Within a few hours, Marcus and Stella both arrived in Kalthafen, the capital of the Sordalian Kingdom, located inside the Freiland Bay.

  While it wasn’t as grand as the Ridian Imperial Capital of Arnhem, Kalthafen was still quite the sizable city, most likely with a population that was two-thirds of Arnhem. It was also a port city on Astrea’s west coast, much like the Holy City of Olstadt, the former capital of the Holy Astrean Empire, which was down south of them.

  Back in the old days, Marcus did actually travel to Kalthafen, so he had memories of this place. It was located in the former lands of the old ‘Imperial Core’, which was essentially the northwestern regions of Sordale and Ridia, alongside, of course, the Holy City of Olstadt.

  He remembered that it was just a quaint provincial capital, though it was certainly far from its old self. It was now truly a major city, the center of a literal kingdom. The fact that its walls boasted eight bastions and various outworks, reminiscent of Arnhem, only showed the city’s wealth and productivity.

  On its fortified harbor, Marcus even saw dozens of merchant ships and warships docked. A few ships were sailing outward and inward of the Freiland Bay too, indicating that Kalthafen was also a major hub of trade and commerce.

  It was certainly not a backwater compared to Olstadt anymore.

  “Folks must be rushing business before the cold sets in,” Marcus said, observing the bay using his telescope. “If I remember correctly, the waters around here freeze during winter?”

  “Yes,” Stella nodded as she lightly played with her horse beside him. “My father has quite the obsession with taking ‘warm water ports’ for that reason, though he never really managed to take one for centuries.”

  “Trade reasons?”

  “Yes. Now, if I were queen, I’d never go to war for something as silly as that. Father got in trouble multiple times with the Ridian Empire and the Holy Church because of that, so I don't like this part of him.”

  “I’m really starting to think that your parents aren’t the most favorable people.”

  “W-well, that’s true, but…” Stella looked down, and her horse whinnied sadly. “No, you’re right. They’ve always thought I was stupid and naive for not thinking like them anyway. Still, they’re my parents.”

  “Well, just tell me if you want to meet them; I think I can help out with that, even if things go wrong,” Marcus said. “But, I’m of the opinion that you should delay that until we fix your familiar’s problem.”

  “A-ah, don't worry about me. I'm also focused on getting Lady Siris back. My family can wait.”

  “I see. Do they live in Kalthafen?”

  “Yes, the Royal Palace is at the center of Kalthafen’s noble district.”

  Marcus raised his telescope again, using [Mass Surveillance] to observe the city further. It was a bit hard to see, but indeed, in the center of the city, there was a well-built area with large four-story buildings neatly arranged around a palace, which had a two-hundred-foot dome in its center.

  There was a spacious green park in front of the Royal Palace, and directly in front of it, around half a mile away, was another building with similar architecture, though its dome was lower. It was apparently the seat of the Royal Diet…whatever the hell that was.

  It must be their version of the Imperial Senate, I guess.

  In any case, once Marcus was done observing the city and asking questions of Stella, the two proceeded to enter it on horseback. It was a relatively simple affair, as it was peacetime, and security was quite lax.

  Unlike the previous cities Marcus visited, which were mostly provincial capitals, Kalthafen had many wide roads, avenues, and boulevards. Housing was a bit different too, as people largely lived in three-story buildings that were built for multiple families.

  Granted, they were only walking through the districts where Kalthafen’s normal citizenry lived, and there was actually a slum area on the northern side of the city, but still, it was quite impressive. Sometimes, Marcus would conveniently forget that he woke up four hundred years into the future, simply because, truthfully, not much changed in the towns, villages, and small cities they passed through.

  But, now that he finally laid his eyes on a proper major city that was a part of major trade routes, he could definitely admit that he felt like someone from a backwards society. Not even Olstadt was this grand back then. He remembered that cut stone was only for the wealthy, but now, even the average citizen of Kalthafen lived in buildings made out of it.

  I wonder what my home city even looks like nowadays. Marcus frowned as he tried to keep up with Stella, dodging people left and right on Kalthafen’s busy streets. Is our house even still standing today?

  It probably wasn’t. Marcus’s family wasn’t exactly wealthy. They had a house, and his father did work a respectable job back then, but they were commoners nonetheless.

  He imagined that if their house was still standing, a different family would have long owned it. Or, it would have been long demolished.

  That made him feel somewhat off.

  He truly had no place in this world.

  Whatever, focus on gathering intel.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  [Mass Surveillance].

  The two began touring the commoner districts of Kalthafen. Marcus and Stella largely targeted the places where news and rumors exchanged mouths easily. First, they went to the markets; then, they checked a few restaurants and taverns.

  Even workers drinking during breaks on the streets while playing cards talked and talked about major news around town. Newspapers, after all, were quite common, and it seemed that the people of Kalthafen were more well-informed than the countryside folks Marcus dealt with recently.

  He supposed it made sense. This city was a big city. Of course people knew more. There were merchants coming in and out, workers and peasants who came from the countryside looking for jobs, and the list went on. But, the problem was…

  “No one’s talking about the Death God Cult.” Marcus lowered his cup of milk. “We have to dig deeper. This won't do.”

  “I was thinking about that too.” Stella seemed distraught. “I was hoping you’d pick up something from the local bureaucrats.”

  “Nah, I tried that already. They seem like they grumble more about paperwork than anything else.”

  Stella sighed, preferring to continue eating the pastries she bought instead on her table. Marcus looked around lazily at the rest of the restaurant they were in. Everyone was only really talking about mundane business. It was as if a cult trying to bring the literal apocalypse back didn’t exist.

  How unfortunate.

  “Ah! I have an idea, Sir Marcus!” Stella called out, her amethyst eyes shining brightly. “Say, what if we go near the headquarters of the Sordalian military?”

  “You know where that is?”

  “It’s in the noble district, east side of the district, to be specific. It’s called the Office of the Ministry of War.”

  “Should have told me that from the start,” Marcus laughed. “Alright, let’s go.”

  “You must find her. This is your last chance. I cannot overlook your failures any further.”

  War Minister Himmel vi Esser lowered his head as the King of Sordale chastised him. A meeting between the Sordalian military’s highest-ranking members, alongside the king himself, had just concluded a few minutes ago.

  Everyone but His Majesty and Himmel, who was the current leader of Sordale’s military, had already left the meeting room. Thus, His Majesty was free to chastise him to no end.

  Damn it, if only that dumb girl listened to us.

  I warned her that the church will just use her.

  Alas, she was too desperate to escape her family’s iron grip on her life, and she decided to reveal to the church that she was the next [Saint]. The kingdom could have protected her and, well, used her instead.

  But now, she is gone.

  Most likely, she was either killed or captured by the Death God Cult. That was the latest news that Himmel’s agents in Olstadt received. They told him that the church was already on the move to search for the next chosen [Saint] to take them.

  Which means she’s dead.

  That was why King Aolis Folre vi Sordale, an elven man who was now approaching six hundred years old, was angry.

  “No, she’s not dead,” Aolis declared. “Do not presume for a second that my daughter is dead and use that as an excuse to fail in your task. She is alive! Maybe in awful condition, but she is alive, and you will find her!”

  “Your Majesty, of course, I would never presume that Her Highness is dead.” Himmel broke into a sweat. “In fact, I’ve already sent hundreds of agents throughout the continent to find her. We will find her. Just give us time.”

  “You’re lying. I can see in your eyes that you’re convinced she’s dead,” Aolis scoffed. “You humans are always so easy to read.”

  “Even then, even if I acknowledge the possibility that she’s dead, I will move mountains to search for her.”

  Himmel stood up from his seat, bowing in shame.

  “Let it be known that I stake my honor on this. I will find her, whether she’s alive or a corpse. I will also ensure that the cult will know of Sordale’s wrath.”

  “Spare no expense on your efforts,” the king ordered. “That’s all I'm asking. I want my daughter back.”

  And with that, he left the room. Himmel breathed out a sigh of relief. He still didn’t believe that Princess Stella was alive, yes, but he supposed it wouldn’t hurt to try.

  Later, he received reports from his men based in Valeon. Then, he also talked to a few officials that detailed cultist activity in the central plains of the kingdom. At the moment, the Sordalian Royal Army was still stuck with its deployments on the Ridian border, though, so even if he tried his best, he wouldn't be able to send enough troops for a potential rescue operation.

  Border clashes between the local lords of both kingdoms were quite common, and there was a growing buildup from both the official Sordalian and Ridian militaries on the border. It was simply a result of their previous diplomatic reconciliation failing. Mainly, it was because the planned royal marriage between the House of Sordale and the House of Hogfurst failed a few years ago.

  That greatly annoyed Himmel further.

  “Dead or alive, that girl is more trouble than she’s worth,” Himmel said to himself as he moved through the hallways of the War Ministry building. “Tsk, now my career’s almost over.”

  He entered a room. Inside, a Valeonese informant was waiting.

  A cultist lair was found yesterday inside of Sordale.

  Marcus groaned as he closed his [Mass Surveillance] skill. They were lingering closely to the War Minister building, which was only a street away. Inside, he found out that the king himself was talking to his war minister, Himmel.

  Marcus thought it was the perfect timing, so he immediately set up to listen nearby, while Stella passed time by checking out a nearby clothing store. Now that an hour had passed, he had enough intel in his hands.

  “The Death God Cult is indeed active in Sordale,” Marcus said to Stella. “We have to move now.”

  They were currently standing in a deserted alley, away from any onlookers. Plus, with Stella’s silencing spell, they were free to discuss everything.

  “I think the military planning to attack them,” Stella murmured. “The Wyvern Knight Corps are moving out.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard that. Though, they’re only sending a few hundred of them.”

  Stella frowned.

  “If we try to attack them at the same time, though, we’re going to end up in a crossfire between the Wyvern Knights and the Death God Cult.”

  “That’s why we’ll get to our target first,” Marcus said. “Unlike the two of us, they need to mobilize their troops first. It’ll take them at least a day or two. On the other hand, you and I can strike tonight.”

  Marcus smiled.

  “I can’t wait to beat up the bastard who harmed your familiar, Stella.”