Chapter 1456: Chapter 1454: Reunion after a Long Separation
The Great Demon Leader’s personal gratitude naturally caused a considerable stir.
The knights who did not participate in the Big Expedition were still unclear about what exactly transpired during that time… The only certainty was that Han Dong must have made tremendous contributions during the expedition.
“Nicholas, your reward will be personally presented to you by Captain Hugo.
Once this gathering concludes, I hope you can find some time to visit the newly established academy and meet Captain Hugo, who is now serving as its principal.”
Although Han Dong had many questions on his mind, he refrained from asking them in the current setting.
While everything seemed somewhat unusual, Han Dong still trusted the decisions made by the leaders.
Moreover, judging by the relatively stable atmosphere of the meeting, the [Great Reformation] must have gained the support of certain parliamentarians, the lower ranks of the Royal Family, and the Church. The Holy City appeared to be in a relatively stable phase of post-reform.
Whatever remained hidden behind the scenes, Han Dong decided to investigate it slowly later.
The awards ceremony concluded.
After delivering a few encouraging words promoting acceptance and endorsement of the reforms, the Great Demon Leader ended the gathering.
“Dumps, would you like to come with me to check out the new academy?”
“I would like to, but the Great Demon Leader just sent me a private transmission. I need to meet with him alone… You and Miss Sally go ahead first; I’ll contact you later.”
“Alright.”
Due to the Great Demon Leader’s public thanks during the gathering,
Han Dong attracted a great deal of attention as he left the parliamentary district… Many elite knights even extended enthusiastic invitations to him.
While Han Dong was preparing to reject their invitations by claiming urgent matters with the Secret Language Knight Order,
a pure black carriage squeezed through the crowd and stopped in front of him.
The crow engravings on the carriage’s surface and its overall eerie aura caused the nearby knights to immediately step back… At this moment, a genuine smile appeared on Han Dong’s face.
However, just as he was about to board the carriage, he felt his elbow being firmly held.
“Sally, don’t be afraid… The one in the carriage is my teacher here in the Holy City.”
“Oh.”
Hearing Han Dong’s explanation, Sally felt slightly reassured.
In her eyes, the black carriage radiated an unprecedented sense of threat, strong enough to assess that a Mythic Body was inside. The threat level, however, seemed greater than the average Mythic Body, even surpassing the outsiders encountered during the London Game.
Stepping into the carriage.
When the familiar black mask came into view, Han Dong truly felt the sensation of returning home.
Yet amidst the waves of emotion,
Han Dong also noticed something different, a subtle anomaly with Mr. Black White.
The crow-like aura had grown significantly darker compared to before.
Having now opened the gate and upgraded his Demon Eye, Han Dong could clearly discern his teacher’s true level—[Pinnacle of Myth], with only a single layer of membrane symbolizing kingship separating him from the peak.
However, while perceiving this level, Han Dong also faintly detected a trace of anomaly.
This “anomaly” had not existed prior to the Big Expedition.
Some unknown material, not part of the teacher’s own body, seemed to reside in the right side of his brain.
Yet, due to matters of seniority and etiquette, Han Dong did not dare casually activate his Demon Eye to directly inspect his teacher’s brain.
“Teacher! It’s been so long!”
“It seems you achieved exceptional accomplishments during the Big Expedition, far exceeding everyone’s expectations… In just two and a half short years, you’ve reached such heights.
No wonder even [White] cannot perceive your destiny.”
“It’s all thanks to this brain and my handling of interpersonal relationships… Additionally, congratulations, Teacher, on advancing your strength further.
By the way, there seems to be an unusual aura emanating from your brain, something about it feels off.”
Han Dong’s comment startled Mr. Black White.
“You mean to say, with your merely closed Demon Eye, you’re already able to detect the issue with my brain?”
He no longer hid it.
Five fingers pressed against his face, removing the entire black mask.
Seeing this scene, Han Dong immediately froze.
Since meeting Mr. Black White, Han Dong had never seen his true face beneath the mask.
Over time, he had even come to regard the mask as Mr. Black White’s real visage.
To have his teacher remove the mask during their reunion rendered Han Dong momentarily unprepared to adjust.
Before him was a face that could only be described as “stunning,” with sharp, distinguished features rivaling those of Dumps, and exuding an air of maturity and stability. The right temple and eye socket were connected by a unique “crow tattoo.”
“Teacher, your eye!”
What shocked him was this:
Mr. Black White’s left eye appeared normal, like a deep black gemstone.
However, his right eye was a meticulously crafted mechanical augmentation, its intricate structure extending inward to radiate throughout his entire brain region.
“Mm… Due to certain reasons,
I had no choice but to undergo modifications from [Mr. Newton], using this eye to suppress ‘the other side,’ ensuring ‘black’ outweighs ‘white.’
This modification is beneficial for advancing the Great Reformation.”
Han Dong did not fully understand the nature of Mr. Black White,
but based on his two starkly different personas,
the connection between Mr. White and the Clockmaker,
and the specialized mechanical augmentation Mr. Black White had fitted, Han Dong could roughly deduce that ‘Mr. White’ might share a significant association with Fate, or even the Black Tower itself.
Such associations, perhaps, were unsuitable for the reforms in the Holy City.
“Does it have to do with Fate?”
“Indeed… It seems your knowledge has reached a certain depth.”
During the conversation, Mr. Black White’s appraisal of Han Dong kept rising.
The young man standing before him was no longer the student in need of his “care” from the past. Within just a few exchanges, Han Dong had risen to stand as an equal.
Even Mr. Black White had not foreseen such an astonishing progression in the student he had chosen.
“If there’s anything Teacher needs, feel free to tell me at any time… I’ve managed to establish myself on both [sides] and would be willing to do anything to assist Teacher.”
With a gratified smile, Mr. Black White lightly waved his hand.
“Since you’ve established yourself on both [sides], naturally matters connected to you will increase, and the burdens you shoulder will grow heavier.
The further development of the Holy City will undoubtedly require your support and cooperation; this is only the beginning, the true turbulence is yet to come.
As for my situation, there’s no need to worry at all.
The modification of this eye was personally requested by me from Mr. Newton. Compared to being confined within the Stargazing Room as before, my current state is much better.
But enough about me for now; you’ve yet to introduce this… ‘lady.'”
At Han Dong’s signal,
Sally removed the ‘sheepskin hood’ concealing her appearance, revealing her Black Goat horns and her anthropomorphic human-like face.
“Miss Sally.
She hails from the [Black Forest], presently one of the Ten Elements… We became acquainted during the Big Expedition and collaborated on numerous occasions. This time, she’s accompanying me to the Holy City to familiarize herself in advance with human urban settings.”
“An Element, the Black Goat!?”
Just these two keywords were enough to leave Mr. Black White astonished.
After all, among the demons, the [Black Goat] belonged to a tribe at the very summit of hierarchy.
And the designation of an “Element” was even more formidable. As referenced in the stone slabs analyzed by the Secret Language Knight Order, an Element was akin to a future king coronated in advance, standing as the pinnacle among this supreme demon lineage.
Even more astonishing was the fact that this female Element before him seemed to hold Han Dong in high regard.
“Sally can be completely trusted.
Teacher, please explain to me the specifics of the situation in the Holy City… What exactly is going on here? On the eve of the Big Expedition, what kind of meeting did you hold within the Holy Ring?”