Chapter 100 - Plans For A Hunt

Although the idea was simple, actually getting ready to do so, wasn't. First, I had to doubly make sure that the kingdom was actually stable and wouldn't fall apart the moment I left. Crime and banditry were almost non-existent as most had either been killed or captured and the few that had remained alive, had quickly fled Larra, leaving the kingdom almost completely free.

Of course, there were also a few other things I had to go over quickly like making sure all my projects would continue even if I was gone, and that our production rates were increasing at a steady rate.

There was some backlash about the idea from Susana and Richard but once I had shown them Knov's power and that I could return with just a call if need be, they were mollified, and the complaints stopped, though Susana seemed distraught about something that I couldn't put my finger on it.

The riders were another matter entirely. They all wanted to accompany me, but of course, I couldn't let them, and the reason they didn't complain further was the fact that I promised to teleport back every day to check in with them and for other activities. Although I had agreed to let Asara come with me, that was something I didn't mind, since I quite enjoyed her company.

After all that, it was just a matter of getting the right gear together, which wasn't much since I could teleport back if need be, but I did take some extra clothes, prepared meals, and some coin, all of which was stored in my inventory. it was all mostly just in case of an emergency.

With everything settled I prepared to leave tomorrow morning, my destination the old Denzin plains which were a barren wasteland full of beasts, wandering tribes, and rumour had it that a few portals to other planes remained and opened at regular intervals. It was a place the empire stayed away from simply because it was too dangerous and expeditions into the plains never ended well most of the time. For me, however, well with my summons I was confident I'd be fine and it sounded like the perfect place to grind some levels.

I was in my study, going over a final few things, when a knock sounded, followed by Misaki entering into the room. I was confused for only a second before I remembered I'd asked her to check everyone in the palace then to report back to me at the end of the day.

"So what did you find?" I asked, placing down the papers in my hand and leaning back in my chair.

"Well, not much that wasn't expected," She said, taking a seat in one of the chairs opposite mine. "There are a few spies in the palace but they mostly connected to the nobles of Larra, with only one being connected to a well-known merchant group. The information they provide is as basic as it comes, just what they've heard, if the kings been seen, any gossip, what you'd expect. Nothing to worry about, but... there is one that is troublesome."

"I missed it at first because his thoughts were so blank that I glossed over it, but a deeper look showed all I needed to know," Misaki said. "One of the dungeon guards is working for someone who I assumed is connected to someone else. They meet in the city every month, and what's odd, is that he had his memories blocked and buried from himself."

"You got past them?"

"Of course, it was easy to do so," She replied. "The memories that were buried were of meetings with a cloaked man. The meetings start off with the guards telling any bit of information he'd heard or picked up to the cloaked man, but then it turns strange. The cloaked man speaks an odd phrase that sounds like gibberish then everything goes black and the guard wakes up with fake memories, the real ones buried, and a compulsion to repeat what just occurred next month."

I frowned, confused at what it could mean. "What do you think it means."

"Well it could be a lot of things, but I suspect the answers lay in what happened during the period where the guard is blacked out, because the guard always wakes up with severe chest pains and aches all over his body, not to mention that he feels overwhelmingly hot for a few hours afterwards."

That was odd, to say the least, and I couldn't even being to wonder what was happening, but something was clear, I needed to find out what was going on, and just how much of a danger this guard was and who exactly this cloaked figure was.

"When is the next date they meet?" I asked, a plan already forming in my mind.

"Two weeks," Misaki replied. "I returned everything in his mind to how it was so the cloaked figure won't suspect anything. His work was shoddy at best and not even comparable to what I can do. It was crude but effective. I suspect he chose the guard because of his malleability. Some people are just easier to manipulate than others and have more flexible minds. This guards mind was like the perfect clay."

"Two weeks" I muttered. "I'll have something ready by then, but for now I'll have to set someone to watching him, and I'm definitely not cancelling my plans to leave."

I was set on my course, and I was going to be heading to plains to level and get stronger, and even though I was worried about this cloaked figure, there wasn't much to do now, but watch the guard, from a plan, then wait until they met again.

"Is that all you've found," I asked, turning my attention back to her.

"There is one more thing," She said with a secretive smile. "But if I told you it would be a breach of trust. It isn't anything bad or even remotely bad, just interesting, and you'll find out on your own soon enough."

"But you'd tell me if I asked," I said.

"Of course," She replied. "I would do anything you told me to do."

"Then leave it for now," I said. "Also how have you been fitting in.

"Fine," She said. "I already have my own troupe of nobles girls around me. They'll make for good watchers and tools, not that I will be harming them in any way or controlling them against their wills, quite the contrary in fact. When you can read minds it's not hard to get people to like you and trust you."

"You're not doing that with me are you?" I asked jokingly

Her face became serious. "Never. I would never do anything like that to you."

I blinked. "I know, Just a poor joke on my part. I'll see you later, Misaki. Thank you."

She stood and smiled. "Your welcome, your majesty."

She winked before leaving,

I let out a breath. "She is far more intense than she seems."