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Chapter 201: Trust
Chapter 201 Trust
The secretary slightly furrowed his brows.
“Get down on my knees and beg? Me?”
I nodded calmly.
Of course, it didn’t seem like the secretary was lying to me. The Vampires possessed tremendous power and seemed to have been secretly manipulating this continent. But just because the opponent was strong, it didn’t mean I could afford to get involved.
A crisis could become a formidable force if redirected. So, I decided to play a psychological game with the secretary first. I aimed to extract the desired information and simultaneously gain an ally.
“Is it a difficult request?”
“Flan, regardless of the difficulty, it’s impossible from the start. I only bow my head in front of the princess. And one more thing.”
The secretary continued speaking calmly.
His asymmetrically cut short navy blue hair revealed one eye that glowed red.
“There are only four ancient runes we haven’t deciphered. Don’t underestimate us.”
To have completed the research on all but four was indeed an impressive feat. However, I couldn’t help but scoff.
In the end, he had admitted that ‘there exist ancient runes they haven’t deciphered.’
Even if there was just one ancient rune left unresearched, I had enough qualifications to take the lead.
“My assessment is always accurate. Moreover, what do you plan to do about the four ancient runes you haven’t researched yet?”
“Flan, that’s why I’m asking you. I don’t want to cover up my means anymore….”
I finally made a decision.
To mix one lie among ninety-nine truths.
“You will have to cover it. Since I definitely know those four, you have no choice but to comply with my demands.”
In truth, I didn’t know what those four ancient runes were.
However.
If I started researching them in earnest, I was confident I would understand them. So to begin that ‘research,’ observation was necessary first, and I cleverly mixed in a lie.
Could there be any greater power than information and knowledge?
There were no combat spells exchanged between the secretary and me, but it was more intense than such a situation.
Attitude, judgment, provided information…. These trifles would determine superiority after a meticulous contest. I repeatedly agonized to extract the information I wanted.
The opponents were the ones manipulating the continent. The fate of the entire continent could change depending on this conversation.
I finally opened my mouth.
“This conversation is going in circles. Let’s talk again shortly.”
“When do you mean by that? Flan, once you step foot here, you can’t leave until this is settled.”
“Ten minutes will be enough.”
“Ten minutes…?”
The secretary tilted his head.
“What can change in just ten minutes?”
“A lot can change.”
I summoned all my mana with all my strength. Since my goal wasn’t combat, the secretary watched for the moment.
First manifestation: rearranging the bookshelves. Second manifestation: gathering all the books and spreading them in a fan shape. Third manifestation: overlaying my corneas with mana to aid understanding.
With just three manifestations, I was ready.
With eyes aided by magic, I quickly scanned the contents. Since my goal was observation, not learning, it was swift.
“It’s done.”
Precisely ten minutes later, I confirmed the contents of all the books except for the ancient runes.
After arranging the space as it was initially, the conversation between the secretary and me resumed.
“Flan, what did you find out in those ten minutes?”
“You have deeply researched human magic. But the magic used by other species, like the beastmen and elves… is atrocious.” frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
I quietly rubbed my chin as I continued speaking.
“You speak as if everything has gone according to plan, but it seems that hasn’t been the case. Am I wrong? Particularly, it looks like you abandoned the research on elf magic halfway.”
The unpleasant expression faded from the lieutenant’s face.
The emotion that soon covered her face was something far from discomfort, something resembling joy.
When she parted her lips, an intriguing tone flowed out.
“Flan, you could assess the magic of elves and beastmen. To even confirm the progress of the research… impressive. Very impressive.”
Her eyes widened a little. However, it was an expression of some kind of delight.
“You’ve lived a little over twenty years, and you spent half of that time wielding a sword. How on earth did you master all the magic on the continent?”
Like talking to herself, the lieutenant constantly muttered something. After a while, she suddenly burst into awkward laughter.
The reason for the awkward tone was obvious. Smiling must have been a very unfamiliar act to the lieutenant.
“Flan, you do have some credibility. I’ve begun to feel emotions other than anger. This is the first time I’ve had an opponent on my level.”
She raised her hand into the air and moved it as if conducting a melody. The space rearranged itself differently from before, creating an environment suitable for a pleasant conversation.
It resembled a teahouse in the human realm.
The lieutenant opened her mouth again with a more gentle tone.
“We haven’t given up on elf research. Flan, you can guess the reason, can’t you?”
“The difference between long-lived and short-lived species.”
“Exactly. Elves are a long-lived species. Since they aren’t pressed by time, they never rush. We also have to plan over a very long period.”
She gazed at my eyes, or perhaps she wanted to see something beyond them.
“In that respect, humans are remarkable. Most blood fiends disdain humans out of instinct, but in fact, there is no existence more fascinating from our perspective.”
“Fascinating?”
“Short-lived species have a strong obsession with leaving achievements. Thanks to that, something brilliant often emerges. Therefore, to preserve humans, we divided the continent…”
At that moment, the entire space shook.
Dark shadows swarmed toward the lieutenant. Countless shadows covered her.
A strange whisper filled the space. The sound was as bustling as tree branches swaying in the wind.
Bang─!
However, the lieutenant brushed it away with one hand.
“It’s fine. It’s fine… Guardians of the Void, calm down. The princess understands. It’s okay to discuss this much.”
Her index finger pointed to the sky.
Before I knew it, an enormous purple eye was gazing down at us. I instinctively knew it was the eye of the princess.
“She knows everything anyway. From the beginning, it seems we need to reveal everything to Flan for this conversation to proceed. So, you have nothing to worry about.”
After calming down those called the Guardians of the Void, the lieutenant’s gaze returned to me.
This time, I spoke first.
“I think I can guess what you’re about to say. Humans, beastmen, elves… you designated areas for each of them to live in?”
“Flan, that’s exactly it.”
The lieutenant unfolded a map in midair as she continued.
“Flan, focusing research on humans caused problems. If all species lived together, humans couldn’t survive properly.”
“So you divided the continent?”
“Yes, we planted trees in the Great Forest and scattered demonic energy in Verkel, which the demonic beasts love. Everything is within our grasp.”
Given these points, it was an astonishing achievement.
Of course, there were those who attempted such things in the previous world, but since the power dynamics among species were similar, it never leaned to one side.
There had never been a species that tried to dominate others on such a meticulous and grand scale. Nor had there been one that succeeded so thoroughly in monopolizing the benefits.
The reason these creatures were trying to negotiate with me was clear….
“I think I understand why you’re looking for the ruler of the void.”
“Mm?”
“Elves, beastmen, demonic beasts. Their heads have all grown too big. It must be getting difficult to manipulate the power dynamics as you wish.”
The point was simple.
“You want to keep the power of the blood fiends as hidden as possible, but you’re running out of strength. To solve all these problems, you need the four ancient runes.”
The lieutenant seemed slightly uncomfortable with my remark.
“Running out of strength? Be careful with such statements.”
The lieutenant stared quietly at the map.
Bang─!
She slapped the map loudly with her palm. As a result, an island pressed under her hand slowly disappeared.
She looked at me and said.
“Flan, I just erased an entire island right in front of you. Fortunately, it was uninhabited, but if it were a strategic point, it wouldn’t be surprising if a war broke out.”
A crimson black thorn rose from the ground. The lieutenant grabbed it as if it were a staff.
“That’s the end of my story. Flan, I’ve told you a lot and I haven’t lied.”
She pointed the tip of the thorn at me.
“Now it’s your turn. Give me your trust.”
“Trust, huh.”
“If you’ve really researched the remaining four ancient runes, show me a bit of the results.”
“And after showing you?”
“I won’t get down on my knees and beg. But, Flan, if you earn my trust, I will support you without question.”
Support from the blood fiends would mean a lot. It meant the very beings who had structured this world would cooperate with me.
So, what exactly would I show?
“Fine.”
It was already decided.
There was something I had been attempting, and now I felt I could succeed.
“Flan, what will you do?”
Instead of answering, I closed my eyes and focused my mind.
The door I had vaguely seen while researching the ancient runes. The one and only passage connecting the previous world and the present world.
…Now, I intended to open it.