Shane looked at Duke Everlue's finger, which was trembling non-stop as it pointed at him, and scratched his head in distress.
Isn't this reaction a bit too dramatic?
If he got another complaint, it would indeed be troublesome. Master Makarov would probably nag him about it for a long time with a headache.
But this thought was just a flash. He quickly tossed aside these "minor details" that only the Master needed to consider.
He retracted the faint smile on his face, his expression becoming serious, and cut straight to the chase. "Lord Duke, relax. I don't mean anything else. It's just that I recently heard the Heartfilia family seems to be collecting the Zodiac Keys. I was a bit curious if they contacted you?"
Everlue twisted his head forcefully to the side, replying resistantly, "I... I have no need to answer your question! Also, leave my mansion immediately!"
Seeing the other party's expected resistance, Shane felt helpless.
He felt he hadn't done anything excessive. It was just a little intimidation last time. Was there a need for such a strong objection?
It seems gentle methods won't work.
He stood up silently, forcing a smile onto his face that he considered friendly.
But this simple action made Everlue and the surrounding servants tense up nervously.
Shane extended his hand and seemingly casually wiped it in front of his eyes—
Hum!
A wisp of deep, crimson flame ignited silently in his eyes.
Eyes of Karma.
"Lord Duke, I am really curious. Can you tell me? This is really important to me."
Shane leaned forward slightly. The flames in his pupils seemed to rotate, absorbing the surrounding light and courage.
"If you don't tell me, I'm so worried that I... might accidentally fall and become a Dark Mage!"
"Fire! Fire! Your eyes!"
Everlue didn't hear what he said afterward at all. His entire mind was seized by those burning pupils.
In the dancing flames, he seemed to see the most unbearable and wretched scenes of his life—the panic of being chased by a vicious dog in childhood, the humiliation of being ridiculed for his short and fat stature in his youth, the embarrassment of being mocked as incompetent by his father in adulthood...
Those failed experiences buried deep in his heart, which he was unwilling to recall, now emerged clearly like ghosts reflected by the flames, gnawing at his mind.
Everlue screamed in horror, scrambling backward on all fours. His bloated body rubbed against the carpet, looking incredibly wretched.
Is the effect this good? Shane was a bit surprised himself.
The Eyes of Karma could reflect one's karma, triggering guilt and fear in the target. But he didn't expect the effect to be so significant on someone like Everlue, whose inner will wasn't firm enough.
He hurriedly stepped forward, bending down to "support" Everlue, who was shaking like a sieve. His tone became unusually gentle, as if soothing a frightened child. "Don't be afraid. Look, as long as you answer the question properly, won't the fire disappear?"
As he spoke, with a thought, the flames in his pupils quietly extinguished, returning to their original deep black.
The other servants and waiters in the hall looked at each other. Rush up to protect their master? They didn't have the guts. Stay put? It seemed incredibly derelict.
For a moment, they were caught in a dilemma, the atmosphere oppressive and strange.
The Karmic Fire dissipated. Everlue slumped on the ground, gasping for breath, cold sweat already soaking his expensive velvet dressing gown.
It took a long time for him to catch his breath, his eyes filled with fear and submission.
He decided. No matter what this plague god in front of him asked, as long as he could answer, as long as he could send the other party away as soon as possible, he would not say a second word!
"Heartfilia... Heartfilia did contact me!"
Without waiting for Shane to ask again, he spoke rapidly like pouring beans, afraid that if he was a second slow, the flames in those eyes would ignite again.
Seeing Everlue finally cooperating, Shane felt settled and continued to ask, "Then why is Virgo... er, Miss Virgo still here? Did you refuse?"
"Refuse? Heartfilia offered me an unimaginable reward. How could I possibly refuse!"
Everlue retorted subconsciously, then his voice lowered, carrying a bit of guilt. "It's just... just that I couldn't bear to let Virgo leave so early. I agreed with them to send the key over a bit later."
"Oh?" Shane's expression turned serious, capturing the key information. "When did you agree to send the key?"
Everlue murmured, "End of May... Heartfilia said the key must be sent over by the end of May at the latest."
End of May?
Shane's eyes grew brighter and brighter. A plan gradually took shape in his mind.
He suppressed the excitement in his heart and continued to guide Everlue. "Then, Lord Duke, have you decided who will send this precious key?"
Everlue seemed to realize something and stammered, "Not... not yet decided."
Shane leaned closer, that "friendly" smile that made Everlue's hair stand on end reappearing on his face.
"I think," Shane's voice was soft, like a whisper, "you need to hire a candidate who is... 'reliable' enough. For example, a Mage from the Fairy Tail guild or something. What do you think?"
Can I think otherwise?
Everlue looked at the faint sparks flickering in the air and swallowed this protest back into his stomach aggrievedly.
His only thought now was to send this great god away.
"Then it's a deal." Shane straightened up with satisfaction. "Please have someone send the commission form to the guild later. As for specifying who will complete this important task..."
He paused meaningfully. "I don't need to say more, right?"
What could Everlue say? He could only nod silently and vigorously like a quail.
Looking at this short, fat man in front of him, looking as aggrieved as a bullied little wife, Shane couldn't help but raise his hand to touch his own face.
Strange, why do I feel like the villain bullying men and dominating women in stories?
"In that case, it's agreed. Don't go back on your word." Shane gathered his thoughts. "Don't go back on your word, otherwise... you know."
"I'll be going first. Still rushing home for dinner."
He waved his hand casually and turned to walk toward the main door.
Everlue stared at his back intently. It wasn't until Shane's hand touched the doorknob that he let out a complete sigh of relief.
This plague god is finally leaving...
However, before he could fully exhale, that devil-like figure suddenly popped back from the door!
"By the way," Shane added smilingly, as if just remembering something, "Lord Duke, don't forget. I just came to wish you a Happy New Year today. I didn't do anything out of line. So, don't go to the Council to file any... 'unnecessary complaints,' okay?"
Everlue's heart almost jumped out of his throat. He gritted his molars and squeezed two words out through his teeth: "Of course!"
"Very good."
Shane nodded with satisfaction, thinking that the Master had it hard too. It was the New Year; saving him some worry was the least he could do.