Another day passed before Baston returned to the same place that he bought an information before.
The building stood quietly along one of Luminos City's streets. From the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary building. It was a plain structure with polished wooden doors and a modest signboard that was hanging above the entrance.
Yet, everyone in Luminos City knew this place was far from ordinary.
Behind those walls, information flowed like the currency. Several secrets were bought and sold here. Some secrets were expensive enough to ruin a noble family while the others were elusive for anyone to buy.
He stepped inside and found the same exact atmosphere from yesterday.
The interior smelled faintly of ink, parchment, and polished wood. Several clerks sat behind the long desks, quietly sorting documents while the scribes copied the reports with steady hands. No one raised their voice and the conversations were conducted in low whispers.
After all, information here was a dangerous commodity. The staff here treated it with the same caution that one might treat toward a poison.
He approached the counter and placed a token card on the table, "I'm here to collect the investigation results."
The staff member took the card and checked the record before extending her hand to collect the payment, "Fifty thousand pounds…"
He already expected the price and he slid the payment across the counter without hesitation. Money disappeared quickly in Luminos City but such information was one of the few things that was truly worth paying for.
The staff member processed the payment carefully before handing over a sealed parchment, "This is your report..."
Baston accepted the document and his card back, quietly leaving the place. He did not open it immediately.
Instead, he walked several streets away until he found a small restaurant near a quiet corner of the district. The place was modest but comfortable, filled with the warm smell of roasted meat and baked bread.
It was perfect for someone who wanted to read in peace.
He ordered several dishes and sat down at a corner table. Only then did he unfold the parchment. His eyes slowly scanned the report.
"Viktor Anderson…" he murmured softly.
The first line immediately described the man. A general information was revealed upon his eyes.
"A wealthy noble with considerable influence despite possessing only a moderate noble title. Known for greed, arrogance, and indulgence in luxury…"
"Frequently seen at Paradise Resort in the district. Recently accompanied by multiple women and known associates…"
He leaned back slightly in his chair, "In the end, the guild found the same bait."
Paradise Resort, that was the location Viktor deliberately showed the world but he already knew the truth.
The real hideout was Carpel Inn and the first location had been prepared as a trap. Luke would have walked directly into it if Baston had trusted the guild blindly.
He tapped the table thoughtfully.
Viktor Anderson was cautious. He was much more cautious than most of the nobles.
He deliberately allowed himself to be seen enjoying luxury at Paradise Resort. The place was extravagant, filled with wine, music, and beautiful companions.
Anyone who was investigating him would naturally conclude that Viktor was wasting his time indulging in pleasure but he noticed something interesting written at the bottom of the report. It was a small paragraph added by the guild.
"However, during several periods of observation, Viktor Anderson was recorded to disappear from Paradise Resort for extended periods of time. His exact destination remains unknown."
He smiled faintly since the guild truly deserved its reputation. Even though they had not discovered him at Carpel Inn, they still sensed something was wrong.
Paradise Resort was only a disguise, a temporary stage for the end fight to happen. Viktor's true movements were hidden elsewhere.
Baston nodded slowly, "Not bad..."
For fifty thousand pounds, the report was surprisingly thorough. He continued reading and the next section listed Viktor's security detail.
"At least, ten visible guards and two wizards accompany him regularly. There are also two additional hidden guards that were believed to operate as the covert protection."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the total of fourteen men. There were possibly more depending on the situation.
If the guards at Carpel Inn were similar, the problem would become troublesome. Even he could not defeat that many opponents alone. Not to mention his ordinary guards, his wizards would be unpredictable. One mistake could easily cost a life.
He folded the parchment slowly, "The information is good but it's not enough..."
The guild could only observe the surface and the deeper truth required Baston himself to investigate. Just as he was thinking, the waiter arrived carrying several dishes which were roasted meat, fresh bread, vegetable stew, and a small pot of tea.
The food smelled wonderful, but unfortunately, he could only stare at it.
The body who was sitting in the chair was merely a puppet. It had no stomach, no hunger, and no tongue to taste. Ordering the food was only an act in this picture.
"Please pack everything…" he said calmly.
The waiter nodded, "Of course, sir…"
While the staff prepared the takeaway package, he checked his balance on his Luminos card.
There were only 149,000 pounds remaining. He had spent a thousand pounds on the food alone. He sighed quietly over his spending.
Luminos City was truly terrifying. Money flew away faster than the arrows in a battlefield. Soon, the waiter returned with the packaged food.
He handed him several coins, "Thank you for your help... Here's the tip…"
The waiter bowed gratefully, "Thank you, sir…"
He stood and left the restaurant. The streets of Luminos City were lively as always.
The carriages rolled past, the merchants displayed their prices, and the nobles walked confidently under the protection of their guards. Yet, Baston's thoughts were far away from the busy streets.
He kept thinking about ten ordinary guards, two wizards, and two hidden protectors. Facing them directly would be a suicide.
"I need something else…" he murmured.
*****
Eventually, Baston arrived at the familiar entrance of Tasco's Barrack. Of course, with the same identity as before which was Sebastian.
The old training ground looked exactly the same as before. It was a worn wooden sign that was swayed gently in the wind. Inside the courtyard, the old knight Tasco was already waiting.
When the puppet entered, Tasco immediately laughed loudly, "Sebastian!"
The old man walked over and slapped Sebastian's shoulder, "You came back!"
"I told you I would…" Sebastian replied.
"I thought yesterday's training would scare you away," the old man laughed, "Many beginners disappear after the first day."
Sebastian smiled faintly, "I already paid one hundred thousand pounds. I would be a fool to quit."
Tasco burst into a laughter again, "Ha… ha… ha… That's the spirit!"
By then, he noticed the package that Sebastian carried, "What's that?"
"It's just a small gift…"
Sebastian handed the food to him, "I passed by a restaurant earlier. I thought you might enjoy it."
Tasco waved his hand immediately, "You didn't need to trouble yourself."
However, his hands already accepted the package and Sebastian watched silently. The old men were always the same. They rejected the gifts with their mouths but their hands never refused.
Soon, Tasco was happily eating and the food disappeared quickly. Within several minutes, the entire meal was gone. Sebastian sighed inwardly because one thousand pounds vanished easily into a stomach.
After finishing the meal, Tasco wiped his mouth and stood up energetically, "Now then, let's continue the training!"
He picked up his sword, "Yesterday, I taught you the basics quickly. How to swing properly, how to control your balance effectively, and how to deliver a clean strike precisely."
Sebastian nodded since those fundamentals were necessary. Even though he possessed a little knowledge of the knight, his body lacked a real combat experience. After all, magic and swordsmanship were different worlds.
Tasco raised his sword slowly, "Today, we go further. You will learn how to combine your attack with aura."
Sebastian focused his attention which was the aura. The knights used mana differently from the wizards.
The wizards converted mana into spells and the knights converted mana into aura. The energy flowed through the body and weapon. It was faster and more direct. It was quite deadly in close combat.
"Watch carefully…" Tasco said.
The old knight closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his entire presence changed.
At the moments ago, he had looked like a relaxed old man. Now, he resembled a warrior who was standing on a battlefield. His hand gripped the sword, then a sudden attack struck.
"FLASH!"
The blade left the scabbard and a single slash cut through the air.
Sebastian's eyes widened slightly.
The movement was incredibly fast but that was not the most surprising part. Along with the sword, a faint stream of wind aura shot forward. The energy rushed across the training yard.
Several wooden dummies in the distance suddenly split apart cleanly and perfectly.
He stared at the result and the slash had been horizontal yet something felt strange. He walked closer to the dummies before he noticed the detail.
The first dummy was untouched but the ones behind it were destroyed.
He frowned toward such miracle, "That's impossible…"
Tasco crossed his arms, "Did you notice?"
"Yes…" Sebastian said slowly, "The slash should have hit the first dummy but it didn't. How did you bypass it?"
Tasco grinned, "That's the point..."
He pointed toward the destroyed targets, "I named this technique as Wind Breaker. The strike moves faster than ordinary aura attacks but the key is control. The aura travels toward the chosen target and ignores everything else."
He stared at the dummies again, pondering about ignoring the obstacles. It was striking only the intended target. That kind of control was terrifying.
"Amazing…" he muttered.
Tasco nodded proudly, "It's one of my strongest techniques. Normally, I wouldn't teach it but you impressed me yesterday."
He glanced at Sebastian's arm, "You broke your own arm to finish your attack. Not many people have that kind of determination."
Sebastian smiled faintly. If Tasco knew the truth, he might faint. The puppet body simply did not feel the pain. Still, the misunderstanding worked in his favor.
Tasco pointed toward the training field, "Go ahead… Try it by yourself... Even though you haven't learned anything about aura, at least, you have to understand the concept first."
Sebastian picked up his sword. The display was simple but executing it required precise control. He took a deep breath then swung his weapon hard.
"SLASH…"
The blade cut through the air and nothing happened. The dummies remained intact since he didn't add his aura on the slash.
Tasco nodded calmly, "Again…"
Sebastian swung again and again until he himself forgot how many times he did the exact simple movement. Thankfully, the puppet body never grew tired.
Several hours passed with hundreds of swings and thousands of attempts. Slowly, he began to feel something. At least, he wanted to make Tasco believed his enlightenment.
After all, having too much talent without much effort was terrifying. He needed someone to look at his hard work before he created a miracle. By then, his talent would be justified.
"SLASH!"
A sharp burst of energy shot forward, making one dummy's head split apart.
"What?" Tasco froze before he shouted, "Again!"
Sebastian swung again and another dummy lost its head, making Tasco's eyes widened. Something was wrong. The technique worked but the aura felt different. He stepped closer, carefully sensing the energy.
The wind aura should feel light and flowing but what he sensed now was sharper. It was more violent and more compressed. He almost ignored the revelation that Sebastian just learned aura. His focus was on somewhere else.
"Impossible…"
Tasco whispered and his voice trembled slightly, "That aura… It isn't wind nor attribute-less…"
The aura strike was different and he felt it clearly now. The element inside that slash was Gale and not the wind. It was a rare elemental aura, much stronger than the lesser version. It was almost forgotten in present times.
Tasco's breathing slowed, "Sebastian… Where did you learn that?"
The question lingered in the air. For a moment, neither of them moved.
The wind drifted quietly through the training yard, stirring the loose straw that scattered around the shattered dummies. The small fragments of wood rolled across the dirt before coming to a slow stop.
Sebastian looked at the damage. His expression showed to his tutor that he also knew nothing about it. He was going to make sure to Tasco that he himself was not aware of his own strength.
"I only followed what you showed me," Sebastian replied calmly.
Tasco didn't answer immediately.
Instead, the old knight walked toward the destroyed targets. His boots crunched softly against the broken wood as he examined the split dummies one by one. The cuts were clean, too clean that he almost could not believe that Sebastian was a beginner.
He placed his hand on the surface of one broken dummy and ran his fingers across the smooth edge. The strike should have cut like wind but this one indeed felt different.
Behind him, Sebastian remained standing quietly with the sword that was still in his hand. The faint aura that had surrounded the weapon earlier had already faded, leaving nothing but a silent steel.
The old knight turned slowly and his eyes studied his customer carefully now.
Yesterday, this fat man had looked like nothing more than a stubborn beginner who was willing to break his own arm just to finish a strike.
Today, he had reproduced one of his strongest techniques in a single afternoon.
That alone was already unbelievable but the aura was different. Something about it felt familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.