Episode 11

"Nice room….I guess it's given, with dukes status he at least needs to reach this standard…".

"They should at least send someone by now..should I tell Mina to drag the Dukes here?…". (Elijah)

"There's no need, just let them take their time….let's just rest a bit….".

The guest room was quite luxurious, crystal chandelier, comfy leather sofas, it looks like a 5-star Presidential suite. I, Elijah, and Mina was sitting on the sofas, making ourselves comfortable while waiting for Duke to come. I was enjoying the bland warm tea that was prepared for us, since it was too bitter, even for me, I took out chocolates from my newly obtained platinum storage rings. The rings were quite fancy, it was quite a spectacle to see an empty space hovering before you, and as you plunge your hand in it chocolate or anything you want can be brought out from it, well that's magic. Mina was splurging on the chocolates as she tastes it, Elijah was restraining herself and enjoying it elegantly.

<KNOCK! KNOCK!>

"Well looks like someone finally here to see us…".

After 20 minutes of waiting(Relaxing tea time), someone was knocking on our door, Mina gets up and opened the door. 3 people come in a noblewoman with a maid on her left and a handsome knight on her right.

"Greetings sire, madame...I apologize for making you wait, I am Duchess Marriane Hallerus Murr, wife to Duke Merrica Murr…I humbly welcome my husband savior to our small town Merrina and our small house..". (Duchess Marriane)

To my surprise, the one who comes in was not the duke but his wife. Duchess Marriane Hallerus Murr, 5th Princess of the Hallerus Kingdom, a 25 years old noble lady with blonde hair, visually she looks beautiful, she can easily pass as a Holywood top star. she looks elegant and docile, just like a textbook noble flowers. She and the knight on her right was a lover (?) for a long time, she's also involved in the conspiracy to kill her own husband. The Handsome knight was actually an undercover Mage Knight from the principality of Light, Anderson Gona a high-level mage knight send to infiltrate the Duke territory to enticed and seduce Duchess Marriane with the intention of using her as a puppet to rule the Duke territory after the duke death. Simply said the duchess has fallen to a love trap and she has been influenced by love magic for a long time, which probably already affecting her real personality.

"Well ain't this interesting…".

"What is it, your excellency?…". (Elijah)

"Nothing….it just that, that duchess and her knight were lovers….Saviour?….both of them probably cursing at us right now…hahaha.."

Hearing what I just said, Elijah squinted her eyes. Duchess Marriane who still sitting elegantly in front of me, still shows a smile towards us. The only one who can understand me in this room was Elijah, and both of us only speak in High Human language.

"Does it mean that She was involved in that plot?…". (Elijah)

"Yes...but probably not on her own accord, that knight Curse her with love curse….the problem is, she was influenced for a long time that by now she probably doing it on her own accord….I hope not though…cause, I need that duke….".

"if she is…we probably need to eliminate both of them….there's only one way to find out if she was doing this on her own or due to the curse….ask duke himself if her behavior has changed in any way…". (Elijah)

"....….yeah….".

I keep forgetting that the disable Elf beside me was once a Queen and a master mage, She was really decisive in stuff like this and quick-witted. Seeing an opportunity to intervene, Duchess Marriane spoke.

"I heard that the One Snakes Bandit has been completely crushed...Those scoundrels were quite vicious, they probably hard to handle right?…". (Duchess Marriane)

"They were...but, as per our combined effort we managed to eliminate them…still, we believe the remnants were still out there...but, as the base and their leader has been defeated I believe Duke can handle them with ease now…". (Elijah)

Both of them continued to converse politely as what nobles always do. As for me, I was only listening to them and think what I'm going to do next, I supposed I should take some time to wander around the town, collecting info and probably shopping.

"Ahh…Sorry I'm late…..my Love, I can take it from here….Lady Elijah, Dame Mina, You Excellency…..let me introduce, this is Noel Strong, Northern Hallerus Mercenary Guild chairman….and Baron Kadina Del Nortom, Chairman of World Merchant Association Northern Hallerus branch….".(Duke Merrica)

Duke Merrica finally comes in, bringing 2 middle-aged men with him. Noel Strong was a big muscular man, the main features of him was his wooden leg and his magnificent red beard, kinda look like a pirate, seeing how he bring himself, I know this man has his fair share on the battlefield. The second middle-aged man was Baron Kadina Del Nortom, he was a fairly normal good looking gentleman with Curly mustache and wearing a penguin black suit. Both of them bow slightly towards me, following Duke.

"Then I shall take my leave then….Lady Elijah, Your Excellency…it's been an honor talking to both of you…". (Duchess Marriane)

Seeing Duke Shooing her wife out, I wondered if it's a cold treatment or just a medieval culture. From the looks of it, it's probably the first one. As the Duchess leave the room, Duke, Noel, and Kadina sat down, both of them Immediately pull out a paper and placed them on the table.

"I brought these two to help His excellency to registered as Mercenary group and Merchant…just answer their question….Noel, you can start..". (Duke Merrica)

Without wasting any time, Duke just jumps to the registrations immediately. Noel brought out a quilt pen and starts to fill the form based on Elijah answer. The Questions were simple, Name of company, the base of operations, and Speciality. Both Noel and Baron Kadina ask the same questions, Elijah gives them both the same answer.

"Black Keep Company. Private Land in Neutral land. Multi-purpose. Owner Lord Sai Mies ". (Elijah)

"Then Sir Sai Mies Please sign here and Duke Merrica here…..Thank you…Sire, please note that Black Keep Company now officially registered to Mercenary guild, This is Mercenary Rule book and Your Identification Plaque, although normally a newly establish group starts at copper level, due to Duke Merrica guarantee and request your group will be starting at Silver Level if you have any questions please refer to the book or you can head to the Guild building…". (Noel Strong)

"Thank you..". (Elijah)

After handing the Mercenary book and Sliver Square plaque, Noel Strong, put all the documents in his leather bag and relaxed beside the duke. Next, Baron Kadina turns same as Noel Strong, he laid down a single paper on the table and pulled out a golden quilt pen, and start to jot down the same information Elijah given to Noel.

"I already filled the same information I heard from Your conversation just now, so now let us move forward to the next questions….Are there any particular items you want to sell?..". (Baron Kadina)

"We will not be focusing on any categories…our company will sell a various range of products…from the daily necessity to weapons.…". (Elijah)

Upon hearing Elijah Answer all three of them perked up, it's normal for a business to involve in selling various products. But right at the start, this probably the first one, Duke and Noel was definitely hooked by the weapons part.

".…..that's quite risky,…anyway..this is our Booklet, in here you can read more about our associations and the service we offer…by the way, I advised your company to build a shop in the town…to make it easier for us association to contact you, should there any important matter arise...Anyway, here is your Identification Plaque, please do not lose them, because a new issue plaque will be charged at 100 gold coins...". (Baron Kadina)

Just like that, Black Keep Company now officially establishes in Fantasma. From the start till the end, I don't even involve in the matter nor I do speak up, Elijah did all the work skillfully. Seeing all the work finally done, I stand up and ready to leave.

"Sire!…Please wait, Please don't leave just yet….Can you please give me a few more minutes…It won't be long…wait…". (Duke Merrica)

Duke was frantically stopping us from leaving, seeing there's nothing wrong with waiting a bit more, I nodded and sit back again. He ran out of the room, after a few minutes, Duke and his wife came back in with a small wooden chest in his arm.

"Here…this is for the trouble, and a small token from me…to commemorates our friendship...In there, I also prepared the bounty money for One Snakes Bandits...". (Duke Merrica)

Elijah took the chest, opened it, and show the content to me. Inside the chest, there are 20 golden rings each one was decorated with different colored gems. Using {Identify} the ring was actually a Dimensional storage ring, just like my platinum rings, but with lower capacity (100kg per ring).

10 rings were filled with gold rings (1 Million Gold coins), 7ring filled with beast cores, and the other 3 filled with high-grade weapons and armor. I guess the bandit's bounty really was high, I should make a living from hunting more of them then.

"Your Excellency, I know this probably me crossing the line…but, about the Baron Larson scheme…..can you perhaps keep it between us?..". (Duke Merrica)

Seeing he earnestly asking me, I agreed to his request. It's not like I'm going to tell-tale on him. Unlike duke who showing a relief expression upon seeing me nodding, Duchess Marriane who sat beside duke was shocked and widen her eyes after hearing Baron Larson and Scheme being spoken in the same sentence.

"Baron Larson?…Scheme?…..is something is going on?".(Duchess Marriane)

"Unfortunately yes... it seems that there are several other nobles wanted me dead...they were scheming behind us this whole time…..if not for his excellency who told me all this and save me, I probably would be dead by now…". (Duke Merrica)

"Oh love~…..those imbecile!, I can't believe they would dare to that!..". (Duchess Marriane)

Duchess Marriane grabs Duke's hand, showing her loving side to her husband. Everyone who sees this, probably would fall for her acting but not me. Looking at them, I just snickered at her acting.

"Bullshit…but, I can't blame him for falling for her acting though…she's good…..".

"Yes, if it wasn't for your excellency saying that she was one of the conspirators, I probably believe in her act just now..". (Elijah)

"fuck this…I can't afford the duke to be around this snake-like crowd, at the very least… I can make him live in peace inside his own house….I need him alive for a very long time…time to see if She's really bewitched or she was one of the snakeheads..".

"Sire….what do yo mean?…". (Elijah)

<BANG!! BANG!! BANG!!>

I pulled out my Handgun and fires 3 rounds at the door, the bullets drills through the door, suddenly a loud 'thud' can be heard from the other side of the door. All inside the room was surprised by my act. Duchess Marriane suddenly falls unconscious a few seconds after the room went silent.

"Marriane!!…..Sire!!…what..is..".(Duke Merrica)

Panicked at her wife suddenly fainted on the couch, she looks as if a puppet loses it a string. Still shocked Duke Merrica turned towards me, but before he managed to say anything I raised my hand and speak.

"She was one of them…so was the knight outside that door…".

As Elijah was translating my words, Duke's eyes wavered. He stands up and opened the door, outside, lying on the floor was Knight Anderson, on his forehead, there's a hole and another 2 similar holes appeared on his neck and chest. Duke was checking on his pulse only to confirm that the Mage Knight was already dead.

"Lady Elijah what does His excellency means by Marriane and Anderson was 'one of them'?….are they?…". (Duke Merrica)

His eyebrows were scrunched.

"Yes…they were involved in planning your murder…..they were one of the masterminds….the reason His Excellency killed that man, is because your wife was Bewitched and corrupted by him….and looking at her, looks like she is...". (Elijah)

"How...it can't be…..he was..she…".(Duke Merrica)

"Listen, don't you feel weird when no one sends any reinforcement to you when you were captured?….you were in that cell for a long time…..a good wife and a princess should be able to see something is wrong….looking at her, she was more than capable to make the whole kingdom looking for you…".

Duke goes silent after hearing what Elijah translated, rubbing his temple, his expression went grim.

"Your wife has been under his influences for a long time, by killing him the spell has been broken…..she will be fine but to be sure, bring her to a good mage and check on her….I must say, being able to scheme behind your back, quite a wife you got there….".

"Thanks?…It's hard to believe...but, are you sure she's fine?". (Duke Merrica)

"She is…anyway...I suggest you keep this under the blanket, don't let anyone knows about that knight's death and your wife awaken….use this, to fish out the nobles that scheme against you…I suggest you deal with this backstabbing bastards quickly…as fast as you can….".

"Why?…is something happening ??". (Duke Merrica)

"...I sense something bad coming to you…and your kingdom…maybe you want to investigate more on that knight….maybe he was hiding something..".

Seeing my serious expression, Duke nods and leaves the room once again.

"Sire, you giving him to many clues…". (Elijah)

".…Well, seeing from how that duke reacts…I'm pretty sure the brains of this family was The Duchess…".

It true, Duke Merrica was a fine man. Looking at his stats he was definitely a strong man well versed in physical strength and wars. But, he was a bit slow in the uptake compared to his wife.

"Your Excellency….what are we going to do after this?..". (Mina)

Unfazed by anything that just happened, Mina finally speaks out her curiosity.

"Ummmm…..Shopping?..".