Proposition (11)

"Darius Creed, this is quite a surprise. I wasn't expecting something like this today. Though I'm not sure if I can trust you," Kieran said, his curiosity evident.

"I understand your concerns with my last name. If you know this much, do you know how we operate with clients?" Darius inquired.

"I do," Kieran said, starting to connect the dots.

"And what do you want in return?" For the first time, the icy and blunt voice of Elena Rivers was heard. She seemed to have already grasped what he was offering.

Kieran used what she said to put the final pieces together with a sudden realization.

Darius knew that the Liberty Movement wouldn't halt their conquest. They'd soon target different forts and villages. However, the issue was that they could no longer employ frontal assault. Arathoria was not stupid and had heavily fortified anything remotely close to the movement's 'activities,' as well as shut down any rebelling voices within their walls.

This stopped the Liberty Movement from taking any further action.

"It depends... the target?" asked Darius. Silence enveloped the room. Elena and Darius looked each other in the eyes. Hers were pale blue, ice fragments swirled within her iris – an effect developed by her Aetherheart's significant strength.

Elena called Kieran to talk. The formation in front of Darius suddenly blocked out any noise made from within. Darius felt like he was deaf, just watching mouths move. A couple of minutes later, they stopped talking and faced him.

"We have decided that currently we don't trust you enough with a mission of any significant importance. But we know there is no one better to strike from the shadows than Creeds," she took a deep breath, like the sentence was too long for her.

"There is a village east of here called Silentwood, about 30 miles out. It's governed by Baroness Isolde Wheatcrest. The village is fortified by Arathorian soldiers. Because we are so close by, the village has been intercepting important cargo from one of our dedicated mines. You have two targets. Do both, and your rewards will be much greater," said Kieran professionally, like a commander giving instructions to his soldier. Darius collected all this critical information in his head.

Elena seemed to have recollected her breath.

"The first target is killing the Baroness. She can be found in her estate, protected by 4 magic users. All have infused Aetherhearts. The second objective is to weaken the soldiers stationed there significantly so we can claim the village. You can do this however you want, but you must bring evidence of Isolde's death for a reward," said Elena, still looking him in the eyes for any traces of doubt he might have felt.

"Please bear in mind, if you claim to have weakened the soldiers on your return, state how and we will confirm it on arrival, you will then receive your second reward," continued Kieran.

"How many soldiers and what's the time limit?" Darius asked calmly, after digesting all the information.

"Around 100 soldiers. You have a 2-week time limit," Elena said, then sat down by the map on the table.

After a lot more discussion that lasted nearly half an hour, consisting of minor details Darius might need, both parties agreed on the specifics of the job. The rewards were also agreed upon.

If Darius completed both objectives, he'd be given 4 bars of pure Mithril, a token of entry for Stonebrook, and a free request from Stonebrook's runic master.

For ordinary people, these things would be impossible to see in their lifetime. Mithril was famous for being extremely hard but also one of the most lightweight metals. The problem was it was extremely rare, and because of its amazing properties, it was incredibly expensive. Darius needed this for a certain project.

The rune master that worked in Stonebrook was a resonant Aetherheart wielder with the Aether magical affinity. He didn't accept many people for his services because of his old age, and even if he did, it was not cheap. The token of entry was to recognize Darius as a citizen of Stonebrook.

Some would say these rewards were too generous, but the soldiers in that village were enough for a small battalion, and the big threat was the 4 magic users that guarded the Baroness. The possibility of traps was also added to the fire.

With his only ability being shadow blink, he wouldn't be able to accomplish this; it was simply impossible. He needed to take care of a few things before he left.

Soon enough, he would need to absorb Levy's Aetherheart, develop some crucial family abilities, and prepare some equipment for his expedition, which he was going to do first.

After clearing up some final details, Darius was given a place to stay for free in the residential section of Stonebrook as a courtesy. He was then escorted out of the castle and left to roam Stonebrook.

'This place let me in a bit too easily. I suppose you can't expect much more from rebels,' he thought. Not only did the soldiers not search him, but they also did no background check, buckling their knees to his display of dark magic.

Darius headed to the high street of Stonebrook. He'd be spending a lot today to gather the necessary equipment he needed. The first thing he needed would be a decent set of throwing knives. After asking a couple of young men outside the nearest tavern, he was told that 'Gilded Edge Smith' was the best weaponsmith in Stonebrook, but it was expensive, so not many would go there.

As he strolled through the streets, he observed that the people here appeared content, living free from fear and the dictates of unworthy nobles.

As he entered the smithery, a bell connected to the door rang. A grunt was heard through a doorway behind the counter. Darius paid it little attention and started looking at the shop's wares instead.

The shop was empty of other customers, as it was quite late and seemed to be closing soon.

Admittedly, these were high-quality hand-forged weapons, crafted with skill. Unfortunately, he didn't spot any throwing knives, and crafting them from scratch would be too expensive.

The owner of the store then came into view from behind the door. He was a large muscular man standing at 6'5, with a striking bald head, scruffy beard, and a thick mustache. One could tell he worked at the forge from his rough hands and burn marks.

"Can I get anything for you, young chap?" he asked, his voice deep and masculine, his whole being radiating a blacksmith's aura.

Darius gave him a brief look before inspecting his wares again.

"Do you have throwing knives, or if not, any kunai?" asked Darius, without much hope. In fairness, throwing knives were not very popular as a weapon.

"Haha, don't get many people asking for those. Give me a minute to check," the man was very positive and seemed to always be in a good mood. Not many were like him, but he seemed content with his life here.

Darius waited patiently for about 10 minutes before the man returned with 3 rolls of leather. He put each one on the desk, ready to reveal them.