Episode 10

"HOLD!!…. EVERYONE HOLD YOUR LINE!!!…". (Guards Leader)

The Guards leader was leading teams of town guard circling my Van, the situations were tense as minutes passed by. Just as the guards slowly closing onto my van, I told Mina to open the side door for duke Merrica.

"STOP!!!….". (Duke Merrica)

Duke Merrica get out from the van and shout at the guards, which stunned all of the guards and side onlookers. The Guards captain immediately recognizes Duke, and wave his hand to stop the guards from attacking the van.

"Lord Duke!!... Is that you?..".(Captain Guards)

"It is me, Herman…..Seeing how you handle the situations, pleased me…but, there's no need for such alert for this beast…this is my guest tamed beast, be sure to remember it…". (Duke Merrica)

Duke handle the situations quite skilfully, he even slips something about me (Van).

"Thank you for your compliments, Sir….Don't worry sir, I will make sure to take note of the beast….is the campaign successful sire?…". (Captain Herman)

Captain Herman waves his hand to disperse the guards and signal for the gates to be opened. Seeing the rough appearance of his Duke, he can't help but ask about the campaign.

".….Yes, we finally destroyed those filthy bandits…..Herman, send one of the guards to my mansion, tell them to prepare for a special guest, also send 2 more guards to each Mercenary guild and Merchant Association tell them that I want them to send their representative for member registration to my mansion….make sure this be done quickly…". (Duke Merrica)

"I will personally see to it, sire!…. The gates have been fully opened sire….". (Captain Herman)

Seeing the gates has been fully opened, Duke Merrica nodded at Guard Captain Herman then get in the van, seeing Duke and Mina already seated. I start the engine again and drive slowly in the town.

"Finally~….Your Excellency Sai Mies, Lady Elijah….I welcome you to my humble territory town...The Wall of Northern Hallerus...Town or Merrina…it's beautiful isn't it?…". (Duke Merrica)

Enthusiastically introducing his town, Duke Merrica and his knight were proud of it, Elijah and Mina were quite impressed by the scene, whilst I'm only nodding at it.

The town was quite normal to be honest, of course, it looks much better than the outside. The building and houses were made from stone bricks and wood, all of the infrastructures and roads were similar to an old medieval westerns design, of course, there's a touch of magical put to it. The roadside light was made up of a Beast core that has been inscribed with magical incantations. The town itself was quite large, about 450-meter radius large.

"My family was the one who responsible to design the town, for 150 years this town was developed slowly…..comparing to other towns and capital…we take pride in how to organize the town is..". (Duke Merrica)

The town was quite organized, it was carefully designed. The town itself was divided into 4 large sections. Each section has it's own roles, Business district, resident district, military district, and Noble district. I was fairly impressed by it, but to be honest, this town was overly populated, as we were driving slowly through the town the number of people I saw was too many. Luckily the guards riding the horse were all around the van to clear the road before us, if not I may have run over a few people in the past few meters.

"Ask Duke where the Mercenary Guild and Merchant Association building was..".

I told Elijah to ask duke where both of the organizations building was, she nods and turns to Duke at the back seat and ask him.

"There's no need for His excellency to be worried about that, I already told my man to inform them of our business…..both of the organization representatives should be waiting at my mansion, by now….we can just head over to my mansion now..". (Duke Merrica)

"....As he said….I guess he was quite fast…". (Elijah)

I already told Elijah that, I don't want anyone outside the Company to know that I was able to understand any language, that's why she will respond and pretend to translate everything to me.

"Well, he needed to be….if not we probably need to reconsider working with him…..anyway, so all we need to do is follow the Guards right?…".

"Yes, your excellency..". (Elijah)

Duke Mansion was at the end of Noble District, as we were entering the Noble District. The Size of the crowds and the visual appearance has changed, fancy clothing and horse-drawn carriage can be seen on the road. Of course, all of them have to stop and stand aside as the guards who is escorting us shouted that Duke was in presences. Because of that our drives were smoother compare to the previous district.

At the end of the District, I can see the perimeters of Duke mansions. The whole area was barricaded with a fancy designed 3meter high iron fence. As the gatekeepers saw us, they opened the iron gates and let us inside. The inside was definitely high class, the road was paved with stoned blocks, beautiful green garden on each side of the road. The mansion itself was amazing, it looks like a High end old English era style mansion, it was 3 floor high made with 300 meters long, it was Extravagant, definitely shows one of high status.

After parking near the fountain at the Mansion front entrance, Mina steps out and opened the door, Duke and his men were comes out one by one. All of them were greeted by the duke and the knights family with a warm welcome, the news of their glorious return was already known to all off Merrina. Me, Elijah was still inside the van, I don't really want to be involved in their celebrations.

"Look at them…..Celebrating, hmph!!…. What a joke, they failed miserably, yet easily taking the glory of his Excellency…". (Elijah)

"Just let them be...I killed all the bandits wasn't to help them, but to free all of you... besides, as long as they give me what I want….I don't care if they want to swallow all that fame for themselves...".

"Mina, His excellency is tired…tell duke to prepare our room now…". (Elijah)

Elijah was feisty for sure, after contemplating at my words she turns to Mina who standing beside the door.

"Yes, sister Elijah…". (Mina)

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Duke Family & Duke Merrica P.O.V

Inside the glorious and the richest mansion in all of northern Hallerus, a Dignified and beautiful 25 years old woman was relaxing and enjoying her afternoon in the back garden, she was the second most powerful human in the northern land, this blonde beautiful lady was a wife to Duke Merrica Murr and 5th Princess of Hallerus Kingdom, Duchess Marriane Hallerus Murr. Her relaxing afternoon tea has been interrupted by the sudden commotions inside the Mansion.

"Duchess Marriane!!!…Duchess Marriane!!!!!….".

"WHO'S THE ONE DARED TO INTERRUPT HER DUCHESS ATTENTIONS!!!…". ( Handsome Knight)

A knight suddenly appeared from beneath Duchess Marriane skirts and stood up, while looking at the doors where a Town Guards suddenly appeared.

The appearance of the knight shocked the guards who've been screaming the Duchess name. The knight's right hand suddenly burn bright red and a fireball appeared on his palm. The handsome Knights tried to throw the fireball but stopped by the Duchess, as she grabs his wrist.

"Hold your hand Anderson…You there!…What is the occasion for you to interrupt my time rudely like this?!…you better give me an acceptable answer…or I will stake your head on a pole…". (Duchess Marriane)

With a beet-red face, Duchess Marriane looks at the guards. The sheer magical prowess she gave out shock the guards and turns him pale with fear. Kneeling on the floor the guards starts to speak.

"I brought Urgent news from the Duke himself!…. Duke Merrica Murr has return victoriously from his campaign along with the Knights brigade…..Duke Merrica also ordered that Duchess and the Mansion should prepare to receive a special guest immediately!!..". (Guard Messenger)

"He's Alive??…. Cheh!!...hmph!!…you can leave..". (Duchess Marriane)

Instead of showing a happy face, Duchess Marriane was frowning, she waves her hand telling the messenger to leave at once.

"Anderson tell everyone to prepare for my husband's arrival..". (Duchess Marriane)

"yes your grace!..". (Knight Anderson)

The knight urgently left the Duchess side and head inside the mansion.

"Baron Larson you scoundrel !!!…what should I do?!!….". (Duchess Marianne)

The elegance aura around the Duchess disperse disappears, her eyebrows crunches as she smashes her fist on to the table in frustration.

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Duke Arrival. Mansion Entrance.

"My love!!…. Look at you, it must've been hard for you…and Hughes, thank you for bringing my husband back to my side safely…". (Duchess Marriane)

The Greeting party was heartwarming, all the knights and their families reunite, also the sight of their Lords hugging each other melts the onlooker's hearts.

"It was a long and hard battle, but we manage to defeat the One Snakes bandit once and for all….I believe our land shall be safe once again..". (Duke Merrica)

Holding the hand of his wife, Duke shows a relive and proud expression.

"I believe so my love,….come on, let's head inside…I already prepared everything…also both of the representatives are here…I heard we have a guest?…where??….WHO!…". (Duchess Marriane)

Seeing only Duke and the Knight was the only one in the crowd, made Duchess feel anxious. But as she was busy looking for the guest, a tall and big woman wearing a full leather armor slowly approaching Duke. Upon closer inspection Duchess realize that the woman was a demi-human, as she tries to scorn the woman, Duke immediately stops her.

"Sir Duke…is the room has been prepared?..". (Big Woman)

The woman casually disregards all the people in the area and ask duke immediately. All the Knights and maids were baffled by the lady's bold actions.

"Ah yes, Dame Mina…This is my head butler Sebastian…he will be showing you the room..".(Duke Merrica)

Duke Merrica head Butler Sebastian comes up, and respectfully bow to Dame Mina and followed her back to the Black box beast. Everyone was shocked by Duke's sudden courtesy, even Duchess Marriane was stunned by it.

"Don't you ever show disrespect to anyone that came out from that black beast…especially the man and the wounded lady, treat them with the utmost respect!….if we made a mistake here.....Not even your brother can save us…". (Duke Merrica)

Duke whisper to Duchess's ear, his eyes were very serious. Marriage was shocked by his words, the last sentence definitely took her by surprise, and made her reflect on her actions.

"Forgive me my love…Then, I shall personally attend to this honorable guest myself….". (Duchess Marriane)

As she herself offering to take the responsibility, Duke Merrica was relived, he agrees with her. As both of them and the crowd still in the celebrating mood, Dame Mina opened the black beast ears(?).

"Sister Elijah, Your Excellency….the room has been prepared, Duke has sent his head butler to escort us to it..". (Mina)

Mina opened my door then switch to the other side to carry Elijah out of the van.

"Thank you Mina..". (Elijah)

"Shouldn't they at least pick the thrash inside first?….geez..".

"Should I tell them?". (Elijah)

"Never mind….you just go ahead…I handle this myself..".

I remember the 3 captives were still inside the van, as Elijah heard me complaining to myself she tried to help me, but I dismissed it and told her to head inside first as comes out and opened the back door and yank out the 3 captives by their feet.

The attention turns towards the three of us, as Elijah and Mina were the one leading the way, I opened my skeleton printed face mask and throw them inside the van and walk behind them as I make sure all the door has been fully locked.

Without saying anything, I walk past the crowd. Duke slightly bows his head to me, his actions were caught by the others and immediately they all followed his actions. By the way, at the same time I was using [Identify] on all of them, and I saw something really interesting facts, that made me chuckled.