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Russell examined the materials the Spirit Begging Society had delivered, unable to hide his satisfaction at the timing.
"This couldn't have come at a better time," he said to Kai, who stood nervously awaiting his reaction.
The first material—Gold-level [Cold-blooded Deceiver] (Red)—would fit perfectly with his plans for his next card. Unfortunately, everything else was mediocre. After that single Red-quality Gold material, the rest were 99% Silver-rank or below.
But what did I expect? Russell thought. The entire East-Haven branch barely has a handful of Gold-rank members.
"One good piece is better than nothing," Russell muttered, carefully storing the [Cold-blooded Deceiver]. He gestured at the remaining pile. "Take whatever you need from these."
Kai's eyes widened with delight. "Really, Lord Six?"
"Don't get greedy," Russell warned with a slight smirk. "These are still operating funds. But take what you need—within reason."
Even with the warning, Kai couldn't stop grinning. Getting first pick was a massive privilege, and Lord Six hadn't said he could only take one piece.
Smart move bribing that gossip in Northgate, Kai thought as he happily sorted through materials. Getting on Lord Six's good side was worth every penny.
While Kai selected materials, Russell turned his attention to the blank contracts in his hands. They were identical to the one he'd been forced to sign.
"I've been thinking like a student for too long," Russell murmured to himself. "Too cautious, too careful."
A cruel smile crossed his face as a plan crystallized in his mind—the perfect solution to the Ms. Xie problem.
"Besides," he said quietly, "if 'Lux' from the Spirit Begging Society does something questionable, what does that have to do with me, Russell?"
"Master, I've finished choosing," Kai announced, pulling Russell from his thoughts.
The middle-aged man had caught that evil smile and felt a chill run down his spine. He looks like a true villain when he smiles like that, Kai thought, then remembered—Oh wait, I AM a villain too. That's fine then.
"Keep a low profile for now," Russell instructed. "I'll contact you when needed."
"Yes, my lord," Kai bowed and vanished into the shadows.
Once Kai was gone, Russell summoned Kumoko along with the two lunch boxes from Ms. Xie.
"Here," Russell said with mock ceremony, presenting them to the spider. "The finest meal you'll ever eat in this lifetime."
The spider girl's beautified face (visible only to allies) crumpled at his sarcasm. Her shut-in memories left her no room to argue about meal quality. She could only consume both portions with theatrical tears streaming down her face.
"Waaaah..." Kumoko wailed dramatically after finishing. "It's all cold and gross! The beef is like rubber!"
She raised her tear-stained face to Russell. "As a gourmet connoisseur, Little Spider declares this love bento INFERIOR!"
Russell pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. I'll have the Shadowkhan get you snacks later."
"YAY! ヽ(▽)ノ" Kumoko's mood instantly reversed.
"But first," Russell's expression turned serious, "we're visiting a certain bad woman's house."
"Hum hum~" Kumoko hummed ominously, her eight eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Steam filled Ms. Xie's bathroom as she rinsed the last of the soap from her skin, humming contentedly to herself.
"Finally, the first step is complete," she murmured, toweling herself dry. "Now just follow the plan, nice and easy."
She slipped into silk pajamas and flicked off the bathroom light, stepping into her living room—which was oddly dark.
"Strange," she muttered. "I left the lights on..."
A calm voice cut through the darkness: "Done with your shower? Sit."
Ms. Xie froze, then immediately bolted for the door. But she found herself face-to-face with a massive white spider, its scarlet compound eyes gleaming with malevolent promise.
The message was clear: one more step meant death.
Trembling, Ms. Xie obediently sank onto the sofa.
CLICK.
The lights blazed on, making her squint. The spider had flipped the switch with one razor-sharp limb. It now made terrifying chittering sounds that she couldn't understand.
(To Russell, Kumoko was saying: "See? I told you this would scare her! Little Spider is so clever!")
Russell studied the woman before him, reviewing the information Kumoko had just shared through their mental link:
[Name: Ms. Xie]
[Title: Twisted Desire]
[Level: Silver]
[Card: ???]
"Silver-rank?" Russell said aloud. "You hid that well."
Ms. Xie's mind raced. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Sign this," Russell produced a Spirit Begging Society contract from his jacket.
Ms. Xie's pupils contracted with recognition. "You're from the Society?"
Russell's voice turned cold. "Sign it. Or die here. Your choice."
"Impossible!" Ms. Xie snarled. She knew exactly what that contract meant—eternal servitude. Though she loved collecting men as pets, becoming someone else's slave was unthinkable.
Russell stood wordlessly. At his signal, Kumoko's scythe-like foreleg, dripping with purple venom, pressed against Ms. Xie's neck.
"I'll sign!" Ms. Xie gasped.
The blade stopped millimeters from her skin. A drop of corrosive liquid splashed her shoulder, eating through flesh instantly.
"Ahh~" She gasped, tears springing to her eyes—a look calculated to melt most men's hearts.
"Save your tricks," Russell said coldly.
Kumoko made a threatening hiss that froze Ms. Xie's blood. (She was actually saying: "Ugh, so gross! Russell, don't fall for it! She's definitely evil!")
With shaking hands, Ms. Xie signed her name on the contract.
"The contract is sealed," whispered a voice from the void itself.
"Smart choice," Russell said with no warmth in his smile. "Now then, tell me everything—your origin, identity, and purpose in East-Haven."
"Of course, Lord Lux—" Ms. Xie began with a prepared lie.
But her mouth moved without her control, words spilling out mechanically:
"My name is Ms. Xie. Age: 67. Female. From the Capital."
Russell nearly choked. Sixty-seven?! She looks thirty at most!
The mechanical recitation continued: "Currently Silver-rank, unregistered with the Association. Previously did wet work for various nobles, using prop cards to hide my cardmaker aura."
That explains why I never sensed her true nature, Russell thought.
"Sent to East-Haven by the Capital's Sun family after the national tournament. Mission: seduce Vice President Russell."
The contract's compulsion had forced complete honesty. Ms. Xie covered her mouth in horror, finally understanding the contract's insidious nature.
"The Sun family, huh?" Russell stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You planned to seduce that genius with looks alone?"
"Not just looks," Ms. Xie said desperately. She summoned two prop cards, handing them over. "These are my real tools."
Russell examined them carefully:
[Soul-Catching Mirror]
Makes the user resemble people connected to fed photographs
So that's why she reminded me of Hazel and Nancy
[Thousand-Gold Meal • Jade Cauldron]
Food gains favorability-increasing properties
Maximum favorability = unconditional obedience
Current Control: Aze (67%), Luther (3%), Russell (0%)
"I see," Russell's tone turned ominous. "No wonder you were so confident. Luther's son is already two-thirds enslaved."
Ms. Xie smiled weakly. "Nothing compared to the Society's methods. Just parlor tricks really. And controlling Gold-ranks takes much longer than Silver."
Russell handed back the cards with mock curiosity. "What exactly were you planning after controlling that genius?"
Ms. Xie's answer came naturally, the contract compelling honesty: "Obviously make him my slave. Imagine—the tournament champion, reduced to a pet! And I've never controlled a Master Cardmaker's student before. Making Russell betray his teacher would be... delicious."
Her eyes gleamed with sick anticipation.
Kumoko was appalled, chittering angrily. (Translation: "Russell, she's pure evil! Let Spider eliminate her right now!")
Ignoring the bloodthirsty spider, Russell asked casually, "Any surveillance here? Recording devices?"
Ms. Xie blinked at the seemingly random question. "No... I avoid leaving evidence."
"Perfect," Russell smiled.
Ms. Xie smiled back uncertainly.
Kumoko smiled too, all eight eyes gleaming.
Then Ms. Xie stopped smiling.
The young Society member's face began... shifting. Morphing. The features rearranged themselves into something horrifyingly familiar.
Russell's true face stared back at her.
"You—!" Ms. Xie gasped.
"Shhh," Russell raised a finger to his lips. "To thank you for the lovely lunch..."
His voice turned deadly cold. "Kill yourself. Now."
(End of Chapter 215 - Revised)
300 , 500 , 1000 Each milestone will have 1 Bonus chapter.