In a secluded place at the end of the slums inside the city inside a small and shabby house, a man opened his eyes and a grin appeared on his face. He slowly got up and inspected his newly acquired body. Everything was fine and he also had his mana core intact.
He got out of bed and patted himself because he managed to escape that disaster. Now that he has a new body, it was time for him to acquire more power and wait for the right time for revenge. He would return and totally eradicate that person from the face of the world.
The man looked around the house and found a cape that can cover his face and a pouch of gold coins that he had hidden. He then left the house and started to roam around the slums until he reached the exit that would send him to the heart of the city. Reconstruction already began so most of the people were busy and no one would pay attention to a shabby man like him.
He walked around while listening to rumors and stories that were going around. That was how he learned that the tower was now under the control of Duke Ulysses Ginehart as the king assigned him to be the lead investigator of the matter regarding the tower. He also saw the wanted posters of the other elders who were with him.
He shook his head, luckily he was already in a new body and everyone thought that he was dead. Since that was the case, there was no longer a reason for him to care about the tower or the other elders. Instead, he would live like a common person and wait until the kingdom opened the capital once again so he could leave.
First, he needed to find information about that person and how he came to be the son of Ulysses Ginehart. There are people bound to know his identity. He was walking around when he saw a familiar face.
He remembered that the woman was Ragus's disciple and she claimed that Rigel was a fake and that he was the one during their mission. They dismissed it as some nonsense so she was punished for the second time. Without hesitation, he approached the woman.
Arean was so out of it that she lived in a daze for the past few days. Ever since the tower fell, she didn't know where to go because her master and all the other high rank mages were held as prisoners by the royal knights. She looked around him and detested all those people who could smile like nothing happened.
Every once in a while, she would go crazy and shout at all the people who were passing by. She even assaulted a civilian who happened to pass by during one of her tantrums. They did not report her and assumed that she was just crazy.
"This is all because of that man, he was not supposed to be here. Why was he here?" She mumbled to herself as her hands went up to her head. Her hair was already in a mess and yet she didn't care. "He is the cause of all of this. I will make him pay."
"You are Arean from the tower, right?" A man appeared behind her and even patted her shoulder.
To her surprise, she jumped away and looked at the man suspiciously. She looked at him from head to toe before she turned around in an attempt to leave. She was labeled as crazy but not crazy enough to get close to a stranger.
"Your master Ragus was such a talent. It was a shame that he is being detained right now." The man's voice was deep and calm but there was a certain confidence in there, like he knew what he was saying, that made Arean stop. "We can save your master, just tell me what you know about Rigel Ginehart."
At the mention of that name, something was triggered inside the woman. She suddenly became hysterical and started to mumble incomprehensible words but the man waited patiently. That name must have been something she did not want to hear.
"He is not a Ginehart. It is impossible. He is simply a bakeshop owner but he suddenly appeared in the capital. Is it because we took Ezio away that's why he is here for revenge?" With only those words the man could already grasp relevant information.
Rigel came from Moonvale and apparently, he knew that kid Ezio. They must have been acquaintances so there was a big chance that Ezio knew everything about him. If the man really traveled to the capital for revenge, he should have done it without posing as part of the Ginehart.
There must be something more about it. If he needed to know then he must approach Ezio or anyone from the duke's manor. The first was difficult because the child was hard pressed on not talking. On the other hand, the latter option was viable.
He gave the woman one last look before he turned around to leave but his sleeves were suddenly pulled back. Arean saw that the man was about to leave so held onto him. She told him information so he should help her free her master.
"Where are you going? You told me that you will help me to free my master?" Arean looked so pitiful but the man forcefully pulled the pushed the arm that was holding his coat.
"I will do that but maybe in the future. There's no use in freeing those people so why don't you give up?" The man answered coldly. He patted his coat and coldly stared at the woman.
He was about to leave when he remembered something. The man looked around and when he was sure that there were no other people around, he walked towards the woman. He crouched down to look the woman in the eye.
"I will help you so don't worry about it." He held the woman's neck and with his free hand he stabbed through the woman's stomach. "How foolish."
He grinned at the woman as he pulled out a blue mana core. He was mesmerized by the glow that it was giving off and after admiring it for a while, he ate the core. He did not think twice in swallowing the core which gave him a sudden surge of strength.
He sighed and took deep breaths as he felt the mana that started to course through his body. He had his head up as he savored the taste of power that he gained from consuming a mana core. The man looked down at both of his hands before he burst out into laughter.
"So that man was not lying. Consuming mana core can make you stronger." He raised both of his hands with his laugh that continued to echo in that empty alley.
He remained in that position for a while longer before he had enough and left. As far as he could remember, that brat had a bakeshop that he was proud of. With a definite destination, the man set out as he easily forgot what he had done.
The body of Arean caused a commotion that very same day as some passerby discovered it. Royal Knights came just in time to disperse the crowd that gathered in the scene. Linius was also there to take a look at it.
The state of the body was a bit gruesome as there was an open wound on the woman's stomach and that something was clearly taken out. They inspected the surrounding area but found no evidence that could give them a clue as to who killed the woman. One of the royal knights who was crouching beside the body stood up and looked at the major.
"What is it?" Linius approached him. He took a short glance at the body before focusing on the royal knight.
"Her mana core is missing." This was something unexpected.
"So, it was not a simple death," he shook his head and sighed. They already had so much stuff on their plate and now something like this happened.
