The Skill Thief's Canvas - Chapter 8 (Patreon)

"You're certain of this?" Tenver asked later that night, arms crossed and leaning against the wall as Adam packed a few painting supplies. "Is it not dangerous?"

"I'm careful enough that you could call me a coward and I'd make it a point of pride," Adam replied as he sorted through his new clothes. For all Aspreay talked shit about Penumbria, the local tailor was incredibly fast. "I'm not going to be at risk at all. You saw what I did to Aspreay; no reason why I can't do it again."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Tenver said, somberly. "Vasco was a bit sparse with the details, but I had our spies look into it."

'Our' spies, he says, Adam thought. "And what did they find?"

"Nothing you couldn't guess from context. His daughter's Talent probably has a negative side-effect of sorts. Information on her has been sparse at best – even Aspreay didn't know much about her."

"Well, it's not like they were on the best of terms."

Tenver shook his head. "But they were once best friends, and Vasco's daughter would've been born before their falling out."

"That...is odd, not going to lie." Adam stopped packing to look at the guard. "So what's your point?"

"My point is that something is wrong. You might succeed in stealing whatever odd Talent she has, but then succumb to the same issues that plague her."

Adam had considered that possibility, but the wording on his painting ability meant it likely wouldn't affect him. He wasn't sure how to tell Tenver that – or if he even wanted to. So he settled for saying, "Don't worry, I got this, okay? Penumbria could really use the trade deal, and it'll be a quick and easy job. No reason not to do it."

"You could also steal Vasco's soul," Tenver pointed out. "His Lord powers don't work here. Not most of them, anyhow. If he wanted to use them, he'd need to dismantle his own city's Walls in order to remake his Domain here...which he won't, now that we know his daughter is there. You can use your Lord powers to trap him here – Aspreay wouldn't have the guts to do it, but seeing as we are already close to treasonous rebels, I see no reason to pull our punches."

Adam blinked, as if waiting for a punchline. He almost felt foolish when he realized there wasn't one. "Not for nothing, but if there's a choice, I'd rather avoid the route that results in thousands of innocent deaths."

"Oh, I don't think it will result in deaths. Vasco would cave first. This way, you wouldn't have to risk your life, and it would place you in a position of superiority."

You're basically telling me to swing my military dick and establish dominance. Which made sense to a degree, but... "I'd rather have Vasco as a tentative ally than a subject that hates me. Power can only do so much, and keeping a close eye on him and his city would stretch our resources too thin."

Tenver appeared, though still unsatisfied, less eager to argue back now. "I suppose. Still, he demands much, and you could force him to listen rather easily, if you chose."

"You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

"Certainly, but who in their right mind would bother catching the pest when it's easier to eradicate it?"

Adam had to take a moment to digest that. How was it that at times Tenver would say the most noble of things, risk his life to help a random court painter escape a tyrant lord...and then at other times speak of horrific violence with an innocent expression on his face? Still haven't forgotten the decapitated heads.

"Do you have a reason for not wanting me to help them?" Adam asked sharply. "Is it something to do with your background?"

"No."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "And you're not going to elaborate?"

"Vasco is the Butcher of Greenisle," Tenver muttered. "I care not to believe every complaint that came from Lord Aspreay, but that much is known to everyone. A man like that ought to be in the gallows, not in our ranks. Even the elves didn't deserve that."

Okay first of all, not the elaboration I wanted. Second of all, even the...what now? Adam had to try very hard not to interrogate him just then. He could infer the important details, though – Vasco, though he appeared more reasonable than Aspreay, had led a massacre of some sort against elves. That admittedly didn't make him sound like a great ally.

But still...

"Look, it's not that I'm completely opposed to some machiavellian shit, but I'd rather not do it unless it's our last resort. Feels like diplomacy should be our first move."

"It should," Tenver acknowledged. "But I am worried."

"About what might happen to Penumbria?"

"About you, you insane painter," Tenver said, grinning and laughing. "This is going to be dangerous, you know? How about you at least bring Dragonforged Steel armor with you? Nothing except pure Rot and Stained beings can damage it."

"That sounds pretty useful, but I don't know if it would look suspicious to the common people there. What if they think I'm walking in like a soldier instead of a visiting lord? Besides, that would – wait, did you just call your lord insane?" Adam asked, feining offense. He knew he should have been offended, but Tenver had bought enough goodwill back when Adam didn't have a noble ranking or Talent to get away with a degree of irreverence. "Some people would hang you for that, you know."

"My lord? Hmm...funny, I seem not to recall bending my knee to you."

"That's true," Adam said slowly. Though the two were joking, there was truth in that. "So, are you going to tell me about your past? Who you are? Your actual rank?"

"I could, but it would honestly just stress you out. How about I tell you after you return?"

Adam considered this. "Okay just – just so I can be prepared for the worst case scenario, are you a bastard and/or exiled son of the Emperor?"

"No, the truth is significantly worse, if adjacent to that."

Adam sighed. "Yeah, you're right, I don't want to deal with this right now. Tell me when I get back."

–

One Day Later

Adam swept his eyes across the carriage's interior. It was a study in opulence, adorned with cushions of crushed velvet, mahogany paneling graced by intricate carvings, and brass lamps that cast a warm, inviting glow. Every surface sparkled with the unmistakable shine of meticulous upkeep.

The carriage's second occupant looked no less meticulous. Belmordo, Lord Vasco's younger brother, was a man of slender build, sporting a mop of curly chestnut hair and with eyes that held a mischievous twinkle. His countenance bore the nobility of their family lineage, yet at the same time carried a disarming joviality that seemed almost out of place on such a stately figure.

Belmordo grasped Adam's hands tightly, his smile as warm as the carriage's glowing hearth. While he was of noble birth – much like his brother – he did not have the royal title to match. To the Empire's laws, the man was nearly as much of a commoner as anyone. He comes from a family of knights, according to Tenver.

Not that you could tell from how he behaved. Although Adam was a Lord, and Belmordo a commoner, there was no trace of the subservience required by his station. His overly-familiar greeting was an affront to decorum. A less kind Lord could have taken his physical contact as an insulting implication that they were on the same level.

Adam, from the bottom of his heart, truly didn't give a shit. Unfortunately, when playing the game of nobles and monsters, a man needed to keep up appearances. "Good sir?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah, my apologies. I nearly forgot myself." Belmordo lowered his head in a bow, yet his warm smile did not falter. "My Lord Brother sent a raven ahead of you. He's kept me updated on the situation."

"So you're aware of my reason for being here?"

"Yes."

Adam narrowed his eyes. "And you know of what transpired between me and Lord Aspreay?"

"Oh, yes." Belmordo's eyes sparkled at the question. "As someone who lacks a royal title myself, the idea of stepping up and taking it away from the unworthy is frankly inspiring. Your presence will make this journey through the mountains much less tedious."

Getting daaaangerously close to treason there, buddy. It wasn't that Adam was opposed to treason – he was honestly all for it – but loudly talking about it, and for no reason whatsoever...now that was just dumb.

The talk about the mountains was interesting, though. This was a carriage, so how exactly were they going to get through a mountain? While there was indeed something resembling a mountain between the two cities on the map, unless someone had built the world's most impressive tunnel...

Eh, no point in speculating. He could just wait a little bit and find out. More importantly, he should consider why Belmordo was fine with making treason-esque comments in front of someone else.

Maybe he's trying to sweet-talk me? Adam considered that, then decided it didn't really matter. Either way, it was better not to engage with him on this subject. "Lord Vasco said you'd fill me in about the details of this job. Gotta admit, I'm a bit curious. Why does he want me to steal his own daughter's Talent?"

"Because her Talent is less of a gift and more of a curse." Belmordo paused for dramatic effect, grinning and aiming an amused gaze at Adam. Whatever reaction he was hoping for, Adam refused to let him have it, forcing the man to continue with mildly deflated enthusiasm. "It's not her original Talent, you understand."

As far as Adam knew, this was virtually unheard of. Only his own Talent could grant someone – namely himself – another power. No reason to act surprised, though. "Sounds like she got herself into trouble," he said, affecting confusion.

"Oh, yes. And if she was the only person she'd drawn into her own mess, that would be fine. But considering Lady Solara's original Talent..."

Belmordo drew a deep breath to stop himself from ranting. He remained quiet for two more long breaths, and then went on. "But I digress. Lord Adam, before I explain the current issue, allow me to give you some context. Do you know why the Emperor is the world's strongest man?"

"No, but I can hazard a guess." Adam frowned. "Is it because he's the richest man?"

"Of course, but that's the wrong way to look at it. Do you have any idea how many Orbs it costs to keep a city from falling to the Rot? Even with Master Cabral's wondrous invention, it's absurdly expensive to keep the Rot from affecting the land. What you have to keep in mind is...how does he obtain so many Orbs?"

That was a fair question. Adam had gone through several books back in Penumbria, and they all offered different answers. Probably because there wasn't a single defining reason behind the Emperor's richness, which made sense. With that in mind, it meant that there was even more value in hearing someone's response to this question – because whatever their answer was, it would show what they valued most in life.

"I have no idea," Adam lied. "Do enlighten me, my friend."

"In one word: murder," Belmordo plainly replied. "And if you'll allow me another: money. While a person might accrue Orbs through trade, they could hardly retain an Empire with just a finite amount of their most precious currency. Too much of it is permanently expended whenever someone improves their Talent. The Orbs gained through monster slaying are the only way to keep an economy going."

Adam had read this argument in a book before. Admittedly, he found it convincing. The Empire was, for whatever reason, able to create stronger soldiers than anyone else, which allowed them to consistently kill monsters.

'Consistently' was the key word. No matter how strong someone was, if they continually fought monsters, they were far more likely to die and waste everything they'd accumulated in life than to improve their Talent. In a world like this, an organized fighting force was more effective than a single genius swordsman. Although maybe not more effective than a Painter.

Contrary to Belmordo's interpretation, Adam saw this as a matter of power rather than money. Under lighter circumstances, he would've enjoyed some friendly debate over it, but for now, there was a job to do. "This has something to do with Lord Vasco's daughter and her curse?"

"So it does." Belmordo's voice was low and cold as the grave, as if recounting some horrible event, but the edges of his lips still showed the ghost of a smile. "Gama is better off than Penumbria, true. We can keep our people fed and the rot away. The question is...for how long? Once Penumbria falls – no offense – your refugees and Rot will turn to us. What then?"

"The Emperor would help Gama, surely? It's not like the Empire can afford to lose cities indefinitely, and like you said, they're capable of generating a steady revenue of Orbs."

Belmordo smiled bitterly. "Ah, if only. Quite frankly, the Empire only needs three cities to function: the Three Duchial capitals. Between their farmlands, Orbs, and hunting abilities, the Duchies are self-sufficient. Everywhere else is a bonus that they'll help to resist the Rot so long as it benefits the main three."

"So Lord Vasco's daughter – Lady Solara, you called her?" Adam waited until Belmordo nodded to confirm her name before continuing. "She figured your city was going to be in trouble, and tried to do something about it?"

Belmordo paused before agreeing. "Lady Solara...her Talent is not fit for combat. Thus, she entered into a contract with a dark sorcerer."

"A dark sorcerer?" Adam quirked an eyebrow. "Anyone in specific, or are they some traveling wizard?"

"Lord Adam don't...don't make me say his name. You know who I mean."

No, I don't. Based on Belmordo's expression, though, just the phrase 'dark sorcerer' was enough to conjure memories of a household name among inhabitants of this world. Adam didn't feel like trotting out the amnesia excuse, so he opted to change the subject as gracefully as he could. "Right. So about Lady Solara?"

Belmordo stared at him for a moment, but didn't inquire further. The difference in their rank spoke louder than his curiosity. "Her Talent is not fit for combat, yet a city needs strong fighters to help sustain its Orb economy. Thus, Lady Solara made a deal with a...certain sorcerer, to obtain another Talent."

He scowled. "Why, acquiring another Talent, having more than your heaven-given abilities – the very notion is abominable! Such a crime goes against nature, and...um...n-not that your own Talent is a crime, my lord."

Adam waved off the perceived insult. "So, she got a new Talent. What's the issue?"

Belmordo let out a muted sigh of relief. "The issue is that the Talent she obtained is closer to Rot than an actual Talent. At first, it seemed like a blessing for our city. Lady Solara was strong enough that some – foolishly – thought her as strong as an Imperial Hangman. In only ten days, she killed dozens of the Rotten monsters, bringing many Orbs to our city. Her father was truly proud."

There was a pause. "And then?" Adam prodded.

"She lost control. Or rather, she never had control in the first place. The Rot took over her body, and soon enough, she became a danger to our people. With the life of many of our men, as well as my best efforts, we managed to contain her to an isolated tower at the east end of the city."

"Your best efforts?"

"Aye, my lord." Belmordo puffed his chest, appearing proud of himself. "I may not have had my brother's luck and inherited our family's long-lost Lord Talent, but my Curses are not to be underestimated. After a valorous struggle, I managed to trap the Lady in a place where she could not harm her people any longer!"

Adam nodded absently, then glanced at his tablet without missing a beat.

Belmordo Gama
Talent: Curse User
Rank: Baron
Skill: Wilful Curse
The Talented may create a curse on anyone whose own Talent is of a rank lesser than their own. The curse must be accepted by the target to take effect.
Orbs: ϕ640,124
Lifetime Orbs: ϕ2,250,936

Big spender...still falling short of a Viscount, but nearly as rich as my entire goddamn city. And he complains about not having a proper title. Fucking hell.

It was interesting to see just how many Orbs he'd spent. Belmordo probably didn't have that many actual living expenses, and he only owned one Talent to worry about upgrading. Guess even just the little expenses here and there really add up over time.

That, and Belmordo seemed like the kind of guy who spent a lot on bribes.

"I see," Adam muttered, noting the discrepancies between the Talent's description and Belmordo's story. Solara couldn't have completely lost her mind by the time she was locked in, since in order for the curse to work, she had to agree to have it placed on her. The man was lying. Whether out of a desire to make himself look better, or for something more malicious, Adam wasn't sure.

"Alas," Belmordo continued. "Despite Lord Vasco's many attempts, his daughter could not be brought back to sanity. After much effort, some decided – despite Lord Vasco's protests and threats – that she should be executed."

At this point, Belmordo hesitated. "However, we have been unable to do so."

"Is her Stained Curse that powerful?"

"It is, but that's not all. Her own Talent is to blame."

Adam leaned forward. "Which is?"

"Resurrection."

Adam blinked. "Excuse me, what?'

"Resurrection," Belmordo continued. "Lady Solara can die once per day before her life's flame is permanently snuffed out."

Resurrection. Okay. That's...really? You can just die and say 'Yeah, nah, not today?' Seriously?

Despite the turmoil in his mind, Adam managed to keep his face impassive. "So the issue is that even if you manage to kill her, that turns out not to be enough?"

"Exactly! I should note, however, that we have yet to kill her once, let alone twice. The monster controlling her is very proficient in combat. Thus far, we've only had one real chance at succeeding. Lord Vasco...didn't take kindly to that attempt, you see. "

I mean, you tried to kill his daughter. Even if she became a monster, that can't have surprised you. Did it actually? This – this isn't an act? Okay. Geez.

Things were starting to make sense now. So this was why Vasco was willing to help Adam out, despite the possibility that the Emperor might look at him unfavorably for consorting with a rebel. He was willing to face the Empire's wrath if it meant saving his daughter.

"I see," Adam muttered. "So my job is to remove the Stained Talent from inside her, then bring her back to normal. No one has been able to cure her so far, but Vasco knows that my power might be able to. That's why I'm here."

"That is what Lord Vasco is hoping for, yes."

Adam caught the slight difference in that phrasing. "Are you implying you don't share his desire?"

"Lady Solara is my niece! Of course I want to see her well." Belmordo paused. "Yet...well, plain as her desire to save Gama is, her recklessness stands just as plainly. My Lord brother's health is failing. She is his named successor – though she didn't inherit it at birth, she has a...non-zero chance of inheriting the Talent upon his death, as he bears no other children."

Wait, is that how it works? You get it once your parent dies? There were other things he probably should focus on right now, but Adam wasn't willing to let that slide. "Ah, so your issue is with her committing the crime against nature of having more than one Talent, is that it?" Adam made his voice as mocking as possible, drawing the insult from Belmordo's own words earlier. It was fine if it didn't make sense; at worst, the insult would only fall flat.

"That – my lord, do not equate the inheritance of the sacred Lord Talent to...not that your ability is a crime either but–" Belmordo cut himself short and closed his eyes to refocus for a moment. "My lord, that is not my issue with her. It is rare, but not unheard of for this to happen. Most likely the...woman will not inherit the Lord Talent."

He'd need to analyze that tidbit later, but there was something else to focus on right now. "Are you implying that you don't want me to save her?"

Belmordo grinned. "If she were to die, my brother would be overcome with grief and unable to rule for a short while. During that time, I would be forced to take over his duties, even though I stand without rank or Talent. And I would be willing to concede more than my brother is. You would not only have free access to our ports, but we would be glad to supply you with additional Orbs during Penumbria's transition."

That's...way better than anything Vasco has or would ever offer me. It could help Penumbria. A lot. All I have to do is...

Wait, what did he have to do? "I'm going to assume you aren't one for charity, Belmordo. What exactly is this proposal?"

"Simply put? Do not cure Lady Solara. Merely spend several idle days in Gama and wait for us to arrange her death. Afterwards, I will resume negotiation with you on my brother's behalf."

The unspoken addendum, Adam figured, was that Belmordo meant to assassinate Vasco while the latter was wracked with grief. Lord Talent or no, there was probably a way to kill him. Hell, Belmordo could do it before Vasco entered Gama again, which would bypass the Lord Talent entirely.

At which point – with Vasco and Solara dead – the Lord Talent would fall to Belmordo, if the odd transfer worked as he'd just mentioned. That sounded like it had a low probability of succeeding, though, so failing that, maybe Belmordo was hoping for Adam to steal Vasco's power and give it to him somehow. The finer details were a little hazy, but the general idea was clear enough.

Shit...if I go along with this, Penumbria's problems would be sorted out pretty much immediately. If not forever, then at least for the immediate future...but...

"There are two issues with that proposal," Adam said, slowly. "First, you just went on and on about how Solara is practically unkillable once, let alone twice. If I don't steal her Talent, what's your plan for dealing with her? To just keep the possessed, powerful monster sealed inside a tower forever? Can't be good for tourism."

"No." Belmordo's wicked grin returned to his face. "Look here, my Lord."

He threw out a sealed parchment and motioned for Adam to unpack it.

Gama requires aid. A Stained Monster has taken over noble blood, and must be put down. We request an Imperial Hangman.

"That's a vague letter," Adam remarked, upon reading it over. "Is it detailed enough to convince the Emperor to send someone over? Thought he was notoriously stingy with allocating manpower to this corner of the world."

"It needs to be vague. What if the raven is intercepted? Can't have a panic over who is possessed by the monster. There are rumors right now, but the commoners don't actually know who is locked in that tower, or why. If they did know, there would be riots."

"And the Emperor is okay with ambiguity?" Adam insisted, not bothering to hide his skepticism.

Belmordo grinned. "What is unspoken rings louder than any words ever could. We are requesting an Imperial Hangman, and we also mention noble blood. That carries a strong implication of how impossibly hard to kill this possessed monster is. Furthermore, it is in the Empire's interest to keep the Rot from spreading."

Spreading the Rot? So if someone powerful gets possessed by it, they can spread the Rot further inland?

Adam couldn't just let that slide. It seemed like an important detail. He wanted to prod for more, but showing the depths of his ignorance about this world would paint a target on his back. If anyone knew how little he was aware of, they'd have almost no trouble concocting some sort of plan to get rid of him.

Which meant he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Where the rock was an important need to find out more about this world, and the hard place was his continued attempts to obscure his own ignorance.

Maybe it would be easier if Adam just...picked someone to trust. That way he could explain his situation properly, and they could help him understand everything about this world, bit by bit. Tenver would be a good candidate for that, wouldn't he? He seemed trustworthy enough. Maybe that was the logical route to take.

However...

NOTES ON THE PAINTED WORLD
— Rot can spread through possessed people. Noble blood might make it worse.
— Remember that Aspreay wanted to have me executed for interacting with a Stained Monster.

After a moment of thought, Adam steadfastly rejected that idea.

He'd much rather do it the hard way. Read books wherever he could, infer things from context, then piece together what he knew. It would take longer, but it would also give other people as few openings as possible to exploit him.

Tenver 'seems' trustworthy? The hell does that matter? Rainbows might seem nice too, but they fade if you get too close. He's a psychopath who killed three noblemen to supposedly show his loyalty. Why the hell would I trust him?

Adam knew this wasn't entirely fair. It didn't matter. Better to assume everyone was going to betray him, than to be reckless and call it optimism.

He drew a deep breath. "If you're gonna go on about what's 'unspoken' in that letter, then how about I say the quiet part out loud?" Adam narrowed his eyes, a touch of anger glinting within them. "Or would you rather say it yourself?"

"I have no idea what you speak of, Lord Adam."

"Playing dumb, huh? Fine." Adam allowed his disgust to show on both his face and his voice. "I'm just saying it doesn't add up. Vasco is so desperate to save his daughter that he'd commit borderline treason and allow a commoner who can steal souls and Talents into his domain...and he allowed this letter to be sent? Bullshit."

"Ah, I see your point." If Belmordo was upset at Adam's reaction, he didn't show it. "I meant no deceit – only good manners. In high society, we do not say plainly that which we find unsavory."

"Forgive me. My rank might be higher, but I was not raised as a noble. Thus, allow me to speak like a commoner, and cut through your bullshit. You, Belmordo, are going behind your brother's back to get his daughter legally assassinated so you can maneuver your way to stealing his title. The letter is vague because Vasco probably intercepted a couple of them, and you wanted some deniability, even if he's suspicious of you."

"And what of it?" Belmordo laughed. "Surely, you, my Lord Adam, cannot protest that without confessing to hypocrisy."

Well, he supposed that was what it looks like to the guy, didn't it? Maybe that's what it is. But hypocrisy or otherwise, Adam didn't intend on letting himself bend and break under that argument. He responded with a steady tone, playing the part of a calm, cunning lord in order to hide his real objections. "Let's say that the Emperor really does send someone here. Would they be capable of killing the woman who can die twice?"

"Ah, I knew you'd be uninformed about this. You're a Lord, but you grew up in Penumbria, didn't you?"

That was fantastically wrong, but it was probably a fair assumption to make. Although Tenver and a few others knew he was a foreigner, it would be a little unreasonable to expect someone to find out everything about a nascent Lord in just a few days.

Adam was more than happy to let the misconception stand. "What if I did?" he spat back. Does that sound defensive enough for him to think he hit bullseye? "Do you dare to look down on those who grew up in Penumbria?"

"No, my lord! Far from me to ever imply such a thing!" Belmordo lowered his head in an exaggerated bow that looked even sillier because he was still sitting down. Despite his subservient attitude, however, Adam saw a measure of satisfaction on the man's face. "But it does mean you haven't seen a Hangman in action."

"And what if I haven't?" Adam worsened his tone, making himself sound downright insecure. If he had a read on Belmordo's personality, the guy would take pleasure in exposing a Lord's ignorance – and not think twice of it, since Adam was supposedly born in the Dumpster of the Empire.

He was right. Belmordo stood up and glanced outside the window, suddenly showing a glimmer of surprise. "My lord, come with me. The carriage has stopped for the night, and it just so happens that we're in the perfect spot for me to make my point." He opened the door and extended a hand to help the lord out of the carriage. "Please, Lord Adam. Accompany me."

I smell bullshit. But even so, Adam took the hand and followed him outside.

Adam couldn't help but wonder at the world around him as he stepped out of the carriage. It was sights like these that reminded him that he'd come into this world through a painting. The colors were vibrant, the light breeze felt gentle, and there was a strange blue hue around everything, like a photoshop filter superimposed over reality.

Back on Earth, he'd seen this kind of blue hue applied to paintings and movies to show how cold a place was. Actually seeing it in person was much weirder. It was slight, almost unnoticeable...but it was there. And it was stronger here than in Penumbria.

Commenting on that would draw attention, though, so he defaulted to a different sight. "We have a lot of guards," Adam muttered. More than the two dozen mounted and armored men were surrounding them. They stood at attention, ready to do battle at a moment's notice.

"Your men and my brother's both," Belmordo replied. "It's to be expected, isn't it?"

Maybe for someone who grew up in this world. For Adam, even after living in Penumbria for six months, the sight of those medieval soldiers still seemed surreal. He'd learned to live with it, but that didn't mean he'd fully wrapped his mind around it – especially now that half of those soldiers were his.

He was about to make an idle remark to pass the time when something caught his eye. In the center of the clearing, illuminated by only the moonlight and the stars above, was a large rectangular object. The lighting made it hard to discern the object's shape. Under most circumstances, Adam probably would've glossed over it entirely.

But this? No, he would never forget this.

"That – that's a vending machine?" Adam cried out. "Again?!" He found himself unable to pretend that he wasn't disgusted by the repulsive contraption. "What the hell? Why are we stopping here?"

If there was one thing in this painted world Adam hated more than Aspreay, it was that goddamn machine. His first encounter with that thing had been a crash course in painful disappointment, informing him that this world was somehow more ruled by money than Earth had ever been.

Before he even knew why, Adam felt Vines of Stained Ink swirling beneath his sleeves. A second later, his thoughts caught up with his fury. I wonder if I can break it. If people here can only survive traveling by being rich, then I'd rather no one survived at all. Maybe I could sharpen the Ink into a blade and–

His rage stalled as Belmordo approached the object, causing a luminescent menu to display in front of it.

— Shelter (Monster-Immunity guaranteed!) : 13000 Orbs
— Food (Two-meals!) : 4000 Orbs
— Water (Enough for three days if you ration!): 2350 Orbs

"We already have enough supplies," Belmordo muttered, studying the vending machine as if it were a common sight. "But we could also use shelter to prevent later issues. Very well."

At that, Belmordo nodded to himself and pulled out...a quill from his pocket, which he proceeded to use to write on the vending machine. Adam's mouth hung open for a moment before he shook his head and remembered to make note of this.

NOTES ON THE PAINTED WORLD
— Rot can spread through possessed people. Noble blood might make it worse.
— Remember that Aspreay wanted to have me executed for interacting with the Stained Monster.
— The vending machine looks like something else to them. No idea what.

When Belmordo was finished, a faint red vapor began emanating from both his body and the machine. They fluctuated and shook, as if spending a violent effort to retain their shapes, then linked themselves to each other with a bright beam of light. Orbs shot out from within Belmordo and into the machine, a continuous, pulsating stream that no one but Adam seemed to pay much attention to.

After he was done, a large dome flickered into existence, high up above the trees and going as far as the entire clearing. The dome was visible for a moment, and then disappeared again. Adam could tell it was still there; an invisible barrier, just like the Wall he could conjure up as a Lord.

I want to break it.

"Lord Adam," Belmordo said, bowing deeply. "If I may direct your attention toward the mountain..."

Turning away from the wretched machine, Adam's gaze landed on a sight that snatched the breath right from his lungs. The mountain contained a tunnel built into its side. He'd seen both before, figuring that it was probably something made with a Talent to shorten travel time between cities. Except now he saw that his assumption wasn't quite right.

It wasn't a tunnel.

It was simply a hole.

An enormous hole had pierced through the mountain, cleaving through solid rock like scissors through paper. It wasn't a carefully constructed tunnel. The height was too high, the horizontal reach too uneven. Instead, it was like an electric drill had spun out of control and dug from side to side before returning to its original straight – if shaky – line.

"It's like the mountain was impaled," Adam exhaled, the words leaving his mouth against his will. He didn't want to look impressed, but that was just...something else. "This is what you wanted to show me?"

Belmordo stepped up beside Adam and joined him in looking at the cavernous hole. "The last time a Hangman came here was when the Dragonpuppets left their caves and attempted to invade us. In just one blow, the Hangman destroyed their mountain city and sent them crawling back underground."

"One blow?" Adam cried out. "That hole goes all the way to the other side! That's gotta be at least a few kilometers – one blow? Are you serious?"

"Aye, my lord. They do not have the supreme control that a Lord possesses over his domain, but when it comes to single combat, none can best an Imperial Hangman."

"I...see." Adam couldn't tear his gaze away from the sheer destruction laid out before his eyes. How long ago had this happened? Did those calamities disguised as men just walk the world, leaving behind destruction as proof they had been there? "If an Imperial Hangman can do that much..."

"It is why I believe that the amount of times Lady Solara can come back to life matters very little. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. I understand." Adam nodded slowly. "I understand...that you're still playing games with me, Belmordo."

"My, my lord?"

He drew a deep breath and grit his teeth. With every second that passed, Adam felt the world shifting beneath his feet. This was a land where the impossible was merely a part of the scenery, where magic was as real as the moonlight filtering through the leafy canopy above.

That didn't mean he was going to let it overwhelm him.

"So we happened to reach this place just as our discussion brought up Lady Solara and the Hangman? Please. You waited until you were here to make your point as dramatically as possible."

Belmordo's smile faded a little. "My lord, I only wished to make the truth plainer for you. At no point did I ever tell you even one lie."

"But neither did you ever tell me the full truth," Adam said, with a sharp tone. "You'd much rather if I didn't catch on to all your 'unspoken truths' and just went along with your bullshit."

"Lord Adam," Belmordo began, in a careful tone, "I am but a man without a royal title. If your opinion of me is low, then so be it. My point stands above emotion, however – if you go along with my brother's plan, you run the very likely risk of dying in a vain effort to save his cursed daughter. Meanwhile, if you go along with my plan, Penumbria will receive much better economical and political support than it would otherwise. Do you disagree?"

"No," Adam stated. "If I'm looking at everything logically, siding with you would be more beneficial to me."

"Then–"

"And I steadfastly reject that idea."

Adam knew he was blindly following his emotions right then. Belmordo's proposal made sense. He didn't owe anything to Vasco or a daughter he'd never met. Conversely, he owed it to Penumbria to make them as prosperous as possible after usurping their lord. Sacrificing one person he'd never met in exchange was simply a matter of pragmatism. Few in this world would condemn him for it.

He tried to come up with rationalizations for his rejection. Maybe Belmordo couldn't be trusted to keep his word. Even if he did, the man would be a bad trade partner to have, especially since he would hold so much power over Penumbria. Adam tried to convince himself that if the Emperor was to deliberate on what to do about Adam, Belmordo would betray him without missing a beat. There was a good measure of logic in those assumptions.

Yet they weren't his real reason for refusing. To be honest, he just couldn't stomach the idea of working with someone who'd talk of backstabbing others so readily, especially their own family. Allying with Belmordo would be a betrayal of the values Adam held dear.

And more than anything else, he'd decided that he was going to live in this world according to his wants. No one else's.

I already lost everything once. I refuse to lose a single thing more.

"Is that so?" Belmordo sighed. "It is expected – albeit disheartening – that you would do so. Very well. I wish you luck in your valiant fight against that monster of a daughter."

"You're still going to allow me into the city?" Adam raised an eyebrow. I was half expecting him to try and kill me right here. He knows I'm gonna tell Vasco about this as soon as I can, right?

"I may lack a title, but you should question neither my blood nor my upbringing. My sense of duty will not falter, regardless of our...difference in opinion." Belmordo laughed. "Your cooperation will be needed before we proceed, however."

Adam really wanted to punch this guy. Or at least trap him inside a painting. The second thought forced him to take a mental step back – he didn't want that to become his first reaction to anyone who annoyed him. "Figured as much. What do you want from me?"

"Lord Adam, please understand that you will need to agree to a Curse before I allow you into the city."

"You can't be serious."

"But I am."

At first Adam wanted to laugh, but Belmordo's expression cut his mirth short. The man was serious. "Your brother won't stand for that, you know? If I send him a raven, in a couple days he'll come here himself and take your head."

"Oh, absolutely," Belmordo acknowledged. "But by then the Hangman will have arrived and killed Lady Solara. At that point, my brother will do his damndest to separate my head from my shoulders – and alas, he might even succeed! But more importantly..."

Belmordo's face turned dark. "With Lady Solara dead, you will have no leverage at all to negotiate for Penumbria's sake."

Well, shit.

That was a good point.

"Gotta admit," Adam said, "it's pretty ballsy to suggest this around a procession of Vasco's guards. What happens if I stick my head outside the carriage and tell them you're planning treason?"

Belmordo merely smiled. "You underestimate the situation in Gama. There are many who would be willing to turn a blind eye to certain indiscretions if it meant the Lady Solara's demise. And as for these guards?"

He spread his arms wide. "They are Vasco's men...in name, true. Yet, alas, each one has run afoul of trouble at one point or another. Debts, crimes, and such. I rescued them from their woes – for a price. Curses bind them to my will. Not always, they live their meager lives as normal, but they cannot go against me. If I am in need of assistance, they have no choice but to come to my aid, regardless of circumstances. Furthermore, if I am slain in combat, they shall be compelled to cut down my assailant, fighting to avenge me until their last breaths. You can see why I handpicked them for this very trip."

Perhaps it was hypocritical coming from someone who literally stole souls, but Adam thought that was one of the most vile things he'd heard since coming to this world.

Without skipping a beat, he opened the carriage door and hung half his body outside. "Hey, everyone? Belmordo is talking treason in here. Wants to kill Vasco and his daughter. How do you guys feel about that?"

The guards didn't even turn to face him. Some grimaced, some lowered their gaze, but they all simply kept walking forward.

Adam closed the carriage and sat back down in front of a very pleased Belmordo. "That's messed up," the painter directly stated.

"Don't shed any tears over them. They sealed their own fates, and they will be well-rewarded when my regime comes to pass."

For a long moment, Adam considered revealing his Stained Ink and strangling the life out of the noble prick seated before him. Unfortunately, he couldn't envision a scenario where that ended well for him. He wasn't confident he could take on a full contingent of guards, and killing people who were essentially being mind-controlled would leave an ill taste in his mouth. Still, he couldn't just agree to be cursed...unless, if there was a loophole or three...

"What would the terms of the curse be?" Adam asked. "Because if it's a bind of servitude, then you can fuck right off."

"Nothing so drastic. For starters, you will not be able to speak to my brother about the things we discussed. In addition, as long as you live, you will not be able to raise a hand against me. You will not be able to kill me." He laughed. "I can imagine what you are thinking, Lord Adam. Mayhap this is not a bad deal after all, correct? After all, even if you cannot kill me, you surely can do to me what you did to Aspreay."

Adam stood still. That had been his plan.

"In other words, the curse will also have you unable to ever take anything away from me. This includes my Talent or my soul. Get it?"

That was more than a little troublesome. "Mind if I take a moment to consider?"

"By all means."

Adam withdrew his tablet and wrote out his possibilities. It had always been easier for him to make decisions after writing out what his options were. Something about that made it all feel more real than just having the words in his head.

What to do?
1) I can refuse being cursed and keep going. If I try to force my way into the city, I'd probably be killed. If I stay and wait for Vasco to do something, the Hangman will kill Solara and I'll lose my leverage.
2) I can refuse being cursed – and kill Belmordo right here. The man doesn't seem to have a Combat Talent, so it probably wouldn't be hard. The guards are a different matter. No guarantee I survive against them.
3) I can accept being cursed, and go into the city to save Vasco's daughter. If I succeed, there's no guarantee Vasco will remain in power, and I will still be cursed. At that point Belmordo could become one of my most powerful enemies and also become immune to my paintings.
4) I can just go along with Belmordo's plan. That way I can be allowed into the city, not be cursed, and get everything I need for Penumbria.
5) I can pretend to go along with Belmordo, then betray him and steal the woman's talent in secret. Probably wouldn't work, as from the looks of it, he'd get me to agree to a curse for that too.
6) I can just leave and go back to Penumbria. Belmordo's designs will be revealed to Vasco...which won't help me at all, as the Hangman will arrive and slay his daughter regardless. Penumbria loses the only city willing to be its trading partner. The city suffers with little recourse of a solution.

If he was being frank, Adam didn't like any of the options. Number four was the only one that seemed semi-reasonable. It was probably what he should pick.

Naturally, he decided to improvise with an option number seven.

"Fine," Adam grinned, a plan coalescing in his mind. "I'll agree to your curse. Let's get going, shall we?"


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