Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Proposal for Cooperation

"You'll do the work, and we'll just provide support? Is that the extent of our cooperation?" Handlers blonde lady blurted it out in surprise. While she understood Anom's desire to get rid of the Handlers, she couldn't comprehend why he wanted to involve himself in a bigger mess than the one he was currently handling. Perplexed, she decided to ask him directly.

Anom responded, "It's quite easy to understand. You see, even if I were to focus solely on the low-level goons, the Handlers, their backers—the Sorneo House—are bound to get involved sooner or later. It would be more prudent for me to address the issue at its source instead of wasting time and effort for naught. Moreover, I'm not delusional enough to believe that we can conspire together and miraculously achieve a longshot victory against opponents of that caliber. No, I'll take action once I have a better understanding of the circumstances. Besides, it won't be too late to retreat if the situation in the higher echelons becomes too chaotic."

Nia couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer. "You say it won't be too late, but won't the Handlers insist on marrying your Missy off to that lustful dog-scion? How do you plan to handle that?"

Anom smiled in response. "Well, both of you will assist me with that."

"Huh?" Kristin pointed at herself, bewildered. "Me too? How can I help you?"

"We'll discuss that later. But before we proceed, Miss Lance, even if you've 'come clean' about your friend's name, don't you think it's only fair to demonstrate your sincerity by giving a brief introduction about yourself?" Anom inquired, directing his question to the blonde.

Flustered, the blonde recalled her error as she felt her friend's gaze upon her. "S-sure."

"Ahem. So, as you may have guessed, my family name is Lance, and my given name is Kristin. My family belongs to the Great Families of the Capital and is renowned for producing exceptional battle commanders for the Kingdom's military," Kristin introduced her family with a hint of pride that was absent from her earlier voice.

She then turned towards her friend, who had no intention of introducing herself. Consequently, Kristin could only awkwardly gesture towards her and offer an introduction. "This is Nia, from another prestigious family—the Bladeflaw. Her family holds the top position in intelligence gathering throughout the entire kingdom. Many of the Special Ops teams formed by the Kingdom's military count Bladeflaw members as integral parts."

Anom glanced at Nia, the assassin-girl, who attempted to maintain an indifferent facade but couldn't conceal the faint smile that surfaced upon hearing her friend praise her family.

Suddenly, Anom interjected, "What an occasion for two individuals of such high standing to find themselves in this small place. I wonder what would happen if, for some reason, they were unable to return alive."

Kristin initially smiled at his comment, but her expression quickly faded as she heard the rest of his sentence. Nia, on the other hand, grew agitated, preparing herself for any possibility.

"Relax. I've already stated that I'm seeking cooperation. Besides, that comment was directed at the reckless manner in which you executed your plan and ended up in that den of wolves."

Nia couldn't resist commenting in indignation, "It was still going according to our plan if you hadn't intervened with your own scheme."

"Oh? Was it?" Anom smirked. "Allow me to share an unpleasant truth. You were fortunate that I was there; otherwise, dealing with the true leader of that place would not have been as straightforward."

Nia was eager to continue arguing, but Kristin intervened, saying, "Mr. Anom, could you please enlighten us about your current plans? You see, we made arrangements to meet my brother tomorrow, and he tends to become restless if we don't show up. Who knows what kind of mess he'll create in the meantime?"

Anom nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry about that. Now, tell me what your intentions were when you infiltrated the Giro Gang's hideout."

Kristin believed that Anom had valid reasons for asking, so she proceeded to answer his question. "Well, we were moving around the city, taking on missions with mercenaries and adventurers in the hopes of catching his attention. We did some research and discovered his penchant for beautiful girls. Along with the Handler family's influence in the city, we estimated that he would act on his desire and invite us to his mansion. Unfortunately, he turned out to be more cautious, perhaps due to a warning from his father, and employed the gang instead of his own subordinates."

"A beauty trap, huh? But why did you come to rescue her? The gang leader would have eventually handed her over to that man," Anom inquired, directing his question at Nia.

However, Kristin responded on Nia's behalf, explaining, "I was supposed to ensure her safety. But the antidote I took to counteract any potential anesthesia didn't work as expected. It was stronger than what we had anticipated for a city of this level." Her voice carried a hint of fear regarding the potential consequences.

Anom muttered to himself, recalling the gang leader's use of an energy tonic. "That Selvo guy must have provided it to the gang leader, ensuring you would remain incapacitated for good. These guys seem to be hoarding a lot of valuable resources."

As Kristin turned to inquire about his statement, Anom clarified, "It's a good thing you didn't venture into their territory. You've underestimated these scoundrels, particularly the support they have behind them. If the suspicions of all the forces in the capital are accurate, the game they're playing might be too grand for you to partake in."

Kristin then asked Anom, "What about you, Mr. Anom? Will you involve yourself in this game?"

Anom replied, "As for me, I prefer to observe these kinds of games rather than participate." Shrugging, he added, "Of course, being in close proximity to the players sometimes puts me at odds with them."

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"Very well," Anom continued. "Let me provide you with an overview of my plan. Nia, you will inform your brother about our meeting. Inform him that if possible, you will remain absent for a while longer until my plan is executed."

The girls nodded in agreement. They had ceased discussing their departure since they realized that Anom meant no harm. Moreover, they saw the potential benefits that could arise from this cooperation. It brought some solace to their minds that, even when their own families had turned them away, someone else supported their mission.

They listened attentively as Anom provided a brief explanation of his idea. Both girls were initially bewildered by his audacity. They were inclined to refuse due to the significant risks involved. However, Anom managed to subdue their concerns by assuring them that he could help them achieve success in their investigative mission.

The two women were aware that they had botched their own plans. If Anom hadn't come to their aid, they might have been forced to seek help from their families if the worst-case scenario unfolded. They were now eager to accomplish something tangible that they could present to their families and contribute to the ongoing investigation.

"That's all for now. Come with me. I'll arrange a place for you to rest," Anom said, standing up and motioning for the girls to follow him.

With Gamus's assurance regarding the succession to Rudard, the atmosphere in the Safaira Estate had become much calmer. The girls no longer needed to worry about their actions being reported to enemies by the supposed "spies" within the house.

Anom swiftly led them to Loreana's resting quarters. Providing accommodation for the two ladies was one matter, but he also wanted to inform Loreana about the plan he had just finalized.

Tring!

As Anom pressed the bell-like sign near the door of the house, a short but sharp sound resonated from inside.

"That's definitely not the sound I would want to hear while sleeping," Anom thought, evaluating the choice of the bell's ring. Soon, the door clicked open.

To his surprise, Crystal stood behind the door. Her eyes were still slightly swollen, but she appeared much better than before. Her eyebrows twitched as she saw Anom standing outside.

"What are you...? Oh. Come in," Crystal said, starting to question his presence before noticing the two figures behind him and understanding his intentions.

Anom smiled and greeted her while gently caressing her cheek. "Is your mother available?" he inquired.

Feeling his touch, Crystal smiled and nodded. Anom entered the building and made his way to the innermost room. Nia initially wanted to follow him inside but changed her mind when she saw Crystal blocking the door with a smile. "They'll be here soon."

The two ladies reluctantly acquiesced. It was not the ideal time or situation to clash.

........

Loreana was seated by her bed, clad in a loose nightgown that did little to conceal her alluring figure. She held some documents in her hands, as if pretending to read them. However, her gaze was unfocused, and she stared blankly into space.

Knock! Knock!

Startled, Loreana looked up to see Anom standing at the door.

"Ah! Anom... Come in, please," she said, standing up and adjusting her attire while gathering the scattered papers. She explained, "I was just reviewing these performance reports briefly. Tell me, what can I do for you?"

She had regained her composure and returned to her dignified self.

Anom didn't reply immediately. He gazed at her for a longer duration than what was considered appropriate before finally asking, "You did it again, didn't you? You should stop already."

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