"You!" Nora Alstreimās eyes shook.
So what if she had her will and resolve? In the face of death, she still couldnāt remain indifferent.
"Why am I being killed? Didnāt you just prove that I was innocent!?" She screamed in reluctance.
"As I said before... Enmity has already been formed..." Davis coldly replied as he slowly reached out his hand.
"Davis... wait..." Claire muttered with a hesitant expression on her face, but her voice was so low that Davis ignored it and went ahead, his palms crackling with arcs of black lightning!
Nora Alstreimās lips quivered as she felt the searing pressure emerge before her face. She couldnāt help but shout!
"Let me go, and Iāll promise Iāll never pursue this matter!"
Claire became taken aback before she narrowed her eyes, "Youāre going to let this go when Iām at fault for this particular matter?"
"Isnāt that what Iām saying from the beginning!? A misunderstanding!" Nora Alstreim hurriedly nodded her head.
Davis sneered, "Of course! Anyone would make such a promise when faced with death... Hehe..."
"No! Iām truly willing to let go!!!" Nora Alstreim shook her head as if her life depended on it.
Claire became confused. Nora Alstreim was able to let go of this matter so easily after a humiliating matter, such as being dragged by the hair and pummeled to the face?
Still, Claire shook her head, "Do you think I will seriously release you?"
"You!" Nora Alstreim became taken aback, "Isnāt it clear that Iām innocent in your matter as displayed through soul projection by Alchemist Davis!?"
"I could see that I was effortlessly framed, so your hatred towards me is understandable. I-
"Sure, Iām at fault for believing a fake Imagery Stone and blaming you..." Claire interrupted before she spoke in a cold tone, "But will you deny that itās not your fault to keep your subordinate in check?"
Nora Alstreim stopped panicking as her expression froze.
"To be deceived and plotted against by your ātrustedā subordinate into death, donāt you feel embarrassed!?" Claireās eyes were cold.
There was still some anger present in her voice that left Nora Alstreim unable to refute that she became stifled, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood as she felt both anger and shame enveloping her.
"How did you end up believing such a person like that?" Claireās lips trembled, "Donāt you still feel ashamed!?"
"Enough!!!" Nora Alstreim looked scarred as she trembled.
She lowered her head and muttered, "How could I doubt Immeth when she saved me but only once but twice from danger when I was out on a few tempering sessions?"
Betrayal wasnāt something new to her. In the past, Gwyneth Alstreim had betrayed her by entering Weiss Alstreimās group while also becoming his woman. However, it didnāt seem to be the case as she now knew from the soul projection.
Nevertheless, Gwyneth Alstreim wasnāt the only person who had betrayed her. There were many in the past that she lost count of it.
However, Immeth was the only person who stuck to her from the beginning and never ever left her side and kept up with her. Even just hours ago, she stuck up for her, courageously asking Dalila Leehan not to demand the portion of the reward, the nectar which they were unable to obtain in the end.
She believed Immeth was her trusted subordinate and sometimes treated her like a sister. Even a while ago, when she told her to pursue Alchemist Davis if she still liked him.
But... the truth remained bitter.
Among the time they spent looking after each other, it seems like only she was the one who cared about Immeth and not the other way around as Immeth secretly and carefully plotted against her with Elder Zeno Alstreim so as to not get caught. The fact that Elder Zeno Alstreim was Immeth Alstreimās father came off as a surprise to her.
"Are you sure that those dangers werenāt something orchestrated by herself to gain your trust?" Davis suddenly piped in with a mocking expression on his face.
Nora Alstreimās expression faded.
Remembering back, Immeth Alstreim wasnāt present both the times when she fell into danger but only appeared after that with a few elders, including Elder Zeno Alstreim, saving her from one time from being killed and another time from being violated by audacious bandits.
At this time, she finally recalled those audacious bandits were acting strange when they managed to make her fall into a sealing formation. They looked clearly hesitant, but they still tried to violate her despite knowing that she is a prominent figure in the Alstreim Family.
The mountain bandits would never even dare to involve themselves as the Alstreim Familyās name was renowned in this Territory, and yet, they still targeted her. As she recalled their forced expressions, she could now tell that they mightāve been soul slaves of someone, perhaps Elder Zeno Alstreimās soul slaves.
Nevertheless, since they were all killed by Elder Zeno Alstreim as they all released waves of laughter tinged with an unknown emotion which she could now understand as reluctance, she felt that it should be the case. However, she had no way of finding out the truth other than assuming that it should be all orchestrated by them!
As for the other time, when she was going to be killed, she couldnāt think of anything strange.
"Seems like you have some doubts..." Davis merely smiled at Nora Alstreimās silence and didnāt ask anymore.
He turned to his mother and spoke, "I think this would all be over if I gave this evidence to Ancestor Dian Alstreim, but this is a projection formed from using soul force, which anyone with accurate control over their soul could display if they practiced the scenario many times. This evidence would be considered dodgy and unreliable. Besides, Ancestor Dian Alstreim might wrongly blame me for creating false evidence."
"So, unless I provided an Imagery Stone as evidence, it will be difficult to convince."
Claire frowned as she thought for a moment. Her eyes suddenly brightened.
"Didnāt you see? The content of those Imagery Stones could be faked as well with a realistic and skillful illusion. So, why donāt we try?"
Davis became taken aback as he realized that he missed this point.
Indeed, even the contents of the Imagery Stone could be faked as long as the light the Imagery Stones freezes in it while recording happened to be realistic enough that no mistakes could be pointed out. As long as itās stable and realistic, even if people donāt believe it, they would end up doubting it.
"You have a point." He nodded his head as there was a prime example in front of him.
"If Ancestor Dian Alstreim accepts this evidence, then they will easily be apprehended and punished!" Claireās eyes flashed, "But before we do that, we have to not forget about Weiss Alstreim. Thereās a chance that he might be saved by the Ancestor if he learns that one of my personal vendettas is already void, not to mention that Nora would be taken away since she is innocent."
"Also, we still have to deal with those two old foxes, Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim and Grand Elder El-"
"My grandfather didnāt do anything!"
Nora Alstreim became stunned that she hurriedly echoed.
Claire sneered, "Without his help, do you think that these two wouldāve been able to blind the upper echelonās eyes, ears and mouth from suppressing the investigation of my sudden and unconfirmed death?"