His day back at his city was supposed to be relaxing and he wanted to spend time with the women he loves without even picking up a sword whether to fight or train and also focus on work.
He wanted to focus on Victoria who had fallen asleep in his arms after the two were done making love. He managed to talk her out of trying to take on Arthur.
Frankly, the arrival of an eclipse shook him up a bit since it's something he wasn't expecting at all. there was nothing normal about this eclipse since it turned day for a second before it became almost pitch black.
He was expecting to fight some kind of group consisting of powerful dark magicians. The guy he sensed was the cause of the eclipse seeing as how he was holding an artifact in his hands.
When the guy disappeared, Arnold used the system's search function to pinpoint exactly where this guy was. He wasn't weak by any means so his level left an impression on Arnold. As such, he decided to hunt the man down to understand his motive for causing the false eclipse.
But who did he find with the man?
"—Since you helped Hessinia escape, I'm assuming you are part of Serz—Isn't that right, Big Sis?" his hand still on the guy's throat, he looked at the dumbfounded Celeste with narrowed eyes. Her pupils were shaking and her words caught in her throat.
Of all the things he knew about this game, Celeste being a part of Serz—and a high-ranking member at that—was outside his expectations. Even with the system that knows most things in the game, he wasn't able to figure it out.
In his defense, there weren't any signs at all. Not as Arnold and certainly not when he played through the game as the earthling.
How could he know when she hid it so well? And frankly, you can't associate Serz's members—all of whom are a collective of crazy—with the kind and gentle Celeste.
"I heard your plan." He slowly took his hand away from 1A's throat, "So this means we aren't enemies, Celeste. How fortunate."
1A quickly jumped away and stood in front of Celeste, as if shielding her.
"Al…"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me." He cut her off, "From what you said, dismantling Serz is the goal left to you by your ancestors and predecessors."
An unexpected goal. It sounded like she wants to reform the organization by getting rid of the boss—the Leader. But how do you reform something that big that holds power across several provinces?
"…You aren't angry?" she asked in a small voice, barely audible and her pupils shaking.
"We're not enemies," Arnold replied. "And I understand why this had to be kept secret. I wouldn't want my family to know about my involvement with a criminal organization like Serz either."
He didn't say it kindly—just matter-of-factly. He wasn't planning to get friendly with Celeste's organization anyway. His contract with Liumiala had always been transactional: find things, get information. But now that his system had been upgraded and unlocked search and wiki functions, his dependence on them had dropped significantly. He could now access ordinary knowledge that wasn't locked behind higher system tiers. True, he still couldn't ask about absurd things like the origin of magic—information even top players would kill for—but he no longer needed Serz for basic intel.
Celeste exhaled slowly, her eyes averted and said in a small voice: "…I thought you would resent me..."
"Frankly, I don't know how to feel that my childhood friend is a terrorist. I'm neither scared nor disappointed."
"Do you… still love me?"
That was out of nowhere… But knowing Celeste, she's used to being honest about her feelings in front of him so she's the kind of person who would ask stuff like this.
"Nothing changed. I still see you as the Big Sis I never had."
A childlike giggle came out of her, ignoring her subordinates that were witnessing all of this, "If Anna heard that, she would throw her shoe at your head."
Yeah, he can see that happening.
Wait, they're getting off-track here.
He pointed at the criminal beside her—the woman she had personally helped escape.
"Hessinia is going to be a problem for me," he said. "So I suggest handing her over to the Republic."
Celeste stiffened. "Hold on. Her unique powers will be useful for us. We can make contact with Outer Gods this way!"
Arnold stared at her like she had just declared she wanted to jump naked into a volcano.
"You want to make contact with deities that despise Melis' creations?"
"I know we are separated by realms for a reason but they may know something about the Leader," she said, voice trembling with urgency. "If the Leader is one of theirs, it would explain how they know about the Dark Scroll. No human should know that artifact exists. Not even relic tombs contain anything close."
"What do you plan on doing once your suspicions are confirmed?"
"In order to prepare an attack, we need to know what we're facing. If I'm right, I will take this issue to the Oracle and ask if she can relay the information to Goddess Melis."
"I agree that it might be possible that the gods won't sit still when they hear one of those things lurk the mortal realm. That said, the Between Realms sucks the soul out of any living mortal so you would be dead before you even take your first breath there. Hessinia almost killed me this way."
With a cold glare, Celeste looked back upon hearing that.
"…We were enemies so I needed to do my best to secure the princess." Hessinia tried to justify her actions.
He wouldn't survive the vacuum of the Between Realms. Maybe Aether would protect him but he's not willing to risk it with his limited internal energy.
Until he finds a way to secure several Ascension Pills, he won't risk his life. Rather, he would choose as many options as possible even if they're only a little bit easier than finding and killing divine magic beasts.
Also, yes, he does know who the Leader is. That said, that doesn't mean he will still risk facing that woman directly if there's a second option.
This was mentioned before but he has no countermeasures to win against that woman's abilities. He could even lose the moment the two make contact.
As such, he would rather take the second option, which is still dangerous but more manageable than losing the second you meet the person in question. Maybe he should ask Ladiath for help. That guy is from the Between Realms so he must know of ways to protect yourself in that hellish place. Arnold isn't betting on Ladiath knowing anything about the "Leader" since he can tell from all the preparation that guy has been doing to invade the divine realm, he probably wouldn't have had the leisure or time to attain knowledge that could help them right now.
"I know you need strong allies to take on the organization, Celeste but I need you to know that I intend to establish an alliance with the Republic of Zrek." He held up three fingers, "To do that, I need Wistorina safely secured, the president alive and Hessinia to answer for her crimes."
"…" seeing her pitiful expression, as if she had no idea what to do, made him think she is a bit too irresponsible. How can you choose the side of the man you love over the centuries' long goal your ancestors left behind?
Then again, this shows that her feelings for him are strong.
He added after a brief pause, "Well, we don't technically need her to answer for her crimes."
"?" all three shared the same confused expression.
"I'll have Vetis create a Homunculus resembling Hessinia to take her place. There probably aren't any conventional means to go to that realm so she will be essential in meeting with the Outer Gods."
The danger will be finding them and surviving that place, he added with a head scratch.
As mentioned before, he'll take all the options he can get. As long as Wistorina and the rest of the world doesn't find out that the Hessinia that will stand trial is a fake, he'll keep quiet about this whole interaction and just call this night a first attempt by Serz to save Hessinia.
Maybe he's a bad person for not giving the people who died true justice but frankly all he cares about is his alliance with a powerful nation like the Republic. There is a big market for his crystals there as well even if the populace wants to convince the world they despise magicians.
"…You will help us?"
"Hearing your story, I can't exactly let you do this alone."
Celeste has been with him ever since they were children and her feelings for him haven't changed even after he became a national threat in the Eulia Empire.
How can he leave this up to his childhood friend alone?
A smile cracked on Celeste's face before she ran into his arms, "I'm so glad… I… It's been so hard doing this alone… B-but with you by my side, I think I feel more confident that I can do this!"
He patted her head, "We're going to have a very awkward talk with your mother on her next break."
Not just because of this but also how he beat her husband to a pulp.
That woman always used to frighten him as a child. She wasn't overly cold but she was incredibly strict and headstrong, the qualities of a veteran knight who served in the imperial army as a commander for years.
"Hehe, she'll be very happy to know we have you on our side. Not just because of how strong you are but because we can trust you."
Hearing this, even he couldn't maintain his poker face and cracked a small smile.
**
Though Celeste didn't tell him directly, he knew she planned on helping Hessinia escape on an order from Serz, betraying his trust. While she did go through with it, the plan changed in the end.
Why is that? Because she did not follow Serz's orders to help Hessinia escape. In fact, she went against them.
He made sure to tell her—before they went their separate ways—to say that she couldn't rescue Hessinia because he was there. Since the rumors of his strength spread around, they should have no problem with that explanation. That said, in their eyes, she put his guard up so whatever they're planning to do next—this time with more forces—will be difficult to accomplish.
He knows that they will pick the time when Hessinia is supposed to be transported to the Republic. Even if the clone is a stand-in, he'll need to at least act like he tried to stop them to be in the Republic's good books.
…
Arnold and Hessinia were going back to the city alone after they parted ways with Celeste. He's quite curious about the artifacts she had on her but he shouldn't be greedy. When Serz gets destroyed from the inside, he can get all the artifacts they've collected over the centuries.
Speaking of artifacts, he hasn't heard from Ruria in a while… Did she lie about helping him in exchange for his protection? Is being punished by her brother, for failing to retrieve the pure martial art, really worth the lie?
He'll have to look for her tomorrow morning when he goes back to the capital.
"I don't get it." Hessinia spoke in the deafening silence when the light coming from the gates came into view.
"What don't you get?" he decided to amuse her.
"How can you be so concerned about how your citizens feel about you but you would let a terrorist get away, with no concern over the feelings of the people who lost loved ones in the attack?"
"Where did you hear that? Do the pipes in your cell have good acoustics?"
"The guards are very talkative with each other since they have sooo much free time with the demons you have under your service. The rumor spread that you would do anything for your citizens and make sure none of them will hate you."
"Isn't that the dream of every city lord?"
She gave him a strange look, as if every city lord is corrupt as the one that preceded him.
"It doesn't matter who I care about, only that you stay hidden and avoid cutting people up just so that you can get an orgasm. And don't even think about doing that in this region or I will come find you."
Hessinia blushed, "I-I know that! I can't think about getting off anyway with the current situation."
"Are you going to accept Celeste's request to join her little group?"
Come to think of it, he never asked her how many people joined her.
"…I'm still thinking about it…"
"You don't have that leisure. If you don't have an answer by the time Vetis gets here, I will have Elizabeth brainwash you with dark magic."
The fate of the world—and his future profits—is at stake. There's no telling if Wistorina is the only person who has the "soul translation" they're looking for.
"Stop with the threats! I get it!"
"Quiet. There are people at the gate."
"—It's sir Arnold! He caught the terrorist!" a man holding a torch up remarked. The rest of the crowd of people sighed in relief with smiles on their faces. There weren't just guards in full armor, but also citizens holding weapons and torches.
The Red Knights were probably scouring the land so they weren't here.
"We knew Lord Arnold could pull it off but came here as backup anyway." Members of the city guards came up to him with cuffs ready for Hessinia. She went along with the act, begrudged.
He doesn't know when Vetis would be able to finish the clone so she will have to sit in that cell for a while. During that time, the empire and allied nations will be busy getting rid of the monsters that her little attack group summoned in the Republic.
"I'm grateful for your enthusiasm to help. But stay behind the city walls next time there's an attack. This might've been an attempt to test our defenses." He addressed the people while looking at them.
"Lord Arnold need not be concerned about us! We will fight alongside the knights if need be!" the citizens all nodded in unison. There were probably over 200 of them here, some still beyond the gates ready to fight for this city.
"No."
"Eh?" they blinked with wide eyes.
"The reason I allied myself with a vampire queen was to ensure my military strength is enough to not force young boys and girls into my armies just so that they can protect this city, or even force my citizens to take up arms just to defend themselves."
People's grip on their makeshift weapons loosened a little.
"It's a mutually beneficial pact," he continued. "I give her the financial backing, obtained through the sales of my crystals, to safeguard her people, and she lends me the soldiers to safeguard you. That was a condition both of us agreed on so that our citizens never have to worry about surviving another night or going to bed hungry."
"We just… didn't want anything to happen to you or this city, my lord." Another person answered while scratching his head.
"Even if the enemies we're facing are members of Serz, remember that I killed an Ancient Dragon. Nothing besides demigods can kill me. I think even the demon lords will have a hard time invading this city. So long as I am alive, I will be the last line of defense when the knights fail to protect you."
There was no arrogance in his body language or tone. He just said in a matter-of-factly manner.
Arnold could hear Caerwyn's voice somewhere all the way in the back, "Kyaa! He's so cool and dreamy, right girls!?"
"Lady Siana is so lucky…"
He could hear many of Siana's knights agree. Ignoring them, he patted a young boy's head.
"You look no more than two years younger than me." He said to the boy, "Only pick up that sword if you want to, not when forced to. But if you really want to protect this city alongside me, come to the palace. There is a certain captain in my army who is eager to train anyone willing to pick up a weapon."
"Y-Yes, My Lord!" he saluted with his eyes closed, a tear sitting in the corner of his right eye.
Arnold nodded then addressed everyone again, "There may be another attack soon but I'll be asking Vetis to bring other types of 'soldiers' to ensure we have many ways to counter enemy attacks. All I need from you are your prayers."
…
As the guards escorted Hessinia away and the crowd began to disperse in a merry mood, Arnold's thoughts began to wander as he looked at their backs.
'If Whitage endures another attack and survives flawlessly…'
Word would spread, first through merchants, then travelers, then diplomats. A city that withstands disaster after disaster looks invincible.
He didn't need slaughter nor did he need casualties. He just needed a "threat" dramatic enough to display his city's defenses… one that he controlled from beginning to end.
People flock to strength if they know it will protect them, even if it asks for something in return.
He didn't need to be a good person to be a good city lord. He just needed to be irreplaceable.
As long as he was powerful enough to protect them—
As long as he answered threats faster than any emperor or noble ever could—
As long as his city became the safest place in the world—
They would love him.
They would follow him.
They would fight for him even in his absence.
And Arnold intended to make Whitage City survive anything.
Even if he had to manufacture the dangers himself.
To ensure that, he will need to make sure Selia stays alive.
'Grace, you better lift that teleportation block so that I can meet that bastard trying to kill Selia.'