In the information Ezequiel got from Jenner, the schemes and backstabbing tactics from the Empire Commercial Association were displayed. The Neo-Demon focused on Tritus, and a clearer picture of the events that led to this man's deplorable situation appeared in his mind.
Unfortunately for the man, Ezequiel was extremely indifferent to the plight of outsiders. The next moment Tritus vanished from his mind, and he focused on Sirius.
"Speak your part, lizard."
Sirius trembled when he heard those words, and wrath filled his heart, but the fear of death allowed him to maintain a cold head. He took a moment to modify the original tyrannical speech he had planned to deliver before everything got out of hand and then spoke.
"I am aware that my son, Severus, is being detained by the Daybreak Clan. He has royal blood running through his veins and must be handed over. This order comes from the King of the Dragonstone Kingdom, and if Severus is not returned or if his bloodline has been harmed, my father will come to ask for an explanation."
Initially, Sirius was going to ask for billions of magic crystals and people of the Daybreak Clan as slaves, but now he only dared to ask for his son back. The truth was that he did not care about Severus' fate, but when his father found out what had happened, he commanded him to bring the boy back.
'Unlike his son, the King of the Dragonstone Kingdom appears to be an impressive character according to the information we have collected about him and has connections with one of the organizations that control Aestus. If he comes in person, I will be forced to use the tablet to take care of him.' Ezequiel frowned as he thought about how to handle this problem.
Although the Scientia Kingdom could provide a perfect shelter for the Daybreak Clan, that would harm the plan the Supreme Neo-Demon had for the race.
The Neo-Demon race was a warrior race. Rarely would a great fighter be born in an environment without danger and where safety was guaranteed.
The reason why Ezequiel allowed them to think they were at imminent risk was to engrave in them that only by getting strong could they be safe.
Of course, allowing them to think that they were in danger was fine, but truly risking their life was not. That is why he prohibited the entrance to Wasteland after some Sunlight Champions were killed and only allowed movement in the periphery of the Endless Forest, where the Rank 4 life forms from the clan could keep an eye on them.
Another reason why he was against moving the clan was due that the political and territorial structure of the Aeternum Empire allowed the growth of a clan by consuming others. The weak perished, and the strong became stronger.
"How can you be sure that Severus Dragonstone is being held here?." Ezequiel was not just going to admit he had Severus since that would make it easier for the other party to put pressure on them through other channels, instead of only depending on their power.
The Neo-Demon was also curious about how they were sure the boy was here. The cloaking abilities of the Daybreak Tower made it impossible for any life from beneath Rank 5 to scry in the events happening in it, and even then, the information they would get was bound to be faulty.
Sirius was prepared for that question, and he made a parchment full of glowing words appear along with a flask containing a small dark golden flame.
"This is a Truth Oath. It is impossible to write a lie in this thing. You can clearly see the statement written in it by the man beside me, in which he affirms that he saw my son enter the City of the Sun the day of his disappearance. There is also this flame that has the aura of Zatiel Daybreak in it, and that was found in the place where my son's guards were butchered."
The Rank 3 Magus trembled when he heard Sirius mentioning him, and his face became pale the moment Ezequiel focused on him.
"That day, there was a group of individuals that attacked the City of the Sun, and a few of them managed to escape alive. You must know something about it." Ezequiel's eyes glowed, and just as he was about to use the Elder Brain to read his mind, he saw how blood began to leak from every hole on his face, and the next moment his head exploded.
Surprise appeared on the face of the Neo-Demon due to the man's strange death. He focused on Sirius, who was looking back at him like if nothing had happened.
'There is no way he could have predicted what would happen here today, so the trigger on that man's life must have been put in place a long time ago. He may have put that contingency on every person under him.'
Simple death was not something that could stop Ezequiel, but the way the man perished should have harmed his consciousness, making resurrection very hard. After a moment, the Neo-Demon gave up on the dead Magus and focused on the evidence presented by Sirius.
'Although that evidence is not flawless, it would be enough to involve the higher-ups in the empire and that organization in Aestus. Those rats would be delighted with another way to attack us.' A thoughtful look appeared on Ezequiel's face.
After a moment, he focused on Kolo, and an idea appeared on his mind.
'I guess it is time to prove that I deserve one and show them the path forward.' A powerful will filled the eyes of Ezequiel, and a monstrous resolution rose from every cell on his body.
"Your man will take one attack from me. He can use any defensive spell and even his Law Avatar to protect himself. If I can't destroy his body, I will give your son back, but if I can, you will make sure your father forgets about Severus and then destroy any evidence you have against us."
When Sirius and Kolo heard that, they were shocked. A Rank 3 life form saying he could destroy the body of a Soul Forging existence was preposterous, no matter how weak the latter was. If they were handling any other person, both would have laughed, but for some reason, apprehension appeared in their hearts.
'If this brat is proposing something like this, he must have faith in his abilities. Kolo's true battle power is truly pathetic among Rank 4 life forms but still should make him invincible against Rank 3 life forms. I should not risk it since I have other ways to get that boy, not to mention my father could ask for him in person.'
"By the way, if you refuse, I will eventually have to handle your father. So that means killing you would not really make a difference."
Sirius' eyes widened when he heard those words and understood very well he had no real choice. After releasing a sigh, the Magus began to recite words in a strange language, and the next moment a ball of black light appeared.
What he did was use the Oathbinding Spell. This was a simple but powerful spell in which an individual would vow to fulfill a task if certain conditions were met. If he failed to fulfill his oath, a certain penalty would be inflicted on him.
That ball of black light was Sirius' oath. To complete the spell, another being of equal power that the one who made the oath must bear it.
The one who would carry the oath was going to be the Elder Brain. Although it did not have a proper soul, years of nourishing had pushed its body and energy pool to Rank 4.
Kolo began to feel cold sweat run through his body when he saw how Sirius had agreed to this deal. Due to the way he had advanced to Rank 4, losing his body would not only mean his power weakening but his life force depleting even faster.
The Neo-Demon noded when he saw the oath disappear into the Elder Brain. "This place will limit us."
Ezequiel's body disintegrated into red lightning and left the magic tower.
The next moment, Sirius and the rest of the Magi group, even the unconscious Jenner, were teleported and appeared five hundred meters above the Daybreak Magic Tower.
The place Ezequiel had chosen to perform this contest was the sky above the City of the Sun. where the millions of people in the Daybreak Clan could see him.
