Chapter 48: Kailun Touches the Future
[Paul, realizing he’s been played, is enraged and retreats into himself. Favorability -2. Current favorability: -92.]
Paul and Jones’s cries of pain reached them from across the street.
“You were targeting Paul all along, weren’t you?”
Anna, her emotions now under control, asked, tugging on his sleeve.
“You already know the answer, don’t you? If you want to hate me, I suggest you hate me with all your heart.”
“Yes, I do hate you. I want to kill you.” She averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
“You can’t kill me. I gave you the chance last night, but your legs couldn’t crush me. Instead, you kept crying out, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying.’ I wonder if you truly meant it.”
He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him.
Her sapphire eyes were clear and bright, sparkling in the sunlight.
She blushed as he teased her about their previous night’s activities. She closed her eyes and mumbled, “I didn’t.”
“Whether you did or not is irrelevant. When we’re in public, you’ll address me as ‘Master.’ At home, you can call me ‘Godfather’ or ‘Daddy.’”
He pinched her cheek playfully and glanced back at Paul’s house. Someone was handing a bag of gold coins to Roden.
Confirming that Paul could no longer provide any favorability points, he led Anna towards the carriage. “Let’s go home. We have to welcome our esteemed commander.”
Before stepping into the carriage, Anna glanced back at Paul’s house. Then, biting her lip, she resolutely followed Kailun.
As they left the street, Kailun spotted Loston lurking at a corner.
Poor Paul. His misfortunes were far from over.
…
Meanwhile, Hilna, after delegating the task of confiscating the Vickroy family’s assets to Kostja, examined the antidote. She confirmed that it was effective against the poison afflicting the women from the Loya Ballroom.
However, she needed to keep a portion of the antidote to blackmail Lodis and the others. This angered the madam, who was running low on doses.
She vehemently protested Hilna’s betrayal, demanding compensation. After a series of negotiations, she agreed to give Hilna more time.
As the madam left with fifteen doses of the antidote, Shirley asked, “Your Highness, why were you so polite to her? She’s just a brothel madam.”
Hilna massaged her temples, her head pounding. “She may be a madam, but she’s from the Loya Ballroom. You may not know this, but the Loya Ballroom is a global organization. They’re not just a brothel; they’re also a highly effective intelligence network. And they’ve announced that someone important is coming to the Xiya Kingdom. Do you really think this is the time to antagonize them?”
Countless pieces of information swirled in her mind, threatening to overwhelm her.
Not only was the Loya Ballroom making moves, but she had also received reports of activity from the Divine Church.
And the Grand Duke, stationed at the border, seemed to be mobilizing his troops in secret. He had consolidated his businesses yesterday and was stockpiling grain. All signs pointed to an impending war.
Thankfully, his base was far from the Royal City. Even if he wanted to act, it would take him at least three days, giving her time to prepare.
Shirley, noticing the dark circles under Hilna’s eyes, offered a weak, “You’re working too hard, Your Highness.”
“It’s worth it, as long as I can eliminate Kailun.”
She took a sip of tea. “Once Lodis and the others succumb to the poison, we’ll use the antidote to blackmail them. If we can force them to surrender control of the Royal Guard and have the Divine Church retreat a hundred miles, we’ll have won half the battle.”
Despite her confident words, the thought of Kailun filled her with unease.
She massaged her temples again. The headache was slowing her thoughts, making it difficult to think clearly.
Apart from Duke Stamp’s reinforcements, she had revealed all her cards. How many tricks did Kailun have up his sleeve?
Had he been planning this all along?
She hugged herself, a shiver running down her spine.
“Shirley, do you think it would have been better if we had offered Kailun an olive branch from the start?”
Shirley: “Huh?”
…
[Hilna’s fear, anger, and regret have further decreased her favorability towards you. Current favorability: -50.]
Kailun received the notification upon returning home. However, he was more concerned about another matter.
“Roden, are you sure Afra encountered a woman in a red robe, wielding a white staff, wearing a white flower crown, and sporting fox ears?”
He looked at Roden with a grave expression. The biggest deviation from his past life had finally occurred.
“Yes, Young Master. According to Commander Afra’s description, that’s exactly what she encountered. And she said the woman’s strength was terrifying. Even she was no match for her.”
Roden read from the magic letter, relaying Afra’s message.
“Do you know who she is, Young Master?” He asked, noticing Kailun’s frown.
“Yes, I know her. Quite well, in fact. That woman is someone I’m very familiar with.”
Kailun massaged his temples. “Roden, you’re familiar with the Abyss, right?”
“I’ve read about them in some forbidden scrolls. They’re an evil race that was banished to the Abyss many years ago.”
“That’s not entirely inaccurate. They were indeed banished. According to the normal course of events, the Abyss faction will launch a probing attack against the human realm in a month. The Divine Church will be the main representative of the human side. Afra encountered a core member of the Abyss. But why is she here at this time?”
The thought of the fox-eared woman filled him with unease. He really didn’t want to see her again.
Although their time together in his past life had been brief, she had left a lasting impression. She was terrifying, ten times worse than Vivian!
If Vivian had merely introduced him to the world of pleasure, this woman had been his mentor, her knowledge far exceeding Vivian’s.
She had been a virgin herself, yet she had constantly mocked his inexperience. She was practically his dark past.
“Roden, where did Afra encounter that foolish woman? Did she exhibit any unusual behavior?”
Desperate for answers, he looked at Roden again, hoping for more information.
Roden, without questioning the source of his knowledge, consulted the magic letter. “By the Lier River, about thirty miles from here. She was staring at the river, as if waiting for someone.”
“The Lier River?!”
Kailun instantly thought of Carol. She had drowned herself in the Lier River in his past life.
Could this be how she had joined the Abyss faction?
But it had been three days. Why was that woman still waiting there? Could it be that the Abyss faction finding Carol wasn’t a coincidence?
He felt like he was finally grasping the truth of this world.
“Roden, prepare the carriage immediately! We’re leaving the city!”
“As you command!”
…
“Princess Hilna! We have a problem! Kailun has left the city! It looks like he’s running away!”
Shirley’s panicked voice woke Hilna from her nap.
Hilna: “？？?”
If she let him escape now, wouldn’t that make her look foolish?
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