“Sir, we’ve checked on the young master and he appears to be safe. I’ve left him several spell scrolls and an enchanted dagger embed with a barrier as well.”

Noel walked into Baron Whitmore’s office in the southern district of the capital where he owned a store. Baron Whitmore turned to Noel and said, “Good job, take some of our men and head to the western district. After you’re done rendezvous with me in the southern district, Elizabeth will do the same after she’s finished with the northern district.”

“Elizabeth’s already deployed?”

“She was furious, so she gathered up some old friends and took up her old blade. I sent a few men after her just to be safe.”

Noel clenched her fists, “I see. Well, I’ll be heading out.”

Noel hurriedly turned around and walked out the door. Baron Whitmore sighed as he stared at the roof. He quietly mumbled a few words and then an icy mist began to surround him.

Baron Whitmore got off his chair and walked up to the door, as he was about the grab it the mist surrounding him quickly passed through the door and covered the entire door. And as the Baron opened the door and walked out of his own store seemingly no one noticed him.

In truth, the mist surrounding the Baron was an application of water and ice magic as well as some illusion magic to not only distort light in order to make the user invisible but even show others an entirely different image.

Like this, the Baron weaved through the busy streets of the southern district until he made his way over to a shady broken down metal door further south of his own store. This door was located farther away from the main streets and markets and closer to where the merchants stored their goods.

The Baron knocked on the door quickly twice before slowly hitting it a third time. A piece of metal opened up and a man on the other side asked, “What do you want?”

“I’m here to pick up a package.”

“What kind?”

“A headless rat.”

The metal door creaked as it slowly opened, and the man from behind the door let the baron in. The Baron looked around and covered his nose as the stench of the room struck his nose. This was one of many of the southern districts shadier markets, where one could purchase things usually a bit too dangerous to put up for sale in a normal store.

Though despite how the interior looked and how putrid it smelled stores like these were often backed by powerful nobles and they were a rather important asset. The Baron quickly made his way through the cramped room filled with tiny stalls selling a variety of goods.

He slowly made his way into a hallway lined with doors, before pausing at one and looking at the number above. He pulled out a key from his pocket and entered the room revealing a blonde haired child missing an arm and who possessed a black eye.

Hiro turned to his father and asked, “Did you bring me my arm?”

~Several days ago~

After realizing his plan had failed Hiro ripped off his new hand and threw it onto the ground. While it was risky he had the hand slowly transform into his body, injured, missing an arm, and an eye. He knew that in all likelihood Karen had survived, and he hadn’t bought much time for himself.

If Hiro remained here at the academy he’d only be putting himself at risk so instead, he planned to orchestrate his own death. The black sphere while being entirely made out of mana didn’t emit any mana in the least, and after absorbing so much of his own blood the sphere could even replicate his own bones and flesh.

If he left the sphere here pretending to be his corpse he could hopefully trick Karen into think he had perished and at worst thrown her off his trail. While this meant he wouldn’t have an arm until he could make another sphere, at the very least this presented an opportunity to him.

Now Hiro knew more than Karen, with this he could take the initiative. Hiro quickly grabbed several medical supplies and rations and tossed them into his eye. Even though a lot of the mana stored within was now acting to give him sight, it still possessed the ability to create an independent space, though this one was far smaller than the earlier sphere.

He also moved to the wall and grabbed a few weapons, and a few spare shirts and pants before going to the shelves and downing several more bottles of potions.

After several hours passed the hand had finally transformed into a fake corpse. Hiro turned to his wrist and took off the red bracelet signifying he was a student before putting it on his corpse. Then he hurriedly walked out of his room, leaving the door slightly ajar before running towards the southern district.

It was there he was able to contact his father where he secretly met him in a dark alley. The Baron looked at Hiro’s missing hand and said, “I thought I said not to drag us into your mess.”

“I’m not, I just want your assistance.”

“With what?”

“I left a fake corpse in my dorm room, someone will likely find it and think I’m dead. Although I might be able to trick some students and instructors I definitely won’t be able to trick everyone. I need you to convince them I’m either dead or you’ll handle the situation.”

“So you’re faking your own death?”

“Yes, it’s probably safer for your family like this anyway. If you can try and bring the corpse back to me or bury it. It was originally going to be my new arm you see. After things have cooled down I’ll leave the city and disguise myself.”

The Baron thought about it before replying, “Fine.”

~

Back in the room Hiro stayed in for several days the Baron shook his head, “I need your help.”

Hiro turned to the Baron, “My help?”

The Baron nodded his head, “You probably aren’t aware of this, but your sister’s been kidnapped. These assailants aren’t weak either, they’ve killed several trained knights and even some magic knights. Currently, I’ve deployed all the Whitmore’s manpower to search for your sister, but nothing turned up.”

Hiro paused for a moment seemingly losing himself in thought, he turned to the Baron, “Did you check the South district?”

“We’re currently searching all the districts right now.”

“Don’t bother with that, get everyone back and search the south district. It’s likely the kidnappers are somewhere there.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“A little fairy gave me a tip”

The Baron tilted his head, “A fairy?”

Hiro got off the bed, “Well if anything it’s more like a Demon gave me a clue.”

“Well, either way, everyone will rendezvous back in the southern district. For now, take this.”

The Baron threw Hiro a silver pendant that was shaped like a lion's head. Hiro caught the pendant and asked, “Whats this?”

“Compensation, I’m not asking for your help as a member of the family, after all, you’re already dead. I’m hiring you.”

Hiro poured some mana into the pendant and suddenly a silver gauntlet covered his arm,“Magic armor? Impressive.”

The Baron nodded his head, “It should help hide your identity, though try not to talk to your sister or Noel.”