Chapter 574
The outcome is still uncertain
Chapter 574 The outcome is still uncertain
The fire in the fireplace burned quietly, its orange glow illuminating Eileen's slightly flushed cheeks.
Sitting opposite Eileen, Luo Yan fully appreciated her delicious expression, then gently placed the teacup back on the ceramic tray, his expression one of complete ease.
"Since it is Princess Eileen's request, then I will respectfully comply."
A year ago, he would probably have turned it down because he was afraid of the hassle, but the situation is different now.
Soon his students will be relocated from the northern wasteland; these people will not only be magic apprentices, but also many excellent professional magicians.
His appointment as the first president of the Magic Guild would perfectly solve the "employment" problem for his students.
Furthermore, he also wants to put some of his conjectures about spiritual matter into practice. If his speculations are correct, he might be able to create a "national defense array."
Even if Eileen hadn't brought it up, he'd been thinking of finding an opportunity to remind her to be prepared for the worst. Their old friends in the north had simply cut their losses, not forgotten them.
Upon hearing Colin's immediate agreement, Eileen's face lit up with surprise and delight.
"Really? That's wonderful! Regarding the venue, we plan to entrust the Royal Family's real estate in Thunder City to—"
"Regarding the location, I think the clock tower in Thunder City is a good choice."
Having already considered this, Luo Yan quietly interrupted Eileen's suggestion, instead revealing his own plan: "It overlooks the entire city and is located right in the center, making it the perfect location for the headquarters of the Mage's Guild."
Eileen paused for a moment.
"The Clock Tower, but... isn't that Mr. Punk's property?"
When the Clock Tower was being built, she was leading troops in the Twilight Province and was obviously unaware of who was behind Punk.
Edward probably didn't specifically mention it either, since it wasn't really something worth mentioning.
Luo Yan smiled faintly and said.
"I will communicate with him about this matter, and I believe Mr. Punk will understand the significance of what we are doing."
Eileen was still a little embarrassed and said in a low voice.
"But you've already done us such a huge favor, if we ask you to do even more for us..."
“Please don’t be shy, don’t forget we are allies,” Luo Yan said in a gentle voice. “Besides, this isn’t entirely a sacrifice for me. I’m still very interested in the title of the first president of the Magic Guild.”
Eileen coughed softly and said, her face flushed.
"It's just a magicians' guild in a duchy..."
"Just for now."
Luo Yan spoke in a casual tone.
"The original Adventurers' Guild was even smaller; I think it was just a request board at the entrance of St. Clement's Cathedral. I believe that with our strength, we can definitely build a system completely different from the Academy and get more and more mages involved... I am full of confidence in this."
Hearing this affirmative answer, Eileen's tense shoulders finally relaxed. She looked up, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"Thank you, I really don't know how to thank you enough..."
Luo Yan smiled gently, picked up the teacup on the table again, and took a small sip.
"You're being too polite. Given our relationship, this little favor is nothing to me."
His investment in the Duchy of Campbell was not just in a clock tower; he practically treated it as part of his core territory.
Although Beifeng City was well-constructed, its population was ultimately too small, and it mostly served as a vanity project for the large cemetery and a seed bank.
Fortunately, the citizens of Thunder City were also quite capable, copying the homework very quickly, which saved him a lot of effort.
He doesn't even need to play the role of the gardener himself; he can simply stand behind the gardeners and do what he does best.
The business is over.
Logically speaking, it would be polite to get up and say goodbye at this point, but Eileen seemed to be nailed to the soft sofa and showed no intention of leaving.
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt, as if counting her own heartbeats.
"Um... Colin."
"Ok?"
“Miss Yaya Midia,” Eileen said, biting her lip slightly, her gaze somewhat unfocused, “your relationship seems… to be quite unusual?”
She tried to say it in a casual tone, but her awkward manner still betrayed her barely suppressed concern.
Luo Yan's smile remained unchanged. After a moment's thought, he skillfully gave a textbook-perfect answer.
"Miss Yaya is indeed a rare talent. She helped me a lot during my most difficult time."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, that's not all."
"...!"
"To me, she is a very important benefactor in my life and a trustworthy partner."
"..."
Noble.
And partners.
Although the two words were full of respect, they did not seem to cross that clear line, at least... she felt they did not.
Eileen let out a soft breath, feeling a little better in her chest, but new worries quickly crept back into her mind.
The more airtight his answer, the stronger her inexplicable unease became. It wasn't that she had any ill will towards Miss Ya Ya; she simply wanted to know what had happened between them in the Holy City…
And if she's a partner, then what am I?
Comrades-in-arms? Friends? Or...?
"It's a chess piece!" Youyou exclaimed excitedly as it floated to the side. Although it couldn't read Eileen's mind, it could tell from her expression what she was struggling with.
As the saying goes, a dog follows its master; it has learned some of the devil's skills, as seen with Alakdo and Sarah.
However, its cleverness did not earn it praise from its owner.
'Shut up, Youyou.'
"Waaah..."
The troublemaker that had ended the mood vanished into the fireplace as a wisp of smoke amidst a pitiful sob.
Eileen remained completely unaware. At this moment, she was caught in a state of turmoil, tossing and turning in her thoughts, just like countless other quiet nights.
Memories of Granston Castle kept flashing through her mind. The kiss that wasn't rejected, though suspected of being cheated, still ignited a fire in her heart that burned ever brighter.
perhaps--
She should have been braver.
On a whim, she mustered the courage she had been holding back for so long and suddenly raised her head.
Those eyes, as clear as lake water, no longer flinched, transforming into a powerful hoofbeat that pierced straight into Luo Yan's deep purple pupils.
"So... what do you think of me?"
The air in the study seemed to freeze at that moment, and even the crackling of the fireplace seemed to have stopped.
And Youyou, who had drifted away with a resentful air, slowly drifted back, amusing herself as she leaned against the fireplace, her gossipy gaze filled with curiosity.
The Demon King remained as elegant and composed as ever, but the heartbeat behind that composure was not as calm as he appeared.
The orange-red firelight illuminated her face, which was as fair as moonlight. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, and the vermilion mark beneath her high nose bridge appeared even more vivid in the ambiguous light.
Perhaps due to the influence of her vampire bloodline, she appeared more mysterious and captivating at night than the radiant and beautiful heroine princess during the day.
Coincidentally, Luo Yan's thoughts were also drawn back to that night in Granston Castle, recalling that reckless yet courageous kiss.
"I……"
It's all that damned Youyou's fault for interrupting.
He had just come up with the perfect answer, but when the words were on the tip of his tongue, he forgot them.
Do not--
To be precise, it should be Professor Lilith's fault.
If that guy hadn't been constantly teasing people in class, he probably would have passed the test with women long ago, and wouldn't have been unable to handle the situation properly at the crucial moment.
The Demon King is not only a master at fooling himself, but also adept at shifting blame.
Just as his brain was racing, a rhythmic knocking sounded at the right moment, suddenly rescuing him from his predicament.
Tap, tap—
The sound wasn't loud, but it shattered the idyllic atmosphere of the room at just the right moment.
Luo Yan immediately seized the opportunity and said in a deep voice.
"Come in."
The heavy wooden door opened silently.
Sarah, already dressed in a maid outfit, walked in with light steps.
Those amber vertical pupils quickly swept over the two people in the room, seemingly instantly understanding the emotions lingering in the air.
This time—
Feeling extremely uncomfortable, she became the heroine.
However, Sarah, who saw through everything, said nothing and, like a professional waiter, silently moved to her master's side.
She bowed respectfully and whispered in Luo Yan's ear, only her cat ears standing upright in her hair twitching slightly.
"Your Highness, there is an urgent message for you. Although I do not wish to disturb your rest, this letter comes from the north... You instructed me that any news from there must be reported to you immediately."
"North? Is that Xuebang?"
Luo Yan glanced gratefully at Sarah, then immediately walked down the steps, pinching his chin with his index finger and furrowing his brows slightly, feigning concern.
"Since it's urgent, we really can't delay it."
As he spoke, Luo Yan gave Eileen an apologetic look, his voice carrying just the right amount of regret.
"I'm sorry, Eileen. It seems our chat tonight has to end here... Oh, by the way, I'll take care of the Magic Guild matter."
"N-nothing!"
Eileen waved her hands frantically, her eyes darting around, not daring to look Prince Colin in the eye.
"I was too abrupt just now, please don't take it to heart! Um... please pretend I didn't ask anything! Business is important, please go and take care of it!"
When Sarah came in just now, she was fully awake and suddenly realized that she had asked a strange question.
Saint Sith above, the Campbell family's hero, acting like a resentful woman pressuring another gentleman for her marriage, is demanding to know exactly what their relationship is...
This is just too undignified!
A wave of shame washed over her instantly, her face turning so red it was almost bleeding, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.
It must be said that the people of Campbell in 1054 AD were far too conservative, both men and women. If it were a girl from the Holy City, she would have seized this wretched fellow and wouldn't let him get out of bed until he gave her a clear answer.
Seeing the girl's helpless expression, Luo Yan suddenly felt that he had committed a terrible crime, but he still nodded gently, stood up and walked towards the door.
Sarah stepped aside to make way for her master, and nodded slightly to Eileen, who was sitting in the study.
"Then, please excuse me, Your Highness Eileen."
"It's alright, you guys go ahead with your work..."
"Ah."
The low-hanging ends of her black hair concealed the slightly upturned corners of her mouth, a smile that seemed to belong to a victor.
Eileen doubted that she was seeing things.
But when she tried to confirm again, both figures had already left the study and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor…
The study returned to quiet.
The crackling of the fireplace replaced the girl's increasingly clear heartbeat, but it could not replace the turmoil hidden behind the rising aroma of tea.
Colin seemed to be about to answer.
But what exactly was he trying to say?
Despite repeatedly recalling the changing shape of her lips, Eileen still couldn't figure it out.
But she ultimately came to an undeniable conclusion—
Compared to his quick and decisive answer to Miss Yaya, Colin's feelings for her were clearly more uncertain and complex.
At least, it's not a simple relationship like that of comrades or partners.
Having thought this through, Eileen finally stopped worrying. A sweet and shy smile appeared on her beautiful face as she gently stirred the cooled black tea with a teaspoon in her hand.
"Looks like I'm still ahead..."
……
The flickering candlelight cast a dim, yellowish glow on the wall.
At first, Sarah walked in front, with Luo Yan following closely behind.
However, as the two turned the corner and left the erotic atmosphere of the study, Sarah naturally slowed her pace, respectfully falling half a step behind Luo Yan, and reverting to being his shadow.
The two walked through the corridor and arrived at another study at the end of the corridor, where Luo Yan usually meditated.
Some books were casually placed on the walnut bookshelf against the wall, and there was also an exquisite round glass bottle.
Inside the bottle, a butterfly emitting a faint blue light rests on a withered branch, occasionally fluttering its wings and scattering a few dreamlike specks of phosphorescent powder.
That was one of his eyes.
"Sarah." Luo Yan walked to the desk and loosened his collar.
Sarah answered softly.
"My Lord Demon King, what are your orders?"
"No, thank you for helping me out of that situation."
"It's not entirely about getting out of a tight spot. I do have a letter from you here, although... it's not important enough to require interrupting your in-depth conversation with Her Highness the Princess immediately."
Sarah closed the heavy door and skillfully flicked a hidden rune on the lock.
With a soft clicking sound, the pale purple soundproof barrier silently opened, completely isolating the outside world from all noise.
While it's true that the Campbell family are nobles who uphold chivalry and are unlikely to do something as tasteless as having ears listening in, as the Demon King's personal bodyguard, she would never entrust her safety to the moral standards of others.
Caution was the first lesson the Demon King taught her.
After finishing these tasks, Sarah walked up to Luo Yan, took out a secret letter with special sealing wax from her bosom, and presented it with both hands.
Luo Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, his fingertips tracing the dark patterns on the envelope as he opened it and asked a question.
"Roland City?"
Sarah nodded slightly.
"Yes, it's finally started over there."
Luo Yan unfolded the letter, his gaze sweeping over the shocking lines of text, and calmly continued, "What exactly happened? What happened there?"
"Just last night, the revolutionary army rose up in rebellion. They gathered all their forces and attacked the royal prison on the banks of the River Run. It was Cassius's stronghold, where Marius's loyal followers and the kidnapped children were imprisoned... and it was also a symbol of fear in Roland."
Sarah's voice was low and calm.
"Unfortunately, the vast majority of them fell in the first wave of the attack. They faced fully armed gravediggers, and... the butcher's knife in Cassius's hand."
Without the support of another group of extraordinary beings, the mortal uprising was destined to be a tragic suicide, especially since the Devalo royal family had gone mad.
Even though the letter didn't describe it in much detail, and Luo Yan had never been to that land himself, he could still imagine the tragic scene.
Blood stained the rushing river, corpses piled up like mountains, and the high and mighty King Theodore stood on the castle terrace, watching this massacre of civilians.
Just like the great fire in the winter of 1053.
The Demon King was not surprised by the result, but a slight ripple still stirred in his heart.
Rather than slowly rotting under silent oppression, it is better to burn brightly like a shooting star; that is the long-cherished wish of the entire city of Roland.
Edward gave them guns.
What pulled the trigger was the long-suppressed despair of the citizens of Roland.
Even without Edward's support, they would have done it with pitchforks and flintlock pistols.
Just like what happened in the No. 178 virtual realm.
"It seems that the fire has burned even more severely than I imagined."
"Yes, but their sacrifices were not in vain."
Sarah's voice was even colder than Luo Yan's as she continued her report.
"The biggest variable has appeared. Hagmer, the 'Radiant Knight' who was originally ordered by the king to be stationed outside Roland County and strictly forbidden from entering the city, learned of the terrible situation inside the city from the refugees who escaped from the city. It is said that this demigod was furious and immediately ordered the entire army to break camp and enter the city."
Sarah paused here, her eyes becoming playful.
"According to the investigation by the Stigmata Organization, the banner he raised was the so-called 'loyalty to the king'... Clearly, in his eyes, his brother was being deceived."
Luo Yan didn't care about the banner he was raising; he just asked casually.
Who won in the end?
"There are no results yet, but both our people and the Royal Intelligence Service tend to believe that Cassius is no match for Hagmer."
Sarah calmly analyzed, "Although Cassius's methods are insidious, his strength is at most hovering between the peak of Diamond and Grandmaster. Hagmer, on the other hand, is a demigod who has truly crossed that threshold, and is the most powerful trump card of the Kingdom of Ryan."
"Furthermore, we cannot rule out the possibility that Theoden Devallo actually intended to use his brother to get rid of Cassius, this tainted glove, and incidentally restore the prestige and credibility of the royal family. However, we also remain skeptical; perhaps His Majesty didn't think that far ahead. The early holy water wasn't pure enough, and the side effects would be obvious. Perhaps he simply ingested too many immature souls... and went mad."
Luo Yan said thoughtfully.
"It seems that the 'graveyard keepers' don't have a good chance of winning, but there should be a condition... that Xuebang doesn't intervene."
“Yes.” Sarah nodded respectfully. “All indications suggest that the Academy has not shown the necessary fear of demigod-level powerhouses. The stance of the Soul School will be the biggest variable in this civil war.”
Luo Yan fell into deep thought.
According to his original plan, he did not intend to get involved in the quagmire of Roland City too early. Because with his insight into history and human nature, he knew that the hell in Roland City would not end with Theodore's death; on the contrary, it was just the beginning of the meat grinder.
The Lanes were different from the Campbells; they were not truly prepared for a republic, but were forced into a corner and had no choice but to make changes.
Roland City is now like a giant whirlpool, and any faction that thinks it has the upper hand is destined to be the first to die as cannon fodder.
Like drowning victims, driven by the instinct to survive, they will desperately grab onto anything they can, dragging their rescuers down with them.
The best time to rescue someone is when they are completely exhausted.
However, if the madmen of Xuebang intend to take this opportunity to turn Roland City into a giant experimental field, then the situation will be completely different.
As the "mastermind" behind the Duchy of Campbell, he wouldn't stand idly by and watch another hand overturn the chessboard.
"Looks like I need to play my own hand too."
After a moment's thought, Luo Yan made a decision.
"Send Thanos to Roland City and take the gun I gave him."
Sarah asked respectfully.
"Who to kill?"
"Don't kill anyone. Let him lurk in the shadows for now and patiently wait for the right opportunity."
Luo Yan's gaze was meaningful.
"When the time is right, I will tell him how to use it."
Looking into those deep purple eyes, Sarah immediately understood the Demon King's meaning, and respectfully nodded with her right hand placed on her chest.
"Yes."
After giving the order that would determine the fate of Roland City, Luo Yan casually handed the secret letter back to Sarah.
As is her usual practice, she would file all the intelligence and store it in the archives of the Great Cemetery.
However, this time is different.
Sarah, after receiving the secret letter, did not retreat silently into the shadows as usual, but stood respectfully before him.
Those amber-colored vertical pupils seemed to gleam with a unique brilliance.
Seeing that she seemed to have something to say, Luo Yan was in a good mood and spoke to her in a friendly manner.
"Is there anything else?"
Sarah nodded slightly, her respect as always.
"My Lord Demon King, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
Luo Yan walked to the table and poured himself a glass of water.
He took a small sip and said casually.
"Don't stand on ceremony with me, just say it."
Looking at the water glass in the Demon King's hand, the loyal cat seemed to hesitate for a moment, but in the end, honesty triumphed over reserve.
She lowered her head slightly and spoke softly.
"Yes, then I will speak frankly. Demon King, I have no doubt about your wisdom and foresight. I doubt anyone in this world understands how to manipulate people's hearts better than you."
"You flatter me."
"It's not an overstatement, but... in certain specific areas, you might lack some necessary... practical experience?"
Unsure of the right word, Sarah could only use a term commonly used in swordsmanship.
Upon hearing this, Luo Yan almost spat out the water he had just drunk.
He coughed violently twice, barely managing to maintain his dignity as a demon king and regain his usual composure.
"What...real combat experience?"
"To associate with ladies."
Sarah was not deterred by his reaction; instead, she walked silently to him.
She pulled a clean white handkerchief from her sleeve, her movements as natural as breathing, and gently wiped away a small water stain on his collar.
"Acquiring Miss Eileen Campbell would be entirely beneficial to your ambitions. She is the jewel of the Campbell family and a key piece for you to further control the Duchy of Campbell. Please forgive my bluntness, but you should not hesitate in this matter."
Luo Yan paused slightly, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.
Sarah seemed a little unfamiliar tonight.
Normally, she is like a sharp blade sheathed in its sheath, unconditionally obeying his orders and rarely expressing her own opinions.
But now he felt that the cat he had raised with his own hands was looking at him with different eyes, and that the tail that had been hanging down obediently was now quietly sticking up.
More than just perky—
The tail, still carrying a dangerous yet alluring warmth, silently wrapped around his wrist, like a mischievous little snake flicking its tongue, testing its master's limits within safe boundaries.
Luo Yan put down his water glass, unusually avoiding those amber eyes.
"It's not that I'm hesitant; I have my own considerations, and this is—"
"A grand strategy."
Sarah softly uttered the second half of the Demon King's hesitant sentence, her fingers lingering on his collar without retracting.
She finally realized what Teresa found amusing: how fun it was to tease her owner in harmless ways.
Are you worried about Miss Mia Padridge?
"..."
Luo Yan fell silent.
He wanted to say that wasn't the case.
The truth is both absurd and simple—he simply didn't want to hear Erin call out "Rocksley Collin" so affectionately during those most intimate and passionate moments.
Heaven knows he'd play such a big game.
To save himself trouble, he simply used his cheap father's name as a pseudonym.
If it really came to that, and Eileen called out that name in a daze in his ear, he felt he would probably collapse on the spot.
That's why he always made Eileen call him Colin.
But who could possibly come up with such a reason?!
Of course, it's also possible that this trivial reason is just an excuse for him to avoid the problem. After all, there are many ways to solve this problem; he could just give himself a nickname.
For example, his formal name is Roxie, and his nickname is Roro, etc...
Looking into Luo Yan's flickering eyes, Sarah seemed to have misunderstood something, or perhaps she smelled the fishy odor hidden in the cupboard.
She moved her face closer, and the moonlight from outside the window refracted through the glass bottle, shining into her amber eyes like sweet honey.
"You don't need to worry."
A cool hand gently crept up the Demon King's cheek, its fingertips tracing the jawline. She whispered in his ear, her murmur carrying a hint of awkward seduction.
"Let's take them all at once."
"all……?!"
"Exactly."
Savoring the Demon King's shock, Sarah's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible smile, but her voice grew even softer, like a night breeze blowing through a window screen.
"As for experience... you don't need to worry. Although I am just as immature as you, my soul is already your property. You can experiment with your theories on me to your heart's content."
When Sarah said those words, she probably didn't expect herself to be so bold, and a blush crept onto her delicate cheeks.
Under the bright moonlight, this shyness appeared particularly breathtaking.
Especially that next line, which was so reckless—
"I will do my best to cooperate with your exploration."
Luo Yan's breathing stopped for a moment, and his heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.
By the way, Padridge must have specified what tricks he had done at his estate, otherwise he would never have lost his composure so repeatedly.
However, a demon king is still a demon king.
As the king who commands tens of thousands of little demons, he quickly adjusted his state with his left hand on the table, calmly put the water glass aside, and freed his right hand.
Then, he grasped the hand that wanted to continue its mischief, gazing into those gentle and innocent amber vertical pupils.
"Who did you learn from?"
Sarah blinked slightly, her overbearing breath subsiding a little.
She withdrew her hand from the Demon King's grasp, took a half-step back, and adjusted the hem of her maid dress to make herself appear less presumptuous before answering truthfully.
"To be honest, it is Marius."
Luo Yan raised an eyebrow.
"That's a truly chilling name."
The deceased intelligence chief of Lane was a true viper. He used intrigue and seduction to tightly entangle King Theodore's hand.
However, looking at that innocent face, Luo Yan simply couldn't connect her with that sinister old man.
Seemingly seeing through the Demon King's thoughts, Sarah blinked gently, then lowered her eyes and answered softly.
"Yes, Your Majesty, it is indeed a chilling name, but you once told me that we should learn from our opponents."
“I never said you should use those skills on me.”
"Please rest assured about this one thing."
She slowly raised her head, and in her clear, amber eyes, one could see only unwavering loyalty and dependence on her master.
"My life and soul belong to you, and I am loyal only to you. You may take them from me whenever you need them."
Luo Yan immediately said.
“I do not doubt your loyalty; you do not need to explain that.”
Sarah smiled gently.
"Thank you for your trust. I don't mean to explain, but I just want to tell you... everything I've learned from Teresa and Marius is for the purpose of serving you better."
She paused, then nodded again, gracefully lifting her skirt to give a curtsy, concealing the blush on her cheeks behind her low-hanging hair.
"Furthermore, my suggestion is also serious."
"If you ever feel like it, just let me know, and your loyal servant will do anything for you."
"At any time."
As she finished speaking, she retreated into the shadows deep within the room, leaving only a faint fragrance lingering in the night.
Luo Yan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling unusually tired today. He turned on the magic crystal lamp on the table and sat down in the chair by the window.
The sound of wind occasionally drifted in from outside the window, and a few lonely bats could be vaguely seen, hanging on the edge of the woods, too afraid to approach.
He raised his index finger to let the water in the glass evaporate, then took out a treasure from the wine cabinet and poured himself a glass.
For the Demon King, tonight is destined to be another night spent in meditation.
Facing the empty study, he pondered for a long time before muttering a sentence to himself.
"What does this have to do with Theresa..."
(End of this chapter)