Chapter 570: The Countess' Ultimatum

Chapter 570: The Countess' Ultimatum

News of a new awakened in the Gremlins Timepiece quickly spread throughout the Nerosal. Fury servants were quite common, but having an awakened one was enough to attract crowds. As a level one, Diroh was only able to upgrade one item per day, and Hannah had restricted mending to only a couple, but that wasnt what brought customers in. It was more about seeing the fury in action. Even old regulars used to there being a fury in the inn were impressed, almost as if they were going through a nostalgia phase.

Diroh, on her part, had a lot to get used to. Back in Halburn, she would frequently use air currents to serve customers, not to mention keep the place sparkly clean. While the latter was vastly appreciated, Hannah quickly shared that the former was a big no-no in the city. Officially, there were no laws in the empire against furies using their natural powers. However, there was an understanding that they were not to use them discreetly and not openly flaunt them. Since Diroh was new, mess-ups were forgiven, and even seen as interesting. It wasnt rare that groups of new customers would arrive hoping to catch her using air currents openly. The demand was so great that occasionally the innkeeper asked the fury to let it slip. As usual, Hannah had an eye for money, and to compound matters, Diroheffectively a former innkeeper herselfagreed.

Despite Dallions questions and concerns, things seemed to get back to normal, when a captain of the city guard passed by. In itself, this wasnt unusual. With Eury gone, and Dallion being the only hunter, it had become common for the city guard to approach him for occasional help, ranging from exploring certain artifacts to checking out food for traces of poison. With the plague all but gone, the star cults had apparently started using it to kill awakened in parts of the empire.

When the captain said that the countess wanted to see Dallion, however, it quickly became obvious that this was all but standard. So far, the only time he had been called to see the noble was after the Stars attempt to take over the city.

There was no point in arguing or attempting to get around it. Leaving all his weapons in his room at the inn, Dallion followed the captain to the countess palace.

The structure had changed considerably in the last few years. It had always been significant when compared to everything else in the city. Now, though, it was absolutely astounding, growing almost to the size of the Archdukes palace in Linatol. What Dallion found even more impressive was that it had completely been made of stones collected from ruins, ensuring that it was completely guardian-free. Even smaller items such as doors, rugs, and statues had been made in such a way to be empty.

There was no telling how much time and effort had gone into making that, but it had required awakened stonecutters and masons building it the old-fashioned way. When it came to expenses, that was only something nobles and few others could afford.

Standard etiquette required that all visitors be escorted through the outer section of the palace by a standard set of guards to the inner courtyard. There, a steward would take charge of the guests, leading them to the countess personal chamber. This time, though, Dallion was greeted by none other than the citys overseer. With a nod, she dismissed the city guard captain.

Hello, Dal, she said in her typically calm voice. Youre been attracting a lot of attention.

The overseer had warned him that this moment would come. The mishap in Halburn had only accelerated things.

Just because you give someone a blocker ring, doesnt mean they become invisible, the overseer continued.

I thought they would. Dallion attempted to bring in some levity to the situation.

People usually do. Come this way.

They continued to the base of one of the towers, then started climbing.

Youre lucky she was Jirohs sister, the Overseer said. Nerosal has a soft spot for her. You still should have told the countess about it.

The implication was clearit was the countess who had called for him. That could mean mostly one thing: she was displeased about something and his recent behavior was an excuse to get Dallion dealt with. The hunter emblem protected him to a very large extent, though not against banishment. Realistically, Dallion doubted it would come to that. Banishment could be done from a distance. The countess wanted something. Given that she wasnt in her usual chamber, this could suggest that it was a matter of considerable discretion.

I planned to, Dallion replied. I just wanted Di to get settled in a bit.

You dont plan to be careless, do you? she asked calmly. There comes a point at which secrets are no longer kept. If someone else is strong enough to obtain what Im telling you, they are welcome to it, just like I am repeating information that is decades old.

Dallion nodded again.

Ill even go as far as to provide some political protection, she went on. Not the least of which will be brushing away messes like the one you recently did. Despite that, its likely that you will be hunted by mercenaries serving other nobles.

Hunters dont hunt hunters, Dallions aid out of instinct.

Ah, yes. The hunter credo. Hunters dont usually hunt others, but its not rare for some to receive offers that would make them risk that. The mentor of your fiance did it.

The revelation hit Dallion harder than he expected. It wasnt that he doubted that people would break rules under certain circumstances. All the Star-touched and the cultists were clear examples of that. Having the hunter who trained Eury come up, and in such fashion, wasnt something he had foreseen. Thinking about it, though, it was said that he had his name erased. If so, this could have been the reason.

Youre on your path to become a noble, or at least reach level eighty. If you do, youll learn that theres a substantial difference between the two. Just as not all nobles are past level eighty, not all who get there are nobles. Politics plays part of that, but its not all. If you succeed in finding the creature, youll have my support before and after passing the barrier.

At least, that was to be expected.

If you fail, your name will be erased throughout my domain. Do I make myself clear?

Yes, countess, Dallion quickly said. Every promise was followed by a threat. This one was slightly more ominous than usual, though not by particularly much. What is the creature you want me to bring you?

The phoenix, the noble said. Sometimes referred to as the aether-bird.

Should have known shed go for that, Nil grumbled.

I believe you saw a feather be sold when you took part in the night auction in Linatol. As you can guess, the feathers must come from somewhere.

With all respect, countess, wont the Academy intervene?

Of course they will, but even they wont risk openly attacking a full hunter. Why do you think I waited for so long before coming to you with this? And dont think youre the first one, either. Every hunter of character in Nerosal was made the same offer, including Euryale. Since you remember all of their names, its obvious that they refused.

Refusal was an option? This would be a first. When such demands were made, usually the person in question didnt have much of a choice. Then again, Dallion did get a lot more into trouble than any hunter he knew.

And if I were to refuse?

Normally, Ill just say that you wont receive any future jobs of such significance. However, past events make you a special case. You were in control of Nerosal. That makes you a future threat. Your current emblem protects you, but youve already messed up enough times to merit deleveling. There was a long moment of silence during which Countess Priscord kept on staring right into Dallions eyes, as if wanting to burn them off his face. Of course, I know full well whats practical and what not. She turned around again. Time isnt a factor. You can take on other jobs, you can even leave my domains, or the empire itself. You can even go to the Archduke for help. If you want, you can even become a noble and challenge me for my county. However, if someone else gets the creature before me, all your friends will burn, and do believe me, I know exactly who all your friends are. The same goes for your family members, Dallion Seene