Chapter 25: Bristol Street
Raven approached Bristol Street and immediately felt the tension in the air.
Even at the entrance, two uniformed police officers were stationed, batons secured at their waists, scanning everyone who tried to enter.
Security is stricter than I expected, he muttered. The two officers noticed him instantly.
"Hey! Come here!" The more muscular of the two waved him over.
[Don't avoid their gaze. Move confidently. Create a temporary identity.]
Easier said than done, Raven thought, his face settling into a neutral expression as he walked forward.
He recalled all his conversations with Daisy Spade, piecing together the details she had shared about her childhood friends and her neighborhood.
I can't claim this is my street… But Daisy mentioned her friends—Aiden, Luna, Isaac, Scarlet, Carter… children of the Spade Family's old servants.
When Raven reached the officers, he greeted them politely with a smile.
"May I know why you called me, sir?"
The older, portly officer with a crooked nose scrutinized him. "What are you doing here at this hour? You seem… from Southward or Eastmine Borough."
[Smart. The outfit alone signals middle-class origins; that narrows it down immediately.]
Raven pressed on. "I'm Aiden, from Eastmine Borough. Butler Ben's grandson. I came to visit my childhood friend, Daisy."
"Daisy? Who's that?"
"Daisy Spade, sir. I used to visit her whenever she returned from the Darkcross Knight Training Academy. But… why is security so tight here?"
The muscular officer's frown eased slightly. "Sir Ben's grandson, you say? How is your grandfather doing?"
Raven bowed his head, adopting a sorrowful tone. "He… passed away two months ago. Even Lord Count attended his last rites."
"My condolences. He watches over you still," the crooked-nosed officer said, patting his shoulder. "Go on. We have work to do."
Nodding, Raven slipped past them and moved deeper into the street.
…
The two officers exchanged glances once he was out of earshot.
"Is that him?" the muscular one asked.
"Matches the description, but he knows too much for a random outsider," said the older officer, puffing on his cigar. "Mentions Darkcross Knight Academy, Sir Ben… not something anyone would know. Let's wait—he can fool us, but not the ones inside the mansion."
…
Raven walked down the quiet street, noting the contrast with the bustling roads he had passed. Here, mansions lined both sides, some modest two-story homes with courtyards, others massive estates guarded by silent sentinels.
So many of these must be Walkers or nobles. This is trickier than I thought.
He reached a three-story mansion and slipped into the shadow of a nearby tree, activating Shadow Stealth. His hands shimmered and vanished.
Incredible… he thought, stepping out from the shadows and moving toward the gate.
A young blonde officer in green stood at the entrance, lost in thought.
Why a guard here? Empty house? Something's hiding inside… Raven stayed calm and skirted the compound wall, scanning the other side with his spiritual sense.
Just grass… but I can't risk making a sound.
Concentrating, he leapt over the two-meter wall, landing silently on the lawn. Stealthily, he made his way toward the main building.
He paused by the side of the mansion, considering the front door.
No key. And even if I force it open, the noise could alert the officer.
His gaze shifted to a balcony on the second floor. No ladder. Then movement caught his eye through a window, and Raven froze.
Someone's inside.
He crouched closer, listening. Voices carried from the main hall:
"Why do we have to do this without pay, boss? We were supposed to kill the three servants last week… Now a new kid? Inspector Bennett's obsessed with that brat's blood!"
"Aron, don't dig into it. Big payout when it's done—ten gold coins up front."
"I still don't trust that sly fox. If this fails, we'll take the blame. Backed by the Falcons, after all," a woman's voice warned.
"Relax, Remy. As long as Thomas is in our hands, no one—Inspector or Falcons—dares act. Worst case? Lord Count's mansion and the Spades handle it. We move after, start fresh," the rough voice said.
Raven's jaw tightened. Did the innkeeper sell me out? Or did they already expect me?
He remained calm, pulling out his monocle. Instantly, a cascade of information appeared in his vision:
Remy — Member of the Gold Thieves, Official Walker (Fourth Circle)Aron — Member of the Gold Thieves (Greedy Chargers), Official Walker (Fifth Circle)Harlan — Leader of the Gold Thieves, Expert Walker (Eighth Circle)Tommy — Member of the Gold Thieves, Official Walker (Sixth Circle)Zyad — Member of the Gold Thieves, Official Walker (Fourth Circle)Alvin — Member of the Gold Thieves, Official Walker (Fifth Circle)Mia — Vice-Leader of the Gold Thieves (Viper Syndicate), Expert Walker (Ninth Circle)
Raven's mind raced.
'Alright… this just got complicated. These people are too strong for me to face alone.'
Even a single Fourth Circle Official Walker would push him to the edge. Five Official Walkers and two Elite Walkers? He'd be caught before he could blink.
'Damn it… I need to leave before Shadow Stealth wears off.'
Without hesitation, Raven sprinted toward the compound wall. In one fluid motion, he leapt, scaled it, and landed silently on the other side. He dashed into the nearest shadow, melting into darkness.
Moments later, the guard in uniform at the gate scanned the area. Finding nothing, he returned to his post. Raven exhaled slowly, stepping out of the shadows. But he didn't retreat—he kept moving forward.
A few minutes later, he arrived at a secluded nature park. No guards patrolled its entrance. Tall ornamental trees shrouded the area in darkness, making it the perfect hiding spot.
He found a quiet bench, sat down, and tore a page from his notebook. A silver pen appeared in his hand as he wrote a few lines.
"Now… let's make this gift impressive."
From his inventory, he pulled out a two-meter-long golden chest.
Just an iron box with gold trimmings… but it'll have to do, he muttered. He placed the letter inside.
Though reluctant to spend his wealth, Raven reminded himself of the stakes. Random gang members had kidnapped a fallen noble, seemingly walking into Bristol Street as if it were their home. Six months had passed with no intervention.
'Count Spade probably knows about this… and chose to ignore it. Some secret deal must have been made.'
'Is it really worth risking my fortune for a guy just because his surname is Holmes?'
[It is.] Zera's voice was firm.
Raven exhaled and opened the chest again, carefully adding: Feral Eye Crystals, Trollsbane Glands, Tri-Cobra poison glands, two venomous fangs, and six jade-like Tri-Cobra eyeballs.
Each item is worth hundreds of gold coins. Those six eyeballs alone could make an Evil Eye potion, capable of revealing invisibility—vital in wartime. Total value? Around 5,000 gold coins. Enough to buy a two-story house.
Will this be enough to motivate him?
[Do you know how much a wine factory costs?] Zera asked abruptly.
Raven froze. "Maybe… 10,000 gold coins?"
[Minimum land for a wine factory is 20 acres. Holmes Wine Factory? Over 50 acres. Average land outside the city costs 2,500–3,000 gold per acre. That's… 150,000 gold just for the land. Add buildings, machinery, planting materials… total value around 300,000 gold coins. Do you really think 5,000 gold coins is enough to bribe Count Spade?]
Raven went speechless.
'I'm way underestimating this…'
[Include the two elemental Crystals. In the letter, say this is an advance payment for rescuing Thomas. Afterward, offer five Elixirs of Insight potions per year. Effective up to Radiant Walkers.]
'Ah… the Potion of Elixirs of Insight.'
[Even Rank-2 potions like that are considered legendary in this world. Revealing the recipe could be dangerous if Count Spade discovers your true identity.]
Raven nodded, scribbled the extra line, and added the two Rank-1 Elemental Crystals to the chest.
[Cover the rest with 2,000 gold coins. Remove the other materials.]
'Why?'
[Count Spade isn't an alchemist. He won't recognize the value. Make it look like a treasure chest full of gold.]
Raven followed her advice. The golden chest was ready. He waited fifty minutes in the park, then set off toward Count Spade's mansion.
…
Five minutes later, he reached the largest mansion on the street. Two guards in dark green uniforms watched the gate, scanning every passerby.
Raven activated Shadow Stealth, slipping past the entrance. Servants lingered near the mansion, but security was lax. He moved quietly along the left corridor, studying every door: kitchen, storeroom, dining room, painting room, library…
He stopped at the study. The room was modest—ten by ten meters, a study table, a few chairs, and a bookshelf. Raven placed the golden chest carefully beside the shelf and quietly slipped out.
By the time he exited the mansion, Shadow Stealth had worn off. Guards noticed him briefly, but he was already gone, slipping past Count Spade's mansion toward the end of the street.
The security relaxed as he moved further, houses shrinking in size.
[Almost at the end of the street.] Zera noted.
Raven finally turned around, confirming no one was nearby. From his inventory, he pulled out a leather bag and packed: a pair of new dresses, a bluish potion vial, a Knight Academy book, and a pouch of 100 silver coins.
[Is that to fool the guards?]
"Yes. Visiting a noble's daughter at this hour? Abnormal. This gives the right impression."
[Daisy's going to be pissed if she finds out you're using her name.]
'Hehe… but she'll also know I'm alive. When the officers report her absence, she'll connect the dots. Others may think it's a simple thief, but Daisy? She'll know it's me.'
[But wouldn't that expose your identity to others? If she reveals your name to Count Spade, you'll be in deep trouble, lad.]
'She's smarter than that. There's no way she'd expose me so easily. Even if she did, I'd change my identity in a few days anyway. I used her name because... I want my friends to know I'm still alive. Chris, Robert, Dante, and Daisy—they're the only ones I trust. They must've been worried all this time.'
[Tsk, you've grown attached to them. And wiser, too.]
'Heh… how wise am I compared to Charles?' Raven couldn't help but ask.
[You? Compared to Charles? Humph. You still need a thousand years of experience to reach his cunning. That sly fox once fooled a god when he was only Rank-4. He acts ten steps ahead and never hesitates to kill when needed.]
'Wow. Just hearing that gives me goosebumps.'
[He's a lone wolf, lad. He never trusts anyone completely—and he always puts himself first.]
'I want to be like him someday,' Raven muttered, noticing that he'd already reached the big mansion.
If he had returned empty-handed, the guards would've questioned him. But seeing the new bag in his hand, they ignored him. Raven walked past the estate and continued toward the Bristol Street entrance.
"Oh? Back already?" a muscular officer asked, surprised.
Raven waved casually.
"You've got a new bag there," another, round-bellied officer added, eyeing it curiously.
"It's a gift from Daisy, sir," Raven replied politely.
"Mind if we check?"
"You can. Just clothes and a few gifts." He opened it to show them.
"Oh? Potions and silver coins, too? Your friend must care a lot about you." The officer chuckled and waved him off. "Go on, lad. Head home."
Raven nodded, thanked them, and slipped away toward the eastern district. Within a minute, he vanished from sight and turned toward the junction.
'Why the City Museum?' he asked.
[I want to confirm something. If your luck's good, you might gain a valuable ability there.]
'Don't tell me this is about that goblin's corpse that destroyed Azmar Town twenty years ago.'
[Do you really think a goblin did that?]
'Didn't you tell me there are goblins stronger than wizards?'
[I did. But most of them here are under the Empire's thumb. Goblins can evolve into shamans or hobgoblins, but even a Rank-1 shaman can't wipe out an entire town. And isn't it odd that there were no survivors? Hardly any records exist about that event, either.]
Zera paused, then added,
[I'm curious about that "goblin." If it really cast a spell strong enough to erase a town, imagine what you could learn from its remains.]
Raven said nothing for a moment. Then—
'You're right. It's worth checking out.'
He soon reached Knight Street, home to the Police Headquarters, County Court, City Museum, and other government buildings. Compared to Bristol Street, security seemed strangely relaxed.
The road was quiet. Few pedestrians walked by, and none spared him a glance. Raven slipped into Shadow Stealth, his figure fading into the air.
He moved past the gates. Two guards stood at the entrance, alert and vigilant.
'Both are Elite-rank Walkers. I'll need to be careful.'
He vaulted over the compound wall without a sound and approached the museum's entrance. Locked.
[Of course it is. Find another way in.]
Circling the building, he found a smaller wooden door at the back. The lock was basic—too basic. He yanked it free with a soft clank.
[Keep it quiet. Elite Walkers have sharper senses than humans.]
'Got it.'
He eased the door open and slipped inside. Darkness swallowed him whole, but Night Vision painted the hall in shades of grey.
Dusty corridors stretched ahead. Old weapons—swords, spears, amulets, and armor—lined the rooms.
He reached the main hall. Skeletal remains of monsters and magical beasts stood displayed, their empty eyes staring through glass cases.
Raven climbed the staircase to the second floor. Here, artifacts were sealed in frosted containers, preserved by ice enchantments—rare plants, strange creatures, and things that defied logic.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, he found it.
A humanoid goblin encased in a massive block of ice. Magic circles glowed faintly around it.
'Are those trap runes?'
[No. They're preservation circles—to keep the ice from melting.]
Raven stepped closer. The "goblin" looked wrong. Its skin was crimson, not green. Horns jutted from its skull. Fangs. Scales. Gills.
'That's… not a goblin.'
[It's a Blood Imp. A lesser demon. But the gills—did it try evolving into a Syreni Demon? It must've died mid-transformation.]
'A demon? They actually exist?' Raven's heart raced.
[Don't waste time. Break the coffin and absorb its bloodline essence. The room's soundproof.]
'What if I turn into a demon myself?'
[You won't. The system only extracts essences tied to strength, spirit, vitality, agility—and spells.]
'What about luck?'
[I don't know. You haven't killed anything blessed by luck yet.]
'And affinities?'
[That's what the devourer inside you feeds on. Before you were born, it had already fused with your soul, draining your essence. If I hadn't merged it with my core, you'd be long dead—or consumed.]
Raven clenched his fist. Then he punched the ice with full force.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the block, shards scattering across the floor.
The imp's corpse slumped forward.
'It doesn't look that powerful,' Raven muttered, crouching beside it.
[Now it makes sense. This imp must've performed a large-scale sacrificial ritual—used the townsfolk as offerings to the abyss. For that, it would've had to disguise itself as a human and live among them for years.]
'But how did a demon appear in the first place?'
[No idea. But this proves something: this world is connected to the abyss. Demons might resurface again. Be prepared for the worst, lad.]