100 A Required Help. (1/2)
”Do you want something with your tea? Maybe something from the Synnada Empire?” Two men were facing each other in a room lighted only by a dim light. If one didn't know where they were, they could think that they were inside the City Hall. This very room was not any less prestigious or sumptuous than the place where the council was held.The walls were well decorated, for the paintings that were displayed, even the Mayor could either recognize their creators or their provenance. But unfortunately, he was not her to appreciate art or how good was the tea.
”I have made a transaction with one of your men, but even when I uphold my part of the deal, he didn't. Concerning the current threat against my city, Archet, I wanted information, precise information. He didn't even manage to give me a third of the real number that the undead army had. I want something in compensation.”
Even while he was saying such harsh words, the voice of the Mayor was calm, not even with an ounce of anger. Knowing that he was dealing with something far more dangerous than himself, he could only complain. And because the reputation of the White Hand was to always honor their engagements, he could also try to gain something that could protect even a tiny bit Archet. He had already lost too much time just to end up in this room, and even his impassive mask was beginning to crumble under the worry behind it.
”Oh, I heard about it. But you know that there is rarely a good end for those that oppose us.” The white-haired man in front of the Mayor was neither quick or slow while picking up his own cup of tea. He was only appreciating the brewage while making the other party have to endure patiently without saying any other words. Even if it seemed that they were only two, only a fool will believe that no one was securing the outskirts.
The shadows of the Black Gauntlet were in charge of protecting all the higher-ups of the Organization, and even the Mayor knew that the elder was not just a nobody. It was not his usual contact, and the first time he ever saw him, but the security was pretty tight around him. He knew that he had been asleep for four hours, making it impossible for him to deduce where he was exactly inside Archet. His clothes were replaced, substitute by something workers inside the City Hall would wear. It wouldn't surprise the Mayor if he was touched everywhere while asleep, to make sure nothing could threaten the white-haired cadre.
”Did you talk about us with the two newly arrived adventurers?” An innocent question, that required an honest answer. Leaving the other interlocutor slightly baffled, since only 3 people should know about that, otherwise he wouldn't have the courage to speak so freely.
”Yes, they are an important part of the defenses. They are currently the strongest group of adventurers, based on the saying of the Guild Master. To deepen the bond between Archet and them, I tried to be a bit friendlier.” The Mayor couldn't just say that because the criminals had let him down and lied to his very face, he decided to repay that. Or at least, he couldn't say that to the man in front of him.
”Good reason, wrong cause. But you were honest, so I will overlook that slight discrepancy in your tale. Human emotions could make even a saint fall into darkness. But the White Hand has already decided that Archet was an important asset for the future. The city will not fall under our watch. You can go now; your question has been answered.”
Lifting with his left hand the cup of tea, he finished drinking it elegantly, like someone that knew the etiquettes of the nobility. The second cup was completely untouched, however, making the entire ordeal unsightly. Frowning seeing this, the old man could only look at the Mayor, signaling him that it was time for him to leave.
Looking at the door that was opening on nothing and the two silhouettes that were appearing nearby, the leader of Archet could only feel his back sweating. He had lost so many hours, only to be dismissed barely after a few minutes. And he only had a vague answer, not even a precise one, or when the help will arrive. But that was way above his current power, so he only bowed to the man in charge, before falling into a deep slumber.He was totally unharmed during the entire process, but he will not be able to wake up before the sun will be rising in the sky.
Looking at the dead weight that was carried away, the cadre of the White Hand discretely switched the two cups and enjoyed more the tea. Of course, that was seen by everyone around, since they were all experts, but everyone pretended that they saw nothing. It had already been three days since he arrived inside Archet, and everything he heard was pretty bad. Even the communication from his colleague on the other side of the mountains reported more and more problems with that wild zone.
He was sent here to find about the disappearance of the team supposed to meet the trolls and also to decided what to do with the two strangers. Only a few were above him inside the entire Organization, and the fact that he was here proved that everyone took the new threat seriously. Reports of the arrival of Dark Gods were flooding inside the Massalia Kingdom, especially after the incident at their Academy of Magic.
Even without them selling the news to the other nations, they had already realized something wrong, only not knowing the exact nature of it. They had enjoyed a global peace for far too long, and the usual skirmishes between the human nations were already creating a few issues for the criminal empire. They were extremely reluctant to face something as terrible as monsters that could threaten nations by themselves. All they could pinpoint was that this city and Ronta inside the Massalia Kingdom were the two closest towns to the potential base of those dark invaders.
”How much time before they arrived?” A shadow approached the old man and began to murmur a few sentences in his ears, making him nod his head a bit. ”They will only have to survive to dawn then. However, those ghouls, did they strike again?” The same shadow only moved his fingers a bit, but the message was sent. Only the elder could see it, part of the code that was enforced inside the Organization. Between those that know, and those that shouldn't know.
”This will be an issue then. Exterminate them, make the liches expand their mana but just enough to make the line stand. Let the proud and honorable knights gain all the merits once more, hehe.” The small laugh in the end was his true sentiments about the one they asked for help. Not that he felt they were neither honorable or proud, just that they were always in the open while he stayed in the dark.