The lieutenants were rather spooked by the calm and cheerful act of Caster. But they didn't show it on their faces actively. Still, it wasn't very hard to read their emotions.
Soon after that, Gemma spoke up.
"Gunlaug wants to see you."
'Oh, so he's making the first move.'
"Why?"
"You don't need to know, follow us."
Caster looked at them for a bit with a look of disdain.
"Don't wanna."
"..."
Just then Kido spoke up, not tolerating Caster's attitude.
"You're following us. Now."
"Then tell me the reason. Why am I being treated like this and why does gunlaug want to meet me?"
"You'll find out when you meet him."
"Follow us."
The reason Caster was being difficult was not just to probe them for what Gunlaug wants from him, but also to show that he's not someone who can be easily controlled.
"Sigh... you guys really don't know how to act in front of me."
Caster walks past them into the castle on his own.
"I'll do what I want to."
Just then Tessai came upto him and grabbed his shoulders.
"Stop."
'Oh?'
Caster slaps his hand off his shoulder.
"Get your hands off me."
What caster was doing right now, was simple provocation. He wanted to check how much he could get away with. And so far, it seemed like the lieutenants were not going to fight him, unless Caster started a fight.
'I don't plan to do that obviously.'
And seeing how these guys were still not giving in and telling what Gunlaug actually wants, he thought its better to not waste time anymore.
"I'll follow, after I am done with my business."
Tessai seemed to have a slight look of relief on his face.
However, before Caster then continued:
"...So don't follow me everywhere, or I'll kill you."
The lieutenants all got ready in unision. Each summoning their weapons.
'What? I didn't expect a reaction like this.'
"Whoa, chill guys. I won't need to kill you if you don't follow me."
"You think you can take the four of us at once?"
'Why have they already established that I'm stronger than them? This is weird.'
"Well, if harus was here, probably not. But he's not, so yes."
'In that case, I might as well strengthen that image.'
Afterwards Caster walked into the Castle, went to Stev's memory shop and bought all the useless memories, and the broken ascended armor that sunny bought.
'I'll give it to him later.'
The reason he did so was because too much changed from the the story, and there's a chance sunny never comes to stev for them.
And while Caster would love to keep the ascended memory, Sunny would need it way more. It's unfortunate but he can't hoarde everything. The memory has saved Sunny's life multiple times, and as things are going to go, he probably won't even need that armor.
After walking out of Stev's shop, that only some people had access to but Caster still forced his way in, he saw the four lieutenants waiting for him outside.
"Done now?"
"Sure, let's go now."
"You've made Gunlaug wait."
"No, I just gave him time to prepare for my abrupt visit."
Just a few minutes later, Caster entered a room that the lieutenants led to. Gunlaug was there, sitting on his chair like he owned the place.
'Well he does own it.'
Gunlaug was in his pristene, golden armor, covered from head to toe.
The lieutenants had a hard time looking at Gunlaug as a result of its enchantment and were looking around him, but not him.
However, Caster had no issues.
[The first fragment, 'The Fourth Wall' is nullifying the mental defects.]
Harus was standing besides Gunlaug with a dark look.
'Creepy.'
Sitting on the chair opposite to Gunlaug, and resting his hands on the table, Caster Calmly looked over to Gunlaug, straight towards his face that was was covered with the golden echo.
Gunlaug was unfazed. It wasn't too surprising for someone to have resistance against mental attacks.
"Why, hello there, Han Li Caster. Been wanting to meet you for a while."
"Cut the chatter, what did you wish to talk to me about?"
"Haha, straight to the point. I like it."
Calmly moving his hand from the arm rests to resting his elbow on the table, showing confidence, Gunlaug continued speaking in an even but slightly amused tone.
"I want you to join my army. As my lieutenant."
Caster pretended to consider it for a moment.
"Well, as you know, I am not alone. I have people under me. And I can't just abandon them for this position. So... pardon me for asking, but what will happen to them if i join you?"
"Oh, I'm not telling you to abandon them at all! You should have people under you as well, so you can bring your people from the outer settlements to here..."
With a tone of amusement he continued.
"...As long as they are combat oriented or have useful skills."
'So that's what you want, huh? Stengthening your army with not just me, but also the people I nurtured to grow strong?'
"Ah, I see... what a bummer."
"Hmm?"
"A majority of my people aren't combat oriented unfortunately."
"Hmm, I see. So what will it be? Will you join me?"
Caster seemed to think for a few moments, seemingly taking the offer seriously.
"Can my non-combatants also join?"
He showed interest in the offer deliberately.
"No, but if your people reach a certain threshold of skill, I'll allow them to join you anytime. So you can train the people of the outer settlements."
"It would be hard for me to leave a massive number of people behind."
"Why? Because of your morality?"
Caster shook his head.
"No, not exactly. I simply promised them than I'd give them a better life. That's all."
"Promises can be broken. No one is forcing them upon you."
"Okay, fine. I will join you Gunlaug."
Harus interjected nearly instantly after: "It's Lord Gunlaug."
Ignoring Harus, Caster simply continued what he was going to say.
"But only after a little while later."
Gunlaug, seemingly pleased with the answer, simply, curiously asked: "Why later?"
"I'd like to train my guys more before becoming a part of your army. At the moment I only have about a hundred decent combatants."
"That's enough."
"No, I'd rather not be in a tough spot from the start. My people neither have skills like the hunters nor do they have numbers like the castle guards."
Gunlaug thought it over a little and simply nodded.
"I'll allow it. How long will you take roughly?"
"A couple months at most."
"Good. I like cooperative people."
After a slight pause between the two, surrounded by the five lieutenants, Gunlaug stood up as he spoke up again.
"I take it that our talks are done?"
"No. Sit down."
The tone was slighly commanding, but Gunlaug didn't take much offence on that. He simply chuckled and sat back down with a curious look on the face.
Afterwards, Caster continued.
"What do you know about escaping from this shore?"
"Ah, I was wondering what you wanted to talk was about, but it seems it's just this. Well, I'll tell you this much, it's impossible. So don't even think about it."
Caster simply looked at Gunlaug with a calm look.
"It's not impossible. I have found a way."
This caught the attention of everyone in the room, even Harus.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
'Oh boy, here we go. I'll have to start now.'
The reason Caster pretended to listen to Gunlaug earlier and agree with his demands was only for one reason. To make them lower their guard against him.
He wasn't planning on joining Gunlaug's army ever.
He couldn't take on all the people at once either. Simply due to the existence of one person.
Harus.
Caster had no counter to his aspect and could not afford to fight blind.
"I have a memory, this book memory that I've have summoned since the start. It's a memory that can give me information to some extent, at times. Though it's rare."
It caught the attention of everyone there.
"It told me that the terror, the fallen terror of the crimson spire, will evolve to a corrupted titan in about a year."
'It only started evolving due to the battle of the spire, but they don't need to know that.'
"And if it does end up successfully evolving, we'll all die soon afterwards. So basically, we have a time limit now."
After hearing that everyone went quiet, into deep thinking.
Soon after that, Gunlaug spoke up.
"So how is that a method to escape this place? It's just a time limit no?"
"Wel-"
Gunlaug interjected: "Actually stop, wait a moment. Kido, go bring Kai here."
Caster pretended to look slightly shaken upon Kai's name being spoken.
A few minutes later Kai was in the room and Gunlaug spoke up again.
"You must know who he is. Your lies will be caught if you mess with me and try to manipulate me."
Caster looked at Gunlaug calmly with a slight smile.
However, he thought inwardly: 'Kai, it's finally time to overtake this castle.'