The Baron's Mission

You son of a bitch, I haven't lost control yet...

When Lorry saw Saul, the Hunter, poised to finish him off at any moment, he couldn't help cursing furiously in his heart.

But he didn't actually say it aloud.

For one thing, he was worried he might provoke Saul into attacking him regardless of the consequences.

For another, there was his own condition.

The murmurs of unknown origin and the shrill, high-frequency buzzing seemed to sound directly in the depths of his soul, making Lorry feel as though his head was about to explode.

Meanwhile, the unnatural bulges on his body were appearing faster and faster.

He felt he was only a hair's breadth from losing control!

At this critical moment, Lorry hurriedly marshaled his spirituality, doing his best to soothe the densely packed swellings, each nearly the size of a knuckle.

Amid the excruciating pain, he almost lost all awareness of the outside world, struggling desperately on his survival instincts like a drowning man.

Time ticked by, second after second. He had no idea how long had passed.

Then, at one particular instant, Lorry discovered to his delight that the murmurs and buzzing in his ears had vanished completely, along with the unbearable pain.

Next, his body returned to normal, no longer sprouting pustules.

Only an occasional needlelike prickling remained deep in his mind-but Lorry wasn't worried. He knew this was a sign that his spirituality was depleted.

"Phew..."

Drenched in sweat, Lorry slumped to the floor and let out a long breath.

My advancement succeeded!

He was now a Marauder, and even a little stronger than a normal Sequence 9.

Yet the instant Lorry relaxed, an illusory, distant male chuckle suddenly sounded in his ears again.

The laugh was filled with mockery and amusement.

What was that? The influence of a High Sequence Beyonder of the Marauder pathway?

Lorry had a vague suspicion, but immediately forced his attention elsewhere, not daring to let the thought take shape for fear of attracting some being's gaze.

He slowly stood and looked at Saul, who stood ready outside the door:

"Sorry, I gave you a bit of a scare just now. I'm fine now.

"Please convey my thanks to the baron."

The corner of Saul's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. The man in black hunting attire put away his blowgun, then turned his head toward the guards behind him and said:

"Lock the door.

"Keep watch here."

With that, he turned and strode away.

Amid the clanking of metal, Lorry calmly watched one of Baron Percival's men approach and secure the door with an iron chain as thick as a wrist.

The room sank back into gloom, with only a beam of light slipping through the gap in the door.

I actually managed to provoke a Hunter just now? Who knew I had a talent for that... What a shame. I never had the chance to choose my pathway... At that thought, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

After amusing himself for a moment, Lorry began examining the changes in himself.

First, his Beyonder abilities hadn't changed in quantity. He still possessed the same abilities as before, but their quality was different.

Stealing, Agile Hands, Short Weapon Proficiency, and Constitution Enhancement had all improved considerably, though these abilities were difficult to quantify.

Simply put, he had grown stronger.

Exceptional Observation, however, was different.

From the knowledge imparted by the potion, Lorry knew that a normal Marauder's observation range was around ten meters, perhaps a little more or less.

The exact figure depended on how well the individual suited this pathway.

When he had been half a Marauder, his Exceptional Observation had an effective range of six to seven meters. After his successful advancement, it reached nearly twenty meters.

That was almost twice the range of a normal Marauder.

"There was some risk involved, but fortunately, my gamble paid off."

Lorry's eyes flickered, and he chuckled softly.

Unhindered by the dim surroundings, he precisely avoided the various objects he had swept onto the floor while taking the potion and advancing, then sat down in his chair in a pleasant mood.

"There's only one thing I need to do next:

"Wait!

"Wait for Baron Percival's mission, wait for a chance to escape their control, and... wait for an opportunity to take revenge on Baron Percival."

Lorry had thought Baron Percival would see him soon, but it wasn't until the red moon rose that he saw the baron's bodyguard again.

"Come with me."

Saul stood outside the door and spoke in a deep voice.

Four fully armed estate guards stood on either side of him, all wearing light armor and gripping a Double-Barreled Shotgun in both hands.

Clearly, this was to prevent Lorry from launching a sudden attack.

"All right."

Lorry nodded slightly without saying anything more.

He rose and walked toward Saul, silently following close behind him along a cobblestone path under the watch of the eight gunmen.

About fifteen minutes later, they reached a luxurious banquet hall.

Here, the eight gunmen stopped outside the doors, while Saul slowed down and fell half a meter behind Lorry, watching him proceed with a wary expression.

Being at their mercy, Lorry had never intended to get himself killed. Naturally, he merely scoffed inwardly when he noticed Saul's actions.

Most of his attention was focused on observing his surroundings.

The expensive carpets, elegant and stately, the walls adorned with silk draperies, the gilded, silver-inlaid candlesticks everywhere, the enormous, glittering crystal chandelier... and the huge portraits hanging along both walls all spoke of the Percival Family's long history and deep foundations.

This is a family that's been in decline for hundreds of years? I feel like I could take any random thing from here and sell it outside for a tidy sum in gold pounds...

Lorry grumbled inwardly as he followed a servant to his assigned seat.

The long mahogany table, steeped in history, was covered with a snow-white linen tablecloth. The silver cutlery gleamed, the crystal glasses were clear and sparkling, and the red wine was as crimson as blood.

Exquisite porcelain dishes were arranged in layers, laden with all manner of delicacies.

Even in decline, the wealthy still have more than ordinary people... I've only seen pictures of most of these expensive dishes in food magazines... Lorry thought silently.

Baron Percival was already seated at the head of the table, engrossed in a book.

When he saw the two men enter, he chuckled and closed the book, then raised his crystal wineglass. "Congratulations, our newly advanced Marauder."

"This banquet was prepared especially to celebrate your success. Are you pleased?"

Heh.

Whether it's a celebration or a condemned man's last meal, you know better than I do... Speaking of which, if Klein were sitting here, would he be thinking, 'Can I have the cash instead?'...

Uh, no, that wasn't what I really meant. Believe me, Mr. Fool...

An inexplicable chill ran through Lorry's heart. He hurriedly gathered his thoughts and followed Baron Percival's example, picking up the crystal glass before him and raising it.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Baron.

"But before enjoying the food, I'd like to know what the mission is."

"Tap, tap..." Baron Percival tapped the long mahogany table with a bent finger. The servants and maids immediately bowed their heads and hurried out through the doors in two lines.

Saul moved to Baron Percival's side, his gaze growing sharper.

Baron Percival said quietly:

"I'm sure you can probably guess even if I don't tell you. What I need you to do is actually very simple: go somewhere and steal something for me."

Lorry pressed his lips together without speaking, waiting for him to continue.

Baron Percival chuckled, his tone relaxed and cheerful. "I need you to sneak into Duke Negan's study and steal a few documents."