Why Did You Mess With Him? He’s the Evil God’s Lackey! Chapter 147

Chapter 147: I'm Incredible—Now Pay

Hearing Leah's words, Cassana's expression imdiately darkened and grew severe. Her brows drew noticeably downward as she stared at Leah coldly:

"Are you threatening ?"

Leah returned to her smiling expression once more.

"Threatening? No, no, no."

"This is a statent of fact, Lady Cassana."

She watched Lady Cassana's grim countenance, and in response wore an air of complete indifference.

Watching Leah's deanor, Lady Cassana couldn't help but clench both fists, a flicker of cold malice passing through her eyes.

The female guard at her side sensed Lady Cassana's chill. Her body began to swell gradually, and an extraordinarily powerful aura surged outward like a river crashing against its banks.

The very air around them seed to tremble beneath the terrifying pressure.

"Stand down, Elsa."

Lady Cassana understood full well that if her guard struck at Leah, it would an the Rether Family and the Clavena Family tearing all pretense apart completely.

And this place was the Clavena Family's turf.

If it actually ca to a fight, Cassana knew she would have nothing to gain.

Although there were many Knights around, Cassana also knew they hadn't co to help her.

Even if they had, their combat strength was far too low to be of any use whatsoever.

As a mber of the Imperial family, Cassana understood better than anyone.

The Royal Knight Company existed only to keep ordinary people in check.

Besides…

Lady Cassana's gaze fell upon Leah's glove.

She narrowed her eyes, her brows knitting tightly.

She could sense it—sothing concealed within that glove seed to harbour an extraordinarily powerful force.

Like a sleeping beast, ceaselessly beating with its powerful pulse.

Yet after the Demon incident in the Royal Capital not long ago, Cassana could not bear to lose another son.

She crossed her arms, her fingers tapping ceaselessly against her own shoulder.

"What will it take for you to release my son?"

Leah wore the sa faint smile.

But her smile was like a sharp blade.

Waiting for the perfect mont to plunge into the other's heart.

"500,000,000 Geo."

"Wha—"

"100 sets of armor crafted from Mostril bones, along with matching Mostril horns, and blades forged from the molten iron of Mount Vesuvius."

"How does that sound?"

Mostril were an exceptionally ferocious and rare breed of Magical Creature that could appear anywhere in the world.

Precisely because of this, Mostril possessed extraordinarily powerful physical constitutions.

So much so that Adventurers or armies engaged in hunting down these creatures faced incredible difficulty.

What's more, they had no fixed territory.

Today, a Mostril might appear in a jungle beyond the Empire's borders.

Tomorrow, they could turn up on a riverside plain hundreds of miles away.

This kind of Magical Creature was notoriously difficult to track, which ant one would have to search every corner of the world for these cunning and powerful beasts.

100 sets of Mostril armor ant materials dropped from 100 individual Mostrils.

The Rether Family's hunting parties, in a full year, might not even encounter this creature 10 tis.

And as for the molten iron of Mount Vesuvius…

When she heard the na of this material, Cassana actually paused for a mont.

This molten iron required venturing deep into the most dangerous recesses of the volcano's interior.

On top of that, it required the volcano to be actively erupting lava before such natural molten iron could be extracted from the iron ore within.

And Mount Vesuvius had long since beco a Dormant Volcano.

Logically speaking, this material should have been impossible to obtain.

But…

When news had erged so ti ago that Mount Vesuvius was on the verge of erupting, the Rether Family's mining team had discovered a deposit of molten iron deep within the volcano's innermost reaches.

It appeared that the sustained high temperatures within the volcano over many days had caused a new vein of molten iron ore to form internally.

But…how would the Clavena Family know they had excavated that iron ore?

Suddenly, Lady Cassana's face went rigid.

The blades that could be forged from that molten iron ore.

No more, no less—exactly 100 sets.

And Leah had nad that exact number.

Was it a coincidence?

No.

The person who had nearly triggered the volcano was Viktor himself.

A sense of having been calculated settled over Cassana's head like a gathering cloud.

She bit her lip and said with so difficulty:

"Aren't you taking things a little too far?"

"You realize this is kidnapping!"

Cassana had never participated in the Family's business dealings, but even so, the value of these things was sothing anyone with a pulse could grasp.

Just how expensive all of this was.

"Lady Cassana, you should not forget the grievances that exist between your family and ours."

Leah crossed her arms, her tone even.

"Even if what occurred is considered criminal, it was Jess Rether who first dispatched people to attack the Clavena Territory."

"Furthermore, deliberately capturing Demi-humans beyond the border, luring Elves, and being suspected of imprisoning employees of our Clavena Family."

"These cris, I'm afraid, are enough for your son to die twice over at the gallows, aren't they?"

Leah listed Jess's offenses one by one, leaving Cassana at sothing of a loss for words.

She knew that no matter what she said right now, as long as Jess remained in the other party's hands, they could produce endless reasons to keep him.

Just then, Leah reached to her waist and produced a broken, badly damaged handgun.

Though the barrel was bent to the point where its original shape was nearly unrecognizable.

The Knights felt a surge of curiosity, craning their necks and leaning forward.

But the distance was too great, and Leah had positioned herself at a very deliberate angle.

With the view intentionally obscured, no one could make out what it actually was.

"Lady Cassana, you are a mber of the Rether Family yourself. What this is—you should know better than I do."

Seeing the object in Leah's hand, a flash of surprise crossed Lady Cassana's eyes.

"Why do you have…"

"As I said, your son Jess Rether attempted to have people kill ."

"This is naturally a trophy I collected for myself."

Leah smiled, tucking the handgun away.

"We'll give you so ti to prepare. When the ti cos, my brother will personally co to collect."

"I hope you won't be stingy with the ransom money you set aside for your son's life."

With that, Leah gave a graceful sway of her waist, turned, and walked back toward the residence.

The assembled Knights watched Leah's retreating figure, yet not a single one dared step forward to stop her.

Only after Leah's silhouette had vanished completely did Cassana feel the world go dark before her eyes, and she swayed backward.

Fortunately the female guard caught her in ti, steadying her.

The intimidating air Cassana had carried monts ago had long since dissipated entirely. All that filled her mind was the image of that broken handgun.

Supported by Elsa, Lady Cassana stepped into the Carriage, her complexion deathly pale, her face a picture of dejection.

***

Emperor Aubrey sat upon the throne, listening as the ministers below reported news one after another.

"Your Majesty, Count Viktor has kidnapped the Rether Family's heir. Should you perhaps personally intervene in this matter?"

"Viktor burned the Rether Family's residence to the ground. All that remains now is a field of rubble."

"Your Majesty, Viktor has also used Jess to threaten the Rether Family and made outrageous demands. This conduct is indeed sowhat disrespectful of the law."

"We humbly beseech Your Majesty to investigate the matter."

The ministers reported the Knights' accounts one by one, carefully probing around the conflict between the Clavena Family and the Rether Family.

They wanted to know—what was the Emperor's attitude at this very mont?

Aubrey absentmindedly tapped his fingers against the armrest, then looked toward Gwen beside him:

"Gwen, what do you make of this?"

"Your Majesty, I believe this matter…has circumstances yet to co to light."

Hearing her words, the Emperor slapped the armrest of the throne and broke into laughter.

"Just monts ago you were saying you're a Knight and don't involve yourself in politics."

"And yet when it cos to Viktor's affairs, no one is more eager to weigh in than you."

Gwen lowered her head, a flush rising to her face, but she did not dare argue back:

"Your correction is well received."

The Emperor shook his head and said:

"What a pity—Livi has gone on a trip recently. Otherwise I could have asked him what he thinks."

The ministers, observing the Emperor's reaction, began to grow anxious.

What on earth was His Majesty thinking?

This matter had reached a very grave degree!

What was the Rether Family? They were a noble house that practically ruled the south with one hand.

They controlled the economic lifeline of the south and were imnsely wealthy.

And the Clavena Family was equally important—most of that importance was embodied in Viktor.

Viktor's standing was sothing every single person here understood.

And regardless of whether it was the Rether Family or the Clavena Family—if the 2 sides engaged in an internal conflict, it would be a significant loss for the Empire either way.

At just that mont, a Court Eunuch walked slowly into the palace and approached the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, Lady Cassana requests an audience."

The ministers imdiately perked up, their gazes turning toward the entrance of the Grand Hall.

Lady Cassana lifted her long skirt and walked in with composure.

She faced the Emperor, and the Emperor t her gaze in return.

Though the 2 were siblings by blood, the feeling given to everyone present was as though there were no family warmth between them whatsoever.

The Imperial family knew no affection.

Cassana gave a slight bow:

"Your Majesty."

"Ah, it's Cassana—you need not stand on ceremony."

Cassana straightened and said calmly:

"Your Majesty, Jess has been kidnapped by Viktor, and he has also threatened the Rether Family, demanding considerable compensation."

Her voice was steady, yet her words seed suffused with a faint undercurrent of anger.

The Emperor sat upon his throne and listened in silence as she spoke.

His fingers continued to tap against the armrest.

"So then—do you want to deploy the military to apprehend Viktor, or…"

Suddenly, Aubrey's gaze turned razor-sharp.

Like a blade capable of cleaving heaven and earth, it hung suspended above Cassana's head.

"Are you asking to personally act?"

Beneath that terrifying pressure, the ministers around them each gave a faint shudder.

Even the nearby guards, under the weight of that oppressive force, lowered their heads.

Yet even under such a fearso aura, Cassana showed no sign of fear. She simply lowered her head and spoke with deference:

"Your Majesty, I did not co to ask you to deploy troops."

"You are my Imperial brother. As family, you know my nature better than anyone."

A faint glint of cold resolve shone in her eyes.

"I have already lost 1 child. I cannot afford to lose a second—Jess."

The Emperor fell silent.

His sister—Cassana Sorel.

Though she had long since taken the Rether na, the blood of the Sorel line still ran through her veins.

And those ministers present who knew sothing of Cassana's background also trembled slightly.

Their mories drifted back involuntarily to that ti.

The forr Princess, Cassana—she was no decorative vase of a princess.

She was the one known as the "Saint of War."

The young Cassana had likewise been forged through countless battles.

She, too, was powerful.

But Cassana's power was unlike that of anyone else.

For she was neither a Mage nor a warrior.

In her own right, Cassana was weak—even weaker than the Cannon Fodder soldiers.

But she possessed an extraordinarily unique ability.

【Upgrade】

She could grant enormous enhancents to the soldiers who participated in battle.

Whether it was physical strength, stamina, endurance, or resistance.

For an ordinary 3rd-Tier warrior, their capabilities could be temporarily amplified to near-4th-Tier levels.

The only drawback was that it could not grant them the combat skills and battle experience of a true 4th-Tier fighter.

Precisely because of this.

Lady Cassana commanded a vast number of devoted followers and protectors.

Simply because her ability was far too powerful.

By this point in the Grand Hall, many ministers had fallen into deep silence.

Cassana cast one final look at the Emperor, drew a slow, deep breath.

"This will only be my last resort."

"Please set your mind at ease, Your Majesty."

"I will not make things difficult for you."

With those words spoken, she no longer looked at the sovereign upon that seat. She turned and walked toward the exit of the Grand Hall.

Cassana—a forr Princess who bore a power all her own. A woman.

Whether in war or in marriage.

Everything had always been beyond her control.

Cassana had never truly made a choice of her own. For her, every outco had already been decided in advance.

The one ti she had tried to choose soone she loved.

That person had refused her.

So she had relented.

She was willing to sacrifice herself for everything—because she was a Princess of the Empire.

And this ti, Cassana returned to the Imperial Palace as a mother.

As though declaring to all present.

This ti.

She was no longer willing to relent.