Chapter 39: Sin of my Friend

Rudolf Azregon

It was awfully silent in this morning. Not even chirping birds are here on the acacia tree just beside my window.

I have to do a lot of paperwork so I woke up early. It’s been two days since I became a Pentagram Knight, and I think I’ll be busier than anyone soon. There are piles of complaints, criminal cases and Arcadia profiles on my desk, and I have to read all of it. I have this hypothesis where Estoff Wraith really hate this job because it lacks some action, so he became a terrorist.

Because I’m now a Pentagram Knight, it is compulsory for me to concede in the Dragon Knight’s Tournament. That means that I will never be able to fight Amphere in the arena. No matter how much I wanted to fight him, my job to do greater good must be my priority.

There was a faint knock on the door. I answered “Come in.” as I set aside the piles of folders. Talking about priorities, this meeting is at the top of my concerns. I know what or who to expect at this hour.

It was Amphere. There’s something new to him. His spiky black hair is now having several bangs framing his face. It was a trifling transformation of him, but I think it suits him well. He appears to have broader shoulders and also, bigger muscles. Airelina would be very aroused if she already saw his lovely Amphy.

“What?” Amphere tilted his head. This guy is pretending to be oblivious. He just went to a salon.

I shook my head in response while holding my laughter. I can’t just imagine the two after his dragonoid sees his transformation after he joined the Chevalier Unit. “Nothing. Have a seat.”

Amphere immediately sat uncomfortably on the chair beside my desk, and then watch me organize my table. “The last time I went here, Estoff was sitting in that chair.” He said. His tone somewhat provides hostility to me.

“Yeah, but now I’m a Pentagram Knight.” I grinned. I reached for the remote control of this room and pressed a button. All the windows automatically closed, leaving the room engulfed with eternal pitch-darkness. No one can see anything here. “I’ll conceal this room from outsiders so that no one can hear us talking here.”

“What, you’re going to rape me?” Amphere said jokingly.

“Fucker.” I immediately replied. “I am here to have you confess.”

The projector I have prepared gave of a satisfying light. The sigil of a golden dragon’s head- the Pentagram Knight flashed through the screen. Well this is my computer, and that is my new wallpaper. I have to be proud of being the new Pentagram Knight at least.

“I know Amphere…that you’re the new Black Phantom. The Black Phantom that entered the tournament grounds is just a fake.”

There was a strong silence. I must have hit the bull’s eye. I trusted my gut in this. I know the way he fight. I know every movement he makes. I know his mysterious power. I know his blazing stare at me. I know his heart and soul. I know…that he’s the Black Phantom.

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“Yes…” Amphere bowed for a second, and then turned to me with a gritting smile. “And I’ll have you confess too. You’re the one who tortured and killed Alder Windstrafe, aren’t you? …I have read the autopsy, and that kind of bloodless burnt wound on his chest…Only your Chaos Claws can do that.”

I returned with a chuckle. I’m impressed. Of course he knew from the start. He’s the new Black Phantom after all. “So now that we are both sinners, we’ll go to jail if one of us sang anyone out.” I said.

“I will not sell you.” Amphere slightly pouted. “My only concern is to keep Airi have a free and happy world to live in.”

“If it involves passing the Dragonoid Rights Bill by Duchess Marieflorine Corasell, then I’ll help you. But I can’t have you running around with your terrorist friends.”

“Is it because of Airi again?” Amphere clenched his fists, suppressing his urge to run amok here in my office. “Just what do you want with Airi?”

“Airi is a murderer, Amphere. A devil who is responsible for thousands of lives.”

“Is it about the Crimson Dragonfly again?” Amphere’s voice is considerably higher.  “I told you it was all an accident-“

“It was never an accident! It was planned by both Estoff, Zac and Airelina.” I cutted him out. “The destruction of Vanilla City was planned by the three original members of the Arcadia!”

Amphere was trembling as he stood up and slowly stands back. He’s muttering to himself “No. no. no. no. no.” as his eyes widened in shock about the revelation. Of course he won’t believe me even though I’m his best friend. But I need to give him proof.

The projector flashed a video screen of a naked man constricted on an electric chair. The man is blindfolded and has several grazes and wounds all around his body. That should be familiar to him. It was the interrogation of Alder Windstrafe.

“What is the Crimson Dragonfly?” the interrogator with the cybernetic voice asked.

“Crimson Dragonfly is the Dracaryx of Zac Schneider and his dragonoid, Aleria Turner.” Alder answered while panting. “Aleria Turner…Is the fake name fabricated by Airelina Frembell to herself in order to not get herself caught. She has been using aliases by then, until she met her new legal knight, Amphere Harrison.”

“How does the Dracaryx… the Crimson Dragonfly work?”

“The Crimson Dragonfly forces any other dragonoid to fuse with Airelina Frembell, just like the same manner of fusing two dragonoids using Dragon Splicers. But the combination of the two dragons will be a lot stable. Airelina Frembell’s mind will be dominant in that case.”

“What happened in the Vanilla City?”

“Airelina Frembell fused with her unnamed dragonoid friend who turns out to be a Titanus Dragon. Once the Titanus Dragon and the Futuretech Dragon fused, they created the monstrous Monolith Dragon that destroyed the whole city with its photon blasters.”

“The Crimson Dragonfly incident happened before the formation of the Arcadia, yet you said that the Crimson Dragonfly is Arcadia’s fault. Why is that?”

Alder chuckled before answering. “Everything is just a show. Airelina Frembell killed thousands of humans and dragonoids in order for all the dragonoids blame the government. They framed the empire! You can ask each and every one of Aracdian Dragonoids with the same question, and they will answer ‘the government is responsible for wiping out the only Dragonoid-Friendly City.’ Because of the hatred of the dragonoids against the government, Arcadia was finally formed. Airelina and Estoff are surely smart to make that move.”

“How about Zac Schneider?”

“Zac Schneider was just used by Airelina Frembell. They just wanted him for his Dracaryx. Zac Schneider thought that his dragonoid loves her, and he loved her too. Zac is involved in all of it because of his love for Aleria Turner, aka Airelina Frembell.”

I immediately paused the video.

Amphere was truly stunned. “No, that’s not it.” He muttered to himself. “That can’t be true!”

“I know you’re a good and a brilliant man, Amphere.” I said with a calming voice. “I know it than anyone else. Now answer my question… Why is it that every time your Airi hears the word Crimson Dragonfly, she’s suppressing herself to get rabid? Whenever someone is trying to blackmail her, she would do everything on her power just to not let you know?”

“…No…” Amphere bowed as he shook his head. “…You’re lying, right?”

“I certainly wish that I was.”