Without any footsteps to serve as proof of her approach, Jeanne showed up in front of Queen. While her master took care of Kaili, she received the order to see if Queen needed any help. Unfortunately, by the time she got here the main culprit was already gone.
"A little on edge, aren't we? Should I apologize for taking away a chance for you to be praised by your dear master for a good job done?"
"Tch, I wish you could have used that worthlessly apt tongue of yours to do your job."
"Fufu, I'm rather kind to women but," in an instant, Queen appeared before Jeanne and lifted her chin with her ice fan before continuing, "Don't take it too far, okay?"
With her this close, even though she would never admit, Jeanne felt her face get hot from excitement. She hastily slapped away Queen's hand before turning away and teleporting.
"What a cute one."
***
(My POV)
"So you wasted my help. I don't know if I should thank you or scold you."
"Like master, like servant, huh? Why isn't comforting me an option?"
"Like you actually need that."
"I'm still but a delicate woman you know."
Within Queen's room, the two of us went over what just happened as we sat facing each other over cups of tea. Though Jeanne wanted to participate as well, I left her with Kaili again. Naturally, after warning her not to let the fairy's identity slip.
With Kaili's help, I was able to confirm the presence of a trafficking organization in the city that worked with the casinos. The technological level of the Demon Lands was surprisingly high but there was still a demand for slaves. Most for labour, but there were always a variety of other things they could be used for.
Since I was sure that it wasn't Queen's work, considering her personality, I knew it had to be something she wanted to get rid of, but had problems doing so. This was where I came in.
It wasn't as if we planned everything beforehand but I was fairly certain she would catch on to my intentions. While I made a commotion with Kaili, she and her people would lock down on the place and capture the boss.
However, the boss slipped through her fingers. How it happened wasn't hard to accept, but I still felt a tad bit disappointed.
'Was she truly that cunning of a foe?'
Nonetheless, this wasn't really my problem so I quickly put it aside and focused on my main objective.
"Well anyways, at the very least now you can remove this tumor from Night City. So, how would you like to thank me for my help?"
"Is a smile not enough?"
"Maybe I would consider it if that smile was a little more innocent."
Was what I said, but honestly the smug smile she used was devilishly charming so I had to avert my eyes for a moment.
'Still can't let my guard down around her.'
"Aw, how unfortunate. Well, I suppose I can't accept free help from my equal. How about I-"
Right as she was about to confirm her intention of aiding me, my right middle finger vibrated. It was less embarrassing than it lighting up, but I still needed to find a more sophisticated way of getting this alert.
"Sorry, one moment."
While Queen looked at my finger in curiosity and amusement, I swore that I would complain to Bony for calling me at such a time.
However, the single word I heard before it cut the call was enough. Though I didn't want to expose my weakness to her, I ended up sighing before Queen.
"Hmm, was there trouble?"
"I suppose you could say so. I'm afraid we'll have to continue this conversation later."
"Oh, really? In that case I might forget about what I was going to say."
"..."
"Don't me give me that look, I was only kidding, okay."
'She might actually do it.'
As I had this thought I couldn't help but hesitate, even so I had no choice.
Back over at the castle, there was a fierce confrontation. The meeting between the death knight and Bony that started the night before, had exploded into a full-on battle.
An exchange of conflicting opinions used to be all there was, but after an entire day of it even an undead like Sir Dain got fed up.
"Tyrion, I'll ask this just one more time! Are you on our side, or aren't you?"
"At the very least, I'm not on your side."
"Very well then."
Once the death knight accepted that Bony wouldn't change its mind, there was no longer a need to continue this farce of a conversation.
The death knight stood up and summoned his chilling black sword. Around the same time, Bony also sensed that the followers the death knight brought along had begun fighting against its servants.
"So this is your choice."
Bony also stood up and transformed into a mass of flesh through Hulk. Furthermore, Bony stretched out its hand and waited for a dark purple spear matching its height to be sucked to its palm.
"Forgive me, Sir Dain. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep you alive."
"Hmph, what bold words for a fledgling."
As the death knight made his first move, the clanking of his armour seemingly disappeared. It wasn't Blink, but to Bony the difference was negligible. Before he knew it, the death knight's blade was almost at its neck, shining with the same red light as his eyes. Bony quickly slipped out of its flesh to escape this blade, but it was still knocked through the wall behind it.
'Strong!'
After struggling back to its feet, Bony couldn't conceal the touch of fear it experienced. From that one clash it was sure that the death knight had reached the limit of Strength. It had also worked hard in order to better serve its lord, but the physical limits were still out of its reach in its base form, so it wasn't able to unlock the 'Summit of Strength' title.
'A shame, it seems I won't be enough.'
When Bony detected the slightest movement from the death knight, it hurriedly raised its spear to block the incoming blade. It would have been comforting if their skills were at least equal, but the death knight's sword skill was clearly better than its spear skill.
Even though they appeared equal while their weapons clashed, a few moves were all it took for the death knight's blade to reach Bony's neck once more.
"This is the end!"
The undead lord couldn't escape. There was nothing it could do to stop the blade tip from piercing its cervical spine. If it had time then maybe it could risk its new soul to breach the limit of Strength, but the death knight certainly wouldn't be so kind.
Luckily, its lord had the foresight to leave behind insurance.
'Woah there. I can't allow you to kill my friend here."
Neither of them had sensed him before he appeared, but while the undead lord had predicted his presence, the death knight flinched in surprise. Not only was this interloper capable of sneaking up on him, he had also stopped his blade with just two fingers.
"Nnn!"
The death knight immediately injected the power of a lethal curse into his sword, but even this was easily blocked by the intruder's own mana.
"Sorry, I've gotten a little too used to curses and such while I was training."
Slightly frightened by his capabilities, the death knight dragged back his sword and hurriedly stepped back.
"Who are you?"
In response to the death knight's question, the intruder, Brad, gave a confident smile.
"Just someone serving the same master as this guy."
"Thank you for your assistance, Sir."
Now that it had some room to breath, the undead lord straightened up and thanked Brad.
"It's fine, it's fine. If I had left you to die I wouldn't be able to face master. Now then, how about we take care of this so that master isn't disappointed."
"Of course."