties."
"The Array of Stars is not a political party. Because of the clear evidence, the Array of Stars has decided to end its relationship with the two of you."
Kyle just looked in disbelief at the Chief Overseer.
His mind only recovered when he felt his Communicator shooting out of his Soul Space, which landed in the Chief Overseer's hands.
Even though Kyle understood all the reasons behind the decision…
Even though Kyle knew that the Array of Stars couldn't sacrifice millions of Seekers just for him…
Even though Kyle had joined the Array of Stars as a Parasite…
He still felt betrayed.
When the Chief Overseer saw Kyle's expression, he looked away and sighed again.
A small smirk appeared on the Countess' lips.
And then…
They exploded.
Where the Countess and the Chief Overseer had once stood was now a deep red mist.
Kyle's mind hadn't even recovered when he witnessed three black and white lines materializing in the red mist.
Karmic Lines.
Within less than an instant, a red pulse traveled up the Karmic Lines before vanishing.
At the same time…
Inside a meeting room, inside the headquarters of the Array of Stars…
BANG!
A person exploded into red mist.
Inside an advanced Law Well inside the headquarters of the Array of Stars…
BANG!
A person exploded into red mist.
Inside a grand hall in the Contrast Empire's imperial city…
BANG!
A person exploded into red mist.
Several powerful Immortals and Lords from both parties looked at the red mist in shock.
"Took you long enough," Sebastian commented with annoyance.
Kyle shook his head and looked at Sebastian in shock.
But then, he looked back at the red mist as a silhouette stepped out of it.
"Karmic Causality," the silhouette said. "Every Avatar is linked via Karma. Understanding Karmic Causality means understanding Karmic Luck."
Kyle's eyes widened as he recognized the voice of the person inside the red mist.
"Losing and gaining large amounts of Karmic Luck is the best way to comprehend Karmic Causality," the person said.
A polite smile appeared on her face.
Her red hair had the same color as the bloody mist.
"We meet again, Mr. Freeman," the Red Witch said.
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