Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 390: Shattered Hopes

“Jean Smith, you told my father that you had the boy we were searching for, now for the last time, where is he?” The Crown Prince asked, his voice turning cold.

“Ah… yes… yes… the boy. You see… he… he took him!” Jean stuttered, before pointing at Gerald.

He wanted to try to pin the blame on him, since he kept him the last time, then there’s a chance he was the one who saved him.

“Hmph! Point that finger in my direction one more time, and you’ll lose your entire arm,” Gerald snorted.

“Blazh, as you can see, they don’t have the kid,” He turned to the Crown Prince.

Blazh looked at Gerald with a suspicious gaze, but he knew he couldn’t question him. Although he was suspicious of him, he knew Gerald didn’t have Grey.

Jean wouldn’t bring him here if Gerald truly did have Grey, he would’ve taken them there directly.

“You have two hours to provide the boy, if he’s not brought here by that time, then…” Blazh didn’t complete his statement, but Jean and the others knew exactly what he meant and couldn’t help but shudder.

“How did a kid in the Origin Plane escape from under the watch of so many experts?” Gerald couldn’t help but ask.

He suddenly recalled something after he asked this question. When he went to Grey’s room when Grey just comprehended the space element, he couldn’t sense his presence at all, although he didn’t know of the space element, but he knew whatever Grey was doing at that time, must be something that was far above their knowledge.

‘That kid is just as mysterious as his Teacher. Luckily, I’m not their enemy!’ He thought while looking at the current pitiful Smith family.

Jean and the others were sweating profusely, and from what Gerald knew, there was no way for them to find Grey, even if they turned the entire city upside down.

To be extra sure, he told Grey to leave the city entirely, this way, he wouldn’t be at risk in case of any unforeseen situations.

“The room was closed, we didn’t see anyone coming out of the room, nor are there any holes in the room the boy could use in escaping. This means he had help from someone, and that person is among us,” One of the Mid stage experts said.

There was no way someone in the Late stage of the Overlord Plane could escape from them in such a well guarded environment. One has to know that there were over eight experts watching a room that had a single door. If someone wanted to leave the room, then they had to go out through the door.

Even if they decided to break the wood, it would surely make a slight vibration which the Earth Elementalists could sense. If for instance the person managed to break the wood using the wind element to perfectly slice through it, not making any sounds, then there was no way for that said person to join the woods back, so when they were searching the room previously, they would’ve been able to see the sliced wood.

“Find him, you two, head to the Earl family and ask them to bring the boy here now!” Jean ordered.

“What does the Earl family have to do with this? If I remember correctly, they were the ones who brought the boy to you the first time,” Gerald asked.

Jean was only trying to find trouble with the Earl family, and he didn’t want that to happen. Given how exasperated Jean looked, there’s a high chance that he might attack them when they’re unable to give him Grey.

“We’re only going there to ask, and why are you even trying to stop me from asking them?” Jean asked.

“The first time, you bullied them, when you clearly know that they don’t have any ties with the kid. Although I don’t involve myself in what is happening in the city, I’m fully aware of what was going on secretly or publicly,” Gerald replied nonchalantly.

“They are only going to question them.” Jean said, after saying that, he turned to look at the ten people who were supposed to guard the room, “Come with us, none of you is allowed to move away from our sight,”

They were all suspects in this situation, and Jean was hoping to use them as a scapegoat in case they were unable to find Grey.

Gerald looked at him coldly before they all moved to the main building’s hall. He didn’t tell the Crown Prince of the ladies yet, he wanted to wait until the two hours time was up, then when the fire was blazing, he would add more fuel to it.

There had been reports of missing ladies in the City for a long time now, and none of the ladies had ever been found. Some of the ladies were even from some well off families in different cities, including the Capital City.

Gerald was sure there was no way the Crown Prince was going to let this matter slide if he found out. Not just him, but the families of the ladies as well. This matter will surely bury the Smith family, then added to them being unable to provide Grey, they were literally finished.

Two hours later.

Jean was currently seated on his chair, his clothes completely soaked from sweat, and his legs shaking uncontrollably.

Blazh had his eyes closed all this while, as soon as the time reached, he opened his eyes and looked at Jean.

“Time’s up Jean Smith, where’s the boy?” He looked at him with emotionless eyes.

“Your highness, please, give us more time, I swear we will be able to find him,” Jean immediately started begging.

“Tell that to my father, cease them,” Blazh said nonchalantly.

“Blazh, if I may?” Gerald suddenly stood up from where he was sitting.

Blazh was surprised when he saw Gerald stopping him, he could tell there was bad blood between the duo, so why was he stopping him.

Hope appeared in Jean’s eyes when he saw Gerald standing up, he felt he wanted to speak on his behalf.

“Over the past years, there have been multiple cases of missing ladies. None of them has been found yet, according to my sources, they are kept in the Smith manor,” Gerald explained calmly.

Jean who thought he had been saved almost collapsed when he heard this, his hopes shattered into pieces.