Chapter 347 - Spies
Arthur arrived at his house, where a bunch of people waited for him. Seeing his arrival, they tensed up as if they were going to be executed. In their lead was Gala, who was talking to her disciple while pointing around.
"That's what you did wrong!" Gala said while shaking her head. "You need to add the Kenza Grass at the beginning, as it would prevent any overheating."
As she lectured, the man that Arthur saw back at the workshop took notes with a zealous attitude. But, unlike before, it seems that Gala tamed him well.
"Well, you sure are busy." Arthur was surprised to see her so hardworking. Gala paused and turned to him with a smile.
"I can't leave you with an empty department after I leave."
Arthur halted his steps when he heard her words. His eyes widened as he turned toward her. Gala met his eyes with a knowing, melancholic smile.
"Let's talk inside." Arthur clenched his fist as he entered the hall, Gala following after him in a relaxed manner. As they entered, Arthur turned toward her. "What are you about?"
"It's time to hold your end of the bargain." Gala grinned at him. "Soon, it'll be a month since we had our deal in the duke's house."
"No," Arthur shook his head, but Gala continued talking regardless.
"It's time that you kill me inside the Spirits Realm."
"No." Arthur shook his head. "Why do you want to leave?"
"Remember what you said, Seika." Gala sat down as she swung her legs in the air. "We are destined to be separated." She said with a grin.
"Your case is different." Arthur gritted his teeth. "You are choosing to leave for the hope of meeting someone who might never return."
His words fell in the hall without being answered. Gala stopped moving as her mouth turned into a thin line. She stared at Arthur silently.
"He'll return."
Her voice was devoid of any doubt or emotions. She let the words out as if they were already out there, an indisputable truth that no one can deny.
"You can keep waiting for him." Arthur rebuked. "There's no need for me to kill you. Wait for him until I..."
"Until you no longer need me?" Gala stood up and walked up to him with a sly smile. "What am I to you, Seika, other than a tool you keep for your benefits? Do you crave my spirits and potions that much?"
"You know it's not about that."
"Then you just want someone to sing you praises. You want me to stay here and shower you with care and validation. Every day you wake up, I'll be there beside you, telling you that you are doing the right thing. Is that it?"
"That's not it," Arthur answered coldly. "You know that I want you here because I care about you." He tore the words out, even though they hurt him to say.
"If you care about me, then let me rest." Gala looked at him with tired eyes. Arthur saw hundreds of years of waiting behind them, countless sufferings, and endless disappointments. His lips pressed against each other.
"I understand." Arthur nodded, knowing that there's nothing else he could do to convince her.
"Thank you," Gala said sincerely. "I'll call for the first one to enter." She said and walked out.
Standing there in the empty hall, Arthur laughed helplessly. He sat in his chair as the first person walked into the room and stood in front of him.
"Have a seat." Arthur gestured toward the chair in front of him, trying to hide the slight tremble of his hand
The first person was none other than Ma, who sat down in front of Arthur with a calm expression.
"I'm glad that you are becoming more level-headed."
"I need to act the part if I want to represent your city, Seika," Ma answered with a thin smile.
"That's great." Arthur smiled, his eyes glowing eerily. "However, I'll have to tear down the facade. Tell me the truth: are you a spy?"
***
By the time that Arthur was done, it was late at night. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. He interviewed everyone using his Art of submission to weed out any spies.
He found three.
One sent by the King, one sent by the Knight of Nobility, and another sent by the Duke of Contracts. It seems they knew that sending too many people would make them expose themselves.
"Seika, are you done?" Gruen walked into his house and asked. Arthur nodded and stood up.
"Are they with Courage?" He asked, and Gruen nodded apprehensively. "I never expected him to be a spy."
"I guess that's how we managed to rope him in." Arthur smiled as he walked out toward the house beside him. Gala stood outside pouting. "Don't worry. I'm not killing him."
"Unless you can transfer his ability, then you better not," Gala said it so easily despite her words being so heartless.
Arthur didn't answer and walked into the house, where Courage imprisoned the three spies. One of them was Gala's disciple, Ruri, still reading his notes.
"He's hardworking," Arthur said to Gala, speechless that this guy was still so calm.
"Do you know how some people stress-eat? This guy stress-reads." Gala shook her head and sighed. "Why did he have to be..."
"Well, I don't mind Solomon having some spies inside," Arthur said with a shrug. "He's the King, and he gave me a big responsibility of building a city. So it's only natural that he has some spies on the inside."
"Heard that, Ruri? You're not getting killed." Gala shouted to her disciple. "Can't say the same for the two of you, though." She snickered at the other two, making them tremble in fear.
"One of them is a cook while the other is a worker. We hired them in the capital." Gruen took out his records and reported.
"Well, we'll learn everything soon." Arthur smiled as he sat in front of them. "Tell me all of your secrets." He sat down in front of them with a smile.
The two trembled in fear as his Art took hold of their existence. Against their desires, they began to tell him everything about their employers.
Luckily, the Knight of Nobility and Duke of Contracts didn't hire someone powerful, as that would give them away. Thus, Arthur could control them using his Art.
The gift that the child he met during the Soul Restructure said this art was a gift for all the troubles it caused Arthur. Despite wanting to know who the child was, Arthur had no idea how.
Creator Art of Submission could bend the target's will to obey Arthur at the cost of mana. The stronger the target's willpower and soul, the more mana Arthur needs to make them submit.
"Great! Thanks for being cooperative!" Arthur clapped his hands with a smile. "From now on, you'll be my spies. You'll tell your employers what I tell you. Of course," Arthur grinned as he used his art. "Never tell them or hint that you have been found out."
After making sure that the two understood what he wanted, Arthur turned toward Ruri, who was unconcerned throughout the whole thing.
"Are you done reading?"
"Ah?" Ruri flinched when Arthur talked to him. "Yes, yes." He closed his book and placed it on his lap. "Am I going to be killed?"
"I guess you didn't pay attention to anything." Arthur sighed. "I'm not killing you. However, never give potion recipes to the kingdom. For the rest, Gala will take care of it."
Arthur knew that taking care of the King's eyes will be a sign of suspicion. However, he didn't want the kingdom to learn of his potion recipes.
He left together with Gala and Gruen, returning to his simple house. Gala followed him in while Gruen excused himself. As they sat together, Gala went straight to the topic.
"I think an arm spirit will suit you," Gala said, referring to the Spirit Contracting Ceremony. Arthur didn't say anything, and she went on. "Of course, there are other spirits who would do you well. My spirits love you, so I guess you won't have any problem contracting a spirit."
"Are you withholding something from me?" Arthur asked with interest as he took out his hand mirror. "There are no messages today as well."
"Ah? I don't know what you mean?" Gala acted surprised. "Dia must be busy, that's all."
"You said you wanted to see my emotions." Arthur squinted his eyes. "You have the perfect motive to withhold her messages from me."
"Hm, maybe one of my spirits did something." Gala smiled. "I can look into it if you admit that you care."
"Hah," Arthur sighed. "I knew that there was something wrong." He walked toward Gala and placed the hand mirror in front of her. "Take it on your way out." He said before turning.
"You don't want to hear her messages?" Gala frowned.
"As you said, we are destined to be separated."