The Necromancer's Servant

More than ten days had passed.

Rumors about the orc city-state deep in the wild highlands had spread far and wide, and were becoming increasingly fantastical. Some claimed they have seen orcs dressed more impressively than the royal guard, even chatting and socializing with them. Merchants returning from the west also reported that people from western nations had already been trading with that orc city-state.

Regardless of the rumors, the reality was gradually improving—raids by the big-eared monsters had ceased. One reason was that the eradication of a big-eared monster camp by Bracada had created a significant deterrent; the other was that there were reports of southern troops preparing to march in.

This was not good news for the thieves in the city. During the chaos caused by the big-eared monsters rampant thievery, many thieves had profited handsomely. However, as these good days were about to come to an end, some were already starting to leave.

Yet, there was still a group of thieves determined to stay behind, ready to make a fortune. This gang consisted of wanted fugitives with murder charges and desperate outlaws—elite criminals among the wicked.

Now, this group was holding a meeting in the largest inn in the city. The agenda was about going to the orc city-state to buy stolen goods and to accept a new member into the gang.

In such extraordinary times, the addition of a newcomer was seen as quite inappropriate, and many members expressed their objections. A few days ago, two members had been captured by the city's guards and taken to prison, but they had quickly returned, bringing a young man with them. This young man had escaped from their shared cell by outsmarting the guards, freeing all the prisoners. He then expressed his desire to go to the legendary orc city-state to trade stolen goods and asked if they wanted to join him. The two members, seeing him as a fellow traveler and admiring his skills, introduced him into the gang.

The meeting was presided over by an older thief named Fodolone, who was also the gang's leader. He was a man in his late fifties, with every wrinkle on his face not only showing age but also a shrewd vitality. The age spots scattered across his skin were a testament to his experiences and wisdom.

To excel in any profession, one must have a keen mind. When the old thief learned about the orc city-state and saw the big-eared monsters engaging in rampant theft, he immediately planned to profit from the sale of the stolen goods. He made contact with the big-eared monsters and gathered a group of similarly reckless individuals to embark on this lucrative venture.

As Asa mixed among the thieves, he sensed that many were still dissatisfied with him, but he had just recently become a member of the gang. Things were going much smoother than expected; in just a few days, he would reach the orc city-state—not only to retrieve the book but also to see the situation there firsthand.

"Now, I'd like to hear everyone's opinions," the old thief said, glancing around at his companions. Setting aside his profession, he was a man who understood the ways of the world; even though he was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable and well-prepared person, he didn't forget to formally solicit everyone's opinions.

"No objections." "Let's do as you say." "The money we're taking will definitely be useful, right?" Although a few expressed some doubts, the majority agreed with the old thief's plan.

The old thief concluded, "Then it's settled. We depart at dawn three days from now. Remember, if this news reaches the ears of the officials, all of us will be in trouble. It's high treason, and the military will come after us. So I remind you once again: do not leak any information." He scanned the faces around him, particularly eyeing Asa. He didn't fully trust this newcomer; had it not been for the two members who directly brought him in, he would never have allowed him to join. This was a dangerous plan, and he didn't want to make even a tiny mistake – just a few days ago, he had killed a companion who merely had a close relationship with the city's guard captain.

Knock, knock, knock. Three rhythmic knocks sounded at the door. Everyone in the room jumped up, pulling out their weapons, and the atmosphere became tense, filled with the sounds of heavy breathing.

Once again, three rhythmic knocks followed, neither too soft nor too heavy, almost as if seeking the owner's permission. This was certainly not a courtesy from the inn's staff. Asa suddenly felt a strange sensation; he felt he had heard this polite knocking somewhere before.

"Who is it?" The old thief's voice was long and drawn out, feeble and lifeless, as if he were lying in bed waiting for the end, while he deftly reached for a dagger at his waist. It was a slender, thin dagger that he skillfully flipped in his hand before reversing his grip; it would surely cut a throat as smoothly as slicing through lard.

"I'm looking for someone. Open the door!" came a crisp voice like a pear. The old thief turned to look at Asa. This was the room Asa had reserved at the inn.

That voice seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. Asa shook his head.

The old thief gestured to a nearby thief to bring the person in and then close the door.

The thief abruptly opened the door and reached out. However, instead of pulling someone in, he was pulled out, not just dragged out but seemingly thrown down the stairs, followed by a scream as he hit the ground.

Almost everyone rushed to the door. But a slender sword thrust in from outside, stopping the closest person in their tracks with a few feigned jabs.

"What's going on? I'm looking for someone," the newcomer reiterated, walking in confidently. Just one person.

It was a relatively petite figure holding a similarly slender sword, long and thin. Yet, no one dared to underestimate this dangerous weapon; the peculiar blade indicated it would leave wounds that could not be stitched.

Asa recognized this type of sword; he immediately looked at the face of the sword-wielder and exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"Of course I'm here to find you," the newcomer replied, squinting her eyes into a narrow, hazy slit, revealing a smile. This smile had almost cost him his life in the Lizard Swamp, and now, the situation didn't look any better.

The effect of the World Tree's leaves seemed surprisingly good; she was now a completely different person from how she looked lying in bed over a month ago. She had regained the spirited appearance she had in the Lizard Swamp, and her attire hadn't changed much, dressed as an adventurer with a blanket draped over her shoulders and a large backpack.

"Oh, it turns out to be a friend of Asa's friend. Miss, please come in," the old thief said, glancing at Asa and stepping aside to gesture her in, surprisingly maintaining a noble demeanor. However, when Elaine approached Asa, the old thief subtly turned and positioned himself beside the door, his hand hidden behind his back. The knife was out of sight, but it was surely still in his grip.

Asa felt overwhelmed, glancing at Elaine, who surprisingly smiled and said, "The air in this room is so stuffy. Why don't you all open a window?"

"That'll be fine. Otherwise, the bloody smell will suffocate us," the old thief guarding the door chuckled, causing the age spots on his face to tremble. The thieves instinctively shifted positions, surrounding Asa, many still holding their weapons. The two members who had recommended Asa remained silent.

"Kid, I have no objections to you; I absolutely trust you." The old thief's voice was sincere. "But right now, we're all walking on the edge of a razor. You need to explain yourself. Who are you, and how do you know such a well-mannered noble lady?"

The dim light in the room cast somber shadows on the faces, and an atmosphere of hostility and vigilance began to stir. The thieves' keen eyes quickly assessed that Elaine's demeanor and grace could not belong to someone of their ilk; her noble upbringing was glaringly obvious. They found it strange that such a noblewoman would seek out an outsider thief. They needed to dig deeper into the circumstances; even a hint of dissonance could trigger their already heightened suspicion.

Of course, Asa was confident he could extricate himself from the situation, but that would mean all the effort he had put in over the past month would be wasted, and he had no idea when he would be able to retrieve that book. If things dragged on, it could become troublesome if someone else took over and made off with the stolen goods.

"You said you killed someone outside and then came here. We haven't pressed you for details until now. Please tell us about your exploits. Where are you from, and what have you done?" The old thief aimed to expose Asa, convinced he was a spy infiltrating their ranks—perhaps a subordinate of a noble.

Asa shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid you'll turn my head in for a reward."

"Don't worry. It's just a matter of having killed a few people. Every one of us here has blood on our hands." The old thief grinned, revealing his sharp canine teeth.

Asa replied flatly, "Over two months ago, I killed the imperial envoy and the local officials in Airi."

The trick to lying is to speak mostly the truth, with the falsehood so shocking that it overwhelms the audience, making it easier for them to believe you. This was what Lord Bolugan had advised him when preparing to infiltrate this gang.

A stir went through the thieves; the news had already sent shockwaves across the country. The investigative team dispatched from the capital had practically turned Airi upside down, only mentioning that they were looking for a young man. This was one of the rare major cases in recent years, with the bounty on the criminal surpassing a hundred gold coins. This infamous fugitive had undoubtedly become a legend among thieves. They could hardly believe that the person standing before them was such a significant figure.

"Is that true? But I heard that over a dozen cavalrymen went missing at the same time; you didn't take them out too, did you?" The old thief clearly didn't believe him, blinking his eyes in surprise.

Behind them, two thieves suddenly reached for Asa and Elaine's necks, their other hands already drawing daggers.

Without looking back, Asa elbowed the thief behind him squarely in the chest, and the thief crumpled without making a sound. The other thief, intending to attack Asa, froze when he saw Elaine expertly twist his wrist, flipping him to the ground. This was Asa's first time witnessing her in action; her movements were quick and clean, showing considerable skill.

The thieves bared their teeth, and the atmosphere reached a breaking point, ready to explode.

Asa pulled something from his pocket and tossed it to the old thief. It was a seal that Rodhart had given him.

The old thief caught it and examined it closely under the light. It was a seal carved from an entire piece of agate, clearly inscribed with titles and the imperial insignia.

This was indeed the seal bestowed by the emperor to the imperial envoy; its craftsmanship was not something an ordinary artisan could replicate, and the old thief had confidence in his judgment. No one would waste an agate carving to forge such an item.

He had also heard that the wanted young man had indeed become the sole clue in this sensational case by using the envoy's seal to swindle a sum of money.

"What is this…?" The old thief coughed, his face wrinkling in surprise. As he looked at the reactions of the other thieves, they gradually understood what was happening; their expressions shifted from suspicion to awe.

"It wasn't over a dozen cavalrymen; it was over fifty, and I took them all down." Asa said nonchalantly, his aura matching that of a legendary thief. "If it's alright, the two of us could put on a demonstration here. But I think it's unnecessary; I'm just here to find some partners to make some money."

Asa's gaze swept across all the thieves in the room. Dealing with these ruthless individuals had its advantages; it was like how similar animals recognize strength by smell. The moment bloodlust surfaced, the sharpened eyes that had been honed in the shadows instantly recognized each other's prowess. The beast-like aura he had cultivated while surviving in the wild, combined with the countless brushes with death, was enough to instill fear in ordinary criminals.

Surprisingly, Elaine drew her sword and waved it a few times, contributing to the atmosphere. While she lacked the ferocity, she certainly had poise.

The old thief nodded. He could see the weight of the young man before him and returned the seal to Asa, looking at Elaine and asking, "And who is she…?"

"This is the daughter of a duke, my lover," Asa introduced. "Please forgive me for not disclosing her father's title; she ran away from home to be with me."

The thieves stirred once more, but given the incredibility of the situation involving such a powerful figure, they deemed it merely a case of a capable person being with another capable person, sufficient to quell any further suspicion.

As dusk fell, Asa finally dealt with the gang of thieves, leaving only him and Elaine in the room. After confirming no one was eavesdropping, Asa sighed in relief and asked Elaine, "Do you know you almost got me into big trouble?"

"I didn't know, but I do know you'd have a bright future if you ever decide to act or deceive women. A great lover," Elaine said, looking at him with a teasing smile.

Asa felt a bit embarrassed and coughed, "There was no other way; that's the only way they'd believe me. It was what the local officials taught me. By the way, is your body okay now?"

"I really should thank you for finding such good medicine; you saved my life again." She stepped closer to Asa, carefully studying his face and said, "Thank you so much." This was Asa's first time looking at her with a normal mindset in a proper environment. At such a close distance, her hazy eyes seemed to emit a special allure, giving Asa a strange feeling.

"Is it true that you really did kill the envoy in Airi?" Elaine asked, having seen the seal earlier.

"No, I was just bluffing," Asa replied.

"Then how did you get that seal?"

"Um… I found it." Asa quickly changed the subject and asked, "What brings you here?"

"I was originally here to rescue my sister, but I ran into her and your friend on the way. I heard you were still around. I came to the municipal hall to look for you, and the local official told me you were mixed up with a gang of thieves and that you were staying at this inn, so I came here. I didn't expect to stumble upon such a scene. Actually, I was hoping to find you and ask you to help me retrieve my backpack from the Lizard Swamp."

Asa frowned; he couldn't understand why Lord Bolugan would blurt out all this information to her. "A backpack? It fell there six months ago; it's probably been ruined by the sun and rain. Plus, who remembers the exact location?"

"Is that so? Well… then I guess I'll join you in visiting the orc city-state. After all, you've already introduced me to those thieves, and now that I've found my lover, it wouldn't make sense to leave right away," Elaine said, smiling generously.

Having someone to accompany him might not be a bad idea; plus, she had good skills, and... overall, it felt good. "So, where are you staying?" Asa found himself asking this question out of the blue.

"Right here! You said all that, so how could I not stay here?"

"Oh…" Asa quickly said, "Then I'll go take a bath first." After hesitating, he asked, "Are you going to wash up too?"

Elaine looked at him; her once captivating elongated eyes were wide open, still charming. She drew her sword and quickly twirled it in front of Asa, then pointed the tip at his face, saying one word with each jab, "Don't think too much; you're sleeping on the floor."