Evil Samurai In Cultivation World

"Ahhhhhh!" 

A terrified scream came out from Carlos' mouth as his limbs had become unrecognizable, cut apart like tattered leather, causing blood to come spraying out onto the ground.

The triplets stared at the disfigured Carlos, their faces not revealing any emotion whatsoever during the act, as if it had no effect on them. 

The fog that had enveloped the forest slowly began to disappear, revealing the corpses of Carlos' unit on the dirt road.

One of the triplets, the one with the swords as his weapon, slowly swept his gaze across Carlos' body and said, "You know, you could've just given up and joined our side when we politely asked you to. With your strength, I'm sure you would've made a fine addition to the New Order. You even gave the three of us a tough time. You could've reached heights that you wouldn't even dare imagine. And yet, you chose to stand by your Headmaster. Why?"

"You p-punks.. you wouldn't understand it..." Carlos said sternly. Right now, he wanted nothing else but to kill these three and rip apart their organs. However, it appears that his wish wouldn't come to fruition today.

"No need to get angry with me. I just wanted to know. What is it that made you so supportive of your Headmaster that you're willing to die for him? Loyalty? Debt?" the young man asked with an innocent smile. It was clear that he was looking down on Carlos. As if he wasn't even a threat. 

"Why on earth would I tell you anything?" Carlos snorted in response and said, "If you think I'm just going to sit here and tell you my life story as I'm dying, then you're clearly delusional..."

"Ha ha ha ha ha…. Fair enough!" the young man started to laugh evilly as he smiled at Carlos, disdain evident in his eyes. "I was just curious, but I can always ask someone else!"

He had already arrived in front of Carlos, his transparent sword already swishing down in an arc like a bolt of lightning towards Carlos' head.

At that moment, Carlos only had flames of anger in his eyes, and his eyes flashed with killing intent as he stared at the young man in front of him, but he couldn't do anything and the sword pierced right through his skull, splitting his head into two.

The young man looked at his transparent sword that was covered in blood and with a single thought, the sword disappeared into thin air.

"Are you finally done with the Messenger, Edvard?" After seeing his brother returning, the one with the scythe asked, and the young man, Edvard nodded his head. 

The person with the double Double-Bladed Scimitar as his weapon laughed loudly as he said, "You didn't have to ask him that, Edvin. We all know he'll only leave his victims after taunting them with nonsensical questions. Always trying to look cool..."

Hearing this, Edvard's mood grew nastier, his eyes seemed to be able to shoot sharp swords as he growled, "Why don't you mind your own business, Eirik?"

The young man with the double bladed Scimitar, Eirik, glared at Edvard in response, and with a disdainful expression, the young man stepped forward and pointed at him as he yelled, "What did you say to me, you delusional prick? Why don't you try saying it one more time? I dare you!"

Edvard's cold eyes stared at his brother's face as he stepped closer to him, and he spoke out, "I'll say whatever I want. So, why don't you mind your own business, Eirik?"

Eirik's face hardened and he couldn't help but scowl, "You dumb piece of-"

"Enough!"

Clap!

Right then, Edvin walked forward and stood in the middle of his two brothers, and politely spoke to the both of them, "This isn't the place nor time to fight among ourselves. You can both do that once we get home, but right now, would you both please get it together?" Edvin was neither servile nor overbearing, but he did sound a bit disappointed.

The two brothers looked at each other for a second before reluctantly nodding their heads. 

*******************

The disciples soon left the Second Elder's residence after the meeting ended. Senior Beldon walked out of the room with Claude and down the path towards the training grounds.

"What do you think about the Second Elder's words, Senior Beldon?" Claude asked his senior, Wilfred Beldon as they walked. It seemed that Claude was interested in what his senior thought about the declaration given by their master, the Second Elder.

"It doesn't matter what I think, does it, Claude? It's not like we have a choice. Like it or not, we are definitely part of the academy, and if the Royal Family is planning on taking us down, then they'll probably want to make sure that they don't leave any loose ends," Senior Beldon responded with a smile.

"That may be the case. However, to me, it just sounds like you do not wish to talk about your opinion, and your making up excuses in order to not do so; Good excuses, but excuses nevertheless." Claude replied and Senior Beldon turned to look at face for a few seconds, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Although I do believe that a fight with the Royals is inevitable, I do not think that we're in a rough position as the Second Elder described it to be. While I do think that the Royal Family might be planning on shutting us down, I don't think they'll do it in a direct way. After all, the public perception of the Royal Family, although nowhere near the infamy they were receiving just a few years ago, is still pretty bad overall." Senior Beldon looked back at Claude once again before continuing, "But the reformation movement is more powerful than ever, and consists of multiple Elders and other faculty members of the academies, so an indirect fight would still be out of the question without it opening up to the foreground eventually."

"But if that's the case...." Claude faced Senior Beldon with a strange expression and said, "Doesn't that put the Royal Family in a tough spot? What's their game plan?"

Senior Beldon nodded his head, "You're right, it does put them in a tough spot. Unless.. they can completely remove the obstacle, the Reformation Movement, that's standing in front of them."

"-What?!"

"Do you mean the Royals might be turning the Reformers to their side?" Claude asked as he was forced to take a step back. "How is that possible? Aren't the existence of Royals the very reason the Reformation Movement started? How on earth would the Royals be able to turn people with such convictions?"

"That I do not know," Senior Beldon smiled helplessly, and said, "But I do know that conviction isn't the only thing that motivates these people. The removal of Royals leaves a position of power vacant, which might be what motivated some of these members to join the reformation movement."

Claude could barely overcome the tension and spoke, "So what you're saying is the war might've already started, but we just don't know it yet?"

"Correct." Senior Beldon looked at him with a satisfied expression. "And if we do not even know it has started, then we're already losing."

"So, why didn't senior explain this to the Second Elder?"

"First of all, this is simply a theory. I do not have any proof. And second, having this information doesn't change the Second Elder's plans at all. It just adds a bit more enemies. And third, if there is something that the Royals are using to turn the reformers, how influential would the thing they're offering be? Would it only turn some, or would it change everyone's minds?"

One question was resolved for Claude, but another question popped up in his mind. "Is senior implying that there's a possibility that what they're offering might even change our minds?"

"Would you be open to that?" Senior Beldon stopped walking and turned around to face Claude. "Would you be open to supporting a corrupt monarchy if what they're offering might be more influential and more important than the Reformation Movement?"

Silence. 

"What do you mean by that, Senior Beldon?" Claude uttered. "Are you asking me if I would betray our master?"

"A hypothetical question, but yes. That is exactly what I'm asking," Senior Beldon asked, and a horrible chill tickled the back of Claude's neck, different from anything he had felt before. "Would you, Claude Rayforth, betray your master if necessary?"

There was silence once again.

Claude stared at Senior Beldon with a blank face, while the senior had an innocent expression, like he always does. But Claude knew. He knew that this time, it was different.

'This was a crossroad.'

His life would change depending on what his answer is. 

...So what was it going to be?

"If it's necessary," After a period of silence which was both long and short, Claude spoke up, "Then I might."

".... I see," Senior Beldon, who was watching him quietly, nodded with a grateful expression. "Good to know, junior brother Claude… Good to know."