Chapter 63 – Friendly Face

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire"

"That expression doesn't work here Ikarus"

"Yeah... you're probably right Petra"

"Thank the Lord we're finally back here safely"

(Nathan) "That was a long trip"

We have finally arrived back at the capital after a twenty-day or so long trip, pretty sure that's one of the longest travelling times I've spent in my short amount of time living in this world so far. I'm sure these long flights are getting longer and longer now; I mean technically that one was but it is starting to drag out. I really need a potential teleportation ability or something like that to help me get around in the future...

I skipped paying a visit to my parents despite flying over part of the mountain range, it would've been nice to meet them but we've delayed enough already, the trip was long enough as is and this bird needs some more dungeon time. Okay, that sounds so unbelievably suspect, I keep misspeaking a little recently so it's not surprising I'm doing it while recapping as well...

Oh, can't forget I left my stats alone for now as well, having over eight thousand spare points that gets doubled is a real difficult decision to decide what to invest in so for now, I'll leave it as is and decide when needed. My willpower is better than first thought when it comes to gambling so they should be safe till needed.

As for where we are at the moment, we're currently waiting just outside the palace courtyard, something seems to be going on inside right now blocking us access but there is kinda another reason, Petra isn't coming inside with us.

"By the way Ikarus, got some things to do so we'll meet back up afterwards"

"You're welcome to join us inside the palace Petra-sama"

"The royal guards will let you wait inside"

Both those two are only trying to be nice but it's almost as if they've forgotten Petra doesn't like the royals, they obviously don't know of our plans for the future so it must just be them trying to be nice.

"Like I just said, got things to do so can't stick around waiting..."

Thinking about it, this the first time I'm going to be meeting the prince knowing his little dragon secret, can I remain composed? Of course I can, that old Ikarus who was unnecessarily blunt and stupid is long gone, maybe not completely long gone but I've definitely gotten better. I'm actually a really good liar and have a brilliant poker face believe it or not.

Ah, I need to teach those three how to play poker, Petra might remember but doubt it, should probably listen to her right now though.

"... After, also want to spend some alone time with Ikarus so can we meet back up tomorrow?"

Both those two look a bit surprised from Petra's bluntness but I already know what this is about. On the trip over here, she sent a bird carrying a note to the captain Jekyll, we should be meeting him after our meeting with the prince. Pretty sure Petra has an ability that lets her communicate with animals or at least makes them send messages, she did that while none of us were paying attention so I'm not all that sure how she did it.

"Sure Petra-sama"

"Yeah, we'll do that then"

Heh, I do like it when people buy lies without questioning, at least that's sorted. After this meeting with the prince, I'll split up from these two and find Petra and the location we discussed while alone. Then, it's time to meet the captain once again.

Let's stop planning ahead now, I've still got to deal with this little blonde rat next. If the mage is there as well, then it'll become harder but not impossible to deal with.

"See you Ikarus"

"Later Petra"

Petra leaves us three outside the palace courtyard and wouldn't you know it, the gate has now opened and a guard has come out to take us inside.

'Let's do this then...'

__________

'Sighhh, why does she have to be here as well?'

Of course, the abusive mage has to be here as well, I could just ask for her to be removed but I'd feel like she'd be winning if I let her get to me now. Her presence in this room, I should try and put up with it. If she says something or starts her bullying though, I'm not standing for it.

We were led by the guard to a visitor's style room in the palace and both the mage and prince are currently sitting down around a small coffee table. There are other comfy seats around this room but for now, I'd rather stand and so are the priestess and the knight.

(Charlotte) "Hello Alistair"

"Greetings your royal highness"

Nathan has to do his little knight routine and take a knee for the blonde prince; the prince just shrugs it off though. I'm slightly unsure why he seems to dislike Nathan doing that yet he's more than happy to be extremely controlling for every other part of his ruling empire. Ah forget it, questioning someone's intentions are pointless, he's probably faking it anyway.

"Ah, forgot you dislike the mage Ikarus, I'll send her away if needed"

"I really don't care enough today prince, just as long as she keeps her mouth shut, we're good"

"Agree with that Ikarus, Leone is best suited when she's silent"

(Leone) "Hmph"

She really looks slightly pissed at both of us thinking she's annoying, at least I can still find common ground with him, even if it won't change my mind in the slightest.

The more I look at him, the more I realize why he smiles so much, it's to try and install a false sense of security. Playing the role of the happy and caring prince, it's so clear that's what he's aiming to achieve, I always knew he was a little sus behind the smile but actually seeing it once being confirmed, it makes me irritated but I can control myself.

"So Ikarus, onto the dungeon talk then. It's been a difficult task slugging through all our contacts in and outside the empire itself, these new ones have been extremely difficult and time consuming to find but thankfully, we've got some more for you..."

While he's talking, I can't help but give a quick thought how easy it would be to just activate one of my abilities and kill both of them with no issue. Well kill at least one, knowing my luck they both have good fire resistance so the blaze ability might not work.

I'll keep patient for now and strike when needed, you two will eventually feel my wrath, mark my words.

"... I'll skip the long and boring conversation since you dislike it Ikarus. Three, we've come across three more feasible dungeons that you, Lotte and Nathan should be able to achieve. I'd like to hear about the others you've completed but that can wait slightly"

"We're also travelling with another your royal highness, Petra"

This little snitch! I'm kidding of course, Petra's was perfectly fine with her name being brought up, he is still employed by them but it did seem unnecessary bringing her name up right now.

(Alistair) "Petra?"

"She's the fourth member of our party Alistair, we've become friends with her over our travels"

"She excels in fire magic your highness like Ikarus but it's black in nature"

Both those two are surprisingly happy talking about Petra, I'm supposed to be the one showing her off to the world! Damn it, I've literally become dumb for her now, well dumber...

There's something I noticed in the corner of my eye, did Leone just smile? It was only for a split second but it seems even the prince might've noticed it as well.

"Leone, you recognize that name?"

"No, I'm mistaken, thought it sounded familiar but it isn't"

Is she lying or not though? With these two, you can never tell. I would've just blatantly believed them a long time ago; I'm never being that naïve again. I'm probably not going to find out though.

"Anyway, it's good you three have found a friend, back onto the dungeon..."

The prince sounded a little grumpy there, it's almost as if having another join us irritates him slightly.

"I'll start with the two in the empire. The first one was completely hidden and thanks to the incident with the city, you can thank the dragons for this one"

All listening ears were sent away before we entered the room, the city incident is still supposed to remain secretive after all. I feel like he just said something passive aggressively though.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means where the earth has cracked from that attack, a dungeon hidden deep underground has now appeared. There's a meadow pretty close by and an old tower guard post sits basically next to the crack in the ground..."

The earth cracked from mother's rampaging? I think he literally means the earth split like an earthquake nearby that destroyed city. If true, then damn, I didn't know that happened. That meadow me and Petra have already been in when she first told me about her ex I believe.

"... The second is roughly in the centre of the Sierran continent in a place called the Spire"

"Oh, the mages tower?"

"Correct Lotte, the mages in the Spire have been sitting on one for quite some time now that none of us have been aware of. They should allow you access inside but it would be best to say nothing about being associated with the empire otherwise they might deny it"

That's the first time the mage tower has been brought up so far. According to the books I've read, the Spire is a huge skyscraper like building that has three floating islands circling it and is home to the magi guild. No idea why it's magi and not mage but a pointless question.

They probably hold dislike for the empire as do I and Petra, it's surprising they do seeing that they literally part of the empire's territory but maybe sitting in the gigantic lake doesn't count? Ah, the tower is built into the lake itself, forgot about that as well.

(Ikarus) "So that's the second then, the third?"

"That would be in the southeast of the desert continent, something otherworldly has been spotted in the mesa down there, that one I can't confirm or deny though"

Wait, he just said mesa right? Those bigass biomes filled with red sand and huge rock structures? Sighhh, I'd love to see that but I'd rather not have to deal with more racist beastmen, it's quite the distance away as well if still in the desert continent of Krieger.

There is something I've just noticed as well, I currently have the locations of eleven dungeons, six are definitely done with the seventh being up for debate. With these three and that other one in the rebel lands which we're unable to get to right now, that's eleven.

Looks like I can skip one if it ends up being another fountain, just will have to break up an entire war to get to the spare one. It actually sounds easier doing that then being stuck inside another fountain.

Also, what was keeping the prince and mage alive was the lack of dungeons. Now that's finished, it's just a matter of time before me and Petra strike, there still needs to be a lot more planning done first though.

"I'll get you shortly all the enclosed locations with maps of the surrounding regions but the one in the mesa might be a little hard to come across since it's unmapped. Now that's sorted, tell me a little about the last few, how well did they go?"

Ah, he's asking now, I've got to say something quickly.

"Before we go into detail on everything that happened in the last few dungeons, there's something I need to be clear on..."

The knight is not going to be able to keep his mouth shut and will bring up the gold mine there, I've already expected him to say that. We'll probably have to explain what happened down there with Petra saving our arses but she's perfectly fine with the empire knowing about it for some reason.

"... That dungeon close to the hot spring island is one hundred percent property of Ikarus, there's no room for negotiations and that's final"

"You mean the gold mine? That's fine Ikarus, we aren't all that interested in sorting out all the logistics in transporting ore from an island that isn't technically part of the empire. You can have all three islands if you want for all we care, they are of no concern to us"

Oh, so he did know about the contents on that island? I guess the person who found it would've reported seeing the gold ore arena and then left, it seems pointless even thinking about that though.

I'm unsure why he's so carefree about losing a massive potential source of income from a place that isn't even that far away from the capital if you look at any map, you'd even be able to transport pretty close to the capital using boats as well if you use the smaller rivers but if he's not going to press on it, then all that potential wealth is mine. Petra can have half if she wants, we'd actually have to get people to start mining it though.

If I ask, he isn't going to give me a straight answer anyway so best to just move on, these lot can't be trusted anyway knowing everything I already know.

I'll give him a quick recap of the last few dungeons then, there's nothing too confidential except about the other two phoenixes but I can avoid saying too much there.

(Ikarus) "Starting with that giant dungeon then, what happened was..."

__________

(Temporary Perspective Change)

That party of three have finally left the visitors room me and Alastair are in and I can't help but put my feet back up on the table, the little prince is doing that little tapping thing he so likes to do when he's thinking heavily on things. He should be, another joining that party he can't completely control is going to make him slightly unsettled.

I say that as if he can control the other two, he can't but that's not the point. The dumb succubus is simple as a boulder and that little knight he's toying with is no better. Using this ancient crest pacifier for those two would be pointless.

"Now that those three are gone, who's Petra? You had a slight reaction like you've come across her before Leone"

"Was mistaken, reminded me of an old name but it couldn't have been her"

'Of course I wasn't, I know exactly who that is. He really can pick up the slightest things even on this blank face'

He stops his tapping on the table now, then stares to face me. This is going to become an interrogation now I bet, I already know how to play the brat at his own game.

"If you're playing games with me Leone, we're going to have a problem"

"When have I ever lied to you? I constantly call you out on the stupid decisions you make all the time and point out what you should've done instead. If you want to believe I'm lying, suit yourself"

"I know you too well... but you are getting old now, I guess it's to be expected you'd make the occasional misjudgement, I'll let it go then"

'I should've hit him more while he was growing up, damn condescending brat'

"Whatever, I'm leaving now, got things to do"

I get up of the chair and head towards the door, this brat can't help but try his luck.

"Get one of the maids to get me a drink while you're at it"

"No chance"

"Urgh, whatever then"

After what he just said, I guess it's best to leave him be otherwise he'll start fixating on things. I'd rather the brat not start suspecting stuff otherwise things might become troubled between us.

To think though, that blind ol'phoenix is still kicking about and she's even starting to show her face around the Sierran Empire once again. If she's now involved, things are finally getting interesting.

Hmph, let's sit back and see how the end game plays out here, our lovely chubby Ikarus has found one of her own kind. Destruction will surely ensue.

Maybe it's finally happening...