Chapter 71 - No Stones Left Unturned
The Lancaster and Greene family sat together in the back enjoying some tea, while Sebastian drove the car in the direction Robert previous pointed.
Robert sighed at the difference between their two family's lifestyle. Even on a road trip, they could still enjoy drinking tea.
However he had to admit the herbal tea, Amelia had offered was magical. Whatever tension and worry everyone had felt before, it was relaxed by the tea's effect.
"I'm sorry about my earlier actions. Robert and I were pretty good friends back in the days. I hope you didn't take it to heart and you can just call me Uncle Ignis." The duke apologised.
"I would have forgotten if you didn't mention it... U-Uncle Ignis." Lina replied humbly. She felt incredulous at the Duke's friendly attitude. It seems to her that they weren't just good friends, but very good friends. The queen was too ruthless to not take their relationship into account and punish her family as such.
"That's good." Duke Ignis turn to Robert before asking, "So, how far to Leon's home?"
"Cough* Err... hmm..." Robert choked on his tea before looking awkwardly at his daughter for answers. Lina was equally clueless.
No one knew where Leon's home actually was. The Greene family only knew the direction and that it shouldn't have been too far from their house. Considering the time they've spent in the car, they probably have already passed it.
Robert was embarrassed for being captivated by the tea and forgetting what they had set out to do.
One mustn't forget that the Greenes had lived a very stringent lifestyle and have not tasted good food and drink for a long time.
It was easy for them to be engrossed by the tea.
"I don't know either..." Lina lowered her head.
"This is... no... never mind then." Duke Ignis gathered his attention towards the outside. "Stop the car."
The car came to a complete stop, forcing the following cars behind to stop as well.
"What's the matter, Ignis?" Robert asked.
"There's traces of a battle around here."
Duke Ignis exited the car as he sweep the area with his gaze in the rain.
"How can you even tell? There's nothing here." Robert was clueless.
"No, there is something. The smell of blood." Amelia said confidently. As 9th step awakeners, the Duke and Amelia possess better senses than most.
The increment of strength isn't limited to the improvement of their physical strength, but also their body as a whole. Their five senses would naturally have been enhanced with each breakthrough in strength.
Robert and Aisha was unable to smell the blood in the heavy rain. It was more impossible for Lina and Rachel, who were weaker than them.
The vehicles slowed down as they surveyed the area, while passing.
"There's a body over there."
"Over here too."
Dead bodies after bodies were were found along the way.
"Don't look at them, Rachel." Amelia tried to stop her daughter.
"Let her. She has to start facing these things or she will never overcome it. It's good we brought plenty of herbal tea." Ignis said otherwise.
"Can anyone identify the bodies?" Robert asked. Everyone shook their heads at his question.
"Probably servants of the Greys... Did Leon do all this?" Amelia assumed.
"That boy... shouldn't be that capable, right? Their wounds were too clean. They all died from a shot to their head." Robert doubted her assumption. He experienced firsthand how exceptional Leon's medical skills were. Where on earth would he find the time to learn other skills? These skills weren't something that could be mastered simply by memorising the knowledge from a book. It requires intensive training and practices to master.
Only monstrous geniuses could break normality and toss away all logic and reasons. But geniuses are rare as metal on the current open market, let alone a monstrous genius.
"I think we don't have to worry about the boy. Only assassins can execute such clean kills and the queen's shadow guards is the only group of assassins we have on our side." Ignis commented.
"That's not possible. Elizabeth shouldn't have known about Leon yet." Amelia strongly denied. Why would the queen host her own private search after putting her in charge? It would hurt their sisterhood if Elizabeth didn't trust her. Amelia knew that although she had successfully given Elizabeth some hope, she was still 90% believing that her son long gone. Thus, it was impossible for Elizabeth to know until she inform her.
"We'll theres no point guessing at this point. All questions will be answered when we find-" Robert did not finish his words when the ground trembled at the booming noise of collapsed buildings.
"Something big happened. We have to hurry." Amelia urged.
"Step on that pedal, Sebastian." Ignis hollered at the driver.
The noise came from a slightly different direction from where the car was heading.
Arriving on scene, everyone was stunned at the level of destruction. About 10 buildings have been levelled to the ground.
These buildings weren't just single floor homes either. They had a varying number of 5 floors and up. Ironwood frames were used to build them but they were ultimately wood in nature. Steel frames would bend, but ironwood frames were different. It was more brittle than it is malleable. As such, nothing was left standing when the servants caused it to come crashing down. It couldn't be more flat.
"This is terrible." Aisha covered her mouth in shock. The number of commoners crushed to death would not be small. Chances of survivors were very slim, almost zero.
Leon's figure could be seen digging among the ruins for survivors with his barehands.
They were relieved that he was alive and made their way over.
"Boy, you are really something. Were you really the one who killed all these servants?" Robert complimented. He already knew the answer, but he was still not convinced until he heard Leon admit it himself.
"Yes." Leon answered flatly as he continued digging for survivors.
"Wow." Lina and Rachel could not help but gasp in amazement at his feat. Evidently, they were no longer concerned after seeing him alive in perfect condition... or not?
"What are you doing? You're hurting yourself." They each grabbed one of his hands and stopped him from digging as it was filled with cuts from the sharp stones.
"Give up, boy. No one would be able to survive the crushing weight of such tall collapsing building." Duke Ignis tried to dissuade him.
Leon glanced at the duke before shaking his hands free and continuing to dig. "I cannot. If someone is still alive, what you just said isn't any different to a death sentence to them. They could be fighting for their life right this moment."
Leon felt responsible for the deaths of the numerous commoners buried beneath. He didn't kill these people, but they died because of him. He had to save any possible survivors to free himself from any possible guilt.
If he had stop hiding and fought the servants in close combat sooner, none this would have happened.
"They're all commoners and unrelated people to you. You know even know if they are still alive. Why go so far for them?"
"Commoners or not, I must save them. They are in this mess because of me. I will not shirk from this responsibility."
Leon and Ignis gave each other a hard look. He was unyielding and strong-willed in decision despite the his efforts could be in vain.
"Hahaha! Good! I like you already." Ignis laughed boisterously. Through his lines of questioning, he was able to grasp some understanding of Leon. He was pleased with his son-in-law's character. A true man has to be responsible for his actions.
"Men! Search for survivors!" Duke Ignis ordered his servants. There were earth-users among there ranks. It would definitely be an easier time searching with their ability.
"Thank you." Leon appreciated the help. He knew it was unrealistic to search by himself as it would take too much time. The people needed saving would be dead by the time he got to them.
Leon also felt warm that everyone was worried and came to help him, albeit a bit as he was able fend off the crisis alone. However, no one was aware that there was a bigger crisis looming over their heads like the sword of Damocles.
Many bodies were uncovered as the rubbles were removed, but none were breathing.
Amelia had already escort Rachel back to the car as she couldn't endure the scene for long. She did her best to overcome her trauma, but it wasn't something easily done by just facing it a few times.
Leon had his attention on the ongoing search, but he had not forgotten about Rachel's illness. What he did forget though, was the original use of the Book of Life in his possession.
The amount of pill recipes and medical knowledge contained within was unfathomably deep. He was not making full usage of his heavenly treasure and had just been using it as a convenient portable storage... He was too fixated on his singular pursuit of strength that he was blinded to the best course of actions to improve his strength.
He had to find his own pace and not be rushed. As the proverb says; haste makes waste. He can only find time to study Book of Life in the future. There would undoubtably be better pills with low requirements for good herbs to quicken his cultivation.
While Leon was in thought, the Duke patted him on the shoulder and shook his head with a sigh. "It's unfortunate, but no one survived."
They have finished searching the entire cluster of rubbles. No stones were left unturned... literally...
"I see. It's a pity... but at least we tried."
Leon wasn't bothered much by the result. He wasn't a saint and nor was he a noble person. He was human and all humans had their own selfishness.
He had tried and that's that.. It was all for his own peace of mind.