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Ka-cha!
The double door on the east wall opened and revealed two men.
The man on the right was a pale-skinned man with light green hair in his late 60s. He was wearing a high-quality nobleman's clothing and a pair of gloves that were appropriate for the weather here in the Iron Kingdom, and had a cane in his hand.
Meanwhile, the one on the left was a pale-skinned man with medium-length brown hair combed back in a slick fashion. He was in his late 50s and was wearing a butler's uniform.
Although it was very subtle, both men couldn't help but take notice of Vivian's hair color -- purple with red highlights.
Jamaal, who was near the long table, stepped forward and then gave a slight bow.
"Thank you for seeing us, Lord Fasner," he said and then gestured his hand over to Vivian. "Please allow me to introduce to you a new member of our Squad, Sister Inquisitor Monad."
A warm smile broke out on Fasner's lips and he nodded at Jamal before turning to Vivian and nodding at her as well.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Priestess Inquisitor Monad."
Vivian nodded back.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well."
"Shall we take a seat near the fireplace?"
"Sure."
Tak, tak, tak…
Vivian, Jamaal, Fasner and the butler headed over to the sofas near the fireplace with the butler escorting Fasner and helping him sit down before moving away and standing a couple of feet away to give Vivian, Jamaal and Fasner some privacy.
"To what pleasure do I owe this visit?" Fasner asked.
Vivian's eyes turned to slits behind her half-mask.
So this is an accent of an Aristocratic Noble from the Iron Kingdom…
And his presence…
Reminds me of Viscount Lozario…
There was also Baron Ricardo, Duke Freca and Prince Alcedes, but I never got the chance to personally talk to them…
But regardless, when it comes to the impressions they gave me…
Baron Ricardo seemed too aloof to care about anything…
It's as if his mind is constantly elsewhere or he easily gets bored…
Duke Freca seemed wild and playful…
And as for Prince Alcedes, personally, I don't like him…
He looked like the type who would wait for people to approach him…
And then when you approach him, he expects you to carry the conversation while he just replies with a friendly smile…
I've met too many people like that…
They only know how to extract information and not offer any information in return…
In fact, I prefer someone like Baron Ricardo…
Although he's aloof, at least he would show that he isn't interested in listening when he isn't interested…
Meanwhile, that Alcedes will just lead you on…
And then if you're stupid or a narcissist, you would think he's a great listener…
After all, who wouldn't be flattered if someone as handsome and as high status as Alcedes would listen and reply to you…?
In reality, people like him are selfish one-sided communicators who only know how to take or extract information…
This Lord Fasner, the people like him and Viscount Lozario…
They are the most dangerous ones…
I have to watch out for what I'm going to say to this old man…
"I just arrived today and I would like to ask about Lord Lukas."
"Lord Lukas?" Fasner said and then nodded. "What do you wish to know about him?"
"Can you tell me about him?"
"Lord Lukas is a fellow native of the Iron Kingdom. I believe his family, the Kohler family, is mainly from Heus'chrecke Village, but they have several business ventures across the Iron Kingdom."
"What type of business ventures?"
Fasner thought about it for a moment.
"I believe his family started in the mining business and coal business, and then later expanded to creating Magic Items, buying and selling Magic Items, art pieces and unique items through Auction Houses, and also providing mounts, mainly land mounts, for transporting people, goods and other materials across the kingdom."
"You seem to know a lot about Lord Lukas' family. Are you close with him?"
"His family's Magic Item business is one of the third-party companies that my family hires to create Magic Items for us, which we would then ship out to the other kingdoms."
"How many third-party companies does your family hire?"
"In creating Magic Items?" Fasner said and then thought about it for a moment. "Before I retired from handling my family's business, there were 12 families. 8 of them were from the Iron Kingdom, the other 4 were from other Kingdoms. Now, I have no idea."
"You retired? Why?"
"I believe it was time for the next generation to take over."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're the uncle of the current ruling Viscount, yes?"
Fasner nodded.
"Yes, Her Excellency, Viscountess Ethel."
"Since you're her uncle, you must have held a lot of influence in the family. And yet you chose to let go of it?"
"I'm part of the Temple of Blacksmiths and was given the task to manage the weapons, equipment and Magic Item businesses of our family. So influence-wise, yes, I did have some influence, but it was no different from the other family members who were tasked with managing the other businesses of our family."
"And yet you still chose to let go of it?"
"As I already mentioned, I believe it was time for the younger generation to take over."
"At what age did you retire?"
"55."
Vivian's eyes turned to slits once again.
This guy…
He's not snapping or fighting back…
So cooperative…
I don't like where this is going…
"What do you do now, ever since you retired?"
"I spend most of my time creating things that I want to create."
"Such as?"
"Improving everyday items."
"Like what?"
"At the moment, I'm working on a Magic Item that would automatically wash, dry and iron a single piece of clothing -- all under 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I have yet to solve the 'wash' part. But if it becomes a success, I plan to make one that could wash, dry and iron a single set of clothing in under 15 minutes."
"You said that you spend most of your time creating things that you want to create. Weren't you doing that before?"
A small smile appeared on Fasner's lips and there was a longing look on his face as he stared at a fireplace for a moment.
"Back when I was still in charge of managing the weapons, equipment and Magic Item businesses of my family, it took too much of my time. Because of that, I had little or no time to create the things I wanted to create."
"They said that you're a Scholar. But I noticed that no one calls you Lord Scholar. Did you also retire from being one?"
For the first time, although it was only for a brief moment, Vivian noticed it -- Fasner's right eye twitched a bit.
"I got my Scholar title when I was 29 years old under the Magic Item Category.
"I presented a Mithril-Grade choker-type Magic Item that was about 3 inches thick and featured a Rune Sequence that would automatically distribute the proper temperature to the wearer's body to protect them from extreme heat or extreme cold.
"Although my idea wasn't unique from the previous patents that were registered and rejected, the Rune Sequence I presented could last 16.25 hours before breaking -- an additional 3.39 hours compared to the latest patent, and the distribution of the heat and frost all over the body was 87% for the heat and 81% for the frost.
"But despite the improved time and reaching the required 80% cut-off, it wasn't allowed to be mass-produced and was kept in the vault of the Temple of Blacksmiths and the Temple of Wizards.
"They said that the time wasn't enough and it should at least be 1 week, which is impossible for a Mithril-Grade metal due to the size of the item; a choker. Even Rainbow Steel-Grade metal couldn't achieve that time.
"But I know the real reason: It would disrupt the businesses of the other families across the continent and everyone would have to pay me royalties for using my Rune Sequence."
"You didn't try to create other things after that?" Vivian asked.
"I tried, but none of them met my expectations because I was too busy managing the family businesses assigned to me."
"I've read the reports that my companions have written about you. On one hand, they said that without the information and connections that you VOLUNTARILY provided for the case, they wouldn't have had this much progress. Meanwhile, on the other hand, they said that because of your help, you have garnered so many enemies not only here in Gru'n Town, but across the Iron Kingdom. Some of them are even your own family members and long-time business partners of your family. So my question here is: Why are you helping us?"
Fasner leaned back in his seat and rubbed his thumb on his cane's handle.
"Priest Inquisitor Song didn't mention my personal reason in the report?"
"I would like to personally hear it from you."
Fasner turned to the fire in the fireplace once more. There was barely any wood left and it would require a maid to fetch and add another pile of wood.
"The Iron Kingdom used to be the main place for Scholars under the Magic Item Category. People across the continent used to come here to study the latest advancements in Rune Technology. Even demon-kins, before this Kingdom became a Subsidiary Kingdom, would risk coming here to buy or steal the Rune Technology of this Kingdom.
"But somewhere in the history of this kingdom, that changed. I don't know exactly when it changed, but it did. Even when I first decided to become an Under-Scholar, the change was already there.
"Nevertheless, when I finally became a Scholar, although I was disappointed that my Graduation Patent was shelved, I was still excited. In my head at that time, since I'm not only a Scholar, but I'm also an Aristocratic Noble, I have the resources, and I have the talent and the drive, it was only a matter of time before I could at least inspire the next generation.
"However, I failed to properly estimate the amount of corruption and stagnation inflicted throughout the centuries.
"A majority of the Master Scholars and the Head Scholars were far more interested in keeping their position and their pockets full.
"I also found out that a majority of the Scholars are complete frauds with no ounce of talent and creativity at all. The Patent they presented to get the Scholar title was either:
"They bought a Magic Item that featured a lost and forbidden Rune Art or Sequence before or during the dawn of the Age of Magic, and then reverse-engineered it enough to make it unique.
"They bought someone else's work and then presented it as their own.
"Or they stole someone's idea and then presented it as their own.
"There were also blackmails and assassinations of anyone who tried to present a new and improved patent that could overlap a family, a group or a faction's existing business.
"Furthermore, there was also nepotism. Even if you have a ground-breaking patent, if you don't have the right connections, you won't have the chance to present it to the Master Scholars and the High Scholars. But even if you did get the chance to present it, because you don't have the right connections or paid the right people, your patent will be rejected and then ridiculed to make sure you don't come up again.
"I will admit, since I'm from an Aristocratic Noble family, mainly from the Gru'n and the Heus'chrecke family of the Iron Kingdom, I benefited from nepotism. But the patent I presented was genuine. I even cited and credited my sources. In addition to that, I refused to submit a patent that doesn't meet my high expectations.
"And unfortunately, this corruption and stagnation aren't just present among the Scholars under the Magic Item Category. Even the Scholars under the Law and other Categories also face their own troubles.
"They have made a complete mockery of the once great and respectable Scholar institutions, especially for the one here in this kingdom, and no one is doing anything about it."
"So you're doing this out of spite?" Vivian asked.
Fasner turned to her and his face twisted.
"Doing out of spite? Did you hear what I --" He suddenly started coughing and then covered his hand over his mouth.
The smell of blood entered Vivian's nostrils.
The butler standing a couple of feet away rushed over to Fasner and then presented him with a handkerchief.
"Iro-My Iro-Lord."
Fasner took it and wiped the blood on his hand and lips.
The butler took out a small vial that had a dark green liquid inside it from his pocket, opened it, and then presented it.
"Iro-And iro-please iro-take iro-this, Iro-My Iro-Lord."
Fasner handed back the handkerchief and then drank the vial.
The butler turned to Vivian and Jamaal, but mostly focused on Vivian.
"My Lord's health isn't at its best these days. Whenever he gets agitated, this happens."
To be specific, Fasner was born with a weak heart and lungs due to incest, which is fairly common among the families within the higher echelons of society in this world. Had it not been for the fact that Fasner was born with 5 True Magic Art Affinities, the family's Lore Magic, and he showed that he possessed a high level of intelligence even when he was still young -- mainly when it comes to Rune Art or Sequence, he would've been "terminated" when he was still young.
And as for his Physical Force, although having high Physical Force can override some sickness or disabilities, in Fasner's case, when he was still a child, his sickness due to his weak heart and lungs was prevalent, but later vanished as his Physical Force grew. However, once he started reaching his 50s, that's when the sickness due to his weak heart and lungs started to slowly resurface.
Also, no amount of [Greater Heal] and [Cure] can cure it because it was inborn and it can only be triggered when his emotions are high.
Technically, one could make the coughing stop by using [Halo] + [Greater Heal] or even with just [Heal]. But that would require the Priest or Priestess to have a higher Magic Force than Fasner.
"Messis…" Fasner said as he held the vial.
"Iro-Yes, Iro-My Iro-Lord," Messis, the butler, said. He took back the vial from Fasner's hand and then placed it inside his pocket. After doing so, he returned his gaze to Vivian and Jamaal. "I will return My Lord to his room to rest. If there are any more questions you want to ask, please come visit tomorrow."
***
8:53 p.m.
Vivian and Jamaal walked through the main entrance of the mansion and were making their way back to their carriage.
Just when Jamaal was already about 5ft away from the carriage, he and Vivian suddenly stopped in their tracks.
From a distance and in the dark sky, there was a red flare.
Jamaal quickly turned to Vivian.
"It could be Sister Inquisitor Mabel and the others," he said with a serious and slightly agitated tone.
Vivian's brows knitted together.
Hmm…
I'm not gonna lie…
I'm tired and I just want to call it a night already…
Noticing that Vivian wasn't answering, Jamaal spoke once more.
"Sister, I suggest that I head over there and you head over back to the Branch Chapter Temple to request for reinforcements."
"There's no nee--"
Ding!
'Semi-unlocked [Giant Demon of Stanza] Lore!'
Vivian's jaw dropped.
What…?
Semi-unlocked…?
What does that mea--…
"Sister?"
I'll deal with that later…
"There's no need for me to head over to the Branch Chapter Temple. If we can see that flare, everyone else can also see that. Let's head over there."
Jamaal wanted to protest. In his head, although this may sound prejudiced, no matter how he looked at it, Vivian was still in her mid-20s, she was an Inquisitor, and they were also dealing with non-Priest powerful families here in Gru'n Town.
Furthermore --
"Are we heading over there together? I think it would be faster if I went there on foot and you took the carriage."
In his head, she would only slow him down. After all, Inquisitors weren't exactly known for their physical fighting prowess.
Vivian suppressed the urge to purse her lips.
This idiot is getting on my nerves…
Is this a common characteristic of the Priests and Priestesses from the Heisen Chapter Temple…?
She tried to recall her classmates at Basic Training.
Even the ones I met at She'kel Village weren't this pushy…
What was his name again…?
Brother Theodore…?
Yea--….
Wait…!
There was that Brother Inquisitor Jail who thought that his rank and cloak meant something…
But he's an Inquisitor, not Infantry…
Also, he's a Gold Cloak…
Is this guy a Gold Cloak…?
She tried to recall the file that Pen gave her.
From what I remember, only Brother Inquisitor Song and Brother Captain Kian are Gold Cloaks…
"We'll both go there on foot. I won't risk the life of the coachman. However, you go first with your maximum speed and I'll just try to catch up."
I really hope there's a big fight and this idiot dies with True Death…
I seriously don't like this guy…
Jamaal nodded.
"Okay."
Voooom!
As expected…
Slow…
An image of Pen flashed inside her head.
Do I have the power to kick members out of the Squad…?
I mean…
There was that Field Mission in She'kel Village…
She returned her focus to where Jamaal ran.
The fog is too thick…
[Greater Origin Transformation].
Blaaak.
Her left eye transformed into a demon form.
Oh…
So this is what the whole compound looks like…
She focused on the main gate and then let out a sigh.
"Please kill that annoying idiot..."
She started running at a normal human speed but then stopped after a couple of steps.
Hold on…
Why am I hoping for someone to kill him…?
Why can't I just kill him myself…?
It's night...
The fog is thick…
And he's weak…
Who's going to know…?
She shook her head.
That's assuming that there's really a fight, like a big and chaotic fight...
And plus...
Remember your promise, Vivian…
For the time being…
Try to act like a normal human being…
Try to look at things from their perspective…
Try to understand their worthless and pitiful lives, dreams, aspirations and whatever it is they think of…
Also, Pen mentioned it himself…
Don't reveal your strength…
Only reveal it at the right time…
Vivian nodded.
"Yeah... And he also said that I should rely more on my brain than on my fists."
She resumed running.
I still hope that annoying idiot dies, though…
True Death style…
But what if the rest dies…?
Well…
That Mabel was the one who told us we should split…
So I can't be held responsible in any shape or form…
Not even Pen can blame me...
My hands are 100% clean no matter what angle…
I'm just a good ol' soldier following orders…
She let out a sigh.
I feel so slow…
I can't remember the last time I ran at normal speed…
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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
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