By giving me this gift, Evelyn expressed her intention to have a friendly relationship with me.
But there was no reason for her, the leader of the Nine, to suddenly act friendly towards me.
‘She didn't participate in this vote or the fight against the gods.’
My colleague Gregory helped Colin, one of the Nine.
But the Nine had not done anything for us yet.
While we were protecting Palma's territory, the Nine remained neutral and watched from the sidelines.
Now that they understood the situation and saw that I was in danger, they wanted to get on my good side, which didn't seem very desirable in my eyes.
‘But well.’
No matter how it looked, or what their intentions were in approaching me.
I would use them if they seemed useful.
And the Nine seemed more useful to me than the Paladins.
‘Unlike the Paladins who have to move in front of the public, the Nine aren't exposed to the public. Their information network, operating in the shadows, would be far superior.’
Furthermore, the leader of the Nine, Evelyn, had kept her face and name completely hidden.
Until she revealed herself to me today.
“Ms. Evelyn.”
“...Yes.”
“Let me tell you what you want to hear.”
“...”
Evelyn didn't answer. She couldn't admit that there were things she wanted to hear.
“First, raise your head.”
Evelyn raised her head as I said. I spoke to her slightly nervous face.
“I accept the Nine's will. My blade and those of my colleagues will not be directed at the Nine.”
“...!”
I wasn't planning on doing that anyway.
Since the leader herself came to me, it wouldn't hurt to pretend to be considerate.
Evelyn then said.
“Then, from now on, will you have a good relationship with the Nine...”
“That would be difficult.”
“Wh- why?”
“A promise not to interfere with each other is fine. But if you wanted a more amicable relationship, if the Nine needed my power.”
Swoosh—
I raised my hand.
The Obsidian's fog lightly enveloped her.
Shhh—
Immediately, the ‘mask’ Evelyn was wearing fell off. The Obsidian had only cut through the surface of the thin mask.
“!”
Evelyn was flustered. Her bare face stiffened as she was exposed to me.
Hmm, her real face was much younger than I imagined.
“Come again.”
“...Ah.”
“You talked about manners after revealing yourself. While wearing a mask. You still don't trust me.”
“Ugh.”
Evelyn, embarrassed, averted her gaze. But she didn't try to hide her face.
I turned around and walked towards the car.
This deal was both a light acceptance and a light rejection.
Evelyn's urgent voice could be heard behind me.
“I, I didn't mean to deceive you, Mr. Frondier...!”
“Of course I know.”
I wasn't being sarcastic, I really knew.
“You're just being cautious. For the leader of the Nine to reveal her face and meet someone, it wouldn't be an easy decision.”
I had no particular feelings towards Evelyn. I hadn't asked for her help in the first place.
Because I had no particular feelings, my choice was obvious.
“I understand you. So, you understand me, who can't trust you.”
“...Ah.”
“Come again. We'll make a deal then.”
I got into the car.
The car slowly moved forward, passing Evelyn who had stepped aside.
Arald, who was driving, asked.
“Are you sure about this?”
“About what?”
“It would be reassuring to have the Nine on our side. From what I've seen of their information network, they have complete control over information in Palma and its surroundings.”
“Right. Information that even rats and birds wouldn't know.”
It was truly a realm that even Gregory couldn't reach. The Nine were the ones who controlled the things hidden within.
“It's fine. That Evelyn woman, she resembles someone.”
“Who?”
“Ms. Philly.”
“Who's that... Ah.”
Arald realized who I was referring to and closed his mouth. As if he didn't know what to say.
“If I saw correctly, that type prefers someone with ability over someone who's convenient for them.”
The person at the helm of any organization desires talent.
They want someone who can match their abilities, or even surpass them, someone they can face as equals, while at the same time wishing for someone easy to use. That contradiction.
And Evelyn thought quite highly of me.
To think she would give me the Golden Apple just because she couldn't use it, it wasn't a normal choice.
In that case, it was better to appeal to her with my abilities.
If I reached out to build a good relationship right away, the handshake might be established, but it would be light.
“Besides, she might be offended if I didn't notice she was hiding her face.”
“...I don't think she'd be offended by something like that.”
The car continued on.
* * *
A while after Frondier’s car and the two cars of his companions following behind passed by.
A black sedan stopped in front of Evelyn.
Evelyn got into the back seat and sighed.
“I told you so. It would have been better to either completely hide it or reveal everything.”
The driver spoke to her.
It was Colin.
Having met Frondier in person, he knew well how to deal with him.
“...How can I have a conversation while hiding? You don't know what he'll think of us.”
“Then you should have revealed everything.”
“How can I reveal everything? I'm the leader of the Nine.”
“...As a result, you gave him the Golden Apple and gained nothing, and even the face you were trying to hide was exposed. It's a huge loss.”
“Excuse me, but can you complain about something I can actually refute? That really hurts.”
Evelyn sighed again.
Colin was right. It would have been better to reveal everything. There was no need to wear a mask.
‘No, how did he see through this mask?! I've never been caught before!’
The mask she wore was, of course, the highest quality she could get. She had never been caught by anyone.
But there were exceptions.
Actually, there was a clear sign.
Colin's clear warning, as someone skilled in reading people. From the moment she didn't listen to him, this future was set in stone.
“Colin, how did you know? That the mask would be exposed.”
“It’s not that I knew, I just knew that if you tried to use half-hearted tricks on that person, you would only end up losing.”
“So how did you know that?”
“Just a hunch.”
“Is that really your answer?”
“You met him in person, you must have felt it. Do you think he'll talk to someone else the same way he talks to me?”
…Well, that was true.
That strange feeling couldn't be explained by anything other than a ‘hunch’.
Thinking about it the other way around, it was fortunate that they at least received a promise of ‘non-aggression’.
After a moment of thought, Evelyn asked.
“...Frondier was heading to Atlas, wasn't he?”
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Thank you for the chapter
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