"Blaine, what kind of disgraceful behavior is that toward the count?"
At the grand master of the merchant group’s rebuke, the man jumped off the sofa and headed for the door. Still wearing the same irritating expression that could provoke anyone, he grabbed the doorknob and said,
"It’s because you keep pampering him that the old man’s throwing a tantrum like a starved pig, isn’t it?"
"What? A pig? You insolent bastard!"
Count Servia completely discarded his dignity and burst into another fit of rage. But the man only laughed, teasing the count, then opened the door and walked out with a mocking grin.
The count's angry shouting echoed from inside, but the man didn’t seem to care at all.
"That ruffian!"
As soon as he left, the count unleashed every curse he could think of at the closed door, breathing heavily. The grand master of the Delberg Merchant Group pressed her fingers to her forehead as if fighting off a headache, then composed herself and smiled, searching for the right words to ease the count's anger and anxiety.
"Count, please calm down."
"Do I look like I can calm down right now?!"
"I know it’s no easy task handling Blaine, but keeping him close might be useful. If things go south, we can use him as a scapegoat to get out of this incident."
The merchant group's grand master spoke smoothly, and the count, still fuming, paused his cursing to glance at her. Noticing his interest, she smiled and offered him a handkerchief.
The count, slightly embarrassed by his earlier outburst, accepted the handkerchief and wiped his sweaty forehead as he asked,
"What exactly do you mean by that? Using him to get through this?"
As his anger subsided somewhat, the grand master sensed he had taken the bait and laid out her reasoning without hesitation.
"Leonardo Blaine is like a thorn in the side of the Council. The whole world knows how desperately they’ve been trying to catch him for years."
"Hmm..."
"If our dealings with you are exposed or we find ourselves in serious trouble, we can buy time by handing over information on Blaine. That way, we can negotiate with the Council and divert attention."
The count mulled over her words, which flowed with ease, and nodded slightly, seeing the logic. Still wary, he narrowed his eyes and asked,
"But what if we try to turn him in, and he retaliates by exposing our contract?"
To that, the grand master smiled reassuringly, as if there was no cause for concern.
"The Council’s chasing Blaine, but he’s not officially wanted for a major crime yet. But if word gets out that he’s involved in our operation, he'll become a high-risk criminal—their top priority. Blaine knows that too. He won’t expose himself so easily."
"Hmm, I see."
"Still, this is just a backup plan for the worst-case scenario. Let’s keep it between us, Count, and watch how things unfold. It's a last resort, nothing more."
The grand master’s persuasive words seemed to fully convince the count. After wiping his sweat until the handkerchief was damp, his voice finally calmed.
"Alright, I’ll trust you."
He appeared to think he finally had a reliable safeguard.
The grand master, having pacified the count after much difficulty, promised to give Blaine a proper warning and stepped outside with a smile. Once alone, she roughly ran her fingers through her carefully styled hair, rubbing her aching forehead—exhausted from placating the infuriating noble.
In truth, just a few months ago, she never imagined she'd be tangled in such illegal dealings.
But fate had intervened, and this job now concerned not only her future, but her very survival. The chief grand master of the merchant group had promised her a share of the group and an official appointment as grand master if she pulled this off.
Yet the opportunity came with enormous risk. Amid that danger, catering to the count’s moods only deepened her frustration.
The idea of using Blaine as a bargaining chip with the Council was mostly a convenient lie to calm the count. In reality, turning in the mage they’d hired carried serious risks.
She couldn’t be sure if he'd retaliate by exposing them, and more importantly, there was a fact the count didn’t know.
She could only hope the Council would investigate the arson briefly and withdraw. If the count's anxiety grew any further, he might act recklessly.
The man the merchant group’s grand master called Blaine had acted cool and composed inside. But the moment he stepped into the corridor, his unease showed.
"Damn it... the Council."
That morning, news had reached Servia County that Council members had arrived in the nearby town across the mountain to investigate the arson.
Normally, when a fire broke out, guards from Frost Territory’s lord's castle would conduct a formal investigation. That’s exactly what Blaine had hoped for—a routine process, not a surprise appearance by the Council.
Late last night, a county guard had approached him. The guard explained that two strangers had shown up in the nearby town recently, asking for 'Leonardo Blaine.' He added that they "looked pretty strong."
Blaine was visibly startled. Until now, there had only been rumors, but this was the first time someone had come so close, directly searching for 'Leonardo Blaine.'
His expression darkened as he questioned the guard.
"You there. Did you report this to your master?"
"No, not yet. It was late, so I thought the count would be asleep. I came to inform you first."
"Is that so? So besides you, no one in the county knows?"
"Sir? No. I’m the only guard patrolling that area."
"...Really?"
Without warning, Blaine shoved the guard roughly against the wall, wearing a sinister grin. The guard flinched, startled, his eyes momentarily gleaming gold beneath his helmet, perhaps reflecting the moonlight.
"Listen. Don’t breathe a word about this to anyone."
"Sir? But I must report to the count—"
"If word gets out beyond you, I’ll treat it as your fault. You understand?"
"..."
"If your master hears, he'll panic and start imagining worst-case scenarios. Let me handle it quietly."
"...Yes, I understand."
"If you get it, get back to your post."
Blaine tapped the guard’s helmet with a finger, silencing him, then gestured for him to leave. The guard saluted and turned away.
"Oh, wait. What’s your name? I need some insurance."
He called after the departing guard as if remembering something. The helmeted guard turned and replied,
"Andrew Sherman."
"Andrew Sherman? Good. If you care about your master, keep quiet. I’ll take care of it."
"Yes, sir."
The guard eyed him, wary of his threats, then left. Alone again, Blaine’s anxiety spiked. He immediately headed to the town where the outsiders were reported to be staying.
Those seeking Leonardo Blaine could be anyone—a dangerous employer, an old enemy, or the Council itself, relentlessly hunting him.
He needed to confirm their identity. His actions would depend entirely on who they were.
Life in Frost had been convenient, but staying too long risked exposure. He’d already been considering moving on, especially given the worsening atmosphere within the Delberg Merchant Group.
Upon arriving in town, he decided to set a fire nearby and observe. The guard had described ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the outsiders as strong, so if they noticed the blaze, they'd likely intervene.
But he wasn’t reckless. If he started the fire himself, he'd be suspected, so he deliberately poured oil around to make it look like arson by someone lacking fire magic. Then he hid and watched.
The flames spread rapidly. Soon, someone spotted them, shouting warnings. Lights flickered on in homes, and people rushed out, alarmed by the growing fire.
They tried to fight the blaze with buckets of water, but it spread too quickly. As it neared homes, Blaine grew anxious. If ordinary houses burned and people got hurt, things would spiral.
At that moment, someone descended from the sky and landed before the crowd.
'A mage?'
Flying meant they wielded mana. Though he couldn’t hear well from a distance, it seemed the newcomer ordered people to step back, radiating authority.
What happened next made Blaine gape. A vast magic circle appeared, conjuring torrents of water without even an incantation. The oil-fueled blaze was overwhelmed and snuffed out in an instant.
The water mage's power was far beyond his own. Casting magic that strong, that fast, without chanting—it was alarming.
His instincts screamed that facing them would expose him immediately.
Blaine hurried back to Servia County, washing away the oil smell to avoid detection, anxiously waiting for dawn. Then he summoned a passing guard, ordering him to discreetly fetch 'Andrew Sherman.'
The reply stunned him.
"There’s no guard by that name in the county."
For a moment, Blaine couldn’t process it. The man last night had worn county guard armor. But in his rush to the town, he hadn’t confirmed the face—his mistake.
If no such guard existed... then who had approached him?
Confused, he waited for morning, only to hear that a Council branch had arrived to investigate the fire.
Panic rose. Had the disguised guard exposed him to the count? If a fire broke out right after learning strangers were looking for 'Leonardo Blaine,' suspicion would surely fall on him.
Yet, when he met Count Servia that morning, the count was only shocked that the Council had entered the nearby town. Judging by his reaction, the count suspected him of arson but wasn’t certain.
More importantly, the count didn’t seem aware that outsiders were searching for 'Leonardo Blaine' at all.
Blaine’s suspicions about last night’s "guard" deepened.
Standing in the corridor, he ran his hand through his yellow and brown mottled hair, considering his next move.
"Those people who put out the fire last night... were they Council agents? But the Council doesn’t respond that fast over some minor fire..."
He crossed his arms, tapping his foot anxiously. If the Council was after him, staying here was too dangerous.
Just as he decided to pack and slip away quietly, a voice called out:
"Blaine, there you are."
