Returning to the palace, I began to contemplate over the things Aurelia talked about. From her, I realised that even if I do gain enough strength to truly think about fighting Akkre, I have no clue how I'm supposed to break free from the System. And even if I do break free, I don't know the first thing about barriers or sealing techniques. I might be able to ask Aurelia about barriers, but I don't think show nows how to seal things in them.
As I'm aimlessly walking around the palace, I find a light coming from Lia's study. Peeking in through the slightly opened door, Lia is hard at work, dealing with a mountain of paperwork. Not willing to help with the paperwork, I quickly leave and continue to wander around the palace. Looking out a window, under the faint moonlight, I notice some movement just past the window. Crouching low to the ground, I shrink myself down to the size of a child and follow the sounds of someone's footsteps. Although I can't see anything, there seem to be two or maybe three people stealthy moving just past the wall. With my strong senses, I can also hear some faint whispers, but I can't make out anything they're saying with a wall separating us.
The group outside eventually comes to a stop near a large window. Taking a step back to see what they're doing, they begin to heat the glass using some kind of fire magic. They seem to be trying to melt the glass. Just as I thought, they're here to look for trouble. Seeing the rate at which the glass melts down, I determine that there is probably around twenty minutes before the glass is gone.
I make a run for it while staying close to the wall so as to hide beneath the windows and just as I get far away enough that I won't be seen by them, I return to my normal size, increasing my speed. Exiting the palace, I run along the wall by the windows so as to not get lost, slowing down as I near a corner. I shrink down and shift into my true form, causing me to shrink even further down to the size of a small snake.
Hiding within the shrubbery, I near approach the group and find that my estimate was correct, three people. While I can't make out any appearances as their clothes hide their bodies well, from their voices, I can at least gather that it's probably two men and one woman.
Slowly, I begin to slither close as I eavesdrop on their conversation.
"So you are absolutely sure that you saw the Imperatrix return today? I don't want to have are trip end in vain, if we get caught it's over and any future attempts on her life will be much harder," the woman says.
"Yeah, the reports from our spies say she was spotted passing the gate earlier in the night with the feathered Dragonoid. I saw her myself as well, but I wasn't able to make any moves on her since she had those two Dragonoids with her. Aurelia is one thing since all members of the Imperial family have someway to avoid inspections, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't see the status of the two Dragonoids, despite my unique inspection skill. As long as we catch her off-guard while the Dragonoids aren't around we should be fine," says one of the men.
"You sure about that, Opiter, I heard rumours saying the Imperatrix is actually quite strong?" asks the other man.
"Think about it, Tullus, those rumours only came about after she started associating with the Dragonoids. Chances are that this rumoured strength is just her borrowing power from the Dragonoids," says Opiter.
"You're just parroting the words of the Archidux. Don't forget, I was there with you when his Excellency said that," the woman says.
"I know, Vorenia, but when you think about the circumstances it's probably true."
"Do not be so casual with me and I'd rather you think for yourself instead of-- who's there!" Vorenia says as she a throwing knife lands in the ground right next to my face.
That was close, I was going to jump that Tullus guy but if I had made any moves further there might have been a knife in my head... or not. Now that I look at it, the knife doesn't seem particularly strong, and despite being the strongest of the three, that Vorenia woman's strength can't compare to my defences
"Don't get so worked up Captain Vorenia, it's just a wandering animal," Tullus says turning his back to me.
"Why did they have to assign dumb and dumber to be my subordinates. Whatever, just to be safe..."
I feel a chill encroaching on my body as I lunge out at Tullus and at the same time Vorenia shouts, "quickly get back!" Enlarging my body, I get a nice surprise attack on Tullus, injecting him with my venom right into his heart. With such a lethal strike and no corrosion resistance, it doesn't take more than a few moments before he falls dead. Increasing my size further, I ignore the attacks from the other two as I consume his body whole, basking in the flames they are throwing my way.
"Damn it, why aren't our attacks working!? Just what is this monster!? Why can't I see what this is!?" Opiter yells.
"Because the only good thing about your inspection skill is that it can go undetected. I saw what this is, it's a Tier 8 Elite Monster, forget about avenging Tullus, prioritise escaping, you're on your own from here!" says she runs off, leaving Opiter to fend for himself.
She fast, much faster than me. Certainly living up to the name of her class, Night Runner. Since it's clear I won't catch her, I'll just deal with this guy.
"Don't leave me! Captain! Damn it all!"
Moving my body around, I make sure that the only path out is through me, as I lift my upper body up to give a more intimidating appearance as I bring myself to my full size.
"I'm not afraid of you, Monster! I'll avenge my brother, prepare to die!"
With no options other than fighting to the death or letting me kill him, Opiter chooses to run straight at me with two daggers held in a backwards grip. Of course, he doesn't amount to anything as swat him away with my tail and hit him with my Shrapnel Breath.
Killing and eating both of those guys only netted me a total of 552 experience and a little over 200kg of biomatter, how worthless. I guess if anything, I reached another threshold on my Growth Mutation, increasing my max size by one metre and giving my stats a small boost.
Looking over in the direction that Vorenia woman fled, I see a golden light in the distance. Seems like she isn't getting away after all.
******Vorenia Eunapia******
Why the hell is a monster like that around the Imperial Capital and on the palace grounds at that. Regardless, this assassination mission is a failure. While part of the blame goes to the idiot brothers, I should have tried harder to refuse this mission. I don't even want to be working under the Archidux, especially since he also has a disgusting face when he looks at me.
While caught in my thoughts, I suddenly run into something as I pass the city gates. But what was blocking my path is a strange golden light. I try to push it aside and continue, but it won't budge and before long I hear footsteps behind me.
"So it's one of the children of the Eunapia family leading this expedition. I've heard about it before, but it seems to be true, that the Eunapia family turns the children outside of the direct line of succession into assassins."
Turning around I find that it's the Imperatrix herself who snuck up behind me. Either the rumours are true or she is an overconfident fool to approach me alone. Seeing the golden light that surrounds us shrinking to only cover the distance between us and a small ways around us, left with no other options I take the gamble and prepare for a fight. But as I rush to close the distance between us, she claps as a gust of wind throws me away, crashing into the golden wall.
Looking up, I find that she suddenly appears right in front of me. I try to move my body to strike, but soon find that there is some force holding me back.
Tearing away the heavy cloak that concealed me, she says, "your body's condition is quite nice, pretty similar to little Cordelia, although your chest is leagues ahead. Now let's take a look at your face," she says as I suddenly see my hood and mask floating in the air, "not bad, quite the looker underneath that annoying mask. Instead of killing you, I've got an idea," the Imperatrix says, as I'm taken back to the palace with no way to resist.
Just what is going to happen to me...
******Vorenia Eunapia End******
In the morning Aurelia calls me and Lia over to her chambers but as we approach the door to her room, I notice someone more than just Aurelia in there. Entering the room we see a woman standing next to Aurelia. Something about her is familiar, but I don't think I've interacted with her before. She is just a little shorter than me, probably around 1.8 metres or so. Long Light blonde hair and brown eyes, not to uncommon to see around here in Lausiel. She is wearing some strange clothes though, they seem to resemble those skin-tight gym suits and it really highlights her body. Ignoring her chest, she has some really well-defined muscles that stand out more than even Milla's. I'm almost, no, I'm absolutely positive that those clothes came from Aurelia. Just where does she get these from?
"I make them myself, anyway I'll introduce you all, this is my new toy-- I mean servant, Vorenia Eunapia, the sixth daughter of Dux Eunapia," turning her head to Vorenia, Aurelia says, "these are my partners, Lia Staellum and Cordelia Auspin. Actually, you should have met Cordelia last night, she is the big dragon you met outside the palace. And, Cordelia, Vorenia is the assassin from last night."
The two of us silently stare at each other for a moment until we shout, quickly I move into a fighting position, while Vorenia... hides behind Aurelia.
"Just what the hell did you do to her?" I ask.
"Nothing much, don't worry about it, she's harmless, I can guarantee it. Isn't that right, Vorenia."
Saying that Aurelia pokes Vorenia's side as she lets out a moan and blushes while turning her head away in embarrassment.
"Seriously what the hell did you do!" Both me and Lia shout.
"Would you really like to know, perhaps I can demonstrate for you tonight," Aurelia says as she appears behind me and starts hugging me, "oh, but not you Lia, just Cordelia."
With Lia's help, I break free from Aurelia's grasp and ask, "so is this all you called us here for?"
"Of course not, I have some new information to share, so let's get down to business."