CHAPTER 12.5: A 'TRADER OF SORTS'

***The Count of Hermon’s camp***

It was an hour after the start of the long sleep when he came.

“…”

Cloaked in dark robes, and pulling a cart with a pair of large, rectangular boxes, he entered the camp of the Count of Hermon. The sentries had no idea how he got in their defenses, nor the man answered to their challenge. When they tried to attack him, they found their ‘demon weapons’ unable to fire, and their swords melted like wax.

“I meant no harm, please keep your weapons,” the cloaked figure said. “Let me talk to your lord.”

At once, the fearful sentries led him to the Count of Hermon’s tent. The noble, though irritated that he was interrupted in his sleep, treated the mysterious person with respect and dignity.

“I’m sorry for being direct,” the Count told him. “We’re at war here, see? So let me ask, who are you and why are you here?”

“A trader of sorts,” the cloaked figure chuckled for a bit before continuing, “I see that you’re in a hopeless situation, Your Lordship.”

“Yes,” the noble was nonchalant, “but we held off the assaults of that foolish Saint!”

“Well, I wonder for how long can you last…Lady Rubinforth is laying a siege, and you can’t pass to Cherflammen because of the demons guarding the portal crossing.”

“I told you I’d be direct,” the Count was getting impatient. “Did you come here just to scare us?”

“Scare? Oh, right…it’s a mortal’s feeling. The one that makes you wonder on what will happen next with fearful apprehension.”

The Count of Hermon lost his nerve, drew his sword and pointed it towards the mystery person’s neck, “If you’re not going to say anything good, then you can get out of our camp.”

“Patience, my dear friend, patience! Lift up your heads, for I have brought something you might be interested in.”

“And what’s that?”

The cloaked figure then went to his cart and opened the boxes. Inside were ‘demon weapons’, though of considerably different design compared to the ones being used by the Count’s men.

“Are you selling us ‘demon weapons’?” the noble asked. “I’m sorry, but we got enough for everyone here!”

“Too hasty, Your Lordship? These are no common ‘demon weapons’. If I may say, its makers call it ‘bolt-action rifles’. Weapons of powerful shot, increased accuracy, and quicker reload time.”

“Show me.”

The mystery person smiled, then took a rifle, load it with a five-bullet clip, and fired it in rapid succession and precise aiming, much to the awe of everyone watching. Then, after the performance show, the cloaked figure handed it to the Count.

“Do you like it?”

“Hmm…” the Count couldn’t hide his impressed face. “How much for this?”

“No, I don’t want any of your money.”

“Hm? Then what is it that you want?”

“I want you to capture the Human Saint for me,” the mystery person answered. “And, to sweeten our deal, I’ll also give you these…”

“!!!”

The cloaked figure caused a portal to open, and out of it came another strange-looking weapon. It looked similar to the cannons their enemy was using, though the barrel was longer, and it had a pair of wheels made of some weird, elastic black material.

“This is?” the noble touched the lethal machine before him.

“It’s called a howitzer, Your Lordship. That cannon has increased range and firepower as well, your enemies won’t know what hit them. I’ll give you three of that, and teach your men how to use it. Your army would be the first in this entire land—and the others—who would use it!”

“And capture the Human Saint for payment? This is superb!” the Count of Hermon offered his hand to the mystery man, who shook it to seal the deal between them.