Reincarnated as the Final Villain's Vessel

Chapter 226: An Invitation to Return

”I can’t offer the best support for someone like you... but there is someone who can.” The Marquis’s words echoed through the walls of the room.

Just from his looks this morning, I knew he wanted to talk to me, so I waited for the others to leave after dinner and sat there listening and going along with what he was saying... well, with this nonsense.

I mean, it wasn’t really nonsense. He was somewhat right about everything he said... but I’d never thought I needed any of that.

As much as having someone to support you, whether with resources or status, would be a good blessing, it would also create new restrictions.

And perhaps it wasn’t obvious, but I wouldn’t deny that I’d been receiving some good support since entering the Axis, so I’d never thought about this before, nor did I want to.

But unfortunately, they wanted me.

In the next moment, my expression changed to curiosity, but this time it was more genuine. ”Who is it?... And I don’t understand, is this just a suggestion from you, Your Excellency Marquis?”

The man who looked to be in his forties smiled as he picked up the wine bottle and filled his now-empty glass. ”No, of course he’s the one who wants it, otherwise I wouldn’t have brought up this subject.”

”I know you’re wondering why he didn’t contact you himself... perhaps he would’ve done so soon if we hadn’t met here today.”

He placed the glass bottle down, his gaze drawn toward me again. ”You’re wondering who he is, right?”

I nodded. ”Yes.”

But instead of answering, he picked up the glass he’d just refilled, and the room became quiet with no one else but us.

Whether the doors or the windows, they were all closed, with no sound slipping in from outside, or of course, getting out of here.

I remained seated, waiting patiently for the Marquis to speak, and soon he did. ”You must have received many looks of contempt from your peers even when they clearly saw your superiority.”

Well, he was right. Except for the group from my class, the majority of the students looked down on me... still, I wanted to interrupt this nonsense and get to the main point, but unfortunately, I needed to nod and go along with him.

The Marquis smiled upon seeing my agreement. ”You may not do it yourself, but I understand why they do... Caius, nobles feel threatened when someone like you appears out of nowhere, so they tend to despise him, belittle him, and even control him... and if none of that works, you know.”

The Marquis’s words echoed as if he were giving me a lesson, changing the subject he had started as though he wanted to plant some ideas in my head, but I couldn’t just keep listening.

”I understand that, but can you tell me who this person is?” My voice echoed through the place with some excitement at the end... I mean, I was genuinely excited to know.

”I see you like direct approaches, and that’s good in some ways, but it may not always be the best choice.”

I raised an eyebrow. ”What do you mean?”

The sound of the chair’s legs scraping across the floor echoed as the Marquis rose from his seat with the glass in his hand. ”You want to know who it is that wants you... or they, to be more precise.”

I didn’t try to hide the frown that formed on my face. ”They?”

The Marquis nodded as he walked toward the window glass. ”First, you have to understand that it’s very rare for them to want someone this badly.”

”And unlike the four empires, they’re ready to accept you no matter who you are... whether you’re a noble stripped of your title, a clergyman, or an oppressed commoner, none of that matters.”

He turned around, his dark eyes staring directly into mine. ”Whether you want resources, Artifacts, or even power, you’ll get it... as long as you show your value, you’ll become stronger faster than you can imagine, Caius.”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but feel some amusement, but I kept it from showing in my smile. ”That sounds very promising, Marquis, so now I’m truly curious about who they are, since they seem to be a secret from the way you’re speaking.”

”You don’t want me to make a decision with my eyes closed, right?”

He took a sip from his glass before smiling. ”Of course not. If you did that now, you’d shatter every expectation about you.”

He stepped toward the table and placed his glass on it before sighing. ”Unfortunately, I can’t tell you now, but don’t worry, you’ll have a chance soon to know everything.”

In the next moment, I noticed the essence moving through the Marquis’s body as his next words echoed calmly and irresistibly, as if they were piercing into the depths of my mind. ”Now you can go to your room until we resume this again. Don’t tell anyone.”

For a moment, all my thoughts about this conversation stopped as I rose from my seat and nodded to the Marquis before turning to leave the place, obeying every word he said without realizing it.

But in the next moment, pain invaded my head as I realized what had just happened, yet I showed no hesitation as I reached the door, then stepped outside and quietly closed it behind me.

I walked a little toward my room before unconsciously letting out a long sigh... this son of a bitch had tried to force his orders onto my mind.

I remembered the information mentioning his ability, which interfered with the mind, and the only reason I wasn’t affected by his words was the Mind Anchor.

I calmly walked toward my room, still sensing the Marquis there where I’d left him. It didn’t take much thought to realize what he was trying to invite me into and the ideas he’d begun preparing me for, but at least he hadn’t tried to plant them in my mind by force.

When I arrived here, I thought I’d need to investigate and search, and perhaps have many interactions with the Marquis, but here he was, coming to me and giving me a direct invitation.

I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry now.

The good side was that they considered me nothing more than a talented young man they needed, perhaps because of the background Red Eye had created for me.

But really, after only nine months, their eyes had already fallen on me... no, perhaps it had been much earlier than that.

And according to what the Marquis said, he hadn’t planned to tell me about it today, but it could be assumed that he was a middleman who had appointed himself to reap the benefits of my joining.

Frankly, he seemed perfect for that role. With that ability of his, he would ensure that I wouldn’t leak anything he said or showed me... at least, it was supposed to ensure that.

The question now was, should I continue this game with him and see what came next... or find a way out of this and not risk something that might make me return to the house I burned with my own hands?

In truth, making the decision didn’t require much thought.