Noel and Anna were sitting in front of a middle-aged man. The man had a pale face and huge black bags under his eyes.
It seemed that he hadn't slept for a few days.
"It's been a while, Miss Anna Stargaze." The man made a small smile, greeting her. "I wonder if this man is the one you mentioned before?"
Anna nodded politely. "That's right. Sir Khalid, let me introduce him to you… He is Ia—"
"Please. Before you speak his name, I don't want someone who hides his identity."
"Mhm?" Anna frowned.
Khalid's face remained calm as he explained the reason. "You asked for my cooperation before. Yet, you came with a disguise. It looks so shady… I don't plan to cooperate with someone who can't meet me face-to-face. I apologize, but if you're not going to show your true face, hair, and eyes… I won't continue."
"You…" Anna clicked her tongue. Noel's identity was sensitive, but before she could complain, Noel waved his hand, stopping her. Anna instantly understood what he wanted to do. "You are going to reveal your identity?"
"It will be revealed sooner or later." Noel shook his head helplessly. "But if you don't mind, I want to know how you'd find out that I have changed those features…"
"As an alchemist, we're working on a characteristic of everything, including the effect on Spiritual Energy to them. So, I'm extremely sensitive to the flow of Spiritual Energy. From what I can see, there is an energy intertwining with the natural flow of your Spiritual Energy around those areas… So, I'm assuming that they have been disguised."
"I see." Noel nodded. He contemplated for a moment before his hand reached for the masquerade.
Anna widened her eyes, never expecting Noel to show his identity to this person.
The moment he separated the masquerade from his face, his hair began to turn black. His eyes were covered by his hands, but it was clear that the energy that interrupted the natural flow had gone, revealing his true eyes.
Khalid couldn't contain his smile. "Oohhhh…"
Even he wouldn't be able to predict that the one who was sitting in front of him was Noel.
"Do I need to introduce myself?" Noel asked after observing his expression.
"No, you don't have to. Black hair and black eyes… coupled with the need to hide your identity, I don't think you need to introduce yourself anymore, Noel Ardagan." Khalid smirked. "While I'm hiding in my humble store, I still follow the news around the kingdom. Though, what surprises me the most is the fact that you can actually sit down next to Anna Stargaze."
Noel smiled back as if he had found no problem in his statement. "Is that not possible?"
"Not at all." Khalid realized that there might be more to this matter. "I see. So, the one providing me with the pills are you…"
"I simply gave Anna the pills she wanted. That's all." Noel shook his head.
Khalid fell into deep thought and took out a bottle of pills, saying, "This is a bottle of Spirit Awakening Pill. I will give this to you. The situation is messier than I originally thought… And unfortunately, I don't see any future within you. If you think you can fight against the Royal Family, then I can only say that it's hopeless. I won't be following you to your death."
Noel and Anna had expected something like this. Despite the rejection, they remained calm.
"What's wrong? You're not surprised by this?" Khalid asked with a frown. "Of course, I'm grateful that I can complete these pills with your help. I might repay you in another way, but not in a way where I will be dragged into this mess."
Noel smiled. "I don't think it will be that easy to convince you. However, I've noticed that it's also not impossible."
"What do you mean?" Khalid squinted his eyes, observing Noel.
"You refused the cooperation because you couldn't see any future within us… or more like me?"
"Yes," Khalid admitted without hesitation. "I was amazed when I heard about the rune books, it would surely bring you a lot of benefits. However, that was all. Once the benefits ran out, there would only be a series of misfortunes."
"Are you sure that's all?" Noel smirked.
"If you have any other cards, then please show me. Maybe you can convince me…" Khalid wasn't afraid of Noel.
The moment he finished his words, a shadow emerged from behind him.
"!!!" Khalid widened his eyes and raised his right hand out of reflex. To his surprise, there was a blade right before his neck. If not for his hand, the blade would definitely cut him. He sucked a cold breath and asked, "Is this a threat?"
"Not at all. Like you said, I'm merely showing you my card." Noel shook his head nonchalantly.
Khalid took a deep breath. He obviously was shocked to know that there would be an expert of this level. If this person decided to kill him, he wouldn't be able to survive.
"While I'm surprised that you have an expert like him, I don't think it's enough." Khalid shook his head. "The Royal Family has arbiters. In fact, that little miss's father is also an Arbiter, right? While you are acting like this, won't it change if the king sends him to kill you?"
Noel obviously had taken this into consideration. The king could pressure the Stargaze Family to destroy the Ardagan Family once again unless he wanted to be branded as a traitor.
"I know. That's why I'm going to be an Arbiter as well." Anna suddenly stepped forward.
"Huh?" Khalid frowned. "I could understand that with your talent, becoming an Arbiter is just a matter of time. However, you have to consider the fact that the royal family will be able to force you to choose between your family or his life."
"You don't have to worry about that." Anna raised one finger. "With your brain, why haven't you seen the reason why I'm sitting with him right now?"
"Huh?" Khalid became confused. He covered his eyes and started recalling all the information he had. He muttered inwardly, 'Now that I think about it, why does she sit with him like this? From the way she worded it, it seems that they are allies.'
'However, I have mentioned how the royal family can force her to choose between her family and his life. If she chooses the former, she will have to hunt him down. If she chooses the latter, she will be expelled from the family. A dead genius is nothing but a corpse. So, she must be aware of this.'
'The reason for her confidence is…' Khalid paused for a moment, thinking about something that was so ridiculous that he thought it was impossible. Yet, because she was sitting with Noel here, that image could actually come to life. 'Don't tell me… The Ardagan Family and the Stargaze Family have been in cahoots the whole time.'
'Ah, right? The Stargaze Family has a successor… So, the reason they are so confident is… Don't tell me, they are planning to join the two families together. But Anna Stargaze was supposed to be the cause of the downfall of the Ardagan Family, right?'
'What if it was just a scheme? They fooled the royal family… and with these two… Ah, the two families were planning to marry these two from the beginning.'
'If that's the case, they should have taken over a portion of the influence the royal family has… Once this matter is revealed, the royal family will suddenly lose a portion of their power, which will cause the balance to be tipped over.'
Khalid didn't realize that he was misunderstanding things too much. Anna just wanted him to know that the Stargaze Family and the Ardagan Family were friends and everything wasn't like what was shown on the surface. It wasn't related to their individual relationship.
However, Khalid took it to the extreme and laughed. "Hahahaha! To think that would be the case… It seems that I have underestimated the situation."
Anna tilted her head, feeling that Khalid's reaction was a bit too much. She didn't know what happened to him, but it seemed that their plan had succeeded.
"Please, humor me with this one question. How far are you planning to go?"
"I don't know," Noel answered without hesitation. "How do I know my limit without trying my best? Only on my deathbed can I know how far I can go!"
"Hahaha, you're more interesting than I originally thought." Khalid laughed out loud. "I have a condition."
"Please say it."
"If I have to work, then I will be under the Stargaze Family. But once you surpass that level, I will work for the Ardagan Family. What do you think?" Khalid was setting a safe cushion for himself. If the plan didn't work in the end, the Stargaze Family would just eliminate Noel. And Khalid would save himself by siding with the Stargaze Family instead of dying together with the Ardagan Family.
"I don't mind. Though, I don't think you will be able to stay with them for so long."
"In that case, let me see how the Ardagan Family rises from now on."
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