’If someone with evil intentions was born with this power, then would anyone be able to stop them?’
Stella felt a strange fear rising from her heart at that thought, and she had to quickly get rid of it and focus on the moment again. Once Jason was sure that Stella was calm, he floated off the disk, and Stella followed after him as they made their way down to the ground. Jason noticed that Hesabeth was staring directly at him as he descended, and he made sure not to break eye contact as he landed on the ground and calmly made his way towards Hesabeth. Once Jason was close enough, Hesabeth spoke.
"Jason Marc of Earth. I would say that we should stop meeting in this way, but I would be lying if I said that I don’t find it entertaining. You’ve been on quite the journey, haven’t you?"
Hesabeth’s eyes roamed over Jason’s face and hair gently, and she felt a strange feeling rising in her heart as she noticed the changes in Jason. It wasn’t as if Jason had suddenly grown much older in the past few months, but Hesabeth could sense a new maturity in Jason’s eyes that hadn’t been there before. Jason’s hair had grown out to the point where he could tie it behind him, and there was some stubble on his chin that showed he didn’t have the luxury of shaving every day. It was a rugged, adventurous look, and Hesabeth couldn’t deny that she really liked what she was seeing. Jason noticed the way Hesabeth was looking him over, and he tried his best to ignore her gaze before he said.
"Was there something you wanted from me, Hesabeth?"
’There it is again. That guarded hostility that I can’t get out of my head. Why does he affect me this way?’
Hesabeth unfurled her fan and used it to cover her lower face as she smiled slyly, and Jason’s eyes narrowed when he noticed the look. There was an obvious tension growing in the air, and Jason flexed his arm as he prepared for any form of attack from Hesabeth. But Jason was surprised when he heard Hesabeth speak up.
"Try to relax, Jason Marc. I did not come here today to antagonize you, even though I have every right to do so. Instead, you will come with me. I have something I’d like to speak to you about."
Jason’s brow furrowed in surprise when he heard this, and his mind began to race as he tried to figure out what game Hesabeth was playing here. Was this about something serious? Did Hesabeth find some sort of clue about the Machina that could help him in reversing the Overlord’s orders? If that was the case, then there was a chance that going with her would be very beneficial. But as Jason looked into Hesabeth’s eyes, he noticed a strange playfulness inside them. Hesabeth was gazing at Jason in the same way Gina would sometimes look at her soap operas, or how his sister would look at makeup anytime she went shopping. This wasn’t a woman who wanted to talk about something important! This was a woman who was looking at a plaything! Hesabeth saw Jason as just another toy for her entertainment! Jason realised that this entire situation had happened simply because Hesabeth wanted to satisfy her own selfish curiosity, and he closed his eyes and let out a calming breath as he felt his face squeezing into a frown.
’I don’t have time for this bullshit.’
This thought crossed Jason’s mind, and Jason could hear a distant rumble echo through the sky as the world responded to his hostility, but Jason ignored that, and he finally looked down at Hesabeth with a serious expression.
"I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline your request. I am very busy at this moment, and I don’t have the time to humor your curiosity. Perhaps after I find what I am looking for on Riyad, then we can talk –"
"You bastard! How dare you refuse the Queen’s orders!"
One of the guards behind Queen Hesabeth immediately shouted while levelling his spear toward Jason’s neck, and Queen Hesabeth raised her fan towards the guard and stopped him from attacking Jason! Jason’s eyes were fixed on Hesabeth’s gaze, and he could see a deep cloud of anger gathering behind her eyes as she stared back at him. The rumbling sound from earlier only grew more pronounced, but Jason did his best to ignore it once again as Hesabeth finally spoke up.
"I hope you understand what it is that you are doing right now. I had been lenient enough to offer you sanctuary with me, even though you are obviously a criminal, and by refusing it, you have effectively signed your own death warrant. I could kill you at this very moment, Jason Marc. As a member of the council and one of the highest authorities within this Primordial Expanse, I am within my rights to end your life under my judgment. Even knowing this, do you still intend to refuse my offer?"
Jason squeezed his hand into a fist as he heard another distinct rumble in the sky, and this time, he noticed that there was a massive storm cloud coming in from the distance and heading in their direction. There was no doubt in Jason’s mind that the storm cloud had something to do with Hesabeth, but Jason also knew that there was no way he could give up his mission at that point. They had come so far and sacrificed so much to try and clear their name, and Jason was not going to allow the whims of some spoiled queen to stop him from finishing what he started. Jason stared Hesabeth down and spoke to her with absolute certainty.
"I believe I already answered your question, your Majesty. Even under the threat of your anger, I will not be coming with you. Please wait for me until I’m done with my mission. When I find what I am looking for on Riyad, then I will honor your invitation."
There was a beat of silence once Jason made this declaration, and Jason could see how all the guards in the area were already getting ready for a fight. The storm cloud in the sky was also growing closer with each passing second, and Jason held his breath and prepared his mana for whatever was going to happen next. Jason knew that killing Hesabeth was going to be one of the most difficult things he ever attempted, and if he had a choice, then he would rather not do it since it would only bring him more problems. But if Jason had to choose between becoming Hesabeth’s captive or fighting her here, then he would obviously fight her.
’I can use Resonance to boost my power for a short time. If I fuse my mana and Qi, then I should be strong enough to get away from all the soldiers and avoid whatever the Primordial Expanse throws at me.’
Jason made up his mind on what he would do next, but not even Jason could predict the things that were going through Hesabeth’s mind at that moment.
Hesabeth didn’t know how to feel about this! There were so many emotions swirling around in her heart and mind that it was nearly impossible for her to understand what she was feeling! Hesabeth felt anger at Jason for refusing her offer! She felt annoyance at the fact that Jason was choosing something else over her, and she also felt this strange surge of happiness at the fact that someone had refused her! Someone had looked her in the eyes and refused her, even after they saw everything that she was capable of doing! When was the last time that someone had done something like that? When was the last time she hadn’t gotten her way?