Tarma stopped midway and put his fork down. "You see, Sir Marlyn. I have some information from a credible source about dungeon city."
Maryln rotates his spoon in a circular motion, urging Tarma to continue further. "Anyhow, tell me grandson of Lenia what is this proposal you speak of?"
"The news is that on the 13th floor, a rare Lasitue stone has resurfaced. It has appeared far above it's natural terrain."
"Heh? What's guildmaster reaction to this?" Marlyn's tone had an obvious turn off.
Still, Tarma does not stop talking. "Rumour is that she is panicking."
"Is she?" Alexia watches as Tarma leans on the table to whisper his next words.
"The market will crash if the Lasitue stone appears in large quantity, guild has placed a large amount of reward to each kilo of Lasitue stone, far greater than market price."
"Ohh. I like this one." Marlyn bites into soft sweet bread.
"Are you on the same path as me, my lord? If we find the secure the source of this Lasitue stone. I need your help, we can both benefit from this transaction."
Marlyn snaps his finger and a maid comes running, she wipes the former head's mouth with elegance. "Is that all?"
"Yes?"
"Fool! I am asking if this was your 'proposal'?" Sudden shout from Marlyn made Alexia jump in her seat.
Tarma clasps his hands and bows to the nobleman. "My lord! This is a truly excellent proposal! Please reconsider!"
Marlyn dismisses the maid and apathetically looks at Tarma. "I am disappointed." He leans on his chair only to put his shoes on the food table. His expensive Alter leather shoes splattered the fancy cake all over the table.
"I invited you to my estate, let you eat my food and entertain this low life in hopes of that Lenia's talent spilled over her grandson but that certainly is not the case."
Worried, Alexia looks at trembling Tarma. 'Altaris! I am at my wits end. Why are you not here yet?'
"Sir Jane actually we on verge of bankruptac-"
"Silence! One thing I always admired about your grandma was her resilience and determination of reaching the very top. Even my father, once family head of SilverTusks acknowledged her. When your father and mother were infected by the plague, I personally came to visit them in their final moments. That was the first moment I saw you, a young baby with the same fire as my sister. But now? I see no fire."
Marlyn turns his gaze to Alexia and chuckles. "However we are in the end family and family helps eachother out, correct?"
Tarma dares to look at Marlyn, a single glance was enough for him read the nobleman. 'He is agitated? By her?'
He glances at Alexia who is nervously staring at the Marlyn. "That is why as an elder and your uncle, I am willing to bail you out. Only once. Only if you agree to few of my terms."
Suddenly, Tarma grabs Alexia's hand. "She is yours."
"What?"
Marlyn couldn't help but shake in excitement, his old age did not allow him conceal his emotions like before. "Hmmhmm. Good. Good. Even with no fire, one's eyes are covered in a thin layer of water, allowing you to see further. Good!"
BANG!
The grand double doors slams opens and a butler walks in. Tarma immediately squeezes Alexia's hand to calm her down.
"Sir. It is time for your daily medicine." The butler has a silver tray in hand, he gracefully skits on the floor and climbs the table without stepping on the platform itself. He presents the tray to the nobleman with a smile.
"Who are you? Where is Ben?"
The butler puts his fingers on his lips and talks in exaggertted action. "Aha. Sir Ben is busy in the courtyard, he directed me to bring your night time medicines."
Meanwhile Tarma is sweating nervously and Alexia is barely containing herself.
"Fine." Marlyn grabs the tablets off the tray and puts them in his mouth.
"Wait sir, let me pour you some liquid." The butler pours some wine for his master while the master is hawking at him.
"Boy, you have some unique platinum coloured hair. Is it ancestry? Or genetics?"
The butler calmly runs through his own hair. "You jest, my master. This is nothing but simple dye. I did it to better further serve 'Silverblades.' House."
Immediately realizing the meaning behind his words, Marlyn laughs loudly. "Hahaha! That is some dedication." The butler hands him a glass full of wine.
Tarma glances at the knights and recalculates his predictions.
"Tell me your humble name boy. Tonight I am happy that managed to hear such proposal from this young talent and by emperor's grace, someone as dedicated as you appeared, tell me. I shall reward you a silver coin." Marlyn chugs the wine like a drunkard.
"My name is Altaris and my reward shall be your death."
Suddenly the nearby mana tree shakes violently, the knights quickly jumped forward to protect their master. "W-What?"
One of the knights swings his great spear which cuts the mana tree along with the glass behind into two pieces. "Sir! This is an assassination attempt. Please allow us to shield you."
Without a second thought, the knights stepped in front of Marlyn to protect him. At that exact moment hundreds of metallic leaves were aimed at the nobleman's neck. "PROTECT THE LORD!"
The alarm was rang all over palace. The former head left us in the dining room without any care of our lives. Outside servants ran for their lives, multiple explosions took place in the garden.
I calmly walked over to Alexia and took the fork from her hands. "Hmm. The food is top quality, the kids will surely love this."
Tarma bolted from his seat and grabbed my collar. "You bastard! What were you thinking? Attacking the head so openly? Are you insane?"
"Former head." After correcting him, I averted my gaze to the odd mana plant. Dora bursted out and flew onto my shoulders. 'How did you change your hair colour?'
'I learned from a witch.'
"Altaris." Alexia holds my slevees with her fingers. "Please take me away."
I put the fork on the table. "Don't panic. I have everything under control."
Another explosion takes place which shooks the palace. "You call this control?"
"Come with me." I lead them to the main hallways and through them we reach the exit. On the way, we encountered many knights but none of them stopped to question a butler and two unknown people. Lives of their masters comes first as per the protocol.
Once we reach the closed silver gate we are greeted by a swarm of servants trying to escape. Some desperately climbing the silver bars while others are pushing the heavy gate to open with all of their strength.
On the outside, A group of knights are making sure no one gets out. They are mercilessly striking the servants, the ones climbing and the ones pushing. No one is being spared. Alexia is visibly shaken after witnessing such open massacre. Tarma, not so much.
I tap my feet and a wave of earth surges from the ground which pushes everyone into the silver gate, people get squished in between, one old maid's body couldn't take it anymore and exploded from the pressure. The knight captain ordered the knights to physically hold the gate.
"AHHHH!" Alexia screamed in horror as blood splurted everywhere. I tapped my feet once more and multiple bodies exploded, the knights held on. I tapped again. At last the gate swung open.
The knights were thrown few feet away from the impact. "Let's go."
Just few meters away from the gate, Jerald was ready with carriage. We hopped on without any questions. "Move to the south." As soon as we began moving in Alexia tightly closed her eyes and held my arm, crying.
BOOM! Another huge explosion was heard by everyone.