Kael hadn't expected such a backstory. His gaze swept over Lone Wolf—those mastery of the Ancient Octad Formation and combat techniques were likely gains from his later adventures.
Seeing the fire in Lone Wolf's eyes, Kael's mind stirred. This hatred for the Kingdom of Maider was undeniably genuine. Perhaps it could be the key to breaking through.
Lone Wolf, visibly unburdened after his confession, now watched Kael with a mocking glint. "There. I've said my piece. Slay me here, deliver me to Maider for the bounty—do as you please. Just spare my men."
Now Kael understood why the Nomadic Bandits revered their leader so fiercely. The man truly cared for his followers.
Kael shrugged. "Who said anything about killing you?"
"You… won't?" Lone Wolf stiffened, his eyes widening before narrowing into distrustful slits. A cold smile curled his lips. Impossible. After Kael's relentless campaign to annihilate the bandits, why spare their leader now?
His stare bore into Kael, but the young earl remained an enigma.
Damn it, what's his game?
Kael's smile deepened. "Not only will I spare you, but I'll lend you Lefay's strength for your vengeance."
"What?!" Even Lone Wolf's composure shattered. He lurched forward, chains yanking him back with a painful jerk—yet he barely noticed, his gaze burning with desperate hope.
If this was true… revenge was within reach.
"You heard me," Kael said calmly. "I'll grant you a place second only to me in Lefay. When the time comes, I'll aid your retribution. But in exchange—you pledge your loyalty to me."
This was Kael's calculated decision. Lone Wolf's blood feud with Maider was irreconcilable. Though the kingdom was formidable, Kael's status in the Sacred Council afforded him some insulation. Besides, vengeance was a distant prospect—worth the gamble.
"Why should I trust you?" Lone Wolf sneered, his gaze still sharp with wariness and hostility.
"You have no choice," Kael stated with absolute certainty.
The words forced Lone Wolf into silence. True enough—as a prisoner, he held no bargaining power.
A bitter laugh escaped him. **"Then do I even have a say in this?"** The question was his tacit surrender.
"Good." Kael nodded in satisfaction and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
A figure materialized before them.
To Lone Wolf, she was undeniably stunning—a voluptuous body with curves in all the right places, her porcelain skin almost dazzling under the light. Her attire was scandalously minimal: a short skirt that barely concealed anything, leaving generous swathes of flesh exposed to the air.
Bare shoulders, a slender neck, the teasing outline of her breasts beneath the flimsy fabric, and those long, milky thighs—every detail demanded attention. In the imperial capital, a woman like this would have nobles clawing over each other for her favor.
Yet Lone Wolf remained unmoved, his eyes cold as he studied Kael. What's her role in this?
The woman was, of course, Scarlett. Once a Vampire Count, the Moonlight Dusk Space had erased all traces of her vampiric nature, leaving her indistinguishable from a human.
"Master." Released by Kael's will, she knelt gracefully, pressing her forehead to the ground in reverence. Under Kael's orders, she had been training relentlessly—now restored to the mid-eighth level.
Hearing her address Kael as "Master", Lone Wolf finally grasped the truth: Kael had more hidden aces than he'd imagined. This seductive beauty was another eighth-level powerhouse!
"Scarlett, assist me in forging a contract with Lone Wolf," Kael commanded coolly.
Lone Wolf said nothing. He'd expected this.
Naturally, Kael wouldn't settle for an equal pact. A master-servant contract was the only way to leash a man like him—absolute control, no loopholes.
"As you command, Master." Scarlett licked her lips, a deliberate provocation, before shifting her gaze to Lone Wolf.
Having undergone the master-servant contract herself, she was intimately familiar with every ritual required. Lone Wolf, meanwhile, had no choice but to submit—trapped like fish on a chopping block.
With a resigned grimace, he mirrored Kael's gestures. A searing white light erupted, and Kael felt his mental energy surge faintly as the bond took hold.
The contract ensured absolute obedience. Lone Wolf could harbor no treachery, granting Kael peace of mind.
"Well done, Scarlett." Kael patted her shoulder. Her strength had recovered admirably, and as Kael grew more formidable, her deference had deepened into genuine reverence—she now truly saw him as her master.
With a bow, Scarlett vanished back into the contract space. Kael then flicked his wrist, flames severing Lone Wolf's chains with a metallic snap. Freedom, at last.
"What shall I call you? 'Master'? Or 'Count'?" Lone Wolf massaged his freed wrists, his smile wry.
"'City Lord' will suffice." Kael couldn't hide his satisfaction. In Lone Wolf, he'd gained a servant whose loyalty was unshakable, whose military and administrative prowess rivaled any legion commander's—a prize beyond measure.
Lone Wolf exhaled, quietly grateful. At least Kael allowed him this dignity, this semblance of respect.
Perhaps serving him won't be a torment.
He opened his mouth, hesitated, then clamped it shut.
Kael knew exactly what weighed on him. **"Relax,"** he said, waving a hand. **"Your bandit brothers will be released immediately. As for your deputy, Amir—I spared him. He's merely a prisoner."**
The words struck Lone Wolf like a hammer—gratitude and dread twisting together in his chest.
Kael had merely captured Amir instead of killing him—had he been scheming to subjugate the Nomadic Bandits from the very first day he arrived in Lefay? The thought sent a chill down Lone Wolf's spine. How calculating.
A flicker of suspicion arose in his mind, but immediately, a sharp pain lanced through his skull, intensifying with every heartbeat.
Damn it! Lone Wolf recoiled inwardly. This master-servant contract is ruthless—does it even forbid doubting my master?!
With a resigned sigh, he met Kael's gaze. What's done is done. I'm on his ship now—no turning back.
Kael intended for Lone Wolf to retain command of the Nomadic Bandits. With the contract in place, he had no concerns about betrayal.
"Lone Wolf, what suggestions do you have for Lefay's current state?" Kael was genuinely curious. Given Lone Wolf's exceptional military and administrative talents, his insights might prove invaluable.
"With the Nomadic Bandits gone, trade routes are secure. The remaining petty bandit groups pose no threat—Lefay is finally on the right track…" Lone Wolf's eyes gleamed as he analyzed. **"Moreover, several new forests have recently appeared around the Lefay Plains, improving the region's environment. I assume that was your doing, Lord?"**
Kael gave an ambiguous smile, gesturing for him to continue.
"Truthfully, Lefay already has all the conditions for rapid growth. Merchant traffic will multiply, and prosperity is inevitable. However…" Lone Wolf inhaled deeply, a sly grin forming. **"I have a strategy to accelerate it further."**
"Oh? What would that be?" Kael's interest was piqued. He hadn't expected Lone Wolf to offer advice so soon—a promising sign of his alignment with Lefay's interests.
"A political marriage." Lone Wolf enunciated each word with deliberate emphasis.