Meria, who had gotten up from the metal table bowed in acknowledgment to Zaos.
Zaos smiled before issuing an order in a serious tone.
"For now on, I want you to help me identify all the spies in the manor. Don't engage them when you spot them, report the situation to me immediately. Do you understand?" Zaos spoke.
"Understood, my lord." Meria nodded.
After receiving a satisfying answer, Zaos dismissed the maid and pondered.
[Meria has a low chance of betraying me. She seems to harbor a deep hatred for the Qinhorn clan. Her readily agreeing to work for me implies that she wishes to use me to escape their clutches… ] Zaos scoffed lightly. He had no plans to openly confront the Qinhorn clan for Meria's sake.
[I can utilize her to keep tabs on the Qinhorn clan. If they pose a threat then I can seek assistance from the Qildor clan…] After deciding, Zaos gazed at the metal table and sighed.
[It's a shame. I was looking forward to torturing someone today…] Zaos shook his head.
[No matter. There will be more spies to entertain me if Meria does her job correctly.] Zaos smiled lightly as exited the room.
Once outside the dungeon, Zaos headed to the maids' room and ordered a maid to prepare a hot bath for him.
He then walked to his bedroom on the upper floor. After unlocking the door, Zaos entered the room and lay on the bed.
He decided to rest while his bath was being prepared. As he lay still on the bed, Zaos could help but appreciate the comfort and ease he felt after a long while.
Although five months on Krulon was much shorter than in his former world, with each month here only lasting for 25 days, it was still a considerable amount of time especially when doing a monotonous task like training.
During that period, Zaos forwent all luxury and devoted himself to fervent training, so after returning to his lavish lifestyle, Zaos felt refreshed.
A few minutes passed before a knock on the door interrupted Zaos' relaxation. A maid had come to inform him that his bath was prepared.
He sent the maid off after giving her a positive response. Taking off his clothes and grabbing his towel, Zaos headed to the washroom.
Once there, he hurriedly submerged himself in the sizable bathtub filled with steaming hot water.
Sigh~
A satisfied sigh escaped his lips as the fatigue built up from the extensive training melted away.
He soaked for a few minutes before getting out and drying his wet body. After he finished, he returned to his room with his towel wrapped around his body.
Zaos casually picked a dark shirt, black trousers, and a pair of leather boots from the large chest in the room. He donned the clothes and headed out of the room.
On his way down, he was met with a dark elven maid beside the hallway.
"My lord!" The maid hurriedly bowed once she spotted Zaos' approaching figure. She looked a little bewildered as if she hadn't noticed him until he was within her line of sight.
"Get me some smoked tixard, baked mopto, and a bottle of carvanet," Zaos ordered.
"Yes, my lord," The maid bowed and took her leave.
Zaos continued on his way to the dining room, took a seat, and waited for his meal to arrive.
While he waited, Zaos contemplated his next move.
[I should head to the black market and fortress to see how things in the gang are progressing. Although, I don't think there are any problems since this place is still standing… ] Zaos placed his hand on his chin.
Zaos idled around for a bit while awaiting the arrival of his meal. Just when the irritation from the long wait was about to surface, two maids hurriedly approached the dining table with some plates and a bottle of wine.
The maids set the dishes down after apologizing for their tardiness.
The food on the plates resembled smoked meat and baked potatoes.
Zaos tersely acknowledged the maid's words before taking a bite of his food. The smoked meat known as tixard had a texture and flavor similar to mutton from his former world.
After a slight nod of satisfaction as the meat melted in his mouth, Zaos utilized his cutlery to scoop a portion of the baked potato-like mopto. Just like its appearance, the mopto bore a striking resemblance to potatoes from his former world.
After savoring the taste of the mopto, Zaos donned a glass of carvanet wine; a wine he had come to appreciate ever since arriving on Krulon.
[I missed this. Eating dried and preserved foods all day gets bland after a while… ] Zaos took his time to savor the various flavors from his meal.
Even though he deliberately slowed down the pace at which he devoured his meal, the serving of food was eventually completely consumed.
With a sigh of resignation and satisfaction, Zaos rose from his chair as he said to the maids standing beside the dining table.
"I'll be heading out for a bit, if any information comes for me, inform me when I return," Zaos ordered in a serious tone.
"Understood, lord." The two elves almost simultaneously responded.
Zaos nodded and then made his way out of the building. He navigated through the path around his manor and arrived at the secret entrance leading to the black market.
He traversed quickly through the tunnel and appeared at the office of the former vice leader of the Red Lotus gang.
The guards stationed outside the door to the office were alarmed but quickly recognized Zaos' visage.
"Boss!" The guards echoed with a slight hint of bewilderment at Zaos' stealthy arrival.
"Is Darfin inside?" Zaos asked the guards.
"Yes, boss. The vice leader Goren is also with him," A hulking earth elf amongst the guards answered.
[Oh? They are already on good terms?] Zaos acknowledged the guard's words with a nod.
Before he had left for his training, both vice leaders of his Crimson Rogue's Legion were barely able to stay in the same room because of the tension between them. Although they had never used physical means to harm each other, there was some occasional verbal abuse between them.
The fact that they were in the same room without Zaos' presence to restrain them signified an improvement in their relationship.
Giving a slight nod to the guards, Zaos entered the office. The small office had been redesigned and repaired since Zaos and the former vice leader of the Red Lotus gang destroyed it. The walls were painted silver and the furniture more exclusive.
Sat on the chairs facing each other were a stoic-looking fire elf and a tough-looking earth elf. Sensing the disturbance caused by the opening door, both elves turned their attention to the door only to behold Zaos entering the room.
"Boss!" Swiftly rising from their seats, both elves saluted the leader of their gang.
Zaos swept a glance in their direction and concocted a rudimentary assessment.
[They have both advanced into high elves… ] This discovery didn't come as much of a surprise to Zaos. Prior to his departure, both elves were already at the pinnacle of the elf rank, their advancement during this time was to be expected.
[For their sake I hope their advancement hasn't instilled stupid ideas into their heads…] With a light grin, Zaos steadily made his way toward the elves.