"He's just been cured and he's already forming an Aura core. This must be how others feel looking at me."
"Your Aura Core is forming, you should first heal and then find a place to consolidate your strength in." I said.
"Yes, i'll be off then, young master but are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"
"Heh! right now, you're more likely to drag me down instead of help me."
He looked a bit discouraged but I could feel my words had lit a fire in him.
"Ah okay, young master, i'm sorry." he said dejectedly.
Instantly, he disappeared.
"Now it's time for work, wake up oaf!"
I kicked one of the men into waking up and held him by his collar.
"Who do you work for!"
The fear and terror in his eyes was shocking, but I Ignored it.
"*Cough* p-please d-don't kill m-me!"
"Who do you work for? Answer me!"
"I work for [Shade], i'll talk, i'll talk! just let me live!"
"What is Shade doing here?"
"We're here on orders from the main branch, [Shadow], we just handle the trafficking, stealing, and assassination. That's it That's all I know please let me go!"
It finally hit me.
"Those who dwell in the dark! They're here in Bordeaux? Why?"
"I don't know for sure b-but they said our boss found a treasure trove and that they're currently mining it. our job is to limit sales and profit in order to stop the duke from repaying his debt!"
"Hmm…? I guess you're too low in rank to know anything of value. Take me to your boss."
"I can do t-that, follow me!"
He supported himself up and held his abdomen as he walked ahead of me.
While following him I took in the beauty of the novel's world, even in a small city I noticed Dwarves, elves, beastmen, and other less common races walking around in harmony, but after we got past the market district and the houses, we arrived in an area covered by darkness, the slums.
"So your hideout is all the way out here. Makes sense why the duke hasn't discovered you yet." I remarked.
The man giggled through his pain.
"Hahaha surely you jest, the duke is unable to do anything but grovel below the boss's feet and the Redvein Duke is fully supporti-"
The large man suddenly went quiet.
"I said too much. We're here now."
In front of me was a broken down mansion.
"Why is such a thing here?"
Though it was broken down it was still a mansion that didn't belong in the slums. I looked around and noticed 2 armed men guarding the doors.
"Just follow me."
I followed the large man until we reached the guards.
"Where are the others, vald?"
The 2 guards asked while blocking the door.
"They were caught, now let me in I have to speak to the boss."
I just stood there silently.
"Who's that behind you?"
"He's a guest."
"Oh, go on in then. Our hospitality surely won't disappoint. Hoho." One the guards said.
The large man walked in and I followed behind him.
I was fully on guard as I was entering the enemy's territory but I was still shocked by the mansion's interior.
"This is unbelievable," I couldn't help but exclaim.
The inside of the mansion was at least three times more luxurious than my family's mansion. Several golden statues, marble flooring, and decorations of flowers and jewels filled the place.
"Follow me, the boss is upstairs."
I followed the large man up a flight of stairs and we walked until we reached a large black door.
"One second."
The large man knocked in a special way and a man responded from the inside.
"Who is it?"
"It's Vald, i've brought you a guest."
There was a short silence followed by the door opening.
"Both of you come in."
I followed the large man into the room. As expected it was just as, if not even more luxurious than the rest of the mansion.
"Vald sit by the door, and our guest can sit here."
Behind a black desk sat a slender, tall man in glasses with dark green hair and matching eyes.
He motioned for me to sit across from him and so I did.
"I knew I recognized you from somewhere but I didn't know the Duke was allowing you outside yet. You even ended up in such a vile place, do tell me how can I help you, Cassian Fellsword?"
I was taken aback but held it in. My mind accelerated and I came up with a plan instantly.
"Cassian is a name reserved for those close to me, do stick to Alistair."
The man giggled.
"You know, you're rather calm for such a young man. Aren't you surprised that I know you?"
"Minor detail." I replied nonchalantly.
"Sure, i'll be happy to answer your questions then." he replied.
"I have 3 questions. If you answer them I'll leave quietly."
"Sure, ask away, Anamoly," he replied with a smile.
"why are you in Bordeaux?"
The man was so cold and controlled that I could barely sense any changes in his expression.
"That is to fully take over it, stop the duke from amassing money for his debt through commerce, clean out the gold troves we've discovered, and then destroy it. All by the Redvein Duke's commission of course." he replied.
"Huh....?!" Even though my mind had instantaneously prepared for countless answers, such a clear one was unexpected. From his expression I could tell he was telling the truth but I didn't understand why he would tell me such a thing?
"What? Are you serious?" I asked.
"Dead serious, why would I lie to a lowly mortal being. The redvein duke is currently stockpiling as much gold as he can. Go on then what's your 2nd question?"
It was clear he wasn't lying, so I accepted the truth and moved on. But a bad feeling stuck at the back of my head.
"That would explain why he came to collect on our debt, but why is the duke stockpiling gold?"