Yuuki straightened out the last wrinkles on his uniform and combed his hair one last time to make his appearance impeccable. For now, the presence seemed to back off and not engage in any talks with him but it still was trying to tear down something within him.
As the public face of the Free Guild, he had to look the part.
The guest room in the guild branch building he was staying in was spacious and comfortable, which assured him that not even A-ranked members could complain. Although A-Ranked guild members didn't really have a reason to visit Tempest as no monster slaying jobs would ever be needed.
The first-floor lounge was as busy as in every other guild branch but here all the guild members were either craftsmen or merchants. Tempest was a goldmine when it came to raw monster materials.
As Yuuki returned polite greetings, his second in command, Kagali, descended the stairs and approached him. "Good morning." She greeted him with a neutral tone.
"Good morning. Anything to report?" Yuuki asked. { Did you find anything of use? }
"Initial talks have been very productive. Guild members can rent workshops and forges for the standard prices. With an abundance of raw materials, the guild's profits will be high." Kagali dutifully reported. { Tear reported that the royal castle and a fortress that guards the entrance to Veldora's cave are too densely packed with shadow creatures and she couldn't sneak past them. }
"Great. Make sure everyone understands the local laws. We can't afford to cause an incident." { I will look into ways of developing a skill that will help her get past the guards unnoticed. }
"I will follow the established procedure and make every arriving member read the law book and sign the agreement of personal responsibility. Bessier already sent me all the relevant paperwork." Kagali said as she mentioned for Yuuki to follow her outside. { Have you found a way to give away skills? }
"I see you have everything under control. Anything else?" Yuuki asked as he followed his assistant through the streets of Tempest's capital. { No, but I think I can make something that I can use to remotely boost her. It is paramount to find out what Momonga is hiding. }
Even if they kept up the act of being much weaker than they were, there was no need to have guards when walking the streets. Crime within the capital was virtually nonexistent.
Although Tempest was an opponent that needed to be either removed or subjected, Yuuki had to admit the place was run better than all human nations. Of course, monsters had different sets of moralities and basically worshiped their superiors, so any disobedience was pretty much unthinkable.
"Lord Peroroncino had agreed to my request for audience to discuss the possibility for Tempest to sell the rare materials that are not accessible to common merchants." Kagali's tone changed to a wary one. She had always been a woman in spirit, but still needed to get used to others, especially men, reacting to her appearance. { Be careful. We are treading on thin ice here. }
"That's great news. If our craftsman gets their hands on such materials, we can greatly improve the gear of the high-ranking adventurers. If you wish, I can accompany you." Yuuki flashed her a reassuring smile. { I know what I'm doing. Why the cold feet all of the sudden? }
"Your company is always appreciated," Kagali replied. { I can't read anyone's power levels and I already saw Milim practically eating from their hands. }
{ So what? We had planned how to steer her in the direction that benefits us. I thought you already finished the mind control artifact. }
{ No matter what I create, it won't be enough to fully control her. }
{ Relax. In the unlikely chance of complete failure, we can always retreat to the Eastern Empire. }
Kagali chose to not reply. Yuuki was young and confident, but she was old and shaped by the countless mistakes of the past. Milim alone was a threat that may never be truly eliminated.
Pushing the worries aside, she walked beside Yuuki towards the castle. Clayman, one of her greatest creations, the youngest member of the Moderate Harlequin alliance had more than earned a chance for even a momentary reunion.
Even if he had failed his duty to carry on her legacy, all her creations were like children to her and she would not deny them or herself a reunion.
They would accidentally bump into each other and exchange some cold pleasantries verbally while the real conversation would be encrypted beneath the surface thoughts.
Everything went according to plan and they bumped into Clayman as they entered the castle. He looked at them with a faint smile, as if they were less than dirt.
{ Master! } His real reaction was that of overwhelming joy.
"I think we haven't met before. Yuuki Kagurazaka, the Grandmaster of the Free Guild. And this is my assistant, Kagali." Yuuki said with a light bow.
Kagali meanwhile made a very forced smile and bowed as well. { Clayman. It makes me so happy to see you once again. I am proud of how well you have done as my replacement. }
"You must be very brave to approach me like this, human," Clayman said. He looked them up and down and gave his pet fox a gentle stroke. { I did my best, Master. }
"I don't believe even a Demon Lord would cause an unnecessary conflict in the Storm Dragon's domain," Yuuki said with a smile.
{ Indeed. I heard a lot from Laplace and… } Kagali stopped mid-sentence. Something was off. She quickly used the channel she had left to his mind and soul that only she should be able to access and looked around.
An influence was imprinted upon his mind to make him more arrogant and reckless. 'Someone had done it while I was away. Yuuki? Could he do something like that? Or maybe it was someone else. I will remove it and see if Yuuki reacts to the change or tries to alter Clayman again.'
{ Master, is something wrong?} Clayman messaged her.
{ Continue your act. There is an imprint on your mind I need to remove. }
{ Imprint? }
{ Continue taunting the client and do not resist. }
{ As you command. }
The imprint was a strong one. Even with all her knowledge, she had difficulties rewriting it. But no one would stand in her way of saving one of her creations, the closest thing she had to children.
As the final seal broke, Clayman almost dropped the act, but to his credit, just scoffed at Yuuki and told him to not be so arrogant for a mere human.
{ Done. I do not know how long it was active and what decisions you have made that were affected by it, but I want you to reflect on your actions for at least the last few decades to see if something is off. } Kagali messaged Clayman.
Yuuki, following the conversation, dropped one last thinly veiled threat and walked past Clayman with Kagaili following.
{ I will, thank you, my master. I hope to meet you again. }
{ Don't worry, you will. Once Tempest's business is over, I might make a prolonged visit to your domain. }
Veldora and his pawns could be taken off the suspect list almost immediately. By what Laplace and Tear had told her, Clayman had changed during the last decade or so, not mere days.
If Yuuki wasn't behind it then the most likely culprit was someone from the Eastern Empire. That nation hid many secrets and had, by far, the greatest otherworlder population. One of them may have gained a skill that let them manipulate even someone like Clayman.
'I will find who did this, and when I do, I will tear the bastard's soul apart piece by piece.' Kagali made a promise to herself.
‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›‹x›
'I was under someone's influence all this time.' Clayman sat alone in an office room at the table going over every major decision he had made over the last few decades in his head.
Even with his observation skills, self-reflection was not something he was particularly proficient in, and maybe for that exact reason he was made a tool.
'My subordinates must have noticed a change in my behavior, but who should I ask? Yamza? No, he is too dull and selfish to see anything past the rewards I give to him and tasks he needs to do.' He dismissed his most loyal servant as one to talk with.
'Who then? Mjurran… yes, she must have noticed. I have kept her heart for centuries against my promises to set her free. Maybe it's time to give her back what is hers. Yes, that will do.' Clayman broke into a faint smile and called Mjurran in.
The woman walked into the office a minute later and kneeled. "Lord Clayman, you called?"
"You may rise, and put the veil of secrecy around this room over mine," Clayman said and motioned at the chair in front of the table.
His dutiful servant did as ordered but remained standing.
"You may sit. I want to make a deal with you." Clayman said and put the jar with her heart on the table.
"My heart… what must I do?" She looked at the jar with a barely hidden surprise and reluctantly sat down, nervously holding her hands.
"The deal is simple. I will give you your heart back but in return, you will answer all my questions and never speak to anyone about this conversation. I expect absolute honesty from you even if you think I would punish you for it. Do you understand?"
"I… Lord Clayman, I am always absolutely honest with you." she said with her voice betraying nervousness.
"Please, Mjurran, you are smarter than this. I would expect such a blatant lie from Yamza, not you." Clayman pushed the heart closer to her. "I need you to be fully honest with me this one time and in return, you are getting your heart back. You will not be punished no matter what you say to me." He said looking into her eyes.
Mjurran quickly looked down and replied. "I… agree. I will try to answer all your questions as honestly as possible."
"Good. Then let's start. Have you seen a change in my behavior, and if you have, when did it start?"
"I'm not sure. Some of your actions become increasingly cruel, like the mass killing of the slaves you purchased, but I always assumed it was for some ritual."
"Ah yes, the slave situation. I must admit, it was a cruel endeavor but a necessary one. Anything else?" 'When she pointed it out I did become more paranoid about my weakness and tried to force my awakening as a true Demon Lord.'
"I don't think so…" She said quietly.
"Mjuraan, I'll be honest with you. Someone had manipulated me and I need to know when it started to find a culprit. I want you to be honest for that exact reason. Tell me everything you want to tell me and do not hold back."
"You were manipulated, my Lord? I don't think it was even…"
"We are not getting anywhere. I see that my offer was in vain!" He grabbed the jar and pulled it closer.
"W-wait. You may always have been negligent towards your servants and made us envious of your real friends, but I think it started to become worse after your visit to the Eastern Empire. Your actions after that started to become more erratic and reckless. The killing of slaves and the increasingly poor treatment of your castle staff. Plotting against other Demon Lords became too careless." Mjuraan hastily spoke.
"So it was the Eastern Empire." Clayman stood up and opened the lid of the jar gently taking the heart in his right hand. With his usual elegance, he walked around the table and met Mjurran's uncertain gaze.
"Lean back and remove your top." He ordered the woman.
She quickly did as she was told and first removed her cloak and then untied her dress and pulled it down, revealing her bare chest. She closed her eyes and took short sharp breaths.
Clayman stood motionless for a moment and then his arm went into her chest, putting the heart into its rightful place as a stream of magicules removed the artificial heart and empowered the real one so she wouldn't lose any of her power.
Mjurran exhaled sharply and opened her eyes in shock at the intense pain she was feeling. Over the centuries of being a majin, she had forgotten how painful the procedure was.
Once a human witch, she had sought ways to extend her life but had not found the answer until she came into the service of Clayman. The Demon Lord had offered her eternal life in exchange for her knowledge and over the two centuries she had taught Clayman everything she knew.
But her master was not letting her go and instead used her as one of his pawns and had become increasingly cruel towards her. That is until now. As her heart took its first beat, she whimpered and slumped down in the chair, reeling in the aftermath of the agonizing pain.
Clayman looked at her with mild concern and then gently pulled up her dress to cover her. He walked back to his chair and sat down looking at her.
"T-thank you. I thought this day would never come." She said with a strain in her voice.
"You are free as I promised, but I would like to keep you in my service. Your wisdom and intelligence are valuable assets and I prefer to not lose them. I think you'll find the rewards I can offer to you more lucrative than any other Demon lord would give." He said with his usual half smile, half smirk.
Mjurana slowly rose up plainly staring at Clayman not wanting to believe that it was the same cruel master that used every opportunity to toy with his servants.
"So, it was true, you were under someone's influence, Lord Clayman?" She asked.
"I was, and the deal is that you will not speak about it, or I might have to take your heart back once again."
"I won't tell a soul. As for remaining in your service, can we discuss it after the visit? I assume that I am still your servant while we are in Tempest."
"Of course. Now, please go take a rest. I need you at your best tomorrow." Clayman waved her off.
Mjurran hastily got up, bowed, and left his office.
{ Master, the culprit who put mind control on me was from the Eastern Empire. If it's not too much to ask I would like to take some time off from the client's grand plans and reorganize my staff after the Tempest affairs are over. } He sent an encrypted message.
It may have been riskier than delivering a message through his friends or subordinates but at this moment he just wanted to hear her voice once again.
{ I'll discuss it with Yuuki and send a reply through the usual channels. We will talk in person soon enough. Do not get too impatient! } Kagali messaged back with an annoyed tone but there was a hint of motherly care behind it.
{ I'll wait for a reply then. } He messaged one last time and leaned back in the chair. 'I will need to reevaluate every single action I have taken and correct the course. I hope I can shape Mjurran into a more genuine advisor to help me in the future.'
Proofreading by Dtrackt, Alassandro, I AM THE STRING CUTTER, Sad_Smiles, RottenPizza, and Visur Nyxan.
AN: Thank you for reading the story, and if you have caught up to the latest chapter, you can check out my other work or join my discord server (Link is in my profile) where additional chapters are available or if you are interested in becoming a beta reader.