Arka walked out of the carriage, and it had been a while since he had traveled far. He looked at the branch palace of the South Neva Union and then looked back at the capital city of Lineva. The place where the whole problem was rooted was in this nation.

He walked into the palace, in his golden star insignia on his collars. Everyone bowed their heads to respect his status, even the Knight’s captains were bowing their heads.

He entered the meeting room and saw prominent figures at the table, including Xena Servil. Everyone looked at him, and they observed his behavior and the way he walked. He didn’t want to feel intimidated because he was there with the same goal as others.

He looked around and saw Rasmus on the side, next to the wall with a glass of wine. When their eyes met, Rasmus raised his glass and smiled at him before he emptied the glass in a single gulp.

Rasmus didn’t plan to participate as he had done his job, which was creating the perfect plans for them. He was going to stay on the side, listening, and would answer any questions that would be directed at him.

As the meeting started, Thalior revealed the plans to those who had joined the alliance. He didn’t miss out a single detail and would answer all questions and doubts from them.

Even in a situation like this, a few of them were still asking for something in return. Those people were greedy, but they were against forces like demons, which made it hard to deal with. If they were to be left alone, they would end up becoming unnecessary enemies.

“I would have beheaded them on the spot. Those kinds of people serve no purpose,” Rasmus muttered quietly under his breath as he stared at those greedy figures.

“Just do it. I think some of them would thank you for doing that for them,” Aris chuckled softly.

Rasmus smiled and noticed Xena Servil, Altair, Arka, and Thalior could hear their conversation. He was impressed that they could hear his whisper, but he didn’t care because his image had never been a righteous one in the first place.

“Last night, a big operation was commenced, and we raided those bandits’ hideouts. We expected to be able to eliminate at least half of them, but it was as Count Blackheart had predicted that it wasn’t that easy. They had anticipated it, and half of them had fled,” Thalior said as he looked at Rasmus.

Rasmus had already told Kiel about the plan for the raid that Uriel had personally led. He convinced Kiel to leave some behind, or it would look too suspicious, so Kiel had to sacrifice a small amount of his forces in exchange for the safety of Kiel’s plan.

“(Both parties seem to accept the whole plan I orchestrated. It’s according to my plan, but doubts will grow just like wild grass)” Rasmus thought and nodded his head toward Thalior after he mentioned his name. “(First step is done, now it’s time to tread the whole path carefully)”

“We have managed to capture six bandits that have been possessed by demons. They’re currently being shackled to the point they couldn’t even bite their own tongues and used stigma to prevent those demons from leaving the bodies. We will proceed with the next plan, which is public trials to reveal the master behind them,” Thalior said with a serious expression.

“As we speak, Commander-in-chief Uriel Goldmane is personally guarding the prisoners until the day of the trial. We will let the other nations hear with their own ears and see with their own eyes about the crisis and danger that have been lurking in the shadow,” he added and looked at everyone.

“The trial will be held soon, and we will inform everyone in the morning of the day of the trial,” he glanced at Rasmus because he had a tiny bit of doubt that he could be trusted with that information. It wasn’t just him but some at the table as well.

Rasmus didn’t show any reaction and knew that Thalior might be wary of him. It wasn’t just Thalior, the ones from the previous meeting might have thought the same. He knew that they might have held a meeting without him, but that didn’t bother him at all.

“(Living free inside their heads, what an honor)” Rasmus thought as he took a sip of his wine.

Thalior continued to explain the rest of the plans. After the truth that the possessed bandits had revealed, they would begin to investigate the people in power. With the truth revealed, they had reason to eliminate those who had a connection with the demon worshipers or with Kiel directly.

Arka, who listened to all the plans that Rasmus orchestrated, was amazed that Rasmus could come up with something like that. It was like placing rocks on the shore that could withstand the waves as he placed more rocks before the big wave came. One wrong move, and the rocks and the waves would destroy everything behind it.

“We will gather more allies, nations that will fight against this evil. We might have made a big leap of progress, but so have they. We are expecting a war to break out, and when the moment comes, I want you all to fight for what’s right,” Thalior said with a serious expression.

The meeting finally reached its end, and everyone had a lot of tasks to do. The most bothersome task for the greedy ones was to support working class people. They didn’t want to spend their wealth on people who they believed had been treated fairly.

Rasmus knew that only so few people were in power who wanted greatness for humanity. He had remembered the faces of those who had insatiable greed, and he would use that as valuable information for Kiel.

“Don’t waste your time and power to break the city wall, feed the poor, and they will let you in and even destroy the city for you,” Rasmus muttered as he watched all the figures walk in the hallway.

Thalior looked so down and anxious as he walked in front of Rasmus. He listened to Rasmus’s words, and it frustrated him because Rasmus’s words were pointed at those people who only thought about themselves. However, he didn’t want to confront Rasmus because it was pointless, and that only made him look weak for not accepting reality.

“This is why I don’t play the righteous way, Archduke Thalior. The flaws appear rapidly as you walk that path. It’s just like standing on a boat, you either stop moving and fix those holes and let your enemy gain advantage or ignore those holes and drown yourself as the boat keeps sinking,” Rasmus said and stared at Thalior’s back.

“You can use my method instead. Cut them off, replace them, blackmail them, or even give them false promises. In the end, those people will be powerless when the real people who suffer will support you with all their lives. It’s better to feel when the people die for humankind than when the people die because of your incompetence,” he pointed out with a gentle voice.

“Your righteousness will lead toward nothing but demise to those around you. I wonder if righteousness is one of a few forms of being delusional…” he asked as he tilted his head and kept staring at Thalior’s back.

Thalior stopped walking and slowly turned around to stare Rasmus in the eyes. There were veins on the sides, and his teeth were gritted to the point that the muscles of his jaw began to form tightly.

“I don’t need your opinion, Count Blackheart. I have chosen this path, and I’ll take full responsibility for everything that will happen in the future. You’re not strong enough to handle such responsibility, and I understand that because you’re not like us,” Thalior responded coldly as he clenched his fists tightly. “You manipulate people for your own gain and benefit. I’m not like you.”

“Is that what you’re going to say to the mothers, fathers, wives, daughters, and sons of the people you send to die? That you’re responsible for your incompetence? You think it’s for the greater good when you’re sending them to die and telling those who grieve that those died as heroes?” Rasmus asked as he crossed his arms.

“You call me a manipulator when you’re going to brainwash those who grieve and make them believe it’s for a good cause? The truth is, those you’ll call heroes will be a nameless nobody that nobody will remember or praise…” He said with his brows raised.

“You call me a coward, I call it letting the innocent keep on living peacefully without any burdens because of your delusion,” he smiled as he tapped Thalior’s chest with the back of his hand. “You call it cowardice, I call it effective.”

Thalior pushed Rasmus’s hand away from his chest, and he was both frustrated and furious. He wanted to strangle Rasmus and shouted right at his face, but that would only make him lose even more.

“You said that you don’t need my opinion. Is that correct, Archduke Thalior? If that’s the case, I don’t see a reason for me to stay here or join your future meetings anymore,” Rasmus said as he stared into Thalior’s eyes and began to walk past Thalior.

Thalior was shocked when Rasmus decided to walk out in a situation like this. At that moment, he couldn’t contain his frustration anymore.

“So that’s it?! You walk away and give up on humanity?!” Thalior shouted, and his voice echoed throughout the hallway.

Rasmus stopped and slowly turned around with a smirk on his face.

“I’m both disappointed and relieved at the same time. I’m disappointed that you’re delusional and incompetent. I’m relieved that I finally see them in you,” Rasmus answered as he stared into Thalior’s eyes. “I’m not giving up on humanity. I’m going to find better people that can handle this situation more effectively, or should I say cowardly in your term?” He added with his brows raised.

“Good luck to all of you, ladies and gentlemen,” Rasmus bowed his head with a smug face and then walked away.

Arka, Xena, and the others had been listening to Rasmus and Thalior’s arguments from the very beginning. They didn’t know what to feel, and when they saw Rasmus walk past them, they didn’t know what or how to feel because no matter how wicked his mind was, he was the person who could help them.

As soon as Rasmus and Aris left the palace, Aris never felt her heart racing like that before from a heated argument. She wanted to give Rasmus applause and praise him, but she held herself back.

“I thought you wanted to tread this whole thing carefully?” Aris asked out of curiosity.

“I already did,” Rasmus smirked as he looked at Aris. “This is better than I expected.”

“Now what?” Aris raised her brows.

“Now?” Rasmus stopped walking and looked at the crowded city. “Now it’s time to open the gate and let the war happen…” He smiled widely in excitement.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep