Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 198: The Redania Empire (6) Dangers

Chapter 198: The Redania Empire (6) Dangers

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Lyan demanded, his hand poised over his sword hilt.

The figure smirked. "I could ask you the same thing. What business do you have in the Redania Empire?"

Lyan studied the man before him, his eyes scanning every detail of his appearance. The man’s cloak was tattered and worn, his boots scuffed and muddy. His hair was unkempt, and there was a wild, feral look in his eyes that made Lyan’s skin crawl.

He noted the way the man’s hands were balled into fists, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. He could tell that this was a man who had lived a hard life, one filled with violence and danger.

But there was something else there, something that Lyan couldn’t quite put his finger on. He narrowed his eyes, focusing his attention on the man’s eyes.

"I asked you a question," Lyan repeated, his tone firm.

The man chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "And I chose not to answer. What are you going to do about it?"

Lyan didn’t flinch, his gaze steady on the man’s eyes. He could see a glint of something there, a spark of defiance and pride.

"You’re a fighter," Lyan said, his voice quiet but steady. "You’ve been in battles before, and you’ve come out on top. You’re not afraid of a fight, but you don’t seek it out either. You have a sense of honor, but it’s tempered by pragmatism. You’ll do what you have to do to survive."

The man raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "And how did you arrive at that conclusion?"

Lyan smiled slightly, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Observation, deduction, and intuition. It’s a gift I have."

"We’re just passing through," Lyan replied, his eyes never leaving the figure’s face. "We mean no harm."

The figure snorted. "And I suppose you expect me to believe that? Outsiders like yourselves are always up to no good."

Lyan kept his tone calm and measured, trying to defuse the tension between them. "We’re travelers, looking for information about the Redania Empire. We mean no harm to anyone."

The figure’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flickering over each of Lyan’s companions. "And what about them? What’s their story?"

"They’re with me," Lyan said simply. "We’re a group traveling together."

The figure’s lips twisted into a sneer. "A group of misfits, more like. A halfling girl, a mage, and a warrior. What are you up to?"

Lyan’s grip on his sword hilt tightened, but he forced himself to remain calm. "We’re looking for a place to settle down, to start a new life. We’ve been traveling for a long time, and we’re tired. We just want to find a place where we can be safe."

The figure’s expression softened slightly, but there was still a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "And what makes you think the Redania Empire is a safe place?"

Lyan hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "We’ve heard that there are opportunities here, that it’s a place where people can make a new life for themselves. We’re willing to take that chance."

The figure studied him for a moment longer before finally nodding. "Very well. But be warned, the Redania Empire is not a forgiving place. There are factions and politics at play here that could easily spell trouble for outsiders like yourselves. Be careful who you trust."

Lyan nodded, grateful for the warning. "Thank you. We’ll keep that in mind."

The figure turned to leave, but Lyan called out to him. "Wait. Who are you?"

The person left without replying to Lyan’s question.

If it’s a normal circumstance of encountering a thug, there is nothing to hesitate about. And he won’t even hesitate to provoke the opponent to fight. But the current situation is slightly different.

"Did you sense the presences appeared when we first make contact with him?" Wilhelmina uttered as a drop of sweat fell from her forehead.

"Yeah... Suddenly I could sense the menace of more than 50 people gathering around, but there is no one around us. The library is empty!" (Solia)

(That’s not a normal guy. This is not the time to search for danger) (Lyan)

Lyan couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. "We need to leave. Now."

Wilhelmina nodded, her eyes filled with fear. "I agree. This place is not safe for us."

They quickly gathered their belongings and left the library, making their way back to their lodgings in a hurry. After that encounter, they could somehow feel some ominous feeling tailing them on their way.

"We need to be careful," he warned his companions. "The Redania Empire may be prosperous, but it is also a dangerous place."

Solia nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger. "I feel like we’re being followed," she whispered, her hand hovering over her wand.

Lyan nodded, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I sense it too. Stay alert, and keep your weapons at the ready."

As they made their way through the darkened streets, they heard the sound of footsteps behind them, growing louder with each passing moment. Lyan signaled to his companions, and they quickly took up defensive positions, their weapons at the ready.

"Show yourselves," Lyan called out, his voice steady and commanding. "We mean no harm, but we will defend ourselves if we have to."

There was a moment of silence before a figure stepped out of the shadows, his face obscured by a hooded cloak. Lyan tensed, his hand tightening on his sword hilt.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the figure for any sign of danger.

The figure stepped forward, revealing a dark, scruffy beard and piercing blue eyes. "I am Darian," he said, his voice rough and gravelly. "And I’ve been sent to guide you to safety."

Lyan raised an eyebrow, his suspicions growing. "Who sent you?"

Darian smirked. "The people who are watching you. They want to make sure you don’t get into any trouble."

Lyan narrowed his eyes, still on guard. "And who are these people?"

Darian shook his head. "I can’t say. But they have your best interests at heart."

Lyan exchanged a glance with his companions, weighing their options. They could trust this stranger, or they could try to make their way to safety on their own. They were in unfamiliar territory, with no idea who to trust.

"Lead the way," Lyan said finally, his tone firm. "But we’ll be watching you closely."

Darian nodded, his expression unreadable. "As you wish. Follow me."

They followed Darian through the darkened streets, their senses on high alert. Lyan kept a hand on his sword hilt, ready to defend himself at a moment’s notice.

As they walked, Darian spoke in hushed tones. "The Redania Empire is a dangerous place, especially for outsiders like yourselves. There are many factions vying for power, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. You must be careful who you trust, and who you make enemies of."

Lyan nodded, his expression serious. "We understand." Looking at the person before him, Lyan could understand a thing.

(He’s not in the same faction as that guy before) (Lyan)

As they walked through the dimly lit streets, Lyan couldn’t help but study Darian closely. He observed the way he walked, the way he held himself, and the way he spoke. Lyan had always prided himself on his ability to read people, and he was determined to get to the bottom of who this man really was.

Lyan noticed that Darian was walking with a slight limp, favoring his left leg. This indicated to Lyan that he may have sustained an injury in the past. He also observed that Darian had a habit of rubbing his right hand, as if it were sore or injured. These small details hinted to Lyan that Darian had been in many fights, and had likely been injured in one of them.

Lyan’s observations didn’t stop there. He also noticed the scars on Darian’s face, which indicated that he had been in many battles. The way he held himself suggested that he was confident, but not arrogant. He had the look of a man who had seen much and survived it all.

As they walked, Darian spoke in hushed tones, revealing to Lyan and his companions the intricacies of the Redania Empire. Lyan listened intently, taking in every detail, but still studying Darian out of the corner of his eye.

Darian had a rough and gravelly voice, which suggested that he had been a heavy smoker or had a long history of shouting. Lyan also noticed that Darian had a tattoo on his left forearm, which appeared to be a symbol of some kind. Lyan made a mental note to research the meaning of the tattoo later.

Lyan also observed that Darian was wearing a ring on his right hand, a ring with a red gemstone that glimmered in the dim light. The ring appeared to be of high quality, indicating that Darian was not a common thug or street criminal. But when Lyan saw the symbols carved on the ring, his eyes opened wide.

(I see... So ’their’ influence unexpectedly went even inside the empire, huh...) (Lyan)

Lyan could see that Darian was growing increasingly uncomfortable under his scrutiny. He could tell that the man was trying to hide something, but Lyan was determined to get to the truth.

Finally, they reached their destination, a rundown building on the outskirts of town. Darian led them inside, and Lyan signaled for his companions to stay alert. He was still not entirely sure he could trust Darian.

As they entered the building, Lyan saw a group of men waiting for them. They were all heavily armed, and their eyes were fixed on Lyan and his companions. Lyan drew his sword, ready for a fight.

But before he could do anything, Darian spoke up. "Stand down, men. These are the ones we’ve been sent to protect."

Lyan was taken aback. He had not expected Darian to vouch for them. But he also knew that this did not necessarily mean that they were safe. He remained on guard, his sword at the ready.

Darian turned to Lyan, his expression serious. "You’re a clever one, aren’t you? You’ve figured out who I am."

Lyan nodded. "You’re a member of the Duke Ravindor’s Men."