Cormac felt that recent days were becoming more and more promising.
That good-for-nothing kid Bona looked like he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
Although the operation to hire people to intercept and kill that batch of Blood Jade Wine halfway failed unexpectedly last time, allowing that kid to luckily breathe a few more breaths.
But this was merely an insignificant interlude. At most, it would make his broken ship rock for a while longer before sinking.
He, Cormac, wasn't a boor who only knew how to wave swords. The butler beside Bona, along with several generals in key positions under his command, had long been properly arranged by him using glittering Empire gold coins and even more tempting promises of the future.
He had full confidence that when Bona's crumbling fortress of power finally collapsed, he could steadily tear off the fattest, most crucial piece of meat—that land of wealth, the Giant Beast Bone Field.
Smooth sailing in his career was certainly delightful, but what truly made Cormac feel pleasure from the bottom of his heart to the point of trembling was the Blood Jade Wine.
As a member within the whirlpool of power, he hadn't failed to ponder why the Empire's interior was always filled with endless conspiracies and betrayals.
Soon, he reached his own conclusion.
More than half of the Empire's nobles were vampires. These immortals who had escaped birth, aging, sickness, and death, yet also lost the vast majority of sensory pleasures, what else could they pursue in the long years besides power and authority?
This state of existence, seen in the past, might not be a pathetic monotony.
But now, this pathetic situation was completely broken by the great Duke Sigmund!
Blood Jade Wine, this magical nectar, allowed him to taste flavor again for the first time after transforming into a vampire, and it was such ultimate deliciousness!
Cormac would never forget the trembling and ecstasy brought by the instant his taste buds were awakened when the first mouthful of Blood Jade Wine slid down his throat.
The only regret was that this wine was too expensive. Transported from the distant Crimson Tower to his territory, the price multiplied several times. Every enjoyment was accompanied by the heartache of gold coins flowing away with a clatter.
However, it didn't matter.
Cormac swirled the liquid as thick as blood in the cup, watching it refract magnificent luster under the fireplace light, the corner of his mouth hooking up into a smile of determination to win.
The money problem, once he took down the Giant Beast Bone Field... would no longer be a problem.
"What did you say he is doing?" Cormac asked somewhat puzzledly to the subordinate who came to report on Bona's current situation.
That subordinate knelt on one knee, answering respectfully and cautiously: "Lord Viscount, Count Bona has been purchasing various magical materials on a large scale recently within his territory and even in our border markets. From common conductive metals and energy storage crystals to some rather obscure alien beast bone powder and leyline condensates—the variety is complex, and the quantity is astonishing!"
"Purchasing on a large scale? Is he taking out all his old capital from the bottom of the chest? What does he want to do?"
"My Lord, not only that, he also conscripted a large number of laborers and materials outside his own castle and several subordinate territories, engaging in massive construction. Not building fortifications or palaces; looking at that layout... it's more like constructing a massive magic array foundation, or preparing to conduct some kind of ritual."
"This subordinate's knowledge is shallow and truly... cannot see what specific nature of ritual that is, but I'm afraid it won't be simple. My Lord, be careful!"
"Nonsense!" Cormac threw the empty jar over, simultaneously feeling somewhat troubled.
Although that kid Bona was incompetent, his father was a solid Count who even had a chance to go further back then. The foundation left behind couldn't be said to be unrich.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have allowed Bona to hold on until now after his death.
Could there really be some magic ritual capable of turning the tables?
Cormac immediately contacted Bona's butler. The intelligence obtained was that Bona was bewitched by a group of mercenaries and wanted to arrange a magic array that could help unearth giant beast skeletons—a foolish move of Bona's dying struggle.
This made Cormac breathe a sigh of relief more or less, but he still dared not relax completely.
Although the butler was bought by him, what if he was still loyal to Bona and only feigning submission to himself?
Cormac was a cautious demon. Or rather, in the Empire, most incautious guys were already buried in the ground.
He not only contacted other bought guys to inquire about the situation but also personally sent spies over attempting to find out the truth.
However, the replies given by all channels were the same as what the butler said.
Generally speaking, reaching this step should be reassuring.
But Cormac smelled a trace of something different.
The intelligence... was too consistent!
Reasonably speaking, although the truth obtained from different channels should be generally the same, there should be differences or even omissions in many details.
But now, the replies obtained were really too identical.
Betrayal?
This possibility was quickly denied by Cormac.
How could everyone suddenly betray him? He believed he wasn't unpopular to that extent yet.
Then was it a smoke bomb deliberately released by that kid Bona, intending to make him not destroy the ritual used to turn the tables?
Cormac was also clear that maybe he was just overly suspicious, but still, same saying: messing around in the Empire, caution was the most important thing.
He decided to bring people to destroy this uncompleted ritual.
Because he developed suspicions about those bought guys, he didn't notify them in advance to cooperate this time. Instead, using negotiating trade as an excuse, he personally brought people to the Giant Beast Bone Field.
In the dark, he arranged elites to take the opportunity while he attracted Bona's attention to destroy the magic ritual.
As for his own safety, although the Empire had internal strife, it was far from the point where they could directly attack each other. Doing dirty things required a fig leaf more or less.
He came to the Giant Beast Bone Field openly under the gaze of everyone. Not only could Bona not harm him, but he even had to protect him well.
It was just that since entering the city, watching the demon residents coming and going in the city, he always had a faint sense of incongruity.
But distinguishing carefully, he didn't feel anything wrong anywhere.
Only when he was in the castle, seeing Bona, seeing Canggu, seeing Kruma holding a yellow-covered book, seeing the butler and generals bought by himself, and seeing the smiles on their faces, did he immediately realize something was wrong.
"Bona... so many people, what are you doing?"
Bona changed his usual worried look and cowering, smiling sunnily: "Uncle Cormac, what am I doing? Didn't you want to discuss some trade matters with me? Just right, I also have a trade plan beneficial to both you and me that I want to show you."
Saying this, Bona took the yellow book from Kruma beside him and handed it over.
Cormac's eyelids twitched wildly. Looking at that yellow book being constantly pushed over, he seemed to finally think of something!
"Holy... Holy Codex?"
A brief pause. All those densely packed plans on the Yellow Codex disappeared, and a line of writing emerged instead.
[Interesting. A little Viscount actually recognizes me?]
Cormac had absolutely no joy of guessing correctly; fear had already made even his bones tremble.
A hundred years ago, serving his master, he was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the Holy Codex which was still sealed at that time from afar, and learned a bit about the history of the Holy Codex.
At the beginning of His Majesty the Emperor's reign, the evil book that bewitched three ducal territories to launch a rebellion with the power of a single book!
If not for finding the method to locate it in time at the end, it might have even spread to more regions.
Although only a glance, Cormac was deeply impressed.
Now, he actually saw the Holy Codex again?
He couldn't be happy at all.
When did the Holy Codex break the seal?
Why appear here again?
The intelligence he knew was too little; couldn't figure it out at all.
Cormac knelt on the ground, lowering his head: "I... I am willing to pledge allegiance to Lord Demon King..."
He obviously misunderstood something.
[Hahahahaha, amusing kid] [Come, I indeed need your assistance]
Watching the Holy Codex still being held and constantly approaching, Cormac shrank back in fear.
"No... No! I will obey obediently, no need for this..."
However, how could the Yellow Codex believe his promise? Definitely had to control him first.
Seeing begging for mercy didn't work, a fierce glint flashed in the eyes of Cormac, whose strength approached Palace-tier. A long sword of fresh blood condensed.
Didn't attack the Holy Codex, but turned around to stab at the soldier guarding the door behind him.
The followers he brought also drew weapons one after another, attempting to rush out.
Puchi—
Unknown when, a Knight Puchi stepped on Cormac's shoulder...
...
Cormac and Bona's negotiation regarding trade was fruitful, reaching an agreement to jointly develop the Giant Beast Bone Field.
After returning to his own territory, Viscount Cormac immediately set about helping Count Bona purchase missing materials from the surrounding areas. Everything seemed to proceed reasonably and sensibly.
(End of Chapter)
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