Chapter 137: Set Off to Find the Blueprint
As the afternoon sun leaned toward the west, Dalahan City remained bustling, but Aldrian paid no mind to the commotion. He was now staying in the most luxurious inn in the city. King Douwin had offered him a place in the royal palace, but Aldrian had politely declined, citing reasons such as his desire for more freedom. However, his real motive was to meet with whomever he wished without the need to secretly infiltrate the royal palace.
At this moment, Aldrian sat cross-legged on the bed in his room, eyes closed, waiting in silence. A few minutes passed when suddenly, he sensed a disturbance in the flow of energy around him. He knew that someone had arrived and was fully aware of who they were.
"Come in," he said calmly. "I know you’re there—two men in black cloaks."
A moment later, two figures materialized before Aldrian. Their faces were hidden behind black masks, with only their eyes visible. Even so, their eyes revealed astonishment. For this young man to detect them while they used their stealth technique—one they believed even Low Emperor-stage cultivators would struggle to notice.
Their leader had given them a new mission, one unlike any before. They were to travel to Forgeheart Kingdom and meet a young man named Aldrian Aster. Their leader orders were strict, they were to obey every command he gave and assist him by any means necessary. Though confused by the importance placed on this mission, they had no choice but to carry it out.
"So, you are the First and Second Finger?" Aldrian’s question snapped them out of their amazement.
The first figure responded promptly. "Yes, young master. I am the First Finger, and beside me is the Second. We are here by the leader’s orders to assist you."
The First Finger knew exactly who Aldrian was. After all, he had been the one to take the assassination request from the Golden Swan Commerce’s leader and hand it to their group. Yet, something had changed. Ever since their leader returned from the Demon Territory, he had been insistent that they keep their distance from Aldrian and anyone connected to him.
In the end, their attempts to eliminate the Yu family or any of Aldrian’s closes one had been half-hearted at best. Eventually, their leader abandoned the mission entirely and refunded the spirit stones back to the Golden Swan Commerce. To this day, the First Finger and his companion remained curious about what had transpired between their leader and Aldrian, as their leader seemed determined not to mess with the young man.
"You guys, come here and lower your heads. I have something special for you," Aldrian said with a smile.
They obeyed without question. Aldrian placed his fingers on their foreheads, and a sudden sensation coursed through the First and Second Finger’s head. They felt their very souls being bound by an invisible force. They realized what had happened, but it’s already too late. Aldrian had cast the Everlasting Demonic Follower spell on them—enslaving their souls with a seal before they could react!