Ch 29: Two Conversations

He left behind his little spy for a few reasons. One of them was the woman walking slightly ahead of him.

Even though it looked like she had given up on pulling that thread of curiosity she encountered, there was still a chance that she might not be able to resist the urge to figure this all out.

The other major reason was everything his family went through with Pantel. He had been passive at first when his sister was poisoned and he regretted that.

Even though he would prefer to stay out of whatever was going on in this world, he needed information in case he needed to act in order to protect himself and those around him.

As part of his mind guided the Laksulm rat into the brothel, the rest of his mind was waiting for Aisling to start talking. He could tell she wanted to say more to him.

"It was because of what Piaras said. I spent so much effort to become a member of this merchant company. So when he said we weren't ready, it just hit a nerve." Aisling couldn't take the silence anymore.

"Sounds about right. You're a really hard worker and who wouldn't want their efforts recognized." Baldeur said.

Aisling groaned in reply.

"What? You are a hard worker." He said.

"You wouldn't understand." She said.

"Try me." He replied.

She stopped and was silent for a moment.

"Okay. I also went out tonight because of you. You're a lazy bum who somehow has everything. Three Sources, great parents, the best trainers, random barmaids, and now you get prophecies about you." As she yelled, a few of the other people on the street started to look over at them.

"I do work hard, but still have to see you just falling into greatness without even trying." She continued.

"You know the prophecy is most likely fake." He said. "And I'm sure you could get any barmaid you wanted."

"Arrhh. Let's just be civil for the rest of this mission then hopefully we get put on separate teams going forward." She said.

Not waiting for him, Aisling continued back to the world branch office.

Baldeur caught up to her and waited a few strides before talking.

"I didn't sign a contract with Zeerous at eight years old because I'm passionate about merchant houses. Someone with a bit of power was pressuring my family and the only resource I had to help them was my three Sources.

"I signed a 20 year contract in order to get the backing of someone strong enough to protect my family. More than half my life has been in service of that contract. And I still have another 10 years before I can start making my life truly my own.

"I guess if I come across as a bit childish, it's because I haven't exactly been able to enjoy my childhood. I needed to protect my family." Baldeur said.

Aisling stopped when she heard that. She had heard a few rumors but didn't put much stock into them. Now she was realizing his life was closer to hers than she would have thought.

"Sigh. I work so hard for my family. They aren't very well off. My mother is Sourceless. And my father… Well he might as well be Sourceless.

"He's the kindest man you will ever meet, so Infernius doesn't work for him as a Source. Plus the discrimination he has received because of his Source, he hasn't been able to make much money over the years because of that.

"I have an older brother that has Qi as a Source but he went to join a sect and abandoned us as soon as he was old enough.

"That's why I get so angry at you at times." Aisling said all this without looking at him.

When she did look towards him at the end of her rant, the fury returned and she regretted opening up to him as he had a weird look on his face.

"Arghh. I knew you wouldn't understand. Just leave me alone for now on." She hurried ahead of him.

"Wait, no. I just remember something unrelated to any of this." Baldeur said.

She turned around and waited for his reasoning.

"I think I forgot a bowl of porridge in my room and my mother is going to kill me." His excuse wasn't that good because mind was currently split and what he just saw had really surprised him.

She rolled her eyes and continued forward.

"I was paying attention. We both shared something personal and learned that we have a bit more in common than we thought. Don't let my messed up thinking ruin a wonderful moment between the two of us. Our friendship can be so much closer after this." Baldeur said.

He could feel her tension loosen with his words.

"Wait!" He yelled.

She stopped and turned to look at him with concern.

"Haha, I just remembered I took the bowl to the kitchen on my way out. That would have been bad." Baldeur walked past her.

It took her a moment to fully understand what had just happened. Shaking her head she started to follow him, a slight smile forming on her face.

Baldeur missed that smile since his mind was currently thinking about what he had just seen.

A little While ago…..

The Laksulm rat found a small hole in the rar of the building and entered the back area of the brothel. A number of scantily clad women were sitting around and preparing to enter the main room to sell their assets.

Not really sure where to go, Baldeur kept his spy to the shadows.

Shortly after that, a pudgy man entered from the main room clutching a small box tightly to his chest.

"Glisele, you don't need to wash your feet. Mister Gher likes it filthy. Harmis Go join Merced, her client just paid for a threesome." From the way he ordered the women around, it was clear he was in charge.

The Laksulm rat quickly made its way behind the man as he entered his office.

Sitting on a sofa of the cramped and overly decorated office was one of the most beautiful women Baldeur had seen in any of his lives. Her black and red trimmed dress covered all her assets but they were of the quality that the fabric couldn't hide her alluring figure.

It was a good thing that Aisling was currently not looking at Baldeur when he saw her.

"Mistress, I'm sorry it took so long. The room that the item was in was occupied but I have what you came for." He presented the box to the woman.

"I just hope that the Master will be happy with my offering." He opened the box and pulled out a small deep red stone.

Baldeur couldn't sense Sources through his current Laksulm rat but he easily could tell that was an Accursed Stone, the Infernius counterpart to Divinus Singing Stone. It would collect intense emotions and turn them into Infernius energy.

"Well done. Master should be happy with the quality you have presented to him. You will surely be rewarded." The woman stood, placed the stone back in the box and closed it.

"Perhaps the Mistress could give me a bit of a teen tiny reward right now?" He moved his hand towards her waist.

His lustful intent was obvious.

Before his hand could make contact her eyes narrowed.

In that instant, Baldeur saw what caused his weird face that Aisling mistook for a reaction to her background.

The pudgy brothel owner's hand stopped and the lustful desire that was radiating from his features disappeared.

"Is that what you truly desire because you look to be having some problems in that area?" The woman indicated the man's crotch that had completely deflated.

He turned red and stammered an apology before stepping aside.

Baldeur kept his rat hidden in the shadows while the woman left. He had to wait a few more minutes for the man to collect himself and leave his office before leading his spy out of the room and back onto the street.

It was a few hours before he was able to get his tiny creation back to the trade company world branch.

The entire time, Baldeur had been trying to figure out if what he saw was what he thought it was. It would have been a lot easier to figure out if the Laksulm device could sense Sources.

Sin Inversion was a difficult talent for Infernius users. The sin of Lust could be used to entice and charm a person. When inverted it could take away any mental and physical desires for pleasures of the flesh.

Most people wouldn't be able to invert their sins until they had a deep understanding of them since it went counterintuitive to what they were used to.

Based on her movements and the brothel owner's reaction that was what he was leaning towards. There were a few other spells that could achieve the same effect but when cast they looked different.

The fact that this woman was collecting an Accursed Stone led him to the conclusion that she was an Infernius user and a talented one at that.

If he did have to face her, she would be a difficult opponent at his current level.

He had been holding back on making certain visible advancements in the Sources he showed but circumstances meant he might not have the luxury of holding back anymore.