Supreme Magus novel Chapter 4439

Chapter 4439: Death by a Thousand Cuts (Part 1)

"Maybe Kamila Verhen is pregnant again." Jiza shuddered at the thought. "She never announces her pregnancies, and the rest of Mogar always learns about it the hard way.

"If we attack Jirni while she’s away from Elysia and Raldarak, but the Guardians deem us a threat to the baby in Lady Verhen’s womb, the Gernoff Household would go extinct, and all our contingency measures would be for nothing."

The youth pictured Jirni Blinking away from a deadly spell aimed at her, leaving Kamila in the line of fire. The Guardians had spared the Griffon bloodline and part of the Verendi Council because they weren’t involved in the assassination attempts.

The Gernoffs wouldn’t be so lucky. All the members of the Gernoff family knew about Jirni’s execution and were willing accomplices in Jiza’s plans.

"As for Dripha, there are too many unknown variables. Maybe Jirni left her with a dangerous bodyguard like Shargein, or maybe she’s relying on the same enchantment that killed our assassin during Verhen’s birthday gala.

"I wouldn’t rule out that Jirni wants us to take Dripha either."

"Why would she do that?" Calam’s tone remained level, but his face showed the shock he felt at those words.

"Kidnapping Jirni’s daughter means breaking into Verhen’s house." Jiza explained. "Facing his spells and potentially injuring his relatives. Whether we succeed or fail, the entire Verhen bloodline would become our sworn enemy along with anyone who wants a Blade Weapon."

The aide was about to suggest not leaving witnesses when he remembered that Friya would be among them. Lith wouldn’t let the lack of evidence stop his quest for vengeance, and neither would the Hydra bloodline.

"In one move, the Gernoff Household would find itself isolated in the Council and surrounded by enemies.

"The Lesser Divine Beasts who are after the Hydras’ bloodline awakening technology and the humans after the secret of human evolution would gladly offer the Gernoffs’ heads on a silver platter if it meant getting what they wanted.

"And it gets even worse." Jiza studied Calam’s expression to read his thoughts. "Friya Ernas has no obligation to officially announce when she completes the ritual that will transform her into a Harbinger.

"What if Jirni knows her daughter is already a Harbinger and is using her as a living surveillance device? If I’m right, the moment we attack the Verhen Mansion, Faluel will witness everything through Friya’s eyes and call the rest of her family to arms.

"The entire Hydra clan would come after our strike team first and us later. Fyrwal would take the attempt on her daughter’s Harbinger personally and call in favors, maybe even ask Tessa for help.

"Now imagine this. A furious Lith Verhen with all the evidence he needs to carry out his vengeance without anyone interfering and the will to turn the weapons of our enemies into Blade Weapons. How long would our family last against such force?"

"Not even one second." Calam replied. "The blood of Oghrom and his legacy would be wiped out from the face of Mogar without fulfilling their sacred duty. Jirni Ernas would live, and Oghrom’s will would be forgotten."

"Yet being cautious doesn’t mean staying idle." Jiza said. "Find out if Jirni Ernas is really disguised as Assistant Constable Ytana Sokra. If it’s her, have her followed 24/7. I also want the Mansion under strict surveillance.

"Verhen’s absence gives us the time and opportunity to study his defenses. Whatever Jirni Ernas has prepared, it must not work on us a second time."

Jiza Gernoff was unaware that Jirni had prepared nothing, and the deeper the Gernoffs looked, the more entangled they would become in an illusory web of their own making.

***

The following morning, Jirni and Kamila were almost done reading the reports of the bandit raids in Lustria’s neighboring counties and the countermeasures the local lords had adopted.

’This is a great move.’ Lith thought. ’Solus is using her lunch break to create herself an alibi. Now Jirni thinks that Solus has always been at the Mansion with the others and won’t suspect a thing.’

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