Chapter 713: Answers
"What is an Array Cracking code key? Who made it, and for what purpose?" Charles continued to ask questions.
Another round of information appeared in his mind, causing his eyes to widen.
'The Array Cracking Code key is a detailed pattern of weak points in the Array Circle that prohibits anyone from entering the Ringer Demiplane. One must learn the Wisdom Skill called the [Rune Eyes] to analyze and destroy that Array. The one who created the 'Array Cracking Code Key' is Harry himself." Charles continued to ask more questions and managed to learn the secrets that had been puzzling him all these years.
"Diego sent Harry to learn the secret of 'Wisdom Church' skill but got betrayed. But I still don't understand why Harry betrayed the Nightwind Family and even gave the important code key to the Raven Family." Charles muttered with a frown and asked further while burning his current thoughts.
"Why did Harry betray the Nightwind Family? Why didn't you give the secret code key to the Patriarch?"
'Oh? Harry seems to have learned another secret in those Array circles on the Demiplane's entrance. The creator of that Array wrote a warning not to break the Array, saying that it could lead to disastrous consequences. On the other hand, Patriarch of Nightwind Family was hell bent on opening the array and even showed greediness for the legacy of Eddie. With no other choice, Harry decided to give the secret to someone he trust most. So, Raven trusted Harry's words and decided not to reveal anything to Diego. But that changed when Diego used 'Dream Curse' to put all Raven Family members to an endless slumber. After a long time of pressure from the Nightwind family, Oswald finally decided to exchange equally using the secret key code. Still, he didn't expect Patriarch Diego to imprison him the second he entered. Then, Oswald changed his mind and waited for Rachel to find a way to release him from this place.' But what startled him was how Oswald knew Rachel was still trying to save him.
As he further read his memories, he couldn't help but get startled.
'A spy from Withering Shadows is working for her?'
"Hmm, I now understand what is happening here," Charles muttered slowly, asking the final question.
"Where is that Code Key located?"
'Oh? Is it actually with Rachel? No wonder she has been staying in the Ember Kingdom and doing everything to save him. Well, considering her background, there is no way Nightwind Family could make a move on her.' Although he doesn't know when both became best buddies, their friendship truly amazed him.
"Hmm, other than the Truelords' intention, I learned everything already," Charles muttered as he stopped asking questions, unsheathed the long sword, and slashed at the iron chains.
His sword edges released a ray of reddish aura and cleaved the chains into countless pieces, releasing Oswald from being chained.
Metallic pieces crashed onto the cold floor one by one and caused clanging sounds.
"What happened?" "I heard those sounds from the last cell." "Go and inform Elder Luna." Voices of guards came from the corridor, and soon, multiple running footsteps could be heard.
At that moment, Oswald seemed to have woken up from the strange state and stared at him in confusion.
"W-Who are you?" He couldn't help but ask in nervousness.
"Keep your eyes wide awake, old man. I'm going to get you out of this dark prison." Saying so, Charles turned around and sheathed his sword.
Simultaneously, he opened his palm and released invisible strings towards the iron bars.
Like slithering snakes, those invisible strings moved towards the iron bars at an incredible speed and coiled around the iron bars.
As he pulled his hands, those invisible strings bent the iron bars and slowly made a gap enough for a human to pass through.
Slowly, Charles stepped out of the prison cell and soon saw more than twenty soldiers in iron armor running in his direction while holding different kinds of weapons in their hands.
He also saw the bald guard and the blonde-haired guard among the group.
As they approached him, a tall guard hurriedly pointed his spear at him and ordered.
"Who are you? Kneel on the floor and surrender yourself!"
While speaking, he tried to step forward and get closer to the young man but suddenly noticed a strange feeling.
At that moment, he felt his legs and hands stopped moving alone!
"W-What happened-?" Before he could mutter, he sensed an invisible string coiled around his neck and started tightening.
"H-Help!"
He slowly turned towards his sides and asked for help from other guards but soon noticed that all of them were in the same situation!
Everyone felt that their whole body was being controlled by some invisible strings and was scared shitless!
Muffling sounds soon started to echo as they all noticed that the invisible strings around their necks tightened slowly.
"C-Charles? Why are you doing this?" The bald guard asked tremblingly, dropping the sword in his left hand.
But instead of responding to his question, Charles's gaze swept past all the soldiers and soon landed on the two people walking in his direction.
It was Elder Luna and Ekemir.
As Charles stood there, the invisible strings maintained their grip on the immobilized guards. The tension in the air was palpable as the approaching figures of Elder Luna and Ekemir drew nearer.
Elder Luna, with her sharp eyes, quickly assessed the situation. She recognized Charles but was perplexed by the unseen force that had subdued the guards.
'I don't sense any mana or wisdom power... But why are the guards frozen like dolls?' She knew that all the guards in the Underground Prison were around Rank-3 and some even Rank-4 Mystics!
'Isn't he a Rank-4 Mystic? How is he doing it?'
"Charles Nightwind, what is this?" Elder Luna demanded, her gaze locking onto him.
Charles turned to face her and smirked. "This? No, Elder Luna, just a little demonstration of my abilities. You see, I'm not an ordinary Mystic like you guys think. I came here not to get toyed around by you guys but to see whether my grandfather is okay."
Ekemir, who had been walking alongside Elder Luna, raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I possess abilities beyond your comprehension," Charles replied cryptically. "Now, let's have a little chat."
Elder Luna, despite her usual calm demeanor, couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She exchanged a wary glance with Ekemir before nodding. "Speak, but know that you are still within the confines of our power."
Charles chuckled. "Oh, I'm well aware of your power, Elder Luna. But let's not pretend that you're in control here." With a mere thought, he tightened the grip of the invisible strings on the guards, causing the invisible strings to cut.
The guards screamed one by one as blood started dripping from their necks and drenching their armor. Fear and panic were evident in their eyes as they stared at Charles pleadingly.
Upon seeing such a scene, Elder Luna couldn't remain calm and shouted.
"Please stop harming the innocent people, Charles. We can negotiate."
"Innocent people?" A ridiculous smile appeared on Charles's face.
"Among the guards standing before me, there is not even a single person who hadn't killed in his life." Charles pointed his finger at the guard closer to him and asked.
"How many people have you killed so far?"
Before that guard could try to gasp for air, Charles answered.
"53."
"See? Before we talk about the important matter, we should do something about these noises." Charles suddenly pulled his hands and caused the invisible strings to move and tighten at incredible speed, cleaving everything in their path.
A second later, more than twenty heads suddenly detached from the bodies and flew up toward the ceiling, spraying blood in all directions.
"Now, about this imprisonment and the secrets you've been keeping from the outside world," Charles began, his eyes locking onto Elder Luna. "I've learned quite a bit from my dear grandfather."
Elder Luna's composure wavered momentarily, but she quickly regained control. "You can't trust him, Charles. We are doing this for the rise of our Family."
Charles raised an eyebrow. "Is it? I know about the Dream Curse, the Array Cracking Code Key, and the secrets hidden within the Ringer Demiplane. I even know that Diego used the curse to put the entire Raven Family into an endless slumber to get his hands on the key code."
Elder Luna's eyes narrowed, and Ekemir's expression darkened. The revelation hit a nerve.
"You've been digging into matters that don't concern you, Charles Nightwind," Ekemir warned.
Charles grinned. "Oh, but they do concern me. The Nightwind Family's secrets are intricately linked to my Family's tragic history. I've had enough of your petty schemes."
Elder Luna composed herself and sighed. "What do you want, Charles?"
Charles paced a few steps, arrived before Elder Luna, and answered. "You see, I made a vow to someone long back. When James attacked me, I warned him that if Martin came after my Family again, I would enter his bedroom and slit his wife's throat one day. Then, I would go for his sons' necks and daughters' necks. Once done, I would shave Martin's head, cut his cock, and eventually put him on the road bare naked." He paused for a moment and soon sighed.
"Unfortunately, I really can't take revenge on Martin now. I killed him already, after all."
Elder Luna felt her heart start beating abnormally faster. At that moment, she knew that they had messed with a terrifying psychopath and turned pale.
