Published at 15th of February 2026 10:09 am

Chapter 1506 Revenue Share

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Adam hadn't been idle in the past six months.

After killing the two traitors — Damon and Vaelor — and sowing discord between the surviving traitors, he had promptly left Sprindale and traveled north.

Over the past months, something unseen and faceless had been tearing through the Cult's lower ranks along the border between the Haynam Empire and the Sovereign Union.

Cells had vanished overnight, supply routes collapsed without explanation, and messengers ominously disappeared, leaving only silence and suspicion behind.

No name was spoken, no figure was confirmed, only the sense that someone was moving and striking just hard enough to leave chaos behind and then disappearing again.

Of course, this was just a diversion.

A riskier game was being played elsewhere. Through calculated risks, careful manipulation, and sustained effort, Adam had developed an asset within the Cult's upper echelons!

This person was close enough to access information that was normally unreachable. It was a slow and painful process, but in the end, the effort paid off.

A complete list of Brotherhood Wardens who had been compromised by the Cult — that was the fruit of Adam's work!

The answer that Berger was searching for had already been secured, right under everyone's nose.

Of course, Adam had yet to get his hands on it.

To ensure his asset's safety and keep their cover intact, numerous measures were taken. They were extremely risky, but well worth it. The intelligence was deliberately routed through multiple third parties, ensuring no direct trail could ever be traced back to its true source.

And now that Adam had returned to Springdale, it was finally time to secure it.

Nilrem walked through the streets of Scholar Ward, moving at an unhurried pace. Street lamps lined the roads, their glow casting a pale light over the stone walkways and buildings.

Unlike the Trade Ward, where merchants shouted prices and carts clogged every street, the Scholar Ward was quieter and more controlled.

Young Magi passed in small groups, deep in discussion, while scholars carried stacks of books and scrolls under their arms.

Nilrem curled his mustache with a faint smile on his elderly face as he took in the vibe of this district. He then turned down a narrower street and gradually came to a halt before a storefront.

It was a modest bookshop nestled between two research halls of one of the local academies.

Westview Archive — that was his destination.

The bell above the door chimed softly as he stepped into the bookstore. Warm lamplight filled the space, and the air smelled of ink and old parchment.

The shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter and displayed a welcoming smile.

"Evening," he said. "Feel free to browse. Let me know if you're looking for anything in particular."

Nilrem displayed a brilliant smile as he tapped the leather satchel at his side. "Actually, I'm hoping to sell a few books I've written. Travelogues, mostly. They're firsthand accounts and the best in the land, if I say so myself."

That immediately caught the old shopkeeper's attention. "Written by you?" He took the books and read through the titles on the cover.

Then his eyes widened. "Nilrem's Guide to Mabi?! And even… Yen-Lu!"

"Hohoho!" Nilrem puffed his chest out in pride. "They're remarkably detailed, my friend. You can see for yourself. Oh, by the way, I was hoping to see if you have anything interesting tucked away in some corner here."

"By all means," the shopowner said without looking up. He was already reading about the so-called jade beauties in Nilrem's Guide to Yen-Lu. "Take your time!"

As the man continued leafing through the book with growing fascination, Nilrem wandered toward the back of the store, casually scanning spines and titles. His pace was slow and unhurried, as if he was simply another curious scholar passing the evening among books.

He pulled a few works of fiction from the tall wooden shelves, flipping through them absentmindedly as he moved along the aisle.

Suddenly, he paused before a certain book. His eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he read its title on the spine.

Odyssey of the Red King.

This was the one he had been looking for.

Without drawing attention to it, he slipped the book from the shelf, added a few more at random, and made his way back toward the counter.

"I must say, mister." The shopowner reluctantly looked up from the pages of Nilrem's book. "These are utterly fascinating!"

"Of course, they are!" Nilrem laughed. "I wrote them, after all."

He set the stack of books down on the counter and said. "These are the ones I wish to buy. Also, we should discuss the revenue share for my books that you'll be selling. If they sell well, I can provide you with more copies."

"Are you planning to write a guide for our beautiful city as well?" The shopowner asked with bright eyes.

"Hoho! That goes without saying!"

The two chatted for a few more minutes, hammering out the details of the deal. It wasn't long before Nilrem left the bookstore and made his way to Trade Ward on foot.

He knew he was constantly being watched, so he didn't change faces, and neither did he choose to remain in a concealed state. He actually wanted the city officials to know every move he made.

Nilrem eventually made his way back to the Trade Ward and checked into a well-known establishment, though not before spending a good time haggling over the price of his stay per night.

The old man entered the room and headed straight to the bathroom. Once inside, he erected a barrier around himself and took out Odyssey of the Red King.

He took a deep breath, his heart beating with anticipation, and held the book by its front and back covers and let the pages hang loose. In the narrow space between the spine and the pages, a thin piece of paper was tucked away, concealed with great care.

The moment Nilrem spotted it, a smirk bloomed on his face.

He carefully pulled out the thin strip of paper and glanced over the coded message left behind by his asset behind enemy lines.

The message contained the clue that would lead directly to the list of Wardens compromised by the Cult of Bones!

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