The God of Jesters
Chapter 524 - 8.09.1 You will work for me.

Chapter 524: 8.09.1 You will work for me.

It’s been a week since Remira’s meeting with Heroth. And unlike what she had expected, he could stay in hiding for longer than she had expected.

The Bartenders were doing their work just like they had done countless times before, trying to protect Heroth and suppress all kinds of information from leaking to the interested parties. But This was not the seas, with the little time the Bartender had to develop in Rudrain, the true extent of their reach was still not as deep as the Radiant Eyes, who usually worked as simple mortals among the masses. Ever so attentive to the simple oddities of what happens in their employer’s home or organization.

Because face it, even the tall nobles would usually require the support of mortals to cook food or clean their houses for them. That’s how it usually went. That’s how Remira was privy to many details about the matter.

But then came an issue she never expected. ’Why do I feel worried?’ She wondered.

For the past few days, she didn’t know why, but her senses were palpitating for an ensuing disaster. The sixth sense that most transcendent usually possess. But is rarely it was strong enough to be noticed by most.

Remira was different; she could feel it. Unknown to her, many in the city were experiencing the same palpitations. Something was brewing, something dangerous.

This was why when Remira learned of the arrival of a powerful Legendary in the South District of the city, her fears were solidified, but along with that, there was a sense of ease that whatever it was would be thwarted with a powerhouse at the head.

But it’s been two days since, and she could still feel the threat just like she did before. "Nothing odd?" She asked a question she had asked multiple times before, but there was only disappointment.

Nothing was happening in the southern district. Things were quiet, too quiet as most among the transcendent had noticed some oddities, while the mortals lived their lives as usual, in ignorance.

And while Remira was thinking of the trouble brewing in the city, she received odd news.

*****

It’s been a week and from the looks alone, not much has changed for Heroth. Still covered in a bushy beard and a beer bottle in hand, he walked toward a luxury car that he had mostly seen others ride in.

Its gray color and the simple but intricate insignia gave away the car owner’s identity. "I could have just walked," Heroth spoke, showing a hint of disdain towards this metal coffin, or so he liked to believe it was.

"We are to bring you to the church, the way we like it." With arrogance and authority, the Grand Knight named Bright Leaf spoke, who was followed by a bunch of other Knights, all of whom were at Master Rank at minimum, with two even being Grand Knights themselves, but their strength and aura obviously couldn’t compare to their leader. Who was here to make sure that Heroth followed their arrangement properly?

And Heroth did agree, personally, he was just at the level of Master, and not a strong one at that. He barely knew how to fight and due to his years of experience, he was more used to running away from trouble.

Though the reason he cultivated that habit might be much different than many might think.

"As you wish, but I hope you keep the window open... I love fresh air." Heroth acted like a nuisance, and the face of Knight Bright Leaf was proof of that. "You are being brought for a hearing, and certain measures are to be taken for your protection... the window will remain closed." The Knight of Lies had an innate ability to decipher truth from lies, which is why Bright Leaf was not in the mood to entertain Heroth.

Who just shook his head in disappointment and climbed into what he considered a metal casket.

While not far from him, there was Raja. Silently sipping some herbal tea from a shop nearby, looking at all the happenings. "You think the old man will be fine?" the Owner of the shop wondered.

Though their shops were pretty close by, Heroth barely had a life outside his shop. Most of the time he was considered a Jolly drunk as he always sang random tunes in the streets whenever he came back from the bar, which happened a bit too often.

However, the Owner of this shop also had another identity. And that was to keep an eye on Heroth all the time in case some trouble finds its way to him.

It was for this very reason that Raja had been able to react on time so many times.

"We delayed it as long as we could... the rest in on those noble’s hand." The price of buying the Noble families that had a say in hearing them was immense. Though all of them happily got bought. Some of them also took the money and the contracts without ever promising direct support.

Those, Raja was suspicious of. But what could he do? He was powerless in the matter. They might just betray Heroth.

They might say nothing and let Heroth take the fall and suffer the consequences of the actions of a foolish Priest who didn’t know the meaning of privacy.

And if the Church dares to try that again, something bad will happen.

It’s not like they brought The Golden Chain Pea here for nothing. She was an enforcer, someone with immense strength who could handle the might of the Church enough to make it possible for Heroth to escape.

Though Raja hopes that there would be no need to employ the Golden Chain’s service. Because for some reason, he didn’t find her too trustworthy.

So who knows what she might do if the responsibility were to fall on her? "They are a treacherous bunch, we both know how much these Deceit followers love to lie."

"They won’t... they won’t dare to do such a thing," Raja spoke these words, but even he found it hard to believe that these nobles might not betray him. But what can be done had already been done.

If Heroth is to stay here, a hearing is required. Otherwise, he would either be put in jail or be kicked out of the city. Raja knows that they can’t let it happen.

Heroth was important to their group. Although a free man without any affiliation. Among the higher levels of the Bartender Guild, there is a slightly different history of how and why the Guild was formed.

It was not build out of Mutual co-operation. No sir ree...

The Guild was mainly built to babysit Heroth.

It was built to make sure that Heroth lived a safe and secure life, without even intruding upon the thing that hides inside of him.

*****

"Sir, it’s too cold... I ... I felt like I would die."

"Won’t die, your blood strong, you are built for cold, for water, for the mist and the clouds," Malidi spoke, not giving Heroth a chance to speak, before kicking him down into the water. "Go, find the shiny... find it and I will cook." With those words, the young Heroth was forced into the water again.

Where the most he could do was bite down his teeth tightly as he looked around this virtually dead portion of the sea.

There was truly nothing here, no one or a thing. The most he could feel was the coldness that entered his bones and then his body.

The coldness that tried to devour him the deeper he dove. "I. I can’t.’ He thought, finding it harder and harder to move his arms, Heroth panicked and tried to climb back up, but this time, it was not as easy.

His blood circulated slower and slower, along with his hand movements that started to crease up before slowly coming to a stop.

"I... I will die." Were Heroth’s last thoughts that day before a Gentle young voice sounded out in his ears. "Partially asleep... no, close to death. Ho, the old man. Now treating me like a babysitter?" Came the voice of a man that Heroth had never heard before.

"I sense hope... hah a pity poor kid. I am nothing more than a wraith, a spirit, a dream or a nightmare... I have little to zero influence over your body or reality..." before the voice could speak a bit further, its tone suddenly shifted into that of interest. "I see... that seal. Your mind hides something special, is this why the old man threw me to you?"

What happened after that, Heroth barely had any memory of. But what he did know was that something else had awoken in him that day.

Something horrific.

The next time Heroth opened his eyes, he was on a destroyed island, with only Malidi on the side slowly starting a fire.

How did he reach that island and what was the giant crater in the middle was, Heroth had remained ignorant of for only a little until Malidi spoke. "The one inside of you, he had agreed to work for me... so you will work for me too," Malidi spoke in simpler terms that Heroth would understand.

As for the little stone idol on his neck, it was the one that told over what happened white Heroth was taking his beauty sleep.

"Think of it like this... your father is still with you." Simple words, simpler explanation.