Black Carrion

Visiting someone late at night is considered impolite. Especially if the person you want to meet is a nobleman.

Surely, Cien's arrival would be rejected by the household guards. Even though Cien had mentioned that he was an old friend of Duke Bahman. Will they believe him?

Far from believing, they became even more suspicious. Someone with a concealed appearance carrying a large wardrobe, coming in the middle of the night to meet an important person who is supposedly dying.

If they were not suspicious of this, then the qualifications of those guards would be questioned.

To be honest, Cien understood what was going through their minds. He also knew that the timing of his visit was problematic.

But it was only at this time, when the suspicious Dion was not at home, that Cien could pay a visit to Duke Bahman.

Cien insisted on convincing the guards that he came in peace. He even tried to persuade the guards to inform Duke Bahman himself of his arrival.

Cien was confident that Duke Bahman was still the same as before, so he wouldn't send him away.

After a heated argument with the guards, finally, one of them entered the residence to report Cien's arrival to the person inside.

Cien waited anxiously for confirmation from the Bahman household. He waited until a middle-aged woman, wearing only a silk nightgown, came out running.

The woman instructed her guards to step aside and see the newly arrived guest for herself.

Seeing the person hidden by the cloak and the wardrobe did indeed leave her momentarily stunned.

However, when she saw those pairs of green eyes, a faint smile appeared on the woman's face.

"By the Sun, Little C... is this really you?"

"Long time no see, Sis Halima. I'm glad to see you well."

Greeted Cien, who was looking at the middle-aged woman. Unlike Dion, whom he hardly ever encountered, he always met Halima from childhood until Cien became Baron.

Every time he visited Ashur, Halima was always there.

Halima Bahman was Duke Bahman's sister, which meant she was Dion's aunt, who currently led Ashur in place of his father.

Halima always stood by her brother's side, serving as Duke Bahman's advisor. However, after her brother fell ill, Halima's position was taken over by one of Dion's associates.

Upon hearing Cien's response, Halima had no suspicions that the person in front of her might be a fake Cien.

Instead, she immediately instructed Cien to enter and asked the guards there to keep Cien's current arrival a secret from anyone, including Dion Bahman.

"You can uncover your hood here, Little C," said Halima after they had walked quite a distance into the house, in a corridor leading to Duke Bahman's private building in the corner.

Cien had no hesitation and promptly removed his hood, lowering his scarf, revealing his face to Halima.

"...you're truly still alive."

"Well... I myself don't know how I managed to survive all this time."

Halima examined Cien's face carefully after hearing his words.

"It seems like your journey hasn't been something beautiful. Don't worry, I won't ask for the reasons you disappeared for the past ten years. However, have you met Ethel?"

Cien smiled faintly, "Not yet. I really want to meet her. But the circumstances and conditions prevent me from doing so. I can only stay in Ashur for a few days. After tomorrow's auction, I might have to leave."

"Where to?"

"Death Valley. It's where I'm trapped at the moment. Consider it an exception that I can be here. After this exception is over, I'll be trapped in Death Valley again until the next exception comes, who knows when."

Numerous questions raced through Halima's mind after hearing Cien's answer. However, she felt it was inappropriate to ask about it at the moment.

Halima could sense that Cien's situation must be dire.

The man she knew disappeared for ten years in a cursed place like Death Valley. Halima didn't want to bring up anything that would remind her friend of those bad experiences.

Moreover, they were about to reach her brother's room soon.

"I haven't mentioned that you're coming. I think he's still asleep, let me wake him up first."

"Sis Halima," Cien called out, stopping Halima's steps to wake up her brother.

"Yes?"

"What happened to Duke Bahman?"

"To be honest, I don't know. We've invited renowned alchemists and doctors from all over Mandora. But none of them could figure out what illness Brother Alzair has.

"After that, on the advice of one of the alchemists, we also invited several priests from the temple, thinking that a curse might be the cause. Unfortunately, all the results were in vain. Until now, we haven't been able to identify the cause of his illness, let alone treat it."

Cien had a slight suspicion, but it turned out his suspicions were correct. Even close relatives or Duke Bahman's own family didn't know what had happened to the ruler of Ashur.

Cien seemed to think for a moment, wondering if his mobile phone's camera might be able to reveal something about Duke Bahman's current condition.

Seeing Cien deep in thought, Halima smiled briefly and went into her brother's room, informing him about the arrival of a long-lost friend who had been presumed dead.

It didn't take long before Halima returned and instructed Cien to enter. She said she would wait outside, allowing Cien and Duke Bahman to speak in private.

It's not that she didn't want to join in the conversation with them.

Halima had ordered all the servants to clear the area around the room. While Cien met with her brother, it was better for her to stay outside. And stay to watch if there is someone coming.

Who knows if someone comes, like Dion, for example.

Cien understood and entered the room. Just one step in, Cien immediately caught a strong foul odor in the room.

Cien frowned and walked closer to the bed. He wasn't afraid of whether the disease was contagious or not.

Halima had told him earlier that no one had been affected by the same illness besides the Duke Bahman.

Arriving beside the large bed, Cien could see Duke Bahman's condition, resembling a mummy.

His entire body was dry, with bandages covering almost every inch of his skin. Only his eyes and mouth were left uncovered on his face. The rest was bandaged. He had no hair left.

Duke Alzair Bahman. He was a close friend of Cien's father.

Duke Bahman is currently around sixty to seventy years old. Cien is not sure of the exact age, but Duke Bahman's physical condition should not be like this.

Seventy years might be considered old in Cien's previous world (Earth).

But in Kastia, for nobles and practitioner mana alike, seventy years should still be vibrant and lively. This can be seen from King Abayomi and the other kings in the kingdom.

Only commoners who are not nobles usually die at the age of seventy.

As for nobles and warriors, their age can reach a hundred years. And if their strength is above Rank 10 or Champion. It wouldn't be strange to see those people live past a hundred years.

That's why people with Mana Nucleus are highly valued.

As far as Cien knows, Duke Bahman is someone with Rank 3 strength. At least, that was ten years ago.

That made him and the people around Duke Bahman aware that the Lord of Ashur is not in his current condition because of his age. But rather, due to illness or a curse.

"Little C..."

Duke Bahman's soft, faint voice was heard. Cien felt sad upon hearing that voice. It sounded feeble and devoid of energy, making him realize that even speaking must be extremely difficult.

"Uncle Alzair... there's no need to force yourself. It pains me to see you like this."

Cien then saw Duke Bahman smile, his wrinkled hand lifted slightly, attempting to touch Cien's face.

Cien approached, allowing that dry hand to caress his face.

"You're still alive, Little C... thank goodness..."

Cien looked at Duke's smiling face, his wrinkled eyes closing as he smiled. Seeing the condition of the elderly man made his heart ache.

Cien placed his hand on Duke Bahman's hand and gently lowered the trembling hand to rest on the soft bed. He could feel the hand shaking.

'Even moving your hand is difficult now…'

Cien then took a chair, put away his coffin, and sat on the chair placed beside the bed.

Cien briefly recounted his short life in Death Valley, also explaining the reason for his ten-year disappearance.

Duke Bahman remained silent, listening attentively. Occasionally, Cien noticed sympathy in the old man's gaze.

After finishing his story, Cien heard Duke Bahman utter a single word.

"Ethel..."

Cien smiled faintly. "I know. Sooner or later, I will meet her."

"Good..."

"Sigh... What really happened to you, Uncle Alzair?"

Cien asked, receiving a small shake of the head from Duke Bahman.

Cien had already anticipated it. Therefore, he immediately took out his cell phone from his pocket and informed Duke Bahman that the object he was currently using was an ancient artifact found in Death Valley.

An artifact that might help him identify the illness Duke Bahman was suffering from.

Duke Bahman nodded, allowing Cien to use the artifact.

Snap!

Cien took a photo, then looked at the status of the Ashur Ruler.

__________

[Status]

Alzair Bahman (72)

Male

Duke of Ashur

Rank 3 Middle Class

Affected by Black Carrion Poison

Skills: Earth Magic (Expert), Royal Mandora Swordsmanship (Proficient), Sand Swordsmanship (Expert), Power Amplification (Novice), Mana Manipulation (Novice), Poison Resistance (Novice).

__________

After seeing the status of Duke Bahman, Cien immediately knew the cause of the Duke's current condition. He had been poisoned.

It didn't take long for Cien to touch the poison status within Duke Bahman.

__________

[Black Carrion Poison]

A poison generated by Asmodeus' Poison Master skill.

Black Carrion is a poison that causes the body of the victim to slowly decay. This poison is difficult to detect and treated, so when initially affected, the victim won't know they have been poisoned.

If left untreated for one year, the victim's body will become completely paralyzed.

After two years, the outer skin begins to decay.

After three years, the internal flesh starts to rot.

After four years, the organs begin to deteriorate.

After five years, the victim dies.

__________