The Broken Halo

Chapter 1064 - 1063: Something Worth Finding

Simon continued watching Vhal-Sar from his chair.

A carriage crossed one of the high bridges, its golden frame flashing between the towers. Below it, water poured down a flight of carved steps into a pool surrounded by purple trees.

He had seen cities larger than this but few had made him want to sit and simply look at them.

His gaze lowered to the gardens surrounding the residence.

Workers trimmed flowering branches and gathered fallen leaves into baskets. Beside a fountain, two demons carefully cleaned the wings of a silver sculpture. Another stood on a small platform, polishing the crystals hanging from an outdoor lamp.

There were guards too.

Some stood beside the entrances and garden paths. Others watched from balconies overlooking the bridges. Simon also noticed several concealed beneath the eaves and among the trees.

Their positions covered nearly every approach.

Occasionally, he felt their attention move toward him.

That was understandable. He was a stranger in their lord’s home.

But... why did they look so tense?

One guard kept his hand around his weapon even while speaking to a worker. Another turned sharply when a carriage passed overhead, his shoulders only easing once it continued toward the lower terraces.

Simon furrowed his brows.

They seemed to be waiting for something to happen.

”What exactly are you all so worried about?”

Something stirred within his heart.

Before he could turn, Lilith emerged from his chest, her figure taking shape beside the chair.

”Perhaps you frighten them.”

Simon blinked.

She had come out on her own?

That was rare enough to make him study her for a moment before answering.

He controlled the air around the room, preventing it from carrying his voice outside.

”How would I frighten them? I’m not some sort of monster.”

Lilith looked down at him.

”Considering the things you’ve done and the opponents you’ve defeated, I would call you one.”

His lips twitched.

”You know what I mean. I don’t look like a monster, and I’m restraining the pressure of my bloodlines. My presence shouldn’t make them feel threatened.”

The air held her voice within the room as well. Neither the guards outside nor anyone beyond the door could hear their conversation.

Lilith walked toward the window beside the balcony.

”Then perhaps they’re worried about something else.”

Simon rose and joined her.

The guards continued watching the grounds. Farther away, the city spread toward the harbor, with the faint golden curve of The Wall beyond it.

”Do you have any idea what that might be?”

Lilith remained silent for a while.

”I don’t know. But if they’re this anxious with that barrier protecting them, I would expect something on the level of a Supreme Demon King at the very least.”

Her eyes shifted toward him.

”Don’t be surprised if you have to deal with powerful Daemons.”

Simon’s expression became solemn.

”I wouldn’t be.”

He looked toward the harbor.

”This is a mission from the Daemon leading the Abyss... The Abyss Sovereign... I wasn’t expecting something simple.”

There was also the matter of the four Daemons he had been sent to assist.

Having to assist four Daemons in a land of demons was absurd on its own the more one thought about it.

And now a city with defenses far beyond what he had expected, whose guards still seemed afraid.

”I doubt we’ve seen enough to understand what’s happening here.”

”No,” Lilith agreed. ”And you shouldn’t assume that everything troubling the Daegrins is connected to your mission. You haven’t even met the four Daemons yet.”

Simon nodded slowly.

She was right. There were too many things he didn’t know.

Lilith watched a group of merchants cross a distant bridge.

”Still, it would benefit you to make the Daegrins your subordinates.”

Simon turned toward her.

”What?”

”Or your allies. That would be useful too.”

For a moment, he simply stared at her with a baffled expression.

He had come here to complete the Sovereign’s mission. Taking an interest in the Daegrins themselves had not crossed his mind.

”Is there a particular reason you’re suggesting that?”

”Because they’re rich.”

She glanced pointedly at the gold along the window frame.

Simon waited.

Lilith looked back at the city.

”That’s your reason?”

”Is it a bad one?”

”I know they’re wealthy. I’ve seen the gold bridges and the children’s toys. But surely they aren’t richer than the Abyss?”

Lilith shook her head.

”Look at Vhal-Sar. Now compare it to the Abyss.”

Simon gave her a strange look.

”That’s not a fair comparison.”

”Why not?”

”The Abyss is in another dimension. An unstable one. The Daegrins live out in the open, where they can build wherever they please.”

He gestured toward the gardens.

”I doubt decorating the streets is the Abyss’s biggest concern.”

Lilith considered that.

”Fair enough.”

Simon folded his arms.

”Then?”

”Their ability is what interests me.”

”What ability?”

”The Daegrins have a racial ability that allows them to sense treasures in their vicinity.”

He lowered his arms.

”I heard about that. But is it that special?”

”Yes it is. Imagine locating a rare herb growing among ordinary plants you frequently pass by. Valuable ore beneath the road you walk on. An artifact someone overlooked in a ruin. They can notice things that other demons would walk past.”

Simon glanced toward the auction house Seraya had pointed out earlier.

”How?”

”Their senses respond to certain qualities within those things. Unusual energy, rare materials, things of that nature. They feel drawn toward them.”

Lilith paused.

”I’m simplifying it for you. They don’t hear a voice announcing the name and value of every treasure nearby.”

”I wasn’t going to ask that.”

”Good.”

She continued before he could respond.

”The range and sensitivity depend on the individual. Concealment can interfere with it, and finding something doesn’t mean they can obtain it safely. But it gives them an advantage most races don’t have.”

Simon’s attention returned to the city.

He already knew that the Daegrins had this ability, but he had never thought of it in such a manner.

What many knew the Daegrins for was that they were Wandering Merchants and the richest Merchants in the Demon Realm.

Apparently, there was more behind their wealth than their ability to buy and sell.

”Rare herbs, cultivation and bloodline materials, things you need for your cultivation,” Lilith said. ”You won’t always find them waiting in a vault. Having people who can help locate them would save you a great deal of trouble.”

”And they already have merchants traveling to different places.”

”Exactly. They could search for what you need while conducting their own business.”

Simon fell silent.

The thought was more appealing than he had expected.

Money was useful, but there were things he couldn’t simply buy whenever he needed them. Finding someone willing to sell was difficult enough. Finding the item in the first place could be worse.

Then another thought occurred to him.

Would the Sovereign not know this?

Someone who led the Abyss should understand the value of a race like the Daegrins far better than he did.

Was that part of the reason for this mission?

Perhaps the four Daemons had come here for something connected to the Daegrins. Perhaps the Sovereign wanted their cooperation.

Simon rubbed his chin.

It was only a possibility. He still knew too little.

”I’ll keep it in mind,” he said. ”Though I doubt they’ll agree to serve me because I admire their city.”

”Then give them a better reason.”

Lilith’s gaze moved toward the lower terraces.

She watched something there for several breaths.

Simon followed her line of sight, but saw only rooftops, bridges, and crowded streets.

”I’m going to take a look around,” she said.

He turned back.

”Outside?”

”Yes. There’s something I want to see.”

”You can go that far away from me?”

Lilith looked faintly amused.

”I can. Especially after you fed me Joren’s soul.”

Simon studied her.

That partially explained her willingness to leave his heart, at least. Since she always complained about using the little energy she had left to do unimportant things.

”What do you want to see?”

She moved closer to the window and did not answer him immediately.

”Lilith.”

”What?”

”Did you notice something?”

”Can’t a woman get some fresh air and appreciate the beautiful things in life?”

The corner of his mouth twitched.

Fresh air?

She had spent most of their time together inside his heart without complaining about the lack of it.

And she had just said there was something she wanted to see.

He glanced toward the city again.

”You could simply tell me-”

”I’ll see you later.”

Lilith phased through the glass before he could finish.

Simon stepped closer to the window, watching her leave.

His lips twitched again.

”First Seraya, now you. Do the women in this city all intend to leave me guessing?”

There was no answer.

Of course there wasn’t.

He remained there for another moment, then released his control over the air and walked toward the bed.

Whatever had caught Lilith’s attention, she had no intention of telling him yet.

Simon lay down with one arm beneath his head.

Above him, delicate patterns covered the canopy. Even the bed had been made with enough care to impress him.

He let his eyes rest on the patterns, though his thoughts remained on the Daegrins.

Their ability. Their wealth.

And whatever could make them uneasy behind The Wall.

A few minutes passed before someone knocked.

Simon turned his head toward the door.

”Come in.”

Seraya entered as he sat up.

”My father is ready to see you, Blackmoon.”

Simon nodded and stood.

”Let’s go then.”