Chapter 283: Unequal Equality (2)

Words : 1670 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Chapter 283: Unequal Equality (2) Chapter sponsored by L, Head_Snapss & Dinamura. Thank you for your support. Casey and Rudger stared at each other silently. At first glance, it might seem like they were just passing each other on the street, but Passius could see the complex, nuanced emotions in Casey’s eyes as she looked at Rudger. ‘Hmmm. This is another.......’ Passius stroked his chin, intrigued. It was quite strange that Casey Selmore reacted like that to Rudger. ‘Casey Selmore, a single-attribute wizard who was given the title of [Colour] by the Tower. I’m told she has a reputation as a genius detective, and that her personality is selfish and quite eccentric.’ The look on Casey’s face as she looked at Rudger was, well, what could he say? It was a complex mix of emotions. A love-hate relationship, if you will. ‘But in Rudger’s case, there’s no change in his expression.’ Rudger’s expression remained the same as he looked at Casey. His eyes were so still that it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Either he was truly emotionless, or he was hiding it and not showing it. Passius decided to wait and see what would happen. “.......” “.......” Casey and Rudger remained silent. Since they were standing so still, Rudger spoke first. “Mentor Casey Selmore, you’ve been doing a great job taking care of your students.” The strangely tense atmosphere relaxed a bit with that statement as Casey nodded in agreement. “I do it for the juniors, so it’s not that hard.” “Is it?” “Yeah. More than that, where is Mr. Rudger in such a hurry to go?” “I’m not really in a hurry.” “Your companion next to you seems to be.” Casey asked, glancing at Passius. She didn’t recognize the other man as a Royal Guard, but it was clear from the look of him that he was something. If nothing else, Casey’s piercing gaze analyzed him quickly. “You’re a knight, and a pretty good one at that.” “Huh? Did I introduce myself?” “No. It’s just that from the way you look, and the way you’re standing, I’m guessing you belong to the imperial family. You’ve got the manners down.” Passius was inwardly surprised. He had dressed lightly before leaving the Imperial Palace since walking around in his Royal Guard uniform would draw too much attention. He’d even kept his sword out of sight, but Casey had noticed at once. Passius realized she wasn’t called a genius detective for nothing. “......You’re not going to do anything dangerous, are you?” Casey asked, looking at Rudger. She was trying to sound casual, but the subtle worry in her voice was enough for Rudger to hear. “Why do you ask that? Are you worried about me?” Rudger looked at her questioningly and Casey realized her mistake, blushed slightly. “I was just asking!” “Right.” “Yeah. Besides, I think something happened.” As she said that, Casey looked back and forth between Rudger and Passius. From what she could tell, Passius was an imperial knight. A knight of considerable skill and, judging by the way he spoke, at least a high ranking knight. Such a man traveling with Rudger? Rudger is a criminal with a hidden identity. It didn’t make sense that such a man would be traveling with an imperial knight. If he had been arrested, she would have thought that this man had finally been identified, but if not....... ‘He’s still a teacher, and he is working with someone in the imperial family.’ Then what is the job? Casey couldn’t tell, but she could sense a strange undercurrent running through the capital. It might explain why she’d caught glimpses of members of the Nightcrawlers and the Cold Steel Knights as they wandered the neighborhood. ‘Trina is here so I could ask her but I can’t see her now.’ So she was left to make an educated guess from these few clues. The problem was that the man in front of her had every reason to know. “He.......” Casey opened her mouth, then closed it again. She had no idea what to say. She’d uncharacteristically applied to be a mentor so that she could meet Rudger and talk to him. But despite several opportunities along the way, she never did. Every time she looked at that face, her heart kept hurting. Why did she keep seeing that face staring back at her, expressionless, and why did she keep seeing the crooked smile he’d worn that day when he’d fallen off the waterfall? People hailed her for taking down the criminal of the century while Rudger left the stage alone. The stark contrast was stuck in Casey’s mind. He is the one who should be praised more than anyone else, but people don’t realize it. “Go ahead.” When Casey stuttered, Rudger urged. “... No, nothing. I just wanted to check this one thing.” Rudger didn’t answer the question but he vaguely harbored a similar feeling. It was impossible for him not to notice the change in Casey’s demeanor from the person who, not so long ago, had been desperate to catch him. “Maybe she just happened to know the truth about Ms. Rudger.” “......What difference does it make if she knows it?” “Hmm. Still, it’s better than not knowing.” “I’d rather she didn’t know.” He didn’t know how Casey learned the truth about the past but knowing it doesn’t change anything. The past is the past. It’s already happened, and the water that’s been spilled can’t be picked up and put back on the plate. “Because knowing doesn’t change anything.” Rudger was so adamant that he didn’t dig any deeper. But judging by Rudger’s reaction, there was no doubt that there was something going on with Casey Selmore. A secret relationship between a man and a woman who were both quite famous in the world was something that piqued his personal interest, but for now, he decided to focus on the job at hand. “So, what do you see around you?” Passius spoke to Rudger in a normal tone, but his eyes never left his surroundings. They had just passed the group of students led by their mentor a moment ago. There must be something out there, like the remnants of the Liberation Army, lurking and spying on the others. “Sir Passius., do you see them up ahead?” “Where do you mean?” “One o’clock, the man sitting in front of a fruit shop, reading a newspaper.” “Confirmed. We also have a middle-aged man leaning against a street lamp looking at his watch at seven o’clock.” “The number looks like two.” “We’re two, too.” “I’ll take the fruit stand.” “I’ll take the gentleman over there, then.” The two men moved in unison. Passius moved stealthily and struck the middle-aged man in the back of the neck, lightly stunning him. “Oh, no. Let me help you up.” He acted like a companion that would help his friend that passed out. Rudger, on the other hand, was a little different. He openly approached the fruit store and bought an apple from the owner. The Liberation Army intelligence officer sitting nearby took one look at Rudger and casually got up from his seat and slipped into the alleyway. He realized at once that Rudger was a Theon’s teacher and was on his way to the secret branch to deliver the news. Ahead of him, a shadow in the dark alleyway jumped up and blocked his view. “Ugh! What, what!” That was his last cry. The stretching shadows quickly parted, turning into countless ropes that wrapped around the man. Rudger gently stomped on the man’s back as he slumped to the ground, unable to move. “Did you get him?” “Yes. And you?” “Me too.” Passius, who had brought the stunned Liberator agent with him, plopped him down next to the shadow-bound Liberator. “You caught him faster than I thought. Now what do we do? I don’t think they’re going to give up information easily.” “We’ll have to make them.” Rudger’s eyes gleamed menacingly. Bound by shadows, the Liberator tried to look nonchalant, but a cold sweat ran down his cheeks. “Which method do you prefer?” “Usually I’m more of a physical torturer, but lately I’ve wanted to see if I can touch the mental part with my magic.” “Sounds like me. I have an imperial secret torture method, that can’t be endured without telling the other person what they want know.” “Do the Royal Guards learn such things?” “I was the only one who learned it separately. It’s a necessary skill for a job like this, but it’s more useful than you’d think, though most people are crippled by it.” “I guess it doesn’t matter, though.” The two men said scary things to each other. The magic from Rudger and the aura from Passius invaded the space as the shadow-bound liberator’s complexion paled. The pressure was too much for a normal person to bear. “Ugh! Ugh!” He twisted and tried to shout something, but his mouth was gagged by the shadow, and he couldn’t get any words out. “Oh. He’s trying to say something, isn’t he?” “It’s probably bullshit, or he’s vowing never to blow.” “Ugh!” “The way he’s writhing around so desperately, it looks like he really wants to say something.” “I think he might use some deception tactics.” “Still, don’t you think we should give him a chance?” The Liberation Army soldier nodded desperately at Passius’ words. Rudger snapped his fingers, and the gag that bound his mouth was released. “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you everything!” Rudger and Passius looked at each other at the same time, and then nodded slightly.

Chapter 283: Unequal Equality (2)

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