Chapter 9 What are you plotting, bro_1

Claus thought he was keeping an eye on Annan, keeping this currently uncontrollable element under his watchful gaze.

But Annan was also keeping an eye on Claus.

Their peaceful coexistence was not because Annan had become strong to the point that Claus did not want to make an enemy of him, nor because Claus bore any goodwill towards him.

It was simply because, Claus mistakenly believed that Annan had stolen his ritual "Tongue in the Mirror" and had acquired temporary abilities to reflect damage.

He dared not make an enemy of Annan in this state.

Although he also knew how to break the ritual, at least for now, he dared not enter that room in Annan's presence.

After all, destroying a ritual took time. And when Annan first saw him, his initial reaction was to make him retreat... It was possible that if Annan got overly nervous and saw him trying to open the door, he might just thrust his sword through without hesitation.

And Claus dared not retaliate, otherwise, if Annan closed his mouth and spread his arms, it would be akin to Claus slashing at his own body without reservation.

Annan could strike him, but he could not strike Annan.

This was not very fair.

So, Claus thought it over and decided to let it go.

It is important to follow one's heart.

At least, while Annan was watching him, he had abandoned all thoughts of entering the room to destroy the ritual.

But once they parted ways, Claus would definitely go to the room where the ritual was being held and try to destroy it—Claus believed that Annan surely knew this as well.

In fact, the moment Claus opened the door to that room, he would immediately realize he had been played.

Annan had not actually stolen the ritual, nor had he acquired the temporary ability to reflect attacks.

Previously, he was just bluffing and putting on a show of strength.

It was like when the hero, at a disadvantage on his lane, suddenly charges in with an unexpected movement skill and starts aggressively exchanging blows; Claus's first reaction wasn't to counterattack immediately, but to wonder, "Is their jungle here?"

So he made a decisive move—not even fighting back, but turning to use his flash without hesitation to escape.

Of course, this couldn't be kept secret for long.

But whether Annan had stolen the ritual or destroyed it, he would not want Claus to act separately from him. Knowing that Annan had this requirement and that Annan was a smart man, Claus didn't even attempt the slightest probe and directly suggested, "How about we go up together?"

This was the signal of goodwill the Captain of the Guard was sending to Annan.

After all, his primary mission was not to kill "Guard John" but to eliminate the old wizard Benjamin and Tan Juan.

John was not supposed to become his enemy—of course, if he got in the way and it was convenient, killing him was also not a problem.

After all, apart from the talent favored by the Third Prince, no one on this ship was expected to survive. It was just a matter of who would die first and who would die later.

But even if it was an act put on by the Captain of the Guard, it was indeed a signal of goodwill. At the very least, it conveyed to Annan, "I have no intention of being your enemy for the time being."

And Annan indeed saw that.

He even saw more.

—It seemed that in Claus's view, Annan's only way out was to make great contributions in the upcoming actions, gaining favor from the Third Prince and thus becoming an enforcer of the same level as him.

In that case, Claus would naturally transform the "goodwill" he had previously acted out into reality.

Otherwise, if Claus could kill Annan with just one word, he would naturally seek revenge against the man who had pierced his tongue with a Curse Binding, causing him to endure pain as if a dagger had penetrated his tongue.

...All of these subtle thoughts of the Captain of the Guard were not lost on Annan.

The corners of Annan's mouth lifted slightly, "Hmph..."

"How are we going to proceed later?"

Stopping in front of the staircase leading up to the deck, Annan asked softly, "You're not going to say, 'Just watch my cues and act accordingly,' right?"

"Of course not," Claus, walking ahead, shook his head and turned back to explain in detail, "I've made all the arrangements—not just for you, everyone is unaware of the plan's specifics. This is to prevent any leaks.

"The banquet should have started by now. What you need to do is just to stay with Tan Juan, chat with him and distract his attention. Or, you could find an excuse, any excuse, to take him away... After all, Tan Juan is also aware of the old wizard's secret, and he might sense something is off."

Claus instructed carefully, "Don't ever make eye contact with the old wizard, got it? The Young Master doesn't know which school he's from, whether he has 'Soul Reaping,' 'Decree,' or 'Prophet' spells. But he's gotten to such an old age, he surely didn't get there for nothing...

"Just to be safe, don't make eye contact with him, and it's best not to interact with him at all. But keep your expressions natural—if you really can't manage that, then don't go up there."

You can bluff, but don't drag your feet.

But whether you bluff or drag your feet... you bear the consequences yourself.

Claus had almost poked the ill intention right in Annan's face.

But there was no sign of anger or resentment on Annan's face.

He just showed a simple and honest smile, "No problem, I'm very good at acting."

Upon hearing this, the Captain of the Guards, Klaus, recalled "John's" previous appearance and couldn't help but nod in agreement.

There indeed was no problem with "John's" performance.

The person he had impersonated was still oblivious to having been played...

Captain Klaus issued a few more instructions before taking Annan up to the deck.

As they ascended, his expression gradually became serious, suppressing the nervousness and excitement within him with great effort.

Meanwhile, a trace of barely visible panic, alongside his honest appearance, emerged on Annan's face. Fine beads of sweat began to seep out, his lips gradually turned pale, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

At the very least, in terms of their current appearance for the scene, Annan's acting had already greatly surpassed the Captain's.

The banquet had already started, and even the guards were huddling in a corner on the deck, whispering amongst themselves, and eating what was considered an opulent dinner on board the ship.

The old Wizard, leisurely enjoying dinner and wine while chatting with Tan Juan in the captain's cabin, furrowed his brow slightly upon seeing the two approaching from a distance.

His gaze brushed past Annan then settled on Klaus.

The Wizard's eyes transformed from puzzlement to suspicion.

"That, Klau..."

"Young Master!"

In the instant the Wizard opened his mouth, Annan suddenly interrupted him, "You asked me to come find you—"

"What's the matter, John?"

Tan Juan immediately asked with some tension, "What happened?"

The arrangement he had with Annan was, "If something goes wrong, come find me immediately."

Naturally, Tan Juan trusted that "John" wouldn't abandon his post without good reason, so when he saw "John" leaving his room and appearing before him, his heart skipped a beat.

"I, I..."

Annan, somewhat flustered, turned pale. Large beads of sweat bled through his face, as if desperately uncertain about what to do next—

"Stop stumbling over your words. Speak up!"

Klaus's characteristically brusque voice rang out, "Repeat what you just said to me to the Young Master!"

But Klaus could never have guessed.

Just as his words were spoken, Tan Juan's eyebrows suddenly knitted together subtly, as he almost grasped something.

Because Tan Juan and John had agreed earlier that if there were any problems, John should come directly to him and speak to no one else—

Right after Klaus's words fell, a well-dressed old gentleman came over and placed a bucket of grape wine he was carrying onto the table of the old Wizard and Tan Juan.

From his attire, he was clearly Tan Juan's steward.

The experienced steward skillfully opened the lid of the wine barrel and dipped the wine ladle inside.

However,

At that very moment.

Annan suddenly looked up, sprinting wildly behind Benjamin while shouting loudly at Tan Juan:

"Quick, overturn the wine barrel!

"He's going to kill Lord Benjamin!"

Tan Juan, already sensing trouble, instantly understood everything when he heard Annan's words.

He immediately reached out and knocked the wine barrel off the table and onto the floor.

The crimson wine spilt like blood across the floor, and the steward's facial expression changed drastically as he stumbled and fell!

As for Captain Klaus, his mind went blank:

How did John figure out my plan?

No, he even knows what Benjamin's Curse Binding is?

No no no, that's not right either...

Klaus couldn't comprehend why John, the smart man, would choose the most foolish, least beneficial path which offended the most people and was certain to lead to death—

What gave him the audacity to do so?

—What on earth was he aiming for?!