Sylver Seeker

Chapter 240: Graveyard Flowers(1/2)

Chapter 240: Graveyard Flowers(1/2)

Sylver turned the card around, but to his surprise, the back was still blank.

He turned it around again and read the words one more time.

Please leave me alone.

He checked the back just in case there was something on there.

Then he turned it around again, and read the words written on it.

Please leave me alone.

Once again, there was no signature, just 4 words, written using just a bit too much force. The handwriting wasnt anything special, there werent any fancy calligraphy loops, it was as basic as it got. It wasnt rushed, but it hadnt been written carefully either.

Sylver lifted the piece of paper up into the air and held it up to one of the suns. Then he turned it around again.

uo s

There was a tension in the air.

It was the type that normally preceded the types of battles that would later on be described as a massacre. The tell-tale sign of such battles was that only one side was nervous, drenched in a mixture of sweat and piss, whereas the other was calm.

Or in Edmunds case, giddy.

Sylver put the note back down, put it back into its envelope, and turned to face the man on the horse.

Anastasia identified the man as his name wasnt important, to make a long story short, he was the man in charge of this city. The Marquis of whatever this city was called.

Fredrick, Poppys husband, wasnt interested in the headache that came with managing an entire city. Because like Lola, he didnt need to own the city officially, everyone of significance was already dancing to whatever tune he played.

Just so there arent any misunderstandings, may we enter the city? Sylver asked.

The Marquis shook his head.

Alright. I know it seems obvious, but I hate it when theres conflict because of miscommunication. If we try to enter the city, you will try to stop us, correct? Sylver asked.

The Marquis nodded.

Great. We got that out of the way I dont suppose youll tell us why youre doing this? Or what you were told that youre this on guard? Sylver asked.

The Marquis just shook his head.

Yeah, thought not Does anyone have any questions? Sylver asked, without once breaking eye contact with the Marquis.

How far away is the nearest allied city? Edmund asked.

He appeared near the back of his army, and for a half second, all the soldiers and adventurers that had been watching him converse with the four figures in the distance tightened their grip on their weapons and readied for the order to charge.

But no order to charge came.

In fact, there was no order to do anything. The Marquis stood in behind the safety of his men and waited for something to happen.

Did you have to bring up his children? Edmund asked quietly as if the distant army might hear him.

You know how nobles can be. 10,000 soldiers dying is nothing, but god forbid one of their sons loses an arm, Sylver said with a shrug of the shoulders.

For about a minute, nothing happened. Nobody moved, nobody said anything, the 3 men, and 1 woman, just stood where they were, and watched the motionless army.

Im confused, what are we doing? Are we going to war? Faust asked.

Were leaving, Edmund said with a huff.

Shes not inside, theres nothing to gain by going to war, Sylver added.

Aside from a couple of levels and heaps worth of fun, Edmund said with a trace of a grin.

But what was the point of threatening them? Faust asked.

Nobody threatened anyone, Edmund said.

I said hypothetically twice, and on top of that, we were just asking questions. A threat needs to be direct, Sylver said.

Even if we did threaten him, hes not going to do anything. His whole city was guarded by a near-omniscient clairvoyant since before he was born, this is likely the first time the man has ever had to face an opponent without knowing the outcome beforehand, Edmund said, as Sylver nodded along.

They watched the army scurry into a new formation for a while. It was made all the more difficult since they seemed to be afraid of letting Sylver and company out of their sight. As if they were backed into a corner by a wild animal and were expecting it to attack them at any second.

We could just sneak in I was just trying to scare him with that digging underground thing, but if I go home and grab Ria, I could walk right through their barrier. I strong-arm the Marquis into letting you inside, and we go have a chat with Poppy Sylver thought out loud.

Edmund stood on his tiptoes, and continued rising, as he floated off the ground. He stretched his limbs out and lay down as if he was laying on an invisible sofa.

She doesnt want to talk to you though. And like you said, since the stick isnt on the table, that only leaves the carrot. And if she was interested in any of our carrots, she would have told us, Edmund said.

If I was interfering with her, she would have told us. She wants to be left alone, and since she didnt specify that she wants other parties left alone as well, that implies that shes fine with us interfering with them, Sylver reasoned out.

Edmund looked somewhat convinced and given the amount of effort the alternatives to simply leaving required, it was good enough for Sylver.

What if this is a bluff? Edmund asked.

To find out, we would need to attack them. And regardless of how relatively unimportant this city may be, we run the risk of making the high king an enemy. And even if we do get in, whats to stop Poppy from simply running away? Its not like shes glued to one place. Our only means of tracking her are Chrys, and given the source of Chrys power, I find it unlikely that shell be able to find Poppy, Sylver explained, as he used [Deadly Darkness] to lift himself, Faust, and Anna into the air.

Will materialized underneath them, and the trio sat down in their usual places amidst the large wyverns spikes. Edmund floated down onto the wyverns back and used his floating sword as a bench to sit on.