Arrival in the Capital

The capital stood as a symbol of strength and power, beckoning all with its imposing presence. The constant flow of traffic at the capital's busy gates created a dynamic picture of a city teeming with energy and opportunity. 

After passing the gate we traveled a few more streets before our whole procession came to a halt.

I finished looking at the capital's architecture and got out of the carriage. I looked around a bit and noticed an obese knight chatting casually with the others.

I knew he was the leader of one of the teams that had been hired to escort me. The other was a team of girl knights led by Kelly.

I walked over to him and it immediately erased his relaxed mood.

My height was over 190 centimeters (6'4″), which, along with my newly strengthened physique, greatly elevated me above him, making him look up at me from below.

"Your work is done, you may return."

As if trying to make sense of my words, he stared at me dumbly for a few seconds.

"But we are hired to escort you..."

The knight started, but stopped when he noticed that my red eyes flashed with dangerous fire, and the temperature around me seemed to drop a few degrees.

"What does Lady Kelly think of this?"

He asked, trying to get rid of the oppressive pressure and transfer it to someone else.

"She's already agreed."

Not expecting such an answer, he stood still, shuffling from foot to foot.

"I won't say it a third time, your work is done."

I said in an even colder voice and turned around, ready to leave.

Noticing this, the obese knight stood in front of me, blocking my passage with an incredible agility unlike his body.

A slight surprise flashed in my eyes. Of course, it wasn't his speed that surprised me, since I had already checked his stats and knew about it, but the fact that he still didn't want to let me go.

Standing in front of me, he regained some of his confidence and spoke.

"Do not be angry young master, but Madam Earlene has ordered that you be guarded until you arrive at the manor."

After his words, I realized that the reason he didn't want to let me go was because he was afraid of my mother. That only made me chuckle.

"Who do you think you have to fear more, me standing right in front of you or my mother thousands of miles away?"

Hearing my indifferent voice and looking at the smile that wasn't a smile at all, the leader of the knights felt goosebumps all over his body.

Without waiting for his response, I walked past the silent knight and headed forward down the street. He didn't stop me this time, just kept staring at me.

I didn't know when I would have to leave the capital, so I decided to make the most of every day. And having those guards following me around would have interfered with my plans.

In the morning, when Kelly had finally stopped crying and calmed down, we decided that upon arrival in the capital she would visit her Order immediately and report back to me on the successful completion of her escort, then visit me tonight. I still had plenty of time before then, so I decided to do a couple things.

As I walked through the bustling streets full of life, I noticed that many people looked at me and turned around as I passed.

I had to admit that having too good looking can be burdensome at times.

Having studied the map of the capital well over the last few days on the road, I walked confidently in a certain direction. With each new street I passed through, there were fewer and fewer people, and even those who were there didn't have the same cheerfulness as before.

When I realized that I would soon reach my destination, I stopped at a store and bought the first mask I could find. I put it on and looked at my reflection in the window.

The mask completely covered my face, leaving only two burning red eyes. After making sure it was enough to hide my identity, I continued on my way.

Soon I reached a small street, even quieter than the one before. If I looked at it now, it might have seemed like an ordinary, run-down street, devoid of any life.

But I knew that all the activity in this neighborhood started after sundown, when all kinds of people would come out here from all the holes in this city, making it one of the busiest. Despite that, there was one person here that could only be found during the day.

After looking around the street, my eyes stopped on one of the bars and, comparing its description with the one I had read about, I entered it without hesitation. Immediately afterward, I was met with a surprised look from the bartender, not expecting to meet someone at such a time.

Ignoring his condition, I approached him and said in all seriousness.

"When all the stars of the firmament have disappeared and the world is covered by an impenetrable darkness, the true dragon of the heavens will once again ascend to the throne."

He only looked at me uncertainly in response, as if wondering if I was crazy.

I felt weird saying those words too, and seeing his reaction I began to wonder if I had come to the right place, but I didn't avert my gaze, maintaining eye contact.

After another half minute of silence, the bartender nodded stiffly and stepped out from behind the bar.

"Follow me."

Slightly embarrassed, he said.

It was only then that I realized he should be ashamed every time something like that happens. But given the personality of the owner of this place, I don't think he has a choice.

Following him, I entered an inconspicuous door, and began to descend the steep staircase just beyond it.

After a couple minutes, we reached its end and found ourselves in a spacious room with several couches and a table. Unlike upstairs, it was perfectly cleaned and shiny. There was a man snoozing on one of the couches, who had just begun to wake up when he heard our footsteps.

Noticing me, he quickly assessed the situation and approached me with a gracious smile.

"Sir, what can I do for you?"

"You don't have what I need, I want to meet Mrs. Raven."

I didn't want to waste any more time talking to some pawns. People of their level would never have access to the information I needed.

Hearing the disparaging words from the person he had just met, the man's face creased.

"Who do you think you–"

*Thud*

Without waiting for him to finish, I pulled out a sack filled with gold coins and threw it on the table.

Man swallowed his next words when he saw it. He looked from the bag full of gold to me and hesitated to do anything.

Seeing the doubt in his eyes, I added.

"If you do as I say, you'll get another one just like it."

Given my background, for me such money could not even be called a trifle.

Greed glinted in his eyes and he grabbed it, glancing at the bartender still standing next to me. When he nodded, the man spoke.

"I will inform the Mrs that you requested a meeting."

Having said that, he was about to leave, but I called out to him.

"Wait."

With a smile, I handed him a small bundle.

"Don't open this and deliver it personally into Raven's hands."

The man eyed me suspiciously for a while, but still took it and left the room.