Chapter 533 Another Identity (1/2)
As an active organization operating along the grey areas, the 'Masquerade' was efficient in many aspects. However, they were best at contacting organizations and individuals that weren't easily approachable and making fake identities.
Perhaps this description wasn't accurate because strictly speaking, the 'Masquerade' wasn't creating fake identities. They were merely providing a brand new identity for the customer and there would not be any flaws or loopholes. For example, if Rhode wished to disguise himself as a Mage, the 'Masquerade' would give him a Mage's identification according to his request. If there were doubters who checked their way to the Mage Association, they would be surprised to see that the records existed and every record would be fully consistent.
It was due to this special quality that the 'Masquerade' had caused a widespread debate among players. Their ability in creating fake identities was so amazing that as long as one had the money, one could pass oneself off as a Mage, Scholar, Soldier, and Noble according to one's requirements. One's new identity would be recorded in every regulated organization and some people might even 'have heard' of one. This was too absurd for some players to accept. If the 'Masquerade' could simply hand out fake identities and tamper with all the name lists in the group, it wouldn't be wrong to say that this organization was the most powerful in the whole of Dragon Soul Continent. After all, it wasn't easy to falsify the records of organizations, let alone hidden existences.
This surely wasn't possible.
Another saying that was accepted by most players was that there were people missing every moment on this continent perhaps due to adventures or the perils of the sea. The 'Masquerade' would go through secret means to gather details of the lost ones and store their identities to reuse for others at appropriate times. This would answer the players' doubts that if these identities existed, they wouldn't need to pay such a huge price to falsify. However, there were risks too. Wouldn't one be exposed if the missing one's family members or friends recognized them?
No matter what, both guesses had proven that the 'Masquerade' had powerful backings that were spread all around the Dragon Soul Continent. If not, they couldn't possibly gather that many intelligence and personnel records.
This organization had been operating mysteriously in the game and even players and NPCs had no idea what they were up to. However, their ”work prestige” had always been guaranteed as the new identities purchased had never been exposed. A player had spent a large sum of money to purchase a Prince's identity and he got into the royal family of a small country!
This was what Rhode required at this point.
The man read the name list and nodded slightly with a stupefied expression. He strode his way into the kitchen at the back, returning to the pub lazily after a few moments while waving his palm to Rhode.
Rhode knitted his brows and retrieved a small bag of gems from the fold of his clothes. The price was still within his capabilities as a guild leader. The man accepted the bag of gems and passed a greasy kraft envelope over. Rhode kept the envelope and left the pub. The rusty, unoiled hinge of the door squeaked sharply and the pub returned to its usual peacefulness. The man sprawled on the counter once more and shut his eyes to continue his warm afternoon nap.
”I don't understand why you needed these.” Celestina swept a loathful glance at the dirty kraft envelope while Celia gazed at Rhode silently from the side. Rhode ignored Celestina's prattle and took out a few pages of white, clean papers imprinted with an emblem from the envelope. He nodded in satisfaction after scrutinizing them. Then, he tucked the documents into the fold of his clothes and retrieved two clothes from his bag, gesturing to the sisters. ”Put them on.”
”Eh?” The sisters exchanged glances. Celestina frowned at the clothing and let out a snort. ”What's that? Master?”
”This is your next mission,” Rhode answered expressionlessly, well-prepared for everything needed. ”I need both of you to disguise yourselves as my maids as we head into Fiat. Celia, you will need to keep your armor and wings and Celestina, your clothes… are obviously unsuitable for a maid…”
”Are you kidding me?!” Celestina let out a shriek. She squinted her scarlet eyes burning in rage. ”You want me to be your maid? Master, don't get it wrong. I am only your subordinate. If it weren't for the divine oath, I would never listen to your command, so you don't try your luck!”
”Maids are also a part of being a subordinate,” Rhode said simply, expecting those words to blabber out of her mouth. Actually, he would be more worried that she would secretly spoil his plans if she had accepted without any disagreements. ”This is part of your job, Miss Celestina. Besides, this is my order as your Master.”
”You… How dare you give me such an order as a human. You do know that we are…” Celestina shut her mouth, trembling her tiny clenched fists. Then, she stomped the ground aggrievedly and turned toward Celia. ”Speak up. Are you deaf? Are you able to accept this order as a Battle Angel? Celia?”
Celia withdrew her gaze from the two sets of clothing and pondered for a few moments. ”This is Master's order, Big Sister. I will naturally abide as his subordinate.”
”Ah… I can't take it anymore, you stone-brain!” Celestina snarled and glared at her silent younger sister fumingly. Rhode observed their interactions. Then, he realized that Celia was behaving a little differently.
Celia in the past had always behaved passively in front of Celestina, where she basically wouldn't disobey Celestina's orders. Besides, her fear of Celestina seemed to be roaming deep into her bone marrows. Even in the Grosso Plain, she maintained her silence to protest against Celestina when she indulged in her massacre. Her fear toward Celestina had exceeded the belief that she should persevere as a Battle Angel: the hierarchical relationship between the Holy Sword Cards was clearly distinct to Rhode.
But this time, Rhode discovered that Celia was behaving a little different. She had always given off a serious, solemn, and reserved vibe and although this vibe remained the same, Rhode sensed that she might have opened herself up to some matters which made her seemed unprecedentedly relaxed. It felt as though a man bound in heavy, dreadful fetters and handcuffs was released from the years of torment. Celestina seemed to have also realized her younger sister's strange behaviors, but she let out a snort without saying more.
”A sycophant will always be a sycophant. You can obey whoever you want, but I'm never doing it!”