The Glorious Evolution

”Straightforward, I see... even better.”

Bishop Va’ren went on and told him that they needed to create the impression that Levi had discovered information concerning his stolen eyes and their connection to the Organization’s Upper Echelon... He was preparing to expose what Na’thir had done.

At the same time, Bishop Va’ren would quietly apply pressure through unrelated channels, allowing carefully selected rumors, questions, and movements within the Order to reach Na’thir from different directions until the Bishop began to believe that the secret he had guarded for years was slipping beyond his control.

Nothing would point toward Bishop Va’ren or a coordinated effort between the two... but the pressure would continue building until Na’thir was forced to act.

”Since his goons are already on your tail thanks to your short-lived adventure in the Eight Sky Province, we can use them to our advantage.” Bishop Va’ren paused and finally said it. ”You will technically use yourself as bait and allow yourself to be caught alive...”

Before he could continue, Levi interrupted him with a raised hand.

”Questions?”

”Plenty... but first,” Levi’s tone turned bone-chilling. ”Are you screwing with me?”

Bishop Va’ren chuckled, amused by Levi’s attempt at intimidation.

”I know it sounds bad, but don’t be impatient...”

Bishop Va’ren continued with the plan... he manifested a dimensional screen and showed Levi proof that the only way to get Bishop Na’thir demoted, kicked out, or killed as punishment was to get him to admit it on record.

He wasn’t going to do so in front of an outsider unless it was Levi... and he was assured that Levi was a dead man walking.

”If he gets killed, good... if he gets demoted, I guarantee you two things.” Bishop Va’ren promised with a sinister smile. ”He isn’t gonna be breathing for long, and your safety is of utmost priority.”

Levi knew that it would be quite difficult for the Black Veil Queen to kill Bishop Na’thir outright over this... after all, he wasn’t keeping the eyes for himself, but biding his time for a promotion.

Greed wasn’t a sin in the Duskbound Order.

Hence... the punishment would most likely be a demotion.

’The removal of his rank wouldn’t merely wound his pride... It would strip away the structure protecting him.’ Levi thought inwardly. ’Va’ren can use that chance to eliminate him since he will outrank him... but.’

As much as it sounded ’good’ on paper, the ugly reality was still there... Levi had to be captured alive by his mortal enemy, who was so much stronger than him that he would have absolutely zero chance of escaping on his own.

And Levi had zero faith in Bishop Va’ren’s guarantee... after all, just as he had signed the contract using a cloned disposable soul, Va’ren could bypass the contract’s obligations using a different approach.

Tier 8 Nightcrawlers were that resourceful.

”What I don’t understand is why you won’t use your source to take him down?” Levi frowned.

He knew that Bishop Va’ren had absolutely no way of finding out the details of that cursed night or what happened to his eyes unless the information came from a trusted source under Bishop Na’thir.

Since Bishop Na’thir kept his matters private, it meant this source’s testimony should be more than enough as evidence.

”I like the way you think, but unfortunately... that’s not how the Order handles accusations against a Bishop.” Bishop Va’ren shook his head.

”My source can prove Na’thir took your eyes, but that’s not enough... the Order doesn’t care about theft, murder, or betrayal unless it violates an obligation to someone above us.”

Levi frowned. ”Which he did.”

”Only if we can prove he knew their value and deliberately hid it from the Black Veil Queen.” Va’ren tapped the table. ”My source can’t prove that using only his words.”

Levi understood immediately... Na’thir could simply claim that he took Levi’s eyes for experimentation and discovered their true value afterward, claiming innocence.

Of course, he couldn’t do that before the Black Veil Queen since lies didn’t work against her... however, Bishop Va’ren had to convince the ones under her first, and only an admission of guilt could work.

”How bothersome...” Levi held his chin, finding himself at an impasse.

He had been quite looking forward to this meeting, believing that Bishop Va’ren might have a decent plan to take down his enemy.

But all he had to offer was rubbish.

Bait? Captured alive? Force an admission? And then, by some miracle, expect his savior, Bishop Va’ren, to rescue him? Utter nonsense.

Worse... he would lose his eyes to the Black Veil Queen, killing any hope of retrieving them.

”I know what you’re thinking.” Bishop Va’ren smiled. ”You assume that I will let you die... but no such thing will happen. I am still very interested in working alongside you after we deal with Na’thir.”

”Why would I do that?” Levi sneered coldly.

He might not show it, as he kept his emotions under full control, but Levi’s hatred and rage were consuming his heart with each second he sat in front of Bishop Va’ren.

After all... Bishop Va’ren might not have killed his parents, but he was one of the seven main participants in the first corruption wave that doomed billions of Earthlings during the first twenty-four hours.

It was like sitting in front of a serial killer with the blood of more than a billion lives on his hands.

If it wasn’t for the sake of Bishop Na’thir’s elimination, he wouldn’t have entertained a single meeting.

”It seems like there is no point in discussing it yet...”

Bishop Va’ren chuckled and dropped the matter, picking up on Levi’s murderous vibes.

Just as he was about to explain what he had planned to save him during the operation, Levi stood up.

Then he told him he had zero interest in his current plan, and if he was taking this as seriously as he was, he should reach out to him once he thought of something better.

If not, Levi would handle it on his own, as he had always planned.

”Putting my life in a Bishop’s hands is a fool’s errand...” Levi uttered indifferently as he walked toward the door. ”And I am no fool.”

After he left, Bishop Va’ren remained in the room... he didn’t seem disappointed or angry by Levi’s rejection.

Well, he expected as much.

He continued eating for a few minutes on his own until he heard a knock... he glanced at the door and found a masked man wearing a nightmarish rabbit mask and black robe.

His smile automatically widened a little.

”Your timing is impeccable... join me; your old friend should have warmed the seat for you.”

The masked man said nothing and sat down... he placed his arms over his crossed knees and waited for the Bishop to get to the main subject, knowing that his thoughts easily drifted off.

”Tsk, haven’t I told you to lighten up...” Bishop Va’ren sighed. ”I know you hate them both and want them dead... but you shouldn’t rush into such things. I have been plotting against Na’thir for centuries and am still patiently waiting for the right moment to strike.”

Hearing this, the man’s hands tightened until his knuckles cracked... but then he relaxed them and reached for his face, removing the mask.

As the dim light hit his face, it exposed pale, dead skin hanging loose around the jaw... The corner of his mouth was torn open, showing strips of flesh and tendon beneath.

Then, something moved beneath his cheek... a maggot crawled out, slipping over the bone beneath his empty eye socket... it lingered there for a moment, then disappeared back inside.

His left eye was completely gone while his right one remained... but no life was visible in it. It was white, clouded, staring ahead without blinking.

The face was utterly rotten... half-eaten. Barely human anymore.

But it was still a face... a face with the same nose, brow, and the same green hair, or what remained of it, still attached to his rotten scalp.

If Levi were still in the room... he would have recognized him in a heartbeat.

How could he not recognize the first human he had ever killed in his life?

Demetris Bane!!

The same Demetris Bane who should have been dead after Levi put a resonance bullet through his forehead during the Blood Hunters’ expedition.

The same Demetris Bane who had betrayed humanity and sold himself to Darius.

The same Demetris Bane who had shared a class with him under Seraphis’ teachings... mere tables away.

Yet... the face, albeit zombie-like, belonged to him... but the feeling, the aura, the cadence... nothing was his.

Demetris Bane had died... and even in death, Darius hadn’t let go of him!

”Bishop... I’m afraid I don’t have the same luxury.” Darius Morphis uttered, his voice barely a faded whisper... his throat was little more than bones and some flesh beneath the robe.

Bishop Va’ren leaned closer to the man’s face and then curled his lips in intrigue.

”It’s commendable that you’ve made it work this far with a mere wisp, Darius...” He added as he leaned back, ”I give this vessel a year.”

Darius put the mask back on... unfazed by his quibbles.

”It’s more than enough to see our plan through.” He asked sternly, ”How did it go? Did he reject the proposal?”

”Naturally.”

”Good... now he’ll be far more inclined to accept our real plan. It doesn’t carry even thirty percent of the risk of the first.”

”You think so?” Bishop Va’ren shrugged. ”I’ve met the boy. He doesn’t strike me as someone who acts on impulse... much less someone willing to gamble his life without good reason.”

Darius shared a short, cruel snicker.

”Not when it comes to me... or Na’thir.” His voice turned as cold as ice. ”After all... we’re the ones who ruined his life.”