"My Lord."
"Mhm. Follow the route I've mapped out for you. Use that opening to reach the outskirts of the Royal Capital. Once you've gathered intelligence on the situation there, contact me through this medal."
As he spoke, Mohg reached into the blood pool and pulled out a crimson knight's medal, handing it to the leader of the group.
"We shall not fail your command, My Lord!"
"Go. Once this is over, I will personally bestow a new round of blessings upon you. After the mission is complete, remain hidden within the Altus Plateau."
"By your command!"
With that, the squad of Blood Warriors set off at once toward the coordinates Mohg had provided.
Mohg had a fair amount of confidence in their strength. As long as they didn't run into the various overlords lurking in the sewers, they should be fine. Of course, the main concern was that they didn't run into Morgott; if that happened, things would get very awkward, very fast.
Furthermore, there was a risk of his "Omen" cover being blown. But having made the decision, he could only hope the operation would go smoothly.
After finishing his arrangements there, Mohg buried and destroyed the blood pool before returning to the site of the Frenzied Flame's seal.
Morgott had already returned and was continuing to reinforce the golden patterns atop the seal. As a fresh golden seal was struck into the barrier, Mohg clearly saw the golden radiance atop the seal flare with even greater brilliance.
Morgott wore a look of satisfaction, nodding slightly at the seal before him.
Mohg's lips twitched. No wonder that in the game, the seal blocked this place so thoroughly that nothing inside could be seen; it was the result of Morgott's cumulative efforts day after day.
"Where did you go?" Morgott asked, glancing at the items that had gone missing from the corner before turning his gaze toward Mohg.
"I went to the other side of the sewers to try and learn some sorcery. I accidentally blew up that Glintstone Staff. I suppose it's incompatible with my power," Mohg explained, showing Morgott his slightly charred robes.
Morgott's mouth twitched, but he didn't suspect anything. He simply reminded Mohg to be careful when handling such things, especially when dealing with Glintstone—a substance they understood very little about.
Glintstone was the primary focus of the Carian Royal Family and the Academy, whereas the Golden Dynasty's knowledge of it was limited to simply knowing it existed. They knew it contained significant power, but they were entirely ignorant of how to process or utilize it.
Consequently, in the early days of the Dynasty, traces of Glintstone and the presence of Glintstone sorcerers were virtually non-existent. Only recently, with the recruitment of new blood, had the Royal Capital begun to gain some fresh insight into the nature of Glintstone sorcery.
"Let's not dwell on that. Come, give me some more of your blood. I need to reinforce the seal again."
Mohg's face darkened instantly. He immediately shifted his primary consciousness back to his main body, kicking his secondary consciousness back into the clone.
The secondary consciousness in the clone was dazed for a split second as Morgott approached, but the sharp sting at his wrist quickly brought him to his senses.
Casting a resentful look at Morgott, the clone returned to his corner, sat cross-legged, and began refining his spiritual energy once more.
"Right, I've got the items. Now to see how I can use them..."
Mohg weighed the Glintstone Staff and a few common items in his hand before leaving his hiding spot. He had left behind the sorcerer's robes and other jewelry or tokens that might identify the original owner. Those things wouldn't help him maintain his new identity as he scouted the Academy Gate Town.
Instead, he modified his own clothing to resemble the style of the ancient Astrologers. It wasn't a perfect match, of course, but he dressed just enough to look the part.
Once prepared, Mohg placed a certain number of Runes into a pouch and walked toward the checkpoint near the Academy Gate Town.
A long queue had already formed there. People of all walks of life stood in line, waiting to be inspected before entering the town.
This sight piqued Mohg's curiosity. After scanning the surroundings, he approached a nearby man.
"Excuse me. Do you know why there are so many people lining up for inspection?"
"You don't know?" The man, dressed in commoner's clothes, looked at Mohg with an odd expression. However, the moment he took in Mohg's attire, his face shifted drastically, becoming instantly humble.
"M-my Lord Sorcerer, please forgive me! I didn't recognize you just now..."
Mohg waved a hand, signaling that he didn't mind. He wasn't surprised by the reaction. It was common knowledge that sorcerers held high status within the Lake District. This was even more true near the Gate Town, which sat under the "protection" of the Academy; the deference toward sorcerers was likely ingrained in the residents' very bones.
Seeing that Mohg had no intention of taking offense, the resident breathed a sigh of relief and began to explain.
In his eyes, this Lord Sorcerer was likely a traveler from afar seeking to study at the Academy. Even if he were only an apprentice, he was not someone a commoner could afford to offend.
After listening to the man's explanation, Mohg's expression turned to one of understanding.
Essentially, the mounting tension between the Carians and the Erdtree had frayed the nerves of the populace. Bandits and other opportunistic riff-raff within the Lake District had begun to crawl out of the woodwork. Consequently, the surrounding people had begun gravitating toward major towns and important landmarks in search of protection and a way to survive.
As for whether they would be caught in the crossfire if a war truly broke out between the Lakes and the Golden Tree... that wasn't something they could afford to worry about yet. If they couldn't even survive today, there was no "later" to plan for.
After handing the man 10 Runes, Mohg walked toward a specific opening in the line.
According to the man, there was a dedicated checkpoint for mercenaries carrying weapons and for sorcerers. Its primary purpose was to better register and manage such individuals.
After walking for a distance, Mohg indeed saw the specialized area, which was clearly marked with the common script of the Lands Between.
────────────────────────────────────────
Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Spring Sale Special – 20% OFF!
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (369 Chapters – Ongoing)
Join the journey and become part of the story!
────────────────────────────────────────