When Anvis was looking at the map and planning his next move, the door to the study was suddenly knocked.
"Respected Mirror Man, you have a letter."
Upon Anvis’s permission, a man dressed in the high-ranking uniform of the Embers Organization entered the room, bowed respectfully, and placed an envelope embossed with the Glory Alliance emblem on Anvis’s desk.
After the man left, Anvis glanced at the letter.
The envelope floated up, and its pale silver secret seal automatically unlocked. Accompanied by a faint fragrance, a light black special letter paper emerged.
The letter paper, made from the petals of the Black Rose bud, carried a light floral scent. The handwriting on it was also very elegant, yet each word had a sharp finish.
The content of the letter was brief, and after reading it once over, Anvis put it away.
Simply put, it was an invitation for him to visit the castle three days later. The inviter was Lady Mandel, responsible for areas within the Glory Alliance such as Rock Helmet, Maires, and Wind Valley.
Anvis had some understanding of this individual as well.
Bomona Mandel, an Eighth Rank mid-level spellcaster from the Illusion School, a widow who had outlived three husbands, widely known as the Mandel Countess.
Despite her incredibly beautiful appearance, those who really knew her understood that she was a veritable wolfsbane—beautiful on the outside but hiding a deadly essence within.
"At this time, she privately invites me to meet?"
With his fingers tapping on the desk, Anvis showed a somewhat amused expression.
Every action surely has its purpose.
His current identity as ’Mirror Man’ was as the leader of the Embers Organization, which strictly speaking, was in opposition to the Glory Alliance.
As a high-ranking member of the Glory Alliance, inviting a high-ranking enemy for a private meeting, such a move in itself revealed much information.
As for whether this might be a trap, Anvis felt the probability was minuscule.
Putting oneself in another’s shoes, meeting on the enemy’s territory would necessitate extreme caution by anyone.
Even though he was not a duplicate, being forewarned, even if it were indeed a trap, it would be difficult to retain him, and rather it would cause one to lose credibility in their own circle, undoubtedly a foolish move.
Three days later, Anvis arrived in the northern part of Rock Helmet Kingdom, where the Mandel Family’s castle was located.
Passing through magnificent corridors and arches, led by the chief maid, Anvis, dressed in an Embers cloak, arrived in front of the castle’s study.
"Respected Lady Mandel, Mirror Man has arrived."
The chief maid respectfully knocked three times on the door, then bowed her head and waited.
Seconds later, accompanied by a seductive and magnetic female voice, the vine-carved door automatically opened.
Behind a large black oak desk, a mature, voluptuous noblewoman with blonde hair and purple eyes, dressed in a light blue elaborate gown, looked up lazily, glancing at Anvis who entered.
"It’s an honor to meet you, the renowned Mirror Man. I have long admired your deeds, leading armies to capture the Royal Capital and forcing the retreat of a Ninth Rank," she said.
Putting down her thin amber-tipped lady’s hookah, the charming Madam Mandel lightly parted her red lips and exhaled a wispy cloud of smoke, offering him an enchanting smile.
"Thank you for your praise, respected Madam Mandel. May I know the purpose of your invitation this time?"
Anvis lightly bowed, making polite small talk before cutting to the chase.
He undoubtedly faced the nation-protecting Ninth Rank when capturing the capital of Rock Helmet Kingdom.
If it had been earlier, he might have had more trouble, but now, thanks to Fiona, after retrieving the family talisman, he could call on Duke Carrot for help.
After all, the Duke was already aware of his current identity; it would be wasteful not to use such an asset.
"Oh, Mirror Man, you are indeed in a hurry."
With her black lace gloves, Lady Mandel gently covered her mouth, giving a forced smile while her gaze firmly fixed on Anvis’s eyes hidden under the shadow of the hood.
"This time, I have prepared a great gift for you, a secret that involves the survival of the Embers Organization!"
"Lady Mandel, are you aware of what you are saying?"
Anvis nodded indifferently, his tone neither cold nor warm.
"Of course, to show my sincerity, I can even secret with you first. After you hear it, you can make your decision later."
Lady Mandel smiled slightly.
"The Yiter Kingdom Federation has been established for over two thousand years, yet the territories of the kingdoms within the Federation have hardly changed since two thousand years ago. You should know the reason, right?"
"Are you referring to the Paticaran Agreement?"
Anvis spoke noncommittally.
"With the protection of the agreement, those powerful kingdoms also cannot attack the weaker ones at will. Apart from a few special cases that are almost impossible to replicate, the Federation has been peaceful for a long time.
But now, the emergence of the Resistance Organization has broken the rules of the game in the Federation."
"Since they did not sign the Paticaran Agreement, the Resistance Army can attack any kingdom at will. Once they receive support from certain special forces, they become an extremely sharp sword."
"However, with many resistance organizations progressing so smoothly lately, don’t you find that strange?
Just like your Embers Organization, in the process of conquering the Rock Helmet Kingdom, were the enemies you faced from start to finish only the Rock Helmet Kingdom’s army?
Even after the conquest, didn’t other kingdoms try to attack you when you were unstable, but instead allowed you to develop securely?"
"In our position, we should clearly understand the reason."
Anvis’s tone became even colder.
"This is not only our war, but also that of the Prophets."
"You speak much truth, hmm—"
Picking up the smoking pipe again, Lady Mandel gently pressed down her skirt with her hand, her enticing eyes playfully watching Anvis.
"But what if I were to tell you, in this war, the Resistance Organization is destined to be just a sacrificial pawn, how would you feel then?"
Comfortably leaning against the mahogany chair back, the blonde noblewoman narrowed her eyes.
"Think I’m trying to scare you? Let me tell you the truth. The ultimate goal of those high-rank Prophets is actually to completely unify the Federation!
You might think that the Prophets’ aim is to support you in capturing the entire Federation, and they break through by this means.
But unfortunately, the role played by the Resistance Army, from start to finish, has been merely to facilitate the changing of rulers in those kingdoms, and thereafter to step out of the protective scope of the Paticaran Agreement."
Through the wistful smoke, Lady Mandel’s faintly visible purple eyes met the silent Anvis.
"Everyone knows about the existence of the Paticaran Agreement, but very few know its specifics.
Do you know, the Paticaran Agreement contains a very special supplementary clause.
When the number of member nations of the agreement, due to non-external reasons, falls below seventy percent of the original signatories, the agreement becomes void."
"And now, your actions are gradually pushing towards this limit.
When the territories occupied by the Resistance Army are large enough, they will lose their greatest utility. At that time, it will be the moment for the Three Kingdoms and other forces to settle the score."