Book 8, The Ten Thousand Kilometer Journey – Chapter 31, Concealed by the Night
There had been no trace of Linley in over three years. It was impossible for Heidens to connect this affair with Linley. What’s more, even if he did think of Linley, he wouldn’t think that Linley had the ability to kill six experts of the ninth rank.
Unfortunately…
Heidens didn’t know that Linley had grown, grown at a speed even faster than he had feared.
Within a secluded restaurant in the provincial capital of Basil.
Linley was seated by himself, with Bebe being his only companion. They occasionally were drinking.
“Come over here.” Linley called to the waiter.
“Is there something you need, sir?” That waiter was extremely courteous.
Linley casually tossed out three gold pieces. “Let me ask you a question. If I’m satisfied with your answer, these three gold pieces are yours.” This waiter’s yearly salary was only around four gold pieces. His eyes immediately lit up with greed.
“Sir, please ask. I know quite a few things in this province.” The servant said confidently.
In a place like this restaurant, all sorts of people would come and visit. The servant would overhear a great deal and know a great deal as well.
“I want to ask you, is there an old man named ‘Perry’ within this city of Basil? His hair is white, and he should appear rather dignified.” Linley whispered into the waiter’s ears.
The waiter immediately let out a confident laugh, and then, very conscientiously, lowered his voice in response. “You must be referring to Count Perry.”
“Count Perry?”
Linley’s eyes lit up.
The waiter nodded. “In the provincial capital of Basil, there’s only one noble named Perry who is fairly well known. And this Perry is, indeed, an old man, so old that his hair is white. There’s no mistaking it.”
“Oh.” Linley nodded. “Do you know where Count Perry’s manor is?”
The servant nodded. “Of course. Count Perry lives on Huating Road, the third residence from the right.”
“If you come with me, I’ll add another three gold coins.” Linley said.
After all, Linley was worried that he might get lost by himself. It was better to bring the servant with him. This way, at least he wouldn’t get totally lost.
Watching Linley bring out another three gold coins, the servant immediately grew excited. “Alright. Sir, please wait a bit. I’ll go talk to the boss first.”
If he didn’t do anything that day, at worst he would be deducted a day’s pay. But by following Linley, he would be paid three gold coins.
The provincial capital of Basil. Huating Road.
Linley stared from afar an ancient looking manor. Judging from the decaying, ivy-wrapped walls, this manor was at least several centuries old.
“Count Perry, a very kind fellow?”
Linley sneered.
This ‘very kind fellow’ the waiter described was the supervisor of affairs for the Radiant Church in the Northwest Administrative Province. The O’Brien Empire was extremely antagonistic towards foreign religions. If Perry were to be discovered, he would definitely be found guilty of a serious crime, to be punished by having his belongings confiscated and his clan wiped out.
Memorizing the address, Linley immediately turned and left.
But what Linley didn’t notice was a man staring at him in astonishment from a distance. “Here? He actually showed up here?” The man was amazed.
“Mm. It’s been three years. I didn’t expect to discover him here. It looks like I’ll receive that reward of five thousand gold coins.” The man was very delighted.
Walking on the streets, Linley did not notice any of the ordinary commoners who weren’t particularly strong. Naturally, he wouldn’t have paid any attention to this ordinary warrior who was only of the third rank.
Within the courtyard of the residence behind his hotel.
Zassler was seated beneath a large tree in the courtyard. Seeing Linley enter, he laughed. “How did it go? Did you find that Perry fellow?”
“Found him. He’s even a Count. His position isn’t that low.” Linley said.
Someone capable of becoming the supervisor of affairs for a province definitely wasn’t an incapable person. He would either be a wealthy magnate or a powerful noble.
“Haha, wonderful. Then tonight, let us…pay a visit.” Zassler’s laughed sinisterly, his eyes emitting a hint of green light.
Linley nodded calmly.
“Rebecca, Leena.” Linley raised his head to look at the two twins who had just walked in from the main hall. “Tonight, the two of you need to stay here. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Understood.” Rebecca and Leena both nodded.
Zassler laughed in the direction of the twins. “Do as I have taught you, and enter the meditative trance. In a few days, I will begin to commence the ‘Necromantic Initiation Rites’ for both of you.”
After having been with them for a period of time, Zassler had made the determination that these two twins were highly suited for studying Necromantic Magic.
In truth, the normal seven elements of magic (earth, fire, water, wind, lightning, light, darkness) all had fairly high requirements with regards to spiritual energy. But the higher level arts of Oracular Magic, Life Magic, and Necromantic Magic, had terrifyingly high requirements when it came to souls.
Of these three types of magic, Necromantic Magic had the highest requirements with regards to spiritual purity and soul analysis. Comparatively speaking, it didn’t have much of a requirement with regards to elemental essence affinity.
“Necromantic Initiation Rites?”
Rebecca and Leena were both excited. This entire time, they had hoped they would be able to seek revenge for their parents, but they didn’t have any power. But after learning Necromantic Magic, they would have sufficient power.
That night.
“Haeru. Protect Rebecca and Leena.” Linley instructed.
To deal with a minor figure like Perry was an extremely simple task. Linley and Zassler would be more than enough. With Bebe present as well, there would be no chance of failure at all.
“Be careful.” Rebecca and Leena said.
Zassler laughed weirdly. “In Basil, aside from McKenzie, there’s no one whom I or Linley need to be concerned with.”
“Let’s go.” Linley said calmly.
Both dressed in black, Linley and Zassler very quickly slipped out of the courtyard. The black-furred Bebe also stealthily followed the two, with none the wiser.
In the dark night, Linley, Zassler, and Bebe were walking in an alleyway.
“Huating Road must be ahead.” Linley’s memory was very good. Despite having a very complicated layout, Linley was able to totally memorize the layout after having walked through the city once. Linley, Zassler, and Bebe directly passed through the small alleyway and arrived at the outskirts of the walls to Count Perry’s manor.
Staring at this ancient building, Zassler and Linley exchanged glances.
“Zassler, you need to be certain.” Linley had never seen Count Perry before.
“Don’t worry.” Zassler’s lips curled in a dark smile.
Linley led Zassler forward as they jumped directly past the wall. With regards to how residences were generally laid out, Linley and Zassler both had a good general idea. Usually in front was the main hall, while the second building in the back was where the owner would sleep.
But Zassler came to a stop in front of the second building as he began to mumble a magical incantation.
A short while later…
A grey smoke began to slowly drift towards the building. In a short while, the entire second building was covered by that grey fog. The fog continued to spread until it covered every single building in the residence. Watching this happen, Linley was puzzled.
Linley took a sniff of the grey fog. As he did, he felt momentarily dizzy, but then instantly recovered.
“What are you doing?” Linley said softly.
“I’m just putting the weaker people here to sleep. Upon reaching the seventh rank, a person can use battle-qi to counteract this fog. Perry is a warrior of the eighth rank.” Zassler knew exactly how strong Perry was.