Determined to uncover the truth, Kael slipped away into the capital's streets, heading toward a place where secrets were currency: the information guild.
The guild was a fortress of anonymity, where clerks hid behind masks and wore cloaks. There were some customers who also wore masks and such a scene was commonly seen in this place. Kael entered with a mask on his face, his movements were steady.
At the front desk, the receptionist glanced up, her expression neutral until Kael placed a platinum badge on the desk. "I wish to meet guildmaster." He said, speaking in a deep tone.
Her eyes widened in recognition, and she immediately gestured for him to follow her.
Kael was led to a private office, where a middle-aged woman sat behind a heavy oak desk. Perhaps, she was the only one without wearing any mask. Her warm, familiar smile broke through the formal atmosphere.
"Aunt Celia," Kael said, removing his hood and the mask.
Celia's eyes sparkled with affection. "Kael. It's been three months since you last visited me in person. I was starting to think you had forgotten your poor foster mother."
Kael chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing. "How could I forget the one person I trust most in the world?"
Celia gestured for him to sit, activating a noise-cancellation spell and reinforcing the room with physical barriers.
As he settled in, Celia leaned forward, her sharp gaze scanning his face. "So, how's your married life? Must be exhausting to handle those strong-headed princesses."
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Shiera doesn't even live with me and spends most of her time in the wilderness. She treats me like a burden. Can you believe that I have only met Amanda two times, one on our wedding day, and the other time when we visited the ancestral time for blessings? Even Seraphina... she doesn't see me as a man, just someone she needs to protect. She acts distant and formal when we are alone. Melissa acts like a dutiful wife and manages the household affairs very well but I'm not sure she even likes me. She doesn't exactly spend much time with me and spends most of her time either on house chores or reading novels. Whenever I ask something, she simply agrees. She never expresses her thoughts to me." He speaks of his troubles, mostly complaining about his wives as his marriage life was completely different from how he wanted it to go.
Celia's expression softened. "And Laura?"
"She's different," Kael said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "She genuinely loves me and stands on my side every time. I spend most of my time with her. But her possessiveness is a bit too much. Also, the Queen wants us to start a family, and... I'm not ready. Not until I find my sister."
Celia nodded slowly. "Well, marriage life is tough at the beginning for everyone. But you married multiple women who were all imperial princesses, too. So, yeah, it will take time."
Kael looked at her, his calmness was long gone and he looked like a drunken man at a bar, speaking everything suppressed in his heart. "I know, Aunt Celia. It's just that before marriage, it was easy for me to lead the life of a guild clerk and a vigilante. My sister knows my secret, and I have nothing to be worried about." The frustration was clear on his face.
Celia couldn't do anything but stretch her arm forward and pat the back of his hand. "As I have said earlier, give it more time and everything will fall into place."
Kael sighed, feeling lighter in his heart than before. "Thank you, Aunt Celia. Now, let's talk about business. The name is Mark Welsh and his features are…"
Celia's eyes sharpened, her demeanor shifting into that of a seasoned guild master. "Consider it done. But, if he is someone connected deeply to Duchess Leona and she wants to kill him at all costs, it will cost resources."
Without a word, Kael reached into his storage ring and pulled out a heavy bag, setting it on the desk with a satisfying thud. "This should cover it. 50,000 gold coins, a few hundred give or take."
"It's more than enough." Celia's lips immediately turned into a satisfactory grin as she opened the bag, her eyes glittering at the sight. "If your wives knew how much wealth their husband was hiding, they'd probably faint. You act like a pauper who depends on the palace treasury, always depending on your wives to run the household."
Kael smirked faintly. "That money belonged to the Queen anyway."
Celia chuckled. "She didn't give it to you, Kael. You earned it fair and square."
Kael sighed, his expression turning bitter. "Maybe, but I've already earned enough fame from the citizens. Fame won't fill my stomach, though."
Celia shot him a sharp look. "Exactly. So stop brooding and let me do my job."
Kael chuckled softly, nodding. "Thank you, Aunt Celia." Giving her a nod of farewell, he was about to leave, but then he suddenly halted his footsteps after taking a couple of steps toward the door. He turned around. "By the way, do you have any news about my sister?"
Celia leaned back in her chair, her gaze fixed on Kael with a hint of concern. "Nothing yet," she said softly, regret lacing her tone. "If anything surfaces, you will be the first to know. So, don't worry."
Kael shook his head, letting out another deep sigh. "Fine." He turned around to leave but once again halted his footsteps when he almost reached the door.
"What is it now?" Celia asked.
Kael's expression darkened. "It's not much of trouble, but I have reason to believe that the Clowns of Ark is targeting me. Not Assassin K, but Kael Moonstone specifically."
Celia's eyes widened. "The Clowns of Ark? Those lunatics... they never reveal their client's identity, even under the threat of death. This is serious."
Kael nodded grimly. "I need to know who wants me dead and why. It's not like I pose as much of a threat as Kael Moonstone. See if you can set up any trap for the King Clown to come after me. Those Hat clowns and Wing Clowns are useless to extract any information and stubbornly loyal to their superiors."
"Understood," Celia nodded firmly. "I'll inform you."
After a while, Kael finally returned home.
As he stepped inside the mansion, Laura rushed toward him, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. "Kael! Where were you? I was so worried!"
Kael froze for a moment, startled, before patting her back gently. "I'm sorry, Laura. I didn't mean to make you worry."
Laura pulled back slightly, her voice trembling. "Do you know how late it is? Eldest Sister Amanda mobilized troops to search for you! Even the Church's Bishop said he hadn't seen you."
Kael was taken aback, suddenly remembering seeing units of soldiers, almost everywhere on his return. He merely thought they were searching for some culprit but didn't expect it was him.
From across the room, Melissa watched with a quiet expression of concern. Unlike Laura, she held herself back, but her voice carried a note of restrained worry. "Where were you, Kael?" She asked.
Kael hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking between them. Then, without a word, he began rolling up his sleeve, revealing the intricate tattoo etched into his forearm. Melissa observed it curiously.
The markings glowed faintly, an otherworldly light spilling into the room as the tattoo changed into the shape of a wolf's head. Before their astonished eyes, a spectral wolf jumped out of the seal, its black fur shimmering with energy.
Melissa stared at it in shock, Laura's questions momentarily forgotten as the wolf let out a low growl before sitting beside its master.
Kael looked at his wives and said, "Let's welcome Nyx into the family, my Beast companion."
The spectral wolf gave a side glare at its master and let out a bark. "*Woof* Hello there. Nice to meet you."
Laura and Melissa exchanged glances, both had different thoughts in their heads. One wondered how her husband managed to tame such a powerful beast while the other wondered how this spectral wolf changed its attitude and became a household dog.