Chapter 81 — The Missing Man
The rain returned before sunrise.
Brook stood outside the Xcution house, staring at the empty street.
He had barely slept.
Kael was dead.
At least, that was what they believed.
Elias was missing.
And the note remained folded inside Brook's pocket.
Don't trust me.
Brook took it out again.
He stared at the words.
Then folded it.
Henry stepped outside.
"You still have that?"
Brook nodded.
"You've been looking at it all night."
"I know."
Henry leaned against the wall.
"You think Elias wrote it?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Brook looked at him.
"That's what I can't figure out."
Henry was quiet.
Then he said:
"Maybe he was warning us."
Brook looked away.
"Or warning himself."
Henry studied him.
"You still believe he's innocent."
Brook didn't answer immediately.
"I believe I don't know the truth."
Henry nodded.
"That's different."
Brook folded the note again.
"Yeah."
Inside, Crowley stood over the table.
A map of Shinokuni-01 covered the surface.
Sera was beside him.
Kael was sharpening his weapon.
Brook and Henry entered.
Crowley looked up.
"We have another problem."
Brook frowned.
"Of course we do."
Crowley pointed at the map.
"Three more patrols disappeared overnight."
Sera added:
"No bodies."
Henry looked at the map.
"Where?"
Crowley pointed.
"All along the eastern road."
Brook stared.
The locations formed a line.
"Someone is moving toward the city."
Crowley nodded.
"That's what I think."
Kael stood.
"Then we go find them."
Crowley shook his head.
"Not yet."
Kael frowned.
"Why?"
"Because we're missing someone."
The room went quiet.
Brook looked at the empty chair.
Elias's chair.
Kael noticed.
"Elias."
Crowley nodded.
"He disappeared after leaving that note."
Henry looked at Brook.
"You still haven't told them everything."
Brook sighed.
"I found evidence that Elias was connected to the old facility."
Sera's expression changed.
"What kind of evidence?"
Brook placed the B-00 document on the table.
Everyone read it.
Silence.
Kael stared at the page.
"He's B-00?"
Brook nodded.
Sera looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
"Apparently, Elias was one of the original vessels."
Kael shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Brook looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because Elias would've told us."
Brook didn't answer.
Kael looked at the others.
"We've known him for years."
Crowley looked at the page.
"Apparently, he didn't tell us everything."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"That doesn't mean he's betrayed us."
Brook immediately looked at him.
"I didn't say that."
Kael nodded.
"Good."
A knock came from the front door.
Everyone turned.
Henry opened it.
A royal messenger stood outside.
"Message from King Aldric."
Henry took the letter.
He opened it.
His expression changed.
"What?"
Brook stepped closer.
Henry read aloud.
Eastern patrols have confirmed movement from an unidentified armed force. They are not Abominations.
Crowley frowned.
"How many?"
Henry continued.
At least fifty. Possibly more.
Sera looked at Crowley.
"That's an army."
Crowley nodded.
Henry kept reading.
The force carries a black insignia depicting a horned knight.
Silence.
Brook immediately thought of the emblem.
Asmodaos.
Crowley took the letter.
"There's more."
Henry looked at him.
Crowley read the final line.
The soldiers have requested an audience with Xcution.
Kael frowned.
"They requested an audience?"
Crowley nodded.
"Yes."
Brook looked at the map.
"Why?"
Nobody answered.
The meeting took place outside the eastern gate.
Xcution stood together.
The city guards surrounded them.
Brook looked toward the distant road.
At first, nothing.
Then—
A black flag appeared.
Then another.
Then dozens.
An entire force marched toward them.
Every soldier wore black armor.
Every chest carried the same symbol.
The horned knight.
Kael tightened his grip.
"Here they come."
Crowley raised a hand.
"Nobody attacks."
The army stopped.
A single figure walked forward.
A Hell Knight.
But not Asmodaos.
This one wore silver armor.
He stopped several feet away.
"I am Veyr."
Crowley frowned.
"Lieutenant?"
The Knight nodded.
"We speak for Asmodaos."
Brook stepped forward.
"What does he want?"
Veyr looked at him.
"Nothing."
Brook frowned.
"Then why are you here?"
"To deliver a warning."
Crowley crossed his arms.
"Speak."
Veyr looked directly at Brook.
"Stop searching for Elias."
Brook's expression hardened.
"Where is he?"
"That isn't your concern."
Brook stepped forward.
"It is now."
Veyr looked at him.
"Elias chose his path."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"What path?"
Veyr didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Crowley.
"You know what happens when humans interfere with Hell."
Crowley remained silent.
Brook glanced at him.
Crowley didn't move.
Veyr continued.
"Tell your king—"
Crowley's eyes immediately hardened.
Veyr stopped himself.
A long silence followed.
Then he corrected:
"Tell your leaders."
Brook noticed.
Crowley noticed too.
Neither said anything.
Veyr turned.
"Leave Asmodaos alone."
Brook called after him.
"And if we don't?"
Veyr looked back.
"Then the next message won't be a warning."
The army turned.
They began marching away.
Brook watched them disappear.
Henry looked at Crowley.
"Did he just call you king?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Kael looked between them.
"What was that?"
Crowley walked away.
"Nothing."
Brook stared after him.
"That's becoming everyone's favorite word."
They returned to the house.
Crowley immediately went into the back room.
Brook followed.
Crowley stopped.
"Don't."
Brook leaned against the door.
"Don't what?"
"Ask."
Brook smiled.
"I'm going to ask."
Crowley sighed.
"Of course."
Brook crossed his arms.
"Why did that Knight call you king?"
Crowley looked at him.
"He made a mistake."
"Did he?"
"Yes."
Brook stared.
Crowley stared back.
Neither moved.
Finally Brook said:
"You know Asmodaos."
Crowley's expression didn't change.
"I know of him."
"That's not what I asked."
Crowley looked away.
"Brook."
"What?"
"Some things about me aren't your business."
Brook's expression hardened.
"That's what Elias said."
Crowley looked back.
That hit him.
Brook continued:
"And now he's gone."
Crowley was silent.
Brook walked toward the door.
"I'm not accusing you of anything."
He stopped.
"But if you're hiding something that can get us killed…"
He looked back.
"…you better tell us before it does."
Then he left.
Crowley remained alone.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he looked toward the window.
The city lights reflected against the glass.
A voice came from the doorway.
"You should tell him."
Crowley turned.
Sera stood there.
He sighed.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because once they know…"
He paused.
"…they can't unknow it."
Sera studied him.
"Who are you really?"
Crowley looked at her.
Then smiled faintly.
"Someone who made a mistake a long time ago."
Later that night, Brook sat alone in his room.
He took out the note again.
Don't trust me.
He turned it over.
Nothing.
Then he noticed something he hadn't seen before.
A faint mark beneath the writing.
Almost invisible.
Brook touched it.
The mark glowed.
A location appeared in his mind.
A small building.
Outside the eastern district.
Brook immediately stood.
He grabbed his coat.
Then stopped.
He could wake everyone.
He could tell Crowley.
He could follow protocol.
Instead, he stared at the mark.
If Elias wanted him to find him…
why leave the message?
Brook opened the door.
Henry was standing outside.
Brook froze.
Henry looked at him.
"Going somewhere?"
Brook sighed.
"Yeah."
"Without telling anyone?"
Brook nodded.
Henry smiled.
"Thought so."
Brook shook his head.
"You shouldn't come."
"Too late."
Henry stepped beside him.
Brook looked at him.
"You trust me too much."
Henry smiled.
"Someone has to."
Brook smiled back.
They walked down the stairs.
Neither noticed Crowley standing in the darkness at the end of the hallway.
He watched them leave.
Then looked toward the eastern district.
His expression changed.
He whispered:
"Please don't let him find you yet."
Far away…
Elias stood inside the building Brook had seen.
The same black emblem rested on the table.
Asmodaos stood across from him.
"You sent the message."
Elias nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because they need to follow the trail."
Asmodaos frowned.
"And Brook?"
Elias looked toward the window.
"He'll come."
"You sound certain."
"I know him."
Asmodaos stared.
"You still care about him."
Elias didn't respond.
The Knight stepped closer.
"That will be your weakness."
Elias looked at him.
"No."
He picked up the emblem.
"It'll be my advantage."
Asmodaos smiled.
"Then let's see how far you'll go."
Elias looked toward the distant lights of Shinokuni-01.
His expression was calm.
But beneath it…
something inside him was breaking.
End of Chapter 81