'He has arrived,' I saw the man stepping off the ship. He will be here soon.
I deactivated the Eyes of Domain and looked at the people in front of me. It's Valentina and Robin; I have been discussing a few things with them for a while.
"Many people are just posturing instead of helping us. The things they said, they are planning to send, will never reach us before the undead come," said Valentina, and sighed.
It's not surprising; everybody knows the undead are going to attack the day after tomorrow.
They promise to help us, but in reality, there will be no help from them. "Focus on those that genuinely could help within the time we have," I replied, and she nodded.
Those with genuine intentions had already sent the goods; they are on the way. They understood that time is limited, while others are just faking.
They know, in little over two days. The undead will come, and it will be over for me, but not for them. Since I am the Lord of the Throne, I will always be here, and the undead won't keep the city closed off forever.
Especially Velvet Garden, where more people mean more essence.
"The throne is having an effect bigger than I had thought," Robin said.
"Thrones are a big deal—Grade IV emotion essence, artifact recovery, and many other things. Not to mention the throne itself."
"This makes it very enticing that they would want to have a good relationship with the masters," Valentina replied.
"This would have been a very joyful occasion for the city. A throne, not even cities like Inam and Owlspring have one, but despite it, we cannot even enjoy it," said Robin with a sigh.
"We will, after we deal with the undead," I replied.
I could see the questions flashing in their eyes. They are aware of a few parts of the plan, but not the most important ones.
Only Stone, Caena, and Bell are aware of everything. Even Carla doesn't know everything, but she is aware of the most critical parts.
It's not that I don't trust these two; they are among the most trusted people I have, but not everybody needs to know everything.
A few minutes later, they had left, and I turned to Zela.
"Anything?" I asked, and she shook her head. A frown couldn't help but appear on my face.
I am asking her about the Archmage City. They should have made the press release. Announcing my title, which every master of the throne gets.
It comes with numerous privileges, not only with the Archmage Tower, but also with the other spirits, and even the titans.
It effectively makes me a world noble. Every kingdom had a recipient of the ancient synod ledger. This means that now I am a true noble in their kingdoms and empires.
They will have to treat me like one, even if it is an enemy country.
Soon, the carriage appeared in front of the tower, and an old man walked out of it.
He didn't immediately enter, but looked at the tower before entering the empty lobby. Aside from a single girl, there is no one there.
Very few people are able to enjoy the legacy as it is.
Despite the important job for which he came, he took a look around. At the same time, I looked at him with Mirrors of True Want.
The skill needs mirrors, not an actual mirror, but ones that reflect images.
It could be floor, glass, or showpiece, and they are everywhere in the legacy. So, I do not need to make any changes to the legacy for it.
The man is powerful, Lv. 40 with aura, but oblivious to my skills.
He would have been when it was Grade III, but it was very challenging in Grade IV. His lord might sense it, but it would be hard for him to do.
Mirrors of True Want.
It's a powerful skill; it enables me to sense the true wants of people —the ones they don't show to others. I could feel them from him.
What surprised me was how helpful the Shapers' Instinct proved to be.
Until Master's Instincts, it was mercantile skill that allowed me to get a clear view of the girls or anything I was buying for the legacy, from furniture to wine.
Now, it had changed. Its change is the biggest of all skills, that had advanced.
After advancing into the Shaper's Instincts, it gives me the tools to read the abstract. The things that should have taken longer to read now take an instant to know.
I could see what the old man's actual wants are, and he likes to gamble.
The man isn't addicted to it, but he likes it, and I could even tell what sorts of games he likes. It is from Lv. 40+ powerhouse with a guarded mind.
I would get much more from people who are at a lower level and have an unguarded mind.
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This won't just help me shape people's desires, but also shape the politics. It is an extremely powerful tool, and I will use it with surgical precision.
While I watched, I activated another skill —the legacy skill, this time.
Ledger of All.
A tome thicker than the first appeared in front of me. It doesn't look new, but it's not old either.
Its dimensions are the size of my hand, and it's thicker than my fist. It has a brown cover, with edges covered in a cyan metal, the same shade as my aura, and a thick red-metal clasp, bearing the same shade as Carla's hair.
In the centre is the emblem of the Velvet Garden.
I didn't make these changes; it came like this, with the emblem and all. The skill takes its shape based on a master's desire, and it appears to be mine.
I opened it, and immediately, the pages began to turn, stopping at a blank page. A moment later, the name of the man appeared, and with it, the things I had found out about him began to appear in the text.
I am noting down all the information I got through the skill.
Soon, all the information is filled, and the ledger is closed before it disappears.
I didn't share the skills with others. I plan to do so after I address them all. I won't be sharing it with everyone, just the three and Bell.
I will share with others after I deal with the undead.
The skill isn't just giving access. I need to craft the comprehensive rules. So, they will get only the information related to their department.
This tome is a blend of accounting and word processing software.
It is a highly adaptable skill that I can utilize numerous functions. That's why I will give it to the four; with them, it will be easier to understand.
I like to explore the skills on my own, but I didn't have time, and won't have time for it, after I fought the undead. Whether I will win or lose.
Andrea met him in the lobby, and a minute later, he took the elevator.
She didn't bring him to me directly. She took him to the Velvet Red first. I hadn't used my Rewind Restoration skill yet, nor did I plan to.
I want to keep it as a reminder of how precious the idea of Velvet Garden is, and of anything I am willing to do for it.
Click!
'He is here,' informed Jill, and seconds later, the old man walked inside.
"Lord Silver," he greeted. "Lord Nathil," I replied. Lord of Owlspring had sent his second in command to take back Adran Bryndon.
It is a sign of respect, but also a sign of the man being cautious, ensuring that Adran Bryndon wouldn't do any more damage than he had already done.
There was a silence of a few seconds before the older man opened his mouth.
"My lord had asked me to congratulate you on getting a throne, my lord," he said. "Please, thank him from me for his good wishes," I replied.
He smiled before his expression turned serious.
"My lord has also asked me to thank you for agreeing with his request." He asked, and my face turned sombre.
"It was not easy. You have seen what he did to my legacy," I replied to him, letting some of the anger I am feeling in my heart into my eyes.
"For that, he will be punished," he stated, and I just shook my head.
`There won't be much punishment other than a slap on the wrist and a few harsh words.' Even with the throne, I didn't have enough leverage over the merchants to do anything serious to him.
It's why. If I am able to deal with the undead, I will swiftly move to make Greltheaven a powerhouse.
The advancement and skills I have gained will power the ideas I already have for my city. Those ideas have become even grander, and the most challenging thing on the path to achieving them is the undead.
As long as the city survives them, it will flourish.
"I will have to trust you and your lord for it," I replied finally, and the man nodded. He stayed for a few more minutes before he walked away.
There is one more thing I have to do, and after that, I will go to the city hall.
…
Adran Bryndon
'I will kill him!' I repeated in my heart.
No one had trampled on my honour like that bastard Silver, and I will kill him. He is powerful in his legacy, but he is nothing outside of it.
He had arrested me in front of all these people, thrown me into a jail cell like a common criminal.
I could still feel the humiliation as it brought me to my knees, with mountainous suppression. Far greater than what whore had pressed me with.
It took all my willpower to resist it, especially when he snatched my precious sabre while I watched powerlessly, before making me suffer the greatest humiliation.
This harness bound me. It's not painful, but it might as well have thousands of thorns.
Hun!
I was in my thoughts when I heard the sounds of footsteps. A few seconds later.
Two people appeared before the cell. One of them is a uniformed bastard who had taken me from that bitch. I recognised another one and my eyes lit up.
"I thought merchant state protect their own, but it seemed like it's only true for the other states. Not the state of Meldhorn!" I snarled, looking at the old man.
The old man didn't reply, just kept looking at me.
That handsome bastard opened the door of the cell, and they walked inside.
"Please remove the harness, Commissioner," said Nathil. "Lord Silver had asked me to warn you that he will not be responsible for any consequences. If the prisoner tried anything untoward," warned the handsome bastard.
"He will not do anything, commissioner," replied the old man and turned to me.
I shuddered, feeling his eyes. He is Lv. 40, but how far and what his abilities are, nobody knows, other than his lord, but Marshhunter had once warned me not to underestimate him.
These words seemed to be enough as the handsome bastard began to open the harness with the runic key.
Thud!
The harness fell off, and I was about to move at the bastard when the shudder rang through my whole body. That froze me for a moment.
I stopped and turned toward the old man and saw his dark-as-night eyes staring at me.
There was nothing in those eyes, but I recognise the predator when I see one, and I know immediately that I wouldn't be his match.
Even with the artifact, it would be hard for me to deal with him.
"Give me my blade," I said to him. Seeing him holding a wooden box, that bastard Silver had put my blade in.
"It's not your artifact, Bryndon. It's Meldhorn's. Whether you will receive it back or not will be up to the council," he replied and turned, before walking away, with the uniformed bastard.
I wanted to run to the other side of the city and reach Silver, but I knew it was too late with this old man. It won't be possible.
It made me even angrier. If this old man supports me. We could slaughter our way to Silver, and even his legacy won't be able to stop us.
I calmed myself and followed behind. Soon, we were out of jail and stopped at the carriage.
"The city hands over the prisoner to you, Lord Nathil, and hopes that the merchant state will satisfy all conditions of the release," said the handsome bastard.
"We will," replied Nathil and stepped inside the carriage.
This is the best opportunity for me to deal with a handsome bastard to take revenge for him treating me like a common criminal, but once more, I sensed it.
Feeling the eyes, I simply looked at him and stepped inside the carriage.
"We agreed on conditions from the ant?" I asked angrily. "He is the master of a powerful Grade IV legacy," replied the old man, making my rage burn brighter, but I took a deep breath.
"What conditions?" I asked finally. "There are a few, but the most important to you is that you will reimburse the cost of damage and write an apology in the papers," he replied.
"Never!" I replied, but the next second, I felt his hand on my shoulder with his eyes close to mine.
The shocking thing is, I didn't even see him move.
"Listen, you little shit. Nobody cares about what you think. You will do what, my lord had agreed with Silver, or you will face his wrath!" he said.
My whole body shuddered visibly. I might not know how strong this man is, but I know how strong the Lord of Owlspring is and what he could do.
I don't want to anger that man; I had seen what happened to those who did it.