Blood God Reborn as the Mudblood Heir

"I want House Marovain to defend its reputation."

"That sounds cleaner than what you really mean."

Lucard gave a faint smile. "Clean words are useful in public."

Robi leaned back. "If I fight Garran openly, the conflict between Marovain and Velkhur becomes worse."

"It is already worse," Lucard said. "You only have not admitted it yet."

Celia frowned, but she did not disagree.

Lucard pointed toward the window, though Black Raven Manor was far away. "Garran thinks you killed his grandson through me. He will not forgive with tea and apology. Ravencroft will feed his anger. Karswell will hide behind them. If you show weakness, they will push until Marovain pays blood, money, or face. If you show strength, they must think before biting again."

Robi watched him silently.

Lucard’s voice lowered slightly. "Also, you do not need to kill him immediately."

Robi raised an eyebrow. "Immediately?"

"Break the trap. Expose his intention. Force him to reveal his dirty hand first. Then fight."

Celia said, "That is easy to say. Garran is a Fifth Circle mage. If he came prepared, even Uncle cannot treat him casually."

Lucard looked at her. "That is why I came before the invitation arrived."

Robi understood the meaning.

"You want us to prepare first."

"Yes."

"What preparation?"

Lucard’s fingers tapped the table once.

"The Fifth Rank trap spell."

Celia’s eyes changed.

Robi looked at the sealed cabinet where the spell pages were kept.

Lucard continued, "You wanted to test it. This is a good chance."

Celia immediately said, "Using an untested spell against a Velkhur elder is too risky."

"I did not say use it to kill him."

Robi looked back at Lucard. "Then?"

"Use it to disturb the hidden formation he prepares."

Robi’s eyes narrowed.

Lucard explained in a calm voice, "Garran will not fight cleanly. He will prepare fire traps, hidden marks, probably something to restrict your movement or weaken your defense. Ravencroft’s hall is full of old bones and death magic. He can combine Velkhur fire with Ravencroft’s buried formations. If you walk in normally, every step will belong to him."

Celia’s face became serious.

Lucard continued, "But if you place my trap spell under your own path, not his, it can draw surrounding mana at the moment his formation activates. It will not need to kill him. It only needs to break the rhythm of his preparation. One breath of disruption is enough for a Fifth Circle mage like Robi to survive the first dirty move."

Robi did not speak for a long moment.

Then he smiled.

"You wrote that spell, didn’t you?"

Celia looked at Lucard immediately.

Lucard’s expression did not change. "I sold it."

"That is not an answer."

"It is the only answer you bought."

Robi laughed softly. "Very careful."

Celia’s heartbeat quickened again. She hated that it happened at such moments. Lucard was sitting across from her, calm and arrogant, wearing torn clothes like royal robes, speaking to Robi as if he was advising an equal. Every sentence carried danger, but also certainty. It felt like watching a drama where the villain and prince had somehow become the same person, and her heart had chosen the worst possible time to admire the performance.

She told herself to stay calm.

Then Lucard glanced at her once.

It was only one glance.

Her mind immediately remembered his bloody hand over her mouth.

Flowers tried to bloom again.

Celia crushed the flowers with mental violence.

Robi looked between them and sighed.

"Celia."

She straightened. "Yes, Uncle?"

"Stop fighting imaginary flowers."

Her face turned red. "I am not."

Lucard looked at her with mild interest.

Celia looked away.

Robi returned his gaze to Lucard. "You said information has a price. What is your price besides making me fight Garran?"

Lucard said, "I need access to a private room, old paper, blood ink, and the original pages of the trap spell for one hour."

Celia immediately frowned. "Why?"

"To prepare a safer version for Robi to use."

Robi’s eyes sharpened. "A safer version?"

"The one I sold you is complete, but it is made for killing intruders. If you use it carelessly during a negotiation, it may hurt the wrong people. I can adjust its activation point."

Celia stared at him. "So you did write it."

Lucard looked at her. "You reached that conclusion late."

She opened her mouth, then closed it.

Robi laughed again. "He is rude, but not wrong."

Celia glared at him too.

Robi thought for a moment. "What else?"

Lucard said, "Information about Garran’s known tricks. All of them."

Robi’s smile faded slightly.

"That list is long."

"Good."

"You plan to use his habits against him."

"Yes."

Robi leaned forward. "And what do you gain if I survive?"

"My payment remains alive."

"And if I kill Garran?"

"Then House Velkhur hates you more than me."

Celia said coldly, "You are very honest about using us."

Lucard looked at her. "Would you prefer I lied?"

"No."

"Then appreciate the honesty."

"I did not say I liked it."

"You do not need to like a knife for it to cut your enemy."

Celia became silent.

Robi looked amused, but behind that amusement was deep thought. Lucard’s plan was dangerous, but the situation was already dangerous. If Robi ignored the invitation, Velkhur would shape the story. If he went unprepared, Garran might trap him. If Marovain handed over Lucard, their reputation would suffer and they would lose access to whatever secret had produced the spell. If they protected Lucard, they had to accept the conflict.

There was no clean path.

There was only a profitable one.

Robi understood that better than most.

He stood up.

"Very well."

Celia turned. "Uncle."

Robi raised his hand. "He is right about one thing. Garran will not stop. If I let him choose the stage, he will hide blades under every chair and call it tradition. We will prepare first."

Lucard stood too.

Robi looked at him. "You will use the secure writing room. Celia will bring the spell pages and materials."