Chapter 126: Monitoring Artifact

After seven rounds of intense, passionate lovemaking, Alaric’s initial lust had been somewhat satiated. ’Somewhat’ being the operative word. He still felt the lingering embers of desire, but he also felt a mischievous urge to tease his mother, to play with her emotions.

He shifted his position slightly, his gaze locking with Lyra’s. He decided to drop the bombshell. “I saw Father recently,” he said, his voice casual, as if he were discussing the weather.

Lyra’s entire body tensed, a tremor running through her. She hadn’t expected this. She had been so caught up in the moment, lost in the throes of passion, that she had completely forgotten about the outside world. The thought of Alaric meeting Victor sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine.

She tried her best to maintain her composure, her voice trembling slightly as she asked, “How… how did it go?”

Instead of answering her question directly, Alaric grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. He reached out, giving her buttocks a playful smack. “You’re trying to act all calm and collected,” he whispered, his voice teasing, “but I can feel how tight you’re getting down there. You’re actually getting excited, aren’t you?”

The smack echoed through the room, making Lyra moan aloud. She couldn’t deny his words. She was indeed feeling a strange mix of excitement and anxiety at the mention of her husband. It was as if she was a pervert, finding excitement in the taboo.

Alaric chuckled, resuming his rhythmic thrusts. “So,” he continued, his voice casual, as if they were discussing mundane matters, “it turns out Father was participating in a Phantom Assembly auction.”

Lyra’s eyes widened in surprise. “A… Phantom Assembly auction?” she repeated, her voice incredulous.

Alaric nodded, continuing his relentless assault. “Apparently, he was trying to acquire some… trinket for the family,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “For the small sum of two hundred million gold coins.”

Lyra gasped, her eyes widening even further. “Two hundred million?” she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alaric nodded again, his thrusts becoming deeper, more insistent. “And guess what?” he whispered, his voice teasing. “He got caught. The kingdom’s guards raided the auction, and he’s now cooling his heels in a prison cell, waiting to be transferred to the royal dungeons.”

Lyra’s breath hitched, her body trembling beneath him. A strange mix of emotions swirled within her: shock, relief, and a strange sense of… liberation.

’He’s… imprisoned,’ she thought, a wave of relief washing over her. ’He won’t find out about… us.’

Alaric noticed the change in her demeanor, the subtle shift in her expression. He smirked, his thrusts becoming more insistent, more tormenting. He knew he was pushing her buttons, playing with her emotions, and he was thoroughly enjoying it.

“And that’s not all,” he whispered, his voice teasing. “I managed to… acquire his entire fortune. Three hundred and thirty-four million gold coins. It’s all ours now, Mother.”

Lyra moaned loudly, her body arching beneath him. The combination of the physical pleasure and the shocking news was driving her wild. She was reaching her peak again, her body shuddering with release.

Alaric continued his relentless assault, his thrusts deep and rhythmic, his gaze fixed on his mother’s flushed face. He reached out, cupping her large breasts in his hands, squeezing them gently.

“You don’t have to worry about that foolish husband of yours anymore, Mother,” he whispered, his voice low and possessive. “Even if he wasn’t imprisoned, your body would still belong to me. Only me.”

Lyra moaned again, her mind lost in a haze of pleasure. She was completely at his mercy, her body responding to his every touch, her mind consumed by his words.

Alaric continued to make love to his mother, his stamina seemingly endless. He explored every inch of her body, bringing her to multiple orgasms, his own pleasure intensifying with each passing moment.

He teased her, tormented her, whispered sweet nothings in her ear, driving her further and further into the depths of ecstasy. He made sure she knew that she belonged to him, body and soul.

As he continued his relentless assault, Lyra slowly lost herself to the overwhelming sensations. Her moans grew louder, her body arching beneath him, her nails digging into his back. She was completely consumed by the pleasure he was giving her, her mind blank, her thoughts focused solely on the sensations coursing through her body.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alaric reached his own peak, his body shuddering with release as he came inside her once more. He collapsed onto her, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Lyra lay beneath him, her eyes closed, her body limp with exhaustion. Her insides were filled with his seed, and his cum had been sprayed across her body. A look of utter satisfaction was etched on her face. She had completely lost herself in the moment, surrendering to the overwhelming pleasure he had given her. She had lost consciousness.

Alaric lay there for a few minutes, his breath slowly returning to normal. He looked down at his mother, a small smile playing on his lips.

He then got up and went to the bathroom to clean himself. He then came back and cleaned his mother before putting her to sleep. He then went to his own room to rest. He had a lot to think about, a lot of plans to make.

~~

After resting for a few hours, Alaric decided to pay a visit to Iridelle. He knew she would likely be in her guest room, perhaps still unpacking or organizing her belongings. He wanted to discuss the next phase of their project, a project that would solidify his control over the flow of information within the kingdom, and perhaps even beyond.

He made his way to the guest wing of the mansion, reaching Iridelle’s room. He knocked softly on the door, waiting for a response.

“Come in,” Iridelle’s voice called from within.

Alaric opened the door and stepped inside. Iridelle was sitting at a small table near the window, surrounded by various tools and materials. She looked up as he entered, a polite smile gracing her lips.

“Young Master Alaric,” she greeted, her voice respectful.

Alaric offered her a warm smile in return. “Iridelle,” he said, his tone casual. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

Iridelle shook her head. “Not at all, Young Master,” she replied. “I was just… organizing my things.”

Alaric nodded, taking a seat on a nearby chair. “I wanted to discuss the next step of our project,” he said, his voice serious. “Now that we’ve successfully created the ’Phone’, I have another task for you.”

Iridelle’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of curiosity crossing her face. “Another task, Young Master?” she asked.

Alaric nodded. “Yes,” he confirmed. “I want you to develop a blueprint for a… Monitoring Artifact.”

Iridelle’s brow furrowed in confusion. “A Monitoring Artifact?” she repeated, her voice questioning. “What… what would that do?”

Alaric leaned forward, his voice low and conspiratorial. “It would allow us to intercept any and all communication that is occurring through the ’Phone’,” he explained. “We could listen in on conversations, access recorded audio and video… everything.”

Iridelle gasped, her eyes widening in shock. She suddenly understood Alaric’s true intentions. The ’Phone’ wasn’t just a revolutionary communication device. It was a tool, a means to an end.

’He didn’t create this out of the goodness of his heart,’ she thought, a chill running down her spine. ’He wants to control the flow of information. He wants to have access to everyone’s secrets.’

A cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She realized that she had stumbled upon something dangerous, something that could have far-reaching consequences. She had a sudden, sinking feeling that once she finished developing this Monitoring Artifact, Alaric might not let her go. She knew too much.

She stared into Alaric’s crimson ruby eyes, a sense of fear creeping into her heart. She felt as though she was staring into the eyes of a predator.

Alaric, sensing her fear, chuckled softly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Iridelle,” he said, his voice amused. “Are you thinking I’m going to… eliminate you once you’ve finished this project?”

Iridelle’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t believe that he had guessed her thoughts. It was as if he could read her mind.

Alaric simply smiled, his expression reassuring. “Your fear is very obvious, Iridelle,” he said gently. “You’re judging me too harshly. You’re underestimating your value to me.”

He stood up, approaching her slowly. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. “Iridelle,” he said, his voice soft, “I have many more projects in mind, many more artifacts I want you to develop. You’re incredibly talented, and I value your skills immensely. Why would I ever want to harm you?”

He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace. His hands gently caressed her ocean blue hair, his voice a soothing whisper in her ear. “I need you, Iridelle,” he murmured. “I promise you, nothing will happen to you. I’ll make sure of it.”

Iridelle felt her fear begin to dissipate, replaced by a sense of… relief. Alaric’s words, his touch, his reassurances, were having a calming effect on her. The dark thoughts that had been plaguing her mind began to fade away.

She didn’t know if it was the warmth of his embrace or the sincerity in his voice, but she felt herself relaxing, trusting him. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that she was safe.

Alaric then tilted her head up, his gaze meeting hers. He leaned in, gently kissing her on the neck. He then nipped at her skin, leaving a small, red mark, a hickey, as if marking her as his own.

Iridelle gasped, a small moan escaping her lips. She didn’t resist, didn’t pull away. She simply closed her eyes, surrendering to the unexpected intimacy. Even though she wasn’t his lover, nor his woman, she didn’t dare to resist. She felt as though she couldn’t.

Alaric pulled back slightly, his eyes fixed on the mark he had left on her neck. A satisfied smile played on his lips. He then pulled away entirely, stepping back and giving Iridelle some space.

“So,” he said, his voice returning to its usual businesslike tone. “About the Monitoring Artifact…” He then proceeded to explain in detail what he wanted her to create, outlining the specific functionalities and features he envisioned.

Iridelle listened intently, her mind now focused on the task at hand, the lingering remnants of her fear fading into the background. She knew this was a dangerous path, but she also knew she had no choice but to follow it.

She was bound to Alaric, not by chains or magic, but by a promise, a promise that she desperately hoped he would keep.

~~

Zylle Mordan, Brita Kuusk, and the surviving members of the Phantom Assembly stood before Lord Vortan. The atmosphere in the grand hall was thick with tension, the air heavy with the weight of Lord Vortan’s displeasure. The opulent surroundings, usually a symbol of the Phantom Assembly’s power and influence, now felt like a gilded cage, trapping them in the face of their leader’s cold scrutiny.

Lord Vortan’s gaze swept across the assembled group, settling on Zylle and Brita. His eyes were like chips of ice, radiating an intense coldness that sent shivers down their spines. “Explain yourselves,” he commanded, his voice low and menacing. “How could such a simple operation fail so spectacularly?”

Zylle, ever composed, stepped forward, her expression calm and collected despite the pressure. “My Lord,” she began, her voice steady, “it appears the kingdom’s forces were aware of the auction hall’s location. The only plausible explanation is that one of the merchants we used to distribute the invitations was compromised.”

Lord Vortan nodded slowly, his gaze shifting to Brita. “Kuusk,” he said, his voice sharp. “Do you have anything to add?”

Brita visibly trembled under her lord’s intense gaze. She dropped to her knees, her voice barely a whisper. “My Lord,” she whimpered, “while I was initiating the plan, injecting the participants with your… dark seed elixir, one of them… he remained conscious, despite the gas. He… he followed me. He erected a barrier around my position and then… he attacked me.”

Lord Vortan’s eyes narrowed. “And this individual?” he asked, his voice dangerously low. “How powerful was he?”

“A Master Mage, My Lord,” Brita replied, her voice trembling.

Lord Vortan nodded slowly. “A Master Mage,” he repeated, his voice thoughtful. “With the power I bestowed upon your staff, you should have been more than capable of handling such an opponent.”

Brita bit her lip, her eyes filled with fear. “I… I was, My Lord,” she whispered. “Initially, I was winning. I had him on the defensive. But then… he used a Beast Essence.”

The words hung in the air, creating a palpable shockwave throughout the hall. Every head turned towards Brita, eyes wide with disbelief. Zylle, the other Phantom Assembly members, the higher-ups seated around the hall, even Lord Vortan himself, were visibly stunned.

The creation and utilization of Beast Essences was a closely guarded secret of the Phantom Assembly. It was a dark and complex art, one that they had perfected over many years. How could someone outside their organization possess such a power?

Brita, sensing the tension in the room, continued her explanation, her voice trembling even more. “But… it wasn’t like our Beast Essences, My Lord,” she whispered. “Ours are… corrupted. They use black magic to create a distorted imitation of the beast’s power. But his… his was different. It was… pure. Incredibly powerful.”

Lord Vortan’s eyes narrowed further, a hint of curiosity entering his voice. “Which beast was it?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Brita looked up at her lord, her eyes filled with fear and awe. “It was… the beast you’ve been searching for, My Lord,” she whispered. “The Mythical Beast… the Azure Spirit Lion.”

The words echoed through the hall, creating another wave of shock and disbelief. The Azure Spirit Lion. A mythical creature of immense power, said to be the true master of Spiritual Energy.

Lord Vortan had been searching for this beast for years, believing that its essence would grant him unimaginable power. He had even sent a team to the dungeon where the beast was said to reside, only to find that it had vanished.

’So someone took advantage of the situation…’ Lord Vortan thought, his mind racing. He had recently received news that the team he had sent to secure the Azure Spirit Lion had been purged. When the next team arrived, the beast was gone. Had someone else capitalized on his failure?

He turned his attention back to Brita, his eyes glowing with a dark energy. “Did you see his face?” he demanded, his voice echoing through the hall, a palpable wave of black magic energy emanating from him, showing his anxiety. “Do you know his identity?”

This Azure Spirit Lion was not just a mythical beast. It was the true master of Spiritual Energy, an energy form distinct from both magical energy and battle aura. Yet, this Spiritual Energy could seamlessly convert into either, making it the purest form of both. Lord Vortan craved this beast’s essence, envisioning himself as the ultimate master of Spiritual Energy. To discover that another now possessed it was a major setback, potentially derailing his plans.

Brita shook her head, her eyes filled with fear. “No, My Lord,” she whispered. “He wore a mask. I’ve never seen him before. I’ve never even heard of him.”

The hall was silent for a moment, the only sound the soft crackling of the torches on the walls. Lord Vortan’s mind raced, trying to make sense of this new development. The Azure Spirit Lion’s essence in the hands of an unknown individual… this was a significant complication. It could disrupt his plans, delay his ambitions.

He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to regain his composure. He then opened his eyes, his gaze settling on Zylle. “Zylle,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I want you to investigate this. Find out who this individual is. And if you find him…” He paused, his eyes glowing with a cold light. “Bring him to me.”