Weeks heard the fight taking place three blocks away, and despite whispering warnings against him, he went to investigate, as he knew from that direction that the fight was taking place near the boy's lair.

He didn't know if it was a lingering gratitude or some other unknown desire that drove him, but whatever the reason, he succumbed to his curiosity.

He had expected something devastating to cause such a noisy sound of destruction, but what he did not expect was that half of the West Market was completely destroyed, three of the four bridges had collapsed, the remaining one was crowded with people, and the guards could only watch from a distance, while the buildings collapsed and the earthquake shook the entire city for several kilometers.

This is a mistake. It was the biggest mistake of his entire career.

Holm and his skeletal structure vanished, turning into dust and imperceptible debris. The residential area, especially the area near his first laboratory, was a destroyed crater, his well-camouflaged bakery servant was certainly gone, and all but the outermost building, all the buildings in the western north of the market were in ruins, seemingly the result of years of siege.

"Who do you think will win?" Veks asked.

The thieves found them on the roof of a tall house in the breadbasket district, where Heskeel had brought Jacob's hideout before it collapsed.

"Messila," Jacob replied without question. "She's a greedy viscountess, and Raleigh is just a marauding squire lord."

"That little red is ......"

"Raleigh".

"Question. To be honest, it seems to me that it was quite a fierce battle. ”

Wex is observing the chaos through a telescope, which he stole from Jacob himself after he was reformed, and Jacob himself stole it from a fisherman.

"He's not weak, but—"

"Messira is impermeable."

"That's right."

"Is that little thing the Viscountess?"

"Yes."

"You made the body?"

"Yes."

"Basically giving it to a super-powerful Demonette because the contract that was supposed to make her surrender was interrupted?"

Jacob exhaled the exhausted air in frustration.

"I'm sorry, boss. I just wanted to get my mind straight. ”

"I had no choice. He wanted those books. ”

"Raleigh?"

"No, my grandfather. He sent Raleigh. ”

"...... you? Wait, he's a U

de

ki

G?"

Heskeil snorted disapprovingly.

"He hated the title," Jacob explained.

By the end of the night, those who had been able to flee had fled from the area to the breadbasket area and beyond, with most hiding in Westgate, where guards were struggling to maintain order for thousands of displaced citizens.

With the only entrance to the Western Market empty, the Adventurers' Guild sent out a number of heavy troops in an attempt to kill the two warring demons, or at least weaken their ships, while the Royal Guard cordoned off the area. However, the guild was to no avail, and before the remaining mages retreated, the guild lost twelve of its highest-ranking mages in an hour.

Just after midnight, the destruction and incessant fighting came to an abrupt end, and the West Market and its vicinity were enveloped in an eerie silence.

In order to find both demons dead, or to catch the victor while he was weak, the guild sent another team of mages and a large group of guards. None of the people who came in were seen again.

"So...... What now, boss?" Wex asked thoughtfully.

"You don't owe me a favor anymore. Take your liking. ”

"Well, I tried, but to be honest, freedom is a bit boring. With you, it seems that my life will continue to be full of fun, and besides, I have burned all the coins you gave me. ”

"Aren't you a thief?" Steal whatever you want. ”

"You don't understand, boss."

"I don't think I know. Then, to answer your question, we head to the North Market. More affluent areas will be more difficult to fit in, but I want to get into the Adventurer's Guild. With so many wizards on call, I can make better use of the knowledge they have over their limited imagination. ”

Wex looked at the backpack, which contained several things that Heskell had salvaged while destroying the lab. None of this was worth anything to him.

"Of all the things to save, you didn't choose anything that would divert the guards' attention, only dusty books, flower seeds, and a few random tools......"

"Considering how quickly he collects items, I'm sure he's doing a pretty good job."

Heskel snorted in exasperation. He's not used to running away in battle, but, then again, he probably doesn't have much of a chance to settle a millennial grudge against two demons.

"What about the vials of blood I found for you?"

Jacob smacked his tongue in frustration. The ominous sound, like the sound of bones cracking, was made possible thanks to his mask.

Wex understood this, but then again, he had already removed some from the top of the amphora, hid the demon's blood in a safe place, and wondered what kind of reward he would bring if he "happened" to find it for him when he needed it most.

"So, how do we cross the Bridge?"

"We'll figure it out," Jacob assured him.

They continued to walk in Fogtown for a while, and then Weeks suddenly stopped.

"I have an idea!"

In a way, it was unsettling that the boy would agree to his plan so easily, because he expected some resistance. He's weird

aïve, at the same time ruthless, however, he was so young, considering his father's example...... Maybe it's not surprising that he turned into this.

Dressed in the Doge's robes stolen from the Demonologists, Weeks walked ahead of Jacob and Heskel as if the latter were his strange-looking personal assistant and monstrous guard.

What surprised the thief the most was that his stupid plan was actually very effective, as the guards seemed to politely allow the three men to pass without even checking their identities or documents, at least until they reached the harbor area, two districts north of the market. The mages from the Mage District seem to have been heavily scrutinized by the clergy of Haven, one of the areas in the Helms Gardens dedicated to the worship of the Eight Saints.

They watched as a governor stopped the crowd as they crossed the gate bridge into the harbor, and four guards in white robes and silver chain mail searched the man's belongings, paying particular attention to what books he was carrying.

"Are we going to take this risk?" Weeks asked in Spanish, lest people nearby hand them over to the guards.

"We can simply kill them and pass through."

"I don't think it's wise to provoke the Eight Holy Churches. You want to keep a low profile, that's why it's like this. He replied, pointing to the ridiculous robe with a hood that was barely visible, and the sleeves were so long that he had to roll them up to his elbows to use his hands.

Huskell nodded, surprisingly agreeing to Wekes' suggestion.

Seeing that White was also advocating trickery, Jacob softened his impatience. "It was nice that we walked around. It may be a short circuit, but if you say it's the wisest option, I'll take your advice. ”

Weeks didn't know why, but the acknowledgment made him proud, even though he was praised by a kid who was at least four years younger than him.

After leaving the procession to the harbor, they headed east through the meat market, the most famous slave district in Helmsgaten. The boy gushes about slaves and their appearance, as if he were a farmer who wants to raise the best cattle, or a butcher who wants to cook the best slices of meat, which is a little unpleasant. It takes a special kind of callous disregard for human life to look at others in this way, but Weeks finds himself nodding his head as well, as if he agrees with this point of view, and the voices that tell him that it is madness are getting quieter.

When the gate bridge to the Northern Gem District came into view, a beautiful woman ran up to them screaming. She grabbed Weeks' robe and begged him to save her.

Without any hint from the boy, he understood enough that the runaway slave was not a suitable object for the butcher's conspiracy. He grabbed the woman by the throat with his right hand and pulled her up from him. Her plea immediately froze in her lungs when she glanced at his face, and then he tossed her aside and the trio moved on.

"You can keep her if you want," Jacob told him.

"She's not my type," Weeks replied simply. "Besides, you need higher, naturally athletic subjects, right?"

"Indeed."

From the palatial Jewel District, they head north again, passing through the beautifully maintained Joy Park, where quaint paths are lined with blooming trees and flowers.

From the park, they headed west to reach the Noble Qua

te

There, colorful aristocrats openly flaunted their wealth and frolicked in coffee shirts. There were a large number of slaves here, but, despite their humiliating situation, they seemed well fed and contented, unlike the poor in the western market, who were all in a state of some kind of poverty, often the property of violent elements.

Unlike Veks, who almost salivates over the vast amount of wealth on display, Jacob has no interest in people of aristocratic origin, as they are usually out of shape and overweight due to their overindulgent lives. Apparently, he had heard his grandfather say that it was difficult to subdue the proud with the demon's "moratorium", because one of the quirks of the spell was that the summoner had to be of a higher stature than the person they wanted to enslave, and it seemed a pointless waste of time for a nobleman to regard him as a respectable person. He seems to prefer to cling to slaves who are easily bought and forgotten, whose nature is to be subservient.

When they reached the gate bridge leading to the North Market, the thief was overwhelmed by the many glittering trinkets, rings, purses, and necklaces he had stolen, but he still maintained the Governor's haste that had allowed them to pass through every checkpoint so far, though the guards did not seem interested in checking the passing nobles. They probably didn't believe that this part of Helmsgarten could be in any danger, no doubt because of their proximity to the priest and their Holy Guard in the shelter next door, not to mention the Adventurer's Guild, which was based outside the three districts.

The North Market is similar to the West Market, but with a number of major upgrades. The cobblestones are paved smoothly and with great care. Weeds were contained, and trees and long grass paths separated the sidewalks from the central road where wagons were transported. There is almost only one long street in this area, which is full of shops and several specialty stores, such as horse jewelry shops, barber shops, hair salons, and a pharmacy that looks empty.

The dirty river that runs through the entire southern region is a clean and turbulent river in these places, where the real sewage and garbage are buried in underground tunnels that connect to the rivers in the lower reaches of Helmsgaten.

As they cross the main road, the alleys hint at some out-of-the-way paths, suitable for their clandestine activities.

No sooner had they passed the pharmacy than a woman ran out of the door and shouted behind them.

"Highlands"!

It took a moment for Weeks to realize that he was the "Governor", but he stopped and let the woman catch up with them.

"Highland" Hargraves! I'm so sorry I didn't notice your arrival. ”

"Nothing," he said, letting his voice drop a few octaves as he imagined that a man with such a loud name should have a deep tone.

"It makes me very happy!" The woman was very enthusiastic and not at all afraid of his presence and his retinue, but Weeks thought it was a normal reaction to Governor Helmsgarten. "I can't tell you how happy we are when you want to take over the pharmacist after Samuel went to Haven to be a priest."

"I guess the money has already been sent to you, right?" Weeks asked, seizing the opportunity in front of him. The boy seemed to be accommodating to him, so it was worth a try. A pharmacist can get away with a lot of other suspicious activities. It's like hiding cannibals in a morgue.

"Of course! Arrived two weeks ago. We've got the boxes you send with your payment and you should find the bed and bathroom exactly to your specifications. ”

"Great. What about my companions?"

"I'm sorry, Governor, but we didn't know you were bringing someone else. The last thing we heard was that you were delayed because of some chaos in the mage quarters. ”

"I see," replied Weeks, then improvised, "my most recent letter must have been lost while passing through the West Market." I decided to bring a bodyguard and my assistant. ”

The lady nodded eagerly, apparently thinking that this was good news. Weeks speculated that there was a shortage of pharmacists and doctors in North Market and its neighbors.

"This is ......," he said, pointing to the boy.

The boy placed the palm of the stitched flesh glove on his chest, the disgusting "fabric" was as soft as a sponge, and the dents made by his fingers slowly returned to their normal state. Even though Wex thought he was grown, he couldn't contain his appetite. "My name is Jacob. I'm a flesh—"

"He's a surgeon." Weeks quickly interrupted the boys and threw their luck to the back burner.

"Where's your guard?" The lady asked, taking a step back in horror as the monster cast its masked gaze on her.

"That's my idea, Heskel. He's a mute. He guessed that the Doge hired magical creatures as their servants, which everyone knew, at least, he had often heard them say of them when he was working for Toby in the West Market.

White grunted, most likely warning the thief that he had crossed the line, but he seemed clear and cooperative, like his guardian.

"Do you have a basement?" Jacob asked the lady.

"We have, but it's saved as storage space."

Before the boy could explain that he needed a place to quietly dismember people, Weeks replied, "His job is very sensitive to the weather, and I'm sure his work often emits a certain smell that offends the inhabitants of this area."

"I see, I'll have my servant clean up the room for you."

"Good," replied Weeks, feeling as if he was in control again. "Can we take a look?"

"Of course!"

The Apothecary is a two-story building with a basement and an attic, which is quite an upgrade compared to a thief's lair. The façade of the house is a clever mix of stone and wood, with metal strips curled into oddly shaped patterns that act as shutters to prevent anyone from breaking in. It has a back door that leads to an enclosed courtyard at the back of the building, and behind the wooden walls is an alley. There were stairs leading to the basement in the basement and in the yard, which seemed to delight the boy.

On the ground floor are shops with rows of high shelves stacked with herbs, powders, jerky, and the contents of jars. The store also features a counter, a small escape room for private consultations and treatments, and display cases.

Whoever "Hargraves" was, he seemed to be a governor who was proficient in alchemy and medicine, and the lady claimed that he had sent him countless plants, pills, and powdered medicines before his arrival. Many items are tagged with Nova

ocia

, Llema

ia

, Octef and Heimlish write. After all, the nobility usually spoke at least two, three, and sometimes even four fluent languages, and the northern markets often served foreign nobles as well.

Wex had only seen Octef before, but he knew the other two languages and their alphabets, although he only knew them as languages of neighboring nation-states: Lerman and Heimdale.

Octef, as the name suggests, is the language spoken by the clergy of the Eight Saints, who are worshipped throughout the continent, at least judging by their sermons. Having never left the confines of the metropolis, Weeks had no way of knowing if it was propaganda or fact.

"Do you know how to read these?" He whispered to Jacob that the lady who had sold him Hargraves the Apothecary was busy ordering her sweaty, tired-looking servant to clear the basement space.

"Of course," the boy replied. "Do you want me to teach you?"

Wex thought for a moment, then shook his head, the hood of his robe dangling around, blinding him for a moment. He corrected it and replied, "I barely know Novarosian, so you're just wasting your time."

"But you speak Spanish fluently?" He replied, his voice not showing suspicion, but just plain curiosity.

"I don't know when I learned it," Weeks replied, realizing that they were talking in a foreign language.

"It took me three years of intensive daily study to master the language, and I am learning something new every day, but your use of Chinese is like a natural one."

Before the boy could dig deeper into the mystery, the lady told them to follow her upstairs.

Upstairs there is a chic bathroom with a kind of toilet that Wex has never seen before, with a pipe running through the entire building and leading directly to the underground sewer, and a bathroom connected to the tap water by a similar, but thinner, pipe. There is a compartment under the bathtub that is used to make a fire to heat the water in the large bathtub.

In the bedroom there was a large bed, the size of a dining table for eight, with two stacked mattresses, an undamaged stainless steel sheet, a duvet covered with soft feathers, a blanket that looked neat when not in use, and three large pillows.

When the woman asked, "I hope it meets your standards." Weeks replied almost like this: he had never seen anything so extravagant before, even after he received hundreds of Nova from the young Fleischcraft

i

s) during the period of frenzied spending.

He cleared his throat and said arrogantly, "That's enough."

The lady seemed nervous about the inadequacy of the hints, but then Jacob changed the subject.

"I'm going to prepare the lab."

Weeks nodded, but the lady quickly rebuked the boy, "Is that what you call your master?"

The thief froze, as if he were going to see Jacob's tail spread and press the lady against the pretty wooden wall of his new bedroom, but to his surprise, the boy lowered his head and said elegantly.

"Sir, allow me to take my leave."

He gestured contemptuously and let him go, thinking to himself if he would be punished later, and the sweat dripped from the stolen robes.

"These creatures are fun," said Jacob, who killed two servants in the basement and was busy setting up the various workstations they needed, not to mention making enough space on the floor for the ritual circle. "It's so easy to be swayed by lies."

"They're like robots, acting according to a plan that has been prepared in advance."

Jacob carefully considered White's words, not knowing whether he was quoting something he had never heard his grandfather say, or a word of wisdom he had come up with on his own. The latter made him a little uncomfortable because it showed quite a bit of autonomous thought, but then again, White had gone against his Creator, so maybe he had gone beyond his original design. It's a prospect that's both tempting and worrisome, because Jacob, like the rest of Fleischcrof, fears that his work will betray him, even though there are plenty of protections that should prevent this from happening in the first place. However, it is very likely that Heskel disobeyed his creator while also obeying his original order to protect the heir, after all, letting Raleigh and Jacob "play" was against Heskel's instructions.

Jacob took off his scent mask and let the coppery smell of the dead man in the corner come to his face, inhaling slowly, as if tasting the scent of a flower.

"I want to know that grandpa can't find this place."

"His eyes see far away."

"Then help me blur their vision, or let us hide from his fiery gaze. He won't stop without getting the book. ”

Heskel seemed a little ambivalent for a moment, and given what he was asking for, but then he nodded slowly.

With the blood of their most recent victims, the Wright began to paint horrific runes on the walls; The runes were so terrifying that Jacob felt that when he tried to focus on them, his gaze would naturally wander away, as if they were the sun, and looking directly at them would burn his retina.

About ten minutes later, Wex scurried down the stairs.

"Did you see that?" His gaze scanned the room, his eyes twitching as he saw the symbols, and finally landed on two corpses stacked on top of each other, next to some empty crates.

The thief-turned-governor sighed and slid up the stairs again, his previous enthusiasm suddenly waning.

"It looks like they've left the yard," Jacob overheard Weeks say to the lady above.

"We need to soundproofing the place," he told White.