Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 73
(I don’t tend to agree with the book very often but damn the book is right. We can not place our plans on the off chance the shadow is doing something here or there. He may be looking for you but so long as we stay hidden, and you don’t use Mind-soul energy, in what Realm could he ever locate you?)
The moment Arc said this, as if it were out of a story itself, coincidentally someone a few tables over spoke to his friend.
“Have you heard about the Crescent Knights and the Blood faction?”
Kazuki’s ears perked up the second the Crescent Knights were mentioned and he as well as Codex and Arc listened in as the conversation continued. A man with a beard full of food debris and a mustache dripping with beer leaned in as he asked his friend.
“Of course, I heard about them. Aren’t they both on the verge of war? Everyone already knows this.”
The man telling the story in the first place shook his head before gulping down the last of his dirty mug.
*Burrrrrrp*
Wiping his mouth he smirked.
“It seems you are out of the loop my friend. Understandable since I myself just learned of this. Apparently, the black gate is opening. The so-called on the verge, all this tension, it will be a full-on war shortly. That I guarantee.”
As soon as this man said this, silence filled the bar. Everyone was now paying attention to this man. The man knew he was the focus and reveled in it as he stood up from his seat.
“Hehe, I’m sure it’s already spreading in all the nearby Starpaths by now so I ain’t exactly spilling anything but I bet you’re all interested right?”
As he said this, the man tilted his empty mug over so that the final drops fell into his wide mouth.
“I’d gladly tell you but I’m quite parched.”
It was obvious what the man was doing. Money for information. Nothing new in these Realms.
A woman a few tables over chimed in.
“Why would we buy you a drink? You just said this information is already spreading around. A few minutes here or there to get the news, I’m pretty sure we can all wait.”
The man chuckled upon hearing this and his confidence grew.
“True, the information I have is nothing special but a few minutes here or there can decide the outcome of who obtains the treasure within the black gate and who walks away with nothing. You all know the legends about what lies inside the black gate. A great power, enough to change the three Higher Realms themselves for whoever obtains it. When will such an opportunity ever come again? Are you all willing to risk such valuable info over a few lousy Divine crystals here and there? If so fine, that’s fine with me, hehe.”
The woman was not one to look foolish and asked the question everyone else was thinking.
“If the information you have is so grand why not use it for yourself and get ahead of the competition? Why are we so special that you would divulge such important information to us?”
Everyone began to laugh while the man’s friend began to pull on his shirt to try and get him to sit down. The man shook his friend off and a bow appeared in his hand from out of nowhere.
Everyone’s eyes went wide and they thought he was going to attack over their laughing at him. They all drew their Soul weapons instantly following him but to their shock, the man tossed his Divine Bow to the ground in front of everyone. The moment he did this, they all realized why he did not go and seek the Black gate himself.
The man’s Divine Soul weapon was a longbow whatever color it was in its’ original form was long lost. What replaced it was a dark black energy along with a purple mist. This dark energy oozed out of the Longbow and seeped into the ground which instantly began to dissolve. Not only was the bow covered in this degrading foul energy but it was also covered in hundreds of tiny cracks. The cracks were spreading very slowly but all could see it happen in real-time. The string was thin and seemed to be held together with only a few threads of energy.
The man shook his head and his good mood flipped to that of depressing sadness and self-loathing.
“I was foolish and greedy. Laugh as much as you want, I no longer care. I was at the Black Gate and tried to get ahead but I made a fatal mistake and now…My life will soon end. Look at my Divine Soul weapon as proof, every crack is a crack in my soul. That foul energy…it is drilling into my psyche at every waking moment. It is a constant torture that none of you can fathom and very soon it will erode what’s left of me and destroy my very soul. The information I have…It is of no use to me now. Only worth enough to fill my cup. My days of seeking fortune are no more.”
The man knew his fate and saw there was only one ending. He was bitter and it was obvious he could not accept it but there was nothing he could do. He took his dirty mug and slammed it down on his table but he didn’t break it. He looked over the room and shouted in a haughty voice.
“NOW IS SOMEONE GOING TO BUY ME A FUCKING DRINK OR NOT!?”
The bar remained quiet and the man snorted before retrieving his weapon and storing it away from people. At this, the people all began opening their own storage rings and Divine Crystals began falling out one after another as they shouted.
“BUY THIS BRAVE BASTARD A DRINK ON ME!”
“ME TOO, GET HIM AS MANY DRINKS AS HE WANTS!”
“I WON’T LET YOU GUYS LEAVE ME BEHIND! BUY HIM WHATEVER HE WISHES HERE!”
“RIGHT RIGTH THIS MAN AINT GOT LONG! LET THE DRINKS FLOW LIKE A RIVER, NO AN OCEAN!”
The man was actually touched by this. The barmaid smiled before bringing the man enough drinks that they covered his entire table and were stacked up several rounds.
The man almost wanted to cry. He picked up one of the fat mugs and downed it all in one sitting while everyone cheered.
“Right. For this let me show my appreciation to you all. As you all know, the Crescent Knights and the Blood Faction have been feuding for years and it all started with the Black Gate. It is on the verge of opening but no one knew when or where. I’ll shout it from the rooftops so that everyone can hear. The Black Gate will open four days from now. Or approximately 99 hours and 7 minutes from…this exact point. As for where it will open, there is a single clue.”
As the man said this, he downed one mug of beer or ale after another. Everyone was growing excited and cheering him on further while a few crafty ones were preparing to run ahead the moment they gathered every detail.
Taking another swig the man continued.
“As for the clue of where the path will open. One line was written in the stars. [Upon the giant’s belt will the Realm know of my embrace.]”
As soon as the man said this the cheering bar went silent as if someone had farted in their faces. Looks of clear irritation spread among them and the ones who were prepared to take off ahead of everyone else almost tripped over their own rooted feet.
A person got angry and shouted.
“What in the 7 Realms of hell does that even mean!?”
Another threw a plate of chicken at the man’s head whacking him right in the ear and part of his neck.
“You Fraud! You actually had us all going for a minute. Spouting nonsense, Giant’s belt, the fuck is that even suppose to mean!?”
More jeers and more plates of food and drinks came flying over, covering the man from head to toe. No one felt sorry for the man and even his friend who shared the table with him had slunk away to avoid this trouble.
The man just stood there in shock. Completely deflated he sat down while people continued to throw crap at him. After a few moments, the barmaid came back, and with a curl of her finger her power wrapped around the man and he floated upward.
“One thing I hate more than anything is someone who causes trouble in my place. Get lost fool!”
With a flick of her finger, the man flew out of the bar and crashed into the back alley connecting it.
Everyone began laughing once more before the woman turned around with a furious look. She pointed and shouted at them.
“If YOU ALL KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU, YOU’LL CLEAN THIS UP BEFORE I THROW ALL OF YOUR ASSES TO THE DIRT! GET IT DONE!”
Everyone in the establishment felt a chill run down their backs and none dared defy her.
At the same time, the man sat slunk against a wall. Covered in shit, he could only laugh as if he were possessed. Finally, he got up and began to slink out of the alley when someone called out from behind.
“Do you wish to live?”
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