Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 211: Mutual

Warlock Ch 211. Mutual

Damian nodded. "Yes, but we also gain an ally with resources and information we need. It's not just her using us; there's mutual benefit."

The trio stood in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts. Finally, Cassius broke the silence. "And you believe her? You trust her enough to bring us into this?"

Damian's gaze returned to the palace, his eyes hardening slightly. "I believe her story. And yes, I think we can work with her, not just for her sake but for our own. We need to stay ahead of the game, and having Victoria on our side is a strategic advantage."

Evelyn nodded slowly, her mind already racing through potential scenarios and strategies. "If we're doing this, we need to set some ground rules with her. Clear boundaries. And we need a solid exit strategy if things go wrong."

"Agreed," Cassius said, his tone firm. "We'll help her with Varak, but on our terms."

Damian looked back at his companions. "Let's go back inside. We have a lot to discuss, and I'd rather not have another eavesdropping session broadcast to the entire palace."

With a collective nod, they headed back inside, their steps echoing softly in the quiet of the expansive palace corridors. They were in light discussion, when a sudden interruption broke their focus.

Around the corner, with the commanding presence that only a vampire of high stature could possess, came a figure Damian recognized from his earlier visit near Victoria's office. The vampire's sharp gaze swept over Cassius and Evelyn with a discerning eye but, just as before, completely disregarded Damian as if he were merely part of the scenery.

The vampire stopped in front of them, his posture rigid, radiating a mix of aristocracy and inherent superiority. "You must be the great warlock Cassius. I am Seraphis," he introduced himself, his voice carrying an undercurrent of arrogance that seemed to permeate the air around him.

Cassius nodded politely. "A pleasure to meet you," he responded, his tone neutral but respectful enough to not incite further arrogance from the vampire duke.

Seraphis's eyes lingered on Cassius, perhaps recognizing the famous warlock's reputation which did afford some level of mutual respect, albeit grudgingly. Evelyn stood silently, her expression unreadable, observing the exchange with a calculating eye.

After a brief acknowledgment of Cassius, Seraphis's attention turned dismissively from Evelyn and fixed once more on Cassius. "I heard you are involved in today's mission," he said, his voice still holding that irritatingly superior tone. "I am leading the mission, and I must confess I do not appreciate interferences from external parties, no matter their reputed capabilities."

Cassius's jaw tightened slightly, a sign of his irritation, but his voice remained calm. "We're not here to interfere, Seraphis. We're here to collaborate. Our goals align with yours, after all."

Seraphis scoffed lightly, his disdain barely concealed. "Collaboration implies equality. You would do well to remember your place in this arrangement."

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Before Cassius could respond, Seraphis's cold gaze slid to Damian, sizing him up with a dismissive glance that seemed to size him up and dismiss him all in one go. "And you," he said, his lip curling slightly. "I don't like you. You're just an apprentice, far out of your depth. You'd be wise to stay away from the queen. You don't deserve her."

The words stung more than Damian expected, his fists clenching at his sides. The insinuation that he was unworthy, combined with the overt disrespect, sparked a fire within him. Yet, he knew that lashing out wouldn't help their cause.

Instead, Damian met Seraphis's gaze, his voice steady but icy. "My worth is not for you to determine, sir."

Seraphis's eyebrows rose, surprised by Damian's audacity to retort. "Is that so?" he sneered. "You overestimate your importance, boy."

Cassius stepped slightly in front of Damian, a subtle move to de-escalate the brewing conflict. "We all serve the queen's interests," Cassius said diplomatically. "It would serve us all to focus on the threat at hand rather than on internal squabbles."

Seraphis considered this for a moment, his gaze shifting between Cassius and Damian. Finally, he nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Very well," he conceded. "But remember, I will be watching you closely. Any sign of treachery, and you will answer to me."

With that, Seraphis turned and walked away. The trio watched him go, the tension slowly ebbing from the air as his footsteps faded into the distance.

Once he was gone, Evelyn let out a low whistle. "Charming fellow," she remarked dryly.

Cassius shook his head, his eyes still on the corner Seraphis had disappeared around. "We need to be careful," he said seriously. "He's not going to make this easy for us."

Damian nodded, the duke's words still echoing in his mind. "He sees me as a threat," he mused aloud. "Perhaps because I am closer to Victoria than he is. Or maybe because I just…" A smirk appeared on his face as he repeatedly gestured with his index finger going through the 'O' made by his other hand. "---Her."

"It's more than that," Evelyn added, her analytical mind piecing together the nuances of vampire politics. "He sees you as an anomaly he can't control. And in the world of vampires, control is everything."

Damian's smirk widened, a hint of irony coloring his tone. "Should I be happy with that?"

"Yup," Cassius replied with a slight grin, signaling the shift back to business. "Now let's go. We just have a few hours before dusk. We need our preparation."

They moved towards Cassius's quarters, where the thick barrier offered a more secure location for their planning. Once inside, the trio settled around an oak table, maps from Victoria and various arcane tools spread out before them.

Cassius, taking the lead as usual, laid out the framework of their strategy. "We'll need to operate separately to cover more ground efficiently," he began, pointing to marked locations on the map. "However, if anything goes wrong, we need a solid plan to regroup and communicate effectively."

Evelyn, who had been quiet, chimed in, holding up a small, intricately designed pair of earrings. "I've modified these for communication. They're enchanted to allow us to stay in touch silently and without drawing attention." She put them on, demonstrating how inconspicuous they were.