Chapter 184
But by the time things had progressed this far, there was no turning back.
‘They say the minions of the Venomous Maga never forget a grudge. Ugh! That damn Christian—what on earth could he possibly hold against me?!’
Ruina tore at her hair in frustration, but Christian’s voice cut through her misery with a teasing edge.
“You’re not making the Venomous Maga your enemy. You’re making the faction of Marquis Goras your enemy.”
“That’s the same thing! The Venomous Maga’s power base is the Marquis Goras faction!”
“That’s how it’s been until now,” Christian said, folding his arms. “After this, things will change.”
Ruina flinched. She could sense Christian was plotting something even more terrifying.
“Even if you’re impressive, overthrowing Marquis Goras is…”
Marquis Goras was a formidable warlord, ranked mid-8-star, controlling over 70% of the Venomous Maga’s forces. Even Christian didn’t seem capable of taking him on directly. Besides, Christian wasn’t even a member of the Venomous Maga—just an outsider.
But Christian smirked.
“You heard what I said at the Duke’s inauguration, right? I plan to bring other families under the banner of the Dark Maga. So, do you really think Marquis Goras is the only problem?”
Ruina swallowed hard. The idea was absurd. Yet Christian’s tone was calm, without a hint of bravado—as if it were a done deal.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
She couldn’t guess. What was even scarier was that his ridiculous plan didn’t sound like empty boasting.
“Of course, I’m not saying this one event will topple Marquis Goras. But it will be enough to turn the tide of the Venomous Maga’s power.”
“…”
“After this, the Venomous Maga won’t even bother with your trading company. So, no need to worry so much.”
Ruina cleared her throat awkwardly.
“W-well, if that’s the case… I’ll trust you, Your Grace.”
“No thanks? Not even a word of gratitude?”
“T-thank you?”
“Yeah. I brought you a chance to make a fortune, and you’re stingy with your thanks? I’m usually generous and kind, but this is a bit disappointing.”
Ruina blinked, her expression screaming, ‘Is this for real?’
“You didn’t even send a gift for the Duke’s appointment.”
“…I did. From the Rudolf Trading Company, to the Dark Maga. It was an expensive gift.”
“But you didn’t send me one personally, did you? You should’ve sent some hush money too.”
Christian’s expression was that of an amateur asking, ‘Why are you like this?’ His blatant attempt to extort left Ruina speechless. Christian, as if magnanimous, added:
“It’s disappointing, but considering our past, I’ll let it slide this time by sending medicine and relief supplies to the western territories.”
“W-what…!!”
“Well, the Dark Maga isn’t broke, but I expect Marquis Langham to pull some tricks and cause supply issues.”
Christian grinned.
“Besides, this way, you’ll gain official favor with the Dark Maga. That’s not bad for you, especially for your real ‘goal.’”
Ruina snapped her mouth shut. She realized Christian was extorting her under the guise of consideration.
Until now, their relationship had been strictly personal—individual to individual. But if her trading company helped the Dark Maga at Christian’s request, their relationship would become official: trading company versus the Duke of the Dark Maga.
Christian would be able to back her from the Duke’s position.
Especially considering Ruina’s true ‘goal,’ she needed powerful patrons. This was something she should have requested first.
‘Ugh! Why does this feel like I’m being extorted? That bastard! That devil!’
She was furious. Whether it was because she was stingy or because Christian was so irritating, she couldn’t say.
Christian made it worse by thrusting a document at her.
“Here, sign this.”
“W-what is this?”
“Relief aid is a formal transaction between trading companies and noble houses. You should keep official records. If you don’t want to, fine.”
Ruina scowled but stamped the paper.
“Good. This is the list of needed supplies. It’s urgent, so send them quickly. If you’re late, I’ll claim damages.”
“Ugh! Damages? I won’t be late, so just get out of here! I don’t want to see your face anymore!”
Every time she talked to Christian, she felt like her lifespan was being shaved by months.
After Christian left, Ruina calmed herself and examined the list he’d left behind.
“Are you crazy?”
In a barely visible corner on the back, there were outrageously expensive items listed.
“You evil, murderous devil!!”
As they prepared to depart for the western territories, Christian’s status as Duke meant he had attendants.
“I’m Randol, assigned to serve you.”
A stranger.
‘A minion of Marquis Langham,’ Christian thought.
Using the ghosts haunting his family mansion, Christian had access to secret information others didn’t know. According to that intel, Randol was secretly loyal to Marquis Langham.
‘Trying to sabotage me.’
Normally, Christian would have kicked him out. But instead, he smiled.
‘Perfect. I’ll use this guy.’
Christian planned to turn Randol against both Marquis Langham and Marquis Goras.
“Understood. I’ll leave the preparations to you.”
After a brief greeting, Christian dismissed him and turned to the others who always followed like magnets: Melin, Alos, and Jupien.
“Let’s go. I’m excited to cut down those Venomous Maga bastards.”
“…I-I… can I not go? I have training to do, and I’m too dumb to help with this…!”
“Come on, let’s go. It’ll be boring without you.”
They all spoke up, but Christian shook his head unexpectedly.
“Melin, you’re not coming.”
“Huh?”
“You won’t be much help uncovering the truth this time.”
“But there could be bloodshed, right? I want to fight the Venomous Maga!”
Melin, a battle enthusiast, was practically itching to jump into the fray.
“You have other work.”
“What kind?”
“Important work.”
Christian lowered his voice so no one else could hear.
Melin’s eyes widened.
“Could it be, my lord?”
“Yes. You guessed right.”
Christian wasn’t planning to end this by just uncovering the truth. He had a much bigger plan—and he wanted Melin to prepare for it.
“Ah, as expected of my lord. This is beyond what I hoped for. I’ll carry out your orders with excitement.”
Melin licked her lips in anticipation.
“Jupien, you’re not coming either.”
“Why? I’m smart. I can help uncover the truth.”
“You? Hot-blooded fool?”
“My head’s sharp.”
Jupien said confidently. Though she sometimes seemed spacey, she had a subtle sharpness. She might not be wrong.
“You have other work too.”
“What is it?”
“Here.”
Christian handed her a stone.
“Phantom Stone?”
A magical tool imbued with illusions.
“These are training illusions to help with your phantom sword technique. Practice them repeatedly to get stronger.”
“!!”
“Right now, you can’t help me at all.”
Harsh, but true.
Jupien had potential and determination, and in the distant future, she could become a top-tier 7-star warlord. But the problem was the present.
She needed to be at least 5-star to be of any use.
‘The good news is, Jupien already has a solid foundation.’
To grow stronger, you need a solid base and insight. Christian lacked the base despite his insight, but Jupien was the opposite.
She was the Dark Maga’s most dedicated trainee—training even while eating and sleeping, in her own way. Her foundation was rock solid.
The problem was insight.
‘Luckily, phantom techniques make it easier to experience insight indirectly.’
The Phantom Stone Christian gave was packed with the insight Jupien needed to advance.
‘Of course, this doesn’t guarantee quick progress.’
Even with indirect experience, Jupien had to make the insight her own.
But Christian believed she could.
He’d rarely seen such determination, even in his past life.
“…Why give me this?”
Jupien looked momentarily speechless, knowing the gift’s immense value.
“I want to use you more effectively.”
Christian smirked.
“Don’t forget. I’m the Duke now, and you’re my tool.”
Not just Jupien—everyone in the Dark Maga was now Christian’s tool.
Jupien snorted.
“I’ll get stronger and crush you for this.”
“Good, good. The higher the goal, the better. Now go.”
Finally, Alos spoke up.
“C-can I stay behind? What should I do if I stay with the family?”
“Don’t stay behind. You’re coming with me.”
“Huff, huff… I’m just stupid and useless, you know? It’s not that I’m afraid of getting poisoned…!! I’m just worried I might end up holding back the Crown Prince!!”
Alos flailed nervously, clearly scared of getting poisoned after having gone to the western territory, where the poison was said to be rampant.
“Don’t worry. You’re tough anyway, right? You’re not going to die just because you get poisoned.”
“W-what are you saying?! As if I’m really going to get poisoned or something.”
“Yeah. That’s right. You have to get poisoned.”
Not just “getting poisoned,” but “have to get poisoned.”
There was a certain weight behind Chris’s words, hinting that he was scheming something using Alos.
“I think I must have misheard you?”
“Ah, no. I’m not actually going to poison you. Well, I guess the end result might be similar?”
“W-what? C-Crown Prince?! You’re joking, right? Haha. You really have a sharp sense of humor, making jokes like that.”
“It’s neither a joke nor a lie. Listen carefully.”
“Y-yes? Yes?”
Chris lowered his voice.
“There’s something I need you to do when you go to the western territory.”
“What is it?”
Alos swallowed hard, fear evident in his throat.
After hearing Chris’s plan, he stammered,
“B-but if I do something like that, I could die, couldn’t I?!”