I disconnected from [Overlord''s Eyes], and it didn''t take more than a few minutes for my ownmunication artifact to start ringing. Only three people could call me, those being Raika, Vex, or Orianna. The Vesper Consortium was also making their move.


    A giant grin shed across my face. Even I didn''t dare hope things would move this fast; ric Winterwood kicked the bucket with impable timing. I had to tip my hat to him.


    "Devil Speaking."


    I picked up themunication artifact after gesturing for both Blossom and Lyra to remain quiet.


    "Orianna. The Winterwood count had passed away; a conflict might ur due to the session not being set in stone. I need you to make your way over to Shadowhold, where Ambrosia will update you on all you need to know."


    "Understood. How much time do I have to prepare?"


    "The meetings are getting scheduled by the different factions of Braedon as we speak, Griffith Winterwood will also be present. You''re to join the Divine Nectar faction and assist in whatever they require. Thus, the answer to your question is, as soon as possible."


    "I''ll depart immediately then."


    "Good."


    Themunication line was terminated by Orianna.


    Now, you might be wondering why I framed the Consortium using the twins.


    The answer is simple: people like me don''t thrive in peace. Getting rich by setting up businesses is good, but my first priority is growth - both in strength and power. Unless I be a soldier and get sent to the frontlines, reaping souls bes a significant challenge, as the souls of monsters don''t count.


    Bing a good little soldier boy who does the bidding of their masters was an option that never even crossed my mind; thus my hand was forced. Either stagnate due to the rtive peace within the humannds or make a battlefield of my own choosing where I can flourish.


    The Consortium has never been my ally. Our rtionship exists solely on the foundation of mutual benefit - they scratch my back, and I scratch theirs.


    With rumors of the ''Devil, the Elemental Sovereign'' already spreading, many new opportunities have opened up for me. I don''t believe the Consortium to be so weak that a war with a duke couldpletely wipe them out, but even if it does, I now have other paths to pursue.


    I''ll use the conflict to reap immense benefits and evaluate my next move when the dust settles.


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    Despite telling Orianna that I''d depart immediately, I had time, as I would just teleport nearby once ready; arriving within a minute of the call''s end would be strange.@@novelbin@@


    I began by checking on the Ascendants. They had all recovered from their injuries, and seeing their good health, I decided it was time to send them back. Their sudden absence from their duties, which was caused by them responding to my call, could lead toplications we''d all rather avoid.


    After that, I strolled toward Kaelira and her smithy. It was not fullypleted as of yet, but I was happy to see that her Heralds were all busy helping her with the finishing touches. I bought her all the essentials during our trip to the capital city, where she instructed me on what to do while parading around as my sex ve, so she could get started soon.


    "Is everything alright?" I asked, getting a scared jump from her Heralds. I may or may not have used [Stealth] to give them a little surprise.


    "Lord Quin!" Kaelira quickly rushed up to me. She knew I didn''t want her to bow, so she refrained from doing so.


    "I believe I can begin crafting in earnest as soon as tomorrow morning!" She dered excitedly.


    "That''s great. Let me know if you need anything. We didn''t spend too much on our little trip; I have spare funds." I had about 500 gold to my name because I only ended up buying the old maid risse, who already diligently began drafting a thorough maid-training course for my eager but untrained servants, and I also got the four strange elixirs. Speaking of which, my next stop was Aurora.


    I quickly said goodbye to my sexy, athletic elf and her team, after which I departed in the direction where Aurora''s impromptub was set up. She was not only my extremely useful buffer during battles but also my talented alchemist. I left the elixirs in her care for the night, hoping she could analyze them and give me a better understanding of just what I was dealing with.


    I stepped in and saw that she was so absorbed in her work she hadn''t noticed me, allowing me to observe herb and the work she does in it.


    Shelves lined with vials of different liquids, rare herbs, and powders surrounded a central workbench that was cluttered with tools such as vials, mortars, and a cauldron.


    Aurora herself stood over her workbench with her brows furrowed. Her delicate hands moved swiftly, measuring, pouring, and scribbling notes in her journal.


    The four elixirs sat on her workbench, and each one shined with its own unique colors: deep sapphire for water, earthy brown for earth, vibrant crimson for fire, and nearly transparent green for wind. At least so I assumed; I couldn''t say with absolute certainty that these vials were representing the four basic elements.


    Their otherworldly nature remained strong and evident as ever. It seemed as if the contents of the elixirs were alive, asserting their power across the room.


    Aurora had been trying to glean some - any - information from these curiosities for hours, utilizing every technique and tool at her disposal. If she''d found something, I would''ve been alerted already, so I decided to observe how a master is at their craft.


    She poured a drop of the water elixir into a clear solution meant to reveal magical properties. Instead of reacting as expected, the drop seemed to resist blending, remaining perfectly intact, floating in defiance of thews of chemistry.


    Next, Aurora tried the fire elixir. She carefully ced a single drop onto a magically enchanted b meant to measure heat intensity. The block flickered rather weakly, marking the elixir''s temperature asckluster. Then, as if insulted by the result, the elixir''s energy surged, causing the b to immediately crack apart with a loud snap. Aurora barely managed to leap back in time, after which the fiery energy slowly dissipated.


    With the earth elixir, she tried using an enchanted mortar and pestle designed to reveal mineralpositions. But the moment the elixir touched the pestle, the tool vibrated uncontrobly before simply crumbling to dust. The brown liquid remained perfectly still, as though mocking her efforts.


    The wind elixir was even stranger. She attempted to contain the energy of a single drop within a crystalline vial, but the greenish substance began to swirl violently, creating a miniature storm within the confines of the container. The vial shattered within a few moments, and Aurora had to shield herself as the gust of wind outright attacked her, as if furious she dared to attempt understanding it.


    "Just what are you?" she muttered while staring at the elixirs.


    I decided I''d seen enough and spoke up: "It''s as though the elixirs themselves refuse to be understood, resisting every attempt of yours to unravel their secrets."