Rivers of the Night

The estate looked much the same, but Theron could feel the shifts and changes in the air. There was definitely something odd about this place… but it was also clear to Theron that it was unlikely he would stumble into some smoking gun.

Honestly, he didn't really have the time to come here. The only reason he did was because the location of the estate was already nearing the very edges of the province. From here, it was probably another two days' journey to leave at most.

But in the end, since this was on the way, Theron decided to take it. Not only because this way would probably be the best for him to take, but also because no one would expect him to return here.

In truth, even Theron didn't know the full story behind what was going on with Merchant Greycoat. All he knew was that the merchant was a fat Wind Mancer of the Bronze Resonance. He didn't control some special element or anything of the sort.

At best, maybe he controlled a substantial amount of wealth. But that was also what made things especially odd when Theron began to scout out the estate…

No one was here, and yet all the fixtures, all the valuables, all the treasures seemed…

Untouched.

'Why is that?'

Theron frowned.

There were two conflicting thoughts in his head.

On the one hand, Merchant Greycoat was some big shot that couldn't be touched. And yet on the other hand, his mission appeared in the Daggers of the Night branch.

How could he be both untouchable and yet become a Bronze Assassin mission at the same time?

With the streams of [Blood Escape] still flaring up around him, Theron chose to shoot inside. He had had the technique on a continuous loop since he left, and he was burning through all his Vital Bloomstone reserves at this rate, but it was a necessary evil.

Even if he left the province without a single Bloomstone left, it would be well worth it.

…

'Nothing.'

Theron stood in silence for a moment before flashing out.

It was all very fascinating. Such an insignificant character was somehow the center of his storm, triggering practically everything that had happened to him in the last several months, and yet he had no explanation for it.

"I know you're there," Theron said calmly.

There was a flicker in the shadows, and a young woman stepped out. No, young woman was inaccurate. She was quite the little girl—adorable even without her twin little pigtails.

Sadie.

At the moment, the little girl's usual red hair and sparkling emerald eyes seemed to have darkened considerably. They were still there, but it was like the red had almost become a maroon and the emerald was nearly a murky, swampy color.

"I knew you would come here," she replied, without acknowledging the fact she was watching him from the shadows.

Theron looked over to her, trying to gauge where the threats might come from and how difficult it would be to cut his way out of here.

He knew that coming here would be a risk, but it was a calculated risk on his part. Usually, not many would think that he would return to the scene of the crime, so to speak. Plus, understanding this Merchant Greycoat situation was pivotal to how he might approach things in the future.

At the moment, the two stood in an underground treasure room lit not by lights, but by gems and etchings into the wall. Coins stacked up high, treasures being strewn about. But they were hardly of great appeal to cultivators.

The coins might be able to be used in exchange for something else, but they were the coins of the Nightingale Empire, and Theron didn't plan to be here much longer.

"If you stay, I will tell you the secrets you want to understand."

Theron didn't reply, still scanning the region.

"There is no one here but me," Sadie stated quite plainly.

Theron's gaze landed on her again. "You are quite confident."

"Confident? I guess so. But that isn't what I'm trying to show off right now."

The calmness in both of their eyes seemed to understate the relative heat of the situation. Whether the shocking number of treasures, or the silent life-and-death struggle between the two, they were simply far too… at ease.

"I won't be staying," Theron finally said.

"… She will die, you know."

Theron's eyes narrowed. "Is that a threat?"

"A threat? It's not like I would be the one doing it. I'm just informing you what will inevitably happen. The Thistles will use her as bait to try to lure you back, you won't return, and then they'll wipe out the entire Vermouth Clan."

"That's completely and utterly foolish."

"Have you ever considered the Thistles to be very smart?"

The Thistles already lost the support of the Metal Mancy Clan before. If they tried to use his wife-in-name, with the fiery nature of the Vermouths, there's no way they'd sit idly by. The only choice at that point would be to kill them all.

But after already having failed to protect one heir, for them to actively target another and then wipe out a clan because of him—a little Silver Mancer…

Who the hell would follow them?

"Do you know why their actions feel so contradictory and foolish to you?" Sadie asked, continuing before Theron could reply. "It's because they're not trying to be smart in the first place. They have strength, so they do not need intelligence."

"It doesn't seem like they have much strength at all."

"They do…" Sadie said absentmindedly. "… But probably not for the reasons you think, or even they do."

Theron frowned, growing more confused.

"Their Ancestor is still alive. He is a Spirit Wood Mancer who has reached the absolute limits of Gold Mancy, becoming a Demi-God. In terms of ability, he is probably the strongest in the entire Nightingale Empire. But his greatest strength isn't in his personal power. It's in how he restrains the Firewing Empire so well—something that he has been in seclusion working toward since the fall of the Thistles."

Theron was only growing more confused. Why did Sadie's words make it sound like this was related to the merchant? And yet nothing she said tied back to him at all?

But just when it felt like she might let something slip, she asked another question.

"Tell me. How did you manage to fool the senses of a Space Mancer? I'm very curious."