I Quit Being The Male Lead’s Rival

Chapter 87. How to Use the Opponent's Trap (1)

(3rd person pov)

Carlon's displeased expression crumpled even more.

"It's too much pressure for Ian Wade and Annabelle Rainfield to both be Robert's people. I think they're already disturbing me without hesitation. I'm going to cut at least one out."

"That's a good choice."

Richard nodded at once. Ian was difficult to attack because he had no gaps, but he was confident that he could handle Annabelle easily.

"It's a great opportunity for her to be his banquet partner. I'll do my best to help you. I can't believe that I was her half-brother for 22 years."

"Yeah. That's why I called you."

Carlon knocked on the table with his knuckle and spoke as if he was satisfied.

"She's hot-tempered and impatient, very cheeky and easy-going. Originally, it was said that when hitting the enemy, you should hit the weakest branch first."

Richard rubbed his hands.

"In that sense, getting rid of Annabelle Rainfield first is a very good choice."

"As expected, I think so too."

Carlon agreed with a relaxed look.

"Oh, and… Diplomacy with the Duke of Edison was not very successful. He wasn't really interested."

"Okay."

Richard replied quickly.

"The administration will take care of it because all official documents that are posted to His Majesty will go through us."

In fact, Richard had been assisting Carlon by forging official documents.

Changing it cleverly enough not to be caught just before a problem occurred was one of Richard's specialties.

Thanks to Richard, Carlon's various incompetence and corruption were being buried one by one.

"Please leave it as it is now."

Confidently guaranteed, Richard squinted at the exotic-looking man standing next to Carlon.

"Is this person…"

"Lagian Velicis."

Lagian nodded his head.

Richard had to raise his head for a long time because of how big he was.

Everything was overwhelming, including copper-colored skin, large muscles, and a huge long sword on his back.

Seeing Richard's expression, who seemed a little tired of it, Carlon raised his chin happily and said.

"Almost all experts say that Lagian's skills are better than Annabelle's."

Lagian nodded confidently.

"I've seen Annabel Rainfield since she was 14. It won't be easy, but if I take advantage of her weaknesses, I can definitely kill her."

"But Annabelle Rainfield is a talented person who's second place in the empire."

When Richard muttered carefully, Lagian snorted and replied.

"There is a decisive difference between Annabelle Rainfield and me."

"What's that?"

"She has never killed someone. She doesn't use her sword to kill people…"

Lagian insidiously smiled.

"…So she'll end from a murderous sword." (tl/n: basically saying Annabelle will die from a person who kills people.)

"If you succeed, it's a great opportunity."

Richard quickly began briefing.

"First of all, His Majesty admires swordsmen too much. If someone from the empire loses to a foreign swordsman, he'll feel bad for now."

"Right. How motivated would he be to see the second place of the empire lose?"

Carlon swept his chin as if he was tempted just thinking about it.

Richard nodded enthusiastically and continued.

"Then, isn't it highly likely that the aftermath will go to Ian Wade?"

"I hope so. Duke Wade is still too overwhelming to deal with."

Carlon gritted his teeth and added.

"I wanted to exterminate the Rainfield family in an instant, but how did they crawl into the Wades?"

"Ah… That's a bit unfortunate."

Richard sighed and helped.

"These days, commoners have claimed their rights so much that they would vent their anger while they're tired."

The voices of commoners in the capital on their backs have continued to grow.

The boundaries that had been broken down for a long time have become more blurred in recent years.

The emperor himself could not ignore the common people's parliament.

However, Carlon and Richard were hardcore traditionalists.

So they had something in common that they were very dissatisfied with the current situation.

In the case of Duke Wade, who married a commoner, they even despised him.

Of course, for a long time, Richard had felt a twisted possessiveness toward Cessianne, but now his mentality demeaned her to be a 'woman who has been downgraded anyway'.

Richard, who looked annoyed for a moment while thinking about the commoners, continued, calling attention again.

"Also, if Annabelle Rainfield is killed by a foreign swordsman, Prince Robert, who is deeply acquainted with her, may collapse with guilt."

"Are they close?"

"That's right. I'm sure. That's what Annabelle said when we used to eat together."

Richard's words to win Carlon's trust flowed like a leading liquidator.

"At that time… She was struggling to become part of my family."

That was a fact everyone in the capital knew.

"Anyway, it's not difficult to challenge Annabelle Rainfield to a duel somehow. Don't worry. I'll create the mood on my own."

At Richard's confident words, Carlon and Lagian both laughed with great satisfaction.

Carlon spoke leisurely.

"My mother says she'll play her part, so you can really enjoy that day."

"Of course. It'll be a good example for the common people."

Richard quickly agreed and then carefully changed the subject.

"But there will also be problems after removing Annabelle Rainfield. There's actually a lot of work to be done."

"That's right. First of all, I have to deal with the things caught in Caronda…"

Carlon clicked his tongue once as if he were displeased.

"The third 'Origin of Black Magic'."

Fortunately, the money was not very urgent yet.

There was some money accumulated by the other two origins of black magic.

However, he wouldn't last long with the earnings.

"I've roughly come up with a way, so we can relax and look at the opportunity."

Carlon spoke leisurely, recalling the contents of the letter he shared with Bellinock.

"Let's think about it after we get rid of Annabelle Rainfield."

Then he added horrifyingly.

"I have to show you what happens if you go wild about commoners."

~*~

(Annabelle's pov)

It was just the day before the banquet.

While Ian suffered from training all day, an unexpected guest came to the annex of the Duke of Wade.

It was Cessianne.

"Miss Annabelle!"

Cessianne smiled broadly at me.

"I've been waiting for you. I have something to tell you!"

"Oh, have you been waiting for a long time?"

"No. Time went by quickly after talking to Aaron about this and that. Your father baked a cake for me."

Cessianne, who was born in a slum and originally thin, was now plump.

Aaron seemed to feed her very well while they were dating.

Now she seemed to be living a very peaceful daily life.

"I heard you're attending a banquet tomorrow. It's late, so I'll hurry up and tell you and go. I'm also being disciplined, so I can't stay long."

Cessianne smiled and said.

"It's about transmission of divine power…"

I nodded slowly as I listened to Cessianne's explanation.

When combined with Lanella's words, the contents fit to some extent.

By identifying two origins of black magic, we found out it was done by devoting something unknown and powerful to the devil.

And as I destroyed the origin of the black magic, the power returned to me as a blessing.

"Anyway, there are no side effects in this case. It's a relief, Annabelle."

Cessianne said with a bright smile.

But I had no choice but to pay attention to other places.

They didn't know the origin of the third black magic, so they were now trying to use their power.

The origin of this third black magic did not appear in the original.

It was not until 30 years later that it caused a full-fledged problem in the world.

It was in the hope that God would destroy the origin of this third black magic that reminded me of my previous life.

Originally, Carlon would not have been so urgent to find out the origin of the third black magic.

If I hadn't destroyed both, he would have continued the slave and human trafficking business for quite a while.

But now they have no choice but to overdo it because of my performance. The goose laying the golden egg had disappeared.

"Hold on, Saintess. Anyway, it means that you can transfer other people's power."

I spoke seriously after reaching a reasonable conclusion.

"No matter how difficult it is, no matter what side effects it has."

"That's true."

Cessianne readily agreed, and I explained what I followed up.

The fact that they tried to find out the origin of the third black magic by devoting their power but failed because they lacked it.

After hearing all my explanations, Cessianne opened her eyes wide and muttered.

"Then… Those bad guys will try to somehow transfer their divine powers and try to figure out the origin of the third black magic."

"Yes. Cessianne, do you have anyone you think would use you as a target to take away your powers by force?"

"Yes."

Cessianne answered my question with confidence.

"I'm from a poor family, so I don't have backings. I can't measure it, but I'm sure I have a lot of credibility anyway, plus, I'm a very suitable person who burns with justice."