"Are you going to kill Andrea?"

The question she asked was very important, after all RIchard had shown how he was quite hesitant on doing anything to harm the woman who fooled him.

But, the answer he gave Cindy was quick and showed no hesitation.

"Of course, an eye for an eye and a life for a life"

The meaning of his words were simple, Damien Dixon was killed so Andrea had to perish.

There were many questions in Cindy’s mind but the resolution in Richard’s eyes was genuine. She didn’t try to confirm Richard’s reasons for his decisions or what realization he came to for him to make such a choice.

Cindy only nodded in response, "Good, tell me what you want me to do, I do expect to get paid for my services"

"Was the freeloading not enough?"

"That was for saving your life, this one’s a new transaction"

Her reply was short, lacking the childish and playful air she pretended to have.

Richard did not point it out though, seeing Cindy act twisted and disorganized had become part of her charm.

While he wouldn’t let himself get cajoled into treating her like a cute anime female lead, he wouldn’t mind treating her like an equal. Especially since they were now going to take on what could very likely be a long, long road through the world of mystery.

He wouldn’t mind it if she genuinely wanted to push their relationship forward. It wasn’t like he had a lover waiting for him.

Andrea was not a damsel in distress that needed rescue but an evil queen who took his kingdom away and had to be subjugated!

"The enemy would be the FBI and the local police forces, I should also prepare for the likely intervention of the Freemason’s- at least their mystical branch"

Richard said aloud, his plans need not be hidden, after all, he was going to need the help of everyone.

"You also need to consider mercenaries"

Ragnar added but Richard shook his head, "Mercenaries? This isn’t a war zone, why else would America export war?"

But his answer was shot down by Cindy who corrected him.

"The mundane America exports war, the mystical world of the US is still in a warring states period"

"... the hell? So what, how many kingdoms are there?"

"Three..."

Richard could already picture the split but he still can’t help but answer-

"The three kingdoms..."

Whether it was accidental or not, the three mystical organizations, The Freemasons, Nova Munda and Salem were indeed the three powerhouses of the mystical world in the US.

Three powerful organizations battling it out for supremacy...

The three kingdom’s...

If only the mystical world was as simple as that-

<The Three Kingdoms Era was quite complex, while history simplified it, civilized human society did not change fundamentally over countless centuries. All that changed were the laws, cultures, norms and beliefs. Kings disappeared but leaders took their place, instead of God’s dictating rulers, the population voted for leaders. Society never truly evolved, it just became more complex but fundamentally, it’s the same>

The goddess explained as Richard was starting to compare the current state of the mystical world to the ancient Three Kingdoms period he could recall from his memories.

Men were after all- students of history.

Why else would everyone know of the Roman Empire?

<That too was nothing more than a failure, though to humanity, it was one of the bigger steps into "civilized society". In fact, all they did was change the title of a king, give restrictions to their power and prevent them from abusing their power>

"Sounds familiar"

<Of course, it’s the core of society, humans are nothing more than complicated animals after all>

"I don’t like how you framed that but... yeah, I could see the vision"

Richard didn’t delve too deeply into the philosophical talk that the Goddess was making.

Though maybe to the Goddess it was just casual banter?

Maybe that was the reason why society was the way it currently is?

"No... I don’t need to think about that. Focus Richard, focus on the goal..."

Shaking his head, Richard snapped himself back to reality as he refocused his mind. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He turned towards Ragnar and asked-

"Honestly, I don’t know how to go about this, have any suggestions for me to teach?"

"Charge forward, pillage and make your enemies fear you"

"..."

Richard turned to Cindy and asked, "Cindy?"

But her answer was a roll of the eyes followed by a sassy response, "You’re the genius, don’t you have a plan mister "I made a billion dollar company in a single generation"?"

Richard raised a finger, went quiet but answered nonetheless, "It’s "in less than a decade", a generation is like what- 30-60 years? I could have made three companies in that time!"

"..."

Cindy didn’t bother replying to Richard so the many turned his attention to Hana and Kyla but the two women just averted their eyes.

Hana was just a talented shaman while Kyla was literally a lawyer who was getting abused by her boss.

What the hell would they know about taking back a company that was a hundred times bigger than any of the ones that they worked in?

The two ladies wanted to complain but just sucked it all up.

While Richard would not really give them as many problems as other asshole employers, it wasn’t like they knew his limits.

The last thing they wanted was to push a few wrong buttons and the understanding boss becomes a grudge filled ghost.

Seeing as none of them were able to provide any ideas, Richard could only sigh as he had to take it all on his own again but just as he was about to start planning.

<Do you know where you’re going to attack?>

"Hm? Of course, where Andrea is"

<Do you know where she is?>

"What do you mean? The reports didn’t change, Andrea is still at-"

Richard froze, his mind blanked out and he realized a problem.

<Cat got your tongue? Or did the hypnosis finally showed cracks?>

"..."

He tried desperately to deny it, even after all the things he experienced, he didn’t really let it get to him.

Andrea, Robert, the FBI, his company... everything was filled with tons of holes, holes that he couldn’t let go of normally but were kept in check by the madness that he was living in.

He drowned himself in magic, he focused his mind on learning.

The rapid progress his made was not only the result of Ragnar’s special training but also a product of his own talents. Talents that would have forced him to look at certain things in a different way if he let himself go.

It was like the suspension of disbelief that one had when reading a story.

There were many things left unexplained, many ideas, many events that left one asking "why" or "how"?

Such conflicts were part of the reading process, especially in mystery novels but Richard... he experienced it in real life.

He was going through a real life mystery and while others would be consumed by negativity and fail to react accordingly. Richard should have been fully capable of reacting normally, of responding in a "normal way".

Maybe... that was what Andrea and her people were betting on.

That Richard would take on the "logical route", that he would rely on "rationality". For if he did-

<The Irrationality that would consume others failed to eat you. Whether that’s good or bad, only your next actions, your choices would dictate whether it was right or wrong for you to take on this path>

The goddess spoke in a cryptic tone, her words filled with half facts that left Richard with no answers and just more questions.

What was the best way for him to tackle this problem?

"Could you send me there?"

His choice was quick, he didn’t even bother asking which city Andrea was in. He knew where she was- she was in the city where shit hit the fan.

Likely waiting for him to make a move.

Surrounded by her cronies, waiting for Richard to serve himself up on a silver platter.

<Of course, are you going to charge in head first like Ragnar recommended?>

Richard turned to Ragnar who showed a bright smile, he thumped his chest twice with one hand while giving Richard a nod.

"While diving in head first is a good plan for warriors, I’m not one, moreover, we only have one warrior, a trainee mage and a zombie witch"

Hearing Richard’s words, Hana showed a confused expression as she asked.

"What about me?"

"You wanna join in?"

Hana went silent, she thought to herself and let out a sigh.

"I don’t want to but I have a strong feeling that I NEED to"

Richard didn’t bother to think too deeply about her reasons as he only extended his hands and said.

"Welcome aboard this sinking ship"

"Doesn’t sound welcoming at all"

"Hahaha! Don’t worry, we’re about to land"

As Richard and Hana made such an exchange, Kyla asked, "what about me?"