Chapter 31 : Hydra and the Grand Duke

Why didn’t Anselm deal with the sorcerer? Because, seeing the plan had failed, a competent assassin would have fled immediately.

And he didn’t need to do anything—someone else would handle the remaining killers.

After concluding Hitana’s lesson, Anselm approached the exhausted, bloodied Viscount Xiaofeng, his expression full of concern: “Are you alright, Viscount?”

“…I’m fine, thanks to your help, Lord Hydra.”

The pitiful Viscount Xiaofeng forced a smile, struggling.

“It seems no vital points were hit. Good.” Anselm nodded, satisfied. “I don’t mind using potions to keep you alive, but unnecessary waste should be avoided.”

Without waiting for Viscount Xiaofeng to respond, Anselm continued kindly: “Contact Grand Duke of Gray Tower for me, Viscount.”

The man’s face showed a brief, unmistakable stiffness even Hitana could notice.

He lowered his head, coughing blood, his voice weary: “Grand Duke? Lord Hydra, how could I possibly contact the Grand Duke? You—”

“Your feeble struggles are meaningless to me, Viscount.”

Anselm interrupted, his tone still gentle: “Your value lies solely in helping my Hitana formally and fully understand the world of extraordinary beings.”

“If you had delayed this assassination, you might have lived two more days. But sadly, you couldn’t wait even that long, so I have to end this trip early.”

He sighed with a touch of melancholy: “My maids went to great lengths to pack my luggage. Honestly, returning so soon feels like betraying their efforts.”

The assassination-ravaged field fell into a long silence.

Anselm’s voice wasn’t loud, so Hitana, standing in place, couldn’t hear what he said, but she could sense… intense emotional turmoil from Viscount Xiaofeng.

Despair and… anger?

“I… don’t quite understand your meaning,” he said, struggling to mask his surging emotions. “So you plan to…”

His face twitched, and he raised his head slightly, his ferocious eyes glaring at Anselm: “Plan to grant me your… mercy?”

“Mercy? No, no, no… Viscount Xiaofeng, you’ve lost that chance.”

Without warning, Anselm raised Gleipnir, its whip-blade embedding four spinning blades into the viscount’s ankles and shoulder blades, eliciting a scream as he collapsed.

The benevolent, forgiving Hydra was now expressionless.

“You betrayed my mercy.”

“So, you will face punishment—”

The coldness on his face melted, replaced by a warm, radiant smile.

The golden-haired youth bent down, whispering in Viscount Xiaofeng’s ear:

“Not for royal law or moral righteousness, but to earn my forgiveness.”

“Actually, I don’t need you to contact the Grand Duke of Gray Tower. I have his contact information.”

Anselm straightened, smiling down at the viscount’s wretched state:

“I just wanted to see what expression you’d make at that moment.”

He clapped lightly, his tone cheerful: “Quite an entertaining sideshow, Viscount.”

Compared to Count Chishuang, Viscount Xiaofeng seemed more restrained, but that didn’t mean he was better than his superior.

On the contrary… Count Chishuang’s madness stemmed from quickly grasping his true predicament, while Viscount Xiaofeng still pinned his hopes on the Grand Duke.

“Hitana,” Anselm, standing before the viscount, said suddenly, “bring my chair and coat.”

The snow-haired girl scratched her collared neck, puzzled by Anselm’s whims but complied, dragging over the large chair he’d used for fishing, along with his coat.

“Are we just going to do nothing?” she asked, confused. “His guards, even if they’re useless, should be here soon. How do we explain this?”

“I rarely waste time, Hitana,” Anselm said, sitting calmly and gesturing for her to take out the communication crystal in her pocket. “The issues you’re thinking of, I’ve already handled.”

“…” Hitana’s eyelid twitched.

As she handed him the crystal, she thought this guy, no matter how capable, loved to boast.

He was with her almost all the time—when did he find the time to handle so much?

Did he have a clone?

While the girl grumbled inwardly, the communication crystal in Anselm’s hand began to glow faintly gray.

Soon, it projected a holographic image of a massive gray tower.

After a brief flicker, the tower transformed into an elderly man with neatly combed hair, a kind face, and sharp, spirited eyes.

He sported a mustache and wore small, round glasses, exuding a strong scholarly aura.

The background suggested a study or office.

“Didn’t expect you to contact me out of the blue, little Hydra.”

The most powerful grand duke of the north raised his teacup toward Anselm: “What’s the matter?”

No honorific “Lord,” no “Hydra” title, just “little Hydra.”

Grand Duke of Gray Tower’s attitude toward Anselm was worlds apart from other nobles.

And Anselm’s attitude toward him was equally distinct.

The youth bowed slightly: “It’s been a while, Grand Duke. Our last contact was four years ago, I believe.”

“Four years, six months, and five days, to be precise,” Grand Duke of Gray Tower said, his kind face tinged with nostalgia. “Back then, you were just a naive child asking me about forbidden technique principles. In a blink, you’ve grown so much.”

Anselm smiled: “Time spares no one, Your Grace.”

“Indeed, time spares no one,” the old man sighed, then asked warmly, “So, what’s this call about? Still seeking magical knowledge? Ask away.”

“No, I’d like to take something back from you.”

“Oh?” The Grand Duke of Gray Tower was visibly surprised. “I don’t recall taking anything of yours, little Hydra.”

“Viscount Longbing’s life, soul, or… something else?” Anselm said politely. “It was already promised to me, and he agreed.”

“Such a thing? But who is this Viscount Longbing?”

The old man feigned confusion: “I may be a bit stingy, but I wouldn’t snatch something from a young man, let alone a mere viscount.”

Viscount Xiaofeng, immobile on the ground, showed a glimmer of hope.

Yes, Hydra had no proof, no evidence linking him, Viscount Longbing, or Grand Duke of Gray Tower.

As long as the Grand Duke denied it, what could he do?

Then, Anselm pulled something from his wolf-fur cloak’s pocket.

A Shadow Crystal.

“Would you like to see what this crystal contains, Your Grace?” the young Hydra said, smiling, his tongue flickering like a snake’s.

In a brief silence, Hitana was utterly confused.

—Where did he get that? When I checked the pocket, there was nothing but the communication crystal.

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