Chapter 124: Victor Steele’s Savings

Alaric entered the prison cell, the heavy iron door clanging shut behind him. The cell was small and damp, the air thick with the smell of mildew and stale sweat. A single torch flickered on the wall, casting long, dancing shadows that danced across the rough stone.

Victor Steele sat on a rickety wooden stool, his head bowed, his shoulders slumped. He looked up as the door creaked open, his eyes widening in utter shock and confusion. He had been expecting a guard, an interrogator, perhaps even a mage sent to pry information from him.

He had steeled himself for interrogation, prepared to endure any torture rather than reveal anything about his involvement with the Phantom Assembly. He had no intention of betraying them, no matter the cost.

But the last person he expected to see was his son, Alaric.

Victor’s mind reeled, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. ’Alaric?’ he thought, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. ’What is he doing here?’

He knew his relationship with his son wasn’t the best. They had been estranged for years, their interactions cold and distant. They weren’t close at all. But despite their strained relationship, Victor still cared for his son. He was terrified to see him in this place, in this context.

Alaric, meanwhile, surveyed his father with a cold, detached gaze. He took in Victor’s disheveled appearance, his slumped posture, the lines of worry etched on his face. ’What a pathetic sight,’ he thought, a hint of disdain in his voice. ’This is the man who is supposed to be my father? A sorry excuse of a noble.’

He didn’t care for Victor. He never had. In fact, he didn’t even consider him his father. The only thing he cared about was the Steele family’s assets: the businesses, the properties, the income, the hidden treasures.

He wanted to claim his share, merge it with his mother’s inheritance, and finally restore the Steele family to its former glory. When that happens, the Steele Family would surpass even a Count Family in financial status.

The silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the faint dripping of water from a crack in the wall. Finally, Victor spoke, his voice trembling slightly. “Alaric?” he asked, his voice laced with fear. “What… what are you doing here?”

Alaric’s lips curled into a cold smile. “I could ask you the same question, Father,” he said, his voice smooth but edged with steel. “But I suppose I already know the answer.”

He paused, letting his words hang in the air for a moment before delivering the bombshell. “I am a mage working for King Thaleon,” he revealed, his voice steady. “I’m part of a team tasked with investigating and dismantling the Phantom Assembly.”

Victor’s eyes widened in horror. “You’re… you’re working for the king?” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

Alaric nodded, his smile widening. “Indeed,” he confirmed. “And it was my report that led Drustan and Kaelith to raid the auction hall.”

Victor stared at his son, his mind reeling. He couldn’t believe it. He had been captured because of his own son. The irony was almost unbearable.

’He’s doing good work,’ Victor thought, a complicated mix of emotions swirling within him. Pride, confusion, and a hint of resentment. He couldn’t blame Alaric for doing his duty. But the fact remained that his son was responsible for his current predicament.

“I… I had a good reason for being there,” Victor stammered, trying to justify his actions. “It was for the family, Alaric. All for the family.”

Alaric raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. “For the family?” he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. “By attending an auction organized by the Phantom Assembly? How does that benefit the family?”

Victor took a deep breath, trying to explain his actions. “I was trying to acquire a powerful artifact,” he said, his voice earnest. “Something that could restore our family’s prestige, our power. Something that would make us relevant again.”

Alaric’s expression hardened. “And did you acquire this… artifact?” he asked, his voice cold.

Victor hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yes,” he admitted, his voice low. “I won the bid.”

“And what was this… prize?” Alaric asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Victor looked down, a mixture of pride and shame in his eyes. “The Crown of Dominion,” he whispered.

Alaric froze, his mind racing. The Crown of Dominion? That was the item that had fetched a bid of two hundred million gold coins!

He stared at his father, his eyes narrowing. “You?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “You were in VIP room number one?”

Victor nodded slowly, avoiding his son’s gaze.

Alaric took a step forward, his voice turning icy cold. “Two hundred million gold coins?” he asked, his voice laced with disbelief and anger. “Where did you get that kind of money?”

He paused, his voice rising in volume. “We’ve been struggling for years! My mother has been working herself to the bone to keep the family afloat! Where were those two hundred million gold coins then?!”

Victor flinched at his son’s outburst, his eyes filled with shame. “I… I had to sell everything,” he stammered. “All the properties, the businesses… everything. And I used my secret stash, the one I’d been saving for years.”

Alaric stared at him, his anger slowly giving way to a cold, calculating look. “You sold everything?” he repeated, his voice low. “For what? For some trinket from the Phantom Assembly?”

Victor shook his head, his eyes filled with desperation. “It’s not just a trinket, Alaric,” he said, his voice pleading. “It’s more than that. I had to do it. I had to restore our family’s martial strength.”

He took a deep breath, trying to explain his reasoning. “I’ve seen how our family fell, Alaric,” he said. “Even when we had immense financial power, it wasn’t enough. We lacked martial strength, we lacked powerful artifacts. That’s why the other noble families could push us aside, suppress us. I wanted to change that. I wanted to give our family the power to fight back.”

He looked at Alaric, his eyes filled with a desperate plea for understanding. “The Crown of Dominion,” he said, his voice trembling, “will allow us…our family to quickly amass great martial strength by controlling the minds of powerful warriors and mages.”

Alaric listened to his father’s explanation, a sigh escaping his lips. He stared at Victor, a mixture of pity and exasperation swirling within him. ’He’s such a fool,’ Alaric thought, shaking his head slightly. ’He actually believes that this… trinket will solve all our problems.’

He didn’t even bother to correct his father’s misconceptions about the Crown of Dominion. It was clear that Victor had placed all his hopes, all his dreams, into this one artifact. Trying to dissuade him now would be like trying to move a mountain with a spoon.

’He really has too much faith in that thing,’ Alaric mused. ’Even if it works as intended, it wouldn’t be effective against powerful martial artists or mages. Their minds are too strong, too disciplined. Something like the Crown of Dominion would only work on lower-ranked individuals. And even if you managed to control a bunch of weaklings, it wouldn’t be enough to elevate the Steele family’s martial standing.’

He knew that the Phantom Assembly was selling the Crown of Dominion precisely because of this limitation. They knew it wouldn’t be effective against high-level opponents. They were hoping that whoever bought it would use it to sow chaos and discord within the kingdom, creating opportunities for them to exploit.

’It’s not that the Crown of Dominion is useless,’ Alaric thought. ’It’s a powerful and dangerous artifact. But my father’s plan… it’s just… misguided.’

He had no intention of sharing his insights with Victor. He simply stared at him, his expression conveying a mixture of disappointment and disdain. He then decided to change the subject, focusing on something more… tangible.

“So,” Alaric said, his voice cold and sharp, “you say you won the bid. But you don’t have the Crown of Dominion right now. Which means… the exchange didn’t go through. Which means… you still have the two hundred million gold coins.”

He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Where is it?” he asked, his voice demanding.

Victor hesitated, his eyes darting around the cell. He was clearly reluctant to reveal the location of his vast fortune. He knew that this information was valuable, dangerous.

Alaric, sensing his father’s hesitation, decided to take matters into his own hands. He quickly cast ’Silent Barrier’, a spell that created an invisible wall of silence around the cell, preventing any sound from escaping.

He then turned back to his father, his expression stern. “Do one good thing for this family, for once,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “You’re trapped here. You’ve lost the Crown of Dominion. You don’t need the money anymore.”

He leaned closer to his father, his eyes boring into his. “Tell me where it is,” he whispered. “No one else will hear. I promise.”

Victor looked at his son, his eyes filled with fear and desperation. He knew he had no other choice. He had gambled everything on the Crown of Dominion, and he had lost. Now, he was trapped, his plans in ruins.

He took a deep breath, his voice barely audible. “It’s… in a warehouse,” he said, his voice trembling. He then proceeded to describe the location of the warehouse in detail, giving Alaric specific instructions on how to find it.

He also informed Alaric that the total amount of money he had stashed away was not just two hundred million gold coins. He had also added the money he had managed to accumulate through various means over the past few years. In total, there was 334 Million Gold Coins stashed in the warehouse.

Alaric listened intently, committing every detail to memory. ’Three hundred and thirty-four million,’ he thought, a hint of greed flickering in his eyes. ’That’s… a significant amount. More than enough to restore the Steele family’s influence.’

Once Victor had finished explaining, Alaric nodded slowly, his expression neutral. He then dispelled the ’Silent Barrier’, the sounds of the dungeon flooding back into the cell.

He turned to leave, pausing at the door. He looked back at his father, his expression cold and detached. “Drustan and Kaelith can do whatever they want with you,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. “Don’t expect any special treatment just because you’re my father. We have no relationship.”

He then turned and left the cell, closing the heavy iron door behind him. He didn’t look back.

Outside the cell, Drustan and Kaelith were waiting, their expressions grim. They had heard everything that had been said, thanks to a subtle listening enchantment that Kaelith had placed on the cell door.

Alaric looked at them, his expression unchanged. “You can proceed as you see fit,” he said, his voice cold and businesslike. “He’s no longer my concern.”

Drustan and Kaelith exchanged a look before nodding in understanding. They knew that Alaric’s relationship with his father was… complicated. They didn’t pry any further.

Drustan then turned to the guard standing watch outside the cell. “Open the door,” he commanded.

The guard quickly unlocked the cell door, allowing Drustan and Kaelith to enter. They stepped inside, the heavy iron door clanging shut behind them, leaving Alaric alone in the dimly lit corridor.

Alaric turned and walked away, his mind already focused on his next move.

Alaric left the dungeon, his mind already focused on his next objective: retrieving his father’s hidden fortune. He quickly made his way through the city, heading towards the location Victor had described. He navigated the labyrinthine streets with practiced ease, his mind replaying the directions he had been given, ensuring he didn’t miss a turn.

’Three hundred and thirty-four million gold coins,’ he thought, a hint of excitement bubbling within him. ’That’s enough to solve all our financial woes, and then some. Mother will be thrilled.’ He imagined her reaction, the surprise and relief on her face when he presented her with this unexpected windfall.

He reached the designated location: a nondescript warehouse tucked away in a quiet corner of the city’s industrial district. It was a simple, two-story building, its exterior unremarkable, blending seamlessly with the surrounding structures.

Alaric approached cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of activity. He didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention. Finding nothing amiss, he approached the warehouse door, finding it unlocked.

He slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. The interior was dark and dusty, filled with crates and barrels, seemingly abandoned. Alaric pulled out a small magical orb from his pouch, whispering a quick incantation. The orb emitted a soft, blue light, illuminating the warehouse interior.

He began searching for the mechanism his father had described, a hidden lever concealed within a stack of crates near the back wall. He carefully moved the crates aside, his eyes scanning the wall for any irregularities.

’Come on, where is it?’ he muttered to himself, his fingers brushing against the rough wooden surface of the crates. ’Father said it was hidden behind the third crate from the left… or was it the fourth?’

After a few minutes of searching, his fingers brushed against something metallic. He pushed the crate aside, revealing a small, iron lever hidden behind it.

’Found it!’ he thought, a grin spreading across his face. He grasped the lever, pulling it downwards. A low grinding sound echoed through the warehouse, and a section of the floor near the back wall began to slide open, revealing a dark staircase leading downwards.

Alaric approached the opening cautiously, peering into the darkness below. A cool draft of air wafted upwards, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and… gold.

’This is it,’ he thought, a sense of anticipation building within him. He took a deep breath and descended the stairs, the blue light from his orb illuminating his path.

The staircase led into a large, underground chamber, a hidden treasury filled with unimaginable wealth. Alaric’s breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight before him.

Mountains of gold coins were piled high, their gleaming surfaces reflecting the blue light from his orb. Stacks of gold bars were neatly arranged, their surfaces polished to a mirror sheen. And scattered amongst the gold were various artifacts: ornate rings, jeweled daggers, intricately carved boxes, and many others.

’This is… incredible,’ Alaric thought, his eyes wide with awe. ’Father really did stash away a fortune.’ He had never seen so much wealth in one place. It was like something out of a fairy tale.

He walked further into the treasury, examining some of the artifacts more closely. He picked up a ring, its surface inlaid with intricate runes. ’This one enhances fire magic,’ he thought, recognizing the familiar symbols. He then picked up a jeweled dagger, its blade gleaming with a sharp edge. ’And this one… it’s enchanted with a powerful poison.’

He spent a few minutes exploring the treasury, marveling at the sheer amount of wealth his father had accumulated. He then reminded himself of his purpose. He wasn’t here to admire the treasure; he was here to retrieve it.

He decided to take the entire wealth and hand it over to his mother, Lyra, back at the Steele family estate. She was the one who truly deserved it. She had worked tirelessly to maintain the family’s finances, while his father had been obsessing over his misguided plans.

’Mother will know what to do with this,’ Alaric thought. ’She’ll use it wisely, to restore our family’s standing and secure our future.’

He began gathering the gold coins, using a few small pouches he had brought with him. He quickly realized that he wouldn’t be able to carry everything with the pouches he had. He needed something much larger, something with more capacity.

He decided to head to the market to acquire some high-quality storage pouches. He knew that some specialized merchants sold pouches enchanted with minor spatial magic, allowing them to hold far more than their physical size would suggest.

He quickly left the treasury, ascending the stairs and exiting the warehouse. He made his way to the city’s bustling marketplace, his eyes scanning the various stalls and shops.

He soon found a merchant specializing in magical items, his stall filled with various trinkets, potions, and enchanted objects. Alaric approached the merchant, inquiring about storage pouches.

“Ah, you’re looking for high-capacity storage pouches, are you?” the merchant asked, his eyes twinkling with avarice. “I have just what you need.”

He then proceeded to show Alaric a selection of pouches, each one crafted from high-quality materials and enchanted with powerful spatial magic. Alaric examined them carefully, choosing the largest and most durable ones.

He ended up purchasing thirty-five high-quality storage pouches, each capable of holding a significant amount of weight and volume. It cost him a fair sum of gold, but it was a necessary expense.

He returned to the warehouse, descending back into the treasury. He then began the arduous task of transferring the gold coins and artifacts into the storage pouches. He worked diligently, filling each pouch to its maximum capacity.

It took him several hours, but he finally managed to transfer all the wealth into the storage pouches. The small mountain of gold coins had vanished, replaced by a stack of thirty-five bulging pouches.

He checked each pouch carefully, ensuring that everything was secure. He then closed the secret door to the treasury, activating the mechanism to conceal it once more.

By the time he was finished, the sun had set, and the city was bathed in the soft glow of the moon. Alaric left the warehouse, the thirty-five storage pouches safely tucked away in his own pouch, their weight magically reduced to a manageable level.

He looked up at the night sky, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He had accomplished his mission. He had retrieved his father’s fortune, and he was now ready to deliver it to his mother. He then decided to head back to the Golden Barrel Inn. He was tired and needed rest. He would leave for the Steele Family Estate tomorrow morning.