Lucas entered the parlour where the man had been waiting. The man was Reznov and he had a different appearance, his hair was groomed, his beard was cut and he wore proper clothes; clothes he wore as a merchant. Lucas sat in front of him.

“I never knew the man who wanted me was the Lord of this place,” Reznov started the conversation.

“I’m not the Lord. I’m only the caretaker while my cousin is in the Capital.”

“Right… So I’ve come here. I’m willing to listen to the offer. However, I have a request.”

“I’m all ears.”

“I want you to take care of the family of my best friend who died on the voyage.”

“Considered it done. Anything else?”

“No, that’s all. Thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

“I need to repay the favour I have with him.”

A forlorn gaze was seen in his eyes.

“I understand." Lucas was handed out a bundle of papers by William. "Here is the schematic of the ships I want you to build."

Reznov took a look at the schematics given by Lucas. The schematics were made by Max, with the help of Lyra—through the communication device, before he left with Lucas to subjugate the bandit's hideout. It was the schematics of sailships that once sailed Earth's oceans back in the 18th Century.

"These... who made these?" Reznov asked with glimmering eyes.

"A friend of mine, Max Brawn."

"My Lord, may I meet the genius who made this?"

Lucas nodded. "I'll tell him to meet with you when he returns to the city."

"What are these windows on the ship? Why do you need this many windows?"

The "windows" Reznov asked were gunports on the ships.

"That windows will be used to allow the muzzles of the cannons to fire outside," Lucas explained.

"Cannon?"

"Yes, a technology from my country. The cannons can be used both on the land and at sea."

Reznoc had curious eyes. "Interesting, I want to see these 'cannons' you speak of."

"You can ask more about it to Max."

"I understand."

"When do you think this project will finish?”

“A year or two, at most.”

Lucas was pleased. It was within his planned time period.

“Very well." Lucas stood up. "Welcome to the Duchy, Captain.”

Lucas reached out his hand and shook the old man’s hand. William led Reznov to his accommodation. Lucas was left alone in the room, he had a second thought about the monster. He was no longer sure if the monster was a submarine.

He no longer had hope of returning to the Galactic Empire. The lost expedition was never discovered by the Galactic Empire after hundreds of years. A lot of mysteries of this universe were unexplainable. The current scientific knowledge of the Galactic Empire could not replicate the phenomenon they experienced or even explain the reasoning behind the so-called magic on this planet.

What mattered to him now was to ensure the survival of this planet. He would do what the previous Lorien leadership failed on this planet to create a stable hegemony on the planet. The armaments and pieces of equipment found in the 111th's Base would not be enough to sustain an army for a long time, therefore the civilisation of this world had to be guided toward interstellar travel. He knew the limit of what he could do in his lifetime and his goal would take generations to complete.

“One step at a time,” muttered Lucas to the empty room.

As the evening fell, Lucas took a walk around the city. He observed the city’s streets were rather quiet. It was early evening and usually, at this time the street was much crowded with people going out for the night or heading home. He did not mind much of it; he just wanted to stroll to clear his mind.

Lucas wore civilian clothing and carried a sword and a pistol on his hips, hidden under his cloak. There were no guards with him because he sneaked out of the palace; thanks to Ella’s willingness to help him. As the caretaker of the Duchy and the family member of the Duchess of Novgorod, Asher took Lucas’s protection seriously. Whenever Lucas left the palace, at least two guards must accompany him. Back in the Galactic Empire, Lucas was used to having an escort everywhere he went until he enrolled at the Academy and became an officer in the military.

A few days ago, Lucas sent a message to Lyra to come to Petersburg and act as his bodyguard and helper. He preferred to have someone he knew from the Galactic Empire.

As he walked around, he heard his name called, “Lucas!”

Lucas turned around and saw someone from Petersburg he met frequently whenever he went outside.

“Misha? Good day!”

“Lucas, what are you doing outside at this time?” Misha asked. “We shouldn’t be outside, come. Follow me!” Misha grabbed Lucas’s hand.

Lucas followed her willingly, “Why?”

Even though he willingly followed her, he had no idea why and where she would take him.

“I’ll tell you when we are somewhere safe.”

Lucas was bewildered.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Something doesn’t feel quite right, Lucas thought.

They arrived at Misha’s house which was not far from where they met. “Take a seat, I’m going to place this down.”

“O-okay.”

Lucas sat down at the table. Bewildered and dumbfounded. Not long after she came back to the room.

“So, are you going tell me why did you bring me here now?”

“Ah right. First, do you want to drink? Water?”

“Yes, sure! Now. Tell. Me.”

Lucas's patience began to run out.

“Right, right. Since you are from outside the kingdom. You must have not known about The Night Devil,” Misha explained as she poured water into the cups.

“The what? The Night Devil?” Lucas said with a hint of sarcasm.

Misha brought the cups, put them on the table and then sat. “Well, I heard the story from my father. I haven’t been born yet when it happened. It was 22 years ago, a village in the Duchy was reported attacked by a horde of monsters and when the knight was dispatched to investigate they were attacked by the dead villagers when they arrived.”

“Attacked by the dead villagers? You mean...?”

“Yes. My father was one of the knights sent there. Luckily he survived the attack, only a few survived the attack.”

The story piqued Lucas's interest.

Zombie story? Lucas thought.

“Were the undead ferocious?”

“Ferocious. Strong. Immortal.”

“Immortal?!”

“Well, kind of. The only way to kill them is to burn them. Father told me the best way to do it is by decapitating all of the limbs and severing their head from the body then burn them when they can no longer move around.”

“You’re joking?”

“I’m not. My father told me.”

Lucas was still in disbelief. However, since she was told by her father, who he presumed was a knight of the Duchy, he was inclined to want to believe.

“So what happens then?”

“Nothing. The investigation yielded nothing. But, 2 years later, they attacked this city. The area around the port was the first part to be affected. The city fell into chaos. The Duke and his army tried to quell the disaster. It turned out the main culprit was there as well, a devil. They call them.”

“A devil?”

“Yes. He wore black clothing that covered his body. His eyes glowed bright red. He can control and command the dead people to do his bidding, attacking the knights and everyone,” Misha told the story.

Lucas was left speechless. Being able to control the dead was a bizarre idea to Lucas.

“I’ve never heard the story before. So, what happened then? He must have lost, right?”

“Yes, The Devil was defeated.”

“Then—“

Misha cut off Lucas, “This is what the people were told.”

There was a long silence. Lucas understood what she meant. The Devil was still alive, he thought.

“I see.”

“Before he disappeared, he said, ‘On the same day, we will return and finish our master's wish’. The Dukes then announced the Devil was defeated, however, the Devil's friend might come to avenge their comrades.”

What a strange threat, thought Lucas.

“That’s why he left a small detachment of knights back in the city,” Lucas said

“Correct. In case he returned.”

Lucas sighed, “Well, I’m sure he won’t return today. 19 years and nothing had happened.”

“For the people in this city, it’s not. The horror of that day still lingers in people’s minds,” Misha said with a terrified voice.

“Misha, you know all this from your father? Does he work in the palace?”

“Yes. He is with the Knights Order— I mean, the Novgorod Guard. That’s what they are called now. He is on duty right now, until dawn. He told me to stay in the house.”

There was a worried look on Misha's face.

“Then, why were you outside, alone?”

“Well, I forgot to get my work clothes from the tailor in the afternoon and tomorrow I will start working in the Palace, and I heard the head maid is strict. So, I had to pick it up today and not be late tomorrow!”

Lucas nodded. “Yeah, she is….”

“Hmm, do you know her?” Misha asked.

“No, I just heard talk about her.”

Misha was terrified, “Wow, is she that terrifyingly popular, huh? Even outsiders like you know about her.”

“Well, she is not that terrifying… anyway, you said you tailored your clothes? Is that normal? I mean, doesn’t the Palace give you all-size clothing for the maids, and then you fix it by yourself?”

“No, the Novgorod Palace has a tailor to make their maid’s clothing. When you are accepted to work at the Palace, you go to the tailor and get yourself fitted, and usually, the clothes will be done before you start working, and the Palace pays for it.”

Lucas was impressed—he did not know before—that the household of Novgorod Palace went out of their way to get tailored clothes for their maids. He was not surprised, however, because he saw the Duchy still had a lot of money in reserve, even though the previous Duke had spent a lot to raise his army for the rebellion.

No wonder the maids in here have better uniforms than the Royal Palace's maids, Lucas thought.

“That’s impressive!”

“I know, right? I want to work at the Palace, It was supposed to be last year, but my father won't allow it, but somehow, when the new Duchess took over. My father allows it!” Misha excitedly told Lucas.

“Probably, your father doesn’t like the late Duke.”

“Yeah, he was. I heard the current Duchess is from a foreign country and she helped to quell the rebellion and was given this territory.”

“Yeah...” Lucas smiled gently.

“And she is still at the Royal Capital.” Misha leaned closer to Lucas. “And, her cousin is the one taking care of the Duchy. My friend who works at the Palace told me he was good-looking and kind. It will be nice to be able to see his heavenly face every day~” Misha said excitedly.

Lucas was uncomfortable listening to the story and at the same time held a laugh because Misha did not know the person she was talking about was in front of her.

After hearing the story about the Devil, Lucas wanted to ask Asher and William.

“Well, good luck. Misha, I’ll get going now, Thank you for the drink,” Lucas said as he stood up.

“No!” Misha sternly said.

Misha was worried about Lucas's safety,

“I’ll be fine, I have a sword,” Lucas assured Misha as he showed the sword on his hip.

“You don’t know how dangerous those things are,”

“I’ll be fine.”

“No!”

Misha was insistent on not letting Lucas leave.

Lucas could see a hint of fear on Misha’s face. “Are you scared?” Lucas asked Misha.

“No,” Misha averted her gaze away.

“Yes, you do. That’s why you dragged me here.”

“…”

Misha did not speak.

“I understand, you’re scared, but, sorry. I have to leave—”

Misha stood up and walked closer to Lucas, “It’s a bit cold, here.”

“Cold?”

Lucas was dumbfounded. Sure the night was cold, but they were inside the house and it was warm inside.

“Yes,” Misha grabbed Lucas’s shirt and she leaned into him, “M-my father won’t be home until dawn, I’m alone until then...”

“Misha?” Lucas caressed her hair.

Misha looked up straight into his eyes and said, “So, won’t you warm me up?”

Misha closed her eyes and moved her head closer to Lucas’s.

Lucas froze up for a while, trying to understand what he just heard. He did not expect Misha, out of everyone, to be so bold. As much as he liked to spend the night with her, his curiosity and the urgency of the Devil were more important to him.

Before he could say anything, an explosion was heard. The explosion shocked both of them.

“What is that? Explosion!” Misha said.

“Alright, I have to go now,” Lucas said as he tried to walk away.

“Wait, no!” Misha grabbed Lucas’s hand.

“You’ll be fine alone, lock the doors and windows, and stay inside.”—Lucas kissed Misha on the forehead— “Okay?”

Misha was flustered by the kiss, She went blank for a second.

“Y-yesh,” Misha fumbled her words.

Lucas left the house and ran to the billowing smoke on the south side of the city