‘Blonde’ was a Healer classed individual, which made her the most expensive slave Kai owned, with Shallan being a close second. The healer was smart and dutiful, so she was also a kind of secretary of his. “About three weeks ago they asked you, master, to visit them for a job opportunity, about guarding their family for a certain period of time from ruffians.”
“Oh. Finally, a quest that’s not about murdering green fuckers in the forests. Let us go pay them a visit then.”
…
Cedric stepped out of the [Warp Gate] into the forests right outside of Braedon with a strange feeling. By all rights and purposes, he was just defeated and humiliated, and his life was officially over.
He was defeated on the field of battle, he lost his fiance, and he became a slave for life… but… he didn’t really care.
His life thus far was more about fulfilling his mother’s dream than his own, and he somehow understood that his life was not over. Being enslaved by the primordial monster was different than having a useless human as your owner. The former somehow felt like it was more purposeful while the latter was just a total catastrophe.
He passed by the city’s gates and soon reached his home, and as soon as he stepped in, numerous guards and servants welcomed him. Cedric was then escorted to greet his mother in her study where he came eye-to-eye with not only his mother but Selene’s father. They had the same rank, that being Eclipse Enforcer, just that one was part of the mage faction and the other the drug faction of Braedon, the city with the most Consortium control in the entire Winterwood county.
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“Cedric, my beloved son!” Leia, his mother shouted with joy as she invited him to join them. “Where have you left your team and your wonderful fiance? We were just talking about finalizing the marriage.”
Acting was not at all Cedric’s forte, but he did his best to fulfill his orders. “For the second round, we were selected by Lady Black Fang to invade the Phantom League and cause damage to their territories. We had a mole in our ranks which caused us to be ambushed by high-tier enemies. I fought with all my strength but was knocked out and the next thing I knew was that I woke up close to Braedon. I remember some of my Heralds having already been killed before then, but I have no clue as to what happened with Selene.”
“What?! But your job was to protect her!” Malachai Cross, Selene’s father screamed. “That’s why I agreed to this marriage, Leia! You said he could protect her!”
“…” Leia Viperis frowned at his story and completely ignored the agitated man as she refocused on her son.
Cedric was forced to retell his story numerous times, but he remained steadfast, especially because he knew the Master Primordial was watching in real-time and even instructing him on exactly what to say.
“I have this ring. It should alert me if her heart stops beating, so she is definitely alive.” Malachai decreed once he managed to gather his bearings.
‘Yeah, alive and getting gangbanged by level 1 filthy construction workers. She’s lucky if they are not eager enough to share each of her holes with their buddies.’ Cedric sneered inwardly. He didn’t like this man at all. He almost showed his thoughts on his face as well, but thankfully his master was ready and ordered him to cough into his palm in time, which in turn allowed him to hide his leer and return his features to the serious and clueless young man he was pretending to be.
Malachai left their home to organize a search party, leaving mother and son in their lonesome.
“Sigh… To think that the ancient woman would meddle in my affairs…” Leia grumbled annoyedly. “If Black Fang’s hand is in this I can’t do much beyond accept things as they are. You’ll have to rest and get ready for the final round of the Phenom Trials. Ah, you don’t know, right? It will be a fighting tournament exclusively between the Phenom candidates, so you losing your Heralds matters very little. My excitement had been palpable ever since learning the format of the finals, this is exactly where you excel, my Cedric. You’re nearly guaranteed to become a Phenom! Isn’t it amazing?!” The ‘Serpent Queen’ squealed with pure excitement.
She was a normal weak woman, so her potential had been capped at Shadow Vanguard, the rank one above hers, thus she pushed all her dreams onto her son.
‘You mean Master Primordial will have more allies on his hand… I bet he will let Selene go before the tournament so he will have even more Phenom-ranked supporters. Hahaha…! Abudha, Me, Selene, Wrath, him, and Ambition… He will infest the Vesper Consortium with the future bigshots being one-sidedly in his pockets. I have the urge to clap while crying. Life truly isn’t fair. You’ve already lost, mother. The only way your dreams will ever become reality is if Master Primordial wills them to be.’
Once Cedric was done realizing just how thoroughly screwed they were, he refocused on his task. “Mother, I’ve been hearing tales of a shady organization called ‘Wraithclaws’ who operate in the barren, destitute little villages of the Blackthorn baron family. Can you tell me about them? Who are they, their goals, strengths, weaknesses…”
Leia raised an eyebrow in surprise, “hmm? Why are concerned with this topic?”
“Mother, Selene told me that I should pay more attention to topics that aren’t exactly interesting to me. As your son and the future flag-bearer of the Viperis family, I thought I would finally pay more attention even to the topics that don’t require me to draw my blade from its scabbard.”
Cedric repeated Quinlan’s exact words with a perfect delivery.
So much so that a jovial glint appeared in his mother’s eyes. “My Cedric, I’m so proud! Sure, I’ll tell you all I know!”
…