Starting

'This is perfect."

'Another pawn I can use to my benefit has been added to the list.'

Cole thought as he shook his hand with Eliran's.

"Anyways, I first have to gain your trust and information on your plan about how you will proceed, also, what purposes you will have besides reaching the King," Eliran spoke in a hushed voice, bombarding Cole with questions that were quite a drag.

'Ah, this kid asks too much.'

"Why do you have that annoyed expression on your face, didn't you just invite me to join you?" Eliran wriggled his brows up and down in a playful manner, trying to get more on Cole's nerves.

"Oh shut up, we have one goal, it makes sense I would want you over. Plus, considering I'm quite the lazy guy with the communication stuff, including important things, I may mess up since I wasn't born with a golden spoon in my mouth." Cole sighed out and shook his head.

"Aye—"

"And that's exactly where you will come in. Since you're so good at maintaining facades, you seem to have quite the social skills developed too, which indeed, will help us throughout diplomatic talks with different races and tribes."

"Different races and tribes?"

"Correct."

"Huh? So, you mean you're gradually going to get the support of the beings residing on Goldenvale towards the rebellion against Corvus?"

"You're getting the hang of it. It's good to see you have a brain that you can use, and not be a total useless dunce who would count on the support of his family constantly."

"Tch, are you mocking me intentionally?" Eliran squinted his eyes.

"No shit, Locksher Holm, quite the deduction you made."

A vein bulged on Eliran's forehead, "Oh, really now, this village pumpkin seems to have read a few books and thinks he's knowledgeable enough to mock me now—"

"Womp, womp, womp— I really made the right choice to choose you as the presenter, since you seem to love yapping about everything." Cole swiveled his body left and right as he continued with his ridicule, and then relished on the food he was tasting.

"Stupid bitch." Eliran clicked his tongue.

"Dumbass dunce," Cole replied back in the same manner.

"Anyways, jokes aside, Eliran, thank you for the meal, but before we continue with anything else, I must ask, how old are you, and for how long have you been banished from your family?"

"You were joking?— Ahem, my father died three days before the Golden Day, Corvus was crowned the King on the Golden Day, and I was banished three days after the Golden Day and the crowning of Corvus Aurum."

"Three days after the Golden Day, huh? That would be the fourth day of the new year we have entered, but if we take it into consideration when Corvus became King, it would have to be around ten years ago."

"Correct. I was only nine when I witnessed my father die before my eyes, and now ten years later, it would mean I am—"

"Nineteen, huh? And, how have you been faring with your preparations of striking the King?" Unable to keep the questions to himself, Cole continued with his interrogation.

"Erm… So… I have information…"

"Information? Okay, that's pretty good, and? What about materialistic gains?" Cole nodded his head approvingly.

"I'm in an inn with money provided secretly by my mother in the Blackthorn's Estate, what do you think?"

"…"

"What?"

Cole just stared deadpan and then wore an expression of shock.

"How the fuck could you do nothing over the span of ten years? Zero physical abilities, zero materialistic gains, your magic is basically useless, and you're living in inns?"

"…" Eliran averted his gaze from Cole's blue-white eyes as he thinned his lips.

"I think I made the wrong choice to invite you on my side—" Cole pushed back his chair and tried to stand up from the table, instantly getting his arm held by Eliran.

"W-Wait, wait— Why are you leaving?"

"Let go of me, I have no business with a useless human being such as you—"

"Then what have you done?!"

"Huh? Oh, really? You want me to tell you what I have done." Taking that as a queue to humble Eliran, Cole sat graciously once more and began to whisper. 

"First off, I've gotten rid of three elite mages from the castle, have another elite Ice mage by my side, I've usurped the village of the Blightbringers, and they are all under me right now, and have secured two Silver Serpent eggs."

"Three elite… one on your side—ice mage… Blightbringers… Silver Serpents…" Eliran's eyes kept widening as Cole named his achievements one after another.

"All in the span of one week." And the time he had needed to do this.

"One week… Are you lying to me?"

"Nope. Now I'm leaving— Ah, let go of me."

"W-Wait, I'll join you. I'll definitely join you."

"And the funds, will you secure me anything I ask you of?"

"A-As much as I can cover to help towards our goal."

This time, Cole definitely grinned hideously, "Then it's set. You've officially joined me. If you dare betray me, know that even death cannot save you."

"Gulp. D-Don't worry."

"Anyways, thank you for the meal, for now, we both have to leave the inn."

"Ah, okay."

 Both stood up from the table and Cole made his way towards the exit of the inn while Eliran paid for the meal.

'The Haare seems to have gotten even thicker since its appearance yesterday—'

"Kirrya~"

With a soft croak, Kaia was on Cole's shoulder, "Ah, Kaia, did you tell Kren what we have on schedule for today?"

"Mhm." She nodded vigorously, her emerald feathers brushing against Cole's face.

'Hm, I expected them to be rough and scratchy. It seems she takes care of herself properly. What interesting beings these Blightbringers are.'

Cling~

The door opened from behind and Eliran appeared and quickly approached Cole, Kaia was nonexistent and unnoticeable to Eliran, "Do you have an issue with waiting for people?"

"No, not really. I just knew you would catch up."

"Anyways, what are we going to do today?"

"We begin the 'Salvation Plan'."

"Huh? Salvation plan?"

"Correct."

Cole smiled as he took in a mouthful of crisp and tasty air, full of contentment as he finally reached a plan that would definitely make the people of Mistveil take his side, after all, he would be saving them.