The Kind of Evil

Chapter 90 Hiding for a reason.

Erlina and Carrion introduced themselves to Eduard and who they were to Rasmus. Erlina had no issue with a commoner since she was also one, and she didn't discriminate against people at all. Carrion, on the other hand, found Eduard a bit underwhelming since he was just a small merchant from an unknown village.

Rasmus told them about his plan to Erlina and Carrion that he was going to use Eduard as the face of the new trading company. They both were skeptical of that idea, but once Eduard showed his intelligence about business and knew how to handle merchants and clients, they changed their minds.

"Aren't you planning to make your own shipping company? Who will be handling that? I don't think Eduard can handle both of them," Erlina crossed her legs and grabbed her cup of tea. "I'm sure you're not planning to put your face at the front of the company either," she added and took a sip of her tea.

"I can use Videl as the face of the shipping company," Rasmus answered as he stared at Videl staring at Erlina's parrot, trying to feed it with nuts. "Nobody knows that Videl is my butler, and I'm going to keep it that way."

"Is there a reason why you don't want to become the face of your own company?" Carrion crossed his arms and legs, staring at Rasmus with a confused look.

"It's because I'm being hunted by some organizations in the underworld. If they found out where I am, they would hinder my peaceful time here. They want me dead," Rasmus answered as he leaned back on the couch, staring at the big painting on the wall.

Erlina, Carrion, and Eduard raised their brows, unknowing that Rasmus was being hunted.

"By who?" Erlina narrowed her eyes as she put down her cup of tea.

Rasmus looked at them for a moment and began to explain what had happened back then. He told them about the Wraiths and why they wanted him dead. He had deduced and believed it was because of the information that Erglade had found, the ugly truth about the existence of true evil.

He also told them what he found about his father not to mention the moment Lenin visited him before his execution. Erlina, Carrion, and Eduard were speechless, their eyes barely blinking and focused on Rasmus's mouth and words.

"That's the whole story as to why I don't want to make myself known," Rasmus muttered and poured himself a cup of tea. "I know I'm strong enough to protect myself, but that doesn't mean I want to put myself in trouble," he added and took a sip of his tea.

"So, your father wasn't the bad guy?" Carrion asked, his eyes stared at Rasmus's eyes back and forth.

"It doesn't matter anymore because it won't change anything," Rasmus answered with a serious expression. "You should keep this information to yourself, if you can, bring that secret to your grave. Don't put yourself in an unnecessary problem."

Erlina, Carrion, and Eduard shared a look for a moment before they looked at Rasmus and nodded with understanding. They had so many questions to ask, but they thought about whether they wanted to know the answer to begin with. They decided to stay quiet because they realized they didn't want to know or have the courage to know.

"So..." Erlina cleared her throat to lighten up the atmosphere. "When are you going to start your business? Are you going to wait for the ships?"

"Yes, but I'm also waiting for the merchants to show dissatisfaction. Which is why I have something to ask you about this matter since you're my only trusted informant in this city," Rasmus pointed out with a soft smile on his face and looked at Erlina with a gentle gaze.

"Hmm, my dear patron is so charming right now," Erlina smirked, resting her chin on her fist. "So far, the issue has spread and thanks to those greedy companies, I have fewer customers. They don't have the spare money to spend on my ladies," she looked annoyed and irritated as she stared coldly at the window.

"But that's not good enough," Rasmus said as he looked out the window as well. "I need them to protest first. I need them to get out there and show it."

"I can easily do that," Eduard said with confidence. "I'm a merchant as well, and I know exactly how to push their buttons," he said with a serious expression.

"Count me in. I'll help you with that," Erlina smiled gently at Eduard.

Eduard was flustered when he saw Erlina's charming smile. His heart was racing and it was impossible to keep a straight face. He had to hide his face and nodded repeatedly. Erlinda chuckled softly and found Eduard cute for someone with a big body to be flustered because of a woman.

"Let's not do that yet. I don't want them to protest now because I'm not ready yet. I want to open my business when their dissatisfaction has peaked," Rasmus pointed out.

"Just tell me when, and I'll use my ladies to provoke those merchants and nobles from the neighboring cities. The mayor will be the first one who takes the blame, and then the Marquess," Erlina said and agreed with Rasmus's request. "He got quite a lot of shares, didn't he?" She looked at Carrion.

"Of course, Esteban is a greedy bastard after all. I'm sure he's sharing the profit with the other nobles," Carrion nodded and scoffed. His annoyed expression was visible to the naked eye. "That bastard has tainted the Republic of Cruen."

"Sooner or later this city will change, no need to be so worked up like that. I'm planning to make this city beyond its greatest moment," Rasmus said with a serious expression. "Everyone will be happy, but not you, Carrion. Soon you're going to lose your bet," he pointed out with a cold smile.

Erlina chuckled, mocking Carrion for betting with Rasmus. Carrion, on the other hand, looked anxious and hated that he had agreed to such a bet, where he wagered his life. He wanted to sabotage him, but somehow, he wasn't afraid of what would happen to himself if he lost the bet.

Rasmus noticed that Erlina had been staring at him for a while now. He realized she might have something to say but didn't want to because of the other people in the room.

"Why don't you have some fun while we are here, Eduard?" Rasmus pulled out five gold coins and put them in Eduard's pocket. "You know what to do," he looked at Videl, signaling him to take Eduard out of the room.

"Wait, what?" Eduard was confused and suddenly Videl grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from the couch. "A-are you sure?" He looked at Rasmus and Videl back and forth.

"Welcome to Eddenvilla," Rasmus smiled as he nodded.

Carrion noticed what Rasmus was trying to do, and when Rasmus looked him in the eye, he knew exactly what Rasmus wanted him to do. He sighed as he stood up from the couch and left the room, leaving Erlina alone with Rasmus.

"We are alone now, so you can say it," Rasmus looked Erlina in the eye.

Erlina didn't expect Rasmus to be so considerate of her, which made her unable to hide her smile. She stood up and moved to the couch where Rasmus was sitting. She didn't bother to put some gap in between them.

"What's your real intention of coming here, Count?" Erlina asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She stared right into Rasmus's eyes. "I know you're an ambitious man, so what is it that you're trying to achieve here?"

"Why do you want to know that, Madam?" Rasmus asked, he didn't flatter and stared back into her eyes.

"Let's just say I want to be a part of it," Erlina smirked and brushed her shoulder against Rasmus's. "Can I?"

"If you want to be a part of it, you should behave yourself properly," Rasmus said in a cold tone.

Erlina's smirk widened, but she immediately put some distance between herself and Rasmus. She pulled out an invitation letter from her purse and the showed it to him.

"I am behaving properly," Erlina responded as she offered the letter to Rasmus.

Rasmus looked at the letter and noticed there was a seal on it which meant it was from a noble. He took the letter and read the content which was something he didn't expect. It was an invitation letter for a masquerade ball from Marquess Esteban in a few days and he knew what Erlina was trying to do.

"You want me to come with you to this masquerade ball?" Rasmus glanced at Erlina. "Why don't you come with Carrion? He should get an invite as well," he raised his brows.

"Because I don't want to be come with him," Erlina answered without hesitation. "I know you would love to see the nobles. I know you want to see which one you can use and avoid, am I right?" She chuckled softly with a smirk on her face.

"Let's see if I can trust you enough to be a part of my plan," Rasmus said as he stood up.

"Fair enough, but what about that?" Erlina nodded and then pointed at the letter in Rasmus's hand.

"I'll come," Rasmus nodded and gave the letter back to Erlina.