Epic Of The Demonic Sage

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The sound of horse hooves hitting the paved road could be heard as a few people saw a carriage approaching from the distance. 

"Huh? Who the hell is going to the Blind Crow tavern at this time?" A muscular man that was dressed in a sleeveless vest questioned.

He was sitting on an outdoor tavern that was located at a short distance from the Blind Crow tavern. There were a few more people sitting around him and all of them had been chatting and eating their food with the drinks that were on the table.

"Don't know, but seeing the quality of the carriage, it shouldn't be anyone important. Look, it's a common carriage that you can hire anywhere." Another man dressed in a grey tunic spoke.

"Bah! Why are you two even bothering with it? There are guards around there, anyway. They'll handle it if something problematic happens." A waitress that was on the rather stout side said while placing another tray of drinks on the table.

"What happened there last night? I heard some thief got caught?" the man in the vest questioned.

"Nah, I heard it was some big time killer plotting to assassinate a noble that got caught." Another patron sitting on a table on the side chimed in.

"Nothing of that sort happens in Inanis city, what joke! It was just a common robber that got caught last night. He hid some items around there and the guards have been looking for the stolen goods but were unable to find them yet.

Afraid that the robber's companions might come to get those stolen items, they have posted a few of the guards there." The waitress clarified.

After hearing the words of the waitress, the men seemed a bit appeased.

"Hmm… no wonder. The Count has certainly done far better than before interns of public security. I remember just a couple of months ago we could not stay out here like this freely without watching our backs." The man in the sect spoke.

"Indeed. The Count and his family truly have our interests in their mind." Another waitress, that was a bit more older, stated.

While these people were chatting, the carriage that had just appeared easily went to the back of the tavern where the stables were located, away from the prying sights.

Once it stopped there, its door opened and two masked individuals walked out of here. These were of course, none other than Lucius and Kiana. The two of them quickly went to the hidden hatch in the stables while carrying a small box.

~Creak~

The hatch was opened and the two of them stepped in before closing it behind them.

Since it was daytime, they had used the carriage itself to hide them leaving and entering the hatch.

Whoever had designed this hatch and even the layout of the tavern knew very well why this was made and how it was going to be used in the future. Lucius had actually searched a bit about this tavern and had learned that this tavern was made fifty years ago.

Its owners had changed hands a lot of times before the current owner finally took it. That was when it was named the blind crow tavern. In the passageway, the two of them quickly went to the room at the end and knocked in the same pattern as before.

Thankfully, there was always someone waiting in the room and Lucius and Kiana didn't just have to wait there the entire time.

~Creak~

The small slot on it opened, and a pair of eyes peeked out.

"What are you two doing here at this time? Don't you know there are guards outside?" Leif questioned.

"Coming at night was not an option, besides we already have the things we needed ready. Call the three men, we have work to do." Kiana was the one who answered.

"Hmm… fine. But be careful when you leave the passage later and avoid guards." Leif stated.

~kacha~kacha~

With that done, the latches on the back of the door were moved, allowing Lucius and Kiana to freely enter the room. This time the room was empty since the three men they were supposed to meet were upstairs in the rooms.

They had told them that they would be meeting at the same time as yesterday, which was at least twelve hours from now and thus not the same. They were quite early and also at a risky time according to them due to it being day.

But to Lucius and Kiana, it was no problem, since they already knew that nothing was going to happen. The thing about the burglar was something they had set up by asking the guards.

While the burglar was indeed relay, the thing about his hiding items was false, and also the location was not exactly the same. But this was all that was needed to keep suspicion off of them and make it easier for them to restrict the three men to the tavern.

While Lucius was sure Arius wouldn't go anywhere, the same couldn't be said for Cohen and Carlyle.

Even if the chance was less, Lucius wanted to reduce it to as small as possible and prevent any trouble. By keeping the guards outside, this was made possible rather easily and also kept off suspicion.

Lucius set up the things for the Upgrade as he had already gotten the instructions last night as well. All that was now needed was to set it up and let Arius use it. Lucius took out a metal box and placed the fifty Aether crystals that were needed inside it in a specific pattern.

This time the Aether crystals were the most expensive ingredient of all when usually it was the rune beast crystal. Then, when that was done, he filled the metal box with the Rock Nut oil, until all of the Aether crystals were completely doused in them.

Then finally the four Rune beast crystals were added, which rather floated on the oil.