Extra's Descent

"Keep him locked up. Let nature take its course."

Brandon had just finished interrogating Zeke of every information he had in regards to the Milis continent.

Currently, he and Illya stood by the chamber's entrance.

"How did you know?"

"Hm?"

Brandon tilted his head. Of course, Illya's reaction was expected. If any other sane person were in the room, they would probably falter and believe Zeke was innocent, realizing Brandon's mistake.

However, Brandon wasn't sure how to respond to her question.

For that reason, he answered her casually, pointing at his temple.

"Instinct."

"...."

"Do you trust me a lot more now?"

"I think so."

Thankfully, his efforts weren't for naught. For a second there, Brandon had also believed an off chance that Zeke was innocent in this progression.

"Okay, that's all I need. Can I ask you to share the recordings with the other members?"

"Yes."

Illya nodded her head with no hesitation

"Thanks."

With that, Brandon walked ahead, leaving Illya to her own devices.

"Oh."

However, he halted in his steps and turned back around. At the same time, Illya was still looking at him.

Brandon placed his finger on his lips.

"Remember, for however we've managed to squeeze the information out of him, let's keep it a secret between us."

Just like that, Brandon left.

Illya stared at the space where Brandon once stood.

She began to ponder on the moments before his departure.

"Instincts?"

The hell was that about.

It was realistically impossible to convict a man that he was guilty, just by sheer instinct.

Especially so, when it felt as if Brandon had just randomly chosen someone, naming them one of the illegal immigrants.

"Absurd."

Truly absurd.

Then, her gaze lingered on the chamber's door.

The results were unexpected. If Zeke hadn't cracked at that moment, Illya would've given up on Brandon and left.

But now?

She didn't doubt him anymore.

He might've been ruthless, a facade he masked under his usual charming and composed demeanor.

But….

Now she could see why Ciel had chosen him.

Because he was capable.

He was weaker than Illya, even compared to the other Seats.

But in the distant future, Illya couldn't tell just how strong he would become.

At 17–years old, his mana core was already at tier five. That, and the connections he had been cultivating up till this point was astonishing.

Much to the point where Illya found herself bewildered.

To think he held a lot of important factions in this continent within his grasp.

He was a leader worth following.

That much was certain.

***

Finally, Brandon was left alone. There was no one left in the base at the moment, besides Zeke who was at death's door.

For that reason, Brandon sneaked around until eventually, he entered Ciel's room.

He needed to find something. Thankfully, Ciel had told him where it was.

And so, he began looking around.

"Hmm…"

In a matter of minutes, he had found it.

The tome Ciel and Jin had used to alter Brandon's system. Theoretically, it actually was connected to his system. But could only configure a set of certain words.

For example, his quest tab.

And, of course, his stats.

From what he knew, they were altered way before, giving him the impression that he had started out from the bottom of F rank.

Or maybe, they had done it for his own good. After all, upon realizing some of his previous skills with [Skill Weaver] had severe drawbacks, it gave him the impression that he needed to get his stats to a certain point.

Additionally, there were certain moments where he had felt an influx of strength seemingly from nowhere. The kind of strength that wasn't equivalent to the stats shown on his status.

However, now that he thought about it, they must've configured it that way for his body to get used to his stats. After all, his mana core around that time was still around the first tier.

That must've been it.

"...."

But as he flipped the first page, Brandon was taken aback.

——[Sovereign's Will]——

[Name: Brandon Locke]

[Mana Core: Tier 5]

[Status: A]

[Innate]

∟ Sovereign of Creation — Level 9

∟ Experience — 44.3%

[Skills]

∟ [Elemental Manipulation]

∟ [Mana Disruption]

∟ [Accelerated Cognition]

∟ [Mage's Resolve]

∟ [Aeolus Blessing]

[Inventory]

———————————

Brandon could see his status in a single page.

Seeing the previous skills he had felt quite nostalgic.

At that, Brandon finally confirmed that the binding vow, pertaining his system status wouldn't be altered while sacrificing his skills, on Ciel's side, had worked.

Now that he took a good look, it looked strikingly similar to the tomes he had found back in the Locke residence.

For that reason, Brandon retrieved each tomes and notes he had kept stored in his inventory.

"Hmm…."

Of course, the initials 'B' were still there.

But….

"Who is 'B' supposed to be?"

While it was obvious it had meant Brandon, there were other notes, especially the ones containing magic circles, that he had found rather peculiar.

After all, Brandon Locke shouldn't have any access to magic. For that reason, the magic circles weren't a product of his power.

While the diary with the B signature should've been Brandon's, clearly, there were other variables that convinced him it wasn't his.

Why?

Simply because the diary contained magic circles.

Meaning, there was a third party.

At that, Brandon started to surmise, coming up with several theories as he tried racking his brain.

To his conclusions, it was highly likely that it was Jin who had assisted him.

After all, B could also mean Blackheart, Jin's true name, Raven Blackheart.

And at that, he continued to peer into his brain, trying to gather as much information as he could, as well as delving right into the fragments of memories he would forget soon enough.

There was only so much information he could retain after all.

"Ah."

He soon recalled.

The vision from the magic circle he had seen back then.

After everything that happened, how could he forget?

Jin, Raven, and Amelia's death.

He had never seen that alternative in any of Jin's memories before.

"...."

Then….

Which progression did it belong to?

The distant future?

Regressions that happened even before Raven had gotten the system?

The mystery went deeper.

And he had no answers to them, as much as he liked.

"Haaa…. I'm gonna go crazy."

His head was hurting, and so, he massaged his temple.

"It should be the future."

He had come to that conclusion, after leaving him with no other theories.

Else, he would go insane, just trying to ponder it.

"A future I must avoid at all cost."

That being said, he took all the tomes present and placed that back in his inventory.

Why inventory?

Because most likely, Jin had success to his inventory.

He wanted Jin to know.

To know that he was onto him, and that he had found everything out.

"Huu…."

Soon after, he left Ciel's room and returned home.