Chapter 994: Intelligence and Opinions

Proofread by Thomas F

The door to my room opened, and Shaun stepped inside, pushing Rayna.

"Lord Silver," they bowed.

"Anything?" I asked as they sat down, praying there was something. "No, he still is being pretty tight-lipped about it," replied Shaun.

Hearing that, I wanted to curse, but controlled myself and just sighed.

To be honest, I wanted to release the spells and destroy him, and given what he had done, it would be mercy on him, but I could not.

We need him and the information he has.

"He is tough—tougher than anyone I have ever interrogated. He has no allegiance, no family, and no ties. The only things he cares about are the thrills the jobs give him and the money that comes with it," Rayna added.

She seemed more frustrated than I, but also excited. It is a challenge for her.

"Postpone the other tasks; focus on this one. I need to know who hired him to attack us. We will also need some information before we meet the Merchants to return the artifact; they are going to want to know about him."

They both laughed at that. It will take us weeks and months to crack him, or even more, while we have to return the artifact within days.

Merchants are also going to ask about Marlais. I am still thinking about which way I should go in this.

Though one thing is clear: I will not extradite him to the merchants. I am glad I have drawn the line with the merchants about it.

They wanted many from the undead that I had captured. I did not give any to them.

The only exception I have made is to give them their spies. The rest are still languishing in Greltheaven's jail. Though some of them are useful, we will make even more of them beneficial in a few months.

"In our hands, we have a treasure. This man had spread havoc across the Zenid and outside of it."

"He knows things; that makes him extremely valuable, and I believe some people might even try to kill him to bury the secrets he knows," said Shaun.

"Good, let them; we will deal with them as well," I replied, and I really hope they do.

Greltheaven is our bastion, and we have made extensive preparations here. Here, even a Lv. 50 might not get out once they enter.

We have no desire to stand against such a powerhouse. But if they choose to come for us, we will bury them.

"Any whispers from the enemy about this incident?" I asked. "No, they are being quiet." "Though they are making a lot of noise about other stuff."

"When they aren't," I replied dryly.

"Anything worthwhile?" I asked a moment later. "Count Viremont is talking with both Zanav and Summerfield for the alliance," he replied, and this time I laughed.

I am almost sure that before attacking me. He is going to attack one of the two.

He will want to have a base in the region. Since he can't attack Grimvale and the undead for it. That leaves him with the cities of Zanav and Summerfield.

Both of them would be wary of allying with him, as he is not coming to the region as an ally, but as a conqueror.

If they ally with him, he might turn on them. Summerfield has already experienced it once and would be wary of doing that again.

"Zanav is being receptive to it," he added, and my expression became somber.

I do not think Zanav would do that; there are only temporary advantages and long-term danger, but if he did, it would increase my troubles.

"Monitor Zanav. His force may be the smallest in the region, but it complements a regular army well. Tell his adviser this: if his men take part in any offensive against us, we will make certain none of them return."

I don't like to issue threats, at least not this directly, but to deal with this challenge, I will use every tool in my arsenal.

This is not a threat, but a promise. To protect my people, I will go to any length.

"I will," he replied.

A few minutes later, they left while I remained in my seat.

According to the latest intelligence, the enemy will take at most two months to come to the region, a few weeks before Legacy's opening.

Which is good as well. If we win, we will be able to do the opening in peace.

"The Baroness is waiting, Lord Silver," Zela said, breaking me out of my thoughts. I looked at the time; it was exactly three. The time set for the call.

I extended my aura towards Zela. It connected much more smoothly than a week earlier.

Since the battle, my control over aura had leaped. It gave me confidence to face coming threats with greater certainty.

'Lord Silver,' my sister greeted. "Baroness," I replied.

"I will say it again; it's a dangerous trip. A needless risk you do not have to take." She is going to the forest to train. It's too dangerous.

She is powerful, could survive even a Lv. 40, but going into the forest is too dangerous.

I wouldn't have been this worried if she hadn't been taking that artifact with her. It's a dangerous thing that has killed many of its hosts.

'I have to do it; I believe I am very close to another level of control over this artifact,'she replied. Giving the same argument as a few days ago in person, in my office.

I worry about her less because she's my sister—more because she's an important pillar of the dominion.

She is leaving for the forest. The Baron had moved to Lauryl temporarily, while Hiren went to the Bram Fortress.

If something happens to her, it will mess up the whole equation, which could have consequences for the dominion as a whole. Especially at this time, when so many enemies are watching us.

Her loss will weaken us significantly. Also, I don't want to admit it, but it will affect me as well.

'It is why I am advising you again. Many people thought they could control it, but in the end, it killed them. Only those who remained cautious were able to survive using it."

'I am going, my lord. This will be our last call until I return from the forest,' she replied, her tone firm.

I could order her to stop and confiscate the artifact, but it would only make things worse. She is like our father; if she decides it, she will do it. No matter what I say. She will not listen.

My father was like that.

"Then it is my hope you will return safely, Leila," I said, finally defeated. 'Thank you, Remus,' she replied, her voice heavy with emotion.

I feel guilty about her decision. I know I shouldn't. She is her own person, and I shouldn't feel responsible for her actions, especially when I am trying to stop her.

Still, I couldn't help but feel she is doing it because of the pressure to improve herself for the battles she might need to fight in a few months.

She will probably need to, given how few powerhouses at her level we have. Stone had decided where he would station her.

A moment later, she cut the call.

I leaned back in my chair and sighed before turning to the cabinet, where her will is. She has chosen someone from the family to inherit the barony.

I am surprised by her choice. It's not two of her brothers or her mother.

Maybe she understood I would not accept them. Even if this had been her last wish, I wouldn't have accepted those bastards. As for the person she chose, I will accept them.

I haven't worked with them, but I've heard good things about them.

I shook my head and focused on the work. I do not have to think about it now.

Soon it was evening, and I stepped out of the city. Usually, I leave slightly late, but today I have to visit a place before returning home.

I sat in my carriage, looking toward the legacy. It has become so large that it can be seen from anywhere in the city.

Less than three months remain, and a lot of changes are still happening to it. It is not the only important thing in the city that is changing; many things are.

I am now going to see one of those things.

A few minutes passed, and the carriage stopped in the mercantile district, which was growing larger and grander. Many new buildings are being built, including banks and merchant offices.

Though nothing would be as grand as the building in front of me in this district.

"Lord Silver," Guildmaster Beckett greeted me as I stepped out of the carriage.

"No one looking at this could doubt the ambition of Greltheaven's merchant guild," I said, studying the unfinished nine-story building before me.

This will be the new merchant guild. It is grand and expensive, and I am happy with it.

Because I did not spend a penny, the merchants used members' money and took out massive loans. The only thing I needed to do was act as its guarantor.

Which is much better than paying.

He invited me to look at a few things. It was to impress me. I agreed, as they needed such affirmation.

"They should not, my lord. The merchants of Greltheaven may lack certain things, but ambition and capability are not among them," he replied, his voice filled with pride and confidence.

"They do not," I agreed.

The man had done a wonderful job since he took over, better than I thought.

"Shall we see the inside, my lord? There are a few things that I want your opinion on," he said. He asked, and I nodded.

He may have invited me to show off the guild, but I had opinions of my own. This was a better chance to voice them directly than sending another written order.

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