Episode 344 – The Mousetrap (2)
Clatter, clatter—
Under dim lighting, the al proceeded in silence. Azonne, having chewed idly, took a sip of wine.
Though his actions made it appear as if he were focused on dining, his gaze was fixed squarely on the two seated across from him.
What exactly he was looking at, no one could say—but Azonne’s golden eyes glinted.
Once the al reached its natural end, Azonne set down his cup and slowly spoke.
“Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll.”
At the ntion of the doll, Rengua’s fork paused in midair.
Only for a mont. Then, moving again, Rengua brought the at-laden fork to his mouth, locking eyes with Azonne the entire ti.
Eating without breaking eye contact—A blatant act of disregard.
Azonne rely responded with a broad smile, continuing his words.
“Now that you’ve obtained the item you wanted, are you satisfied?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Feigning ignorance only works if your opponent is easy to deceive. Empty denial just makes you look foolish.”
Azonne raised his glass toward Rengua, and between his fingers, a ruby ring shimred in the candlelight.
As magical energy seeped from the ring, Rengua narrowed his eyes and asked,
“That ring—what does it an?”
“It’s a ring that points toward the doll’s owner. And interestingly enough, it’s pointing at you.”
A lie.
But Azonne was convinced Rengua possessed the doll.
Through Midas’ Coin, he could read people’s desires.
Until recently, Rengua had displayed a strong craving for the Kunta doll. Now, that desire was gone.
And the reason?
“He must already own it.”
“Tsk, what a pointless thing to keep around.”
As expected, Rengua indirectly confird it.
“If you had that ring from the start, I suppose it ans you never intended to give the doll to Everfell?”
“If they had the ability, it would’ve belonged to Everfell. But before they could prove themselves, they died at soone’s hands.”
“No, Everfell failed to prove anything. That’s why the doll is in my hands.”
“You know how the doll works?”
“Better than anyone.”
“That’s what I don’t get. You don’t need it.”
Rengua was a skilled dollmaker, capable of crafting 4-star dolls as long as he had the materials.
So why desire the Kunta doll, when he could already field comparable forces?
“To wipe out the Everfell family, of course.”
Rengua answered plainly.
“The more power, the better, isn’t it?”
“Have you considered the offerings that doll demands?”
Azonne, too, had once considered using the Kunta doll to form a 4-star guard unit.
But once he experienced the cost, he abandoned the idea.
The doll’s consumption rate was so extre that even a wealthy man like Azonne found it overwhelming.
There was no way others could et the requirents. Which was why he’d handed it off to Everfell.
Yet from Rengua’s face, it seed he didn’t care.
“You’re planning to use the doll sowhere else.”
At that, Rengua finally reacted. He lowered his fork and glared at Azonne with a hardened face.
“Azonne Vistas.”
“...”
“Curiosity can get you killed. I thought you, of all people, knew that well.”
“You’re one to talk, having erased the Everfell family and stolen the doll.”
As Rengua slowly reached for his staff, Azonne’s hands slipped under the table.
Sighing, Azolett stepped forward.
“Enough, both of you. What’s the point of fighting over sothing that’s already happened?”
“As a Lord, I can’t overlook this. There must be accountability.”
“Responsibility, my ass. Just cut the crap. What do you want from us?”
At her blunt question, Azonne smiled and slowly raised both hands—a gesture showing he ant no hostility.
Rengua furrowed his brow but withdrew his hand from the staff.
“There’s soone I need help dealing with.”
“Dealing with? Who?”
“The World Tree Union.”
“What? You serious? You think the three of us can take them down?”
“The Cleaners will help.”
“Them? How?”
When Azolett scoffed and asked, Azonne briefly outlined his plan.
It was a short explanation, but the contents were intriguing enough to capture both their interest—especially Rengua, who stroked his chin thoughtfully before nodding.
“Seven to four. We’d have the numbers, no doubt.”
“Will you join us?”
“But how can you be so sure there are only four on their side? The Union has more than just those Ortain types to worry about.”
“This is Aintrier. No one here escapes my sight. Just as I saw through your actions instantly.”
“I’m only asking to minimize damage. In truth, the Cleaners alone are enough. Quite a few have already agreed to the plan.”
“There are others?”
“Plenty of mages enraged by Nagrok’s death. Most of them are convinced Alex Marcia is the killer.”
“Hmph... And if we refuse?”
Azonne shrugged and stood from his seat.
“It’d be hard for to punish you personally. I’d simply write to Carvas, the Sword Demon. I wonder how your boss would react to that.”
“You wouldn’t!”
Azolett exploded at that—her boss had explicitly warned her not to clash with Azonne.
Scowling, she stared at him for a mont, then reluctantly spoke.
“Give Cricket. Then I’ll help.”
“I don’t have the Magic-Glowing Spider.”
“Don’t lie. I know you got it early from Richard.”
“Oh? Caught , did you?”
Azonne chuckled, tapped the table a few tis, then nodded.
“Fine. I’ll give you Cricket. In return, I want a Leaf of the World Tree.”
“The Leaf is...”
As she turned her gaze away, Rengua pulled a pouch from his coat and placed it on the table.
“It’s a plan that benefits us too. We’ll help.”
“Excellent. I like straightforward people.”
“But if your intel’s wrong, we’re out.”
Pocketing the pouch, Azonne smiled smugly.
With the al over, the two rose from their seats.
Just before they exited the hallway, Azonne called out to Rengua.
“May I ask just one question? It’s not for —another client asked to relay it.”
“For ?”
“Yes.”
“Whoever it is, I have no reason to answer.”
“I’ll offer you this.”
Azonne removed the ruby ring and placed it on the table.
“Fine. I’ll listen.”
“The lord you once served—Kal Blazer. Is he still alive?”
Rengua stared silently at Azonne.
A long pause.
Then, before answering, he asked,
“Who asked the question?”
“Gram Seraphim.”
“Thanks for telling .”
Turning away, Rengua answered quietly,
“Kal is dead.”
As Rengua walked off, Azonne offered a polite farewell like a host seeing off a guest.
“You’ll be hearing from us soon. Be well-prepared.”
Aintrier and Pri Root—The secret deal between the two powers had concluded.
Azolett followed Rengua into the quiet, empty hallway.
She walked in silence for a while, then stopped to look at Rengua’s back.
“Why’d you hand over the pouch so easily? I thought you’d make offer sothing in return.”
“It’s worthless to .”
“You’re saying the Leaf of the World Tree is useless?”
Rengua had his doubts about the power within the Leaf, but never voiced it aloud.
Nor had he given it out of kindness.
He was rely following his lord’s wishes—to make sure Cricket, the Magic-Glowing Spider, ended up in her hands.
“Even when I give sothing, people complain.”
“I’ll count it as a favor I owe you.”
“Suit yourself.”
Returning to his quarters, Rengua entered the room where the red knights were kept.
Several were damaged.
He dropped insects beneath them, letting the bugs regurgitate corpses.
Slowly, he began repairing the bodies.
[Madness Doll Maker]
As he quickly restored the dolls, Rengua glanced at a special one resting on the bed.
Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll.
A purple-hued puppet with a dry smile.
Looking at that smile, Rengua recalled one man.
“My Lord, just wait a little longer.”
Kal Blazer, the Mad Butcher. His heart had stopped. He was dead. But soon, that dead man would return as sothing new.
Rengua, rembering that day, began clearing away anything that might hinder his lord’s path.
“They said don’t touch Alex… but...”
Alex—the only human who had ever defeated his master.
Too good a chance to pass up.
If, as Azonne believed, Alex had truly fallen into the mousetrap—
“Then he must be eliminated.”
Resolving himself, Rengua returned his gaze to the red knights.
***
Azonne, having concluded the deal with the Black Stars, returned to the Shelter of Darkness.
There, he once more reviewed the plan with his lieutenants.
“No major variables remain.”
In truth, he wasn’t worried about minor complications.
Inside Aintrier, he had a trump card that could suppress all variables.
[Greedy Arbiter (Target: Owner of Divine Power)]
No matter the threat, one flick of his hand would suffice.
Though he’d lose an enormous amount of wealth—
“I can always make more.”
Having sorted his thoughts, Azonne prepared to go out. He had to welco the Cleaners personally.
To move Special Task Captain Richard, Azonne had to et him directly.
Draped in a robe, he opened a secret passage—a hidden tunnel from the Lord’s castle to the outskirts of Aintrier.
He descended the concealed stairs between the walls and entered the underground path.
Having eliminated all workers after construction, Azonne was the only one who knew of its existence.
He passed swiftly through the long tunnel and erged at the outer exit—Dawn twilight.
A cold breeze brushed past, and from the right of the exit, a voice spoke.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“…!”
Azonne’s expression hardened.
He raised a magical barrier, activated a defensive artifact, and backed away, searching for the speaker.
“Ah, was that too sudden?”
A gentle voice.
Warm, unthreatening.
Yet upon seeing who it belonged to, Azonne’s expression stiffened further.
“What are you doing here?”
Unlike his usual respectful tone, Azonne’s voice was cold and sharp.
Glaring, he stared at the man as he lowered his robe and stepped into view.
“Not here for greetings. I don’t have the ti.”
“I figured as much.”
Far off, the sun rose over the ridge, scattering dawn light.
Snow-white hair fluttered in the wind.
Azonne called his na:
“Arcane, the Astrologer of Fate. What business do you have here?”
“To et with you.”
“With ?”
“Well, technically not ‘you’ as the Lord.”
Arcane toyed with his blue earring and smiled deeply.
“I’m here to speak with the Master of the Black Market.”
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