CH379 - CH380

CH379

In some places, smugglers are backed by wizard organizations.

Watching Sam upstairs, Helag formed a plan.

***

After finalizing the deal, Sam placed the small wooden box in his spatial ring and, slightly tipsy, left the tavern for home.

Though only a first-level gaseous wizard, Sam thrived in Sord City, backed by a powerful Eye of the Storm figure.

Over the years, he became the underground leader, unchallenged.

Everyone knew Sam was just a pawn; his real power lay with his backers.

Sam appeared to run Sord City’s underworld, but control rested with those behind him.

People respected his backers, not Sam himself.

Sam understood his role, content as a pawn.

For him, it was enough, granting him everything he desired.

Money and reputation satisfied Sam; he sought nothing more, staying within bounds.

His backers were pleased, supporting him for years.

Sam knew crossing the line meant becoming a corpse in Sord City’s sewers.

The underworld leader would change, no longer Sam.

Outside the tavern, Sam boarded his carriage, driven by a longtime confidant.

Inside, he lay back, drowsy from drink.

The carriage reached Sord City’s affluent district, home to large estates for the wealthy.

The driver guided the carriage into Sam’s yard, stopping.

He opened the curtain, calling, “Sir, we’re home.”

Sam, groggy, woke with a headache, aided by the driver.

He stumbled upstairs, waking a woman named Joelly.

Joelly, in a camisole and nightgown, with long, pale legs, heard Sam and helped him to bed.

Sam, eyelids heavy, glanced at Joelly undressing him, then fell asleep.

***

“Hey, wake up.” Cold water splashed Sam’s face.

He awoke, finding himself in his bedroom, Joelly asleep beside him.

The room was his, but a black giant stood before him.

The giant, in black armor, exuded a terrifying aura.

Sam knew he couldn’t handle this intruder and instinctively reached for his communication stone.

Helag held up a ring between two fingers, asking, “Looking for this?”

Sam, now sober, quickly assessed the situation.

He realized a misstep could mean not seeing tomorrow.

Sam didn’t threaten Helag with his backers, knowing Helag wouldn’t appear without confidence.

“What do you want from me? I’ll do what I can,” Sam said calmly.

Helag, seeing Sam stay put, replied, “I need your help, hence my visit. Here’s a master-servant contract; sign it, and we’ll discuss your task.”

“A master-servant contract?” Sam considered fleeing but doubted he could escape Helag.

Who asks for help with a master-servant contract?

Sam knew signing meant his life was in Helag’s hands.

More importantly, if the master died, so would the servant.

Helag said, “Sign it, and I’ll release you after the task.”

Sam eyed the contract and Helag, distrustful.

Someone demanding a master-servant contract wouldn’t release him after.

Helag added, “You can trust me or… die now.”

His calm words chilled Sam.

Sam hesitated, considering calling for help, but it would be too late.

“Fine, I’ll sign.” Sam, resigned, pricked his finger, marking the servant’s spot.

Helag, satisfied, added his blood, sealing the contract.

From that moment, Sam was bound to Helag.

Helag needed Sam’s help leaving Eye of the Storm territory, but trust was key.

Sam could easily betray him.

Helag couldn’t risk it, unwilling to trust a stranger with his life.

The master-servant contract was the best solution.

With Sam as his servant, trust was assured.

Helag smiled, “Now, I’ll ask some questions and give you tasks. Do them well.”

Sam nodded, “Yes, sir.”

He couldn’t disobey Helag.

Sam glanced at Joelly, sleeping, and asked, “Should I deal with her?”

Helag shook his head, “No need. I gave her a sleeping potion; she’ll sleep until tomorrow afternoon. No need to worry. I won’t stay in Sord City long.”

Joelly’s pose was enticing, her legs and shoulders exposed.

Sam offered, “If you like her, she’s yours.”

“No, let’s focus on business.”

Helag had no time for distractions; leaving Eye of the Storm safely was his priority.


CH380

“Can you get me out of Sord City? I need to reach Silver Beach City,” Helag asked directly.

Sam pondered, “Silver Beach City…”

He knew Helag wasn’t asking about normal routes; otherwise, he wouldn’t need Sam.

Using unconventional means to transport a person was tricky.

Sam’s usual business involved smuggling goods, though he had transported people before, but without guaranteed safety.

Previously, he accepted risky jobs, but this was different.

Helag’s life was tied to his; if Helag died, so would he.

Sam explained, “There’s a way. We usually hide people with goods, then sneak them out at the destination. We have people at loading and unloading, so it can be arranged. But airships sometimes inspect cargo. If they find someone, they’ll arrest and interrogate them.”

“Those caught usually have issues, so it ends badly…”

Sam laid out the risks, hoping Helag wouldn’t take the chance.

After listening, Helag asked, “I see. Is there another way, like forging an identity?”

A legitimate identity would avoid risks, allowing normal travel to Silver Beach City.

Sam replied, “Sir, forging an identity is easy, but one that withstands city checks isn’t. It takes at least six months, and I doubt you can wait that long.”

Helag nodded, understanding the difficulty.

Creating a verifiable identity was like inventing a person.

With the magic network, information was hard to fake; forging such an identity was beyond Sam’s capabilities.

Helag couldn’t stay in Sord City for six months; too much could change.

Another option was using Sam’s communication stone to contact Seranthiel, informing them of Helag’s situation.

But this was risky; wizard organizations could monitor stone communications, and Sam’s stone was likely watched.

Sending a message might expose Helag before Seranthiel could respond.

Helag decided, “Then let’s use the previous method. If there’s danger, we’ll adapt.”

“Sir… alright, I’ll do my best to ensure the cargo isn’t inspected,” Sam agreed reluctantly, determined to succeed.

“When?” Helag asked.

“In three days, a smuggling shipment will leave. I’ll arrange everything to ensure your safety,” Sam said.

“Good. Prepare a quiet room where I won’t be disturbed,” Helag requested, planning to stay there for three days.

Sam, with some influence, offered a safe haven.

“Sir, I have a secret room, completely secure,” Sam said.

Helag nodded, glancing outside.

Dawn had arrived, sunlight streaming through the window onto the sleeping Joelly.

“Take me to your secret room,” Helag said, looking away.

“And the woman…” Sam suggested again.

“Don’t cause trouble,” Helag replied, avoiding complications.

Sam nodded, “Alright.”

Sam led Helag through the floor to a painting of a nude woman, yet dignified.

Channeling magic into the painting, it rippled.

The woman in the painting came to life, her eyes focused on them.

Sam commanded, “Open.”

The woman nodded, waving her hand, revealing a door in the wall.

Sam opened it, “Please, sir.”

Inside, Helag found a well-equipped room.

Though small, it had potions, armor, weapons, food, and water—Sam’s hideout.

The room’s only flaw was the lack of windows, relying on artificial light, which could feel stifling.

Helag didn’t mind, saying, “Good. Go handle things and inform me of any news.”

Sam replied, “Let me know if you need anything.”

Helag nodded, watching Sam leave, then lay on the bed to meditate.

Sam hurried out, eager to start preparations.

This time, everything had to be perfect.

Bribes would be more extensive, and expenses couldn’t be spared.

With lives at stake, saving money wasn’t an option.

***

For three days, Helag stayed in the secret room, meditating and preparing.

“Sir, everything’s ready,” Sam reported.

Helag, still in his Changer’s Potion guise, had taken another dose to maintain it.

Sam, for convenience, had sent Joelly home.

It was late at night, and Sam planned to move Helag under cover of darkness.

Most of Sord City slept, but the airship docks were just starting work.

Cargo needed loading and unloading before dawn.

At dawn, the airship would depart for the next city.

Following the plan, Sam took Helag by carriage to the docks.

Sord City’s docks lay east, a vast plaza where a massive airship awaited.

Though smaller than the one Helag took to the Land of Dawn, it was still huge, about 300 meters tall.