Chapter 59: White Rose

Chapter 59: White Rose

Operation Domination was shaping up to be an interesting event for Zarian. He’d fought the town’s upper crust of good aligned fighters and saw what his most powerful girls could do as a duo. He’d also paid close attention to how the evil humans conducted themselves.

In Zarian’s opinion, the kingdom’s evil underbelly wasn’t that impressive.

Yes, the evil humans had seemed stronger and scarier than the soldiers and guards. They must’ve been cunning to exist in Central Bramblevale without getting wiped out.

But once Naomi and Bianca had them outmatched, the evil humans weren’t quick enough in adapting and trying different tactics. They lacked flexibility except for the demonologist.

Was it because they lacked a militant education? They hadn’t exactly selected classes that were suited for proper battles. Maybe it was because the evil humans hadn’t dealt with strong adventurers like Zarian and his party before.

Zarian pondered on the situation regarding other evil humans for a little while, wondering if he should expand his spider surveillance and search the underground. Then he focused on adjusting his new monocle. It had some quirky enchantments.

<Sophisticated Monocle (Rare): This fashionable item can lead to others mistaking you as older and wiser than you truly are. Upon your whim and some aura, you can use a telescopic view function for both eyes. It also dims bright, searing light. Once given a search task, it will highlight targets to the viewer.>

The monocle was a nice trophy after sparing the lives of the foolish old men. Zarian figured there were plenty of cases where he would want the zoom function. Of course, having Bianca as a teammate meant he would enjoy the dimming function for just in case purposes.

The last part was even more unique. He figured the Sophisticated Monocle was useful for anyone who’d lost something and couldn’t remember where they put it.

I have my Spectral Spider Network for all of that. Honestly, this thing is a little redundant.

Maybe he could sell it to an old man who might need it more than him.

Or I keep it as a fashion statement while looking wiser than I truly am.

The monocle was not the only gain.

He’d earned some significant level ups and a new achievement.

<Your skill, Spectral Spider Network, leveled up from 8 to 9!>

<Your skill, Straight Darkness +1, leveled up from 23 to 24!>

<Achievement rewarded! Initial Pacifist Gauntlet! (Unopened)!>Ne/w novel chapters are p/u/blished at novelhall.coment opened!>

<Initial Pacifist Gauntlet! (Rare): The Infinita Star System is as wondrous as it can be brutal. It’s abnormal for anyone to choose a path of power without killing. Especially when faced with hundreds of challengers. You’ve earned +20 Wonder.>

Wow. That’s better than the Junior Manslaughterer.

There were achievements for killing and non-killing. The non-killing route seemed to reward more. Zarian’s points in Wonder shot up from 70 to 90 points.

The difference was significant. His magical skills would hit with more oomph, especially for critical damage. He felt more perceptive of things around him, not just magic. He felt luckier and more certain of himself.

With his Overpower trait, his aura even felt chunkier.

He would have to inform everyone of this achievement when they were behind closed doors, especially the members who relied on the Wonder stat. Honestly, they should get as many achievements as they could even if they had to mow through a bunch of men during genocidal runs or pacifist runs.

“So, how are we getting past the blockade at the keep?” Naomi asked, pulling Zarian out of his thoughts.

Zarian checked through his Spectral Spider Network to see if the situation remained the same.

It hadn’t.

There were now three thousand soldiers defending the Bramblevale Keep. At the center of the blockade were their best fighting men, who were too high in level for Zarian to Identify.

The late morning was transitioning toward noon now. Slow, blocky tetris-shaped clouds crawled across the wide blue sky. A gust blew through, rustling the autumn-colored branches of the many trees and hedges grown to dress the town. The shadows shrank away as the suns crawled closer to their zenith.

It was at this point where Zarian would be his weakest even with Straight Darkness +1 in the alpha skill section. He would have to apply his overpowered nature with some cunning that required a play on light and dark.

Hence why Bianca was here. They weren’t just opposites. They could elevate each other, too.

Zarian thought about his plans to get past the blockade as they entered another major market square. It was empty of people.

Wares, foods, and many other items remained, some having been dropped to ground during the haste of fleeing townsfolk. A pack of dogs moved about to make off like bandits along with some birds. There were a few soldiers acting as scouts while hopping from rooftop to rooftop with movement skills.

Zarian ignored the scouts in favor of looking past Naomi, who was mostly cleaned up because of Para’s efforts. Naomi and Bianca turned to follow his gaze as an elderly man dressed in all white walked out of the alley to their right.

Zarian couldn’t use Identify on the man in white. More importantly, the elderly man had a presence about him that was palpable, good, and confident.

The man in white reminded Zarian of facing the elder gnolls, although he wasn’t sure if the man in white was as strong as them. Most likely not. Even so, he could be a far more dangerous threat.

Zarian pulled his hands out of his pockets and flexed his fingers.

Naomi raised her gauntlet-clad fists.

Bianca huffed, releasing a pulse of powerful goodness. She bent her good alignment around Zarian and Naomi and had it crash into Arnold like a wave, forcing the White Rose to stumble back.

“Serveserf, oh god of the downtrodden, what was that?” Arnold was shocked.

Zarian smiled sharply. “That ... is good +3. We’ve mentioned it to the past fortress lords. I guess they’re keeping that information to themselves.”

Arnold bowed three times, one hand over his heart, the other behind his lower back. “I’m only good +1 myself. The strongest and oldest of us, the White Rose of Purehome, is only good +2. The king is only good aligned, and I have quite the misgivings about that.”

“Is that so?” Zarian asked.

“Yes, it is so. But that’s a conversation best had behind closed doors. Nonetheless, to face someone far above our good alignment at such a young age ... with that elven dress of all things ... and to hear that you are truly heroes of our kingdom ... then my dear children I must humbly beg for your forgiveness for how us ignoramuses have treated you.”

Zarian’s eyes widened in surprise. Bianca looked like she was going to burst into glee.

Naomi tilted her head. “Huh, that’s a first.”

Arnold continued: “Please, allow this mere old man of the Ambrose Family be of service to you. The Eternal Garden Kingdom may have lost its luster, but there are those like me who wish to see it beautified for the better.”

Zarian wasn’t sure. This was an unexpected turn of events. Was this due to him and Bianca having high points in Wonder?

Did an extra 20 points make that big of a difference to turn the situation around?

His evil alignment wanted him to turn down the offer and continue with Operation Domination as planned. His Fractured Mind could see many ways for things to backfire if they trusted Arnold to help them.

The System came around with a side quest just to weigh on his decision.

<You’ve walked the road of power while under the suns. The true depths of your might are unfathomable, though others might not think so. Still, you have many options at your disposal as adventurers of many means. How will you solve hostilities at Central Bramblevale?>

<Side Quest 2 (Rare): Continue Operation Domination or let the White Rose give you the VIP treatment?>

“Zarian! Papi! Zarian! Papi!” Bianca bounced all over the place to his left. “Dale! Let’s do it!”

Naomi frowned at the group notification. She let out a sigh. “I wanted to see how far you can push it, sir. I’ll frankly be disappointed by the diplomatic option.”

Zarian thought about it. Then he smiled. “There will be plenty of times in the future where you’ll see me push it over the edge.”

He reached over and patted Naomi’s back, and she subtly relaxed from the gesture. Then he added, “But for this once, I want to see if good can actually be good.”

Zarian turned to the White Rose of Serveserf and asked, “You don’t mind me being evil?”

“Even evil can serve the greater good.” Arnold gave him a quirky smile.

“Blegh. I’m only serving the interests of myself and my party.”

“Of course, of course, young man! Now, shall I lead the way?” Arnold bowed up and down again before waving his arms forward.

There’s no way this doesn’t end up as another fight, Zarian thought.

He wasn’t usually this cynical. But he was under the glare of twin sunlight. There was a bunch of goodness flinging all over the place.

Also, it was hard to believe in someone like a White Rose, who was the pinnacle fighting force of the Eternal Garden Kingdom. There were only seven of them, one for each of the seven good gods.

Zarian had read up on them using the information gathered at the Lovewar Mansion. The White Roses were almost the equivalent of the elder gnolls.

I don’t think they’re as strong directly. Those gnolls have more fight in them, especially with how they’re raised to kill all the time.

He examined the old man’s back as Arnold of Ambrose escorted them down the rest of the way to Bramblevale Keep.

Can I take him in a fight?

Maybe.

Zarian imagined Arnold and the other White Roses were in the Level 70s based on all that he knew.

Zarian was Level 38, not even armed with his first class advancement. He could fight multiple men in their Level 50s. He hadn’t tested himself against anything in the Level 60s yet.

I sent a powerful enemy in the Level 80s flying with my best attack. I should be able to handle something in the Level 60s if I’m not dumb about it.

A fair fight against someone in the Level 70s might be pushing his luck. He would want his first class advancement before that fight.

Zarian chuckled, shaking his head. He let go of the competitive thoughts. There were more important matters. Such as seeing if Arnold could live up to his word.

Could the good alignment of this world actually be good and reasonable?