Chapter 22

Late at night, Seth made his way to the dungeon. The knights stationed at the entrance had dozed off, leaving the entry unguarded. Seth sighed quietly, noting the need for more vigilant security and additional guards in the near future. The dungeon's secrets demanded a level of caution that had clearly been overlooked.

He approached the dungeon's large, ornate door—the only remaining entrance to Zarathos's chamber, with the old ground access now sealed. Across its surface, intricate symbols formed a cryptic message. Although the language was ancient and indecipherable, Seth found he could still grasp its meaning:

Those who seek freedom shall be granted a trial of despair.

The words resonated with a familiarity that puzzled him. Slowly, he reached out and placed his hand on the door. It opened at his touch, revealing the treasure room that had once been his reward for defeating Zarathos. Along one side of the room, a stairway spiraled downward toward the chamber where the beast core lay.

He remembered recently accompanying Royfield here to place the homunculus near the core. Royfield couldn't access the chamber alone, as the enchanted door responded only to Seth. Now, as he stepped into the vast hall, his eyes fell upon the beast core, sealed within a sphere of flickering eternal flame, the fire casting a steady, bluish glow over the room.

"The mana in Zarathos's core is immense," he murmured, studying the core's restrained power. "Like a lake contained within a single crystal."

He looked at the homunculus lay nearby, motionless. Seth observed it for a moment—a male figure with short, dark hair, as though it were simply in deep sleep. He knelt beside it, his gaze narrowing as he considered the intricacy of its creation.

Crafting a homunculus required expertise in the forbidden art of alchemy and access to rare resources. Whoever had designed this creature possessed skill and vision, and Seth felt a wary curiosity toward them. Such an effort required ambition… or desperation.

With a small flicker of blue flame at his fingertip, Seth reached down and pressed it to the homunculus's forehead, letting the flames spread through its form in a controlled wave. The homunculus didn't respond, but that was to be expected. His intention was to sever the unseen thread connecting it to its puppeteer, freeing it from their control.

Once complete, Seth turned to the beast core. From his pocket, he retrieved several small, clear jewels. Holding them close, he allowed the core's raw mana to flow into them, each jewel taking on a faint glow as it absorbed the energy. Jewels were exceptional for preserving raw mana, acting as portable reservoirs of power.

These would play a key role in his plan for the upcoming negotiation with the Nix Merchant. He knew Anthony Gustman's reputation well enough to be confident that the merchant would find it difficult to refuse an offer as rare as this. Though much of society had lost touch with magic's potency, some royal and noble families preserved fragments of the knowledge, even if they no longer understood its true value.

A faint smirk crossed Seth's lips as he pocketed the mana-filled jewels. Before leaving, he glanced back at the homunculus, murmuring, "When you awaken, I'll make sure you serve me well."

With that, he turned and left, his footsteps echoing softly as he ascended from the depths of the dungeon, the chamber's mysteries left once more in silence.

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The morning brought preparation for the day's negotiations. Seth dressed carefully, donning a fitted white shirt with a striking blue diamond at the collar that caught the light subtly. Black trousers and a long, crimson coat draped elegantly over his shoulders, its fabric adding an air of dignity to his refined look. Red gemstones glinted from the cuffs, lending his attire a touch of understated regality.

Seated near the window with a cup of rosemary tea prepared by Royfield, he waited patiently, his expression thoughtful and focused as he gazed over the estate grounds.

A soft knock at the door, and Royfield entered, bowing respectfully. "My lord, Miss Claire is ready."

A moment later, Claire stepped in, bowing slightly. "Apologies for the delay, my lord. I had difficulty finding suitable attire for the outing."

Seth looked up, taking in her outfit—a sharp, well-fitted black suit that gave her a confident, almost noble appearance. It suited her so well that she could easily be mistaken for a young nobleman herself.

He gestured to the seat opposite him. "Please, have a seat," he invited, offering her a cup of the fragrant rosemary tea.

Claire settled in, letting the calming scent ease her. After a sip, she looked up, curiosity clear in her expression. "My lord, may I ask where we're going?"

"We're meeting with the Nix Merchant Guild," Seth replied calmly, watching her reaction with mild amusement.

Claire raised her brows, surprised. "The Nix Merchant Guild? Are we considering a partnership?"

"Indeed," Seth answered. "We'll be meeting with Anthony Gustman himself. I intend to secure an agreement to open a branch here in Arlecia."

Claire's eyes widened. "The head of Nix is here in person? He must believe there's substantial profit involved." She paused, brow furrowing in thought. "But do we have anything truly enticing to offer him?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Seth's mouth, a hint of mystery in his gaze. "That remains to be seen. What I have in mind may be unfamiliar to him, but a good merchant should recognize potential when they see it."

Intrigued, Claire nodded, although she couldn't quite shake the nerves starting to prickle at the prospect of the meeting. Seth's next words, however, drew her full attention.

"I'd like you to act as my representative in the discussions," he said, his tone half-teasing yet entirely serious. "Can I trust you with that responsibility, Claire?"

The request sent a thrill of both excitement and anxiety through her. Taking a deep breath, she nodded resolutely. "I'll do my best, my lord. I'll ensure we negotiate favorable terms."

Seth nodded approvingly, and with that, he signaled Royfield to prepare the carriage. Six knights would serve as their escort—a sufficient number, though Royfield had recommended twelve. Seth had decided a smaller entourage would be adequate.

As the carriage rolled out of the estate and toward town, Claire gazed out the window, taking in the lush scenery, her face lighting up with wonder. Seth watched her quietly, noting how she seemed genuinely refreshed by the outing. It had been some time since she'd stepped outside the estate's walls, having spent days immersed in fixing the estate's finances.

The ride was peaceful, with little conversation. Claire glanced at Seth occasionally, studying his unreadable expression as he sat across from her. The blindfold hid much of his expression, leaving his thoughts a mystery. She often found herself wondering what lay behind it. Though she could sometimes catch a faint smile on his lips, the hidden depth in his expression left her both curious and a little wary.

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When Seth's carriage arrived at the town square, the sight of his entourage caused people to scurry indoors, hoping to avoid notice. To Seth's surprise, however, a group of young boys approached as he stepped out. One of them clutched something tightly in his hand, a look of quiet determination on his face.

The boy at the front bowed and, after a moment's hesitation, said, "I want to give this to the lord."

The boy held out a small, wildflower—a simple bloom that grew along the riverbank. Seth noticed the knights tense, prepared to intervene, while Claire's concern flickered as she glanced nervously between him and the boys.

But instead of scolding them, Seth knelt slightly, offering a gentle smile and gesturing for the boy to hand the flower to Claire, who accepted it with cautious hands. Then, Seth placed a hand on the boy's head, causing him to flinch. Expecting a reprimand, the boy was instead met with a warm pat as Seth said softly, "Thank you. It's beautiful."

The boy's face broke into a wide smile, cheeks flushing with happiness. His mother had recently received unexpected aid from the lord, allowing her to get the medical treatment she needed. The boy's small gift was his way of saying thanks.

Seth and his entourage then continued on to the Raven Guild building. The newly constructed building loomed behind the old guildhouse, a testament to Killian's skillful work and Seth's investments in strengthening the guild.

As they entered, a group of Nix Merchant men gave Seth dismissive looks, their whispers mocking his appearance, especially his blindfold. Claire shifted uncomfortably, but Seth remained unfazed. Just then, Jake, the bear-like guild member who'd been at Seth's side during the dungeon event, approached.

"Good morning, Lord Arlecia," he greeted, bowing. "Apologies for the lack of manners from the guild's guests. Rest assured, I'll set them straight."

Seth chuckled lightly, a spark of humor in his voice. "There's no need. It's… refreshing. If I held grudges, they'd find it hard to comprehend what would come next."

Misunderstanding Seth's playful tone, Jake immediately went to reprimand the men, the memory of Seth's power in the Forgotten Forest fresh in his mind.

Claire glanced at Seth with a mix of intrigue and confusion. Unperturbed, Seth continued toward the meeting room, where, upon their arrival, they found Killian in conversation with Anthony Gustman. Killian turned at the sound of their entrance, and for a moment, his gaze froze on Seth.

Lord Arlecia's presence was magnetic, his attire exuding a poised, quiet power. Something about Seth today struck Killian profoundly, a thought surfacing unbidden.

Beautiful...