As Charmaine stealthily trailed Sucura from a discreet distance, she observed him slip behind a shop adorned with a rhinoceros emblem. He seemed to vanish as he approached an unassuming wooden door.
With caution, Charmaine approached the door and gently pushed it open, only to find the room inside devoid of any occupants.
"Where could he have gone?" Charmaine mused, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Abruptly, she felt a chilling sensation, as if an unseen presence were scrutinizing her every move. Overcome by a sense of imminent danger, she hastily retreated from the building, putting a considerable distance between herself and the mysterious location.
"What is that?" Charmaine inquired, sensing the imminent danger. "Could he be part of a dangerous organization?" Her eyes grew cold "I must eliminate him," she declared, disappearing as the words left her lips.
***
As twilight descended, Charmaine found herself enveloped in the shadows cast by the moonlit night. She was concealed within the Golden Inn, specifically in the room occupied by Sucura.
*Creak!*
The door opened, and a man slowly entered. As he gently closed the door behind him, he removed the towel draped over his head and the half-mask that obscured his face. The striking features of a man with dark crimson hair were now unveiled.
Charmaine observed his every movement with the precision of a hunter stalking her prey. She contemplated assassinating him, knowing that Vyn would bear the blame for her actions due to their recent altercation. However, she needed valuable information first, and she sensed that he posed no significant threat; his aura was far too weak. Charmaine's plan was taking shape.
"I've been waiting for you, Charmaine," the man said calmly, his voice steady as he looking at the window. "Or should I call you by your true title, Second Princess of the Moon Elves, Shalanta?"
Charmaine's hair bristled against her skin, her pupils dilating as her heart seemed to pause for a brief moment.
Regaining her composure, her eyes blazed with wrath. Without hesitation, she executed a deft maneuver, swiftly pinning the man beneath her on the bed. Sucura lay trapped below, his vulnerability exposed as Charmaine's dagger pressed menacingly against his tender neck.
"Who are you? You cannot be Sucura, can you?!" Charmaine demanded, her voice laced with suspicion as she stared at the man, whose expression remained impassive.
Focusing intently, Charmaine attempted to read his surface memories. 'Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons—balancing them badly,' echoed in her mind.
Taken aback, she exclaimed, "What? How do you know about my innate ability?!" Her teeth clenched in frustration.
Sucura replied calmly, "I happen to be quite adept at tongue twisters, actually."
"Answer my damn question!" Charmaine insisted, her eyes blazing with fury. "Who are you, and how do you know my name and the extent of my abilities?" As she spoke, her grip on the dagger tightened, the blade pressing against his neck, causing a thin rivulet of blood to seep out.
Despite the imminent danger, Sucura remained composed.
Charmaine's voice was laced with disdain and wrath as she continued, "You seem to be unaware of the precarious situation you find yourself in. If I were to kill you, Vyn would bear the blame, and I've already erected a sound barrier to ensure no one hears what's happening here."
After a few moments of tense silence, Sucura responded in a tranquil tone, "If you were to kill me, this is what would transpire: you followed me this morning, did you not? Are you aware of the rocks that I cast aside? They are enchanted to activate and call out your name. I know that the Archdemon Prince has spies everywhere, and naming you would surely draw the attention of those demon spies mingled with humans. "
He paused briefly before adding, "Theresia might also be affected by your actions, as well as the other one… Sandrea, was it? One of the Virtues, known for harmony."
Lastly, he said, "Theresia will know you are the one who killed me."
Charmaine scrutinized his face, searching for any signs of deceit, but his words seemed genuine and not mere empty words. "You dare to threaten me and my friends? How dare you! I should kill you! Kill! You must be lying!"
Darkness shrouded Charmaine's eyes as she struggled to suppress her irrational impulses.
"You can sense it, can't you? That I'm not lying," Sucura said calmly, his eyes filled with tranquility and composure as he gazed at Charmaine.
Charmaine found herself torn between killing him or sparing his life. She couldn't extract any information from him, but her instincts warned her of the potential danger if he remained alive. However, his threat appeared genuine, which made her hesitate. As she pondered her options, she made a swift decision and took a full swing, aiming to slit Sucura's throat.
*Knock!* *Knock!*
"Sucura." Theresia's mellifluous voice resonated through the room.
Charmaine halted abruptly, as though struck by a bolt of lightning. A shiver ran down her spine, and she fixed her gaze upon Sucura, whose countenance remained serene.
With a barely audible sigh, Sucura whispered to Charmaine, "Hide."
He rose from the bed and addressed those lurking behind the door, "Please, wait just a moment."
He strode over to his desk and swiftly downed a vial of red potion. Retrieving a handkerchief, he dabbed it gently against his neck, staunching the slight trickle of blood.
As he approached the door, he gently pushed it open, revealing a breathtaking woman with fiery red hair, clad in a pristine crimson and white knight's uniform. Beside her stood a woman with long, flowing brown hair, dressed in the garb of an adventurer.
Theresia regarded him with a serene expression and inquired, "What did you mean by the contents of that letter?"
"It's merely a speculation," he replied.
Raising an eyebrow, Theresia responded, "You do realize that making accusations can be quite dangerous, don't you?" She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.
Sucura acknowledged her concern with a subtle nod and calmly explained, "I only brought it up because I sensed a fleeting murderous intent directed at me during the banquet. You felt it too, didn't you?"
Theresia simply gazed at him, her expression unreadable. Suddenly, the brown-haired woman interjected, her nose wrinkling in distaste, "I smell blood."
"Oh, I sustained an injury while practicing my dagger skills," Sucura clarified.
"So, Charmaine didn't visit you?" The brown-haired woman inquired further.
"No, I apologize if I've wasted your time," Sucura said, offering a faint smile.
"Let's go, Theresia," the brown-haired woman suggested, turning to leave. As they walked away, she whispered to Theresia, just loud enough for Sucura to hear, "He's probably just trying to get your attention."
Upon hearing the rich timbre of the brunette woman's voice, a subtle yet involuntary twitch graced Sucura's eyebrow.
He re-entered the room, gently closing the door behind him. Out of the shadows, a woman with vibrant green hair materialized, her piercing gaze filled with unrelenting fury and an intense darkness.
"Have you finally calmed down?" Sucura inquired calmly.
Charmaine's voice was icy as she demanded, "What have you done to bring Theresia and Sandra here?" Her clenched teeth and the intensity in her eyes made her anger all too evident.
Sucura replied with an air of nonchalance, "Allow me to clarify something. I couldn't care less about your royal status. You barged in here, presuming to know everything and believing that your conclusions are unassailable. Nevermind, in the end, power is all that truly matters, regardless of whether you're right or wrong."
Sucura reached into his pocket and retrieved the Letter of Contract Aldhunz. "Verbal agreements are hardly the most dependable form of trust, particularly between strangers. You must be aware of this letter, aren't you? I want to have deal with you."
Charmaine's frustration boiled over as she shouted, "That wasn't my question!"
Sucura shrugged indifferently. "It's quite simple, really. I sent an envelope through Sandra, suggesting that you were acting strangely and might be coming after me for some unknown reason. And during the banquet, even for just a moment, many felt the murderous intent you were emanating."
Charmaine clenched her jaw, grinding her teeth. "Tch! What do you propose?"
"I require three things from you. In exchange, I assure you that I shall never speak your name, lest I meet my immediate demise, and I will aid you in obtaining the Pure Aether Crystal to expedite the awakening of your Mythical Spirit."
Charmaine's eyes widened in shock. "You! How did you know!"
"Would you kindly refrain from raising your voice? Your incessant shouting is on the verge of rendering me deaf." After a brief pause, he continued, "I possess a unique ability."
"What is your ability then?" She asked, her eyes clouded with darkness.
"Why would I reveal that?" Sucura arched an eyebrow and sighed inwardly. "Let us set that aside for now. What do you think of my proposal?"