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nChapter 96: Sneaking In

nIn a certain world, to deal with civil disputes, a lawyer must first learn how to create traps and avoid fraud in a contract so that they can reap more benefits for their employers.

nThe Devils of this world are masters of deception and experts in contract frauds. However, if there isn’t a single ounce of truth in their words, their reputations will sour sooner or later and no one would be foolish enough then to sign a contract with them.

nThus, using the souls of both parties as a guarantee, as long as one is able to detect all of the possible traps in it, the Devil’s Contract is instead, the world’s fairest and most effective contract. This is also the reason why it is popular in many different dimensions.

nThe characters of the Lower Realm that are used to write on the contracts possess magic. Even if it is the residents of the Main Dimension who can’t understand the Devil’s Language of the Lower Realm, they are still able to understand what is written in one look. However, if they think that the contract will be fair just because they are able to comprehend it, they can’t be more wrong.

nContract fraud is something that the Devils have researched and studied like a form of art since tens of thousands of years ago. For example, if you were to take a magnifying glass to examine those elegant ornaments on the contract, you will realise that those are actually twisted words that form an additional clause in the contract. If you don’t notice it before signing on it, you can only admit your misfortune.

nThe section that is overwhelmingly long and complicated that it makes you feel averse to might very well be hiding the true terms through the first word of every sentence or such. You might think that the contract should be read horizontally but when carrying out the contract, the Devil will tell you that you should have been reading it vertically or even diagonally, causing the meaning of the contract to change altogether.

nAs for the inverted words, missing words, wrong terms and other factors that seem out of place, never think of them as an accidental mistakes or typos. Most probably, they are done intentionally and contains some kind of trap within.

nHence, for a Mage who often come into contact with the Lower Realm, the first thing to take note of when striking a deal when Devils is to never use the original contract they provide and insist on creating a new one on the spot, even if it means that it will result in a marathon-length showdown.

nAs eras progressed, the hypocritical and deceitful human nobles began to employ the Devil’s Contract amongst themselves. Of course, the human’s aptitude for deception is in no way inferior to the Devils. For over a thousand years, they managed to play out new tricks in contract fraud that surprised even the Devil Lords. For example, they would raise an orphan and name them with an identical name with some influential individual and make them sign the contract in their stead. Even I myself wouldn’t dare to use a contract prepared by somebody else, or allow the contract out of my sight.

nAs expected, Darsos refused to use the contract that I’ve prepared without a second thought. He even brought out a literary scholar and magic scholar from Hermit’s residence and requested for a new contract to be written on the spot.

nThus, we struggled against each other one clause after the other. But very quickly, I managed to slowly seize the initiative for the creation of the contract.

nIgnoring the fact that the literary scholar and the magic scholar are not as professional as I am, the Devil’s Language from the Lower Realm possesses magic. Its side effect of inciting negative emotions is still a small matter, what would be fatal is if it corrupts your soul, causing you to fall into depravity. The fight over the clauses of the contract isn’t just a battle of knowledge. Even more so, it is a showdown of one’s physical stamina and will.

nI intentionally dragged out the contention over the clauses of the contract and even verbalized the Devil’s Language to place greater pressure on them. By the time the contract is finally signed, the moment the tension on the scholars ease, they immediately faint on the floor. It seems that it would a year or so for them to fully recuperate.

nI am rather satisfied with the final contract. Also, the other party has seen the hard work the experts have put into the contract so Darsos and the rest are quite satisfied with it as well. Un, at the very least, before those loopholes are discovered, they should be quite satisfied.

nOne of the victories that I found the most satisfactory is the clause stating that ‘No acts of military threats or war is allowed under any under cause within 10 years’. This would ensure a period of peace for East Mist Communal Country. Without this clause, if Darsos starts to threaten us again a few days after we finished trading our chips, we, on the weaker side, would still have to give in. This would mean that we have signed the contract for nothing.

nWhat about after 10 years? I don’t think that he would have the leisure then to go after the East Mist Communal Country. Besides, if my plan is successful, it would be hard to tell who would be the one raising trouble with whom.

nWith this secret contract, the East Mist Communal Country could be said to have truly achieved freedom. This is also why after discussing for a bit after returning back, Reyne and the others did not hesitate to acknowledge the God of Law as the national religion and demanded for the Auland Empire to hand over the three short fellows.

nWithout a doubt, this is a challenge to the prestige of Darsos and the Auland Empire. Even more so, we were stabbing them savagely in the back just after the contract has been established. Yet, Auland was unable to do anything extreme retaliation.

n“I stabbed you in the back. So what are you gonna do? Bite me?”

n“Un? The East Mist Communal Country actually remained unscathed even after such provocation. Looks like the rumors that the Auland Empire being only strong in appearance is true. Perhaps, the young Emperor might turn out to be unable to even command the Dukes and Counts under him.”

nSurrounded by enemies, when the first one to jump out and question their authority isn’t smacked down, many more would probably follow suit. If so, their authority would be endangered.

nThis isn’t a conjecture of my part but a fact proven by the recent changes in the situation.

nIndeed, I was the one who spread the song, but the melody wasn’t my doing. At the very least, I know myself well. Even though my music talent is better than Gria’s, an evolution from the Cry of a Banshee into the Cry of a Lich would create the same murdering effects. Perhaps, dying a slower death might turn out to be even more torturous.

nSince the melodies aren’t something that I could have composed, the few bar melodies, operas and the few other varieties which are spreading around furiously now surfaced too quickly. Without a doubt, someone is making use of this opportunity to move in the shadows to damage Darsos’s reputation.

nTrying to assume an influential position by suppressing 46 other states during his enthronement, without a doubt, this is a big gamble. While its success would bring about humongous rewards, but it also poses the risk of the situation rebounding back on them, both internally and externally.

nGiven the speed which the songs are composed and disseminated, as well as the high quality of the finished products, there is a very high chance that it is the doing of the Auland nobles. It would be difficult for other powers to amass so many musicians and playwrights to work on it, and utilise a large amount of travelling poets to spread the name of ‘The Foolish Emperor who Envied the Gods’ to the masses.

nIn a country that adopts feudalism, a ruler who manages to gather great influence and power isn’t something the nobles would want to see. Auland Empire has 2 Great Dukes, 4 Dukes and 37 Counts. Of them all, more than 70% have their own territory and subjects. All along, they have been living like kings in their own lands.

nIn the future “history”, Darsos would successfully amass power and look for reasons to reclaim back one third of the noble titles, confiscating their territories and wealth along with it. Through that, he created a powerful centralised country.

nThis is something inevitable. When a monarch gains power, the nobles will be suppressed. From a certain viewpoint, the nobles of Auland Empire didn’t do nothing wrong. They have seen through the wild ambitions of their new Emperor and had been looking for an opportunity to exploit to overcome this threat.

nOn the other hand, two hours after the East Mist Communal Country made the demand to release the three, thirteen other nations made identical demands, of which, three of them have hundred years of history as Auland Empire’s vassals.

nThe identity of the three prisoners is no longer relevant at this point. The envoys of the other nations probably don’t even know their names, but this did not stop them from protesting. Those ‘innocent’ unlucky fellows have already became the breach that the smaller countries were looking for to challenge the might of the Auland Empire. As more envoy parties receive the authorisation of their kings, many more would probably join the protesting faction.

nWithout doubt, the Auland Empire is facing retribution for oppressing the weaker nations to serve as their vassals. No nation would willingly submit to another. After all, they would have to pay tributes to them and serve as their pawns when war breaks out. Since the situation can’t get any worse, so they chose to make a gamble before the new Emperor ascends the throne.

nWithout a doubt, in this period of time, Darsos’s authority and pride has been challenged from both internal and external factions. But, his way of handling it is really skillful.

nDespite facing so many provocations, he remained peculiarly silent. He didn’t even try to blame the East Mist Communal Country for it and instead, silently fulfills the terms of the contract, sending huge amount of resources and technology to the ambassador party.

n“He gave in just like that??”

nReyne and Kelly were shocked, this definitely wasn’t the style of that oppressive Emperor. But, in my opinion, the man hasn’t changed at all. He has the standard character of a gambler. The reason why he is keeping his silence now is just to raise the stakes further.

nIf he decides to compromise, he could just release the three fellows. However, he is keeping abnormally silent on that matter. Right now, he is just bearing all of the pressure so as to look for an opportunity to turn the tables around in one shot.

nFulfilling the contract is just a part of his plans. Going by our contract, if the Auland Empire finish giving all of the resources and technologies promised in it, then I would have to pass the keys of the secret underwater base to Darsos.

n“An opportunity to turn the tables… The enthronement ceremony? If he were to bring out the Air Fleet at that moment… No, he doesn’t even need the entire fleet, he only needs to bring out one. That revolutionary weapon that no one has ever seen before should be sufficient to boost his reputation and influence, allowing him to suppress the voices of dissent.”

nI could even guess how he would alter the programmes of the enthronement ceremony. A military parade is always the best way for one to display their military might. After several of their armies have shown their prowess and the parade reaches the climax, the entry of the new warship would allow him to suppress those restless nobles and vassal states, granting him greater authority.

nThe reason why I called the Emperor a gambler is because despite the fact that his plan seems feasible, it is dangerous gamble filled with uncertainty.

n“If the despairing Engineers were to destroy the creations they painstakingly built, the interior of the of the secret base will just reduced to ruins; Even if the doors are opened, if none of the ships could be completed within three months to make it in time for the enthronement ceremony, then his efforts and resources would have gone down the drain.”

nIn any case, his actions of fulfilling the contract in advance is beneficial to the East Mist Communal Country. However, to me, it means that I would have to speed up my plans. After all, I am interested in the treasures of the underwater base as well. At the very least, the technology for the Air Fleet can be said to be a priceless treasure that every single country desires.

nLogically speaking, there should only be one entrance to the underwater base, which is situated near an old bridge. However, the land there has already been turned into the base for the Auland Royal Guards. The Emperor’s most trusted elite troops are often stationed there, not to mention that the area is reinforced by the SemiGod ‘Dragon Sniper’ Deimos. Even getting close to that place is problematic, needless to say entering the underwater base.

nHowever, in this moment, I am diving in the river to find something else.

n“Yes, it’s indeed here.”

nDespite the constant protest, the multi-purpose Meow Alien can also glow underwater, making the search for my objective more convenient.

nAfter two fruitless nights, I’ve finally found my target. It is a stone cliff with a White Wolf Insignia sculpture latched onto it. Although it is mostly covered by seaweed and the flowing water had eroded much of it, the savageness of the wolf’s head still remains lifelike.

nI carefully place the Wolf Fang Necklace on the insignia but nothing happened.

n“As expected, the blood I’ve taken from Darsos isn’t enough. It’s fortunate that I made preparations in advance.”

nOn the pouch on my waist is a bottle of fresh blood that was just retrieved. (Darsos’s father: Unfilial son. This dungeon is filled with blood-sucking rats! Piss off, smelly rats! Despite living gloriously for my entire life, will I end up dying to the mouths mere rats!)

nThe blood mixes with the river water, dyeing the entire necklace red. Finally, the eyes of the wolf head sculpture emits white light a dark hole opens by the wall, causing a slight change in the water level of the entire river.

n“As I expected, there is an underwater entrance.”

nFinally, I felt the burden on my heart lift. This kind of man-made underwater base would most probably have an emergency exit. Although it is a conjecture on my part, the cave that opens up before me after the mechanism is activated has proven my conjecture.

nHowever, this passageway isn’t very wide. It probably isn’t a passageway for boats as I guessed but rather, one for the flow of water or for the movement of the workers.

nI carefully sneak into the cave and head upward along the passageway. In a few minutes, I reach the surface of the water.

nThe moment my head pops out to scan the surroundings, I didn’t even have the time to take a second look when I submerged my water back into the water hurriedly.

n“Despite all of the possible scenarios I have thought of, I didn’t expect such a conclusion.”

nRegardless of whether it is me or Darsos, we do not hold any expectations there to be any survivors in the base. After all, the supply of water and rations have been cut for more than a year. Even if they use the river water to quench their thirst, no matter what, they would have all died from the lack of ration for an entire year.

nHowever, after sneaking a peek, I realise that we were all wrong. Not only were there survivors, the survivors were even working hard building the ships. On one side, by the pier, there are already two medium-sized Air Fleet berthing by the port.

n“To think that it would be a fellow peer. Looking at the amount of Low-tier Undeads here, there should be an Undead Lord here.”

nYes, although there are survivors, there were no living beings remaining. Those who are working hard at the pier are mostly of them are Skeletons and Zombies. Judging from how their flesh have yet to fully decompose, they should have been converted to Undeads not too long ago.

n“Is it Prince Carlohin? Worse come to worse, there could be a Saint-rank Lich in there. That would be hard to deal with.”

nEven if I were to ignore those Undead beings, the small-scale and medium-scale magic statues who were busy working on the pier are also not easy to deal with. As an important military base of the Auland Empire, it is hard to imagine it wouldn’t be firmly guarded to the smallest detail.

nFrom the intelligence in ‘history’, the future invincible Air Fleet also has a section of Ghost Fleet. Of which, the Fleet Admiral is a High-tier Lich named Carlohin. It is rumored that he is the younger brother of the previous Emperor and Darsos’s uncle.

nAt that moment, there were many speculations why a noble Prince of a large country would end up becoming a Lich. What’s even more incredulous is that the King of Winter Wolves would actually hand nearly half of the Fleet over to this undying. But now, it seems that it is the Prince who handed over the Fleet to the Emperor.

nVery possibly, the seclusion from the outer world is the impetus for that great Mage to turn into a Lich. After all, when he realised that there weren’t sufficient food, he can’t possibly just sit idly and wait for his demise. After converting into a Lich, he wouldn’t require food. Perhaps, that is the best solution then for his survival.

nI quietly remain under the water, looking around the surroundings to etch the situation in my heart before turning around to leave without a second thought.

n“Since my fighting power is insufficient, I just have to bring more people with me the next time.”

nBut, after returning to the Church, my plan met with an obstacle. The top fighter among my subordinates, the Moon Knight Diana, is fated to be unable to join in this project.

n“That… I grew up in an Underground City. Water is a very luxurious resource. It is already wasteful to use it for bathing. If I were to use it for swimming…”

nAlright, nothing more needs to be said, the excuses the residents of the Underground World have for not being able to swim is simply too persuasive.

nAlso, considering the fact that a heavy armor unit like the Holy Knight depends heavily on their equipment and the impossible challenge of swimming with one’s armor, even the intention to get her to give it a try dispels from my mind.

nScanning around, Beifeng and Casio looks up at the sky, trying their best to pretend that they didn’t hear our discussion. Clint remains silent, but it is obvious that he is unable to swim just by looking at that heavy armor of his. On the other hand, Momo excitedly raises her hand and sounds off.

n“I am the best swimmer among the Town Security. Back then, I have practised in the fish pond in Morsblight and I am able to hold my breath underwater for a minute! I can also swim 30 meters in one breath!”

nAlright, what the heck is the meaning of this record of a 10 year old? I got happy too early. In the end, I turn my pleading eyes to Krose but got an apologetic reply in return.

n“Lord Oracle, Wild Elves never liked water. Due to staying in the Underground World for a long period of time, I didn’t even learn how to transmogrify into a seal, so…”

n“I don’t know how to swim.”

n“It doesn’t rain often in the Underground World.”

nLooking at the bunch of landlubbers before me, a headache starts to consume me. However, the black cat on my shoulder laughs gleefully.

n“Stupid, why don’t you look for a Siren. Their Race Talent, Blessing of the Sea God, allows non-swimmers to be able to swim and breath underwater for a short period of time. It is definitely more than enough.”

n“There is only a river here. Where do I look for a Siren?”

n“Here.”

nIt is a piece of tattered poster. On the picture is a comical clown, Twin-headed Ogre acrobat, air trapeze artist and a Siren Beast Tamer who performs with her seals.

n“Fire Dragon Circus? I seem to have heard of it somewhere before.”

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