Walking through the quiet of the night, Dante followed along with the group of slaves he managed to rescue. Fortunately, none of them questioned his appearance, all assuming it was a disguise, something Aaralyn feared might complicate matters.
Finally, they were nearing a dark forest with little illumination, as Dante expected, situated outside the walls of the kingdom, as the slave auction was on the outskirts of the walls.
"You seem pensive," said the Dark Elf as she walked slowly, leading the weary group. She briefly glanced at the broken spear in Dante's hands, and he tucked it away.
"Don't worry, it's not of interest to me," she said. She chuckled lightly and reassured him. Dante, however, remained alert. Despite knowing she meant no harm, he couldn't help but wonder why a Dark Elf was there and why she was companions with a Demi-Human Jackal woman.
Demi-Human Jackals are extremely rare, and their existence is somewhat mystical. The ancients say they absorb the power of War. Dante, however, didn't believe in that. In fact, he hardly cared. To him, an individual's power didn't make them better or worse than anyone else; he simply saw the person, not their strength.
"This spear belonged to my mother," Dante said, trying to ease the situation, but the elf turned with wide eyes. She recognized the spear.
"But isn't this weapon Valentina Scarlet's? She only has one son, and his name is... D-Dan," she almost blurted out, but the Jackal woman quickly interrupted her. Without saying a single word, Dante breathed a sigh of relief for a moment.
"If you're thinking I'm him, no, I'm not. My mother is the one who helped craft this spear," Dante said, but his words weren't effective. In fact, the Jackal at his side squeezed his arm, clearly signaling to the Elf.
"Oh, really, I don't want to hurt anyone," Dante said, his expression changing completely and the air growing heavy. Aaralyn beside him leaned against his shoulder and stopped him with a commanding tone. Dante didn't immediately understand, but then...
"We really need to talk alone," said the new voice in the environment, the demi-human woman, but previously...
"It seems I'm not the only one hiding secrets," Dante said, and both women smiled.
They both remained silent until they reached a sort of open valley among the trees, while the other former slaves rested. Both pairs locked eyes.
"We don't have much time, so let's be practical. One question, one answer, and so forth," said Dante, and they nodded.
"Who are you?" Dante questioned, and the two exchanged glances and nodded.
"I am Misty Elhard, an Exiled Dark Elf," said the first, bowing. Then, the Jackal demi-human knelt on the ground. "My Lady! Please, rise!" Misty tried to bring her lady to her feet, but she refused. "Be more courteous to your savior, little Misty," she said, with perfect pronunciation... Of course, she was lying about not knowing how to speak the Imperial language.
"I am Nafiri Nefertari, the Black Jackal," she said, bowing slightly, as a tradition. "That wasn't necessary," said Dante. He didn't like seeing such actions coming from a woman who seemed to be important.
"Now it's my turn, right? So, who are you?" she questioned, and Dante began to shift form again, his crimson red hair cascading over his clothes.
"Dante Scarlet," he said aloud, and both women trembled. Of course, they knew who he was, but they needed confirmation. However, knowing he was him was hard.
"How would you prove that?" she questioned, and he summoned Valentina's spear. "Need I say more? Or will I have to do the same as I did with this idiot here and reveal intimate details about my wife?"
"Hey! I'm not an idiot!" Aaralyn roared, and Dante's hands reached for her head, but he gently caressed it. "I only call those I care about idiots," he said, and she smiled faintly. "Pleasure to meet you, ladies, I am Aaralyn, one of the Five Shadows of Hellsing," she introduced herself, and the women felt astonishment again. Did they know? Of course, they did.
"Kaalindra had already told me about you, Aaralyn," Nafiri said, and their eyes widened. "That's why you don't doubt me," Dante said, and she nodded.
"The shadows are entities that few truly know. If you are beside a Shadow and claim to be Dante Scarlet, I have no right to judge. Though I find it intriguing for an undead to be revived, I don't want conflict with you, Demon King," she said, looking directly at Dante's horns.
"Believe me, I'm not even in my full form yet," Dante said, smiling, and Nafiri couldn't help but laugh along.
"How were you captured?" The conversation continued after the calm moment. "I was on a visit to the Empire. I wanted an audience with the Emperor to establish myself in the capital, but before my garrison could arrive, we were attacked on the way and imprisoned," she replied. However, she didn't allow Dante to question and continued the questioning game.
"What are you doing in the Empire? I believe you already know about Valentina and Morgana," Nafiri said, and Dante looked at Aaralyn. "If my sister knows her, this could be advantageous," he heard mentally.
"I'm fulfilling what I said ten years ago. I will start with the future Emperor," Dante said, and both couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"You're going to assassinate Emperor Ethan?" They questioned in unison, not believing the words they were hearing.
"Yes? I mean, his death was already decreed. He survived because someone interfered, but nothing changed. He will die the same way, or rather, in a much more brutal way," Dante said.
"That's madness. How are you going to get into the Palace?" she questioned, and Dante and Aaralyn glanced at each other and started laughing.
"Lady Nafiri, Dante is actually staying in the Palace," Aaralyn said, trying to hold back her laughter.
"The previous appearance, your name, Ziriel Azure, Princess's bodyguard and also a knight of the White Tower of the Witch Morgana. This is me, although Morgana doesn't know, and Simon doesn't know it's me. But I needed to start somewhere," explained Dante as he chuckled lightly.
The calm conversation made him more at ease, and so for some more time, they talked about the world itself and what was happening.
The conversation lasted a bit longer with the questions. Dante understood why Nafiri was in the Empire. In a complicated summary, she's a trader, but her state's situation is precarious due to the government, and she was seeking a place to stabilize. Aaralyn didn't know her, but the name of her Trader Guild, Black Gold, was quite famous.
Dante, however, didn't have much to offer; in fact, he barely had resources to help her. However...
"Nafiri, how about helping me destroy the Empire?" Dante said with a sinister smile, and the Dark Elf, a subordinate with excessive loyalty, began to interfere. "No way!" she said loudly.
"Sorry, Lady Misty, I'm not talking to you," Dante said, and Misty fell to her knees, being forced to the ground. Nafiri, however, didn't intervene and looked at her subordinate. "Stay down. You asked for this. In negotiations, you shouldn't interfere until I ask. This will be your lesson today," said Nafiri, and Dante glanced at her lightly, pressing his aura a bit more on Misty.
"Stop playing with her, Demon King," said Nafiri with a smile, and Dante did the same, releasing the girl, who began to sweat cold. "I'm sorry!" she said quickly while gasping.
"Having subordinates is good, but having them under control is better. If I were someone with ill intentions, both of you would've been dead. Be more courteous when dealing with unfamiliar people, Misty," said Dante, and she bowed slightly, sweating cold. "Thank you for giving this lesson to this brat. She's impulsive when it comes to my well-being. I hope you weren't offended."
Misty, on the other hand, was completely surprised by this situation. Her mistress... she had never dealt with anyone like this. Even speaking with kings and queens, governors, and the like, she had never treated anyone with such formality and honor. It was as if... this man in front of her was very special.
"Now that I know your concerns and motives, let's negotiate," said Dante, and Nafiri looked at him curiously. She would like to know what he could negotiate at this occasion.
"How about working for me?" he said with a mischievous smile, and all the women glanced at each other, not even Aaralyn believing what she was hearing.
"Demon King, be clearer," she said, serious. "Hm? That's what I said. I'm willing to buy your services," Dante said with a smile.
"Demon King, you don't know how to negotiate. What would I gain by working for you?" she questioned, and Dante simply replied, "The Imperial Trade." He said, and Nafiri stared at him.
'How can you offer something you don't even have?' were her thoughts. She really didn't see any advantages in this, despite her look. Dante read her perfectly.
"Velryna Smith, the second in line to the throne, Princess of the Empire, and so on. A young warrior with a leadership sense far ahead of Ethan Smith's.
Right now, she's powerless, but she could ascend to the throne soon," said Dante with a smile and then, "What do you think would happen if, by any chance, I influence her to accept you in the Empire when she becomes Empress?" Dante questioned, and Nafiri began to understand what he wanted.
"Even if I fail, something that won't happen, I'm still Dante Scarlet, or rather, I'm Valentina Scarlet's husband," he said, and Nafiri began to concede, but.
"There's no guarantee you'll win, just as there's no guarantee you'll be able to influence the future Empress if you win, especially if she knows you're Dante Scarlet," she said, and Dante began to laugh.
"Hehehehe HAHAHAHAHAHA," beside him, Aaralyn laughed again like a hyena, while the two women looked at him with expressions of 'What's so funny?'
"OK, that's enough hahaha," Dante said as he put his hand on his belly. "Let's get on with it, I'll have to reveal everything anyway... well, I'm desperate. I need to kill that bastard in a pretty brutal way."
"Velryna Smith, she won't use that surname anymore when she becomes Empress," Dante said, and the women widened their eyes. "Don't tell me..." "It can't be!" Nafiri shouted, getting up, and Dante just with a smile pronounced.
"Velryna Scarlet, the Future Empress," Dante said, and the women fell back slightly. 'How does this man only get involved with future rulers? He's married to Valentina who would succeed Vlad, married to Morgana who would succeed Alice, had a love affair with Sara Vortex in adolescence who would succeed the Empress, and now, after all this, he's eyeing the possible future Empress?
Does he want the legacy of all? Damn!'