Divine Path System

"W-What? He disappeared into the space crack?" Duke Cassius raised his brows with an ecstatic expression.

"Yes, I just woke up when he was thrown in. If only I was a bit early…" Prince Baldur sighed in regret. "He…wasn't lying to me all this time. He must've disappeared because of some important work. I misunderstood him."

The Duke ignored Baldur's ramblings and rushed into a prison building taking his rank 4 subordinates.

Admiral Yaras and Prime Minister Zed were still injured but since Varian didn't deal any fatal blows, they were able to recuperate a bit.

They already guessed what the Duke was going to do and followed him into the prison without hesitation.

The soldiers looked at each other and sighed.

The next moment, horrifying screams rang out of the building and thick blood flowed out of the doors.

Everyone shuddered as the screams grew more and more horrifying. Some of the voices were easily recognized.

Lord of Barix Jorand.

Chief of Intelligence Akira.

The ones who were betrayed by the Duchy and betrayed it.

The rank 2s of the Province.

A full six hours later, the Duke drenched in thick and dried-up blood walked out with a relieved expression.

For the past six hours, no one outside the building took a step, including Prince Theoron and Princess Catherine.

Cassius glanced at Theoron beside his daughter and smiled a bloody smile. "The last evil seed, since my daughter liked you, I'll give you an easy death."

"Father!" Catherine shielded her lover and looked at Cassius with trembling eyes. "What are you doing? He's the one who informed me about this! He's the reason Director Baldur came with us! He's our savior!"

"Oh?" Cassius leaned back and looked at Theoron.

The Prince's eyes were still, his face numb and his body frozen. He was like a living corpse.

Even though he hated what his father did to him, he couldn't accept what they went through. There were many people in there that raised him up. Sure, they were on the opposite side. But many of their grievances were justified.

Including his father's. Theoron never thought he'd once again support his father. But now, he did. Even though Lord Jorand ruined many lives, Duke Cassius was the starting point of everything.

If anyone here deserved punishment, it'd be him.

"Look at him, his lover's father tortured and killed all his relatives. Do you think he can still look at you with love? Whenever he looks at you, he'll be reminded of my blood flowing inside you." Cassius shook his head.

"You…" Catherine's face paled and she looked into Theoron's eyes. Indeed, there was no love inside them.

If they had escaped and this happened, he wouldn't have held off such a grudge. But he witnessed everything.

When Princess Catherine remained silent at her father when he was killing off all the members inside the prison, his heart shattered.

Even if she at least spoke up against sparing some innocents, then things could've been different.

But now…

Theoron laughed, mocking himself. He wanted to run away but he never wanted them all to die.

In the end, he gave up the desire for his own peaceful life and decided to risk it all. He always had the option to run away.

But he didn't. Without bringing Baldur, things would've been completely different.

He changed his mind to save the lives of the Centuarians but the result was this? Was this how his good intentions got repaid?

Cassius pushed away Catherine and raised his hand.

"Father, even if he doesn't love me, I do. Don't kill him. He won't be a threat to the Duchy." Catherine grabbed Cassius' arm and pleaded.

"I would've spared him, I really would've." Cassius freed his hand and pushed her off. "But his father taught me a lesson. A harmless boy today can topple my Duchy and my dream tomorrow. So no matter how innocent he is, he must die."

Theoron looked at the approaching hand without fear. "Since I can't escape, so be it. But know this, old bastard, you lack any balls to rejuvenate this Duchy. Centaurus might stay until you do, but the day you die, this place will burn down."

His words prickled the old wound of the Duke and his eyes grew fierce. He lifted the Prince by his neck and snarled. "I changed my mind. You won't die a good death, little bastard."

Theoron struggled in his hand but couldn't break free. As the grip on his neck grew tighter and tighter, Theoron turned to the Duke's face and spat. "C-Centaurus…will break."

"Damn you!" Cassius raised his hand to smash Theoron into the floor.

Catherine slumped down powerlessly.

But the expected crash didn't happen. Baldur snatched Theoron and looked at the Duke with an indifferent gaze. "Constantine said this guy is his brother. Since I owe him, you're not allowed to kill him."

"…Prince, it's not wise of you to intervene in a Duchy's internal matters," Cassius said with a cold gaze.

"Regent of Centaurus," Baldur grinned.

"Huh?"

A holographic certificate popped up between them. It was signed just a few minutes ago.

"Since Centaurus' power is heavily damaged with the law and order on the verge of collapsing, the Kingdom decided to send a regent to take over until things settle down. Princess Calamity granted me the favor and gave me the position."

Cassius' face paled and he trembled.

Baldur looked at him indifferently. "I, Baldur, the Regent Of Centaurus, recognize your merits and reward you to serve as a frontline soldier against the Jai Empire."

Cassius slumped beside his daughter and looked at the sky with a blank gaze.

'W-Why? Why did all this happen? When he learned Varian fell into space crack, he knew that there was no chance that boy was coming back. He died and took down any hope of Centaurus' rejuvenation with him. So, as the last correction, Cassius wanted to eliminate all threats to the Duchy while he was still alive.'

But now, when his own life was on the line, an emotion called regret filled his being.