Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Slowly but surely, the young blood has grown closer to the succubus's nest of irreplaceable assets. From gathering intel on those short on payments to spying on the nobles that the Mistress had within her clutches, and although he worked through a proxy connected directly to the demon, Monty had finally grown himself a name–a name with no face to pin it to.

Like a shadow he made fierce use of his thief skills, sneaking in, sneaking out like a noble feline snubbing a life out of its nest and retreating before the mother arrived. No murder by the blade as non-lethal poisons were enough warning for his cause. After all, what good is a noble that can't pay his toll for merely existing in this land sustained by the devil's allowance?

As strong as she was, Athenia's powers had yet to catch up to the primordial demon that ruled her city from the shadows, and it was through her willingness alone that the land was lush, plentiful and free of diseases for the most part. Having just gotten to know that fact after months of working for said proxy, Monty was heading home after not showing up for an entire week.

'She's really a demon huh? And people are willingly helping her out of their own greed, no wonder the hero wants me to stay with her and ensure she doesn't do anything too crazy.' Piecing everything together he arrived at his home. As soon as his fingers touched the doorknob, however, his eyes widened for the metal was faintly warmer than it should've been. 'Someone's inside?'

With an eyebrow raised, he wondered who it could've been as his sister never ventured out in public alone due to her anxiety, and there was little chance of a friend of hers arriving this late into the night. Glancing over to one of the windows facing outwards, he masked his footsteps with a lick of mana and quickly slipped in through the window. Landing in his sister's room, he cautiously made his way outward and to his surprise the lamps in the kitchen were all lit in a warm light.

Even more surprising was the laughs from Lincy seated by the dining. Covered behind a curtain to the room, the face of the person opposite of her was not yet revealed, but the young thief could tell from what little he saw of the man. His hands extended forward, the mage was once again teaching the demi-pup how to cast magic, but evidently, Monty's sister was still struggling to conjure the slightest tinge of mana in her hands.

"What are you doing here so late?" Walking closer and pushing the curtain to the side, Monty looked right into Raven's eyes as he asked that question.

"You're here!" But it wasn't the mage that responded first but his sister who hadn't seen him in a week. "Where have you been?!"

Jumping out of her seat, the delicate woman wrapped her arms around his shoulders and squeezed him in a tight hug. The warmth of shared blood soothed her heart in an instant and the same went for the young thief. Calming down a little, he drew a deep breath before gently pushing his sister off of himself.

"I was busy, I have gold to show for it so don't worry too much…" Reaching behind him, Monty unloaded the pouch of gold he was carrying and laid it down on the table. His eyes still fixed on Raven while his sister was left baffled by the amount, he pulled himself a chair and quickly settling in it asked yet again. "So what brings you here again?"

Before giving his answer, Raven looked at Lincy and his eyes reflected the need for solitude. The pup being as dull as she was, couldn't understand what he meant but what she drew from it instead helped the conversation regardless.

"I'll bring you guys some snacks to eat," moving a hand on top of her brother's shoulder, she squeezed it lightly. "Especially you, dare the goddess who knows how long you haven't had a proper meal being away from the house."

Monty wished to retort but held his tongue and only listened to the sound of his sister's footsteps as she went to the pantry. Finally left alone, Raven leaned forward on the table and gave the young man the response that he'd been asking for. Continue reading stories on empire

"I need a spy, ideally an army would be better–but a spy comes first," curious where this was leading, he gestured for the mage to continue with his story. "My party is currently at a bay city with towering mountains closing it under the foot of many hills, and above lives the monarch of the place as well as false heroes, on both of whom I need you to spy on and relay information."

"I thought you wanted me here, in Athenia…"

"Yes and now I want you in another place that takes precedence, I have Amelia and Ophelia handling things here already and if anything gets out of hand, I'm sure they'll relay it to me."

"And what about this army thing you mentioned?" Leaning forward on the table as well, Monty wanted to draw as much information from Raven as he could.

Although the mage realized what he was doing, he saw no fault in letting him in on what he had been planning since the pain in his chest began affecting him. Nightsilver had an army and he fought as a general, not a soldier himself, and if they were going against the same enemy, then Raven too had to employ the same tactic, and the mere thought of it had somehow helped ease the pain from Nightsilver's soul.

A spire that would nudge him in the right direction, even though it held no consciousness the part of the dead hero's soul was trying to help him think beyond himself and his party.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"How about I tell you everything on my way to the 'Phordite Mansion?" Hearing Lincy's footsteps approaching, Raven stretched his right hand forward and with the other grabbed the teleportation necklace.

As doubtful as he was, Monty's curiosity got the best of him, and thus right before his sister came back the two were off to the mansion with a big surprise already waiting for them.