The Count looked interested in the deal. After all, he would be able to get the resources for his experiment. And considering the one offering this deal was the Supreme Devil Organization, they would most likely try to hide their relationship with him.
After all, it wouldn't be good if he was crushed by the Royal Family because of the allegation.
So, the secret should be leaked anywhere.
However, he was still concerned that the Supreme Devil Organization pulled this trick in order to make the Royal Family crush him. That way, the kingdom would just get weakened.
Even if his research was somehow dangerous, it didn't change the fact that losing a Count wasn't something that could be brushed away easily.
So, the Count tried to think with the little time he had.
He believed the risk was great, but the reward was huge. If he could complete his experiment, he should be able to recreate it and get it only for himself. This way, he would be able to taste the delicacy anytime he wanted.
And he didn't need to call the Demon Banner Army to take down the Peak Level Demons or stronger since the Supreme Devil Organization would cooperate with him.
The Count remembered the letter that the royal family secretly sent to him. They wanted him to take care of Anna, who would come to this place to scheme against him. In exchange, the royal family would exempt tax and increase the Count's rank.
As scheming as he was, the Count gave him a condition. "I need you to do something first."
"You're not in a position where you can negotiate with us!" The guy gritted his teeth and tried to threaten the Count.
But the latter added, "If you can't deal with this problem, then it's impossible for me to take your offer. After all, the target is trying to take me down by investigating the thing that you want me to do."
"!!!" The person from the Supreme Devil Organization suddenly fell silent as if he was considering the possibility thoroughly.
To make it easier for the guy to accept his condition, he released the information. "I want you to take care of Anna Stargaze, an inquisitor that will try to investigate my farm. You shouldn't have a problem dealing with a mere Spirit Wielder, right?
"And not only that, if I succeed, I have the chance to become an Earl. With that authority, our cooperation will be safer, no? The only condition is that you can't kill Anna or crush her beauty and talent. I have to deliver her to the royal family."
The guy indeed agreed with his opinion. The kingdom wouldn't intervene with an Earl that much. In noble's rank, an Earl wasn't too high and wasn't too low either.
Not many wanted to make trouble on an Earl. So, it was clear that if he got this position, he could hide himself to focus on this experiment.
It was a tempting deal.
He contemplated for a moment, measuring the pros and cons of the agreement.
After a while, the guy finally made his decision. "Fine. I'll take care of that Anna Stargaze for you. You just have to wait for the good news and start preparing for your farm. I'll return to tell you the details later.
"If you trick me this time, I'm going to make sure you are experiencing a nightmare." The guy leaked a bit of his Spiritual Energy.
The Count felt like his heart was grasped by an invisible hand. He had a hard time breathing and his body started shivering. It felt like he was in front of a beast that was ready to pounce on him.
"I know." The Count gritted his teeth, mustering all the energy he had to answer him.
As soon as he agreed, the guy retracted his Spiritual Energy and left the Count alone. His presence vanished into thin air, so when the Count turned around, he couldn't see anyone.
Of course, the agent from the Supreme Devil Organization this time was slightly capable. He was a Martial Master, so he believed Anna wouldn't be able to defeat him.
Without hesitation, he began his preparation to handle Anna.
…
Anna, on the other hand, had been waiting outside the mansion. He wanted to see what the Count's decision was regarding the ruckus outside.
If she knew about the Count's personality correctly, the Count would most likely escape. She planned to ambush him on the way and get all the important things he brought with him.
But to her surprise, she didn't find anyone coming out of the mansion. It was weird, considering they should leave as soon as possible.
"Hmm? Why are they—" Anna was muttering inwardly before stopping when she noticed something weird.
She actually felt a fluctuation of Spiritual Energy from the mansion. It was faint, but her soul was very sensitive to Spiritual Energy due to how high she had achieved in the past.
She measured the fluctuation and was shocked by what she found. "This… is a Spiritual Energy from a Spirit Master? It's faint, but it doesn't seem he's at the intermediate level.
"Every Spirit Rank is divided into four categories: Low, Intermediate, High, and Peak. A Peak Spirit Master is similar to that of a new Grandmaster, whereas a High Level Spirit Master is close to that of a Spirit Grandmaster. They have consolidated their strength and begun learning about the realm of Spirit Grandmaster.
"But the Intermediate Level is only a realm where they have fully consolidated their power. An Intermediate Spirit Wielder, that was Noel's strength before we were separated three months ago, while I'm a High Level Spirit Master now.
"But the one I felt earlier is still a Low Level Spirit Master. Although he has the ability of a Spirit Master, his ability still has some similarities to that of a Peak Spirit Wielder.
"Is this the Count's trump card?" Anna frowned, thinking this guy was the reason why the Count hadn't come out yet. The Count must be thinking about using this man to deal with the Peak Level Demon or at least, buying something for him.
Curious, Anna erased her presence and moved around the mansion to check the origin of that power.
