It was early dawn. Bowen relaxed in his room after the tiring night journey. It was amusing to see how Akim and Rona tried their best not to get on Bowen's side. Even the driver didn't accept any wages for his wagon. He went to the lengths of saying, "Having this young ranker and noble in my carriage is already a blessing for me."
Finally, he had some alone time from Mason. His ears were completely sore from hearing his blabbering all night.
Bowen decided to rest for a few hours before he began his usual routine of magic training. Just as he lay down on the bed, he felt a presence by his window. Bowen took his bone blade for safety, on full alert. But once he saw the figure who jumped through his window, he let out a relieved sigh.
It was Nicholas, the Baron's faithful butler.
"Hello, young sir. Nice to see you again," said Nicholas with an orderly butler's bow. "I am also glad to see you safe, Nicholas. Seems like the invisibility coat helped," said Bowen with a smirk. "Yes, sir. Without that, I couldn't have stood before you alive. I almost got caught by that madman Perrin." "Good. Anyway, sit down and tell me what you have got," said Bowen, pointing to a chair. "Thank you, sir. And as for the news, I have good and bad ones. Which one do you prefer first?"
"Good news first," said Bowen, his eyes keen on Nicholas.
"You should have already known about the Baroness's plans, don't you?" asked the butler.
"Yes, a little."
"Then you must have also known that she is trying to accumulate 50 golds in a few months. I don't know what exactly that organization is, but I can tell you it is one of the conditions they have proposed to join them. And that organization is one of the major groups that controls the underworld."
That word stirred me from the relaxed demeanor. "UNDERWORLD?"
"Yes, the underworld. A place where antisocial organizations and criminals dwell. And once Raven gang joins the underworld, no one can touch them to the point where even the whole Yuira will be affected if you lay a hand on them."
"What?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I don't know well, but I heard the underworld is united too much. They may kill each other but won't let others touch them."
"Is this the good news you came to tell me?" asked Bowen sarcastically.
"No, there is a catch," said Nicholas, shaking his head. "The gold they have saved all this while..." Nicholas stopped for a second and said in a low voice. "I know where that is."
"Wow! Look at you doing your job well. Well done, well done. Quickly tell me where that is. Is it in the Raven gang's territory? Or with the Baroness?"
"Neither of both. It's with Lord Perrin. Right behind his office, there is a secret door and that's where it is."
"I see, so the most inconspicuous place is the safest place, huh?" said Bowen, understanding. "Normally, the strongest person among the Raven gang should be either the Baroness or Deborah. But one of them having the gold means the other one is at a disadvantage. That's why they have placed it with a person not so strong as well as not weak at the same time. Moreover, Perrin is under the direct supervision of the Baroness. What clever thinking. But alas, they have neglected an anomaly like Bowen and a traitor among them like Nicholas. Good. This will work in Bowen's favor."
"So if they don't have the gold, won't their chance to join the underworld naturally diminish?" asked Bowen.
"Right, but we cannot be sure of that."
Seeing Bowen's confused look, Nicholas continued. "That brings us to the bad news that I wanted to tell you. The organization has proposed to the Baroness two conditions in order to join them. One is the gold coins, the other is that she would have to capture a person and submit them alive to that organization. And that person…" Nicholas went silent.
"Is already captured by the Baroness?" Bowen completed the sentence instead of Nicholas.
"Yes. From what I know, it seems like the captive is someone important to the organization. So, the Baroness may bargain with that. So even if she couldn't produce the required gold, it doesn't necessarily mean we can fully stop Raven gang from joining the underworld," said Nicholas with a sigh.
"Someone important? Hmmm… Do you know where the captive is held?" "I don't know exactly, but I think he is with the Raven gang's leader, Deborah."
"Hmm… Possible."
Bowen kept silent for a while. His gears worked at high speed, plotting out a plan. Soon, within five minutes, his mouth made an upward arch. "IT'S POSSIBLE."
He soon revealed a bit of it to Nicholas. At first, he frowned; then his eyes went bigger and bigger as he heard Bowen's plan.
"This? This, if this happens, the whole Aswalt will…" Nicholas couldn't find words to describe what will happen in Aswalt. No, it's not about Aswalt anymore. They may even incur the wrath of someone they can never even dream to touch.
"Young sire, is it needed to be this excessive? We can try something else."
"Stop it right there. Are you telling me to take orders from you now?" Bowen asked with glaring eyes. That's when the butler remembered all the unfortunate events that happened to him.
"I am sorry," he said, his head down.
"Fine, just go do what I said. Don't stick your nose where you shouldn't. And remember, all the gold that I obtain from Perrin's office would be mine. Am I not saving our dear Baron from the clutches of the Baroness? Think of that as remuneration you pay for me. Understood?"
"Yes, sire," said the butler with a wry smile. Did he have another choice?
"Now go, keep the coat with you. I will meet you soon. And if you try to play any tricks around me… Just remember the blank magic contract you have signed."
Nicholas bowed respectfully and exited through the window.
Bowen decided to have a good rest before he could stir some unrest in Aswalt.