Chapter 80: The Elf Conspiracy (7)

Airships weren’t allowed too far into the Goetia Research Center’s airspace, so they landed nearby and then took a fortified train to their destination under military surveillance.

Patriate and Elaine were tense, as were Simon and Belzemine, albeit for wholly different reasons. The elf archmage continuously shifted in place with a torn look on her face. The situation weighed on her mind, and she lacked the training to hide her anguish. It was growing so noticeable that Simon eventually took her hand into his own to reassure her.

“You don’t need to worry, Lady Firewand,” Simon said warmly, his eyes meeting her own. “Everything will go as planned.”

“Yes, I… I know this, Your Highness,” Belzemine replied with uncertainty. His words had eased her mind and guilt a little, but probably not for the same reason the Malphas family expected.

The train eventually passed through the Goetia Research Facility’s defenses and checkpoints, which Patriate and Elaine closely observed through the windows, until they reached the front gates. Lauriane was waiting for them there alongside a squad of Knights dressed in military uniforms. Simon climbed down holding Elaine’s hand like the perfect picture of a loving couple.

“We meet again, Simon,” Lauriane greeted them. She saluted his retainers, squinted slightly upon seeing Patriate, and then respectfully nodded at Elaine. “I did not think this day would come so soon. My dear little brother, betrothed…”

“Does it surprise you, Your Highness?” Patriate replied with a pleasant smile. “You were the one who originally suggested this match to His Majesty, if I recall.”

“Yes, but I didn’t think he had listened, or that my brother would go along with it.”

“It was a good surprise,” Simon replied. “Elaine and I have gotten along very well. I wish you had introduced us earlier.”

“If it had only been up to me,” Lauriane lamented. “I feel you’re both being too hasty all the same. Is it really true that you plan to hold the wedding during the last week of Nivose?”

“The fault lies with me,” Patriate insisted. “I thought it prudent to push up the timetable and bind our families together, considering recent developments.”

Lauriane studied him for a moment. “Have you finally picked your side, Lord Malphas?”

“I have, but surely we can discuss the matter inside.” Patriate grimaced. “I have information we should not discuss out in the open.”

“I see…” Lauriane pondered his words and then nodded. “Very well. You and your daughter will be granted clearance inside, but everyone else will have to wait outside. Even Firewand.”

Simon squeezed Elaine’s hand and exchanged a glance with her. She nodded almost imperceptibly, and the two followed Lauriane and Patriate past the front gates. Guards checked them for any magical devices or weapons, then let them into crystal halls.

“Would it be possible to get a Vassal Crestone?” Simon inquired as Lauriane guided them through metal gateways and corridors inside the facility. His fiancée and her father carefully observed everything around them to commit the place’s layout to memory. “Since my barony is next to a monster-infested hellhole, I figured I should start investing in a combat Class.”

“Yes, you can have your pick,” Lauriane replied, a hand on her waist. “I have been preparing a custom one for you, but it’s not ready yet. Templar would be a good placeholder in the meantime.”

“A custom Class?” Elaine asked with sudden and genuine interest. “Could I have one too? I could never pick between Vassals of the Dancer or the Bard.”

“We could create one for you, if your father helps us secure the imperial treasury. Manaliths do not come cheap.” Lauriane guided them into an elevated observation room with a single window that oversaw a Crestone production line, with the metal door softly closing behind them. “As you can see, we produce them in immense quantities that no other force in the world can compete with.”

Sleep and Paralysis Ailments negated by Unyielding Essence.

Simon glanced at the Malphas’, who had either failed to receive the notification or chosen to ignore it. It didn’t take him long to notice the slowing of Lord Patriate’s eyelids or the way Elaine began to waver slightly.

“Now, what’s this information you had to share with me?” Lauriane inquired.

“I have heard that… Prince Thalas and…” His voice slowed down midsentence. “Lady Anna…”

Then he collapsed onto the floor like a rock.

Elaine’s hand slipped through Simon’s fingers as she joined her father in sudden slumber, so swiftly she didn’t even notice the moment she fell from the world of consciousness into the dreamlands. He caught her in midair before she hit the ground, her breath faint and slow. A true sleeping beauty.

“Goodnight, Elaine,” Simon said with neither joy nor contempt. “I hope you have better dreams than the reality you will wake up in.”

“Is she in on her father’s plot too?” Lauriane inquired.

“Yes,” Simon confirmed. “Frighteningly effective, that anesthesia gas. It took effect in less than a minute, and I couldn’t even smell it.”

“I’m surprised you could shrug it off without a mask or antidote,” Lauriane said, her eyes squinting with suspicion. “What passive Perk allowed you to do that?”

“A Dreadnought one,” Simon lied as he checked the Malphas’ bodies. Their pulses were slow but stable, and their fireball necklaces had yet to trigger. “I think we’re good for now. How long will the gas keep them unconscious?”

“At least two hours,” Lauriane replied upon pushing a hidden button. Air vents opened up and sucked away the invisible gas. “Was this entire charade truly necessary, Simon? We could have seized them the moment you all showed up at my doorstep.”

“Their necklaces can explode at will, and considering what they have to hide, I don’t think they’ll hesitate to activate them rather than being caught,” Simon replied. “We needed to incapacitate them in a way that would instantly knock them unconscious without arousing their suspicions. I knew they would have defenses against poison, so sleep and paralysis seemed a sure bet.”

Ensuring they lost consciousness immediately also had the benefit of letting Simon pretend he had been knocked out too, should he need to keep Elaine’s trust in the future… though he doubted he could keep that charade up for much longer.

It annoyed Simon a bit to move forward early rather than wait, but he would rather be safe than sorry. Patriate confirmed at the meeting that the Oracle had a way of sending messages to her followers, and the risk that she picked up on Simon’s immunity to her future divinations and warned her followers was too great. He had to ensure this progress wouldn’t end with half-answered questions.

“I can’t believe you fooled me. I knew something was up when Father kept denying you any opportunity for self-advancement, but this…” Lauriane crossed her arms. “Were you always working with Shabram on a sting operation from the beginning?”

“This plan was years in the making.” Simon hated lying to his sister, but he wasn’t ready to reveal the full truth yet. “Father suspected Illusea had infiltrated the High Council and Frightwall, and that they would eventually try to contact a Magnos they believed would support their cause. I was secretly trained and primed to become that person.”

“So all the times he blocked your advancement or kept you isolated… it was all for the purpose of luring the mole out?” Lauriane shook her head. “And here I thought Father hated you.”

Oh, he did. He made sure I could never join the one group I had the most affinity with. “I’m sorry, Lauriane. I wanted to tell you, but I wasn’t allowed to until Lady Shabram gave me the go-ahead.”

“I almost didn’t believe her when she messaged me and asked me to set up this trap.” Lauriane glared at the sleeping Patriate. “I always knew he was a snake, but the elves… why would he side with them? He had everything to lose and little to win.”

“I have my suspicions,” Simon said, “And we can confirm them shortly.”

The door slid open once the last of the gas had left the room, allowing soldiers to pour in and take Elaine off Simon’s hands. A certain creature waltzed and merrily hopped along in their wake, giggling to himself.

“Greetings, Lord Merchant!” Gourmand said as he leaped over Patriate’s body. “The good Gourmand is very happy to feast on your soul for free, especially when he would have paid a great deal for it!”

“Do not be hasty,” Simon said. “According to our information, Patriate’s Inventory will release all its accumulated items upon death. It wouldn’t surprise me if he left a bomb or a last unpleasant surprise in store for his killer.”

“We have secure vaults meant to imprison captive monsters below,” Lauriane reassured him. “We will execute Patriate there and harvest his soul in secure laboratory conditions.”

“In the meantime, here’s a list of all the people invited to my wedding.” Simon presented his sister with a piece of paper including multiple names. “They’re all involved with the White Unicorn and Malphas’ conspiracy, though some like Lady Eligos can be bribed to our side so long as we keep her niece alive as a hostage. I shared it with Shabram already, but you may want to look into it.”

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“So many traitors in our backyard… obtaining this information must have been exceedingly difficult.” Lauriane assessed her brother with fondness and respect. “When did you grow from a boy to a young man so quickly, Simon?”

“When you weren’t looking,” Simon quipped.

“I will forever beat myself up for missing it,” she said with a warm smile. “I am proud of you, Simon, and I’m sure our father would be too. You have done our family and empire a great service.”

She meant it as a genuine compliment, but it left Simon feeling hollow. He thought surrendering Patriate to imperial justice would grant him joy, but it failed to bring him much satisfaction. Betrayal and treachery had become a chore; and while it did give him some experience, it still wasn’t enough to grant him a level.

I’m truly sorry, Elaine, Simon thought. This had to be done. I still hope we can become true friends in another reign.

True to Simon’s suspicions, Patriate Malphas did have a live bomb within his Inventory, which popped out and detonated the moment Gourmand beheaded him with his scythe. Lauriane had coated his body in alchemical resin to shield it from any damage, removed his fireball necklace ahead of the ‘operation,’ and had Dreadnoughts in her employ take wounds on Gourmand’s behalf so he could feast on Patriate’s soul unharmed. The blast still blew the rest of Patriate’s Inventory to smithereens, including a set of manaliths.

The truth came out almost immediately.

Patriate’s corpse began to undergo a metamorphosis the moment his head was split from his body. His ears lengthened, his cheeks thinned, and his wrinkles smoothed over into pristine skin. The middle-aged Merchant had transformed into a fair and ageless elf version of himself.

“By the Light…” Lauriane muttered under her breath. “What is this witchery?”

“Let me introduce you to Lord Barthandelus,” Simon explained. All of his suspicions were finally confirmed. “Patriate’s real, elven self.”

“How droll, how canny!” Gourmand began to cackle uncontrollably, holding his sides so as not to roll on the ground in his laughter. “What a funny joke you’ve played on us all, Lord Barthandelus! An eighteen-year-long con for such a pitiful finale!”