Legacy of the Dark Sage

Besides, when Kyran staged those explosions, his sole purpose was to draw the attention of the town's security away for an hour or two. In a place where they put priority over one's identification, Kyran expected they also had several protocols in place. Thus, he knew staging an explosion and sneaking into the town would not result in the scenario he had in mind.

He expected the security to place importance on looking out for intruders after the explosion. For this reason, he opted to appear in front of the town's guards before anything happens. After that, Kyran would go to the Adventurer Guild once the town's security confirmed the explosion posed no threat, and they lifted the emergency protocol.

As for the matter of his identification, he would declare to the guild he had lost it during the commotion.

Losing one's identification was not an uncommon occurrence, and there was definitely a way to retrieve one or request a new copy.

Of course, Kyran had to provide initial information so they could release the identification, which was why he planned to 'procure' them by targeting an inconspicuous individual in town. If he could not find one, he would use his magic sense to crack their system while they input his information.

That had been Kyran's plan.

Alas, it appeared something unexpected happened that might jeopardize it.

Appearing inconspicuously as possible, Kyran scanned the crowd with his magic sense to gather other information.

So far, the information he got from the security group was that a third party took advantage of his explosions. As of that moment, the security group was busy searching for the perpetrators.

What Kyran wanted to know next was what led the third party to attack the town.

He already listed three possibilities, but he might have missed an important clue leading him to miss other possible reasons.

While listening to the conversations around him, he heard one topic that made him believe might be the missing important clue.

There were talks about an important figure staying at the Adventurer Guild.

Kyran frowned after hearing this.

Why would such a figure stay with the guild? Should he or she not have stayed with the town's local leader?

Kyran would still understand if the important figure that was the subject of their conversation was a merchant or a well-known member of the guild, but they were using a native word of important figure that pointed to a high-ranking official within the Eidum.

Kyran might have gathered enough information to move around, but these were only general knowledge. If he wanted to learn more about the political side of things in this plane, it would take him days to get all the information he needed.

And he did not have that leisure. Besides, he was only here for the Saint. And from what he gathered, the Saint was part of the Eidum but her position was considered a civilian given her 'Anathema.' The sole reason she got that title was because the Sovereign bestowed it on her after healing him.

'More importantly,' Kyran thought. 'If the situation does not improve, we'll have to stay here longer. That won't do.'

"True, we must find a way to improve the situation."

Kyran rarely got surprised, but the sudden comment to his side startled him.

He looked to his side at a crouching beast-like wearing an ash-colored robe with silver and gold linings.

To Kyran's surprise, the beast-like also turned and looked at him.

Only then did he realize the beast-like was a complete being— with long white hair and glittering blue eyes. His face seemed to have been sculpted into perfection. Nonetheless, he looked 'old.'

But what the old man looked like was unimportant. What truly surprised Kyran was that he did not sense any complete beings when he first scanned the crowd. Some appeared human because their body was covered with armor, while some had human facial structure, but their skin had scales; their eyes were reptilian, and some even had horns.

As for the old man, after looking at him, Kyran immediately deemed him as a complete being— an existence similar to a human.

Why did he not notice him earlier? Was the old man using a concealing spell powerful enough to block his magic sense?

Seemingly knowing what was running on Kyran's mind even when he was looking indifferent, the old man smiled and said, 'I made you see what I want you to see. Thus, you deem me as beast-like. It is not an illusion but a matter of twisting how your magic sense will 'sense' my being.'

Kyran's eyes narrowed when he realized the old man was not only reading his thoughts but was also communicating with him telepathically. Not to mention, the words he spoke just now were quite profound.

What the old man said about twisting another's magic sense was possible. However, few could do this because few had reached a level of mastery over their magic sense. Which meant the old man's magic sense mastery was similar to Kyran's.

The old man turned his attention back to the crowd, chortling slightly, 'I will not comment about the latter part, but as for why I am speaking with you telepathically... Why not? If I have spoken my words right now, what do you think these people standing close to us will think?'

'You're the important figure hiding in the Adventurer Guild,' Kyran said instead of responding to the old man's comment.

'Oh?' The old man turned to Kyran again, tilting his head. But like Kyran, instead of responding to his comment, he said, 'You speak our language quite fluently. Impressive.'

Kyran's brow furrowed at the old man's comment. How would he even understand what he was saying if he could not speak their language?

'Why is it strange?' The old man looked at him incredulously, 'There are outsiders who understand our language but cannot speak them. You are... the second one.'

A small smile tugged at the corner of Kyran's lips.

It seemed the Somuli people also called non-inhabitants of their plane outsiders.

But that was not the reason Kyran smiled. The old man knew he was an outsider even when in disguise. This only increased his suspicion that the latter was the important figure hiding with the guild.

It also answered why he did not stay with the town's local leaders.

This old man is Eidum's Abbot.

How Kyran came to that conclusion was because of two simple reasons. First, only someone upright, like the Abbot, would choose to stay with the Adventurer Guild that did not belong to any faction.

As far as political ties were concerned, this town might be under the Eidum's jurisdiction, but its town officials were all beast-like and would be inclined toward the Nobles.

Obviously, for the second reason, someone who could see through Kyran's disguise and even know he was an outsider was definitely not a simple person.

Kyran already knew the Abbot was anything but simple if he could rule over the Eidums. Besides, now that the old man allowed him to 'sense' him, he could feel absolute pureness about him.

The old man smiled as if to affirm Kyran's guess.

'Young man, you may not believe in fate. No, rather than not believing, you would rather pave your own path. However, what if that is your fate?'

'Riddles, huh.'

The old man chuckled, 'Not at all. Just an old man's rambling. Nonetheless, I believe our meeting is fate.'

Kyran did not respond. As the old man had said, he did not believe in fate.

'I require assistance, and you happen to be someone who can do just that.'

'What's in it for me?'

'Ahahaha!' The old man laughed telepathically, but he remained smiling on the outside. 'A rather straightforward young man. I like you.'

Kyran refrained from commenting.

'You already know who I am and what I can offer. I can give it if you agree to help me.'

'I have ways to get what I need at the moment even if I don't help you.'

'You drive a hard bargain.'

'You think what I said is bargaining?'

'Why else would you say that? Besides, you do know that I already know who you are. I can easily tell the guild not to give you what you need.'

'I did say I have 'ways,' Kyran responded with a slight smile.

'Ahahaha, yes, you did. I admit to not having a way to counter the other one,' the old man admitted with a slight nod. 'How about I change my offer?'

A playful smile appeared on the old man's face as he continued, 'Rather than offering what you need right now, how about I help you with what you came here for?'

A slight flicker flashed in Kyran's eyes for an instant, but the old man noticed it and laughed out loud. 

Because of his outburst, the beast-like around them could not help but look at him in wonder.

Ignoring their stares, the old man smiled at Kyran and said, 'I will grant you what you need and point you in the right direction. Will you help now?'