Terroth and his party soon departed the room. Martin had additionally promised them compensation for their involvement, as well as help with their last contract from the Guild by talking with the Guild master. He would also be speaking to the man on my behalf for my contribution, as well as for my application to the Guild which had been interrupted due to that battery powered asshat. I kinda had forgotten about that for a bit, but his reminder did bring some my excitement back.
I definitely still wanted to go through a dungeon and fuck shit up. Even if the loot I received wouldn't be useful for me, it was the experience that I wanted. This world allowed me to do things I could have only dreamed of, like dungeon diving, using ridiculous powers... marrying a beautiful catgirl, and possibly having even more women in my life to cherish. It was all mind-boggling at times, but this was my life, and I wouldn't change a damn thing about it.
"Now that they have left, we may begin discussing the reason that you are here in the first place." Martin said, and that made Clarissa grimace.
"My... father's brother." She said, her voice a ball of tightly controlled resentment.
"Indeed. Karovac Osark." Martin affirmed, a look of displeasure on his face, "It was odd that he even contacted me at all, at least at first. The Duke of Darumond was always the one who kept most to himself, never speaking or interacting with anyone else unless strictly necessary. He's also in an interesting place in terms of his position, having killed his own uncle, Jerreth Osark, in a duel for the right to be the Duke of Darumond. Apparently, no one was worried about the outcome, and that led to be Jerreth's downfall. Karovac had become much stronger than anyone could have ever predicted, and in a very short amount of time. This is all second, possibly even third hand tellings, but most of the sources relay the same thing."
We all took in his words, Clarissa listening the most intently out of everyone. He just sounded like another asshole using his power to try and do whatever the hell he wants.
"That would mean... he killed a member of my family as well..." Clarissa said, her voice a little shakey.
"Don't be scared, Clarissa." I assured her, and she looked at me and my confident smile, and have me a soft one of her own, even if it was a bit stilted.
"I... didn't even know my father had a brother... he never talked about anyone in his family." Clarissa said, and that made me frown.
She had mentioned that, but I wonder why? Was there a reason? Maybe he just didn't get along with them, or he didn't like them, but still... they both seemed like major assholes, and if this Karovac was anything like his brother... I'd brain him too... especially if he tried to put his hands on Clarissa. Needless to say, you'd think people like that would get along. Family and fucked in the head? I was just really glad Clarissa stayed true to herself and never let her father influence who she is.
"He... is not a pleasant man to talk to, and what we do know about him does not inspire confidence in his character." Martin said, seeming to think about his words, "For one, slavery is legal in his territory... those under him can choose to oppose or support it... unfortunately from what I've heard, many of the Barons, Counts, and so on are perfectly fine with the practice. A few of my spies have relayed that his city in specific, as well as a few smallers towns and settlements, have brothels composed completely of purchased slaves... and they are not treated well. Children are also not free from being sold off as slaves in a few areas, and they are apparently treated no better."
I was usually pretty good at just gritting my teeth and listening to upsetting words without losing my cool, but this was one of those times where I just couldn't. I saw a dark aura surround my body, and everyone looked towards me with widening eyes, even those who knew portions of my strength already. The only one who didn't react that way was Cici, and her arms around my arm was the only reason I hadn't lost my damn cool completely. Seraphina's eyes glowed as she looked at me, and while I knew she couldn't see my stats or anything due to my Primordial Veil, she must have at least been able to see more depth to my power, as her eyes were the biggest and widest out of everyone's.
"Just sounds like more trash that needs to be taken out." I growled, many of the objects in the room beginning to vibrate against their respective surfaces as my power leaked from my body.
"Darling..." Cici said, causing me to blink a few times, and look down at her beautiful face, "Take a deep breath, and calm down my love. You're being scary."
I knew she wasn't scared, as I could both feel it in her mind, and see it in her face, but as I looked around me, I knew she was right. Martin's jaw could have hit the table if this was a cartoon, and Serephina risked splitting open the corners of her eyes if they widened any further. Valerie had wide eyes, but they also held something close to admiration in them. Marina had actually taken a few steps backwards, and stared at me like she was terrified. Clarissa was looking at me, but more with concern for me than fear.
That wasn't a major surprise. Both girls had seen me at the peak of my power when I fought the Baron, as I had used my Transformation that I still felt was unnecessary. I didn't really know how to control it though, but I also didn't really care for how it made me think. It really made me feel more inhuman than I already felt sometimes as it is. Even if I did know how to manually activate it, I... don't think I would. I didn't need it as it was. Even still... despite that, both girls had never even mentioned it, or seemed like they were scared of me.
That's why I felt instantly terrible, and retracted my aura. These people, strong as some of them might be, still couldn't hold a candle to my power. They didn't know me that well... and they weren't around me like these two were as I used that incredible power to free slaves, end corruption, and ultimately save my now wife. I was just an absurdly powerful person... one that killed the leader of the strongest party in the city with ease.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to scare anyone... hearing all of that just... angered me." I said, lowering my head in apology.
"I... yes... it was quite awful to hear." Martin said, swallowing as he agreed with me.
"What are you..?" Seraphina asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Your aura js stronger than anything I've ever felt..."
I had to hold back a grimace. While my Veil protected me from people inspecting me and using skills to figure out my information, but actual strength had no such barrier. Still... who wouldn't get mad hearing something like that? Besides psychopaths and people without emotions.
"Sera," Clarissa said, surprising me by suddenly speaking, "Eli is a very strong man... even I don't know just how strong he is, but I know the strength of his heart. This ties into why we are here... and what happened in the town I now hold as Baroness. Eli acts justly, and has proven to me time and time again that he will always do what is right." She said, her words making my chest warm, and helped to further cool my burning emotions.
I was here as her bodyguard, but it went unspoken that I was directly responsible for how all of this happened in the first place. She seemed to have been leaving that door open for me. Some people didn't really know what happened, but the common rumor had been that a mysterious stranger who the Baron had wronged had swooped in and basically saved the day, and rescued a bunch of slaves from the hands of evil like some kind of fantasy world superhero. No one really knew it was me, at least outside of the town, but if these people present didn't put those dots together at this point... not to mention, Clarissa needed me... she came to me for help not just because I was strong, but because she trusted me, and I would do everything in my power to show her that I valued that trust.
"Eli..." Martin said, those previous dots solidifying in his mind, "I've heard the stories. A mysterious man, fueled by rage, storming into Bergast, and leaving a trail of bodies in his wake to free Beastkin slaves. I've heard the Baron took someone from the man."
He looked at me earnestly, and I simply nodded.
"That was me..." Cici answered after a moment, and the feelings those memories brought her made her shiver a bit. I pulled her closer to me, and she put her head against my shoulder.
I took a deep breath, and then told them a mostly truthful telling of what had happened. I left out the parts about me being from Earth, and meeting Cici on Earth. I explained it away by telling them that I had met her far from her village, and agreed to help her by taking her back to her village. I told them how we were ambushed, and how I was almost killed. Then came the biggest lie when I told them that my rage and inability to do anything awakened a stronger class, and it's what let me to be able to do what I had done.
I honestly don't think anyone believed me, Sera most of all, who frowned at my explaination, but she listened with more attentiveness afterwards. None of that was a lie, and I'm pretty sure she could tell. Martin just listened with a blank expression, while Clarissa seemed saddened by a lot of what she heard. Valerie listened with awe sparkling in her eyes, like she was hearing the exploits of her favorite storybook hero. Once I had finished my story, everyone sat in silence for a moment.
"I don't like that you lied at the beginning," Seraphina began, confirming my earlier worries, but then she just sighed, "But... you're clearly a good person... and wouldn't keep something from us unless it was deeply important... perhaps even dangerous information."
I nodded to her, and bowed my head.
"Yes it is. I'm sorry." I said, and she just gave me a slight nod.
I caught Clarissa's eyes, and I gave her a look and subtle nod from where I sat opposite her. If anyone else deserved to hear the truth, I'd tell her. I was growing to trust her more. I really liked her, and if she was actually set on joining our relationship in the future, I didn't want to keep anything from her. Plus, she really didn't seem like the kind of person that would say anything, even if this didn't work out. She gave me a slight smile, and nodded back at me, and I felt my heart jump in my chest. She was unbelievably cute, and Cici's soft giggle let me know she liked and approved of the things going through my head right now.
"She'll fit in perfectly." Cici's voice said in my head, briefly making me jump before I calmed.
This was a new feature of the bond that we had now, and it was as easy to use as any other skills we possessed. The Framework's instinctual knowledge on how to use our skills was quite handy, and we really only had briefly toyed around with it earlier while waiting for someone to come and get us.
"I think so too... I'm hopeful." I projected back to her, and I got the impression of a wide smile in my mind.
No one said anything for another handful of breaths as the information was being processed by all in the room. After a moment, Martin spoke.
"I kind of figured it out, but I couldn't be sure. After all, you don't act like an unstoppable killing machine..." He said, taking a deep breath, "But it really was you. The man who single handledly barged into Bergast, freed the slaves, and killed Renard Osark..."
"Yes." I confirmed once again, "I could not let him get away with what he did, and he took my Cici from me. I'd do it again." I growled the last part, and he winced, but then in a surprising gesture, he nodded.
"A noble gesture. One that some might have handled... a bit differently, but understandable..." He said, then looked at Clarissa, before leveling his gaze upon me once more, "But in doing so, you've earned the ire of Karovac Osark, the Duke of Darumond, and not towards you, but at Ms. Osark here instead."
"It's not his fault." Clarissa began, but I held up my hand.
"It kind of is." I said, but then my tone became harsh, "But anyone that is mad over that asshole's death doesn't rank very highly to me. If he even looks at you funny, he'll get the same treatment."
"Are you implying that you would kill Karovac Osark?" Seraphina asked me in a curious tone.
I shook my head, but I bared my teeth.
"I'm not implying. I'm telling you what will happen."
Seraphina looked at me for a moment, but I saw the slightly upturn of her lips as she looked over at Martin.
"Honey, I think we may have stumbled upon exacly what we need." She said, her slight smirk becoming a full grin.