CHAPTER 83: THE TRUE FACE

The air was heavy. Though Clark restrained his aura and power, he stood proudly before the human crowds estimated at hundreds of thousands.

It was a shameful sight: a saint before them—Yohan Kreutz, or Clark—kneeling on the ground, ready to have his head severed.

In truth, he was calm.

He knew the others were watching: Brando, Lawrence... all of them watching. But what if they interfered? They couldn’t face this Alfred.

Alfred stepped forward. Clark was behind him, and the human crowds were before him.

Everyone was bewildered: What’s happening?

It had been decades since anyone saw someone executed or brought to this square.

Alfred gave a speech in a resonant and powerful voice:

• "As you see before you: a traitor to the Church, a traitor to the faith!"

• "Before this state existed, there were kings first, then religion, then humans."

• "You understand this order well, don’t you?!"

• "Our tradition: whoever betrays us shall have his soul extinguished."

• "Like the idol slaves in the Chi nation, and all those other wretched kinds who think they are human, but are merely scum."

• "From now on, whether king or prince, the measure of this state: religion!"

• "And to prove this, I will demonstrate it to you, taking him as a real lesson about who betrays the state."

• "Understand? The greatest betrayal in our state is apostasy..."

It was just a false speech with implications. Alfred didn’t care about religion; he cared about power. If he had to pretend to gain power and influence, he wouldn’t hesitate.

If he had to abandon religion and obtain power, he also wouldn’t hesitate.

A fickle person, you might find him on all sides strangely. Not your friend, just a person moving by personal motives.

Clark advanced to the front of the raised platform. He stood before everyone.

Slap!!!

Alfred delivered a powerful slap to old Clark’s face:

• "How dare you, you damned traitor?! What do you think you are?"

• "A great sacrifice for the nation!"

• "And you... what! Aren’t you giving him freedom by advancing?!"

The soldiers tensed up, because Clark’s relationships with the soldiers were excellent; he earned their loyalty through kindness and cunning.

While Alfred earned them through fear and an iron fist.

Clark doesn’t rely on flexing muscles and instilling fear, but sometimes you need real loyalty, even by lying to everyone.

Humans enjoy small compliments because they make them feel valued and important.

While the unfortunate reality is that you’re unimportant!

Clark spoke with a cold, strong voice. His gaze behind the old man’s mask was cold and half-asleep:

• "Lord Alfred, I am a man who repays all his debts."

• "I love the furious ones. Do you know why?"

Alfred’s eyes reddened and his voice changed. He was about to transform into a real demon!

It was terrifying, and half the attendees were frightened.

While Clark stood without the slightest fear.

• "What trash you are! Old man, who do you think you are?!"

Blows rained on Clark’s face while the other kept staring repeatedly.

And Alfred, like a madman, kept hitting. They were truly strong.

But so what? Does he think Clark will explode in anger and perhaps reveal his true face?

No, no, no! Alfred needs more than this to shake Clark.

Everyone watched in horror.

Clark’s blood flowed madly from his face until a pitiful flaw appeared in Clark’s disguise!

Blood seeped from under Clark’s mask, which was supposed to be undamaged by the blows and part of Clark’s face.

But the furious Alfred didn’t notice that strange loophole.

It was like wearing a cloth, and as soon as your face bleeds, blood seeps from under the cloth.

• "Everyone stop!!!"

Everyone turned back, while Alfred clearly saw the face of the voice’s owner:

• "Jin!!! So you decided to come, huh?!"

Clark turned and spat the blood stuck to his teeth.

He looked curiously toward Jin.

Beside him were two strange individuals; their auras were strange and suggested power amazingly???

Alfred stepped forward to Jin, face to face. They stood opposite each other terrifyingly, as if a battle was about to happen.

Alfred spoke in a hoarse, terrifying voice:

• "How dare you send your dog to me instead of coming yourself?!"

The two beside Jin stepped forward, ready to fight.

Jin raised his hand to stop them, then looked directly into Alfred’s eyes:

• "Let me tell you something, Alfred: You’re just a stepping stone. You understand that, right?"

• "I don’t doubt your understanding of this."

• "After all, who are you? Not important. You tried to make a name for yourself but failed too."

• "Fake Immortal Consciousness. Don’t make me laugh!"

The words "fake Immortal Consciousness" struck Clark’s ears like lightning!

He was shocked:

• "Fake Immortal Consciousness... false immortal rank? Meaning he possesses quasi-immortal battle strength? Or what?"

• "Interesting, Alfred."

While Alfred laughed and replied to Jin:

• "So this information is in your mind? Well, make sure to keep it well, because when it happens, I’ll make sure to tear you apart properly."

Alfred walked away, but Jin grabbed his shoulder.

Demonic aura flowed from Alfred’s eyes madly and furiously:

• "What do you think you’re doing?!" Alfred said in a terrifying voice.

While Jin replied calmly:

• "At least I want to tell you something: this subordinate of mine that you were beating is wanted by the entire Immortal World to be killed."

• "Meaning, if anyone from above learns you tried to kill him, we both know what will happen. Understand that, Saint Alfred?!"

Alfred pushed his hand away and walked his way to the cathedral, seething with anger.

While Jin looked at Clark’s face, also noticing the blood seeping strangely from his neck and jaw without visible wounds.

Jin laughed hysterically and said to him:

• "If you want to hide yourself, hide yourself well!!!"

Clark looked at him coldly:

• "Oh! So you’ve confirmed your suspicions. Well, Jin."

• "Since you saved me from the chaos I was about to cause, it’s clear you want to talk. Hahahahahahaha!"

Jin looked coldly at Clark and said:

• "Meet me on the cathedral roof tonight with your real face. Understood?!"

Clark nodded yes, broke the shackles on his hands, and moved.

Everyone looked bewildered: the human crowds, the soldiers...

• "Is this the same shackled old man who was being beaten? Why is he so strong?!"

Clark returned to his room after that farce.

He washed his face with cold water. There were some bruises on his face that could be treated thanks to Natasha, but he wasn’t interested in meeting her now.

So he settled for putting some patches on his face and ointments, healing very quickly.

He lit his cigar and smoked simply.

His strong body was like a painting drawn by the best artists.

And he thought:

• "He wants to ally with me. That’s logical, Jin’s intentions are easy to predict."

• "He wants to bring down Alfred, then bring me down after him."

• "Easy to predict cheap plans."

• "But thanks to the Blood Pact, I can get many, many good guarantees for myself."

• "But what is his plan? Does he have an alternative plan to reach the Immortal World?"

• "Does the fake Immortal Consciousness suffice and allow me to ascend?"

Urghhh!!!

Clark fell to the ground and began writhing, remembering words:

• "Specter... Specter... Specter... The sky is no longer blue."

He writhed like a madman and remembered:

• "For a great specter looms on the horizon."

• "A great mountain and a great sky and two moons."

Ah! He grabbed his shoulder in pain. It was like painful brain spasms.

• "What’s the meaning of these damned verses?!"

• "The only logical thing that comes to my mind: the two moons!"

• "My complete relativity theory: two moons producing the highest possible speed that destroys the mortal world and opens a crossing gate."

• "But why are these verses like a warning and vision of the future?"

• "It’s truly puzzling???"

The moon appeared in the sky, announcing winter.

The stars adorned the sky like diamonds adorning jewelry, and snow fell in a pleasant, beautiful scene.

Clark lit his cigar and smoked in this beautiful atmosphere.

Soon he spoke coldly:

• "You request to meet me but you’re late to appear, Jin. You’ve kept Clark waiting."

He stood beside Clark and spoke:

• "Well, as you know I had to prepare for this and arrange my thoughts."

Clark turned to him and looked directly into his eyes:

• "Well, I prefer you to be direct."

• "Hahahahahaha! If you want it direct, you shall have it."

• "I want to form an alliance with you."

Clark laughed:

• "How ironic! And you think I need you? Offer your best, Jin, or the alliance proposal is rejected!!!"

Jin replied to Clark confidently:

• "Do you remember when I said those from the other world are demanding your life?"

• "Well, that word contains part truth and part lie."

• "They truly want your head more than anything in life."

• "But no one knows where you’re from. They suspect the Shadow Sect, and wars have erupted there as we speak."

• "But Clark... I can light a great fuse and tell them about you, but I’ve remained silent until now to talk together."

• "One purpose and one goal. So think seriously about my words."

• "Hahahahaha! Using veiled threats? Well, Jin, you’ve gained my interest, and I’ll enjoy a little, because after all, if the entire world comes, I won’t be afraid!!!"

To be continued....