Sorcerer’s Handbook

Banjeet’s confusion was shared by everyone.

Ashe nodded, “Exactly. After all, both Harvey and I have made appearances in the Future Ranking, while Igor hasn’t shown up even once… Why is Yvaren so partial to Igor? What does she hope to get from the male Bewitcher?”

At this point, everyone looked at Annan.

Annan raised her eyebrows, “Why are you all looking at me?”

“Because it was your decision to bring us to Mephila,” Ashe said. “And you know Yvaren. If anyone here understands Miss Belldate best, it’s you.”

Banjeet was also curious, “I only found out about your relationship with Miss Yvaren when we got here.”

Annan crossed her legs and lightly played with her earring, as if processing information in her mind to cook up a Funeral delicacy. “Yvaren… my relationship with her goes way back. We haven’t been in contact since she took over as the patriarch.”

She seemed unwilling to reveal the secrets of “How to Meet a Super Rich Beauty and Get Rich,” and went straight to the point. “Yvaren’s personality is actually quite normal. Growing up in an environment where everyone fawns over you, even if you were ice cream, you wouldn’t melt. Her character, qualities, and virtues are naturally impeccable. Apart from being very particular about height, she’s pretty much like any other girl.”

“If I had to say, it’s that she’s too ordinary-so ordinary that she actually yearns for a simple and sincere sweet romance. She knows her biggest obstacle in love is her own status, so she once ran away from home, hoping for a thrilling and exciting adventure.”

“Well, the previous patriarch of the Belldate family paid for her to experience her dream adventure,” Annan shrugged. “When she found out the truth, she gave up on pursuing that kind of ordinary happiness and returned home to inherit a trillion-dollar conglomerate.”

“Speaking of which, Yvaren looks quite young. How did she become the patriarch at such an age?” Harvey asked. “What about her parents?”

“Besides knowing that they’re deceased, there’s not much information. But their deaths have nothing to do with the patriarch position—Belldate patriarchs are generally unmarried, and the heirs are usually nieces or nephews. So, Yvaren’s parents were not the patriarchs; her aunt was the previous patriarch.”

Annan continued, “And almost all Belldate patriarchs have taken up the position at a young age. If the previous patriarch didn’t retire and live in anonymity but rather died, then no Belldate patriarch has lived past 40.”

“Wait!” Ashe raised his hand. “What about the death times of the patriarchs’ biological parents?”

Annan’s expression turned a bit subtle. “Not clear, but there’s no record of a Belldate patriarch’s parents being alive. Statistically, it’s safe to equate ‘becoming patriarch’ with ‘having no living parents.’”

“Then we have to tell Igor this—”

“It won’t help,” Harvey said calmly.

Ashe looked at the necromancer in surprise. “How can it not help? He’ll end up as a sacrificial offering for his own child!”

“So what? It takes years for a child to grow up.” Harvey shook his head. “Do you think a Con Artist cares about long-term benefits that span over a decade? Do you think a Con Artist fears a risk that won’t materialize for years?”

“And considering his nature, any loophole you can think of, and even those you can’t, he’s definitely investigated thoroughly. As meticulous as I am during dissections, he’s just as thorough in his investigations. Trying to warn him in his professional domain only makes me feel you’re underestimating Igor Bukin.”

Ashe was slightly taken aback and slowly closed the Gospel Book.

“Could it be that Igor’s appearance caught Miss Yvaren’s attention?” Banjeet speculated.

Annan shook her head and waved her hand, giving the butler a double negation. “I already said, Yvaren is just an ordinary girl. She’s not infatuated to the point of being lovestruck. Even if she were, why would she have her sister marry Igor? In this world, who would like a forbidden love?”

Ashe blinked and subconsciously wiped away non-existent blood from his face.

Annan continued, “Betting the entire Belldate conglomerate on one person—Igor being handsome aside—even if Igor were the reincarnation of her Angel ancestor, she’d still have to think it through.”

“Actually, you can think about it the other way around; it might make more sense.”

Everyone looked at the ‘Lise’ in Ashe’s arms. ‘Lise’ said, “Why didn’t Yvaren choose Harvey or Ashe? There must be reasons why she couldn’t choose them.”

Banjeet suddenly realized, “Right, if I were Miss Yvaren, I definitely wouldn’t choose Mr. Harvey. Not to mention Mr. Harvey’s future theft of his ancestor’s legacy, more importantly, Mr. Harvey’s reputation is already completely ruined. Supporting Mr. Harvey means going against the entire Gospel.”

Harvey scratched his ear awkwardly. “Thanks.”

“That’s not a compliment,” Annan said irritably. “And not choosing Ashe is also understandable. The Empire is still hunting him. Tying Ashe to the Belldate’s chariot would be seeking one’s own doom…”

Ashe nodded, then shook his head. “But those are just reasons not to choose us. The conditions that Dwarf proposed to Igor are too favorable. Igor must have something Belldate needs.”

“That I don’t know,” Annan shrugged.

The room fell silent for a moment before Harvey spoke up, “So what do we do?”

“If Igor decides to defect and become Belldate’s son-in-law, do we send two coffins as a wedding blessing, or do we try to destroy this rare, possibly once-in-a-lifetime chance for Igor to turn the tables?”

Whether to first mock ‘defect’ or ‘send two coffins’… The points to ridicule were so dense that Annan felt her ability to verbalize her thoughts couldn’t keep up with her growing need to mock, so she remained silent.

“If Igor successfully falls in love with Anfel,” Ashe counted on his fingers, “he not only escapes the Funeral Firm, he also gains control over Belldate’s trillion-dollar assets, gets Belldate’s support to continue sweeping the Weaving Festival, and could even end up dominating us… Most importantly, he gets a pure, kind, beautiful, and lovely wife.”

“I think the answer is pretty obvious,” Ashe said, spreading his hands. “As a friend, a comrade, a cellmate, I can’t convince myself not to cause trouble! How can I just stand by and watch Igor find happiness!?”

Harvey reminded, “But don’t forget, if Igor manages to dominate Annan, we can also break free from the Funeral Firm. Supporting Igor could be beneficial for us.”

Annan glanced at the necromancer, but she wasn’t angry because Banjeet helped dispel their treacherous thoughts of betrayal. “Mr. Harvey, do you think Mr. Bukin would cancel your Pact with Miss, or would he continue to control you through her Pact?”

Harvey suddenly realized, “Right. How could I doubt Igor’s character?”

“Besides,” Ashe said seriously, “don’t you feel sick seeing someone else find happiness?”

“Indeed,” Harvey nodded.

“In so many ways, it’s unforgivable,” Annan said, lightly flicking her earring.

Although Banjeet naturally agreed with interfering with Igor since he was on the Funeral Firm’s side, watching the three like-minded individuals in front of him made the sixty-something butler feel a twinge of guilt in his conscience…