Cody dashed down an alley after the assassin who had a crossbow. The man leaped, kicking off the wall he seemed to fly up to the roof. Cody sighed as he followed, clambering less elegantly up to the rooftops. He followed the man from roof to roof, swallowing the pit in his stomach as he leaped the increasingly higher drops. They were headed towards the outer wall of Aguris. I can't let him escape.

Cody skidded to a stop as he noticed a quicker path in comparison to the one the assassin had just took. Cody turned a bit and backed up. He took a deep breath before he flashed forward and leaped, he held his sword out and managed to dig it into the roof as he slid dangerously close to a four story drop. Damn, that was close. Cody pulled himself up and started running again, he managed to cut a corner and was soon coming at the assassin from the side. Cody leaped a large gap from a four story building to a second story rooftop. Cody rolled and leaped to his feet as he tackled the assassin.

"Gotcha!" Cody exclaimed as he brought his sword out and pointed it at the man's neck.

"Hello hero." The man smiled, Cody gasped in pain as he was kicked straight in the shin and stomach. The man pushed up and flipped onto his feet as Cody was thrown to the ground. He didn't stay down long as Cody got up and held his sword ready.

"Come on man, don't do this. You can't win in a duel with me." Cody tried to reason with the man. Though the assassin simply lifted his knife and gestured for Cody to come, this caused a sigh to leave Cody's lips. "Alright let's dance."

Cody leaped forward and swung his sword in a horizontal, downward slash. The man parried and slid down Cody's blade as he repositioned himself and went for a stab. Cody reacted immediately and caught his wrist before spinning his sword around and plunging it into the man's chest. There was a look of surprise on his dying face, but also defiance.

"Who do you work for?" Cody asked, looking deep into the man's eyes.

"Haha, no I don't think I'll tell you. Ha ha." The man's voice slowly faltered.

"Damn for such a piece of shit he's got some loyal people." The man's eyes hardened at that.

"What beautiful bias you have hero, you see my master as dispicable but isn't that just because you view these matters differently. The one I serve simply chases the true order, it's wrong for the races not created by Gia to be free." His speech was broken by a fit of coughing, as blood splattered onto his chest. "They are inferior and should be treated as such."

Cody frowned, oftentimes he forgot he was in Kozak, a country built on the slavery of the dark races. People here believed in their right to subjugate what they believed was dirty or evil. But even this country was being forced to change as the greater world was becoming more accepting of the dark races. Though of course in the face of change there will always be those who stand defiantly, even if it is futile. Cody scrunched his face up in disgust, the man beneath him looked surprised for a moment.

"Ha, hahaha. That's not the face of a hero. That's a very bitter and ugly face hahaha, eck. . ." Cody stabbed the man in the throat with a glare of annoyance. "What a pest, you don't even realize that no matter how much you struggle. Annihilation is all that awaits those who stand against the tide of change. Truly despicable." Cody stood up and wiped the blood from his sword before sheathing it. He wiped the crumpled look off his face as he began to climb down from the building.

~

Cody Stepped into the guild master's office, Maria was on the couch with Clara "Hey, Andy, did you get my present?" He asked with a smirk, Andy stood up, walking over to him.

"Yes, Miss Maria brought him to me, I sent him below to our interrogation room." Andy smiled as he shook Cody's hand happily.

"I'll do an interrogation, we've compiled a good amount of evidence, we can certainly confront Macuroll soon."

"Alright, good, I'd like to get this settled. I don't mind, but it's stressful having to keep my eye on her, protecting her is a twenty-four-seven thing." Cody explained, Andy nodded, stacking a group of files.

"Yeah, Protection quests like that are generally two or more people, It's gotta be weighing on you. Though, the end is near, these files are enough to prove he has hands in illegal trades." Andy smiled, "I pulled some of my own strings and managed to get evidence of black market sales and connection. I'm actually gonna enjoy this. And our assassin friend will help condemn him of assasination attempts as well. Having all this will make a good case, if Macuroll doesn't wanna back down we start an uproar among the public and in the chaos someone takes out Seraph. Before the crown can even respond Maria will clean up behind her father and settle the public this will give her a good impression by the crown as well. They wouldn't have much reason to stop her from taking over the family." Cody nodded, he turned and glanced out the window behind the guild master's desk. The sun was heading upwards, peeking at them from the top of the window frame as it slowly slipped from view.

"Thank you again, guildmaster sir, for helping me in taking my spot as the head of the Macuroll family." Maria spoke up, she curtsied, grabbing the hem of her skirt and bowing.

"Of course, me and your father never got along anyways, and you'll owe me after all." Andy explained, a smile on his face, with a meaning only clear to him.

"Oh, that's right. Guild Master Sir, would it be alright to borrow the training room?" Maria suddenly asked, leaving everyone in the room a bit perplexed.

"Sure, I don't see why not. Just take Cody with you, he's a registered adventurer." Andy replied with a smile, Maria returned that smile before leading her group out from the Guild Master's office.

Andy leaned back in his chair, he lifted the papers and set them in a lock box before locking it, with these we can rile up a lot of people, but he could still push back. With the knowledge that he tried to have Maria assassinated made public, his daughter, who many love. Even her recent escapade to the orphanage brought her more followers, her rise to being the head of the ruling family is greatly anticipated. She's known to be kind, but also intelligent and a good negotiator. The qualities her father is trying to crush in her, will be the qualities that will rip the throne from under him.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Andy smiled, I'm looking forward to the way things move with her at the helm, he moved back to his desk and got to work on paperwork not relating to the Macuroll issue. Though he found himself quite curious about why she wanted to use the training room.

~

Drip, drip, drip

The sound of water and the scent of blood and sweat hung heavy on the air. It was dark, dimly lit by torches. Torchlight reflected off the damp brick walls, cracked and moss covers stones fashioned into a cobbled surface. The architecture in this place was unmistakenly dungeon-esque. A cold breeze drifted through, whistling among the cracks.

Tap, tap, tap

Footsteps echoed in the underground basement, a young girl revealed by the Torchlight could be seen. The sound of swishing water came from the bucket she carried with two hands and much effort. Her tail swished nervously, but with visible enthusiasm. Her floppy dog like ears were slightly perked, and her amber eyes were searching the cells.

The footsteps came to a stop as she came across a cell with a torch lit inside, an older boy hung from chains. His feet barely touching the ground. He looked like a new adventurer, he was probably fourteen or fifteen. He had longish black hair and his eyes were closed. His clothes ripped and torn as blood soaked his clothes and dripped down his legs. There was a red, watery puddle beneath him, ripples spreading out as blood dripped from his feet.

Derek was dragged from the darkness by the feeling of something cold, he opened his eyes to see a young girl wiping him down. She seemed to be about ten years old. She had dog like ears and a tail, she didn't look at him, only cleaned his wounds.

He gazed down at her, his mind clearing slowly, he wasn't much taller than her despite recently turning thirteen.

The girl looked upwards and saw beautiful green eyes, like two jade spheres. A smile took her lips as she saw them gazing groggily at her.

"Drink." She spoke softly, almost playfully.

"Thank you." he accepted her offer with a raspy voice, there was silence, she showed zero caution with him and he felt relaxed around her. He realized he didn't look his best, his black hair was messy and his young face was dirty and bloody. The only thing that stood out was his soft green eyes. Those aren't the eyes of a killer the young girl couldn't help but think while looking at him.

"An angel had come to save this sinner." Derek said suddenly, the little girl giggled, she laughed at him!?

"Ah, an angel I wonder does an assassin believe in a god." She replied, circling him, she gazed at him with curiosity.

"I'm not really an assassin, just needed the money." He replied. She smiled, rinsing out the rag she'd been cleaning him with. The water that can't out was pinkish from the blood.

"So, who hired you?" She asked, causing him to freeze, was she interrogating him? He couldn't help but wonder, a frown naturally formed on his face.

"Hah, of course." He breathed out, she looked puzzled. "If you wanted to know you should've asked without trying to butter me up, now I feel betrayed and a little stubborn." He smiled wryly.

"I wasn't. . . I'm just curious that's all." She pouted, "You don't look like a killer, so I was curious who could get you to kill." She explained. "Now I don't care." She turned away and crossed her arms.

"Hey!" He called out, she paused and turned back to look at him with a smirk.

"You're too easy, tell me Mr. Stupid Assassin. Who hired you?" She spoke while clasping her hands behind her back and leaning forward. Tilting her head to gaze at him.

"Ha, sadly I don't actually know. I never saw his face, but the money he offered was no joke, enough to blind your common Sense." He explained with a guilty look in his eyes, though he avoided eye contact she soon re-entered his view by circling around.

"Ah, a mystery man, that's interesting. Andy once read me a book about this great detective. Um nevermind, let's look for clues! Maybe we can figure out who it was" She seemed excited and her eyes sparkled as she began to ask questions about the mystery man.

Time flew for Derek, the young girl had captured his attention so thoroughly. They talked theories and possibilites like old friends. Although no conclusion could possibly be found, they were still quick friends. Derek easily gave her the confession she needed to help her master pin the assassination on Seraph.

Derek's interrogation lasted for several days, after every session the girl would appear and wipe his wounds. They would talk, and get ever closer. It was one of those nights that she asked him the question.

"If I helped you escape, would you take me away. Somewhere I can be free?" She'd asked him, bathed in golden torchlight as she grabbed the edges of her dress subconsciously.

"Yeah, we're pretty close to the border with Blushai. We could go together." His smile warm,

~

"Maxwell, how thoughtful you are to grace me with your presence." A charismatic voice cut through the cool night air, a man stepped into the moonlight. The tapping of his shoes on the stone bricks beneath his feet felt ominous.

"What did you do Griax?" Maxwell spoke calmly, he was leaning on the ramparts gazing down over the city of Aguris. His voice had a tinge of anger to it.

"Ha, what ever do you mean?" Griax laughed as he leaned his back against the same rampart and looked at his fellow bishop with a dangerous glint in his green eyes.

"You know exactly what I mean, why does Skarlet have the Demon King's sword?" Maxwell glared at him, the calm gave way to ice.

"Ooh, well I just thought it was such a waste to leave it there in the Hall of Demons without a master." Griax replied, "What are you gonna do about it? Hmmm?" Maxwell stood up, pushing away from the ramparts he readjusted his coat and frowned.

"Griax, this isn't just a wrench in our plan this could destroy it entirely. I told you to play your games somewhere else. Skarlet will grow while wielding that sword, and we can't resurrect the Demon King without it. My vessel of despair is no more, maybe I should sacrifice this entire city as a countermeasure. . . No something on that scale will draw the church and constrict my movements." Maxwell frowned in thought, deep annoyance wrinkled his brow. "If you keep meddling I'll no longer be able to maintain my composure. It's been a long time since a fight between bishops has taken place."

"You're right, hey I haven't stretched in a while. Maybe we should throw some punches?" Griax taunted, but much to his disappointment Maxwell only sighed.

"Do you know what happened to Asmodeus, how did she die?" Maxwell changed the subject suddenly.

"She was stabbed by the sword and fell to her death." Griax replied absently, "The sword absorbed her soul."

"Who? No way Skarlet did that. Griax did you get a Bishop killed?" Maxwell seemed surprised but then he frowned. "So we're down to five."

"Only five, what happened to the Bishop of Alchemy?" Griax frowned, a young vibrant demon with a passion for magical engineering, potions, and mana tools entered his mind. Her red hair and eyes, the machines and tech she was always pioneering even at the annoyance of the other demons.

"Executed for treason, you wouldn't know. It happened during the time you were out, and obviously you know the Demon king was slain before you returned." Maxwell explained, "She refused to make weapons, and wouldn't fight in the war. She shut herself in her laboratory till the king dragged her out and had her core ripped out.

"Wait, doesn't that mean?" Griax smiled at a realization.

"It's unlikely, besides a demon like her wouldn't be able to cause problems. The mortals kill demons on sight and she's basically a pacifist. The first member of the races she meets will kill her. That is if she even manages to awaken in the first place." Maxwell waved away even the possibility.

"Damn, woulda made it more interesting though."

"Do to your meddling, I'll have to move from Aguris sooner than planned. I'll need to push forward my plans to fully corrupt Lilly and change my plan with Skarlet. It's damn annoying, first though I need that idiot Seraph to awaken the demon for me." Maxwell spoke with palpable annoyance.

"That massive magic circle you've constructed is a thing of beauty, even I'm impressed." Griax smiled suddenly and gave a compliment.

"It better be, took six different teams of mages and all the assassins I've trained to create it."

"Well, you have to do that much at least to drag that thing to Aguris." Griax replied, "It'll be quite the show though."