"I received the requests from these three noble families." Kyrell said placing down the three envelopes with three different seals on the table in front of me.
I picked up the envelopes and looked at the seals first before looking at the letters inside.
My jaw clenched as I saw the contents and I looked at Kyrell.
"Are there any more who intended to harm the Grand Duke or his family?" I asked and Kyrell sighed.
"Some came for the previous Grand Duke but he was untouchable until..." His eyes drifted to me and I nodded.
"I want the list of them as well."
Kyrell gestured to Kent and he walked towards the concealed room and returned with a few envelopes.
"They have paid a fortune to get their work done."
I took the envelopes and ordered Kyrell, "Pull your people off the case of you don’t want them dead."
"Pardon?"
"All the ones whom you sent to the Frosthail castle are dead except for the one I brought but even he won’t be of any use now."
The injured guy was taken away a few minutes ago to get treatment.
"I’ll do as you say." Kyrell said with his head down.
"Are there any other guilds here who would take up this task?"
"Yes, but I’ll talk to their leaders so that they won’t interfere." I nodded.
"That’s convenient so, I can work on my extermination peacefully." I smiled making him gulp.
"Wi-Will you kill them all?"
I chuckled, "Not unless they beg me to."
"Also, I will contact you again so, for the future purposes, keep this with you." I said as I pulled out a pouch from my pocket and a gold token with the emblem of sea waves on it.
Kyrell picked up the token and his eyebrows furrowed.
"Wait, this seal..." He gasped and I stood up.
"I’ll see you again, Kyrell. And if you receive any other order for my friend then, send me a message at the Frosthail castle."
"But you’re-"
I smiled as I waved and left the room with Lyall in tow.
This was the second assassination guild that I had under my control now, first being Lyall’s. I didn’t feel strange since at times it was necessary to beat the evil with an even greater evil. I was used to this since I was a torture expert in my department and being in contact with the underworld and having some criminals do my bidding wasn’t an unusual thing.
We left Izkar and entered the above surface market place again.
"I’m hungry, let’s eat something before heading back, Lyall." I said as I removed the mask.
We ate at the restaurant before we returned to the castle. It was quite late so, I gave Lyall the brief instructions before I went inside my room.
That night was the one night of relaxing before my work started.
The next day, I woke up to the news that Davian was having guests today. The servants seemed to be having trouble as they were preparing to receive them while I walked over to the dining hall for breakfast.
"Good... morning,"
My greeting itself made me wonder if there was anything good about this morning as Davian especially looked as if someone had sucked the life out of him while everyone else seemed stressed.
"It doesn’t seem like a good morning." I commented as I sat down at the chair.
"It’s like any usual morning." Davian responded.
I smiled at him and he avoided my gaze.
"I heard some guests are visiting," I said and Davian paused for a split second and his eyebrows furrowed before he resumed eating.
"Yes."
That’s all he said.
Guess these guests weren’t as welcomed people.
After breakfast I stood up and was about to leave when I heard Davian muttering something under his breath.
"I hope they don’t come."
I left the dining hall with Lyall and bumped into Ethan who seemed like he would rather jump from the window than be in the castle.
"What’s wrong for you to have that kind of expression on your face, Baron Liswith?" I asked.
"Sir Ocean," Ethan looked at me, "It’s... just a little headache."
"Is the source of your headache the guests that are coming?"
Ethan flinched and I smiled.
"Who’s coming? Everyone seems on edge." I asked.
"Marquis Roderick Thompson and his daughter Lady Charlotte." He sighed.
"Are they troublesome people?"
"I shouldn’t even start on that, Sir Ocean," Ethan shook his head as he massaged his temples.
"Every time they visit I and His Grace would have to sleep with headache medication."
"Is that so?"
"I shouldn’t say this but I wish their carriage gets upturned and they won’t ever come here."
I laughed at that, Ethan wasn’t the type to say such kind of things but if he was so tensed then they might just be the type of people who would need to go through some rehabilitation. Nevertheless, the name was familiar.
"Seems like we and Seraph knights are quite fortunate to not deal with your guests." I smiled and Ethan looked at me with pleading eyes.
"Can’t you stay? I don’t wish to be the only one beside His Grace to suffer."
"You’re asking me to stay back and suffer alongside you?" I chuckled and he shook his head and reached out gripping my hand in both of his.
"Please help us, Sir Ocean. Just like the way you protected His Grace’s life that night save us today as well." He pleaded.
I recalled Davian’s words as well and smiled, "All right, I’ll stay back and suffer alongside you and His Grace."
His face lit up, "Really? Thank you, Sir Ocean!"
"But,"
His face froze, "Yes?"
"I want something in exchange."
"... What is it?"
"Don’t worry, I won’t ask of something big just a small thing that will be easy for you to get."
"Is it something illegal?" He asked and I chuckled.
"What? No. It’s really a small thing."
"Then, leave it to me!" He proudly announced before we shook hands over it.
Ethan skipped away with the visible flowers sprouting around him and I and Lyall exchanged a glance.
"Should I stay as well?" Lyall asked and I shook my head.
"It’s fine, I’ll handle the situation here. You go with the knights and come back safely."
"All right, Master."
I met up with Sir Adler and told them that I wouldn’t be able to join them for the day as Ethan had asked my help for some other work. Sir Adler surprisingly agreed without needing any elaborate explanation and after a few minutes, I watched Lyall and the knights leaving for the Fourth Wall.
I walked over to my room and changed my clothes from the usual comfy clothes to a black dress shirt and black pants along with the vest and my armour for the battle was ready.
"Re- Ocean?" I heard the sound from the brooch on the dressing table and I picked it up.
"Ocean, are you there?" Silas’s voice asked.
"Yes, I’m here."
"Are you all right?" He asked.
"Yes, why?"
"Did you visit the black market?"
"Did you dispatch some spies on me or something?" I asked.
"No, but I got the news from one of my informant in the Izkar."
"You have an informant there?"
"That’s not the point, why did you go there?"
"Davian was attacked a few days ago, when I investigated I found some rats from an assassination guild here at the castle so, I went there to warn them."
"You what?"
"Yes, it was easy they caved in pretty easily."
"... I told you to not-"
"I didn’t cause any trouble, Uncle. I didn’t even fight."
"I bet your attendant did."
"Well..."
"Did something else happen there?"
"I took over the guild." Silas sighed at my simple declaration.
"When are you returning?"
"In spring."
"That’s too long, do you need to stay there for so long?"
"The gates of North are closed for all winter remember Uncle?"
"You have the teleportation device and you can fly, Reina." Silas reminded and I smiled.
"I’ll still stay here for some more time, this place is interesting I’m having fun here."
"I’ll relay this message to your father."
"Are you trying to pick a fight, Uncle?" I asked.
"Besides, how are they handling things?"
"It’s a miracle that they haven’t fallen into another debt."
"Uncle." I used a warning tone.
"They’re doing well, your brother has started his successor classes and has been pestering me to help send a letter to you."
"It’s fine if they do." I said, "Just tell them to use a different seal."
"... Are you sure?"
"Tell them to limit their letters to one letter a fortnight."
"I don’t think that will work."
I sighed, "Fine, let them be. I’ll send them a letter when I’m free."
"All right."
Suddenly I heard the commotion outside and I had to cut our conversation short.
"Uncle, I’ll need to go now. I’ll talk to you later."
"Fine."
I checked myself once more in the mirror and smiled as the result was good enough.
"Now, let’s go greet the guests, shall we?"