Chapter 269: Each with Their Own Schemes

’Isn’t that what you always say...’

The official grumbled inwardly at the Necromancer’s excuse, but Ron had already paid. As the saying goes, you take the money, you solve the problem. He had no reason to obstruct them any further.

’If the Lord of Delusional Land wants people, then he can have them.’

"Since that’s the case, we won’t pursue the matter for the time being," the official said, putting on a stern and professional facade. "However, after this phase of your experiment is complete, we will need to consult you again regarding these two cases. If we discover any issues, I’m afraid you will still have to submit to the laws of the city-state."

This kind of talk was like "borrowing a couple sheets of paper for the restroom." You’ll certainly take them, but you’re definitely not giving them back.

"Of course, of course!" The Necromancer, as if granted a pardon, thanked the official and Ron profusely. He then walked out of the "cruel" Public Security Bureau with Ron and his two companions.

"Mr. Robertson, I wonder if you would do me the honor of joining me for a drink?" Ron’s smile seemed permanently fixed on his face. "I hear there’s a nice restaurant on the corner. Perhaps we could..."

"Please, Lord, just call me Henry. I’m grateful for your kindness, but as I was saying..." The Necromancer looked troubled. "My experiment truly isn’t finished, and there’s no telling what those commoners might mess with. I must hurry back."

"How about this: could you give me an address? In a few days, once I’ve finished this stage of my experiment, I can properly thank you for your kindness, Lord. That restaurant on the corner is overrated. I know a place with the best food in Carolina, guaranteed to satisfy you!"

"I see..." Ron looked a bit disappointed, but expressed complete understanding. "Then by all means, go on ahead. For people like us, experiments are more important than anything, aren’t they?"

"Then I shall await your good news?"

"This old man will take his leave, then." Henry Robertson bowed, sighing involuntarily as he straightened up. "I don’t have any useful apprentices on hand these days, and the slaves are even more stupid and lazy."

"If only that child, Silvia, were by my side."

"Silvia?"

Ron reached out to stop her, but it was too late. Victoria couldn’t help but blurt out, "You must be rather harsh with Sil... with your own apprentice, wouldn’t you say? I never knew a Necromancer who consorts with Undead Creatures would actually miss the living."

"Silvia can’t be considered one of the living. She’s a Vampire Descendant, half-dead," the Necromancer explained slowly, seemingly not perceiving anything amiss. "As for being harsh... while they might get injured or even lose their lives, believe me, it’s a necessary sacrifice. It’s better than dying at the hands of Undead Creatures."

"Besides, Silvia is an excellent prodigy. She always completed every task I assigned her perfectly, even the exceptionally difficult ones."

"Unfortunately, she seems to have misunderstood my painstaking efforts and secretly ran away not long ago. I tried to hire someone to bring her back, but..." Henry shook his head sadly.

"The person you hired, was her name Bakoyannis?"

"That’s the very girl! Don’t tell me you’ve met my worthless apprentice, Lord?"

"Regrettably, I only met the one who was ’inviting’ her back," Ron said with a shrug. "I heard she fled to my lands, but I have no leads. Delusional Land is a very large place, you know."

"Of course, of course. I understand," the Necromancer said, turning away. "Then, if you’ll excuse me, Lord."

"Do try to stay in Carolina for a few more days."

Watching Henry’s retreating figure, Ron let the smile drop from his face. "I know you and Silvia are close, Victoria, but you shouldn’t have jumped in like that."

"Yes, I know," the Priest of Heim said, lowering her head in regret. "I just... I couldn’t stand it."

"He was so awful to Silvia, how dare he even talk about her?!"

"I suspect he was testing us," Ron snorted. "But it’s for the best. The street isn’t a good place to kill him, anyway."

"Didn’t he want to find a restaurant on his own? Fine, let him find one."

"Come on. We need to tell Uncle Daniel and the others to ’get active,’ too."

Quest’s tail swished, finally coiling around his own ankle. "Lord Ron, do you think he was telling the truth?"

"Do you want to believe it?" Ron countered.

"Aside from your promise to give us a land to live on, I’ve never trusted anyone," Quest said with a slick smile. "I just feel like he doesn’t seem all that terrible. If possible, couldn’t we try to bring him over to our side?"

"A Necromancer?" Ron shook his head. "I’d rather not have murders popping up every other day. Besides, Quest, you’re forgetting something."

"I may be the one planning this, but Silvia is the one who wants revenge. If my companions have a need like this, I do my best to fulfill it."

"But is it worth it? You did Henry a huge favor; he would surely serve you with unwavering loyalty. As for the Vampire Descendant, you are her savior. If you ordered her to spare his life—even if you made her go back to being the Necromancer’s assistant—she would agree, wouldn’t she?"

"Quest, are you insane?!" Victoria snapped.

"I’m merely stating the possibility," Quest said, giving the Priest a cold glance.

"Of course, she would. I don’t doubt that for a second," Ron said without a moment’s hesitation. "But that’s not going to happen. Because I say it isn’t."

"Logically speaking, Henry Robertson wasn’t wrong about one thing: Silvia is talented and capable. In just six months, she nearly surpassed her teacher. Meanwhile, based on the intel we’ve gathered, Henry has likely hit his ceiling and will never advance further. Silvia is clearly more valuable. Emotionally speaking, Silvia is our companion."

"I’m guessing you went with the emotional argument, considering all you said before it," Quest said, dropping the issue. He was only offering a suggestion. After all, Delusional Land wasn’t exactly short on Casters right now; Mazarino alone was worth several.

"Why can’t it be both?" Ron started walking, waving the other two over. "Let’s go. We’ll check on Instructor Seymour next."

At almost the exact same time, the Necromancer, now walking alone, let the fake smile that sickened even himself fall away, his expression turning grim.

’They know Silvia, no doubt about it. They also know Bakoyannis, the one with the "dark circles under her eyes." So they definitely didn’t approach me just for a simple chat.’

’What do these people from Delusional Land want? First, they bail me out, then they invite me to dinner? Are they trying to recruit me?’

’Or, to think of it more darkly... is that little bitch trying to use them to get her revenge on me?’

The Necromancer rubbed his hands together in excitement, a raspy laugh bubbling up from his throat.

’They’d better be trying to recruit me. Otherwise, they’re about to learn why, sometimes, living is far more terrifying than dying!’