The Kind of Evil-Chapter 499: Heterochromatic.
Rasmus received a letter from Alexander after Alexander sent a letter to Agnesia and Marina a week ago about Rasmus wanting to join the expedition. The letter revealed that they would wait for him because at that moment, they were still waiting for confirmation from the other groups that wanted to join the expedition as well. They didn’t know exactly when, but they would begin the preparations next month.
After Rasmus read the letter, he went to check the headquarters of Centriva. It had been at least a month since they won against Satan, and everyone began to rebuild the continent with Anastasha’s, Carrion’s, and Erlina’s help. With the support of the Magic Tower, building a nation could be done in just a matter of weeks.
"Finally you showed your nose," Anastasha said as she walked toward Rasmus, who was standing next to a big tree. "I heard that you were cursed from the war," she unfolded the fan and covered the lower half of her face.
What happened back then when Videl brought Rasmus to Hell, it was known to everyone. Serena decided to deceive everyone that Rasmus was cursed by Satan after the battle, and she was the one who released the curse from him. Everyone believed her because of who she was, and nobody was suspicious about it anymore.
"You don’t want to get near me if you’re that afraid," Rasmus said as she looked at the main building base structure that was bigger than the Holy Nation itself.
"Afraid? Why would I be afraid of curses. Curses exist in the East, and it has become a normal thing there," Anastasha chuckled softly as she stood beside Rasmus. "This is going to be the biggest nation in the world, a powerhouse that will be feared by everyone," she muttered quietly so nobody could hear her but Rasmus.
"Perhaps," Rasmus crossed his arms and watched the mages use magic to carry heavy loads. "But that’s none of my business," he pointed out.
Anastasha glanced at Rasmus with her eyes narrowed before she took a step closer to him.
"I have been noticing something. You really haven’t done anything ever since the war ended. You didn’t partake in all of this either," Anastasha said, her gaze never leaving Rasmus’ face. "I know because I have someone that keeps observing you. Are you really not interested in this? This is like your biggest moment to control the world from behind the curtain," she pointed her hand at the mega structure in front of her.
"Who said that I want to control the world? I never interested in that," Rasmus glanced at Anastasha with his brows raised.
"Nobody," Anastasha chuckled softly. "I was assuming that you wanted that. But knowing that you don’t want to rule the world, I’m a bit skeptical," she stared into Rasmus’ eyes as she folded the fan, revealing her smirk.
"You think I’m lying?" Rasmus raised his brows. "If I lied, I wouldn’t tell such a blatant lie like that because nobody would believe it, especially people like you," he pointed out.
"That’s true," Anastasha nodded in agreement. "So, you really have no intention of ruling the world in the slightest? Really?" She narrowed her eyes, still skeptical about it.
"No, not in the slightest," Rasmus shook his head as he stared into Anastasha’s eyes.
Anastasha tilted her head, looking into Rasmus’ eyes and tried to read his stoic expression or body gesture. Nothing showed that he was lying or not telling the truth.
"I believe you," Anastasha nodded with a serious expression. "Anyway, have you noticed something? Something around this place..." She muttered as she glanced around.
Rasmus hadn’t paid any attention to his surroundings, not in details. When he began to scan the surroundings, he noticed a banner, the same banner that he first saw when he arrived in South Neva.
"The Urion banner," Rasmus furrowed his brows, didn’t expect the Urion family, a wealthy merchant family that would compete with the Ashenvale family. He didn’t expect the Urion family to participate in rebuilding Centriva. "They wouldn’t be here unless you brought them here. This is your doing?" He looked at Anastasha.
"Yes, but this one is different from the other brother," Anastasha answered as she unfolded her fan and covered the lower half of her face. "Two brothers want to inherit the head family, one who has gained support from the North and now this one who has gained support from Central Neva, or should I say Centriva now. But, since the North is gone and a part of Centriva, both of them will be busy with each other while spending the money to support Centriva," she chuckled mischievously.
Rasmus hummed, finding it interesting when Anastasha was basically putting both of the brothers in the arena to fight each other while supporting Centriva for free. Anastasha just used those two for her own gain and Centriva, making it impossible for the Urion family sons from gaining any advantage because of the situation she placed onto them.
"Isn’t the Urion family supporting your family? You know what you’re doing is going to problems to your family," Rasmus asked with his brows raised.
"I know, and I’m doing this to find out which one of the brothers that’s going to befit the title of the family head," Anastasha nodded as she crossed her arms. "And in the past few days, I already know who I want. One is righteous and the other one is what I believe you also might like," she winked at Rasmus before she moved aside. "Since you’re here, why don’t you meet him as well? I can assure you that he’s not that boring," she suggested.
Rasmus was still recovering mentally from what he had experienced in Hell. He felt numb and his mind was still a bit hazy from all the torture.
"I’m not interested in meeting someone new right now," Rasmus said with a calm expression.
"I see, but you know..." Anastasha paused to stand in front of Rasmus and stared right into her eyes. "Sooner or later you might want to go to East Neva, and you might need this opportunity," she pointed out. "I’ll assure you, you don’t need to say a word and just sit still. You can enjoy the most expensive wine from the East while I do the talking," she offered with a smile on her face.
"You’re so eager, that’s odd," Rasmus furrowed his brows.
"Because I don’t want him to be your target that needs to get rid off in the future," Anastasha offered her hand to Rasmus. "He will be able to help you, especially in East Neva where things aren’t as simple as anything in this world," she added.
Rasmus sighed as he offered his hand to Anastasha instead, and she immediately placed her hand on his hand. She guided him into one of the campsites near the mega-structure where the banners represented from which family they were from. When Anastasha entered Urion’s campsite, everyone lowered their heads as they avoided her like she was a tyrant warlord. This was the first time Rasmus witnessed how much the Eastern was terrified of the Asghar family.
When they entered the tent, it became eerily quiet when people were wearing high-quality and expensive silk clothing. There was one man, sitting on the chair with his black slick-back hair. However, what interested Rasmus was the man’s heterochromatic eyes, a bright yellow eye and a deep blue eye.
"Lady Anastasha..." The man stood up and lowered his head before he signaled everyone in the tent to leave. "What do I owe the pleasure of your visit? And please, have a seat," he said as he pointed at the silk couch.
"Can you give me the Heavenly Wine? I want Count Rasmus to taste it," Anastasha said as she sat down and crossed her legs. "Come sit with me, Count," she smiled softly at Rasmus.
The man glanced at Rasmus for a moment before he walked out to order his lackeys to bring the Heavenly Wine. The man came back and stood there, not daring to sit because in the East, only the one with higher status could tell someone to sit with them or not. When the man’s lackey brought in the wine, the man poured it into Anastasha’s glass and Rasmus’ glass.
Rasmus grabbed his glass and took a sip of the wine. It was surprisingly smooth, sweet, and yet the alcohol was a lot stronger than any alcohol he’d ever had. The warm spread all over his body all the way to his fingertips and toes. It was delicious and he understood why it was called Heavenly Wine and why it was the most expensive wine the Eastern had.
"This man right here, his name is Usman Urion, the eldest son of Sulaiman Urion," Anastasha introduced the man to Rasmus. "Usman, this is Count Rasmus, and this is the man that I choose to stand equally with me. So, if you did something to him both directly or indirectly, you need to be careful because I wouldn’t stay quiet," she smiled with her eyes as she covered the lower half of her face with a fan.
Usman nodded with understanding, and he immediately averted his gaze from Rasmus.
"Well, that’s that," Anastasha said as she took a sip of her wine. "The reason I came here is to ask you about the situation in your family’s business, and your younger brother’s. And, if you’re lucky with the words you said, Count Rasmus might be interested in you as well, and to have him around, that’s better than dozens sultans, kings, and even the emperor," she revealed.
Usman was mildly shocked when Anastasha treated Rasmus highly than the Emperor himself, the one that ruled half of Eastern Neva.
"Do you understand, Usman?" Anastasha asked as she unfolded her fan, showing her serious expression.
"Yes, Lady Anastasha, I understand," Usman bowed his head.
