Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 403: The Slipping Envoy

Chapter 403: The Slipping Envoy

The Varzadian envoy moved through the city like a ghost. Even the guards patrolling the capital seemed to be unaware of the dark figure slipping through alleys and shadowy streets, avoiding the torchlight with practiced ease. The envoy—a hooded figure cloaked in dark garments—was one of the most skilled operatives in Varzadia’s network. Trained for missions exactly like this, they were accustomed to the dangers of foreign lands, used to navigating the delicate balance between life and death with every step.

The moon hung high above, casting pale light across the cobblestones and illuminating the distant turrets of the castle behind them. The figure paused briefly at the edge of a street, peering out into the empty square beyond. The distant laughter and music from the royal banquet were barely audible now, lost amidst the creaking of wooden signs and the occasional bark of a stray dog. The envoy moved quickly, their silhouette disappearing as they pressed against a darkened wall. They could sense something in the air—a change, an unease that hung heavily over the city of Astellia’s capital.

A smirk played across the figure’s lips beneath the shadow of their hood. The chaos that was about to unfold in Astellia—the cracks that would begin to appear in the kingdom—was the culmination of years of careful planning and manipulation by Varzadia. And now, as they made their way to deliver Garrick’s information to the next contact, the envoy knew that this night would mark a pivotal step in Varzadia’s plan. The information they had obtained would weaken the royal faction of Astellia and shift the balance of power, making way for a far-reaching and dangerous plot.

The envoy slipped into a side street, arriving at a narrow door tucked away in the wall of an inconspicuous building. They gave a specific knock—three short raps followed by a long one—and waited, their eyes scanning the street to make sure no one was watching. After a moment, the door opened a crack, revealing a single eye peering through.

"You came," a voice whispered, barely audible even in the silence of the night. The door opened wider, allowing the envoy to step inside before it was shut tightly behind them. The room they entered was dimly lit, a single oil lamp on the table providing enough light to reveal two figures already inside.

The first was a wiry man, his dark hair slicked back and his sharp eyes flicking towards the envoy. He gestured for them to sit as the second figure—a woman with auburn hair tied back and a serious expression—folded her arms across her chest.

"We thought you wouldn’t make it," she said, her tone clipped, though the concern in her eyes betrayed her words.

The envoy pulled back their hood, revealing the face of a young man with sharp features, his eyes glinting with confidence. He gave a slight shrug as he took a seat at the table. "It was no trouble," he said, his voice calm, almost dismissive. "Garrick may be skittish, but he’s useful. He delivered exactly what we needed."

The wiry man, Tobias, reached for the stack of notes the envoy produced, his eyes narrowing as he flipped through the pages. "Are you certain this information is accurate?" he asked, his tone skeptical. "Garrick is a coward. I wouldn’t put it past him to give us something false if he thought it would save his skin."

The envoy—known only by the name Soren—leaned back, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I made it very clear what would happen to him if he lied," he replied. "The man was shaking like a leaf. I don’t think he has the courage to deceive us. Besides, the details align with what we’ve gathered from our other sources."

The woman, Maira, glanced over at Tobias, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What does it say?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Tobias scanned the papers, his brow furrowing as he read. "It’s about the royal faction’s current forces. Military positions, supply routes, troop numbers—Garrick gave us everything. Even details about the nobles loyal to Prince Erich." He looked up, his expression dark. "With this, Varzadia will know exactly where to strike."

Maira’s eyes glinted, a hint of satisfaction crossing her face. "Perfect. The council will be pleased. This is exactly what we need to proceed with the next phase. Astellia’s military will be weakened before they even know what’s happening."

Soren leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the papers in Tobias’s hands. "We need to make sure this information reaches Commander Belris without delay," he said, his voice taking on a harder edge. "He’ll know how to make the best use of it. And once we have the military in disarray, the rest of the pieces will fall into place."

Tobias nodded, folding the notes carefully and tucking them into his coat. "I’ll leave for the border at first light," he said. "It will take a few days, but I’ll get this to Belris. The sooner we can put pressure on Astellia, the sooner we’ll see the cracks begin to show."

Maira leaned against the table, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "What about Garrick? Do you think he can continue feeding us information?"

Soren paused, his expression contemplative. "He’s scared, but he’s also greedy. As long as we keep offering him gold, he’ll do what we want. But we should be cautious. He’s a liability, and if things get too dangerous, we may have to cut him loose."

Maira nodded slowly, her gaze distant as she considered his words. "Agreed. For now, though, we keep him in play. He’s too useful to dispose of just yet." She glanced towards Tobias. "Make sure Belris understands that we may need to eliminate him at a moment’s notice. We can’t afford any loose ends."

Tobias gave a curt nod, his expression serious. "Understood." He stood, glancing towards the door. "I should get going. The sooner this reaches the commander, the better."

Soren stood as well, pulling his hood back up over his head. "I’ll see you out," he said. He turned towards Maira, his eyes meeting hers. "Stay alert. We don’t know who else might be watching."

Maira gave a small smile, her expression confident. "Don’t worry about me, Soren. I’ve got things covered on my end. Just make sure this gets to where it needs to go."

Soren nodded, then gestured for Tobias to follow him. They moved to the door, slipping out into the darkness of the alley once more. The night was still and quiet, the distant sounds of the city fading into the background as they made their way through the twisting streets. Soren’s eyes flicked to Tobias, watching the man as he moved with purpose beside him.

"Do you think we’ll succeed?" Tobias asked suddenly, his voice barely more than a whisper. There was a note of uncertainty in his tone, a hint of doubt that Soren hadn’t heard from him before.

Soren glanced at him, his expression hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. "We’ve come this far," he said, his voice steady. "And we have the advantage. Astellia is divided, and their nobles are too busy scheming against each other to see the real threat. If we strike swiftly and decisively, they won’t have time to react."

Tobias nodded, though the doubt still lingered in his eyes. "I just hope we aren’t underestimating them. Prince Erich isn’t a fool. He must know something is going on."

Soren’s lips curved into a small, humorless smile. "Perhaps. But even if he suspects, he can’t act without proof. And by the time he realizes what’s happening, it will be too late. Varzadia has waited long enough for this opportunity. We’re not going to let it slip away."

Tobias seemed to take some comfort in Soren’s words, his steps growing more confident as they continued through the city. They moved quickly, keeping to the shadows until they reached the edge of town, where a small stable waited. A single horse was tied up outside, its reins fastened securely to the post.

Tobias moved towards the horse, untying the reins and giving the animal a gentle pat on the neck. He looked back at Soren, his expression serious. "I’ll get this to Belris," he said, his voice filled with determination.

Soren nodded, his eyes meeting Tobias’s. "Good. And remember—if anything goes wrong, if you’re caught, you say nothing. The mission comes first."

Tobias gave a small, tight smile. "I know. Don’t worry, Soren. I’ll see it through." He mounted the horse, pulling the hood of his own cloak up as he settled into the saddle. He gave Soren one last nod before urging the horse forward, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

Soren watched him go, his eyes lingering on the spot where Tobias had vanished. He stood there for a moment, his mind filled with thoughts of what lay ahead—the battles, the betrayals, the chaos that would soon unfold. He knew the risks, knew that the road ahead was fraught with danger. But he also knew that this was the only way for Varzadia to seize control, to finally break free from the shadow of Astellia.

He turned away, his eyes narrowing as he looked back towards the city. He had his own role to play, his own tasks to complete before dawn. There was still much to be done, and the night was far from over. Soren moved back into the city, his steps quick and silent as he disappeared once more into the shadows, ready to continue the work that would bring Astellia to its knees.