Chapter 50 – Northern Garden 

Aile then talked louder than usual to the chubby one, "Listen! I just heard a piece of great news?"

The chubby one excitedly asked, "What is it?" in a noisy tone that gathered some of the attention of the people around.

Aile then looked around nervously and said in a loud whisper to him, "I found a seller that will be selling a high-end Rune Book today at sunset at the northern garden."

The chubby one was actually surprised, "Really! But it is banned by the emperor to be sold to anyone."

Aile was surprised to hear this, he did not know, but his plan worked. The attention of the people around was gathered.

Aile then nodded and said, "It is just after sunset, be there in time and do not tell anyone about it, it is a secret."

After a few minutes, Aile enhanced his hearing and noticed that discussion about what he said started in the tavern. Some did not believe while others wanted to go. The rumours actually changed in a matter of minutes, and it became an illegal high-end auction taking place after the sunset.

The chubby one smiled and had a questioning gaze at Aile. Aile nodded at him, telling him that he did well and then he bought him some food for his excellent acting. After eating, they smoothly went from the famous taverns to shops and attractions of the town and spread a similar rumour.

During the whole time, Aile expertly explained the town in a similar style to Hazel to the chubby one.

The chubby one had enjoyed himself with making the rumour a bit different every time.

He was smiling and laughing throughout the trip. Aile too found him entertaining and enjoyed his company. Because of this, he even went to a few more places to spread the rumour. However, eventually, it was time to leave each other. They said their goodbyes and left their separate ways.

Aile wanted to create panic and confusion to safely escape after learning about the ingredient concealing rune. He then started the third stage of his plan.

He went around town and anywhere that had something flammable, and he drew a fire gather rune mixed with alert rune. Aile learnt this from the book in the library: by using the two as soon as the alert-rune is touched, the fire gathering one will activate.

Like this, he spent the next two hours finding the vulnerable locations to start a fire and drew the fire gathering and alert runes close to them.

Aile concentrated and only drew the Runes with one element in his hand. This would make it harder to trace back to him even if people knew that he had cultivation. He used the fire element in each Rune.

He can do this, but it is very straining for him as his cultivation is a mix of all elements.

He needs to recharge the used element as they are stored in a balance in his body.

If he uses one element in excessive quantity, it could make the other elements in his body unstable.

He did not conceal the Runes as they would not serve their purpose like that.

He went back to the Siren's Song and saw Jake waiting for him there. He asked in a stern tone, "Where have you been?"

"I was just gathering news to ensure that it is safe to go to the northern garden."

"Why did you not come back early and we both could have done that."

Aile replied with concern and sad voice, "I did not want to bother you too much."

Jake sighed, "Ok, are we going!"

Aile did not want to go immediately with him as it was early, and the third step of his plan was not activated. So he made the excuse that he had been working on today.

"Jake, I think it would be better if you go first and check the area to see if it is safe. If I go with you, it would be more dangerous for you to protect me and get out of there in case it is not safe."

Jake was debating whether to leave Aile alone, but what Aile suggested was also equally important.

So he was debating what to do. At this instant, Aile repeated himself emphasizing his point. "I think it would be best if you investigate first, and I will meet you at the entrance to the northern garden."

This repetition had pushed Jake to make a decision. He agreed with his method. Now that he choose this, he noticed that decision was more practical, and he was in fact, happier this way as it would minimize the risk. He nodded.

Jake went towards the northern garden, and Aile smiled his plan succeeded so far.

He went and knocked on the door of the remaining guard. After some time, the door opened.

Click

"Hey Aile are you back, where is Jake?"

"Jake went to do something for me, and when I was coming back. I saw something suspicious, and I heard that something bad will happen on the princess's birthday."

"What!!! Are you sure, Aile?" The guard was really shocked and surprised.

"Yeah, let me show you what they were doing?"

Aile took him to one of the closer fire runes that he drew. The guard saw the setup and immediately noticed the fire gathering rune as it was made of a single element it was easily discoverable.

He had a shocked expression.

Aile then said, "I followed them there was another one in that direction."

Then they went to another one which was close to this one. The guard became a little panicked.

Aile said in a questioning tone, "You should tell the town guards about this... And also they said something about the northern garden after sunset."

The guard then asked, "Is that all you remember!"

Aile nodded.

The guard then said, "Let's go to meet the town guards."

Aile shook his head and said, "I will be late to meet Jake so I will go now...I do not want him to worry that I am missing. You can go tell the guards. We will be back in one and a half hours, bye."

Aile then waved his hand goodbye and left. His third part of the plan had succeeded.

He kept his enhanced sense of hearing on the guard's movement and followed him to the town guards headquarter to make sure he reports it.

Aile smirked that the next step of his plan is successful. The sun would set in 50 minutes, so he rushed to the northern garden.

The third stage of his plan was essential, as it had two functions. First, it would attract the majority of the guard's attention to finding the fire gathering runes close to flammable sources. This way, they cannot stop the chaos that he needs in the northern garden quickly.

Second, he mentioned the northern garden in his lie to the guard to make sure that enough guards reach there to not make people go wild, but not enough to prevent chaos.

He reached the northern garden entrance and saw Jake anxiously looking around. He arrived in front of him and said, "Hey, Jake, how was it?"

Then Jake said, "something does not seem right, the northern garden is not as quiet as yesterday. There are many more people in there. I think it would be best if we leave."

Aile internally smiled, it seems people have already started to come here due to his rumours.

Aile shook his head, "I will not have another opportunity to find such a book. You can keep your vigilance high. If you notice an actual threat, we can leave."

Jake had a sigh of resignation and nodded.

Aile then asked if he found the person that they had met in the last few days. Jake nodded and pointed towards a direction. They both quickly rushed in that area.

On the way, Aile extended his hearing to find out how many people are coming and what they plan to do. So that he could be aware of them and their schemes. He heard quite a few groups planned to steal the book.

Then Aile smile grew. This is because he found a group that claimed they were from Alchemist union and were here to retrieve their rune book.

Aile was happy that the groups were searching in the wild so far. The direction he and Jake were heading was towards the centre of the garden. The closest group would take another 10 minutes to reach there.

He needed to see the other half of the Rune book before the next group arrives. He hurried up and soon saw 7 people stand in front of him.

He then looked at Jake and said, "When I wink at you, you knock out the person I point to and do it quickly."

Aile then quickly went towards the group in front of him, not giving Jake enough time to argue with him.

In front of him stood the assassin, who was a 4th level practitioner now and three other 3rd level practitioners. The other people were a young girl, she had a veil covering her face and another person hiding in the woods. The person who was hiding her face was probably the princess.