Chapter Forty-One: An Unexpected Ally

“I never expected we would meet again.”

Outside the courtyard, now mostly reduced to ruins, a handsome youth with golden hair and emerald eyes had been waiting for quite some time—he showed no surprise at the arrival of the Bringer of Glory, nor did he pay any heed to the half-collapsed villa before him. His emerald gaze appraised the boy who appeared, a smile curling just perfectly at his lips. “As expected… it’s all the choice of the Gate of Destiny.”

“In this world, there are no accidents, only inevitability—did you think I would say that?” Amy was not especially surprised by Dick’s appearance. Given the intelligence capabilities of Dice House, it was entirely possible for them to conduct seamless, round-the-clock surveillance on him. Combined with the commotion he had just caused, it was certain that information about him and the Order’s Swordbearer would soon be laid before the leaders of every major faction. He simply hadn’t expected Dice House to arrive so swiftly, so unexpectedly. “That, of course, was a joke. You’re here at a perfect time; I actually have something to ask of you.”

With a shift in tone, he spoke, then familiarly patted the shoulder of the youth, who was a head shorter than himself.

“How fortunate,” Dick, ranked among the Seven Apostles of Dice House, showed no emotional fluctuation at Amy’s overt familiarity, his smile remaining nearly flawless. “As expected, you are chosen by destiny—but even so, the service fee cannot be waived.”

His tone was playful.

To the uninformed, they appeared as intimate friends reunited after long separation.

“That’s exactly the Dice House style,” Amy remarked, but in the next moment, his smile faded entirely. He did not look around nor show any anxiety; he simply stared at the beautiful youth before him, gazing into those splendid emerald eyes, and asked in a deep, powerful voice, “Is it safe here?”

“Of course,” Dick replied with a teasing smile. “Dice House never lacks exclusive intelligence.”

“It seems Dice House is more than just an intelligence organization.”

The young Bringer of Glory smiled, though his heart was far from calm. When he found the Order’s Swordbearer in his home, he suspected his estate had become the focus of many eyes. Now, the Dice House representative could openly claim this was exclusive information, which meant one of two things: either the Swordbearer’s arrival in the lower district had been deliberately concealed, or Dice House had the power to temporarily shroud such a grand event. Both led to a single conclusion: Dice House was even stronger than he’d anticipated.

But… what did that matter to him?

At least, for now, it didn’t.

After raising his internal alert level toward Dice House, the youth narrowed his eyes, skipped further pleasantries, and went straight to the point: “I need information. Intelligence about the Dark Guild’s experiments on artificial demons.”

“That won’t come cheap,” the Apostle’s lips curled faintly. “How much do you need?”

“All of it.” Amy enunciated carefully.

“Quite the appetite,” Dick grinned, his smile growing wider, but then abruptly changed his tone. “Unfortunately… I can’t give you everything—the artificial demon experiments are the Dark Guild’s ultimate project, and our information is quite limited.”

“The price.” Amy’s words were concise and forceful—he suddenly reflected that perhaps, after spending much time with the Swordbearer, he had grown accustomed to her terse manner.

“Between us, who needs formalities? I’ll give you a friendship price—” After a brief pause, the golden-haired youth held up two fingers. “Two hundred gold Torl.”

“Why not just rob me?”

Amy frowned. Two hundred gold Torl was no small sum; even for someone who had inherited most of the Ulithesys family estate, it was a painful fortune.

“Robbing takes longer than selling information.”

The reply left him speechless.

“Can’t you go any lower?” The price far exceeded his expectations—not that Amy couldn’t pay, but currently he didn’t have that much liquid capital. Even converting his land holdings into cash would feel like tearing flesh from his own body.

“Sorry, I can’t.” Dick sighed theatrically. “This is top-level intelligence, purchased at the cost of three investigators. Even if I priced it at two thousand, it would be worth it—especially since the Dark Guild built their laboratory right at their headquarters. No… more precisely, they gathered a group of likeminded lunatics, centered around the demon-flesh laboratory, and together founded the Dark Guild.”

He concluded:

“Two hundred gold coins for the confidential information of a superpower at the top of the lower district’s food chain—you’ve got a bargain.”

“You’re a fine businessman,” Amy admitted. He had no intelligence network in the lower district, and if he didn’t buy from Dice House, he would have to seek out the scheming dealer Willy, becoming a pawn for him or the mysterious forces behind him—which he refused. So—“You’ve convinced me, but I can’t produce two hundred gold Torl immediately.”

“Credit or collateral is acceptable,” the golden-eyed youth suggested, “thoughtfully.”

“Your preparations are thorough,” Amy glanced at the paper and pen he offered but did not take them, raising an eyebrow calmly. “But there’s no need for formalities between us—let’s use my estate and the land beneath it as collateral for Dice House. How about that?”

“You’re giving me a real headache.”

The Apostle could not help but chuckle bitterly. Truthfully, since the fall of the Mist District, property and food prices in Hemtica had tripled. Even this half-ruined estate, converted to gold Torl, would fetch nearly three figures, let alone the land beneath it. With a good buyer, five or six hundred gold would not be hard to achieve. But… this would mean cleaning up this guy’s mess, and that was annoying.

Yet, before money, all are equal.

If more profit can be made, why not?

“Well, I really can’t refuse you—since we’re friends. Remember, only this once.”

He spoke playfully, words not entirely sincere.

“No need for written pledges—the deed is in the house, and Dice House’s abilities should make it easy to retrieve.” Amy glanced unobtrusively at the silent girl behind him, then added, “Also… please deliver the Dark Guild’s intelligence as soon as possible—I’m pressed for time.”

“No need to worry about time, my dear friend.” The golden-eyed youth’s smile carried subtle meaning. “Because this level of intelligence isn’t stored in any branch, not even at headquarters. It only exists… here.”

He tapped his forehead lightly.

“Well then,” Amy was somewhat surprised but showed nothing, maintaining his steady tone, “shall we complete the transaction now?”

“I’d be delighted,” the youth agreed.

“The Dark Guild’s headquarters is deep within the Ildan Mines.” He paused, his gaze lingering briefly on Amy’s dark eyes, then a wicked smile bloomed on his handsome face. “That’s right, the Ildan you know—the Cave of Death, Ildan.”

“I’ve heard of it.”

Amy nodded. Since the invasion of chaos, the fireseed had become isolated, and Hemtica was a city alone in the darkness. But isolation meant more than being outnumbered—it meant self-sufficiency. Before the Mist District fell, Hemtica’s population was at least seven times greater. Food, supplies, even weapons were plentiful, and the divide between upper and lower districts was not so stark. But all changed that night. The fireseed dimmed, mist cloaked the eternal night, and demons from beyond order surged in, bringing bloodshed and slaughter. The Bringers of Glory initially gained a fleeting advantage, but ultimately retreated before the endless tide of demons. Hemtica lost more than two-thirds of its territory, as well as vast farmlands and several metal refineries.

Though the fireseed was rekindled through sacrifice and the demons of the Mist District burned in the holy flame, the nameless fog that filled the deepest night had already spread its tendrils here. Even multiple Bringers of Glory sacrificing themselves could not dispel it. When the ritual ended, the perpetual fog became the region’s most distinctive feature.

Though some outlaws still operated there, it was no longer fit for human life.

“That makes it easier to explain,” the Dice House youth organized his words during a brief pause, then breathed out after five or six heartbeats. “To speak of the Dark Guild, one must mention the Hunter’s Guild in the lower district—they are closely connected. Even though the Mist District, legally, still belongs to the domain of order, the fireseed’s power is greatly diminished here. Ordinary demons might hesitate, but higher demons flock in like moths to a flame, ignoring the weakening effect of order’s power.”

“The Hunter’s Guild was founded in this context. Its exact origins are lost, but its purpose was to organize hunters for more efficient demon hunts and to acquire higher demon flesh. It has existed for at least three centuries, and from it, the Dark Guild split off.” Dick paused. “The Hunter’s Guild mainly served Bringers of Glory interested in higher demon flesh, and hunters who specialized in demon slaying. Overall, it was a legitimate organization. Unfortunately, many members went mad in the Mist District’s bizarre environment, becoming obsessed with the power of higher demons and developing the idea of transplanting demon flesh—thus, the Dark Guild was born.”

“Even after many villains joined post-foundation, its essence changed little—it still lusted after the forbidden power of demons.” The Apostle continued, “To better, more secretly, and conveniently obtain demon flesh, they set up headquarters at the border of the lower district and Mist District, in the intricate underground of the Ildan Silver Mines.”

“More precisely, in the Mist District’s mining area.”

“Can you be more specific?” The young Bringer of Glory interrupted. The Mist District was dangerous for ordinary people, but for himself and Mia, whose powers surpassed the mundane, it posed little threat. What concerned him more was the complex underground environment. “Finding the right path in the labyrinthine tunnels is no easy task.”

“No.” Unexpectedly, the golden-eyed youth shook his head. “It’s actually quite easy—very easy. Ildan Mines are called the Bloody Caverns for a reason. The Dark Guild’s demon-flesh experiments require not just higher demon flesh, but also… humans. Living humans.”

“Disgusting,” the Swordbearer muttered.

“So, the miners’ disappearances are the Dark Guild’s doing,” Amy thought a step further. “But even so, what does it prove?”

“You’re mistaken,” Dick replied. “I’m not trying to prove anything—I’m telling you, don’t try to find the Dark Guild, because before you do, it will find you.”

“It?” The Bringer of Glory tasted the word. The subtle difference between he, she, and it was not lost on him.

“Yes, a shapeshifter—not a demon, but more monstrous, its true nature unknown.” The Dice House youth rested his chin on his hand, watching with interest. “It seems to have appeared before the ‘Killer’ was born. It’s the Dark Guild’s first line of defense against outside threats.”

“Sounds like there’s a second line?” Amy narrowed his eyes. Ordinary demons posed no threat to a Bringer of Glory, especially with a Swordbearer almost ready for her final baptism at his side. “Could the second line be those domesticated Killers? If they exist.”

“They certainly do,” Dick smiled. “But not as Killers—as traps. Think about it: what place is better for traps than a maze of tunnels?”

“Any advice?” The Bringer of Glory could face unconventional demons without fear, but human-made traps gave him less confidence. “I don’t want to charge in recklessly.”

“Take me along,” the golden-eyed youth said.

“What did you say!” Amy was caught off guard. “Wait—you mean… take you?”

“Yes.” Dick nodded. “I can offer little in direct combat, but as a guide and trap disarmer, I’m quite confident.”

“Why?” The young Bringer of Glory lowered his gaze, staring into those crystalline emerald eyes. “Tell me your reason.”

“I said it before, didn’t I?” The Apostle lowered his head, clenched his fist, then abruptly looked up, fire seeming to blaze in his eyes. “I want… revenge!”

Of course, he had a grudge against the Night Mist Killer.

Amy realized.

After three breaths, he extended his hand toward the youth before him: “Dick, welcome to the team.”