The Kind of Evil-Chapter 274: Optimistic, Pessimistic, and PragmatiChapter

‎Rasmus sat at the table under the gazebo, enjoying the silence and alone time after he had spent the morning with Anastasha. He was deep in thought, thinking about what she said to him, and the goal that she wanted to achieve.

‎He thought that Anastasha wanted to take over the Asghar family, but he was wrong. She had a grandiose plan, and that was to reshape the north side of East Neva. She wanted to get rid of all the powerful families that supported the Asghar family, making the Asghar family's status weaken.

‎Anastasha didn't plan on destroying her family or didn't care about it like Carrion did. She wanted to get rid of the leeches that had been living under the Asghar family's protection.

‎At first, Rasmus was a bit confused when he heard her goal because it didn't make any sense at all. When Anastasha revealed that she wanted to put the Asghar family to rest, away from the tangled mess of politics in East Neva. It turned out she did it for private and personal matters, to unite the Asghar family.

‎"(The conflicts between siblings, planning to cut each other's throats for the seat that their father was about to get up from...)" Rasmus thought as he stared blankly at the vast garden in front of him. "Who would have thought she used her power and ability not for herself. To put a tough shell because she has to protect something that matter for her, how noble," he muttered as he looked down at the cane on his lap.

‎Anastasha also revealed that she asked Kiel for help, to inform the emissaries in East Neva to weaken the Asghar family. However, because Rasmus defeated the demon forces in South Neva and made Kiel run away, she couldn't get what she wanted. It was both a fortune and a problem because she didn't have to make a deal with the demons. The problem was that the longer the Asghar family held power, the higher the chance for her siblings from killing each other.

‎Rasmus had heard of Anastasha's detailed plan for distracting her older brothers and sisters. It was quite interesting, and he also gained something from it, which was a win-win situation for both of them. However, the risk was quite high, and they both needed to tread it carefully.

‎"I hope I didn't bother your time alone, Count Blackheart," Agnesia said as she walked toward the gazebo.

‎Rasmus looked at Agnesia and immediately pointed at the empty chair across from him. He had been wanting to speak with her, and it was perfect for her to approach him.

‎"The true hero of South Neva," Agnesia smiled as she sat down and stared at Rasmus. "Soon they will know about you, Count. Are you ready to be seen by the whole world?" She smirked as she leaned back and tilted her head.

‎Rasmus recalled that when he left the dining hall last night, Carrion told him about the White Flower festival. Anastasha also mentioned it when she explained her plan. It was to commemorate the fallen and to celebrate their victory in getting rid of the demonic army and preventing humanity from doom. That moment would be the main stage for Anastasha, and he would be involved directly in it.

"They put me in a troublesome spot," Rasmus answered as he looked at the tulips next to the gazebo. Thinking it was Lenin and Thalior's idea to put me in the spotlight, making it harder for me to make a move because of the image they depicted of him as a hero.

"People who only knows how to do politics, they believe they're righteous when their methods are as cunning as those who aren't," Agnesia chuckled as she nodded in agreement. "But it seems you don't mind it at all, Count," she tilted her head to the other side and kept staring at Rasmus.

"Because there's always an opportunity in every choice and path," Rasmus answered and glanced at Agnesia.

"Huh? I didn't know you're quite the optimist type, Count," Agnesia smiled, but her brows were raised, surprised by Rasmus's answer.

"It's not about being an optimist, Lady Agnesia, it's about knowing where to look," Rasmus smiled softly at her. "That's enough about me, Lady Agnesia. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He asked as he leaned back, making himself comfortable.

Agnesia cleared her throat as she made herself comfortable as well, crossing her legs and putting her hands on her thighs. She took a moment to admire the scenery before her focus went back to Rasmus.

"You're undergoing an awakening, right?" Agnesia asked as she looked at Rasmus's body, seeing Mana lingered around his body and yet unable to enter his body as if the body had rejected them. "As a Sorcerer, I learned a lot about Orthias race. I heard about their awakening process when they got personified from a lump of Mana. Seeing you like this, with similar characteristic of an Orthias undergo an awakening, I believe Lady Aris has decided to open up your bloodline as an Orthias," she continued with a calm gaze, observing Rasmus's body. frёewebηovel.cѳm

"Yes, and right now I'm losing my senses. I don't even feel cold in this weather or can I feel the heat in the tea I'm drinking or taste the sweetness of it," Rasmus answered as he stared at the cup of tea at the table and the snowfall around the gazebo.

"Seeing that you can still walk, it seems like the process went well. I'm here to congratulate you, Count. You have finally reached the pinacle of a living being," Agnesia smiled at Rasmus. Her smile was genuine and her happiness was written all over her face.

"Thank you, Lady Agnesia," Rasmus nodded.

"Well, I'm also here because I want to complain. I was hoping for you to visit us in West Neva, but when I heard you were going to accompany Her Holiness back to Central Neva, I was deeply disappointed," Agnesia said as she crossed her arms. "But I believe you have a different agenda as to why you agreed to go to Central Neva," she continued as she sighed.

"As I said, there's always an opporunity if you're looking for one," Rasmus smiled as he rested his arms on the armrests. "I might pay you a visit, but I can't promise you when it will be. I have a lot of things to handle and to prioritize," he continued as he stared at the ceiling with a calm and relaxed expression.

Agnesia didn't say a word, and her demeanor suddenly changed into a concerned one. Her gaze was cold and her expression was stiff when she looked at the beautiful scenery around her, unlike before. Rasmus noticed that, and it appeared that she was waiting for him to ask about it.

"How's the situation in West Neva? The news about Kiel and the demon forces got defeated in South Neva would make the emissaries of evil in West Neva to be cautious and perhaps chose to make a frontal act," Rasmus asked as he took a sip of his lukewarm and tasteless tea.

"Barely managing. The crack is already visible, and the tension is worsen..." Agnesia answered in a muttered voice, loud enough for Rasmus to hear her clearly. "Unlike here where demonic beasts barely exist, West Neva is basically has hundreds of nests for them, breeding uncontrollably. We lack manpower, and the moment the peace is shattered... our fall would be worse than what's happenin in East Neva," she continued.

"I realized the moment you stayed here in South Neva and not immediately went back to West Neva that you wanted to ask for support from Archduke Thalior, correct?" Rasmus asked.

"To be fair, Count. All of us had seen how powerful the emissaries were, how they could kill thousands of lives with a simple glare, and how they could create such a monstrosity like Nephia, a colossal monster with the power of an immortal. Do you believe that he can help when he and the hundred thousand soldiers under his command couldn't even do a thing to the real threat?" Agnesia asked as she stared into Rasmus's eyes.

"Kiel and his demons had underestimated humans, and they paid the price. You're right for being skeptical, but there's no point of being one right now," Rasmus said as he held his cane and stared at it. "If those emissaries saw how united you were, and how they were ready to fight against them, they would think twice before they made a move. We have momentum, don't waste it. Once you have accepted that, now find opportunities along the way, look for it, don't only focus on what's in front of you in this kind of situation," he continued and stared at Agnesia.

Agnesia was deeply shocked and speechless when she heard Rasmus's eye-opening words. She then laughed and shook her head, staring at Rasmus in disbelief.

"You said you're not an optimistic person, Count. I still believe you're one," Agnesia said, her bright smile coming back to her face.

"Being optimistic and being pragmatic aren't that different. Being pessimistic and skeptical are similar to being pragmatic as well, but it's still different," Rasmus said with a soft smile on his face.

"I have lost for words, Count, truly," Agnesia shook her head, and then enjoyed the peaceful moment of silence with Rasmus.