Anti Netotare Villian-Chapter 49: Planning

"For context, the reason behind the deaths of those monsters was because she was using them to create amalgamations." Riech gasped dramatically, exchanging a glance with her.

"My lord, shouldn’t we imprison her and interrogate her thoroughly?" Roosevelt hesitantly pitched in his thoughts, unsure if he was overstepping his bounds.

"Did I finish my story yet?" Riech shot him a cold stare, his tone sharp and impatient.

’This...’ Roosevelt clenched his jaw, feeling a deep sense of inferiority compared to him.

"I apologize," Roosevelt said, lowering his head slightly.

"So," Riech continued, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, "she obviously made the idiotic decision to fight me. And guess what? I won. I defeated her half-baked, stitched-together monstrosity and conquered her."

His smirk deepened.

"It didn’t take much effort to break her. She was pathetically easy to deal with."

His words carried an obvious double meaning. While Roosevelt assumed he was referring to their battle, Lisa subtly flushed at the implications, glancing away as she processed his words.

"Now, that was the short version of what transpired in the last twelve hours," Riech continued, letting out a sigh. "But let’s move on to the real issue at hand—why I brought her here alive and why she was creating those monstrosities in the first place."

His gaze swept over the room before settling on Roosevelt.

"I’m sure you have questions. Feel free to ask now."

"Thank you, my lord," Roosevelt said, taking the opportunity without hesitation.

"Master, you said she was creating amalgamations using monster body parts. Does that mean she’s a puppeteer?" He quickly followed up, eager for confirmation.

"You’re absolutely correct," Riech replied, nodding. "She’s a puppeteer who practices the dark arts—using twisted magic to turn monsters into grotesque abominations."

A tense silence filled the room as the weight of his words sank in.

"From what I gathered, they were planning an attack on our territory—one meant to reduce it to ruins," Riech added, his expression darkening.

"They?" Roosevelt’s brows furrowed. "Who’s the other person, my lord?"

"Her lover—a beast master," Riech revealed. "And as you can probably guess, there’s someone pulling the strings behind them. Someone who sent them here with the sole purpose of unleashing destruction upon this land."

Roosevelt’s expression hardened as realization struck him. "Marquess Robart?" The name came to him instinctively—he couldn’t think of anyone else who would dare such a move.

"Bingo." Riech grinned, but there was no humor in his expression.

"That bastard dares to attack our territory?" Roosevelt gritted his teeth, his fists clenching with barely contained rage. "I say we march to his land, burn it to the ground, and hang his head on the gates as a warning!"

Riech chuckled, shaking his head. "Now, now, let’s not be hasty. You’re starting to sound like the old me." His eyes gleamed with something far more sinister—calculated greed. "You’re a strategist, aren’t you? Think carefully. What can we truly gain from this situation?"

Roosevelt tried to piece it together, but no matter how he looked at it, all he could think of was punishing the Marquess for treason.

"I apologize, my lord," Roosevelt admitted, his brows still furrowed. "I can’t seem to think of anything else."

Riech’s smirk widened. "Then allow me to enlighten you."

"It’s alright because the idea I have in mind is quite the double-edged sword," Riech said, his tone calm yet ominous.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he asked, "Tell me, what do you think of my reputation within my territory? No—within the entire kingdom?"

Roosevelt hesitated. He wanted to be careful with his words, but he also knew better than to lie. Taking a deep breath, he answered, "I-it’s in shambles, my lord."

He didn’t need to sugarcoat it. They both knew the truth.

Riech—the once-feared tyrant of Deroth—had become nothing more than a laughingstock. The title "Shame of Deroth" was forced upon him after that humiliating incident with that bastard Gris. Before then, his name alone was enough to strike fear across the kingdom. But after the disgraceful betrayal, his name was met only with mockery and spit. The Cuck of Deroth. A man once revered had become a joke. None could believe that someone as ruthless as him could be reduced to such a pathetic figure.

Riech let out a bitter chuckle. "Yes... my reputation is in the mud. But why not use the current situation to my advantage? Since we already know what they’re planning..."

Roosevelt furrowed his brows. "I’m sorry, my lord, but could you clarify? What exactly do you mean by ’using the situation’ to your advantage?"

A part of him already suspected that whatever Riech was about to say would sound completely absurd.

Riech leaned forward slightly, his smirk widening. "What I’m saying is... why don’t we let the attack happen—just as they planned?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Roosevelt instantly understood what he meant. His face paled slightly, and he quickly followed up with the most obvious concern.

"But, my lord, won’t that raise questions about our security? And if the attack is truly on the scale you described, then... there will be many casualties."

"Exactly," Riech said, nodding. "That’s why I called it a double-edged sword. It could either destroy what little remains of my reputation, or..." His eyes glowed with calculated ambition. "...it could raise me as a hero. Everything depends on execution. If we handle it poorly, then we suffer the worst consequences. But if we play it right..." He leaned back with a sigh, rubbing his temple. "...we turn this disaster into an opportunity."

Meanwhile, in the middle of this tense discussion, Lisa stood completely bewildered.

’What?! Why am I even listening to this? What the hell is their plan...?’

Of everyone in the room, Lisa was by far the most confused. She had no idea why she was being included in something this secretive. She wasn’t even supposed to be here in the first place.

As if responding to her unspoken thoughts, Riech turned to Roosevelt and said, "To ensure that we don’t mess this up, I’ve brought her here to serve under you."

Roosevelt’s eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

"Her boyfriend is currently in Marquess Robart’s territory and is expected to return within a week," Riech continued. "I want you to take her under your supervision. Don’t worry about her being a liability—she’s quite flexible. I can personally attest to that."

His smirk deepened slightly.

Lisa’s mind reeled. ’Wait... he’s actually giving me the reward he promised?!’

She had thought he was just toying with her about the reward. But now—he was really offering her an official position within his territory.

However, Roosevelt didn’t share her enthusiasm.

"No, my lord! I cannot accept this!" Roosevelt objected immediately, his voice firm. The reason was obvious—she was the servant of enemy. He couldn’t trust her.

Riech chuckled knowingly. "I expected you to object. That’s why—" He turned toward a nearby guard. "—fetch a soul parasite. A high-ranking one."

His smirk turned sinister.

"I’ll prove her loyalty to me."

*****

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