Chapter 292: A Witch(1)

"Is it finished, Your Highness?" Alvaron asked.

Nolan gave a slight nod. "It is, Duke. Shall we head back now?"

"Yes," Alvaron replied. "But first, let’s visit my brother to say goodbye."

Nolan had no objections. Soon after, they went to Allen’s office, exchanged a few brief words, and returned to the carriage.

Allen was too busy to accompany them, but Nolan and Alvaron didn’t mind.

Inside the carriage, Alvaron studied Nolan curiously. "What’s next, Your Highness? Are we waiting for Belfor’s trial in the capital, or do you have other plans? If it’s the latter, just tell me—I promise I’ll help."

He patted his chest confidently. After everything Nolan had done, his trust in the young man had only grown stronger.

To Alvaron, showing humility before him was not a weakness—it was awareness of oneself and a way to strengthen their bond.

Nolan’s approach was always ruthless, sharp, and direct. For Alvaron, who was used to caution and calculating a thousand steps ahead, it was the complete opposite.

Yet that was precisely what drew him to the young man. Only those truly confident in the victory ahead would dare to act like Nolan.

In response, Nolan simply smiled, resting his chin on his right palm.

"Thank you for your kindness, Duke Austin. But there’s no need to worry. We just have to wait for the trial. When it begins, Belfor will be punished severely, and the victory will be officially ours," he said casually.

Alvaron took a deep breath and gave a small nod. Belfor’s downfall was no small matter. The Red Obsidian Trading House wielded immense influence—especially in the eastern region.

In many ways, they were natural rivals of the Austin family. They didn’t rule through force like his family, but through capital and wealth.

As the old saying went,

"Two tigers cannot share one mountain."

The same was true for his family and the trading house. If they had focused solely on trade, without interfering in the succession like the Blue Moon Trading House, Alvaron likely wouldn’t have minded cooperating with them.

"By the way, Your Highness, I’m curious about something," Alvaron said, straightening up. "Was what you said to Belfor true, or just a threat?"

Instead of answering directly, Nolan asked, "What do you think, Duke Austin? You know my father better than anyone—even better than I do. Surely you know the answer."

Alvaron fell silent. Nolan was right—he did know Ragan well.

In his eyes, the Emperor was decisive and brave, yet ruthless and calculating. Otherwise, how could he have ascended to the throne?

Of course, Alvaron wasn’t alive during Ragan’s battles for succession, but his father had told him countless stories of how remarkable the man had been.

From a prince no one had expected to succeed, Ragan had risen to become a dark horse, eliminating all his rivals in a landslide.

Ever since his ascension to Eastern Duke, Alvaron had come to know Ragan well and understood that he was not a man to be provoked. Anyone who dared would only meet misery and ruin.

Seeing him lost in thought, Nolan had nothing more to add. He closed his eyes and chose to rest for a while.

...

Five days later...

About thirty kilometers from the capital lay a small village of no more than two hundred people.

The village thrived thanks to its location in a dense forest. Children ran about joyfully, while the adults went about their daily tasks—collecting firewood, hunting, and more.

Despite their limitations, their lives were simple and content. At that moment, roughly seven hundred meters from the village, a man walked leisurely, observing the forest with quiet curiosity.

He wore plain clothes like any villager. His hair was white, and his eyes shone purple like sapphires.

There should be no mistake about the location,

he muttered, nodding slightly.

That man was Nolan. To resolve the issue of purchasing the Red Obsidian Trading House, he needed to find Clarie Horven, who, according to his intelligence, was hiding in a remote village nearby.

"Why don’t you just send me or Arnold? Wouldn’t that be easier?"

Malverna appeared beside him, looking surprised. Normally, Nolan would have sent her or Arnold to handle this kind of matter.

To Malverna, that was perfectly natural. After all, Nolan was her master—ahem, that is, her temporary boss!

"It’s fine. I’m doing this because I want to," Nolan said casually. "I once overheard Melinda and Zarak talking about Claire. Melinda said Claire was actually quite talented—even surpassing her in some areas. Unfortunately, she’s disabled, and Belfor has no use for her. I just wanted to see for myself if what Melinda said was true. If it is, I’ll give her a chance to rise."

A faint smile played on Nolan’s lips. Just like Belfor, he was a capitalist—but that was where the similarity ended. In many ways, their views on people and problems were completely different.

If Belfor discarded those he deemed untalented, Nolan wouldn’t. He believed that every human being born into this world had something to offer—whether a sharp mind, a silver tongue, or another unique skill.

He thought that if those strengths were nurtured, anyone could succeed. Claire was Belfor’s daughter, and her talents should not be much different from her father’s.

That was why Nolan was willing to take a risk and see for himself what Claire was truly capable of.

Malverna found herself increasingly impressed by Nolan’s way of thinking.

To be honest, she had hated being his slave at first. As a proud Demon Empress, accepting that had been difficult.

However, over time, she realized that being Nolan’s slave wasn’t as bad as she had imagined. The way he made decisions and controlled situations constantly opened her eyes.

For Malverna, it was something new, and she never grew tired of observing it.

The two continued walking until they spotted wooden houses in the distance. Adults laughed together while children played chase.

Nolan knew they had arrived and quickened his pace.

"Excuse me," he greeted politely, surprising the villagers.

"Sorry to bother you. My name is Arthur, and I come from the Imperial Capital," Nolan continued, studying their expressions carefully. "I’m looking for a blind woman named Claire Horven. Could you show me where she is?"

One of the villagers suddenly frowned, eyeing him with suspicion.

"What is your relationship with that witch?"