Garret rubbed his face after he listened to Rasmus’s story when she visited him a few months ago. He was baffled that Lenin would let an Orthias free and giving her away to Rasmus of all people. But he understood one of Lenin’s reasons to let Aris be with him since Rasmus was half-Orthias.

He didn’t expect for Lenin to tell everything to Rasmus, and not to mention that she asked for help from him. Based on what he heard, it appeared that Lenin suggested Aris to be with Rasmus so he could control Aris. He would do the same thing knowing how dangerous an Orthias was and how dangerous if she became an enemy of mankind.

“Now, it’s time for you to tell me about the meeting. What is it about and how are they going to handle the issue,” Rasmus asked as rested his cheek on his fist.

Garret spilled everything from the meeting with the Council of Neva from the conflicts and the plans they were going to do to deal with the issue. He explined it in a detailed manner and also about the risk of the plans because of the discord between council members.

Rasmus grabbed a map of Neva where five continents separated by the sea, the north, west, south, east, and central continent. He marked the kingdoms and empires that were a part of the council. Once he saw all of them with a single glance, he began to imagine himself to be each of them and the plans they were going to use to deal with the issue.

“Sorcerers exist in West Neva, Shamans exist in East Neva, Mages exist in Central Neva, Alchemists exist in North Neva, and South Neva has witches and warlocks, is that correct?” Rasmus asked as he looked at Garret.

Rasmus just found out the existence of witches and warlocks from Cygnus and the other pirates. They were rare human beings that said to use unorthodox methods to gain magical power both from spirits or dead souls. Pirates knew them and associated with them for lucks expecially they sold charms to keep them safe in the sea.

“Why does that matter?” Garret asked as he looked at the map at the table.

“It matters because they might be the first one to fall and join Ermaine,” Rasmus answered as he patted the map with his index finger. “Shamans might be able to see evil entity with their power and ability, and sorcerers are against people who try to manipulate the law of nature. Mages has Lenin and they will follow her as their prominant figure, not to mention they have Astrea, the saint. North also have Moriganne, but alchemists, witches, and warlocks are not, and they tend to do experiment to gain enlightment,” he explained.

Garret could see where the conversation was going and nodded his head with understanding. He could see where Ermaine might got most of her influence from and it would be South Neva.

“With that being said, South Neva would be the first one to fall. Although Archduke Thalior and Lady Uriel are here, unfortunately South Neva is too big for them to control, not to mention one of Ermaine’s emissary has shown himself here. The unification of South Neva can be described as new, conflicts might appears easily than the other region,” Rasmus pointed out as he rubbed his chin and looked at the map.

Garret hadn’t revealed the reason behind the council members to have different plans to deal with the issue. He looked at Rasmus with a shocked expression because that was exactly what Thalior was afraid of and why he decided to work together with West Neva.

“So that’s why Archduke Thalior decided to work together with West Neva because he knew both West and South have different problems but can be solved if they both work together. South Neva has powerful people to deal with demonic beasts in the West while West Neva has sorcerers that could prevent the people from believing the emissary who could turn the wasteland into a fertile land,” Rasmus crossed his hands as he leaned back.

“To have two continents working together is reducing the chance of the nations from both West and South Neva from doing something foolish if they decided to believe in Ermaine and her emissaries,” he added as he looked at the ceiling. “But I wonder why the council members chose to deal the problem on their own rather than working together?”

“Because it’s impossible because everyone has their own agendas to protect and preserve. One key can’t open all doors, that’s why they chose to deal with the problem differently,” Garret answered as he rubbed his face. “If it wasn’t because of Great Sage Lenin, it would take forever to find a solution,” he added but then he remembered something. “Now that I think about it, she mentioned you during the meeting and you were the reason why the council members decided to deal with the problem in their own way,” he pointed out.

Rasmus furrowed his brows and looked at Garret with his head tilted. He realized why the council members were acting smart and took a realistic way to deal with the issue rather than holding up rightousness. He didn’t expect it was influenced by his way of thinking.

“Great Sage did?” Rasmus asked.

“Yes, she did. She seems to be fond of you, Count,” Garret nodded.

Garret thought Rasmus would be proud of himself to gain recognition from the Great Sage herself, but when he looked at Rasmus’s expression, it was nothing but coldness. He was confused by the expression and he could see the subtle resentment in Rasmus’s eyes.

Rasmus was indeed find it unfavorable to him because he knew the subtle move that Lenin did. First, she sent Aris to him because she knew that he could deal with Aris and prevented her from being an enemy. Second, she declared to the council members of who he was and gotten their attention, making him harder to make bold moves. She was trying to shackle him and prevent him from doing anything that go against humankind.

“If that’s how she played the game, then so be it,” Rasmus muttered as he looked at the map.

The coldness in those words piqued Garret’s interest, but he knew if he tried to pry on it, it would bite him. He then cleared his throat and patted the briefcase on the floor right beside his leg.

“Let’s chance the topic and focus on our business, shall we?” Garret smiled as he carefully put the briefcase on the table. “This is your share,” he opened the briefcase and turned it around so Rasmus could see the money.

Rasmus looked at the money papers and he felt that it was a lot more than what Garret wrote in the letter. He counted the money and thought he would get 210 Eclers from the share which equal to 10,500 Gold coins, but he got 300 Eclers instead of 210 Eclers.

“This is a lot more than we agreed upon,” Rasmus narrowed his eyes and looked at Garret.

“It’s because I have decided to give you ten percent of my cut from now on,” Garret smiled as he crossed his arms.

“Is that so? And what do I owe the pleasure?” Rasmus raised his brow and rested his head on his fist.

“For helping me, of course. For keeping Carrion away from me and the family,” Garret looked at the door and had been waiting for Carrion to came in to greet him. “Seeing how he’s hiding himself, that means you managed to keep his interest somewhere else, right?” He smirked.

Rasmus glanced at the door and nodded his head slowly.

“Yes, I did. He won’t bother you nor he would come back to see his family again. I’m planning to take him away,” Rasmus answered as he fixed his seating. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore,” he smiled at Garret.

Garret couldn’t hide his smile because he knew that he chose the right person for the job. He knew that Rasmus didn’t lie and he knew that Rasmus had a use for an Earnwind like Carrion somewhere else. he didn’t care about all that as long as his seat as the head of the family was secured.

“Well, then, Count,” Garret stood up and fixed his attire. “I have to go and meet my father to inform him about the meeting. Let’s meet again sometimes,” he said and offered his hand for a handshake.

“Be safe,” Rasmus shook Garret’s hand and nodded.

Rasmus watched Garret leave the mansion and entered his carriage with Aris beside him.

“Humans,” Aris muttered under her breath.

“Humans indeed,” Rasmus nodded as he watched the carriage leave.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep