Lord of Caldera - Chapter 294

Chapter 294: Chapter 294

Isaac groaned in frustration, thumping his chest as if to release his growing anxiety. He couldn’t fathom Sylas’s unwavering confidence.

‘Damn it, whatever happens, happens,’ Isaac thought, surrendering to his fate as he lay face-down on the floor. With no way to escape the situation, he could only hope Sylas’s plan held some merit.

A few days later, Lydia and her entourage arrived at the Esslingen estate. Though the journey had been long, the gravity of the matter had driven them to press on without rest.

“Welcome, both of you! It is an honor to receive such distinguished guests,” Christoph greeted them with a broad smile. His expression radiated genuine pleasure.

He had expected a bishop at most, but instead, the saint of Baltor and the legendary Matthias “the Red Hammer” had been dispatched.

‘I never imagined figures of this caliber would come. My luck is truly unmatched,’ Christoph thought.

The weight of their names alone carried immense authority. While minor figures might provoke skepticism, the saint and a renowned inquisitor commanded absolute credibility.

‘Even the Corleone family wouldn’t dare challenge their judgment,’ Christoph mused. Their presence not only bolstered his position but also silenced potential dissent from the church itself.

“You must be weary from your journey. I’ve prepared baths for you to freshen up before we proceed,” Christoph offered graciously.

“There’s no time for that,” Lydia replied firmly. “This is a matter of utmost importance. We must act immediately.”

“Indeed,” Matthias added. “If a demonic offspring exists, every moment wasted endangers countless lives.”

Their swift rejection carried an undertone of reproach. ‘A bath? Really? Do you even take this seriously? Or are you covering for something?’ their words implied.

Christoph chuckled inwardly at their predictable reaction. He had anticipated their urgency and was unfazed. After all, he had nothing to fear—their target was a genuine demonic bloodline.

“Very well. Allow me to escort you to the prison,” Christoph said, maintaining his confident demeanor.

“Thank you,” Lydia said courteously.

“Please exercise caution. Though we’ve managed to imprison them, they’re extraordinarily dangerous,” Christoph added, subtly planting a seed of prejudice about the prisoners as he led Lydia and Matthias to the cell. He could hardly contain his anticipation of seeing the dragon slayer brought to utter humiliation.

Stopping at the entrance to the prison, Christoph gestured ahead. “The prisoners are at the far end of this corridor.”

“Understood. Please wait here,” Lydia replied.

“Wait a moment. Perhaps one of my men should accompany you, just in case—”

“That won’t be necessary. Civilians are of little use in matters involving demons,” Matthias interrupted curtly, declining Christoph’s offer without hesitation.

Christoph clicked his tongue in disappointment. He had hoped to have his subordinate witness the scene and later report back the despair on the dragon slayer’s face. “Very well, then. Please proceed with care,” he said with feigned concern, stepping aside.

Lydia and Matthias moved forward, their footsteps echoing softly in the dim corridor. Once they were out of Christoph’s earshot, they began to exchange whispers.

“What’s your assessment?” Lydia asked.

“Suspicious,” Matthias replied. “Demons aren’t the kind of beings you can imprison in a cell.”

“I agree,” Lydia said. As seasoned combatants against demonic forces, both knew how preposterous it sounded to claim a demon, even a hybrid, could be confined so easily. A true demon hybrid would have already destroyed the bars and escaped.

“Allow me to investigate first. Please wait here, Sir Matthias,” Lydia said.

“As you wish,” Matthias responded, nodding solemnly. His stern demeanor masked an inner disappointment. He assumed Lydia feared for his safety, given his advanced age. While her decision was tactically sound, he couldn’t help but feel he was a burden.

‘An old man like me, holding the saint back… What a disgrace,’ Matthias thought, letting out a sigh that seemed to echo his regret.

However, Lydia’s reasoning was far removed from his assumptions.

‘If this is a case of wrongful accusation, I can’t risk Matthias acting impulsively. I need to assess the situation myself,’ Lydia thought as she stepped cautiously toward the far end of the prison. Though Matthias had been surprisingly calm thus far, his notorious history was hard to ignore. During his youth, his fanatical zeal had led to many innocent lives being lost in the name of rooting out heresy. Even if his actions had saved countless others, the collateral damage was undeniable.

‘And hybrids, though weaker in strength, are said to be more resistant to divine power,’ Lydia mused as she approached the final cell.

Peering through the unusually spacious bars, Lydia was stunned by what she saw. Inside the cell stood two individuals: one unfamiliar, and one strikingly familiar.

“Sir Sylas!?” she exclaimed.

“…It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Sylas replied, his expression equally baffled.

For a moment, both stared at each other in mutual astonishment.

Sylas was no less surprised by the encounter. He had expected an ordinary bishop, someone who would tread carefully around him given the debts the church owed him. Instead, here was Lydia, the saint herself.

Breaking the silence, Lydia was the first to speak. “What on earth is going on? How could you be accused of consorting with demons?”

She didn’t believe for a second that Sylas was guilty, but she was eager to hear his explanation for how things had escalated to this point.

“It’s a long story,” Sylas said calmly. “But it starts with my friend over there.”

“Your friend…?” Lydia turned her gaze to Isaac, gasping as she sensed the faint but undeniable presence of demonic energy. Surprisingly, Isaac cowered at the sight of her, trembling like a cornered animal.

Isaac’s unexpected reaction left Lydia puzzled. “Why is he so frightened?”

“Well, let me explain,” Sylas said. He then recounted everything, from his appointment as Count of Drakenfels, to Christoph’s schemes, to Isaac’s lineage and current predicament.

By the time Sylas finished, Lydia was both horrified and outraged. “Unbelievable! How could he do such a thing? Framing an innocent person while secretly orchestrating everything himself!”