They all call me Great Master

"Garcia is your man, isn't he?"

Long before you consciously approached Scott, you had noticed this intelligence officer with considerable potential.

Then, with the means of the 'Black Cat Faction,' you had already recruited him under your command.

And then...

At an appropriate time, you 'naturally' sold your information to attract more attention—including that of the 'Cloak Society.' You and your 'Black Cat Faction' needed a more comprehensive 'intelligence system,' and the 'Cloak Society' just happened to fit the bill!

Besides, you must have also tried to find the upper echelons of the 'Cloak Society,' but to no avail.

So, unable to make contact and forge a cooperation, you simply chose to let someone blend in and gradually become a high-ranking member of the 'Cloak Society.'

No wonder you're a 'Black Cat' hidden 'behind the scenes.'

You seem even more dangerous than a snake!"

Despite talking about danger, Marinda's eyes were filled with admiration, and she gently clapped her hands.

"Indeed, that's how it is."

Arthur looked at Marinda in front of him and nodded calmly.

Marinda's reasoning was sound, so what reason did he have to refute?

None!

However, Arthur couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He had no idea what this woman had gone through, her paranoia was even stronger than his; he had only dug a few small pits in a row.

How could she make such unwarranted associations from every little thing?

Moreover, why did he, a young, honest, innocent, and kind 'Spirit Medium,' seem like a sinister villain in her description?

With these thoughts in his mind, Arthur continued to speak.

"So, you owe me one."

His offhand statement left Marinda without a comeback.

However, the lady still sneered twice.

"Without that contract, were you planning to take advantage of the Garcia matter and trap me severely?

No!

With your snaky nature, you would surely keep digging pits for me and, even earlier, you had already set the stage.

If I hadn't offered enough benefits, by now you might have already secretly taken quite a few things from me.

Moreover, if it had not been confirmed by the contract, I would have thought you were one of the 'Death Poetry Society' members hiding in South Los."

The lady said this, angrily exhaling mint-scented smoke in Arthur's direction.

If she hadn't been clever and knew when to give and take, her losses would be even greater by now.

But the hurt was still there.

Especially thinking about owing Arthur once more made the lady's mood even worse.

'Damn hidden families, each as cunning as a fox and with the venomous spite of a snake. If a small merchant like me wasn't extremely careful, I would have been swallowed whole without a corpse left behind. Luckily, Arthur was wary of that Earl, and luckily I set up in advance, not letting him figure out my true trump card—otherwise, that contract would never have been signed.'

With this thought, the lady's mood improved immediately.

She believed she had bluffed Arthur.

This was a contemporary 'Black Cat,' from the hidden family of the Kledos Family!

This achievement filled Marinda with excitement.

'Hmph, it might have been false before, but soon it'll be real—then I'll give you a scare!'

Feeling smug inside, Marinda spoke up.

"What do you want, just say it!

Don't go too far!"

Marinda reminded him.

'Heh, what are you hiding from me?

Being so smug...

Do you think you've taken advantage of me?

Or are you preparing to set a trap for me?

I must be careful!'

Catching a glimpse of Marinda's emotions, Arthur became internally vigilant in a flash, though his speech did not falter.

"A coffin, a graveyard, a sacrifice."

Arthur listed three items.

Marinda was taken aback, looking at Arthur in disbelief.

Of course, the lady knew what Arthur wanted these things for, but it was precisely because she knew that she found it unbelievable—simply put, the lady had been ready to 'bleed a little.'

Or to put it more simply, the lady did not think of Arthur as a good person.

The intense contrast made the lady's pace of exhaling smoke slow down a bit.

The lady stared at the young 'Spirit Medium,' as if trying to see what evil thoughts were hidden behind his placid and unrippled face.

Unfortunately, this time she really couldn't perceive anything.

It seemed...

He was sincere?

Unable to judge, Marinda raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Click!

```

The crisp sound was followed by two servants from Number 6 White Bird Street approaching quickly from one side.

…

Late at night, at Anthony's Cemetery.

Arthur and Marinda walked side by side, while four cemetery workers carried a casket made entirely of cypress wood behind them, in which Grandma Andor lay asleep.

Under the moonlight, all was quiet.

Aside from the sound of footsteps, there was only the noise of Marinda puffing on her pipe.

After advancing six hundred meters, the Tomb Guardian leading the way stopped upon reaching the core of the cemetery.

"I-101, the best burial plot currently available in the cemetery."

The Tomb Guardian said, glancing at Arthur and Marinda with profound reverence in his eyes.

He didn't recognize Arthur, but he had heard of his reputation.

He had not only heard of Marinda but also knew her personally.

The memory of her bloodthirsty methods was still fresh in his mind.

That's why, when the 'Lady of the Long Night' came knocking late at night, if it hadn't been for the speed with which those gold notes had been flashed, he would have definitely fled.

He couldn't help it; it was too terrifying.

It wasn't just the fear of the 'Lady of the Long Night'; there was also...

The Death Hound!

Seeing the Death Hound almost blending into the Spirit Medium's shadow, the Tomb Guardian who had been involved in some shady dealings was scared witless.

After all, according to legend, the Death Hound is the 'Grim Reaper's Bastard Child', bred by the 'Judgment Chief' of The Eternal Resting Land to chase down those who defile the dead.

And he...

He had indeed done it a couple of times.

Just twice!

To find some base materials, not out of greed.

Then, because the ritual had failed, he had reluctantly done it twice more.

Really, just twice!

No lies!

Who would have thought that while doing such things, a real Death Hound would come to his doorstep.

Moreover, this Death Hound was raised by someone.

The Tomb Guardian, who deeply believed in myths and legends, felt his entire worldview shattering.

However, compared to his shattered beliefs, his life was more important.

Immediately, he offered the best burial plot — the very one he had planned to sell to Baron Harold, who had no heirs.

It was definitely not to make an extra profit.

Nor was it to peep at the Baron's treasured secret techniques.

It was simply out of kindness, unwilling to let the Baron be forlorn and alone after a hundred years.

According to legend, a dead person who is not offered sacrifices will be exiled from The Eternal Resting Land and become a pitiful wandering soul.

But that was before.

Now?

After directing his subordinates to place the cypress casket into the burial chamber, the Tomb Guardian quickly moved aside, watching the Spirit Medium close the door of the chamber and place fresh flowers, lit incense candles, and food in front of it — the later of which he had never seen before.

But he wouldn't doubt the professionalism that a Spirit Medium who raises a Death Hound should have.

He had never seen it; it was just his own ignorance.

'Take note! Take note!

It might be some kind of ritual!'

The Tomb Guardian thought to himself.

While the Tomb Guardian's eyes widened in an attempt to see more clearly, Marinda turned around and looked at him with a smirk.

Instantly, the Tomb Guardian was so frightened that he hastily retreated. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Consequently, he prudently moved more than a hundred meters away.

"Anthony, the operator of this cemetery, a Mystic Side Person with an intense curiosity — I've dealt with him before... quite wealthy.

But don't worry, Grandma Andor won't be disturbed here," Marinda assured.

Marinda's assessment allowed Arthur to immediately understand what other jobs the Tomb Guardian might have.

However, he was currently in a good financial situation.

So, the man wasn't worth paying attention to.

After all, everyone has their own way of living, right?

As long as Grandma Andor was undisturbed, that was what mattered.

'I hope you and Cotton find happiness in The Eternal Resting Land.'

Arthur offered his prayers to Grandma Andor.

The soft blessing intertwined with the smoke from the incense candles, dancing and swirling into the night, as if truly delivering the blessings to the ears of the departed.

But as Arthur was offering his prayers, he narrowed his eyes —

Something was wrong!

The incense candles were burning too quickly!

```