Epic Of The Demonic Sage

"Where shall we be going next to, Asher?" Kiana asked once they left the rehabilitation center and returned to the carriage.

"Hmm… I was unable to speak with Alessa last time due to Viscountess Blackshield's presence there, but since I have some free time on my hands, it will be good to check on how things are." Lucius said.

"Alright, Asher." Kiana communicated his desires to the carriage driver and soon they were off. 

Along their ride to Dionysia's Brewery, Lucius thought about the following nobles who expressed their interest in the re education center and hiring the Masked Legion mercenaries.

'Most of them did show a favorable stance during Count Inanis's banquet, but considering that most did not take any initiative, we only have a selected number of nobility who will be the first to experience our services.' Lucius thought.

"Kiana, do you remember Baron Harmund?" Lucius asked.

Kiana's expression suddenly scrunched up at the mention of the nobleman's name. It didn't escape Lucius's attention even while she cleared her throat.

"He was one of the supporters of Count Inanis during the banquet, Asher. As I have told you before, his father participated in the battle against Gisir last year and passed away hence he was able to inherit the rank of a Baron at his age." Kiana rattled off the detail in a perfunctory manner.

"Yes, I remember that. I've met the man as well, Kiana." Lucius said, raising his brows at the woman's temper. "What I was trying to ask of you was that you were conversing with him if I remember."

"Countess Lita was the one who initiated the talk first and introduced me, Asher." Kiana sighed a little with dismay and folded her hands on her lap.

'I know that my status is different from Asher's, but we have grown close enough that I do not think that he finds any issues that I am much more frank than other servants. Not to mention that we are related… so he should be able to understand.' Kiana thought.

"Regardless, you have spoken in length with him far more than I have." Lucius said.

"Yes… and it has been a certain experience." Kiana said, wanting to speak more but then restrained herself. "He is quite pressured by the responsibilities of a Baron. There has been a lot of interest shown by some young women in his during the banquet, though not as much as towards you, Asher."

Kiana said the last part with a bit of pride but also some disgust toward the girls. She knew that it was common to marry for the sake of convenience, a transaction between two families, but if they were interested in Asher then they needed to act with more civility and levelheadedness if they were to actually engage with him.

"If you are close with him, Kiana. I'd like you to write up a draft yourself and send a letter addressed to him in regards to the Masked Legion mercenary and the rehabilitation center. I think he might be interested in the former than the latter, but having two there will be more good." Lucius said.

It was his intention to create as many Lost as possible and thus the more rehabilitation center he had across the kingdom of Grantz then the more that his potential power increased.

'We'll start small, but once there are rehabilitation centers everywhere then it'll allow me to have Lost and I'll extend my influence.'

"You… you wish for me to write a letter to Baron Harmund?" Kiana asked in surprise. She didn't expect anything like this from Asher.

"Yes, it is a business letter but the fact that the two of you have conversed may also make it more likely for him to agree to both." Lucius said. "Do you have any issues with it?"

"No. Not at all, Asher. I am simply surprised. I… I suppose that Baron Harmund had confided in me a lot during our conversation back at the banquet and it has made me exhausted. While I've been sympathetic as I knew his story, interacting with the man in person is a different thing all together." Kiana said wearily. "But since this is for the case of the Inanis family then I will do so."

"Good," Lucius said as he checked through the window of Dionysia Brewery. There were a few more people than usual outside which made him raise his brows.

The two quickly stepped out and went to approach the people gathered. Kiana was ready for anything, while Lucius carried himself in a relaxed manner.

"What happened here?" Lucius called out. The people were construction workers, individuals that he had hired before during the start of the brewery's creation.

"Ah, Young Lord Asher!" the people greeted him at once, recognizing his face.

It was John who came forward and bowed his head. "Young Lord Asher, a good day to you. To what do we owe the honor of the visit?"

With their internal arrangement, John had to act like someone who owned the brewery through his wife.

"I have visited the last time here with Viscountess, but was also tempted to come here alone to check some of your wine and see if I can do some free tasting myself." Lucius said with a chuckle.

John joined in amicably with a smile. "You are the future Lord of this city, Young Lord Asher. We cannot turn you away even if we wanted to. Please come in. One of you let my wife know that Young Lord Asher has arrived."

"Is the brewery expanding again?" Lucius asked as the construction workers resumed back to work. There were a lot of materials outside and what appeared to be the start of new buildings.

"Yes, there is that, Young Lord Asher." John nodded but then cleared his throat. "But there was also a small incident some time ago that we haven't actually shared that much before…" 

"And what is that" Lucius's gaze sharpened as he eyed the man before him. If there was anything that happened to Dionysia Brewery while he was gone, Lucius needed to know of it.