Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Eren's declaration about the expedited Lazarus Project wasn't merely a pretense.

It had genuinely disrupted his meticulously crafted preparations.

He had devised an extensive plan encompassing numerous intricate steps that he was bound to take during these three months. However, the accelerated onset of the war had forced him to abandon these well-laid schemes.

Yet, this was no unfamiliar territory for Eren. Throughout his previous Lazarus Project attempts, setbacks and unexpected obstacles had been common companions. With each hurdle, he had learned to adapt, even if it meant adjusting his strategy and navigating unforeseen complications.

Initially, Eren had believed that merely creating the Pleasure Paradise potion would secure him the coveted Shallot's Mirror. His intention was to combine Pleasure Paradise with his own Mist of Lust Ability, effectively gaining control over a prominent female figure within the Lancelot Guild. This combination, bolstered by Eren's Sin Series Ability, would have granted him leverage over a Grandmaster-ranked woman affiliated with House Lancelot.

However, his plan was shattered when he discovered that the artifact resided securely within Grandmaster Baelin's smithy.

House Lancelot's tradition dictated that their female Rankers constituted the primary combat force, while the male clan members oversaw guild management and weapon manufacturing. Shallot Lancelot had served as a role model for the female clan members of House Lancelot after all.

This tradition made it all the more difficult for Eren to obtain Shallot's Mirror through his initial strategy.

And this was just one of the many hurdles he encountered while preparing for the Lazarus Project. Numerous obstacles forced him to adopt alternative approaches and repeatedly veer from his original plans.

***

Eren and Eliza engaged in a lengthy discussion, carefully finalizing critical aspects related to the execution of the Lazarus Project. Remarkably, throughout their conversation, neither Eren nor Eliza resorted to verbal threats or warnings. This surprising absence of hostility didn't stem from mutual trust but rather from a shared understanding that such threats and warnings held no value for them.

Both Eren and Eliza possessed an acute awareness that each would pursue actions aligning with their own best interests, regardless of the consequences imposed upon the other. Consequently, their dialogue resembled a delicate mental battleground, where every word was chosen with precision, akin to navigating a field of hidden traps.

Eren briefed Eliza on the imminent full-scale war between Edinburgh and Layos, emphasizing that this conflict was just one among several brewing in the Anfang world.

He mentioned the escalating tensions between the Asikha Empire and the newly formed Amazonian Unity, a development partially spurred by his secret supply of weapons and artifacts to the Amazonians.

The White Raven Guild had amassed considerable wealth and connections from this business, while the Amazonians had gained access to a substantial arsenal of weapons and high-grade Hex artifacts. However, Eren chose not to delve into the specifics of his dealings with the Amazonians, opting instead to focus on the various emerging war scenarios across Anfang. Eliza didn't need to know everything.

The Anfang Alliance, in its efforts to contain these multifaceted conflicts, had stretched its resources thin, deploying representatives to different regions in an attempt to quell or manage these brewing wars. But their results had thus far fallen short of satisfactory.

Eliza was already acquainted with some of these developments through her contact with Layla. Hence, Eren and Eliza's conversation revolved around the implications of these ongoing conflicts on the Lazarus Projects and their respective connections with the evolving warlike situations.

Towards the end of their discussion, Eliza inquired about Eren's strategy for obtaining Shallot's Mirror. She was already informed, through Layla, that Eren had secured a suitable vessel for her and had acquired an Astral Projection Potion.

Eren, aware that Eliza was essentially seeking confirmation of information she had received from Layla, didn't hesitate to explain how he had gained Grandmaster Baelin's trust by assuming the persona of Leo Longblade. He reassured her that he would secure Shallot's Mirror at the appropriate moment to ensure its availability for the Lazarus Project.

***

"Fufufu. It seems…" Eliza remarked, her voice tinged with genuine appreciation.

"You've grown significantly, Eren boy. I must say, I made the right choice in selecting you for this task. Regardless of the twists and turns our paths may take, remember this:

I, Eliza Samael, the sole heir of House Samael, acknowledge you as the most remarkable half-blood of your generation. Even though your bloodline is artificial, I consider you one of us."

Eren responded with a subtle nod, preferring not to delve deeper into this matter. Eliza sensed his preoccupation and wisely shifted the conversation's focus, motioning for someone to join her.

In the next instant, Reen's spectral form materialized beside Eliza.

She had assumed the appearance of one of her earlier devoured subjects, Elena. At first glance, she appeared well, but Eren detected a subtle irregularity in her form.

As a C-Ranked slime-type demon beast, her presence should have been more pronounced, even in spectral form. However, her ranking status had suffered to some degree, rendering her weaker than when Eren had last encountered her in person.

It was evident to Eren that Eliza's relentless experiments on Reen had taken a toll, both physically and mentally. Regardless of how Eliza tried to minimize the effects, the consequences of these experiments were far from gentle.

In fact, Eren found it surprising that Reen had maintained her status as a C-Ranked entity rather than regressing. Of course, Reen didn't want to appear weak or vulnerable before Eren.

Their communication within Eren's Soul Space had been infrequent and restricted in various ways. They both kept their interactions hidden from Eliza's watchful eye. The talk they had in Soul Space always felt so surreal to both of them– akin to a dream. So this call could be considered as the first genuine conversation that they had after a long time.

When Reen's spectral form appeared before him, Eren smiled, and she reciprocated. They didn't need words; their souls seemed to communicate effortlessly.

"Hehe. You still trust me, right?" Eren playfully inquired, exuding confidence in his body language. Reen smiled and nodded, her voice unwavering despite its weakness.

"I always have, Erni, and I always will," Reen affirmed with determination.

AN: Eren devised a strategy involving the use of the Pleasure Paradise potion to obtain Shallot's Mirror in chapter 682. Elena was mentioned in chapter 9.