The Kingmaker System
Chapter 187 - 186. My Successor (3)

Chapter 187: 186. My Successor (3)

"H-He said that I... I should... I should... provide him 100 people." Peter told me reluctantly.

"What?" I frowned.

"Yes, he asked me to hand over 100 people in exchange for the same number of beasts that he’d give me."

"That’s why you were kidnapping the homeless people from those towns?"

"Yes, he asked me to not mistreat those people and just gather them all at one place and once the number was complete, he would take them."

This answered the strange kidnappings and the reason why those people were unscathed despite being kidnapped. And also why I and Rose were attacked by the sniper when we were at Hezborn to collect clues. It was unmistakably Zach that day who had shot arrows at us but now that things had come to this I couldn’t help but feel as if this was leading to something bigger and uglier than what I’m already involved in.

"Take them where?" I asked.

"I don’t know,"

I sighed, "How did you trust a man whose name or identity was unknown?"

"He told me that he was called Diable and that he was a traveling merchant who sold exotic creatures and all kinds of things that could or couldn’t be found in black markets."

My eyebrows twitched and I licked my lips before I asked, "He said his name was Diable?"

"Yes,"

Diable... was this some kind of a joke? The literal meaning of that name was Devil.

Well, that would explain the dark sensation that I felt from his existence. But what was a Devil doing running around creating such nuisances?

"What did he look like?" I asked.

"... He... He had long black hair and... pale face... his eyes were quite an unusual shade of red and he was tall."

"Anything else?"

"Ah, yes, he had a strange marking on the right side of his face."

"What kind of marking?"

"Something like... snake or something..." He spoke sounding uncertain and I sighed.

"Anything else that was memorable about him?"

Peter shook his head, "He... was quite a strange man... He didn’t speak much unless it was business and... he would come and go of his own accord... I didn’t have any means of contacting him."

I pulled out the vial filled with the black fluid from my vest and showed it to Peter.

"Do you know what this is?" I asked and Peter frowned looking at the vial.

"I don’t know,"

I put the vial back and asked him the next question, "Do you know where he got those beasts from?"

Peter shook his head and I couldn’t help but feel uneasy as this new person seemed like he was going to create a lot of unnecessary ripples around if I didn’t find him soon.

"Is there anything else that you could tell me about this person?" I pressed.

"I don’t remember anything else," Peter admitted.

I turned my head hoping to see the knight back since the fifteen minutes of my time were already done. But since he wasn’t there yet, I decided to ask one final question that was on the list.

"Your stepbrother had asked me to ask you this," I spoke up making Peter flinch and then look at me.

"He asked... If you feel any regrets for killing your father?"

Peter pursed his lips as he looked down. He must have been too drunk on his greed and vanity that he decided to kill his father for wealth and position but now that he had lost everything that he had done all kinds of things for he must be faced with the question that all humans encounter at least once in their life. The question about the fleeting nature of the materialistic things that they tried so hard to gain.

"I don’t care what your answer is but it seems like Zach has a vain hope that you still have some humanity left in you."

"I do," he spoke in a low voice.

I heard the sound of the footsteps approaching the cell and I spoke one last line.

"Hopefully, you haven’t signed any deal with that man."

Peter looked at me with a confused expression, "What?"

"Did you sign any deal with that man?"

"I did."

I sighed, "You’re damned."

"Pardon, what?"

"Nothing, pray for your soul, Peter. You might be in for one hell of an afterlife."

Peter frowned as he stared at me while I stepped out of the cell and faced the knight who’d just arrived.

"Your time is up," he reminded me and I nodded.

"I’m done talking with him."

The knight reached out and locked the cell door again. Peter stood in front of the mana cancelling bars and looked at me.

"Let’s leave now," the knight said gesturing towards the way we came from before he stepped forward.

We had only moved a few feet away when I heard Peter’s call.

"Baron Ocean?"

I turned around slightly and saw him beckoning me, "I... I forgot to tell you one thing."

I looked once at the knight who was staring in between me and Peter.

"Just a moment," I said and walked back to Peter.

I stood in front of the cell door and Peter once glanced at the knight before he leaned close to me.

"He-He knew you," Peter said in a low voice.

"What?"

"That man," Peter prompted making my eyebrows furrow.

"He also knew that you freed the people that he was meant to take... when we met for the last time he said that he will get back at you for... ruining his plan."

So, like me even he sensed my presence on the day when I had gone to rescue the abducted people from Lozar’s mountains. The collapse of the mountain must be his attempt to kill me but, my power must have exceeded his expectations.

Whatever this man was, he was starting to form an even solid presence in my head now.

"I’m a dead man anyways so... I thought I might as well tell you about this," I could see the regret and the despair swirling in his eyes before I sighed.

"Thank you, Peter." I said making him look at me with wide eyes.

"I’ll let Zach know that his brother is still somewhere behind the greedy man." I said making Peter clench the bars as he looked down.

"If it weren’t for the woman you’re supporting I could have tolerated you, but... it seems like it’s too late now. Hopefully, you won’t suffer too much." I added before I stepped back and walked towards Roan and the knight.

We left the dungeons with most of my questions answered and now it was time for me to make preparations to go and rescue my successor.

Roan looked at me as I sat silently in my place, he fidgeted for a while looking inquisitive and eager and since I wasn’t prompting he ended up asking on his own.

"Who were you talking about?"

I turned my attention on Roan, "Hm?"

"The man who was helping Peter, who was he?"

"Don’t know, maybe one of the enemies that I will see soon."

"He sounded suspicious,"

"He is suspicious,"

"Are you going to look for him?"

"He will come looking for me."

Roan stared at me for a moment before he asked, "Can I come along with you?"

"To the border?" I asked and he nodded.

"I’m already having two people coming along, besides, there’s a lot of work here. I’ll be back within a day or two."

Roan didn’t seem quite pleased by my answer, "I understand that you need to help me but-"

"If I finish the work in time will you take me along?" He asked and I frowned.

It was ridiculous, he wouldn’t be able to finish the paperwork within a few hours.

"I’ll go along even if you’re flying all the way." He said making me cock a brow.

He was that desperate to go?

"What’s the reason for you coming along?" I asked.

"I just... want to go along."

I tilted my head slightly before I sighed, "Fine, if you manage to finish today’s quota then I’ll take you along."

Roan’s face brightened up hearing that, "All right! I’ll finish it."

I leaned back knowing full well that the chances of him finishing his work were quite low.

I left him to do his work when we reached home while I made preparations for leaving. Lady Dahlia had had a talk with Sir Adler and other Seraph Knights.

I had instructed Remi accordingly and had also send a word to Aurelius mansion that I wouldn’t be home for some time. It would worry Father but, I couldn’t tell him that I was headed to the battlefield. He was already quite tensed that Rune was on frontlines and if he came to know I was heading there too he would flip.

I looked at the watch in the parlor where I, along with Lady Dahlia, Sir Adler and Lord Oberon were waiting for midnight.

Just as the clock chimed midnight, we stood up and I pulled out the teleportation device.

I had given the boys the magic devices just in case that they would absolutely need my help during an emergency. They had a teleportation device pendant that would bring me to them immediately. I had no idea why Drac didn’t signal me of the danger but I was taking my chances, if the device was still with him then I would reach at his spot.

"We’ll be teleporting there so, make sure to be prepared for absolutely anything." I warned looking at Lady Dahlia and Sir Adler who placed their hands on the hilts of their weapons simultaneously.

"All right, let’s go." I announced and the doors suddenly flew open.

"I’m done!" Roan shouted as he barged in.

"Wha-"

"I’m done! I finished today’s and tomorrow’s quota!" He shouted looking at me and I stared at him for a moment.

"Today’s and tomorrow’s?"

"Yes, you can check!"

He really went ahead and finished everything, including tomorrow’s work within a few hours?

I looked once at Lady Dahlia and Sir Adler before I released a sigh, I didn’t have time.

"Fine, come here." I said and stretched my hand to him.

His eyes glistened with a huge grin spreading over his face as he stepped ahead and grabbed my hand.

"Are we flying?" He asked.

"No, we’re teleporting."

"Thank God."

The light poured out of the mana stone and sparked around us while Lord Oberon stood at a distance.

"Return safely." I heard him say before the light swallowed us.