It had been a few days since Lu Yao and Xue Mo had arrived at Danem. After they made a plan, they decided to start quickly. They were going to infiltrate the castle.
The plan was simple. Xue Mo would use the ability that lets him become incorporeal and explore the castle. Once he finds his target, Xue Mo would deal with him according to the situation.
Although the plan was simple and a little primitive, it was the most practical. Why should Xue Mo knock a guard out and sneak in? Why should he disguise as a noble and request an audience with the king? Why should he go through unnecessary trouble? The answer is: he shouldn't!
If he had an ability that could ease his journey, then he should use it. After all, simple is always better! No need for complications and annoying stuff. No one would even discover this ability of his, and even if they did, they couldn't do anything against it.
Currently, Xue Mo and Lu Yao were walking to the castle. They had discovered that Xue Mo could make her incorporeal if she were touching him. They did ponder if only Lu Yao could do that because of her special background, or could he also do that with others? Yet, there probably wouldn't be a way to tell, as there is no person that they could trust enough to try it on.
Entering through the walls of the castle-like ghosts, Xue Mo and Lu Yao looked around them. The castle walls were as expected, fancy, filled with decorations, and a long hallway that has a wooden door at the end of it.
This wasn't anything in front of their eyes, so they didn't stand to admire the scene. Instead, Xue Mo looked at Lu Yao and muttered, "hold tight."
Understanding what he was going to do, Lu Yao did as just that. Right after, in small bursts of speed, Xue Mo zoomed through the corridor and started exploring the castle. He was using the True Arch Energy to cover his feet as he ran; this way, his speed would drastically increase, and with him still being incorporeal, he could easily explore the castle.
It took 30 minutes for them to finish. Although the castle looked big from outside, the inside was even bigger. All the rooms had vases, tulip followers, and other stuff showing that royalty like showy materials. Yet, the throne room, which should have been the fanciest place in the castle, had a gloomy air in it.
Entering the room, they found a middle-aged man sitting on the throne in a gothic-like setting. There were twenty blackish-grey magically reinforced basalt columns that were evenly spread out across the hall. A chandelier with a small fire burning along its sides in a tower shape hung from the silver-colored roof. The throne was a regular throne that had jewels adorning it. It sat at the top of a small stair to show the person's superiority sitting on it. It was a creepy looking throne room.
When Xue Mo and Lu Yao entered, they saw the person sitting on the throne holding a transparent crystal that shone at the top of it, showing the figure of a red-robed person. The robe covered everything from top to bottom.
"My lady, we will launch the attack on the Battle Mage Academy soon!" The middle-aged man said, respectively.
"Nathan, you have made sure that no one will know about this, correct?" The red-robed woman spoke; her voice was a little hoarse, displaying that she was either too old or were masking her voice.
"Yes, my lady! No one knows about the plan. Though, I did hear that my son had the same thought and was even planning to propose an alliance with the other two countries for help," Nathan reported. "We can use them to camouflage our attack."
It seemed that he didn't mind using his son and country for his agendas. "My lady, once we have taken superficial control of the Ash Expanse, will you finally allow me to ascend?" Nathan sounded desperate. "These days, even my son has almost reached my level!"
The woman heard the exasperation and longing in his voice and said, "of course. Not only will I let you ascend, but I will also grant you a high position in my organization!" Her sweet talk and enticing words worked as greed and excitement painted Nathan's face; he wasn't even trying to hide that.
While these two talked, Xue Mo and Lu Yao were standing right next to Nathan, recording everything using the recording device Hesroth gave. Hearing the conversation between the two, Xue Mo got an idea; if it worked, then he would have a reward or maybe even the favor of the Dark Arts Sect.
Although Hesroth treated him nicely and was also a part of the Dark Arts Sect, Xue Mo wanted some freedom to make sure he won't get spied on later. He decided to strike a deal with them.
Like that, the woman and Nathan continued supplying Xue Mo with information that he could use to bargain with the Dark Arts Sect. These fools were trying to conquer a territory of the Dark Arts Sect, and their fate had already been sealed when they had thoughts of conspiring about the Ash Expanse.
"Lastly, Nathan, when we conquer this world, our reward would be huge! Don't mess this up, for both our sakes!" The woman's serious voice made Nathan's heart skip a beat as he nodded his head severely.
"Don't worry, my lady, everything will go according to plan. Farewell!"
"May Magic be with you, Nathan Udanem!"
Nathan stored the communication crystal away as soon as the lady's hologram disappeared. The crystal shone with a faint blue light as confirmation before that happened.
Nathan sighed in relief and about to recline on his throne to rest when he heard a voice that sent shivers down his body.
"What do we have here?" The voice was cold and detached; it had a bloodthirsty tone. "You, Nathan Udanem, should know that the Assassination Academy's power and reaches are everywhere in the Ash Expanse" The voice stopped with that as he saw Nathan turn his head to look at him.
"Are you that dumb to try and scheme against us? Do you think you can rule the Ash Expanse?" Xue Mo spoke with contempt. He wanted to know just how stupid people Kings and Queens can be! He had his fair share with Kings, Queens, Emperors, Sect Master, and the like scheme against him in his last life.
Even when they knew their fate wouldn't be good, they still tried. How can be with that kind of brain capacity be rulers? He honestly didn't know! Even now, he saw how this, Nathan Udanem, was having thoughts about the Ash Expanse, knowing that it belongs to the Assassination Academy (Dark Arts Sect). Did he also not know how to think?
Wanting an answer, Xue Mo narrowed his eyes, "Are you that dumb?"