POV Rio
The next several days were fairly peaceful. I finished assimilating Gregor and got my next template, but... it was one that I didn't know how to feel about. It was a Xenomorph. Which came with no equipment, and from the progress bar, it looks to me like it will take a really long time to assimilate. Other than that, a certain Salamander took one look at me and walked the other way. I couldn't say if it was a coincidence, but for now I couldn't care less. Unlike a lot of powerful people on Earth, I wasn't interested in little girls and boys.
'That reminds me, I need to wipe out all the sinners on that island, or those who visited. I should also reveal all their crimes while I'm at it.'
Would it cause massive chaos due to all those deaths? Most likely, but I didn't care. Every single one of them was scum for which the darkest pit of hell had opened, and I wasn't one to keep the devil waiting.
'I could also use the Continental Hotels to wipe some out or even Ghost Rider.'
I had been mostly busy reading in the library, but eventually the person I was waiting to see had arrived at the academy, Count Mott. I had been waiting for him because I thought it was the easiest target for my plans. As such, as soon as he took the maid, Siesta, I followed them from a distance back to his manor. That was when I infiltrated and started investigating him, and just as I had suspected. He had forged the documents.
'Tsk, tsk tsk. Thinking with you dick is such a dumb thing to do.'
The man had literally committed treason because he wanted a maid. That level of foolishness was immense. Regardless, I would deal with him and bring Siesta back to the academy. I detest slavery in any form, including sexual slavery, so I wasn't about to let her be a slave to the count. But for now, I had places to be.
I sneak up behind the count and cover his mouth with a chloroform rag. He didn't even have a chance to grab his wand before he was out.
"M-Mr Rio, why did you come?" Siesta asks.
"Come with me if you want to live," I say while offering my hand.
She takes my hand, and I place Mott over my shoulder while walking right out of the manor. Any guard who sees me is either disabled by a spell or backs down when I warn them that they would be protecting a man accused of Treason. I remove Firebolt from my inventory, and we start flying back to the academy. When I arrive, I quickly explain what I did and why to the Headmaster.
"I... I'll send word for the Royal Guard at once. And on behalf of the Crown, I sincerely thank you for revealing this corruption," Headmaster Osmond says seriously.
What happens next is surprisingly swift. Henrietta de Tristain revokes the Count's title and has him executed for treason. His assets are seized, and I am given a sizable gold reward, with possibly more rewards should I continue to help the Kingdom. The reward was nice, but I was already focused on my next target, Longueville or her title, Fouquet of Crumbling Dirt.
It turns out mages are really easy to sneak up on. As such, now Fouquet was my prisoner. Depending on her affiliation, I would decide what to do with her. I will admit I never cared for torture or interrogation, but sometimes that was the only choice I had, as her mind was heavily protected from mind magic.
"Just tell me what I want to know, and we can end this," I say to Fouquet after taking off the sensory deprivation gear.
"I'll talk! I-I'll talk, just please don't put those things back on!" Fouquet says while shaking all over.
"Excellent, now, do you know a girl named Tiffania?" I ask with a blank stare.
"What? N-No? S-Should I? Did I steal from her?" Fouquet asks nervously.
"Hmm, who do you work for, and before you say Osmond, I must remind you that if you lie, I will put these back on," I say while gesturing to the things I just removed.
"R-Reconquista! I work for the Reconquista! I steal stuff and give a portion of the proceeds to them in exchange; they give me intelligence on people and places that might have valuable loot," Fouquet answers honestly.
"Hmm, I see," I answer.
What follows is a lengthy interrogation where I get all I want from her. Including where she stashes her wealth. Apparently, she hid it here in Tristain. She didn't trust her allies, and she needed easier access to her wealth. Albion was just too far for that. Once I had learned all I needed, I Obliviated her and then showed a written confession she had written, having her arrested and carted off to who knows where. To make sure she didn't just escape, I had inflicted her with a brutal curse that would make magic basically impossible for her to cast unless a much more powerful magic user broke the curse for her.
After that debacle, it was just about time for the Familiars Exhibition. Louise and I both had no interest in participating, as Louise was too busy with her extra studies, and I was busy reading. It did mean I missed a meeting with Princess Henrietta, though that was only for now, as both Louise and I were summoned to the palace. The ride was peaceful, and the discussion was pretty basic. I was given the title of Chevalier, which is basically another way of calling me a knight of the Kingdom, and then, after the formal stuff, I was asked to kiss her hand as a show of loyalty, and after some negotiations, it was decided that I wasn't required to do so.
After that was done, we were sent back to the academy, where I then sought out Tabitha.
"Tabitha, is it?" I ask calmly.
"Yes," Tabitha answers quietly.
"Would you be interested in a trade?" I ask.
She only looks at me with confusion.
"I can save the one you love. Cure her of her ailment," I say bluntly.
Her eyes widen, and she closes the book she was reading to look at me more closely.
"I have a magical artifact that can heal any physical ailment. If you don't believe me, then please observe," I say.
I take out the locket and a knife, then I stab the blade right through my hand. As my hand pours out blood, I open the locket and hold out my hand away from myself to show Tabotha as it rapidly heals. Then I close the locket once I am done healing.
"What do you want in exchange?" Tabitha asks.
"A few things. Your allegiance and support for future plans of mine, and related to that, I want you to inherit the throne of Gallia once I assassinate your Uncle," I answer calmly while taking out a magic contract.
"Deal," Tabitha says after reading the terms of the contract.
"A pleasure doing business with you. Now, I assume you would like to rush home?" I ask with a satisfied smile.
She nods.
"Excellent, then let us get underway," I reply.
Tabitha calls her dragon, and we take off into the sky heading straight for Orléans estate. As soon as we arrive, Tabitha starts running towards her mother's room. An elderly man, whom I recalled should be called Perecin or something like that, looked shocked by Tabitha's appearance and demeanor. But he doesn't stop us, and we reach the room where her mother is located. Inside, I see the mad woman cradling a doll.
"To get her healed, she has to be the one to hold the locket and the one to open it," I warn.
Tabitha nods and takes the locket before casting a wind spell to have the locket drift towards her mother. Her mother doesn't react at first until the locket touches the doll she's holding onto. The mad look in her eyes makes me get ready to stun her, but it seems I wasn't needed as she takes the locket with curiosity and, as part of that, opens it. The rest would solve itself.
"Okay, that should do it. She won't be able to escape the locket's effect until she is healed. I don't know how long that might take; it could be weeks or more, depending on the level of damage. But she won't need to eat or sleep during that time," I say while putting away my wand.
Tabitha nods and takes a seat near her mother, and starts reading.
"Well, I will be back later. When she is healed, return to me with the locket. Oh, and you should also probably take your mother and everything of slight value from this manor once she is healed, as when your uncle finds out, he will try to remove both of you," I order.
"Got it," Tabitha responds.
After that is handled, I head back to the academy and explain the situation to the Headmaster to give Tabitha a leave of absence. Though that came at a cost, that cost being the person I had been trying to avoid like the plague, Kirche.
"Hey there, handsome, a little bird told me that you know something about my friend," Kirche says while purposely showing her bosom.
"Ms Kirche, if you wanted info on what your friend is doing at home, you can send a letter; you do not need to ask me," I say with a tired voice.
"Oh? But I feel awfully lonely ever since she's gone home. Maybe you could keep me company," Kriche suggests.
I drag my hand over my face and try to think of a good excuse to avoid this conversation.
"Ms Kirche, have I not made myself clear? I'm not interested, yes, you are 18, but I feel no attraction to you, please stop this harassment," I plead.
"Oh, but I've been feeling so feverish since I first saw you. You've ruined my sense of aesthetics with your handsome visage," Kirche says while unbuttoning her vest.
"Why are you undressing? Can you make your point while keeping your clothes on?" I ask with annoyance.
"My shirt feels so warm, I'm just giving my girls some air, what, like what you see?" Kirche says while showing as much cleavage as possible.
"Since I am a gentleman, I will give you one. last. warning. Leave," I threaten.
"Oh~ That demanding voice is so hot!~" Kirche says and starts moaning.
My eye twitches, and I grab my wand.
"Oh, some foreplay?" Kirche comments.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" I cast and send Kirche flying.
"Looks like Team Hotties is blasting off again!" Kirche yells.
Ding
"Well, that should deal with her for a few hours," I say before going home.
I went home and settled in with a good book. While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping. As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door. Only this and nothing more."
I approach the door.
"I swear if this is a raven, I'm going to have bird for dinner," I mutter as I go to the door.
I open the door, and at first, there is nothing, and I was about to pull out a shotgun and go raven hunting, but then I notice someone hiding beside my door.
"Louise? What the heck are you doing here at this hour?" I ask ponderously.
"Nevermore," Louise says.
"What?" I say after doing a double-take.
"I said, can we come in?" Louise asks.
"Of course, of course... Wait, we?" I ask with confusion.
Behind Louise comes Princess Hernietta.
"Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping. And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door. That I scarce was sure I heard you," I say before shaking my head.
'I need to stop reading so much poetry.'
"It's fine, Lord Rio. I'm sorry we awoke you," Henrietta apologizes.
I lead them to my living room and seat them.
"Is tea okay?" I ask.
"I don't want to trouble you," Henrietta politely declines.
"As you wish, now may I ask why you have come to my chambers at such a late hour?" I ask.
"I have a request to make of you," Henrietta says reluctantly.
"What do you need?" I ask calmly.
"I will be married to the Emperor of Germania, but before that happens, I require some... discreet help in retrieving a letter I had sent to Prince Wales of Albion that could jeopardize the marriage," Henrietta says cautiously.
"Hmm, seems easy enough. When should we depart?" I answer simply.
"Oh, thank you. I request that you leave as soon as possible. And, I must apologize in advance, but Fouquet has escaped," Henrietta says apologetically.
"Ah, so you think that the Reconquista has spies within your court," I answer.
"Indeed. As such, I must tell you to trust no one. And if possible, please recapture Fouquet, or if that's not possible, eliminate her," Henrietta requests.
"No need to worry about that. I know Fouquet won't be a danger to you or me anymore," I answer.
"Huh? Why is that?" Henrietta asks with a slight head tilt.
"Because she's already dead, and she likely took whoever freed her with her. Though if she hasn't, has a noble or lord recently been badly injured?" I ask.
"Now that you mention it..." Henrietta says, but stops herself and looks at Louise.
"What's wrong?" Louise asks.
"I had originally intended to send Captain Jean-Jacques Francis de Wardes as your escort, but he was injured in a magic experiment gone wrong. His injuries were said to be quite severe, and it was worried that he might never recover, and if he does, he may be crippled for the rest of his life. I didn't want to worry you, Louise," Henrietta says a bit guiltily.
"Hmm, let me talk with him. I can interrogate him, and if he's innocent, I can heal him," I offer with a smile.
"I... I can't officially accept that. But if you complete this task for me, I can give you a chance to talk with him alone," Henrietta says with a somewhat worried tone.
"Good enough," I answer with a shrug.
"Thank you for helping me, and please return safely," Henrietta says with a bow.
"It shall be done," I say warmly.