Chapter 67: Intruder Adam (2)
Adam sat across us on the table. Weiss was here.
"I promise, leave looking at you as enemy, the North is deeply indebted."
"Alright, alright, that’s good," Weiss said. "But now let’s talk real stuff. Butler."
I leaned ahead and tapped the table. "The main problem right now is not that just we are on bad terms with the CEF, but you guys are too."
Killing every single one of the CEF soldiers who had witnessed the corruption. It was the most correct move in that situation, and now that move was just going to help everyone more.
What we needed happening was a guarantee and a surety. That this wouldn’t spread.
"You have the body of the demon. Put it on display, let everyone know the CEF was behind the corruption incidents in the city."
"Negligence unlike ever. The question then becomes ’where did the current members go’ and ’the Grim Palace’s connection’" Adam said. "How do you want to handle that? Should we openly admit that the CEF had attacked the Grim Palace, or flip the entire narrative on them?"
They could always disassociate themselves from the situation by saying it was a rogue group.
So what we needed to do was to hit a powerful point. Enough to get the public sentiment in a straight order.
The best one, of course, would be for no one to mess with the Grim Palace. But if we were to reveal anything about the Grim Palace at all, things could become troublesome with how the CEF would handle the narrative.
"Let’s do this—We talk future, leave this whole situation by flipping it on the CEF, and getting rid of any relation with the Grim Palace. Once things have calmed down a little, we can announce that the Grim Palace has sent a warning, or leave it at a rumor level to ruffle people’s feather’s."
Arlene raised her hand from the side. "I second this. If it’s developing an air of fear in the Empire against the Grim Palace we should do it from the grassroots."
Weiss looked at me, and I nodded.
"Beyond that," she said. Pointing at the girl next. "It’s time we talk about her as well. We helped you—"
"Whatever you want," Adam said, intervening. "I insist that you take a small payment as money first."
"Small?"
"I say small because it’s just one of the things. The Duke would be overjoyed as well. There are many things to do. In fact... If it at all it’ll be possible."
Adam hesitated for a few seconds over his words. What else did he want from us now?
"I would like to invite you back to the Reinvelt Castle. I understand if you don’t want to do it right now, eventually works as well. If Miss Weiss would prefer it to be an informal visit, we can arrange that too."
"Well, I’ll see."
Adam lastly took out a ring and placed it on the table.
"This is a family heirloom among the Reinvelts. It stays with the heir and our succession ritual cannot take place without it. I want you to have it, Miss Weiss."
Weiss saw the ring, and I did too. Mmm. Didn’t seem very valuable.
"Very specific mana signature," Weiss muttered. I didn’t really understand all that.
"Valuable?" I asked.
"Not really."
"Ahaha. It is the world to us. Right, Arlene?"
Arlene nodded as well. "It’s the most important thing for a Reinvelt. Brother is supposed to wear it and achieve things, and the ring decrees him worthy of taking the title of the head of Reinvelt."
"Please accept it as a guarantee for the moment. In fact, keep it for as long as you want anything from us."
"So, without this, you won’t be acknowledged as the next heir of the Reinvelt?" I asked.
"No. Nobody can become the next heir of the Reinvelts without it. All our sacred weapons, and the family treasure, everything is connected to the Lord of the Family, and this ring allows one’s mana to be marked as that of the lord."
"You’re giving us the fate of the Reinvelt family?"
"Legitimacy, at least."
Weiss picked the ring up. "Why do I take this?"
"It’s a small guarantee, Miss Weiss."
"You’re not gonna stop him?" Weiss asked Arlene, and the girl shook her head.
"I do think its important for him to keep it, but it’s also true that I owe my life to all of you. Even little Delka. My brother has deemed it correct, and I respect you more than being worthy of it."
Adam started to speak again. "I also want to give some items to all of you personally. Mister Phantom, that boy Treska and little Delka as well. All of you are, without a doubt, a blessing to Reinvelt. Arlene is my sister and our family member, but her value extends to our entire territory and beyond."
It wasn’t untrue. If the world had learned that the kin of the Reinvelt duke was corrupted, that too not at the border, I could only imagine the fall back.
"For these things, I’ll arrange for them at Serenia, do you think it’ll be okay to get them from there? We can maintain a communication channel as well—"
Weiss nodded, sitting like a big lady. She was feeling very confident having cured Arlene.
"We can. Go back to Serenia that is."
"Lovely! Perfect! As soon as we’re back, I’ll make the arrangements. It shall not take more than 2 days."
I intervened next. "We have to go back by next week. Let’s do this, we can spend a few days here and make sure Arlene is okay, then go back to Serenia. And we’ll return with all of our items as well?"
"Sounds good to me," Weiss said.
"Perfect, then!"
Adam clasped his hands together.
I guess we were all going to stay here for the next few days.
"Hm. Alright. I am going to return to my study. Butler, get me some cake, would you?"
Saying that, Weiss left the room. Arlene and Adam both bowed gratefully as she left. Man, the witch was a natural at acting properly.
When she was gone, Adam asked me something.
"Um, Mister Phantom. I have a question which I hope you won’t mind."
"Hm? What is it. Depends on the question."
"I... Hah... really, it’s a very selfish request. Is it possible a month ago, the living armors that we saw, kidnapped somebody from Serenia?"
Oopsie.
