The Broken Halo

"Enter."

After hearing Simon’s voice, they entered and saw Simon still lying on the bed.

His eyes were open, and his expression was calm. Compared to earlier in the morning, his complexion had improved a little, but the improvement was not enough to make him look healthy.

Akaza placed the wrapped meat on the table.

"I brought food."

Simon looked at the meat, then at Akaza.

"Did you gather information or did you go out to eat?"

"Both."

Sonya closed the door behind them.

"We found what you asked for."

Simon’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"Speak."

Akaza sat on a chair, while Sonya remained standing.

"Vashar City belongs to the Darkness Kingdom." Akaza said. "It’s a border trade city on one of the routes between the Darkness Kingdom and the Kharzul Kingdom."

Simon narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Kharzul Kingdom?"

Sonya nodded.

"A minor kingdom. From what we gathered, it is a subsidiary of the Darkness Kingdom. It pretends to be independent, but it bows to the Darkness Kingdom."

Simon was silent for a few seconds.

The Darkness Kingdom was the strongest of the six main kingdoms of the demon realm. It was ruled by Two Horned Winged Demons, a race with Royal Bloodline. Appearing in its territory was not necessarily bad, but it meant he had to be careful.

And Simon’s eyes glowed because it had one potential significance... The evolution of his bloodline.

"What else?" He asked.

Akaza continued.

"Vashar is a trade city. Goods from both kingdoms pass through here, and because of that, merchants, hunters, travelers, and demons who don’t want too many questions asked also come here."

Simon nodded slightly.

"That kind of city is useful."

Sonya spoke next.

"The Shadowgrave Clan has no open influence here. At least, none that ordinary demons know about. But hidden influence is possible."

"That’s not surprising." Simon said calmly.

Akaza’s gaze shifted to his missing hand.

"The best healer here is called Master Avarn. He can reattach limbs if the severed limb is still usable. He can also regrow limbs, but that costs much more."

"How much?" Simon asked.

"For reattachment, a few hundred hell stones. For full regrowth, over a thousand. Maybe more if the bloodline is difficult."

Simon closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"Does he have any backer?"

Sonya nodded.

"The Black Lantern Hall. A medicine and merchant hall. They are powerful and rich. Even the city lord gives them face."

Simon’s lips curled up faintly.

"That’s also not surprising."

Akaza frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"The best healer in a trade city being tied to a powerful medicine and merchant hall is not surprising. Healing and medicine is profit. Limb restoration is greater profit. And powerful healers rarely stand alone."

Akaza could not refute that.

Simon shifted his gaze to Sonya.

"What about Blackwind Valley?"

Sonya’s expression became more serious.

"Rumors about Blackwind Valley have reached the city."

Simon raised a brow slightly.

"Already?"

Akaza nodded.

"They are not clear. Some say beams of light came from Blackwind Valley. Some say a hidden ruin appeared. Some say two Demon Kings fought there. Some say the legendary Shadowgrave Clan is located there."

Sonya continued.

"Others say treasure appeared, a Demon King died, or that the whole thing is nonsense. Nobody knows the truth, but many demons are talking."

Simon became silent.

Then, slowly, his lips curled upward.

It was not a warm smile.

It was cold, satisfied, and faintly dangerous.

"Good."

Akaza and Sonya looked at him.

Simon stared at the ceiling with a thoughtful gaze.

"Vashar is not close to Blackwind Valley, and yet the rumors have reached here by day. That means the trade routes are carrying the news quickly."

His smile widened slightly.

"Very good."

Sonya looked at him with a strange expression.

"You’re pleased."

"Of course I am."

Simon closed his eyes briefly.

"The more unclear the rumors are, the better. A clear truth can be suppressed, denied, or controlled. But unclear rumors are different. They grow teeth."

Akaza’s brows rose slightly.

Simon continued.

"Some demons will go there because they believe a ruin appeared. Some will go because they believe treasure appeared. Some will go because they hate the Shadowgrave Clan. Some will go because they want to confirm if the legendary and mysterious Shadowgrave Clan is truly there."

His voice was calm, but Akaza and Sonya could hear the coldness hidden beneath it.

"And while all of them look toward Blackwind Valley, the Shadowgrave Clan will be forced to deal with them."

Akaza leaned back in his chair and released a soft laugh.

"You really turned them into bait."

Sonya shook her head slightly.

"No. He turned them into prey."

Simon opened one eye and looked at Sonya.

"That’s not a bad way to put it."

Sonya’s lips curled slightly.

"This Honourable knows."

Akaza looked at the two of them and shook his head.

"You two are terrible."

Simon closed his eye again, but he didn’t give a response. For a brief moment, the atmosphere in the room became lighter.

But only for a brief moment.

Simon soon returned his thoughts to the information they had brought.

The Darkness Kingdom.

The Kharzul Kingdom.

Vashar City.

Master Avarn.

The Black Lantern Hall.

Blackwind Valley.

The spreading rumors.

All of these were pieces on the board.

And he was still too injured to move freely.

That was the most frustrating part.

After a few seconds, Simon spoke.

"For now, we don’t visit Master Avarn. First, we observe the Black Lantern Hall from a distance and gather more information about the healer."

Akaza frowned slightly, but he nodded.

Sonya also nodded.

Simon continued.

"We’ll also remain in Vashar for a short while unless something forces us to leave. This city is useful. It is a trade city, and trade cities are good places to hide, gather information, and buy things without attracting too much attention."

Akaza looked at Simon.

"And if the rumors bring trouble here?"

"Then we leave before the trouble reaches us."

Sonya folded her arms.

"And what if Merath comes?"

Simon’s eyes became colder.

"Then we deal with her or leave before she finds us."

Akaza released a soft sigh.

"Everything is so troublesome."

Simon and Sonya did not respond, and the room became quiet again.

Outside River Rest, Vashar City continued moving like an ordinary trade city.

Merchants shouted.

Hunters bargained.

Demons drank.

Carts rolled through the streets.

And in taverns, markets, alleys, and merchant halls, rumors of Blackwind Valley continued to spread.

Some called it a hidden ruin.

Some called it the battlefield of Demon Kings.

Some called it the grave of fools.

And some whispered a name that had not been spoken openly in many years... The Shadowgrave Clan.

Simon closed his eyes again, and his breathing slowly became calm.

His first move after escaping had worked.

Now, he only needed to survive long enough to make the next one.