Published at 20th of January 2026 8:29 am

Chapter 1432: Faceless Man

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"He is a powerful man and a stranger," Marlow said in a firm tone.

"And given the dark undercurrents of the city, allowing someone like him to remain is a risk. We know little of his true intentions. I propose we ask him to leave."

Duke Quinn couldn’t help but frown.

"With respect, Your Highness," he began. "Power alone does not make a man an enemy. Nilrem came openly, spoke candidly, and made no attempt to hide himself. That alone sets him apart from the shadows we are worried about."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Also, might I remind you that Nilrem has already sworn a mana oath? He has proven that he isn’t related to the Haynam Empire."

Duke Bray nodded in agreement. "If anything, a man of his caliber could become an ally. Forcing him out may turn a neutral party into a hostile one. At a time like this, we cannot afford to alienate potential support."

Marlow’s gaze hardened. "Or we allow him to stay, and invite another unknown variable into an already fragile situation!"

"The city is already fragile, My Prince." Duke Quinn nodded. "That is precisely why capable individuals matter."

Silence followed. Marlow had said what he needed to say. If he spoke further on this topic, it might come across that he had some personal vendetta against the wandering Magus. And within the council, making decisions based on emotions was frowned upon.

The weight of the decision settled over the chamber as the King slipped into deep thought. At last, his lips parted, and he said in an even voice:

"Magus Nilrem stays."

He then turned to his son and added, "For now."

With that said, he rose to his feet and prepared to leave. The other three Magi also simultaneously stood up and bowed in respect.

One by one, all of them left the chamber, leaving behind only Marlow.

Sunlight filtered through the glass window, illuminating one half of his face while the other remained engulfed in shadows... an unspoken reflection of the struggle within him.

***

Palace District.

Adam sat cross-legged on the ground of a dimly lit chamber.

To the guards patrolling his residence, it looked as though he was merely practicing mindfulness. But in truth, he was quietly observing Marlow, and through him, the King and his council as well.

He had left another serpent on the Prince the night he had dropped him off at the palace. Adam would only cancel the summons when Marlow went to meet the Enchantress. He was still very cautious about being caught by the enemy Mana Core Magus.

When Adam witnessed Marlow’s proposal to drive him out of the city, he couldn’t help but frown.

He thought to himself in slight confusion.

Even if that woman has cast some form of potent enchantment magic on Marlow, the effects shouldn’t be this immediate.

This could only mean that he didn’t have a very good impression of me, even before meeting that woman.

Yes, that’s likely it. He probably didn’t like my views on the Dark King...

Adam couldn’t help but sigh.

Through his telepathic link with the serpent, he intently studied Marlow’s expression — no matter how subtle — throughout the council meeting.

And by the time the meeting ended, he finally had an idea about what the Cult was planning.

His heart turned cold when he thought about it.

Planning to pit Marlow against his own family, eh?

His lips curled into a faint smile.

So ruthless! But I must admit... it’s quite ingenious.

Following that reasoning, it would make sense to remove someone like me from the city, someone who could become a dangerous variable for the... coup!

What’s next? Maybe convince the two Dukes to take his side.

But what about the King? He’s said to be a very powerful Mana Vortex Magus. Maybe that’s where the Cult comes in.

By then, the world will just think of this incident as House Fireborne’s internal politics, and when all this is over, the Cult will have a puppet on the throne of Ignisra.

Adam shook his head slightly, letting out a cold chuckle. He believed that his deductions weren’t far from the truth. Even if there were minor deviations, the Cult’s plan had to be more or less similar to what he had in mind.

He leaned back and laughed.

Had he not hidden his true strength and arrived in Amberfall wearing someone else’s face, then the events following his arrival would have been vastly different.

Adam had to admit... he quite liked being a faceless man.

With a smile on his face, he began to think about his next steps. It went without saying he would do everything in his power to protect House Fireborne and ensure they remained the rulers of the Ignisra Kingdom.

But how do I go about it?

He wondered.

The Enchantress would want to meet up with the Prince several more times to ensure that her magic properly took hold. So that meant Adam still had some time to prepare.

I can’t become her.

Nor can I become the cultist.

I can be the hero.

I can be the villain.

I can be the friend who never betrays you.

I can be the stranger you can trust.

So whose face do I wear?

Gradually, the image of a person took shape in his mind. In that moment, Adam knew it was the perfect face to wear, one that would put him squarely at the crossroads of allies and enemies alike.

And so began his great game...

***

It was just another ordinary day.

Count Burne Ward sat alone in his study, the silence in the room broken only by the rustling of parchments and the scratching sounds of the quill.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating ledgers spread neatly across his desk. He worked methodically, reviewing the week’s revenues from his various establishments.

His expression remained calm and detached, as though he were examining the accounts of mundane businesses rather than discreet brothels that quietly funded most of his influence.

Satisfied with the numbers, Burne Ward leaned back in his chair and sighed.

Right at that moment, an unfamiliar voice echoed in his study:

"Those are quite the profits you’ve made this week."

Count Ward’s heart skipped a beat, and he frantically rose to his feet.

"Who?!" He looked at the source of the voice.

There stood an elderly man by the window, sunlight illuminating his gentle features. Nilrem waved a hand and said politely:

"Good day, my Count. Might have a moment of your time?"

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