Cormac felt that life had recently beco more and more promising.
That useless brat Bona was clearly on the verge of collapse.
Although the previous attempt to intercept and destroy that shipnt of Blood Jade Wine had unexpectedly failed—allowing the boy to gasp for a few more breaths—
It was nothing more than an insignificant episode. At most, it let that sinking ship wobble a little longer before going under.
Cormac was no re brute who only knew how to swing a sword. Bona’s steward, along with several key officers under his command, had long been properly “arranged” by Cormac—with glittering imperial gold and even more enticing promises of the future.
He was completely confident that when Bona’s crumbling fortress of power finally collapsed, he would firmly tear away the fattest and most critical piece of at—
The Giant Beast Bone Grounds.
Success in his career was certainly pleasing.
But what truly thrilled Cormac to his core—
Was Blood Jade Wine.
As a participant in the Empire’s vortex of power, he had often pondered why the Empire was filled with endless sches and betrayals.
He quickly arrived at his own conclusion.
More than half of the Empire’s nobles were vampires. These immortals, freed from birth, aging, sickness, and death—yet stripped of nearly all sensory pleasure—had nothing to pursue over endless centuries except power and authority.
In the past, such an existence had seed tragically monotonous.
But now, that tragic state had been shattered by the great Duke Sigismund!
Blood Jade Wine—this miraculous nectar—allowed him, after being transford into a vampire, to taste flavor again for the first ti.
And not just taste—
But supre deliciousness.
Cormac would never forget the tremor and ecstasy when that first mouthful slid down his throat and his taste buds awakened.
The only regret was the price.
Transported from the distant Crimson Tower to his territory, its cost multiplied several tis over. Each indulgence ca with the painful sound of gold coins draining away.
But it didn’t matter.
Cormac swirled the thick, blood-red liquid in his glass, watching it refract dazzling light in the fireplace glow, a confident smile curling at his lips.
Once he secured the Giant Beast Bone Grounds—
Money would never be a problem again.
“What is he doing?” Cormac asked suspiciously, looking at the subordinate reporting on Bona’s recent activities.
The man knelt on one knee and replied respectfully, “Viscount, Count Bona has recently been aggressively purchasing magical materials throughout his territory—and even in our border markets. From common conductive tals and energy crystals to rare exotic beast bone powder and leyline condensate. The variety is complex, and the quantities are astonishing.”
“Aggressively buying? Has he emptied his last reserves? What is he trying to do?”
“Not only that, my lord. He has mobilized large numbers of laborers and resources around his castle and several territories. It is not defensive construction nor palace renovation. Judging by the layout… it resembles the foundation of a massive magic array—or preparations for so kind of ritual.”
“This subordinate lacks insight, but… it does not look simple. My lord must be cautious.”
“Nonsense!” Cormac threw his empty cup. But inwardly, he felt a trace of unease.
Bona himself might be incompetent—but his father had been a genuine count, once even close to rising higher. The legacy he left behind could not be underestimated.
Otherwise, Bona would not have lasted this long after his father’s death.
Could there really be so ritual capable of turning the tables?
Cormac imdiately contacted Bona’s steward. The information he received was that Bona had been misled by a group of rcenaries into setting up a magic array supposedly capable of assisting in excavating giant beast remains—a desperate and foolish final struggle.
Cormac relaxed sowhat—but not entirely.
The steward had been bought.
But what if he still remained loyal to Bona and only pretended to submit?
Cormac was a cautious demon. In the Empire, the reckless were usually buried.
He contacted other bought-off individuals. He sent spies to verify.
Every channel reported the sa thing.
Normally, that would be enough.
But Cormac slled sothing off.
The intelligence was too consistent.
Different channels should have minor discrepancies—even errors.
Instead, every answer was almost identical.
Betrayal?
He quickly dismissed the thought.
It was impossible that everyone had suddenly betrayed him.
Then—
Was this deliberate misinformation from Bona? A smokescreen to prevent him from disrupting the ritual?
Perhaps he was overthinking.
But caution was survival.
Cormac decided to personally sabotage the ritual before it was completed.
Suspicious of those he had bought, he did not inform them in advance. Under the pretext of discussing trade, he personally traveled to the Giant Beast Bone Grounds.
anwhile, he secretly arranged elite forces to destroy the ritual while he distracted Bona.
As for his own safety—while the Empire was rife with internal struggle, it had not yet reached the point of open warfare between nobles.
He had arrived publicly.
Bona could not harm him.
He would even have to protect him.
Yet ever since entering the city, as he watched the demonic residents walking about, Cormac felt a faint sense of dissonance.
He couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.
But when he entered the castle—
When he saw Bona…
Saw Canggu…
Saw Kruma holding a yellow-covered book…
Saw the steward and generals he had bought…
Saw the smiles on their faces—
He imdiately realized sothing was wrong.
“Bona… with so many people here, what are you doing?”
Bona, no longer wearing his forr anxious and timid expression, smiled brightly.
“Uncle Cormac, what do you an what am I doing? Weren’t you the one who wanted to discuss trade? As it happens, I also have a mutually beneficial trade proposal to show you.”
He took the Yellow Book from Kruma and handed it forward.
Cormac’s eyelids twitched violently.
As the Yellow Book was pushed toward him—
Sothing clicked.
“Ho… Holy Codex?”
The text covering the page vanished.
In its place appeared a single line.
[Interesting. A re viscount who recognizes ?]
Cormac felt no joy at having guessed correctly.
Terror made even his bones tremble.
A century ago, while serving his master, he had glimpsed the Holy Codex once—when it was still sealed—and learned part of its history.
A wicked book that, in the early years of His Majesty’s reign, incited rebellion across three ducal territories—
With the power of a single book.
If it had not been located and sealed in ti, it might have engulfed even more regions.
Though he had only seen it once, he rembered.
And now—
He was seeing it again.
When had it broken free?
Why was it here?
He knew far too little.
Cormac fell to his knees, bowing his head.
“I… I am willing to pledge loyalty to the Demon King…”
He had clearly misunderstood sothing.
[Hahahahaha. An amusing little fellow.]
[Co. I do indeed require your assistance.]
As the Holy Codex continued to approach, Cormac shrank back in terror.
“No… no! I will obey! There’s no need for this—”
How could the Yellow Book trust a re promise? Control was necessary.
Desperation flashed in Cormac’s eyes. His strength was near Sanctum-level.
A blade of blood condensed in his hand.
He did not attack the Codex.
He turned—
And stabbed toward the guard behind him.
His attendants drew weapons as well, attempting to break out.
Puji—
At so unknown mont, the Knight puji was already standing on Cormac’s shoulder.
…
Cormac and Bona’s trade negotiations were highly productive.
They reached an agreent to jointly develop the Giant Beast Bone Grounds.
Upon returning to his territory, Viscount Cormac imdiately began assisting Count Bona in purchasing the required materials from surrounding regions.
Everything proceeded in a perfectly reasonable manner.
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