Chapter 659: The Hollow Smile ( 659 )
Bang!
A single flash of blue-white light burst from the mana rifle’s muzzle.
In an instant, the glowing crystal projectile shot forward, slicing silently through the night sky—locked perfectly to the mana signature pinpointed by the scout drone.
The target barely twitched before his head vanished in a bright flash of explosive mana.
His body collapsed silently to the forest floor.
Javier didn’t pause.
He adjusted slightly, barrel shifting a fraction.
Bang!
Another shot fired, a streak of intense mana-infused light tracing an arc mid-flight—following another target as it ran for cover.
It found its mark perfectly—another enemy down.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In quick succession, Javier fired again and again, each shot precisely guided by the drones’ signals, twisting and turning through the air like miniature seeking missiles.
Below, panicked shouts began to rise, confusion rippling through the enemy ranks—but it was too late.
One by one, their heads exploded in silent bursts of crystalline blue light.
In re monts, the forest fell quiet again.
All fourteen targets lay motionless, swiftly and rcilessly dispatched.
Javier calmly lowered the rifle, the barrel still faintly humming with residual mana.
“Clean sweep,” he murmured softly, eyes scanning the drone feeds one last ti.
Javier raised his hand once more, fingers tapping through a floating rune glyph in front of his glasses.
“Engage drones—sweep pattern three.”
In response, three engage-type drones—larger, heavier, and ard with miniature mana pulse guns—erged from his storage glyph and ascended into the night sky.
They humd softly, magic thrusters stabilizing them as they hovered high above the tree line.
Then, they split formation, each beginning a circular sweep of the battlefield.
From above, they opened fire on the fallen bodies, mini bursts of mana bolts raining down, ensuring complete neutralization. No survivors. No movent.
Javier monitored everything silently.
His glasses stread live visuals and mana readings from all drones.
He adjusted the feed once more—switching to mana resonance.
Nothing.
No heat signatures.
No stray magical aura.
No concealed mana veils.
Still, Javier wasn’t satisfied.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a thin, cylindrical device—his personal high-grade mana scanner.
He held it upright and activated it.
A pale blue ring of light expanded outward from the core, sweeping across the entire forest zone with a deep humming pulse.
The scanner responded instantly—marking every known mana source within range.
After a full pass, the result was clear.
Only the Armand personnel inside the border town and the stationed guards along the walls appeared on the display.
No foreign signals.
No enemy infiltration.
Javier slowly exhaled and lowered the scanner.
“…Clean.”
He looked toward the horizon, where the first light of dawn was starting to break.
“Mission complete. No survivors.”
Back in the present.
Garius gave a slow nod, arms crossed behind his back.
“Hmm… so that’s how you cleaned up the mission.”
Javier stood straight, eyes lowered in proper form.
“Yes, Esteed Father.”
Garius glanced to the side, picking up a folded shadow report on his desk.
“No wonder the report from our shadow unit said none of the enemies had heads left.”
He set the paper down.
“Good job.”
“Yes, Esteed Father.”
“By the way,” Garius added, his tone heavier now.
Javier looked up.
“Yes, Esteed Father?”
Garius’s voice darkened.
“Gurdan has lost. King Edmund devoured the two Celestials inside him.”
Javier’s eyes narrowed.
“That puts him at Stage Five Celestial Vessel,” Garius said calmly.
“Only two more, and he will be complete.”
Javier didn’t flinch.
“I know, Father.”
He reached into his inner coat and produced a white cube, glowing faintly with divine energy — pulsing softly like a beating heart.
“This is the Celestial essence I sealed… from inside Chieftain Gumarak.”
Garius’s eyes flicked toward it, then nodded once.
“Good. Keep it sealed inside your magic storage. That cube alone is a beacon for predators… if they find it, they’ll co.”
“Yes, Esteed Father.”
Garius stepped forward, placing one hand on the desk beside him.
“You will begin your next mission next week.”
Javier stood straight, expression serious.
“Understood.”
“You are to depart quietly. Do not read the mission scroll until you have left the Armand Region… and passed through the Beastkin Kingdom en route to the Dwarven lands.”
Javier gave a deep nod.
“Yes, Esteed Father.”
Garius turned his gaze back to Javier, eyes sharper now, the tone in his voice dropping low and firm.
“…And Javier.”
“Yes, Esteed Father?”
“You’re going to bring Liana and Gloria, right?”
Javier nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, Esteed Father.”
“Then make sure Edmund… never gets them. No matter what.”
After finishing his report, Javier stepped out of Lord Garius’s private chamber, the heavy door clicking softly behind him.
To his surprise—
“Liana?”
She stood quietly just to the side, her posture straight, hands folded neatly in front of her.
Her face held a smile.
But not the usual warm one.
It was hollow—a polite curve of the lips with no shine in the eyes.
“Young master.” She bowed deeply.
Javier blinked.
“…What are you doing here?”
“Nothing, young master.”
Her voice was soft. Formal.
“I just wanted to et Lord Garius.”
“…For what?”
Liana didn’t answer directly.
She simply offered that sa empty smile, eyes lowered, and bowed once more.
Then—she stepped past him, toward the door.
Knock. Knock.
From within, Garius’s voice responded plainly.
“Co in.”
Liana gently opened the door and walked inside, closing it behind her.
Click.
Javier remained standing there, confused.
His brows furrowed slightly.
What… was that?
Liana?
There was sothing in her eyes just now—sothing missing.
A warmth he had always felt from her… wasn’t there.
Javier remained outside the chamber, leaning slightly against the wall, arms crossed.
He waited.
Several long minutes passed.
Then, the door creaked open.
Liana stepped out.
Her posture was still graceful. Her expression calm. That sa polite smile remained—but hollow, like a mask perfectly worn.
“Liana?” Javier straightened.
She paused mid-step and looked toward him.
“Hmm? Yes, young master?”
He frowned slightly. “What happened? Why did you need to et Father?”
Liana didn’t answer imdiately.
Her smile stayed in place. Her voice remained composed.
“Nothing, young master.”
She gave a small bow, keeping her eyes lowered.
“…If you’ll excuse .”
And without another word, she turned and walked away, her steps silent and unhurried, disappearing down the corridor.
Javier stood there, watching her go.
Sothing inside his chest stirred—an unfamiliar tightness he couldn’t quite describe.
What… happened?
( End Of Chapter )
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