(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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The chamber remained silent after Ben's final question.
"Did you see it happen?"
Those words lingered heavily within the room like invisible chains wrapping around everyone present.
Patoli remained standing there with clenched fists while his expression shifted repeatedly between anger, hatred, confusion, and something far more dangerous for someone who had devoted his entire existence to revenge.
Doubt.
Meanwhile the captains were equally silent.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Because the more Ben spoke, the more they realized this situation was far more complicated than they initially believed.
Then suddenly—Ben raised his hand toward the Omnitrix symbol on Ghostfreak's chest.
-Click.
A radiant green light exploded through the meeting chamber, briefly illuminating every face present.
-FLASH!
The eerie translucent body of Ghostfreak began dissolving into streams of green energy while the twisted phantom crown vanished into particles.
Within seconds—Ben returned to his human form.
His boots touched the ground softly as the light completely faded away.
The sudden disappearance of Ghostfreak's horrifying presence made the atmosphere in the room slightly easier to breathe in, though the tension itself remained.
Nero immediately flew from nearby and landed on Ben's shoulder while eyeing the elves suspiciously.
Ben calmly walked toward one of the seats near the center of the chamber and sat down.
Not arrogantly. Not nervously.
But with the composure of someone preparing to explain something important.
His gaze slowly moved across everyone present.
The captains.
Wizard King Julius.
The elves. Even Patoli who clearly not linking the idea of listening to him.
Then he finally spoke.
"What do all of you know about devils?"
The sudden question caught several people off guard.
The captains exchanged glances.
It was Julius who remained the calmest while thoughtfully leaning back slightly.
Yami scratched his cheek lazily.
-Scratch!
"Dangerous bastards."
Jack grinned slightly.
-Grin!
"Creatures that need to be cut."
Fuegoleon spoke in a more composed tone.
"Ancient forbidden beings mentioned throughout historical records."
Nozel finally spoke after remaining silent for most of the discussion.
"Existences associated with curses, forbidden magic, and calamity."
His voice was colder than usual.
Because unlike the others—The topic of devils was personal to him.
Very personal which he was hiding from his siblings.
His mother's death. The curse surrounding it.
The unnatural circumstances.
All of it pointed toward one thing.
A devil.
Even Julius' eyes briefly shifted toward Nozel before returning to Ben.
Meanwhile the members of the Eye of the Midnight Sun also answered.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Rhya narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"Creatures hated even among forbidden texts."
Fana quietly added.
"They are beings who tempt others with despair."
Even Patoli, despite his hostility, remained listening silently.
"...."
Because if Ben truly knew something about the past—Then understanding devils became important.
Ben nodded slowly after hearing everyone's answers.
-Nod!
"Most of you are correct."
He folded his hands together lightly before continuing.
"Devils are beings from another realm. The Underworld."
The room became noticeably quieter.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Even Julius' eyes sharpened with interest He felt something inside him shift slightly.
Ben continued calmly.
"They are not natural beings of our world."
"They originate from a completely different dimension. A place separated from the human realm."
He paused briefly to let everyone absorb the information.
"Normally …a devil cannot enter the human world with its true body."
This immediately caught everyone's attention.
Rill blinked in confusion.
-Blink!
"Then how do they appear here?"
Ben looked toward him.
"Through contracts. Possession. Forbidden rituals. Or manipulation."
Nozel's eyes narrowed sharply at that final word.
Ben noticed it but continued.
"Most devils lack physical vessels in our world."
"That's why they tempt humans. They exploit hatred. Despair. Greed. Revenge. They manipulate people into opening pathways for them."
As he spoke, the expressions inside the chamber gradually became heavier.
Especially the elves.
Because Ben's explanation was beginning to sound disturbingly familiar.
Patoli's jaw tightened.
Rhya unconsciously frowned.
Fana remained silent.
Ben slowly leaned back into his chair.
"Now think carefully."
His gaze moved toward the elves.
"If devils are beings who manipulate emotions and exploit despair …what are the chances that your tragedy five hundred years ago happened exactly as you remember it?"
Silence. Heavy silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
No one interrupted him.
Because now—The possibility was no longer sounding absurd.
It was beginning to sound terrifyingly reasonable.
Patoli's expression darkened further after hearing Ben's explanation about devils and manipulation.
But unlike Rhya and the others who had begun questioning things internally—Patoli didn't care.
Not anymore. Not after carrying five hundred years of hatred.
He suddenly sneered coldly while looking directly at Ben.
"So what are you trying to say?"
His voice was filled with ridicule and anger.
"That humans were manipulated into slaughtering the elves?"
The atmosphere immediately turned tense again.
Several captains frowned while silently observing the exchange.
But Ben—Remained calm. Completely calm.
He looked directly into Patoli's eyes and answered without hesitation.
"Not just humans."
That instantly made the room quieter.
Ben's gaze sharpened.
"Even elves."
Those words struck everyone present.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Rhya's eyes narrowed.
Fana froze slightly.
Even Julius leaned forward a little.
Meanwhile Patoli's face visibly darkened.
Because somewhere deep inside—He already hated where this conversation was going.
Then Ben pointed directly toward him.
"Especially you."
Silence. Absolute silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Patoli's mana instantly surged violently.
"KING BENJAMIN!"
His voice thundered through the chamber while killing intent leaked from his body.
The captains immediately became alert.
Yami's hand moved toward his katana.
Nozel's mercury started floating again.
Fuegoleon's flames reignited.
But Ben simply continued speaking.
"You are being manipulated even now."
Those words dropped into the chamber like a massive stone thrown into still water.
The entire atmosphere became unbearably heavy.
Patoli's expression twisted with fury.
"How dare you—!"
But Rhya suddenly stepped forward before Patoli could continue.
"How can we believe you?"
His voice was serious now. He was using his lie detecting magic.
From the start of the conversation. But he didn't find a single lie till now.
Which made him feel something is very wrong.
No mockery. No hostility. Just suspicion.
Fana too looked toward Ben quietly.
Because despite Patoli lying to them—He was still one of their own.
Still an elf.
Still someone who mourned their people.
Still someone who carried the same hatred they did.
Vetto, despite being sealed, growled from his position.
"Patoli may have deceived us …but he still wants revenge for our slaughtered tribe."
Rhya folded his arms tightly.
"So why should we believe you over him?"
The question echoed heavily.
Even the captains silently waited for Ben's answer.
Because honestly—They wanted to know too.
Ben slowly leaned back into his seat while interlocking his fingers.
His expression no longer playful.
No longer casual. Just serious.
"Because your memories are incomplete."
Patoli instantly shouted back.
"LIES!"
But Ben ignored him completely.
"You all remember hatred. You remember death. You remember humans betraying the elves."
His eyes slowly moved across the elves.
"But do you remember the entire truth?"
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
No one answered.
Because—That was the problem.
Their memories felt fragmented.
Broken.
Like pieces of a shattered mirror.
Ben continued calmly.
"Hatred is the easiest emotion for devils to exploit. They don't need to create lies from nothing. They simply twist existing pain. They manipulate despair."
"They guide events."
"They push people toward destruction."
Then Ben's eyes locked onto Patoli again.
"And someone pushed you."
Patoli's breathing became heavier. His rage was becoming unstable now.
"...."
Because deep inside—Part of him feared those words.
Ben slowly continued.
"You said humans killed the elves. But tell me something, Patoli."
His voice became quieter. Sharper.
"When you woke up again… who was the first person that guided your hatred?"
Patoli froze slightly. A tiny reaction.
But everyone saw it.
Ben immediately noticed. And so did Julius.
The Wizard King's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Ben slowly spoke once more.
"Who told you what happened? Who directed your revenge? Who made sure your hatred never calmed down?"
Each question landed harder than the last.
Patoli's expression slowly changed.
Not because he accepted Ben's words—But because he realized something terrifying.
He had never questioned it before.
Not even once.
Meanwhile Rhya and Fana were now fully silent.
Because for the first time—They too began asking themselves the same questions.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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