inside a dark room with only several candles illuminating it, the

figures of a man and a woman can be seen standing near the tables that was filled with any kind of tools and odd items, the man is fiddling with the tools in the tables while the woman is standing behind him and reading a paper with serious emotion in her face.

not long the woman sigh lightly after she read the paper content, while the man just keep fiddling the tools without care of anything, suddenly the tool in his hand start bursting out a fire and small explosion with loud sound that startled both of them.

"damned it, it failed again.... this shitty composition it's a dumb stupid broken useless....aih....i'm sure the circuits is already tighten but fuck" the man is cursing with many vulgar words as he failed again on making the tools to worked.

"sigh..... how many time you had to try it huh.... just accept it that you really don't have the talent for making it" the woman sighing and shrugging her shoulders while berating the man in front of her.

"hey... don't said that i didn't had the talent alright, because i have it.. i really do, did you know that i once succeeded on making the magic tool that can blowing winds to your face, it's usefull when the weather is hot, so don't look down on me okay, that was at least a mid unique tier item you know".

the man protested and boasting after the woman is berating him.

"that was not even a magic tool you!! ..... that tool definitly can't be categorized as even the most lowest unique rank item...sigh".

it looks like the woman is tired already arguing with the man about his useless tools.

"don't try to crash my dreams alright, you'll see hehehe..... i need to rest for awhile..... so melissa what are you thinking about the report?".

the man sits in one of the rotten crude chairs in the room, while changing the conversation topic, he also calling the woman's name, that's right the woman in the room is actually melissa dreyfuss.

"those 2 groups really sending in a strong team hhuh, looking at their team composition, isn't all of them in the list were famous names...".

melissa was flabbergasted after she read's the report about certain groups.

"because their not taking this lightly, and i suggest you do the same, the inner deadlands region is no joke, even a level 6 grandmaster could lost their life's there,... assembling a strong team with diverse skills and talents as you proposed is a good start, that alfred guy is fine pick according to his performance during the academy and his combat record with the legion...dina is also a good addition to your team aswell,.... is there other people in your list??".

the man analyzing melissa plan and he also giving some add up, before asking melissa again.

even though melissa always dislike this man antics with his 'never works' magic tools, but she listened to he's advice as much as possible.

"there are 2 people i wanted to pick from the SAD other detachment, if you allowed it, while alfred also had 2 other people he know that it looks good after i read their dossier..."

melissa asking the man permission to recruit people.

"fine take them, don't know who you picked but take care of them will you, besides why would you need my words for it, you're also an SAD.. isn't it...".

"i'm just an honorary members sigh...." melissa asking the man another advice while shaking her heads looked disapointed.

"hey don't be like that, you know we can't admitted fully someone with your background, didn't the duchess also an external member back in her time"

"anyway is there another advice on how to proceed once the team is assembled??"

"....alright.... since you got an unlimited support from the kaiser then use it wisely.. just don't attract too many attention when you doing it".

"what about when we arrived at borders ?".

"first you need to take farach's pass instead of gaztic valley when you try to entering the deadlands as the situation in the pass are much more under controlled, the 13th legion stationned there will help you too, once you in there, i suggest you gained some of those barbarian tribes help too, they know better than anyone else about the gobi deadlands".

"alright....but i'm kinda worried about the other groups..".

melissa is anxious at her mind about the possibility encounter with other groups.

"if you encounter them, you can trust the greysia's bunch but keep your guard up against those from the white tower, remember that".

the man then standing up after giving melissa advice the start to fiddling with the tools again.

"okay i will remember it.... and thank's for the help master refiner".

melissa thanked the man while also teasing him.

"so you already recognized me as master refiners huh...good good hahahaha..it's good, somehow your words motivated me even more haaha..... ah yes... if you still looking people for the team... then i have someone to recommend...".

the man start boasting shamelessly after hearing melissa sarcastic comment, and he recommending someone to her.

"hemmhm.... and who is he??". melissa asked confused.

"you've seen him before.... didn't you the one who's ordering dina to follow him this morning...".

the man smile while showing his sharp teeth when he talk about the person he recommend.

"what!!!.... but he's a suspicious person, even currently he's under our observation list you know, but.... perhaps did you knew him personally ?".

melissa then shocked when hearing the person recommended by the man is exactly the suspicious man who enter her subordinate store this morning.

melissa remember the good looking man who possess an inventory ring and selling bunch of wonderous ornaments, but because there are reports about him from SAD informers, melissa grew suspicious on him as she thougts that he's a foreign spy and needs to be monitored, that's why she send dina to follow him around.

"nope never knew him.....but i guess he's just a clueless person but at the same time a very knowledgeable person, it's weird ,..he's kinda... mind boggling ha hahah aha i can't read him at all... hahah.... as why i recommended him... i also don't know myself hahah, but i had a feeling and it is positive feeling about him.... ...heheh hey this is just a recommendation okay, you don't have to recruit him if you don't want to hehe".

the man looked very happy when talking about the person he recomended, while melissa is looking at him full of doubts.

"we...well okay... your weird recommendation.. i'll keep it in mind and besides dina is still following him, and i haven't heard from her, maybe tomorrow during the team meeting... well because there isn't anything else then i'll leave.... good bye leader...".

melissa leave after giving the man recomendation a thought, while still confused why the man even recomended that suspicious person.

"alright.... good luck out there.... and now let's begin again, calibration... the circuits...an ... where's the screwdriver... fuck where did i put it before....".

only the man's vulgar words can be heard inside the dark room.

=================================================================

in the morning when the sun just rising up and illuminated the entire realm with it's warm sunlight, the peerless arno the dark prison overlord is currently sitting while meditating on top the bed inside his room in the inn where he and alfred stayed for the night, after their busy days yesterday, this is the beginning of the 2nd day after arno descend to the realm of greysia.

arno opened his eye after he finished meditating, then spreading his divine sense throughout the inn.

'alfred is getting ready for breakfast it seems, and the inn situations looks normal.... i'd like to have a breakfast too'.

arno found alfred already left his room, so arno also standing up and leaving his room heading for downstairs where the breakfast for the guest is served inside dining area.

actually he doesn't need to eat at all as his divine body already molded into a perfection so it's fine for him not to eat anything but he wants to eat only for some delicacy, hell he doesn't even need to breathe but still doing it anyway because a habit.

when arno reached downstairs he see there is not much activities near reception area and the dining area, only some people who is chatting and eating solemnly, arno then picking a table near the window, he sit on the chair while waiting for the servant.

meanwhile alfred who is sitting on a table in front of arno's is currently eating soundly and sometimes pondering about something, arno also looking outside the window towards the main roads that devoid of peoples, it's really quiet except for some peddlers pushing their carts and a squad of armed guard returning to their barrack, the roads are almost empty from peoples.

'hemmm maybe because it is still morning i guess....'.

arno didn't pay too much mind about it.

then the kitchen door in the back suddenly open and a young girl came out from it, she's walking towards where arno is sitting with bright and cute smile, her face is almost looked like the charming proprietress from yesterday with different hairstyle, arno also think maybe they were relative's, perhaps she is the proprietress daughter.

"good morning sir, do you want your breakfast? our menu for today is egg that you can choose to scrambled it or not, we can also making it to an omelette, and a nice barley bread with warm vegetables soup, as for the drinks we have fresh milk, or maybe a tea...so what's your order".

the young girl is smilling while offering breakfast list to arno, her smile bring joy to the quiet and solemn morning.

"hemmm just bring me an omelette and the soup along with the tea....".

arno also smilling to her when he gave the breakfast order as he's been affected by the girl bright smile.

"an omelette, the veggie soup and a tea.... very well sir please wait a moment, i'll be right back with your orders."

the young girl quickly walking back to the kitchen with arno's order.

'heh...what a cute girl....wait.. isn't this bit creepy..... nah it just a compliment anyway'.

arno think that because he's already so ancient, it is not right for him to think about a cute little girl like that.

arno start to relaxing his body and mind while waiting for the breakfast, he had a feeling that today will be a good and interesting day.

not long the young girl came back to arno's table carrying a tray filled his breakfast.

"here you go sir.. your breakfast is ready.. enjoy..".

the girl putting the breakfast in the table.

"wait a moment, do you know why there's no people in the roads or everywhere now ?, is it a normal thing in this city ?".

arno asking the girl why the streets are empty from people, he doesn't had anything on it just curious.

"ohh are you perhaps a foreigner ?? because if it's true then it's natural for sir to not known about it,..... because today is sunday sir, it's an official vacation day in the empire for people to... well having a rest from their routine activities and works,.... so many shops and stores is close during sunday, the empire start the mandatory because the influenced by one of the teaching of greysia church, ....to letting the people rest once a week and spending time with their family's and relative's".

the young girl start explaining things to arno, it seems that she's pretty smart and knowledgeable.

"i see.... yes i'm from a foreign land so i didn't know about the customs here..... you smart aren't you.... well then thank you for the explanation little girl.... and for the breakfast aswell".

the young girl check turn red when she heard arno praised, her bright smile also turn into a shy smile.

"yes sir... please enjoy the dish... if there is anything else you can call me, i will be at the desk near the kitchen door...".

the girl then goes to the desk near the kitchen and arno start digging the breakfast.

'can't believe people start giving vacation days,....back then if they're weak they can only work till they die....sigh....now even weaklings have minimal rights...truly a different time indeed..'

arno is wondering while eating the omelettes.

when arno is busy enjoying his breakfast, alfred is standing up from the table as he already finished his and leaving the inn.

arno doesn't following him this time, instead he let alfred go without giving it too much thought, as he can just find him again through divine sense real quick, besides his breakfast still hasn't finished yet.

during this time many people start coming down from their room to the dining area for breakfast, and the atmosphere around the inn is no longer solemn like before.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

meanwhile alfred who is leaving the inn earlier is now standing in front of fanctom's oddthings store.

'SAD people's are really is something huh....even in sunday they still forced people to open the store...'.

alfred shrugging his shoulder before entering the store.

"welcome... welcome to the fanctom's, in here we have...".

the toadman is shouting with his incomparably large mouth when he see alfred entering his store.

"wait.. i didn't here to buy or selling something, here you go.....".

before the toadman fanctoms finished his welcoming greetings, alfred

immedietly interrupting him before giving fanctom a small pin with certain insignia in it.

"ah i see,... sorry, the madam already inform me your arrival, she's in upstairs now, go head".

the toadman recognized the pin and also inform alfred that his madam already waiting for him, alfred give fanctom a nod then he goes to upstairs, leaving fanctom alone in downstairs .

he enter the only room in 3rd floor, and saw melissa arranging several dossiers on top of the desk, he quickly salute her.

"ah you here...good, now we just wait for dina then we can start the meeting, have a sit for now."

melissa beckoning alfred to sit down and wait for someone to arrive.

"who's dina??".

"another team member, she's also my friend...you'll know".

"alright...." then alfred start to sit in the long chairs.

not long a silver haired dark elf woman entering the room via unconspicuous wardrobe that somehow surprised alfred, the dark elf woman also looks upset.

"dina, where the hell have you've been??? is there a need to following him all day long ??, you can just assigned some of our assets to keep an eye on that guy right...".

melissa having a headache after her friends been missing for 1 day.

"look mel, you're not gonna believe it.... something happen when i was following that handsome human guy...., but first tell me about the palace meeting, i've heard from our informers that major things is happening right now...come on tell me".

dina asked melissa about the meeting yesterday enthusiastically.

melissa the start narrating the whole detail about the meeting in the palace yesterday.

"i see, so you assembling an investigation team huh, then... did i'm in ?".

dina pondering after hearing the meetings detail, and asked did melissa includes her in the team.

"of course you're in, by the way that guy over there is alfred byron, also a team members....". melissa introducing alfred to dina.

"heheh alfred huh.....i'm dina shezar from arga forest shezar dark elf clan, i'm also melissa friends and subordinates, we're going to become a team members on a dangerous mission, so i'd like us to just relax without any formality....alright..".

dina introducing herself while also giving her hand to alfred.

"likewise miss dina...pleasure to knowing you".

they started to shake hands and nodding before dina moved closer to melissa.

"mel isn't this alfred boy is the one who's little lyanna sometimes talked about??".

dina whispering something to melissa, although her voice is really low, but alfred who had acute sense can still heard it faintly.

'sigh.....it look like everyone already knows about it....huhhhhh' alfred sighed heavily because everyone knows about her.

"yeah,...but that's not important now, anyway did you gained something from following that guy since yesterday??" melissa changing the topic by asking dina about yesterday observation.

"eihhhh...look i didn't following him all day alright, i follow him after he's leaving the store yesterday as you ordered me to, things looks pretty normal when i was following him, he just walked around the plaza before buying some skewers on the stall and continue heading for and entering the library".

dina start telling her experience yesterday.

"the library?? did you followed him inside?? what is he doing in there then?".

melissa also asked dina confused why the man go to the library.

"of course i follow him inside, well....after flirting with the librarian, the guy grab lot's of thick books from the rack and start reading them all, i'm not kidding... he did nothing but reading all the books he brought for hours, sometimes he even smiling and frowning like he finaly understood about something...".

dina tell what happens in the library.

"he just reading??? what kind of books he reads?".

melissa somehow curious about the books that man reads.

"when he left after finished reading the books, i go to the reading desk where he sits before and take a look on the books, there many books like history of astoria, the greysia origins, ostia succession war.....you know... those kinds histories book along some books about general knowledge mixed in....and that's it....but what the strange is when i followed him to outside...".

dina still telling her story.

"just that?? what he read is mostly just history books??... and...what happen in the outside?".

melissa is pestering dina to tell her quickly.

"when i also left cathing up to him outside, that guy already standing in the middle of the library front stairs while raising his head looking to the sky and... he looked... how should i say this...ehmm very solemnly when doing it... after that he start looking at the plaza and smile.....but then...he... disappear suddenly"

dina finish her story with some unbelieveable words.

"huh?? disappear? what did you mean disappear? dina don't joke around..".

melissa is really confused after hearing dina speaking her finishing words.

"i'm not joking!! ....mel i...i saw him just disappear along with the wind.... gone... he vanished just like that, you don't believe me don't you?? i swear to mother of the sky, i really saw him disappear, at first even i can't believe it myself, but there is a ratman near me who saw him disappear too...he even more shocked than me....".

dina swearing that she really see someone disappear by the gust of winds.

melissa and alfred both were flabbergasted and did not believe it at all, because someone cannot just disappear suddenly.

but after looking at dina who is even swearing that she really saw that happen, melissa start to believe her a little bit because she know dina will not lie to her and because dina is always serious when doing her mission.

while alfred who confused and don't know who is that both melissa and dina talked about, and after he heards dina stories he completedly did not believe it because it's imposibble for people just disappear.

"alright let's hold on about him...disappearing.... and after that what did you do then..?".

melissa quickly asked dina again what she do after the weird event.

"well ..sigh...after that i start looking for him all over the city of course, even goes to several towns in near the capital, trying to find him again all day long, until during midnight when i received information from our informers who reported that man has been sighted entering an inn in the downtown area.".

dina answering melissa what she's been doing since yesterday noon until the night.

"there are many inn in the downtown area, which one is it??".

melissa asked which inn, because there are many inn located in the downtown.

"that inn's name is the patron's inn, the one with good quality service".

dina tell the inn's name she got from the informers.

"wait!!! miss dina.... that's the inn where i've been staying for the night, what's the man appearance look like....maybe i've seen him".

alfred also joining the conversation after he heard the inn's name.

"oh did you stay there too?, ehmmm the man...is a tall human maybe a bit taller and older than you, with masculine good looking face...short black hair... his eye is light purple.... and he's wearing expensive looking black light armor and somekind of dark half robe i think... eihh i don't know that outfits name.... do you seen someone like that???".

dina start telling the man's appearance after hearing alfred also staying at the same inn as the man.

alfred silent for a moment while racking his brain try to remembering something.

"yeah i guess i've seen someone like that, during the breakfast just earlier, he also sit on the table behind me when i was eating...".

alfred also remember there is a man that matched dina description when he was still at the inn.

"tch it's confirmed then that he also stayed there....so mel what is our next move?...".

dina gnash her teeth looked upset after knowing alfred had seen him, she's upset because that man is the first person that can eluded her tracking and making her running around everywhere just for trying to find him.

"well... i've already sent invitation to aurel and zohar from the 3rd detachment, they will meet us at night,... and alfred did you had people you recommend before....where are they now".

melissa start telling about the team next movement.

"there are 2 people, but one of them like i said yesterday, he's a legionnaire in the 5th legion so he's currently not in the capital obviously, while the other one is my former former instructor back in the academy, maybe she's still in the there as i haven't meet her since i graduate....so do you want me to go to the academy to check her lady melissa??.

"not now...now three of us will go to your inn to meet that man".

melissa suggest that they go to the patron's inn to look for the man.

"huh!!! but why did you want to meet him suddenly?? he's observation is not related to our mission right..".

dina complained to melissa suggestion as that man activities monitoring is not related to their current undergoing mission, even alfred also confused about it too.

"you don't understand but....sighhh the leader recommend me to recruit him." melissa sigh and shrugged her shoulder when she tell dina about the leader suggestion.

"what!!?? but why??? ... did the man perhaps is leader acquaintances ?".

dina asked melissa doubtly.

"i don't know what's the reason and when i ask him that, he also doesn't know why he suggesting it....hell he didn't even know the man at all... it's baffling...but i'm trying to follow his advice, you also know how capable the leader is don't you, even though he's an absolute weirdo.".

melissa finish her explanation with some harsh words towards her superiors.

dina after hearing what melissa said, also nodding her head weakly because she's also know that the SAD leader is a very capable and mysterious man, that's why many SAD members sometime asking his advice, even the kaiser of astoria also acknowledge the leader capabilities.

"so are we departing for the inn now ?, it is still in morning afterall, we shouldn't wasting time.".

alfred who doesn't know anything about SAD affairs sugget they better hurry heading for the inn.

"yeah let's depart immedietly, before that man disappear again.".

melissa says that while looking and teased dina a bit.

"i told you mel... i really saw him disappearing.... why don't you believe me eihhh!!".

then the three of them leaving the stores and quickly heading towards the inn.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

the man who become the main focus of the three people conversation earlier is now currently sitting leisurely in the chair near the reception area inside the inn, while reading a small book about woman's makeups and fashion that he grabbed from the shelf nearby.

'hmmm this is wonderful, it's so profound but extremely meticulous, i didn't know that it can be combined like that.....outstanding'

arno reading the book with a serious face and mixed emotion, as he never would have expect that womans makeups and fashion will be so mind boggling.

after the breakfast, he did not follow alfred but instead just relaxing around the inn.

then from the dining area the inn's owner a charming proprietress walk towards arno while carrying a cup of tea.

"here you go sir a warm tea for you, so you can relaxed more" .

the charming proprietress then putting the tea in the small table beside arno's chair.

"ah madam owner you don't have to that you know hhmm, but thank you then for the tea....".

even though he said proprietress don't have to offering the tea, but he quickly pouring the tea to his cup.

"hehehe it's fine....i saw you reading the book for awhile, did sir not have a business elsewhere ?".

"i actually have but because this is sunday, i decide to just lazying around doing nothing today hehehe...". arno tell the charming proprietress that he will be just idling today.

"hahah i see.... i also remember my daughter telling me earlier that someone from far away is asking her about why there is no people's activities this morning heheheh".

the charming proprietress is laughing lightly as she teased arno a bit.

"hehe...that was really embarassing for me, as i didn't really know about it, we don't have that kind of thing back in my hometown.".

arno said to the charming proprietress that he is embarassed when she tease him like that, but he saying that with a straight face and doesn't looked like he's embarassed at all.

"hahah don't be sir...it is normal if you never been here afterall, well please excuse me first as i still have something to take care of, if you need anything my daughter is in the dining area.....also please enjoy the tea".

the charming proprietress then leaving to the back while arno also thanked her before he goes back to the books.

few minutes passed before arno divine sense picking up something interesting.

'hmm that melissa along with alfred boy and the dark elf from yesterday...seems heading to the inn....i wonder why heheh.....'.

arno smile lightly when he sense the three people is coming toward the inn, while he keep reading the book.

the three people is finally arrives at the inn front door, when they entering the inn they saw arno who is still reading book at the long chairs.

they set their gazes with serious face, especially dina who's is now looking at the man who disappears in front of her yesterday, she's having mixed feeling about this.

the three of them then looking at each other, before walking to where arno sits.

while arno raise his head slowly towards them,

"is there something wrong lady??".

arno asked melissa, this is the first time he talks directly to her.

"we want to talked about something to you, do you have the moment....sir?".

melissa asking arno a moment as she had something to talked about, even calling him sir because she remembers arno also possess an inventory ring so that makes him probably from a foreign noble or important family too.

after hearing that, arno looking at each three of them, before smiling lightly, his smile had a very intens charming feeling.

melissa who saw that is froze a litle as she's been affected by that smile, also for dina who is annoyed by arno is kinda become dazed for awhile after she see him smilling, even alfred also pondering when he see him smilling too.

'he's really good looking man huh...'.

alfred himself who is also having a handsome face admits that arno is really dashing.

"sure...why don't we go to the dining area, there's not much people in there right now".

arno agree then beckoning them to talk in dining area.

then 4 of them start walking to the dining area.

while they were still on the way, melissa who's walking behind arno set her gaze at his back as she want's to feel the mana inside arno's body to gauges his strength, but she cannot find anything as she feel there is no mana circulating inside arno body.

'tch...looks like he really using unknown item to conceal his strength'.

meli-->>

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