Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 199: Chapter 194: The Cruel Reality

The formation of the coalition army met with no resistance.

For one, everyone had witnessed Yed’s sacrifice. To make excuses now would weigh too heavily on their consciences.

As for Paris Manola, the Lord of Birch Town and the very person from whom the nobles sought protection, his resolute stance sent a shiver down their spines. The message was clear: ’If you don’t cooperate, don’t blame me for resorting to other means.’ They didn’t have the courage to refuse.

Thus, less than half an hour after the speech, all the nobles obediently transferred command of their Personal Guards and scattered private soldiers.

A sizable and exceptionally skilled elite unit was formed. Led by several of Paris’s Knight retainers, it launched a merciless sweep of the rioters still rampaging through the town.

Jon, however, did not take part in the crackdown. Stating that his presence was essential for Yed’s care, he left directly with Reya and the sisters, Xia and Xina.

After he departed, Reed’s Defender Army also left, escorting the shell-shocked assassin. They also dispatched personnel to aid the victims of the riot.

All that remained were the nobles, gathered for ”protection,” huddled together in the Lord’s Mansion’s luxurious grand hall, anxiously awaiting the next turn of events...

...

On the second floor of the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House, in a room with a distinctly girlish air, the fire in the hearth flickered, driving away the chill of the howling blizzard outside.

Reya lay sleeping soundly on the bed, her pale face looking exceptionally fragile in the firelight.

Just like last time, having forced her Apprentice Level Constitution to activate Saint Spirit Stance, she would need to rest for at least a day or two before she could even begin to move again.

Jon sat in a high-backed chair by the fireplace, silently gazing at the dancing flames. The two custom Mechanical Bodies he had gifted Reya stood motionless behind him.

He had been like this ever since they returned and he had settled Reya in.

And in this near-stagnant silence, the shadows near him began to ripple like the surface of a pond disturbed by a pebble.

The ripples spread and coalesced without a sound, and from them, the tall, slightly weary figure of Ivory emerged. Ever since she had returned and seen to Yed, she had been working tirelessly, inspecting the trading house to prevent any more enemies from sneaking inside.

The moment she appeared, her gaze habitually swept the room, checking for threats, before settling on Jon, who seemed to have merged with the shadows by the fireplace.

Seeing him so lost in thought, Ivory paused, slightly taken aback.

Since arriving in Birch Town, she had seen Jon be calm, furious, teasing, and even occasionally mischievous, but she had never seen him look so grave.

The young man looked as if he were carrying an invisible mountain, the weight of it so heavy it was suffocating.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to ask something—about Yed, about Reya, or about his current silence.

But in the end, she swallowed the words of concern, feeling it wasn’t her place. Instead, she broke the stillness with a soft cough.

”Ahem.”

The soft sound was like a pebble dropped onto a frozen lake, instantly jolting Jon from his thoughts.

His body tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment, and the eyes of the two Mechanical Bodies behind him flashed.

He only relaxed slightly after seeing it was Ivory. He then spoke.

”Is Uncle Yed settled?”

”Yes.”

Ivory nodded lightly. Her gaze subconsciously swept over the two Mechanical Bodies behind Jon before returning to him.

”I’ve moved him to a completely secure and quiet room... Also, the seal you placed... it’s very stable.”

When she mentioned the seal, a flicker of gratitude, nearly imperceptible, showed in her eyes. She then added.

”Xia and Xina have also started searching for traces of Evil Magic inside the trading house and the surrounding area, just as you instructed.”

”They’re both being very thorough. Xina, in particular, has remarkably keen Perception.”

”Mm.”

Jon just gave the slightest nod before falling silent once more. For a time, the only sounds in the room were the CRACKLE of the fire and the faint, steady rhythm of Reya’s breathing.

After a moment, it was Ivory who couldn’t hold back any longer. She asked the question that weighed most heavily on her mind.

”Jon... what are we going to do about Yed’s Poison? Is there really no way to completely remove it?”

As a woman, she couldn’t accept the man she loved living on like this, merely ”sealed” away.

In her eyes, Jon was an Alchemist of incredible skill and the one who had stabilized Yed’s condition. He was, naturally, the first person she would turn to.

Jon seemed to have anticipated Ivory’s question.

”Ms. Ivory, this ’Withered Embrace’ is an extremely rare and malicious compound Poison. It has a powerful corrosive effect on Life Force, and it’s also mixed with some kind of unknown Power from Evil Magic.”

”This Power isn’t a simple curse or corruption. It’s more like a parasite with a faint will of its own. It’s rooted in the core of the Poison, forming a twisted equilibrium with the toxin and with Uncle Yed’s very Life.”

”None of them can exist without the others. Attempting to remove either the Evil Magic or the Poison would instantly kill Uncle Yed.”

He turned to meet Ivory’s gaze, his tone calm to the point of being cruel.

”My ’Luminous Aegis’ can suppress it, halting its spread and its corrosion of Uncle Yed’s body. But this is only a way to buy time. To completely eradicate this compound Poison without harming his Life...”

”In the current turmoil, you won’t find anyone or anything capable of that in the Birchwood territory, or even in all of Heta County.”

He took a deep breath and stated the reality that Ivory, however unwilling, had to face.

”Our only hope is to wait.”

”Once the situation in Heta County stabilizes and the roads are clear, we must take him to a larger city—either Rathres Port or the Imperial Capital.”

”Only a place like that, where top-tier experts, Master Alchemists, and high-level Saint Professionals congregate, would we have any chance of finding a way to safely separate the Evil Magic and concoct a true antidote.”

Ivory’s lips tightened, her face growing even paler.

As a veteran Mage who prided herself on logic, she knew Jon’s analysis was precise and realistic, without a hint of exaggeration.

But she couldn’t accept it. ’Yed is right here, yet he has to endure this torment, a state that’s neither life nor death...’

After a moment of silence, the struggle and pain in her eyes gave way to a profound sense of helplessness. Her shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly.

”I... understand. Then... I suppose this is the only way for now...”

When she looked up at Jon again, her eyes held an almost pleading look.

”For the time being... I’ll have to entrust Yed and Reya to you... Mr. Jon.”

Jon remained seated, his expression unchanging.

He nodded and answered softly.

”I will.”

”I will... do what must be done.”