Chapter 47: Two More Levels
Chapter 47: Two More Levels
Two levels from evolution. Two levels from finding out what happens when an Evolving Tentacle Monster evolves.
He started walking back toward Valdris, his body aching but his spirit high. The Rat King would want a report, and he had plenty to share. Missing smugglers found. Dungeon cleared. And two new pets guarding the lower floors that would tear apart anyone who tried to use the place without permission.
Not a bad night’s work.
The city lights grew brighter as he approached, the familiar sounds of civilization replacing the eerie silence of the dungeon. He could see the outline of the Spire in the distance, rising above the other buildings like a giant’s finger pointing at the sky.
And standing at the city gate, arms crossed and expression thunderous, was Inquisitor Vance.
"Well, well," she said, her voice carrying across the empty road. "The Siren returns. I’ve been waiting for you."
Nacho stopped walking. His Combat Precognition was screaming warnings, painting attack paths and escape routes in his mind.
"You know, most people send a letter if they want to meet up. Standing outside the city gate in the middle of the night is a little creepy."
Vance smiled, but there was no humor in it. "I traced your signature to that dungeon. Watched you go in. Watched you not come out for six hours." She pushed off from the wall and started walking toward him. "Care to explain how a supposed trade envoy survives a Legendary-ranked dungeon complex?"
"Good cardio."
"Try again."
Her hand dropped to her sword hilt. Nacho’s fingers twitched toward his daggers.
"I’m going to give you one chance, Siren. Come with me quietly, register your Talents properly, and maybe I’ll only give you ten years in the Spire instead of execution."
Nacho considered his options. He was exhausted, low on mana, and facing an Inquisitor who had clearly been studying his movements for days. Fighting her now would be suicide.
But running wasn’t an option either. She’d track him down eventually, and he’d lose everything he’d built in the city.
There’s a third option. One she probably isn’t expecting.
"Counter-offer," he said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "You let me go tonight, and I give you something way more valuable than one unregistered magic user."
Vance’s eyes narrowed. "What could you possibly have that would interest me?"
"The name of a noble running an illegal dungeon operation. Someone with connections to the Imperial Treasurer." He smiled, watching her expression shift as the implications sank in. "Lord Daven. Ring any bells?"
Vance’s hawk eyes held Nacho’s face for a long moment. The wind picked up behind her, carrying the distant sounds of the city and the faint smell of coal smoke from the industrial district. She hadn’t moved her hand back to her sword, but she hadn’t relaxed either.
"Lord Daven," she repeated. The name came out flat, like she was testing the weight of it on her tongue. "The Imperial Treasurer’s nephew. You expect me to believe a Siren trade envoy has dirt on one of the most protected nobles in the Empire?"
Nacho shrugged. "Believe whatever you want. But I just spent six hours clearing a dungeon that his people have been farming illegally for months. Monster cores. High grade ones. The kind that should be going through the Sanctum’s registration process."
Her jaw tightened. Through Mind Fortress, he caught the surface layer of her thoughts, a storm of competing impulses that she was trying very hard to keep off her face.
—if this is true, it’s the break I’ve been looking for—
—but trusting a Siren? One with power signatures I can’t even categorize?—
—Daven’s been untouchable for years, everyone knows he’s dirty but nobody can prove it—
"How do you know about this operation?" she asked.
"Trade secret."
"That’s not good enough."
"It’s going to have to be." Nacho let his hands drop to his sides, keeping his posture loose and non-threatening. "Look, I get it. You don’t trust me. You’ve got no reason to. But right now, you’ve got two options. You can drag me to the Spire, spend the next few months trying to figure out what I am and what I can do, and probably get nothing useful out of me because I’m extremely stubborn when I want to be."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"Or you can let me walk, take the information I’m giving you, and actually do something about the corruption that’s been rotting this city from the inside. Your choice."
Vance’s eyes narrowed further. Her thoughts were racing now, calculations and contingencies flickering through her mind faster than he could track.
"You’re very confident for someone in your position."
"I’ve been in worse positions. Trust me."
She stepped closer, close enough that he could see the faint scar running along her jawline and the way her pupils dilated slightly as she studied him. Her Talent was working overtime, trying to get a read on his power level, and he could feel the probe brushing against his consciousness like fingers testing a locked door.
"What else do you want?" she asked finally. "Nobody gives up information like this for free."
Smart lady. Too smart for my liking, honestly.
"Three things," Nacho said. "First, you stop following me. I’ve got business in this city that doesn’t concern the Inquisition, and I don’t need you breathing down my neck every time I leave the house."
"And the second?"
"When you bring down Daven, my name stays out of it. I don’t exist. I was never here. Whatever story you need to tell, I’m not part of it."
Vance’s lips pressed into a thin line. "That’s two. What’s the third?"
Nacho smiled. It wasn’t a friendly expression.
"You owe me a favor. No questions asked. Something I can call in whenever I need it."
Her thoughts exploded into a chaos of suspicion and calculation. She didn’t like this. Didn’t like any of it. But underneath all the wariness, there was something else. Something that looked a lot like desperation.
—I’ve been chasing Daven for three years, if this Siren actually has something solid—
—a favor though, that’s dangerous, what could he possibly want?—
—but if I don’t take this deal, I’m back to nothing—
"One condition," she said. "The favor can’t involve harming Imperial citizens or compromising the security of the Empire."