Building a World Class Empire in another World
Chapter 118: humming

Chapter 118: humming

Aric thought that the road Ron wanted to build would be something made of stone at least, but he was shocked after a while as he watched the process slowly begin through his window.

Goblins walked through with a thick mixture of cement and water, laying them down smoothly along the path. They made sure that the cement was flat on the ground.

He saw the ogres laying down carefully crafted stone blocks into the ground in a pattern, from one end to the other. They made sure that all the blocks were placed carefully.

They didn’t use any sort of filling in between the blocks, the only thing they did to compact it was the goblins who came behind with sticks that had soft cloth balls tied on them, using them to slowly hit the blocks into the cement underneath.

The goblins that poured the cement worked at the same time as the ogres that laid the stone, moving backward side by side with large wooden racks of blocks tied to their backs.

He watched the construction go on for hours, making the road for the entire village seemed to be far harder than he thought it would be, but it was fine since they focused more on doing it right rather than rushing through it.

Soon enough, night came, and all work had to come to an end. Aric also decided to rest for the night because when the sun rose, he would need to leave the town and head into the forest to meet with the wolf tribe.

He didn’t know what to expect when he got there, but he at least hoped that they would be kind enough to hear him out before taking any decisions.

[.....]

The warm smell of well-made tea filled the inside of a dimly lit office. The rays of the moon seeped through the window at the side, with flickers of the shadows of the men standing guards outside there.

The office was simple yet well-arranged, a coffee brown table sat at the center. A stack of books stood on the table, along with a teapot, and at the other side of the table was a man seated casually, leaning back on the well-crafted leather chair. His fingers ran across the ceramic teacup.

His neck-length silver hair flowed down, subtly reflecting the light of the moon. His face was as calm as the night breeze.

"So, she sent you to me," he said, sipping his tea in a luxurious way. He placed the cup down carefully and looked up, interlocking his fingers and placing his hand under his chin.

"So who exactly are you first?" he asked.

Baron Fredrick was seated across the man. He stared at the man for a while before opening his mouth to speak.

"I am Baron Fredrick," he said.

"Ohhh? It seems she has completely taken over that town, to have complete control over the baron. She never ceases to amaze me," the man said. He got up from his chair and walked to the window.

"Do you know something?" he asked, glancing at the baron before looking back out of the window.

"Many of us traded something very, very dear to us in order to become part of the spirit cult. I’ve seen some that traded their family, some traded their own direct brothers and sisters.

All for what? All to be part of something bigger than them, something that aims to cheat the world that they live in.

They all traded that which they so very much loved because they wanted to know the truth, she seeks out the truth," he said. He sounded righteous as he spoke, like he was speaking the unchangeable truth.

"The world sees us as criminals, vile, evil, monsters. They see us as everything imaginable. They hate us when they don’t even know what it takes to be us.

Their hate runs deep because they feel we have killed many, taken the homes and families of many. But do you know what I feel about all that? Huh?

I think it’s bullshit, because they lack the ability to make the sacrifices that we made. They lack the ability to do what we did for the truth, so they attack us, wanting to tear us all down," he said. He turned, seeing the baron staring at him with a blank face, he let out a pained sigh.

"Why am I telling you all this? Because I needed someone to tell, someone that could hear it and feel our pain. But it seems that won’t be possible because all you are now is a puppet," he said and walked to the baron. He placed his hand on the baron’s head and lifted his head up so that they saw eye to eye.

"She has taken away your humanity and left you as a hollow shell of yourself with some instructions to carry out. I’m sure at times it looks like you are alive, doing the things you want to do, but deep down, you know it’s all fake," he said. He returned to his chair and sat down.

"But then again, what she has done to you is a blessing and not a curse. You should take it in good faith, not like you have an option though.

Well, I have blamed enough. Hand over the package she sent you to give to me," he said. The baron nodded and took out the package. He handed it to the man.

The man took a look at it, he ripped it open immediately, and there was a book with a black cover.

The man seemed to know exactly what this book was. He smiled when he saw it and quickly placed it into the table drawer, also taking out a white envelope.

He handed it to the baron. "Take this to her. She’ll know what to do with it," he said.

The baron collected the envelope. He bowed his head slightly and got up. He left the office. Immediately he did, he pulled the hood back over his head and slipped into the night.

He tucked the envelope carefully into his clothes and headed for the inn. As he walked through the night, he regained his sense of self and started acting normal and no longer like a robot.

He made his way to his inn and went in. He got up the stairs and into his room. Immediately he got into the room, he activated the cube again.

The projection of the woman came up again. She was lying in the tub of the baron, soaking in warm water, her eyes still covered while in the tub. She immediately gave a small wave when the connection came up and immediately went straight to the point.

"Did you get what I asked you to get?" she asked.

"Yes, master," he responded, returning back to the robotic manner that he was. He removed the envelope and showed her.

She smiled brightly when she saw it. "You are a good toy. Thank you for getting it for me. Now keep it safe and head to the count’s place tomorrow, telling him what I asked you to, and after that, return with my letter," she said.

"I will do as you wish, master," he replied and disconnected the connection.

Back in the baron’s house, the lady slipped out of the tub. She stood there naked, with her bare body showing off gruesome scars that had been covered by her clothes.

All of the scars had healed up, but from the mere sight of it, one could tell how gruesome and painful getting the scars must have been.

She ran her hands through her body slowly, feeling the scars that covered her. She cracked a small smile and walked out of the bathroom into the master bedroom.

The beautiful rays from the moon poured in through the window beautifully. She walked to the place where the moon shone brightest and knelt down facing the window.

She clasped her hands together as if in prayer. She stayed that way for a while before getting up and walking to the bed. She lay down naked without care for the water that soaked the bed. She hummed a tune slowly, continuously. At first, it sounded sweet and happy, but the tone slowly changed and soon became a dark and heavy tone.

She continued that hum until it was very dark and depressing. The shadows at the corner of the room stood twisting and turning the more that she did it.

She realized what she was doing and stopped immediately after. She smirked again. "I guess it still has just as much effect. One day, if I complete the task, I’ll be able to be completely free from it, free from all of it."

She slowly drifted into sleep as she said those words, allowing herself to be vulnerable in that moment, but happy and peaceful as well. And who knows when last she had true peace.