CHAPTER 453: THE MIND OF SATAN.

‎"You believe that Satan will hunt the cultist now?" Aris looked at Rasmus, who was staring at the map. "What makes you so sure about it?" She asked.

‎Rasmus was in the middle of a conversation with Ayla and two of her subordinates. He pointed at the Ruzia Empire and wanted them to keep an eye on their movements.

‎"Because that was Kiel and Nemu’s goal. They know that they wouldn’t be able to do anything with us here in this continent. However, now that their master is here, that changes everything," Rasmus answered as he kept staring at the map. "Satan’s appearance in this continent tells me that she might want to meet me and Videl in person after she found out that the mark in your body had disappeared," he explained.

‎Aris had seen Rasmus in this focused state countless of times, but this time he looked a bit troubled, uncertain. She knew that it was all because of her wanting to get rid of the mark, knowing that it would risk Videl’s identity and his connection with Rasmus.

‎The Ruzia Empire was a Council of Neva member, and it was one of the oldest nations in Central Neva. Rasmus received detailed information related to the Ruzia Empire and the Sun Empire’s alliance. The report stated that both empires weren’t in a good term behind the curtain.

‎"So they might have made a move by now?" Rullein stood beside Rasmus and looked at the map.

‎"Erdinand reported that Nemu and his faction have decided to make a move against the demon army," Rasmus nodded with his arms crossed. "The whole continent should have known about the great battle and the fall of the Sun Empire. There should be no demons, at least how it should be," he muttered, looking from one nation to another.

‎"It’s as you said before that they found a loophole, right? Satan might have brought Kiel and those demons back to life," Aris crossed her arms and looked at the Ruzia Empire on the map, the second biggest territory in Central Neva.

‎"Yes, they will be dancing on the stage to fool the people, believing Nemu was fighting the demons when in truth both of them are on the same side. They’re going to lure the people to where they want them to be," Rasmus nodded. "They won’t show any mercy with Satan by their side. The empire will fall faster than any empire in history. That also goes to the other factions and the remnants of those nations, Nemu would take them and soon would be his sacrificial lambs," he pointed out.

‎Rullein and Aris looked at the map and after they treated the Federation faction and the remaining nations of the Sun Empire faction to fall, there were only five nations left. The last bastion, a nation that stood behind the Ruzia Empire and the Sun Empire was the Holy Nation.

‎"We won’t interfere?" Rullein glanced at Rasmus with her brows raised.

‎"No, Satan might have prepared for it this time. You two haven’t recovered yet from the last battle against her. There’s no point in interfering, at least not yet," Rasmus answered as he exhaled deeply, but then he pointed at the Holy Nation. "We will be going to the Holy Nation and wait," he pointed out.

‎"The Holy Nation? Why? You want to join hands with them? The same plan as back then in South Neva?" Aris asked and looked at Rasmus.

‎"That’s the only practical way. The cultists are on the run right now, looking for a safe place to hide. However, the borders are closed, nobody could enter or leave this continent. They would consider hiding in different nations, but soon those nations would fall. So, where’s the only safest nation in this continent? That’s the Holy Nation," Rasmus explained, tapping the map repeatedly.

‎"Satan planned to put them all in one place, making it easier for her to take them all than having to search for them. She won’t attack the Holy Nation, not until she takes every nation that stands in this continent. That’s her plan," Rasmus explained with a serious expression.

‎Aris and Rullein hummed, realizing how flawless Satan’s plan was. They remembered their fight against Satan, and that feeling of corruption that tried to consume them from within. They were lucky that Satan’s power hadn’t recovered fully, and if she was stronger just a little bit then them, back then, they might have become her food.

‎At that moment, Aris realized why Rasmus had tried to stop her back then. She didn’t realize that it could be the end of her if Satan was a bit stronger back then. She felt guilty and regretful, especially when she saw the disappointment in Rasmus’ eyes. She had said something bad to him, and accused him of trying to control her when the truth was he just wanted to protect her.

‎"My Lord!" Erdinand came with a scroll in his hand, he was panting and offered the scroll to Rasmus.

‎Rasmus took the scroll and looked at the report from the Black Hands. His brows raised as he read the report with Aris and Rullein beside him, reading it as well. The report was about the arrival of the remaining northerners. It was stated in the report that the North had fallen to the demons.

‎"No wonder Satan came to this continent all of a sudden," Rasmus burned the scroll and watched the ashes get blown away by the wind. "She had conquered North Neva, and she’s chasing the rats that ran away," he hummed as he looked at the map once again.

‎"But Orthias is still in the North. Didn’t they say that the Orthias had decided to help the northerners? Does that mean the Orthias have been defeated as well?" Rullein asked and looked at Aris, who didn’t seem to be bothered by the information.

‎"No, that’s not the case," Aris shook her head. "If it’s Sanya, she believed that the humans were dragging them down. Orthias could fight those demons without losing a single life, but with humans around, the more humans that got possessed, the stronger the enemy would become. I assume she chose to kick them all from the North, for everyone’s sake," she explained.

‎Rasmus nodded with understanding, and he would do the same if he was in Sanya’s shoes. His eyes kept staring at the Holy Nation, and that place would become the last fortress of humankind in Central Neva.

‎"Any news from Aider?" Rasmus looked at Erdinand.

‎"He has successfully blended in and infiltrated the cult, My Lord. For his current location, he’s already in the Holy Nation with a few cultists," Erdinand answered. "Is there any order you want us to convey to him, My Lord?" He raised his brows.

‎"No, there’s no need to do that. I want him to do whatever he wants as long as it can help us in gaining any information on the cult," Rasmus shook his head as he rolled the map. "Now, all of you have received your tasks. Remember, prioritize your life over the tasks. You all may go now," he said and looked at all the Black Hands.

‎All of them bowed their heads and went their separate ways without making a sound. The forest was as calm and quiet as before like nothing had changed.

‎"So? We are going to the Holy Nation now?" Rullein asked with a smirk of excitement. "Am I finally going to meet with this man called Videl and this woman called Serena? The two beings that lived in Hell?" She grinned as her eyes began to glow bright orange.

‎"Yes, and you will meet with the rest of them. Both Carrion and Erlina are also there, and it looks like they have received what they wanted," Rasmus nodded and stored the map in his spatial ring.

‎"Once again everyone is gathered," Aris smiled softly, not expecting that she would get excited about meeting with the others. "It’s been a while," she said with a gentle gaze, staring at the sky.

‎Rasmus glanced at Aris with an unreadable expression while Rullein looked at Aris with wide eyes and brows raised. Rullein was utterly shocked, but then she remembered how Aristoria was, and in that moment, she saw not only a glimpse, but Aristoria in Aris. Rasmus had noticed the drastic changes in Aris for a while, and he wanted to see how far she could grow as a living being.

‎"Shall we go now?" Rasmus asked with his brows raised and looked at both of them.

‎"Finally some good food and drink," Rullein chuckled mischievously as she turned into black smoke, and disappeared into thin air.

‎"Yes, let’s meet with the others," Aris nodded with a gentle smile at Rasmus.

Rasmus looked at Aris and responded with a nod before they both left the forest and grabbed their horses to meet with everyone after being separated for so long.