Hence, with Nihill’s spy leading them while covering their eyes with a blindfold, they moved.

After walking for a while, every step seemed to splash with dampness, and soon the hem of their clothes became moist. As a chilly and eerie atmosphere began to pervade, Count Hermence flinched with each step.

“We’ve arrived. You can now remove your blindfolds.”

Count Hermence, breathing heavily, removed his blindfold.

He first surveyed his surroundings. The small room had a musty smell.

Upon closer inspection, the humidity was so high that the walls were thoroughly wet, causing mold to cover them. There was only a table and a chair. The space was incredibly cramped, and to make matters worse, there was no window, making it very stuffy.

While he was looking around in astonishment, the door opened, and a young man entered.

With long red hair flowing, he wore a peculiar mask. A unique aura emanated from him.

“You’ve been through a long journey, sir.”

“Are you Nihill’s leader?”

In response to Count Hermence’s question, the man smiled faintly.

“No, I’m just a representative of the master. My name is Reynald.”

“I’ve come to meet Nihill’s leader.”

“My master doesn’t meet anyone. I handle everything on his behalf. If you don’t like this approach, you’re free to leave right now.”

“Coward.”

“Being a coward is a way to survive longer. Sir, who was once known as a war hero, may not understand it.”

“…Let’s get to the point.”
“Yes, you said you would provide information about Rystan’s whereabouts and the woman he’s with.”

Count Hermence laid out all the information he had to the man in front of him.

The real name of Rystan is Cain Eadalin, and Rystan was his nickname.

Stories about his younger brother, Viscount Ryan Eadalin, and Ryan’s adopted twin daughters, Riley Eadalin, including the recent turmoil leading to separation and breakup.

Of course, except for Riley’s existence, the information was already known to Reynald, so there was nothing particularly interesting.

“So, are you saying that Rystan’s woman and the Marquis of Horizon are secretly getting married?”

“They’ve already finished the formal introduction between the families. It seems they’re hurrying the marriage. Moreover, not satisfied with that, they put her in the Horizon Academy.”

“The Academy… it’s the safest institution for protecting something.”

The faculty at Horizon Academy were close aides of the Marquis of Matopjoo. Therefore, it was impossible to plant spies within the academy.

“Anyway, can’t you take that woman away from the Marquis?”

Instead of answering, Reynald asked a question.

“Do you wish to have Rystan’s woman?”

“Yeah, I’ll create the heir of the Eadalin family through that woman’s belly.”

“…Well, it’s not entirely impossible. It just takes time. The question is whether you’ll be alive until then.”

“When I die, give it to my son.”

Treating people like objects. Reynald, disgusted by the repulsiveness of the senile old man eyeing a young woman, concealed his true feelings and skillfully proceeded with negotiations.

“If we accept that request, what will you give us?”

“What do you want?”

“My master wishes for the entire region owned by Count Hermence.”

“…Are you asking for the land to be detached?”

“Yes, any useless and uninhabited land will do.”

Count Hermence squinted his eyes and looked at Reynald.

The region owned by Count Hermence, commonly known as Norenja, had quite a few lucrative areas. Even just the taxes collected from those lands he received as rewards for his services during the war were enough to buy dozens of small-scale marplots.

Of course, Count Hermence’s territory was very close to the capital Blessige, and with constant development, people kept rolling in, giving it the size of a ‘metropolitan city.’

The region alone had land comparable to that of three dukes. Asking for ‘useless land’ from someone like him, who had substantial land, seemed audacious.

“Is that really enough?”

“Yes, for now.”

“Then so be it.”
“First, we need to verify the truth of what you mentioned, sir. Regarding Riley Eadalin, if it is confirmed that she is indeed Rystan’s woman, then we will proceed with the request at that time.”

“What about the down payment?”

“Even a very small piece of land will do; please provide one-third of the site as the down payment.”

“All right, do I need to change the title?”

“Yes.”

“Then inform my deputy lord in advance. We’ll proceed as soon as the documents are ready.”

“Let us know when it’s ready, and we will finish our verification and come to pick you up.”

Reynald stood up with a smile.

“Well then, we’ll safely escort you to your residence.”

As his subordinates disappeared with Count Hermence, Reynald took off his mask and placed it on the table. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he murmured.

“I need to personally confirm something like this.”

Is Riley Eadalin really the woman of the Archmage Rystan?