Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 664: Excellent Plan

Altanʼs body shuddered at the discovery. ”What… did you say?”

Even Fern, who was being eroded by the snakeʼs venom was filled with disbelief. She looked at Adam and muttered incredulously, ”Iʼm… with child?”

All of a sudden, she was seemingly overcome by her motherly instincts as she started screaming out loud, ”Give me the antidote! Give me the fucking antidote! You cannot harm the child inside me! Iʼll tell you everything! Just give me the antidote!”

Adam stood with an indifferent expression on his face. He didnʼt even look at the woman. Instead, he gazed at Altanʼs change in emotions.

He could tell that the man was having suspicions about what he just said. However, the seed of doubt had already been sown. Now, Altan had no other choice but to cooperate with Adam.

After all, even though what Adam had said just then was a lie. But deep in Altanʼs mind there would always be that voice that whispered to him - But what if itʼs the truth?

Such was the terror of the School of Enchantment! To turn the opponentʼs mind against them—such was the beauty and the horror!

Altan gritted his teeth and had no other option but to relent. ”It was the name!”

”What name?” Adamʼs eyes narrowed.

”The Lordʼs name isnʼt Ishmir Paroh,” Altan replied helplessly. ”His name is Olin Barrett, a Rank 3 - Mana Vortex Magus from the Cult.”

Adam was silent for a few moments before he started chuckling. He looked at Altan and praised, ”Clever!”

He then looked at the red snake and commanded in snaketongue, ”Retract some of the poison.”

The snake did as told, and within a few moments, Fernʼs skin started returning to normal. However, there was still a purple tinge on it. Meaning, the poison was still inside her system.

Qamara, who was standing behind Adam, and watching everything unfold had an extremely complicated look on her face.

She was raised in a Magus Family that adhered to the virtues of the righteous faction in the arcane world. As such, she found Adamʼs action quite the opposite of what she was taught. She didnʼt know how to feel about it.

But she couldnʼt deny that Adam, through his lies, deceit, and trickery, was getting things done in ways she could not have imagined.

Adam… just what sort of person are you? She thought to herself as she gazed at the youthʼs broad back.

Right at that moment, Adam turned around and looked at her with a faint smile, ”Now do you believe me? That I was being framed.”

Qamara snapped out of her thoughts. She looked deep into Adamʼs black eyes and then nodded. She stepped forward and then stood right beside him. ”What is this Cult you both were talking about? And who is this Magus called Olin Barrett?”

Adamʼs eyes narrowed ever so slightly before he promptly answered. ”Thatʼs what Iʼd like to know too. Iʼve never heard about this Cult. I thought I was only dealing with the Umbra Thieves and the Red Fists.”

He figured that if he revealed to Qamara that he knew about the Cult of Bones, he would come across as suspicious. After all, how could he know something that even the top brass of the city didnʼt?

The main reason why he had called Qamara with him to the Duskfall Estate was that he wanted to indirectly mobilize her father, Nylian Feno, into fighting his enemies.

Then, he would not only have one but two councilors as his allies.

Altan, who was still immobilized by the serpent, muttered in disbelief, ”You… donʼt anything about the Cult? How is that possible? Why would they try to kill you then?”

”Try to kill me?” Adam feigned ignorance.

”Wait a minute!” Qamara chimed in. ”Could this Cult youʼre talking about be associated the the Umbra Thieves and The Red Fists? Because if that is true, then it would completely make sense.”

Well done, Qamara! Adam praised inwardly, but on the surface, he showed a grave expression.

”Hold on a minute!” Altan interrupted. ”I donʼt know anything about the Umbra Thieves. Iʼve only been in direct contact with the Red Fists. They were the ones who—”

He suddenly swallowed his next words.

”They were the ones who what?” Qamara pressed sternly. ”Answer me!”

Altan looked at the elf, then at the devil in humanʼs clothing, Adam, and then finally at his wife who had gone quiet ever since she realized that she might be with child.

Damn it, I have no other choice! The only way to make sure that Fern and I survive is to ally with the enemy, he thought to himself in desperation.

He took a deep breath and then looked at Qamara before revealing everything, ”The Red Fists have been supplying me with women for all these years. The Cult has been directing everything from the beginning.”

Altan then turned his gaze toward Adam and continued, ”They told me to introduce you as the guest of honor at todayʼs event. They aimed to make it known to everyone at the party that you and I are closely related. You can already guess as to why that is, canʼt you?”

”Hold on a minute!” Qamara blurted out. ”The Red Fists have been supplying you with women? For what?”

Altan deeply looked at her and answered, ”They were sacrifices for the bloody rituals.”

Qamaraʼs body trembled in disbelief. ”Sacrifices… bloody rituals?”

Meanwhile, Adam went into deep thought. He finally understood what the letter he received last night meant.

I see… The Cult of Bones is indeed trying to kill me. But in case they fail to kill me at the masquerade ball, they plan to falsely accuse me of human trafficking by having a direct association with the Duskfall Couple.

At that point, my mana will be sealed and Iʼll be imprisoned according to Ravenfellʼs laws. And if the Cultʼs reach is truly as deep as I suspect, theyʼll send someone to kill me in prison.

Excellent plan, I must say. However…

Adamʼs eyes flashed with a dangerous light. He looked at Altan and flatly stated, ”Youʼre a smart man, so you probably know what the Cult is planning to do with you, donʼt you?”

Altanʼs expression turned dark, his eyes spewing with indignation.

Adamʼs lips curled up into a grin. ”Yes, theyʼre trying to kill me, but your fate will be no different from mine. Theyʼre using you as a scapegoat! Perhaps, that has always been their plan from the beginning.”

Altan remained silent, but he couldnʼt come to deny Adamʼs claims.

Meanwhile, Adam turned to look at Qamara, who was still reeling in from the shock of discovering that women were being used for sacrificial rituals, and spoke with a solemn voice, ”This is the sin of envy.”

Qamara turned to look at Adam, her heart churning with tumultuous emotions. ”I have been pursuing the Umbra Thieves and the Red Fists for longer than you can imagine, so I know what they are doing with these innocent women,” Adam added.

He paused for a moment as he stepped closer to the elf. He gently placed his hands on her shoulder and continued, ”These people have been sacrificing women to an evil entity in exchange for the gift of youthfulness! Look at Fern, for example.”

Qamaraʼs eyes widened in shock. When she looked at Altan and saw that he wasnʼt denying Adamʼs claims, her heart grew heavy.

”I… I must inform Father!” She said through gritted teeth. ”These people must be brought to justice!”

She paused for a moment before speaking with fearful eyes, ”And this Cult… I have to let him know that a powerful criminal organization has emerged in Ravenfell. And they... they even have a Mana Vortex Magus!”

Adam tried his hardest to stop the wide grin from blooming on his face. Inwardly, he was ecstatic, Yes, yes, that is exactly what you must do! You must let your father know that you figured all this out! Excellent! The sooner the existence of the Cult is revealed, the better!

But on the surface, he displayed a stoic emotion. ”Now is not the time, Qamara. We must find substantive evidence first and only then can we inform the city officials.”

Adam could see the hesitance in the elfʼs eyes, so he stepped closer and softly muttered, ”Qamara, do you trust me?”

Qamara looked into Adamʼs eyes for a long time before letting out a whisper, ”…Yes.”

”Good. Then know that I have a plan,” Adam smiled charmingly.

Qamara took a deep breath and nodded. She then glanced at the Duskfall couple and muttered with disgust, ”Then what about these two?”

Adam looked at Altan, his lips curling up into a smirk. ”Well, you do know what they say about the enemy of an enemy, donʼt you?”