Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye-Chapter 449: A Conspiracy Behind the Scenes

On the flight to the Imperial Capital, Fuzzsir was busy managing a variety of affairs.

Luca and Donlow, on the other hand, were casually chatting, occasionally exchanging a few light words.

When the plane neared the southern airport of the Imperial Capital, Luca suddenly received a call from Ben.

He was quite surprised—

It had been some time since he last had any contact with the Blues Family.

Once the call connected, Ben’s slightly anxious voice came through.

"Luca, are you currently on your way to the Imperial Capital?"

"How do you know that?"

"Don’t worry about how I know," Ben replied, his tone becoming increasingly serious. "Just listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you."

"Whatever you do—don’t come here! The Imperial Capital is extremely dangerous for you right now! From what I’ve heard, the major families who were hostile to you have already set a trap. They’ve planned a conspiracy specifically targeting you."

By the end of his words, Ben’s voice was filled with concern.

Luca, however, didn’t seem the least bit shaken.

To him, those so-called noble families were nothing more than trash.

How could trash like that possibly pose a real threat?

"I appreciate the warning, I truly do. But I honestly don’t think any of the families have what it takes to threaten me. I’ve already wiped out the Mingwhel Family. Sure, some other families might be stronger than them, but even they won’t be able to touch me."

Luca responded confidently.

As he spoke, the corners of his lips lifted into a subtle smirk—an expression of unwavering self-assurance.

"If you’re really that confident, then go ahead—come to the Imperial Capital," Ben replied. "But according to the intel I’ve gathered, this time it’s not just the noble families of the Imperial Capital who are involved."

At this point, Ben lowered his voice.

In a hushed, almost conspiratorial tone, he asked Luca,

"My line is absolutely secure, not under any surveillance. But is your communication line safe?"

"What’s going on exactly? Why are you being so secretive about this?"

Luca’s confusion only deepened.

From what he remembered, Ben was indeed a cautious man.

But this level of caution?

It was starting to feel... excessive.

"I have to be cautious! Because the intel I got came from my father—and he got it from attending an emergency summit between the heads of the major families.

If our communication gets intercepted, the entire Blues Family could be thrown into a serious crisis. We’re not as powerful as you, Luca. We don’t have the means to fend off a unified assault from all the major families."

Ben laid all his concerns on the table.

Luca could understand where he was coming from. He nodded and said,

"Alright then. I can assure you that my line is also secure—no risk of eavesdropping. You can go ahead."

Ben took a deep breath before dropping the real bombshell.

"It seems the major families in the Imperial Capital have joined forces with powers outside of humanity."

"You mean to say they’ve betrayed humanity and allied themselves with forces from the Eternal World?" Luca asked, his tone turning icy.

To him, the noble families had always been a problem.

The only reason he hadn’t completely wiped them out was because some of their members were actually quite powerful and had strong ties to the Human Federation.

And given how dire things were for humanity right now, keeping those individuals around was still beneficial—they could contribute to humanity’s survival.

But if what Ben said was true... then the noble families had already committed treason.

And Luca would no longer have any reason to spare them.

Ben was taken aback by Luca’s cold tone.

Hurriedly, he tried to clarify:

"They might not necessarily be working with forces from the Eternal World. Based on what I’ve gathered, it’s more likely that they’ve formed an alliance with Zenith Technology Company."

That explanation softened the killing intent in Luca’s eyes.

"Well, that’s not surprising," Luca replied. "The Human Federation is working with Zenith Tech. And so am I."

"You’re not worried about Zenith Technology turning against you?" Ben asked, baffled by Luca’s relaxed attitude.

Though he respected Luca’s strength, in Ben’s eyes, Zenith Technology Company was a deeply enigmatic force—one not to be underestimated.

"Don’t worry. I’m not afraid of them," Luca replied casually.

"The plane’s about to land. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."

As the plane touched down, Luca ended the call with Ben.

While disembarking, he was deep in thought—debating whether or not he should strike preemptively against the major families.

Although he had acted dismissive of their plot during the call with Ben, in truth, he was somewhat concerned.

This trip to the Imperial Capital had one paramount goal: to take control of the Origin Holy Grail.

And any conspiracy from the noble families had the potential to disrupt that mission.

So in Luca’s mind, the safest approach was clear: crush the conspiracy before seizing the Grail.

"Is something bothering you?"

Donlow’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

Luca shook his head.

"Really? You’ve been lost in thought ever since we got off the plane. And the look on your face tells me something’s definitely wrong."

Donlow had been with Luca long enough to read him better than most.

Luca let out a sigh.

"The noble families are scheming against me again."

"They’re still trying to take you down?" Donlow said, stunned and furious.

"Didn’t they learn anything from the total destruction of the Mingwhel Family? Apparently, the lesson we gave them last time wasn’t nearly harsh enough!"

"Let’s not get distracted by that right now," Luca said calmly. "Our top priority is getting to Morning Star headquarters and meeting with Drumph as soon as possible."

He gestured toward a commuter vehicle pulling up nearby—Fuzzsir was behind the wheel.

The three of them got in and sped off toward Morning Star’s headquarters.

Meanwhile, in a secluded villa hidden in a valley on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, the head of the Pike Family was deep in discussion with a mysterious guest—

They were planning a conspiracy against Luca.

"Your plan is indeed meticulous," the Pike patriarch said, frowning at a mirror before him. "But I still think the risks are too high. Luca is simply too powerful. We need more preparation."

In the mirror, there was no reflection of the Pike family head—

Only a dark, blurred figure surrounded by writhing vines that exuded a sinister aura.

The man in the mirror was none other than Senator Devitt.

After several days of recovery, he had finally regained some strength.

But following the battle in Lakeside City, he no longer dared to confront Luca head-on.

That’s why he had chosen to retreat into the shadows—

And orchestrate everything from behind the scenes.

From behind the scenes, Devitt was orchestrating the entire plan—

manipulating the noble families of the Imperial Capital to act against Luca.

If the families succeeded, the threat Luca posed would be eliminated once and for all.

And even if they failed, it was highly unlikely that Luca would be able to track Devitt down.

Seeing the hesitation on the Pike family patriarch’s face, Senator Devitt spoke with unwavering conviction:

"The plan we’ve devised is flawless. Luca’s return to the Imperial Capital is undoubtedly linked to the sealed zone currently under Morning Star’s strict surveillance.

That sealed area contains immense chaotic energy. As long as your operation proceeds without a hitch, we can use that very energy to destroy Luca completely.

And you, of course, stand to gain some extra benefits from this operation as well."

"Extra benefits?" the Pike patriarch asked, intrigued. "What kind of benefits?"

"Luca is bound to be carrying powerful weapons and rare items. Kill him, and they’ll be yours.

What’s more, there are still hidden treasures buried beneath the sealed zone—undiscovered and untouched."

Devitt wasn’t lying.

If the families did succeed, those rewards were very real.

But the odds of success were slim.

Defeating Luca alone was already an enormous challenge.

And diving into the depths of the sealed zone afterward? That was practically suicide.

But the Pike patriarch had no way of knowing all this.

Blinded by the promise of gain, his judgment was quickly clouded.

"In that case, we will give it everything we’ve got!" he declared.

"You have my word—we’ll follow your orders to the letter. There won’t be even the slightest deviation."

"Excellent," Devitt said, clearly pleased.

"However, you must remain cautious. There’s a strong possibility that Morning Star may try to aid Luca."

Though Devitt was the mastermind behind this scheme, Morning Star remained beyond his control.

And that lack of control left him deeply concerned—it could be the one factor that ruined the entire operation.

But the Pike family head smiled confidently and replied,

"You’re overthinking it. Morning Star won’t interfere with our plan. For one, they have far more pressing concerns—the next wave of the monster horde is nearly upon us.

And secondly, we already have people of our own inside Morning Star."

"That’s good to hear," Senator Devitt said with a pleased nod. "But I must admit, I’m quite curious—who exactly is the person you’ve planted inside Morning Star? Have him reach out to me. We may need his assistance when the time comes."

He made the suggestion casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

But the Pike family head’s expression shifted ever so slightly—an involuntary flicker of discomfort passed over his face.

He quickly masked it, replacing it with a flattering smile.

"I don’t think that will be necessary. As long as he stays hidden within Morning Star, that’s more than enough."

It was obvious he didn’t fully trust Devitt.

The person embedded in Morning Star was his final trump card—

A card that could be used to create trouble for Luca,

but also held in reserve as a silent threat against Devitt himself.

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