Chapter 136

[Third Person's PoV]

Yukime was in her office, seated and rummaging through some paperwork with a serious expression, silently pondering.

"I hope this isn't a bad time?"

Hearing the sudden voice, Yukime jolted in her seat and quickly turned around. She breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that it was only Shadow, sitting on a sofa in a relaxed manner.

Yukihime then appeared from Yukime's shadow and bowed her head. "My Lord."

"Yukihime," Shadow said with a nod, before turning to look at Yukime. Yukime smiled, and before Shadow could start a conversation, Yukime bowed her head.

"Thank you…" she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thanks to you, I'm able to see my mother once more. I will forever be thankful and try to repay this debt in any way I can."

Shadow waved her off. "It's nothing. It was just a small matter to me." Shadow crossed his legs and gained a serious expression while his voice deepened. "I would like to help you with a goal you have, a goal that could be of some benefit to me, if you aren't opposed to it. It could be the start of our cooperation."

Yukime was confused, unsure of what goal Shadow was talking about, but as if he were reading her mind, Shadow continued.

"As I'm sure you are aware, Mitsugoshi and the Great Merchant Union are currently having a turf war," Shadow began.

Yukime nodded. "Yes, I'm already aware of that. It has gotten to the point where they are going for each other's throats in the shadows, all due to the rate at which Mitsugoshi is growing."

Shadow nodded his head. "Since you're planning on using your company, The Snow Fox Trade, to benefit from the two fighting, I'm offering my cooperation so you would have an easier time and better benefits."

Yukime's smile grew weary. "You're aware of that, huh? And that the Snow Fox Trade is something I own…" She then stood up and gained a seductive look.

Shadow raised a brow as Yukime sat next to him, her Yukata sliding down a bit from her shoulders. She slowly reached over and put a hand on his chest. "You seem to know a lot about me. I wonder what else you know, or perhaps I can inform you of the things you don't?" she said with a cheeky and seductive grin.

Shadow didn't seem fazed by her seduction. He grabbed her chin and made her look at him before he leaned down towards her.

Yukime started to get shy, thinking, 'Oh wow, this is fast, it's happening, he's going to kiss me!' She happily closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

That is until she felt Shadow's hot breath near her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "I'm sorry, my dear, but your little act of seduction needs to be better than that, and at a different time. We're discussing business, after all."

Yukime let out a little pout before she nodded in understanding. "You're right. I am indeed looking to get involved in the fight and benefit from it. Your cooperation would definitely be most helpful."

Yukime, who had her arms wrapped around his and pressed her chest against him, looked at Shadow in a perplexed manner. "Forgive me for prying, Lord Shadow, but what do you hope to gain out of all this?"

Shadow put a finger on his lips. "That's for me to know…" He then tapped her nose with the same finger. "…and you not to."

'My lord, forgive me for asking, but do I have a chance of knowing what you're planning?' Bellion asked from his shadow.

'Yes, I'm planning on testing the girls. We're up against the Monarchs and Rulers after all. I want to see how far they've grown and if they can make any improvements,' Shadow explained.

'But, my Lord, will we even need them? Wouldn't we be enough to take care of all of them when the time comes?' Bellion asked in confusion.

'Yes, no doubt about it. But knowing my girls, they would want to jump in headfirst against the fight. They would want to take care of the problems for me without me needing to do anything. So before they do something crazy, I want to test them and make sure they have the necessary power to do it.'

'I see… You have found some loyal partners, my Lord,' Bellion praised with a small smile.

'Aren't they the best?' Shadow inwardly grinned.

After his conversation with Bellion, which only lasted a second in the outside world, Shadow focused on Yukime, who was nodding in understanding.

'He's right, it was too presumptuous of me to ask him that.'

Shadow smiled towards Yukime. "While we're cooperating, I won't be working as Shadow or Azrael. I will be using another alias. A new persona, if you will."

Shadow then shattered like glass and turned into multiple beautiful blue butterflies. Yukime looked at her hands in amazement as she watched the butterflies appear out of nowhere and flap around her.

She held out a finger towards one of them and watched as it landed on her finger. The group of butterflies surged and regrouped in front of her, revealing Shadow wearing something completely different.

He wore a black and white three-piece suit with a cape over his shoulder, a top hat on his head, and a black domino mask with white lenses, making it impossible to see his eyes. He wore white gloves, and in one hand, he held a black cane with a golden handle.

He took the top hat from his head, twirled it a bit, and did a gentle bow, holding his top hat to his chest. "The name's Merlin, darlin', Merlin the Grand Magician," he said in a British accent.

Yukime looked stunned before she then asked, "A Grand Magician?"

Merlin just smiled charmingly. "Miss, it appears you have something behind your ears."

Yukime grew confused until Merlin reached over and pulled a rose from behind her ear, presenting it to her. "For the lovely lady," he continued to smile charmingly.

Yukime blinked a few times before she blushed. "Thank you," she said, taking the flower.

Merlin twirled his top hat once more and put it back on his head. He then gained a confused look as he reached over and lifted his top hat, which revealed two filled wine cups.

He took them from his head and handed one to Yukime, sipping the other himself.

"How are you doing that?" Yukime asked in awe as she took the cup and sipped. "Oh wow! It tastes amazing!"

Merlin put his gloved finger hovering over his lips while he still held his cup of wine and smirked cheekily. "A Magician Never Reveals His Secrets."

Merlin then tapped his cane on the floor, causing a smoke screen to appear. When it dissipated, Merlin was already gone.

When Yukime looked around the room, she saw Merlin sitting on her main chair like he ruled the place, with his legs crossed, swirling the wine before taking a sip. "Now then, shall we continue discussing our cooperation?"

Yukime nodded her head almost in a daze as she held a rose in one hand and a cup of wine in the other.