Peaceful Life System: I only need to live peacefully-Chapter 111: Meeting an Old Face

Riku was finally in!

Once safely inside the inner city, he found another secluded alleyway between two towering townhouses. He let the invisibility fade, then focused once more.

Disguise [- 15 Goodwill Points]

Another shimmer enveloped him again, and his simple robes morphed into the gleaming silver-and-blue plate armor of the elite guards. When the light faded, he looked every bit the part, his expression set in a mask of stern authority.

[Goodwill points remaining - 1,04,605]

(A/N - There are off-screen calculations, which account for the spells and wards he cast for the security of the Hummers and the Underbelly)

Riku smiled. He had gotten a massive 100 thousand goodwill points from the distribution of the healing talismans. He could have gotten more, however, that greedy system capped the amount of points he could receive for the same thing in a short period of time. freewebnσvel.cøm

It did not matter that much, though, as most of the spells did not take too many points to cast in the first place. In fact, the system had told him that he could cast a divine spell for 100k goodwill points safely without any consequences. Riku, however, held off from summoning Thymia or anyone else, as he was not very sure of how things would end, and the system had already given him a key to solve this disaster.

Now clad in the armor of a Capital Warden, he walked out of the alley. His demeanor was confident, and his purpose was clear: to infiltrate the Vaynes, find Malakor, and get to the end of it.

The inner city was much more luxurious, with a lot fewer crowds on the streets. The buildings were made of better materials, some even having a big garden in front of them. This was a stark contrast from the congested, narrow streets in the outer city.

Striding through the immaculate streets of the inner city, Riku looked every bit the part of a Capital Warden on patrol. His silver-and-blue armor gleamed under the moonlight, and his expression was that of stern authority. Common folk and servants scurried out of his way, while merchants offered respectful nods.

"This disguise is quite effective," Clara’s voice echoed in his mind from the charm secured in his pocket. "No one gives you a second glance."

"It helps. But we still need to find Alaric’s Manor," Riku replied mentally.

He stopped a passing girl. "You there. Directions to the Vayne townhouse."

The girl flinched under his disguised Warden’s gaze and pointed with a trembling finger. "Th-that way, sir Warden. The grand manor with the black iron gates and the twin gargoyles. You can’t miss it."

"Carry on," Riku grunted, dismissing her with a wave. He followed her directions, and soon, a sprawling, opulent townhouse came into view. It was a dark, imposing structure, radiating an aura of cold wealth and influence.

As he approached, Clara’s mental voice became sharp. "Riku, be careful. The entire estate is layered with wards."

Riku slowed his pace, his eyes scanning the perimeter. He could feel the wards now that Clara had pointed them out—a subtle thrum of protective magic woven into the walls and gates.

"They’re designed to alert, and I do not want to cause a huge commotion," Riku mused. "A direct approach is out of the question."

Then, let us try another way

He changed his course, moving away from the Vayne manor and deeper into a more neglected part of the inner city. He soon found what he was looking for: a tall, dilapidated clock tower, long since abandoned, its spire reaching high into the evening sky. He quickly ascended the crumbling stairs to the very top. From here, he had a clear, albeit distant, view of the Vayne estate.

"This should be high enough," he murmured.

Flight (-20 Goodwill points)

He stepped off the ledge, and instead of falling, he shot silently into the air, like a phantom in Warden’s armor. He ascended rapidly, moving towards the Vayne manor to find a blind spot in its defenses from high above.

He was halfway there, soaring over the rooftops, when he felt a sudden, sharp spike of powerful mana directly ahead. He halted mid-air, turning just as a figure materialized on a nearby rooftop, standing with arms akimbo.

It was a stern-faced woman in stark white battle vestments trimmed with silver thread over dark, practical leggings. A silver circlet bearing the sigil of the Church rested on her brow, and her dark hair was pulled back into a severe, tight braid. Her face was as unyielding and her eyes burned with a cold, righteous fire.

"You are...the High Archon?"

Riku gasped, the same High Archon of the Church of Light who had accompanied Thalen and the Chamberlain.

"How interesting. A Warden who can fly and one who recognizes my rank... Even among nobles, there are very few who would be able to recognize me at a glance. I wonder who you truly are..." The woman retorted as she looked at Riku menacingly.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Riku said, his disguised voice gruff.

The Archon was unmoved. "Don’t play the fool. The Crimson Creep appears, and a mysterious ’Warden’ with impossible abilities is caught sneaking around in the middle of the night. You are a spy, aren’t you? Perhaps the very agent who planted this blight to destabilize Luxia!"

"I have been looking for you for the longest time, now that I have caught you, die.."

Without waiting for a reply, she brandished a glowing, silver-hilted sword. With a powerful leap, she launched herself at him, her blade a streak of deadly light.

Riku twisted in the air, narrowly avoiding the strike. The energy from her blade sliced through the air where he’d been, leaving a shimmering trail.

"My quarrel is not with the Church!" Riku called out, evading another swift thrust.

"Lies! You reek of deceit!" she snarled, pressing her attack.

Riku realized arguing was pointless. She was convinced he was the enemy. "The problem in this city is far more rooted than you believe, High Archon!" he said, parrying a blow with a hastily summoned mana shield.

"Oh? You seem to know quite a lot. Why don’t you tell me more about how "deep" it exactly is?" She asked sarcastically.

"Look, I am not your enemy. If you want to investigate and truly solve the issue of the Crimson Creep, you have to look within."

"Look within?" The woman asked, skeptical.

"Yes. Within the city! I have the evidence right here." Riku said as he took out a stone from his satchel, silently casting it with light magic.

"Huh? What is that..."