Chapter - 73

Leo's hand was on the brass handle of the study door. The threat had been delivered. The dominance asserted. He was ready to walk out, leaving the High Priest trembling in his expensive robes, terrified of the "Organization" that didn't exist.

"Wait!"

Remus's voice cracked, desperate and sharp. It wasn't the command of a High Priest; it was the plea of a man who had run out of options.

Leo paused. He didn't turn around immediately. He let the silence hang in the air for a second, letting Remus sweat. Then, slowly, he looked over his shoulder.

"I thought we were done, Remus," Leo said, his voice flat. "I took your potion. I gave you the rules. Do you have a death wish, or did you forget something?"

Remus scrambled up from his chair. He looked like a mess—sweat beading on his forehead, his hands gripping the edge of his desk for support.

"The third favor," Remus rasped. "I... I still need the third favor. And this one... this one is not about herbs or potions. It is about survival."

Leo turned fully, leaning his back against the door. He crossed his arms. "I'm listening. But make it quick. My patience isn't infinite."

Remus took a deep breath, composing himself. He gestured to the empty chair Leo had just vacated. "Please. Sit. This is... sensitive."

"I'll stand," Leo said.

Remus nodded nervously. "Very well. The third favor... I need a courier. A guard. Someone who exists outside the official channels. Someone strong enough to kill assassins but invisible enough not to draw the attention of the Empire."

He looked Leo up and down, a spark of calculation returning to his eyes.

"Someone exactly like you."

"Get to the point," Leo warned.

"There is a weapon," Remus whispered. "An artifact of immense power. It is currently being held in the Temple of Light in the Southern Kingdom of Zarth. It is being transported here, to the Capital, as a... 'sign of goodwill' between our two nations."

"Goodwill?" Leo scoffed. "Zarth raids our borders every other week. Since when do they send gifts?"

"Since they found something they are too afraid to keep," Remus admitted, his voice dropping lower. "They call it 'Black Sky'."

Leo frowned. "Black Sky? Sounds ominous. What does it do? Summon rain? Blot out the sun?"

"It is... complicated," Remus waved his hand vaguely, trying to downplay it. "It is an ancient relic. A weapon from the Age of Myths. Its properties are... unstable. But the High Priestess in the Capital believes it can be purified. It must be brought to the Holy Seat."

"And you want me to be the delivery boy?" Leo asked. "Why not use your tin cans downstairs? The Iron Saints. They seem tough enough."

Remus grimaced. "I cannot. The Iron Saints are bound to the ley lines of this Temple. If they step one foot outside the consecrated grounds, they turn into heavy, useless statues. And my human guards... the paladins..."

Remus looked away. "Let us just say that 'Black Sky' has a... corrupting influence on those of weak faith. Or weak minds. I cannot trust a standard escort. They would either die or try to steal it."

"But you trust me?" Leo raised an eyebrow.

"I trust your greed," Remus said simply. "And I trust your strength. You killed seven men without blinking. You have no allegiance to the Crown or the Church. You are a mercenary. Mercenaries are predictable. They do the job, they get paid."

Leo didn't answer immediately.

'Aiva,' he commanded internally. 'Scan database. Keyword: Black Sky. What is this old bat trying to hand me?'

There was a moment of silence in his head. Usually, Aiva was instant. This time, there was a static fuzz, a feeling of mental resistance.

[Processing...]

[Accessing Ancient Archives...]

[ERROR: Data Corrupted.]

[ERROR: Access Denied.]

[System Alert: The information regarding 'Black Sky' is classified as S-Grade Lore. Minimum Level Requirement: 30.]

[Current Level: 3.]

[Access Restricted. Warning: The item designation 'Black Sky' matches signatures of Calamity-Class Artifacts. Extreme Caution Advised.]

Leo's eyes widened slightly.

Level 30? He was Level 3. Aiva had just told him he was trying to access endgame content in the tutorial zone.

"Calamity-Class," Leo mused. "That doesn't sound like a 'goodwill gift'. That sounds like a bomb."

Remus was watching him closely, sweating. "Well? It is a simple transport mission. You pick it up at the border, you travel to the Capital, you hand it over."

"Simple," Leo repeated sarcastically.

Before he could refuse, a massive, golden notification window slammed into his vision, overriding everything else.

DING!

[Mythic Quest Available: The Carrier of Calamity]

[Objective: Retrieve the artifact 'Black Sky' from the Southern Border and deliver it safely to the High Priest of Auravale Temple.]

[Time Limit: None.]

[Rewards:]

[1. 50,000 Gold Coins]

[2. 100,000 EXP (Instant Level Up to Level 7)]

[3. One Legendary Skill Book (Random)]

[4. One Mystery box]

[Failure Penalty: Curse of the Black Sky (Permanent -50% to all Stats). Hostility from the Church of Light. Hostility from the Kingdom of Zarth.]

Leo stared at the rewards.

Fifty thousand gold. Instant levels. A Legendary skill book.

The System wasn't asking him to deliver a pizza. It was asking him to carry a nuke across the country. The rewards were insane, which meant the danger was equally insane.

But Leo looked at the rewards, and then he looked at Remus. The old man didn't know about the System. He didn't know Leo was seeing a quest screen that promised him godhood.

Leo grinned. A slow, greedy, predator's grin.

"I'm interested," Leo said.

Remus let out a breath he had been holding. "Excellent! I knew a man of your caliber would—"

"I didn't say yes," Leo cut him off. "I said I'm interested. But for a job like this? A job that your own magic robots can't handle? The price isn't going to be cheap, Remus. And I'm not talking about gold."

Remus wiped his brow with a silk handkerchief. "I told you. The Temple's resources are at your disposal. Name your price. Within reason."

"Oh, it's reasonable," Leo lied, stepping away from the door and walking back to the desk. "But I have a list. Three demands. You asked for three favors? I want three payments."

Remus narrowed his eyes, the shrewd negotiator returning. "Three?"

"Consider that a consulting fee," Leo dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "This is for the 'Black Sky'. Do you want the weapon delivered or not?"

Remus gritted his teeth. "Speak."

Leo leaned on the desk, holding up one finger.

"First," Leo said. "I made a few friends today. Or rather, I made a few enemies. The Guild Masters of the Golden Scales and the Iron Caravan. Gamon and Drax."

Remus nodded. "I know them. Greedy, unpleasant men."

"They're pissed," Leo said casually. "I walked into their hall, insulted them in front of their staff, and walked out with the goods they wanted. They're going to come after me. I can handle them, sure. I could kill them tonight. But that draws attention. It gets messy."

Leo stared at Remus.

"I want them leashed. I want you to use your influence. Tell them I'm off-limits. Tell them I'm working for the Temple. Tell them if they touch a hair on my head, the Church will audit their souls and their coffers. I want them to sit down, shut up, and swallow their anger."

Remus considered this. It was easy. The Church held sway over the merchants. A word from the High Priest would terrify Gamon.

"Done," Remus said instantly. "I will send a missive tonight. They will not touch you. They will fear you."

"Good," Leo said.

He held up a second finger.

"Second. I want you to bless the Silver Route."

Remus blinked, confused. "The... Silver Route? Lady Ryana's guild?"

"That's the one."

"Why?" Remus asked, genuinely baffled. "They are failing. They are the smallest of the three. Why do you care about a struggling merchant guild? Is she paying you?"

"No," Leo grinned, a lecherous sparkle in his eye. "But she might. If I play my cards right."

"You want to... help her business?"

"I want you to give the Silver Route an official Temple contract," Leo demanded. "Order your candles, your incense, your robes... whatever useless junk you buy... order it from her. Give her the 'Temple Approved' seal. And as a gesture of goodwill, place a massive order right now. Tonight. Something that will make her rich."

Remus stared at him. "You are doing this... to impress a woman?"

"I'm doing it because I pissed off the other two guilds and I need a place to sell my loot," Leo said. "And because I want to get into the Red Queen's pants. I want to inspect some of her assets."

Remus let out a short, incredulous laugh. "You are an absurd creature, Mr Leo. You negotiate for national secrets and divine weapons, and your price is... a date?"

"Priorities, old man," Leo shrugged. "Can you do it?"

"It is irregular," Remus muttered. "But... feasible. Ryana is honest, at least. Unlike Gamon. Very well. I will draft a contract for the Silver Route. She will be the Temple's exclusive supplier for the season."

"Perfect," Leo said, imagining the look on Ryana's face when the High Priest showed up with a bag of gold. That quest reward was as good as his.

"And the third?" Remus asked, bracing himself.

Leo's expression changed. The playfulness vanished.

"The third," Leo said. "Is an introduction."

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