“WHAT!?”

Samil threw his fist in to the wall.

He had just received news from his subordinate that Aura was back.

Apparently, she was taken captive but she managed to escape and was currently in hiding outside the city.

“That thing then? She has some strange allies”

“Yes, we think she used that water creature to break out of the duke’s mansion”

“Damn, I thought we could get rid of both the girl and the duke”

“Well the news being passed around is that the duke is under heavy investigation for corruption as well as human

experimentation”

“Human experimentation?”

Samil was intrigued by the plans that the duke had supposedly been hiding.

“Yes, a knight was in the area and discovered a mana circuit in his basement. There was a coffin there and it is

speculated that is what escaped”

“Hmm, and she took advantage of the confusion. This isn’t good, those fake loans were supposed to link him to the

resistance. But now she’s not dead and he’s not a traitor”

Duke Marren's house controlled the bank and currently one of the strongest houses. 

All the other houses would believe his guilt since they were all vying for the throne in secret. 

“I’m sorry sir, it looks like there isn’t more we can do”

“Well, at least his honor has been tainted. Though I would’ve liked it if we actually got something out of this. But that’s one

Stolen story; please report.

duke house out of the way for now”

Samil was frustrated at the failure of his current plans and was now thinking of damage control.

As long as the duke didn’t mention him, then Aura would never know he had given her up.

But it was unlikely that he would admit to meeting with Samil.

The more pressing concern were the fake loans that Samil had made.

He had set up the bar where most of Aura’s supporters met as a suspicious place.

A bank courier that came to the lower district was beaten and robbed.

Then the fake loans were inserted in his pile as he was knocked out.

Samil had even tipped off the investors of the lower one’s darker dealings. 

The investors were other powerful nobles so they wouldn't hesitate to move against Duke Marren. 

The glossing over of questionable loans would have the responsibilty placed on everyone who overlooked them. 

Eventually implicating the one who over saw everything.

This way he set in motion a purge of Aura and her followers as well as a duke in order to conceal his movements. 

Despite all this, no one had discovered the rebels' location and the nobles only focused on Duke Marren "mishandling"

funds. 

Only a select few knew the significance of the bar, and the blame would surely fall on him if they were raided.

But Samil was unsure what would happen next and prepared for the worst.

“Gather the ones who are loyal, we need to prepare for any . .  unexpected conflicts with our brothers and sisters”

Samil’s subordinate nodded and walked out the room.

KNOCK KNOCK

“WHAT?”

Samil called out but there was no response.

Slightly annoyed he got up and opened the door.

The hall way was dark and currently only had a few flickering candles.

At the end stood a tall dark figure with glowing red eyes.

Sacred, Samil shut the door but he suddenly felt something behind him.

 “I heard you had a problem?”

Surprisingly, a woman’s voice came out the figure.

“ W. .Wha . .Who are you!?”

“A benefactor, I hear you have plans of taking the city yes?”

“I. . I don’t know what you’re talking about”

Samil was sacred of this dark figure but still had enough reason to deny its claims.

“Come now, I’m only here to help. Why I can even make your soldiers fight like they once did in battle long ago”

“What?”

“All you have to do is to make a contract with me, In exchange I can give you power”

“Do you take me for a fool? I know not to sell my soul to demons”

“Soul? Hahahahahaha how amusing, as if your weak soul is desirable to me. No I simply want the death of one man”

“Who?”

“In exchange for giving you power and the city itself, I want the hero to die. Plus, somethings we can discuss later”

“. . .the hero? I had planned to take down the ducal houses by eliminating their legitimacy. There’s no way I can face him

head on”

“Don’t worry, after I give you some help you’ll be able to match him. So, what’s your decision?”

“I’ll agree to your terms for now”

“Excellent, now I won’t have to kill and possess you or mind control you”

“!!!”

“That was a joke”