Chapter 59


    "Is that Mari?" Marak slowly shook his head, full of wonder. It seemed that the Cobalt Strike held


    an abundance of stunning beauty, and it wasn''t that there weren''t women as beautiful elsewhere,


    but their allure was unique, intoxicating.


    Mari paid them no heed, striding past toward the courtyard where vin stood, and nodded


    gently. "May I have a word in private?"


    vin nced at Mari, then shrugged innocently as he met Celesse''s gaze, signaling he was


    without fault.


    Huh? Marak suddenly grew suspicious. Was this vin truly a servant? Could a mere servant


    attract thepany of not one, but two of Cobalt Strike''s enchanting maidens? His gaze toward


    Tyral turned icy, suspecting treachery.


    The other guards also cast cold looks toward Tyral with raised eyebrows. Could a servant truly


    command such attention? He must have been unique in all the realms.


    “I…" Tyral looked innocent. Celesse''s presence was expected, but Mari''s? That made no sense.


    "Please, leave us," Celesse reminded me once more.


    Mari nced back at Marak and his men, then headed to the warehouse. "vin, we have


    important matters to discuss. Inside!"


    "We''ll visit another day," Marak said, not insisting further. He nodded with a smile, leading his men


    away from the warehouse, but as the iron door closed, he kicked Tyral in the side. Tyral cried out,


    tumbling down the mountain path.


    "Dare you mock Lord Marak? Are you tired of living?" The guards scolded, suspecting vin was


    not truly a servant but had some feud with the young man, who used them to punish vin.


    "Lord Marak, I swear I''m not deceiving you. vin is indeed a servant, and I do not know why


    Mari is here," Tyral groaned, clutching his side and rising, covered in dust.


    "Why did you approach me?" Marak walked past him, eyes cold.


    "I..." Tyral''s gaze darted away.


    Marak pushed Tyral’s face aside. "Get out of my sight."


    "Were we not in Cobalt Strike, you''d be dead." The guards realized thisd was using them.


    Within the warehouse, Mari regarded vin''s bare torso with an indifferent gaze, her back to


    him, "Dress yourself first!"


    vin, dressed in clean clothes, was puzzled. "What matter warrants a visit from you, Mari?"


    "Why go to Botanic Haven?"


    "Curiosity. Just wandering there shouldn''t break any n rules."


    "If it were about assigning me, someone else would be here. Tell me, why Botanic Haven?"


    "It disturbs my sleep."


    "Who?"


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "You might ask your mentor why Botanic Haven, a ce of mystical spirits, has be a prison,


    and what sort of creature it holds captive."


    "You''ve been to Botanic Haven at least six times, and on each visit, the disturbances there worsen,


    ceasing only when you leave," Mari said. Her aura was reserve, perhaps from her practice of


    Combat Magic. A frost always lingered about her. She stared into vin''s eyes as if to peer into his


    soul.


    vin chuckled lightly. "Seems it knows when it''s been naughty; a stern look is all it takes to


    behave."


    "Come with me to Botanic Haven."


    "Why?"


    "You know why."


    "You''ve got the wrong person. I''m just a delivery servant, without the power to affect the secrets of


    Botanic Haven. I want no part in its affairs."


    "Come with me, and regardless of the oue, I''ll give you two Advanced Elixir Herbs."


    "Oue? What oue?"


    "It wouldn''t awaken without reason; this all rtes to you." Mari hadn''t thought vin was


    connected to the matter and was only curious because of Celesse''s inexplicable concern for him.


    But his repeated visits to Botanic Haven, and the resulting chaos, raised her suspicions.


    "You''ve truly got the wrong person. Why would Botanic Haven''s affairs involve me?" vin shook


    his head, uncertainty clouding his mind. He had no idea what awaited him there; danger or


    sanctuary. He was hesitant to step into the unknown blindly. Moreover, should any mishap reveal


    the secret of the Shadowbringer to the Elder, the loss would be irreceable.


    "I offer three assurances. I''ll tell no one, I won''t harm you, and no third party will witness you."


    "Just because I wandered into Botanic Haven, you think I''m involved with its beast? If that were


    true, it would''ve been evident eight years ago. Why would I still be in Cobalt Strike, struggling all this


    time? I''ve got matters to attend to and won''t see you out." vin gestured politely, a smile on his


    face as he bid her farewell. "Pleasure meeting with you, now please leave!"