Evan was walking around the outskirts of the city with his bag. He had been like 15 minutes killing monsters that attacked him like it was a walk in the park. But Evan was more of a pacifist and only attack those that were going to attack him or other people who were working for the merchants, and he learned a lot about the merchant hierarchy.

The biggest merchant company it was called Silver Eagle, due to their past actions done by one of their ancestors that laid the foundations for the company, and Evan learned that Amelia was the daughter of the president of Silver Eagle and the others usually respected anyone who worked with Silver Eagle.

Most of the workers that were attacking the monsters for getting their body parts were workers that worked for other merchant groups that sold out the extra monster parts that they couldn't use to Silver Eagle, which was a cunning strategy considering that probably the president paid less than the usual price for the extra monster parts while acquiring more profit.

Evan had obtained a lot of monster parts and a lot of experience, but literally he killed around 200 monsters to just reach to level 5, turned out that Noche was right about the requirements for leveling up having increased massively, and Noche was about to teach him how to put skills, but Evan had already guessed it.

“Now, to open the skill window and any window of status, skill, journal, and others-” Noche started explaining until Evan raised his hand to stop Noche, which made the book sound quite angry for a moment as he grumbled.

“You must think about them and concentrate. It's like in the stories. Weird, but logical. It was more intuitive in Dawn World at first.” Evan said, guessing that it would be like in the games because otherwise he would have heard someone saying something to open any sort of window already at least twice considering how many people were hunting monsters.

“Okay…” Noche grumbled as he was surprised by the deductive skills that Evan had.

Evan concentrated, and a sort of interface window with a list of skills appeared. In that list, there were two different columns of skills, learned and unlearned. In learned appeared Magician (Master) with specialization of fire and dark magic and Necromancer (Master) only, in unlearned appeared all the affinities that he had, but Evan literally grabbed the 10 skill points he had already and used them in Monster Devourer. It was simple, as it was only a matter of dragging the unlearned skill to the learned and then input the rank in which he wanted the skill to be in.

“So... You learned that skill.” Noche said, as he pondered the reason Evan had learned Monster Devourer.

“It will be good to have it since the start. Also, since I am resistant to poison, the skills are safe to use.” Evan explained as he smiled widely.

“Good idea. But it’s a growth type skill trees, quite powerful compared to other growth type skill trees like bodybuilder.” Noche said.

“Also if I learn the skills of a slime... I can regrow any part of my body.” Evan said as he smirked.

“Unless eyes. After all, slime do not have eyes.” Noche warned, as he was secretly enjoying shooting down the hopes of Evan for having interrupted his explanation.

Evan started thinking and after 2 minutes, he started cursing with words that would easily make any normal man to stay away from the area. His own happiness was spoiled by a book, and that meant that he still had to handle with the lack of depth perception with made his balance worse, which clearly enraged him, since he almost stumbled upon a few totems made by goblins as he was hunting goblins.

“Goddammit, Noche! Why you spoil me the happiness with that!? That bastard of the assassin who attacked me and took my eye! I hope they choke in their own money! Shame upon them and their family up to the thirteenth ancestor of theirs!” Evan said as he scowled and stomped on the ground.

“You will have to find a humanoid monster to be able to regrow your eye, one that can regenerate their bodies. Like Dryads. But you would be charmed and killed, knowing how annoying the dryads are and their inherent hatred of humans, while they have their own meal preferences. I believe that your resistance to the curses and poison won't defend you from pheromones.” Noche explained, which made Evan look at Noche with a serious gaze.

“Well, I will start thinking of buying a fake eye. But to deal with dwarven people can be hell. Because I recall some dryads back in Dawn World, and they were so annoying. Killing one will lead to an entire groove of them trying to kill me. Not worth the gamble. And I don’t want to learn that eating a vampiric fiend or a vampire ends up making me a vampire, I have already enough issues to deal with.” Evan said as he placed his palm upon his face, trying to cover his angry face.

“In your world, there are prosthetic eyes too!?” Noche asked with a surprised tone.

“No that I know of... Only the fake eye of crystal. But I heard that there were some attempts of doing prosthetic eyes. We are more into, well, making nukes and weapons that kill humans so effectively that I find them beastly.” Evan said with a grimace upon his face.

“At least we surpass your world in something!” Noche exclaimed proudly.

“Tell me more about those prosthetic eyes. Because Grandine only said a bit about it. But, as usual, she forgot to mention where I could go to fetch one.” Evan said as he pouted and crossed his arms.

“They are treasures that can connect with your optic nerves and give you vision. They are extremely hard to find and will cost at least one gold coin, which easily would pay the taxes of one hundred citizens in this country. The best ones have special abilities. I believe that lady Namika said that she planned to craft one someday. But she never told me if she truly did it or where she would hide it.” Noche explained as he floated around Evan.

“Well, I need to make good use of the materials then. Noche, you have a storage space?” Evan said, as he had a fancy idea in his mind.

“Why do you need it? You have your own extra inventory.” Noche said with a curious tone.

“To hide slime mucus, goblin blood and the rest of materials. At least 1 of each. If Amelia has thief skills, she could see my inventory and catch me red-handed. But in your case... Since you are not seen, she couldn't see your inventory.” Evan nonchalantly said as he smirked.

“Who you think you are talking to!? I will not allow those dirty materials get in me! Also, the chances of having her catching a glimpse of your extra inventory are small. Probably she’ll see the hellscape you have as normal inventory and wind up in the graveyard!” Noche exclaimed, disgusted by the idea.

“We have no better choice. What if I devour them here, and I get caught?” Evan retorted, as he feared that maybe his inventory was out of reach even by thieves. Usually that’d be good, but the disorganization that Evan had in that inventory was a natural (due to Evan’s looter’s instincts) defense towards thieves. They would take ages to even locate the item they would want to steal, if they managed to avoid losing their mind over the disorganized hellscape that said inventory was.

“It would be a mess. I see... You better give me something worthy of this... insult.” Noche said, as he relented, knowing that Evan wouldn’t take a no for an answer. So at least, he would happily acquire some sort of assistance.

“You really like to be well treated, no? I will make sure that your cover is in perfect condition! Totally clean!” Evan said as he smiled at Noche.

“It has been a long time since I got someone to clean my cover…” Noche pondered, and he had felt like the time without having a clean cover was making his spine feel worse. Or maybe it was just the age, after all… All the time that has passed was clearly a thing to take into account.

“Seems that it will be enough.” Evan said.

“The thing is that you will be unable to touch me. When you try to touch me, you will end inside of me. And you better choose carefully who does it, no way I am letting a young kid to clean my cover nor a random person!” Noche warned.

“So the hiding goes both ways… Good to know, but crap. Then who can clean you?” Evan said as he pondered.

“Hmmm…” Noche said, as he started ruminating about who could clean his cover.

“I know. I will ask Lillian to clean you.” Evan said as he had a stroke of genius, without caring about what Lillian would feel like having to clean Noche’s cover.

Noche stood in front of Evan, it seemed like having a nun clean his cover was something of his liking. This alone made Evan sigh, but he understood that even sentient books followed certain Spanish idiom.

“Put the items close to me. I will store them. You truly have to get Lillian to clean my cover.” Noche said with a serious tone.

“There was a Spanish idiom that left clear this situation.” Evan said as he squinted his eyes. ‘Two tits pull more than two carts. I recall that it first appeared around 1627 in its first form and then evolved into this one, that said it was always a sexist idiom. How I hate said idioms, but it’s that sort of trivia knowledge that sticks with you.’ Evan thought as he bit his lower lip, in annoyance.

“It is not like that! It is that I have a weakness for irony. A holy maiden cleaning the cover of the Dark Lord grimoire! Oh, Zerax will be biting his nails off.” Noche said with a mischievous tone.

“So you and I have this in common? After all, ironical reasons are the best reasons. That's good, if it's true.” Evan said with a smirk on his face.

Evan got the items he wanted to store and left them in the ground where Noche stood above them. Then, after 10 seconds, a dark light enveloped them and after 5 seconds the items were gone. After this, Noche went inside, Evan and both went to the gate to get back to the orphanage.

When Evan reached the gate, and he found Amelia waiting for him. Evan cursed his own luck one more time, he expected to have a few seconds to take a breather.

“Hello, Lady Amelia. Daughter of the president of Silver Eagle.” Evan said, as to show some respect to Amelia.

“Hello, Black Flame Devil.” Amelia said while smirking, showcasing her knowledge over who Evan was.

“So you know that.” Evan said, as one of his eyebrows was raised, due to how surprised he was that Amelia knew that. ‘I shall test who she is. If I reincarnated as a betrayed prince, then I will have to be aware that the others may also reincarnate.’ Evan thought to himself, unsure whether to trust her or to just close the deal and run away. He was in no shape to fight a godslayer, by no means, without equipment and with his best skills locked behind the tutorial seal.

“Of course. I have my own share of knowledge.” Amelia said proudly.

“In the darkest time…” Evan said, as to test Amelia’s identity, with a phrase that most players would recognize from Earth. But also was a sort of password to start checking if it was one of Evan’s closest friends, since it was natural for players to use disguising items or skills to hide from other players.

“We shine.” Amelia said as she giggled.

Evan smiled because he was sure she was not one of his former friends. At least not one of the heavenly four, the group of the four in which he was in that were the strongest players of Dawn World. Amelia giggled once more, noticing that she had been caught, and decided to accept that she was bested this time.

“You almost tricked me. I thought I found an old friend.” Evan said as he took a deep breath.

“I had to try. So it was one password that you four only knew. And I failed, thinking that it was something of the holy scriptures we had.” Amelia said as she shrugged.

“Yes. All of us had one phrase to answer to that password. Mine is: In the darkest time I shall take my mantle and rise. Such is my pride as the Black Flame Devil.” Evan said, knowing that if she disclosed it… Well, she’d be dead in a matter of hours by those who hated Evan and probably were reincarnated in this world too. ‘If she is an enemy, I am using her as a bait. If she’s a friendly, all good.’ Evan thought to himself, admiring his quick wit.

“Just like the stories of you four said. You truly cloaked yourself in darkness.” Amelia said with a smile.

“It was my way to laugh at what the people thought that it was the best. After all, my life was an irony since the beginning.” Evan admitted with a smirk on his face.

“And while others bathed in the light, you bathed in true darkness. And so you obtained the flames that burn everything.” Amelia said as she looked interested in what Evan could offer.

“It is odd. I have never been in this world, or so I believe, and you know of me already without me telling the stories.” Evan said, suspicious of what Namika had told him at first. She never truly specified if he was back in the world of Dawn World, or was just a different one.

“We heard of the stories of other people who were in your era. Great warriors that died fighting for this world.” Amelia said, which did fully answer Evan’s doubts in a single moment.

“Former heroes?” Evan asked, curiosity peaking. ‘In short, we are in Dawn World. F me across the Alps. So… All I did in that game was real. Which brings two questions: How did a damnable corpo make a game that literally dragged the users to another world? And why do that, without selling it to the military?’ Evan thought to himself, as he hid the shock on his face but couldn’t quiet his mind as of how this situation happened and more importantly: Dealing with the actions he did back on Dawn World.

“Yes. I am the granddaughter of one of them. He always warned me of your twisted heart.” Amelia replied with a wide smile.

“I see, so your grandfather might be Dragonedge... Or that, or it was Gio. Both were good allies. Then I shall tell you this: I plan to improve this country. After all, wrongdoings must be amended.” Evan said, deciding to trust Amelia for now, but just sharing enough to not bring about his own destruction at the hands of a treacherous merchant and a stupid king. ‘I don’t want to die at the hands of a fool and a pretty good snake. Wukong would laugh at me for ages for this, and Moriarty probably would be cackling.’ Evan thought to himself as he remembered his companions in Dawn World, and the Free Alliance.

“I see. Well, show me what you obtained.” Amelia said as she smiled. ‘I guess he’s still trying to see exactly who was my grandfather, and checking out if I am of trust. Cunning boy, and most certainly clever.’ Amelia thought to herself, considering the information she had more of a bait to ensure that if she acted up now… She’d run into trouble.

Evan showed all the materials he had obtained and literally Amelia started smiling like a demon. Her greed wasn't satiated, but now she knew that working with Evan was profitable, even if it was slightly. She grabbed 20 silver coins and gave them to Evan, who clearly didn't understand how much money that was. But it was enough for 20 poor families to eat decently for a day, which wasn't too much, alas it certainly was a nice profit.

“Next time you go outside, warn me! This will give profit! For sure!” Amelia said with her smile.

“Truly gained quite the fortune, then.” Evan said as he looked at the small coins made of silver that laid on his hands.

“I think I will seriously consider being your ally. Granting you information for this kind of materials.” Amelia said as she smirked.

“Then we do this deal too: I will get you more materials someday, but I will want information about certain things. So 25% of the profit and all the information. Good?” Evan proposed, as he saw a perfect chance to make contacts with a merchant and possibly get closer to one of the pillars of the country.

“15%.” Amelia retorted coldly, seemingly having switched on her merchant mode.

“20%. I won't work my ass off killing weaklings that will not give me great heaps of experience just to be tricked.” Evan retorted back, with a serious look. ‘Goddamnit, now I know who her grandfather is. Azmosdei, I fucking hate you! Your granddaughter is the same kind of snake that you are! Couldn’t you have spoiled her a bit before you kicked the bucket!? Wait, no, probably he’s still alive and probably will laugh off that I had this sort of haggling with his granddaughter! Agh!’ Evan thought, as he cursed one of his old friends for being quite the greedy merchant, in the back of his mind.

“16%.” Amelia said as she smirked, trying to show to Evan that she would haggle.

“21%.” Evan calmly said as he started at Amelia with a deadpan stare.

“Did you increase it?” Amelia asked, surprised by the action.

“Yes. And I will increase it more if you try to get it for less than an 18%.” Evan said. ‘You want to use me, well… You’ll be bloody paying the insolence, just like your grandpa. Damned merchant snakes, you should learn to accept a good deal from the start!’ Evan thought, irritated by Amelia’s haggling.

“I see. 18%.” Amelia said, accepting that she would have to concede to trying to rip off a legendary figure like Evan. ‘Ugh, because he is asking just a 1% less than the other guys, and that having him will be better than having him against me. But damnit, grandpa warned me.’ Amelia thought to herself.

“I will accept. I want good quality information and contrasted.” Evan said, accepting that the deal was going the best for both.

“And I want good quality materials.” Amelia said, as she looked happy, to make Evan feel like he had done a good deal.

“You shall have them.” Evan said as he smiled widely.

Evan left and smiled like a devil. Literally, he had an ally and a new source of information that could be used and would pay him for killing weaklings. And alongside that, he could obtain new monster parts and so new skills with monster devourer. He didn't mind any longer that he had to haggle to get an 18% of the profit, because for money he had other plans.

***

Amelia went calmly through the streets, after doing that deal with Evan, as she had a meeting with her grandfather in a small shop that was owned by a company known as Staniltropos, a company focused on potions and all kinds of restorative items that were made in Elstivia.

No one knew who the owner of Staniltropos was, as in the CEO only sent the orders via letter and always made sure that the one who delivered the letters was a young child that was an orphan with a tattoo of a gear on their neck.

As Amelia walked to that shop, she saw that the shop had been vandalized. The building was made of polished stone, and it was a shop of two floors, it had a few pieces of iron attached to the exterior of the building that had written ‘First floor, Staniltropos. Second Floor, Detective Isaac’s Office.’ which did indicate to Amelia that she was exactly where she had to be.

The windows of both floors had been broken, as the shards of glass remained on the ground while the people talked softly about who could have done it and why (the usual gossip of the passersby, nothing else), and the stone exterior had clear signs of someone throwing eggs at the building.

Amelia walked inside, as the guard hadn’t arrived yet, and saw that the wooden floor had been burned and there were marks of having used gasoline alongside the fact that the entire interior was a mess. The wooden interior walls had been shot by a flintlock gun, noticing how the shape of the holes, and there were clear marks of burning.

As she looked around the area, she saw the shelves placed all across the shop and saw that none of them had avoided damages. Some had cut marks from a hatchet, others had bullet marks done from shots, but all of them had burned. It was a miracle that the building was still standing.

But then she saw the counter, it had been broken by a sizeable hammer, seeing the clear mark of crushed wood in the middle of the counter as a way to make a new path for the attackers to reach to what laid behind the counter.

“Grandpa Azmosdei, where are you?” Amelia asked, worried about her grandfather’s safety.

As Amelia spoke, she saw a tall man with short white hair, wrinkles on his face that showed clearly he was at least 50 years old, black eyes, a thick white extended goatee, and a scar on his right cheek coming out of the small staircase that was located just besides the counter. This man was wearing a white shirt buttoned up to his neck, which was tight enough to showcase the muscular body the man had, tight black trousers with a white belt that had a golden buckle, and black shoes.

“No need to ask much around, my little sunshine.” The man said as he smiled at Amelia.

“Grandpa! I was worried that someone could have tried to hurt you!” Amelia said as he hugged the man.

“Oh, well, I was visiting an old friend. And wanted to introduce him to you. Isaac! Come here! Also, you have a case just below your damned office!” Azmosdei said with a loud tone, clearly his usual tone, and enough to ensure that the people outside heard him and decided to stop gossiping about the attack.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

As Azmosdei said so, an elven man walked down the stairs. This man had the pointy ears that showed clearly that he was an elf, short black hair on most of his head unless the front that it was dyed blue and as part of it covered slightly his left ear and went down to his neck, green eyes, a rather sharp chin as his face was shaped more triangular than rectangular, a scar on his right side of his face, and a couple of steel studs laid above the scar.

This man was wearing a white shirt, a red necktie, a khaki trench coat, black gloves, brown trousers, and black shoes.

“I know, Azmosdei. But I still have a crazy headache after that damnable Bourbon you gave me. I told you a million times, I don’t drink.” The elf, Isaac, said as he scratched the back of his head.

“Yeah, but it’s gonna be your case once you start doing this. Also, I will be paying you for this. After all, we both know who the CEO of Staniltropos is. And he pays well, no? Not like as much as we got back in Dawn World, but it’s a start.” Azmosdei said.

Isaac calmly sighed, and then walked across the area. He was inspecting every single spot of the crime scene, and checked around a square cube that was attached to the interior side of the counter. The cube acted as a sort of safe and a cash register, as it was enchanted to withstand attacks and electrocute those who were not acknowledged as employees of the shop, which was a basic utility for any shop.

“The cash register hasn’t been touched, while they wrecked all the shop. Was there anyone here working when you arrived, Amelia?” Isaac said as he looked at the cube.

“No, but it was wrecked before.” Amelia replied to Isaac’s question.

“But there are no signs of violence against people. I mean, no blood, and you could say that it could be due to the burning. But I don’t think that anyone was here when the place was vandalized.” Isaac said as he tapped the counter, checking the counter for some sort of clue.

“Why?” Amelia asked, with her eyebrows raised. ‘At least, there should be some sort of security guard or the like. No one leaves the shop alone, due to the brigands that live in the city as part of the underworld.’ Amelia thought to herself.

“Yeah, but there would be remains of crystals since the blood would crystallize. So, no one was around… Or they left as soon as the vandals arrived. I recall that the shop owner had a few issues with the leader of the assassins, who wanted to kill me because I captured her daughter. Almost pulled a Wu on that one.” Isaac said as he pondered several hypotheses.

“You? Seducing a girl who wanted to kill you? Who are you, and what did you do to Isaac? You were as awkward as a nerd, and you were one since you worked with Magic Corp, back on Dawn World. Is it how you look? If so, be careful, those relationships never end well.” Azmosdei said, unable to understand what he had heard.

“Oi, it was not my fault. The girl tried to kill me, I stopped her, then helped her out by solving a murder case… And saved her life a couple of times. Then, I don’t know why, after the case: She tried to kiss me and well… Her father saw us, and made a promise to roast me like a chicken.” Isaac explained, as he scratched the back of his neck.

“Oh, by the greed of Ezneas. You charmed the daughter of that bastard… You pulled a Wu, not almost! You literally pulled it off! I could hear Evan cackling over it.” Azmosdei said as he placed his hand on top of his face.

“Talking about that, grandpa. He is back.” Amelia calmly said.

“Oh, wait… What!? Did you meet him!?” Azmosdei exclaimed, with wide open eyes, as he looked at Amelia.

“Yes, I did. Managed to get an 18% plus info deal, the bastard tried to rip me off when I tried to rip him off!” Amelia said, as she was about to pout due to the anger she felt as she remembered how hard he drove the negotiation.

“But if he was a devil back on Dawn World… Shouldn’t he be in Inferno rather than here?” Isaac asked as he squinted his eyes, not believing Amelia’s words.

“Well, he’s a human now. And he seems to be leveling up.” Amelia said.

“Ah, that explains it. He got weakened in here. Unlike us.” Azmosdei said, scratching his beard.

“Then, he could have done this. It wouldn’t be a surprise seeing him go wild once he found me. But if so, I’d be ashes.” Isaac said, considering how Evan was back on Dawn World.

“Once he finds out that the true devs of Dawn World were the gods themselves… Hoo boy, once he unpacks that… They might as well hide under a rock.” Azmosdei said as he shivered.

“Yeah, maybe that’s why they weakened him. Not like that will buy them much time. Also, it’s not him the one who burned this place. Should have noticed it. He would have looted it all. So I suppose that someone wants this place burned to nothing.” Isaac said as he scratched his chin.

“Well, your job. Could it be Moriarty?” Azmosdei said, as he looked around.

“If it was Moriarty, the place would have exploded by a sudden mana overload. And there wouldn’t be any clue to follow.” Isaac said as he shrugged.

“Then, who could have done it?” Azmosdei asked.

“Good question. I guess I will round up the usual suspects, ask around, and maybe ask Moriarty. Just in case, I am sure he’ll lie to me if he did it. But being proper about it is important. But probably seeing the burnt parts and the massive damage caused, sabotage is the idea of this attack. To ensure that the shop closes down. I recall there was this noble that wanted this shop to become a slaver shop.” Isaac replied as he tapped his forehead, as he circulated his mana inside his body to use a skill.

“Well, you have a few leads.” Azmosdei said.

“And I have more than that.” Isaac said as he walked near the counter and grabbed a tiny piece of clothing left near the cube, as a piece of wood had caught the clothes of the individual.

Isaac looked at the cloth he had in his hand, and looked at it while trying to check the texture of the cloth. After inspecting the cloth, he nodded to himself as he had pieced something very essential for this case.

“We have to ask around the underground for sure. This cloth is damp, but the texture is like touching sandpaper. This is a cloth used by the sand brigade. They do use a lot of incendiary potions, to turn any of their targets into a pile of sand. I will have to talk with Moriarty about this, he knows about this kind of groups. I’d say that you stay away from this mess…” Isaac said as he frowned.

“Oh, no need to tell me thrice, I am just going to leave and let you handle this!” Azmosdei said as he grabbed Amelia’s hand and left running the area.

“Yeah, expected that. You can wreck them to pieces, but don’t want to deal with David Junior annoying your business because he is gaslighted to make a pillar out of the slave trading business.” Isaac said as he took a deep breath, and left the shop.

Once out of the shop, Isaac moved to the streets while trying to think about how to reach Moriarty without raising alarms. Since he was a known detective, and Moriarty was the kind of individual who would avoid detectives as much as possible even if it was impossible to be caught doing his own illicit business.

***

As Isaac was investigating the case, back on Grandine’s house, the children had arrived to the archbishop’s house while Moriarty walked with the children.

“Hm. Well, we arrived at the house. But it seems less prepared than usual, so I can discard the idea that this was planned by the archbishop. Hm, interesting.” Moriarty said, as if to put the ideas together and try to find some logic upon it.

But not before long, Rubedo came out of the building and looked at the children. Then he looked at Moriarty, and didn’t understand what was going on, but the one most surprised was Moriarty himself.

“By all Inferno, never believed she’d have the gall to do this. I thought she looked too familiar, but now I know why. Congratulations, no one has outsmarted me ever since Evan did so back in Dawn World. Oh, that explains why this wasn’t as ready… He’s back, and he got them here to get me out of hiding without your knowledge, and wanted to see how the bait worked. Impressive, he never fails to surprise, and he made it to… Oh, smart bastard. He knows what you and Caroline are planning, and he wants me around to have a big shot of the underground close… As if telling me to side with him, covertly, while letting you see who I am and how I look like to ensure that I have no other option than to cooperate.” Moriarty said, impressed by what he thought that was Evan’s plan, while correctly understanding Grandine’s plan.

“Well, that’s how cunning my master is. Either way, best we guide the kids inside, before Albedo comes back. He is too kind to kids, and too noisy. Also, he hates you so much, mister Moriarty.” Rubedo said as he stepped aside to allow the children and Moriarty inside the house.

“So you knew from before? Oh, golly. Evan this time must feel proud of his creations, especially if they can assist in his plan so well. But if I am invited inside, I can’t truly say no to it.” Moriarty said, as he walked inside alongside the children.

As the children walked inside, Grandine looked at the children and smiled widely without caring much about Moriarty. Then she looked at Moriarty, and guided the children to another room while getting Nigredo to attend them and unlock the collars, while she walked towards a crimson sofa to sit down as Moriarty went to sit down near Grandine.

“Oh, sir James Morrisille Articus. Or should I say, Moriarty?” Caroline said as she smirked at Moriarty.

“Moriarty will suffice, Grandine. Your father has been more cunning than both of us. Furthermore, he got us in the same room. I suppose we both know what that means.” Moriarty said, with grabbing his tophat carefully, as Grandine smirked.

“We need to work together. You can survive David, but once you do… The elves will most certainly catch you. The sorcerers will ignore you, but the elves will not. You’ll have to pack up and move to Baalfira, and then when Baalfira gets backstabbed by Rivialt… It’s a no-brainer that you’ll have to go to Asthalos. Going near Sharasta is death. And then what? Be forced to fight for Ignatius? Not a good outlook for your life.” Grandine said as she smirked. ‘In short, you are fucked over and Dad has given you a last chance. You may be able to play for a fool the king and his company of debauched idiots, but the elves will end up doing a scorched earth to get rid of your organization.’ Grandine thought as she giggled to herself.

“Yeah, yeah. No need to say it. Been thinking about how to avoid that. Turns out that your father is the best solution I found. He can handle David and his goons, while avoiding that the elves get in the way. And let’s be honest, if I have to deal with Falco ten years more… I might fling myself out of the academy’s tower, to see if my next life is any better than dealing with that catgirl maid enthusiast.” Moriarty said as he sighed. ‘She’s absolutely right, but I have to get something out of this.’ Moriarty thought as he considered what options he could take.

“So, what will it be? You have to find your way out of this mess, and I need a contact with the underworld. If it’s not you, it’ll be another. So you could be my crime partner in this case, and help me out.” Grandine said as she smirked.

“I want profit out of this. That means that my own smuggling operation gets free access to the ports, my casinos get a free pass from the country legislation against gambling. And! I must be able to pay my taxes from them, in case he makes some sort of retirement law!” Moriarty said, as he found exactly what would be a good offer for his assistance in the back of his mind.

“Can’t promise that. It’ll be up to Father. What I can promise is that you can keep your position as a teacher, and that you will not be in his sights for your illicit business of casinos, hidden bars that sell prized wines that only kings should be able to drink, and your little moonshiners. You have your age to take account, you are young but also old at once… So I understand that desire of retirement from the spotlight. But that does not mean I will ask my father to let you roam around.” Grandine said as she placed her left leg above her right one. ‘He’ll have to take what I have to give to him, but not further. If he goes that far, PR will be burned to nothing and Dad’s plan needs the populace to accept him as a ruler. Best I put my best effort for this.’ Grandine thought to herself.

“Then what can you promise? Surely not an arranged marriage with you. You are young, I am old… And you have a long list of nighttime pastime companions. Of course, also, I wouldn’t go with a succubus. How would your friends at court feel if I talk about that in a let’s say… seminar for noble girls about your nature? And your gluttony?” Moriarty said as he took a deep breath. ‘I am fucking trying my best to negotiate, but if I go too far, Rubedo here will punch my head off. He must be about to jump at me for this. Also, Evan probably wants me to take a soft deal instead of the harsh one, since it’s most beneficial for him to not have to worry later on about me not needing him alongside the PR. Shit, this is why he baited me to Grandine, no? She’s the most cunning of the siblings, so she’ll grab my arm and my shoulder if it’s required.’ Moriarty thought to himself, as he cursed Evan for baiting him.

Grandine grabbed a quill, a pot of ink, and a piece of parchment while looking at Rubedo who nodded and went to Grandine’s bedroom to grab a sigil.

“Oh, you must be underestimating me, Moriarty. Seems like you are unsure of what an archbishop can do. Or maybe you are considering that I only have friends at court? There’s this ancient position, which many of the conservationists want to have someone in it, called the hero’s spouse. Due to the lack of acceptable nuns that handle orphanages, to prevent taking a massive loss from sending a nun of high nobility and end up in disputes with the different nations that are friends of the church of Zerax, we haven’t been able to choose one. One of the candidates is my friend Lillian, but maybe… And just maybe, I could send a letter to your daughter… Was her name Liliette? Human, so it wouldn’t hurt any nation, and she is versed in the bishop arts alongside the clerical ones, and has taken an oath of Zerax.” Grandine said as she looked at the parchment, clearly probing around Moriarty’s defenses, with a condescending tone.

“You can’t put a cleric of the church of Zerax as a spouse of the hero!” Moriarty exclaimed, clearly scared due to Grandine’s knowledge of his daughter and her past. ‘No way she discovered that, but it does seem she knows. Goddamnit, Liliette, I always told you to just use the skills and work with me! There wasn’t a need to join the church! But you are as stubborn as your mother, and this succubus is going to abuse of it!’ Moriarty said as he feared for his daughter’s future.

“Can’t I? Are you sure about that? Let me remove the uncertainty. I am the archbishop of the church of Zerax. The amount of can’t do things in the church can be resumed in a parchment as small as this one, and with very separated lines. I just have to propose her to the elders, get a journalist to get some photos where your daughter looks better than she usually looks like, say that we can put her as a member of the hero party coming from the human kingdom of Elstivia. From there to spouse of the hero, it’s just a matter of seconds for the old coots once I talk about the fact that you are Moriarty, and put proof of it. I know it will be hard to get said proof, but the money trail can never be erased… Especially with the banks of Ezneas being the only way to control expenses, and so every single transaction goes through them, while they are one of the types of religious buildings for Ezneas’s religion.” Grandine said with a clear scowl on her face, glaring at Moriarty.

“Yes, but they don’t help the church of Zerax. Or anyone in that matter! Those transaction papers are sacred, and only those considered tax advisors and tax police can look at them alongside the paladins of Ezneas, who assist said advisors and police. I know that much, and way more than that! If I wanted, I could prove who you are with a few calls!” Moriarty said, angered by Grandine’s words, trying to intimidate Grandine.

“Oh, well. Maybe we have similar friends at court. Should I contact the archbishop of the Ezneas’s theocracy? She’s a friend of mine, and we love to party a lot.” Grandine said with a faked surprised face, but spoke with a smug tone.

Rubedo came back with a golden ring which had engraved the sigil of Zerax’s church, and a pot of hot wax, while Grandine was putting the quill inside the pot of ink to start writing. This made Moriarty glare at Grandine, and consider attacking her right there. He knew he was good as dead if he did so, but at least he could take on Grandine and die at the hands of Rubedo.

But then he sighed, he knew that doing so wouldn’t bring any benefit… Only death for him, and suffering for his daughter once Evan caught her. He had been defeated in the negotiations, which had never happened on Terra, and he only could sigh in defeat.

“No need to write that damned order. I will take what you offered me, and the protection of my daughter. I don’t want the grandson of Takuto to get his hands on her.” Moriarty said, defeated, as he lowered his head slightly.

“Then I will ask a few more things out of you. Not only a contact. I want you to kill some of the old coots that want to put Lillian as the hero’s spouse. If you do that, I will put in good word to Father about your job… Maybe you become an advisor, with the authority of a duke, and maybe… I can help your daughter to get out of Zerax’s church once the dirty deeds of the church come out. I know they’ll come out, but I rather prefer to be the one who can do something about it to avoid it becoming a mass stop of the praying to the gods. If they start worshiping Father, he might lose it and go all kaboom on any prayer towards him. You know how much of an atheist he is, and how much he hates praying.” Grandine said as she started writing on the parchment a deal.

“Very well, I will see what I can do…” Moriarty said, with an unconvinced tone.

“Try to not use petrycole, unlike with Dony. The hero might catch you. Also, if you do it well, I might help your daughter get a good husband. I am considering that since she’s eighteen, she needs to enjoy her life a bit.” Grandine said with a smug smile.

“Yes, yes. No need to warn me, and it was atropine what I used. Almost got burned with the damned atropine thanks to the hero back in Rivialt. Is your dad’s poison factory still up and running?” Moriarty said, as he considered how to do what Grandine had asked of him.

“No. Otherwise, I would have Nigredo doing so.” Grandine quickly replied to Moriarty’s question.

“Then I will have to go with explosives, and ask Gio to prepare a timed one.” Moriarty said as he scoffed.

“Oh, and do tell your daughter to come visit me. I have just the ideal clothes for her.” Grandine said with a teasing tone.

Moriarty scoffed and got up, as Rubedo guided him out of the house. Now that he had the orders, and made a deal (even if it was one forced upon his hands)... He just had to uphold it.

Evan Status:

Race: Human.

Genre: Male.

Age: 6 years old.

Height: 1 meter and 15 centimeters.

Likes: Unknown yet.

Dislikes: Corruption.

Level: 5

STATS (Maximum of 1000):

HP: 10100/10100

MP: 35000/35000

STR: 1

VIT: 1

INT: 500

DEX: 500

AGI: 200

Extra status points: 305

Magic affinity: Necromancy, Fire, Darkness, Demonic and Enchantment.

Skill affinity: Crafting, Magic, Swordsmanship, Alchemy, Dark Knight, Thunder Magic, Holy Knight, and Monster Devourer.

Ailments:

Tutorial seal: Even if the user is a master in one of the original skill tree, they will only be able to use first tier skills until the tutorial is over.

Skills:

Necromancer (Master {Locked abilities to newbie due to broken body and tutorial seal}):

Create minor minion: Active, 2 MP. Turns a corpse into a minion that will aid the user. It can create slimes and goblins only.

Create minor Undead: Active, 4 MP. Turns a corpse in an undead. Can only create skeletons.

Wall of bones: Active, 3 MP. Makes a wall made from bones.

Heart Grasp: Active, 10 MP. The user can grasp the heart of the target and crush it.

Magician (Master):

Magic Knowledge: Passive. Allows the use of magic.

Fire Magic:

Fire bullet: Active, 1 MP. The user can shoot a small bullet of fire.

Fireball: Active, 2 MP. The user shoots a ball of fire.

Firebolt: Active, 5 MP. The user shoots a bolt of fire that explodes upon touch.

Fire Wave: Active, 10 MP. The user casts a wave of fire that goes to the target.

Dark Magic:

Dark smoke: Active, 1 MP. The user shoots dark smoke to cover his whereabouts.

Curse: Active, 3 MP. The user curses the target and causes ailments like poison, blindness and sleep.

Lethargy: Active, 5 MP. The user makes the target be slower and less powerful.

Monster Devourer (Adept):

Gluttonous stomach: Passive. Allows the user to eat monster parts even raw. Does not protect against poison of monsters.

Body Improvement: Passive. The user can improve his own status by obtaining status passives from monsters.

Combination: Passive. The user can craft skills for this skill tree using the skills learned by eating monsters.

Devour: Active that will activate passively. 0 MP. When the user eats a monster automatically activates and absorbs the skills of the monster.

Body transmutation: Active, 8 MP/minute. The user can transform his/her own body parts into a monster part. Can't be used to transform the user completely (Yet).

New chapter and I hope that you enjoy this chapter and if so remember that leaving a good proof (with a comment for example) will help me to make sure that I do a good story!

Have a nice day!