Infiltrating Oath's capital

Since Henrietta could quickly get everyone out, Seth turned away from his passed-out wives.

With a short sigh, his destruction energy cleaned him up, and a set of clothes started covering his body. Once fully dressed, he rotated his space source and disappeared, appearing on the balcony of the royal palace.

Looking over the morning city, he sighed again. He was about to begin his journey when a notification appeared in his vision.

<Pearl is departing the kingdom.>

‘Where is she going?’

<Unknown. She has not packed anything or announced anyone.>

Seth nodded and teleported in front of Pearl as she rode a horse through the middle of the city. Pearl pulled the rains of the horse and looked at Seth, a complex look in her eyes.

“Your Majesty.”

Seth stared silently back at her for a moment before throwing a small book toward her.

“I won’t ask anything about where you’re going; just come back home safe. You might no longer be my knight, but you are still one of my pupils.”

Pearl caught the small book and looked over at the title.

<The Age of Horrors.>

She didn’t know what it was or why Seth had given her the book, but as she lifted her eyes to ask him about it, Seth was already gone.

Placing the book in the horse’s saddle, she resumed her journey. “You too, My Lord.”

----

Seth skipped through space towards the north as fast as his energy allowed him.

<Does host want me to track her?>

‘No need.’ Said Seth.

<Does host know her destination?>

‘I do not, and probably neither does she. She just looked... lost.’

<Then why did host give her knowledge on the Council of Unseen and the Age of Horrors?>

‘Because with the blood race leaving their feeding grounds, many old and foul things are starting to become active again, and the Council can’t remain Unseen anymore. Endora is safe, but the rest of the continent...’ Replied Seth with a mysterious smile and continued on his journey.

The journey to the Oath capital has taken two months for Hollie while operating an entire ship. For Seth, who was using his source to its maximum potential, a month was too long.

After four days, Seth stopped at the edge of a small forest, waiting patiently atop a tall tree, using that time to recover his energy.

Half an hour later, a hooves sound attracted his attention and made him open his eyes. Looking at the man ridding right under his tree, Seth waved his hand, and a small cloth along a bloodstained letter appeared in his hand.

Unfurling the cloth, she looked at the two fingers that had already started to liquefy. Ignoring the pungent smell, Seth destroyed the two fingers along with the cloth and letter.

“I’m sorry for the treatment you will receive in Endora, friend. I’ll make it up to you by bringing your daughter back.” Muttered Seth before resuming his journey.

He passed by a few villages where Asteria students were dispatched, but he didn’t stop his journey.

The same thing repeated at the border as Seth rushed straight towards Oath capital. The journey had taken Seth 26 days, and on the morning of the 27th, he was already sitting on the same hill he had stopped the first time he went to the capital of Oath.

Nothing much had changed in how the city looked, but Seth could feel a subtle negative perception floating around the city.

“It looks like news about the meeting has spread amongst the common population….”

“Show me air energy inside the city.” Said Seth, his vision changing to show him a vast energy blanket covering the entire city.

The blanket of air energy was rotating around the city before passing through the Academy.

“She is already ready for me….”

“Change my looks to one of the merchants delivering food to nearby villages. Make sure to pick one that won’t return for quite a while and also had been known to do business with the dark guilds if possible.”

The system acknowledged his command, and Seth’s looks suddenly started changing. He became shorter, and his belly started pushing out of his jacket, bulging forward. Feeling the breeze touching his scalp, Seth sighed and asked: “Is there no one else?”

<Negative.>

Seth changed his clothes to match what the merchant wore when he left the capital before creating some tears here and there. After teleporting some distance from the city gate, Seth started running while faking a panicky expression.

The guards at the gate immediately spotted him, and one of them rushed to his aid. After arriving next to Seth, the guard supported his ‘tired’ body and asked: “Merchant Heriot, what happened?”

Seth was breathing heavily and said: “Bandits. Bandits have appeared next to the capital.”

The guard grit his teeth while helping Seth walk towards the gate and muttered: “Is it not enough that the other kingdoms are plotting something again? Even bandits have started fishing in these muddled waters.”

Seth continued his act and explained how bandits suddenly attacked his convoy. He made up a story about how his guards sacrificed themselves for him to escape, acting as dramatically as possible.

The guards quickly noted his story, taking the names of the mercenaries guarding the convoy to declare them dead before allowing Seth to enter the capital and even escorting him to his house.

Seth thanked the guards once ‘home’ and allowed the maids of the mansion to clean up his wounds and wash him up.

‘Quite the life this guy is living.’ Thought Seth while looking at the handsome maids cleaning him up. Since he didn’t want to make Iris suspicious, he even had some fun with the maids in the guise of soothing his nerves from the attack.

With the system’s help, he made sure not to arouse any suspicion, even cumming early and leaving the maids unsatisfied.

After the maids left, Seth got into bed and closed his eyes. He made sure not to use any of his energy and remained in bed, getting information from the system.

In the morning, a young maid returned carrying a bowl of soup. Seth thanked her and started eating.

‘The maids here appear quite happy despite everything.’

<Affirmative. They are all girls picked up from the slums. Since the merchant is mostly out of the city, they get to live in this huge mansion and only have to warm his bed a few days a year. He treats them well, giving them great salaries and not abusing them.>

Seth looked at his belly in surprise. ‘I didn’t expect Fatty Heriot here to be such a nice guy.’

Seth spent the morning in bed before writing a small note and putting it in his pocket. At noon, he picked up a set of clothes before walking out of his room.

“Is master heading somewhere? I think master should rest some more.” Said the young maid that had delivered his food in the morning.

“I can’t remain in bed any longer. I’ve lost quite a lot due to those goddamned bandits, and I need to visit some connections I have in the marketplace.”

The maid nodded respectfully and asked: “Can master tell me when he returns? I can prepare the bath for the master to relax.”

“I don’t know. It depends on how things go, but don’t worry. I have other ways to relax.” Said Seth, staring at the maid’s chest.

The maid giggled playfully and whispered: “Master is always welcome to call little Yen to his chambers.”

Seth laughed heartily while walking towards the main door. There, a maid was waiting for him and helped him wear a jacket since it was still cold during early spring.

Once outside, Seth followed the system’s direction toward Heriot’s contact in the dark guilds. Arriving in front of a conspicuous shop, Seth cleared his throat and said respectfully: “I need to see Master Carac.”

The shopkeeper turned around and said: “What for? Also, weren’t you out of the city, Heriot?”

“Some trouble happened on the way, and I must see Master Carac to explain things to him.” Said Seth while rubbing his hands together.

The shopkeeper signaled him to go in the back with a snort. Seth thanked the shopkeeper and walked into the back of the shop, where a tall and slim man was counting some goods in a large crate.

Hearing footsteps, the man turned around and looked surprised as he asked: “Heriot? What are you doing here?”

Seth made an apologetic face and said: “Master Carac, bandits had attacked my carriage.”

Carac frowned and asked: “Bandits? So close to the capital?”

Seth nodded and maintained his apologetic look. “Indeed. They killed everyone, and I only lived because the escorts I hired sacrificed themselves to buy me time. Now I need to pay the merchant association the tax, and I even lost my goods….”

Carac’s expression turned unfriendly, and he asked, irritated: “So why did you come here then?”

Seth lowered his head and said: “I need help from the guilds. Of course, I’ll pay you back, but I need to buy a new carriage, hire new guards, and whatnot. Once I’m done with everything, if your guild doesn’t help me, I might have to sell my house….”

“So what? You barely stay there anymore.” Said Carac before realizing something and asking: “Is this about those pets you keep taking from the slums?”

“Please, master Carac. Can you help me?”

Carac frowned and stopped what he was doing before going to sit behind his desk. Looking at Heriot, Carac said: “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, Heriot, but what do I have to gain from it?”

“I will pay master Carac back with interest. Give me half a year, and I’ll double whatever master Carac gives me today.”

“Haha, big words, Heriot, especially in these times of war. You’re one hell of a merchant, but doubling it? Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Seth lowered his head and came closer to his desk, whispering in Carac’s face: “I found something during my travels that can easily make me rich, us, I meant us. I only need the chance to start working on it.”

Carac looked at him with interest and asked: “What did you find?”

Seth looked reluctant before whispering: “Energy spring.”

Carac’s expression changed in surprise, and he asked: “You’re not fooling with me now, are you, Heriot?”

“I wouldn’t dare, Master Carac. If master Carac doesn’t believe me, you can have some of your people act as my guards. I think master Carac must understand that I can’t lead them there, but I can bring some vials for them to confirm.”

Carac started tapping his desk rhythmically before saying: “Let’s say I believe you. Still, something like this can’t be done with your resources. How about we make a deal?”

“What deal?” asked Seth with a suspicious expression.

“The guilds will manage the spring, and we split the profits 80 - 20. This will allow you to make more gold, and there will also be no risk for you.”

Seth appeared hesitant before eventually saying: “We can discuss that, master Carac, but I want to speak with one of the higher-ups of the guilds.”

Carac shook his head instantly: “You don’t have the right to see any of the higher-ups before you prove what you’re saying is right.”

Seth looked even more hesitant before asking: “Can you at least get a letter to them for me? Maybe they will agree after reading it. I can give you 5% of my share if you do that.”

Carac fell into thought and said: “I can deliver that letter, but I won’t guarantee anything. The higher-ups have been quite silent lately.”

“As long as Master Carac does try is more than enough.”

Carac nodded and extended a hand. “Fine, I’ll take your letter, but you’ll have to leave with one of my men to confirm the goods. After confirming you’re not lying, we’ll take care of everything.”

Seth quickly shook hands with Carac.

After setting up more things about the deal, Seth pretended to write a note before switching it with the one in his pocket and leaving the shop.

After returning home, he spent the day in the company of his maids before resting for the rest of the night.

The following day, a carriage and two scary-looking guards were waiting for him at the city stables. One of the guards was even a first shell fire ascended, much to Seth’s surprise, but he pretended not to notice as he said his goodbyes to his maids and started a new journey.

———

Inside Necros’s office, a guild member came in carrying a small note and throwing it onto the table. Necros didn’t even spare it a look. Still, an ashen-haired man next to Necros immediately turned to look at the inconspicuous note.

“This smell…”