Chapter 62. Demon Core (1)
"Thank you for your hard work."
Pale received Rocus's documents from Verden.
"I heard it was quite a big incident. To think even a human hunter was hired. I don't know which information broker it was, but the loss must be significant. At least an advance payment of over hundreds of millions has gone down the drain. Well, from a competitor's point of view, it's a boon."
A human hunter.
Since Verden never even faced him before he turned into a corpse, he never saw him alive.
"That human hunter, I heard he's supposed to be famous."
"Indeed, as the name suggests, he was an expert at catching people. In the past, he worked under a noble of the Estiria Kingdom, committing various crimes. After slavery was abolished, he came into the principality. At that time there was quite a commotion. As an example, he hunted down his own partners and then sat right in their vacant seats."
Yet, no one opposed him.
He only took food from the weak, so there was no reason for the powerful to step in. On the contrary, they rejoiced, saying there was now more work.
"In those years in Gray alone, the number of people he killed must be in the hundreds. For you to dispose of such a man without even a scratch… it would have been a good chance to spread your name, but it's a shame the information has to be hidden."
Since all traces were perfectly erased, the results of this request would be kept strictly secret.
If it were revealed that they had obtained the confidential documents Rocus had gathered, it would not be easy to receive a favorable reputation. Pale did not care much, but at Verden's request he had decided so.
'It's better to hide anything related to Gluttony as much as possible.'
Judging by his actions, he was extremely dangerous, and unless one was the Ark who stood as his enemy, it was better not to know of him. Otherwise, Pale's own information broker might end up the same way Rocus was annihilated.
That must not happen. At this point, seeking out another broker would only be a waste of time.
'Besides, I wasn't the one who directly dealt with the human hunter anyway.'
With that regretful remark as the end, Pale completely washed his hands of the successfully completed request.
Seeing that Verden did not ask about who had cornered Rocus, nor about the whereabouts of the Salamander's heart, it was indeed wiser to let it pass without unnecessary words.
Pale spoke.
"The items Sir Asher requested were all procured as of yesterday. The whereabouts of the alchemist as well. Would you like to receive them now?"
Verden nodded.
One of Pale's close aides, a man wrapped in bandages, came in and carefully set a wooden box on the floor. Pale himself opened the lid and placed the items one by one onto the desk.
The materials for the Demon Core. Verden checked each one meticulously, inspecting their quality.
"They were preserved and transported with great care, so there should be no deterioration."
Indeed.
The service fee of 6% was well deserved.
"And the alchemist?"
"Among the alchemists in the principality, I've selected three. I've prepared dossiers, please have a look."
Verden read through the papers Pale handed him.
Detailed descriptions of what kind of alchemist each was were written. Concise, containing only what Verden would be curious about, which made them easy to read.
'But still a bit ambiguous.'
He skimmed through the first and second, then moved on.
Upon seeing the career of the last, the third alchemist, Verden asked.
"This alchemist, Lito Varslan, how is he?"
"He is an all-around exceptional alchemist. However… his personality is rather eccentric."
"Eccentric?"
"To put it plainly, detached might be the right word. He is old, and even wealthier than that. He has no reason to accept commissions from anyone. The times he delivers goods through my broker or takes on requests are nothing more than part of his hobbies. In exchange, we provide him service, purchasing whatever he needs and delivering it free of charge."
So he had wealth.
"Meaning, if I commission him, he might demand something other than money?"
"Most likely, no, certainly so."
Hmm, quite a troublesome personality.
Well, it was his choice, and Verden had no right to complain. Still, having gathered money to commission the making of a Demon Core, only to be told money would not suffice, left a bitter taste.
But that was not the important matter.
"His skill?"
Pale affirmed.
"He is the best in the Duchy of Riviant. Among the alchemists I have connections to, he is the most outstanding."
"Then let's go with him."
"Are you sure?"
Verden nodded.
Considering the Demon Core was worth tens of billions of Elk, he could not entrust it to just anyone. No matter what the man demanded, if he was the best in the principality, it was worth the risk.
"Understood. Then I'll set an appointment date."
"I'm counting on you."
***
Combelly Town.
Though a mid-sized town, it was practically the only one in the vicinity, quiet yet never without the footsteps of travelers. Just by looking at the well-maintained main road and the clean city walls, one could tell it was thriving.
'At this rate, I might end up touring the entire principality.'
Verden reflected on his past deeds.
In Pythe Territory, subjugated bandits and a troupe of Orcs.
In the city of Martes, rescued Iris and adventurers, and disposed of Gluttony's doctor and his test subjects.
In Viron Territory, with the Butcher Galliark, subjugated the Wailing Knight.
In the Vard Mountains, met Harkan and disposed of the Black Hour.
In the resort city of Briente, encountered the Listener of the Ark.
In the city of Lorian, with Leira, candidate of the Ark, subjugated the Soul Tree.
Beyond that, he had traveled all across the principality.
Though just over half a year had passed, he had covered considerable distance. Without flight, he would not have managed even half.
Yet he had not even reached the main stage.
So far, he had visited only a single nation, the principality. Verden had no intention of staying in one place to grow. Within a short time, he planned to cross into other countries, to step forth more boldly, more decisively.
At present, Verden's level was mid–4th tier.
Day after day, he trained his body and expanded his mana circuits, and through countless real battles, he was now on the verge of reaching upper 4th tier.
There had been life-threatening encounters, but thanks to them, his growth rate was exceptionally fast.
But still, it was not enough.
'The important thing is reaching the 5th tier.'
Elemental magic.
The 3rd tier was merely the foundation, while the 4th tier, with incomparable casting time and mana consumption, wielded far greater destructive power. And the 5th tier reshaped the very terrain.
It was similar to mere terrain manipulation achieved by pouring out mana, yet fundamentally different. Depending on the caster's ability, one could alter the climate itself, or wipe out an entire small town in one blow.
Between 3rd and 4th tier lay a difference of class.
But between the 4th and 5th tiers lay a difference of dimension.
'And only by reaching the 5th tier can one attain the "Way of Magic."'
Worldwide, there were quite a number of mages above the 5th tier.
Of course, not all were specialized in powerful magic branches. More often, they were people who treated magic as an academic pursuit. Those born with great talent and into wealthy families.
Yet among them, those who reached the Way of Magic were only a handful.
Whether the limit was 6th or 7th tier, unless one became aware of who they truly were, what path they had walked, and what path they must walk, one could never reach the realm of the Way of Magic. It was said that without direct experience, no one could explain how. If a formula existed, most mages would already be magi.
Those who had attained it claimed it was a road only they could see, only they could walk. Verden knew of it only through knowledge.
'My own Way of Magic…'
Verden sank into thought for a while.
By then, the appointed time had come, and a man sent by Pale arrived.
"Greetings, I'm Sam, sent by Master Pale."
"I am Asher."
"Haha, please speak comfortably. If you have no other business, I shall guide you straight to Alchemist Lito."
Following Sam, he left Combelly Town.
They walked along the road for a while before entering a nearby forest. It was a peaceful wood, bathed in bright sunlight.
'Come to think of it, I do visit forests quite often.'
Naturally so.
All of Verden's commissions so far had taken place outside the cities. Against demi-humans or magical beasts, the wilderness was far safer than towns for wanted men. Rocus too had built his secret hideout behind a cliff.
Moreover, in the Duchy of Riviant, cities were generally small and security strong, making large crimes rare.
Compared to Babylon, the single city-state and greatest metropolis in the world.
And compared to the Principality's predecessor, the Estiria Kingdom.
Verden asked the man walking ahead.
"How much farther?"
"Not too far. But Sir Lito despises uninvited guests, so… he has placed certain things around. If you don't follow the set path, you can't get through. When I first came here, I fell for them several times, hahaha."
Sam scratched his cheek and turned left.
What in the world had he set up? Verden, glancing around, spotted a tree ahead with brown flowers blooming.
'Dream-Flower?'
A parasitic plant on trees, releasing invisible powder into the ground and sky, causing severe hallucinations in living beings that inhaled it. Though recovery came naturally with time, should demi-humans or magical beasts attack during the trance, it could be fatal.
Such flowers were attached to trees at regular intervals.
'Not something so easily found in the wild. Cultivated artificially, then?'
That meant the man had deep knowledge of plants.
Since plants were the main ingredients of alchemy, this alone did not prove him the best in the principality, but it was worth raising expectations.
Thus, winding left and right, they passed through the woods.
Soon after, a two-story cabin came into view, smoke rising from its chimney.
Sam wiped the sweat from his brow.
"This is Master Lito's home. I informed him beforehand, so if you knock, he should open the door. Then I shall take my leave. When you leave, Master Lito will take care of it, so you won't need guidance back."
Bowing politely, Sam retraced his steps.
Looking around the garden surrounding the cabin, Verden saw all kinds of plants growing, from common to rare.
'To cultivate such plants in natural conditions… he must be quite skilled in plant care.'
Verden admired the garden, then climbed the stairs.
Standing before the cabin door, he carefully knocked. There was no response, but he sensed a presence within. Tilting his head in thought, he waited, when a thin, hazy smoke seeped out from under the door.
Was he conducting some experiment?
There was no reason to expose himself, so Verden lightly dispersed it with magic. At once, a voice came from inside.
"Well now, to brush away even a little prank. Seems a boring fellow has come."
Clack, the door swung open.
A man past middle age, nearing his elder years, revealed himself.