"The Divine Gift of the Green Shade Territory is Sequence Six, named the Eye of the Future. All I know is that it resembles a crystal ball and supposedly has the ability to see the future. I don't know much else."
Sophie had also never seen Moria use the Eye of the Future, so the information she had was quite limited.
'See the future? That's certainly a powerful ability.'
'Though, knowing Old Moria's personality, he probably took something that valuable with him, along with the jewels from the Treasure Vault.'
'While it was a shame I didn't get to see the crystal ball that could predict the future, this might actually be a good thing for me.'
'Possessing such a treasure before having enough power to protect it is just a burden.'
'The Green Shade Territory already has a pile of matters to deal with. If others were to covet the Eye of the Future and start conflicts over it, wouldn't that just be adding insult to injury?'
However, before his "friend" from the Empire Bank returned, Lian decided to first deal with the hidden dangers at his side, lest he get stabbed in the back while he was concentrating on building up the Green Shade Territory's economy.
'From Sophie's tone, there are only ten Divine Gifts in the entire Holy Empire, making them exceptionally rare. So, is the reason these two Maids are hiding by my side for the Eye of the Future?'
With this thought, Lian climbed out of bed, wrapped himself in a thick woolen blanket, and walked out of the bedroom with Witch Sophie.
"Anna, Annie, accompany me to the Treasure Vault."
The twin Maids, Anna and Annie, who had been standing guard at the bedroom door, exchanged a look and followed him.
They were now certain of the unusual relationship between the new Lord, Lian, and Miss Witch, Sophie. Otherwise, why would Miss Witch be coming out of Lian's bedroom?
"Lord Lian, you weren't drunk?"
Anna asked with concern.
"Lord Lian, you deceived the nobles."
Annie added.
"It takes more than that amount of wine to get me drunk. Have the nobles left?"
"They're still partying in the banquet hall."
Anna said.
The group of four arrived at the Treasure Vault on the third floor. Lian took out the key and opened the Treasure Vault's Gate.
The Treasure Vault was completely empty.
Never mind the Divine Gift, not a single Gold Coin had been left for Lian.
Lian gave Sophie a meaningful look, and she understood, closing the Gate to the Treasure Vault.
Lian pulled his blanket tighter around himself as the temperature in the room began to plummet.
A six-petaled Snowflake materialized in the air.
The moment Anna and Annie saw the Snowflake, four Frost Chains shot up from the floor, binding their hands and feet.
"Lord Lian?"
They looked up at Lian in terror, their eyes filled with confusion.
"What are you doing?"
Anna and Annie had never expected Lian to suddenly turn on them.
"Anna, Annie, I am very disappointed in you. You've stolen all the treasures from the Treasure Vault, including the Divine Gift."
When Annie and Anna heard that the Divine Gift had also been stolen, their eyes flashed with surprise, but they quickly composed themselves.
"Lord Lian, we didn't take anything,"
Anna said.
"If we had really stolen the Divine Gift and the jewels, why would we remain in the Lord's Mansion? And where would we have hidden them?"
Annie added.
Lian lightly tapped the bridge of his prominent nose and spoke in an analytical tone.
"The things you stole have already been taken away by Denis. You and Denis are accomplices—you're all Spies!
"As for your reason for staying in the Lord's Mansion... well, that's not important. I'll just kill you and announce that you committed suicide out of guilt after I discovered your crimes.
"Then, I can issue a nationwide warrant for Denis's arrest."
Lian knew perfectly well that it was that old geezer Moria who had cleaned the place out, but he deliberately said otherwise.
He wouldn't accept any explanation Anna and Annie could offer.
He was dead set on making the two Maids take the blame.
"Lord Lian, you have no intention of believing us, do you?"
Anna asked.
"Aren't you Spies? You got close to me for the sake of the Divine Gift, didn't you? Did you really think my father left without telling me anything?"
"Lord Moria told you?"
Anna looked at Lian, astonished.
"Sophie, kill them."
Lian said impassively.
Sophie nodded slightly.
Two Ice Spikes materialized in the air and shot toward Anna and Annie.
At that very moment, Annie the Assassin broke free of the Frost Lock. Moving like a phantom, she instantly appeared at Anna's side, swung her dagger to sever the restraints on her sister, and swept Anna into her arms, dodging the two Ice Spikes and leaping back toward the window.
Her Speed was so great that the naked eye could only see a blur of afterimages.
Just as Annie was about to escape with Anna through the window, Lian's voice rang out again.
"Go on, run. Become wanted fugitives of the Empire. You'll be branded with the crime of stealing a Divine Gift. No matter where you go, you'll never have a place to call home."
Annie froze.
Lian was right. If they were branded with the crime of stealing a Divine Gift, they would be met with suspicion even if they fled back to their original master, because no one was immune to the allure of a Divine Gift.
A Divine Gift symbolized right, status, and Power.
Moria had built the Green Shade Territory from the ground up by relying on the Sequence Six, the Eye of the Future.
Therefore, if they left the Lord's Mansion, Anna and Annie were doomed to become fugitives, cast out by the entire world.
"Lord Lian, what is it you want?"
Anna asked.
"I'm merely letting you know your fate ahead of time."
Lian said coolly,
"Do you really think you'll be rewarded after you complete your mission? Regardless of whose hands the Divine Gift ends up in, the fate of Spies and Assassins is to be discarded like pawns. You'll either be eliminated or forced to live as fugitives under a cloud of infamy."
Aided by the effect of his [Lord] title, Lian's words were 10% more persuasive.
And so, his words hit home with both Anna and Annie.
Annie set her sister Anna down. The two sisters exchanged a look, nodding as if they had made a decision.
Annie's figure blurred. She appeared at Lian's side in an instant, a short blade glowing with silvery-white light in her hand.
If they killed Lian, they might be wanted, but they wouldn't be branded as thieves of a Divine Gift. It would mean mission failure, but at least they wouldn't be in such a passive position.
But unfortunately, Annie's hand was once again caught by a Frost Chain. Her entire right arm was frozen solid, and the frost was creeping up toward the rest of her body.
"Stop! We've lost."
Anna said.
She knew that despite Annie's Speed, she stood no chance against the Ice Witch.
But she also knew her sister Annie's rebellious nature. She wouldn't accept something was impossible unless she tried it herself.
Annie shot Sophie a resentful look.
"Ice Witch, aren't you worried about losing control by using your Magic Power so frequently?"
"It's all worth it for Lord Lian."
Sophie replied, her expression cold.
Lian rubbed his neck where the blade had almost found its mark, swallowed hard, and said,
"Never mind. Let them go, Sophie. I'm looking forward to seeing them hunted by the entire world."
Sophie gave a slight nod, and the frost binding Annie vanished.
Annie felt sensation and movement return to her right hand, but she had abandoned any thought of trying to assassinate Lian again.
Anna and Annie both knelt before Lian. The wise and calm Anna was the one to speak.
"Lord Lian, what is it you want from us?"