Bermuda Chapter 6

"Blaine, what kind of disgraceful behavior is that toward the count?"

At the grand master of the rchant group’s rebuke, the man jumped off the sofa and headed for the door. Still wearing the sa irritating expression that could provoke anyone, he grabbed the doorknob and said,

"It’s because you keep pampering him that the old man’s throwing a tantrum like a starved pig, isn’t it?"

"What? A pig? You insolent bastard!"

Count Servia completely discarded his dignity and burst into another fit of rage. But the man only laughed, teasing the count, then opened the door and walked out with a mocking grin.

The count's angry shouting echoed from inside, but the man didn’t seem to care at all.

"That ruffian!"

As soon as he left, the count unleashed every curse he could think of at the closed door, breathing heavily. The grand master of the Delberg rchant Group pressed her fingers to her forehead as if fighting off a headache, then composed herself and smiled, searching for the right words to ease the count's anger and anxiety.

"Count, please calm down."

"Do I look like I can calm down right now?!"

"I know it’s no easy task handling Blaine, but keeping him close might be useful. If things go south, we can use him as a scapegoat to get out of this incident."

The rchant group's grand master spoke smoothly, and the count, still fuming, paused his cursing to glance at her. Noticing his interest, she smiled and offered him a handkerchief.

The count, slightly embarrassed by his earlier outburst, accepted the handkerchief and wiped his sweaty forehead as he asked,

"What exactly do you an by that? Using him to get through this?"

As his anger subsided sowhat, the grand master sensed he had taken the bait and laid out her reasoning without hesitation.

"Leonardo Blaine is like a thorn in the side of the Council. The whole world knows how desperately they’ve been trying to catch him for years."

"Hmm..."

"If our dealings with you are exposed or we find ourselves in serious trouble, we can buy ti by handing over information on Blaine. That way, we can negotiate with the Council and divert attention."

The count mulled over her words, which flowed with ease, and nodded slightly, seeing the logic. Still wary, he narrowed his eyes and asked,

"But what if we try to turn him in, and he retaliates by exposing our contract?"

To that, the grand master smiled reassuringly, as if there was no cause for concern.

"The Council’s chasing Blaine, but he’s not officially wanted for a major cri yet. But if word gets out that he’s involved in our operation, he'll beco a high-risk criminal—their top priority. Blaine knows that too. He won’t expose himself so easily."

"Hmm, I see."

"Still, this is just a backup plan for the worst-case scenario. Let’s keep it between us, Count, and watch how things unfold. It's a last resort, nothing more."

The grand master’s persuasive words seed to fully convince the count. After wiping his sweat until the handkerchief was damp, his voice finally cald.

"Alright, I’ll trust you."

He appeared to think he finally had a reliable safeguard.

The grand master, having pacified the count after much difficulty, promised to give Blaine a proper warning and stepped outside with a smile. Once alone, she roughly ran her fingers through her carefully styled hair, rubbing her aching forehead—exhausted from placating the infuriating noble.

In truth, just a few months ago, she never imagined she'd be tangled in such illegal dealings.

But fate had intervened, and this job now concerned not only her future, but her very survival. The chief grand master of the rchant group had promised her a share of the group and an official appointnt as grand master if she pulled this off.

Yet the opportunity ca with enormous risk. Amid that danger, catering to the count’s moods only deepened her frustration.

The idea of using Blaine as a bargaining chip with the Council was mostly a convenient lie to calm the count. In reality, turning in the mage they’d hired carried serious risks.

She couldn’t be sure if he'd retaliate by exposing them, and more importantly, there was a fact the count didn’t know.

She could only hope the Council would investigate the arson briefly and withdraw. If the count's anxiety grew any further, he might act recklessly.

The man the rchant group’s grand master called Blaine had acted cool and composed inside. But the mont he stepped into the corridor, his unease showed.

"Damn it... the Council."

That morning, news had reached Servia County that Council mbers had arrived in the nearby town across the mountain to investigate the arson.

Normally, when a fire broke out, guards from Frost Territory’s lord's castle would conduct a formal investigation. That’s exactly what Blaine had hoped for—a routine process, not a surprise appearance by the Council.

Late last night, a county guard had approached him. The guard explained that two strangers had shown up in the nearby town recently, asking for 'Leonardo Blaine.' He added that they "looked pretty strong."

Blaine was visibly startled. Until now, there had only been rumors, but this was the first ti soone had co so close, directly searching for 'Leonardo Blaine.'

His expression darkened as he questioned the guard.

"You there. Did you report this to your master?"

"No, not yet. It was late, so I thought the count would be asleep. I ca to inform you first."

"Is that so? So besides you, no one in the county knows?"

"Sir? No. I’m the only guard patrolling that area."

"...Really?"

Without warning, Blaine shoved the guard roughly against the wall, wearing a sinister grin. The guard flinched, startled, his eyes montarily gleaming gold beneath his helt, perhaps reflecting the moonlight.

"Listen. Don’t breathe a word about this to anyone."

"Sir? But I must report to the count—"

"If word gets out beyond you, I’ll treat it as your fault. You understand?"

"..."

"If your master hears, he'll panic and start imagining worst-case scenarios. Let handle it quietly."

"...Yes, I understand."

"If you get it, get back to your post."

Blaine tapped the guard’s helt with a finger, silencing him, then gestured for him to leave. The guard saluted and turned away.

"Oh, wait. What’s your na? I need so insurance."

He called after the departing guard as if rembering sothing. The helted guard turned and replied,

"Andrew Sherman."

"Andrew Sherman? Good. If you care about your master, keep quiet. I’ll take care of it."

"Yes, sir."

The guard eyed him, wary of his threats, then left. Alone again, Blaine’s anxiety spiked. He imdiately headed to the town where the outsiders were reported to be staying.

Those seeking Leonardo Blaine could be anyone—a dangerous employer, an old enemy, or the Council itself, relentlessly hunting him.

He needed to confirm their identity. His actions would depend entirely on who they were.

Life in Frost had been convenient, but staying too long risked exposure. He’d already been considering moving on, especially given the worsening atmosphere within the Delberg rchant Group.

Upon arriving in town, he decided to set a fire nearby and observe. The guard had described ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the outsiders as strong, so if they noticed the blaze, they'd likely intervene.

But he wasn’t reckless. If he started the fire himself, he'd be suspected, so he deliberately poured oil around to make it look like arson by soone lacking fire magic. Then he hid and watched.

The flas spread rapidly. Soon, soone spotted them, shouting warnings. Lights flickered on in hos, and people rushed out, alard by the growing fire.

They tried to fight the blaze with buckets of water, but it spread too quickly. As it neared hos, Blaine grew anxious. If ordinary houses burned and people got hurt, things would spiral.

At that mont, soone descended from the sky and landed before the crowd.

'A mage?'

Flying ant they wielded mana. Though he couldn’t hear well from a distance, it seed the newcor ordered people to step back, radiating authority.

What happened next made Blaine gape. A vast magic circle appeared, conjuring torrents of water without even an incantation. The oil-fueled blaze was overwheld and snuffed out in an instant.

The water mage's power was far beyond his own. Casting magic that strong, that fast, without chanting—it was alarming.

His instincts scread that facing them would expose him imdiately.

Blaine hurried back to Servia County, washing away the oil sll to avoid detection, anxiously waiting for dawn. Then he summoned a passing guard, ordering him to discreetly fetch 'Andrew Sherman.'

The reply stunned him.

"There’s no guard by that na in the county."

For a mont, Blaine couldn’t process it. The man last night had worn county guard armor. But in his rush to the town, he hadn’t confird the face—his mistake.

If no such guard existed... then who had approached him?

Confused, he waited for morning, only to hear that a Council branch had arrived to investigate the fire.

Panic rose. Had the disguised guard exposed him to the count? If a fire broke out right after learning strangers were looking for 'Leonardo Blaine,' suspicion would surely fall on him.

Yet, when he t Count Servia that morning, the count was only shocked that the Council had entered the nearby town. Judging by his reaction, the count suspected him of arson but wasn’t certain.

More importantly, the count didn’t seem aware that outsiders were searching for 'Leonardo Blaine' at all.

Blaine’s suspicions about last night’s "guard" deepened.

Standing in the corridor, he ran his hand through his yellow and brown mottled hair, considering his next move.

"Those people who put out the fire last night... were they Council agents? But the Council doesn’t respond that fast over so minor fire..."

He crossed his arms, tapping his foot anxiously. If the Council was after him, staying here was too dangerous.

Just as he decided to pack and slip away quietly, a voice called out:

"Blaine, there you are."