"We call ourselves… the Illuminati!"
Julie confessed and looked at Ronny's reaction. As she had expected, his eyes had been opened wide in surprise as soon as she said the organization's name she was part of.
Ronny AKA Eren was surprised. But it was for a different reason. This was because he knew that some years from now two of the cultists' organizations would wage war against each other.
Nothing much was public knowledge about the war between two cultist groups. But Eren knew one of them had its name revealed to the public as the Illuminati.
The Illuminati later had another conflict with another cultist organization but it soon found the allies it needed to keep on engaging with its enemies. But it was never revealed to the normal populace what the organizations were fighting about.
The Illuminati had been in the limelight for some time during Eren's previous timeline. But he had been too busy making ends meet to care about kingdom-level affairs.
And now the same Illuminati had its members approach him. Eren guessed that whatever the reason for that conflict was, it was connected to why Julie had approached him. Because the timing of this whole thing made it appear to be the case in the butcher's head.
"Do you know about us?"
Julie had a look of interest when she asked Ronny. The latter nodded before replying
"Only a few details. You guys like to infiltrate the establishments and remodel them from within to suit your needs. Why are you guys looking for me?"
Julie flashed a smile before affirming what Eren was saying
"That's right. Unlike Beast Bloods or most of the cultist organizations that are filled with degenerates and criminals, Illuminati only takes those people who have a relatively successful career in their field.
The reason is simple. We want to reshape the establishments' beliefs from within. Anyone can cause mass direction if you think about it. Where's the talent in that. Real talent is when you destroy the things you want to destroy and replace them with something better without making a noise.
Beast Bloods had never allowed you to grow. But with my organization's backing, I can assure you that you'd get more than you ever could be retaining your current affiliation.
So what do you think? Do you want to come with us?"
Julie asked with a subtle temptation in her voice. Eren didn't reply immediately. He seemed to be thinking about something as he gulped the contents inside his wine glass some more before finally commenting:
"I know that the cultists' organizations work on one fundamental principle, no matter how radical or mild they are. Equivalent exchanges and equivalent benefits.
If I have so many benefits just being part of your organization, surely there must be something in it for you too in recruiting me. Tell me what that is upfront. I always appreciate straight shooters."
Julie hadn't doubted Ronny's intelligence. But keeping a sane mind in the face of benefits highlighted that part of the former's personality she had come to admire.
"Hm. You are right. But before I tell you that, I need to confirm something about you."
Eren raised his eyebrows but he didn't say anything. His silence was enough for Jules to continue:
"I need to see if you can go through the therianthrope transformation before I tell you the reason for me inviting you to my organization.
After that, I'll ask you about some not-so-well-known details about Beast Bloods to confirm your association with Beast Bloods. Just to confirm your identity as a member of Beast Bloods.
Finally, I'll have you sign a non-disclosure contract. Are you willing?"
Julie had stoic expressions when she said that. Eren didn't take long as he finished his wine before replying:
"I am."
*****************************
A few days before the meeting with Julie took place.
Eren was talking with Agatha about a few details he had found in Edgar's journal.
"So do you not feel any voracious hunger from time to time? Or to be more specific, what has changed for you since you've gone through the therianthropic transformation?"
Agatha was confused and irritated. Because just a few moments before, Eren was discussing business stuff with her. Now he had shifted to asking about Beast Bloods and her transformation again.
She wasn't used to sudden shifts of gears. But she forced herself to calm down before replying:
"Not really. I feel that my trigger for anger and survival instinct has been altered from normal rankers. But I always had those emotions enhanced in the first place. So I can't say for sure.
Why are you asking?"
Eren pondered to himself after hearing his slave's response.
'So nothing changes for Anthrops and people using Beast contract spells. Or the changes aren't noticeable enough for the rankers on an individual level as they are for me.
But it would be wrong for me to assume things based on Agatha's words alone. I need to see her in action.'
Thinking this, Eren commanded Agatha to perform her therianthropic transformation in front of him. The latter just sighed after witnessing her master's erratic whims before obliging.
Agatha started transforming. Her height grew a little. The muscles on her limbs became more prominent. Plus, she started having a distinct fur growth on those limbs. Her eyes also changed from those of normal humans to those that had vertical pupils.
Agatha was a cute young girl. She was a bit shorter than Eren. But her transformation had pushed her height by four to five inches, allowing her to surpass Eren's normal stature.
He white hair and light green eyes were still the same after her transformation. But now they had the air of beastly aura around them.
But the biggest change Agatha had after entering her transformed state wasn't physical. Her mana signature now had the subtle aura of a mana beast mixed in it.
Any normal ranker would be able to sense the deviation in mana signature because the transformation had caused the mana signature to spread forth in the vicinity. Meaning a normal anthrope of Agatha's level couldn't mask the signature once they entered their transformed state.
That or Agatha just wasn't skilled enough yet to do it.