Chapter 179: Trap(3)
Chapter 179: Trap(3)
To reiterate, I currently have the authority to summarily execute these Elves. Not only is it permitted by law, but no one would object to killing a common thief.
However, just as one must use minnows as bait to catch a big fish, I need to utilize these Elves effectively to wipe out the Elder Council in one fell swoop. The Elder Council isn't entirely composed of fools, so meticulously setting the stage isn't just an option—it's a necessity.
First and foremost: the 'Blood Pact.' A Blood Pact is difficult to use because it requires the other party's consent, but it's incredibly effective in situations like this where lives are on the line.
Of course, there's always the risk of the master dying or the servant escaping through a loophole, but since Cecile is the one personally overseeing it, that's not a concern. The real issue lies with the Elves themselves.
Again, a Blood Pact can only be established with the other party's consent. Arwen had accepted it willingly as penance for her sins, but I doubted these Elves would be so cooperative.
As everyone knows, Elves—especially those of the Old Generation—are notoriously prideful. There are more than a few ghost stories about Elves who, out of stubbornness in the most useless situations, ended up dead or suffered mental collapses after being violated.
If they were that kind of race, how would they react to a Blood Pact, which was essentially a slave contract?
"I refuse! Are you telling us to become slaves to a Demon?!"
"Such a disgrace... I would rather die."
Predictably, as soon as I mentioned the Blood Pact, they raised their voices in vehement refusal. They knew exactly what kind of magic a Blood Pact was, which was why they were so adamant.
Above all, the master of the pact wouldn't be me, but Cecile. To Old Generation Elves, who viewed Demons with instinctive loathing, their pride would never allow it.
However, I had anticipated this. I stared blankly at the Elves who were struggling and resisting before turning to my father, who stood behind them.
"Father. Do you have a sharp knife?"
"Are you planning to cut off their ears?"
"What choice do I have? They won't listen. I'll have to cut them."
"I-I'll do it! Just... not the ears...!"
"We were wrong!"
The moment I threatened to cut their ears—exploiting their immense pride—the Elves prostrated themselves. Honestly, why do they insist on doing things the hard way?
As a result, the Elves entered into a Blood Pact presided over by Cecile. Although they couldn't use mana, we proceeded by untying them one by one, just in case.
The expressions of utter humiliation on the Elves' faces as they signed the contracts were quite a sight. Of course, since Cecile might find their attitudes offensive, I made sure to tap my finger against my ear every time they looked indignant.
Threatened with the loss of their ears at any moment, their faces turned pale, and they forced themselves to relax. In truth, I had no intention of actually cutting them, but given the circumstances, they had no choice but to believe me.
With the Blood Pacts established, I locked eyes with Kalas for the experiment. Kalas looked frigid, as if he had never experienced such a profound insult in his life.
"Now then. Shall we ask a few questions for the sake of the experiment? Tell me, where does Xenon live?"
"That is..."
Kalas, well aware of the pact's power, couldn't finish his sentence, his lips merely trembling. I couldn't experiment on Arwen because she harbored no ill will, but Kalas was a different story.
I watched Kalas struggle to speak, then let out a long sigh and spoke quietly.
"You know what happens if you don't talk, right?"
"Xe... Gah!"
The moment Kalas tried to answer my threat, his eyes bulged, and he let out a pain-filled scream before collapsing. He had only uttered the first syllable of 'Xenon' within the Maishal territory, but the effect was spectacular.
After a moment, once the pain subsided, Kalas gasped for breath and slowly lifted his head. He must have been in agony; in that short span, cold sweat poured down his face, and his hair was matted with perspiration.
This was impossible to fake. I didn't think I needed any further confirmation.
"The Blood Pact seems to be firmly in place... Now, as for what's left..."
"Should I plant an explosion spell in their ears?"
"Hic!"
As I muttered while stroking my chin, Cecile made a suggestion. Immediately, the sound of someone catching a hiccup echoed from the front.
Planting a bomb in their ears wasn't a bad idea, but it was largely redundant since the Blood Pact was already active. Eavesdropping or recording magic would be more appropriate.
However, eavesdropping magic was too conspicuous. While a Blood Pact wouldn't be detected even during a body search, eavesdropping magic would almost certainly be discovered.
Furthermore, an old fox like Piren, who had been immersed in politics for centuries, would likely prioritize safety and certainty, making it highly probable that he would search them.
"No, it's fine. The Blood Pact is enough. Instead, I need to make sure these people don't try anything funny..."
"T-That will never happen! I swear it!"
"Y-Yes! We've already taken the Blood Pact, what more do you need?!"
How can they sound so desperate yet so untrustworthy? I watched Mael and Lena plead piteously before turning my gaze back to Kalas.
Kalas was still trying to steady his breathing, the pain lingering. Beads of cold sweat clung to the tip of his chin.
In truth, the success of what came next depended entirely on how well they could act. If the Elder Council grew suspicious, the whole plan would fall apart.
I pondered how to proceed and decided to ask another question to refine the plan. Specifically, about the situation after I sent them back.
"When you return, will you go straight to report to the Elf named Piren?"
"...Yes."
"And you'll tell him the results of your pursuit."
Instead of a verbal answer, Kalas nodded. This was where I had to use the Blood Pact cleverly.
The Blood Pact was set to inflict extreme pain if they revealed the 'truth' regarding Xenon, but it would have no effect if they lied. Therefore, if these people mixed lies into their report, they would be fine.
Even mixing a small amount of truth into a lie would trigger the pact. There was almost no way to craftily wiggle out of it.
‘But it would be a problem if they decided to risk everything and reveal they're under a Blood Pact.’
People tend to go for broke when cornered. It was wise to prepare for that eventuality.
The question was whether I could prevent that or make them too afraid to even consider it. I had to choose one of the two.
"Hmm..."
"Is something bothering you?"
Cecile asked gently, noticing my pensive expression. I replied in a voice that sounded troubled.
"Well, if these Elves decide to risk their lives and signal that they're under a Blood Pact, things get complicated. I was wondering if there's a way to prevent even that. Should I really plant bombs in their ears?"
"Even that might be a problem, wouldn't it? They'd realize it's a trap."
"This is a real headache..."
"... ..."
As our conversation continued, the Elves' complexions grew increasingly pale. Seeing that, the corners of my mouth curled upward.
‘If I attach Siris to them, the situation changes easily.’
In fact, the entire conversation above was a pre-planned bluff. There was a simple solution right in front of me, so there was no need for deep agonizing.
Once I let the Elves go, I would have Siris tail them. She was well-versed in magic, so I could have her handle the eavesdropping and recording.
A Dark Elf's stealth was such that even skilled individuals couldn't easily detect it, and Siris was a veteran warrior. Even if Piren was cautious, it would be difficult for him to perceive her presence.
Above all, they likely wouldn't even anticipate the possibility of a Dark Elf watching them. I'd have to consult with Arwen, but she would likely agree readily.
The reason for spinning such a long string of lies was simple: to make these Elves certain of their situation.
If I showed them that I had arrived at a 'suitable' method after much deliberation, they would believe it implicitly. Honestly, given the circumstances, they had no choice but to believe.
Who wouldn't believe it when their lives and their ears were on the line?
After a moment, I pretended to have a breakthrough, snapping my fingers and letting out an exclamation.
"Ah! That'll work. Noona."
"Yes?"
"Let me borrow your ear for a second."
I straightened my knees and asked Cecile for her ear. If I showed them the process openly, they might become suspicious, so these small details were necessary.
Elves have excellent hearing to match their long ears, but a soundproofing spell would solve that. As Cecile set up the soundproofing magic, I leaned in close to her ear and whispered.
‘Tell my parents that they'll need to stay at our mansion for a while. Give them a rough idea of the situation. Got it? Oh, and I love you.’
When I pulled away, Cecile blinked, looking puzzled. As expected of a princess, her facial acting was top-notch.
Of course, her face reddened slightly at the "I love you," but it was dark enough that they wouldn't notice.
"Will that be enough?"
"Is it difficult?"
"Not difficult, no."
"Then please start right away."
As soon as she heard me, Cecile walked over to the Elves and reached out. Her hand moved toward their ears—the very symbol of an Elf.
She tapped Kalas's ear with her long finger and immediately pulled away. Since only a tiny amount of mana had flowed in, he would only feel a slight sensation and nothing more.
While Kalas wore a look of confusion, Cecile proceeded to touch Mael's and Lena's ears in turn. Unlike Kalas, the two younger Elves trembled visibly.
Once Cecile finished and returned to my side, I examined the Elves' faces. I saw a mixture of doubt, dread, and sheer terror.
"You're probably wondering what Cecile Noona just did. It's actually quite simple. You know about Black Mana, right? The symbol of the Demon Tribe, the mana said to be used by devils."
"... ..."
"She injected that mana into your ears. You might not know much about Demons, but Black Mana is lethal to other living beings. Especially for Elves. You'll be fine for the first few days, but like a drop of ink on white paper, your ears will slowly begin to turn black. It's not a curse, but pure mana, so even divine power won't work on it. To fix it, another Demon has to absorb that mana. It's not like anyone else can absorb Black Mana. You understand what I'm saying, right?"
As I nonchalantly asked for their input at the end, the Elves' faces went from pale to deathly white. Their ears wouldn't just turn bronze like a Dark Elf's; they would turn pitch black as if infected by a plague.
It was a phenomenon so gruesome that cutting them off might seem preferable, yet they couldn't actually cut them off. In short, it meant they had to rely on a Demon for help.
For those who lived off the pride of being chosen by the gods, this was a punishment that utterly crushed that pride.
However, there was one thing they didn't know...
‘It's all a lie.’
I had explained it grandly, but it was all fabrication. While it's true that Black Mana can harm other races besides Demons, it doesn't discolor the skin. According to literature, it merely causes a slight fever as the body's internal defenses react, much like a virus or bacterial infection.
Furthermore, that only applied to first-generation Demons. After a long time and consistent prayer, the Black Mana of modern Demons was closer to pure mana. The only difference was that their properties were distinct, like oil and water.
The reason this lie worked was that almost nothing was known about the Demon Tribe. Until the publication of the Xenon Biography, Demons were treated as devils, so even if one wanted to know, they couldn't.
And what of the Old Generation Elves? They were so steeped in negative perceptions of Demons that even a clumsy lie like this would pass.
"So, if you don't want to cut off your own ears, you'd better listen well. Since it's pure mana, it won't be detected even if you're searched. Got it?"
"I... understand..."
"W-We will! So please, just not the ears..."
"You'll really, really heal us, right? Right? Please say you will...!"
Kalas was in despair, while Mael and Lena began to wail and plead. Seeing Elves with such beautiful features react like that made my conscience prickle slightly, but they were the ones who had sold their consciences first.
I was merely fighting back; it was self-defense. This world is infinitely generous toward self-defense, so I was able to harden my heart.
"You don't need to worry. Whether I take action or leave you be will depend on what you do. Now, first..."
Only one thing remained.
"I'll tell you exactly what report you're going to give to Piren."
It was time to catch the big fish.