Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]
Chapter 43: A Sword Drawn in Scilence

Chapter 43: A Sword Drawn in Scilence

The prisoner slowly raised their head.

The chains rattled against the stone platform and for several seconds the entire chamber fell very very quiet. Hundreds of eyes locked onto the figure at the centre of the stage. There were thin violet mist drifting around the prisoner’s body.

Kai’s eyes narrowed, he was instantly conflicted.

" System, Run Appraisal."

Blue light flickered across his vision.

[Warning.]

[Analysis obstructed.]

[Corruption level exceeds acceptable thresholds.]

[Abnormal biological state detected.]

Kai frowned. The Eye had failed before against strong concealment and against the Curator, but this felt different. Something was actively interfering with the analysis itself and he needed to know what.

"System, what exactly am I looking at?"

The System answered almost at once.

[Insufficient information available.]

[However, preliminary analysis indicates that the corruption is attempting to stabilize itself within the host.]

"The host?"

[Correct.]

You mean the corruption is living inside them?

[Unknown.]

[Current evidence suggests adaptive behaviour.]

A chill slid down Kai’s spine.

Adaptive Behaviour....

Below, the Curator stepped forward and spread his arms.

"My honoured guests, you are witnessing something very extraordinary. Months ago this individual was discovered along one of the old trade routes outside the city. Ordinary people exposed to this level of corruption die almost instantly. Yet this one survived."

Whispers moved through the hall.

"Remarkable, isn’t it?" The Curator slowly circled the prisoner. "Imagine the possibilities. Imagine the power. Imagine the knowledge. And imagine the possibilities of Evolution"

The crowd stirred. Kai finally understood how the man had gained so much influence. He was not only selling objects. He was selling the dream of power, of survival, of transcendence and of becoming something more...an advanced species. People would kill for less.

The System cut into his thoughts.

[Anomaly detected.]

What anomaly?

[An individual possessing unusually high combat capability has been identified within the chamber.]

Kai swept his gaze across the crowd. Humans, demons, beastmen, elves, dwarves, merchants, nobles, assassins, mercenaries. Nothing stood out.

Can you identify them?

[Analysis ongoing.]

Beside him Elias turned his head slightly, the Beady eyes of Gorran stared at him

"Something wrong?"

"I’m not sure."

Dexter folded his arms.

"Your expression says otherwise."

Before Kai could reply, the Curator spoke again.

"As fortune would have it, tonight’s guests will receive a demonstration."

Several attendants stepped onto the stage. The chains rattled as the prisoner was pulled forward. The Curator took a small blade from one of the guards and smiled.

Kai rose halfway from his seat. Elias’s hand closed around his arm.

"Sit down."

"What is he doing?"

"You already know."

"They would hurt him"

"It’s better we keep watching and not act impulsively, we are here to investigate, remember?"

"But..."

"Kai...settle down"

The Curator pressed the blade to the prisoner’s arm and drew it across the skin. A sharp gasp ran through the chamber. For a moment nothing happened. Then violet light burst from the wound created by the knife, washing the platform in colour. The flesh knitted itself back together before everyone’s eyes. The injury vanished. The prisoner trembled and let out a muffled cry.

[Rapid regeneration detected.]

[Unknown energy source identified.]

[Pain response remains active.]

Kai’s jaw tightened. They could still feel everything.

The Curator’s voice rang out, pleased.

"You see? Power. Adaptation. Evolution."

Excited whispers filled the hall. Some faces showed fascination. Others showed horror. Many simply looked greedy, ready to get Thier hands on the piece.

"Imagine what we could do with such power..." A beast man muttered.

"Where can i get corrupted?" Another of the guests said in a mockish tone.

Kai squeezed his fists in anger, he turned to Elias.

"We’re stopping this."

"kai we have gone through this the answer ks still No."

"But someone is being tortured."

"I know. And like i said if we move too soon we lose everything."

Kai looked at Dexter. The fox was not smiling.

"What do you think?"

"I think I don’t like this."

"Then help me."

"Not yet. Look around."

Kai did. Only then did he notice how many guards now stood near the stage, the exits, and the hidden passages Dexter had marked earlier. The hall had quietly become a trap.

The System spoke again.

[Anomaly confirmed.]

[Identity analysis approaching completion.]

[Sword intent detected.]

[Extremely high mana concentration detected.]

A subtle pressure spread through the chamber. It was calm, sharp, and impossible to ignore. The Curator paused. Several guards shifted uneasily. Kai felt the hair on the back of his neck rise.

[Probability of identity match: ninety-three percent.]

[Probability adjusted: ninety-eight percent.]

Then a voice cut through the hall.

"That’s enough."

Every head turned.

A single figure rose from the audience. Dark clothing. Gloves. A hood that hid most of his face. Nothing about him looked remarkable until he reached up and pushed the hood back.

Silver hair fell over his shoulders. Clear blue eyes caught the light of the floating lamps.

Kai stopped breathing.

Caelum Draven.

The System confirmed it at once.

[Identity verified.]

[Sword Sovereign Caelum Draven detected.]

[Threat assessment: Extremely high.]

[Recommendation: Avoid becoming caught between opposing forces.]

Caelum had been sitting in the hall the entire time.

The Curator tilted his head.

"And who might you be?"

Caelum stepped into the open aisle. The crowd drew back without thinking. He drew his sword in one smooth motion. The clear ring of steel filled the underground chamber. No blast of power followed, yet the air itself seemed to tighten.

"I am giving you one opportunity," Caelum said. His voice remained calm. "Release the prisoner."

"No."

The sword moved.

No one saw the cut. One of the restraining chains simply parted and fell. The prisoner collapsed to the platform. For the first time that night the Curator’s smile disappeared.

Guards surged forward. Mana flared. Weapons left sheaths.

Elias rose from his seat. Dexter let out a quiet breath. Kai could only stare.

Caelum turned his head slightly. Those blue eyes found Kai across the crowded hall.

"Hello, Kai."

Kai blinked surprised he had recognised him even with the disguise.

"...Hello."

Elias started laughing.

The next instant the chamber erupted into chaos.