Chapter 90. I Tend to Be Sleepless

After hearing the detailed story, Mihail instructed Andrei to leave. Alone in the room, he slowly stroked his chin as if organizing his thoughts.

“So number 47 took the last one…”

Remembering that number was commendable.

Having confirmed through Andrei that the article in the newspaper was true, Mihail let out a series of dry laughs, feeling twisted inside.

It was infuriating enough to have auction items snatched away, but the likely candidate who won the bid was Seraphina, and she had vanished without a trace afterward.

What was so important about that cornerstone?

“Why did she run away with the cornerstone?”

He couldn’t read her intentions.

Of course, number 47 might not be Seraphina. Andrei mentioned that the person had covered their face with a hat, so he couldn’t be sure.

In that case…

“I need to confirm it.”

Mihail’s lips twisted into a crooked smile. His turquoise eyes gleamed with a devilish light.

Both the cornerstone and Seraphina belonged to him.

Only by retrieving them could he feel satisfied.

He had to.

* * *

A month passed.

Seraphina, who had disappeared around the end of winter, was nowhere to be seen even as spring approached.

The newspapers were filled daily with articles about her, mostly related to Emperor Marseus’s actions.

[Purifier Seraphina, Where is She? Massive Reward for Any Sightings]

[Is Emperor Marseus’s Excessive Favoritism a Problem?]

[From Elmon’s Lockdown to a Continental Tour]

[The Elite Imperial Knight Order Deployed for a Commoner]

Initially, everyone was in an uproar over the loss of the precious purifier. Whether she had soared to the heavens or sunk into the earth, the entire empire was curious about Seraphina’s whereabouts.

But as time passed, the fervor waned.

Having searched so extensively without finding her… whispers began suggesting that she might have died unnoticed somewhere.

It was a plausible assumption.

And spreading such believable rumors was what Cyril intended to do going forward.

“How persistent.”

Having finished reading today’s newspaper, Cyril set it down irritably.

It would be nice if they gave up by now.

Emperor Marseus’s obsession showed no signs of waning.

Honestly, Cyril hadn’t expected the emperor to hold Seraphina in such high regard. Nor did he expect the entire elite knight order to be unleashed across the continent, searching like lice.

And as Johann’s actions grew more intense, Cyril’s determination also deepened.

He must never find her.

“Master.”

It was then that Jacques entered.

Pulling his gaze away from the pile of newspapers filled with articles about Seraphina, Cyril looked up at his subordinate.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

Hearing such unexpected words, Cyril furrowed his brow. He lowered his gaze diagonally as if assessing the situation before looking back at Jacques, silently asking if it was truly a guest.

Because currently, Cyril had moved from Elmon to a quiet rural village. They were essentially hiding, so there shouldn’t be any visitors.

Jacques nodded once and explained in more detail.

“They came in, stating the password and asking to meet the Guild Master.”

Cyril quietly inhaled.

If they came in with the password, it meant they knew this was the information guild’s base. Moreover, they were a guest with enough information power to track the Guild Master’s whereabouts…

After a moment of thought, Cyril gave a short command.

“Tell them I’m not here.”

He planned to send them away and investigate further.

However, Jacques, who would usually agree without a word, hesitated and suggested otherwise.

“Well… it might be best to meet them.”

“……?”

“It’s the commander of the Holy Knight Order.”

“…Commander of the Holy Knight Order?”

Why the hell is he… No, before that, how did he…

Cyril blinked several times in bewilderment.

When he disguised himself as an ambassador from the newly established kingdom in the East, he operated with his true face. Normally, he would have chosen one of his hundreds of masks to hide his face, but he hoped Seraphina would recognize him.

So even if he went to greet the guest, he couldn’t do it with this face.

Barely regaining his composure, Cyril selected one of the hundreds of masks he possessed. Skillfully donning an artificial mask, he gestured to Jacques with an up-and-down nod.

Understanding the gesture, Jacques quickly fetched a magic potion from somewhere. With the artificial mask covering his face, Cyril changed his hair and eye color and voice by drinking the potion.

Soon, Cyril’s red hair turned brown, and his black eyes became dark blue.

Jacques held his breath quietly, fascinated by the transformation.

“Lead the way.”

Cyril closed his eyes softly and then opened them, gesturing with his chin to lead the way.

During his time in Sahar, he learned a few things.

Mihail, one of the three heroes, was admired as a beautiful angel from afar but was an unparalleled lunatic up close.

He spoke gently, but when his patience ran out, his eyes would turn, and the problem was that his patience was quite short.

Even now, by Mihail’s standards, he might have waited a long time.

Worried that there might not be any flowers left in this place that was disguised as a flower shop, Cyril hurried his steps. As much as he was annoyed, he had to admit what needed admitting.

There was no way to match Mihail, who’s one of the three heroes, in strength.

Reaching the ground floor, Cyril stopped. Sunlight fell like jewels on Mihail’s platinum hair as he leisurely turned a flower in various directions.

Mihail’s head slowly turned upon noticing Cyril.

Even to another man, he looked beautifully handsome.

If only there wasn’t a demon inside him, one might want to gaze at him endlessly.

“A distinguished guest has arrived.”

Cyril greeted leisurely.

Mihail let out a light chuckle and casually tossed the flower he was holding onto the floor. He closed the distance with steps that were neither fast nor slow, fixing Cyril with a clear gaze.

“It’s you.”

What did he mean by ‘it’s you’?

Cyril was anxious, wondering if Mihail had somehow recognized him through the artificial mask with his sharp eyes. Of course, he didn’t show it outwardly.

“Please have a seat…”

“I’m not here for a long conversation.”

Mihail cut him off with a concise yet chilly tone. He implied he would leave after addressing the matter briefly, which was precisely what Cyril wanted.

Cyril nodded as if to say,’”Do as you wish.’

“What brings you all the way here on this distant errand?”

“An errand. An errand indeed…”

Mihail closed the distance threateningly by another step. An ordinary person might have flinched and stepped back, but Cyril had no intention of yielding even an inch in spirit.

Well.

If he wanted, he could close the distance by another step too.

“I was deprived of something that should have been mine.”

“……”

Was he referring to Seraphina?

Cyril sharpened his gaze, trying to see through Mihail’s intentions. However, the face of the lunatic commander of the Holy Knight Order was not easy to read.

While he wore a gentle smile, there was a madness in his eyes.

Madness directed at what, exactly?

“I heard an interesting story.”

“Please, do tell.”

“You won the bid for the cornerstone at the auction.”

“……”

Cyril exercised caution.

Could he have come all this way because of the cornerstone? Is he insane?

“Don’t think of denying it. I know everything.”

“Did you torture an auction official to find out?”

Cyril sneered, letting out a scoff. The auction was known for keeping participants’ identities strictly confidential, but it seemed trust was of little use against power.

Mihail didn’t bother denying it, answering with silence.

“What do you want?”

“Sell me the cornerstone.”

“The price will be quite high.”

“I don’t care.”

“Well.”

There was no reason to refuse, considering he was willing to pay. Cyril had no interest in any of the items at the auction to begin with.

He had merely used it as a means to launder funds for Seraphina’s escape.

If it were up to him, he would have wanted to tell her he’d provide all the money she’d need for the rest of her life, but if he approached her like that, Seraphina, who didn’t remember him, would be suspicious of such unwarranted kindness.

So he helped her in a way that suited their current relationship, within appropriate bounds.

Had he known Mihail was involved in the auction, he wouldn’t have done so.

Cyril spoke nonchalantly.

“If you’re willing to pay, there’s no reason not to sell.”

“I’m glad you’re straightforward.”

“I’m just doing it to make money.”

Was he done with his business concluded now?

Hoping Mihail would leave soon, Cyril keenly observed his expression. However, the man who claimed he wouldn’t stay long showed no signs of leaving.

Mihail glanced around the flower shop and moved slowly.

Thud, thud.

The sound of his footsteps echoed loudly in the air.

“I hope this conversation goes as quickly.”

Mihail began, roughly grabbing several flowers as if he might crush them at any moment.

“I tend to be sleepless when deprived of something I want.”

“Ah.”

Was he finally getting to the point?

Cyril’s eyes glinted dangerously. Then he twisted his lips upward as if he completely understood.

“We’re quite similar.”