"What the hell was that all about?"
Mael exclaimed, his face and eyes filled with anger as he directed his gaze toward the meeting hall's entrance. He then turned to Demonmir, seeking an explanation for the unexpected turn of events.
Demonmir also shifted his attention to the exit Eren had taken, deep in thought. He glanced down at his palm, the one that had shaken hands with Eren, and narrowed his eyes with a hint of suspicion. "That brat Eren... he proposed that we halt our attacks on each other's forces and settle our conflict on a more personal level," Demonmir revealed, observing his palm with caution.
Reflecting on the meeting, he couldn't help but question whether agreeing to meet Eren had been a mistake. He realized that he was unable to take direct action against Eren or incite anti-Eren sentiments among the half-blood members present. Eren had proven adept at navigating the political and social traps set by Demonmir.
Furthermore, Demonmir had a feeling that Eren had done something to his palm, although there were no visible traces. Was he paranoid? Or was it because Eren's radical actions made him paranoid? He clenched his fist, contemplating whether he was overthinking the situation. Ultimately, he reassured himself.
'It's not that I want to underestimate him. But what can an Expert Ranker possibly do, no matter what schemes he may have up his sleeve? Logically speaking, this bastard Eren is still a greenhorn as compared to me.
Even if he reaches the Master rank in a few years, it changes nothing. This Grandmaster rank is just the beginning. With my demonic powers and my newly acquired bloodline, I will ascend to the Sage rank faster than anyone can imagine. This war has been advantageous for me, and it will continue to be until I leave this confined world for good.'
Demonmir's smile conveyed his unwavering confidence in his abilities to face any challenges that lay ahead.
"Very well, since Grimdawn has expressed it this way, we will cease our attacks on the members of the White Raven Guild. The agreement stands as long as we are not targeted by Grimdawn's forces from the shadows. And when Grimdawn's significance to the Last Blood Bastian diminishes, I will personally eliminate him," Demonmir proclaimed, his gaze hollow yet determined.
Continuing with his confident posture and hands held behind his back, Demonmir added.
"And diminish it shall, as I begin providing these half-bloods with genuine Hex artifacts. During these past 9 years, I have been occupied with numerous endeavors.
However, now I can spare some time to increase my value in the Last Blood Bastian. Within two years, I will guide and train an artifact creator to craft high-quality Hex artifacts.
With my connections to the kingdom of Layos, obtaining the necessary raw materials will be an effortless task. Commander Saisha Goren from the Layos army has recently reached out to me, expressing their willingness to cooperate as long as we enhance our support for the Layos forces."
Demonmir stood tall, radiating pride as he addressed his subordinates, who had gathered behind him led by Mael.
"Everything is falling into place for me after these arduous nine years of labor. I will eventually rid ourselves of this nuisance. We have many tasks at hand, so cease your focus on Grimdawn and his allies," he commanded. The subordinates responded with a resounding affirmation before following Demonmir as he exited the meeting hall.
Ariella and the other half-bloods, unable to object, watched in silence as Demonmir departed with his entourage. They understood that the long-standing enmity between Eren and Demonmir had reached its inevitable conclusion. The half-blood forces could only hope that the Last Blood Bastion would not suffer significant losses due to their clash.
However, Mael remained dissatisfied with the outcome. Outside Fort Fenris and the Fenris province, he couldn't resist asking Demonmir.
"My lord, why wait for two years? Should I track down and kill that bastard Eren right now? He couldn't have gone too far. Just assign a Grandmaster ranker to keep Sirius occupied, and I will dispose of that nuisance without harming Sirius. With my Ability, it is entirely feasible for me to locate and—"
Mael was interrupted when Demonmir burst into laughter before responding.
"Mael, if you wish to die, be my guest. Go ahead and chase Eren to your heart's content. But do not waste the life of my Grandmaster ranker in the process. Do you think raising a Grandmaster ranker is an easy feat?"
Mael was left speechless, unable to fathom that Demonmir held Eren in such high regard. Demonmir paid no attention to Mael as he continued walking ahead. "If it were that simple to dispose of him, I would have done so long ago," Demonmir sighed before disappearing from sight.
Demonmir's subordinates trailed closely behind him as he strode toward the exit of the Last Blood Bastion, leaving Mael to his own devices. However, one person remained behind, placing a reassuring hand on Mael's back before speaking up, "If you're still determined to pursue your plan of eliminating Eren, I will shadow you from a distance."
Mael felt a glimmer of hope as at least one of Demonmir's subordinates agreed with his intentions. He looked at the man with anticipation and said, "That's excellent news, Grandmaster Heram. If you handle Sirius, I can..."
Mael's words were abruptly interrupted by Grandmaster Heram.
"Do not misunderstand. I merely wish to assess Eren's progress over these past 9 years. Unlike you, I am well aware of what that man, known as Grimdawn in Edinburgh, is capable of. He is brutal when he knows he can beat his enemies and fucking scumbag-like trickster when he knows his enemy is stronger than him. Basically, he is no different from lord Demonmir. Umm... perhaps even more sinister than Lord Demonmir in some cases.
I will observe from the shadows, taking notes as you engage in combat. Naturally, I will ensure that you receive the last rites in the event that Eren leaves your body intact. However, considering Grimdawn's track record thus far, the chances of that happening are minimal."
Heram stated in a saddened tone as if he was sad for Mael's potential demise.
Contrary to Mael's initial perception, Heram intended to assist Mael rather than deter him with bleak predictions. He did not wish for the young blood's grim end.
Heram's words seemed to resonate with Mael, prompting him to reluctantly abandon the idea of following Eren's path.
A life was saved on this day.
