Ambermind Manor, Uptown Quarter.
Three individuals could be seen in Daneli's study through the arched windows of the second floor. The elf was naturally there, and along with him were the two Agents of the
Brotherhood, Liriel and Kael.
The silver-haired elf gazed at the snow falling over the city with a detached look in her eyes. "It's almost been a year and a half," she said.
She then turned around and gazed at the blond elf brewing tea at the table. "Has he always been like this? Disappearing for so long without any news?"
"This is a first." Daneli shook his head as he poured fresh tea into three ceramic cups. "Usually he'd let know if he'd be away for so work. At the very least, he would let his assistant, Rowan, know for sure."
"Yes, but even he is clueless about his whereabouts," said Liriel as she picked up two cups of tea, thanking Daneli for making them.
She then gave a cup to Kael who was standing by a tall bookshelf and reading a book about about Ravenfell's history. The burly man gave the elf a warm smile as he received the teacup. Liriel took a sip from her cup and couldn't help but praise, "Tea from Baja is unlike anything humans can ever grow." She then deeply looked at Daneli and stated, "You must give another bag of fresh tea leaves. The last one is already over."
Daneli's lips twitched ever so slightly. "Sure..."
"Anyway," Liriel changed the topic. "Do you think Adam left Ravenfell?"
"Who knows?" Daneli shrugged. "Even his cat refuses to say anything. I'm sure that little fellow knows sothing. He always does."
Liriel couldn't help but sigh. She took a seat at the table, sitting right across from the blond elf. She asked in a solemn tone, "You don't think sothing might have happened to him... right?"
Daneli spoke with great confidence. "Don't worry about him. He's strong."
Liriel was reminded of the first ti she t Adam. At the ti, she had been unknowingly pulled inside his illusion. She, who considered herself an expert at illusion, was greatly outmatched by him without her even knowing.
That experience still sent shivers down her spine to this day. But at the sa ti, she also ca to greatly admire Adam. The level of finesse required to weave such an elaborate illusion was highly respectable.
She would like to believe that for a Magus with such a deep understanding of the school of illusion, it would be very easy for him to deceive others and go in and out of places.
But the fact that it had been so long since Adam had gone missing that Liriel couldn't help but begin to waver, wondering from ti to ti if sothing really did happen to him.
"How are things on your end?" Daneli asked her, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Liriel glanced at the tea in her cup. Her reflection on the surface was hazy. It seed distant. "The situation in Corvid is worse than I'd imagined," she began. "Thousands of people have died every year directly from the pandemic. This is not taking into account the murders that take place every day or the number of people that go missing."
She turned her head and glanced at the snow falling outside through the window. The atmosphere outside was cold, inside it felt colder despite the warmth of the fireplace.
"So many children have gone missing," she continued. "Thousands of won have been murdered. Families have been ruined, yet the city doesn't bat an eyelid."
Daneli didn't know how to reply. He knew that the people of Ravenfell, not just its nobility, were greatly biased against the people living in the Corvid Quarter. He was one of them too.
So despite there being so much pain and misery festering in those back alleys, no one bothered to do anything about it. Even the guards from the city watch who were known to maintain strict security in every nook and cranny of Ravenfell refrained from going to Corvid.
A deep sigh escaped Lisa's lips and she added, "I'm almost certain that the Red Fists have a connection to the Cult of Bones."
Daneli's expression turned serious and he asked, "Is it because of the missing children and the deaths of so many won?"
"To be precise, virgin won," Liriel corrected him, her eyes gleaming with a cold light. "This matches the Cult's thod of operations. The mbers of the cults are not only experts at dark magic but also bloody rituals and living sacrifices."
Daneli didn't bother masking the look of hatred and disgust on his face. "They're not even sparing the children? Despicable scum!"
Liriel nodded. "Now, Kael's informants haven't found out yet what they're doing with the missing won and children. However, one thing I'm certain is that Red Fists are secretly transporting them sowhere. At least, so of them."
"Any clues as to where they might be smuggling those people?" Daneli asked, rage bubbling inside of him.
Liriel looked at Kael, who was still engrossed in reading the book, and asked, "What was the na of that family again?"
"Duskfall," said the man without looking away from the book.
"The Duskfall Family?" Daneli's eyes narrowed. "If I rember correctly, their patriarch holds the title of Viscount.
In the city of Ravenfell, there were five aristocratic titles inferred to the noble families. They were Duke, Marquess, Count, Viscount, and finally Baron. The Council of Seven were all Dukes.
"Indeed." Liriel nodded with a serious expression. "Kael was able to find several shipping manifestos that tied a shell company to several stores in the Corvid Quarter controlled by the
Red Fists.
"After a thorough research, he was able to find a connection between the shell company and the Duskfall Family."
Daneli glanced at the stoic, brown-haired man and couldn't help but be impressed. "Great job, Kael. This is a solid lead!"
Kael glanced at him and gave him a thumbs up. Then, he returned to reading the book.
Daneli suddenly recalled sothing, his eyes lighting up. He glanced at the elf in front of him and said, "Not too long ago I received an invitation to a masquerade ball being hosted at the Duskfall Estate."
"Yes." Liriel's lips curled up into a cold and calculating smile. "It's going to take place two weeks from now, and I hear many people from Ravenfell's upper class are going to attend that
event."
"I'm not surprised," said Daneli as he stroked his chin, deep in thought. "Viscount Duskfall is a very outgoing person, a social butterfly, if you will. He has a wide network and frequently does business with the other nobles of the city."
"It appears we already know where we need to be two weeks from now," Liriel spoke in a theatrical manner.
...
Constantine Manor, Uptown Quarter.
"Hey! How dare you loiter around here?!" The watchman scread, glancing at the newcor who seed no different from a hobo with his long black hair and thick, untad
beard.
But the strange thing was, although the man appeared to be a vagabond, the clothes he was wearing were quite decent.
Still, the guard didn't dare take any risks. He had just gotten this job, after all. "Quickly leave before I call the patrolling guards! Hey, I'm warning you! Are you listening to ?!" "Haaa..." Adam heaved a long and deep sigh. "I'm getting that feeling of déjà vu again."
User Comments
0 comments from readers