Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 904: Lumine And Monty On A Stroll

Besides Amedith and a handful of other spies responsible for a thorough inspection of the docks, the metal-winged owlgirl–Lumine, and the diligent spy Monty made their way much deeper into the bay city. Their path was laid with white marbles, very much reminiscent of Aranuvia’s marble-carved masonry. However, implemented much crudely for the sake of efficiency, not quality.

The fish market was the first plot their cloaked figures waddled into. Disguised as a human couple with magic, Lumine and Monty acted their part by stopping to observe the goods before continuing to move along. After moving through the crowd of the market for a while, the two noticed a line of streetlamps akin to those set in Elenaris. However, instead of electricity or magic, they were fueled with candles and wicks–the slots for which, for now, were empty with remnants of last night’s candles dried up along their lengths.

On one of those many lamps, a sign was nailed, reading the word ’Alliance’. The city’s name and a word the two had heard a few times already from the merchants or seen written on their signs. Quite a peculiar name, the two thought, but brushing that to the back of their mind, they kept moving further and further down the white cobble path.

Rows of houses and in-colony shops eventually came into view. Looking further up, the two noticed an incline much like the city of Athenia. And in the same way, the houses and buildings in front of them were smaller and cheaper to build, while those up top were more in line with the mansions of the Athenian upper city.

The city sprawled with a diversity of folks from all walks of life, and much like the divide between the regions, the people seemed divided as well. Some worked in their workshops attached to their houses, making clay pots, weapons, jewelry, and other objects in the full view of everyone else. As for the already wealthy elite, the few whom Lumine and Monty caught a glimpse of inside a few wagons, wore indigo clothes with blindfolds and shackles.

”Fancy way of dressing...” Monty whispered, his eyes still following the passing carriages.

”Could they be demi-human slaves?” Lumine replied, her mind wandering back to the treatment of the rebel clans of her homeland.

”I doubt the nobles have taken charge of transporting slaves and prisoners.”

”What if they are slaves who used to be nobles or–” Thinking about the matter, Lumine couldn’t make sense of her own logic. Why were they claimed and free to roam in a carriage if they were slaves or prisoners? Was it some sort of political loophole in this land? Or was it simply... ”A fashion statement?”

”Let’s keep moving and figure it out then,” Monty responded before leading the way once more.

Walking up the slight incline, the two tried to melt into their surroundings and become nearly invisible. For the most part, it seemed to work, especially since the wandering day crowd and carriages disguised them as one amongst the locals. Unlike any other place they’d visited, however, every person either seemed a craftsman or a noble in deep iridescent attire or the servant of the nobles, with only a handful of guards scattered through the streets.

No citizens were selling their wares and produce. What did they do with their artisan goods if not sell them? And even if they did sell them somewhere, it couldn’t be this city, or else the clutter would be on the very streets themselves. The sheer production of all manner of items was already pouring out of their shops, and some were even scattered or infused in repaired patches of the cobble path.

’Are they under some spell to keep producing this shit?’ Monty thought to himself as a red-wood carriage stopped before him.

Stepping forward with her magical guise still in effect, Lumine held onto her iron wing in case she needed to stretch it over both herself and Monty’s body as a shield. Observing the wagon, however, they weren’t met with hospitality but rather a courtly nod by the coach master. Tipping his hat, he turned his attention to the painted doors as a pair of veil-clad servants descended from within.

Dressed in nothing but a headband with an umbrella-like veil covering their entire bodies, the two girls were naked under the translucent fabric. Yet, they did not seem to care. Grabbing the edge of the violet carpet sticking out within the wagon, the two laid it down for their masters to walk out into the open without setting their feet on peasant soil.

While the spies were still trying to comprehend what was happening, a pair of twins with dyed ceremonial daggers stabbed into their eyes walked outside with one of their hands holding each other in the middle. They stumbled on the steps and required great aid from their servants, but even so, as soon as their feet were planted, they looked right at Monty and Lumine.

Thankfully for the two, their stabbed eyes were covered with blindfolds. Only the hilt of the daggers was visible, and they were just as iridescent violet as the twins’ lavish silk clothes.

”Welcome to Alliance,” stretching their held hands forward, the girls spoke in perfect unison. ”Monty Monteroast of Athenia and Lumine Moon of Aestradia’s beast rebels.” Bowing their heads, the girls kept their heads lowered. ”In this city of creation and ambition, we welcome the emissaries of the destined hero.”

Lifting their heads, the girls could not see but at least sense the confusion and unrest in the spies’ minds. Staring at them with both of their eyebrows raised, the owlgirl and the human were as surprised as they were at a loss.

”So you expected us?”

”We did. Our blessed mother of truesight instilled the nightmares of tomorrow in our dreams. We saw this very moment in our mirrors, in the reflection inside our tea cups, and the dreams–her most blessed of instruments. We have been preparing, oh fortunate one.” Turning their head ever so slightly to the right, the twins appeared as though they were staring at the commoner bystanders. ”But we shan’t discuss such divine diligence in the presence of Oruon peasants. Their method of worship, you see...”

Looking back at the spies–figuratively, the girls waved their free hand across the stretch of the road where they were standing.

”Are rather primitive. Littering the land with their cheap offerings as if it will save their sorry souls from eternal damnation. Oh, how we wish they would come to accept our blessed mother–” freeing their hands from each other’s grip, the two gently pressed their hands against the dagger handles sticking from their eyes. ”However, they are not ready for her blessing. Alas, we mortals must submit our gaze to attain her truest sight! But not many are capable of such sacrifice–a sacrifice of substance.”

Glancing sideways at each other, neither Monty nor Lumine knew what to make of the situation, but the one thing that did come up in their minds.

’These people are freaks.’ And in that they were aligned.

Their speculations, however, did not have to wait for long. As the twins themselves requested a council with the hero and his companions, albeit none of them were to make their presence known anywhere else but inside their mansion. Why was that? The spies didn’t see themselves fit to ask, after all, in matters of diplomacy–they preferred to stay on the sidelines and simply watch.