Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-2188

After familiarizing himself with the layout and security measures of the Croft estate, Emery navigated the premises with newfound confidence. His spirit reading ability allowed him to move with ease, his presence masked to avoid detection. Even if someone did sense him, few within the estate could pose a real threat to him. With the power of Khaos at his disposal, Emery could escape any confrontation if necessary. However, he preferred to avoid such trouble, prioritizing stealth and acquisition of information.

He meticulously avoided areas where the Croft grand magus resided. His target was the chamber where the meeting was being held. As he approached, Emery sensed the formidable presence of a grand magus nearby. He expertly masked his spirit signature to evade detection, rendering himself invisible to even the most vigilant of guards.

Phasing seamlessly through space, Emery positioned himself just outside the targeted chamber. The walls were thick, designed to prevent eavesdropping, but Emery's heightened abilities allowed him to perceive the conversations within. Every word spoken inside the chamber could potentially unravel the Croft family's hidden agendas, and Emery was determined to catch every detail.

Emery's senses sharpened as he tuned into the conversation unfolding within the meeting hall. He recognized the voices of Vinser Croft, the young master of the Croft family, and the Nephilim emissary, who had previously attempted to take Terra City by force.

"Huh… to think they have such a beast guarding the place!" The emissary's voice carried a tone of irritation mixed with surprise.

"Yes, I am surprised myself," Vinser responded, "They must have gained significant profits to hire such a beastmaster. Unfortunately, they would have strengthened their defenses and guarded their portal by now. ... also without proper reason, the alliance could not permit you to send warships into their zone."

"Dammit!" The Nephilim emissary's voice rose in anger. "I can't go back to my Lady with a failure. No! You must assist me!"

Vinser's response was measured, exuding a calm confidence. "Yes, of course, I can help you, but as I advised before, please be patient. As soon as the council finalizes your claim, we can officially help you evict them."

"How long would that be!?" The desperation in the emissary's voice was palpable.

Vinser paused briefly before replying, "Wait… let me introduce you to someone first."

Moments later, another person entered the room—a beautiful female magus whom Emery immediately recognized: Victoria Qin.

"This is…?" The Nephilim emissary's voice trailed off, curiosity piqued.

With a graceful and polite gesture, Victoria introduced herself, explaining the prominent Qin family she represented and her alignment with the Croft family's interests.

"Ahh, no wonder you Croft are so daring these days… with the Qin family on your side, you Croft are like a tiger with wings! Hahaha," the emissary laughed, a mixture of awe and respect evident in his tone.

However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically as Victoria's demeanor turned authoritative. She exuded an overbearing presence as she spoke, "Mister emissary, I have reviewed the documents and unfortunately, I found several pieces of contradicting evidence to your claims in our city hall. Given Terra Lord's contributions and popularity, I am afraid you will not succeed."

"What!!?" The emissary's voice was a mix of shock and indignation. "Our lady has spent a considerable sum to purchase the rights to that land; she will not accept such a decision!"

Still calm, Victoria added, "Forgive me for saying this, but you were reckless to purchase a disputed piece of land. I can show you the details, but I assure you, none will be to your liking."

"Urgh... You wait until my lady hears this!" The emissary's frustration was evident.

Victoria, maintaining her composed demeanor, replied, "Wait, mister emissary... It was not our intention to trouble you or your Lady, otherwise I would not have personally come here to meet you."

"Ohh... you want something... tell me," "It's just that, conveniently, Golden City will be having our council election next month. All we ask for is Lady Ishtar's support," Victoria said, her smile widening. "After we dominate the council seats, we could easily make sure some documents ....disappear..."

Hearing these words made Emery want to step out from the shadows and give them all a lesson, but he calmed himself down. The emissary, still unsure, asked, "What kind of support?"

"Golden City will be hosting a grand reception next week," Victoria explained smoothly. "We hope your lady will come and give a few simple words of support. That is all."

"Alright, I will speak of this matter," the emissary agreed reluctantly.

"Please do convey that we would love to see Lady Ishtar in her dashing beauty at our grand reception," Victoria added, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

After the emissary left the building, Emery decided to stay hidden and observe further. He contemplated kidnapping one of the two nobles, but he knew that, unlike the magus guards, these young masters would likely possess life-protection artifacts that could thwart his attack. For now, it was best to remain in the shadows and ensure that they were unaware he had overheard their plans.

"This is a great opportunity for us, Vinser. With the Nephilim backing us, none would fear that old founder anymore. After this election, we could greatly drain all of Karat's influence from the city. Then, as I promised, our two families could rule together," Victoria said, her voice filled with ambition.

Realizing the two were starting to turn intimate, Emery decided it was time to leave. He carefully made his way out of the estate, his mind racing with the information he had just uncovered.

What he needed to do next was to find out about these documents Victoria mentioned. Tessa Karat would be a great help to him on this matter. Her knowledge and influence could provide the insights needed to counter their schemes. Emery's next priority was to see Tessa hoping nothing bad happened behind her disappearance.

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