Chapter 436: 410 Heartless Person
At this time, the atmosphere in the camp had become extremely tense.
For all the people here had split into two opposing factions, entering a state of standoff against each other.
Reiger and Liz stood together with Nipede, Antie, Fannie, Gel, and others, forming one faction, watching Ophelit in front.
Ophelit appeared uncomfortable, surrounded by knights who had originally been on guard.
These knights were from Hadi’s knightly order, naturally siding with Ophelit.
So, when Reiger and the others fixed their gaze on Ophelit, and the situation suddenly turned against him, these knights understandably changed their expressions. Without exception, they put aside their vigilance, stepped forward, and began to protect Ophelit.
There was no small number of knights; eighty-eight in total, a very formidable force indeed.
It must be known that the most a noble with an Earl’s title could assemble in their knightly order was only up to five hundred men, so the eighty-eight here constituted nearly one-fifth of Hadi’s knightly order’s combat strength.
Facing such a force, others might well be silent, but Fannie and Gel felt their hearts racing.
In contrast, Reiger, Nipede, and Antie remained calm, and even Liz wasn’t scared, though she still felt uneasy.
In this situation, Nipede was the first to speak out.
"Looking at Lord Brilliant’s expression, Young Master Ophelit, it seems you might know something?" Nipede gave Ophelit a deep look and said, "Would you be willing to share with us what you know?"
Hearing this, Ophelit’s face grew very ugly, and he retorted.
"What do you want me to say?" Ophelit maintained his stance and said, "I don’t know anything. Why have you suddenly turned your accusations toward me?"
These words were not directed at Nipede but at Reiger.
After all, it was Reiger who had pointed this accusation at him, so Ophelit naturally wanted to condemn Reiger.
His heart was filled with both shock and anger.
He was shocked because he didn’t understand why Reiger would suspect him and point the finger directly.
He was angry because Nipede and the others had unquestioningly followed Reiger in suspecting him once the finger was pointed, making their stance all too clear.
He hadn’t expected this: Nipede showed not the slightest inclination to support him.
He had thought he was getting closer to Nipede, but now it seemed the other man hadn’t taken him to heart at all, had always been subtly rejecting him.
Realizing this only fueled Ophelit’s rage.
However, Ophelit didn’t lose his reason, nor dare to lose it.
He couldn’t afford to; opposing him were a Sword Saint and a Magician of equal stature, a truly intimidating lineup that made Ophelit dare not act rashly.
Ophelit could only claim innocence to Nipede.
"Master Nipede, are you suspecting my involvement with those attackers just because of what the Thunder Light Sword Saint said?" Ophelit spoke: "That’s completely illogical, even though you’re a Sword Saint and a great magician, you can’t just accuse someone without basis, can you?"
"I’m still the heir of the Hadi family, the Earl’s son. To slander me like this, don’t expect my father and the lord of these lands to allow it!"
"I’ve respected you, regarded you as powerful, and have been nothing but polite along the way, and yet this is how you treat me?"
"Did I offend you in any way?"
Ophelit spoke his grievance, while also pressing his point aggressively.
"I’ll be sure to report this to the lord of these lands, my uncle, and I believe he would be willing to help me seek justice."
At Ophelit’s words, Nipede and Antie, who had been on Reiger’s side, suddenly frowned.
They didn’t really care about Ophelit or the Hadi Earl family, but the Meipros family, standing behind the Hadi’s, was an entity they couldn’t ignore.
Nipede’s attitude softened somewhat after Ophelit mentioned the Meipros family.
He and the Border Guardian Sword Saint had an old friendship and considered each other friends. Since Ophelit brought up the matter, it wouldn’t be right for Nipede to support Reiger unconditionally over his own perceptions.
As a result, Nipede turned toward Reiger, looking like he wanted to have a dialogue.
But before Nipede could speak, Reiger had already started talking.
"Tell me, young master," Reiger said calmly, "what about the other person who was staying in your carriage today? Why not let him come out?"
Reiger’s unexpected question left both Nipede and Antie startled.
Ophelit’s pupils shrank slightly, and he was vaguely panicked.
"Wh-who are you talking about?" Ophelit forced himself to calm down and said, "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Hearing this, Reiger ignored Ophelit and turned to Nipede instead.
"Lord Jialan, apart from you, Miss Antie, and the young master there, there should have been another person in that carriage, right?"
Before Nipede could respond, Antie had already jumped in.
"Are you talking about that swordsman with a very stiff face?" Antie raised her hand and said, "That person disappeared after we got off the carriage. Does he have something to do with it?"
"I don’t know if he has any issues," Reiger responded indifferently, "but I can be sure, that person is related to those attackers just now."
At these words, Ophelit, as if struck by some shock, quickly spoke up.
"On what basis do you say that?"
Ophelit’s voice grew louder and louder.
Reiger glanced at Ophelit, then spoke.
"Because, like those attackers, that person also lacked a heart within his body."
As soon as this statement was made, the crowd erupted.
"No heart?"
"That person was heartless?"
"You’re kidding, right?"
"How can a person be without a heart!"
Antie, Liz, Fannie, and Gel, a party of four, exclaimed in surprise.
"What, what did you say?"
Even Ophelit wore a face of astonishment; judging by his reaction, it seemed he was completely unaware of the matter.
This response somewhat surprised Reiger.
Nipede, however, pressed for an answer, "Lord Brilliant, could you explain what is going on?"
"It’s quite simple,"
Reiger put aside the minor surprise he felt, and thus spoke.
"I possess an ability that allows me to see through the human body to observe all sorts of vital signs within a living organism."
"Today, I used this ability to monitor everyone here and discovered that the fourth person riding with you and Lord Jialan lacked a heart, and their life signs were extremely strange."
"This condition also appeared in those attackers we just contended with."
Indeed, those bizarre attackers were just like the swordsman Reiger had observed today—none of them had a heart.
Given that, these people were clearly related.
And the heartless swordsman was obviously connected to Ophelit.
How could Reiger not suspect Ophelit in this case?
"You slanderer!"
Ophelit jumped up, rebuking in front of everyone.
"Jack is my attendant, how could he possibly be a heartless monster?" Ophelit clamored, "This is defamation! I, I will tell my father and my uncle! I’ll have them see justice done for me!"
As he spoke, Ophelit took out a communication magic crystal.
Suddenly, Reiger’s eyes narrowed.
"[High-Order Teleportation]."
Without any warning, Reiger vanished and then reappeared in front of Ophelit.
"Ah!"
Ophelit let out a startled cry, unable to suppress his alarm.
Nipede and the others too, once again, exclaimed in shock.
"Indeed, it’s spatial magic!"
Nipede was now utterly convinced of this, his view of Reiger completely changing.
"Young Master Ophelit!"
"Be careful!"
"What do you want to do...!?"
The knights who arranged themselves protectively behind Ophelit were shocked by the scene, but despite their terror, they still drew their weapons and charged at Reiger.
"[Binding of All Races]."p>
Reiger chanted a spell impassively, sending out an invisible wave of force.
"————!"
In the next second, all the knights rushing toward Reiger seemed as if subjected to an invisible suppression and binding, their movement freezing in place.
They opened their eyes wide, the color of panic on their faces, clearly shaken by the turn of events.
"So, so powerful...!"
Antie, who was seeing Reiger demonstrate his powers for the first time, couldn’t help but stare in awe.
The sight of nearly a hundred fully armed knights rushing towards Reiger, only to be held in place by a single spell, incapable of any movement, was indeed impactful.
Especially since Reiger hadn’t even turned his head, still standing in front of Ophelit, resolute against the wind.
That posture made Antie, who was no small-time magician girl herself, see stars in her eyes.
"What, what do you want to do...?"
Ophelit, sensing things were going awry, retreated several steps in a mix of fear and panic.
"Nothing much," Reiger looked at Ophelit with a sudden smile and said, "I just want to use the simplest method to have you spill everything you know."
"You are aware, aren’t you?"
"Psychic Domination."
Hearing this, Ophelit’s face turned ashen. Without a second thought, he turned and fled.
"[Charm of the Human Race]."
As if he hadn’t witnessed the scene, Reiger unleashed a spell at Ophelit, who was frantically scrambling away with his back turned.
This was a mental magic that targeted the human race, making the subject subconsciously regard the caster as a trusted, intimate friend, thereby losing caution and becoming bewitched.
Reiger used this magic on Ophelit, causing the fleeing Ophelit’s form to tremble, his steps gradually slowing to a stop, until he stood motionless.
"Turn around,"
Reiger ordered Ophelit.
"......"
Slowly, Ophelit turned, facing Reiger.
His eyes were vacant, as if his soul had departed.
Reiger’s psychic domination had taken effect.