Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 392: According To Plan

One hour before Blazh got to Frost City.

Smith manor.

After Grey was taken to his new room, he didn’t leave immediately, instead, he waited for an hour or so.

Jean came to the room to see if he was there, as well as some other elders in the manor.

While he was waiting, he was communicating with Alice. Since old man Gerald told him to go outside the city, then he would just take her along.

Grey soon disappeared from the room, appearing behind some flowers by the side. He made sure to conceal his aura, while also ensuring he didn’t make the slightest sound or vibration, even when standing on the ground.

After leaving the room, he went over to the garden to check if the ladies were still there. It would be awkward if Jean had moved the girls because of what happened the previous day.

Luckily, Jean didn’t think that the person who entered the vault passed through that side because of the expert that was guarding that area.

He confirmed the ladies were still in the secret room before leaving the Smith manor. When he got outside, he breathed out heavily.

‘Damn it! This thing’s consumption rate is terrifying, and it wears the body and mind simultaneously.’ He complained.

Now he understood why Void would always sleep after fighting or using the space element for a long period of time. He was exhausted!

If not for the fact that he had to take Alice out, then he would’ve found an Inn to sleep.

He quickly maneuvered through the streets of Frost City, getting to the Reiss manor in no time.

With a sour expression on his face, he was forced to once again use the space element.

Thirty minutes later.

Outside Frost City.

Grey and Alice could be seen heading towards the forest by the side of the city. Grey was taking her to the cave he created the array, he wanted nothing else than to rest right now.

When they got there, he informed old man Gerald he was out of the city, because sitting in a crossed leg position, trying to recover. Even his face had turned pale from the excess usage of the space element.

Alice watched on as Grey went into a semi-conscious state.

Grey had given her a rough rundown of what was going to happen in the Smith family.

When she heard about what Jean had been doing, she was incensed. Three years ago, one of her cousins went missing. Even with the broad network the Reiss family had, they were unable to locate her.

It has been three years now, if she wasn’t wrong, then Jean Smith is most likely the one who kidnapped her.

She knew her father was not in the city, and she didn’t want the elders in the family to know she was leaving the manor, or else they would not agree to it, even her father would not agree to it.

Since there was nothing for her to do, she decided to cultivate instead. It was better than just sitting around doing nothing.

Five hours later.

Grey opened his eyes, revitalized. His face had regained most of its color, but he still needed rest.

He looked around, after seeing Alice was still there, he stood up, heading towards the exit of the cave.

Alice noticed his movements, and also opened her eyes.

“You’re awake,” She said while also standing up.

“Yeah,” Grey nodded before asking, “How long has it been?”

“Around five hours or so,” Alice replied.

“Hmm, then the Crown Prince must’ve left already,” Grey brought out the communication device he got from old man Gerald.

He wanted to see how far things had played out.

After sending a message to old man Gerald, he was instantly replied, it was almost like old man Gerald had been waiting for his message all this while.

‘Grey my boy, how are you doing?’ His enthusiastic voice reverberated in Grey’s head.

Grey was forced to look at the device again, to make sure it was the one he usually uses to communicate with old man Gerald.

‘I’m fine. I wanted to ask how things went at the Smith manor?’ Grey replied courteously before asking.

‘It went according to plan. In fact, it was much better than I expected…’ Gerald went on to tell him what happened at the Smith manor.

….

Smith manor, a few hours back.

“You see, just like I said, this is where I keep all…” Jean paused mid-sentence, in front of him were multiple cages with ladies chained inside.

Blazh looked at the expression of Jean which displayed horror. He had the expression of a criminal that was caught in the act.

Gerald wore a surprised look as well. Although Grey had already told him of this place, he didn’t think it would actually be this big.

There were at least fifty cages in the room, and ladies were inside all of them. He had been researching the disappearance of the ladies in Frost City over the years, but he has always come up short, never being able to find who the culprit was.

He never expected Grey would be able to discover something like this after he willingly brought himself to the Smith family.

Some of the elders of the Smith family had shocked expressions, clearly, they knew nothing of this.

“Jean, what is this?” An Elder questioned angrily.

Jean hadn’t been able to look away from the cages all around, he still hadn’t been able to comprehend what was happening.

“But… but… I crushed it. Then why, why didn’t he clear this place up?” He muttered to himself as he took slow steps towards the first cage in sight.

The ladies in the room didn’t even show any reactions, even with the disturbance. It was like their souls had left them.

After years of torture, most people breakdown quickly, seeking death. Even if they don’t die physically, they would die mentally.

It was better than having to be conscious while going through so much pain.

Gerald looked at the ladies trapped in the cages, he didn’t know any of them, but he was sure some of them were from Frost City.

Unfortunately, it would be difficult for them to live normal lives even after freeing them. It would take them years before they might be able to recover.