He leads me along a stairway, to reach a quaint little room.

It’s not huge, roughly 4 metres by 4 metres.

It’s simple, with just a few chairs and a wooden table.

There’s only a door at the entrance, and the room seems soundproof.

Upon his beckoning, I take a seat unhurriedly.

I keep silent upon taking a seat, waiting for him to continue.

“Esteemed customer, before we begin, please rest assured that this room is fully soundproof and covered in layers of magic barriers set by a Class 2 Mage. “

I nod.

“In regards to the information you requested, the detailed blueprint of the hall would cost you 1000 Gold.”

A thousand gold may seem like a lot of money, but if it truly had important information determined, it would cost far more. Of course, if it was simply intricately guardly, say with the protective barrier of a Class 5 Mage, it would warrant the price.

I pause for a moment, before replying, “What if I wanted to know the number of people who have purchased this information from you to date?”

If it were the name or details of the visit, they most certainly wouldn’t be able to give it out. Just the number would be probable. However, it would be a loophole. If someone were to request the number regularly, they would then be able to pinpoint the visits of a period.

“Of course, that would simply cost 100 gold.”, he replies unhesitantly.

I grab a small bag of coins, placing it on the table nudging it towards him.

He holds the bag up for a while, before placing it in his coat.

“There have been a total of 63 people who have purchased this information to date. As a freebie, there have been 105 people who have enquired on this information.”

That’s quite the number, there’s little hope here then.

I proceed to ask about the other locations.

I didn’t gain a direct lead on the location, but based on the people interested… the item most certainly exists.

I ended up spending close to 5,000 gold just for this.

This trip was not without merits however...

I was interested in this line he said at the end: “Only 2 of those 63 customers came back to visit.”

This is becoming more complicated.

Maybe even too complicated to get myself into right before I leave.

“Alright, that should be everything.”, I say to myself, as I pack the last item for my small haversack.

I had received the medicine from the 2nd Wife, and sent Mother the medicine.

I left a short letter for her:

Dear Mother,

Here is the antidote for your sickness.

I will be gone by the time you manage to read this.

I’ve decided to venture out on my own… these happenings are too much for me to handle now. I promise if I gain enough power one day, I’ll take revenge for you. I wish you would do the same as I have, escaping this hell.

The past remains the past, but the future is ours to grasp.

With love,

Qiu Xue

I don’t feel intimate enough with her to try to dissuade her, this is the limit I’m willing to do.

...as an outsider…

I informed none of the guards… even Leticia…

It’s early morning.

I told the Duke House guards I was heading for school early.

They let me out without any problem.

It’s funny how all this seemed normal to me so fast, I’ve really gotten used to the surroundings.

I feel a sense of melancholy, leaving this place where I first started everything.

I’ve accomplished so little, and gave up on so much.

I don’t hope that I’m right, I know that this decision is right for the me currently.

I’ll pursue the things I want to pursue, not bound by the circumstances of someone else.

Wearing my dipilidated robes, I stride strongly toward the Kingdom gates.

“I’ll need to verify your identity before you leave.”, a guard stops me, saying sternly.

I flash a Qiu Medallion I stole from a guard of mine.

“My apologies, sir. I didn’t know you were someone of the Duke.”, the guard says hurriedly.

“Don’t worry about it.”, I say shrugging.

I walk out of the city gates, breathing in a breath of fresh air.

I walk for about a hundred metres down the fixed pathway and stop.

Before long, a merchant carriage arrives.

A short man peeks out of the driver’s seat with a smile, “As agreed upon, esteemed customer.”

I smile, passing him a few silvers, flashing the Duke’s medallion by ‘accident’.

He pauses for a moment, but continues to smile as he receives payment.

“Let me introduce you to the ones guarding us for this trip, sir.”, he gestures inside the carriage.