Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

After the discussion, Alaric escorted them out of the mansion. On their way out, they encountered Samantha in the main hall. She stood there as if she were waiting for them, but Alaric and the empress ignored her.

Samantha bowed deeply and greeted the empress with a respectful smile. “Your Majesty.”

The empress and Alaric passed by without saying a word.

Upon stepping out of the mansion, the empress turned her head at him. “Before I go, I have one piece of advice for you.”

Alaric raised his eyebrows, curious to hear her next words.

“You must tread carefully. There might be snakes lurking in the corner, waiting for an opportunity to strike you.”

Alaric furrowed his eyebrows.

“Are you talking about Samantha? You don’t have to worry about that. I am already aware.” His eyebrows relaxed as he let out a faint smile.

The empress was surprised. “You are?”

Alaric shook his head. “I will deal with her in due time, but that will have to wait since she is still of use.”

With Samantha’s strength, he believed that she had a high position in the heretic cult. He was waiting for the right timing to catch the person she had been contacting in secret.

“I underestimated you. It seems like my worries are unnecessary.” The empress shook her head, turned around, and left.

The Grand Commander saluted Alaric before he followed the empress. He then opened the carriage door for her.

Soon, their carriage left and disappeared into the night.

When he could no longer see the carriage, Alaric headed back inside the mansion.

…

The next day, the promised troops arrived in front of the mansion. There were about ten thousand of them. There weren’t many of them, but they were all part of the imperial guards, the best of the best in all of Veronica.

By using his Appraisal, Alaric discovered that the weakest among them was a Knight. There were also dozens of Elite Knights and ten Transcendents. It was a stacked unit and this made him incredibly pleased.

“Shall we begin the operation?” With a smile, Alaric looked at the senior inspector whose anxiety was evident on his face.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Jaymund Felton was intimidated by the aura exuded by the imperial guards. They didn’t even deliberately release their aura, but he was still suffocated by their presence.

He took a deep breath and turned his head to his subordinates. The inspectors looked visibly nervous, but they tried to remain calm so as not to embarrass the senior inspector.

“Inspectors, you will be assigned to team up with the imperial guards to investigate the suspected members of the heretic cult. There is a high chance that fights may break out during the investigation, but no need to fret. The imperial guards will handle all the fights and you will only be responsible for…” A lengthy speech followed, but everyone listened carefully.

This was a mission with some degree of danger involved so they were afraid to miss anything important.

“…That would be all!” Jaymund Felton ended his speech and nodded to Alaric.

It was Alaric’s cue to take the floor.

He confidently stepped forward and opened his mouth. His calm, yet authoritative voice echoed.

“Your assigned teams have already been posted on the bulletin board right there. Find your team members and proceed to your assigned target once you are ready.”

As soon as his voice fell, everyone turned their heads to the big bulletin board.

Alaric didn’t linger after the announcement. He went back to the mansion to make his own preparations.

…

Inside his room, Samantha helped him put on his armor.

“Your Highness, are you heading out to find the members of the heretic cult?” She asked all of a sudden.

Alaric looked at her through the mirror and asked. “Why do you ask?”

“I’m just worried about you. Everyone knows that the heretic cult is a dangerous group. Your Highness must be careful out there.” Samantha spoke with a look of concern.

Alaric almost laughed at her good acting, but he controlled his emotions. He let out a smile and responded. “The heretic cult might be dangerous, but I am not a weak man. I will be fine.”

Samantha grabbed his hand and stared into his eyes. “Please come back unharmed.”

I have to hand it to her. She is a good actress. She’s even better than some actresses in the troupes back home. Alaric played along with her. He took her in his arms and gently rubbed her back. “I will be back soon.”

Samantha quivered at the unexpected body contact. She resisted the urge to push him away and acted like the shy woman she had portrayed.

“I will give my body to you after you return.” She mumbled.

Alaric chuckled. “You can’t take that back anymore.”

She smiled faintly, her eyes filled with passion. She took something out of her bosom and handed it to him. “Please take this. It’s a medicine from my hometown. It can help you clear your mind.”

Alaric could still feel her warmth from the bottle. He looked at the pills inside and smiled in gratitude. “Thank you.”

Samantha dove into his arms, her hands moving towards a certain bulge. She then said in a seductive voice. “I heard that it also helps in boosting performance.”

Alaric scoffed in his mind, but he pretended to be amazed. “There’s such an amazing medicine?”

This must be the poison that she got from her contact. Did she finally run out of patience?

He thought to himself.

“We will know once you return, Your Highness.” She lifted her head and sent him a knowing look.

Alaric laughed as if he were looking forward to that day.

“I must go now. Wait for me here.”

He grabbed his swords and put on a robe over his armor. He took one last look at her, as if he was reluctant to leave.

Creak.

As soon as he left the room, Samantha’s face darkened.

Alaric… I thought it would take me a long time to control you, but you are more gullible than that stupid empress. Forget about taking my body. The moment you return here, you will be nothing more than my puppet!

The corner of her lips curved up to form an evil smile.

…

Alaric headed out of the mansion and saw his subordinates waiting for him outside. They had already prepared a Disaster-grade horse for him.

He took the reins from Galanar and jumped onto his horse. After expertly putting his feet on the stirrups, he looked at his subordinates and said.

“We are heading out!”

He lightly squeezed his legs to urge his horse to move.

“Yes, Lord Venerable!”

At this moment, Nivis urged her horse to move next to Alaric’s.

“You have that woman’s scent on you.” She scoffed at him with a look of disdain.

Alaric looked at her and laughed. “The more I look at you, the more I find it hilarious.

Hearing this, Nivis frowned. “What do you mean?”

Alaric shook his head, stifling his laughter. “I mean… You are a centauress, but you are riding a horse.”

In her embarrassment, Nivis released a punch, but Alaric seemed to be prepared for this.

He blocked her fist with his palm with an amused expression.

“Alright. That’s enough and remember what I told you.” He reminded her.

This centauress nearly exposed herself in front of Samantha. Luckily, Scilla was there to clear things up.

Nivis pulled back her fist and snorted. “Stop nagging me. I know what to do.”

Alaric shook his head helplessly.

Their goal was only to intimidate the heretic cult. Alaric moving with the imperial guards and the inspection department was only for show.

His real objective was something else.

Without me at the mansion, Samantha will definitely contact the man from the heretic cult, and that man will help us find their main headquarters!

He smiled faintly as he took out the medicine bottle he got from Samantha.

“What’s that?” Nivis’s curious voice drifted into his ears.

“I got this from that woman. According to her, it’s a medicine that boosts sexual performance.” Alaric responded with a chuckle.

Nivis sneered. “That’s definitely laced with poison.”

Alaric grinned. He clenched his fist and used his mana to burn the bottle.

The high temperature from the flame melted the bottle and pills inside until there was nothing left.

His hand that came in contact with the melted pills blackened for a moment, but it soon recovered to normal in a few seconds.

The poison was only potent through direct consumption. With his high vitality, it only made his skin slightly irritated upon contact.

Nivis looked disgusted upon seeing this.

“As expected. I could tell since the first time we met that she is suspicious.”

Alaric covered his ears with mana. He couldn’t be bothered to listen to her words because he had already heard her say this over and over.

“Hey! Are you listening to me?”