Episode 171: Division (2)
“What are you talking about right now?”
Athena shouted, her face a mask of confusion.
“How can you say my father is a fake?”
“That’s not your father. It’s nothing more than a meticulously crafted puppet.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! This is the Pafnir Mercenary Corps! Who could possibly pull off something like that?”
“I don’t know.”
In truth, Damian already knew who was behind it. There was only one person within the mercenary corps capable of creating such a lifelike replica.
It was Rubia, the dark sorceress and disciple of the infamous Sla.
“I don’t know who made the fake mercenary king or who swapped him out. But I’m certain that what you see is a fake.”
Damian chose not to reveal everything to Athena. Explaining too much might cast suspicion on him instead. After all, it was odd for an outsider like Damian to be so well-versed in the internal affairs of the mercenary corps.
“Even if what you’re saying is true… there’s no way no one noticed. This is the Pafnir Mercenary Corps!”
Athena found it hard to believe Damian’s words. It was only natural. The place was filled with master-class warriors, whose senses were honed to detect even the slightest hint of magic.
Deceiving them seemed impossible. But Rubia, as a disciple of Sla, was no ordinary sorceress. She could craft a puppet so convincing that even master-class senses would be fooled.
“It was crafted with such precision. If I hadn’t been part of the order, I wouldn’t have recognized it myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“During a visit to the Holy Order’s main temple, I saw a similar puppet. They said it was something they retrieved after defeating a dark sorcerer. That’s how I recognized it.”
“A dark sorcerer…?”
The mention of a dark sorcerer seemed to make Athena reconsider. Such a being could indeed deceive even master-class warriors.
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it right now.”
Damian had revealed this to Athena to prevent the Pafnir Mercenary Corps from falling apart. They needed to find the real mercenary king as soon as possible. But it had already been a week since the king had disappeared, and Rubia had spirited him away.
Even for Damian, tracking a week-old trail was impossible. So, he planned to expose the fake and mobilize the entire mercenary corps to find the real king. He needed Athena’s help, which is why he told her the truth.
“Can you really prove it?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s go quickly.”
Just as they were about to head to where the fake mercenary king was, the tent where the meeting was held opened, and two people emerged.
Leading them was Clea Fowler, and beside her stood a broad-shouldered man.
Ulric Hopper, the Executioner. A master who had fought alongside the mercenary king during the War of Destruction. Damian remembered him well for his exceptional skills.
“You’re right here. That saves us some trouble.”
Clea Fowler said, looking at Athena. Athena eyed her warily.
“What do you want?”
Clea didn’t answer. Instead, she glanced at Ulric Hopper.
“Ulric, please.”
“Mother, do we really have to do this?”
Ulric asked, his face showing reluctance. Clea snapped back at him.
“Ulric! Your father might have fallen because of them. Are you going to show mercy?”
Athena was shocked by Clea’s words.
“What are you talking about? Why am I the suspect?”
“Don’t play dumb. You’re the one who spent the most time with Carl. If not you, then who else could have done this to him?”
Athena looked incredulous at Clea’s accusation.
“That’s absurd! Why would I do such a thing to my father?”
“We’ll find out soon enough. Ulric, what are you waiting for? Arrest them.”
Ulric sighed and gestured. Mercenaries surrounded the two.
“We’re arresting you as prime suspects.”
Ulric said, looking at them with a hint of regret.
“If you resist, I’ll have to take action myself.”
The two were taken to separate locations by the mercenaries. Damian found himself in a mobile prison on the outskirts of the mercenary camp. It was a metal box on wheels, with a single iron cage inside.
“Get in there quietly!”
The mercenaries shoved Damian into the cage and locked it before leaving. His hands were bound with large cuffs, enchanted to disrupt the flow of magic.
Damian tapped the cuffs against the bars. They seemed sturdy.
“I don’t have time for this.”
He needed to find the mercenary king, and being detained was a setback.
“I’ll have to escape when the opportunity arises.”
Damian had allowed himself to be captured because of Ulric. Even for him, fighting a master-class warrior was out of the question. But escaping was another matter. The cuffs and cage were no real obstacle for him.
“The real challenge is finding the mercenary king…”
With the situation so tangled, he couldn’t rely on the mercenary corps for help. He’d have to escape and search on his own.
As Damian pondered his next move, the prison door opened, and a woman entered.
She was breathtakingly beautiful—Rubia.
“Thank you for letting me in.”
“You’re welcome.”
The mercenary blushed as he closed the door behind her. Once it was shut, Rubia approached Damian.
“This is the second time we’ve met face to face.”
Rubia said with a smile. Even in the grimy prison, her beauty shone brightly.
“We’re not exactly on friendly terms.”
Damian had no interest in Rubia’s appearance. He knew her true nature and that her looks were artificially crafted.
“Still as cold as ever.”
Rubia said, feigning disappointment. Suddenly, the air filled with a sweet scent, a pheromone trick of Sla’s. It was designed to captivate anyone who inhaled it.
“If you have something to say, make it quick and leave.”
Of course, it had no effect on Damian. He even covered his nose with his hand, finding the smell unpleasant.
Rubia looked at him with curiosity.
“Interesting. Most men lose their minds when they see me, but you don’t seem affected at all.”
“You’re overconfident. You’re not that attractive.”
Damian’s retort made Rubia laugh.
“So, you’re the one who had me locked up.”
Rubia nodded nonchalantly at Damian’s accusation.
“You’re quick to catch on.”
“You showed up right after I was captured. Only a fool wouldn’t notice.”
“True, but you don’t know why I had you imprisoned.”
Rubia said, eyeing Damian.
“I’m a dark sorceress.”
Damian looked incredulous. He hadn’t expected her to admit it so openly.
“There’s someone looking for talented individuals like you. I plan to offer you to them.”
“And who might that be?”
“You don’t need to know. Just that they’re someone great.”
Rubia’s eyes took on a dreamy look.
Damian thought for a moment. He had a hunch about who Rubia’s mysterious benefactor might be.
“I originally asked Garrot to capture you alive, but he failed miserably and got himself killed. So, I had to step in.”
“Kidnapping me from a place full of master-class warriors? That’s impossible.”
“There are ways.”
Rubia pulled out a small orb and tossed it to the ground. It expanded and began to ooze, forming a mass of flesh that was unsettling to look at.
“Watch closely.”
With a wave of her hand, the mass transformed into an exact replica of Damian.
“Convincing, isn’t it? With a little work on the scent and magic aura, everyone will be fooled. I’ll make it look like you died.”
As Damian suspected, Rubia was the one who created the fake mercenary king.
“You seem calm. Have you given up?”
Rubia asked with a smile, seeing Damian’s lack of reaction.
For Damian, it was a relief. He wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of escaping; Rubia was doing it for him. Then, a thought struck him.
There was a way to find the mercenary king without all the legwork.
“If you kidnap me, it’ll only backfire.”
“Oh my, listen to you go on. Are you getting scared now that you might be taken by the dark sorcerer?”
“Even if they take me, Dorgo won’t be pleased.”
The moment Damian mentioned that name, Rubia’s eyes widened in shock.
“Y-you! H-how do you know his name?”
“How could I not?” Damian replied with a smug air. “I’m Dorgo’s personal attendant.”