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Chapter 59: White Rose

Yes, the evil humans had seemed stronger and scarier than the soldiers and guards. They must’ve been cunning to exist in Central Bramblevale without getting wiped out.

But once Naomi and Bianca had them outmatched, the evil humans weren’t quick enough in adapting and trying different tactics. They lacked flexibility except for the demonologist.

Was it because they lacked a militant education? They hadn’t exactly selected classes that were suited for proper battles. Maybe it was because the evil humans hadn’t dealt with strong adventurers like Zarian and his party before.

Zarian pondered on the situation regarding other evil humans for a little while, wondering if he should expand his spider surveillance and search the underground. Then he focused on adjusting his new monocle. It had some quirky enchantments.

<Sophisticated Monocle (Rare): This fashionable item can lead to others mistaking you as older and wiser than you truly are. Upon your whim and some aura, you can use a telescopic view function for both eyes. It also dims bright, searing light. Once given a search task, it will highlight targets to the viewer.>

The monocle was a nice trophy after sparing the lives of the foolish old men. Zarian figured there were plenty of cases where he would want the zoom function. Of course, having Bianca as a teammate meant he would enjoy the dimming function for just in case purposes.

The last part was even more unique. He figured the Sophisticated Monocle was useful for anyone who’d lost something and couldn’t remember where they put it.

I have my Spectral Spider Network for all of that. Honestly, this thing is a little redundant.

Maybe he could sell it to an old man who might need it more than him.

Or I keep it as a fashion statement while looking wiser than I truly am.

The monocle was not the only gain.

He’d earned some significant level ups and a new achievement.

<Your skill, Spectral Spider Network, leveled up from 8 to 9!>

<Your skill, Straight Darkness +1, leveled up from 23 to 24!>

<Achievement rewarded! Initial Pacifist Gauntlet! (Unopened)!>

<Achievement opened!>

<Initial Pacifist Gauntlet! (Rare): The Infinita Star System is as wondrous as it can be brutal. It’s abnormal for anyone to choose a path of power without killing. Especially when faced with hundreds of challengers. You’ve earned +20 Wonder.>

Wow. That’s better than the Junior Manslaughterer.

There were achievements for killing and non-killing. The non-killing route seemed to reward more. Zarian’s points in Wonder shot up from 70 to 90 points.

The difference was significant. His magical skills would hit with more oomph, especially for critical damage. He felt more perceptive of things around him, not just magic. He felt luckier and more certain of himself.

With his Overpower trait, his aura even felt chunkier.

He would have to inform everyone of this achievement when they were behind closed doors, especially the members who relied on the Wonder stat. Honestly, they should get as many achievements as they could even if they had to mow through a bunch of men during genocidal runs or pacifist runs.

“So, how are we getting past the blockade at the keep?” Naomi asked, pulling Zarian out of his thoughts.

Zarian checked through his Spectral Spider Network to see if the situation remained the same.

It hadn’t.

There were now three thousand soldiers defending the Bramblevale Keep. At the center of the blockade were their best fighting men, who were too high in level for Zarian to Identify.

The late morning was transitioning toward noon now. Slow, blocky tetris-shaped clouds crawled across the wide blue sky. A gust blew through, rustling the autumn-colored branches of the many trees and hedges grown to dress the town. The shadows shrank away as the suns crawled closer to their zenith.

It was at this point where Zarian would be his weakest even with Straight Darkness +1 in the alpha skill section. He would have to apply his overpowered nature with some cunning that required a play on light and dark.

Hence why Bianca was here. They weren’t just opposites. They could elevate each other, too.

Zarian thought about his plans to get past the blockade as they entered another major market square. It was empty of people.

Wares, foods, and many other items remained, some having been dropped to ground during the haste of fleeing townsfolk. A pack of dogs moved about to make off like bandits along with some birds. There were a few soldiers acting as scouts while hopping from rooftop to rooftop with movement skills.

Zarian ignored the scouts in favor of looking past Naomi, who was mostly cleaned up because of Para’s efforts. Naomi and Bianca turned to follow his gaze as an elderly man dressed in all white walked out of the alley to their right.

Zarian couldn’t use Identify on the man in white. More importantly, the elderly man had a presence about him that was palpable, good, and confident.

The man in white reminded Zarian of facing the elder gnolls, although he wasn’t sure if the man in white was as strong as them. Most likely not. Even so, he could be a far more dangerous threat.

Zarian pulled his hands out of his pockets and flexed his fingers.

Naomi raised her gauntlet-clad fists.

Bianca prepared a few motes of light. She wasn’t quite replenished yet from eating Zarian’s aura, but she had plenty enough to assist.

Zarian waited, adjusting his monocle with a free hand. He used the monocle to show off anything dangerous on the stranger’s person.

The monocle acted like an augmented reality device and used blue highlights to draw attention to the stranger’s sword, gloves, and the pin featuring a white rose on the left breast pocket of his suit.

Zarian paid more attention to the elegant silver sword fastened to the old man’s sword belt, which Zarian couldn’t Identify even with the monocle’s help. At the very least, the man in white hadn’t drawn it yet.

The stranger came to a stop two dozen feet away. He held his hands behind the small of his back. He had a plethora of deep wrinkles on his face, which crinkled as he smiled.

“I see you haven’t killed nary a townsfolk in this troublesome operation of yours, which begs a question,” the old man said. “What is it you want, children?”

“To tell the Bramblevale Lord to stop being an asshole. I don’t care if adventurers are illegal or if you have problems with your borders. I have my own business to conduct.” Zarian jabbed a thumb back in the direction whence his party came. “I’m only making an example for you all to see I’m capable of doing worse. Of course, everyone should know that.”

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“The Bramblevale Bandits have met their end indeed.” The old man chuckled dryly. “It is a shame that it wasn’t done by a truly good hand. Oh, how easy it is to compromise just to keep the peace.”

“Is sacrificing two hundred men to gnolls part of that peacekeeping stance?” Zarian asked. “How can you call me evil when your kingdom is doing that?”

“It’s terrible, isn’t it?” The old man nodded, agreeing with Zarian, which was a surprise. “There aren’t many in the kingdom who have it in them for critical thinking. The ability to deduce that there is a wrongness around them is beyond them for it is their day-to-day lives that concerns them most. Yet, here we are with the opportunity to test ourselves as men and we cannot rise to the occasion because it’s uncomfortable to risk the stability of our way of life.”

Zarian took a few seconds to digest what the old man was saying. Bianca beat him to the punch with a shriek.

“Oh my goodness, you’re an actual good, good person!” Bianca bounced, clapped, and emitted minor flashes in celebration. “It’s been kind of sad lately. I was wondering if these alignments are fake news or whatever.”

“My dear … how high is your good alignment?” The old man asked.

Zarian held up a hand to keep Bianca from answering. Thankfully, she followed his lead and kept her mouth shut. He appreciated that a lot.

Regardless of their differences in alignment, Bianca still followed him.

“Who are you?” Zarian asked. “If you don’t know, I’m Zarian Darkrun. To my right is Naomi Washington. To my left is Bianca Garcia. We’re from Florida, the World of Swamps and Princesses.”

The old man nodded before straightening his body and taking on a more dignified stance. “It is a pleasure to be acquainted with you despite the dire circumstances. I’m Arnold of Ambrose, White Rose of Serveserf, Seventh Guardian of the Eternal Garden Kingdom. I’m considered the weakest, unfortunately, so I appreciate you not blasting through these old bones of mine and granting me a humble audience for your attention.”

“Why would I blast at you and not talk? I have no problems with my elders.”

“The man whose monocle you’ve taken wasn’t given much consideration.”

“He was one of those people who enjoyed the comforts of their day-to-day lives while ignoring the plight of those beneath him,” Zarian said. “And he tried to stab me with very sharp tree branches.”

“Fair, fair.” Arnold nodded. “Now that we’re acquainted on the most surface of levels, can I convince you to let me handle things from here? I’m sure we can settle this dispute amicably.”

“I don’t like this,” Naomi grouched. “Operation Domination is supposed to lay down the law for us. Do we really want gramps to steal our thunder? And can we really trust him just because he seems hip with the struggle?”

“No, wait, I really have a good feeling about this,” Bianca pleaded. “I know we haven’t had the best examples of good alignment, but I think Senor Arnold is actually an upright and swell guy. Look at him. He’s all so happy and friendly. I trust him.”

“Are you sure that’s not the good alignment getting to you?” Naomi accused.

“Oh, come on! I’m in control of it. I know when to use it and when not to!” Bianca huffed.

“Why do you want to help us?” Zarian asked Arnold.

“I don’t wish to see anyone innocent dragged into unnecessary fighting. And you’ve conducted yourselves quite well under the current circumstances. You’ve ended the Bramblevale Bandits. You’ve avoided taking the lives of the townsfolk and moved in a way that was considerate of those weaker than yourselves. You’ve eliminated those heinous miscreants who feasted upon the weak and defenseless.”

As Arnold rattled off their deeds, even Zarian was impressed by how it all sounded. Zarian and his party had accomplished a lot, and Arnold still had more to say.

“You have the Good Goddess Lovewar backing you, who my god finds spirited and honest, even to a fault. You’ve also saved those young soldiers from the most terrible fate of being sacrificed, even if it could lead to grave trouble down the road. Perhaps it is what’s best for our kingdom to face.”

“You won’t,” Zarian said.

“Pardon me? What do you mean?”

“You won’t face any grave trouble down the road. Not from the gnolls, at least. They won’t attack. I’ve dealt with that.”

Bianca’s eyes flashed as she fidgeted next to Zarian. With a sigh, he gestured for her to talk.

“We’re Heroes of the Eternal Garden Kingdom! Well, specifically me and Zarian. But, yeah, we convinced the gnolls not to attack!” Bianca kept flashing lights above their heads like a silent fireworks display.

Zarian didn’t like it much, but he didn’t deny her the fun. Besides, she was making good use of her Shining Trust trait on top of her high goodness. He also appreciated how she skipped over the darker parts of Zarian’s negotiation with the gnolls.

“Part of this operation of ours was to kick ass, march up those steps, and let the Bramblevale Lord hear a piece of our mind. Then slap him with that news.” Naomi crossed her arms in front of her chest. “But there it goes. The cat’s out of the bag. Now you know.”

Arnold looked at them for a long time. He centered his gaze on Bianca. “Is this true?”

Bianca huffed, releasing a pulse of powerful goodness. She bent her good alignment around Zarian and Naomi and had it crash into Arnold like a wave, forcing the White Rose to stumble back.

“Serveserf, oh god of the downtrodden, what was that?” Arnold was shocked.

Zarian smiled sharply. “That … is good +3. We’ve mentioned it to the past fortress lords. I guess they’re keeping that information to themselves.”

Arnold bowed three times, one hand over his heart, the other behind his lower back. “I’m only good +1 myself. The strongest and oldest of us, the White Rose of Purehome, is only good +2. The king is only good aligned, and I have quite the misgivings about that.”

“Is that so?” Zarian asked.

“Yes, it is so. But that’s a conversation best had behind closed doors. Nonetheless, to face someone far above our good alignment at such a young age … with that elven dress of all things … and to hear that you are truly heroes of our kingdom … then my dear children I must humbly beg for your forgiveness for how us ignoramuses have treated you.”

Zarian’s eyes widened in surprise. Bianca looked like she was going to burst into glee.

Naomi tilted her head. “Huh, that’s a first.”

Arnold continued: “Please, allow this mere old man of the Ambrose Family be of service to you. The Eternal Garden Kingdom may have lost its luster, but there are those like me who wish to see it beautified for the better.”

Zarian wasn’t sure. This was an unexpected turn of events. Was this due to him and Bianca having high points in Wonder?

Did an extra 20 points make that big of a difference to turn the situation around?

His evil alignment wanted him to turn down the offer and continue with Operation Domination as planned. His Fractured Mind could see many ways for things to backfire if they trusted Arnold to help them.

The System came around with a side quest just to weigh on his decision.

<You’ve walked the road of power while under the suns. The true depths of your might are unfathomable, though others might not think so. Still, you have many options at your disposal as adventurers of many means. How will you solve hostilities at Central Bramblevale?>

<Side Quest 2 (Rare): Continue Operation Domination or let the White Rose give you the VIP treatment?>

“Zarian! Papi! Zarian! Papi!” Bianca bounced all over the place to his left. “Dale! Let’s do it!”

Naomi frowned at the group notification. She let out a sigh. “I wanted to see how far you can push it, sir. I’ll frankly be disappointed by the diplomatic option.”

Zarian thought about it. Then he smiled. “There will be plenty of times in the future where you’ll see me push it over the edge.”

He reached over and patted Naomi’s back, and she subtly relaxed from the gesture. Then he added, “But for this once, I want to see if good can actually be good.”

Zarian turned to the White Rose of Serveserf and asked, “You don’t mind me being evil?”

“Even evil can serve the greater good.” Arnold gave him a quirky smile.

“Blegh. I’m only serving the interests of myself and my party.”

“Of course, of course, young man! Now, shall I lead the way?” Arnold bowed up and down again before waving his arms forward.

There’s no way this doesn’t end up as another fight, Zarian thought.

He wasn’t usually this cynical. But he was under the glare of twin sunlight. There was a bunch of goodness flinging all over the place.

Also, it was hard to believe in someone like a White Rose, who was the pinnacle fighting force of the Eternal Garden Kingdom. There were only seven of them, one for each of the seven good gods.

Zarian had read up on them using the information gathered at the Lovewar Mansion. The White Roses were almost the equivalent of the elder gnolls.

I don’t think they’re as strong directly. Those gnolls have more fight in them, especially with how they’re raised to kill all the time.

He examined the old man’s back as Arnold of Ambrose escorted them down the rest of the way to Bramblevale Keep.

Can I take him in a fight?

Maybe.

Zarian imagined Arnold and the other White Roses were in the Level 70s based on all that he knew.

Zarian was Level 38, not even armed with his first class advancement. He could fight multiple men in their Level 50s. He hadn’t tested himself against anything in the Level 60s yet.

I sent a powerful enemy in the Level 80s flying with my best attack. I should be able to handle something in the Level 60s if I’m not dumb about it.

A fair fight against someone in the Level 70s might be pushing his luck. He would want his first class advancement before that fight.

Zarian chuckled, shaking his head. He let go of the competitive thoughts. There were more important matters. Such as seeing if Arnold could live up to his word.

Could the good alignment of this world actually be good and reasonable?