Not even an hour had passed after the Avanti Merchant House representatives left Marcus's estate did Lesley return.
He had spent two days in the Imperial Capital, waiting for a response from the Royal Council.
"I greet the Lord Viscount." Lesley bowed.
"Welcome back, Lesley. Was the journey fraught with difficulties?"
"None Milord."
"That's good." Marcus saw that Lesley made no move to present a letter. "Still no response from the Royal Council?"
Lesley's eyes darted to the side for a second before he spoke. "Milord, after waiting for their response for two days, I was sent away with a few words."
Marcus frowned slightly, "Go on."
"Basically, they said to stop being an alarmist. Just because the Royal Council has refused to support you, it doesn't call for such a move. They will not move until sufficient evidence has been provided by you."
Lesley finished and Marcus's frown only deepened.
An alarmist, him?
The events of three nights ago flashed in his mind for a second. If that scene requires me to be an alarmist, then so be it.
"They didn't even say anything about sending a team of Inspectors to check the site?" Marcus asked.
"No sir."
"When did the Royal Council become so reckless that they don't even take such a report seriously?" Marcus was surprised.
From what he could recall before his sickness, when his father was still alive, even the faintest rumor about a cult would have the kingdom sending Inspectors to investigate its validity.
And yet, from a noble like him came a report about the appearance of a cult.
Though what he stated in his letter wasn't the complete truth, it still had enough information to at least invoke an investigation.
"There has been no news about the sightings of any cults in Ulha for many years, sir," Lesley replied.
He too couldn't understand why the Royal Council would refuse to send an Inspector.
Though he hadn't fought with the devilish mutant that night, just seeing the battle site was enough to let one understand that something unnatural had happened there.
Could it be that they already know that there's a cult moving about in Ulha and they don't want to alarm them just yet?
Marcus began to think of every possible reason why they'd act this way.
Or do they think I lack credibility? No, if it were that, Lesley would have returned with more than an informal warning.
An unsettling feeling hovered over his heart. His eyes widened at a thought.
Is it possible that the Royal Council has been infiltrated by this cult? Then haven't I just exposed myself and the fact that I am aware of their existence?
"No, that can't be." Marcus didn't even know it, but he was already pacing around the room.
Lesley watched this young lord settle deeper into his thoughts, occasionally speaking to himself.
"But what if it is, wouldn't I become a prime target?"
Marcus paused, realizing that he was overthinking this. His letter didn't contain any information about him being certain of a cult in Agard.
It contained mere suspicions.
Also, it could just be that he had little to no political credibility in the eyes of the council members, hence their stance.
Either way, every single possibility led back to one problem; his weakness.
If he was strong, if Marcus had powerful knights and weapons, he would tackle this cult himself, without seeking assistance from the Royal Council.
Looking out the window, Marcus watched the crowd working below.
The Agardians who had received employment had begun working.
Over two hundred of them were busy digging drains and creating space for roads to be built.
Marcus started to laugh, he could somewhat see himself in these people.
They were relying on him, and in a way, he controlled their destinies.
"Yes… I had almost forgotten. Those old bastards in luxurious garbs were the ones who put us in this situation in the first place. Why rely on them? Oh Marcus, have you lost your sense of pride?"
Lesley heard this and his heart thumped heavily.
Has the young lord returned to being the Mad Lord?
"Rather than rely on them, it's better to just do it myself," Marcus muttered with resolution.
He then turned to face Lesley with a calm smile on his face.
"Good work Lesley, you can have the rest of the day off." Dismissing him.
"Y-yes Milord." He bowed and left.
Marcus returned to his chair. "The plan to recruit apprentices should be moved forward." He tapped on his table and slipped into a daze.
Where to start from?
…
Of course, Baron Savani! He might even be a member of this cult or at least an accomplice. Either way, if I want to go into this myself, I need to capture that greedy bastard.
It took a while for Marcus to snap out of his thoughts, and when he finally did, he began writing…
"Who's out there?" Marcus called and Brown entered the room.
"You called, sir?"
"Gather the knights–except those on mining duties today. I have an important mission for you guys. Also, get me Bradley."
With a nod, Brown left the room feeling a bit excited and anxious.
…
Eastern District.
Maney's mansion.
Steam rose to the ceiling, bringing warmth with it. The grey marble tiles fogged up, dripping water from time to time.
Below, was a pool filled with boiling water, and two naked figures submerged in the water.
One moved freely, while the other was… still, lifeless and faceless as it floated about.
Even the body's gender couldn't be discerned as there were no bodily parts that could indicate so.
Maney leaned back on the wall of the pool, letting his wet hair lie on the edge.
The bathhouse was silent, save for the sound of water swishing and Maney's breathing.
Until the shadow of a pillar behind him shook, morphing into a shadowy man.
"Have you returned with a solid report this time?" Maney uttered lightly without turning to see who it was.
"I received word that the Young Governor had sent a report to the Royal Council, seeking the presence of an Inspector. He suspects cultists' activities. But his request was denied." The shadow reported.
Maney raised a brow and turned his head to look at the shadow.
"He suspects?"
"Many with keen eyes and senses will be able to feel the residual evil aura left by the Delirious Mutant. Since the battle took place close to his estate, he might have seen it or been the first to arrive at the site after the fight." The shadow said.
Maney stared at the shadow for a while before he returned to his previous position of relaxation.
He didn't believe that Marcus was capable, nor did he think he had anyone capable of killing the Delirious Mutant that was summoned.
"Are you certain that there were traces of mana around the site?" Maney asked.
"Yes sir. We have confirmed it to be a fire-type spell, as for which, we are unable to tell."
"A mage was involved… that could mean two things. Either the Royal Council and Magus Tower are already onto our activities in Agard and have been in hiding, waiting for us to slip… or, it was just a coincidence."
Maney was more inclined to believe the former.
Coincidences, that was a phenomenon in his books when the Faceless one is involved.
"Put an immediate pause on all our activities in Agard and the other four States closest to Agard. Have our men behave and lay low. Until we are certain of what happened three nights ago, we'll have to move with caution." Maney ordered.
"Yes sir."
"Also, get rid of Egar. He's the only lead connected to us. Do it tonight."
With that being said, the shadow sank into the ground, vanishing.
"Was I too impulsive? Should I not have set my sight on that Sirdi descendant?"
"Oh Lord Faceless, punish this servant for his impatience," Maney said, and his body slipped into the water, leaving only a lifeless unidentifiable corpse afloat.