"I helped you because I know," the middle-aged man answered vaguely.
"Know what?" Gabriel pretended to be ignorant as if wondering what this guy was talking about.
The middle-aged man slowed down, keeping up with the slow pace of Gabriel. It was only after making sure that no one was near them that he spoke, "The story that you used... It was all a lie."
"Oh, and you know that because...?"
Gabriel had already expected the answer, but he still wanted to hear it from the man.
"Because I've heard about Lord Novius... Things that are unknown in this Empire," The man grimly stated. "I know what he was?"
"And what was he?" Gabriel asked, slightly amused. It was just as he had expected... This man knew that Novius was a dark Mage in the past and a well-known one at that. Not many people knew about it, but it wasn't hard for Dark Mages to know this since it was related to their element and their history.
"I know that you lied about your past. And since I don't feel any killing intent from you even though I told you all that, I suppose you also realized that I knew about this?"
"I took a guess," Gabriel calmly answered. "Still, isn't it risky for you to live in such a high position as a Dark Mage?"
"Huh?" The man expected Gabriel to be shocked when he told him that he knew Gabriel was lying. However, instead of that, the outcome was completely different. He was the one getting shocked.
"How do you know?" The man asked, stepping back suddenly. Killing intent flashed in his eyes for a moment. He hadn't expected anyone to know the secret that he had hidden so well. He only wanted to tell Gabriel that he knew about the lies and then help him get the throne so he could be their puppet King!
"Not just me; the Holy Priestess of Summoning also knows about that," Gabriel answered, completely ignoring the killing intent of the man.
"She..." Duke Callum felt his heart stop for a bit as soon as he heard Gabriel.
"That Demoness knows about me? How could that be? Did my aura leak? How is it possible?" The man was covered in sweat. In his mind, he had already started preparing to escape from this Empire.
Amongst all the Holy Priests, he was the most scared of two— the Holy Priest of Light and the Holy Priestess of Summoning! Now that the girl knew about him, he wanted to get out of the Empire as far as possible to save his life.
"There's no need to run away. If she wanted to kill you, you would've already been dead."
Since Avilia was so strong, it was easy for her to kill the Duke. If she didn't kill him personally, she could've just told the others about his secret, but she didn't. Based on that single decision of hers, Gabriel managed to find out quite a few things about her.
"She doesn't want to kill me? But why?" The Duke grimaced. As far as he knew, the Dark Mages had no allies. The Church of Summoning surely didn't side with him. So why didn't that woman kill him?
"Who knows? You'll have to ask her yourself." Gabriel shrugged. He could only take a few guesses. Even he couldn't be sure what that woman was truly thinking about.
"How do you two know about my secret? Even the Saint Knight doesn't know. Who exactly are you?" Initially, the Duke just thought that Gabriel was an ordinary person who was using Novius' name to take over the throne because he was greedy.
However, now he was sure that there was more to it than that. He certainly wasn't an ordinary person.
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is what I can do for you," Gabriel stated. He didn't want to rely on anyone, but if it was a trade, he was quite confident that he could get the Duke's help without owing him.
"And what can you do for me?" Duke Callum asked.
"I can protect you from Avilia if she ever wants to harm you. If you work for me, your safety will be ensured. Moreover, once I take over the Arecia Empire, you'll be getting even more benefits..."
As Gabriel spoke, he raised his left hand. A small dark sphere appeared above each of his fingers. He made sure that no one was there to see. Moreover, thanks to his ring, none could even sense the aura of his dark spell.
"This... This is... You are..."
Duke Callum was stunned. Not only was Gabriel not a Dark Mage, but he was also a Dark Mage? Was he one of them?
Even though Gabriel used a small spell to display his element, just his control of the dark spheres was enough to make Callum realize that Gabriel's magic wasn't weaker than him at all! If anything, Gabriel was even stronger.
He could, at best, call out three spheres and control them with such precision, but Gabriel could use five!
"Work for me with all your heart, and you'll get all your heart desires," Gabriel reminded the middle-aged Duke.
The Duke nodded. "Y-yes."
Despite Gabriel's young age, just his sheer talent and control were enough for the Duke to consider him a Master. The strength of a Dark Mage decided their hierarchy and not age.
Gabriel was also so carefree despite knowing that the Holy Priestess knew about them. This gave him some confidence in the young man's abilities as well.
Gabriel was surprised to be called Master. He couldn't help but take a second glance at the middle-aged man, 'His tone is really respectful. It doesn't look like he's planning to betray me. Still, I have to keep my guard up against him...'
"Master, if you wanted to take over this Enough, why don't you just go to the Royal Palace and take over? Are you also worried about the other Churches?" Callum asked.
Strangely enough, the man didn't even feel slightest shame in calling a young man his master, all because of Gabriel's presumed strength.
"You'll know when the time comes," Gabriel vaguely answered.
The Duke escorted him to the Duke's castle, which was also in the central region of the Royal City, not too far from the Royal Palace.
The Duke's castle was smaller than the Royal Palace, but it wasn't any less luxurious. Even Gabriel was surprised at how well this Dark Mage was living. While the other Dark Mages were living day by day, fighting for their lives, running from enemies, this guy was enjoying life here?
"Master, you can take any room. I've also gathered some Spirit Stones. If you want, I can get them to your room right away!"
