Schwarz got up a few minutes after the duo left. Incidentally, he had spent those few minutes in storing away the drinks, preventing Dia and the others from taking any more from him.

“What?” Schwarz asked. “Y’all should drink some water once in a while. Sweet drinks and alcoholic drinks all day aren’t good for your health.”

“I don’t think that’s really applicable to us,” Nero pointed out. “I’m a flipping tetra-folder. Even if I drink your entire cellar, it won’t even give me anything beyond a hangover.”

“You don’t count, okay? And I’ll have you know that you haven’t tested my extra-concentrated pure water before,” Schwarz replied. “You’re welcome to try it out, although that’s definitely going to harm your body.”

“Why would you make such a drink, then?” Farah asked. “No one’s going to buy it. And if someone buys it, you’re going to lose a customer within a year. I don’t really get where this is going.”

“Oh, it’s to allow me to make drinks on the fly. Instant alcohol! Just add water.” He paused. “Alright, it’s to allow me to create lots of alcohol at a moment’s notice, in case someone wants to hold a party on the streets and is out of alcohol. I would then swoop in, sell them at a high price…see where I’m going?”

“How much can you create anyway?” Farah asked, curious.

Schwarz stuck his thumb up. “This much creates a barrel’s worth of my Raging Dragon Drink. Three cups are enough to make someone drunk, easy.”

“And how many of them do you have?” Farah pressed on.

“Why so interested?” Schwarz cupped his chin.

“Well, alcohol is a drink with lots of energy. It can be used as an emergency source of sustenance. If I have a few of those little concentrates, I’ll be able to sustain an army during an emergency,” Farah replied. “And you sound like you have lots of them.”

Schwarz nodded. “We can draw up an agreement, yes. Don’t mind selling to you at a friend’s price.”

Farah grinned. “Thanks.”

“You’re going off to handle the enhanced security measures, right?” Dia asked, directing her question to Schwarz. “Let me pass you some documents Claud left behind—”

“I have them,” Schwarz replied. “I mean, he was the one who worked it out with me and Risti in the first place, since we’re the guys he consulted. So the two of us also have a copy.”

“…So in total, four of us have a copy of his arrangements.” Dia rolled his eyes. “Talk about redundancy. Anyway, if you have them…good luck, at any rate. May you find more success at this job than I can create.”

“It’s just a matter of perspective…you guys should prepare to move out soon. Can’t let Count Daybreak twiddle his thumbs and cause trouble for us, can we?” Schwarz paused. “You guys should plan your expedition thoroughly, though. I suggest striking the lifestone mines in his territory, so that you guys can grow through plunder. It’s a method that won’t leave much proof behind, since you can deal with the evidence on the spot.”

“By eating every lifestone we come across?” Nero asked.

“Exactly.”

“…I won’t talk too much about my needs, but I’ll act as a protector for this round,” said Nero, his eyes flickering with a faint light. “Lifestones don’t really work well for me now. You guys will understand once everyone touches the border of a tetra-folder, and as usual, I can’t really tell you much here.”

“Bah.”

“That Authority thing again,” Farah muttered.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Everyone had come into contact with the idea of Authority after burning their second mana circuit, although the definition of what Authority exactly meant was a bit hazy. It was a cautionary measure to prevent people without the necessary mana circuits to hear important secrets, but who was the person who did the categorisation of these secrets? Why was there a need to do such a thing?

Dia’s first assumption would be the Goddess of Water and Learning, who created the status system, but unless there was more proof and documentation about why she did such a thing…

“Anyway, you three better think of some way to disturb Count Daybreak.” Schwarz paused. “Nightfall dropped off a package before he left. It should contain the necessary details for you fellows to do some preliminary planning.”

“I’ll handle that bit,” said Farah, taking the package from Schwarz’s hands and giving it a critical eye. “I don’t have anything to do anyway. You guys take a break. Crack open Schwarz’s barrel and drink or something.”

“I just closed it, so don’t even think of doing that,” Schwarz replied, his voice irritated. “Now, if you’d excuse me, I’ll take my leave here.”

Nero rubbed his nose. “I’ll pack up. See you guys around.”

Risti watched him as he scampered off, and then shook her head. “Sure feels like old times all over again, doesn’t it? I still remember that time when the two of us went to that little town…what town was it called again?”

“Nachtville,” Dia replied.

“Right, Nachtville.” Risti smiled. “And we were just one-folders back then. Now? We’re already burning our third circuit and making good progress on it. We’re qualified to cause trouble for Count Daybreak now!”

“Why are you so proud of that particular achievement?” Dia rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure what to think of you now. What, do you have a little trouble-making spirit hidden in your heart, willing to make some turmoil if provided the opportunity? You should be worried, alright? We’re talking about a count here, someone who should be a tri-folder.”

“Not all counts are tri-folders, right?” Risti replied. “Look at Farah—”

“I’m an exception to the rule, and Count Daybreak is indeed a tri-folder,” Farah replied.

“Yeah…although I don’t think the others actually know that, do they?” Risti cupped her chin. “How did you mask your weakness when you were talking to them in person?”

“Well, there’s something called an Aura-boosting Talisman,” Farah replied. “I stuck two of them on me and gave off the presence of a tri-folder, that’s all.”

That talisman sounded somewhat familiar to Dia for some reason, but she couldn’t quite place a finger on them. After racking her brain futilely for a moment, she tossed it aside and returned to the topic at hand.

“So, other than stealing a bunch of lifestones from his mines, what else can we do?” Risti asked.

“Do what a normal criminal would do, I guess. Kidnapping, robbery, arson and vandalising Count Daybreak’s home,” Farah replied. Dia had a feeling that one of the options included were very weird, but she didn’t have the presence of mind to actually give voice to her thoughts.

“Besides,” she continued, “the Moon Lords were originally founded to control and rule the underworld of Licencia, but it’s a bit odd that we never actually got around to doing anything illegal. Even the black market under Schwarz is quite reputable and isn’t really shady. Feels odd…”

“Only because Count Nightfall noticed us really early, right?” Risti replied. “That letter and all…right, he still hasn’t noticed what we did to him. Skillstrips are really deadly, aren’t they? He didn’t even realise something odd happened to him back then.”

“I don’t think he’s going to spend more than a few thoughts on thinking back. Besides, our ability to memorise things is the one thing that doesn’t improve with mana circuits,” Dia replied, before getting up. “Alright, I’m going to start packing too.”

“Same here,” Risti added.

“Don’t worry,” Farah replied, opening the package. Other than a bunch of maps, there were also some reports, although given recent events, they were unlikely to be up to date. “Leave the planning to me; you two should go and prepare for your trip to Count Daybreak. Do consider leaving me some lifestones, though!”

“We’ll bring a backpack’s worth,” Dia promised.

“After we stuff our faces with them,” Risti added.

“Don’t go putting words into my mouth, alright?” Dia rolled her eyes at Risti and headed for her room. “Pack, take a small break, and wait for Farah to call us. We can leave in the evening, now that the eerie darkness has vanished from Istrel altogether.”

“A silver lining, I guess…”

Thanking Farah once more, Dia retreated to her bedroom and started packing up. The usual lifestyle artefacts entered first — they were actually a must when staying in a room for a prolonged period of time — plus some weapons, defensive artefacts and water. Food wasn’t all that important now, since bi-folders didn’t have such a strong need to eat.

After making a few more arrangements, Dia decided to bring some food anyway. Count Daybreak’s domain was quite distant, and none of them talked about bringing Caroline’s little Mana Wagon. To be fair, however, bringing such a thing and committing crimes with it would be a bit too obvious, but…

“What a pain,” Dia muttered, before stuffing yet another barrier artefact into her bag.

Flopping onto her bed, she closed her eyes and waited for Farah to call everyone out.