Well, It turns out that my assassins have coated their weapons in some kind of a poison. it is supposed to be the kind of poison that prevents the clotting of blood and is supposed to paralyse you when taken in large quantities. I am not sure how these guys define large quantities, because I cannot feel large parts of my body and am certainly not able to move it.

Well, that is good to know since it did seem pretty unlikely that I had a such a heavy wound that I would have lost consciousness due to blood loss.

The poison is the reason that I lost my consciousness at the end of the previous fight. As to what kind of poison it could be, I have no idea. I did not even manage to find its name. The snowwinders are careful with their secrets is all I will be able to tell.

Regardless, I guess I should talk about my assassination attempt. Well, there is some good news in that regards at the very least. The people that were behind this assassination attempt are a noble family, who often work as assassins.

Again, I will not be able to provide a name due to how careful these bastards are, but I have figured quite a bit about this family who I shall name as the “assassins” for now.

Firstly, they seem to be proficient in the magic of shapeshifting. This I know due to the fact that the annoying shopkeeper was a shapeshifted assassin. This I found from Eric, who considered that shopkeeper to be a very good friend. He is most likely dead at this moment.

It was due to this and Eric's distress was the only reason that I even found out about this. Otherwise, this man is about as stone lipped as his people. I would have loved to exchange our conversation. I would have loved to rub it into my master's face. The bastard was completely sure that I would have failed in this aspect of my work.

As for the why, it is so that even if these logs were to fall to enemy hands nothing vital would be lost in the process. The art of wheedling out information from the enemy might just be the most vital skill of a scholar and his guards. Guarding that information is why we are so powerful in the continent.

Regardless, the reason that I have started a record right now is to record what is about to happen here. They are saying that the commander will be making his way here now at any moment.

Well, this is going to be an annoying task if I am going to be honest about it. If I was a bit stronger or the commander was a bit weaker, this would have put me in a pretty strong position. After all, an attack on a representative can easily be considered to be a attack on the organisation if you spin it correctly. With the power difference that exists here it would be wise not to provoke the man.

These are the thoughts that I have in my head, while the commander is entering into my room. The very first thought that I have looking at the man is about just how tired the man looks. it looks like he has been spending the last couple of weeks without sleep. Knowing his cultivation though, I am sure that I am nowhere near the actual number.

“You have certainly left me in a fine mess, young captain.“ Speaks the commander. “Your little shopping spree might just end up costing me my neutrality.“

“Well, I have done nothing to provoke either group, commander. I have no idea why I have been implicated in the first place.“, I Reply. I word myself carefully. After all I have no idea which side the man actually supports. “If anything I am equally suffering in the crossfires as you are, commander.“

“I know, kid. You do not need to explain me about the nobles and their damn politics. I have spent the last few centuries to keep the exact same thing off my home.“, he replies. “well, you people are the master analysers. Explain the situation to me.“

“You are stuck in middle of a fight between the noble factions.“, I reply. “One side is the starfalls, whose leader has sworn my protection based on what I can tell. I don't know why exactly but there is the implication that my death would be pretty detrimental to them. Some local force had to have hired the assassins.“

“Well, he would lose his status as a noble and be made into a soldier. I would not be surprised if they destroyed his cultivation too. The starfalls are pretty traditional in that regard.“ The commander speaks. “That would essentially kill the momentum of the starfalls in this place. Many would benefit from that.“

“Still, that doesn't explain what getting rid of the starfalls will do for my assassins.“, I reply. “It is not like there is any other faction that holds power other than your people. You would be the only faction that would be able to pull of something like this and actually benefit from it. The noble faction would have essentially lost their united front.“

“Well, I can assure you that it is nothing related to me.“, he replies. “I have no desire to see the starfalls prosper but your death would cause more problems than solutions. The black mountain is a key ally, even if the nobles do not like to recognise it. Regardless, if I wanted you dead it wouldn't be in such a chaotic manner.“

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“Still, who else would benefit from such an action?“, I ask

“Well, it could be any of the other families. It might not give them any direct benefit but the families are more than happy cutting the benefits of one of their own.“ The commander replies. “I have to think it is one of the youngsters based on the way this plan is so short sighted. The nobles really have to teach their kids better. Regardless, the reason that I have come here is regarding you, captain. Jacob starfall agrees that he had serious lapses in your security. That is why he has finally agreed to grant the duty of protecting you back to me.“

“Well, part of it was due to m...“, I begin. I don't know why, I suddenly felt like defending my actions. Is this how a kid is supposed to feel when he is caught doing something naughty.

“It does not matter, kid. Your death would have soured our relation regardless. Jacob starfall was an idiot for what he did. Now that you have been attacked, the other nobles will start getting riled up. An opportunity on Jacob starfall is something that no one can ignore and an idea planted is impossible to remove.“ The commander replies. “That means that your protection has just become infinitely harder. After all, anybody can hire assassins if he feels it to be worth it and Jacob starfall is worth it.“

“Just how many factions even exist here?“. I ask the man. It is a bit direct but what can I even do. “It shouldn't be too many right. The way that the starfalls hold an hegemony on the nobles here. I would say that it should not be more than ten to twelve major families.“

“There are a bit less than a thousand families here. Most are barely better than commoners but that would be the rough count.“, the commander replies. “as for how Jacob holds control of them all. The answer would be barely and masterfully. nobody else would manage what he has done. He literally sows so much discord among the nobles that they are more than busy fighting each other. The man's absence will make things easy for me if I am honest. You need not know beyond this.“

“So what shall happen now. Will I be restricted to the guest house again?“ I ask.

“Well, you shall take control of temporary fort number 3 and work on building a formation there.“, he replies. “If you feel like it, you can take your troop with you but I will have to warn you that I won't be able to spare any soldiers to guard your scholars then.“

“Temporary fort?“, I ask.

“Well, it is a little something that the construction corps has managed to build up. It is in relation to the formation chain that you have spoken on.“, he replies. “All you need to know beyond that is that the place is about the safest that you shall be from the nobles now.“

“well, it might be the safest but I have my charges. It is not like I can abandon the scholars just because I might be attacked.“ I reply. “I have to escort them to the Magical ruin at the very least.“

“Well, the magical ruin shall be en route to the fort. The fortress is about a day's journey from the magical ruin. Maintaining the fortress is about the best way to ensure that your scholars shall remain safe.“ He replies, with an air of confidence that makes me realise that this is not a request.

“Why can't I just remain here?“, I reply. “It is not like I will be leaving the guest room if it means I will be attacked like this.“

“Well, You do not see to understand just how many people will be trying to assassinate you. It is the nature of nobles to copy each other. I wouldn't be surprised if there are daily attacks as well.“, the commander replies. “My soldiers will be more than able to protect you but can you imagine just how much chaos your actions will cause. I cannot afford such a bloodbath before the winter. Especially if poison gets involved.“

“Regardless, if I do this mission of yours I would have to consider it under the hexmountain treaty. it is nothing personal but that is the only way that I will be made to leave the protection of my charges.“, I reply. “Also, I will need materials to make the formation. I will also need a troop of soldiers at the very minimum to protect me. Without this, I will not be able to achieve much especially if all the claims I have heard about the snowlords are true.“

“you can consider all of these conditions met then.“, he replies. “The materials for your formation has already been acquired. I can't claim much knowledge on the material other than the fact that it is a class 8 material called as copper bark. As for your troop, they are already present at the temporary fort. All of them are soldiers that I have picked up personally and should have no problem in your protection. Nothing short of an attack from a snowlord will be able to harm you. That is if you have not boasted about yours skills.“

“I do not have a problem doing this, commander but I have to warn you as a professional that building formations in the middle of a battlefield is not an easy task.“, I speak. “If the enemy were to sense the fluctuations of a formation inscription the very first thing that they are going to do is attack me. This might lead to some catastrophic losses if the enemy manages to attack at the right time. The ensuing explosion could destroy this fort of yours.“

“Well, do you think I would be one to care if the building were destroyed. If the building is razed to the ground, we will have a new fort standing there in a week.“, the commander replies. “As for the materials for the formation, well I am sure that such a loss is something that I will be able to manage quite easily. Just make sure that my soldiers manage to survive this fight, young man and I will be more than happy.“

Saying so the commander disappears as quickly as he appears. As he leaves, I get the feeling that most of the stuff that he had told me today was primarily meant for the head office.

It would be a peace offerings of sorts. After all, one of their guards had nearly ended up dead in the commanders watch. With how tight lipped the nobles are anything about them is considered to be pretty useful knowledge for the head office.

Also, the man is stuck in a weird position. Regardless of how he makes his move, the nobles will construe his action as either supporting the starfalls or against them. Neither will be enough to protect the neutrality that the frozen peak has. Even I can see that. This place might be powerful, but even they can't do much against the force of a noble family. Well, I am sure that the commander will figure something out.

The mission given to me seems to be perfect, but that is what is making me feel so uncomfortable about this. Things rarely tend to be perfect. I would rather know what horrific thing I will be facing.