Mind Manipulation (3)

"What about that person?"

While walking towards where the lizardman was, I started the conversation.

"He's a lizardman, half-human and half-lizard."

"I know it. So, are there any other lizardmen there?"

"There is no. There was only him there."

"Oh, I see. Is he a resident of this city, or is he just a tourist planning something here?"

"I do not know. But what is clear, he always carries a sword and goes back and forth to the palace."

"Palace?"

"Over there," said Leonard, pointing up, "there is a palace. And the condition of the palace is fine."

"Is there a noble family in that palace?"

"There seems to be. If I'm not mistaken, the Larsen's live there."

"Larsen?"

"Larsen is the sister of the king's family, Mulyadi de Jansen."

"Oh, I see. So the family is brothers and sisters Daniel and Irine. I understand. Then, why did the lizardmen go back and forth to the family palace?"

"Sorry, My Lord, I have absolutely no idea. I just followed his movements—I didn't find out why he could go back and forth to the palace. But, judging by his suspicious movements, it's likely he's up to something."

"Umph? Does he want to kill the nobles of that family?"

"Who knows."

I can only receive information about the lizardmen from Leonard alone. The information Leonard had given about the lizardmen was lacking. But, if he says that the lizardmen are suspicious, always going back and forth to the palace, I don't think there's anything wrong with assuming that the lizardmen are up to something.

"So you said the lizardmen was carrying a sword, didn't you?"

"Yes, I said that, My Lord."

"Is the sword flashy? I mean, do many people know that he carries a sword?"

"There is no. He went back and forth to the palace sneakily so as not to make others notice it. He's suspicious. And what's worse, the guards let him into the palace just like that."

"Why can?"

"Perhaps because he has a fairly large body, with strong muscles, so that the palace guards are afraid of him."

"In that case, the security of this city is really weak, right?"

"It seems so."

From the moment I entered this city, I had guessed that this city had weak security. There is someone suspicious, even let into the palace just like that.

I thought it was something that would put the lives of those noble families at risk. Are the guards doing their job properly? Are they eating blind salaries? Did they cooperate with the lizardmen? Thinking about it makes my head spin.

When I arrived at this place, more precisely in front of the palace entrance, I was confronted by 2 palace guards.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"What are you here for?"

They asked, and I immediately whispered to Leonard.

"Hey, didn't you say that the guards from this palace were weak? Why don't they let us in, while the lizardmen can go back and forth to the palace? Hey, Leonard."

"Forgive your servant, My Lord. Let me handle this."

After saying that, Leonard suddenly appeared between the two palace guards. He then hit them on the neck.

"It's done. We can now go inside to meet the lizardmen."

"..."

I thought there was a better way than that, but he chose violence instead. Geez. I seem to have rude subordinates. I will discipline him later.

I decided to go inside after Leonard opened the gate without thinking anything.

When I just entered the courtyard of this palace, I was greeted by several other guards. They suddenly inquired about how we got in and were still finding answers from that when they saw two guards sprawled out right in front of the entrance.

And then, Leonard attacked them, knocking them unconscious; and it continued until I made it into this palace.

"So where're the lizardmen?"

"Wait a minute, My Lord," Leonard said, suddenly closing his eyes, "I will find out where he is."

I don't know what he's doing, maybe he's using his magic or something else. All I know is that he closed his eyes for 3 seconds.

After he opened his eyes, he said, "Come here!" then walk and lead me.

I kept on following, and I didn't know where it was going.

Having arrived at a large door, Leonard stopped.

"That lizardmen is in there."

He said that, looked at me for a moment, and opened the door for me to enter.

After the door made a slit in, I could smell the food, saw a few people there eating something at the table, and they quickly rushed over to me.

"Who are you?"

Some of the guards started to approach me, and some of them approached some of the people who were eating; probably meant to protect them from me.

Meanwhile, I saw the lizardmen there, among several other guards protecting several people, who were probably nobles from the Larsen Family.

Seeing him who had a sword, as well as heavy armor, I quickly looked back, right where Leonard was.

Isn't that person a knight?

Judging from the lizardmen's attire, it was certain that he was a knight from the Larsen Family. So, maybe that's why the lizardmen were able to go back and forth in this palace.

Well, Leonard was right, but also wrong. He was right that the lizardmen had a large build, with strong-looking muscles. He was wrong that the lizardmen were someone suspicious.

If it's like this, aren't we the ones who are suspicious? We suddenly entered, attacked these palace guards, and even knocked them unconscious. So, we're the suspicious ones here, not the lizardmen.

"What is it, My Lord? We've found that person."

"Y-Yeah, that's right, we've found that person. You're amazing, Leonard. I even thought that you couldn't pay attention to his appearance."

"Thank you for the compliment, My Lord. I, Leonard Va-"

Before Leonard could finish his words I was fed up with, a guard asked presumptuously.

"Who are you? What are you here for? This is the palace of the Larsen Family."

"Oi, Human..." Leonard said, looking as if he was angry with the person. "How dare you detractors of my words to My Lord. You're too presumptuous of me, don't even know yourself towards My Lord. Oi, show your respect in front of Lord Ryuki!"

After he said that, the atmosphere around was heavy. They suddenly looked down, looking like someone was forcing them to look down. And to make matters worse, the people who were being protected were also looking down and facing me.

"What is this? My body… my body moves on its own."

"My weight... my body won't lift."

"Miss Larsen, I'll help you," said the lizardmen, trying to move his body but couldn't.

"This… this is top-level magic. This must be Enchanter-type magic, manipulating the brain. Who did this?"

They were confused as to why they could look down, even me too.

Leonard must be up to something; he did this.

Burning a cigarette, I turned to Leonard.

"Stop it, Leonard!"

"Very well, My Lord, if you ask that."

And sure enough, he was the one who did it all, making them look down on me. When I told them to stop doing that, they were back to normal.

However, they quickly rushed towards me, including the lizardmen. They intended to attack me.

But strangely, when they were in front of me, 7 steps, they suddenly got scared and sat on the floor. They see something that scares them. They were being bullied by the person behind me, Leonard.

"What's with that person's aura?"

"This aura… This is no ordinary aura, this is the aura of a monster—no, this is the aura of a demon."

"It's a lie, right? That guy...he intimidating me? I've never been afraid like this before."

They were getting more and more frightened, spouting unnecessary words.

When they were scared, I saw some of the food that was on the dining table.

I disturbed them while they were having breakfast, and to make matters worse, the people I disturbed were the noble family, the Larsen Family. They must have thought that I was a bad person.

I have to fix this and take responsibility for what Leonard did.

"Stop it, Leonard!"

"My apologies, My Lord."

He stopped that, but he suddenly disappeared and appeared there, on the dining table.

"You must bow down in front of Lord Ryuki!"

He again made them bow down to me, even making those people from noble families look inferior to me.

"…What does he want? He disobeyed me, instead of continuing to show off his strength. Geez."

I slowly walked over, pulled the lizardmen by the collar, and kept walking until I reached the dining table.

"Now, let's have breakfast together. Sorry for the fuss, but we'd better have breakfast first."

After saying that, I sat down and put the lizardmen sitting beside me, and ate some soup.

"Um, this is delicious."

"My Lord, how is it? Have I satisfied you?"

"Yes, you have satisfied me. So, don't do that again!"

"Thank you, My Lord."

I don't think that's a compliment to him, but why is he proud of it?

"I, Leonard Valkoinen, will always be loyal to you, My Lord."

"Yeah, I know that, so can you come down from there? You ruined this dish."

"My apologies, My Lord."

After he sat beside me, I looked left and right, seeing the condition of those who were still looking down. And this lizardman, he bowed his head to this dining table with an annoyed face.

Geez, what's the real purpose of me coming here? Leonard, you ruined everything.