Chapter 93: Domino Trace: Cillian Sparrow
’Huh?’
At first, Cillian was confused.
Then, his brain started to work as there were clues that the Shepherds had made their presence known, at least in this territory.
One apparent event is the smuggling talk that Cillian overheard between Jack and the caller.
’They have another objective here aside from taking Aster’s Swords of Chaos?’
As for what objective it is, Cillian couldn’t help but shiver once he thought it might be related to the people with the current Death Flags.
Khalish Viola, Fergus Viola, and...
’If the Shepherd’s objective is Khalish and Fergus Viola, then they would’ve already done it a long time ago. Then, could it be Arthur?’
It was just all scattered thoughts around for now, but if the Shepherd’s object were indeed Arthur, then Cillian could finally remove him as a potential member of the Shepherds. There were still doubts lingering in his mind before, but now it was truly gone.
If Cillian believed Eve’s words, what could the Shepherds want from Arthur?
Cillian will have to achieve two things soon.
First was knowing what Mouthful Eye is trying to describe regarding Arthur by discovering the censored word.
Second is keeping a close eye on Arthur and seeing if the Shepherds are secretly looking out for this guy.
Cillian could achieve the first one with the help of Melissa, who would offer her assistance as long as she was in the library. She had been helping him with this as her way of showing gratitude for what happened during the Academy attack.
For the second one, Cillian will have to ask someone about it.
Calming down while hearing the flaps of the tent move due to people entering, especially the main Star Breaker squad, Cillian revealed the information on what he currently possessed.
"Did you know Arthur Potter?"
Eve and the rest who entered the camp all quietly looked at Cillian, who began exposing the things from his mind.
"Look, I’m still trying to understand how these ancient ruins are related to the Shepherds. But I will tell you about a person of interest who might be connected to both of them. Arthur Potter, the famous therapist at Hensel Hospital. Send your people to watch him. He’s also someone who was affected by the recent attack at the ball."
[Black Flag] -> [Death Flag]
The moment he revealed this information, Cillian found Eve’s flag had changed into the highest possible flag she could receive.
’It... changed to a Death Flag. Is this a confirmation that Arthur had something to do with the Shepherds and the ancient ruins from the past era?’
[Black Flag] -> [Death Flag]
[Black Flag] -> [Death Flag]
Cillian turned around and watched the people who entered the tent, only to see all of their flags change into Death Flags as they whispered among themselves.
There was Orion, showing subtle emotion with the Death Flag raised. Harry, who carries years of experience behind his face, was frowning. And the scholarly look of Quintin was gone, his pale face embarrassed after Eve confessed everything to him after they got found out.
And there was one more person...
[Red Flag]
It was Cale, the most ordinary among this group, who had entered the tent. Unlike the rest, he still remained a person with a Red Flag, the same as Cillian.
This person was calmly looking at him.
That calm look made Cillian infuriated.
His cold look soon turned into hatred as he glared at every single one in the Star Breaker who appeared friendly at first, but were there to manipulate him. He disliked them and probably hated their guts and plans, but that’s only because he was on the receiving end of it all.
If Cillian were the one who devised this plan to see if Khalish had anything to do with the dig out of ancient ruins and manipulated someone to see his reaction, he would definitely not be mad about it.
’I’ll become a hypocritical idiot if I try to reason my actions when I would’ve done the same thing, and I would not bat an eye at the person I’ve used. That’s just how this world works. But... there’ll be no next time.’
Cillian would never allow himself to make the same mistake again and think that these Proper Ruiners were different from the Improper Ruiners.
Cillian glanced behind, giving Eve a cold eye before making a statement.
"We’re both quits now. Don’t you ever use our conversation and say I fucking owe you anything. And..."
Cillian paused.
"...and be careful."
...
Why would Cillian reveal the information regarding Arthur there, and he didn’t stop the Star Breaker, even though the presumed strongest squad of Viola had Death Flags raised above their heads?
It was because Cillian understood that there was bound to be danger regardless of whether Eve investigated Arthur or not. Cillian had only increased his chances of succeeding in stopping whatever Arthur was trying to do... if the famous therapist had any goal in the first place.
Though Cillian was already pretty convinced that Arthur had a goal. A Death Flag is his strongest indicator, and Cillian, who already experienced how his first Death Flag went, is fully convinced about it, leaving no doubts.
But there was another reason why he decided to share this information.
Cillian learned so much from the academy attack.
The biggest mistake he made was wasting the precious three days planning around, overconfident that he was enough to stop whatever the Shepherds would do since he had prepared arrangements beforehand.
But Cillian understands it so well.
He couldn’t defeat the Shepherds of Creation. At least, for now.
This powerful group made Aiden, the strongest Ruiner Cillian knew, be imprisoned and forced him to run around the Worlds, barely escaping and almost dying after stealing a Singularity.
Cillian will never underestimate them again.
That’s why, instead of being too late in the action, which is the result of the Academy’s downfall, Cillian gets straight to the point rather than delaying it any longer.
"Goodness, I’m working so hard."
Cillian muttered under his breath while letting out a crooked smile.
In the morning, Cillian had talked with Dena and Dennis. In the afternoon, he immediately headed straight to the Missing Expedition site after he was discharged and was said to be fully healed.
Now, it was already evening.
Cillian was already planning to go to the library tomorrow and put all of his attention into discovering the censored word with Melissa and Mouthful Eye.
But now, right in his room, Cillian will have to achieve something else.
"Domino Trace."
[Domino Trace Activated]
[Mental Load: 0%]
[Choose which flag to trace, Cillian.]
Cillian carefully watched a screen out of the corner of his eye.
[Target Flag: Arthur Potter
Current Flag: Death Flag
Status: Stable]
Then, Cillian looked at the flag he had marked from afar, which continued to appear in his sight no matter where he went. Currently, Arthur was at Hensel Hospital, still resting after he had diligently helped everyone get back on their feet during the Ball of Honors incident.
"Arthur Potter’s Death Flag."
[Domino Trace]
[Target: Death Flag]
[Tracing Death Flag...]
Cillian wanted to know the reason behind Arthur’s current flag’s existence, but he also understood that it could vary, just like what happened before, when it pointed to Aiden’s humored insanity after he was nearly killed by the Shepherds during the Death Flag probes.
[Domino Traced!]
Yet Cillian’s eyes constricted upon reading the system’s next words.
[Death Flag: Cillian Sparrow]