Act 4: Fallen Heaven - Chapter 595: Cassidy Auction

Act 4: Fallen Heaven - Chapter 595: Cassidy Auction

A foundation was the key to success. Survival required a firm footing to stand on. The only way to ensure his survival and successful revenge on the New Dawn was to have that foundation. Like the roots of the forest beneath him, he needed firm ground to set his roots so he could try for vengeance as many times as he needed. Soaring across the forest, he followed a large river that divided the great land in two, a murky stretch of water that shrouded its inhabitants in darkness. Indeed, like the New Dawn, he needed to fall into obscurity and pounce with all of his gathered might at the opportune moments.Fôll0w current novÊls o/n n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(c/o/m)

Glancing around the vast forest and glimpsing the mountainous horizon of snowy peaks, Demon felt something was amiss, a strange intuition that heightened his wariness, further amplified by Ignyres' stirring earlier. He pulled out a map of the Lunate Continent, not the one Santen laid out but one of Saul's personal maps. It had been preserved in pristine condition except for the creases of its folds. The oddity was in the lack of notes or marks on the map. All the other maps he found in Saul's greater space pocket detailed the locations of New Dawn bases and notes on personnel.

Utilizing that information, he hunted down the weaker bases, freeing the people following him now. However, the Lunate Continent and the other continents around it were unique. Demon tried every method, believing a hidden message existed. But after exhausting all of his methods, he could only conclude that the New Dawn, which had bases or at least an outpost on every other continent, never spread their influence into this region. Why did Saul, the cautious and meticulous Exalt, back away?

The Lunate Continent, in particular, was especially weak, a region far worse than his home, the Farsky Continent. No Middle Marshal Exalts lived here, and the clans and factions that occupied and split the control of the continent were of lesser blood that never produced high-grade Exolsias, doomed to rely on the chance of a mutation. A single noble family with a Greater Marshal Exalt could control the land with an iron fist, yet none did because the conditions were far better on the other continents. It was the perfect place for him to place his roots and the best place for Saul to exploit. So why did he not do it?

"My Lord, we're nearing Aeon Peak. Shall we descend?" Interjecting, Marcus suggested from the side, scanning their surroundings with a blue gaze. With a swift wave of his hand, he crushed a group of bandits who lived near the forest's borders, greedy and idiotic souls who preyed on travelers. His hand had carved its shape into the earth, the trees flattened before his might, and the bandits were naught but splotches of reddened mud. He killed very quickly and mercilessly, a trait Demon approved of.

Descending to the newly reshaped land, Demon walked toward the greatest mountain in the distance. Flat grassless plains surrounded the mountain as it stood alone, separated from the rest of its shorter kind. Its peak reached and pierced into the sky. Clouds rumbled thunderous booms and churned, shrouding the upper half of the mountain, the rumors saying that even Marshal Exalts could die traveling up its peak. At its base, a city shaped like a ring circled the great mountain, the towers and palaces barely reaching a fifth of its height.

"Marcus, enter first. I can't be seen with you." Demon ordered, sitting under the cover of the tree and resting in the shade. To keep track of time, he turned over an hourglass, the sand beginning its descent to the bottom in slow tricklings. Marcus bowed and waltzed toward the city, his white suit catching the eyes of the onlookers journeying to the same destination. Many steered away from him, some even scampering, clearly afraid. The rumors of the strange ones who subdued the entire continent must have reached their ears.

"I remember this particular mountain. It hasn't changed in the slightest." Ignyres laughed. The Ancient of Fire's orb eyes flared from within. "My old friend, Tectones, the Ancient of Earth, accidentally fell. The mountain sprouted up from his hand. Oh! That's why there's that strange gulf. The big oaf sank part of the continent. What a clumsy idiot."

"That seems rather reckless." Erden expressed his disapproval, his small form hiding in Demon's cloak.

"For sure! But those were when the world was young, before life even began. We ran freely. Nowadays, I believe he's sleeping deep in the crust of Talos. I would like to meet him one day, but Metures comes first. That hardheaded bastard better explain everything." Ignyres said, turning silent. "The boy deserved a better outcome."

Demon ignored the conversation, meditating silently. In truth, he agreed with Ignyres' disdain for Metures. The Ancient of Metal clearly had an idea of Saul since he once considered him a candidate and knew about everything through the Threads, a fact that fed into the only emotion he felt. Clenching his fists in anger, he watched the sand flow in a soft stream, pitter-pattering on the growing mound in the hourglass. It had a calming effect on him, bringing him back to his emotionless state.

"I only need your owner to speak to me. Other than that, I have no use for your hospitality." Demon peered past the entrance, the guards shrinking back, unable to muster a single defiance against his glare. The attendant bowed multiple times and rushed inside before returning a few minutes later, saying the owner would meet with him and apologizing for making him wait. Nodding, Demon followed the attendant inside the gilded halls of the Cassidy Auction, the floor shining like the sunlight while the roof sparkled like the stars in the night sky.

Led into a private room, Demon sat on the armchair, his hands clenching the ends of the armrests. The attendant poured out a cup of high-quality wine, but Demon could not smell the scent that intoxicated the attendant, who stared longingly at the cup. Did they hope to appease him with good wine? How useless. The door brushed open, and a woman in a white dress strode into the room, her white heels clicking on the floor.

Was she beautiful? Demon had not a clue. He compared her features to the others Oscar considered beautiful and concluded she was by the standards. Her curly black hair was tied into a large bun behind her head, and her mature black eyes shone brightly on her narrow face. At least her strength was not bad in the Lower Marshal Exalt realm, and an air of confidence emanated from her, perhaps from her years of being the owner or being one of the more powerful Exalts in this continent.

"I greet the special guest. I am Charlotte Cassidy, the owner of the Cassidy Auction. Please forgive my rudeness in being late." Charlotte bowed, maintaining a casual smile. She was better than her workers in hiding her emotions, making her a useful person for him. She lifted her dress slightly and sat on her chair, crossing her legs. Was wearing the revealing dress a part of her plan to charm him?

"I have an item for your auction at the end of the summer. But first, what is the split?" Demon already knew the split between the auction and the person was 70:30, but he wondered if Charlotte would want to offer him a better deal.

"For this special guest, I, Charlotte, guarantee a 95:5 split." Charlotte didn't disappoint, but the degree of the shift toward his favor was intriguing.

"Is there a condition for this split?" Demon asked, knowing the cunning of those who worked in business. She wanted something from him.

"Initially, I wished to have an 85:15 split, but I raised it hoping you could help me. If you listen to my request and fulfill it, it will be 95:5. Reject it, and I will still accommodate you to 85:15," Charlotte explained. Her words and pleasing tone were carefully structured so that many would express their agreement instantly, her appearance a clear factor in obtaining their consent. But Demon scoffed inwardly, unmoved by her antics.

"And what is your request?" Demon entertained her.

"Please kill someone for me." Cassidy's eyes grew cold.