Vol. 1 - Ch. 59 - What Does It Mean to Strike an Ally?

After finally regaining some of her composure, Lilith slowly raised her head and stared into Lynn’s eyes in the darkness.

Then, with a hint of self-mockery, she spoke.

“You probably think I’m an important part of this conspiracy, right?

You think I know most of my father’s plans.”

Isn’t that what happened? At least, that was what Griffin told me.

“I heard that you were Baron Rose’s confidant.”

“Confidant? Hahaha…”

As if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world, Lilith burst into laughter.

“That old bastard doesn’t have any confidants. The only person he trusts is himself!

I’m just a tool he uses to accomplish his goals. A pawn. That’s all.”

She paused briefly before continuing.

“Do you know? He even told me directly that if I refused to obey him, he would throw me to those monsters called goblins and then hand me over to the Church.”

A cold smile appeared on her face as she gritted her teeth.

“The only mission he ever gave me was to complete whatever tasks he assigned, just like those children he raised to serve him.

Every single one of us was only allowed to know what he wanted us to know.

Even those who were cooperating on the same mission were no exception.”

“My task was simply to cast the Veil of Interference and disrupt the Saintess’s inspection.

Meanwhile, someone else was responsible for poisoning and keeping watch over me.”

At this point, Lilith’s voice gradually lowered.

“I have always been used to it.

I have always been nothing more than a tool without freedom.

Until I finally believed that I wasn’t worthy of being an independent person, I was sent to Milangel’s side…”

Lynn could no longer bear listening to the rest.

The story had become far too sentimental.

In short, Lilith had been moved by Viscount Milangel’s straightforwardness and sincerity. She had begun hoping that this kind of peaceful life could continue forever.

Because of that, while casting the Veil of Interference, she had secretly used her magic to curse and weaken the snake venom affecting the Viscount’s eldest son, allowing this fake happiness to last a little longer.

Lynn’s expression turned serious.

This is becoming troublesome.

Although that bastard was completely inhuman, the people under his command were all frighteningly loyal.

However, this web-like structure also meant that even if one person betrayed him, it would be almost impossible to damage the entire conspiracy.

At this point, the only thing Lynn could do was hope that Griffin, who had Liko—the little infrared radar, by his side, could quickly discover traces of the other assassin.

“However, I already have a way to cure Viscount… and your child as well.”

Lynn rubbed his chin and asked cautiously.

“That guy’s plan should be considered a failure now, right?”

“Failure?”

Lilith shook her head.

“That word doesn’t exist in his dictionary.”

“I think you should have already figured it out.”

“His goal was to seize White Pine Territory legally.”

“The important part is legally.”

“In fact, your Blackstone Territory was also part of his original plan.”

“After his spies discovered that the daughter of the previous Blackstone Baron had once burned down a house, he immediately reported her to the Church, accusing her of harboring a witch.”

“Then, using the influence of my Uncle Dawson, he pressured them through the food supply issue and ultimately forced the previous Baron into a desperate situation that led to his death.”

“Originally, according to the connections he had already arranged, Blackstone Territory should have eventually fallen into his hands…”

“But I don’t know why, in the end, it was inherited by you—a guy who appeared out of nowhere.”

Lynn raised an eyebrow.

He had never expected that the biggest disruption he had caused to Baron Rose’s plans was actually becoming the successor of Blackstone Territory.

After all, as the eldest grandson of a former Elector who had been exiled, he could still be considered someone with a certain level of influence and connections.

Now, everything finally made sense.

Including Dawson’s actions.

Poor Baron Reinhart probably had no idea why such a disaster had befallen him until the very end of his life.

Once I deal with this old schemer, I’ll tell Alicia about this matter and make her obedient…

Ah, no.

Make her accept the twenty-two-hour work system with sincere gratitude!

Thinking about this, Lynn couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling upward.

“But everything I’ve said is based on one premise.”

Lilith’s expression became serious.

“Legality.”

“If his public plan completely fails, then he will definitely activate the backup plan he has likely been preparing for who knows how long.”

“At that point, even if there are problems with the process, he will still achieve his ultimate goal.”

“That is—taking control of White Pine Territory.”

“After all, this operation is backed by that old snake.”

Old snake…

Was she talking about Richard, the branch leader of the Blood Serpent Society that Griffin had mentioned?

Lynn narrowed his eyes.

If that was the case, then the possibility of the other side abandoning all restraint and flipping the table was extremely high.

After all, Viscount White Pine only had a guard captain with E-rank battle aura.

Meanwhile, their side clearly possessed assassin-level forces that far exceeded ordinary standards.

This could be seen just from Liko and Griffin alone.

Normally, Lynn should have felt terrified by such a massive difference in strength between the two sides.

However, he remained completely calm.

Because Lynn understood one thing very clearly—

The reason he had become involved with the Blood Serpent Society was because there was another force watching them from the shadows.

A force that had already made a deal with him.

So when that moment truly arrived, it was still uncertain which side possessed the stronger hidden cards.

“Anyway, as long as this matter doesn’t involve the Church, everything has already reached a point where it can be resolved perfectly.”

Lynn confidently placed his hands on his waist and stood up from his chair.

“After that, to ensure everyone’s safety, I’ll need to borrow something from Madam…”

————————

In the darkness of White Pine City’s night, a figure swiftly moved through the alleyways.

Although the number of patrolling guards had clearly increased, the man dressed in black showed no trace of panic.

The possibility of being discovered was extremely low.

But even if it happened, it was still within his expectations.

Facing these insignificant guards, there was no way his whereabouts could possibly be exposed.

Following a route he had secretly practiced countless times, he effortlessly avoided the patrols’ field of vision and entered an inconspicuous house in the center of the city through a window.

After entering the study, he reached out and pulled several books from the bookshelf in a specific order.

Click.

The hidden mechanism activated.

The bookshelf slowly moved aside, revealing a concealed door behind it.

Beyond the door was a secret stone chamber.

On the stone-brick floor, countless complicated runes had been carved into the surface.

At the six corners of a massive hexagram, six grooves had been embedded into the ground.

The man took out precious magical minerals from his chest and carefully placed them into the grooves one by one.

In the next instant, a powerful surge of magic erupted.

Although he possessed no extraordinary abilities, his well-trained body allowed him to skillfully retreat and disperse the impact.

Even so, he still couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.

The next moment, space began to distort violently.

A slightly hunched figure holding a cane appeared inside the dark stone chamber.

“Activating the formation left behind by the Blood Serpent Society…”

“Does this mean the worst possible situation has occurred?”

The hoarse voice was not asking a question.

It was stating a fact.

Seeing the man nod slightly, the hunched figure let out a quiet sigh.

“Ah, as expected…”

“Your mission ends here. Leave White Pine City.”

A trace of joy flashed across the man’s face.

He immediately dropped to one knee and expressed his gratitude.

Then, he turned around and prepared to leave.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound tore through the air.

A short crossbow bolt instantly pierced through his throat.

The hunched figure slowly lowered the cane he had raised halfway.

Then, he looked toward the magic formation beneath his feet, which was still emitting a faint glow.

“Richard, take care of the aftermath.”

“We need to prepare for Plan Three.”

Feeling the object in his palm, Lynn prepared to immediately find the Viscount and inform him of what might happen next.

I hope Griffin and Liko, as well as the people from Frost Kingdom, can quickly deal with that guy who escaped…

However, as he muttered to himself, Lynn suddenly realized something.

A very small but extremely important problem.

If the people Frost Kingdom had left behind in White Pine City encountered Griffin and Liko…

What would happen?

In other words.

The people following Aina to investigate the Blood Serpent Society had encountered the Blood Serpent Society assassin they had previously fought.

The same assassin who had been carrying the snake.

What would happen if those two sides met?

“Holy crap!”

“No, wait!”

Lynn’s expression suddenly changed.

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