Chapter 328: To sup with the devil (Part 2)

  "I told him long ago not to go." After hearing Aimee's story, Aunt El frowned and snorted.

  "Granny, I know you're no ordinary person, and I know you must be very worried about Brother Ethan. You... can you tell me if there's any way to save him now?"

  "I don't know of any other way... I'm just a retired old woman... but..." Aunt El looked at Aimee and shook her head gently. Her gaze, though clear as water, was bottomless; it could reflect anything with perfect clarity, yet nothing could touch its depths. "From your expression and tone, I can see that although you are grieving, you don't seem to have the panic of someone with nowhere to turn. You seem to have a plan?"

  "I do have a way, but I don't know if it's a good one. Right now, it's the only thing I can do... I... I... I made a deal with two very bad people. I'll help them get something, and they'll help me save Brother Ethan... I know these two are extremely dangerous, they're not good people at all. Maybe I'm skinning a tiger... but I can't just wait for them to kill Brother Ethan..."

  Aimee did not know what kind of person this Aunt El really was. Neither Ethan nor Talise had told her the old woman's true identity; she only vaguely knew that this granny was not simple.

  But no matter how not-simple she was, she was, after all, just a retired old woman. It was truly impossible for her to do something that even two Cardinals who were also Necromancers could not do. So Aimee had only come here to tell her about Ethan's capture with a "just try my luck" mentality.

  "Granny, if you know of any other friends of Brother Ethan's, please go and inform them... Although this matter is very difficult, having one more person means at least a little more hope..."

  Aunt El shook her head and said coldly, "I don't know any of his friends. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell them. The Radiant Citadel is heavily guarded. Who could sneak in and rescue a person under such strict guard? Even if they went, it would just be a futile sacrifice to death."

  "Most importantly, I told him long ago not to go. He brought this on himself. Everyone must pay the price for their own actions." Aunt El looked at Aimee coldly. "And I suggest you don't go either. You should know that you're making an enemy of the entire The Radiant Citadel. Are you a match for Magnus and Lancelot? And your so-called allies can't really be called allies. You know too much; they will never let you go. There's only a one percent chance they're willing to help you, and even if they are, they only have a one percent chance of saving that kid."

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  "Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I will put in ten thousand times the effort." Aimee's voice was soft, but as firm as a mountain.

  "If that kid knew you were doing such a foolish thing, he would never approve."

  Aimee did not speak, but there was no wavering in her eyes or expression.

  "I've already said my piece. If you want to do it, then go do it." Aunt El turned away, no longer looking at Aimee.

  "I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Granny." Aimee bowed to Aunt El's back, then walked out of the small house.

  Listening to Aimee's footsteps fade away, Aunt El sighed a long sigh alone in the room. She sat at the table, staring blankly into space.

  After who knows how long, she stood up, dragged a box out from under the bed, and opened it. Inside was a set of black clothes, a strangely shaped dagger, a golden skull mask, and some other peculiar props. She looked at these things, a bitter smile seeming to appear on her face.

  Just as she reached her hand toward the items in the box, all expression suddenly vanished from her face. Her originally clear and deep eyes instantly turned into two needles. She said coldly, "The fellow outside, if you don't want to die, don't move. There are more than ten magical traps around here. If I just move my little finger, I can kill you at least twenty times."

  "Please rest assured, respected Agrael, I mean no harm. I am here because I have important business with you." From outside the house came a very pleasant male voice.

  "To get this close before I detected you, your skills are quite good. It's been a while since I've smelled the aura of Necromancy on someone from the Guild, but I've never seen you. You must be one of the young ones who joined in the last twenty years." Aunt El stood at the door, looking coldly at the middle-aged man in the distance. "What's your name?"

  "My name is not worth mentioning. You may call me Inham." The middle-aged man said with a smile and a bow. Although he was dressed in very plain clothes, his bearing and demeanor in every gesture far surpassed any aristocrat or gentleman dressed in finery.

  "So it's you?" Aunt El was taken aback.

  "You know of me?" The man was a little surprised.

  "I've heard of you. A young one who's been stirring up trouble. You have the guts to come to my place? For any single one of the things you've done, I have enough reason to kill you."

  Aunt El's eyes scanned over Bishop Inham. "But since you dared to come here, I believe you must have a reason that will stop me from killing you. How did you know I was here?"

  "A very useful person told me. Respected Agrael, I originally came here to tell you that the young man you've been caring for, along with the hilt of The Black Star, has fallen into His Majesty Magnus's hands. But that little girl came to see you just a while ago, so I suppose you already know the specifics."

  "So the bad person that little girl was talking about was you? It seems her judgment isn't bad; she can see your true colors. So what are you still doing here?"

  "Of course, I'm here to offer you a plan." Inham smiled with great charm. "I know you must also have a headache trying to figure out how to save that kid."

  "Save him? Why should I save him? I'm not stupid enough to storm The Radiant Citadel, especially since that fellow Magnus has already obtained the Ring of Kings. The entire The Radiant Citadel is now connected to his own consciousness. Whoever goes is just courting death." Aunt El's gaze on Bishop Inham grew colder and sharper, and so did her voice. "Maybe you don't know, but the thing I hate most in my life is being threatened and used. You are courting death."

  "I hope you will still hear me out. It won't be too late to draw a conclusion after you've listened." The smile on Inham's face remained, as charming as ever.

  "Oh? Are you that confident in your eloquence? Perhaps I'll be interested in adding a tongue to my collection..."

  "It's not that I'm confident in my own eloquence, but rather that I have faith in your judgment."

  "Interesting. Let's hear it." Aunt El leaned against the doorframe.

  Inham gave a wry smile: "But before that, could you invite me in? This place is secluded, but for someone to see me talking to you from such a distance outside your house... it would look rather strange."

  Aunt El thought for a moment, then turned and went inside. "Get in here."