"So they ran away because of him?" Delores's brows furrowed as she processed Ace's words. Only then did it click—Aztec had sensed Festus's presence monitoring the Dusk Dominion and immediately chosen to retreat, mistaking him for their reinforcement.
"Festus Norges…" Evil Eyes muttered, his expression tightening as he tried to recall. "I think I've heard that name somewhere before." His brows knitted together in deep concentration, making him look almost too adorable—if one could ignore the fact that a centuries-old soul lurked within that child's body. But that thought alone was enough to make anyone shudder in disgust.
"Wow, you guys got your asses handed to you." Ace snorted, shaking his head. His concern over Festus had already faded—his real worry now? The loot.
Among the spoils were three Sky-Tier innate curse tools, all gathered by him. But without the team's effort, pulling it off would've been impossible. He knew if he didn't downplay their contribution, he'd be lucky to claim even one.
Back at Janic's resort, he'd killed a Sky-Tier curse master and wounded another, yet he had only been allowed to keep a single Sky-Tier innate curse tool. Apparently, Sonia was right. He hadn't argued then—he needed them to survive the invasion—but this time? He wasn't about to back down.
Matthews shot him a sharp glare, a silent warning to watch his mouth. Ace, as usual, ignored it. Instead, he doubled down, arms crossed, demanding, "You guys owe me two Sky-Tier innate curse tools since you let them get away."
Matthews didn't dignify that with a response. She simply flicked her wrist at him, gathering a little curse, and shifted her focus on her recovery, preparing to face the Festus clown who was stalking Ace. Seeing the young man attract the attention of someone like him, Matthews was certain that there was more to the boy than he let out.
Meanwhile, Ace felt an invisible force shove him off the surfboard, launching him straight into the horizon where the sun was setting. He hurtled through the air, only to loop back and emerge from the other side of the dominion. His distress grew realizing this could go on over and over, he was flung into an endless cycle.
As he came around again, he barely managed to snag Delores's surfboard, fingers gripping the edge for dear life. If he hadn't, he would've been stuck in that ridiculous loop, flying into the sunset until Matthews decided to retract her dominion or show him mercy.
Just as he exhaled in relief, Delores smirked—and tilted her board.
"Agh—fuck!" Ace yelped as his fingers slipped, sending him plummeting right back into the loop he thought he'd escaped.
He flailed as he vanished into the horizon once more, frustration written all over his face. Lacking any flight skills to save himself, he had no choice but to try his luck again when he circled back near Delores.
Seeing the pure disbelief and betrayal in his expression as he fell, Delores chuckled. "Haha." She took obvious pleasure in his misery—her little way of getting back at him.
Evil Eyes and Matthews exchanged surprised glances. Knowing her personality, Evil Eyes couldn't help but ask, "Since when did you two get close?"
In the McSuile family, many had tried to win Delores's favor. She was Old Man McSuile's prized disciple—the one he'd planned to adopt as his own daughter. But she had refused, believing herself unworthy, just like the rest of the McSuile family's main and branch members believed.
Many descendants had sought to become her disciples—not just for her expertise but also for the influence she held over the old man. She rejected them all with cold indifference, which only fueled the rumors that she was arrogant and full of herself. When the old gentleman went missing, that resentment turned into outright hostility.
Despite that, Delores didn't care for those who schemed to get close to her. Her loyalty remained unwavering—dedicated solely to her master and, in his absence, to his heir. Her single-minded devotion infuriated many in the McSuile family. They stripped her of every privilege they could, but it didn't matter. She had never cared for status or perks—only for the man who had given her a life of dignity and pride instead of leaving her to rot in some gutter like a disease-ridden rat.
"It doesn't concern you," Delores said sharply. Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Evil Eyes and warned, "Stay away from him."
"You too," Matthews added, her tone just as firm. In her eyes, Ace was the next Crimson Eyes—the future leader of the C.I.B. She wasn't about to let him get entangled with the McSuiles, who already had too much influence within the organization.
Delores scoffed, but with a fake sorrow, she complained, "Tell him that. He's the one bugging me to be his mentor."
To Matthews and Evil Eyes, though, it sounded more like she was bragging.
"No way." Matthews immediately denied it. That went against everything she had observed about Ace—she had studied his every move, every word, every behavior.
But then, something clicked. Her expression shifted as realization dawned—Was Ace planning to use the McSuile family to get out of joining the C.I.B.?
If he was scheming to pit the McSuiles and the C.I.B. against each other just to keep himself free, that would explain everything. Her frown deepened as she turned to look at Ace—who was just about to pass them again. A slow, evil grin spread across her face. With a flick of her fingers, she cranked up the speed of the loop tenfold.
Ace shot past them at neck-breaking speed, his desperate calculations to grab onto someone instantly foiled.
"Aah!" he screamed, flailing helplessly as he was sent flying over and over again, causing Delores to burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Hahaha!" she hadn't laughed so much in the last decade combined.
Matthews side-eyed Delores, suspicion creeping in. Noticing the look, Delores smirked and shrugged, standing by what she said, "If you don't believe me, ask him yourself."
Matthews snorted at that, dismissing her with a shake of her head. But her attention soon shifted to the curse master blatantly peeking into her Dusk Dominion. Noticing him ignore her and remain solely focused on Ace instead, her frown deepened. Her expression twisted in anger as if the man were planning to rob her family blind.
She turned to Evil Eyes, her voice cold as she asked him, "Did you remember where you heard his name?"
"Yes," Evil Eyes said, his tone unusually serious. "I recalled the memory, but for some strange reason, I am unable to view it. You know what that means, right?"
Matthews's eyes widened in shock as realization hit. Then, after a moment, she exhaled in relief and muttered, "Thank God he's not my problem. You, McSuiles, deal with him however you see fit. My trainees and I will be out of your hair."
"EAD Matthews!" Delores snapped, frowning. "He's not just the McSuile family's problem—he's the C.I.B.'s too. Or did you forget the oath you all took? To protect everyone from the threats of the 'World of Curses.' And by everyone, I mean us included. So, I expect your full cooperation on this."
Matthews let out a dry chuckle, then fixed Delores with an icy stare.
"Thanks for the reminder about my oath," she said, her tone cutting. "But this mess stopped being my problem the moment your family used the Sole Ring to cut a deal with Duke Lambert III. Now that it's time to pay the price don't expect the C.I.B. to bail you out. Enjoy the grave you guys dug for yourselves. C.I.B. has no interest in breaking centuries-old alliance over you guys."
Without another word, she reached out and snagged Ace by the collar, pulling him out of the loop, and prepared to leave as quickly as possible. She knew this place was about to turn into a battlefield—and she wanted no part of it.
"What about Ace?" Delores pressed, crossing her arms, she went into details, asking, "You know what the Cyclops does when he takes a fancy to something, right? Or do I need to remind you of that too?"
She deliberately used Festus Norges's title—Cyclops, the Hammer of the Monarch. One of the most skilled crafters in the 'World of Curses,' he was known for forging powerful curse tools exclusively for the Monarch and his army. When he set his sights on something, he got it by any means necessary.
Matthews waved a dismissive hand, reminding Delores, "Save your breath, Delores. You and I both know Ace has nothing to fear. He is a part of the C.I.B. Cyclops won't cross that line as long as the Monarch is alive."
She shot Ace a pointed glance, subtly reminding him that his survival now hinged on his C.I.B. affiliation. It wasn't an option anymore, no matter what he liked to believe.
Ace, who had been absent for most of the discussion, frowned. Hearing somehow, he had become the center of the conversation, he could not help but ask, "What's going on?"
Before Delores could respond, Evil Eyes chuckled and spoke up, "EAD Matthews, let's not mislead the kid." He turned to Ace with a knowing smirk, informing, "You don't have to be part of the C.I.B."
Delores narrowed her eyes in light of the new information. It was clear to Evil Eyes that Delores had no idea about the law, giving her an assuring nod, he confidently continued, "The Monarch and his army won't harm any citizen of our country—unless they provoke them or break one of the conditions in the alliance our founding fathers signed with the Monarch."
He paused, then added with a smug grin, "From where I'm standing, Ace—though an unregistered curse user—is still a partial citizen unless he declines to register. Also, he has never provoked the Monarch or violated any of the conditions in that alliance."
He leaned back slightly, clearly enjoying himself. "So, he has nothing to fear… except being stalked until Cyclops's curiosity is satisfied or he ultimately gives up."