Chapter 807: Hiberlian Will End His Life

Chapter 807: Hiberlian Will End His Life

It was a dreary, rainy morning in Brieerda, and the streets outside the Carchi Art Gallery at No. 84, Charing Cross Road, were bustling.

The three-story building, constructed in the 16th century of the Solar Calendar, exuded an air of antique elegance. Its ivory-white walls were adorned with intricate reliefs, and the brick-red roof, covered in layers of ivy, loomed faintly through the mist.

The gallery's large doors were closed, and the "Open" sign hanging outside swayed faintly in the dim yellow light of the street lamps, making the surrounding streets seem all the more quiet.

This private art gallery, founded nearly a century ago by Harrison Carchi, a professor at the Royal Academy of Arts of the Kreise Empire, had changed hands several times but still maintained its art business.

However, today the Carchi Art Gallery was not hosting any artistic events but instead awaiting a special guest.

Right on time, at eleven o'clock.

"This is the place."

Accompanied by the chatter of young women, the heavy gallery door, with its brass handle, was pushed open.

"Unknowingly, it's already the 4th of November."

"By the end of this month, it will be the founding memorial of the Kreise Empire. There will be nationwide celebrations, and the Twelve War Gods will return to Brieerda to receive the blessings of the gods of war and swords. It feels like something big will happen that day no matter what."

Hiberlian, dressed in a dark blue double-breasted trench coat and carrying a Birkin bag, strolled into the gallery. She removed her sunglasses, revealing her aristocratic amber eyes, while Antanas and the others followed close behind, chatting casually as they entered the premises.

The first thing that caught their eyes was a statue of a flowing water fountain in the style of the Elsayya Holy Site.

Passing through the entrance hall, they entered a spacious exhibition hall of approximately 500 square meters. The walls were covered in pale yellow rose-patterned wallpaper, surrounded by renowned paintings exuding elegance and luxury. A branched crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the entire space, and a spiral staircase with a deep red carpet led upstairs to the VIP room and the office area on the second and third floors, respectively.

The air was filled with a subtle blend of vetiver and cedar, creating a fresh yet dignified atmosphere.

"Welcome to the Carchi Gallery. How may I assist you?"

A young clerk, dressed in a black uniform with a name tag on his chest, approached them courteously and inquired.

"I heard that you have received two new pieces by Mr. Malitte, and I am very interested in seeing them."

Hiberlian replied in standard Brieerda dialect using translation magic, casually touching her left earlobe with her right thumb and forefinger as she spoke.

"They are 'The Return of the Setting Sun' and 'The Melting Sky.' I believe they will become one of Master Malitte's most renowned works. His surrealist style is truly eye-opening. Would you like to take a closer look?"

The clerk cleared his throat and responded in the same hushed tone.

"Of course."

A slight smile curved Hiberlian's lips as she acknowledged the clerk.

"Please follow me."

The clerk nodded in understanding.

He gestured politely, inviting them to follow, and led the group through the exhibition hall to the staircase leading to the second floor.

Antanas trailed quietly behind.

Although she didn't understand the specifics of the secret code exchanged between Hiberlian and the clerk, she surmised that the paintings were likely code for confirming the meeting and whether the person they were looking for was upstairs.

If Hiberlian refused, it meant they would come back the next day. If she agreed, she would be taken upstairs to meet the Allied Intelligence Organization's contact in Brieerda.

As they ascended the staircase, adorned with a deep red woolen carpet, the Ice and Snow Witch brought up the rear, her slender fingers lightly trailing along the carved handrail, her nose detecting a faint hint of aged wood.

After climbing thirteen steps, they found themselves in the gallery's second-floor corridor.

The brown walls were illuminated by a few brass wall lamps, casting a subdued glow and adding to the depth of the space.

The clerk guided them through the winding corridor until they reached an inconspicuous wooden door at the end.

He took out a brass key with a mechanical design from his pocket, inserted it into the lock, and turned it gently.

With a soft click, the heavy door slowly swung open, revealing an office beyond.

"Miss Unity has been expecting you. Please come in."

The clerk stepped aside and gestured for them to enter.

There was already a restrictive barrier in place here, ensuring their conversation would be private.

After the clerk led Hiberlian and her companions into the office, he knocked lightly on the wall-mounted bookshelf three times, followed by two rapid knocks.

"Come in."

A cold female voice emanated from behind the bookshelf.

The bookshelf swung open, revealing a hidden door that connected to another office.

The clerk took his leave.

Hiberlian bid him farewell and walked through the bookshelf, followed by Pranay, Antanas, Sinnora, and Almyris.

They found themselves in a room of approximately 30 square meters. The ceiling was adorned with intricate stone carvings in an antique style, and the curtains were drawn tightly, allowing only the sound of an antique grandfather clock to permeate the room.

Seated on a sofa in the center of the room, next to a tea table, was a woman dressed in a black skirt.

She had a well-proportioned figure and an air of coldness.

Hiberlian immediately recognized her as a seasoned warrior.

Even though they were both at the pinnacle of the sixth stage, she knew that this woman's combat experience far surpassed her own. If they were to engage in battle, she would likely be dominated by this formidable opponent.

This woman must be Miss Unity, their contact in the Kreise Empire.

As a senior agent of the Allied Intelligence Organization, Miss Unity usually disguised herself as the gallery manager, coordinating and commanding undercover operations in Brieerda.

"Welcome to Brieerda, Hiberrian."

Unity looked up, her eyes fixed on Hiberrian,

"Did you encounter any problems on the road?"

The information Unity received from Florence was that the new secret agent, Hiberrian, would enter the Shadow World once in early October to complete her final enhancement. Therefore, Unity had no objections to Hiberrian's disappearance after her arrival last month.

In a strict sense, Unity was not really Hiberrian's superior but rather her assistant in Brieerda. Hiberrian only answered to Florence.

"Everything went smoothly, thanks to your meticulous arrangements."

Hiberrian nodded gratefully.

"As your liaison in Brieerda, I will provide full support in all aspects. This will be your temporary contact point, and you can come to me anytime you have problems or need intelligence."

Unity stood up and gestured for Hiberrian and her companions to sit down.

"Miss Unity, I heard that you have a task for me from last month?"

Hiberrian walked over and sat down on the sofa opposite Unity, asking casually.

Before coming here, she had been curious about the brief conversation she had with Unity's subordinate regarding the matter before entering the Shadow World.

It seemed like the information was highly classified, and Unity couldn't disclose it to any of her subordinates. She could only mention it after meeting Hiberrian in person.

Three weeks ago, it might not have been urgent, just important.

But after such a long time, it might have become an emergency, and Hiberrian still felt guilty about her late arrival.

"Yes, this matter... you may find it a bit absurd when you hear it,"

Unity admitted, her gaze gradually shifting from Hiberrian to her four companions.

Aside from the icy-looking female guardian sitting next to Hiberrian, the other three stood behind the sofa like butlers.

The male steward on the far right was tall and slender, standing at about 1.85 meters. His well-proportioned figure and steady gaze were accentuated by his sophisticated black butler uniform. While his demeanor exuded a touch of elegance, there was also an understated yet compelling aura about him that suggested he could take a life without hesitation.

The lady standing quietly behind Hiberrian with her eyes closed seemed the closest to Hiberrian, always ready to lean in and whisper into Hiberrian's ear. Her fitted dress accentuated her snow-white skin, and her demeanor exuded the refined air of a well-bred young lady from a prestigious family, even without uttering a word.

On the left was a beauty with short-to-medium-length hair. Her features blended feminine grace and masculine charm perfectly, and her long, well-proportioned figure was draped in a tailored black ladies' suit. She was undoubtedly a unique and unforgettable vision, and the eagerness and confidence sparkling in her eyes convinced Unity that she was far more than just a pretty face.

Unity pondered silently. These eastern allies sent by the Federation seemed to be full of secrets.

Their magical auras were not particularly strong, suggesting they were ordinary humans.

However, their unflappable composure and calmness were telltale signs of powerful individuals, perhaps even stronger than Hiberrian, the apparent leader of the group.

To be able to hide their strength from Unity meant that they were at least seventh-rank or higher.

Unity couldn't quite gauge their true strength.

It was unlikely that they were all seventh-rank powerhouses. Surely, they wouldn't send such a lavishly powerful group.

"Would you like to speak to Miss Hiberrian in private?"

It seemed that Pranai had read Unity's thoughts, and he asked accordingly.

Before discussing the matter at hand, Unity, the Allied agent, might want to ask the four of them to leave the room for a moment.

"No, that won't be necessary. I was just thinking about how to make a long story short. You are reliable allies guaranteed by Lord Florence, and I trust you."

However, Unity showed no signs of suspicion or guard,

"And if I'm not mistaken, Miss Hiberrian is just the face of the operation, while you, my lady, are the real decision-maker, am I right?"

Unity directed her question to the icy-looking witch sitting next to Hiberrian.

These four mysterious attendants of Hiberrian had the backing of Florence, the eldest son of Atelred, the Vice Speaker of the United Parliament of the Kingdom, so Unity trusted them completely.

"Indeed."

The witch sitting next to Hiberrian did not deny it.

Although the witch was also a priestess, she was technically an outsider to this southern continent war, making it difficult to explain her position.

The elite spy of the Allied Forces in Brieerda had a keen eye and immediately identified who was in charge.

The witch knew that their Fate Goddess Church's Knight Captain, Florence, often had to disguise herself as a man in her hometown of Cambela Kingdom. So, in Unity's perception, Florence was probably a young man.

All of this was because Florence was born into the Atelred military family of the western Cambela Kingdom. As the eldest daughter, when her younger brother was born, her father, Duke Atelred, realized that his son had no fighting talent, so he decided to groom his daughter, Florence, as the next head of the family.

The only thing the witch didn't understand was why Loren and Florence didn't seem to interact with each other in a more discreet manner, despite their close relationship.

After all, Loren and Florence had gone through thick and thin together for so long.

Unfortunately, if Loren and Florence didn't clear up this misunderstanding, they would never have the chance to do so again.

The Snow Witch now prefers to believe that Loren is a simple and honest man, rather than a mastermind who calculates every move.

"In fact, we still need to entrust this task to Hepburn. Her identity as a young lady from the Northwest Nicksander Territory and the only one from the upper crust of that place who has recently been actively involved in work, I have already laid the necessary groundwork for this identity."

Unity spoke softly to the woman before her.

"Are there any unique characteristics of the upper-class women from the Northwest Nicksander Territory?"

The Snow Witch asked, puzzled. She couldn't quite grasp the cause-and-effect relationship.

"Have you heard of Professor Landry, who has recently come into prominence in Brilianda?"

Unity posed another question. If they knew about Professor Landry, it would be easier to explain; otherwise, she would have to provide some background information on this target.

"Of course, we saw reports about this lapdog of the Empire on our way here."

Hepburn clenched her fists, her tone filled with disgust. She had grown to loathe this lackey of the Empire.

"..."

Unity fell into a brief silence as she took in Hepburn's attitude.

"Professor Landry is actually a declining noble from the Northwest Nicksander Territory. He is currently in need of a well-trained woman who can assume the role of his fiancee. Someone of your stature would be an ideal candidate to pose as his fiancee from back home. I have a way for you to get close to him."

Unity picked up the teacup on the tea table and took a light sip before continuing in a grave tone, "The mission is undoubtedly dangerous, but it also presents a unique opportunity."

"Are you asking me to get close to him and then find an opportunity to kill him?" Hepburn asked, making a subtle slashing gesture at her neck to indicate her willingness to take on such a task.

"No, I want you to truly pretend to be his fake fiancee. This is a collaborative effort. We need to keep him under surveillance, and he can't die yet." Unity's disdain for Professor Landry was genuine.

"You don't have to force yourself. The decision to accept this mission is entirely up to you." Unity added, though it seemed like she was withholding something.

"Ah?" Hepburn furrowed her brows slightly, her eyes shifting from side to side as she processed this information overload.

Collaboration?

Did Professor Landry, an Empire citizen, actively seek help from Unity of the Allied Forces to find a fiancee...?

Hepburn thought about it carefully for a moment and suddenly seemed to understand a lot of things.

Professor Landry's research in the Cray Empire had always been stolen by the Allies, yet the Empire could never figure out where the leak was.

So, Professor Landry was the one selling the intelligence?

"Professor Landry's reputation in the Cray Empire's academic community is growing by the day, and he also has a great opportunity ahead of him. There is a high possibility that his status will soar as the potential leader of the Cray Empire's newly established Magic Power Institution Committee. Our negotiating position will be completely different at that time, so now is the best time to tie him down with our interests." Unity continued.

If Professor Landry became the head of the Cray Empire's new Magic Power Institution Committee, he would wield significant influence over the Empire's military-industrial complex in the future.

Additionally, Professor Landry was on good terms with Director Dex of the Empire's Special Operations Department. Since his arrival in Brilianda, he had repeatedly made remarkable contributions, especially in the field of magic power fission. He was considered an invaluable asset to Director Dex's career. Moreover, Professor Landry had access to the Empire's Special Operations Department and a small chance to come across some unique intelligence.

In Unity's opinion, Professor Landry was an old fox with deep cunning. He could effortlessly gain the trust of those around him and likely navigated the Empire's Special Operations Department with equal ease, earning the favor of Director Dex.

Based on her personal judgment, Unity was reluctant to send a valuable spy to Professor Landry's side. However, if the spy herself was willing, doing Professor Landry a favor might also lead to greater rewards.

Professor Landry had consistently shared intelligence with her, leaving Unity unsure of what he was trying to balance.

"What exactly is Professor Landry thinking?"

The Snow Witch's long fingers tapped lightly on her knee as she sank into thought. She, too, seemed to grasp the general situation.

"There are also significant contradictions within the Cray Empire. Since the 'Bloody Wash Day', the noble faction and the populist faction have been making frequent moves. There is no doubt that Professor Landry is a die-hard loyalist of the Empire, but he seems to lean more towards the nobles. He is likely an extremist aiming to bring about some kind of revolution within the Empire." Unity shared her deductions.

On that train ride, they had encountered a mysterious man who had replaced Professor Landry, and since then, Unity had been keeping an eye on that man's movements.

She was confident about this man's Imperial Soul and his passion for the Empire's cause; it wasn't an act.

However, he also seemed to have his agenda.

For now, their interests briefly aligned with the Allies.

"I wonder what kind of power is backing Professor Landry..."

The Snow Witch seemed to grasp the gist of Unity's explanation.

Years ago, the nobles of the Cray Empire held too much power, to the extent that they could cover the sky with one hand. They controlled most of the authority, wealth, and even media resources.

Besides oppressing and exploiting the people, some nobles even went as far as to disregard the lives of commoners, killing and taking by force as they pleased.

The extreme indifference shown by the nobility towards the lives of the common folk, coupled with their ability to repeatedly evade punishment, finally pushed the tensions to a boiling point.

In the present day, the conflict between the Kresian nobility and the common people is intense and bitter. It is said that not only are there commoners who deeply resent the nobility, but also nobles who harbor hatred towards the common folk.

This animosity can be traced back to the large-scale uprising that took place in the Botswana Province of the Kresian Empire several years ago, where numerous nobles were killed. That day became known as the "Bloodbath Day".

Desperate and furious commoners, armed and organized, stormed into the mansions of the nobility, looting and killing. The men of the noble families were slaughtered, and the women were subjected to fates worse than death.

Those noble heirs who managed to escape either disappeared or inherited their families, but the psychological scars remained, and their hatred extended to all commoners.

It was only after the Emperor established a charter to restrain the nobility, appease the commoners, investigate the implicated nobles, and punish the rioters, that the conflict was temporarily resolved.

For a long time afterward, the conflict between the Kresian nobility and the commoners improved.

But that was only temporary.

As the massive calamity of "Bloodbath Day" slowly fermented, sowing seeds of hatred that began to take root and sprout, the internal strife within the Kresian Empire rapidly intensified in recent years.

This is the very conflict between the noble faction and the populist faction within the Kresian Empire, a conflict so profound that it had to be externalized and indirectly contributed to the outbreak of war.

It can be said that the Bloodbath Day of twenty years ago is intricately linked to the current turmoil within the Empire, but unraveling this complex web of causality is incredibly difficult, especially for foreigners who wish to investigate the detailed history of Bloodbath Day.

"Whether Landelion belongs to the extremist faction of the nobility or the populists, we, the Allied Forces, are his best choice for cooperation. He wants to stir up internal strife within the Empire, and we want the same."

Unity's eyes shone with determination.

For the sake of victory and to protect her homeland, she was willing to use any means necessary.

"Xuebailian, I think it's too dangerous. If we are to get close to Landelion, he will definitely not allow us four to live with you. In that case, we won't be able to protect you, so it's definitely not possible."

The Ice Snow Witch shook her head.

She understood the benefits of this task.

However, both publicly and privately, she would not agree to put Xuebailian at any risk.

"I'm sorry, Miss Unity, but I cannot accept this task."

Xuebailian spoke as if she had already made up her mind.

Firstly, she could not pretend to be betrothed to another man, even if it was just an act.

Secondly, she was well aware that her duty was to help the Allies to the best of her ability while ensuring her absolute safety.

However, Xuebailian was still deeply touched by the Ice Snow Witch's attitude.

Having a mother's love made all the difference.

She could clearly sense the Ice Snow Witch's personal feelings.

Even though her biological mother, Yifatia, was not by her side, Xuebailian no longer felt the emptiness in her heart.

She secretly took the opportunity to hold the Ice Snow Witch's hand.

The Ice Snow Witch had a reflexive urge to pull her hand back, but slowly became aware of Xuebailian's intentions and gently held onto Xuebailian's warm palm in return.

"It's alright, I'll just go and reject Landelion myself. If a new task comes up during this time, I'll contact you."

Unity also breathed a sigh of relief.

This way, she wouldn't have to send an excellent spy on a dangerous mission.

She had a good impression of Xuebailian, reminding her of her younger sister back home. Deep down, she was reluctant to send such a young girl into the lion's den.

"Of course, if you change your mind, I can send you to Landelion's side at any time. For example, if the situation changes for the worse... we may need to kill him."

Unity instructed, her voice lowered, and her gaze sharpened.

During this period, she had made all the necessary preparations, and her identity as a chamber lady could be used at any time to become Landelion's "betrothed".

If Landelion's threat began to outweigh the benefits and exceeded the Allies' expectations, becoming uncontrollable, Unity would consider entrusting Xuebailian and her four powerful companions with the task of infiltrating Landelion's home and assassinating him.

"Of course, if it's to kill him, we won't give him any chance to fight back. Rest assured, he will meet his end," Xuebailian nodded in understanding.

She comprehended the significance of Unity's backup plan.

If they needed to assassinate Professor Landelion in his home, Unity had also prepared a contingency plan, and they could take action at any time.

With the assistance of the four great demons, Xuebailian was confident in the success of such a mission.

"Then for the time being, take some time to rest and familiarize yourself with the environment in Briliarda. If I need you to take action, I'll send a painting to your residence and notify you to come to the gallery for a meeting."

Seeing Xuebailian's confidence, Unity was sure that her guess about the strength of Xuebailian's companions was correct.

As long as they created an opportunity for them to escort the young lady to visit Landelion's home, Landelion's death was all but certain.

She stood up and expressed her gratitude to these reinforcements.

"No problem, Miss Unity. I've been an assassin since the very beginning," Xuebailian extended her hand, shaking Unity's, and once again revealed the innate coldness that came with her bloodline.

Her eyes seemed to already foresee the tragic end that awaited Landelion.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end