Chapter 367: Day 789 – Normandy

Chapter 367: Day 789 – Normandy

We made our way through the level 2 zone, occasionally seeing grinders out and about, but they stayed out of our way and we didn’t harass them. It took a most of the day to cross two zones, but we managed to see Normandy’s walls in the afternoon.

That was also when three people approached our group. I was out in front and came to a halt. Commander Abdullah had his people fall into lines and stand at attention.

“You have trespassed into the sovereign territory of the New United City States and the City of Normandy, state your purpose and allegiance,” the lead woman cried out. I saw her stats they were low compared to me, but I noted several disturbances spreading out with my Sense stat and noticed the ground being disturbed in places.

“If your cloaked people continue to advance, I will kill you all,” I replied and walked forward confidently. I saw the hidden people duck behind trees. “Ducking behind trees won’t conceal you. I am Champion Michael of the Empire of Purgatory,” I replied.

I could see the slight surprise and I pushed fear out with my Aura stat. I had been experimenting on the soldiers and they did notice things, I thought. But I didn’t want to come out and say that I had been influencing their emotions.

“I am the Mistress of Knowledge,” the woman said as if that meant anything. “Why have you come.”

“To speak to your leaders for help against the Divine Empress,” I replied.

“You can all come,” she replied.

“My soldiers will remain here. I will come alone,” I replied and she nodded at that. I turned to Commander Abdullah.

“Remain here, there are cloaked figures. Remain at high alert,” I told him.

“Yes, Champion Michael,” he replied and saluted. I saluted back and walked up to the Mistress of Knowledge.

“So if you are a Mistress, then who do you whip?” I asked. She gave me a look along with the other women. “What?” I asked.

“We freed ourselves from the oppressive patriarchy long ago. Now men grind, while women protect. We serve ourselves and whip no one,” she replied.

“Ah, my mistake then. So you claim you are the New United City States, what happened to the old one?” I asked, trying to milk her for information.

“Destroyed by the calamity, I am surprised you don’t know that.”

“Ah, but what was the calamity and what was the Astrologer really like. Were you a Valkyrie?” I asked while watching her reaction closely. She spun to face.

“The Astrologer, you know where he is?” she asked.

“Yes. But let us keep walking,” I replied and kept going. She quickly caught up as we approached the city. “So you want him back?” I asked.

“He was the leader of the United City States and the great warrior against the Divine Empress. All should be half as great as him.” Okay he had a full city harem, this was ridiculous. “Two of his Valkyries came from our number. For a long time we had thought them lost. But now you bring hope and word of his return,” she replied.

“Hmm,” I let out a hum no sure how to respond to that. She really started to get going.

“This is what is going to happen. You will bring me the knowledge, maps, books, tomes, charts, scrolls, that the United City States left behind. If you give all that to me, then I won’t kill all of you and every single person in your city and let the assassination attempt on me and my assets go. You may speak.”

“You truly think you can kill us. You are no Divine Empress,” one of the women said.

“I stole her entire treasury of ten billion points and invested all that into stats. The highest you have is what twenty thousand?” I asked and there was silence at that. “Also, no airships, so no level 4 city. Which means you are afraid of level 4 monsters. You don’t stand a chance against me.”

“And if we hide the information?” Another woman asked.

“Then I will kill you all. I have no time for your pointless and petty power struggles. I aim to kill the Divine Empress herself. So you can either shut up and get out of my way, or I can melt you and then you will be out of my way. Take your pick,” I replied.

“We must confer-“

“No getting up. You will remain here and send someone for the information. I don’t know what you all were drinking, coming here in front of me, but it was a mistake. Now no one will leave alive unless you pay up.”

“I know you, you were wearing that weird armor in the city with that child,” one of the women said.

“Ah you. Mistress of Whores.” I saw them all stiffen at that. “Touched a nerve. Well you killed a good woman Fuyuka and my pet. She had fought the Divine Empress for years and aided me in striking a blow, but you just messed things up. Did you kill the Chief Diviner as well?” I challenged. She didn’t answer.

“Oh, I will take that as a yes. He was going to trade me information about her for crystals. I was gathering them when you killed him. He had defected the Dragon Empire. You killed a valuable source of knowledge in your incompetence. So bring the knowledge I require, or you will all die and if you try that disappearing act again, well I will flood this city and melt it to the ground.”

There was complete and utter silence at my demands. The Council of Shadows sat there. “Not getting it?” I finally asked after a minute.

“We have chosen the path of non-compliance. We will never listen to a man,” a woman said.

“Not even the Astrologer. Oh yes. I am his named successor if you didn’t know. So that means you all report to me now as the Supreme Leader of the United City States,” I said with a grin.

“Impossible! You imposter. He would never name a cretin like you his successor.” The assassin woman stood up and shouted me.

“He left me with his location and the hope that I would free him from his imprisonment. If you don’t help me, well, I will let him sit there,” I replied.

“You reveal yourself you blood sucking vampire!” the woman screamed again. It was kind of hilarious to rile these women up.

“Or what, you will kill me. Your last dagger failed. So, bring me the knowledge, or else no free Astrologer and you all die.”

“Only for his location!” The woman yelled. I grinned.

“Deal. Knowledge first, since I don’t trust any of you,” I replied.

“And how do we know you aren’t tricking us?” Another woman asked.

“You don’t, but I don’t lie. I have no need to lie. That is the purview of the strong, which I am. I who have fought the Divine Empress herself. I who have aided the Astrologer. But if you don’t believe me then don’t aid me and we shall be enemies instead,” I replied.