Leaving the Trading Post, under the escort of Aison and Lelani, I would find myself on the streets of the [Foreign District], well, now [Dwarven] with no doubt, as Yuld called it before. We would cross it in silence, with Aison not even commenting on my surprised exclamation as I saw the signs of combat, or the ruins of what had been before the tower responsible for protecting Chubu against the so-called dwarven allies. Our destination? Gudea's mansion, but not to meet with the latter, no, but a couple of other people, neither of which I had expected to see, not in such a setting and location.

_______

To the visible surprise of Aison and Lelani, and in part to mine, I was immediately let go. No questions asked; No strings attached. Fondraic Honormaul only wished me luck, mentioned that, hopefully, we would meet again, and before leaving the room first, added that he was sorry that I got involved in something not concerning me.

Weral and Yuld did nearly the same, except with a small commentary by the former, thanking me for my actions during the journey, lamenting that we had no chance even to sit and drink as friends should.

***

After a long and winded path, several stairs, and who knows how many doors, I returned to the surface. Even while neither of my [Royal Hounds] escorts were guests, as neither [Craftmaster] ever greeted them, we weren't stopped or even met anyone, the path, doors, and even the last enormous stone gates open. And only by them I saw some sign of someone else, a couple of dwarves dressed in armor, but they quickly disappeared into a side room inside the black stone wall, with me not even having a chance to check them with [Status Screen].

As told before, I had been behind the wall, in one of the rooms of the Embassy, a pretty small-looking building, but enormous in truth, as its principal part was underground. As for the gate, we crossed? It was the same one I had seen before when Yuld brought me to the district for the first time. Now crossing it from the [Sharagzian Kingdom] side, I actually returned to the city.

Lelani took position several meters ahead as we moved out while Aison walked next to me. And they kept silent, even as I exclaimed as I saw the ruins, literally ruins, nothing but a few stones, of what had been the Outpost, the enormous guard post meant to watch over and probably even as the first line of defense against the dwarves.

Empty streets, closed houses and stores, signs of combat. If describing it shortly, those were the only things I saw as we strode to Gudea's mansion at a quick pace. In fact, I saw no signs of life until we crossed the empty, one side unhinged wood and iron gates between Inner Chubu and the [Foreign] district. As for after them, even while it appeared to be not so late, the sun was still a good way from setting down - I only glimpsed a few people, most of which turned out to be the Viscounty soldiers, who quickly scurried away as Lelani held up a badge or something similar, one that I didn't get a chance to examine.

"Go notify the Palace. I will take over the explanation." Already on the grounds of Gudea's mansion, Aison would speak for the first time, and it would be a command to Lelani.

After she left, Aison turned to me, "I know you have many questions, maybe even some pent-up anger to release. But until we are left alone, keep it all inside. I can promise nearly all the answers and that most culprits will be hunted down, but do not give any reason to consider you opposed to anything you hear."

In response, I could only nod, even if questions had already surfaced, the main one - Why the holy fuck I was sensing Eithne's mark inside the mansion? - nearly escaped my lips, requiring me to bite my tongue at the last moment.

{I need to leave this city alive, so it will be better to keep silent, if able.} Such would be my thought and decision at that moment. Not the worst one, considering that, in any case, I was far from being able to influence anything.

***

As expected, Eithne was inside the mansion, in the same meeting room I had met with Gudea. Thought this time, there was no servant to lead us there, and the guards by the main door had no badges or armor. If not for the hoods hiding their faces and the short swords on their belts, I would have never thought of them as fighters. Well, if I didn't use [Status Screen] and confirmed them not only as pretty advanced warriors, with several martial skills in their 10' or the [Royal Hounds] titles.

What was a bit surprising was that Eithne wasn't bound or else and that she had no guards around. Well, it wasn't that she was alone, as there were two more women I had already met before in the room, but it was clear they were no jailers to her. Lady Ezilda stayed at the back end of the room, sword and dagger sheathed, her face calm, and her gaze on the door as we entered, not on Eithne. As for the other woman, that black hair and blue eyes were unforgettable, but she held nothing in her hands, sitting next to Eithne as if the latter was no criminal but a confidante.

There were many things I would have liked to say. But as agreed before, I kept silent as Aison ushered me into the room, closed the door, and, taking something that resembled a small crystal, crushed it into his hand before starting to speak, "Noble Lady Nitia Spreng'Dar, Lady Ezilda, Eithne, allow me to introduce you, Lindar, initiate mage, an associate of the [Cadowden Trade Guild], and a partner to the [Royal Hounds]."

I didn't react to the sudden introduction, even if it was a bit theatrical, merely half-nodding in response to the three glances I received as Aison spoke. Surprisingly diverse, with Eithne's being more surprised than anything, while the noble ladies' ones showed interest, even if Nitia's one was colder than else.

As for the tingling of my [Mana Sense] in response to Aison's previous actions, I confirmed it to be the same [No-Spell Zone] used before by Gudea, with an extra addition, soundproof area magic. The latter, surprisingly, I knew the name of - [Curtain of Secrecy]. It was described in one of Sepyre's books about nobles and pointed out as a must during any meeting.

It would be a long but surprisingly one-sided conversation the one to follow. With me maintaining my silence except for a few remarks when asked, it was like I was just there, making an act of presence. Not that I did not pay attention, though, and my memories are proof of it.

Seemingly Eithne had revealed some details to Lady Nitia, but the whole story had been kept for when we arrived. Was it a way to influence me? A way to show that they did consider me a player in this game? Who knows, at least Lady Nitia spared me nothing but the first glance, so I suppose it was all just an act, like half of what I had seen in Chubu.

Eithne would start her story from very far, relating something of a personal history - one that was as tragic as it probably was common for such world, world, people.

She was born in Chubu's outer city twenty-four years ago. Her mother was a servant of a medium-sized merchant. As for her father, he remained unknown, suspected to be the same merchant that employed her mother. Otherwise, how could it be explained that since Eithne's birth, for nearly seven years, they actually lived in the servant wing of a small mansion in the inner city in place of their room in the outer one?

Then, as always, everything changed, and they returned to the outer city. The reason? Her mother bore yet another child -Eithne's half-sister, the father being one of the servants of the same merchant. For reasons unknown, or known if one looked at it, not with the eyes of a seven years old girl, both ended up dismissed from the mansion, and while Eithne's mother would even marry the girl's father, the story was not so happy afterward.

Forced back to the outer city and finding no other work, Eithne's stepfather went to work at the mines, where he would perish just a year after. As for her mother, she would jump from work to work, trying to take care of the two girls, and then, twelve years ago, she would die. Some diseases they had no money to examine even, so what to say about treating, ceasing her life.

A twelve years old Eithne found herself without relatives, already bad enough. But she wasn't alone, with a five-year-old sister in her care. As she herself said, "There was no one to take care of us, so it was up to me, and so I did, by any means necessary."

And it seemed she did so, even by dubious, if not outright horrible methods. And then, at seventeen, Eithne, having lied, prostituted, and stolen to make her living, crossed the line, killing for the first time. "One of the guys I worked with attempted to lay hands on my sister after I didn't bed him as he wanted."

Killing in the outer city wasn't so rare, and no one would look much into it, except that Eithne killed one of her partners, making her lose nearly all, even if criminal, work. "He wasn't the most liked one, so I didn't expect someone to take revenge for him, but that still changed everything. I would hardly bring a loaf of bread home, even if accepting even the worse jobs. As for better ones, like the ones in the inner city, just who would recommend me for one?"

But once, Eithne suddenly reached a solution to her plight. One that would at least get her enough money to leave the city and search for a better living somewhere. "I knew that some of the people I worked with had bounties on them, so after asking around as stealthily as possible, I found one in my reach."

And so, Eithne killed again, this time not in anger but on her decision. Ten silver coins weren't much, but they would help her and her sister. Regretfully, the Viscount soldiers Eithne reached to get her payment didn't give her anything except a beating, claiming the bounty for themselves.

Yet in what appeared to be the worst setting, she would meet the person who would be her savior, at least at that moment. A merchant noticed her bloodied figure near the guardhouse and, for some reason, decided to approach. "As it would turn out later, Logri was no good, someone to never shy from a shady or nasty business. And still, he did help me, even got me into the Trade Guild, first as a servant, then even as a guard, after I showed some proficiency with the sword."

Time passed, Logri working his own business while occasionally asking a favor or two from Eithne, like adding something to a wagon or ignoring the weight of one or two crates, nothing past the line. And so, Eithne considered everything resolved. She earned enough to maintain herself and her sister. The latter, Moa, now studied under the clerks of the Guild, showing promise as a future member of them.

But two years ago, everything changed again. Logri would suddenly begin working with a noble, Balay, and the number of illegal favors increased quickly. [Fairy Flight] and [Velvet Embrace], drugs, would become a usual cargo for Eithne, and at some point, Logri forced her to a situation when nearly a third of a wagon she escorted was of a load. And she would be caught, as they stopped in Bigradh, by no one else than Gudea, who had personally traveled the route to Vruz for some reason.

Yet, when Eithne expected everything, from execution on the spot to being sent to prison, Gudea merely brushed the matter off, only asking her to leave the Guild on their return.

She would plead, cry, and offer anything to Gudea on their return, accepting leaving or even killing herself if her sister could remain, "And he accepted. At that moment, it was made clear to me. It wasn't Logri who gave or was giving me anything. It was the [Trade Guild] and the Maester!"

In the end, Gudea offered her a deal, which she immediately accepted, to dispose of Lotri and plead to be loyal only to him. "I didn't shy from killing before, and neither did I then, leaving his body, a whole head shorter, at our meeting spot in the outer city."

By this point, one could say that there was nothing else, only progress for her in the future. Regretfully, it wouldn't be so for Eithne - again. A year ago, Moa would disappear, not even Gudea's resources helping Eithne find any clues. But then, six months ago, Eithne found a hint herself, a criminal ring dedicated to kidnapping and slavery, related to no one else than Logri's companion, Balay. "Ignoring my oaths, I rushed to him, begging, lying, and even sleeping with a couple of his men until Balay himself decided I was truly returning to my previous ways. As for Logri's death, it turned out easy to explain, providing him with proof it was Gudea's men to kill Logri, part of one the battles for power and money of the Guild I had myself participated by that point."

Eithne was ready to do anything to find at least some clue about Moa. She participated in all sorts of business, including organizing the delivery of several girls into the city. Yet, she would question her actions after being sent to oversee the girls' dead bodies' retrieval.

And after that event, one that killed any hopes to find Moa alive, she contacted the [Royal Hounds], relating some of the things she knew, attempting to attenuate the damage she was inflicting, no matter how wrong even the thought of such was.

"The Hounds, after checking the information, left me alone, instructing working as before. And then, two and half weeks ago, they launched their attack." Eithne, finishing her story, returned to the point at hand, just how she ended under Master Renrith's orders and just what the hell had been going on.

"I was there as they attacked, but then, it turned out that one of the men in the meeting I myself leaked was not a common person, but the mage, and main buyer, Renrith." Eithne related everything coldly as if she was talking about the weather, and I saw that even Ezilda slightly shuddered at some parts of the story.

"I survived the battle by pure luck. Resh, one of Balay's guards, shielded me from most of the destruction that Renrith unleashed. Well, not willingly shielding, but I doubt he would say no, if alive." Eithne shrugged before continuing, "But as it would turn out, the Hounds aren't defenseless either, and who knows what they did, but Renrith was not only wounded but lost his way to recover mana, at least in his words."

"Then, he offered me a deal, paying me an advance of three hundred gold coins, all for continuing Balay's business, but now only for him." Eithne didn't mention anything else about the deal, just adding what even I had already found out, "The compound in the outer city was already his, but I was to ensure safety, so I continued the deal with Micheal, bringing one or two girls per week through the inner city, using the empty Hound house for that. He would use them in some strange machine after putting them to sleep. Then, I made sure the bodies were shipped out and disappeared."

Here, it was clear that Eithne skipped at least 99% of the details, but as no one asked anything, I can only suppose the others knew already, and I had, in their mind, no need to know.

***

As Eithne finished, Lady Nitia took over, her looks showing that she was completing some role, talking as if it was a burden more than an explanation. Thus, her part was lackluster but not less scary or cold.

"As we investigated all possible opposition, we learned of Renrith's strange association with Balay. Initially, I suspected drugs or some forbidden ingredients. Then, a bit later, I found out the truth.

Regretfully for us, Balay was dead by that moment, so there was no way for us to try to use his connection to Renrith to sway him away from the Baron, so we considered the plan a failure until Eithne here had a run-in with one of my men.

Knowing who she was, he attempted to establish contact, and it worked out, culminating in the meeting where you two crashed in unannounced."

Like that, the woman just revealed she perfectly knew of everything and was still ready to NEGOTIATE something with the damn psycho.

***

I was dumbfounded, finding no words to say even if I wanted to. I wouldn't even detect how after some signal, the women would start moving toward the door. And when I did notice them leaving, Aison held me back, whispering to wait.

"I know how all that sounds, but don't think Baroness Spreng'Dar, her sister, or the Viscount were planning to give kidnapped girls out as sacrifices. The plan, one which I learned already from the Viscount himself, was nothing else than to give him sentenced criminals if needed, as while Eithne didn't mention it now, it turns out the device we saw, that [Living Source], doesn't care about sex or age, it drains anyone. Then, after he outlived his use, the Baron was dealt with, the mage would be sent to the wheel, as anyone would for such deeds."

"Then why the fuck that... mage..?" There were far other words to refer to that freak, but I managed to hold back. After all, he was dead already.

"As horrible as it may sound, the answer is simplicity. Balay already traded girls, and he had everything organized. Changing targets or taking random people would have attracted more suspicion than it was worth." Aison coldly answered something I could have understood myself, even if I didn't want to think about such.

"Now, wait here, think about everything, and see if you have any more questions. I need to make sure about some people." Suddenly, Aison turned around, leaving the room without explaining further.

{Locking me? Fearful that I will judge some people myself?} I heard how the door lock clicked, but I didn't plan to leave. Just knowing everyone from guards to nobles knew was enough to understand how rotten everything was. And no matter how many I decided to deal with, there would be no end.

***

Aison would return an hour later and nearly jerked me back to reality. I had not moved from where I had been, my thoughts replaying what appeared to be the actual truth.

"Now, you know just too much, so I need to know what you will do next. But before that, do you have any questions?" Aison's wording was strange, and to be honest, I did think that if I answered wrongly, I would disappear, just one more victim in the cesspool of a city.

"...what will happen to the involved ones?"

"Something else?" Aison pressed for more questions, seemingly planning to clear everything before deciding what to do with me.

"And... I can't understand something. If Renrith was impaired just a couple of weeks ago, how come he had everything prepared already? That thing, the women, his contacts, compound?" These questions had been biting at me since Eithne's explanation, and I decided to ask. After all, I doubted it would change anything for Aison to tell me or not.

"To the latter, no one but the now dead mage can answer, but probably it will be nothing deep, just that he was testing something. After all, the [Living Source] is a torture device of the dwarves, which not even they had an idea could fuel a mana-less mage. When he asked, and they gifted it two and half months ago, the dwarves supposed he was interested in the enchantments, only learning how he used it as we did." While it was sinful as fuck, I couldn't refute Aison's theory. Indeed, who wouldn't want to experiment on something unknown, the only difference being how low, evil, or else one is.

"As for the former, I am unsure what will happen to some, but after tonight, everyone connected to Balay's trade will be dead, clients, suppliers, organizers, guards, even Eithne. At least that I can assure you."

"Huh?"

"She knows. I only guaranteed her life until she met with Moa, and she is currently at that." Aison immediately understood what I was about to ask and answered without me even asking.

"Her sister, she's alive?!" It was stunning to hear that, as, after all, didn't Eithne try to push the blame for her actions on the disappearance of her little sister?!

"That she is, except maybe she would have been better dead." Aison shook his head and refused to elaborate further, going so far as to change topics as I tried to ask again, "As for the others who were somehow or fully involved in all the events, they go into two camps. The ones who supported the Baron will receive the harshest punishments for their crimes. As for the Viscount side, as you can understand, except for the disposable ones, we can only expect for them to be banished, imprisoned, or otherwise eliminated as the Viscounty regains stability."

"So, the winners take all, even impunity, huh?" A wry truth, actual in any place, even back on Earth.

"Yes, and while you didn't ask, let me say that the Viscount was successful. The Baron never expected [Lake Anear] troops to hit him while the Viscount was so open, with less than fifty guards of his against the nearly five hundred Barony soldiers in Chubu. There was no siege, no long battle, just a swift raid, one culminating with the death of every [Ane'd] family member, except for the single grandson of his." As if he was relating a happening on the next corner, Aison casually explained that the so-long game, deathly and sinful, had finished.

"Wait, so there was not even a need for a mage? So their negotiation with Renrith was damn unneeded, and they could have had him killed before?!"

"Oh, no, the Baron's castle had strong defenses in the magic sense. But he had only two mages, only one an actual Cloak, and both defected as soon as the head of the [Profound Tower] appeared."

"Huh? The head of the [Profound Tower] himself? And just what did he forget in this conflict?"

"Nothing. Between the Count of Central asking and a small amount of pressure from the King about Renrith's crimes and lack of loyalty, the old mossback had no choice but to solve it himself. He even visited Chubu, paying respects to the Viscount and desiring to meet the person who killed Renrith in single combat." Here Aison made a dramatic pause as if the head mage would walk in now. But then, seeing my widening eyes, Aison smirked as he continued, "Regretfully, he made it late. Maester Rador had already died."

"I see..? Wait! Died?!" Hearing about Rador's death, my first thought was that I, Lindar, was not far from following after my alter ego. And while my first thought was to launch at Aison, I calmed some and managed to ask, even if half shouting.

"Indeed, he died from his wounds after doing his best to save the city from a crazed mage." Aison confirmed, giving even the official explanation.

Inwardly preparing for the worst, which basically included fighting in an attempt to escape, although I doubted Aison was unprepared, I asked in a far lower tone, "Then, me?"

"Arrived to the city today from a small expedition ordered by Zelindo, and now you are hosted by the local branch head." As if admiring the changes in my countenance, Aison very slowly explained.

Gudea would appear at some point in the ensuing silence between Aison and me. A silence coming from me digesting everything I learned, especially Rador's death and my new cover. Entering the room as if it was his, which, well, it was. And while our talk was hardly anything but a review of what I had learned by that point, it did carry something extra, the offer I would end up accepting.

_______

As Gudea greeted us, Aison would excuse himself again, leaving me alone with the merchant, schemer, and Imperial spy.

"So, it turns as this, huh?" Feeling that I should maintain my image, the one created for him, I attempted to appear calm, throwing all thoughts to the back of my head, and concentrating only on this meeting.

"Each noble plays a game, but the Viscount had a better hand." Gudea's answer went along with how I started our conversation, and I couldn't agree more. The Viscount managed to fool everyone, from allies to enemies.

"So, what next?" Aison wouldn't leave without finishing with me unless he passed that to someone else. So, I assumed it would be Gudea, the one to offer or threaten me.

"Truly? Nothing. It seems that the games Maester Lindar plays are no less significant. There was a direct request from the [Cadowden Trade Guild] to expedite your return."

"...I see, so I take I can leave now?" Surprising, but I take it was part of Zelindo's measures. After all, he was also playing some political game.

"Mmm, but before that, the Viscount requested me to confirm your intentions." What I did enjoy about Gudea, well after I blackmailed him, was that he spoke directly.

"I can't promise under torture, but except for the involved ones, and nobles of high standing, I do not plan to talk about what I learned." It was hard not to disregard everything and start cursing, but damn, I managed!

"That is acceptable, and the Viscount will be grateful." Gudea nodded to some inner thoughts before continuing, "The present [Royal Hounds] are overly protective of you, which is good, but from the Viscount part, be sure you also have friends now."

"...What kind of favor to my new friends?" It wasn't hard to understand that the newly revealed friendship would come with a favor, and indeed, Gudea smiled as I asked.

"It is for new and old friends alike. I am surprised Aison didn't explain. First in Bigradh, and then meeting Maester Zelindo..."

"I will be asked for information about what happened, yes. So, what should I say? And what will the favor be worth?" Tired of all that was going on, I decided to ask straight. Especially as I already supposed that my departure from Chubu would be severely restricted.

"The exact wording you will find tomorrow as you leave the city along with the armed escort provided. As for the worth, well, even if you didn't accept, the Viscount has decided to grant you..."

And well, the next day, I would indeed leave Chubu under escort. A surprising one, considering traveling with me inside Gudea's carriage, was no one else but Lady Ezilda, while the riders were her remaining [Zlolim] mercenaries.

Initially, I feared a trap, but it turned out perfectly fine. Indeed, yesterday's enemies, today's friends.