Second World Novel

Jack stayed silent afterward, allowing them to ponder his words. After a while, Sidney asked, "So, have you already confirmed that Aubelard is here?"

Ephiltes spoke out at this time, "If he already confirmed, he won't be here anymore. He will be on his way to Tranviste already. He is just spouting horseshit!"

Jack didn't respond to Ephiltes. He continued to stare at Sidney with a confident smile. "Do you believe what he said?" Jack asked her.

"I believe you have not confirmed Aubelard's whereabout. As he said, you would already be on your way if so," Sidney said.

"That's true. But I have a pretty good idea already. However, to confirm, I will need help from you two. Or at least, from you, you seem to be the more reasonable one, and also the more powerful. We can leave him in the dark."

"You…!" Ephiltes slammed the table, showing the first time he lost his cool.

Seeing the reaction, Jonathan and Harker pulled their chairs and came over to sit behind Jack.

"Is that guy giving you trouble? Don't worry about him, I will deal with him if he tries anything," Jonathan said loudly.

"You dolt! Didn't I say I'm stronger than you now?" Ephiltes threatened.

"Not by much! I am still more experienced. Don't think just because your level is slightly higher that I will lose to you!" Jonathan didn't back down.

Jack ignored the commotion, he stayed calmly with a confident smile. His gaze never left Sidney. The woman mage was also observing Jack, trying to read if this outworlder was duping her.

"What kind of help do you need?" Sidney asked.

"Slaying Aubelard," Jack replied.

Sidney frowned again from the answer.

Ephiltes immediately said his piece after hearing Jack, "Are you insane? Did Horatio not tell you how strong Aubelard is? He is a level 80 rare elite! The three of us combined… No, you don't count, you are too weak. The two of us combined with those two lackeys of yours are still not enough to go against such an opponent!"

"Was! He was a level 80 rare elite," Jack replied. "Didn't Horatio inform you two that Aubelard is wounded? He is in a weakened condition. I'm pretty sure his current strength doesn't reflect his prime."

"Pretty sure? That means you are not certain," Sidney said. "Why do we want to take the risk? The quest is only to find his whereabouts. There is no reason to poke the hornet's nest."

"Because he won't stay here for long," Jack answered. "If you return now to tell Horatio about that Aubelard is here. By the time his force arrived, Aubelard will be long gone already. Imagine what his reaction will be if he thinks you are lying to him. Do you think he is still interested in supporting your prince after?"

"Hmph! Horatio mentioned that Aubelard can't afford to travel," Ephiltes said. "he is wounded, you said it just now yourself. If he is truly here, he won't be able to leave."

"As I said, I have information that you don't. He is wounded, but he is healing. I know Horatio said that his wound won't heal for several hundred years, but he had somehow found a way to heal himself. I admit I don't know what method he is using but trust me, he is."

Jack heard Peniel's voice in his mind, 'How do you know that?'

Jack simply replied, 'later.' Outside, he continued speaking, "If you leave now after confirming his existence here, you won't find him the next time you are back. Not to mention, I believe the two of you have shown his picture a lot to whoever you came across in this town, haven't you? Such brazen inquiries will surely draw his attention. I bet by tomorrow, he would have known about you two looking for him. He won't take the risk of staying in this place, wounded or not."

"Aren't you showing his picture around as well?" Ephiltes asked.

"I have only shown it to three persons since I arrived," Jack said.

The two went quiet after, they were obviously in thought. Jack didn't let them think too long though, he said, "Let's say if we managed to kill him. I'm sure whoever takes proof of his demise to Horatio will receive high praise. The guy had betrayed the Maxius family, it is pretty clear it's his head they want. Imagine the gratitude and respect you will receive for the deed. Your prince will be proud of you."

Sidney gave Jack a sharp stare. "What's your angle? You know there will only be one of us who will get the reward. We are competitors."

"That's true. However, this prize needed the strength of all of us. I suspect Aubelard is still too strong for us even when wounded. We can get back to competing once we take care of the problem at hand. What do you say?"

"If that's the case, it will just be the two of us fighting Aubelard, you are too weak to contribute anything. This is too good for you, we will be the one doing all the work," Ephiltes said. By now, he had moved his chair to sit at the same table as Jack and Sidney. Jack gave the guy a disdainful stare.

"I can say the same thing! I'm the one that did all the searching before you came. I'm the one that found out all the clues, you two are just enjoying my hard work. Not to mention, you two are alone, I bring three extra fighters, so I say I'm more than contributing in this matter."

"Three?" Sidney asked.

"Yeah, these two, and then another one we will meet tomorrow. This third one is also the one who spread the rumor that brought you here."

"This third person is strong?"

"Yes."

Sidney gave the matter some thought, before saying. "All right. Let's do it. We will cooperate until we are done with Aubelard. After that, don't blame me for turning on you people."

"Fine by me. Wait for me outside this tavern tomorrow morning. I will come and pick you up," Jack said.

"I will be here," Sidney replied.

"I will be here too," Ephiltes said.

Jack gave Ephiltes another disdainful stare, "I thought you are not interested?"

"Who said I am not? Don't think to leave me out of this. I will follow you, people, if I have to!"

"Heh, suit yourself. Just be here tomorrow morning. I will leave you if you are late," Jack said before leaving. Jonathan stood up, he glared at Ephiltes and spat before he turned around and followed Jack.

Outside, the old soldier asked, "So, we are done for today?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah, let's return and rest. If my prediction is correct, we might have a tough fight tomorrow."

"As long as not against that undying freak again," Jonathan said.

He and Harper then walked in the direction of their station. After walking a while, they realized that Jack was still with them. They asked, "I thought you said we are done? Why are you still here?"

"I'm staying at your place!" Jack uttered. "Do you think I'm going to sleep by myself? Those two just now are enemies. They can change their minds and attack me during my sleep. No way I'm going to sleep alone with such dangers around."

"Damn, you are making us your bodyguards full time. Fine, come along then," Jonathan said.

During their walk, Peniel talked with Jack using her mind, 'Why do you want to fight Aubelard? Those two are right. Even in a weakened condition, that old vampire will still be very dangerous. You are risking your life unnecessarily. The quest just needs you to confirm his location, slaying him is unneeded.'

'That's true if I am just completing Horatio's quest. But right now, I'm more concerned about completing the missing children case. If there is a chance the girl that was missing just a few days ago is still alive, I need to give it a try…"

'You think the two quests are related?'

'I do.'

'How so?'

'I think the Count was actually Aubelard. Remember the granny said the Count's grandfather came here not long after the time Aubelard fled his country? I think he had been using his disguise spell to pose as a human. Every few centuries he pretended to pass away and took over the son role and became the new Count.'

'Are you saying the son is just made up? There is no such a person?'

'I think there is, just not an actual son. I think this so-called son was a person he only met in this country. They might have collaborated together. One posing as a son while the other the father. My guess is this collaboration might have gone bad and the son was scheming on the father.'

'The hooded stranger? But even if it's true, how do you know he wants to take down Aubelard and that Aubelard is healing?'

'I'm just guessing from the hooded stranger's words. To be honest, I'm not entirely certain myself. I'm just acting that way to make those two agree to come with me tomorrow. But I believe our hooded stranger will explain tomorrow. It's better if we hear his explanation since mine is mostly just assumptions. By the way, you haven't explained about that Deathless Draugr. You said you have a suspicion about what that monster is, didn't you?'

'Yes, that monster should be a tethered being,' Peniel replied.

'Tethered being?'

'It is a creature that originally has no life. Its life is linked with another. It is a puppet that is created by powerful alchemy and spell. As long as the owner it is linked to is alive, the puppet won't die.'

'That is a powerful puppet then. Can there be more of that thing? We will be in trouble if there are more.'

'One master can only have one puppet. This puppet method is also not without its toll, the owner will have his or her power weakened while this puppet is active. It is also usually bound to an area. That's why I suspect it cannot leave the crypt.'

'I see… So the only way to defeat such a puppet is by killing its owner?'

'There are some tools that might work, but we don't have them. So, yes. We need to kill the owner.'

'Guess the coming fight will be rather troublesome,' Jack thought.