Underlying Currents

King Korek and his queen were lavishly entertaining the uninvited Prince Alvin, completely unaware that a heavily shrouded carriage had slipped through the gates under the cover of heavy rain. The usually vigilant city guards turned a blind eye, acting as though the luxurious carriage was invisible. Shortly after the carriage passed, a general clad in ornate armor left the city tower and ducked into a civilian house. When he emerged, he was dressed in common clothes and disappeared into the rain, umbrella in hand.Marquis Delta was in a good mood, cavorting in his room with his mistress, Sandra. Just as things were heating up, a sudden, urgent knock on the door startled him, causing him to instantly deflate. Sandra, full of frustration, couldn't help but give him a smack."Dammit, who's knocking?" Delta, naked, stormed to the door in a rage and kicked it open. The person outside fell backward with a yelp, hitting his head on the ground and drawing blood—it was Berman!"Master, Master, it's me! I have urgent news," Berman hurriedly scrambled to his feet, lowering his voice."What is it? Dammit, if you're lying to me, I swear you'll regret it," Delta fumed, his anger not yet subsided."That person… that person has arrived. I just received the message—they want you to come immediately!""What? Who… Who are you talking about?""That person, Lin… Lin… that esteemed lord," Berman replied, hinting with his eyes.Delta's eyes lit up with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. "Sandra, help me get dressed," he ordered, turning back to his room. After urging Sandra to help him dress, he hurriedly left the marquis's residence alone in the rain, forbidding anyone from following.In a seemingly ordinary tavern within Padea City, people gathered due to the rain, clutching cups of cheap ale and devouring greasy meatballs. They made crude jokes and occasionally groped the scantily clad serving girls, who didn't mind as they were soon rewarded with a few copper coins slipped into their ample bosoms by the same hairy hands.No one would ever guess that in the hidden back room of this lowly tavern, four distinguished individuals were meeting.A man in his fifties, with meticulously trimmed facial hair and neatly combed brown hair, reclined slightly in a lounge chair near the fireplace, eyes closed. Though not particularly handsome, his face exuded the authority of someone accustomed to command—a meticulous man."Your Grace, you've finally returned. Is it time to act?" asked General Schaumburg, the deputy commander of the city guards, with a hint of tension or perhaps excitement. Who would have thought that Schaumburg, one of King Korek's most loyal subordinates, was actually a spy for Duke Lind? Despite King Korek's favor, Schaumburg chose Lind, the defeated claimant to the throne, because his wife was secretly Lind's illegitimate daughter. This secret was known only to Schaumburg, his wife, and Duke Lind—the other informed parties were long dead."Your Grace, does your return have anything to do with the sudden appearance of Prince Alvin?" asked an elderly man to the left. He seemed almost eighty and frail, unimaginable as a participant in a rebellion. Yet, he had no choice—Lind's father-in-law, Earl Holley, stripped of his noble title, trusted only his close kin."When do we act?" The last to speak was Marquis Delta, who seemed more eager than anyone. "Just give the order, and I can immediately summon a thousand elite troops—fearless maniacs. With General Schaumburg controlling more than half of the city guards, if we storm the palace and kill Korek, his followers will have no choice but to submit to you. You will be the new king of Paddington.""Marquis Delta, who will kill King Korek, a Sky Knight? And what if Prince Alvin of Odria, currently a guest in the palace, intervenes? Do you think your thousand gladiators can defeat the prince's secret guards? You sensed today at the arena that Prince Alvin possesses mysterious powers—do you think ordinary soldiers can affect him?" Earl Holley retorted sarcastically. He despised Delta, believing Korek had favored Delta's family greatly. But Delta, insatiable for higher titles, joined Lind's rebellion, a decision Holley found utterly foolish and mad."Holley, at least I can muster a thousand fighters and am willing to sacrifice for Duke Lind. What about you? Besides your old head, you have nothing left. How will you serve Duke Lind? Oh… your esteemed duchess has been dead for years!" Delta's venomous words enraged Holley, who was about to retort when Duke Lind finally spoke in a calm tone."Enough, both of you. Rebellion is the last resort. If I can reclaim what's mine peacefully, I prefer no bloodshed or destruction—everything here is mine after all."Duke Lind was Korek's much older half-brother. According to tradition, Lind should have inherited the throne. Unfortunately, his mother, a low-ranking noblewoman, died shortly after his birth, leaving Lind without strong family support. Korek's mother hailed from the powerful Jean family and was the sister of the current Duke Jean. With the old king's favor, the throne slipped from Lind's grasp.Initially, Korek showed some mercy towards his brother, but the cunning Duke Jean wouldn't leave such a threat unaddressed. Several covert attempts on Lind's life forced him to launch a hasty rebellion, resulting in his defeat and exile to Odria. If Lind had his way, he would first kill Duke Jean rather than his brother Korek.However, this was a mere fantasy. Lind dared to return and plot rebellion only because the Padea Academy magicians would not intervene in royal affairs unless the kingdom's safety was at stake. Attempting to kill Duke Jean, on the other hand, would mean facing the wrath of Academy President Barthes, Jean's lifelong friend.Furthermore, Lind needed to act while Barthes was away—Korek was a former Academy student, and Barthes' reaction was unpredictable."Today's meeting is just to tell you to be ready but not to act rashly. I am trying to win Prince Alvin's support. If he agrees, our success is halfway assured," Lind said. He then turned to Marquis Delta with a knowing smile, "Marquis Delta, I hear Prince Alvin is quite fond of your wife?"Despite his willingness to offer Celine to Prince Alvin, Delta still felt a twinge of shame at Lind's direct question. However, the feeling passed quickly as he nodded, "Yes, Your Grace, I know what to do."Lind nodded in satisfaction, reclining again, "Good, now leave. If the time comes, I will summon you."The orcs didn't know what the human woman and Baroque discussed in the house. When she left, her face was unusually red. Of course, the orcs, though crude, were not foolish enough to inquire.The rain had stopped, and it was late at night when old Zachary and his group returned from the sewers. Covered in filth, Ruck whimpered to Baroque, seemingly aggrieved. Ziad and Cecil wore expressions of joy, "Baroque, we found it. Mr. Zachary led us to an escape route. We must also thank this dog… Oh, I mean Ruck!"Baroque was puzzled about how Ruck could have been helpful besides scouting. Zachary explained, "Your dog was crucial. We took a wrong turn and stumbled into a nest of level-one magical beasts, Black-Eared Rats, a whole swarm. If your dog hadn't transformed and intimidated them, allowing us to escape, we might not have made it back!"Baroque had heard of Black-Eared Rats—water-type beasts capable of spitting toxic water arrows. Although individually weak, they moved in hundreds or thousands. Even Zachary, a seasoned earth knight, would avoid facing them. Fortunately, Ruck, a level-six water-type beast, naturally intimidated the lower-level creatures, allowing time to escape.Ruck had been bitten by a Black-Eared Rat during the retreat, a minor injury. The dog was merely seeking sympathy.After promising Ruck many treats, Baroque turned to Zachary, who donned a cloak to leave. "Baroque, this is all I can do. Leave as soon as possible—preferably tomorrow night," advised Zachary.Baroque nodded sincerely, "Mr. Zachary, we will remember your kindness. If you ever need us, we will come to your aid, even at the cost of our lives.""Keep your lives; you need them more," the old orc replied, disappearing into the dawn as the arena guards remained oblivious."Baroque, are we leaving tomorrow?" his anxious clansmen asked, eagerly awaiting their freedom."Of course not," Baroque shook his head decisively, explaining, "Mr. Zachary overlooked a crucial issue. Have any of you realized it? We are two thousand miles from the Gritty Plains. Even if we escape Padea City, how far can we walk? Paddington's cavalry will catch us quickly. Before we escape, we need to secure mounts."Baroque and Celine had discussed this in their private time, amidst stolen kisses and tender touches. Their primary concern was securing horses for the journey.