The next day

Arthur went alone to meet with Ahmed while Evelyn and the rest returned to Silcard Fedge to see if he managed to procure some information about their quarry.

‘Two Hashashin.’

Arthur was able to sense and somewhat see half-visible figures on two corners of the mercenary’s office. Although they were shrouded in stealth, Arthur’s [Magick Sense] and [Law of Perception] allowed him to notice their presence.

This meant was one of two things: Either Ahmed had went to the Sultan for help and this meeting was a trap, or Ahmed was completely oblivious about the assassins’ arrival, therefore meaning that the Sultan acted alone and was hoping to investigate Arthur, whom he suspected was behind what had happened to Espero Garcia.

Whatever the reason was, the fact that Hashashin were here didn’t bode well for Arthur. Still, he didn’t opt for an immediate escape, instead, he acted normal and unaware.

As he faced Ahmed, Arthur threw a glance at the Druid and Jia. The latter was nervous, as per usual, but it was hard to determine if it was because Arthur was here or because the Hashashin were watching.

“Did you find him?”

The parasite broke the silence and spoke to Ahmed, who pulled a relatively large piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to him.

“It cost us a lot, but we found where the Devil Doctor could be. This map is the only tangible proof we found. However, it should facilitate the search.”

Ahmed paused for a bit, and for a split second, he glanced at one of the corners, straight at the Hashashin.

‘He knows. The Sultan is in on this… but he didn’t send the Hashashin to attack me. Why?’

Arthur focused on the poorly-drawn map before folding it and putting it away.

“We’ve done what you asked. Leave us alone.”

“I hope you didn’t tell anyone about me lest I return here and finish the job.”

A puff of green mist burst from Arthur before vanishing along with him.

[Origin Return(Active Lv3): The user will choose a specific spot to lay down ‘Mist Rune’, which he could instantaneously return to if the range limit has not been exceeded.

Range limit: 500 meters.

During the second activation, the user will be impervious to all physical and magical damage.

If the ‘Mist Rune’ is destroyed, the skill will be cancelled. Additionally, after the first activation, the user has a maximum of 120 minutes for the second activation.

This skill can be used once a day.*

This was one of the skills Arthur got from the Bloated Murderer. It was useful, but he didn’t have that many chances to use it. Nevertheless, it was useful in these kinds of situations, where he could slip away instantly and without having to worry about pursuers. The only downside was that he could only teleport himself back, which made it obsolete in Isabella’s rescue.

As soon as Arthur disappeared into a green mist, the two Hashashin leapt at him but only caught air. They stared at each other, momentarily confused and surprised.

Ahmed was just as flabbergasted, but they ignored him and rushed outside. Only when they left did he fall on his chair and breathed a sigh of relief.

Arthur swiftly swapped to another host and nonchalantly walked the streets, stopping at several stalls and even buying some food, not unlike a normal pedestrian.

After a couple of minutes, he saw the two Hashashin dash from an alleyway and look around, but, naturally, they didn’t recognize him and continued their meticulous search.

…

“I feel much better now that we’re out of the city!”

Chris took a deep breath of the desert’s hot air while spreading his arms. He was accompanied by Charles, Evelyn, and Isabella. They had already prepared themselves to leave as soon as they got what they wanted.

“The slave trader spoke of a couple of things, Master.”

Evelyn took it upon herself to repeat Silcard Fedge’s words.

“First, it seems the Sultan and the Devil Doctor had an accord. The former wanted the latter to create something, but it’s unknown what exactly. Additionally, the Devil Doctor was given a proper hideout far from the city, where he could research without the fear of being disturbed.”

“Lastly, the Devil Doctor is said to reside South of Raml Asfr, close to the Rocky Mountain Range that separates the desert and Archwood. The slave trader also empathised about the dangerous beasts and brutal sandstorms in that region.”

Evelyn shook her head and added, “Then again, Master, I doubt such warranted warnings would dissuade you from going.”

“You know me so well, Evelyn!”

Arthur, now back to Leonis Sanguis’ body, smiled and nodded his head.

“You guys ready? I doubt this trip will be as fast or easy-going as the first one. Some of the Sultan’s Hashashin were with Ahmed, so there’s a good chance he’ll send more out of the city in search of us. We’ll have to be prudent and stray away from the main roads.”

“I’m ready.” Responded Isabella while patting the standard sword sheathed on her waist.

“I as well!”

“H-hold on… let me a catch my breath.” Wearing his oversized light-green robe, Charles was resting his hands on his knees while gasping for air.

“We haven’t even started.”-Isabella

“I… I’m not good with long walks.”

“How ironic! Aren’t you a traveling apothecary?”-Chris

“Yes but… ah…ah.. My body can’t handle a climate like this.”

Chris thought for a moment before grinning and turning to look at Arthur.

“No.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“You want me to act like a mount again. The answer is no. We’re still close to the city and I’d rather keep my identity a secret.”

Excluding Charles, everyone else knew what he was talking about. The young apothecary was only told that Arthur was capable of greatly altering his appearance using magic, which was a lie that he easily believed due to ignorance about magic in general.

19th of the fallen star (11th month)

Wilsden

The Lernon Estate

It has been a couple of weeks since Feylord survived thanks to Elyna, or more specifically, the coin that she became bound to.

After a lot of talking, Feylord was able to convince her to join him and act as his servant. He said that having a noble with her would facilitate her objective, which was to seek revenge on the Sanguis Family.

Still, only after a while did Elyna officially become Feylord’s ‘servant’, and when he brought her to the manor, it immediately caught Julie’s notice.

“Pay her no heed. She’s here to help me out on some stuff.”

Elyna, who had worked as a maid for Leonis Sanguis, followed the proper etiquette and bowed her head to the young baron.

Feylord expected his sister to object or argue back, but she actually did more than that. She gestured for all the servants to leave, including her trusted butler, then she stood up and approached Elyna.

She extended her hand as blood burst forth and rapidly crept closer to Elyna, who instinctively backed. A dark golden barrier appeared in front of her, deflecting the blood, which wasn’t harmless.

“Do you take me for a fool, Feylord? Despite what you did, I allowed you to stay here yet you dare bring a Demon here?”

Panicking ever-so-slightly, Feylord stepped between the two of them, “Let me explain! I… I told you I need to attend that banquet. I’m going to need her help once I’m there!”

“That is not what I asked.”

A crimson translucent curtain appeared and instantly wrapped around Feylord. Elyna used her barrier to defend, which held on for a bit before shattering. Within seconds, the two were bound by the magical curtain.

“Pl-please! Wait!”

“You’re so obsessed with this banquet… why?”

His face red from the curtain which was tightening around him, Feylord barely managed to squeeze a couple of words, “Basem…ent… phoen…ix…”

Julie frowned, scrutinising him for a bit before removing her magic. Feylord fell on his knees, breathing heavily while Elyna summoned back her barrier and warily looked at the baron.

“The Phoenix talked to me. It wants me to find the Nameless Knight, who’ll appear in the banquet. That’s all I know!”

“The Nameless Knight?”

Many scriptures and history books labelled the Nameless Knight as the God of Darkness. Nevertheless, only people interested in such stuff knew about him. Julia only had vague and limited knowledge about such a notorious being.

“The Phoenix talked to you? If so, how does it know the Nameless Knight will be at the banquet? And why does it want you to go to him? How does that have any relation to what’s happening in the basement? Speak.”

“I……”

Feylord gritted his teeth and glared at her. He thought about this whole matter a lot, but he didn’t have any good arguments or answers.

“At this rate, I’m going to die, Julie! By listening to the Phoenix, at least I might have a chance to live! I’m not going to stay here and rely on your mercy or wait for the flames to consume me!”

He stood up and angrily clenched his fists, no longer holding back,

“I asked for your help and you refused! Now, I’m doing things my way!”

Instead of responding to him, the girl turned her attention to the quiet Elyna.

“And you want to join him in his stupid plan? Whatever he offered you is all a lie. He’ll use as much as possible and then discard you. That’s how my brother is.”

“We are mutually using each other, so I do not mind.”

Elyna kept a solemn expression as she offered a calm answer. This made Julie’s frown deepen as she pondered in silence. Eventually, she unceremoniously waved her hand and said,

“There’s still time until the banquet, and, from the looks of it, there’s a lot to talk about. And brother…” She coldly looked at the incensed youth and added, “We’re going to talk like civilized adults, so stop with the childish shouting and the self-pitying. Don’t forget that you got yourself in this mess.”