Chapter 161: Zeus and Roxana's Meeting (3)
Roxana leaned back slightly, her sharp gaze never leaving Zeus. "Alright, I'll explain it to you," she began, her voice calm but carrying a weight of certainty. It was clear she knew more than she had initially let on.
Zeus, though composed, watched her intently, measuring every word. He could sense that whatever she was about to reveal wasn't something to take lightly.
"Remember when I mentioned earlier that I looked into Lucy's information?" Roxana said, her tone deliberate, as if testing his reaction.
Zeus nodded slowly, his mind on high alert. "Yeah, I remember."
Roxana's lips curved into a slight smile as she leaned forward, her voice becoming more direct. "Well, that's when I found out she had a little brother. And that's where things started to get interesting."
Zeus's heart skipped a beat, but outwardly, his expression remained calm. "Go on."
"About half a year ago," Roxana continued, her eyes narrowing as if she were replaying a memory, "your sister suddenly became strong. Not just strong—"remarkably" strong. Strong enough to beat disciples like Julian Margrave and Cedric Valen during the entrance test."
Zeus didn't flinch, but his mind was racing. "She's figured this much out already?"
"And it wasn't just her strength that caught my attention," Roxana added, pausing to sip her tea, deliberately drawing out the moment. "There was someone else at the time, someone who stood out… someone named Zeus."
For the first time, Zeus felt a flicker of surprise. He kept his face neutral, but Roxana's sharp eyes didn't miss the subtle shift in his expression.
"You see," Roxana continued, her voice now tinged with curiosity, "Lucy went from being a nobody to ranking at the very top of the outer disciple rankings in just a few months. She reached the level of a four-star warrior, something that would normally take years."
Roxana leaned in closer, her voice dropping slightly, making the moment feel even more intense. "And that kind of rapid growth? That's not normal. Especially for someone like Lucy, who isn't from a noble family, but a commoner background."
Zeus's eyes flickered, betraying a hint of tension. He clenched his jaw slightly but remained silent, knowing she wasn't done yet.
Zeus kept his face still, but inside, he felt the pressure of her words building. "She's seen too much," he thought. Roxana's perceptiveness was far sharper than he had anticipated.
Roxana's smirk deepened, her tone gaining a playful edge. "And then," she continued, her gaze sharp as a blade, "when I saw 'Lucas' earlier, it all clicked. The boy I saw was a clone. Which means the real Lucas—you—have been using these clones to stay hidden while the real you has been handling... other things."
Zeus couldn't hide his shock anymore. His mouth fell open slightly, the mask of control slipping. "Damn it, she figured out everything..." The thought echoed in his mind. He hadn't expected her to connect the dots so perfectly. She had deduced far more than he was comfortable with.
[Hah! She nailed it, didn't she? You thought you were so clever, didn't you?] the system chimed in, its voice dripping with arrogance. [I've been telling you—your tricks aren't as subtle as you think. But hey, at least now you know! I always knew she was smart enough to see through your weak disguise.]
Zeus inwardly rolled his eyes at the system's mocking tone, though his focus remained on Roxana, who was clearly savoring the moment. Her smirk turned into a full grin as she watched him struggle to hide his surprise.
"It's pretty simple if you know what to look for," Roxana said, as if explaining a simple concept to a child. She leaned back, her confidence radiating off her in waves. "But don't worry," she added casually, waving a hand as if it was no big deal, "I've already erased that information. No one else will know about your little secret."
Zeus finally exhaled, feeling a small bit of relief, though tension still lingered. "I can't believe she managed to erase that information. At least I don't have to worry about others finding out..."
[Oh, aren't you lucky? She cleaned up your mess for you. What would you do without me and your convenient 'allies'? You should be grateful I let this happen.] The system's voice was laced with shameless arrogance, clearly enjoying his momentary discomfort.
Zeus shot back in his mind, "Grateful? You? I'm surprised you didn't mess things up worse with your constant interruptions."
[Mess things up? I'm the reason you've even made it this far! A little appreciation wouldn't hurt, you know.] The system sounded both smug and indignant, as if genuinely offended by Zeus's lack of gratitude.
Zeus refocused on Roxana, who was watching him with sharp, calculating eyes. She had crossed her arms and leaned back casually, but the intensity in her gaze was impossible to miss. It was as if she could see straight through him, unbothered by the mysteries she had already unraveled.
"You really are sharp," Zeus admitted, finally letting out a small sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. He gave her a nod of acknowledgment. "Smarter than I gave you credit for."
Roxana's lips curled into a grin, her confidence radiating through the air. "Of course," she replied with a casual wave of her hand, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm a reincarnator from another world, after all. It gives me a bit of an edge over these people who only focus on brute strength."
Zeus blinked, his mind coming to an abrupt halt. He stared at her, processing what she had just said. "Wait... what did you just say?" Zeus asked, his voice low, disbelief creeping into his tone. He needed to make sure he'd heard her right.
Roxana, still grinning, raised an eyebrow, amused by his reaction. "You heard me. I said I'm a reincarnator—someone who's lived before, but in a completely different world. A place far from here." She leaned in slightly, her voice softening but still tinged with amusement. "That's why I don't fit in with the typical power-hungry fools around here."
Zeus felt his pulse quicken. He had dealt with many surprises, but this was on another level. "Another Reincarnator?" His mind raced, trying to connect the dots. Roxana wasn't just strong—she was from a completely different existence.