Epic Of The Demonic Sage

Arius, Cohen and Carlyle all traded looks before the three nodded at once.

"We'd be happy to do this for you, Lucius." Arius said.

"Honestly, we've been a little cooped up here since you postponed our mission to Gisir Kingdom, so this is actually a chance to get some work done in," Carlyle admitted.

"Beats sparring one another too." Cohen added.

"Sparring?" Lucius raised a brow.

"Training our newfound gifts," Arius explained. "But unseen, of course."

The three had mostly stayed in the space that Lucius had provided them near the rehabilitation center.

Arius, Carlyle and Cohen kept their heads down except for the occasion when they were completely restless and chose to fight with one another.

"Good." Lucius nodded. "It would be an issue if you three were discovered."

Originally, Lucius had planned to send the three men to the Gisir Kingdom when they informed him of the news that the Gisir Soldiers were settling in the border between Gisir and Grantz.

It was vital to gain more information about their movements, and more importantly, stop whatever they were doing and cripple them from doing anything to attack the Grantz Kingdom if that was their goal.

While Lucius held no loyalty or love to the Grantz Kingdom, the fact remained that the Inanis Territory was under the domain of the Grantz Kingdom and if anything were to happen, then Count Gabriel would be called again to fight in a war.

'It'll be taking up away the resources that I currently have in my hand,' Lucius thought. 'While there certainly is a profit to be made during war between territories if I were to become a supplier… at my current position, I stand more to lose than to gain if Gisir and Grantz were to immediately turn to war once more.'

The Dionysia Brewery was earning, and while there were no doubt buyers from even humbler backgrounds, as Lucius had intended with the Humble Blaze, a decent and notable chunk came from nobility.

The nobility would also postpone adopting the rehabilitation center in their cities if a war were to occur since their attention would be divested elsewhere too.

And the Masked Legion was still currently too small in numbers if Lucius were to interest others in using them in a war against Gisir too.

"Ahem, Lucius?" Kiana cleared her throat a little.

"Right, I think that will be all for today from me. Have Leif report to me once these new criminals come in, we'll leave for now." Lucius said as he rose up and left the Blind Crow's Tavern.

***

"It's good that I made them stay with these other criminals arriving," Lucius commented to Kiana as they made their way to the rehabilitation center.

Since Lucius needed to invest his attention to the banquet at Etara's Cross prior, he had held Arius and the others before.

"I thought it would be best to send them earlier, but you're right, this is proper timing." Kiana nodded as she glanced out the window of the carriage and looked at the streets.

"While they could have done a decent amount of work already while in Gisir and Grantz borders, I do not think Gellor and his men would be ready to take on this Bordeaux individual," Lucius said.

"… You don't think so?" Kiana looked back at him surprised. "Gellor was trained by Master Frank himself and Master Frank was a genius swordsman while having no gift whatsoever!"

"Do you think Master Frank would have been able to best Mad Blade Bordeaux?" Lucius asked.

"His years of experience and expertise will prevail him." Kiana said with a bit of a frown. "… He was unlike any other, Asher. I know that you do not remember him, but his impeccable swordsmanship was incredible."

"I see, perhaps I am mistaken in that regard," Lucius said with a shake of his head. "Either way, I'd rather not mix in Gellor with these people for now. While I've asked Arius and the others to capture these men alive, other circumstances might still happen. Mercenaries may fight in a battlefield, but it's not often that they kill other people."

Kiana nodded slowly. She understood why Asher and her were doing this, but for others, they might not see the good intentions that they were doing.

Soon enough, Lucius and Kiana arrived at the rehabilitation center. As before, Old Man Johan and the others welcomed Lucius eagerly and with open arms.

"Welcome back, Young Lord Asher!" Old Man Johan bowed.

"Greetings. I've come here to share some good news about the rehabiliation center, Mister Johan." Lucius said with a smile. "I'd like for you to gather all of our people and set up a meeting."

"At once, Young Lord Asher," Old Man Johan said.

"Before that, I will be checking the criminals we've captured," Lucius informed the old man before he asked. "… Are there any in particular that are of in heavy need of re-education?"

"Oh, there is one, Young Lord Asher," Old Man Johan said. "He is already ready for your guidance."

Lucius nodded and then turned to Kiana. "Have this person brought to me."

"Will do, Asher." Kiana nodded.

While Lucius headed down to the laboratory, he couldn't help but think about the situation of the rehabilitation center and the Masked Legion.

'As I've expected, the numbers are dwindling here in Inanis City. The expansion to other cities is at good time to fill up the ranks of the Lost. And of course, depending on the usefulness of the two upcoming criminals, they might also end up becoming Lost as well.' Lucius thought.

The familiar appearance of Lucius's laboratory welcomed him in as he arrived and the presence of the Masked Legion and the Lost Bore Shrew also became evident. He checked on their hell energy levels before Lucius sent slivers of energy towards them.

They had mostly stayed dormant, so their energy depletion was actually quite low, instead, they mostly helped him increase his own space.

"A shame that I lost the Lost Plow Worm, but there's always next time," Lucius said to himself until the door opened and Kiana arrived with his new subject.