Chapter 345
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It was getting dark.
A group of students returned to the dorm after training. At the entrance, one of them looked up and exclaimed: «Look! Someone is flying here!»
The students looked up, surprised. The Iron Throners rarely saw flying beasts, and there were seven of them at once! Whoever the approaching guests were, they had the nerve to disregard the important Cernos rule: the large flying animals were forbidden to trespass the school barrier.
The deputy principal, aka the superior examiner, came out to meet the distinguished guests. He had been informed about their arrival, but even so, he was ashen-faced. A cold shiver ran down his spine as the guests approached Cernos. He couldn't even imagine that he would have to meet such important people. The patriarch Hunter and the empress's student rolled in one had arrived in Cernos! The deputy principal was a bug who was to give an elephant a proper welcome.
The seven huge flying birds had overcome the barrier and landed on the school grounds. Powerful gusts of wind nearly knocked down weak students. Three people dressed in noble clothes gracefully jumped off the huge eagle. Two of them emitted powerful royal-phase auras. One of them was about twenty years old! What a monstrous talent!
The students' hearts missed a beat as they watched the noble guests approach the Cernos dormitory. Nobility from the great kingdom, an entirely different environment, had condescended to visit this neck of the wood.
Their royal-phase guards appeared out of nowhere. Any of them could single-handedly destroy the entire investigation department and Cernos to boot, without even breaking a sweat.
«Welcome, Mr. Asagi.» – The deputy principal bowed low. His voice sounded shaky. – «My name is Demid Grand. I can do anything for you. Awaiting your orders!»
Asagi nodded: «I'm looking for Dick Baker to ask him some important questions. Take us to him.»
«With pleasure, sir. Follow me.» – The deputy principal bent down again.
When the distinguished guests disappeared behind the front door, the students could finally exhale. Everyone wondered what the hateful fat freak had to do with the newcomers. They hoped that it was something serious, like a cruel execution.
Kyon opened the door and saw a group of people with unreadable faces.
One of them said coldly, skillfully concealing his disdain for the ugly object of his search: «Dick Baker, you're under investigation. My name is Asagi Hunter. Will you answer some of my questions?» – Even if his question suggested a choice, only a fool wouldn't understand the patriarch's intentions.
Dick wiped his mouth stained with chocolate with his sleeve and then waved to his guests with the same hand: «Of course! Come on in, gents. Would you like some tea with chocolate? You must be hungry after your long trip.»
Asagi gestured for the guards to stay outside and entered the room with Murat, the seasoned hunter, and Risat, the talented young student. Unlike the patriarch, his companions couldn't stay calm when they saw the suspect and felt his cultivation. They were about to throw up! Even his first and last name justified his disgusting looks. The parents must have hated their offspring.
When the three guests came inside the room, they froze to the spot. They saw a dazzlingly beautiful blonde girl, feminine, attractive, and at the same time, unbelievably strong! Her yellow predatory eyes seemed to be looking straight into the soul.
The guards sensed a threat and immediately rushed inside. Asagi, Murat and Risat tensed. The tiger they had missed was a royal phaser! Dick Baker was suspected of harnessing a supreme beast! It all added up: they were after this girl! A fierce fight was inevitable!
Everyone was ready for battle, but... the girl smiled sweetly, raising her eyebrows in surprise: «I do not bite, gentlemen. Why do you react so violently? When was the last time you saw a beautiful and strong girl? Well... There's something deeply wrong in your Rosarrio…» – She stuck out her playful tongue to mock the guests.
The three Hunters looked at each other. Judging by her sarcastic speech, it was an ordinary playful human girl. No supreme beasts ever behaved like this. However, her identity was yet to be confirmed or refuted.
«Gents… I am going to soil my pants! Stop it, please!» – Dick stammered. He was as white as chalk. As befits an advanced phaser, he looked scared to death of the aggressive royal-phase auras.
The tension in the air had eased, but no one relaxed.
Asagi didn't drop his guard when he addressed the girl: «My name is Asagi Hunter, young lady. May I know your name and the reason why you're here?»
Triana sat gracefully on the bed and elegantly introduced herself, her knees put together, her hand at her chest: «I am Triana Baker, a pure-blood descendant of my family, called to the Iron Throne to protect this young man.»
Asagi squinted suspiciously: «To protect him? Isn't it too much to send such a powerful defender to a school with no students above noble phase?»
«It was the patriarch's order.» – Triana shrugged. – «I don't know the details, but I was warned to be ready for some serious challenge.»
It wasn't enough for Asagi: «Let me see your family formation.»
«Yes, please…» – Triana held out her wrist and looked away indifferently.
Asagi nodded to the guard to check the formation. He confirmed the information. Everything was correct.
But Asagi was still full of doubts. Too much was at stake. He had to be 1000% sure that the girl was a human. He knew the harnessed supreme beasts better than anyone else in the empire. They couldn't lie, but if the owner ordered them to give certain answers, they would obediently follow the order. She might have given a prepared answer, but he knew a secret to reveal who she really was.
If a supreme beast gets a deep personal question for which they have no prepared answer, they will tell the truth. Their master's general order to pretend to be a human and answer any questions as if they were a human wouldn't work because it's too vague! Their integrity will surpass the vague order, and the truth will be out.
Asagi took five steps back: «Tell me about your parents. Are they noble, powerful tigers or miserable, wretched humans?» – He asked seriously. The girl's beauty was bewitching, but Asagi held it together. She would make him happy in a certain sense of the term if she happened to be a supreme beast. Later. When he returned home with her.
The guards were ready for the battle. Supreme beasts always gave an honest answer to such provocative questions that hurt their exaggerated pride.
«My parents are noble people! Are you a misanthrope or what?» – Triana was genuinely angry. She stood there frowning, her arms crossed. – «Wait, do you think I am a beast?»
«That's right, young lady. We suspect that this gentleman has appropriated a harnessed tiger, that is you.»
«Are you talking about me?» – Kyon gasped.
«It's ridiculous! I am a human, not a wretched beast!» – Triana exclaimed.
«I understand your anger, but get me right. The government gave us an order to catch two tigers alive. One of them died, trying to cover the other's retreat, which was an ill-fated coincidence of unfortunate circumstances. If we do not catch the escaped tiger alive, Her Highness the Empress will severely punish us. It's essential for me and every Hunter to find this beast, and you are still under suspicion if only on the grounds of your royal phase. Let me ask you a couple more questions.»
Triana's eyes sparkled with animal ferocity for a brief moment. She knew instinctively how to hide her killing intent so that the prey wouldn't feel it and couldn't escape. If she revealed herself now, the Hunters would catch her and re-harness her at once. It would mean much more than just changing the owners! She knew too well that her life would turn into living hell. Triana had chosen the current owner. The tigress got used to him even if she still considered him disgusting. It was better to serve him than the wretched, hateful creatures that had killed her uncle who had been defending her to his last breath!
Triana nodded: «You may ask me any questions. I have nothing to hide or to be afraid of.» – She said with a slight smile on her face.
Asagi and his companions admired Triana. She was a sweet, charming girl with impeccable looks and impressive talent. She was about sixteen and already a royal phaser, which was only expected from a high-ranking family member from the Saturn empire (1). They all were monstrously talented there. Too bad she was serving this fat bastard. Hopefully, nothing was going on between them...
The young patriarch asked the beautiful girl a few more questions similar to the previous ones and finally said: «Young lady, I hope you don't mind if I speak to your master in private.» – He addressed her to show that he had no respect for Dick, and small wonder. Anyone would believe that the girl had more power here. She was on a completely different level compared to her master in terms of beauty and manners, as well as talent.
«Ask him, he is in charge here.» – She said, tossing her thick mane of white hair.
«Leave us alone.» – Kyon ordered.
Triana nodded and left the room with the guards. Four people stayed. The atmosphere got colder by several degrees. The absence of the beautiful lady made the visitors drop their courtesy, their faces serious and stern.
«How did you get the first prize in the forest tournament?» – Asagi asked with a threat in his voice.
«Well… I mean… With a resourcefulness mindset!» – When Kyon understood it only heated the things, he added. – «Well, my parents also helped… Just a little bit!»
Asagi exchanged glances with Murat and Risat and shook his head. There was no point in discussing anything with this imbecile. The gossip turned out to be true. He was nothing but a dim-witted scumbag with too much self-esteem.
«The interrogation is over. Get out of the room.» – Asagi said in an imperious tone.
«Actually, I live here!» – Kyon protested.
Risat grabbed the fat freak by the collar and threw him out like yesterday's trash.
«Did you understand anything, sir?» – Murat asked.
Asagi sat at the table and steepled his fingers: «It isn't him.»
«Are you sure? There's no room for error! Too much is at stake. Remember, we have no more suspects! Those powerful attacking formations could have killed my hunters... I guess, Dick Baker may well be a great deceiver. Is it possible that a fool could take first place in the tournament, surpassing the other six schools! He must have staged this performance, engaging Triana to throw us off the track!»
The patriarch looked glumly at the seasoned hunter: «Murat, you know like no one else how intractable supreme beasts are. If you hurt their pride, they always give honest answers under the order to tell otherwise. That is why spies are useless in the beast kingdom. Moreover, jokes and sarcasm are completely alien to supreme beasts. She's just a human.» – He concluded, addressing Murat's students rather than the hunter himself.
«Even so, Dick is no ordinary fool… He could have harnessed the tiger by trickery!»
Asagi rolled his eyes: «Don't disappoint me, Murat! If Dick were smarter, he would have never taken the harnessed tiger to Cernos! Only a complete idiot would come up with something like this. Remember, you told me that he had bribed his way to victory? The Bakers are ridiculously rich. They could have staged all the travesty at the tournament. They even figured out how to sell the tokens. As for Triana, she was sent to protect this bastard after he had insulted six kingdoms. Dick Baker is a pathetic dumb asshole.» – Asagi said with grim confidence. He wished he were mistaken…
Risat, who never spoke, coughed in his fist: «During our investigation, we found out that someone had destroyed the database. Isn't it another piece of evidence against Dick Baker?»
«Not at all. It could be some prince or princess who used their authority to clean up some dirt on their dear selves. As the tournament formation had been forged, they could have come across the fat freak three or even five times. Someone could have used the sound recording of those encounters, and they might have wanted to avoid public humiliation.»
«Suppose it's true… But don't the white tigers retain their hair color after transformation? Triana has snow-white hair... Besides, yellow iris, which is so common among tigers, is rare in humans!»
«Not at all… Hair color changes during transformation. The beasts can even get rid of all their characteristic traits, like pointed ears or a tail. Triana's white hair and yellow eyes are just a coincidence.» – Asagi bit the tip of his finger. – «Anyway, you might be right, Risat. There are too many coincidences. We need to double-check. Do you have any catnip?»
«Yes, sir!» – Risat was happy to help.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
It was getting dark.
A group of students returned to the dorm after training. At the entrance, one of them looked up and exclaimed: «Look! Someone is flying here!»
The students looked up, surprised. The Iron Throners rarely saw flying beasts, and there were seven of them at once! Whoever the approaching guests were, they had the nerve to disregard the important Cernos rule: the large flying animals were forbidden to trespass the school barrier.
The deputy principal, aka the superior examiner, came out to meet the distinguished guests. He had been informed about their arrival, but even so, he was ashen-faced. A cold shiver ran down his spine as the guests approached Cernos. He couldn't even imagine that he would have to meet such important people. The patriarch Hunter and the empress's student rolled in one had arrived in Cernos! The deputy principal was a bug who was to give an elephant a proper welcome.
The seven huge flying birds had overcome the barrier and landed on the school grounds. Powerful gusts of wind nearly knocked down weak students. Three people dressed in noble clothes gracefully jumped off the huge eagle. Two of them emitted powerful royal-phase auras. One of them was about twenty years old! What a monstrous talent!
The students' hearts missed a beat as they watched the noble guests approach the Cernos dormitory. Nobility from the great kingdom, an entirely different environment, had condescended to visit this neck of the wood.
Their royal-phase guards appeared out of nowhere. Any of them could single-handedly destroy the entire investigation department and Cernos to boot, without even breaking a sweat.
«Welcome, Mr. Asagi.» – The deputy principal bowed low. His voice sounded shaky. – «My name is Demid Grand. I can do anything for you. Awaiting your orders!»
Asagi nodded: «I'm looking for Dick Baker to ask him some important questions. Take us to him.»
«With pleasure, sir. Follow me.» – The deputy principal bent down again.
When the distinguished guests disappeared behind the front door, the students could finally exhale. Everyone wondered what the hateful fat freak had to do with the newcomers. They hoped that it was something serious, like a cruel execution.
Kyon opened the door and saw a group of people with unreadable faces.
One of them said coldly, skillfully concealing his disdain for the ugly object of his search: «Dick Baker, you're under investigation. My name is Asagi Hunter. Will you answer some of my questions?» – Even if his question suggested a choice, only a fool wouldn't understand the patriarch's intentions.
Dick wiped his mouth stained with chocolate with his sleeve and then waved to his guests with the same hand: «Of course! Come on in, gents. Would you like some tea with chocolate? You must be hungry after your long trip.»
Asagi gestured for the guards to stay outside and entered the room with Murat, the seasoned hunter, and Risat, the talented young student. Unlike the patriarch, his companions couldn't stay calm when they saw the suspect and felt his cultivation. They were about to throw up! Even his first and last name justified his disgusting looks. The parents must have hated their offspring.
When the three guests came inside the room, they froze to the spot. They saw a dazzlingly beautiful blonde girl, feminine, attractive, and at the same time, unbelievably strong! Her yellow predatory eyes seemed to be looking straight into the soul.
The guards sensed a threat and immediately rushed inside. Asagi, Murat and Risat tensed. The tiger they had missed was a royal phaser! Dick Baker was suspected of harnessing a supreme beast! It all added up: they were after this girl! A fierce fight was inevitable!
Everyone was ready for battle, but... the girl smiled sweetly, raising her eyebrows in surprise: «I do not bite, gentlemen. Why do you react so violently? When was the last time you saw a beautiful and strong girl? Well... There's something deeply wrong in your Rosarrio…» – She stuck out her playful tongue to mock the guests.
The three Hunters looked at each other. Judging by her sarcastic speech, it was an ordinary playful human girl. No supreme beasts ever behaved like this. However, her identity was yet to be confirmed or refuted.
«Gents… I am going to soil my pants! Stop it, please!» – Dick stammered. He was as white as chalk. As befits an advanced phaser, he looked scared to death of the aggressive royal-phase auras.
The tension in the air had eased, but no one relaxed.
Asagi didn't drop his guard when he addressed the girl: «My name is Asagi Hunter, young lady. May I know your name and the reason why you're here?»
Triana sat gracefully on the bed and elegantly introduced herself, her knees put together, her hand at her chest: «I am Triana Baker, a pure-blood descendant of my family, called to the Iron Throne to protect this young man.»
Asagi squinted suspiciously: «To protect him? Isn't it too much to send such a powerful defender to a school with no students above noble phase?»
«It was the patriarch's order.» – Triana shrugged. – «I don't know the details, but I was warned to be ready for some serious challenge.»
It wasn't enough for Asagi: «Let me see your family formation.»
«Yes, please…» – Triana held out her wrist and looked away indifferently.
Asagi nodded to the guard to check the formation. He confirmed the information. Everything was correct.
But Asagi was still full of doubts. Too much was at stake. He had to be 1000% sure that the girl was a human. He knew the harnessed supreme beasts better than anyone else in the empire. They couldn't lie, but if the owner ordered them to give certain answers, they would obediently follow the order. She might have given a prepared answer, but he knew a secret to reveal who she really was.
If a supreme beast gets a deep personal question for which they have no prepared answer, they will tell the truth. Their master's general order to pretend to be a human and answer any questions as if they were a human wouldn't work because it's too vague! Their integrity will surpass the vague order, and the truth will be out.
Asagi took five steps back: «Tell me about your parents. Are they noble, powerful tigers or miserable, wretched humans?» – He asked seriously. The girl's beauty was bewitching, but Asagi held it together. She would make him happy in a certain sense of the term if she happened to be a supreme beast. Later. When he returned home with her.
The guards were ready for the battle. Supreme beasts always gave an honest answer to such provocative questions that hurt their exaggerated pride.
«My parents are noble people! Are you a misanthrope or what?» – Triana was genuinely angry. She stood there frowning, her arms crossed. – «Wait, do you think I am a beast?»
«That's right, young lady. We suspect that this gentleman has appropriated a harnessed tiger, that is you.»
«Are you talking about me?» – Kyon gasped.
«It's ridiculous! I am a human, not a wretched beast!» – Triana exclaimed.
«I understand your anger, but get me right. The government gave us an order to catch two tigers alive. One of them died, trying to cover the other's retreat, which was an ill-fated coincidence of unfortunate circumstances. If we do not catch the escaped tiger alive, Her Highness the Empress will severely punish us. It's essential for me and every Hunter to find this beast, and you are still under suspicion if only on the grounds of your royal phase. Let me ask you a couple more questions.»
Triana's eyes sparkled with animal ferocity for a brief moment. She knew instinctively how to hide her killing intent so that the prey wouldn't feel it and couldn't escape. If she revealed herself now, the Hunters would catch her and re-harness her at once. It would mean much more than just changing the owners! She knew too well that her life would turn into living hell. Triana had chosen the current owner. The tigress got used to him even if she still considered him disgusting. It was better to serve him than the wretched, hateful creatures that had killed her uncle who had been defending her to his last breath!
Triana nodded: «You may ask me any questions. I have nothing to hide or to be afraid of.» – She said with a slight smile on her face.
Asagi and his companions admired Triana. She was a sweet, charming girl with impeccable looks and impressive talent. She was about sixteen and already a royal phaser, which was only expected from a high-ranking family member from the Saturn empire (1). They all were monstrously talented there. Too bad she was serving this fat bastard. Hopefully, nothing was going on between them...
The young patriarch asked the beautiful girl a few more questions similar to the previous ones and finally said: «Young lady, I hope you don't mind if I speak to your master in private.» – He addressed her to show that he had no respect for Dick, and small wonder. Anyone would believe that the girl had more power here. She was on a completely different level compared to her master in terms of beauty and manners, as well as talent.
«Ask him, he is in charge here.» – She said, tossing her thick mane of white hair.
«Leave us alone.» – Kyon ordered.
Triana nodded and left the room with the guards. Four people stayed. The atmosphere got colder by several degrees. The absence of the beautiful lady made the visitors drop their courtesy, their faces serious and stern.
«How did you get the first prize in the forest tournament?» – Asagi asked with a threat in his voice.
«Well… I mean… With a resourcefulness mindset!» – When Kyon understood it only heated the things, he added. – «Well, my parents also helped… Just a little bit!»
Asagi exchanged glances with Murat and Risat and shook his head. There was no point in discussing anything with this imbecile. The gossip turned out to be true. He was nothing but a dim-witted scumbag with too much self-esteem.
«The interrogation is over. Get out of the room.» – Asagi said in an imperious tone.
«Actually, I live here!» – Kyon protested.
Risat grabbed the fat freak by the collar and threw him out like yesterday's trash.
«Did you understand anything, sir?» – Murat asked.
Asagi sat at the table and steepled his fingers: «It isn't him.»
«Are you sure? There's no room for error! Too much is at stake. Remember, we have no more suspects! Those powerful attacking formations could have killed my hunters... I guess, Dick Baker may well be a great deceiver. Is it possible that a fool could take first place in the tournament, surpassing the other six schools! He must have staged this performance, engaging Triana to throw us off the track!»
The patriarch looked glumly at the seasoned hunter: «Murat, you know like no one else how intractable supreme beasts are. If you hurt their pride, they always give honest answers under the order to tell otherwise. That is why spies are useless in the beast kingdom. Moreover, jokes and sarcasm are completely alien to supreme beasts. She's just a human.» – He concluded, addressing Murat's students rather than the hunter himself.
«Even so, Dick is no ordinary fool… He could have harnessed the tiger by trickery!»
Asagi rolled his eyes: «Don't disappoint me, Murat! If Dick were smarter, he would have never taken the harnessed tiger to Cernos! Only a complete idiot would come up with something like this. Remember, you told me that he had bribed his way to victory? The Bakers are ridiculously rich. They could have staged all the travesty at the tournament. They even figured out how to sell the tokens. As for Triana, she was sent to protect this bastard after he had insulted six kingdoms. Dick Baker is a pathetic dumb asshole.» – Asagi said with grim confidence. He wished he were mistaken…
Risat, who never spoke, coughed in his fist: «During our investigation, we found out that someone had destroyed the database. Isn't it another piece of evidence against Dick Baker?»
«Not at all. It could be some prince or princess who used their authority to clean up some dirt on their dear selves. As the tournament formation had been forged, they could have come across the fat freak three or even five times. Someone could have used the sound recording of those encounters, and they might have wanted to avoid public humiliation.»
«Suppose it's true… But don't the white tigers retain their hair color after transformation? Triana has snow-white hair... Besides, yellow iris, which is so common among tigers, is rare in humans!»
«Not at all… Hair color changes during transformation. The beasts can even get rid of all their characteristic traits, like pointed ears or a tail. Triana's white hair and yellow eyes are just a coincidence.» – Asagi bit the tip of his finger. – «Anyway, you might be right, Risat. There are too many coincidences. We need to double-check. Do you have any catnip?»
«Yes, sir!» – Risat was happy to help.
It was getting dark. A group of students returned to the dorm after training. At the entrance, one of them looked up and exclaimed: Look! Someone is flying here! The students looked up, surprised. The Iron Throners rarely saw flying beasts, and there were seven of them at once! Whoever the approaching guests were, they had the nerve to disregard the important Cernos rule: the large flying animals were forbidden to trespass the school barrier. The deputy principal, aka the superior examiner, came out to meet the distinguished guests. He had been informed about their arrival, but even so, he was ashen-faced. A cold shiver ran down his spine as the guests approached Cernos. He couldn't even imagine that he would have to meet such important people. The patriarch Hunter and the empress's student rolled in one had arrived in Cernos! The deputy principal was a bug who was to give an elephant a proper welcome. The seven huge flying birds had overcome the barrier and landed on the school grounds. Powerful gusts of wind nearly knocked down weak students. Three people dressed in noble clothes gracefully jumped off the huge eagle. Two of them emitted powerful royal-phase auras. One of them was about twenty years old! What a monstrous talent! The students' hearts missed a beat as they watched the noble guests approach the Cernos dormitory. Nobility from the great kingdom, an entirely different environment, had condescended to visit this neck of the wood. Their royal-phase guards appeared out of nowhere. Any of them could single-handedly destroy the entire investigation department and Cernos to boot, without even breaking a sweat. Welcome, Mr. Asagi. The deputy principal bowed low. His voice sounded shaky. My name is Demid Grand. I can do anything for you. Awaiting your orders! Asagi nodded: I'm looking for Dick Baker to ask him some important questions. Take us to him. With pleasure, sir. Follow me. The deputy principal bent down again. When the distinguished guests disappeared behind the front door, the students could finally exhale. Everyone wondered what the hateful fat freak had to do with the newcomers. They hoped that it was something serious, like a cruel execution. Kyon opened the door and saw a group of people with unreadable faces. One of them said coldly, skillfully concealing his disdain for the ugly object of his search: Dick Baker, you're under investigation. My name is Asagi Hunter. Will you answer some of my questions? Even if his question suggested a choice, only a fool wouldn't understand the patriarch's intentions. Dick wiped his mouth stained with chocolate with his sleeve and then waved to his guests with the same hand: Of course! Come on in, gents. Would you like some tea with chocolate? You must be hungry after your long trip. Asagi gestured for the guards to stay outside and entered the room with Murat, the seasoned hunter, and Risat, the talented young student. Unlike the patriarch, his companions couldn't stay calm when they saw the suspect and felt his cultivation. They were about to throw up! Even his first and last name justified his disgusting looks. The parents must have hated their offspring. When the three guests came inside the room, they froze to the spot. They saw a dazzlingly beautiful blonde girl, feminine, attractive, and at the same time, unbelievably strong! Her yellow predatory eyes seemed to be looking straight into the soul. The guards sensed a threat and immediately rushed inside. Asagi, Murat and Risat tensed. The tiger they had missed was a royal phaser! Dick Baker was suspected of harnessing a supreme beast! It all added up: they were after this girl! A fierce fight was inevitable! Everyone was ready for battle, but... the girl smiled sweetly, raising her eyebrows in surprise: I do not bite, gentlemen. Why do you react so violently? When was the last time you saw a beautiful and strong girl? Well... There's something deeply wrong in your Rosarrio She stuck out her playful tongue to mock the guests. The three Hunters looked at each other. Judging by her sarcastic speech, it was an ordinary playful human girl. No supreme beasts ever behaved like this. However, her identity was yet to be confirmed or refuted. Gents I am going to soil my pants! Stop it, please! Dick stammered. He was as white as chalk. As befits an advanced phaser, he looked scared to death of the aggressive royal-phase auras. The tension in the air had eased, but no one relaxed. Asagi didn't drop his guard when he addressed the girl: My name is Asagi Hunter, young lady. May I know your name and the reason why you're here? Triana sat gracefully on the bed and elegantly introduced herself, her knees put together, her hand at her chest: I am Triana Baker, a pure-blood descendant of my family, called to the Iron Throne to protect this young man. Asagi squinted suspiciously: To protect him? Isn't it too much to send such a powerful defender to a school with no students above noble phase? It was the patriarch's order. Triana shrugged. I don't know the details, but I was warned to be ready for some serious challenge. It wasn't enough for Asagi: Let me see your family formation. Yes, please Triana held out her wrist and looked away indifferently. Asagi nodded to the guard to check the formation. He confirmed the information. Everything was correct. But Asagi was still full of doubts. Too much was at stake. He had to be 1000% sure that the girl was a human. He knew the harnessed supreme beasts better than anyone else in the empire. They couldn't lie, but if the owner ordered them to give certain answers, they would obediently follow the order. She might have given a prepared answer, but he knew a secret to reveal who she really was. If a supreme beast gets a deep personal question for which they have no prepared answer, they will tell the truth. Their master's general order to pretend to be a human and answer any questions as if they were a human wouldn't work because it's too vague! Their integrity will surpass the vague order, and the truth will be out. Asagi took five steps back: Tell me about your parents. Are they noble, powerful tigers or miserable, wretched humans? He asked seriously. The girl's beauty was bewitching, but Asagi held it together. She would make him happy in a certain sense of the term if she happened to be a supreme beast. Later. When he returned home with her. The guards were ready for the battle. Supreme beasts always gave an honest answer to such provocative questions that hurt their exaggerated pride. My parents are noble people! Are you a misanthrope or what? Triana was genuinely angry. She stood there frowning, her arms crossed. Wait, do you think I am a beast? That's right, young lady. We suspect that this gentleman has appropriated a harnessed tiger, that is you. Are you talking about me? Kyon gasped. It's ridiculous! I am a human, not a wretched beast! Triana exclaimed. I understand your anger, but get me right. The government gave us an order to catch two tigers alive. One of them died, trying to cover the other's retreat, which was an ill-fated coincidence of unfortunate circumstances. If we do not catch the escaped tiger alive, Her Highness the Empress will severely punish us. It's essential for me and every Hunter to find this beast, and you are still under suspicion if only on the grounds of your royal phase. Let me ask you a couple more questions. Triana's eyes sparkled with animal ferocity for a brief moment. She knew instinctively how to hide her killing intent so that the prey wouldn't feel it and couldn't escape. If she revealed herself now, the Hunters would catch her and re-harness her at once. It would mean much more than just changing the owners! She knew too well that her life would turn into living hell. Triana had chosen the current owner. The tigress got used to him even if she still considered him disgusting. It was better to serve him than the wretched, hateful creatures that had killed her uncle who had been defending her to his last breath! Triana nodded: You may ask me any questions. I have nothing to hide or to be afraid of. She said with a slight smile on her face. Asagi and his companions admired Triana. She was a sweet, charming girl with impeccable looks and impressive talent. She was about sixteen and already a royal phaser, which was only expected from a high-ranking family member from the Saturn empire 1. They all were monstrously talented there. Too bad she was serving this fat bastard. Hopefully, nothing was going on between them... The young patriarch asked the beautiful girl a few more questions similar to the previous ones and finally said: Young lady, I hope you don't mind if I speak to your master in private. He addressed her to show that he had no respect for Dick, and small wonder. Anyone would believe that the girl had more power here. She was on a completely different level compared to her master in terms of beauty and manners, as well as talent. Ask him, he is in charge here. She said, tossing her thick mane of white hair. Leave us alone. Kyon ordered. Triana nodded and left the room with the guards. Four people stayed. The atmosphere got colder by several degrees. The absence of the beautiful lady made the visitors drop their courtesy, their faces serious and stern. How did you get the first prize in the forest tournament? Asagi asked with a threat in his voice. Well I mean With a resourcefulness mindset! When Kyon understood it only heated the things, he added. Well, my parents also helped Just a little bit! Asagi exchanged glances with Murat and Risat and shook his head. There was no point in discussing anything with this imbecile. The gossip turned out to be true. He was nothing but a dim-witted scumbag with too much self-esteem. The interrogation is over. Get out of the room. Asagi said in an imperious tone. Actually, I live here! Kyon protested. Risat grabbed the fat freak by the collar and threw him out like yesterday's trash. Did you understand anything, sir? Murat asked. Asagi sat at the table and steepled his fingers: It isn't him. Are you sure? There's no room for error! Too much is at stake. Remember, we have no more suspects! Those powerful attacking formations could have killed my hunters... I guess, Dick Baker may well be a great deceiver. Is it possible that a fool could take first place in the tournament, surpassing the other six schools! He must have staged this performance, engaging Triana to throw us off the track! The patriarch looked glumly at the seasoned hunter: Murat, you know like no one else how intractable supreme beasts are. If you hurt their pride, they always give honest answers under the order to tell otherwise. That is why spies are useless in the beast kingdom. Moreover, jokes and sarcasm are completely alien to supreme beasts. She's just a human. He concluded, addressing Murat's students rather than the hunter himself. Even so, Dick is no ordinary fool He could have harnessed the tiger by trickery! Asagi rolled his eyes: Don't disappoint me, Murat! If Dick were smarter, he would have never taken the harnessed tiger to Cernos! Only a complete idiot would come up with something like this. Remember, you told me that he had bribed his way to victory? The Bakers are ridiculously rich. They could have staged all the travesty at the tournament. They even figured out how to sell the tokens. As for Triana, she was sent to protect this bastard after he had insulted six kingdoms. Dick Baker is a pathetic dumb asshole. Asagi said with grim confidence. He wished he were mistaken Risat, who never spoke, coughed in his fist: During our investigation, we found out that someone had destroyed the database. Isn't it another piece of evidence against Dick Baker? Not at all. It could be some prince or princess who used their authority to clean up some dirt on their dear selves. As the tournament formation had been forged, they could have come across the fat freak three or even five times. Someone could have used the sound recording of those encounters, and they might have wanted to avoid public humiliation. Suppose it's true But don't the white tigers retain their hair color after transformation? Triana has snow-white hair... Besides, yellow iris, which is so common among tigers, is rare in humans! Not at all Hair color changes during transformation. The beasts can even get rid of all their characteristic traits, like pointed ears or a tail. Triana's white hair and yellow eyes are just a coincidence. Asagi bit the tip of his finger. Anyway, you might be right, Risat. There are too many coincidences. We need to double-check. Do you have any catnip? Yes, sir! Risat was happy to help.
