After pondering about it, Edward decided to trade elemental runes. The knowledge of wind or water runes would be particularly useful in a coastal city like Gobéliard if they didn’t know about them yet. As per the depth of their rune’s knowledge, this is something that could revolutionize the city. The application on vessels alone could tremendously improve their speed and autonomy. And then, more complex devices could be built with a little imagination. With the means to generate wind at will, windmills could be interiorized inside machines, just like a battery.

Though Edward was only planning to sell them the runes, he would let them figure out what they could do about it themselves. Those runes were useful but not that dangerous which was exactly what Edward wanted. Besides, once those runes were revealed to the whole population and not just to the main Gobéliard families, it would benefit the citizens directly.

Edward imagined what it would be like with every craftsman knowing runes. Gobéliard will be the first city where runemasters are ordinary. The powerful will hate me for that, but the common people will be thankful. With knowledge spread in this way, this will lead to a wave of innovation, which could topple society as a whole in the long term, and not just in Gobéliard.

The guards went to fetch him when it was time for his appointment with Cornelius. The latter was in his office and made a hand gesture to invite him to seat, the guards left the room and close the door behind them.

“I’m pleased to see you again. I heard that the Murlocs expedition was a huge success. What did you think about it?” he asked neutrally.

Is he asking for politeness or is he really interested in what I’m thinking? “It was to my satisfaction,” Edward replied without revealing anything.

“I’m glad to hear that. Sadly, we don’t have any other expeditions like this one at the moment. But if you are interested, it could be rehearsed. Monster activity is growing lately. It is in accordance with the usual cycles, but myself having not experienced the last activity surge some forty years ago, I must say I was not expecting such an outburst so early in the year. According to the records, this surge in the monster population should last for the whole year, increasing as time goes by before coming back to normal at the end of the year,” Cornelius explained.

He is telling me this much information. Did something happen while I was on the expedition? He does seem honestly concerned about the monster’s rise in activity. He is after all responsible for the city, even if he is under the control of the families. Then let’s tell him what I really saw.

“Actually, now that you mention it. I am so satisfied with my last expedition because it was above my expectation. I was able to kill Murlocs in large numbers even though the fight got tricky while their chief was alive.” Edward divulged. He hadn’t told that to the other members of the expedition, but he didn’t feel like hiding it from Cornelius if there was a real security concern for Gobéliard.

Cornelius paused. “They had a leader. I see, this is indeed concerning news. But I am digressing, what did you come here for?”.

“For business naturally,” Edward replied with a smile. “In my travels, I heard of an ability letting you send energy from your sword. I am very interested in this ability, and wished to acquire more information about it.”

Cornelius smirked. “As you are probably aware from ‘your travels’, this is a distinctive ability from the Vega family. It is not impossible to obtain but I am afraid that it will cost you more than usual. I can’t guarantee anything for less than two runes.”

“I do feel as if you are trying to seize all of my runes,” Edward complained although he was not surprised by the price. “Tell me, if I do participate in another monster culling, shouldn’t I get paid instead of having to pay for it? After all, I am helping the community by killing neighboring monsters.”

Cornelius smiled in apology but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It would be the case if you were a normal adventurer. But you are a runemaster and you are far too precious to let you run in danger without protection. Besides, it is you who asked for a protection contract. If you do wish to stop this contract, you will be free to apply as a normal adventurer to such an expedition.”

It is as I expected, they won’t let me out. If I want to stay in Gobéliard on my own, I will have to confront the Vega family and prove to the others that I am not an easy picking. “I appreciate your honesty and will keep that in mind.,” Edward answered.

The discussion being over, Edward left and went back to his room. He will have to wait for Cornelius to discuss with the Vega family before obtaining the information he wanted. After a few hours of meditation, the afternoon turned into the evening and he left the town hall. He didn’t have that much time and he needed to contact Leyla as soon as possible. The earlier she was informed the easier it will be for her to prepare a simplified version of the runes book to disseminate to as many people as possible in Gobéliard.

Edward reached the adventurers’ guild and joined Charles’s group of adventurers. They discussed Edward’s recent expedition against the Murlocs. Ordinary adventurers had not been allowed to join, since this was an opportunity used exclusively by the Gobéliard main families to show off. However, Charles and company hadn’t been idle either. They had taken two other contracts to fend off Lusus naturae. Even though they already killed a group of them with Edward, their population hadn’t decreased in the slightest and was even increasing instead. Their excursion to settlements outside the city had grown more frequent.

While listening and participating in the conversation, Edward was continuing to exercise his telepathy, still trying to contact Charles. He couldn’t talk to him directly since his bodyguards hadn’t let him leave alone, and were accompanying him wherever he went.

He did feel as if he was making progress, for the first time tonight, Charles did follow one of the instructions Edward sent him through telepathy. However, since he only followed this one and not the others, Edward couldn’t be sure this wasn’t a coincidence.

Well, this is annoying. I will have to give him two instructions when I give him the message for Leyla. One to make sure he hears me and another to take the message for her. If he follows the first instruction it will mean he managed to hear me.

*****

The next day, Cornelius summoned him to his office, he was back from his trip to the Vega family. Actually, when he entered his office, Edward noticed that Cornelius wasn’t alone. A man in his fifties standing as straight as an arrow was next to him. The man was wearing a black tunic with the blazon of the Vega family, a sword on a red background, this was the only touch of color on his outfit. He was having short grey hair and cold blue eyes. From the way he was looking at him, Edward was wondering if this man wanted to kill him with his glare alone. His gaze was so cold that it bordered on the murderous.

Cornelius introduced him as he saw Edward enter the room. “Today, I have the honor to welcome the manager of the Vega family in Gobéliard’s branch, Master Quintus,” he paused. “Since this matter concerned the Vega family, Master Quintus decided to come personally.”

“So, you are the man who caused the death of Marc,” was Quintus’ first words. An aura speaking of might and power seeped from the man, pressurizing Edward. It was only an aura and yet he could feel it almost physically.

Jesus, is that the power of a predator? He is making one hell of a first impression. I feel as if he could murder me in one move if he wished to. He gnashed his teeth. If I have to fight him, it is an absolute must to reach the predator level first. I’m starting to wonder if this will be enough, he is no pushover. Reaching the predator will only put me on the same level, but it is no guarantee that I will win.

“I can assure you I didn’t kill him. If anything, you can even say that I avenged him in a way,” Edward defended himself.

“This remains to be seen,” was Quintus’ short reply.

Cornelius cleared his throat. “So, Master Quintus is here, because he accepted your proposal. He is ready to trade you information about the trademark power of the Vega family in exchange for two of your runes. Since Master Quintus is the senior, I propose that you trade a rune first, he will then give you the information you seek, and you can give him the second rune after that, ending the transaction.”

Quintus didn’t say anything. Under the silence, Edward answered, “Sure, it is fair enough.” He asked for a piece of paper, and draw the water rune before giving it to Cornelius, who then gave it to Quintus.

Quintus looked at it attentively before folding it and storing it in a leather cylinder. “I must say you are quite clever to hide behind your runes. But make no mistakes, the moment you run out of runes to trade, you are dead. You are only alive right now because you have some value to Acanthio and Strobilus.”

Under Edward’s confused expression. Cornelius explained, “Those are respectively the manager of the Regalis and Potentia family in Gobéliard’s branch.”

Well, what a charming person. And from what Cornelius is saying, the Vega, Regalis, and Potentia right here are only branches of the main families. So, my trouble with them could expand to the main families too. What a shitshow.

“I am really happy to be alive, thank you. Now, if you could complete your part of the deal it would please me greatly,” Edward didn’t bow down. He knew from the start he would have to fight the Vega family master in Gobéliard, he just didn’t expect him to be so powerful.

Edward didn’t think that Quintus’ aptitude could grow colder, and yet he managed this feat.

“Very well,” Quintus spitted. “Everything about aura manifestation is explained in this booklet.” He gave said booklet to Cornelius who transmitted it to Edward. “Now, give me the second rune.”

Edward leafed quickly through the booklet to check the information was indeed there. He wasn’t able to read in detail, but he did notice that this power was obtained by killing a particular monster.

So, this is indeed power and not an aura ability. But I do feel as if it should be manageable through aura alone and without needing the addition of power.

“Wait a minute,” Edward added on a hunch. “There should be a training manual with it. Monsters don’t use blades. Obtaining this power won’t let you shoot energy blades directly. In my trade condition, I specifically asked for the ability to send energy blade from a sword, I didn’t ask only about this power.”

Quintus’ lips twisted in disgust, but Cornelius turned to him and sided to Edward’s side to the latter surprise. “This is indeed what was mentioned in the trade. Two runes for it seems like a fair price.”

“Fine, it is not like you will be able to achieve it anyway,” Quintus let out before giving a second manual to Cornelius.

Edward nodded satisfied by the outcome and gave the wind rune for the second rune, completing the trade.