First, Tom circled back to The Warm Hearth, the inn where the real professor Neliel was still sleeping and due to wake up soon.
Scaling the first floor window required little effort on his part at this stage, the innkeeper woefully unaware of his silent infiltration. Adding two lines to the note he left behind was accomplished just as easily enough, as he directed the Professor to find his way back to the academy through unofficial means if he did not wish to arouse suspicion.
Of course, Tom was well aware that all he was accomplishing was stacking up a house of cards. There were too many ways Neliel could see through his deception, but none Tom could do anything about at this stage. He could not even kill the professor even if his moral compass would allow such a thing, because the death of a member of the conspiracy would likely push back the assassination.
Purpose accomplished, Tom stalked back into the safety of the shadows.
The Shadow card allowed him to cut a path through the Noble District, across scaled buildings and narrow alleyways. The patrolling Royal Knights would not take kindly to finding him lurking around their territory without proper identification and Tom wasn’t too enthused about the prospect of being caught either.
Fighting within the Noble District would mean it was his loss, regardless of the outcome of the battle.
Roughly ten minutes passed by him before he slowed his approach and canceled the effect of his The Shadow card, approaching the grand tent painted in the Royal Knight’s livery with his hands disarmingly raised high in the air.
“Halt!” The barked out order came, forcing Tom’s footsteps to freeze in place.
The Royal Knight, Nvein, stepped out from inside the tent, undoubtedly having senses his presence before visually confirming it.
“It’s me,” Tom rasped out, using Alaan Zenari’s inflection since he was still using his physical features as a disguise, albeit wearing a mask over his visage.
Nvein’s tone turned tense as he took in the masked Elite Guard before he asked, “Can you confirm?”
Tom nodded, before retrieving the Elite Guard Crest from his inventory and tossing it over to Nvein.
Putting it through the same process he had before, Nvein verified the legitimacy of the crest. His expression visibly relaxed, as he gestured for Tom to step inside the tent before retreating within it’s boundaries.
He naturally followed.
Only after he had entered the tent, it’s flaps reorienting themselves behind him, did Nvein address him, “Has the matter regarding the imposter been resolved?”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Yes,” Tom calmly replied, knowing that he could not let his voice waver in the slightest as he answered. “He’s dead,” He added brusquely, conveying the cold arrogance that was necessary in his line of work the best he could.
“I see,” Nvein replied thoughtfully, his expression clearly curious. “How did you manage to fish him out? I thought you would need more time.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t tell you,” Tom replied, letting that statement hang in the air before continuing, “However, you have done me a favor by keeping news of my arrival silent. There is an artifact in my possession, one granted to me by the king. It lets me see through all disguises. I thought the enemy would be more cautious in covering his tracks, but he relied too much on his Soul Card— to the point where he believed it invincible.”
“Who was it?” Nvein finally asked the question that had been quivering on his lips.
“I’m afraid that said knowledge is reserved for the ears of the king,” Tom replied, his tone polite but firm.
“I see,” Nvein replied with a nod. “You do understand that I have to report this matter to my superiors, now— correct?” He asked, his tone making it sound as if it was a given.
“Naturally,” Tom replied without skipping a beat, even as his heart rate picked up. He could lie, trick and conceal for only so long before he hit a rock wall— that was knowledge he always possessed. He had known that it was a very real possibility that Nvein would report such an important matter to his superiors and at this point, he had no way to stop it without sounding suspicious.
“However,” Tom added, just as Nvein was about to reply. “I urge you to do so after I leave. My duty compels me to report to the king at the earliest, come what may.”
“Of course,” Nvein replied, even as his brow twitched. “Of course, I understand,” He repeated, as he stepped aside.
“You may pass,” Nvein finally confirmed, as he stepped aside.
“Thank you, Royal Knight. Though it was brief, you make for enjoyable company. Let us hope that Renovia does not require my services again in the near future,” Tom offered a word of farewell, aware of the possibility that he may never get to meet the knight again after this.
“Let us hope so, indeed,” Nvein copied his odd style of farewell, turning his gaze slightly to observe as Tom stalked outside the tent with haste.
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Only after the purported Elite Guard left his presence, did Nvein finally allow himself to address his doubts he was harboring.
‘I must have been imagining it. His gait, speech pattern and even height felt different, but I was a bit too taken aback by our first meeting to register everything carefully. The Crest of the Nottrakon Family cannot be faked or imitated, I saw it myself. If one was stolen, the king would certainly know. I’m overthinking it again, maybe I should tell Serawin to stop sending lost puppies my way. It’s for a good cause, but a guilty conscience will eventually lead to mistakes….’
Sighing loudly, Nvein shook his head and sat down on the only armchair in the room. Another hour and a different Royal Knight would take over the night shift for him. Maybe he just needed a rest.
Come to think of it, when was the last time he had been on a vacation?
Now that this whole imposter business was resolved, with the culprit dead in the ground, he could go on one. Nvein had certainly distinguished himself enough in his service to ask for a leave, after all.