“Family Head!”
“Many unfamiliar faces have suddenly appeared in the city’s shops and lodgings.”
“After cross-referencing, most of them are participants in the Martial Arts Competition.”
Inside the underground stronghold of the Reed family’s Aidemeng, a vast intelligence network was in operation.
Pieces of confidential intelligence were being delivered to his desk.
“A large number of officials from the Imperial Capital are secretly visiting Kares Territory. Their purpose is unknown.”
“The Holy Church plans to build the ‘Extreme North Cathedral’ in the Lower District, temporarily appointing Cecilia as the Diocesan Bishop.”
“The ‘Zero Point Research Institute’ established by the Caris family has been officially recognized by the Alchemist Association, and the two sides have begun negotiations regarding the ‘disclosure of partial technical details of the Giant Strength Potion.'”
The spy in front of him reported one by one.
“Family Head, these are the important recent messages.”
On the main seat, Count Edmund frowned deeply, not even having the strength to sigh.
Throughout this period, he had been shocked so many times that even hearing something unbelievable no longer elicited much reaction from him.
“Pretending to be unconcerned on the surface, but settling accounts in private, rooting out opposing forces… Single-handedly orchestrating such a major event, yet still able to maintain order, build a reputation, and even involve the Saintess of the Holy Church… And that damn Giant Strength Potion… What the hell is it?!”
Aidemeng slammed his fist on the table.
Looking at the somewhat frightened spy beside him, he muttered,
“Can you imagine?”
“So many intricate calculations, so many plans and arrangements, and yet, they all came from the hand of that one person.”
The spy nodded.
“You are perceptive, Family Head. After becoming lord, that girl has indeed changed a lot…”
“That one… The Third Princess Fina, who is thousands of miles away from Kares Territory, yet can calculate the entire situation without a single error!!”
“?”
‘It seems they are not talking about the same person…’
“Can you understand how I feel?!”
Aidemeng stood up directly from his seat, staring hard at the spy before him.
“Your opponent uses strategies like a god, leaving no loopholes in her actions… Every decision you make, every step you take, she can seemingly effortlessly resolve…”
His eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to vent all the frustration pent up in his heart during this period.
“Heh, as if in her eyes, you are nothing but a yapping wild dog, too lazy to even give you a proper glance.”
“She just stands behind the scenes, in the Imperial Capital thousands of miles away! With a few easy instructions, she can elevate a foolish and ridiculous clumsy girl to such a high position!!”
The spy was dazed for a moment, but then seemed to realize something and said with a shocked expression,
“Do you mean to say, Luwei’s success is all because she has Princess Fina backing her?”
Upon hearing this, Aidemeng seemed to lose all his strength.
“Your intelligence network is my sharpest eyes. I never expected even you cannot see clearly.”
Aidemeng collapsed back into his seat.
“Thinking back to the days when I campaigned with Roy, he was a lion, and I was an eagle.”
He extended his calloused hand, as if reminiscing about something.
“Roy was a lion brave in battle. Even in his last moment, he died full of honor.”
“And me…”
He didn’t say it out loud, but the spy already understood his meaning.
Roy and Aidemeng campaigned in their early years.
The former was unmatched in bravery, with extremely high attainments in magic and combat, advancing triumphantly—becoming the Grand Duke of the Kingdom of Avalon and being appointed Commander of the Seventh Northern Army of the Federation.
But as for Aidemeng?
As Roy’s close friend, his own talent was limited, and his power had stagnated at the Fourth Rank for decades.
The dissatisfaction and jealousy accumulated in his heart, which is why he willingly became the most crucial chess piece of the Kingdom of Loka.
If this piece could capture the opponent’s general in one move, then Aidemeng’s status in the Kingdom of Loka would be even higher than Roy’s in the Kingdom of Avalon.
“Heh… I am just an old and stupid eagle that has gone blind, its claws worn down.”
His murky eyes seemed to flicker with some light.
“But… The path I chose, I’ve long since been unable to turn back.”
Hearing Aidemeng’s sigh, the spy hesitated in his heart.
He was absolutely loyal to the Kingdom of Loka without a doubt, but the current head of the Reed family, from his words, seemed to show a hint of regret.
He was just a member of the intelligence network, supposed to be loyal to his own duties and not meddle in matters between important figures.
But what he saw and heard today, seeing Aidemeng’s emotions, seeing that even so-called big shots were at a loss for what was happening, truly left a considerable grudge in his heart.
The spy was about to take his leave, but Aidemeng’s voice came again from his ear.
“Luwei, oh Luwei… Did you think only you could borrow the power of others?”
Aidemeng’s gloomy voice sent a chill into the spy’s heart.
Wait, no, not in the heart.
That chill clearly came from behind.
Almost becoming tangible.
“What is it?!”
The spy abruptly turned his head.
He clearly sensed something behind him.
And then, he met a pair of crimson eyes.
He didn’t even have time to make any reaction.
Icy fangs plunged into his neck, piercing the blood vessels…
The other party seemed unsatisfied, directly biting through his throat.
“Hah, hah…”
“You’ve followed me for so many years, but your eyes are no longer sharp… It’s time for you to retire.”
The spy’s body slowly fell.
Through his increasingly blurry vision, he saw Aidemeng’s expression.
There was not a trace of surprise on his face, just watching like that, until he was bitten to death by the Vampire.
“Milan~”
“My precious, my dear~ What made you come to see Daddy?”
Aidemeng’s eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled at his precious son before him.
“Daddy, do I really have to go chat up that bad woman?”
Looking at Milan’s reluctant face, Aidemeng put away his smile and showed some seriousness.
“The hope of our entire family rests entirely on you.”
“Do you know Princess Fina of the Imperial Capital? She has always targeted our Reed family, and also wants to win over Luwei, the lord of Kares.”
Aidemeng said earnestly,
“Milan, you’ve seen how lively Kares Territory has been recently, right?”
Hearing this, Milan nodded, forcing a serious expression on his face.
“Many big shots have come, and many powerful people!”
“The nearby shops have earned a lot of money. They all came because of Daddy, right?”
Aidemeng reached out to pat his son’s head, but found that even on tiptoe he couldn’t reach it, so he changed to patting his shoulder.
“Hey, Milan is so smart!”
“That Princess Fina, she saw this clearly, and wants to snatch away the value of Kares Territory. That’s why she got close to Luwei.”
Aidemeng patiently explained, deliberately slowing down his speech, hoping Milan could understand.
“Fina wants to steal the decades of achievements of the Caris family and the Reed family!”
He said this with a worried expression.
Sure enough, his smart son understood quickly, immediately grasping the interests at stake.
“So we need to form a marriage alliance with the Caris family, together resist the imperial family, and not let the princess steal things?”
“That’s right~”
Aidemeng’s brow relaxed.
Indeed, his precious child was sensible.
A thousand times better than the prodigal daughter Roy raised!
Thinking so, Aidemeng’s tone became even gentler.
“Little Milan, you’re almost twenty-five years old, steady and mature in your actions, strong and handsome… I’ll leave this task to you. Daddy is reassured!”
“You just go see that girl Luwei. I’ll handle the pressure from Fina.”
Looking at Milan’s chubby face showing a half-understanding expression, Aidemeng nodded with satisfaction.
A perfect plan had already formed in his heart.
Letting Milan marry was just a decoy.
His own marriage alliance plan had already been foiled by Fina half a year ago at Luwei’s coming-of-age ceremony.
The result this time would probably be about the same.
Fina would definitely interfere.
Therefore, this marriage was only to hide the real killing move.
A trace of gloom appeared in Aidemeng’s eyes.
He had established a relationship with the noble Vampires.
That one was a Count of the Evernight Kingdom.
A thousand times stronger than his countship in a remote little country.
As long as he followed that lord’s orders…
After pulling off this job, he, Aidemeng, would never have to be anyone’s pawn again.
No longer have to be subordinate to others.
No longer a mere vassal.
And they were even willing to help him shed this frail body and, through the Embrace, become a member of the Vampire race.
Gain powerful strength and long life.
“Fina… Heh, do you think you’re very clever…?”
In the face of absolute power, these struggles between nations were no different from play.
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