"Perfect timing."
The materials delivered by the Crimson Oath Society were exactly what Azrael needed for his next card creation project. These components would prove invaluable for advancing his capabilities.
"Could I gather all the necessary materials today?"
The thought crossed his mind as he continued examining the remaining supplies. However, his optimism proved premature. The subsequent materials were disappointingly mediocre, with ninety-nine percent falling below Silver rank quality.
Upon reflection, this made sense. Donglai only housed a handful of Gold-level Crimson Oath Society members, Magnus among them.
"Never mind. Even one excellent component is valuable."
After securing the Gold-level [Cold Deceiver] (Red quality), Azrael tossed the remaining materials toward Magnus. "Take what you need from these. Consider them operational funds."
Magnus's eyes widened with surprise. "Really, Sixth Master?"
"Of course," Azrael replied, glancing at the middle-aged operative with mild amusement. "Don't get greedy, these supplies have specific purposes."
Despite the limitation, Magnus beamed with satisfaction. Having first selection privileges represented a significant benefit. Besides, while Sixth Master cautioned against excess, he hadn't restricted the quantity to just one item.
Bribing that gossipy woman from Pixar to stay close to Sixth Master was definitely the right decision, Magnus thought with quiet pride.
While Magnus happily sorted through the materials, Azrael examined the blank contract in his hands with growing interest.
"Identical to the one I signed previously."
Just as he prepared to store the contracts away, inspiration struck like lightning.
"I've been thinking like a cautious student for too long."
A cold smile spread across Azrael's features as he conceived a method to eliminate Autumn permanently. The woman had made herself a problem that required resolution.
"Besides, whatever Bruce of the Crimson Oath Society does has nothing to do with me, Azrael."
His smile turned predatory. Since they'd initiated contact first, they must have prepared themselves for the consequences.
"Master, I've made my selection," Magnus announced, drawing Azrael back to the present moment.
The middle-aged operative felt a chill of apprehension, having witnessed his superior's expression transform into something genuinely menacing. Like a true villain plotting in the shadows.
Well, I'm a villain too, Magnus reassured himself, finding courage in the realization.
As it turned out, Sixth Master's smile hadn't been directed at him at all.
"Keep your whereabouts concealed for now. I'll contact you when your services are required."
"Understood, sir."
After watching Magnus disappear into the abandoned factory's shadows, Azrael immediately summoned Shiraori along with two lunch boxes he'd prepared earlier.
"Taste this masterpiece! This represents the most lovingly prepared meal you'll experience in your entire existence," Azrael declared with mock dramatic flair.
Shiraori materialized to hear her master's characteristically sardonic commentary. Remembering her previous domestic role, she found no grounds for objection.
With tearful resignation, she consumed both substantial portions completely.
"Ugh!"
Azrael stared in bewilderment at the white spider, whose eyes brimmed with tears while her body remained rigid. "What happened? Is the food poisoned?"
Shiraori lifted her aesthetically enhanced, tearful face toward Azrael with obvious distress. "It's completely cold and tastes horrible."
"The beef is incredibly tough, too."
"Little Spider declares this love bento utterly inferior as a gourmet critic! ヽ(▽)ノ"
Azrael remained silent momentarily before responding with mild exasperation. "I'll have the Shadowkhan bring you proper snacks later."
"Yay! ヽ(▽)ノ!"
"Before that, we're visiting a certain troublesome woman's residence."
"Hehehe~"
In her modest townhouse, Autumn stood beneath the shower's warm spray, washing away soap foam while humming an unrecognizable melody. The day's events had progressed exactly according to her carefully laid plans.
As the water gradually subsided, she began drying herself methodically with a fluffy towel.
"Finally, the first step is complete."
"From this point forward, everything proceeds according to schedule," she murmured with self-satisfied pleasure.
Having changed into comfortable pajamas, she switched off the bathroom lights and stepped into the main living area. However, upon discovering the pitch-black room, confusion replaced her contentment.
"Didn't I leave the lights on?"
As she fumbled for the wall switch, a calm, measured voice echoed through the darkness, "Finished with your evening routine?"
"Have a seat."
Autumn froze completely, every muscle tensing as she considered fleeing the house immediately.
Turning around revealed a massive, menacing white spider watching her intently. Its compound eyes gleamed with crimson malevolence, while an aura of lethal danger radiated from its form.
The killing intent emanating from the creature made every hair on Autumn's body stand on end. She understood instinctively that attempting escape would result in immediate death.
After several tense moments, the woman obediently settled onto the single-seat sofa.
Meanwhile, an indistinct figure occupied the main couch with casual authority.
Snap!
The lights suddenly blazed to life, causing Autumn to squint against the sudden brightness.
From the corner of her vision, she watched the enormous spider approach the light switch and manipulate it with a razor-sharp limb, producing threatening hissing sounds throughout the process.
The intruders were naturally Azrael and Shiraori.
Ignoring Shiraori's excited whispers, "See that, Spider-Little? I told you this would definitely terrify that bad woman! Hahahaha!", Azrael maintained his unsettling smile.
Shiraori had just shared her analytical findings with him.
[Name: Autumn]
[Title: Twisted Desire]
[Rank: Silver]
[Cards Held: ???]
"Silver rank? You've hidden your abilities quite effectively."
While Autumn pondered the mysterious man's identity before her, his words startled her completely. Her expression darkened as suspicion replaced confusion.
"Who exactly are you?" she demanded.
"What do you want with me?"
The overwhelming situation left her feeling helpless. The oppressive aura emanating from the spider monster beside the stranger was far too powerful for her to consider resistance.
Information gathering represented her best strategy. If this man intended to kill her, he would have acted already.
Even so, resentment burned within Autumn's chest.
If only he'd arrived later... after I'd successfully tamed him...
Damn it.
Unconcerned with the woman's internal thoughts, Azrael produced Jin's contract with deliberate slowness.
"Sign this document."
Autumn's pupils constricted upon recognizing the contract's format. "You're from the Crimson Oath Society?"
Rather than denying his affiliation, Azrael maintained his emotionless expression while repeating his command, "Sign it."
"Or die here tonight."
His cold voice reverberated through the living room like a death sentence.
"Impossible!" Autumn understood exactly what the contract represented.
While she enjoyed reducing despicable men to obedient pets, that certainly didn't mean she wanted to become someone else's property.
Azrael stood silently, his lack of response more threatening than any verbal threat.
In the next instant, Shiraori's scythe-like forelimbs, gleaming with dangerous purple venom, pressed against Autumn's exposed neck.
"I'll sign!" The venomous blade hovered mere centimeters from her throat.
Hiss!
Sticky purple liquid dripped onto Autumn's shoulder, instantly corroding a large section of flesh and clothing.
"Ahh~" A delicate cry of pain escaped her lips.
Autumn's eyes flushed red while tears gathered at the corners. Her expression of vulnerable suffering would typically evoke protective instincts in any normal man.
"Put away your pathetic manipulations."
However, Azrael remained completely unmoved by her performance.
Just then, a series of threatening hisses filled Autumn's ears, causing her entire body to stiffen with terror.
Shiraori was communicating her disgust.
"Ugh~ So disgusting! Spider-Little, I'm getting goosebumps all over."
"Azrael, absolutely, absolutely don't show mercy! She's definitely a terrible woman!"
While Azrael heard Shiraori's characteristically blunt commentary, Autumn interpreted the sounds as explicit death threats from the monstrous arachnid.
Enduring the burning pain in her shoulder, she grasped the pen with trembling fingers and signed her name on the contract before her.
"The contract is concluded."
A faint ethereal voice echoed through the void, formally announcing the binding agreement's establishment.
"A wise person recognizes the inevitable."
"It seems you made the correct choice."
Satisfied with this development, Azrael's expression relaxed into genuine approval.
With her fate now sealed, Autumn immediately adopted a submissive posture. "May I know your name, sir?"
"What exactly do you require of me?"
Azrael leaned back against the sofa's edge with casual confidence. "My name is Bruce. You may address me however feels appropriate."
"As for why I sought you out tonight..."
"Tell me about your background, your true identity, and your purpose for coming to Donglai."
"Yes, Sir Bruce," Autumn replied with practiced flattery. "I originate from Beijing."
But as she prepared to recite her carefully constructed cover story, she discovered with mounting horror that her mouth was no longer under her conscious control.
A voice resembling mechanical dictation began flowing from her lips without her permission.
"My name is Autumn, sixty-seven years old, female, from Beijing in the Empire of Aetherlight."
Azrael felt genuine shock. He hadn't expected Autumn to be sixty-seven years old. Her appearance suggested someone much younger.
So... doesn't that make her potentially Ace's grandmother? The thought of that boy's servile behavior suddenly made Azrael feel deeply unsettled.
However, remembering his own frequent romantic encounters with Unohana Retsu, whose true age remained unknown, he experienced a moment of uncomfortable self-awareness.
"I am currently a Silver-level Lore Cardian, though I maintain no official registration with the association."
"Previously, I earned my living performing shadowy assignments for powerful political figures. They provided me with cards to mask my presence, ensuring no one discovered my true profession."
This explanation finally clarified why Azrael hadn't detected the elderly woman's Lore Cardian abilities during their previous encounters.
"I came to Donglai because the Beijing Sun family assigned me a mission following the national competition."
"My objective was to seduce Azrael, the newly appointed Vice President of Donglai."
Within just a few sentences, the elderly woman had revealed everything of importance.
Autumn covered her mouth in bewildered shock, only now comprehending the true depth and power of the binding contract she'd just signed.
"Is that so?" Azrael rubbed his chin thoughtfully after absorbing the woman's complete confession. "You intended to use seduction to manipulate that genius?"
He understood the Sun family's motivations perfectly. They viewed him as a threat due to his previous conflicts with the Mizuno family and his outstanding performance during the national competition.
Azrael grasped the strategic principle of eliminating potential threats before they became established powers.
Additionally, these people wouldn't dare attempt such schemes back in Pixar. They understood the protective influence of the Solitary Elder.
Hadn't they witnessed how the Mizuno family, the last organization to directly challenge the Crimson Oath Society, now had grass growing three meters high over their graves?
Autumn appeared resigned to her fate, "Of course, my cards don't provide significant combat power."
"However, I possess considerable expertise in this particular type of operation."
She summoned two item cards and presented them to Azrael for inspection, "Please examine these, sir."
Azrael accepted the cards with curiosity, their information flooding his consciousness immediately.
[Soul-Capture Mirror]
Rank: Silver
Quality: Blue
Category: Item
Skills:
[Soul-Capture]: Creatures photographed by this mirror suffer minor soul damage.
Abilities:
[Retain Soul]: Feeding this mirror a photograph causes the holder to appear similar in appearance and aura to those with strong connections to the photographed subject.
Despite its name, the [Soul-Capture Mirror] actually resembled an old-fashioned camera rather than a traditional mirror.
"Absolutely ridiculous."
Azrael's lips twitched with dark amusement. He now understood why Autumn had reminded him of his senior sister and Gabi during their first encounter. She'd obviously fed this item card with relevant photographs.
He turned his attention to the second card.
[A Meal Worth a Thousand Gold · Desire Stove]
Rank: Silver
Quality: Red
Category: Item
Skills:
[Food Therapy]: Food prepared in this stove possesses healing properties.
[Repay a Favor]: Consuming food prepared in this stove grants the [A Meal Worth a Thousand Gold] effect.
Note: [A Meal Worth a Thousand Gold], "When kindness is shown to a stranger in need, that debt of gratitude grows thousandfold." The person who eats the prepared food gradually develops increasing favorability toward the card holder.
Note: Multiple feedings will significantly accelerate this process.
Features:
[Food Slave]: When [A Meal Worth a Thousand Gold] reaches maximum level, the subject will unconditionally obey the card holder's requests.
Note: Subject's level cannot exceed Gold rank.
Note: Current Controlled Personnel: 3/3.
Azrael: 0%
Ace: 67%
Diesel: 3%
"Now I understand completely."
After reviewing the second card's comprehensive information, Azrael spoke with newfound clarity. "No wonder you felt so confident in your approach."
He finally understood the true reason behind Ace's peculiar behavior. Perhaps even Diesel remained unaware of the psychological hell his son had been subjected to through this insidious manipulation.
This red-quality, Silver-level item card was undeniably powerful. While it provided virtually no direct combat capabilities, it proved exceptionally effective for psychological warfare and covert manipulation.
Returning both cards to Autumn, Azrael displayed obvious curiosity, "May I ask what you planned to do after successfully controlling that genius?"
Hearing this question, the elderly woman responded as if the answer were completely obvious, "Is there any need for elaboration?"
"Naturally, I would make that genius work like a devoted slave for my benefit."
"Imagine how amusing it would be, other people would never suspect that the proud prodigy they admired publicly would be completely subservient in private," she continued with disturbing glee.
"Besides, I've never controlled the apprentice of a master Lore Cardian before."
"Wouldn't it be delightful to have Azrael make excessive demands of his teacher at that point?" As she envisioned Azrael's potential humiliation after her mission's completion, Autumn laughed with genuine malicious pleasure.
Noticing the increasingly dark expression on the young man beside her, Autumn quickly added, "Of course, my pet would also serve the Society's interests."
"All materials we acquired would be surrendered to the organization."
Shiraori, who had been listening to everything with growing excitement, now trembled with righteous fury. "Wow, Azrael! This woman is truly an unforgivable villain."
"Why don't you let Shiraori finish her off right here and now?"
Ignoring Shiraori's bloodthirsty suggestions, Azrael studied the fawning woman before him with calculating darkness before asking a seemingly unrelated question, "Do you have any surveillance cameras in this house?"
Autumn felt startled by the sudden change in topic, but answered honestly, "No, to minimize potential evidence, I avoid such technology."
"Excellent," Azrael smiled with genuine satisfaction.
Autumn, uncertain about the situation's direction, also attempted to smile.
Shiraori smiled as well, though her expression promised violence.
Then Autumn stopped smiling entirely.
It wasn't because Shiraori's grin appeared particularly menacing, but because she watched the young man from the Crimson Oath Society undergo a gradual transformation. His features began shifting, becoming increasingly familiar until recognition struck like a thunderbolt.
He was her target, Azrael himself.
"You…!"
"Shh!" Azrael raised his index finger to his lips, forcibly interrupting Autumn's shocked exclamation. "To express my gratitude for your loving lunch box preparation."
"Now..."
"End your life."