Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Eren asked Levine to get her hands on a few more soul-related potions that were set on a low priority. If she could get them or concoct them, that'd be great. Otherwise, he'd look for their alternatives himself.

Eren's products were set to hit the market in just a few weeks. So the teacher and students had a lot to talk and discuss about. When they were done finalizing the details, an entire day had passed.

Eren politely bid Levine farewell. He also made sure to compliment her some more before disappearing from her lab. The latter was left wondering how could a young man like him be so driven about his plans.

'The brat is planning something really big. I can feel it. As if trying to mess with some monster he shouldn't mess with.'

Levine looked at the void blankly as she had a random thought. She then shook her head and smiled bitterly before summoning the spectral screen again. She was about to read about the research papers her apprentice had derived from years of experiments.

'Maybe I should meet her and apologize.'

Levine couldn't help but think along those lines as she started reading Marie's papers.

***

"This spell synthesis array is completely loaded, guild master Eren."

As Lady Zee finished storing her black flames inside, she spoke to Eren. She stepped outside the array with her forehead covered in beads of sweat, indicating she was almost exhausted from the task given to her.

The duo was inside Eren's potion lab.

Eren had summoned Lady Zee to his potion lab to help him with something. He was constructing various forms of spell synthesis arrays. The idea was to use various spell effects as raw ingredients to concoct varying degrees of potions.

At least that's what the butcher had told the Expert ranker.

"Thank you for all your diligent work, Expert Catherine. Please allow me to treat you to a delicious dinner as a token of my appreciation."

Eren said and smiled. Lady Zee looked at the newly appeared spatial array that had appeared behind him.

Lady Zee pursed her lips when she saw the spatial array and Eren's gesture of goodwill. She had her own things to do. And she didn't want to get too involved in White Raven's guild affairs. At least not when there was no information to be gained.

But before she could even fully consider her denial, Eren spoke up next.

"I also wanted to discuss your involvement in the guild and your upcoming role as its member. The thing is I won't always be around the guild. So I was planning to assign some of the key positions to trusted members.

I know we haven't signed exclusive binding contracts yet. So I was hoping our over-the-dinner discussions would persuade you into joining the guild in all its entirety. That will also allow me to assign you to a key role your capability deserves."

Eren said and clarified his stance. After all, he could read what the Expert ranker was thinking.

Lady Zee couldn't tell that she was being read by Eren even though she was a rank higher than him thanks to the way the soul sense worked. Since she didn't have the soul sense to defend against Eren, she could be read like an open book by the butcher.

Lady Zee was compelled to join Eren over dinner when she heard his reason. She hadn't signed the exclusive binding contract with the White Raven because she couldn't. She was an executive of the Illuminati and had already been contract-bound by them.

However, she could always listen to what Eren had to say. She could use this information and pass it on to her organization, to see if they could make use of the information. If nothing else, she could certainly indulge in a hearty meal while offering nothing promising to Eren.

Lady Zee, who was tired of loading Eren's spell synthesis array, finally gave a nod to Eren and followed him inside the array eye. The butcher couldn't help but smile as he activated the array.

The spatial fabric around the two rankers was distorted and rippled with some interference when the array was activated. Next, the pair disappeared from their position, leaving nothing but an empty potion lab behind.

Lady Zee readjusted her eyes to observe the changing scenery around her. She was standing near a man-made lake inside the forest created by Mega Mandrakes.

The White Raven city had plenty of mini-forest regions like these that served as the natural source of raw ingredients for the potion. The butcher didn't like the idea of a greenhouse because it was too dependent on array setups and balancing everything right.

He focused on growing the raw ingredients naturally, in their natural habitat. Of course, he subjected them to spells like Age Expedite from time to time to make the raw ingredients grow longer.

Eren had to say Renar had done the job assigned to him with flying colors. He left no stone unturned in making the forests of White Raven city resource heaven for Eren and all his potioning needs.

The full moonlight was making the small lake's still water turn silvery. There was a wooden shack not too far away from her on the banks of the man-made lake. The dinner table Eren was indicating was near the wooden shack.

Midnight. Moonlight. The silence of the night would get disturbed by the rustling of tree leaves all around the region. The winds carried the energy of the forest.

An ideal night for dinner outside. Lady Zee couldn't help but think that she was on a date with an Adept ranker when she saw the candles placed on the patio table, which illuminated the nearby area aplenty.

Not that she didn't like the idea. Eren was a handsome man. And Lady Zee was known to be… promiscuous.

'This… this is good.'

Lady Zee thought to herself as she was being led by Eren. The latter pulled up the chair and allowed the Expert ranker to take her seat elegantly. He then sat right in front of her before passing her what she wanted to eat from a range of cuisines placed on the patio table.

Eren and Lady Zee started talking with each other as they had a pleasant meal together. The butcher briefly explained what his guild was up to. And discussed if she wanted to be involved in the guild's core matters.

Lady Zee listened attentively and offered her insights as well as her opinions on a range of topics raised by Eren. He engaged the Expert ranker thoroughly in his discussion, taking her point of view into account.

Lady Zee started talking with Eren with even more passion than before. For some reason, she found that the mist that was only limited to the lake's surface had spread over the region.

Under the moonlight, a young female watched the duo have dinner with a stoic expression on her face. She smiled when the mist around them started to thicken and blur her normal vision.

'Don't mess with the vessel too much, Eren.'

Alephee said to herself before disappearing as silently as she had appeared. Leaving the couple to their own devices.

AN: She Knows plays in the backdrop. ;)