Prime Originator

"I'll cleanse the palace grounds first and make it safe for my parents before working on the areas of my women's families..."

"The rest of the Capital will be worked on eventually as I make regular trips in between regions..." Leon muttered in contemplation before he suddenly paused. 

"No, this is too inefficient. I am putting a load of work on my shoulders again. I will drop by the Lancaster Workshop and visit Rachel and future mother-in-law later..." 

When Leon thought about his matters with Rachel, he was at a loss. Nevertheless, their marriage considered the interest of the two families.

"I can only tackle the problem as they come..." Leon shook his head and continued to cleanse the palace grounds. 

His Black Vortex Space slowly filled up with refined Demonic Energy and more fragments of Wrath Law before. 

Suddenly, Leon felt like he was being watched before abruptly turning his gaze to the west before the traces disappeared in a flash.

"Quite fast..."

Leon wrinkled brows before becoming more confident of his steady choice to not be hasty in cleansing the Capital.

"Sure enough, there's a hidden expert in Capital. But I wonder if this person is a friend or foe? Since the person's trace disappeared, there's no use searching blindly for this person…" Leon muttered with a  frown.

Still, he should inform his parents and keep an eye out.

…

Crawford University, Dean's Office. 

"I only took a look because I was curious what kind of Law this kid comprehended, but I did not expect him to have grown such sharp senses..."Dean Wilfred rubbed his forehead wryly after retracting his gaze quickly before he could be spotted. 

Suddenly, the doors to the office were knocked before a person entered and gave a respectful bow to the Old Dean. 

"Dean Wilfred." 

"Un." 

Dean Wilfred acknowledged the person's greeting calmly before asking, "Did you find out what I asked for?" 

"Yes, Dean Wilfred. The recent stir in the Capital is not caused by any powers from the Geyser Kingdom. In fact, the informant I contacted also said similar events have been happening in the east," the male subordinate informed. 

"These demon worshippers obviously do not belong to the West, but they do not belong to any powers from the East either, huh…? For them to appear during the start of the Cataclysm, this does not seem like a good sign…" Dean Wilfred muttered with a frown. 

"An unknown force that has not been accounted for by the High Council. They have hidden themselves very well from the High Council's eyes." 

"That's hard to digest, Dean Wilfred. I do not believe the High Council would have missed such a large force with their all-seeing eyes. What if these demon worshippers are a new emerging force instead?"

"The High Council's eyes are not omniscient as you think. They can only see the surface of things and not what lies underneath. It's easy to miss a few things—if not a lot of things," Dean Wilfred spoke calmly. 

"Still, whether they are or not, their presence only fuels the growing chaos in the Human Domain." 

"Right." The subordinate nodded before asking respectfully, "What else shall you have me do, Dean Wilfred?" 

"If you can, I want to catch one of those demon worshippers and bring them to me for an interrogation. Still, safety is of utmost importance. Do not take risks and do not expose yourselves to the locals either, understand?"

"Understood" 

"Good."

After the male subordinate bowed to leave, Dean Wilfred noticed the person suddenly hesitated before he casually asked, "What else?" 

"The informant passed on a message, asking when you will be returning to the High Council, Dean Wilfred?" The male subordinate relayed. 

Dean Wilfred paused for a moment before saying, "Everyone of them is so persistent. Can't an old man retire in peace? How many times has it been now? I'm not interested in continuing to play gods with those other old codgers."

"With all due respect, my Lord." The male subordinate said respectfully before adding his opinion, "Every Elder of the High Council has unfathomable strength. To the mortals, they can indeed be considered gods."

"Oh, I know they are strong. But that is still far from being the strongest. They have become drunk on power and status ever since we discovered those major relics in the sky together. Now, they only know how to enjoy themselves and spy on others."

"They have lost their edge and ambition. And for that reason, Lord Aldrich left without warning anyone. A few hundred years later, and not a single of his traces have been found. God knows where he went or whether he is still alive or not." 

After listening to Dean Wilfred's words, the male subordinate's expression became doubtful as he asks, "Didn't Lord Aldrich die in the underground exploration according to the Crawford Empire's recorded history, Dean Wilfred?"

"You should go now." Dean Wilfred urged the subordinate to leave with a smile while leaving the person's question unanswered.

"Right… My apologies, Dean Wilfred. I will leave now.

After the subordinate left respectfully, Dean Wilfred gazed into empty space blankly before he muttered in reminiscence, "Lord Aldrich was the strongest of us and most talented of our generation. It's impossible for him to lose to some insects in the subterranean world…"

Shortly after, Dean Wilfred's expression turned rueful before shaking his head.

"Haiz, what does this old man know? The subterranean world, boundless black sea, and Dark Continent are all places even the High Council cannot pry into…"

…

After Leon finished cleansing the palace area, he flew towards the direction of the Lancaster Workshop in the Upper North District while absorbing Wrathful Demonic Energies on the way.

With surprises, the Lancaster Workshop was bustling with activities like Leon expected as the clings and clangs of metal rang in his ears.

"Y-Your Highness! Welcome back!"

The blacksmiths immediately paused their work to greet before Leon waved his hand at them and said, "Don't mind my presence and just continue with your work. But I will have to trouble one person to answer my question. Is my mother-in-law, Duchess Amelia, here?"

"Her Grace is on the second floor. Shall I escort you there, Your Highness?"

"No need. I can head there myself. Thanks.." Leon rejected the blacksmith's offer before heading to the lift promptly.