Keynes and Wagner were having a drink as they watched the people from the Ministry take care of their prisoners. Wagner was against needless killing and the Ministry was more than happy to take the troopers away from his estate.

“This is quite strong,” Keynes muttered, while the heat spread all over his body. “What is it?”

“Level 2 stuff,” Wagner replied enigmatically.

“What kind of stuff?”

“Something I wouldn’t ask about until you empty your glass.”

That didn’t sound off-putting at all—on the other hand—it tasted great and had an energising and relaxing effect. Keynes swallowed the desire to know, at least for now, and moved on to another topic.

“Fine. I won’t ask for now but I’ll want to know how you make it.”

Wagner nodded and Keynes continued.

“With Rugman withdrawing the army from Geneva and Hellescott’s failure, I think it is safe to say that your insightful plan of fighting Freeman has failed.” Keynes glanced expectantly at Wanger who stood with renewed confidence, wearing blue hanfu with long, wide sleeves. The orange and white decorations on the fabric represented flowers. The garment fitted him, elevating his calm, majestic outlook, minus the cold eyes he’d had the first time they met.

Somehow, he also managed to find time to have his haircut done after Keynes’s fight with Hellescott. Keynes had to admit that the short sides and back, and an exuberant mane on top of Wagner’s head looked good. Keynes preferred to keep his hair shoulder-length though. He had no particular sentiment to do so. Vivena had certainly glanced at him more often but that could mean anything. Daiyu Fen, on the other hand, had been more direct and had told him that long hair suited him.

It took Wagner a few minutes to find a reply. He finished the magical drink and put it on a small table brought outside for his leisure. Then he half-turned to Keynes.

“Yes. I overestimated the Fruit of Insight,” he replied and added in a whisper. “Just don’t tell anyone. It might be bad for the business.”

Keynes didn’t comment on it, knowing that there must be more.

And there was.

“It seems that I have much to learn, Keynes, even when it comes to the plants. The rifts, or more precisely, what lies inside them, show us how little we know about the System. I have to tell you, my Talent and minor upgrade aren’t that good. They boost the chance of anything I grow to gain an extra property but this isn’t as simple as it sounds. Talents are usually bad at explaining all the important details, leaving us the hard way to figure stuff out.

“So, long story short, it turned out the insight I received was exclusively about you while excluding everyone else. I made the mistake of assuming it was the future I saw. It wasn’t, it was a possibility with the best outcome.”

“I still find it creepy that a fruit told you so much about me. I was pissed off when Hugo told me about the Old Blood suppressing knowledge. But now, I, kind of, understand it. Imagine your enemies have the fruits.”

Master, but your understanding of this is incorrect, Alice said.

“What? How?” Keynes forgot himself and asked aloud. Wagner narrowed his eyes but didn’t ask questions.

I am not allowed to reveal it. You must discover it on your own.

Since Alice had experienced her little enlightenment, she was less keen to hand over information to him but at the same time, her guidance felt more impactful.

He thanked her and his attention shifted to Wagner, who waited with anticipation.

Now, how do I explain this? Alice’s presence was the only thing the Fruit of Insight hadn’t given to Wanger. Interesting. Why was that? Most likely, something to do with the Spirit.

“Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts.”

“I swear, for a moment it felt as if you had another conversation.”

“Sometimes I do. It is called an internal dialogue.”

There was silence after that, which was disrupted by Siebert, an emissary from the Ministry. He was all business, wearing a sharp suit, and an even sharper expression. Keynes decided to use his aura to judge the man’s Level but it quickly became an internal battle of hiding his aura or hiding the inspecting tendrils. Wagner noticed it and gently shook his head. Keynes took a cue and withdrew his aura.

Alice, where are you? She wasn’t inside him, he would know that and yet she seemed invisible, which was impossible. She couldn’t hide from him.

Their thin, delicate bond twitched and she slowly descended.

I am here, master, she said with fake courtesy.

Ok. He said and felt a wave of indignation coming through their bond. She hated being dismissed.

“Master of Growth,” Siebert said with a bow. “We’re finished here. However, I am obliged to ask about their officer. The Ministry can take care of him as well. We—”

Wagner cut him off, with a wave of his hand and an expression that held no space for discussions. All of a sudden, he was the same man Keynes had met after entering his premises. While Keynes had dismissed Hellescott’s Level 5 easily, Wagner’s Level 7 carried the weight of a different calibre.

A walking stick slipped out of a sleeve and Wagner used it to tap the ground.

“I hope it isn’t the Ministry trying to backpedal on our deal and it is your own way of securing promotion. I will warn you this once, Siebert, try messing with my dealings again and your future promotion will be the least of your problems.”

“Yes, Master of Growth.” This time, Siebert’s bow was far deeper. “Please, don’t—”

Keynes felt Wagner’s Level 7 aura hit the man like a speeding train. The other man stumbled, looking terrified. Blood drained out of his face.

Level 7 aura was a powerful thing. And if Alice was right, Wagner’s Spirit was the lowest stage. If the man reached the Medium stage, what kind of strength would his aura possess?

Hmm, Alice mused. An interesting question, isn’t it?

Stop it, I am not going to tell him about you or Spirit stages. In the end, I must have an ace in my sleeve.

Of course, of course, Alice replied, sounded… cheeky. What the hell?

The emissary scooted off to where the transport waited to take the troopers out of the estate.

We will have a conversation about your new attitude, Keynes warned Alice.

A threat or promise?

Keynes’s eyes widened but he quickly got his expression under control. Too late though, Wagner’s Perception was very high and the man noticed things but said nothing.

“I hate opportunists,” Wagner said, using the walking stick like a wand to close the gate. “And before you ask me why; they remind me of me. I am one hell of an opportunist.”

“I wasn’t going to ask about this.”

“Oh. Fine then. Forget it.”

“You know I cannot do it. But I am somewhat curious about the whole Master of Growth name. Is this a punishment?”

Wagner scrunched his nose, sighing.

“Just wait until people start giving you nicknames. At some point, you have to accept them or you will go insane.”

Oh.

“That meant to be a joke.”

“Ah. In that case, don’t make jokes. You’re terrible at them.”

They left the front yard and entered the house. Every room above the ground was devastated. Bullet holes and signs of heavy machinery were everywhere. But the worst had the staircase that led underground. It was here the government forces detonated the small explosive. Wagner was indifferent to damage. He was so rich it wouldn’t make the slightest dent in his purse.

They slowly walked to the room where Hellescott was kept unconscious. Wagner had admitted that his concoctions were struggling with keeping the Level 5 asleep. He said that before Vitality appeared it hadn’t been the case. He didn’t reveal the exact composition of the elixir but what he said was interesting, and worrisome. Somehow, this man found a way to grow a plant with a property that ignored level differences. Added to alcohol it would make even a Level 10 drunk. Vitality neutralised this ability. But it also raised a question in Keynes’s mind. Was this the spiritual charge, increasing with each Level, that elevated resistances or something else? There was damage reduction which was swapped with Vitality. Could it be this that initially made high levels unaffected by alcohol and such?

Wagner didn’t know the answer to this question. He said it wasn’t his area of expertise.

As they stopped before the door to the room, Wagner said.

“I think we should soon return to our conversation about our arrangement. We must assume that Freeman is out of the picture. If he wished to make his entrance, he’d do so shortly after Hellescott had failed.”

That was true and yet, Keynes had a feeling that it went too smoothly. Plus, why were they going to interrogate Hellescott first? Was the interrogation really more important than discussing the arrangement?

Keynes swallowed an unease and entered the room holding Hellescott after Wagner.

The place was bare, save for the solid metal chair with the man on it. Countless roots entangled his entire body. The floor near the chair had several holes where the roots originated.

Hellescott didn’t even twitch as they entered, meaning that Wagner’s concoction must be still working. Instinctively, Keynes took out the shortswords from his dimensional pouch. He didn’t want to take chances with this man. He defeated him in different circumstances. Today Sylv wasn’t here to decrease Hellescott’s Perception.

Wagner stopped beside the chair and placed an uncorked vial under Hellescott’s nose. The Level 5’s reaction was immediate. He lunged forward, straining and then ripping some roots. Wagner put his hands on Hellescott’s shoulder, applying pressure.

“Calm yourself.”

Hellescott froze but only for a short moment. His angry eyes found Keynes and he snapped.

“You’re making a big mistake. I represent the World Government. You will be hunted to the very end. Better let me go, now!”

Keynes shrugged, unbothered by the threats. The World Government had already hunted him and it didn’t seem likely they would make an extra effort because of Hellescott.

Keynes lowered the shortswords to show the man what he was thinking of his threats. Hellescott stiffened again, perhaps, imaging the worst.

“Y—you…” Wagner squeezed Hellescott’s shoulder and the Level 5’s voice trailed off, his face in a state of panic.

“Stop blabbering, we have no intention of killing you.”

“I will tell you nothing!”

“I am not going to interrogate you either.”

Oh, that’s interesting. What then is the purpose of Hellescott being here?

Wagner did something and the roots started to wilt until they completely retracted under the floor.

“I am warning you though, if you try to escape or harm Keynes, I will kill you without hesitation. Do not test my patience.”

With that warning, they moved upstairs. So, Wagner wanted Hellescott for someone else. It shouldn’t surprise Keynes. Geneva was full of powerful people. Maybe between some of them and Hellescott was bad blood? It wasn’t hard to imagine with the man’s attitude.

In silence, they returned to the front yard. Keynes kept his shortswords at ready and had his Cloak of Shadows at his fingertips. He didn’t like this feeling of ease…

MASTER!

Keynes whirled and saw the man he wished to never see again.

Esopp Earl walked from the direction of a garden. Keynes’s head snapped toward Wagner and found him unsurprised.

Betrayal… I knew it was too perfect to be true. I am a fool to trust anyone but myself.

And then the gate opened and another man entered the front yard. Keynes recognised him too. He’d never met this man but he remembered his picture from the TV.

Columbus Curt.

What the hell was going on here?

“I should have known,” Keynes whispered, thinking about a way out of this mess.

“High Lord! Help!” Hellescott yelped and, to Keynes’s and Hellescott’s shock, Wagner released his grip on Hellescott, pushing him forward Esopp Earl. Even as Hellescott scooted off to where Esopp Earl stopped, twenty-five metres from them, he started to regain his arrogant composure. To further stupefy Keynes and Hellescott, Esopp Earl silenced him with a loud slap. The Level 5 dropped on the ground like a sack of grain.

How do I escape three Level 7s?

You do not, Alice said.

This CAN NOT be right. I have gone so far without being caught…

“Keynes,” Wagner said, not looking at him. “The time has come to discuss the terms of our arrangements.”

Keynes blinked, staring at Wagner as if the man went mad. Did he understand what Esopp Earl’s presence meant? But then Keynes glanced at Columbus Curt, the leader of the resistance and he started doubting his assumptions.

“Did you betray me?”

“We don’t have time for a chit-chat, Zimmerman,” Esopp Earl said while Hellescott struggled to his feet. The High Lord looked younger even than Waxilium. He had a smooth, aristocratic face, gleaming black hair and wore an ankle-length blue coat.

Columbus Curt was perhaps the most handsome man alive. His clothes were strictly military, white uniform and soldier’s boots. Like Keynes, his hair was to the shoulder, tied in a ponytail. He didn’t say anything.

What is going on? Keynes asked himself for n-time. His knuckles whitened from the tight grip on the shortswords.

“Should I invite you inside?”

“No,” both men answered simultaneously.

“Here’s fine,” Columbus Curt added.

“High Lord, what is this? Why is the betrayer here?”

Esopp Earl gave Hellescott a look of contempt, not answering his question.

“Our plan to lure and kill Freeman has failed.”

WHAT NOW?! He has Esopp Earl and Columbus Curt involved in it as well?

"I told you Freeman is not a fool,” Columbus Curt said.

“He’s mad,” Esopp Earl added. “His decisions are illogical.”

“And yet he not only didn’t fall for our trap but also resisted going after Keynes Kid.”

“Assuming Rugman did his part.”

Was Ronald Rugman involved in this too? But that made no sense, he only recently called Wagner to try to convince him to give Keynes away to him.

“Gentlemen,” Wagner said. “I think we owe young Keynes an explanation.”

“You haven’t told him?” Esopp Earl asked, surprised.

“The time was never right.”

Keynes waited. Whatever they were going to do to him, he’d fight to the bitter end…

Wagner turned to Keynes.

“Keynes, we would like to form a partnership with you.”

“What?” Hellescott asked while Keynes was at loss for words. They wanted a partnership with him? Really? Why? WHAT?!

“I don’t understand.”

“It is simple,” Esopp Earl said. “We want to get stronger and the rifts are the way but I won’t tie you up and hide to take you out only when I want to open a rift.”

Was this some deliberate way of luring Keynes to do Freeman’s bidding after the failure with a Level 2 exotic rift?

“We would also split the profit from the rifts four ways,” Columbus Curt said. “It may take some time deciding what to do with consumables though.”

“And more,” Zimmermann said. “We will start a corporation to take care of transport, trading and so on.”

“I don’t know what to say… What about the World Government? Does it mean the war is over?”

“No,” Esopp Earl said sharply. “We are barely stepping outside of it, at least me.”

“High Lord, are you leaving the World Government?”

“We are leaving, Hellescott. This war was never mine.”

“I, on the other hand, will fight until Freeman is dead,” Columbus Curt said. “As long as he’s alive, there won’t be freedom. Now, why don’t we go over the details?”

Wagner nodded while Keynes stood rooted in place. This was surreal.