Monarch of Gluttony: System of Sin

"Why didn't I tell them who the person with them truly was?" The old man asked. "I told you. It isn't my place to interfere. Just like I don't interfere with you, I don't interfere with him. Moreover, even if I had told them, what then? What do you think would happen?"

Even though he asked the question, he himself answered as well. "The only thing that would happen was that they would know more about Azekiel. Still, they couldn't stop supporting him. They are his Familiars, and even they can't break the bond that has been established. That's the extent of it."

"So me telling them would only waste my time. I just asked him if he had told them. Since he didn't, that was it. It had nothing to do with me. Though I did feel that he would tell them sooner or later."

"In any case, aren't you going to be meeting him on the next floor? Why don't you tell them yourself and see what happens? Go ahead. Tell them about the reality of Azekiel. Tell them who he really is and how he used to be the most hated person in the entire world."

Even though the old man told Zheng to tell Raphael and Lia, his suggestion had some sarcastic tone to it.

"Old man, don't think I can't catch your sarcasm." Zheng frowned.

"You already have the answer to your question, don't you?" The old man asked in return. "Even if you tell them all this, they'll still have to fight for him. They'll still be the ones who will be attacking you. They just have to listen to his commands. They have no choice."

"Moreover, why would they even believe what you or I say?" he added. "In the end, they would still prefer to believe a lie from Azekiel than to believe the truth from us. That's why save your time and don't try it. It'll be a futile effort."

After giving his advice, the old man entered the portal, disappearing from the place.

When he arrived here, he just wanted to have a relaxing time. Even he wasn't expecting to see Azekiel here, but the day became somewhat complicated for him. Not only did he find out that Azekiel finally regained his memories, but also that Zheng was planning to take him out without informing the others.

The old man knew that Zheng was making the biggest mistake of his life by not informing the others. He thought he could take Azekiel alone, but the old man believed that the chances of his success were really low.

Even though Azekiel was at a fraction of what he was capable of in the last, even that fraction itself was a lot. There was a reason that man ruled over the world.

As the old man disappeared, Zhang also disappeared, glancing one last time in the direction of the castle of infinity.

"Don't keep me waiting for long..."

****

Inside the Castle of Infinity, Azekiel had managed to win the trust of Raphael and Lia once again while giving them a plausible explanation for his special knowledge and bond with the tower, burying his real past under something incomprehensible.

As he walked through the hallway, gazing at the myriad of paintings, there were so many memories that rushed through his head, making him feel as if it was just yesterday.

He stopped before one of the paintings, which was right at the end. Unlike the other paintings, the last one didn't appear to be made using paints. Instead, it was made using pure blood.

Azekiel stared at the painting blankly, momentarily losing himself in the past.

In the painting, a beautiful sea of blood was depicted. A blood-red moon was shining above the sea.

Subconsciously, Azekiel placed his hand on the painting. He could still remember the scenes where this was the reality. The sea of blood that was depicted in the painting actually existed once upon a time, and the sea was filled with the blood of his people.

The memories really overwhelmed him at the moment, as if taking his mind back in time.

****

A young boy stood at the bank of a sea of Blood, looking at all the blood. His own hands were covered in blood, but it was his own Blood.

The young boy was only seven years old at the moment, having beautiful silver hair that was so long that they came down to his shoulders.

The young man gazed into the distant blood moon. He could still hear all the screams of his people as they were killed without being given any chance.

Right before the blood moon, he also saw a visage of a person. It was clear to see his face from this distance, especially since the entire world had turned blood red.

Whoever that person was, he was also looking at the young boy who stood at the beach. In the entire world, that man only left one person alive... That little boy. It was unclear why the man left him alive since it definitely wasn't because he was a child.

Billions of people died at the hands of that man, and children were no exception. The only exception was the young boy, who was looking at the distant figure with tears in his eyes. There was also a small yet beautiful pendant around the kid's neck.

****

Azekiel's fingers were touching the blood moon in the portrait as tears trickled out on their own.

Azekiel seemed to be lost in some memories. Raphael placed his hand on Azekiel's shoulders, shaking him gently. "Are you alright?'

"Huh?" Azekiel came out of his daze, looking at Raphael. He could feel some wetness on his face, making him understand that it was his tears.

He wiped his tears, gazing at the blood moon in the painting. Even in the painting, he could see something akin to a figure hiding on the moon.

"It was nothing," he responded, clenching the pendant around his neck firmly as he took a breath.