Following his sister Rosay’s hibernation just over a month ago, Leomaris had been receiving information concerning her faction, the Circle of Chains, giving him a brief understanding of exactly what role she played in the community.

Unlike his brother Samael, who associated himself with stronger organisations by manipulating his way into their ranks, Rosay chose a different approach altogether.

She trafficked in specific kinds of drugs, imported from the central region and distributed to the drug cartels at a considerable wholesale discount within the southern region.

Despite the dangers of her work, Rosay was still the only head, and she clearly had no interest in changing that. She handled the muscle and the wits, leaving her three butlers to handle delivery and oversee management.

That was the tip of it, and nothing beyond anything concerning her profits and client requests had come his way so far. Still, he knew he’d be a fool to believe that was all Rosay was up to.

Within the Runerth family, not only must one possess a considerable reputation in the underground community, but also they must be highly regarded by the public.

Godfrey himself was proof of that, a hero and a Duke in the public’s eye, yet a criminal mastermind in the eyes of the community. Samael embodied this the most, owing to his cunning nature, but Rosay was just as capable.

’Rosay doesn’t cater to low-status customers. She could raise her prices tomorrow, and her clientele would scarcely notice. That means her dispute with Dunvol is not really about money... It is about reputation.

’Sometimes the hardest path is the only one worth taking, because it reinforces strength and preserves authority. Had she accepted the increase without resistance, she would have been perceived as weak. Worse, she would have sacrificed the respect that gives her influence in the first place.’

Leomaris let out a sigh.

’Or I may be wrong, and this has nothing to do with Dunvol’s charges at all. Perhaps something far more sinister is at work.’

He scratched the back of his head before getting to his feet. Instructor Abigail called the end of their class, and just as she was leaving, Leomaris was getting to his as well.

"She will be waiting for questioning, Young Master. I have already secured an inn for the two of you."

Hazel slipped out of the row, paving the way for Leomaris while cutting off the other cadets in the same motion. Not that any of them could argue, Leomaris was a Calamity, after all.

"I chose a suitable location, so exposure should not be a concern. Still, I would prefer to survey the area once more to be absolutely certain."

Leomaris motioned positively.

He was due to present himself as the Jester of the End at the Seniors’ Jade Hall in about a week. Given the dangers and unpredictability of the place, he chose to leave Hazel out of it and attend with one of the Laughing End, but before that, he had to interview them personally.

He hadn’t reached the stairs before the figure appeared. Brown hair and that insufferable quality he carried about him like a second skin.

His pride was evident even in his stride, and the way he’d positioned his military overcoat over his shoulders gave him a luminous view.

Calamity Will Steelmond. And he had everyone around’s attention without even trying.

From the podium, his brown eyes swept the hall for a moment before settling on Raine. Not a word was exchanged between the two, and Raine and her maid, Ren, descended and joined Will below, exiting the hall at a moment’s notice.

Had he not known what Raine was up to, this would have struck Leomaris as strange. Will belonged to Steelmond County, and they owned an estate in the countryside of Bronzeville.

Supposedly, they were affiliated with the Divine Church of the Firstlight. Raine’s organisation was bent on taking care of every corrupt church out there, and the Divine Church was firmly on that list.

But it struck him as strange. Why would they go after the church so soon? The Divine Church of the Firstlight wasn’t a church to sneeze at, hell, divination was a thing these days because of them. Moving against them this early would be unwise, but then, he knew Raine wouldn’t be stupid enough to do that.

Just as his thoughts settled, however, so did something else. Dunvol, the War God.

’Dunvol is one of the Seven Knights, and even though he doesn’t serve the Twelve Churches but the Royal Family, it is only natural he would help them from below considering Bronzeville falls within his jurisdiction... he definitely will. At the right price, the War God will do anything.’

He and Hazel set off toward the inn she’d secured for his interview, and even in the carriage, his mind lingered on the possibility of Dunvol truly being a problem.

When Cassius brought up Dunvol, he had specifically emphasised that Dunvol’s reach was far vaster than Leomaris was aware of.

Naturally, his organisation, the Laughing End, didn’t deal in illegal transactions or trades, and Dunvol couldn’t necessarily go after his faction, the Mercy of Death, either. But what if he could?

’What if everyone under his payroll is protected by him?’

As much as he hated it, he knew he stood no chance against Dunvol. The gilded armoured man was over a century old, yet his strength remained unmatched, and worse still, nobody could tell whether there was any skin beneath his armour anymore.

At a reasonable distance from the inn, the carriage ground to a halt, and Hazel swiftly made her way out to verify that nothing was amiss.

When Leomaris saw Hazel returning with what was obviously positive news, he made a decision: he had no intention of getting involved with Dunvol.

They might cross paths someday, and if that happened, he’d be glad to welcome the bastard, but this wasn’t his fight, it was Rosay’s. He wasn’t going to leave Dunvol entirely at that, though. He was going to learn everything he could about Dunvol’s authority.

Cloaking himself in his ability, Conceal, he made his movements harder to read and perceive. With a thought, he drew a black robe from his dimensional inventory, and lastly, his mask settled into his hands.

When he put it on, a thought crossed his mind. ’For now, I just have to worry about the Seniors’ Jade Hall.’