Chapter 16 Awaiting Plan

William casually sipped his drink before turning his attention to Forte. "Forte, let's step outside for a moment," he suggested.

Forte, who had been growing increasingly bored with the tavern's atmosphere, was taken aback by William's request. He exchanged surprised glances with William and then noticed a young man with long black hair who seemed to have some business with William, his vice captain.

As William noticed Forte's confusion, he leaned in closer and whispered, "He's one of my undercover agents, investigating Gueldre Poizot." He made sure that only Forte and Revchi could hear his words, employing a bit of magic to keep their conversation private.

William didn't do this to hide from the tavern's patrons but to avoid raising suspicion with Forte. If he spoke openly about such matters, it would undoubtedly make Forte suspicious.

After absorbing this information, Forte pondered for a moment and then nodded thoughtfully. He quietly exited the tavern, leaving William and Revchi to their business.

William let out a hearty laugh, his amusement evident. "Hahaha! That young one is always so serious," he remarked with a smirk, his eyes fixing on Revchi. "You must be Revchi Salik..."

In the bustling tavern, Revchi couldn't help but feel a shockwave of surprise wash over him as William's boisterous laughter seemed to fill the room. He feared that everyone present had overheard his name being mentioned.

Observing Revchi's unease, William adopted a more contemplative tone. "Master has briefed me about you," he said, taking a sip of his drink. He noticed Revchi's reluctance to speak freely, given the diverse crowd around them.

William leaned in and reassured Revchi with a chuckle, "Don't fret..."

Revchi took a moment to weigh his options, deciding to maintain a facade of unfamiliarity with William for the sake of secrecy. William couldn't help but laugh at the display.

"Hahaha!" William casually hooked his arm around Revchi's shoulder, causing Revchi to internally panic. "I said don't worry. This whole tavern is actually under my other identity."

Though Revchi was taken aback, he couldn't fathom how William could be so nonchalant just because he owned the establishment.

"And all the people here... They're part of our growing organization," William revealed.

Revchi was utterly shocked as he glanced around the tavern, realizing that the seemingly ordinary patrons were all involved in the master's organization.

"Can we trust them?" Revchi asked with hesitation, concerned about potential betrayals within the group.

"Hehehe... No need to worry," William chuckled. "They can be trusted completely. They've all been bound by the Death's Flame."

Revchi's eyes widened as he looked at the people he had once considered ordinary patrons, now aware that their souls had been consumed by the Death Flame.

"Master used it on them?" Revchi inquired, feeling less unique knowing that many others shared this fate.

"No... I used the Death Flame on them," William corrected.

Revchi was now more astonished than he had ever been in his life. "How?"

William grinned, "How could I use it without inheriting Master's magic attribute, True Death Magic?"

Revchi nodded, understanding that this was the key question.

William's eyes filled with reverence as he explained, "Hehehe... Master granted me a fraction of his True Death Magic in secret, allowing me to slowly build our force."

Revchi nodded in understanding, finally unraveling the mystery of how William could wield such power. "And I assume you used an inferior Death Flame on them?" Revchi added, clarifying the details.

"Yes, precisely." William confirmed. "I can only use it on smaller targets, not someone like Forte. As for these people, they've always frequented this tavern in their original state, not the sharpest bunch. I used it on them after defeating them."

The patrons chuckled in embarrassment, acknowledging their own simplicity.

"Now that the explanations are out of the way, let's get to the main topic," William offered Revchi a drink.

Revchi accepted the drink. "It's about Captain Gueldre Poizot of the Purple Orca, right?" he asked, as if it were a foregone conclusion.

"Indeed. Master also informed me that we'll work together to subdue him so that Master can use his Death Flame on him," William said, swirling his drink.

"When will our plan commence?" Revchi, who hadn't received much information from the Master, sought clarity.

"It begins six months from now," William exclaimed, gulping down his drink with exhilaration.

"Six months from now... Could it be..." Revchi's eyes widened as he pieced it together. "The Magic Knights exam?"

"You've got it right. Master thinks highly of your quick thinking," William praised, although his smile and expression were clouded by intoxication.

Revchi chuckled at the compliment. "Anyone would have guessed it," he replied before downing another glass of alcohol.

"You're right," William agreed. "Don't get too full of yourself."

Revchi, who had been feeling confident earlier, had his confidence deflated.

William took particular pleasure in employing this tactic with Randall of the Crimson Lion, a subtle blend of praise and mockery.

"As the plan is set to commence six months from now, our Master has already assigned a task for you," William couldn't help but derive some amusement from teasing his junior, a practice he often indulged in with his fellow magic knights in the Crimson Lion squad.

Revchi, in contrast, maintained a serious demeanor as he awaited William's instructions, his dedication unwavering.

With nonchalance, "Your task," William swirled the glass of his alcohol before William finally revealed, "You'll be in charge of managing this tavern while you await the six-month mark."

"Is that all?" Revchi found himself momentarily dumbfounded, his expectations of a weighty task dashed upon hearing William's affirmation. Managing a mere tavern seemed far too ordinary for his anticipations.

William, however, leaned forward, his demeanor turning earnest as he countered, "Never underestimate the significance of this tavern. It serves as our temporary secret base, and our Master has placed immense importance on this establishment."

Despite the lingering sense of disappointment, Revchi nodded solemnly, comprehending the gravity of the role entrusted to him by their Master.