Crossover: The Problem Human of [Arcadia]

— — — — — —

Aishelia really had given the order Laius mentioned—that part was true.

So even though her chest burned with anger, she forced herself to calm down. Trust in Laius, plus a careful weighing of pros and cons, kept her collected.

When she spoke again, her voice carried a strange edge.

"You're saying this was all by my command. Fine. Then tell me—did my command also include letting [No Name] lead the alliance?"

At that, the guards' faces all changed, though duty kept them frozen in place.

"Yes," Laius admitted, looking ashamed. "I did my best to negotiate, but Lord Yagami refused to budge."

Aishelia's expression twitched.

"And the demand that we pay out a hundred thousand gold coins from our treasury to fund [No Name]'s development—was that part of your 'best efforts' too?"

"Yes."

This time, Laius straightened, tone righteous and firm.

"After visiting No Name, I'm convinced of their immense potential. Their leader, Ryo Yagami, is a formidable figure, and he's also on very good terms with our [Perseus] community."

"But due to a series of unfortunate incidents, [No Name] was reduced to a seven-digit community, creating a situation where their rank doesn't match their true power."

"So I took it upon myself to launch this rescue plan—A diamond in the rough, so to speak."

His face shone with sincerity, as though he were making some noble sacrifice.

"You've lost it, haven't you?" one of the guards blurted out, breaking the temple's rule of silence.

"Even if [No Name] used to be great, when did Perseus ever have to stoop this low?" another muttered.

Murmurs of anger spread among the guards, who cursed under their breath despite themselves.

Thud.

Aishelia slammed her fist against the armrest, the sharp sound cutting through the noise like a blade.

Once silence fell, she fixed Laius with a glare and jabbed her finger at the contract scroll.

"Then explain this to me. Why does it say, and I quote, {willing to ally with [No Name]'s leader, sealing the pact with marriage}?"

Her golden hair whipped around her face as divine power leaked from her body, her teeth grinding together.

"Laius, your talents truly know no bounds."

"You really think so?" Laius's face lit up with joy, bowing quickly.

"This servant's abilities are only thanks to your careful guidance, my lord. The success of this treaty is entirely due to you."

Is Laius seriously brain-dead?

The guards and even the maids nearby stared in stunned disbelief.

Their leader was clearly furious, and yet Laius was treating her words as praise. Was he insane or just fearless?

'Idiots,' Laius thought with scorn. 'They probably assume Aishelia is venting. But I know better. This is exactly the kind of outcome she asked me to create.'

He remembered her exact words: "Do your utmost to meet Ryo's conditions. Push things until the elders—and even I myself—are ready to snap."

And hadn't he just accomplished that perfectly?

Aishelia's expression suddenly went blank.

She gestured toward a nearby guard. "Bring me a whip. The harshest one we have."

"Yes, ma'am!" The guard's face hardened with grim approval before hurrying off.

Moments later he returned, presenting a long black whip studded with cruel iron spikes.

Aishelia took it without a word, stepping slowly toward Laius. Her voice was flat, stripped of all warmth.

"Now tell me—what possessed you to agree to such terms?"

Her jaw tightened.

"Who ordered you to decide my marriage without permission?"

At the sight of the spiked whip, Laius's bravado cracked. His face twisted in fear.

"My lord, everything I did was by your command!"

Crack!

The whip sliced through the air and lashed across his body, leaving long, jagged welts peppered with tiny punctures. Blood welled up immediately.

Aishelia's teeth clenched. "Say that again."

"Ahhhhoho—!" The whip carried a divine breaking force, and Laius couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

But he reminded himself: this was just part of the play.

His brilliant, heroic aunt might be lashing him now, but her heart must be bleeding inside.

Steeling himself, Laius grit his teeth. "No one ordered me. I only acted in accordance with your will!"

"You still dare to talk back?"

Aishelia's chest rose and fell sharply, her eyes like knives.

"You think I'd tell you to sell off my own marriage? Are you mocking me?"

Crack!

Another vicious strike made even the guards flinch away, unable to watch.

Through the scream came Laius's stubborn protest: "I only followed your orders!"

Crack!

Again and again, Aishelia's whip fell, her anger tearing the hall apart while the guards looked on in silence.

---

[Perseus] HQ Gate

The main gate stood under the watch of tall, broad men in gleaming Greek-style breastplates.

Just then, a black-haired, black-eyed man in a white uniform stepped out of thin air before them.

One guard's eyes widened. "The leader of [No Name]… Ryo Yagami?"

"Nah~"

Ryo's fingers flickered with golden light.

In an instant, the radiance spread into countless beams, piercing through every guard on duty.

Time seemed to still. Then the guards blinked and looked at him again, expressions shifting.

"Lord Laius? Did you just return from another trip?"

"That's right."

Ryo nodded calmly. "Open the gate. I'm here to see Lady Aishelia."

"Of course, right away."

The guard lowered the gate's divine barrier and pulled the heavy doors open.

At that moment, a figure in ancient armor approached—Arkeos.

He frowned at Ryo. "Who are you?"

Ryo's lips curved faintly as he loosened his zanpakutō at his hip. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

"Shatter… Kyōka Suigetsu."

But what flared behind him wasn't even Shikai—it was a burst of cosmos.

Arkeos's vision swam. His senses twisted. And before him now stood not Ryo, but Laius himself.

"What the—an illusion?" Arkeos rubbed at his temples. Yet the sight of "Laius" respectfully greeting him felt so real he found himself nodding back.

His sixth sense screamed that something was wrong.

But that same instinct whispered that nothing was wrong at all.

Caught in the contradiction, Arkeos walked past into the gate.

Ryo, smiling faintly, brushed shoulders with him as they passed each other. At that instant, the two men crossed paths.

.

.

.