Chapter 228 – Warning (2) Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan Sorcerers believed they could gain spiritual power by eating a heart. Morga disliked this method. Eating an animal’s heart made him sick to his stomach, and spells cast this way were filled with negative spiritual power. But even the Tomari could gain power this way, and he had no choice. There was no other way to quickly cast a powerful spell. “......” Morga looked down at the dish before him with abhorrence. The red heart of a black cow was on the dish, seasoned as he had requested with various spices. But no matter how many spices were used, it was still the heart of a cow. It couldn’t even be cooked. It had to be eaten raw. After looking at it for a long time, Morga picked up a knife and fork. He couldn’t just bite into the thing, so he cut it apart and tried to distract himself as he chewed the pieces, one bite at a time. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚 Two miracles had occurred. The first was the conception of a baby in a body that should have been infertile. The second was the survival of that baby after repeated and prolonged use of abortifacients. No further miracles should be expected. Morga knew that there could be no mistakes. He had to do everything within his power. Once the cow’s heart was gone, he let out a deep sigh and went to sit inside the magic pattern he had already drawn, facing forward. Before him sat dozens of Kurkans. In the darkness, their eyes glowed, eager to finally begin. They were terrifying. Black smoke billowed as he poured his spiritual power into the magic pattern. The smoke rolled outward toward the Kurkans and sank into their bodies. Morga wiped the corners of his bloodstained mouth with a handkerchief before he spoke. “It will work until the morning sun rises.” Genin, positioned at the front of the Kurkans, nodded. “That’s enough.” The spell would hide the Kurkans from the eyes of the Queen. Once they were sure the preparations were complete, Haban went to find Ishakan. “Ishakan!” Their King was leaning against a wall and smoking a cigar, but his eyes glowed bright gold in spite of the tobacco. He did not need to speak. No commands were needed. When the time was right, he nodded and tossed away the last of his cigarettes. The Kurkans knew what their King wanted. Inhuman beings began to move in the darkness of the night. *** In a luxurious manor in the most expensive quarter of the capital of Estia, the new owner stretched out in bed, smiling drunkenly. She had bought the mansion with a bribe she had received for being the King’s consort, and until now she had been at another mansion, drinking with the nobles there. There had been a lot of drinking, but it wasn’t enough. As soon as she got home, she had another bottle of alcohol by herself. She was in the mood to celebrate. Lady Mirael laughed wildly. “That woman was so dignified. Let’s see her act composed after those bastards are through with her.” It was exciting to imagine Princess Leah sobbing and trembling after their work was done, and even better knowing that no matter how she suffered, she could not report it. She would have to cover up her own rape. Perhaps tomorrow Mirael would pay the princess a visit. She smiled, anticipating how she would taunt and ridicule her. “......” But despite these pleasant fantasies, her smile faded. Suddenly, she felt unsettled, though she didn’t understand why. Mirael reached for a blanket and wrapped it around herself. It seemed to her that it was a little colder as she got out of bed and shook the little bell on a nearby table. Her maids hurried to her, surprised by the summons. “Bring all the knights!!!” She shouted, and the maids rushed out in a hurry to call the knights and mercenaries she had bought to guard her mansion. This included some of the men she had sent to the peach orchard. Mirael’s instincts were good, but not exceptional. Anxiously, she wandered around her bedroom waiting for the knights until she came to a sudden stop. Why is it so quiet? She had raised the alarm. There should be commotion all over the mansion, and the building where the knights stayed was not far away. By now she should hear them coming, but it was silent. Cautiously, Mirael cracked open the door. “Ahhh!!!” She recoiled in fright and fell backward, landing on her backside. The corridor was littered with the headless corpses of the knight she had summoned. When she realized what she was seeing, she crumpled back into a faint. Haban appeared to stuff her into a large sack, and Genin lifted her unconscious body and hauled it over her shoulder. Standing alone in the silent corridor, Ishakan raised a lit cigar to his lips with a bloodstained hand. “...The first,” he said, and the syllables puffed out with his smoke.