Chapter 18
It was obvious to Hugo that the identification was important as soon as he saw it but he took that as an obvious truth. The Coven was a high end information guild, there was no way its identification would be cheap.
However, he underestimated its value. In terms of sheer materials, it was presumably less than a few hundred credits yet its importance did lie in its materials but rather its fame. While there was no way to be certain of its origins, it was obvious that it had something to do with the Hero of Inferno, somebody he hadn't heard of before, and was recognizable at a glance.
'Why would she give me this?' Hugo questioned himself, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion of her inteins. It should have been fairly obvious to her that he did not plan to do something many would think of as 'morally correct' let alone legal.
And yet despite that she gave him the marking of her comrade. There was no reason for him to not be suspicious of her intentions. However, with this final clue everything she had said today was finally coming together.
'She wants to ruin his reputation.' Hugo discerned in a mere instant. It was a fairly obvious thing once all pieces of the puzzle had been gathered. Why she had given him access so easily despite his relatively transparent intentions, why she led him to the information guild where rumors of him would spread like wildfire, and why she had assisted him so much.
There was no possible conclusion despite wanting to incriminate the Hero of Inferno. The reason, however, was something not even Hugo could guess. It was obvious that Lucille and the Hero of Inferno had bad blood however the cause and the depth were not truths he was aware of.
Ultimately, she was using him. The cause and reason didn't truly matter when taking that simple truth into account. However, was that so bad? He was also taking advantage of her was he not? It was her help that allowed him to disguise himself, it was her help that allowed him to escape Lux, and it was her help that gave him the tools needed to fund his future.
Yet, it was still a topic that must be brought up. She had used him and while he didn't particularly mind, he was still privy to having his questions answered. Of course, he couldn't complain if she asked him a few questions as well.
'For now, I'll have to deal with this.' Hugo thought to himself blandly, his crimson eyes overlooking the entirety of the room he was being led into. It was an expensive room yet it was not overly 'stuffy' as most rooms in this building and homes of the nobility tended to be, rather it was quite comforting. It was similar to residing in a cabin in the woods without a care in the world.
It was an impressive room but Hugo had no time to waste on it. He was in front of an incredibly impressive woman, one that he had to be especially careful with. Witches were usually understanding but their lust for knowledge could not be underestimated.
"Greetings, envoy of the Inferno. Forgive me for not meeting you face to face but I am quite shy you see." A melodic voice sounded out from behind a thin curtain engraved with dozens of magical effects ranging from detection resistance to nearly complete eradication of physical and magical force.
"I do not care for your appearance Witch." Hugo spoke deeply, his voice domineering and his words crueler than he was in actuality. While he wasn't proud of those times, his younger years which were filled with baseless arrogance and 'edge' was a good experience to draw inspiration from.
"Is that so? In any case, why don't you introduce yourself? Isn't it difficult to have a conversation without knowing each other's names?" The Crimson Witch requested kindly, her amused smile audible in her voice.
"I am Hugo Farzan, the second coming of the Inferno." Boasting proudly about achievements that weren't his own there was a forged proud smile on Hugo's face that would cause shivers in any who saw it. Any who weren't already used to such things of course. Regrettably, the Crimson Witch and her 'maid' did not fall for his intimidation.
"A pleasure." The Crimson Witch spoke calmly, her serenity odd for somebody meeting the 'second coming' of a hero. "While I wouldn't mind talking further, I must admit that I am curious of your intentions."
"I am here to enlist the help of your kin. I have heard that your kind have a… distaste of dragons correct?" Hugo questioned, his proud smile widening upon sensing a reaction. It was difficult to tell what the Crimson Witch was thinking from behind her magical curtain but the maid was a different story.
As soon as he mentioned the word dragon she immediately reacted, her hands clenching into fists and a click of her tongue. They were small clues but if the extraordinarily professional 'maid' couldn't help but have that reaction he trusted most Witches would feel the same.
'So it's the same here.' Hugo thought to himself, mildly amused by the consistency of the witches. The witches both envied, respected, and despised the dragons for their ability to control mana with such ease.
They envied the dragon's talents, respected their strength, and despised the way they hid all the information they ever gathered. Even worse, a great number of dragons took residence in the Akashic Records and never revealed the reasoning. At least, that's what he heard from Lucille Oran so the information was most likely true but he should take it with a grain of salt nonetheless.
"That is correct. What is that you wish to say?" The Crimson Witch questioned him though it was a barely concealed demand in truth. It was incredibly obvious that the Crimson Witch was suspicious of his intentions.
From her perspective, there was a man bearing the badge of a hero that entered her domain and mentioned their greatest enemy despite knowing how they felt about them. It was impossible for her to not be suspicious of him.
"Let us make a contract." Hugo declared simply, not a trace of sympathy or regret on his face despite the risk he was currently facing. He was in the middle of enemy territory and making a declaration that witches took extremely seriously without a hint of fear.
"You'd do well to understand the risk of what you are offering child. Do not mention a contract with such ease." The Crimson Witch cautioned, slightly calmer now that the nature of the meeting was revealed. It was not a threat from the Hero of Inferno, it was a business meeting of sorts.
"I know the risks, Witch. They are why I am making such an offer." Hugo explained bluntly, his words clearly shocking the Crimson Witch. A witch's contract was a magical contract between individuals to ensure there was no betrayal on either side.
It was a convenient tool to be sure however the conditions of the contract mattered greatly. If a person was to fail to abide by their end of the deal then their soul would be eradicated and all of their knowledge turned into a single book.
Yet while the fear of failure was a large part of its importance what truly made it terrifying was what happened when the contract was completed successfully. When one fails their knowledge is given to the betrayed party. When one succeeds, they receive a sort of connection with the other party.
It was nothing as extreme as a master-servant contract frequently used for slaves but it certainly did have its drawbacks. It was closer to an equal familiar contract that allowed for the sharing of mana and lifeforce as well as ensuring both parties are unable to ever lie to one another.
For the witches that treasure their knowledge above all else, it is both a blessing and a curse. It was a useful tool to ensure sincerity in important deals however generally it is not worth the risk for the witch as they have little to gain and everything to lose.
Compared to humans, the main group that offers such contracts, the witches have higher mana levels and lifespan meaning that they are ultimately losing out in those regards. The only way a witch, especially one on the level of the Crimson Witch, would ever accept such a contract would be if the information is invaluable.
"What is that you wish to offer?" The Crimson Witch questioned, her tone laced with curiosity. The man before her, Hugo Farzan, seemed to understand witch culture fairly well, and yet he still requested such a nonsensical thing, how could she, a witch, not be curious of what he was offering?
"My liege!" The S ranked 'maid' at her side shouted in abject horror, fear lacing her tone and expression. A contract was a life changing ordeal and only one may be made per life, it is not something to be chosen off mere curiosity and interest!
"Do you wish to learn the secrets of the dragons?" Hugo questioned, a feral smirk on his face.