After stating his name, the man in purple, Syndra-Lo, slowly lowered the finger he had pointed at Aila.
The black shadows that had been coiling around the blade vanished into the darkness as if answering an invisible summons. Without their support, the short knife fell to the floor with a sharp clang that echoed piercingly through the silent theater.
“Now then, Mr. Syndra, you’ve gone to a great deal of trouble to bring us here. I assume it wasn't just to put us through a pointless test?”
Midir took a deep breath and stepped forward, quietly shielding Aila behind him as he looked up and asked.
“Haha, of course not. However, since you two have appeared here, you must be seeking something from us. Let me guess... it’s to obtain a pass to the Valley of Ice, isn't it?”
Syndra-Lo smiled slightly, a smile that seemed to hide infinite depth and wisdom. His gaze met Midir’s, as if he could see through the deepest secrets of his heart.
Seeing him expose their goal in a single word, Aila’s expression changed, and she shouted.
“How do you know that! Could it be Yasi...?”
Faced with Aila’s shock and questioning, Syndra-Lo shook his head gently and explained calmly.
“No, no, Miss Aila, please remain calm. Everything I have said is based solely on a reasonable deduction of existing intelligence. It has no direct connection to that young lady from the Adventurers Guild. You can rest easy.”
Syndra-Lo seemed to enjoy the feeling of linguistically dominating his opponents. His tone carried a hint of playfulness as he slowly stepped down from the stage.
As he descended, each step was accompanied by the sound of metal soles striking the floor. The sound echoed in the empty theater, feeling as though each step were treading directly on Aila’s strained nerves.
Though he released no aura, that invisible pressure felt like a giant hand tightly gripping Aila’s heart, making her feel somewhat breathless.
“I am aware of your problem, and I can give you a clear answer. It will be at least six months before you can see the Holy Church’s Saint Lord. During this time, you will absolutely not be able to enter the Valley of Ice through normal means. But since you have found me, it is not impossible for me to help you with this small favor. However, everything has a price. Are you willing to pay the corresponding price for this pass?”
As Syndra-Lo spoke, he had unknowingly arrived right in front of Midir.
Midir looked down slightly at the mysterious man, who was a bit shorter than himself, trying to discern something from the eyes behind the mask. But those pale purple eyes were as calm as a deep well, showing not a single ripple of emotion.
“Tell me, what do you need us to do?” Midir asked in a low voice after a moment of silence.
Syndra-Lo smiled, seemingly satisfied with Midir’s directness.
“Oh? It seems you understand quite well! However, I don't need you to do anything right now. I only need a promise from you. In the future, when I need you, you will do one thing for me. How about it? This deal should be quite a bargain for you, shouldn't it?”
Midir agreed without the slightest hesitation. He understood that in this world, there was no such thing as a free lunch.
“Not ‘us’... but ‘me’? If this matter doesn't involve Aila, I can agree to it.”
Hearing this, Aila urgently wanted to say something, but Midir reached out and gently cut her off. She looked at Midir with eyes full of worry and unease.
“Hmm, though the process was a bit different from what I imagined, the result is excellent. Miss Aila, you can rest assured as well; I will not ask him to do anything monstrous.”
Syndra-Lo seemed somewhat surprised by how readily Midir had agreed, and an undetectable hint of joy entered his voice.
“And the matter of the pass?”
“Rest assured, Mr. Midir. I have no need to deceive you over such a trivial matter. Please wait patiently in Emerald City for a short while, and we will deliver the pass to you personally.”
Syndra-Lo gently removed his wide-brimmed top hat and bowed slightly to Midir. His short, pale purple hair shimmered slightly under the lights, complementing his suit and making him look exceptionally mysterious.
“Then, let us part for now. We shall meet again at the opportune moment. I wish you both a pleasant evening.”
Before turning away, Syndra-Lo gave Midir a deep look. In that instant, Midir caught a strange light in his eyes, and a wave of inexplicable familiarity surged in his heart.
“Wait... hold on! Have we met before?” he blurted out almost instinctively.
“No, I have never met you before... Tonight’s performance is over. Everyone, you may leave.” However, Syndra-Lo simply shook his head, and the abnormality in his eyes vanished in an instant.
He reached out and snapped his fingers. The black shadows on the ground surged like a tide, instantly engulfing Midir and Aila.
After the shadows vanished, the hall became quiet once again. The masked audience members also stood up one after another and left their seats silently, as if they had merely watched a play that had nothing to do with them.
A moment later, only Syndra-Lo and his band members remained in the vast hall, standing in silent opposition.
“Heh, I thought those members would have something different to say. I didn't expect today to go so smoothly. I was already prepared for a fight.”
Whiskey let out a light chuckle, breaking the silence.
“That is all thanks to the Lord’s presence. If it had been you presiding, the result today might not have been the same,” the girl called Sherry said, glancing at Whiskey with a teasing tone.
“But this is the first time I’ve seen Lord Syndra be so easy to talk to. Is it because of that girl Aila’s background? Or is it because of that Midir? I’ve never heard that man’s name before! What do you think, Vodka?”
On the other side of the stage, a man in grey who hadn't spoken yet nudged his tall companion with his elbow.
The tall man called Vodka only gave a vague grunt in response. This answer clearly displeased the other, who began to complain.
“Dammit, I shouldn't have bothered asking you, you stoic blockhead!”
Seeing that several of his subordinates still seemed to have doubts about today’s events, Syndra-Lo clapped his hands to signal them to stop.
Upon hearing the clap, the noisy group immediately fell silent. Only then did Syndra-Lo continue in his calm voice.
“I understand your confusion, but this matter was decided from the very beginning. You need not look into it further. Especially you, Brandy—rein in that unnecessary curiosity of yours!”
Syndra emphasized the word “curiosity,” which gave the complaining Brandy a start. He immediately began nodding his head like a chicken pecking at grain.
“As I promised them today, deliver the pass tomorrow. Whiskey, you will handle this. That will be all for today.”
With those words, he gave a gentle wave of his hand. Black shadows surrounded him like a tide, and then Syndra-Lo’s figure was quietly swallowed by the shadows, vanishing from the stage and leaving behind only the empty hall and his group of pensive subordinates.
Rate on N.U.
