The next morning, Alice accompanied Elira to the core of the lower districts. While the Count's estate and the church were considered the brighter side of the city, the hospital, the market, and the rest of the lower district stood as its darkness.
Some rumors even went as far as to call these parts of Venis a blemish on the Count's reputation.
The core reason was that the Revolutionary Front had settled their base in that part of the city. Ever since, the Count's power has slithered quietly into the Front's hands, giving them practical authority.
Last night, Elira decided to make contact with the Revolutionary Front with the intent to bring people's attention to her while Tirandel accomplished his mission unnoticed.
But somewhere along the way, she had begun to hope. Hope that the Revolutionary Front would have some intel on their new enemy; that they would extend a helping hand, even if simply for political reasons.
Looking at the old building in front of them, Alice asked with a bothered look, "Is this it?"
The area surrounding the building barely had any people walking on the streets. The people nearby were just normal people, while the others simply didn't have anywhere else to go.
Before coming here, Elira spent most of her time learning about the city and studying navigation spells. That was how she knew where the operational headquarters of the Revolutionary Front was located.
On the outside, it was nothing but an old building that seemed to have been abandoned long ago and was now maintained by vagrants and homeless people. It was a place anyone would mistake as a simple shelter for refugees.
'I knew it wouldn't be a pleasant experience, but this is…'
Knowing that their plan was compromised from the start, Elira wasn't wearing a disguise anymore. What she wore now was an announcement of her noble origins. And it seemed to do its job quite well.
It fell in long, measured folds of deep crimson, rich as old wine. Silver embroidery spread from the high collar like frost over flame, its delicate vines catching the light with a cold, deliberate shimmer. A wide silver sash cinched the waist, its smooth sheen cutting cleanly through the dark red fabric.
Despite the muddy neighborhood, not a single speck could be spotted on her dress.
With a nod, Elira took the lead.
"No matter the circumstances, do not draw your sword."
Alice simply adjusted her grip on the hilt and followed behind.
Before they could enter the building, a few men gathered near the entrance. It was not immediately visible, but the entire group was armed and ready to fight.
The man in the front looked the oldest among them, being somewhere in his forties. Yet, the air he carried was something that only a few Amateur Adepts possessed. Wearing ragged capes and clothes covering their entire bodies, it was hard to know the weapons they used or their identities.
Alice had already taken a defensive stance, ready to respond if the other party showed any movement. But Elira remained still, as if the group didn't pose her any threat.
The leader of the group came a few steps forward and stopped right in front of Elira. His towering height made it seem as though he was looking down at her.
"State your identity and purpose."
The disdain in the man's tone was clear as day. Even after knowing that Elira was a noble, none of them seemed to show any kind of respect. Instead, they seemed more aggressive and one step away from attacking her.
Just when Elira was about to speak, the man turned back and started walking away. Without noticing, her fingers were tightening, but she calmed herself after realizing.
"Forget it, just leave."
Alice had expected the Revolutionary Front to have at least some hostility towards them. But seeing them openly disrespecting Elira without even knowing her identity, she clenched her jaw.
But she knew that was exactly what these people were aiming for. So, all she could do was keep it inside.
As the man was about to walk inside with the rest of the group, someone else came out of the building. This time, it wasn't a burly old man, but a frail young woman with a pair of glasses.
The leader from before watched as the young woman walked past him and stopped a few meters in front of Elira.
"Miss Elira, the council is expecting you."
With that, Elira and Alice followed the woman inside. As they passed, the men made way. But they didn't conceal their disapproval, spitting on the side and muttering curses in the back.
Inside, a narrow hallway extended to the end with several rooms on the side. The rooms were cramped enough for some to rest in the hallway itself. Immediately upon entering, there was a staircase on their right.
As they ascended the stairs, Alice glanced over at the injured individuals and malnourished children. Elira noticed them as well, but she kept moving forward.
Reaching the third floor, they stopped outside a metallic door. The door itself seemed thick enough for even a Veteran Adept to have some difficulty breaking directly.
'My, my, what a grand welcome they've prepared for us. I knew they were following us ever since we arrived, but to even prepare a place specially for me.'
While the engravings weren't clearly seen, Elira understood their use right away. Not only that, but she also confirmed that the engravings were spread across the entirety of the third floor. The sheer scale of the spell was enough to make a Veteran Adept Mage fall into Aetheric Rebound, rendering them useless for the rest of their lives.
In short, it was an arrangement made solely to suppress Elira's prowess.
Yet, her expression was as plain as it had been since the start. The young woman leading them noticed Elira's indifference from the corner of her eye.
After a few moments, the mechanical wheels groaned as the metallic doors parted ways. Their guide offered them a courteous smile and gestured for them to enter.
The moment Elira and Alice entered the giant room, the gate closed behind them.
In front of her, Elira noticed four people across the room, while one was seated behind a desk. Seeing that they were openly showing their hostility by letting their Aether run rampant, it was easy to figure out their realms.
The two sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room were clearly Mages, having reached the realm of Master Adept in their youth. A Veteran Adept Swordsman standing beside the man behind the desk.
On the other hand, there was a woman standing in the corner of the room. Elira couldn't really grasp her skill level, but her posture and the air around her seemed completely different than the others. With no weapon in sight and a book in her hands, she was not different from a scholar.
Lastly, the man behind the desk was simply a normal man. He wasn't old, nor was he young, being barely in his thirties. Yet, it somehow looked like he was the one with the most authority in the room.
He was also the one to greet her first.
"Welcome, Miss Elira. Please have a seat."