During their trip to the next town, Ternen, Dezen caught dozens of predators. He also sent Alex to Aren, to buy more land, to have a place to keep them. Besides this, he also had to buy them food, but luckily, Dezen could use his undead plants and earth magic undead to create fences, so he saved some money on this.
After entering Ternen, they had to go through checkout. While waiting, Dezen was thinking about contracts he could make there, but he had to stop it, when one of the guards screamed to the rest, that he found something illegal.
Quickly, everyone except him were surrounded, and Leon was even suppressed with the formation placed there. Dezen was free from it, because they saw Church of Alen special sing. It meant that he was closely working with them, and if he was involved in anything illegal, they would found out.
At first, he was surprised, but he didn't doubt it. Dezen just stayed in the same place, and told the guards that Chloe was with him. Hearing, the guards that were close to him, looked at each other, before releasing her, and then continuing searching.
Both Dezen and Chloe stayed there for a few minutes, not knowing what to do, before leaving the checkout building.
- The was that, did you, no you didn't. You couldn't know about it.
- Yea.... I wonder how did it get discovered... Maybe that murderer, Drew, destroyed the magic hiding it. Or they got it in Harben. I don't know. You have any clue what it was?
- No. Maybe drugs, or... What else could be considered illegal? Weapons, alcohol, and what? And what would make them react this way.
They both started talking, about what happened, while also looking for some house to rent at the same time. The merchant company was supposed to grant them temporary flats, but now it will go under investigation, so they won't be available.
The first option was Church of Alen, since they offered flats for their mercenaries. Although he didn't plan to specially accept some task, Dezen believed that he will be able to pay with money.
After asking, the task overseer (person responsible for giving tasks, partly checking how they're done, paying, and so on) agreed for renting 2 flats, and what's even better, Dezen found assignment of killing bandits. Since it was something he really needed, he accepted it quickly and agreed that it will cover the rent.
Satisfied, Dezen wanted to leave the Ternen as fast as possible, but before doing so, he tasked Chloe with finding shops, where he will be able to buy carriages and everything needed to make his own caravan, and a place that he can rent to leave them, while being in Ternen. To make things go smoother, he left his human undead with her, which should be taken for a mage, and so, be treated with more respect.
He set out, and soon ordered some of his undead to look for the bandits. Thanks to it, he found their camp after 3 days, while for him alone, it would probably take over a week.
Dezen waited with the attack until the evening to, unnoticed, encircle the camp with undead. Normal procedure would include trying to question them, whether they work with some bigger group, or a mage/s, but Dezen can just wipe them out and do this after they become his undead.
With the begging of the night, bandits started drinking, eating, then arguing, but not fighting. However, there were a few exceptions - the ones who were supposed to stay on watch. Dezen silently took them out first, by crushing their hearts with telekinesis and muffling sounds made by them. The rest, drunk and occupied, didn't notice this.
Just as he wanted to make the next move, one of the bandits started talking about some plan they have. Dezen didn't really care about it, but decided to wait until the bandit ended, for dramatic effect.
- I don't think so. - Even though he didn't scream, and was dozens of metres away from them, they all heard Dezen as if he was next to them.
Before any bandit could really do anything, Dezen raised his right hand, and activated the spell he was casting for a few minutes. Above the camp there was a black cloud, that they didn't notice earlier. On the gesture, the black raindrops were released, easily absorbing into the bandits bodies to poison them.
With screams, they died quickly, but it didn't catch any attention of Dezen. He was focused on reviving them immediately, to have stronger bond with every one of them in his soul.
After they all were turned into his servants, he quickly questioned them, and took stolen goods back with him to Ternen.
Unluckily, he couldn't just teleport there, not only because the town has anti-space magic formation, but also because he has too many things to teleport so far.
Back at the Ternen, he gave the stolen goods to the task overseer, and showed him the undead he made from the dead bandits. He didn't seem to react in any special way, and just paid for assassinations. Renting the flats is not too expensive, and the award was high, so there were a lot of money left.
Not long after, Dezen meet Chloe, who did every task he gave her. She also mentioned this branch's of Church of Alen overseer was looking strangely at her, almost like he knew she was a former prostitute.
Dezen had nothing to say about that, so he asked about the details of buying and renting. He then started looking for customers from there, just like he did in Harben.
Dezen, with the help of Chloe, did it in 4 days. Then, he went to Aren, using the teleportation station of Church of Alen. There, they planned to do the same things as at Ternen, but this time they will stay at Dezen's house.
Alex knew about it, thus he was waiting to greet them. First, he approached Chloe.
- It is a pleasure to meet you. Dezen was mentioning you several times, and telling me good things about you.
- I can tell the same. I hope it won't be a problem that I stay here.
- Not at all. - He then moved to Dezen, and greeted him.
Then, they all sat at the table and started talking, and eating. The house wasn't the same building as a few years ago. Now it was made from stone, builded by professionals, and even reinforced by formations made by undead. The furniture, along with tableware, was also better, so they could feel like they were in town, not a village.
After a while of talking, Dezen wanted to ask about more important matters.
- I hope there is still no problem with breeding animals. Also, is there any problem you need help with?
- No, there aren't. And no, your undead are doing good as always, helping with everything I need. How did looking for customers went? You know I could do this at the Aren for you, while you were in Ternen.
- You're my brother, not an employee, so I won't treat you like one. Besides this, If you do Chloe's work, what will she be doing? And about looking for customers, it went decently. Now we will do this at the Aren, then at Harben. The same goes for buying carriages and other things.
- If you really do not want to do this, then let it be. - Alex went silent for a second. - You are from Harben, right, Chloe? Can I ask why you left your house like that?
- Yes. Well, it is not like I have many precious belongings, and it is not worth too much. Besides this... I don't like this place.
- I... Understand, to some point.
Dezen joined.
- Thus, this is the reason you asked me to help you change your life and trusted I will do it?
- Yes. Mostly. After all, it was probably once a lifetime opportunity, so I decided to try. After all, I wanted to change my life for a long time.
They continued talking about important matters for a few minutes, before trying to get to know each other better. Then, Alex showed Chloe around their property, and Dezen inspected by himself the animals he caught. Dezen left them alone specially, thinking it will make them a little more comfortable in each other's company.
There was nothing to really see there, since the animals couldn't run, nor do any damages, oversee by his undead. He also didn't have much to improve at this point. Because of it, he soon started assigning tasks to this new human undead, and there are 30 of them, so there was a lot of work to do. Not that he was complaining. Dezen estimated that he will have to wait only 4 months, before his development will speed up a few times, and it will be getting faster and faster for a year, before stabilizing at certain level.