Chapter 688 688:- Man in the Shadows
Chapter 688 688:- Man in the Shadows
“We will need to change our plans.” Said a man whose face and body were hidden in the darkness. Even his voice had been distorted using magic. “Why? Is there any particular reason behind this?” Asked the woman. She sounded confused and lost. “The Emperor knows that we have tried to distract him and his men using Silas. This means our original plan will no longer work.” The man sounded frustrated. “But how did the Emperor know of this?” The woman asked. “There was an odd factor that I did not consider. This was out of my expectations.” All had carefully planned every step, yet a single odd factor had ruined everything. If that stupid thief hadn’t seen his men, then there wouldn’t have been any need to change his plan. “Do you have a new plan?” The woman asked. “Haha…!!!” Hearing this, the man laughed loudly. He continued laughing for a moment before he calmed down. Meanwhile, the woman patiently stared at the man. “I always have a plan. A war cannot be won without a proper plan.” The woman silently listened to what the man had to say. “Before, I had planned to take things very slowly. We might have even worked with The Dune Sovereignty to destroy the Istarin Empire.” “I always have a plan. A war cannot be won without a proper plan.” The woman silently listened to what the man had to say. “Before, I had planned to take things very slowly. We might have even worked with The Dune Sovereignty to destroy the Istarin Empire.” “But now the plan has changed. I am running out of patience. This time, we will be more direct.” “What about our plan to work with the Dune Sovereignty?” She asked. “There can only be one King.” This answered her question. “You should speed up as well. I am planning on giving Aditya a big surprise during his dear Prime Minister’s wedding.” “Once we begin, we won’t get much time. If we are late, then I am afraid we will be defeated instead.” “Understood…..!!” “Alright, this concludes our meeting.” The man was about to leave, but the woman’s words stopped him. “Would it be alright if I ask for something selfish?” “What is it?” The man sounded impatient. “I want to spend some time with you.” It had been such a long time since they had any intimacy. She longed for his touch. She longed for his warmth. But the man was indifferent and cold.
At the same time, the rune circles of the teleportation array began to glow. “You should know that I am super busy right now. Once our plan succeeds, I will give you time.” Without giving the woman any chance to speak, the man left. –
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Scene Change_______
“Watson, how is your brother Walter doing?” Aditya asked as they sat inside a Boutique store. The store manager personally served them tea and other snacks. It was a huge honor that the Emperor, along with the former unofficial Prime Minister of the Empire, came to their shop. “He is doing fine. Though, last time we met, he was shocked to see my young appearance.” Watson chuckled as he remembered his brother’s reaction to seeing him looking young and energetic again. “Haha…!!” Aditya also smiled while imagining Walter’s reaction. After Watson became a Dragonian, not only did his cultivation improve, but also his appearance changed. Before, he was an old man, but now he looked like a middle-aged man. He had returned to his prime. He had black hair all over, except for a couple of white strands peeking out from his head and beard.
“Watson, so when are you going to get married? Even Spencer, who is way younger than you, is about to get married. Maybe you should take lessons from Spencer.” Aditya wanted Watson to get married and settle down as well. Although he was very happy that his butler had dedicated his entire life to serving Aditya and the Royal Family, it wouldn’t be fair to Watson. Even if he denies it, Aditya and everyone feel that Watson should find someone and get married. “Your Majesty….!!!” Watson wasn’t interested in marriage. He wanted to stay single and continue serving Aditya and The Royal Family for the rest of his life. “I am a cultivator. I am probably going to live a very long life. I have time.” Aditya knew that Watson was just trying to avoid talking about this topic. “Alright…..!!!” Aditya nodded his head. Although he wanted Watson to find a partner for his own good, this did not mean that he wanted to force Watson against his own will. Doing this would do more harm than good. “Your Majesty, may I take your measurements?” The manager personally came to take Aditya’s measurement. The manager was a beautiful Succubus. She had long, red, curly hair that reached below her waist.
She had a slim waist and voluptuous body. She was dark-skinned. She stood at the height of 6 feet tall. For a woman, she was quite tall. The long dress tightly clung to her body. Anyone can see the outlines of her underwear when looking at her. “Of course, Miss Carolina.” Aditya nodded his head with a smile. “But first, you should relax. I think everyone here is being too stiff.” Aditya said, noticing how formal all the employees and the manager had been acting ever since he came here. Being formal was one thing, but they were also being extra formal. Their movements were stiff. This kind of atmosphere wasn’t comfortable for Aditya and for the store employees. So it would be better if they relaxed first. “It’s not like I am going to eat someone,” Aditya said in a joking tone. Aditya’s words worked immediately. Their bodies became less stiff, and their expression softened. “Of course…..!!” Hearing Aditya’s words, the manager, Carolina, became a little bit more courageous. Aditya stood up for Carolina to take his measurements. “Should I remove my coat?” Aditya was wearing a black trench coat. Before, Carolina might have refused, but since, due to Aditya’s words, she has gained more courage, she nodded her head. “It’s important to get your perfect measurements.” Another woman walked up to Watson. “Sir, please follow me. I’ll take your measurements and then show you some examples. You can choose whatever you like the most.” She led Watson into a different room.
As the Emperor’s butler, Watson needed to look his best for the Prime Minister’s big day. As Carolina started measuring Aditya, they were standing close to each other. This closeness made Aditya notice how nice Carolina smelled. He couldn’t help but think that her scent was wonderful.
Aditya knew that she wasn’t trying to seduce him or anything. From the beginning, she has been very professional. But as a Succubus, her every move was very seductive and tempting. “So, how long have you been working here?” Aditya curiously asked since the silence was kind of awkward. “Your Majesty, I have worked here since this boutique store opened almost one year ago,” Carolina replied. While Aditya spoke with Carlina about some random topics, she finished taking his measurements. –
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Scene change_______
“Lady Celestina, it’s nice to see you again. You look beautiful as ever.” Silas complimented Celestina. However, she did not show the smile or the reaction that Silas hoped to see. She just nodded her head. Celestina did not even invite Silas and James inside her residence like yesterday. Behind Celestina, her maid, Maris, stood and coldly stared at Silas and James. ‘What’s with this maid?’ Silas did not understand why the maid was coldly staring at him. He felt that something was wrong here. He wasn’t invited inside. It was kind of getting awkward standing outside of Celestina’s residence. “Lady Celestina, is something wrong?” Silas finally couldn’t hold it anymore and asked her what was wrong. “Mr. Silas, we have found evidence against you. You have lied to us about the food shortage problem.” Hearing this, Silas’s expression quickly changed. “This isn’t true. I have never lied to you.” He replied in a slightly loud tone. He sounded desperate to defend himself. Celestina’s gaze turned cold as she folded her arms under her chest. “Do you think that the Istarin Empire is stupid?” Saying that, she took a step forward. Silas took a step back in fear. “Did you really assume that you would be able to fool all all?” Celestina took another step forward while Silas took a step back. He was afraid, and also, since he had a crush on her, he did not want to confront her. “Yes, there is a food shortage problem in the Duke’s territory. But it’s not as bad as you’re making it sound.”
Yesterday, Celestina sent her men to investigate the situation in Duke Serizawa’s territory. From their investigation, it had become clear that Duke Serizawa had sent Silas to get food from the Istarin Empire at a very low price. Then, they were planning on selling these grains at a high price to their own citizens. Since the Istarin Empire had an abundant food supply, they thought the Empire wouldn’t personally look into the issue and would believe Duke Serizawa’s words. Hearing Celestina’s words, Silas’s expression became ugly. At the same time, hundreds of guards led by powerful Dragonians walked behind Silas and James.
“Silas, you have tried to scam the Istarin Empire. For this crime, you and your men will be arrested. The Emperor himself will decide your trial.” Hearing this, Silas’s face turned pale. Since this matter had gone to the hands of the Emperor, he knew that it was over. “Arrest him…..!!” Celestina coldly said. Till now, Celestina has not brought up the interaction that her maid, Maris, saw yesterday with a mysterious figure. Celestina wouldn’t have arrested Silas and James if not for Aditya’s telling her to have Silas and his subordinate arrested. Aditya wanted to question Silas about the mysterious figure whom he met in the dark, narrow alley yesterday. Also, Aditya felt that someone was trying to frame Silas with yesterday’s small explosion in the marketplace. They needed a reason to arrest Silas. “Take him away…!!!” Celestina watched as Silas and James were taken away. “My Lady, was this the right decision?” Maris asked in a doubtful tone. “This was all the Emperor’s plan.” Hearing this, Maris shut her mouth. There was no questioning the Emperor. The Emperor must have ordered this for a good reason.