Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

1710 The Language of Half-truths

There was a simple reason why Eren didn't include Kayara and Akel in his recent raid.

The butcher couldn't have used Skills from Beelzebub's Skill Tree if he had company.

And without the Skills he had deployed at the scene, it would have gotten much harder for him to kill all the demons along with the four demonic leaders whose heads he had presented to Jivem. Plus, he wanted to hog all the rewards that came from his kill to himself.

He also didn't want to let Ishgaar's Templars know about the mole that he had placed among the demonic den dwellers. Kayara and Akel would have reacted differently to Roza's presence if the two sides had met on the field.

Of course, the fact that Kayara and Akel were being misguided by the den dwellers was also true. Thus, Eren decided to speak the language he was good at– the language of half-truths.

"A few days ago I received a tip that Akel and Kayara were being tailed using some special means. Through this tail, they were purposefully kept busy to pursue leads on small fries that didn't matter much to the temple.

Obvious things are deducted from obvious actions. If I had informed them about the same, they would have started acting differently from their usual selves while conducting their own raids.

Or they would have started digging on their own about the possible tail. They could have also retreated from the on-field operations you had all three of us set out to do.

They were my allies and not subordinates. I had no authority to govern their actions in any way. Not that I wanted authority over them.

In any case, no matter how they behaved or which course of action they decided to take, Akel and Kayara would have ended up alerting the den dwellers. Things would have gotten messy if that had happened.

The demonic ritual would have succeeded. It would have gotten much harder for us to deal with all four targets at the same time if that had happened. Even with Kayara and Akel supporting me on the frontline.

My contact in the den would have also run the risk of being exposed. In short, we wouldn't have gained anything if I had involved Kayara and Akel in this raid.

So I sat on that intel for a few days without altering anyone. Then I chose the right time and setting to strike at them when they were at their most vulnerable and least bothered about external threats," Eren said while looking into Jivem's eyes.

'This damn brat…' A thought crossed Jivem's mind.

'He is as devious as demons. Um… Maybe more. Also, he doesn't trust anyone from Ishgaar's Temple. Even after working with us for the last five months.'

Jivem analyzed Eren's actions in his head. He had to admit that what Eren did was the most ideal way of dealing with the demons. However, it also implied that Eren was not bothered if Kayara and Akel ran into a trap set by the den dwellers. He was okay with using them as baits so that he could lower the demons' guard and attack them at the time of his choosing.

'This man is dangerous. A true hunter who knows how to use bait, lay traps, lure his prey, and end his hunt on a good note. A calm, cold, and logic-driven man who knows how to get things done no matter the cost,' Jivem thought to himself as he kept on profiling Eren.

The more Jivem started profiling Eren, the clearer he started to understand the motives on which the latter operated.

'His consciousness, if he has any, has taken a backseat for a long time now. And maybe that's how he was able to survive the clash with the Helebora coven. That is provided the story he gave us is true to some extent. I wouldn't be surprised if he killed some of the witches in the coven before making a run for it. He just didn't want to admit that he left the Templars behind so he lied.

Putting him along with Kayara and Akel was a bad choice. They only cooperated a few times during the last five months and the results of their co-op weren't that great. But doing things on his own, he had a greater form of success.

As Ishgaar's Templar, I wouldn't want him supporting my subordinates on the field. Because he'd be the first to bail out on them if the hunt turns ugly. But I'd still want to employ him as a mercenary.'

Jivem understood that Eren was not a team player. Or rather, he couldn't provide Eren with the right people from Ishgaar's Templars who could act as good team members for him. Eren was a different beast who couldn't hunt in a regular pack.

However, that didn't stop Jivem from looking at Eren as if he was the solution to most of his problems happening all around the region. Even while acting alone, Eren had provided him with better results.

Jivem had come to realize that Eren was not completely suitable for Ishgaar's faith. Eren had a distinct brand of solitude that was quite different from Ishgaar's divinity. It meant that Eren wouldn't necessarily be able to gain God Ishgaar's favor no matter how much he prayed or tried to serve the temple as a faithful devotee.

However, as far as the Archpriest was concerned, Eren didn't need to know that. He could keep benefiting from Eren's deeds while providing him with substantial amounts as rewards so that they could encourage him to serve the temple as a mercenary.

Jivem was a man who spoke half-truths as well. As such, he took a deep breath before asking Eren.

"You… you are still adamant on not wanting to join Ishgaar's Templars, young man?" Jivem asked while producing a wine bottle from thin air. A set of two chalices appeared on his table along with the bottle.

Jivem poured the wine into two chalices before offering one to Eren. The latter didn't say anything but sat on the other side of Jivem's work table. He took the wine glass in his hand and raised it to his lips as he listened to Jivem's offer.

"A forced faith is of no use to anyone. So it's okay if you don't want to join us officially. But you could still help us by staying with us, helping us in your capacity as a mercenary, Eren.

We would take care of you, you know. We could provide you with a suitable Tantra as long as you stay with us for a decade. You'd get more benefits than a regular Templar who joined us and has served our cause for more than 50 years.

I can assure you that you wouldn't find any other temple offering the Tantras they hold so dear to a mercenary. You wouldn't see me offering this deal to any other mercenary either. Consider this to be a special case because I like you.

A decade, young man. That's all I ask. What's a decade to a young Grand Knight like you? It'll be over before you know it, trust me."