The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)-Chapter 666: To get a sure catch, you should use all kinds of baits

Chapter 666: To get a sure catch, you should use all kinds of baits

Just like that, while waiting for the fake Alveitya, I practiced the spear art with the shapeshifted, Qu’en, to perfect their art. They also started to try and act like me--or rather, Valmeier--because they needed to do some extensive acting if the agents decided to catch and detain them.

If I had to be honest, Qu’en did a good job. So good that people were weirded out by how different we were, saying we looked more like twins with different personalities.

My reply?

"War changes a person. So let’s avoid war as much as possible."

That was my speech, which was incredibly ironic because I said it in the middle of war preparation...somewhat. frёewebηovel.cѳm

"Okay, I think that’s good enough," I nodded at Qu’en, telling them to take a rest.

This squad of Heraz all had the same characteristics; they wouldn’t rest if we did not tell them to rest. And they would disappear when they wanted to rest. Perhaps because they were spies, and they didn’t want to be seen while they were vulnerable?

Anyway, it was time to check on the other actor. "What about you, Tsalinade?"

Bzzz!

"Ugh..."

I glanced at my diva of a spear, who was hovering around, full of ’judgment’ just like when we worked at the sketch. "Alveitya said you’re making it look too stiff," I told the magician.

Lesta, another hard worker of ours, had carved the exact mechanical formation on another spear as practice. It would be cruder due to the material difference, but it was like...if you could ride a motorcycle, you would definitely be able to ride a bicycle--something like that?

As long as she could control this one, controlling the replica would be even easier.

"It’s...it’s harder than I--" she paused, pressing her teeth while her eyes darted to my face, before correcting herself. "I mean, I’ll try my best!"

Whatever Natha was showing her in that basement, she became way more obedient. She did not ask for the Amrita anymore, and she addressed me as her master without hesitation. I could no longer see the haughtiness in her eyes, and there was no trace of revenge in her thoughts.

I didn’t care about her loyalty, because I had no intention of letting her inside my inner or outer circle. She was an outsourcer for me, so as long as it made her do her job better, I would let Natha do whatever he wanted.

"Hmm...let’s go for real practice against other people," I decided. Arta said the replica would probably arrive tomorrow, so we didn’t have much time. "Haikal!"

The Commander’s steps were heavy under his armor as always, but his steps were swift. He was already in front of me in a few seconds. "Young Master."

Perhaps because of the armor and stony gaze, Tsalinade flinched and almost dropped the substitute spear, making Alveitya buzz around to berate her. Thank Mother, I had told my spear to never bonk anyone on the head unless it was under my order--because this spear looked like it was just a second away from spanking her.

"Can you choose some soldiers for her practice?" I told Haikal with a sigh. I also couldn’t have her fumbling out of surprise. Who knew what kind of stuff those agents would pull? She would have to control the replica while hiding, so I couldn’t afford her to get jumpy. "Pick several soldiers with different levels of skill. We’ll go from the bottom and get her more proficient."

"By your command."

Haikal went away immediately, and I turned around at the sweaty magician. "Listen, Tsalinade..."

"Yes!"

She straightened her back and focused her gaze on me. Hmm, truly not bad.

"I’ll explain Alveitya’s signature movement again, so listen well."

"Y-yes!"

I told Alveitya to move again, asking one of the shadow guards to be its opponent, while I made a commentary on how she should make the spear move using analogies and whatnot. Sure, we didn’t have to make this whole drama perfect, but no church agents worth their pay would be convinced if the spear could not take one of them down.

That was what I wanted her to do; be good enough to take one of them down. That way, they would certainly try to capture ’me’, and who knows...they might take ’me’ all the way to where the last relic was.

One could hope.

"Young Master, I have picked them."

Efficiently, Haikal came with five soldiers not long after, and I told Tsalinade to stand on the side of the arena again. "Thank you, Haikal. Please tell them not to hold back. Even though this is practice, we need to be convincing."

"By your command."

"We’ll go through all five of them in three rotations, Tsalinade. At the end of each rotation, go further away to test your control range."

"Yes, Master!"

Oh, that reminded me of how Jade was before he called me Papa. And talking about Jade...

"Let’s go! Let’s go!"

As always, Jade was happily becoming the cheerleader of chaos, jumping up and down on the side of the arena, and sometimes riding on Alveitya as if it were a magic flying broom.

"Qu’en, shall we sync our movements again?"

The shapeshifter, who had disappeared when I told them to rest, materialized again from thin air. "Yes, Young Master."

I did say this was for the sake of our successful fishing, but I actually had a lot of fun doing it. I wasn’t itching for a fight, but I hadn’t been able to exercise much with Shwa and Jade always clung to me at one time and Natha at another. It was refreshing to move my body without using magic and sweat for anything other than...umm, sex.

And one of the perpetrators came to the training ground, waiting for me to finish my spar with Qu’en. "Very diligent," he kissed my cheek when I stepped out of the arena. "But you need to go back now."

"Oh, it’s okay," I glanced at the Castle. "Shwa won’t cry anymore as long as I’m still in the Castle ground."

The silver eyes twinkled. "A beautiful progress."

Pfft--I know what’s on your mind, my Lord. He had been whining about missing the time we had the bed to ourselves. Tsk, tsk--act like a father, would you?

"Any news?" I asked quietly.

Even while we were preparing this, we kept checking the church movement. Who knows, maybe something would come up. Maybe even that Soulmancer would say something to the church--you never know.

Unfortunately, Natha shook his head. "Not yet."

"Hmm...I wonder if we should let Zarfa and the others move openly," I muttered after gulping a glass of cool water that Panne gave me. "Not going around the ruin, but the auctions."

While ’I’ was going around the ruins doing catch-me-if-you-can stint, they could attract more attention in the auction zones. It should make them even more restless if the Hero was seen around auctions often. Someone was bound to snoop around, finding out what the Hero was trying to purchase, and the group could accidentally be heard talking about a ’relic’.

"So you want to throw a net instead of a bait?"

"I mean...more is better, right?" I shrugged.

"Naturally," Natha smirked. "Go on. Tell them you’ll provide the funds, so get them as close as they can to the Holy Empire while at it. Have them blast the auctions."

"Pfft--what are we going to do with the items?"

"I don’t know," Natha shrugged dismissively. "We can build a new collection room for Shwa and Jade."

Pfft--what a typical rich people’s nonchalance. Zarfa would love it.

* * *

[Ooh! I love this! I love shopping! I love throwing money!]

See? Her mirthful laugh filled the room, and even Shwa squealed in delight as a response. Aina immediately rushed to the communication orb--because I could hear rattling sounds in the background--and asked if she could purchase some materials while at it.

Eh--why not? After all, it would be easier for people to spot them if they purchased a lot of things. As Aina celebrated in the background, Ian rushed in turn. He was so shy at first, but now he could shamelessly ask for something. He said he needed a shield that could be held with one hand, so I just told them to buy whatever.

I couldn’t do anything about the platinum medallion--since it would need my mana signature--but Heraz would deliver even more money as auction funds.

"Jade also love auction!" the little boy did not want to lose, although it was followed by a disappointing remark. "But auction don’t have candy..."

Yeah. The little boy just loved the chaos incurred during the bidding process, cheering on the bidders as if it was a tournament of some sort.

Wait. Perhaps it was; a tournament of wealth.

Zarfa giggled and told Jade she would buy pretty-looking gems if there were any. We discussed more about which cities would be best to aim for the auctions so that they would naturally head toward the Holy Empire.

The next day, the replica finally arrived and, after strict scrutiny by Alveitya, it was approved to be used. I made Qu’en and Tsalinade work together against the soldier for the rest of the day before sending them back with Heraz to the Human Realm.

And so, we cast the bait into the water.