Although he didn’t know what the old Crow was planning to use "Kafney" for,
her own power and influence were limited.
Her utility value lay solely in three aspects, "the only daughter of the fourth Prince," "the student of Nicholas Flall," and "the friend of Annan Winter." But no matter from which angle they involved her in the plan, what followed would be a muddied ss.
As Kafney’s friend, Annan couldn’t allow this to happen.
Kafney trusted him to handle all her issues relating to her teacher, her mother, and her Curse Binding... Should anything go wrong, it wouldn’t be an issue for Annan, but she herself could face irreparable damage.
Annan simply couldn’t allow it to fall apart on his watch.
And with those words, Annan nonchalantly tossed the pressure back.
If the old Crow acknowledged Annan’s words, it would an they had to carry out the act, to assassinate Kafney’s mother. Otherwise, it would signify that "the Royal Capital was attempting to defy the Silver Baron’s command and take independent action."
If the old Crow claid ignorance of this matter, then it would an they were no longer trusted by the King. The Crow family’s ability to gather intelligence and their political standing would no longer be sufficient to intervene in the upcoming events.
Consequently, they couldn’t continue to inquire about this matter from Annan, nor could they request his help in this regard. The result would be the sa if he chose to remain silent.
As long as he didn’t acknowledge it, the Cyclops Crow would still have to undertake the task of surveilling, capturing, or even assassinating the Prince’s wife, and Annan would then have the right to refuse all his requests—Are you intending to defy the True God with this task set by the Silver Baron?
There was only one answer left for the old Crow to give.
The old man chuckled bitterly, "Why must you do this... If she doesn’t wish to return to the Royal Capital for now, then she simply won’t co.
"The plan to assassinate Margaret is already being arranged. After the fourth Prince returned to the Royal Capital and spoke with us, authorizing us to carry out this plan and leaving behind docunts and evidence, he erased the related mories."
But this only affected the aftermath.
His mory must have been altered, so during the assassination of Margaret, the fourth Prince must not be allowed to contact or beco aware of this matter at all.
Nolan continued.
"And to prevent the ’Dream Stealer’ Denton from acting out of desperation, posing a threat to His Majesty or Prince Albert... We must lure Denton out.
"At the very least, to a place far from Prince Albert."
"...I understand."
Annan narrowed his eyes slightly, "You plan to use Kafney as bait."
The Crow family knew everything.
They knew things even the fourth Prince himself didn’t know.
Denton must have been exposed already.
But he was inextricable.
A Gold-rank Transcendent—especially a Soul Reaping Wizard.
rely by engaging in conversation with him, one’s mories could easily be read and altered. Even if they could control the interactions between Transcendents and His Majesty, if he were to beco desperate, who knows how many he would kill or drive mad.
Or, by simply erasing the mories of a few high officials—secrets buried deep within them, the entire Noah could potentially plunge into chaos.
A Gold-rank Transcendent infiltrated within the Royal Palace was far more dangerous than a bomb. Hence, even though the Crow had seen it all, they did not dare to take action.
Because they would only have one chance to stop him.
If they failed... the outco would be catastrophic.
During their conversation, Nolan had led Annan into the basent and casually closed the door behind them.
"Please find a place to sit at your leisure... As you know, there’s only one ’Dream Stealer.’ No one knows to what extent he can go, what’s certain is that he cannot alter the mories of people he has never contacted."
Nolan sat on the sofa, hands resting on his knees, and spoke calmly, "The safety of the fourth Prince, His Majesty, and the high officials of the kingdom, is far more important than the safety of his daughter."
Upon hearing this, Annan took a seat on a sofa to the side, with Eugene Geraint sitting next to him.
But to such callous words, Annan didn’t take offense.
From Nolan’s standpoint, what he was doing was completely right.
A disaster that would, at the very least, cause turmoil across the kingdom if mishandled—if using an insignificant little girl as bait could thwart it completely... even if that little girl was the King’s own granddaughter, there was nothing he wouldn’t do.
But right is right.
"Not everything in this world has to be done by the book."
Annan smiled gently, "Being right is far from enough; I strive for... perfection."
His face was calm, filled with self-confidence.
Those lusterless erald pupils reflected the light, giving people a dazzling feeling.
"...You are indeed worthy,"
After a mont of silence, Nolan sighed, "If only a young man as outstanding as you could be born in Noah."
"It might not be impossible..."
Just then, Eugene suddenly spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Nolan’s face instantly showed realization, and he looked inquisitive, "Now that you ntion it, it seems that you and Princess Kafney..."
"..."
Annan fell silent for a mont.
—This is the end.
Is there still a trap here?
...Sowhat miscalculated.
No wonder he’s the old Crow... It’s all so intricately planned.
Annnan didn’t believe this was Eugene’s quick wit—if Nolan had not allowed him to speak, how could such an intelligent man dare to steer the conversation to such a peculiar place while Annan was discussing serious matters with his father?
If Annan had responded to the previous statent, forcing the old Crow to imdiately pick sides and reveal their plans... Nolan’s words would eventually be asked.
—Because being a "friend" seed insufficient to explain why Annan would do so much for Kafney.
Using a young girl as bait to lure out an unstable bomb or the fourth prince himself seed consistent with their interests; conversely, using the sa girl to tie the sole heir of the Winter Duchy, the future high priestess of the grandmother god, to Noah’s war chariot also seed like a good profit?
This King has been dreaming of uniting the five countries and rebuilding the Great Barrier.
If he could form a marriage alliance with Winter, that would an one quarter of his goal was achieved...
Winter is the "Land of Tradition," different from the customs of other countries. Even as a Duke, one must practice monogamy.
... Though Kafney is indeed very cute.
But one must never agree to this in front of the old Crow—unlike Annan’s previous "declaration of disadvantage," if he really admitted to this, it would an revealing a huge vulnerability to the old Crow’s clutches.
Annan simply calmly replied, "This was rely a promise I made to her in the past.
"You weren’t aware of it."
"...A past promise?"
The old Crow paused for a mont.
Annan nodded earnestly, "That I would rescue her when she called for help—that was my promise as a man."
"I see..."
The old Crow fell silent for a while before nodding gently, "I understand.
"Did this happen when you and Prince Dmitry visited?"
The old man asked curiously.
He clearly didn’t know much about the content of the promise.
—And it was normal for him not to know.
Because there was no such promise.
It was a story Annan had just made up.
Annan asked back, "I’m actually quite curious... I’ve never heard of ’the old Crow who happens to be a cardinal of a certain god.’
"I have answered so many of your questions, would you satisfy my curiosity—I just want to know, which deity such a great person as yourself serves?"
"That’s not so difficult to say. If you ask the younger brother of rlin Manning directly, he will tell you,"
Nolan said with a gentle smile, "I am a subordinate god of the Lady of Silence—recording and keeping secrets for the God of Secrets, the ’Faceless Poet’."
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