Day 8, Third Month of Winter, Year 599 of the New Age Calendar.
I was standing a bit away from the Parva City, on a cliff along with Dharma and Dhana. We were watching Ash who was standing at the closed down city gate of the Parva City.
I looked Aelios and sighed.
That was a mishap. The Dimensional Precision of the Sagittarius will only work when I set my mind on the target. By coincidence Aelios happened to give him a message about Ash's presence. So, the thoughts about capital were erased and they were replaced by the Parva City.
I desperately wanted to be in the safe walls of the capital.
The sudden collapse of the city and the demonic beasts that I came across under water… they were scary.
And then my thoughts wandered to the number of people that died because of the sudden collapse.
I didn't understand what prompted the demons to make such a sudden move. If they were already capable of that, then why did they not attack us straight and held back for so many days? Many questions gnawed at me.
The fact that the demons were also looking for Ash… that made me even more confused and curious. However, even that gnawing curiosity didn't make me want to go close to Ash at the moment. I would have rather faced the sea and its monsters than this man.
At that moment.
*BOOM*
Ember blew black flames on the city gate. Collapsing the wild boar arch. Ash and his two companions walked in as if they were going into their own backyard. The wolf started sniffing around on the ground and nodded before walking slowly through the streets.
"I guess I need to fill you guys in.
I had a hunch that Ash might come to this place. He was using a picture of Count Javin and asked Ardra about him. I remembered that picture back in the camp.
I didn't know if Duke Paras is investigating in that front, but I decided to do some digging on my own. I published a fake article with his picture. He made a ruckus at this branch and they contacted me. So, I sent Aelios to this place.
By the way, that was Aelios fused with your Zephyrwing."
I pointed at Aelios and explained.
Dhana nodded in realization.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier? We could have acted on this lead."
"How could I have possibly done that? We never got any chance to communicate at all. You know how rabid Arun became. I couldn't contact Parvir Paras as well. My communications are being monitored. And finally, if the camp was intact, then I would have definitely informed you guys.
But now…"
Dhana and Dharma sighed. The knew my situation and understood. But understand was not what we needed at that time.
I thought for a moment and said.
"Dharma, you take Aelios and move to Varah City. Inform the Duke. Luckily, Varah city is not far away and you can reach within a few minutes if Aelios is at its top speed.
With your status as Parvir's son, your words also carry a lot of weight. Also, just wait a moment…"
I used the lens and captured a picture of Ash and his beasts moving through the city, sniffing street by street.
I immediately developed the picture and gave it to Dharma.
"Show this. I am sure they cannot just refute it. You can also use the Bureau office to communicate with your father."
"What about you and Dhana? I am sure Aelios can carry us all three. Why don't we all go? We cannot do anything here apart from observing and there is a huge possibility that you might get caught up."
Dharma asked.
Dhana also looked at me in askance.
"Dhana, you can also leave if you would like. But I would like to stay. And I will just what I can do. Observe and record.
This story has too many hidden elements and I would like to unearth as much as I can. For that I need to stay here."
"I will stay here too. Even if we cannot fight him, I am sure we can escape. You can use the spell again, can't you?" She asked me and I nodded.
Dharma wanted to say that he wanted to stay too. I could feel it, but he understood that only he can do what I told him to do. So, he silently climbed on to Aelios and said.
"I will come back immediately after I give them the news and talk to Duke Varah."
He didn't even wait for us to answer and prompted Aelios to fly.
Aelios gave me a look and after my nod of approval, he shot into the sky. They turned into a streak and disappeared.
"If we are going to observe, I think we need a much better vantage point. Don't you think?"
Dhana said and I nodded. We indeed need a much better vantage point. Even though we can get an inkling of what was happening from that spot, using the lens was not an efficient way.
So, we got off the cliff and found another spot in the woods from where we could peek into the city. At the same time, I let out some small spirits to act as my surveillance once again.
Soon, I could see the man from my position with the camera and I can also see and hear him through the bird spirit.
At that moment, Ash who was walking casually turned to look at the bird spirit in its eyes.
His cold eyes, made me shiver in fright. Even the ethereal spirit was shivering in its spot. But after observing it for a moment, he didn't take any action and just walked.
It seems like he didn't bother with our peeking that much.
Soon, Ash arrived at a restaurant within the streets, which confused me. He was moving around in the commoner area for such a long time only to stop at the restaurant. I thought, he would have gone directly to the Count's estate.
This made me curious and I sent some spirits to the count's estate to verify the situation there.
The estate was covered with arrays. The defense was tightened and I was sure that the Count was aware what was about to come and he wasn't escaping, which was weird. After all, with the Count's strength, he is far from a match to Ash.
Heck, Dharma could take him on a one-on-one fight.
So, I focused back on Ash. The restaurant was empty and everything was open. He walked inside.
"Fang, find out if he left anything."
Fang sniffed around in the restaurant and shook its head after a moment.
"Ember."
He walked out after calling his horse. The horse spewed black flames and burned the whole restaurant to the ground in an instant.
He soon walked towards the noble area.
He stood at the entrance where the array was active and spoke.
"I want the person in charge to come and meet me right now. If not, I shall come and pay you a visit myself. You have five minutes exactly."
He was not exactly screaming, but his voice was loud enough to reverberate throughout the city.
I didn't know what I would have done if I was in the position of the Marquis, but after five minutes the Marquis of Varah Duchy, Marquis Parva arrived to greet Ash, the biggest criminal of the Daksh Kingdom.
Ash projected a picture and asked the noble.
"I know you have seen him and talked to him before. I want to know who is the reason behind his disappearance, and who bought his restaurant."
The marquis gulped in nervousness. He is drenched in sweat and wiped his face with the sleeves of his expensive silk robes.
"I…I…"
"Speak." Ash commanded. As if the command was the absolute, the marquis moved his lips like a robot.
"We don't know how he died. The Investigation was taken by the bureau and it was closed after the evidence was deemed inconclusive. The restaurant was then auctioned off publicly as per the protocol."
"Why did the bureau take up the case?"
"Because of his unique status. Everything related to 'them' is always handled by the Bureau. The local nobility and forces don't have any authority over them."
"Where is Count Javin?"
Ash asked and the Marquis pointed towards the Count's estate. Ash brushed past him and moved towards the Count's estate with his beasts.
After a few minutes he was standing in front of it.
*SLAP* *BAM*
With a single slap, he destroyed the array and walked through the front gate of the estate.
My spirits that were revolving around the estate finally managed to get it in from all sides. Even before Ash, the spirts made their way in and spotted the count.
He was sitting in his bedroom huddling in his sheets in fetal position while biting his nails.
Some war veteran he was.