Chapter 452

“How did you know they would be able to learn how to use their mana?” Xavier asked Ajax as they approached the capital.

While almost all beastkin could learn to use their mana, getting the skill was a different matter. That both of the slaves Ajax bought had managed to gain [Sense Mana] in a week under his and Lexi’s guidance was something very important to question. 

“Desperation.” Ajax explained. “You most often gain skills when you are under pressure. I am sure both of them must have been pushed so close to death from their bad living conditions that they instinctively used mana. A little dedicated effort to use it consciously was all it took.” 

Ajax was very happy with his investment into new retainers. While both of the slaves still looked at him and Lexi with wariness after a week they stopped flinching whenever they raised their hand while in striking distance.

“I’m more interested in that eye the little gal’s got.” one of their guards said as he looked towards the painfully thin beastkin that was still wearing her collar. “I know about [Heat Vision], quite a few monsters with it but this is the first time I met a person with it and they can explain what they see with it.” 

Ajax himself was also very interested in [Heat Vision]. Initially he had hope she had the ability to shoot lasers from her eyes but he realized the absurdity and wasn’t disappointed. “Wish I could take those collars off them.” Ajax said, he wanted to start working on building trust and in his eyes those collars were the first wall he would have to knock down. 

“Those collars are important for their protection.” Oliver repeated himself, he had made the same observation a couple of times since the slaves had joined the convoy. “As long as they belong to someone much fewer people would dare do anything when they are in town.” 

Ajax’s next idea to build trust was to have the slaves join them for their meals. That also backfired however as the two children wouldn’t touch any of the food before they were expressly told they could eat. After they were told they could eat, Ajax saw them practically inhale the food, almost certainly afraid someone would take it from them if it wasn’t gone as soon as possible. 

“It’ll take time.” Lexi reassured him. “Some things just take time.” 

Lexi herself had grown a little attached to the two slaves as she saw them as her own students after helping them learn [Sense Mana]. Something she surprised herself with as she hadn’t expected to enjoy teaching as much as she had. She very much planned to help train House Hearthbound’s retainers in the future.

“At least there is no welcoming gala.” Ajax said as the convoy entered the capital. The whole place looked very much the same as it did five years ago. 

“They don’t want their nobles to get comfortable around you.” The prince said with his trademark smirk. “There will be a party you can’t skip out on after you exit the dungeon.” 

“Why wouldn’t they want people to get comfortable around me?” Ajax asked. “Not that I’m complaining.” 

“Because of Kate.” The prince answered. “That someone of your status has a beastkin as a sister-in-law is outrageous to them.” 

The prince had been purposefully loud enough that both slaves heard him and their wide eyes locked onto Ajax. They couldn’t believe what they had just heard, they quickly looked at each other thinking they must have heard wrong only to be met by the same incredulous gaze. 

“You really should name them something else.” Xavier whispered.

Neither of the slaves’s former owners had that many slaves to look after so the two of them had been named with a placeholder names, Snake and Monkey. Their new masters were supposed to provide them with new names after they purchased them. 

“I’ll have them choose their own names once we cross back into Gryndor and I remove the collars.” Ajax whispered back as they arrived at their accommodations. The same mansion that housed them during their previous visit to the Empire, though their ambassador had changed in the past five years.

Ajax, Lexi, Anna, Xavier and Oliver all went to bed relatively quickly. All of them wanted to prepare for their delve tomorrow. While none of them would be pushing their limits as they had done in previous delves they wanted to be at their best. The lack of safety due to not having anyone boosting them meant they always needed to be on guard during the delve.

Once he was sure that all of them had settled in and a squad had set up their surveillance, the eldest prince of Gryndor took one squad and headed for the imperial palace. Unlike their previous delves he didn’t need to stick so close to his charges this time around, not only that but he other duties on this trip besides the safety of the new generation. 

“Took you long enough to get here.” Zilfallon provoked the prince as soon as he arrived at the palace.

The prince took a moment to examine Zilfallon, instead of responding to his words or offering a greeting he showed his trademark smirk before answering the provocation with a simple backhanded compliment. “You’ve closed the gap some. But you’re still not ready.” 

The prince’s words had the desired effect as Zilfallon clenched his teeth. “Enough of this.” Solderon tsked in annoyance. “You said you have a message for father, come deliver it and you two can play your childish games after.” 

“Lead on.” The prince regained his serious expression as he and the ten man squad of elite warriors was led into the palace.

The small throne room they were led to was similar to the one the king of Gryndor used for important meetings. It was also pretty packed. Besides the immediate imperial family, there were at least forty other people there, only a little over half of them being guards there for the protection of the emperor.

“Welcome, boy.” The emperor greeted the prince with a wide smile and open arms. “I haven’t seen you since the war.” 

“My father thinks you’re a bad influence on me.” the prince responded.

Back during the latest war the Empire had allied with Gryndor. The prince had met with the emperor frequently during that campaign. The emperor had been pushing for a royal marriage between the empire and Gryndor to build a stronger bond between the two nations. An idea that hadn’t been without merit before Shadow’s rise to prominence and the forced peace that followed.

“And yet here you are.” the emperor’s smile widened.

“My father sent me with a sensitive piece of information.” the prince responded as he made a show of taking in everyone present. “One not even my guards know about yet.” 

The emperor’s face turned stoic as he took a moment to come to a decision. “Leave us.” The command sent everyone but the guards, the empress as well as their sons and grandchildren out of the room. “Go on then, what’s so important.” 

“It’s about expansion into the Wild Lands.” His words instantly provoked a gasp from Sandor. “We have a very likely theory on how to expand safely into the Wild Lands.” 

Everyone present knew that expansion into the Wild Lands will become very important in the near future to accommodate the increase in population.

“A theory?” Solderon sounded outraged at the waste of time. “Why not test it out then come here and share if it is important.” 

“I’m sorry to have wasted your time.” the prince quickly answered. “Anything concrete will most likely take a while to verify but we will let you know as soon as we do. After all only a fool would rush anything to do with the ascended races.” 

The room became so quiet even someone with a Perception of five could hear a pin drop. “You’ve gained insight into the ascended races?” the emperor sat forward on his throne as he asked.

The prince provided a quick explanation of what the agreement made between the ascended races regarding humanoids was, he didn’t share any of their sources however. “I would like to request access to any of your records that connect to this matter.” 

“Ha, I thought you were lying at first.” Zilfallon laughed, drawing piercing glares from the squad there to protect the prince. “You’re only sharing this with us because if we poke the sleeping dragon it might not bother to check before it wipes you out as well.” 

“What my son means to say is thank you.” the emperor said. “I’ll make sure to share anything we find that is relevant. Have you shared your theory with any other nation?”

While the question sounded innocent enough the real intent was clear as day to everyone ‘can we use this to provoke another nation into self-destruction’. 

“Not yet.” the prince said. 

“You’ve given me quite a lot to think about,” the emperor said. “Not in the least being how you came upon this theory. Do have a good evening, I look forward to seeing you again in a couple of days.” 

As they prepared to take their leave the prince turned back, his trademark grin causing Zilfallon and Solderon to brace themselves. “Oh, before I forget. I highly recommend increasing the guard around your dungeon for a short while.” the prince’s gaze becoming more predatory with every word. “Something to handle a level on hundred and twenty floor break at the very least.”