One-Eyed Monster

Wizard Hughes had a tall and slender figure, resembling a bag of bones.

"Lord Governor, Black Sage Hughes greets you." Many Wizards considered themselves talented and virtuous people, priding themselves on being sages. However, the Wizard Alliance had not yet managed to win the favor of the major kingdoms, so Wizards had to describe themselves as sages in the dark.

"If you truly have a way to find my son, I am willing to recommend your return to the Wizard Alliance." Governor Rostov cut straight to the chase. Firstly, the Lord Governor did not want to waste too much time on this matter. Secondly, Wizard Hughes's bony figure was quite unsettling to look at.

"Lord Governor, Black Sage Hughes does indeed have a way to find your son, but I have not come today regarding my own affairs." Wizard Hughes squinted, looking at Governor Rostov meaningfully.

"Oh? What else could you possibly want?" To Governor Rostov, Wizard Hughes was nothing more than a disgraced Wizard—hardly worth mentioning.

"Lord Governor, please examine this token." Wizard Hughes retrieved a dark, heavy-looking iron tablet from beneath his robes, presenting it with both hands.

"This is a Black Crow token. Are you one of them?" Governor Rostov recognized the organization backing his guest as soon as he saw the black iron tablet.

"Indeed. Black Sage Hughes is here as a Messenger of the Black Crow." Wizard Hughes carefully placed the crow-shaped iron tablet on the Lord Governor's desk. His long, thin fingers resembled bleached bones.

"All of Yoweien adheres to the principle of Equivalent Exchange. What does the Black Crow want from me this time?" The Lord Governor did not refuse the Black Crow's Messenger.

"Cooperation. The Black Crow wishes to take this opportunity to cooperate with you, Lord Governor."

"A minor mercenary corps, seeking to cooperate with the Empire? And you propose to do this by finding my son?" Governor Rostov crossed his fingers, looking at Wizard Hughes with a casual air of disinterest.

"Lord Governor, the Black Crow merely hopes to cooperate with you personally, not to use you as a means to curry favor with the Empire's nobility," Wizard Hughes replied calmly.

"Oh? Then what can you offer me?"

"Lord Governor, isn't it time your League Guards were reorganized?" Wizard Hughes said unhurriedly, appearing to have everything under control.

Governor Rostov was startled. Reorganizing the League Guards was something he had only just considered. The fact that Wizard Hughes could point this out suggested the Black Crow had researched him thoroughly.

"Let me repeat my question: what can you offer me, and what do you require in return?" The shock was buried deep within Governor Rostov. He would not reveal his thoughts so easily. Instead, he maintained a nonchalant facade, preserving the dignity appropriate for the Governor of Luona.

"Lord Governor, the Black Crow has operatives throughout the entire country. With your permission, our personnel can assist you with certain... delicate tasks."

"The Imperial Capital has its Court of Guards, as do the various cities and prefectures. What are these 'delicate tasks' you speak of that even the Empire's Court of Guards cannot accomplish?"

"The Court of Guards belongs to the Empire, not to you personally. Your League Guards do not possess the same power as the Court of Guards," Wizard Hughes stated, his tone still mild.

"Even so, your Black Crow is merely a rabble." A seed of anger had begun to sprout in Governor Rostov; he no longer wished to speak with this skeletal Wizard. "If you cannot clearly state the Black Crow's objective, then do not waste any more of my time here."

The Lord Governor's order to leave caught Wizard Hughes completely off guard. He had believed the Black Crow's bargaining chips were substantial enough. Yet, this Lord Governor seemed utterly indifferent, completely unmoved.

"Lord Governor, surely you wish to hear our method for finding your son?" Wizard Hughes hastily proffered this opening gambit again. It was his only remaining chance, for the Lord Governor had already rung the bell on his desk, and the Housekeeper would soon arrive to show him out.

"I am not interested in the process. Your Black Crow has only one option now: bring my son back to the Imperial Capital within half a month." Governor Rostov stroked his mustache. "Accomplish that, and then you can come talk to me about this 'cooperation' of yours."

"Half a month?" Wizard Hughes felt this was an impossible task.

"What? Did you not just claim your people are spread throughout the country and capable of accomplishing 'delicate' tasks?"

"Lord Governor..."

"Take this dark piece of iron back with you. If the Black Crow truly wishes to cooperate, they must demonstrate sincerity. This world has always been fair; do not entertain notions of one-sided deals." Governor Rostov tossed the crow-shaped iron tablet back, ignoring the skeletal Wizard Hughes.

"Lord Governor, please, listen to me! We, the Black Crow, came with..." Wizard Hughes's words were cut short as he was forcibly escorted out by League Guards, summoned by the Imperial Capital's Housekeeper.

Governor Rostov suppressed his lingering irritation. He now found the situation increasingly intriguing. His son had become such a coveted prize that even the Empire's notorious Dark Organization, the Black Crow, had taken an interest. There was certainly much more to this than met the eye.

RING. RING. Governor Rostov rang the bell again.

A moment later, the Housekeeper entered, bowing respectfully.

"Your Lordship, what are your instructions?"

"Please summon Chairman Rolin of the Wizard Alliance and Dean Hoffman of Yonder Travel Academy."

"Yes, my Lord. However, it is quite late, and considering Dean Hoffman's age..."

"Send the Imperial Capital's grand carriage to fetch the old gentleman."

"Yes, Your Lordship!"

"Wait," Governor Rostov said, another thought occurring to him. "Also summon Aevernan from the Department of Roads and Aymond from the Court of Guards."

After the Housekeeper departed with the instructions, Governor Rostov took out a map of Luona and began to study it slowly.

"That little rascal," Governor Rostov muttered to himself, "always clamoring to be an Adventurer. Luona is so vast; why, of all places, would he choose Guru Mountain?" The unexpected arrival of the Black Crow's Messenger had made him feel that things were not as simple as they seemed.

Those people before were merely opposition forces, using his son to threaten him. But now, even the Black Crow, the Empire's notorious mercenary corps, had appeared. Their true target was definitely not his son.

"Hmph. To think they would use my son as a pawn." The seed of anger in Governor Rostov's heart, once sown, was slowly beginning to sprout. It would not be long before it grew into a towering tree.

"Guru Mountain... Could that be their objective?" Governor Rostov stared pensively at Guru Mountain's location on the map. "Could the legendary White Cloud Fruit truly exist?"

He stroked his mustache again. The remote borderlands of Luona, the farthest frontiers of the entire Empire... these images suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Those primeval mountains, backing onto the wilderness... it seems they hide some truly unspeakable secrets!"