Chapter 6.

  Fates Worse Than Death.

  "Is she dead?"

  Dane stood over the sofa, staring intently at Sia. She lay motionless, or more accurately, she had succumbed to a dead faint. It was her first time witnessing the visceral reality of death, and Lily's execution of the two men had been a particularly grisly introduction.

  Dane reached out, poking Sia's forehead repeatedly with a calloused finger. "Ugh... open your eyes. You're far too frail, girl. Hehe."

  "Stop it, Dane. She's resting," Karlo said, swatting Dane's hand away. "Go dispose of those two wretches you slaughtered."

  Dane smirked, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Haha... wow. Look at that, Lily. Someone sounds jealous."

  Slam!

  Lily's palm struck the desk with a crack that echoed like a pistol shot. She leveled a dangerous, freezing glare at Dane.

  "Uh... really? I think I'm ending our friendship, Lily," Dane muttered, pouting as he retreated to sit beside Karlo on the sofa.

  Silence reclaimed the room. Lily's gaze turned back to Elisa, sharp and inquisitive. What a brave lady, Lily thought. To witness such carnage and remain so utterly composed. How interesting.

  "Lady Lily, let us discuss business. I believe we have squandered enough of the morning," Elisa said. She sat with a ramrod-straight posture, meeting Lily's predatory gaze without a hint of tremor.

  "Quite right, My Lady," Lily replied, twirling a fountain pen between her fingers with practiced ease. "Tell me then—what is it you require? How can the Wild Dogs be of service?"

  "I want the weakness of Marquis Elferd Sansa," Elisa stated, her voice low and dangerous. "I want everything required to ruin him."

  "Hmm." Lily pondered this, tapping her fingers rhythmically against the mahogany desk. "Why not simply order his death, My Lady? We have excellent assassins at our disposal—two of them are in this very room."

  "Killing is easy, Lady Lily. It is over in a heartbeat. But is death always the best form of vengeance? There are things in this world far more agonizing than the grave," Elisa said, her face a mask of cold stoic resolve.

  "I don't quite follow. Care to enlighten me?" Lily leaned back in her chair, relaxing her posture.

  "I want to humiliate him. I want to see him begging for scraps in the gutter. Only when his title and pride are stripped away will I find peace. If I merely wanted him dead, I would have slit his throat with my own dagger long ago."

  Lily's eyes met Karlo's for a fleeting second—a silent exchange of understanding.

  "So, you wish for us to find his Achilles' heel."

  "Yes."

  "But My Lady, the Marquis is a distant relative of the Emperor himself. He has no criminal record to speak of."

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "He has had three wives, all of whom vanished without a trace after a few months. Rumors whisper that he disposed of them. No one is truly sane in this cruel world, Lady Lily."

  "Be that as it may," Lily countered, "why should I risk my people's lives when you haven't given me a solid lead?"

  "Are you familiar with the artist Roran, Lady Lily?"

  "No. Who is Roran?"

  "Wh... what? You don't know Roran?" Dane jumped up from the sofa, his eyes wide. "The artist whose paintings are famous not just in the Empire, but in kingdoms across the seas? No one has ever seen his face, but a single canvas of his is worth as much as a Count's entire manor!"

  "Precisely, Sir Dane," Elisa said, offering the boy a small smile. "I am speaking of that very Roran."

  "Fine, he's a legend. So what?" Lily sighed, growing impatient.

  "I saw Roran's third most expensive painting hanging in the Marquis's study," Elisa said, her fingers tapping a light, steady beat on the table.

  "So what, My La—" Lily stopped mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing. "Wait. What is the value of that specific painting?"

  "Fifty thousand gold coins," Elisa said simply.

  If Elora's currency were compared to modern currency, its approximate value would be as follows:

  1 Gold Coin ≈ 200 dollars

  1 Silver Coin ≈ 100 dollars

  1 Bronze Coin ≈ 50 dollars

  1 Tin Coin ≈ 10 dollars.

  Fifty thousand gold coins — a fortune worth nearly ten million dollars.

  Karlo and Lily both flinched.

  "Fifty thousand gold coins isn't an impossible sum for a Marquis," Lily said, glancing at Karlo. "But for a Marquis drowning in debt to spend that much on a single painting..."

  "Exactly, Lady Lily. High society is unaware that Elferd Sansa is on the brink of bankruptcy. Because of his imperial ties, he has managed to keep his ruin a secret."

  "If he's broke and the Imperial family isn't bailing him out, there's only one way to maintain that lifestyle," Lily whispered, her face darkening.

  "Yes. Illegal means," Elisa said, her grip tightening on her pen. "Find out exactly what foul business is filling the Marquis's coffers."

  A genius, Lily thought, staring at Elisa. To piece all this together without a guild behind her. She is truly something else.

  "My Lady, High Society is a pack of rabid dogs, always ready to tear apart their prey. If the Marquis is involved in illegal trades, other nobles are likely involved. You are putting your life in grave danger."

  Elisa smirked, leaning slightly closer to Lily. "I have been surrounded by hungry dogs since I was a child. I know exactly how to toss a biscuit to make them drool."

  She stood up, her voice ringing with newfound iron. "I want my family's legacy back. I want vengeance against every soul who slandered my name. I want to see those who spread rumors of my 'character' trembling at my feet. High Society may be a pit of dogs, but I have plenty of biscuits to fill their bellies."

  A heavy silence followed. The members of the guild stared at her, stunned by the sheer coldness of her ambition.

  "My Lady," Lily said, testing her. "What I did earlier... the torture... do you believe I was right or wrong?"

  Elisa paused, then spoke with a chilling clarity. "You did well."

  Lily flinched, not expecting such a direct endorsement. "Wh...what do you mean?"

  "The penalty for hedious crimes like rape should always be death. It is a crime that doesn't just harm the victim; it destroys families socially and mentally. So, yes, you did exactly what was required."

  Lily remained silent, absorbing the words.

  "Wow... My Lady, you are truly dangerous!" Dane shouted, his enthusiasm returning.

  "Look who's talking," Elisa smiled. "The boy who took down ten men alone. You are a gifted fighter, Dane, despite your age. In the future, try to use that strength to protect others. Instead of finding joy in killing, find another hobby. Blood should only be spilled when there is no other path. Don't you think?"

  Dane didn't say anything only smiled at elisa with emberesment on his face.

  Elisa walked over to the unconscious Sia. Karlo stood up and approached Lily, his gaze shifting to one of protective warmth.

  "Are you alright, Lily?" he asked, placing a steady hand on her shoulder.

  "Ye... yeah. I'm fine," Lily muttered, avoiding his eyes.

  "That's all in the past, Lily. You've moved beyond it. We are all with you now. You should smile more... don't let it eat you from the inside."

  "Stop it, Sir Karlo. You're being annoying," Lily snapped, though she quickly wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks.

  "And you are not the Boss right now... you're being disrespectful. I should punish you for that," Karlo said with a warm smile.

  "Oh, Lady Lily," Elisa said, turning back. "I have one more request."

  "Yes, My Lady?"

  "I require a guard. Someone to stay with me twenty-four hours a day."

  "I can arrange that," Lily said, tapping her chin.

  "What about me, My Lady?" Dane interjected, puffing out his chest. "I'm strong, and I've taken a liking to you. I'm the best candidate!" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  "No, Sir Dane. You are far too chaotic," Elisa said bluntly.

  "Wha... what?" Dane slumped onto the sofa dramatically. "You've wounded my heart! I was starting to fall for you, but now? The chance is gone!"

  "Sir Karlo is occupied," Lily said, ignoring Dane's theatrics. "Please wait two days, My Lady. I will find a suitable guard for you."

  "Very well. I shall take my leave then." Elisa gently woke Sia. "And please, this investigation must be finished Before the Founding Festival. The final Imperial Ball will decide what the future holds for me and my family."

  Lily offered a respectful bow. Karlo opened the office door to lead them back to the teleportation area.

  As the door swung open, Elisa noticed that the wall which had stood there previously was gone. As they walked through the corridors, everything had shifted. The route to the bedroom was different, the tiles on the floor had changed—everything was in flux.

  First teleportation, then Holy Water, and now this... Elisa thought. It's illusion magic. I've read of this in the ancient texts.

  Illusion magic was a rarity—practically extinct in the current era. It was a branch of dark magic, one of the many powers attributed to the God Drakon. Legends said only the First Duke and founder of the Drakin Duchy possessed it. Since then, the power had vanished from the world.

  This guild is shrouded in mystery, Elisa realized. But for now, I must focus on my plan. The Marquis is going to fall.