1134 Trap's Trap

This man's achievements were made public by the Duke and apparently, he's living in the Imperial Quarters now.

'He could get me in…' Theoron's eyes shone brightly and he slowly got up.

A while later, Constantine bid farewell to the guards and entered a bar. He was low-key and didn't bother anyone.

Yet, his sheer temperament made it hard for anyone to ignore him. But it also made them wary of approaching him.

Under this situation, Theoron sat in the high chair next to him and ordered a strong cocktail.

After taking a couple more shots, he started speaking. "Mister Constant, I've something to say."

Varian raised a brow and properly acted, showing his vigilance. But inwardly, he laughed. 'You have taken the bait, little guy.

"Speak."

"I have a medicine that could alleviate the condition of the big man." Theoron was straightforward. "Not cure, but alleviate. I'm not doubting your medical skills, but no one has been able to cure him so far. Maybe you can. But even for you, this medicine can be helpful, yes?"

"I need a sample." Varian said, trying 'hard' to conceal his excitement.

Theoron sighed in relief inwardly. Thankfully, Constantine had taken his 'bait'. "Here."

Varian sniffed the small powder in the jar and the bartender gave him a sideways glance as if saying 'Seriously?' 

But Varian ignored him and his breathing unconsciously stopped. 'This has a partial life strand, but instead of being harmful, it's helpful.'

There was something that Varian had been ignoring so far. Every imperial guard he fought so far, including the rank 3s had partial life strands in them.

It must've been given to them in very little quantities every time so even they didn't realize it. Now, it slowly cumulated to a substantial amount. It wouldn't kill them but it could surely weaken them for a while.

'The same with the medicine Akira gave me…' Varian thought of the pills that woman shoved into his hands.

They too had life strands but were carefully concealed. Even the Duke couldn't find them.

By taking them, his condition would be relieved a bit for a while. But it's just drinking poison to quench thirst. They'd act sooner or later and deal a big blow to him.

Someone was poisoning the imperial guards for years, no, decades.

When he heard Theoron's words in the Inn a few days ago, Varian didn't think much of it. But now, he's willing to believe.

If Barix was behind this poisoning, then they're really serious about the takeover. Despite the popular knowledge, they might really succeed.

"Mr. Constant?" Theoron waved his hand and called him out for the sixth time.

"Huh? Yes?" Varian snapped out of his thoughts and blinked.

"What do you think? I just need a small help from you and you can have all the medicine I have."

Varian wanted to bait the Prince and take him to the Palace before. But now, he wanted more.

"The medicine is very helpful for me. But…" Varian rested his elbows on the bar and leaned towards Theoron. "I need the source of the medicine."

"I don't know." Theoron shook his head without hesitation.

"Then the deal wouldn't work." Varian stood up.

"W-Wait!" Theron almost yelled and garnered them unwanted attention. Looking around, he lowered his voice to the point of a whisper. "I…I only know a bit."

"Go on." Varian sat back with a smile.

'Benevolent doctor? Bah! This guy is an expert negotiator!' Theoron cursed inside his mind but spoke anyway. "It's taken from the remnants of strands of life, which I found on a frozen star of the Barix Province. It's then taken by a powerhouse."

'So the Barix Lord found it on a frozen star. Wait, a frozen star?' Varian tapped the bar in contemplation.

Even with his current power, Varian couldn't break the sun into pieces. He estimated he had to at least reach rank 4 for that.

But even at rank 4, freezing a star and not breaking it? That's much harder.

How do you freeze a star? Just stop the nuclear fusion and then suck away the heat energy. So, a lot of matter and energy control? At least a rank 7 celestial ranker.

'Why did people from Nexus fight there?' Varian wondered but it wasn't something he could touch for now.

The best guess he had was that it was related to the war 500 years ago. It seems like had to visit the Barix Province sometime in the future.

"This is all I know." Theoron sighed.

This was a big secret he was never supposed to learn. The so-called 'conspiracies' of Barix he learned were nothing compared to this.

While he told Catherine that the reason his memory might've been distorted was because he learned about Barix's conspiracies, he was really certain that it was because of this reason.

"I could kill and take your possessions," Varian said in a light tone.

Theoron froze like a statue but eventually gathered his courage to say. "You wouldn't or you'll never find the medicine."

"I can call in the guards, get you tortured to make you spit out their location, no?" Varian asked nonchalantly.

"Please stop the childish threats, sine I appeared in front of you, I have confidence in escaping." Theoron did smile a confident smile.

'Yes, yes, fake it till you make it.' Varian nodded inwardly but on the outside, he put on a serious expression and said. "Very well, what's your request?"

'He jumped into my trap!' Theoron and Varian both sighed in relief.

"I want to meet someone in the Imperial Quarters. That person can't come out because of the marriage. But I have to meet her."

"Who? Your lover?" Varian asked in a joking tone.

"Yes. She is...a maid, yes, a maid, they wouldn't let her out. But I have to meet her. I'm going on a long journey and I have to take her with me." Theoron said with a heartbroken expression.

Varian almost spat the cocktail he was sipping. Catherine would be very pleased to learn she was called a maid.

"I can't trust you. There's no evidence." Varian shook his head.

Theoron clenched his fist. This was something he couldn't help. What should he do? How could he convince him…

"But I trust my eyesight. You're not lying." Varian said with a profound expression.

"Thank you! Thank you for trusting me."

'I should be the one saying that.' Varian cringed internally.

"Let's go, Junior brother!" Varian wrapped his arm around Theoron's shoulder and walked towards the palace with a bright smile.

As for Theoron's identity? Didn't he have a good friend who worked as the Chief of Intelligence?

His junior brother was hunted by the drug lords in hiding for helping him and needed a place to stay. Akira would 'help' him. Anyway, with one more person in the palace, she just gained an extra hostage to make him obey her orders.

It went as he imagined.

With Akira's help, Theoron was able to enter the Imperial Quarters smoothly. The man gave him half of the promised medicine and vowed to give the rest once he met his lover.

Just a few hours later, Varian was called by the Duke for treatment.