Chapter 63 – Friendly Face

Chapter 63 – Friendly Face

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire"

"That expression doesn't work here Ikarus"

"Yeah... you're probably right Petra"

"Thank the Lord we're finally back here safely"

(Nathan) "That was a long trip"

We have finally arrived back at the capital after a twenty-day or so long trip, pretty sure that's one of the longest travelling times I've spent in my short amount of time living in this world so far. I'm sure these long flights are getting longer and longer now; I mean technically that one was but it is starting to drag out. I really need a potential teleportation ability or something like that to help me get around in the future...

I skipped paying a visit to my parents despite flying over part of the mountain range, it would've been nice to meet them but we've delayed enough already, the trip was long enough as is and this bird needs some more dungeon time. Okay, that sounds so unbelievably suspect, I keep misspeaking a little recently so it's not surprising I'm doing it while recapping as well...

Oh, can't forget I left my stats alone for now as well, having over eight thousand spare points that gets doubled is a real difficult decision to decide what to invest in so for now, I'll leave it as is and decide when needed. My willpower is better than first thought when it comes to gambling so they should be safe till needed.

As for where we are at the moment, we're currently waiting just outside the palace courtyard, something seems to be going on inside right now blocking us access but there is kinda another reason, Petra isn't coming inside with us.

"By the way Ikarus, got some things to do so we'll meet back up afterwards"

"You're welcome to join us inside the palace Petra-sama"

"The royal guards will let you wait inside"

Both those two are only trying to be nice but it's almost as if they've forgotten Petra doesn't like the royals, they obviously don't know of our plans for the future so it must just be them trying to be nice.

"Like I just said, got things to do so can't stick around waiting..."

Thinking about it, this the first time I'm going to be meeting the prince knowing his little dragon secret, can I remain composed? Of course I can, that old Ikarus who was unnecessarily blunt and stupid is long gone, maybe not completely long gone but I've definitely gotten better. I'm actually a really good liar and have a brilliant poker face believe it or not.

Ah, I need to teach those three how to play poker, Petra might remember but doubt it, should probably listen to her right now though.

"... After, also want to spend some alone time with Ikarus so can we meet back up tomorrow?"

Both those two look a bit surprised from Petra's bluntness but I already know what this is about. On the trip over here, she sent a bird carrying a note to the captain Jekyll, we should be meeting him after our meeting with the prince. Pretty sure Petra has an ability that lets her communicate with animals or at least makes them send messages, she did that while none of us were paying attention so I'm not all that sure how she did it.

"Sure Petra-sama"

"Yeah, we'll do that then"

Heh, I do like it when people buy lies without questioning, at least that's sorted. After this meeting with the prince, I'll split up from these two and find Petra and the location we discussed while alone. Then, it's time to meet the captain once again.

Let's stop planning ahead now, I've still got to deal with this little blonde rat next. If the mage is there as well, then it'll become harder but not impossible to deal with.

"See you Ikarus"

"Later Petra"

Petra leaves us three outside the palace courtyard and wouldn't you know it, the gate has now opened and a guard has come out to take us inside.

'Let's do this then...'

__________

'Sighhh, why does she have to be here as well?'

Of course, the abusive mage has to be here as well, I could just ask for her to be removed but I'd feel like she'd be winning if I let her get to me now. Her presence in this room, I should try and put up with it. If she says something or starts her bullying though, I'm not standing for it.

We were led by the guard to a visitor's style room in the palace and both the mage and prince are currently sitting down around a small coffee table. There are other comfy seats around this room but for now, I'd rather stand and so are the priestess and the knight.

(Charlotte) "Hello Alistair"

"Greetings your royal highness"

Nathan has to do his little knight routine and take a knee for the blonde prince; the prince just shrugs it off though. I'm slightly unsure why he seems to dislike Nathan doing that yet he's more than happy to be extremely controlling for every other part of his ruling empire. Ah forget it, questioning someone's intentions are pointless, he's probably faking it anyway.Nêww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com

"Ah, forgot you dislike the mage Ikarus, I'll send her away if needed"

Looks like I can skip one if it ends up being another fountain, just will have to break up an entire war to get to the spare one. It actually sounds easier doing that then being stuck inside another fountain.

Also, what was keeping the prince and mage alive was the lack of dungeons. Now that's finished, it's just a matter of time before me and Petra strike, there still needs to be a lot more planning done first though.

"I'll get you shortly all the enclosed locations with maps of the surrounding regions but the one in the mesa might be a little hard to come across since it's unmapped. Now that's sorted, tell me a little about the last few, how well did they go?"

Ah, he's asking now, I've got to say something quickly.

"Before we go into detail on everything that happened in the last few dungeons, there's something I need to be clear on..."

The knight is not going to be able to keep his mouth shut and will bring up the gold mine there, I've already expected him to say that. We'll probably have to explain what happened down there with Petra saving our arses but she's perfectly fine with the empire knowing about it for some reason.

"... That dungeon close to the hot spring island is one hundred percent property of Ikarus, there's no room for negotiations and that's final"

"You mean the gold mine? That's fine Ikarus, we aren't all that interested in sorting out all the logistics in transporting ore from an island that isn't technically part of the empire. You can have all three islands if you want for all we care, they are of no concern to us"

Oh, so he did know about the contents on that island? I guess the person who found it would've reported seeing the gold ore arena and then left, it seems pointless even thinking about that though.

I'm unsure why he's so carefree about losing a massive potential source of income from a place that isn't even that far away from the capital if you look at any map, you'd even be able to transport pretty close to the capital using boats as well if you use the smaller rivers but if he's not going to press on it, then all that potential wealth is mine. Petra can have half if she wants, we'd actually have to get people to start mining it though.

If I ask, he isn't going to give me a straight answer anyway so best to just move on, these lot can't be trusted anyway knowing everything I already know.

I'll give him a quick recap of the last few dungeons then, there's nothing too confidential except about the other two phoenixes but I can avoid saying too much there.

(Ikarus) "Starting with that giant dungeon then, what happened was..."

__________

(Temporary Perspective Change)

That party of three have finally left the visitors room me and Alastair are in and I can't help but put my feet back up on the table, the little prince is doing that little tapping thing he so likes to do when he's thinking heavily on things. He should be, another joining that party he can't completely control is going to make him slightly unsettled.

I say that as if he can control the other two, he can't but that's not the point. The dumb succubus is simple as a boulder and that little knight he's toying with is no better. Using this ancient crest pacifier for those two would be pointless.

"Now that those three are gone, who's Petra? You had a slight reaction like you've come across her before Leone"

"Was mistaken, reminded me of an old name but it couldn't have been her"

'Of course I wasn't, I know exactly who that is. He really can pick up the slightest things even on this blank face'

He stops his tapping on the table now, then stares to face me. This is going to become an interrogation now I bet, I already know how to play the brat at his own game.

"If you're playing games with me Leone, we're going to have a problem"

"When have I ever lied to you? I constantly call you out on the stupid decisions you make all the time and point out what you should've done instead. If you want to believe I'm lying, suit yourself"

"I know you too well... but you are getting old now, I guess it's to be expected you'd make the occasional misjudgement, I'll let it go then"

'I should've hit him more while he was growing up, damn condescending brat'

"Whatever, I'm leaving now, got things to do"

I get up of the chair and head towards the door, this brat can't help but try his luck.

"Get one of the maids to get me a drink while you're at it"

"No chance"

"Urgh, whatever then"

After what he just said, I guess it's best to leave him be otherwise he'll start fixating on things. I'd rather the brat not start suspecting stuff otherwise things might become troubled between us.

To think though, that blind ol'phoenix is still kicking about and she's even starting to show her face around the Sierran Empire once again. If she's now involved, things are finally getting interesting.

Hmph, let's sit back and see how the end game plays out here, our lovely chubby Ikarus has found one of her own kind. Destruction will surely ensue.

Maybe it's finally happening...