The dark corridors, the icy groundwater, the creaking sound of rats and bugs crawling over the walls and the sound of water dripping down completely overshadowed the filthy and turbid air that made it impossible to even open your eyes.

A grim-faced Gaio Valence walked slowly with a dim oil lamp, and his delicate knight's boots were stained with an ugly layer of water - but in the dark tunnels of the dungeon, not many people cared if their clothes were clean enough.

This is, directly below the garrison hills, the dungeons of the Knights that have been abandoned for decades.

Gently pushing open the rusty and creaking iron bar, the door of the cell was not even locked, and Gaio Valense's stiff expression could not help but be a little nervous - although he knew very well that the guy who was locked up here would never escape from here.

Hanging the oil lamp on the iron hook, a figure leaning against the wall was revealed—Leonardo Gombray, chief knight of the Order. Despite the darkness, he seemed to be in good spirits, and he didn't shy away from staring at Gayle Valens, his piercing eyes as if he could kill.

"You look so much better than I thought you would. Gaiyo couldn't help but open his mouth first: "I'm really worried about it, Leonardo." ”

"There's no better than someone who killed the Grand Master and got his revenge. Leonardo snorted and stared at Gaio: "Holard Mineste is dead, right, Gaio Valence?!"

"The public version is that he was imprisoned. Gaiyo nodded slightly, "That's right, it's part of the Barrion deal - I help him ascend to the throne, and he must help me get my revenge." ”

"So how does revenge feel. Isn't it quite enjoyable. Quite comfortable?" Leonardo smiled a little disdainfully: "Don't you feel that all the humiliation and burden in this life are worth it?!"

“...... Contrary. Maybe what you said at first was the same as I thought. Although it was only Leonardo's angry words, Gaiyo sighed very seriously: "Nothing, when I stabbed the sword into Horad's body and pierced his heart, I thought I would be very excited, but not at all - it was no different from killing an ordinary person and killing a heretic." ”

"I just did something that I repeated countless times, and that's it. ”

"Can't you even compare to the moment when you kill the Grand Master?" even when I saw him so dazed. Leonardo still couldn't help but provoke.

"When you kill the Grand Master, there is only tension and calm—Master Mercer Kane was able to kill me at least twice, but he gave up anyway. I deplore his death, but I have absolutely no regrets, because I have to kill him, or I won't be able to gain Berion's trust. Gaiyo said in a deep voice, "But killing Horad—I can't describe the feeling." ”

"It's like a scam, and you can't help but wonder what drives you to get revenge, to get revenge, and even to exhaust most of your life's energy for it. Gaio Valens's expression even darkened: "Maybe the original Lord Mercer Kane agreed to let me join the Order." I just want to make me forget my hatred and avoid such a sad fate. ”

But he failed. ”

"He failed. But I won't—revenge is only my business, but the Knights ...... The Knights must rise again, and the Black Tree Banner on a white background must fly again under the flaming Goshawk, which will be a good opportunity. With the help of Berion's hand, all the forces that have hindered the Knights have been swept away!"

"Do you really think that Berion can defeat Anson and become the king of the Kingdom of Turin?" Leonardo couldn't help but ask: "Maybe, but don't think he is too strong, His Royal Highness Anson is not without the strength to fight back, and there are still many people who are loyal to him." ”

"You're right, in fact his odds aren't as good as they seem, but that's what the world is like - if you want something, you have to fight for it, or you have no hope. Barrion shook his head: "And now that I am in his side, all I can do is to do everything in my power to get him the position he must desire, to take the crown, and to become the king of Turin." ”

"One day later, His Highness Anson Marcherus will arrive in Turin, which means that Edward Wittwood will also be in Turin. Gaio Valence said calmly: "Until now, no one has found him, some say that he has escaped. ”

"He's not going to run away - you just haven't found him yet. Leonardo continued: "This kid may be really cunning, but the more he does this, the more he will know - by the time you find him, he will have done everything he has to do." ”

"You should know better than I do, Gaio Valence - who killed Cortez when you destroyed the Brotherhood of Blood Banners?"

"So this time I'm going to make up for the mistakes I made last time. Gaio's voice remained calm: "Last time I chose to trust him, but this time...... I'll kill him. ”

"Why?" Leonardo snorted, "just because he's on Anson's side?"

"No, because his presence is a great threat - believe me, Leonardo, I know him better than all of you, do you really think he is loyal to the Order?" asked Gaio rhetorically, "Or is he loyal to Anson?" No, no, he just hasn't found a suitable excuse to break free from the shackles that bound him and allowed him to climb to the position he is today. ”

"I gave Lord Mercer Kane a choice, but he chose to believe it, just as I made the Tree Knights. With a long sigh, Gaio sat down: "But I won't make the same mistake, I'll kill him." ”

"Prevent him from becoming another you?"

"He's not going to be me, he's not anybody—there's no way you can describe Edward Wetwood, though I know you have a good impression of him, Leonardo. But you don't know what this person looks like. ”

"What made Edward Witwood? hatred, ambition, greed...... No, what he's looking for is definitely not that, what he's looking for is much more low-level and much more terrifying. ”

Watching Gaiyo slowly turn his head, Leonardo looked at this old friend with some surprise, showing a frightened expression for the first time.

"What he's looking for is 'happiness,' something that makes him feel 'happy.'" ”

"That'...... It's scary?"

"Hatred will eventually dissipate and greed will be filled...... But happiness? It's a feeling, a feeling that makes people want to stop, like an addicted pipe. Gailo shook his head: "He will not be satisfied with what he has now, he will continue to pursue or take - because once that pleasant happiness appears, it cannot be satisfied, only more desired!"

Leonardo shook his head: "It's just your story, no one can prove it - even if he is really what you say he is, so what? I don't believe Edward Witwood can do what you imagine." ”

"That's right, because he's going to do more than I could have imagined – and that's what I say. The stiff-faced Gaio Valence stood up and lifted the oil lamp in his right hand: "But even so, I will not let go of this opportunity, I have this hunch, this may be my last chance." ”

"When this battle to determine the fate of the kingdom is over, he will be completely out of everyone's control and become a real monster - and no one will be able to stop him then. It's like no one can restrain a beast that has broken free from its cage and shackles. ”

After saying that, Gaiyo, who was carrying the oil lamp, turned around and walked towards the outside of the cell, and the sound of dripping water came, and Leonardo, who was still sitting there, looked at his departing figure, but couldn't help but close his eyes.

Only one of these two people can survive. (To be continued.) )