TOFD 482

Lucky 482

Berto Alb stepped into the darkness. The path was dark but the lingering light from the torches eased his vision, at least a little bit. 

Berto frowned as he looked at each cell one by one. He recognized some of the prisoners. In fact, he was the one who sent them to this high-security prison.

'Looks like their minds are corrupted since they can't recognize me. Perhaps living in this place where the sun never appeared made them insane.'

The prisoners lost their will to live, they were dead inside. 

"Hey! How you doing!?"

As he walked, someone called him. Berto Alb stopped and looked at the man... He didn't recognize him. 

'Perhaps he's been here for a very long time or he's a new prisoner.'

Based on his reaction to Berto Alb, it seemed that he was a new prisoner. 

"I'm kinda lonely. You have a nice ass, how about I tap that-- Arrgh--!!"

The prisoner screamed in pain as his body was engulfed in flame. 

'All of the prisoners in this place committed grave crimes, crimes against humanity itself. There's no reason to show mercy.'

The prisoner started crying for help as his body slowly turned into ashes. However, nothing happened.

In the end, Berto Alb continued his walk since the insolent man was nothing but ashes. 

'It's a good thing that my influence didn't diminish even now. I can still reach this place through my connection with the military.'

At the very last cell, Berto Alb confirmed his conjecture. 

"Principal Lobo Lycan."

He muttered as he looked at the weak man who was chained from head to toe. If not for his distinct aura, Berto Alb would fail to recognize him. 

The man, Principal Lycan, was wrapped in thick chains that constrict his movement. The ink thing that was free from the captives was his mouth. Except that, he looked like a chained mummy. 

"Berto. I know you will visit me.'

"The country is in disorder. They need someone who can lead them. I visited you here to tell you that." 

Berto Alb looked at the chains and confirmed that they were not simple. Perhaps an item created by the Dwarves or TA User. 

"Are you implying that I should be the leader of Junian?"

"Yes. This war will bring nothing but destruction, we both know that. Unfortunately, most of the Demi-Gods TA Users are on the Royal Family's side. Only you can stop them."

Principal Lycan chuckled hearing it from Berto. 

"You can see my situation clearly, I lost. I'm not strong enough to face the Royal Family."

"It's because of the King, perhaps I can help you--"

"Berto, don't do something that will make you regret it later. The Royal Family is not that simple, I just realized it."

The chains slightly trembled. 

"..."

Against the shade of the torch, Berto slightly clenched his fists. This whole situation was fucked up. The country was going to die if the Royal Family continued with their intention of fighting the allied countries. 

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"Become the Principal of Horvart University. That's the only way for you to be safe from the military draft. To be precise, become the protector of Ancient Library."

Right now, the military was doing massive military conscription to send to the war. Berto Alb has a son and he might not escape the military draft. Unless Berto Alb takes his position and goes to war. 

However, this whole war was a big joke. Everyone knew that the Royal Family was evil. They imprisoned the pure-blood Demihumans in the hidden dungeon, that alone was a crime against humanity. 

No one could forgive them. 

Yet despite that fact, the citizens couldn't fight the Royal Family. As if something powerful was hidden in the dark, pulling the appropriate strings to keep the country intact. This was terrifying. 

For the first time, Berto Alb felt helpless. 

"Are you sure you don't want to escape? With my powers, I can help you."

"There's only one way to leave this place, the defeat of the Royal Family."

Their conversation was simple but the heaviness of it would cost them their lives. 

"You have to protect the Ancient Library at all costs. It has the answer to the secrets of the world."

"What do you mean?"

Berto Alb frowned. He knew that the Ancient Library was a special place that holds all of the history of the world over the last three thousand years. 

'But answer to the secrets of the world? That's wild.'

"Every Principal took one apprentice to be the next protector of the Library."

"But I didn't agree."

"In this situation, do you even have a choice?"

"..."

Principal Lycan chuckled and continued. 

"There's a secret in the Ancient Library. Unfortunately, I'm not special enough to find it. But you are different. Out of all the people I met, you're the only one who can summon the Mythical places. I believe you can find it."

Listening to Principal Lycan made him sigh. 

'The Horvart University is technically an independent country. Junian can't touch my family if we became a citizen of Horvart University...'

It seemed that Berto Alb didn't have a choice. 

"Is this the reason why you're trying to train me to become the next Principal?"

"That's right. Berto, you have to be careful against the Royal Family... They are hiding something terrifying."

"Why don't you tell it to me then?"

"Because I don't want you to die. Let's just hope that Junian will lose in this war."

As one of the oldest countries in the world, the Kingdom of Junian has deep pillars that were hard to destroy.