How long had the Iron-Blooded Lord been there? Had he heard the conversation about Verita?0

No. I immediately rejected that thought. This matter concerned cooperation with the Dark Church, not anything else. Taon had gone to great lengths to hide it. If the Iron-Blooded Lord had overheard, he wouldn't be sitting down there so quietly.3

I squinted at the Headquarters Chief beside me and recalled the moment his expression had subtly changed. Just before he began praising the Iron-Blooded Lord, his expression had taken on a faintly ridiculous look.0

It was at that time. It seemed the Iron-Blooded Lord appeared right after the discussion about Verita ended and just as I brought up Black Rose. In other words, he was already standing behind me the moment I started insulting him.0

Should I consider this a fortunate misfortune? No. Why do I keep running into the busiest man in the world?3

A surge of resentment rose in me. I immediately realized this was neither coincidence nor bad luck but an inevitable outcome. After all, the Iron-Blooded Lord and I shared some similarities. The deeper I became entangled with demons and the Dark Church, the more often our paths were bound to cross.0

Still, could someone truly erase their presence to this extent? Wasn't it almost a cheat?0

It wasn't like I hadn't been vigilant. My battle of nerves...0