I Reincarnated Into A Single-Celled Organism!

Knock. Knock.

I had returned to my mansion. By that point, it was already dark out and there was nothing much I could do. Thankfully, I had already done renovations for my room as well as Priscilla’s. In truth, it was probably best that Erika didn’t return with me, as I had no room for her. I probably would have given her my room and slept on the porch again. I was only just starting to settle in and go over the stuff I had learned when there was a knock. Priscilla got up and answered it, but I already knew who was there.

“Master…” Priscilla rushed in worriedly. “It is Madame…”

She could barely get it out before Abigail walked into my study room. This room was still in progress, so it was a bit of a mess. I noticed Mara trailing behind her, a bit flustered.

“Fiancee… I’m a bit surprised you’re coming here so late. This could lead to rumors.”

She frowned. “I already relieved or sent away any guards I do not trust. Within the walls, nothing will get out.”

As she spoke, I could feel a small surge of power. I could tell that it was a barrier that would keep people from listening in on our conversation.

“No matter how secure your walls are, there are always rats waiting to smuggle any morsel they can find,” I replied as I offered Abigail a seat.

She sat down as I sent Priscilla away. I was a bit surprised when she allowed Mara to remain with her, standing by her chair like always. She watched Priscilla leave and then turned to me.

“You don’t need to worry about her. She is one of the few who can be trusted.”

“For you, maybe…” I responded casually.

Her frown deepened as she watched me consideringly. “Are you someone I can trust, Master Spirit?”

I straightened in my chair, letting my flippant smile drop. “Did you not ask me to pretend to be your fiancé?”

“That was when I presumed you were a hapless farmhand outside of your element.” She responded. “However, I’ve been keeping tabs on you, and based on your accomplishments, I’m no longer certain you’re who you appeared to be…”

“Ah-“ Mara tried to speak, but Abigail cut her off.

“Yes, you’ve already told me your side of things. I’m willing to trust him, aren’t I?” She let out a sigh before looking at me. “I grow tired of constantly having to watch my words with others. Tell me why you think I am here.”

I stared at her for a moment before I chuckled. “The rank A technique, correct?”

Her lips pressed together. “You are as clever as I suspected. You at least understand the value of what you found. Do you understand how dangerous it is to possess such a thing? Even my uncle is salivating thinking of acquiring it. If he were to hand an A-rank technique to the main family, it would be a contribution that he would instantly be returned to the main family and even made an elder.”

Mara blinked. “Wait, if it’s that valuable…”

Abigail nodded. “Spirit could also use it as leverage with any family. As soon as I learned of it, I understood why the Stride family acted so swiftly and recklessly. If things went differently, the Stride family might have offered you Fate if it meant they could get their hands on it.”

“Are these techniques so rare?” I asked.

“Even the Capala family only has about three A-rank techniques. Only the young lord and the elders are allowed to glance at them, but they’re enough that our family has remained top in the province. As for the Stride family, they might not even have one. B-rank might be the best they currently have, although if they had one, they wouldn’t announce it, as we do not announce the existence of ours.” She gave me a look as if to say that she was expecting me to keep that secret, so I gave a nod.

“So, why aren’t you worried I’ll betray the Capala family?” I asked.

“You already offered me the technique earlier.” She responded carefully.

I shrugged. “I didn’t think you’d take it.”

She smiled. “That’s why I didn’t take it. You afforded me a level of trust, and I thought it was best that I return it.”

“Yet, you’re still here.”

Her smile slipped slightly. “I don’t want to take the technique from you. However, my uncle… I don’t believe he’d betray the Capala family, but he may not see it as a betrayal. He may see taking it from you as his responsibility.”

“So, you headed him off?”

“Once I leave here, I will immediately go to our vault and lock a book away as if I received your technique. Uncle will naturally have some people observing…”

“At least you know he’s watching you…”

Her lips tightened. “The people I can trust are limited, and even those I can trust with one thing I can not trust with another. At least, I can mitigate things in this way.”

“Won’t he check behind you?”

“Uncle may have more control than I’d like, but this is still not his branch. He can’t get into my treasury. The best he can do is see that I’ve been to the treasury. Even if he believed I was tricking him, there would be enough doubt that he wouldn’t risk acting on you as long as you hide it properly.”

“Why are you willing to go through so much trouble?” I asked. “Wouldn’t it be easier if I just handed you the actual technique?”

“Are you willing?” She asked.

I cocked my head. “It’s not that I’m not willing, but rather that I don’t think you can afford it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

“I’ve debated whether I should share this with you, but since you want to open up trust, it might be best if you see the technique for yourself.”

She shook her head. “I’m not an academic. I wouldn’t be able to tell things. Just explain it to me.”

“It started with the girl you saw me with earlier, the one named Erika.” As I began, she focused on my conversation.

I had already explained some of it before, so I just mentioned receiving the technique from the immortal and a few other pertinent details, including what the technique did. As soon as she heard it, she gave an intake of breath through her teeth.

“This… it’s a technique far beyond an A-rank technique.” I noticed her hand shaking slightly as she took her cup of tea.

“I agree.” I smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want to secure it for the Capala family?”

She gave a weak smile back. “Aren’t you my fiancé? If you have it, then I would naturally take advantage of it when the time comes.”

“I didn’t know my fiancée was a comedian,” I responded wryly.

She winced. “I am naturally very tempted by this technique, but you are correct. It’s a level where even I’m not confident I can keep it safe. Only the main house likely could keep such a technique safe, and even then, if the Lord learns about it, he’d probably try to cease it by any means.”

Mara gasped. “Is it so important?”

“This technique can change the fate of any household. To induce mutations…” She shook her head. “No, even I can’t predict how far a house could go with such a technique at their disposal. My only regret is that two of the houses know about it. We can also presume the Academy knows. Although the Headmistress Domani is not ambitious, that doesn’t mean others in the academy might not desire such an item. That’s three groups that might be our enemies now.”

“I’m sorry I brought you trouble.”

She shook her head. “Don’t be. This technique might bring us trouble, but it also brings us opportunity. If we play our cards right, we might be able to use this. Thank you for telling me.”

I shrugged. “They already know. If you didn’t know the same, you wouldn’t be able to prepare. Speaking of which, what’s your plan now?”

She thought about it for a moment before responding. “We should stick with the original plan. Hold onto the technique, and I will make a show as if I’m putting it in our treasury. I suspect someone will be trying to take it. We might be able to flush them out.”

“In that case…” I gestured and pulled out a book, handing it to her.

“This is…” She glanced at the book.

“Not the technique… it just looks like it. If someone tries to take it though, I will know.”

“In that case, for the next week, remain here. We will watch and wait for our enemy’s next move. No, we’ll prepare a trap for them. We’ll teach our enemies that the Capala household isn’t so easily walked on.” Her eyes turned fierce for a moment as she said that.

I nodded. “We’ll do things your way then.”