In the morning of the same day.

Lizzie Clemens couldn't stop pacing the large red-carpeted living room. Compared to the female general, the man in the silver mask "Eternal Blood" is much calmer. He sat in a large burgundy armchair with his legs crossed.

It had been several days since Okad's group arrived in the imperial capital. The empire arranged for the envoys to live in a lavish aristocratic mansion, but Lijie and the masked man never met the emperor or the prime minister.

"Lijie," the masked man "Eternal Blood" said leisurely, "take a break." The carpet is going to be broken by you. ”

Lijie turned around and glared angrily at the masked man.

"What do you say," she said irritably, "how can you stay in this situation—"

"Situation?" The masked man said, "We have not been ...... in any way"

"We're hanging out here!" Li Jie said loudly, "Don't talk about His Majesty the Emperor and His Excellency the Prime Minister...... Even a qualified official—"

"Calm down," the masked man whispered, "Calm down, Lizzie." ”

"Don't call me by my name—"

"If you're on the battlefield, you'll fall into the enemy's trap, Admiral Lijie." The masked man said mildly.

Lijie slammed into a spirit. "Eternal blood" is right......

The young female warrior closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The agitation was still beating in her heart, but Lijie struggled to suppress it.

"I'm sorry." After a while, Lijie said.

"It doesn't matter," said the masked man, "if the Empire thinks that a contest of patience will keep the Confederacy back...... They couldn't be more wrong. Rest assured, Lijie. They don't dare to ignore us forever. ”

"But I can't see the point of doing that." Lijie said.

The masked man rests his chin with his hand. Are the Imperials eavesdropping? It's possible. If it were the Elrios, the masked man had no doubt that they would arrange the magic of eavesdropping at the residence of a foreign envoy. But empires are different. The Imperials have always disdained the use of such means......

I've looked closely, and there's no suspicious magical reaction in this room. The masked man believes that if the dignified empire wants to hide his detection, only the legendary mage, the imperial prime minister, can do it himself. If he was willing to eavesdrop on his conversation with Lijie regardless of his identity...... Then let them listen.

"They are suspicious," said the masked man, "of the Okadian involvement in the burning of the Great Library and the murder of the Marquis's father and son." ”

"This is nonsense!" Lijie said angrily, "We didn't-"

"Yes," said the masked man, "we know we don't." ”

"If they ask us to come up with evidence......"

"We're here for the best proof," the masked man said calmly, "if this has anything to do with Okad...... We're not going to be openly sent here. Moreover, what good is it for us Okard to kill the family of the Marquis of Engor? ”

"Hey...... And so on, that is to say......"

"The Empire will not fail to understand this. They didn't really see us as suspects, either. They're just in case...... If we are too anxious, we fall into their trap. I think in a few days, they'll be in touch with us. ”

"That's ......"

"They didn't restrict our freedom anyway," the masked man stood up, "How about you take this opportunity to take a good stroll around the Imperial Capital?" This is the world-famous capital of martial artists. You're going to have a great time, Lizzie. ”

"Don't call me by my name - what about you? Aren't you going out for a walk? ”

"I'm wearing a mask, and it's so eye-catching. It's good that you go alone. ”

Lizzie was eager for him to take off that boring mask - the masked man had said that he wasn't actually disfigured, but that he had been wearing the mask out of a sense of remembrance and pretensence. However, she didn't say this sentence after all. The young woman took one last look at the masked man and turned to leave.

The door to the living room closes in front of the masked man. Now he was the only one in the living room. He sighed heavily.

"It's not about us...... Is it? It really doesn't matter, that's fine. He muttered to himself.

----------------------------------

Meanwhile. Engor Manor on the outskirts of the imperial capital.

After an urgent family meeting, William Engor, the second son of the old Marquis of Gaunt, hurried back to his room. He slammed the door shut. All the doors and windows in the room were closed, and William stared at the darkness that flooded everything in front of him.

"I know you're here," William said coldly, "show up." ”

In the deep darkness, there was an arrogant snort.

At the desk, in the seat that usually belonged to William Engor, a burly figure suddenly appeared. William glared at the uninvited guest who had directed everything...... Mysterious man in a black robe.

"It's over?" The black-robed man asked, looking at William Engor with a condescending expression.

"It's over—" said William Engor, with a faint sigh, "everything is as you say." ”

"Really?" The black-robed man with a black hood said, his voice fluctuating without a hint of fluctuation.

"Yes," said William Engor in a low voice, "Chancellor Friedrich has come, and he has announced that for a year Margaret will remain the patriarch, and that Angel will be represented on ceremonial occasions. During this time, the real power of the family, that is, the regent, will be the prime minister himself. ”

"So, you've worked hard for a long time, and in the end you've still gained nothing." The black-robed man said as if mockingly.

"Yes - the gods are above the clouds, and Angel doesn't understand anything. Even if I can't be the patriarch, it should be me ......"

"That's how unjust things are in the world, William."

"But because of that I have to work with you?" William scoffed, "God knows if I'm fighting my father's enemy—"

"When did you get the illusion that we were working together?" The black-robed man said coldly, "You're my target, William, that's all. ”

William glared at the black-robed man. And the black-robed man turned a blind eye to this.

"You are too proud, son of the Marquis. I know your plans. Even without me...... You will do it to your brother and niece after your father's death," the voice of the black-robed man seemed to come from the abyss, "your eyes flashed with a thirst for power. It's like a dormant volcano that will erupt sooner or later. You should be grateful to me, William...... I did what you ever dreamed of doing, and then showed you what was going to happen after that. Accept it, William. The only person who can help you is me. ”

"But what if I'm going to denounce you now?"

"You won't do that," said the black-robed man, "you're not a man who will seek death. ”

William struggled a few times. The black-robed man was right. This person can kill himself directly...... Or leak the information about his "cooperation" with him. Either way, I'm dead.

From the first time the black-robed man appeared in front of him yesterday, and he chose to listen to the black-robed man's speech, there were only two paths in front of him: be used by the black-robed man, or die.

"Say," William plucked up courage, "what should I do now?" ”

The black-robed man smiled.

"You are very decisive, William," said the black-robed man, "and perhaps one day, you will indeed be my equal." As a reward for your loyalty, I will give you a reward......"

"What?"

"As a sign of my trust in you, I will allow you to take a look at my face. The last time I showed my face like this was to Speaker Nicholas of the Okad Federation...... Now, William, see clearly......"

In the darkness, the black-robed man slowly took off his hood.

"Are you ......" William cried out in surprise when he realized that this was not the first time he had seen this face.

"I saw you on a trip to the White City," William said in a hoarse voice, "You're from Elrios, Vice-President of Solidar Academy, and Peter Cliff ......!" It's you......! ”

And the man who looked like "Cliff" had a cruel smile on his face.