novelraw Chapter 368 - 367 - Bounties
Chapter 368 - 367 - Bounties
The thunder rumbled heavily as the pressure dropped before the rain finally unleashed on Indelia's countryside. The plains outside of Cimmeria quickly became mud but the deep forests were much more manageable if a bit more miserable due to the heavy rain.
Lind was hardly bothered. His instincts as a dragon welcomed the rain but his human mind still sought shelter to weather out the storm. It was not readily available and his new companion was glaring daggers at him.
The demon had not spoken a word but Lind was concerned about his demonic fonts. The acid font was indeed a Diamond Tier but it was underdeveloped. The other 2 fonts of poison and metal were still low Diamond Tier as well. The out of sync fonts and the low quality Qi in his dantian showed he had been likely forced to his current cultivation.
After getting entirely soaked, a cave finally loomed in the forest. Lind quickly scanned it over and found it empty. There were signs of old habitation but they were months old. Likely the beast had been killed and nothing had laid claim to it yet.
Lind used his fire and air to sterilize any possible issues and then had the demon follow him in. Before a word was said, the demon began to set up arrays to defend the cave but Lind stopped him.
"There is no need for that. Relax." It was the first time surprise passed over the demon's face but then deep suspicion. Lind ignored it and tossed out a formation plate that lit up before the entrance repelled the water away while the exterior became a moss covered stone face.
It would feel very real to cultivation senses and physical touch so long as the Qi lasted in the plate. Lind used such plates often but the demon did not understand what had happened save a formation had been deployed.
"Give me a moment, I have a few things to prepare." Lind summoned a couple of chairs and bed rolls. They were not insanely high quality but they were well cared for as the wooden chairs were lacquered and well polished. There were a few arrays imbedded to maintain them as well.
The table was made of a marble slab cut and polished as well on simple metal legs. On Earth it would look very familiar as an outdoor luncheon spot. The demon seemed to be even more suspicious as Lind started a fire and guided the smoke into an artifact.
It kept the cave clear without giving away their position. The smoke was simply broken down further so it was harmless. His actions actually distracted the demon long enough to put curiosity on his face before he hid it behind a frown.
A simple grill was laid out with some Diamond Tier meat. Lind had to use all his elements to properly cook such tough meat. The smell of good food finally broke the demon a bit. He looked at the 2 chairs and back at Lind.
"You are welcome to sit and relax. I swear to Heaven and Earth I will do you no harm." The oath might draw some attention but there was hardly a ripple as Lind never intended harm. Making an oath against your nature invoked more power but swearing along your own nature hardly caused an issue.
The oath actually made the demon look at Lind like he was insane but he then shrugged and took a seat. The chair creaked a bit but the arrays would ensure it could withstand just about anyone.
In time, plates were summoned and food set out. The demon salivated but did not dare to touch the food while Lind dug in at first. He looked at the demon before sighing.
"Feel free to eat to your heart's content." The demon seemed to attack the food and Lind noted it was not simply hunger but as if the demon had never used utensils at all. A sigh in his mind was all he spared while they ate.
It had been a trying day to leave Cimmeria and he doubted his long days were over.
After Lind cleaned up, the demon seemed unsure what to do.
"I think I should clear up a few things. I am not Taren Cord. I am Lind Frey." The illusion over his appearance vanished to reveal his dirty blonde hair, dark green eyes, and tan skin. The moment the demon saw that, all the tension seemed to drain out of him.
"My former masters are looking for you. The bounties are piling up in the guilds." Lind arched an eyebrow. He knew he was being hunted, but multiple bounties?
"What exactly am I worth?" Lind set up some tea to boil while 2 mugs were set on the table. He was curious how much was being offered to hunt him by the Saint Kingdom.
The demon carefully examined the tea before sipping at it. He was pleasantly surprised how it made him feel. The demon then considered but before he could speak he saw Lind Frey smack his own forehead.
"I am rude! I introduced myself but forgot to ask your name. What is your name?" The demon felt irritated at that question. Lind could see it clearly but did not understand the cause. His confusion calmed the demon down.
"I have no name. I am simply the slave, demon, or it." Lind frowned deeply at that.
"You were born a slave?" The demon slowly shook his head.
"I was caught stealing as a child in the Saint Kingdom. The noble imposed the punishment of slavery on me per the laws of the Kingdom." Lind's knuckles cracked in anger. He had destroyed the illegal slave trade and it had yet to recover but the legal side was hardly any better.
"Hold still." His cold tone caused the demon to react instinctively in obedience but then saw the control rod glow a certain array that resulted in the slave collar snapping open. Before the demon could process that moment, the 2 metal items turned molten before they were melted into slag.
The dark green orbs of Lind Frey were terrifying to the demon but they were focused on the 2 molten slabs of metal.
"You can choose a name you wish. If there is somewhere you want to go, I will make it happen." The demon swallowed nervously as at that moment he did feel like he was in a cave with a human but a dangerous aether beast far above his power!
"T-thank you, Master Frey!" The demon was technically above Lind but there was no contest in the quality of their cultivations.
Lind calmed himself. He had a visceral reaction to slavery. He could appreciate it for true criminals but far too many powers abused the practice for their personal vengeance to simply denigrate the weak.
"Now, about the bounties, please tell me." The demon quickly nodded and no longer harbored any idea of fighting the human in front of him.
"According to my former masters, you are worth at least 5 peak grade 4 weapons from the Royal Forgers. Their business had collapsed due to the Forging items available at grades 2 and 3 in the Sapphire Auction House." Lind rolled his eyes. Exactly what would capturing him do for their business?
The Royal Forgers were a guild endorsed by the nobles and royal family of the Saint Kingdom capital to control who got what in their borders. It was effective but the lack of quality normally was hard to overcome even with an auction.
Lind had deals with the Sapphire Auction House to distribute the Moebius Sect's goods across the world. As the Saint Kingdom could not stop the flow of goods in the Sapphire Auction House, it now suffered the consequences of their practice in production.
"I assume the Floral Essence Guild has something similar in pills?" The demon nodded. A tired sigh came from Lind as he began to see the shape of it. The powers of the Saint Kingdom were using their production arms to induce people to come after him.
"Anyone official?" The Saint Kingdom was using proxies but there were possibly more troublesome groups. The demon considered for a while but then thought of one.
"The Marina Adventure Guild had been issued a bounty of 1000 Sky Stones for your capture." Lind froze for a moment but then smirked.
"It was issued by the kingdom?" The demon shrugged as he was not allowed to know that much detail. Lind summoned a communication stone.
"Nadia, can you hear me." There was a pause before a voice came back, but not the one Lind was expecting.
"Master Nadia is currently resolving a bar brawl. She may have started it." The lethargic voice made Lind smile.
"Is your brother helping or hindering?" There was a long pause before a male voice snapped through.
"I am not little!" Lind laughed slightly before he turned serious.
"Bloody Wrath answers my call so I assume you were expecting me?" The demon shivered at the name behind the 2 voices. Even his former masters feared Bloody Wrath.
Lind Frey was notorious in the Saint Kingdom but the way he calmly chatted with the lethal duo only reinforced his desire to not anger the human.
"You made quite the commotion in Cimmeria. That was a clever ruse, Master Frey." Lind was not surprised they already knew about it. The Marina Adventure Guild was located on the Fortune Way port of Veritas.
It was wise of them to keep an eye on caravans heading west or some possible cultivators that were of interest to their jobs posted in the guild hall.
"Exactly how bad are things? Is anyone I care about in danger?" Lind's voice became as cold as ice on the last question. The demon shivered as the feeling of a powerful beast filled the cave once more.
"They are not able to do that. Darkmoor Kingdom is keeping a sharp eye on them for that, also tensions are rather high and neither side wants war at the moment." Lind calmed but then frowned.
"Would they go to war over me?" The long pause after his question made him nervous. While protecting himself was fairly easy, protecting a large number of people would not be so easy anymore.
The Moebius Sect had strict instructions to announce his departure and that Kexin was now the Sect Master. All else aside, the Rith continent was far enough to protect the sect from any direct assault for the time being.
The Frey Clan, however, had no such protection. In fact, under normal circumstances, it would be discarded without even reaching the notice of the Lotus Empire! Lind Frey changed that status. Despite the Clan still staying in the Southern District, the Lotus Empire took a sharp interest in keeping them safe.
The Darkmoor Kingdom also stationed some Gold Tier demons to keep an eye on it, especially after the last war with the Demon Empire and its fall out. Tensions were rising on several sides but the talk of war was far from anyone's lips.
A single trigger could change that, however.
"We do not know, Master Frey. We will let our master know but our network is limited to the Saint Kingdom or its interests. While we have seen the chaos in the upper echelons on our missions, there is no agreement on what to do with you exactly aside from capturing you." Lind almost felt relief.
It explained the multiple bounties far more than the more dangerous coordinated assault. It did make the journey ahead more troublesome, but he already had some ideas how to slip onto the Sarth continent.
"Thank you for the information. Stay out of trouble, I am not there to help next time!" A huff came out of the stone along with laughter from the boy. The demon wondered what Lind referred to but then the items were put away.
"I am going to get you to Darkmoor, what you do after that is up to you. It may be dangerous but that is half the fun, is it not?" The demon shook in fear as he realized a bloody path was likely ahead.
The Saint Kingdom had chosen their enemy poorly. He was very glad he was not an enemy anymore of that man!