Chương 109: Chapter 067 To Ultimate Power (Part 2)

The heavy doors opened to a low-ceilinged entrance hall that smelled of warm oil and old parchment. Past the entrance, a larger reception area decorated in deep green embossed wallpaper softened the gold-framed portraits that watched from either side. A brass-and-glass noticeboard near the coat-stand held neat slips of paper, stamped and folded with a seal Jack recognised as the Greaves family mark. As they entered, Greaves paused as a middle-aged footman in a grey livery approached.

"Go to the Inquisition and ask for Master Inquisitor Simmons," he told the man.

"Inform him that Jack and his family are under my protection. I expect them to return the family home as soon as possible." He nodded to Jack.

"Inform Simmons that Jack will return home by morning." Master Inquisitor. That makes him at least level 100. Jack wondered if the lie detector skill was a master level skill. He prayed it was.

"Yes, my lord." The footman bowed, glanced at Jack, and then hurried out the door. Jack let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding.

"Thank you, my lord. Your generosity knows no bounds." He sighed with relief. Thank the Gods they are at least safe for now. Greaves waved his hand.

"Think nothing of it, my boy. You're practically family now." Jack smiled and bowed while gritting his teeth.

"Thank you, my lord. I feel like I've discovered a second family… and a second father." He lifted his head to a grinning Baron Greaves. That's right. Believe you've got me in the palm of your hand until I tear your heart out. The Baron waved off the two guards and guided Jack through a carpeted corridor lined with book-cabinets and mechanical curios.

There was a collection of brass astrolabes, a glass case with a clockwork bird that twittered as they passed by, and a mounted map of the known world, stitched through with copper veins that pulsed with soft aether-light. The passage opened into an impressive library. Greaves slid a portrait of an older man across the wall. Jack knew the noble was Earl Greaves, the head of the family. Behind the painting was a wall safe, protected by an elaborate set of runes.

The Baron placed a palm on the centre, and after a few seconds the door opened with a hiss of spent aether-steam. Jack peered inside the safe. That's a lot of gold. He was staring at racks of gold coins. There must be ten thousand g old. At the side was a small pile of documents and several books. Greaves removed the bottom book, closed the safe door, and slid the portrait back in place. Jack's eyes widened as he recognised the book. It's here… Now.

His mind went through multiple scenarios to steal or destroy the blood magic grimoire, only to realise he shouldn't need to anymore. My family should be safe. He'd concluded that as long as he was useful to the circle, they wouldn't harm his family. I no longer have to kill the Baron to protect my family. For a moment, he had an overwhelming feeling. I have to kill all the blood mages in Lundun.

"Come, my boy." Greaves took the ancient elven text to a large mahogany desk, not unlike the one owned by Viscount Tides. He placed the grimoire down.

"Take a look. Tell me what you think?" Jack looked at the Baron, then at the book. He remembered all his past training and experience working at the Royal Library. He removed his pack, quiver, and bow from his shoulders and placed them on a chair. He first examined the tome without touching it.

"It looks like ancient elven." He pointed at the intricate pattern on the cover.

"See the runes here? They are from before the great cataclysm. This is a rare find, my lord. Where did it come from?" Greaves smiled.

"You are your father's son." He gestured for Jack to open the tome. Jack forced a smile.

"Thank you, my lord. This… This is an honour." He carefully opened the book and examined the first page.

"Hmm… as expected. Heavily encrypted." He spent a minute pretending to examine the text.

"Based on the character distribution, it appears to be a polyalphabetic substitution cypher, my lord." He knew it was; he and his father had cracked the cypher months before Greaves had killed his family.

"Impressive… For one so young." Greaves picked up the grimoire and flicked through the pages.

"We believe this contains important blood magic rituals." Jack faked a shocked look as the Baron continued, "Over a dozen scribes have failed to decrypt the cypher. You have the [Create Cypher/Decipher] skill? What level?" This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Jack nodded.

"Level 4, my lord. If the text is so important to the circle, we have to decipher it." Greaves smiled.

"That's a shame." He closed the book.

"Perhaps in a few years…" He shook his head.

"No matter." He returned the book to the wall safe.

"Maybe you and your father working together can crack the puzzle? Your grandfather was a prodigy with cyphers. Perhaps the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree." Jack smiled, but inside he was screaming at the idea of getting his father involved.

"Is it wise to get… To have non-circle members know of the existence of blood magic, my lord?"

"We have our ways of maintaining secrecy." He grinned.

"There have been blood mages in Lundun from before the great cataclysm, and there will be blood mages when the Kingdom finally falls for good." Jack frowned. Murderous bastard, I know how you maintain secrecy. Greaves chuckled.

"All kingdoms eventually fall, my boy." He patted Jack on the shoulder.

"The trick is to be on the right side of history when it happens." He looked at the clock on the wall; it was close to ten thirty at night.

"It's getting late, and I have an early day tomorrow." He gestured for Jack to sit.

"Thank you, my lord." Jack took a seat across from the Baron.

"After the weekend, you will relocate to the Academy." Greaves pushed a button on his desk.

"We'll need to present you better than this." He gestured towards Jack's old leather armour.

"Yes, my lord," Jack said in surprise.

"Thank you."

"You told your family you had received a vision from the Gods." Greaves chuckled.

"I assume that was a lie?" Jack nodded.

"Yes, my lord. I didn't want to disappoint my father." The Baron smiled.

"I understand. Your father is a good man and regularly praises you." Jack forced a smile and clenched his fists under the table. And yet you killed hi m to protect a secret. Greaves continued, "We will run with the vision lie and use it as your cover for joining the Academy, and why, on the surface, it will appear as if I'm personally funding your tuition and expenses." There was a knock on the door, and a servant entered.

"You rang, my lord?"

"Yes." Greaves gestured towards Jack.

"I need you to find Jack some temporary clothes to go home in. He can't be seen in these rags." The servant gave Jack a once-over.

"I believe one of the serving staff is around the young master's size." He looked towards the Baron.

"Will a simple suit be acceptable, my lord?" Greaves nodded. The servant bowed.

"Will that be all, my lord?" After another nod, the servant left.

"Over the weekend, you'll need to acquire a complete set of clothing suitable for the Academy." Greaves opened a notepad, wrote something down, then ripped the page out and passed it to Jack.

"Go here at nine sharp tomorrow. One of our people will aid you in buying new clothing and other supplies."

"Thank you, my lord." Jack forced a smile.

"I don't know what to say… You are too generous." The Baron waved him off.

"I expect great things from you, my boy. You must also look the part." He opened a drawer and pulled out a pin.

"Speaking of which. This will identify you as a member of Viscount Tides' circle to the Inquisition." He passed Jack the pin.

"Keep it on you at all times, so we don't see any more dead guards." He chuckled. Jack accepted the brass pin. Twelve stylised drops of blood formed a perfect circle around a dark crimson gem at its centre, each drop linked by thin engraved lines that resembled flowing veins. Even worked in dull brass, the design carried an unsettling weight.

"Thank you, my lord. I won't fail you." He bowed. There was another knock at the door, and the servant entered carrying a pile of clothing.

"I believe we have everything we need, my lord." Greaves stood and walked around the table to Jack and patted him on the shoulder.

"Go home to your family. Tell them everything was a big misunderstanding today and that I'll be personally sponsoring you at the Academy. First, though, let's heal that nasty head wound." He touched Jack's forehead where the guard had struck him. It was bruised and scabbed over.

"Thank you, my lord." Jack felt the healing magic pass through him as the scab fell away. The Baron's skill was far more powerful than his own stolen healing spell.

"I-I don't know what to say?" He looked at his scuffed leather boots. I wish I could gut you where you stand. The thought made him feel a little better.

"No need for that. My boy." The Baron leaned in to examine the head wound.

"There, much better. We can't have you going home looking like a beaten dog." He walked back around the table and opened a drawer. He pulled out a coin purse and tossed it to Jack.

"Some pocket change. Until we set you up with a monthly stipend." Jack caught the purse and bowed.

"Thank you, my lord." He felt the weight of the purse, and his eyes widened. If that's all gold… It has to be over 50 gold in coin! Greaves laughed.

"Don't spend it all in a tavern or on women." Jack understood the joke, but acted like a naïve teenager.

"N-no, my lord. I would never. M-my mother says I shouldn't drink until I'm at least twenty-one." He tried to fake a blush, but failed. The Baron chuckled.

"You should follow your mother's sage advice… At least for now, my boy. There'll be plenty of time for fun later." He turned his attention to the waiting servant.

"After Jack is dressed, have my carriage take him home."

"Yes, my lord." The servant bowed.

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave, my lord." Greaves nodded. Jack collected his things and followed the servant to the library door. Before leaving, he turned back to the Baron.

"Thank you, my lord. I will never forget this." He bowed. Inside, the knot of hatred tightened until it was a thing with teeth. One day, I will cut out that worthless heart of yours.