章 12: Ch 12 - 1 Year of power rising (1)

It had been a year.

The Hao clan had finally established branches across the globe. Naturally, not all places welcomed them with open arms; Dwargon, Sarion, and El Dorado were among the unwelcoming territories. Other regions, like the demon lord territories such as Jistav's underground domain, Guy Crimson's Ice Continent, and Damargania, also showed little chances for the Hao clan to set up branches.

Generally, only human-ruled territories greeted the Hao clan warmly—but even that welcome was lukewarm at best. After all, who would willingly invite such a controversial organization into their country? Larger nations, however, understood the true purpose behind the Hao clan's expansion.

Opinions varied widely: some utilized the clan's services, while others remained wary, mindful of the shadows that even the most powerful nations cast. For instance, the female dwarf who is currently tied up in front of me now.

Her skin was tan, her hair blonde, and her ears long like an elf's. Yet, unmistakably, she was a dwarf. Normally masked to obscure most of her face, this time a gag stifled her, with her hair tightly braided.

"HMMPH-!" The gag in her mouth turned her words into unintelligible, muffled sounds. She struggled against the ropes binding her hands and feet to what felt like a chair. Before her, an ornate wooden table stood in stark contrast to its sterile surroundings, her confiscated weapons meticulously arranged across its surface.

The room was dimly lit, shrouded in an eerie gloom. Suddenly, a magic-powered light bulb flickered to life above her, casting a harsh, bright spotlight. The scene resembled something straight out of a detective film, with shadows dancing ominously around her.

I sat across from her, wearing a calm, unassuming smile. It wasn't a grin or a smirk, but the kind of smile you'd find in every family photo album—neither expressing evil nor joy.

"Please let her speak," I commanded, my voice cutting through the tension. The two muscular men beside me moved promptly, removing the cloth that had silenced her and blinded her eyes.

"P-uah-!" She gasped, drawing in a sharp breath.

"Hey there~ It's been a while since we had an unexpected visitor, usually you need a reservation before you come into this pavilion..." I exclaimed, my tone light. She was flabbergasted, her eyes taking time to adjust to the sudden brightness after the darkness. Her mind raced, her thoughts a chaotic blur that made reading them difficult, but I could still gauge what she was thinking from her reactions.

"Why is a kid like me here?-- Is that what you're thinking now?" I asked, matching her thoughts. She flinched, though subtly, trying to maintain control over her emotions. She was well aware that any facial response could be used against her employer.

As for me? My tone remained calm and polite as if I were speaking to a client. I was careful not to give away my identity as the head of the Hao clan. I wore an expensive suit and round, high-end glasses, my posture deliberately unassuming. I looked like nothing more than a skinny, scrawny young man posing as a negotiator, rather than a powerful clan leader.

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Luca, Luca Ashford. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

She stared at me confusedly, firstly... interrogations done by professionals would at least be done with a room with an anti-magic area runes all over the wall. Yet this place, the more she looks at it the more that it doesn't seem like an interrogation room.

All kinds of furnishing were spread across the room. There's even a small kitchen in the corner of the room, also the high bar table that has one unfinished glass of alcohol sat silently. Even the chair she's sitting on isn't

I allowed her a moment to scan the room, her eyes darting around, taking in every detail. Once I saw her begin to calm, I spoke, my voice steady and reassuring. "Please, calm down. We haven't placed you in a room with anti-magic barriers. You can still extend your magic sense. And just to reassure you, we haven't left Dwargon."

Her attention snapped back to my face at those words.

"Ah, we did apply some runes, but it's likely just a sound compression rune to prevent our conversation from being overheard," I explained calmly.

Her magic spread widely, reaching through the corridors adorned with extravagant decor. Despite its brothel designation, this establishment was unlike any other. Here, the prostitutes were multifaceted; some played music, others danced, and a few even served as baristas. Some were elves, others demi-humans, and even humans, all dressed in grandiose attire reminiscent of nobility.

As her magic echoed back, akin to echolocation, it granted her detailed insights into the building's layout. That's when I spoke up, a smile playing on my lips. "See? We're still in Dwargon, aren't we?"

With a reluctant face, she opened her mouth, "Who are you?" her words laced with hostility as she asked that question.

I tilted my head, "I told you didn't I? My name is Luca Ashford."

Did he really just tell me his real name? --is what kind of face she's making.

I spoke up once more, "Please don't misunderstand, this is not an interrogation, now that the king himself sent us his most trusted shadow, we've become very alert you know? I think there's a need for us to clarify ourselves." I made a fake hurt expression there while maintaining such a friendly face.

"...Clarify?" (dwarf)

"Yup, we just one to sell information, obviously... in contrast to what most people believe, we make use of such information and sell it to anyone that offers at a higher price no matter what the consequences, but that's wrong..."

She perked up, her voice edged with curiosity. "...then what are your goals? Why have you set up your filthy brothel in this country?" Bruh, 'filthy' is an understatement, my dear... we're downright assholes, though I won't be saying that out loud. Those questions seemed rather personal.

The smile vanished from my face, replaced by a frown that feigned hurt at her words. "...you might not believe it, but we've actually prevented two wars between countries this year, you know?"

Her eyes widened slightly, anger evident as she narrowed her gaze. "You expect us to believe that?!"

"Of course not. We wouldn't even bother setting up a branch here if it were that easy to convince you," I replied calmly.

"But is that really relevant? I'd rather speak directly to your king to settle this," I insisted. My words caught her off guard. A criminal organization seeking an audience with the king—walking straight into the lion's den, she thought.

"Very well. How about this? I propose a direct audience with your king, with you as my escort," I declared with unwavering confidence. With a subtle gesture, the two burly men from earlier moved forward, freeing the bound woman from her restraints.

"No need for pretense now. After all, your lord can hear us through that earpiece, correct?" My words put her on edge. Throughout our encounter, she had been equipped with a magical artifact—a discreet earpiece capable of transmitting both sound and an S.O.S. signal upon activation.

"And if that doesn't convince you, perhaps the King can hear through the ring on your index finger? Or maybe the knife casually left on the table? Or those runes delicately inscribed on your neck?" As I toyed with the scattered equipment laid out before us, my words hung in the air, each item a testament to the delicate balance of power in the room.

"Ah, could you stop those soldiers downstairs from ambushing us? 'Cause, y'know, meeting the king in prison doesn't sound fun at all. If that happens, we'll totally tuck our tails between our legs and run! Haha!" My words slipped out with a hint of childish humor.

"...You, what is your position in the Hao clan?"

"Oh my, I am just a lowly negotiator. Every organization needs a guy or two that's smart with their words right?"

Anrietta, the anxious leader of Dwargon's secretive Dark Ministry, held the esteemed title of "Head of the Night Assassins." As the covert shadow of Gazel Dwargo, she operated within his inner circle of trusted officials.

Caught off guard and now tasked with escorting a criminal to the castle, she replayed the orders she had received through the discreet earpiece from His Majesty: "Escort him. I want to see what he'll do." Obviously, I also heard that.

Initially suspecting the Hao clan might try to use her as a hostage, she found herself instead accompanied by a man in a business suit who trailed her silently, akin to a baby duck following its mother.

She waited anxiously as she escorted him into the castle, expecting every corner to hide an ambush from the Hao clan. Yet, to her surprise, nothing happened. There were no signs of being followed, no lurking presence, and no discernible intent to attack.

Finally, they arrived at a meeting room where the heavy door closed behind them, enclosing four individuals, including Anrietta and myself. Among them stood Dorf, a middle-aged man with light blonde hair, thick eyebrows, and a sharp nose. Known as the Commander of the Pegasus Knights and a key figure in Gazel Dwargo's administration, he typically appeared in public as a civil servant.

Yet now, in this secure setting, he stood armored and vigilant beside the table, poised to react at any hint of threat. Anrietta, too, wore a similar guarded expression, her mask and equipment returned to her, amplifying the tension in the room.

Seated at the round table, clad in his formidable armor, was Gazel Dwargo, the third-generation king of the Armed Nation of Dwargon. His physique was distinctly dwarf-like, sturdy and robust, exuding an aura of latent power beneath his muscular frame. His tanned brown skin and slicked-back jet-black hair further emphasized his commanding presence in the room.

I first bowed deeply, "Your Majesty, the Dwarf King, I am Luca Ashford. It is an honor to meet you."