V2 Chapter 75
The wind gently caressed his face, leaving Cian quite refreshed.
Heroes…
On Cian’s lips, a faint smile was hanging. All this time, he didn’t only focus his attention on expanding his power and influence but also centered his concentration and plan on gathering information about his dear old friends, which he unexpectedly missed. Towards them, even until now, Cian really didn’t know what to think or how should he deal with them.
Some parts of him wanted to avoid them, wanting to made contact.
Some part as well wanted to ignore them and treat them like the other people in this world.
In other words, enemies.
But is that really fine…?
Cian knows too little about their circumstances. He knows nothing about their Gods and the games played by these so-called Gods.
On him, what he holds was nothing but Night’s words, in which he was full of doubt. Was she an enemy? Was she a friend? Cian was still not clear. Some part of him believes in her, but there is also a part who questioned her motives.
However, at this moment, with no clear answer to this question, he has no choice but to hold on to her, to cling onto her…like some sort of pillar to lean his back against with. If not, he would become even more confused, like walking within a terrible thick fog, not knowing which direction to go.
He would be even more vulnerable to the conspiracies of other people if he acted like a lost child. He must avoid such an outcome.
He has other choices, but those choices carry too many risks and Cian didn't want to gamble on them.
As Cian fell into deep thoughts, a beautiful lady walked slowly towards his location. Her skin was fair, and her eyes were delicate with arching eyebrows.
Dressed in a simple and elegant purple robe, her entire being practically radiated purity like fine jade. There was a light emerald cloth-appearing like a pareo around her waist and hung on it was a beautiful purple crystal. Whenever she moved, the ornament would refract the colors of the rainbow, enshrouding her in a halo.
Her hair was like a mist, lightly folded up and pinned to the side with a simple silver hairpin. On the hairpin was embedded two large pearls the size of a fingernail, brilliant and lustrous. Other than that, she didn't have any other accessories, exuding a simple, elegant and pure image.
Her gently curved eyebrows looked like willows blown by the wind, and together with it were a pair of shrewd eyes, profoundly deep like a calm lake. Below her sharp nose was a small cherry-red mouth, and it was parted in a half smile, with pristine white teeth peeking out, moving even the most refined gentleman.
She was a visibly elegant and gentle woman. However, if you treat her as gentle and kind beauty then you would never even know when or how you die.
There is saying back in Earth, “Every rose has thorns,” and Cian was certain that this phrase was made especially for this kind of woman.
“…it seems like you are having a good time~”
The beautiful woman smiled faintly. However, just like before she didn’t dare stepped inside the fog or even stepped a bit closer to the pond. She just looks at the faint silhouette, her eyes beaming with an alluring gaze.
“Take back your [Sight] Grea, didn’t I told you last time, if you keep pushing my bottom line, I would fall out with you…?” Cian’s silhouette turned at the side. His voice calm yet cold. "...you wouldn't like the consequences,"
The killing aura that Cian had suppressed for a long time finally flared up again as he spoke.
The aura suffused across the whole area, leading the surrounding birds to fly up in fright, roaming around the air above him. Avian creatures had always been sensitive to such killing intent, far more than humans themselves!
When the dark and ominous pressure spread out, the beautiful woman; Grea hurriedly jumped back a few meters.
“Relax, I was just joking. Why are you so defensive?” Grea smiled wryly.
Her tone was soft and affectionate, but her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Grea Ovsburn.
One of the High Ranking Elders of the Death Temple.
She was also the woman who has been pretending to be Lovelier; the Patriarch of the Black Garden that Cian had accidentally found while participating in an auction.
A few weeks after their first meeting, Grea Ovsburn immediately contacted the Death Temple and told them about Cian and the mysterious Cahlo Clan that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. And just as Cian expected, because of the lack of any information about the Cahlo Clan, the Death Temple made a wait-and-see behavior and treated Cian extremely cautiously. Though, after a long time, they started cooperating with each other in the dark.
Despite their many cooperations, even up until now, the two parties have basically no clear contract between them, the Death Temple and Cian has an unspoken alliance with Gra Ovsburn as the mediator for the two parties. Their partnership follows a fair trade.
Only for profits and equal benefits.
Cian has yet to plan his appearance in this wild stage called 'World'. Even if they are his ally, that is only for the time being, who knows what would happen in the future?
His true identity must be kept hidden until he was certain that he could move the mountain and split the seas with just a thought (Meaning, until he's influential and powerful enough to protect himself against whoever his enemies were in this world.). And he must have the ability to back it up, which, currently he deemed he still has yet to have enough to mow down any conspiracies that would usher on his way.
Even still, with equal benefits to both parties, Cian was barely able to keep his identity and status in secret. Although dangerous and full of risk, not only its influence but also the Death Temple's manpower was extremely necessary for Cian's plans. Thus, he has no choice but to swim in this smog filled water with great gambling risk.
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Right now, it can be said that one of the greatest allies Cian currently has was the Death Temple!
It can even be said that in these 2 years, Cian’s influence experienced rapid growth was not only his credit but also with the help of the Death Temple. Using their influence, name and most of all, borrowing their people, things Cian considered difficult task became much easier, making his plan go smoothly. Of course, while doing all this, Cian made twice the care as to not show or leak any kind of information about the Cahlo Clan, or the Garden of Eden that might prove detrimental even to him.
To this time, the Death Temple decided not to challenge Cian’s bottom line after realizing the benefit they had gotten after cooperating with him. For the time being, they feared to have any conflict against him.
…save for Grea Ovsburn.
Probably because unlike many people, she had some friendship with Cian, while also knowing her importance to him, she was not completely intimidated by him. All this time, whenever Grea Ovsburn appears, she would always try to see Cian’s true appearance, only to fail.
Cian had given her several warning but due to the fact that Cian still sees the Death Temple as necessary to him, he withheld in punishing her as much as possible. However, he had already made his bottom line and Grea understands this as well. Right now, Cian even feels that whenever Grea tried to attempt to, not because she was curious anymore but all for the sake of teasing him or to annoy him to make him give out irritated expressions she quite enjoys. And this frustrated him so much.
“What do you want? If you just came here to annoy me then—”
“What? You don’t want this?”
Grea grinned mischievously as she raised an animal skin-like cloth bundle. Inside were several books.
“… …” Cian within the fog furrowed his brows, extremely annoyed.
“Secondo, take it,” he muttered.
The hooded female immediately stepped forward. Casting a glaring look at Grea, she grabbed the bundle of books and turned around and then disappeared amidst the darkness.
Grea sneered and then shrugged. She knows that most people under the Cahlo Clan dislike her, especially some of those women she had met before with strange names. This 'Secondo' was one of them, which seemed to be the only who is the closest to this Young Master Blood. Others were called 'Quinto' and 'Settimo' whose abilities are just a bit inferior to her.
Grea turned towards Cian’s silhouette, feeling a complicated expression as well as doubt. All this time, Cian always told her that whenever she wanted to see him, she must bring a book…any kinds of books, if not he would not see her.
The book seemed to have been treated as an appointment pass.
To this, she didn’t really know what to say or think.
At first, she thought he meant about skill books or magic books, which was graded as rare and treated as extremely valuable and even expensive among every world; Human, Demon, and Beast.
At that time, with a heavy heart, she brought one or two. Then, after a few meetings she couldn’t help but started complaining, only to meet with a disdainful expression from him; “Who said only those kinds of books? Didn’t I say any books?” she was startled upon that realization.
She wanted to say anything only to receive contempt and sarcasm from him, which greatly annoys her, making her frustrated for a couple of days.
Then, she started bringing useless books like fairytales or anything. Thinking, she would annoy him but to her surprise, Cian accepted the book even more enthusiastically than any magic or skill books.
Why?
What’s the use of these books?
Grea couldn’t understand. These books for her were completely useless. In fact, not only her but to all the people in the world, these books are seen as nothing but entertainment with no apparent value compared to rare Magic or Skill Books. And yet, this bastard treasured them really well!
Did he find reading this kind of books entertaining…?
If Cian can read what she was thinking, he would really laugh at her in contempt.
Although these books, such as fairy tales, guidebooks or anecdotes are indeed useless to many people and it was only natural that many people find it wasteful, to Cian they are treasures that gives various important information.
There was even a saying that ‘Even mountains of gold and silver couldn’t compare to the value of a book.’ He felt as if it was truly a waste, but also a stroke of luck in a sense.
The people of this world, because all they know was that fist is everything, did not appreciate these books, not knowing that the knowledge that these books contained were incredibly powerful, and could be transformed into influential wisdom--one that could last and be of use for eternity and could change the unchangeable.
It was by no way, shape, or form, weaker than pure strength or superpowers.
History had already proven… wisdom and knowledge are much more important than physical power!
“So? What do you want?” Cian asked with a tone of obvious indifference.
“Even though I brought some presents, you are still treating me so coldly. You’re much sweeter when we first met, you know,” Grea smiled wryly.
“… …” Cian turned silent for a moment. Then, he made a sigh, “…well, it indeed pains my heart to treat you like this, Grea. God knows how much I wanted you to be with me all the time. But at this moment, although I have an alliance with your Death Temple, who knows when your people would turn their blades at me? I wanted to be with you but if that happens, if things go wrong, we both will only be hurt. Furthermore, the family urges me not to get closer to you. I’m sorry,” a helpless sigh spread throughout the area.
“… on my shoulders are the fate of my clan, I just can’t throw it out….” his voice contained an inexpressible sense of disappointment.
“… …” Grea was startled by the sudden change in topic. In fact, she can even hear the sorrow within Cian’s words and couldn’t help but bit her lips in complication emotions.
She had never expected Cian to respond like this.
She was just joking with him… never thought she would strike a chord.
Now, it felt awkward…
Wait… what do I feel about him…? After hearing Cian’s sudden confession, Grea suddenly fell in deep thoughts. Indeed, she admits that one way or another she was interested in him. But not in that way…it’s more interest or curiosity rather than deep intimate feelings.
Feelings…? All she had was wariness against this extremely mysterious Young Master Blood. Up until now, they couldn’t get clear information about them and this distressed them greatly. Although they have some cooperation with them, all of them are just superficial. Such as assassination, trade, and many basic tasks, all looking for the benefits of each other before agreeing to take actions—that is their real cooperation.
However, love…?
Grea was actually quite tempted but she knows that this was completely unrealistic. She knows too little about the other party and also, she had duties to follow. Obligations she cannot just throw away easily…
Even if she had some interest to Cian, she believes that there are little-to-no chances for them together, unless both of them, or at least one of them is willing to break away from their shackles and be together.
But was that easy…?
No, it’s not…!
Blood's words are already proof of them!
Grea suddenly felt disappointed—and a strange complicated emotion that she could not understand or comprehend.
Was it pity…? Or was it just plain disappointment…? She didn’t know and she didn’t dare try to think any further than this. Even if she managed to make a decision, it’s a decision she didn’t want by heart.
Grea was being assaulted by complicated emotions at this very moment. However, the one culprit who had caused this was just happily enjoying the water with a faint smile beyond the veil of thick fog. He didn’t need to look to see Grea’s expression to know what she was currently feeling right now. Hmph! Who told you to annoy me every single time?
This is not mere revenge, this is what you call 'Sweet Revenge'!
Although he was not truly a master in the aspect of hearts, disturbing their rhythm and emotions is as easy as flipping a hand for him.
It’s not about skills needed to be cultivated but can be said to be innate talents of those with the same blood of the ancestor of the Cahlo Clan. They always have the ability to create confusion and conflict no matter where they are—
They are after all regarded as 'Children of Chaos', by many people in the Secret History of the World. They are innately evil and was born-bred to give temptation and death to their targets.