The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 671 A Thousand Faces and a Covenant (2)

"A deal? What exactly do you mean?" Erkan narrowed his gaze sharply.

Thousand Faces offered a subtle smile while clasping his hands behind his back.

"No such thing as a free lunch exists—that's a famous saying you must know," he remarked calmly. "The same principle applies here. You don't think I'll handle this task without compensation, do you?"

Crosmon's brow furrowed. He was on the verge of speaking when Erkan lifted a hand to silence him.

"Haven't we settled this already? Fifty million Rune coins upfront—that was the agreement. Why throw in extra terms now? Planning to back out?" Erkan demanded icily.

A subtle pressure emanated from his form, pressing heavily upon Thousand Faces.

Yet the man remained unmoved. Maintaining his smile, he responded steadily, "That's separate. You only mentioned finding two key individuals before. No one anticipated Nolan Lorian and Seira Lorian."

His eyes sharpened intensely. "Aiding you means landing on the Great Velmora Empire's top wanted roster. They'd pursue me across the continent, shattering my quiet existence. Therefore…"

A meaningful glint sparked in his gaze. "I'd like to propose two additional conditions. Your thoughts?"

"Tch…" Erkan clenched his teeth.

He never foresaw Thousand Faces' brazenness.

Still, he conceded the logic. His prior offer was merely to track two vital figures—names omitted.

Erkan anticipated that revealing their identities would prompt Thousand Faces to bargain harder.

His prediction proved spot on. The scoundrel exploited it fully.

Composing himself, he declared gravely, "Name your two conditions. If they remain fair, I'll agree. Otherwise…"

Murderous aura laced his tone. "Don't anticipate leaving unscathed."

Desperate for his aid, Erkan recognized Thousand Faces as a notorious outlaw regardless.

Slaying him immediately held no issue for Erkan.

Unperturbed by the menace, Thousand Faces extended two fingers. "First, raise the payment. From fifty million to a hundred million now. Agreeable?"

The exorbitant figure left Erkan and Crosmon speechless.

"Hundred million!? Robbing the royal vault dry?" Erkan barked.

His fingers gripped his sword hilt, poised to unsheathe and strike Thousand Faces instantly.

"Why the rage?" Thousand Faces scowled unhappily. "My demand stays sensible. Just a hundred million—the palace coffers dwarf that sum."

He uttered it casually, as if trivial.

"Moreover, the dangers are immense, particularly with Nolan Lorian, brother to Elina Lorian. That lady links to the Singularity of Chaos. You grasp the weight."

Thousand Faces trusted his prowess utterly. A fellow Celestial Mage? He'd triumph.

But against a Seven Singularity—especially Chaos's—he'd proceed with utmost caution.

Facing a lunatic who felled catastrophe beasts like flies, mere survival would be fortune.

Erkan's fury gradually ebbed. That angle escaped his prior thoughts.

Nolan Lorian, twin to Elina Lorian—a contender dominating the Great Velmora Empire's throne race.

Crucially, Elina enjoyed covert backing from the Singularity of Chaos, sweeping obstacles unseen.

Regaining composure, Erkan replied mildly, "That ask is too steep. Truthfully, I'm engaging you sans His Majesty's consent. Urgency demands it; he'll approve. Two days—I'll secure the funds."

Thousand Faces nodded agreeably. "Fine by me. I'll hold."

Erkan exhaled in relief. Annoying as Thousand Faces was, his reasonableness impressed—Erkan's view softened a bit.

"Now, your second condition," Erkan prompted.

Thousand Faces paused, silent for a lengthy five minutes before declaring, "Clear my name from the wanted list."

Erkan and Crosmon's eyes bulged.

Erkan's stare iced over as he snarled, "Repeat that? Your heinous acts demand eternal pursuit—yet you seek erasure from the most-wanted? Sweet fantasy."

A mocking smile appeared on Thousand Faces' face. "Don't play the hypocrite, Erkan. Do you believe I'm naive enough to get deceived by you? Ordinary people's lives mean nothing in this world."

His voice grew sharper. "You once wiped out a whole city—hundreds of thousands of lives—on a conquest in the southwest of the southern continent. That death toll exceeded by far what I caused."

Erkan's face stiffened. Beads of cold sweat formed on his neck and brow.

The slaughter had truly happened. He had carried it out before. Back then, His Majesty commanded him to seize a minor kingdom in the southwest.

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However, when one city's residents resisted surrender, Erkan unleashed savagery—killing all, women and children included.

He failed to grasp how Thousand Faces learned of it.

"That was my second proposal. Consider it thoroughly."

Thousand Faces' icy tone yanked him from his reverie.

Erkan drew a deep breath before answering, "I lack the power to decide that issue. Still, I'll attempt to arrange it after I get back."

Thousand Faces nodded, pleased. No promise was required—Erkan's statement sufficed.

"Very well, I'll start now," Thousand Faces declared, as he turned and stepped back a bit. "Get your troops ready to advance."

He lifted his staff and started tracing a magic circle into the earth.

Erkan acted without delay. Seizing Crosmon, he promptly commanded the soldiers to prepare.

The troops showed clear surprise. Less than an hour of rest had passed, but now they faced orders to march once more.

Regrettably, no one among them risked complaining. They quickly got themselves ready.

Within fifteen minutes alone, the twenty thousand soldiers formed orderly ranks.

Erkan stayed positioned at the forefront, observing Thousand Faces, whose setup was complete.

Confusion deepened among the soldiers upon seeing the hooded figure. They traded looks, wordlessly probing one another.

Yet not a soul identified him, leaving them to harbor their uncertainties in silence.

Thousand Faces lifted both arms skyward and bellowed in a booming tone, "Signum Umbrae, Errantium… grant me your guidance!"

Whoosh!

Crimson radiance erupted from the ground's magic circle. It surged up like a pillar, and instantly, a pair of massive eyes materialized overhead.

Every eye spanned almost ten meters across, glaring at the army with piercing, horrifying intensity.

The soldiers shuddered. These were battle-tested veterans from endless fights.

But an unprecedented dread now invaded their souls—from those two ghostly eyes.

Abruptly, the eyes turned and fixed on a distant spot.

Thousand Faces grinned and gestured toward it.

"Precisely one hundred kilometers away," he announced. "That's their location."