The Voice On The Rival's Head

Chapter 44: The Origin of Helian

They decide to meet Duke Bloome who fortunately has the same office as the Building that Verite used to conduct his research, and, Duke Bloome's Mansion was connected to many places that people would not think there was any connection with each other.

Mefras even refused to call this place a mansion because he said this place is more like a multipurpose base building, Mefras called the danger of combining all the important infrastructure in one building.

Duke Bloome heard what Mefras was talking about and thought of making a headquarters move, Verite began to suspect that Duke Bloome was someone from the Mefras world or just someone who had a broad imagination.

Walk through the hallway that has their minimal decor up to the part where letters and civil matters are handled, this is where office workers do their work.

Fortunately it seemed like they were just starting to get home, Verite asked one of the people who wrote at the table if Duke Bloome was here and luckily Verite got a positive answer, Duke Bloome is in his office so Verite and his comrades head straight to his office.

They stood in a solitary office space, with the door bearing the name Duke Bloome written in elegant calligraphy, fitting for use as a signboard of nobility.

Verite knocked on the door.

“Log.” Verite heard the answer from within.

Duke Bloome who was sitting at his office desk, was surrounded by a small pile of papers that had sorts of contents such as invitations and trade approvals.

“Verite, Mefras.. and Helian, it looks like you guys are involved with him.” Duke Bloome saw this group coming.

“I already know about the attack that happened to you Helian, it looks like Sunsworth has started moving.” He said while marking the paper on his desk.

“I know why Helian is here but Verite and Mefras, why are you here?” Duke Bloome asked.

“I want to know what happened, even Helian does not seem to know the full context about this attack problem.” Verite explained his reason for coming.

“I can explain but let us on the same page how about you explain what you know and what you want to ask?” Duke Bloome asked them to explain.

Verite nodded, he began to explain everything he knew, from Helian's parents and the reason why he was attacked and his curiosity towards the fact that Duke Bloome saved Helian.

Duke Bloome heard all of Verite's talk patiently before he began to explain his point of view. “You've got almost all the facts, about why I saved Helian? It was just a coincidence, I met Helian's mother during a visit to Sunflow city, she asked me for help to protect Helian if she wasn't alive and I did.” Duke Bloome said.

“That's it?” Verite asked.

“Yes, maybe you think the facts are more exciting but Helian's mother was only Duke Sunsworth's previous maid. He doesn't have something I don't have, he doesn't have, I do not claim that I am a hero or that I am a believer in justice but when I see a mother pleading with me I will be devastated.” Duke Bloome sighed.

“So what should we do now?”Mefras asked.

“There are two options, we can just shut up and hope Duke Sunsworth doesn't send a hit man again.”.

Verite, Helian and Mefras showed their doubts on their faces, there was no way that the person who would hire a hit man would stop so easily, failing once was not a problem, they'll definitely try again.

Duke Bloome smiled wryly as he looked at their faces before continuing his talk. “Second choice we come to see him and assure him that Helian does not want to take the seat of Duke of Sunflow.” city He mentioned his second choice but Verite and Mefras thought about the third option.

“Why are you sure I don't want to take that seat?” Helian asked what Mefras and Verite were thinking, they could stop her by putting Helian in the Duke's seat.

“Because I don't want to spill the blood of the people I shed my sweat and blood to make them prosper to raise a child in the seat of a Duke and get a very unstable ‘strengan’, he said, if you want to take his chair you have to take that chair with your own hands.” Duke Bloome stated, he made no room for argument.

“Alright, second choice.” Helian gave her answer, she seemed to have no doubts at all.

“Yes, I don't know who my father is and my mother never told me to take the Duke's seat, all she wanted was for me to have a bright future, and the bloodshed for a chair that could easily be lost is not the definition of a bright future for me.” Helian stated.

“Hah..”.

All eyes went to Mefras who was breathing out.

“What?” Mefras asked, not understanding the view he had. “I'm just relieved we won't choose the bloody path.”

“Maybe because they think you have a different opinion with your style sigh.” Verite.

“Ah.” Ah, Mefras nodded, though,

The eyes of Helian and Duke Bloome now turned to Verite.

“What's up?” Verite this time asked.

They shook their heads, not voicing how human the interaction of a construct and its controller was.

“Back to topic, what are we going to do now?” Verite drove the topic back to Duke Sunsworth.

“As I said we can wait and hope he won't send another hired killer.” Duke Bloome said his face showed that he himself did not believe in this choice.

A person who might kill his own brother to take the Duke seat was not someone who would give up when he failed once, either, especially if the target he failed to get rid of was a threat to the seat he had.

“Because none of us believe in the first choice we will take the second option.” Duke Bloome Stated.

“We will go to Sunflow city?” Verite asked.

Duke Bloome nodded. “Yes, you guys get ready, I will clear my schedule, we will go to Sunflow city within a week.”

So they'll choose the diplomacy route, where they come into the territory of the people who want to kill them, saying that they would not do anything and hoping that Duke Sunsworth would not decide for him to attack there.

“Do you have any confidence in your ability there Duke?” Verite asked.

“I can protect myself, and you have Mefras.” Duke Bloome replied.

It was true that Duke Bloome was a Thaumaturgy expert, so he had great magic abilities, but…

“Wait a minute, why am I included as the one who will go?” Verite asked.

“Are you going to let your friend into the crocodile hole alone?” Duke Bloome asked as if he would know what Verite's answer was.

“...”

“Iya.” Duke Bloome smiled.