The Dark King

by Steffen Schmidt

  They were surprised at his words. There was a bit of hesitation as they thought about the options.

  Barton kept looking down, and suddenly looked up to Dudian: "I chose the third option to help you do things! Just ... ... my legs are not good, afraid it won't be enough to help you."

  Dudian looked at him as he nodded: "I value your abilities that's why I'm giving you guys the opportunity. Don't worry about that."

  "I, I will also help you." Joseph stammered: "Without you, I would soon be sent to the mine to work. I would be dead anyway, so no matter what you want me to do I will listen to your orders!"

  Dudian nodded slightly, said: "Let me explain a bit. If you choose to follow me it will be road of no return and there will be dangers. But I didn't redeem you guys because I wantted to force this upon you. Just know that you don't owe me anything. I helped you guys, because I wanted to return the care you had given me."

  Joseph looked up at Kruen and Barry, thought, firmly authentic: "I am still willing to follow you. Although it is illegal but I believe that Dean your smart. I don't want to live the life of poor. I want to stand high. I want a lot of money!"

  Hearing his words, Kroen and Barry who were hesitant changed their minds and resolutely said.: "We also want to join!"

  Dudian did not think that Joseph had such thoughts. He took out four gold coins from his pocket.: "This is our current start-up capital. However we will have new funds after a period of time. I'm going to give you these four gold coins to you. My request is that you guys find remote place as soon as possible. More away from civilization more better. Afterwards build a secret small factory."

  Barton looked at the four golden coins. His heart rate accelerated a bit. Kroen couldn't help but said: "Aren't you afriad that we would take the gold and run away?"

  Dudian looked at him and said, "I trust you."

  Kroen eyes reddened.

  "At the moment, there aren't enough money on hand. Over time there will be more than enough. So when we have extra funds you can go to school to study. As for you bodies, I'll find a way to look for treatment. "Dudian said.

  Four of them startled with a bit of hope in their eyes.

  "Now, you'd better find good clothing or with your current dresses people will think that you have robbed the gold." Dudian smiled.

  They looked at each other and laughed.

  Dudian checked the sky to estimate the time.: "If you want to contact me put up a signal in front of the orphanage and I'll come over. But remember, you can not expose our identities."

  "We know," Kroen laughed.

  Dudian looked at Barton and said, "I will try to help you recover as soon as possible."

  "I'm not worried," Barton said with a smile on his face.

  After leaving, Dudian hired a carriage and went back to residential district. It took him around an hour to return. Ske way dark by the time he came home.

  Dudian came home to see Jura was busy getting the dinner ready.

  At dinner they asked Dudian about what he did throughout the day but didn't go into details. After all, in their view, Dudian was approaching the age of marriage and was also a guard so naturally needed a bit of his own private space.

  The next morning, Dudian got up on time and after the breakfast went out.

  "The last alchemist base...I hope it hasn't been replaced..." Dudian thought out about the secret stronghold.

  Chapter 90: Black cross

  On an ordinary alley near the marketplace.

  A handsome boy was walking on the street holding a piece of black bread. Accidentally the bread dropped to ground from his hand. He was surprised as he quickly bent over to pick it up. Dust covered the side of the bread that had falled onto the ground. He was hesitant to pick it or not.

  Pedestrians were rushing to work past by the street. Few of the passer-by took a quick glance at him but nobody gave too much of an attention.

  It seemed that boy was distressed about the bread but no one saw the his nose was sniffing the odors.

  It was Dudian and his attention was focused on the sense of smell. He was taking gentle and short breath so that he could identify the details more presicely.

  There were all kinds of complex smells in the street. But tracking the smell was like a physical instinct to him such as moving his arms. He didn't need to study it to be able to grasp it. Dudian concentrated his senses towards the odors coming out from the secret room in the back-alley. Various types of smells floated, showing a vague outline of the chamber.

  "Sulfur smell, yellow phosphorus taste ... ... Someone? Three people? One of them has a light smell, it should be a girl." Dudian was surprised as he did not expect anyone to be in this secret chamber at the moment. Are these alchemist apprentices doing experiments in here every day?

  Dudian thought a little before concentrating on the rooms above the street. There was a pale smell coming from above. Most probably no one lives there and it had been like that for a long time.

  "Alchemy lab is below the house... The owner of the house must be the master of the lab... Or maybe he was killed by the alchemists..." Dudian secretly thought. He picked up the bread and patted the dust above it. He slowly walked down the street. There were no hidden sentries checking out passerbies nor the house in front of the secret lab had anyone in it.

  Nevertheless, he had to be prudent at all times or face the consequences.

  He left to another street and found a small tailor shop. Without wasting any more time he went inside.

  Tailor's apprentice was the first to come up to Dudian and spoke in polite manner: "Guest, May I know what you need?"

  Dudian glanced at the clothing products hanged on the walls but didn't find anything that was similar to his needs: "I need a spacious black robe and a mask."

  Tailor apprentice boy looked at him puzzled, but did not say anything:" What time do you want? "

  "When can I get it?" Asked Dudian.

  "Tonight."

  "OK, this time tomorrow, I'll come and collect."

  "No problem. You have to choose materials now. We have flax fiber, silk... ..."

  "A solid cloth," said Dudian, "how much is the deposit?"

  Tailor apprentice thought about it before replying: "If you want it to be strong, then the best material would be linen fiber. It shall cost you seven copper coins. Deposit is usually half which is 3 copper coins..."

  Dudian immediately took out a three coins and gave it to him: "Robe should be slightly larger."

  "Well," the tailor apprentice smiled and agreed. He took take a ruler to measure the body proportions of Dudian, wrote them down and gave Dudian another note, "Tomorrow."

  Dudian took the note, left the tailor shop and murmured: "The next is the tattoo problem."

  He must prove that he is an alchemist so that he can get into the base. The most credible way is having an alchemy tattoo.

  However, there are no lasers in this era so once tattoo is made it would be difficult to wash away. His body will be throughly checked up to prevent the viruses entering inside, every single time he comes back from the hunting. There will be no way to hide the tattoos.

  He pondered a moment, eventually decided to take a risk.

  ...

  ...

  There was a small raw material factory for ink at the eastern outskirts. It was in a remote location near the radiation zone.

  Dudian came here and showed his guard medal to guards who were blocking the way: "I'm here to do business and check your routine production environment."

  They stared at him, before one of them turning to other and winking at him. Afterwards, that one turned to Dudian and said: "Please wait in here. I'll help you by informing the higher-ups."

  Dudian nodded and stood by the door to wait.

  A moment later, a stout middle-aged man trotted out with the previous guard. Middle-aged man was stunned as he saw Dudian because he didn't expect to see such a young guard. He piled up a smile and politely spoke: "Hello. You should have sai
d in advance that you will be coming to check the factory. Isn't Guike in control of check-ups?"

  Dudian waved his hand: "I'm here looking for you do to business. Do you have iron gall ink in here?"

  The middle-aged man was relieved as he heard Dudian: "The gall nut ink? That component was not very popular so it has been discontinued. Now, we all use carbon ink."

  "That's good." Dudian nodded and said: "Give me raw materials for a bottle of gallic ink."

  "Uh ... ..." middle-aged man suddenly choked, looked up and down at him, said: "A bottle?"

  Dudian coughed in embarrasment. After all, it was a factory not a shop. But it was very difficult to find a shop that sold raw materials for the gallic ink so he had to come to the source.

  "How much money?" Dudian asked the price directly and did not give him the opportunity to refuse.

  Middle-aged was silent but still maintained the polite manner: " Tell me the address and it will be sent to you."

  Dudian bluntly continued: "I'm tight on time so I would like to get it now. "

  "No problem." Middle-aged man looked at him and said: "Money is not necessary ... ... what else you need?"

  Dudian smiled and said: "Just that."

  Middle-aged was relieved as he knew it was a false alarm: "Alright, I'll tell someone to bring it now" Then, turned and walked away. A moment later, a slim young man brought a bottle of dark ink to Dudian.

  Dudian does not need to open the cap to be able to smell the ink. It was a gallnut ink. It was used by the people inside the wall but later they learned to use coal to produce carbon ink. The gallnut ink had high costs of production so it was expensive. That's why gradually fewer people preferred it.

  Dudian left with ink and went to the store to pick up a bottle of men's fragrance. Afterwards he went back home and locked in his small room.

  Gallic ink's smell was much lighter than carbon ink. Carbon ink was widely used by the people so it's smell was familiar. That was why Dudian took the trouble to buy gallnut ink.

  "Unfortunately, there is no activated carbon or I could completely eliminate the smell inside." Dudian thought. He poured out part of the ink into a small bowl and added the light perfume inside it. The smell didn't become weird so he was relieved. Then he stripped the clothing on his body, revealing a wheat colored health body.

  Dudian looked down at the magic marks on his chest: "I'm not sure if those alchemist apprentices would recognize the magic marks. In any case, I should as well hide them." He dipped the quill into the ink and began to paint the magic marks on his chest. As the cold ink fall on the magic marks, the section on his chest began to smear to dark.

  "I got to cover up the dagger scars too. " Dudian used the quill to paint it along the dagger's scar. Magic marks were sideways while the dagger's scars were vertical. Soon, Dudian found out that there was a black cross on his chest.

  Chapter 91: Mixing up

  The next day.

  Dudian came to the tailor shop to receive robe and mask. He put on the clothes and it just fit him. Afterwards he went to the street alley where the hidden chamber was. Suddenly he smelled two people inside, one less person than yesterday.

  "Sure enough, there is someone here every day." Dudian secretly thought. As he got into the alley he wore the mask and went towards the wall which was covering the entrance. His hand touched the fabric that was covering the wall. If ordinary people accidentally were aware of the fabric and tore it off they would still see a wall. But Dudian knew that it was entrance to the chamber as a glance was enough for him to see the gaps between the bricks.

  Dudian picked up a stone and knocked it lightly.

  There was no response.

  Dudian once again gently tapped twice.

  At this time, Dudian felt that the two people came closer to wall because of their smells. He waited for a moment but didn't see that they were going to open the door. He knocked twice and said in a controlled low tone: "I'm your companion. I come with no malice as I'm also an alchemist seeking an organization..."

  It seemed that the people inside were considering as there was no response.

  Suddenly, Dudian sensed a weird smell. His brows wrinkled as a piece of brick was pulled out.

  Whoosh!

  As the brick was taken out something was shot from the gap.

  Dudian had long been prepared so he escaped in time. But when it fell on the ground, he sputtered out and a few drops fell on his robe. The black robe was corroded to some color. "Sulfiric acid", he murmured.

  Dudian glanced back to the bricks and continued: "I really do not plan to do anything malicious. If I was I would have gone to Holy Church and informed them. A Knight of Light would be here to arrest you instead of me."

  Two inside didn't think that their attack's were not effective. As they heard Dudian's words, both of them knew that initiative were in Dudian's hands. If he had informed the Holy Church, then they would have been encircled.

  "How do I believe you?" A female's voice echoed out.

  "How do you believe in me?" Asked Dudian.

  They were silent for some time before the female's voice echoed out: "Please show your tattoo."

  Dudian smiled: "Then you must let me in. It's too unsafe in here and after sometime I'll attract attention."

  They heard Dudian's talk and felt that all that he said was reasonable. The wall was suddenly opened. Inside was dimly lighted but it didn't have the slightest impact on Dudian's vision. Two people wearing masks and robes were standing inside. From their body sizes, Dudian understood that they are teenagers. A man and a woman. He was attacked by the body. At the moment the girl was responsible for opening the door to the secret chamber while the boy was hidden in the darkness clutching a glass bottle. It was half-full with the sulfiric acid.

  "Come in," said the girl.

  Dudian nodded and jumped in.

  There were a pair of vigilant eyes behind the boy's mask. He was staring at Dudian without blinking: "Now, you can show us your tattoo."

  Dudian nodded slightly, lifted the black robe and exposed his chest where the black cross tattoo wass: "see it?

  The girl leaned over and looked, said: "He is really one of us. Come with me."

  The boy sighed in relief while Dudian followed behind the girl.

  Dudian followed them down the staircase to a secret room underneath the building where a spacious chamber existed. There were shelves of various mineral powders, metal powders, animal wrecks, eyeballs and other biological parts. As he had expected, they belonged to "Philosopher's stone" faction whose main goal was refining out the 'sage's stone.'

  "Come here," the girl said while pointing to a table.

  Dudian complied.

  "I'll see your tattoos again," said the girl. Evidently at the dim light of the previous corridor, she has not clearly seen his tattoos.

  Dudian nodded, revealing the black cross on his chest.

  The girl and the boy leaned over, looked closely and confirmed the black tattoo. She suddenly leaned towards Dudian's chest, gently sniffed and exhaled warm breath. Dudian's chest slightly throbbed.

  "The perfume smell?" The girl was in doubt. She could not help but looked up at Dudian and asked: "You are a boy why do you use perfume?"

  Dudian dryly coughed: "Used to it."

  The girl looked at him bizarrely but did not say anything: "How did you find us? Our place is hidden very well and only by signals we have agreed before we use to go in and out. Even if you are an alchemist, you shouldn't be able to recognize."

  "I saw a man in the fair with his wrist showing a torn tattoo and then tracked him over to find this place." said Dudian.

  The girl and the boy looked at each other while they said: "This stupid 'mouse'. I had told him that his tattoos are too conspicuous on the wrist. Even the teacher told him! That idiot!"

  At the moment, there was a boy who was accompanying his parents alone the street. He suddenly sneezed.

  Dudian spoke in a sincere tone: "Can I join yo
u guys? We can research together."

  The girl looked at him and said "Don't you have your own circle? Don't you have a teacher to show you the path? Our circle rarely accepts other unfamiliar companions."

  "My teacher is dead." Dudian looked sad, "A few other companions who were doing the research together are all gone."

  Girl froze for a moment, whispered: "I 'm sorry, I didn't mean it."

  Dudian shook his head slightly: "are gone."

  The girl thought: "Well, if you are alone I can let you join but you definitely can't bring outsiders with you. Not allowed! You know, the more people here, much easier it will be to be exposed."

  Dudian was surprised and even said: "Of course we have to be confidential."

  "Ah." The girl nodded, there was a touch of smile on her face as she said: "My name is 'Nightingale', he is called 'snake'. The idiot who is accompanying his parents today is called 'mouse'. You have joined us so what's you code? "

  Dudian could not help but wonder: "Isn't code granted when we are officially recognized by the dark church?"

  "Yeah, that is the official code, but also our alchemist status symbol." Nightingale nodded: "But we also use nickname to call each other. We can't use our real names in here. In case one of us is arrest, is there a guarantee that the others won't be exposed? Did they use real names in your previous circle?"

  "No," replied Dudian. "All of them are replaced by different names."

  "That's the codename," said the Nightingale. "We're using an animal instead, you think about it."

  Dudian thought a little and then said: "Dog... You guys should call me that. "

  "Dog?" Nightingale nodded: "OK, afterwards we will call you dog."

  Dudian nodded and looked around: "You do not have a teacher?"

  Nightingale shook his head: " My teacher rarely comes to this place as he is busy with his own experiments."

  The boy called the 'snake' smiled to Dudian: "The Nightingale is our teacher. Moreover she is about to hit to become an official alchemist. When she is officialy accepted, she will become one of the youngest and powerfull alchemist's, right?"

  Dudian surprised to see this girl as the leader of this small circle.: "That's awesome. I hope I can a lot from her."