Chapter 547
Lawrend followed Riston into the Merchant Guild. There were several city guards stationed everywhere. They immediately tensed up when they saw Lawrend’s group.
Lawrend smirked when he saw this heavily guarded place. It wasn’t long ago that he had been here. It seemed like times had changed.
They soon arrived in the Guild Master’s office. If you couldn’t remember, the city lord of Passage City was also the guild master of the Merchant Guild in the city. That only changed recently when Kenova Bruedin took in the reigns with Humility’s order.
“Your Majesty.”
An old man bowed to Lawrend. He was sitting behind the table and stood up when he entered.
“Your Majesty, this sir is the Guild Master of the Merchant Guild and the city lord,” Riston said respectfully.
Lawrend squinted his eyes.
“Where are Kenova and Von?” Lawrend asked.
He was being direct. He had involvement with Kenova taking the reigns of city lord.
“Your Majesty, please don’t talk about those two rebels. They conspired to take control of Passage City,” the old man replied.
“Conspired? As far as I know, Kenova was appointed here by my maid, Kasina Humility Undrasil,” Lawrend retorted calmly.
“Ah! Then it must’ve been a mistake. Do you want to see them, Your Majesty?” the old man asked.
Lawrend stared into his eyes and saw through the old man’s whole body. There was a curse sealing his heart and gripping his life. One thought from someone, and he would die.
“Alright. Let’s go,” Lawrend replied and nodded his head.
The old man felt trepidation when Lawrend scanned his whole body. He felt naked and exposed. All of his secrets were laid out in an orderly manner.
He remembered what Riston said and calmed himself once again. This operation couldn’t fail, or he would lose everything.
Riston maintained the same respectful attitude and followed behind Lawrend and Ember while the old man led them to a deeper part of the Merchant Guild.
The old man turned and walked down a staircase leading deep underground. Two guards were guarding that entrance, who ignored them when they entered.
By this time, Ember realized that something was wrong. She sensed something odd when Riston was following behind them. It felt like he was blocking their path back.
She looked at Lawrend’s face and saw that he was calm. She knew he was smart, which confused her why he was willingly walking into their trap.
She tugged his sleeves and made eye contact with him. She pointed at the back with her eyes.
Lawrend smiled and held her hand to reassure her. She relaxed and realized he was confident in walking out of this trap alive.
They went on and on and on. Who knew how deep this place was?
“Why is this place so deep?” Lawrend asked.
“Your Majesty, this place is a prison. It would close down and bury the prisoners in case of an accident,” the old man said and glanced at Riston.
Riston maintained the same respectful smile on his face. The old man shuddered and looked away.
“Hmmm… It would be impossible to survive at this depth unless someone is a powerful Earth-element Mage,” Lawrend replied.
“Yes. That’s why the prisoners here had always been docile. They knew we could control their life and death if they disobeyed. None of them wanted to be buried alive.”
After that short exchange, a hallway appeared in front of them. This was the deepest the stairs could lead them.
Lawrend sensed some formations in the surrounding earth. It was holding back the enormous underground pressure. If it failed, this whole place would collapse.
They passed by a prison cell. Inside it was a woman. She was half-naked and eating food scraps. She looked like a beggar you would find in an impoverished city.
“What is her sentence?” Lawrend asked.
“She tried to seduce the previous Guild Master and steal some of our treasures,” the old man explained.
The woman looked up at them and grasped the prison bars.
“Y-Young Lord! Help me! I-I-I will service you every night!” the woman begged and revealed her inner thighs.
Lawrend turned his head away and ignored her. With one look, he could tell that she was a prostitute. From the old man’s words, he could tell that she was a gold digger but worst– someone who would willingly spread her legs just to gain wealth and power.
He had no use for that kind of woman.
“My Master already has me,” Ember said and swiveled her head arrogantly.
The begging woman scowled when she saw Ember’s beauty. She sat back down and returned to eating the food scraps.
“Your Majesty, I wonder who this Young Lady is?” Riston asked and slightly bowed. He looked very respectful.
“Ember, my maid,” Lawrend replied candidly.
“I understand.”
Riston bowed his head and didn’t press on.
After seeing them finish talking, the old man continued leading them inside. They passed by many prison cells. Most of them were empty, and the few with prisoners contained listless people.
Lawrend even saw a whole dried skeleton once. That person died here of old age.
They stopped in front of a prison cell. Kenova was drawing on the wall with chalk. It was without any form and abstract. Only he knew what it was.
Kenova heard them and looked in their direction.
At first, he didn’t care, but his eyes widened when he saw Lawrend’s face.
“Your Majesty!”
Kenova immediately prostrated. His forehead touched the ground.
“Rise. What happened?” Lawrend asked.
“Your Majesty, t-them! They kidnapped me a few days ago! Please save me!” Kenova shouted and pointed at the old man and at Riston.
“Hahahaha. Indeed. We kidnapped you,” Riston replied and laughed.
Kenova stared at him angrily after he revealed it.
“Hoh? What’s going on here? Is the Blumin Empire planning to take over this city too?” Lawrend calmly asked.
“Hmph. No need to act respectfully before you anymore. This will be your grave. Listen to my words, or I will collapse this whole place,” Riston threatened.