Dale shifted slightly on his foot as he watched Doctor Edmond try and fail repeatedly to help the recruit.

No matter how powerful his ability was, it wasn’t necromancy — he wasn’t even sure there was such an ability.

’I knew he was desperate but to actively go out of his way to murder another recruit? Ream has gone too far.’

A silent fury burned within him. It wasn’t a matter of righteous anger... quite far from it.

If Ream was willing to kill to cover his tracks, then he was definitely willing to kill him.

’But logically, it would not be the best time at all to try anything.’

Even Dale, with all his bravery, would not try to kill anyone immediately leaving the presence of the General regarding the very person who was murdered.

If anything, he was sure that at least the teacher had been following him to prevent such an occurrence.

’I knew it. It seems as though Ream isn’t working alone. Could it be one of his friends?’ He stored that idea in his mind.

"Interesting." General Todd spoke slowly from behind Dale.

The former walked past the latter into the clinic. He stared at the gruesome scene in front of him, seemingly unfazed.

He turned to Doctor Edmond. "Do you remember the person who told you of the fake summons?"

The doctor shook his head. "No, I locked the door so that no recruit would walk in to see the body. The person knocked and informed me." His breath hitched.

"By the time I stepped out, the way was empty." He seemed to be biting back his emotions.

General Todd placed a hand under his chin, "It seems as though we have a series of renegade recruits amidst our current ranks."

His battle-hardened eyes turned cold, mirroring his next words. "And like all tumors, they’ll be found and exterminated." Then he walked out of the clinic.

Dale followed him out of the clinic. He assumed that their conversation wasn’t over and he was right.

The general turned to him. "Dale Green. It seems as though a blight has managed to spread unnoticed in this facility... perhaps that is the price of too much freedom."

His eyes scanned the recruit with chilling indifference, "I am sure you can deduce that you are no longer safe. A piece of advice? Be careful." He concluded and walked away.

Dale walked to his room as he remembered the General’s words.

Even though he seemed disinterested, it was obvious the war veteran was quite uneasy. After all, it wasn’t every day someone was murdered under his watch or at least Dale hoped it wasn’t.

’Not to mention the amount of planning it would have required.’

On his way to his room, he saw Ream talking to a bunch of people. He walked to him and interrupted his conversation.

"You really have capable people on your side, don’t you?"

Ream appeared genuinely confused. "What are you on about?"

Dale’s eyes steeled and he let out pure killing intent: "Don’t play dumb. The recruit is dead."

For a split second, Ream’s eyes widened and he seemed shaken but quickly recovered. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. Get away from me!"

The other shifted slightly.

’Ream seems to have been shocked by the news of the recruit’s death. Wasn’t he, in some way, involved?’ Now, Dale found himself wishing that it was Ream who had orchestrated the recruit’s assassination.

He shuddered at the thought of otherwise — a mysterious person, or group of people, operating within the year with enough skill and knowledge to plan a skillful murder.

And to make things worse, Dale wouldn’t even have an idea of their motives. It might be a personal vendetta against the recruit or a sick goal of killing everyone — including himself.

’This is very troublesome.’ It was starting to seem like he was reciting a song.

He sucked his teeth and walked away from Ream.

Immediately he entered his room, he closed the door behind him and crashed on his bed.

Luckily, Austin was nowhere to be seen. He cared for his roommate but the last thing he needed at the moment was someone breaking his focus.

Even though there wasn’t yet an official announcement, Dale could already feel the status quo and tides shifting.

Now, even if nothing happened again, there would be a subtle tension in the air.

He pulled out Decay and Blight, looking at the blades as they shimmered and reflected the light in the room.

Subconsciously, he called upon the AIDE and it happily whispered into his ears:

[Take the darkness from light and keep both.]

[Weapon Rank: Quasi-Ascended]

[Weapon Skills]

[Embodiment of Light]

[Thrall of Darkness]

[Perfect Conduit]

He turned his focus to the description of the skills.

[Embodiment of Light: The light of Blight fills you and heals your wounds; you become an embodiment of its perverted light]

[Thrall of Darkness: The darkness of Decay permeates your being and grants you strength; you become a thrall of its insidious darkness]

[Perfect Conduit: Both the light and darkness flow through you, creating an impossible energy]

Dale nodded to himself and closed his eyes to rest... he had a feeling he’d need it.