172 Please help Me! Part 2 (1/2)

”Flattery will get you everywhere.”

Konrad shamelessly replied, rendering Nils speechless. Aware that engaging this fiend in a battle of words could only result in her miserable defeat, she lowered her accusatory index while maintaining her ”safe distance.”

But as she eyed him like a wary lamb before its predator, the meaning of ”others will” dawned on her. Nils' brows wrinkled while her frowning eyes asked for elaboration.

Konrad answered the silent inquiry with that dissolute smile of his, forcing Nils to speak the words on her lips.

”Who are…the others?”

Although Nils already knew about Iliana, she didn't expect Konrad to be surrounded by many others. However, when she recalled he posed as a eunuch within the palace, dreadful thoughts flashed within her mind.

”As far as -paragon spirit baby production- is concerned, you only have the empress as your competitor. But for -baby production overall…-

Your competitors are in the three digits.”

Konrad explained with a false sigh of helplessness.

Nils' eyes widened in stupor.

”You…you're bedding the empress?”

Konrad nodded, pleased that Nils always grabbed the core issue.

Nils couldn't comprehend what method Konrad used to bed the stately woman wearing the empress' crown. And the image of Verena doing the dirty with him caused a new wave of red to spread on her cheeks.

This time, however, she didn't let shame suppress her, rushing toward Konrad to tug on his robe, eyes flaring with indignation.

”While I mourned your death with warm tears, you were actually touring the gardens of the imperial palace? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?!

How can you be so mean?!”

However, as she spoke, Nils realized she made two mistakes. First, such words could never work on the fiend before her. Second, she'd stepped into his range, and could no longer escape.

Konrad seized her by the waist, pulling her chest against his.

”Too bad this is just your soul world.”

But as Konrad's lips edged closer toward Nils', he stopped, and his eyes contorted into a frown.

”He came earlier than I expected…”

Konrad raised his right hand, and the two vanished from Nils' soul world.

…

Back in his chambers, Adelar had been patiently awaiting his goons' triumphant return. According to his calculations, even with the two Semi-Saints protecting him, Konrad couldn't endure ten minutes. However, time proved him wrong.

Half an hour after they set out, there was still no news.

”How could this be? Did I miscalculate anything?”

Having gathered exhaustive information on Konrad's staff, Adelar couldn't understand where his negligence lied.

He frowned, then cast out his soul to spy on Konrad's mansion. What he didn't see baffled him.

There was no sight of the formidable team he'd dispatched, the scent of blood, smoke, and the unconscious eunuchs being the sole remainders of the clash that had occurred.

Before the mansion's entrance, Konrad stood, holding Nils within his arms. Stumped, Adelar swept the mansion from his soul's eyes, hoping to find some hidden expert. But besides those two, he couldn't find anyone worth mentioning.

”This morning Nils was still mourning that Anselm boy. Tonight, she's allowing that eunuch to embrace her? Not right.”

In a flash, Adelar analyzed the possibilities and came to one disturbing conclusion.

”Could it be…only one way to find out.”

Adelar's cold eyes flashed with determination. His soul then turned into a grey fog and dived into Konrad's mind.

Inside, a purple world awaited. Feeling the robustness and suppression force within this soul, Adelar frowned, but before he could start his analysis, a booming voice echoed from all sides.

”Daring to step into my soul. Bold. In your stead, I'd be too horrified of what I'd find within.

A pity this boldness will cost you dearly.”

Konrad's figure appeared before Grey Fog Adelar. Knowing that hiding held no use, Adelar dispersed the disguise, revealing his true self.

”I didn't expect that it would turn out to be you.”

”I didn't expect that you would be so petty. Tss, tss, tss. Is a little eunuch worth this much trouble? Worth using leading members of the imperial guard as common thugs?

Adelar, Adelar, you really think highly of me.”

When Adelar attempted to exert his dominance over this soul world, his frown deepened.

The realization that he'd fallen into a trap dawned too late.

Dressed in his imperial duke robe, Konrad faced Adelar with his hands on either side of his hips, and his face clouded by purple fog.

”On the contrary, it seems I didn't take you seriously. Never did I expect that my secret adversary would turn out to be you. I also didn't expect the dead Anselm Kracht to be the mastermind behind all these events.

Or rather, the outstanding Anselm was fake to begin with, and the real one died to cover your tracks.