Chapter 95: A Pact in the Shadows

Heavy clouds obscured the sun, casting a somewhat gloomy pall over the sky.

Raymond found himself alone on a desolate, abandoned street.

Situated in the city’s outskirts, the area had fallen into such disrepair over the years that its residents had long since departed.

In time, it had become a haven for the homeless.

Tattered tents and discarded clothing lay scattered everywhere, a common sight.

Men with unkempt beards and vacant eyes sprawled slovenly on the ground, while the air hung heavy with the stench of decay.

Raymond, impeccably dressed in his tailcoat, seemed utterly out of place amidst the squalor, yet most inhabitants showed little interest in the sudden visitor.

Occasionally, a covetous gaze would fall upon him, only for the foolish notion to be swiftly dismissed.

Anyone daring to venture here alone was either one of them or a formidable figure not to be trifled with.

They certainly wouldn’t risk their lives for a paltry sum.

Raymond furrowed his brow, overtly displeased by his surroundings; nevertheless, he proceeded deeper into the street.

The deeper he went, the darker it became, and fewer figures lay strewn across the ground.

Raymond halted, retrieving a letter from within his coat.

“Cease your hiding and emerge.”

Raymond’s voice was frigid.

“I’m truly delighted you could make our appointment, aren’t you?”

A clear, yet subtly sinister voice echoed from the depths of the shadows.

Carol, cloaked in a black robe, slowly stepped out of the profound darkness.

‘Hmph…’

Raymond’s gaze sharpened perceptibly.

‘Unexpectedly, the one who came was a woman.’

‘Moreover, judging by her physique, she was far smaller than he had imagined, appearing to be barely a teenager.’

‘What game was she playing?’

“What exactly do you wish to discuss with me?”

“It’s quite simple. Haven’t you already read the letter?”

Carol licked her lips, a sinister smile spreading across her face. “I hope we can join forces to eliminate the young lady of your household.”

A chilling aura of murderous intent instantly erupted from Raymond, stirring a whirlwind that made the hem of his tailcoat rustle violently.

‘Whoosh!’

A flash of silver gleamed in the darkness.

A sharp blade flew from Raymond’s cuff, grazing past Carol’s ear before embedding itself firmly in the wall behind her.

A shallow slit appeared in Carol’s hood, yet she remained unconcerned, showing no inclination to even dodge.

“Am I to interpret your recent statement as a blatant threat to the Astria family?”

“Mm-hmm. And what if I said yes?”

“I will kill you now.”

A short sword materialized in Raymond’s hand as if by magic.

He had long lost count of the throats he had slit with this blade, and he would not hesitate to add another young woman to the list of the deceased.

Carol observed Raymond, who was displaying his murderous intent without reservation, and couldn’t help but shrug her shoulders, letting out a soft chuckle.

“Hahaha… hahaha!”

After a prolonged burst of laughter, she finally regained her composure.

“Oh dear, oh dear, what a truly loyal butler we have here, wouldn’t you say?”

“Of course, you could kill me right now.

To be frank, I had a rather nasty skirmish a few days ago and sustained severe injuries.

I possess no strength at all, making me absolutely no match for you, let alone those hidden in the corners.”

Carol took a few steps forward, her voice laced with a hint of temptation. “Well, do you wish to try?”

Not receiving a reply from Raymond, Carol couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

“Oh… I came here with genuine sincerity.

How about you be a little more forthright?

I believe the intimidation tactics have served their purpose, haven’t they?”

Raymond scoffed coldly, yet silently lowered the short sword in his hand.

She was right.

This enigmatic young woman had, by some unknown means, eavesdropped on his conversation with Nokim.

Since she had chosen to lay her cards on the table, there was indeed no longer any need for him to feign ignorance.

“I require a reason.To what faction do you belong?And why do you wish to eliminate the young lady?”

“My motives?” Carol burst into several peals of laughter before shaking her head. “You’re overthinking this.

I belong to no faction whatsoever.

I care nothing for the schemes and deceptions within your merchant guild, nor do I hold any interest in money or the like.”

“The reason I wish to eliminate the young lady is, in fact, quite simple.”

Carol’s voice grew several degrees colder, imbued with a potent hatred. “It’s merely a personal vendetta.

She stole something incredibly important from me; she is an utterly detestable presence, and thus, she must be removed.”

“A personal vendetta…” Raymond repeated the phrase several times, contemplating its implications.

“There’s no need to dwell so much on the reasons, Mr. Raymond.

Our ultimate goal aligns, and isn’t that sufficient?” Carol stated calmly.

“Within a year, the young lady will become the official heir and truly wield authority.

However, I hardly believe her temperament will allow her to establish herself amidst the brutal competition of Ailanmia.

What is so easily apparent to me cannot possibly be unknown to you.

The young lady… she lacks the capacity to bear the responsibilities of the Astria family.

To witness the culmination of your decade-long efforts here crumble to dust simply due to the incompetence of a future leader—who would accept such a fate willingly?”

Raymond offered no rebuttal.

His silence, however, implied agreement.

Carol was correct.

His current full authority over affairs stemmed solely from Luluti not yet having reached the designated age.

Once she became the official heir, his prestige would rapidly wane, and he would no longer be able to control the incompetent executives.

Under Luluti’s leadership, it was likely that all the family’s achievements in Ailanmia would be utterly ruined.

“Yet, you cannot personally eliminate the young lady.

Although you enjoy her profound trust, not everyone in the merchant guild is under your influence.

No matter how meticulously you plan, you would surely not escape the scrutiny of the kingdom’s informants, would you?”

“Therefore, you require an entirely unrelated individual to carry out your plan of eliminating the young lady, do you not?”

Carol delivered her precise conclusion.

Raymond remained silent for a moment before inquiring, “And what, then, can you do?”

“You claim your objective aligns with mine, but what assistance can you offer?

Why should I cooperate with you?”

“It’s quite simple.

You will understand shortly.”

A sudden crimson light flickered in Carol’s eyes.

Moments later, a tall, stumbling figure emerged from behind her.

The individual’s lower limbs were almost entirely decayed and grotesquely twisted, yet they stood remarkably steady in an unnervingly strange posture.

Their expression was vacant, and their murky eyes betrayed not a flicker of life.

Raymond’s typically composed demeanor suddenly underwent a subtle shift.

For he recognized this person.