Extra's Descent
Chapter 394: Sanctum of Trials [4]

"Milis."

Audible gasps erupted throughout the entire chamber.

That was it. The final nail to the coffin that confirmed every statement Brandon had made.

Brandon, obviously, was aware of what he was doing, but couldn't help but grin.

"Charles, you…. What about the neutrality clause!? Are you siding with this boy? This continent!?"

The Elder, who sat beside Charles, exclaimed.

"There must be some kind of misunderstanding."

Charles began.

"I'm not siding with this boy, or this continent. I'm siding with humanity itself."

"...."

"Milis has clearly engaged with Wraith activities, if anything we're the ones breaking the clause by disregarding such matters. This boy is merely a scapegoat to exposing these facts."

Then, Charles turned his head, focusing on the man casually seated among the audience with his legs crossed.

"But the question still stands, where did he get all this information from?"

The man he was staring at glanced away at that moment, averting Charles' gaze.

"You, seated over there. Would you care to enlighten us?"

"M–Me?"

The man belatedly pointed at himself, flustered. But Charles was well aware it was all an act.

"Yes, you. Isaac Milton."

It was Isaac.

"Or should I say, the Twelfth Elder, who pretended to be absent today. Isaac Solace."

Charles smiled widely.

The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the faint murmur of disbelief. All eyes turned toward Isaac Milton—no, Isaac Solace, the Twelfth Elder.

Brandon stared at Isaac, who was seated casually until now, and sat up straighter.

'I wanted to expose him.'

He had already known his identity the moment the two first met.

Since it was all broadcasted live, Raven should be watching.

'Yeah, Raven. Your long time friend was an Elder this whole time.'

Isaac uncrossed his legs and let out a slow breath before finally speaking.

"Twelfth Elder? What are these baseless accusations? I'm just a hunting dog working for the—"

"You suck at lying, Isaac."

Brandon spat indifferently.

"...."

"You think we haven't seen through your disguise? Mira was practically glaring at you the entire time"

Charles said. Mira referred to the other Elder who was in favor of Brandon, and opposed to the Runic Cadaver Analysis.

"So that's why…. I thought she wanted to tap or somethin—!"

Isaac paused there, a sudden chill running down his spine as he felt the intense glare coming from Mira.

"Keum."

Charles coughed, clearing his throat belatedly.

"Alright, alright. I get it."

At that moment, Isaac rose from his seat, smoothing out his coat as if preparing for a speech.

But before he could speak, Charles nudged with his chin for Isaac to sit by his side.

Isaac casually strode forward. The guards stepped back, giving him space.

Before he sat right next to the empty seat besides Charles, Isaac pointed at his own face, holding up a gun sign.

All of a sudden, his face distorted into that of a handsome fellow. His eyes, a refreshing blue color, and his hair, gradually changing into navy–blue.

'Light refraction….'

A skill that only mages who had exceeded expertise in the [Light] affinity.

Not even Belle could do that. Not in a couple more years or so as long as she continued training with no rest.

Sitting down, Isaac turned his head and stared at Mira. A woman who bore a youthful appearance, with radiant orange hair, and crimson irises.

They were all Elders, who had lived for years. But their appearance never showed any signs of aging.

"Mira, still wanna tap—"

"...."

"Okay, okay."

"Sigh, as problematic as ever."

Charles couldn't help but shake his head.

"Anyway, care to enlighten us how the boy has all this information?"

"Alright, here's the truth."

Isaac closed his eyes, pausing, letting the tension sink in.

But he paused way too long.

"Just get on with it!"

"Okay, so…. I haven't done anything."

"Huh?"

Charles blinked his eyes. Haven't done anything? Then how?

"Preposterous!"

Another Elder exclaimed.

"His confidence clearly stems from the idea of you backing him."

"No."

At that moment, Isaac's demeanor changed. An oppressive aura emanated from him, and his eyes contorted into a slit.

"His confidence simply comes from himself."

"He reminds me of you in your younger days."

Charles coolly commented from the side.

Isaac nodded, and smirked.

"I know."

***

The truth was out.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that all of Brandon's baseless accusations and statements were the truth.

This was especially so, as Charles and Isaac had practically confirmed everything.

In any case, the other Elders didn't seem to be amused at all.

"You're asking for chaos, Locke. Do you really believe mass panic is the solution?"

"I'm asking for the truth."

Brandon shot back.

"The people deserve to know what's coming. They deserve to have a choice in how they prepare. You can't protect them by keeping them blind."

Charles, breaking his silence once more, spoke up.

"He's right."

The room went still.

Charles leaned forward, addressing his fellow Elders.

"You've all been so focused on maintaining control that you've lost sight of the bigger picture. We've been lying to ourselves, believing that we could handle this quietly. But the truth is, it isn't just Holy Britannia at risk. It's the entire world."

"That's besides the point. We all know the inner workings of Milis, they are not the problem."

"What do you mean?"

With brows raised, Brandon asked.

"So even you aren't knowledgeable about this. Interesting…."

Charles responded.

The trial had entirely shifted, turning into a discussion.

"The reason why we've never intervened, is because we don't even know what we're facing. It's not Milis itself actually, but a collective from Milis. We've yet to figure out their motives."

The reason why they had kept silent this whole time, was because they were the flames of war would ignite.

From the council's perspective, both continents were ignorant of the whole situation.

"So in other words…."

Brandon pinched his chin.

"They're being framed?"

"That's what we think."

Now Brandon's entire perspective changed. In other words, everyone was a victim of the real enemy they were facing.

It wasn't just Holy Britannia, nor would it only be Milis. Most probably, the enemies lingered in every continent, sowing seeds that would spark another Great War.

"I know what the enemy is."

At that moment, Brandon stepped up.

Gasps echoed throughout the chamber, even among the Twelve Elders.

Isaac, who had maintained his calm demeanor, shifted.

Everyone's attention snapped toward Brandon, who stood in the center of the Sanctum, his ink-black eyes cold and calculating.

"What did you just say?"

One of the Elders stammered, disbelief evident in his voice.

Brandon let the tension hang in the air for a moment longer.

His gaze swept over the audience.

"The true enemy we've been facing."

Brandon began.

"Is not a single force. Not a nation, not even a continent. It's something else. A hidden group pulling the strings from behind the scenes, manipulating entire nations for their twisted goals."

Closing his eyes, allowing the tension to sink in as he took a shallow breath, Brandon continued thereafter.

"The Wraith Cult."

The crowd erupted in a mix of gasps, murmurs, and fear.

But the Elders, on the other hand, exchanged incredulous glances.

"We've known about them for years, boy. They're nothing but a scattered group of zealots—barely a threat."

There seemed to be a hint of disbelief in the Elder's voice.

This was because the Wraith Cult operated for years.

They were a threat, but not to the point where it would cause wide panic.

Brandon shook his head slowly.

"That's where you're wrong, You've only seen the surface. What you don't understand is that they've been growing in power, and orchestrating events across the continents."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

"What you've seen is barely a fraction of their power. There's something far more sinister above everything."

Brandon briefly glanced at Bellion before continuing.

"They're known as the Sin Archbishops."

The room gasped.

Even the Elders, who had maintained their composure until now, exchanged uneasy glances.

This was new information, and they didn't like where it was heading.

Brandon continued, his eyes locking onto the camera, addressing not just the room, but the entire world.

"There are seven Archbishops, each representing one of the deadly sins."

Brandon said, his voice growing more intense.

"They're not just figureheads—they're the ones pulling the strings behind the Wraith Cult, and they've infiltrated every level of society."

Brandon's gaze flickered to the Elders before landing back on the camera.

"But that's not all. One of these Archbishops has been operating right under our noses, responsible for the deaths and that recently happened."

He took a deep breath, his voice lowering.

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"The massacre of Iron-Fist Guild. The slaughter of Blood Crescent Moon Guild. And…."

Brandon's eyes narrowed. Everyone's attention fixed on him as he focused on the camera.

It was time to unveil the hidden truth.

"The murder of Evelyn Cessna."

"...."

A tentative silence followed, everyone trying to process Brandon's words.

"Going back to this trial's initial objective. I admit, I did kill Evelyn Cessna with my own hands."

But unlike previously, there was no disdain towards him. Instead, everyone wanted to know the truth, because clearly, there was something more to the story.

"I had no choice."

He clenched his fist.

"If I allowed the Wraith seed to sprout further. Evelyn Cessna would've turned into a Wraith."

Despite the sorrow he felt in his heart, Brandon's expressions remained completely indifferent.

He wasn't here to ask for sympathy.

He was here to reveal everything to the world.

"If my conjectures are correct—No, I'm a hundred percent certain they are."

His gaze landed on Amelia, who looked back at him.

"From Amelia Constantine's investigations, I've come to conclude that everything that's happened thus far was done by the Archbishop Sin of Lust and Pride."

Isaac finally spoke up, his voice laced with sarcasm, but his eyes betrayed the tension he felt.

"That's a bold claim, Locke. Do you have proof of this, or are you just throwing accusations around?"

"I do."

At that moment, a certain audience stood up.

It was Bellion.

Soon after, the recording of Zeke's 'interrogation' was played.

Despite holding up in a cell for the past week, Brandon was never idle.

He too, had been in contact with Bellion with his burner phone.

Time passed.

The moment the recording ended, silence befell the chamber once again.

Of course, there was still a hint of disbelief among the Elders.

But it was then when Bellion spoke up.

"I, Field Marshal Bellion Van, confirm that this recording is authentic."

There were no doubts from the Elders. Their eyes spoke of it.

At that moment, Brandon's eyes locked on the camera.

"Archbishops, I know all of you are watching this. I know you all think you're untouchable."

His lips curled into a grim smile.

He had done it.

He had placed a target on his back.

If tracking them down was impossible, then they should come to Brandon instead.

"But I'm coming for both of you. I'll replace you—No, all of you. And when I do—"

Brandon's voice sharpened, his entire body emanated a inky–black aura, his magic power rising.

"I will kill all of you myself."