The Thief Lords from Beneath
CHAPTER NINE
It is apparent that being a Lord Heir is more than just going on heists. You have to learn about the Order and take the information you're fed to heart. Allen Walker is in the library reading a book on the greatest heists of Jasper LuRim, the first Thief Lord. Lavi had given him other books on other heists by the man, as well as books on all the past and all the current Thief Lords. Allen does not fail to notice the thinness of the book of heists of a certain Cross Marianne; at that, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly. He thereafter wonders how such a man had become a Thief Lord.
"Why am I starting off with the Thief Lords? Shouldn't I be studying the history of the Order?" This, the former heir asks, because it seems logical. He remembers his tutors at the palace always began a new lesson by discussing the topic's history.
"This is history Allen! The most bulky part of the Black Order's history at that, best get this off your list of things to learn while you're still eager," the Junior Scribe grins, he seems to be rereading a few of the books himself, the one in his hands now is apparently book one in the heists of Cloud Nyne.
"Why can't I just watch the visual recordings of the heists?"
"What, the videos? We didn't always have that sort of magic you know; besides, the spell binding the golems flushes out the video after a scribe finishes putting the heist to paper. It's a safety measure, in the off chance that a commoner gets his hands on one of the things."
Allen looks thoughtful. "But what if someone gets a hold of it before a scribe does?"
"When someone unknown tries to pry information, a golem self destructs."
The former heir's eyes widen. "Really?"
"The Order loves taking it's precautions; Jasper LuRim was a genius at crafting spells to ensure that its existence remains a secret, take these golems for example! And our 'front door'!" Lavi winks at him, and the snow haired boy somehow feels like he's trying to get at something annoying.
"I see." Allen turns back to his book, so as to avoid talk on the front door and talk on things he has experienced connected to it. He proceeds to reading once again.
Jasper LuRim was an interesting man, his heists were not conducted by him (and as such the reports were written by other people) but he made the plans, all of them very detailed. His men followed every single word of his elaborate instructions, and they never failed a heist. LuRim was proving his genius without moving from that legendary chair of his.
"Where are the other Thief Lords?" When the former heir asks this, Lavi looks at him with an eyebrow raised. "I mean, I haven't seen them, I've seen Cross but he hardly counts does he?"
The Junior Scribe laughs. "You insult the guy too much."
"I'm afraid I insult him too little."
"You're really something special you know that?" A grin and a snicker. "The Thief Lords are away, they're all always traveling. They send back letters once every month, sometimes, they send back Lord Heirs, trained in the art of magic and ready for their first heist. Cross Marianne has only ever sent us bills though-- that is, until he sent you."
'Right, except he forgot to mention to me that I was his Lord Heir,' Allen thought. 'He could have given me more information, all he said was, 'Take this to the Order' and he gave me that letter and the directions…'
Lavi sets down his book and moves his chair closer to Allen. "So tell me, how did he train you?"
"Aren't I supposed to be studying?"
How did Cross Marianne train him? Did Cross train him? Were those things training?
"Oh come on, just spare me a few details. Cross Marianne never revealed much, he had tons of heists but look at how thin that book of his is!"
"These books are the reports the Thief Lords themselves wrote?"
"Of course they are, a scribe's notes can only be read by a scribe you know."
Allen reaches for Cross's heist book, flips it open. He reads aloud, "I went to the location. I looked for the target. I found the target. I went back to the Order." Silence for a moment. "What is this?" Allen looks at the words in disgust.
Lavi laughs heartily and loudly, after a while he looks like he couldn't breathe. Somehow he manages to talk. "Interesting man isn't he? We could never convince him to do a better report! There's this one—" the red head leans in, flips a few pages of the book in Allen's hands "—this one here, he's all, 'I went to the location. I was waiting for the family to leave their home like the Head Strategist told me to, so I could take the target before those fools burned it. But then I fell asleep. Good news is, I had a very nice dream.'" The Junior Scribe breaks into laughter again. "It was way more detailed before, he talked about his dream in detail see, but we told him to change it, well, no, not we, the Senior Scribe did, because it was about Cloud Nyne and—"
Allen raises a hand. "I think I know what you're going to say, please don't continue." He did not want to know how old Lavi was when he read that account either.
The Junior Scribe grins an unnervingly bright grin. "Cross Marianne's antics, you know them well, yes?"
"...Yes?"
"This must be because of the training yes?"
"...Maybe?"
"What's with the maybe, no need to be secretive, I'm the Junior Scribe after all." Yes, but did Allen really want the Scribe to immortalize his misfortunes?
"I'm not sure he really trained me."
"But you were using high-leveled magic," then Lavi stops; his eye widens. "And speaking of, I've been meaning to ask you about Kanda's accusations."
This is bad. "What accusations?" Walker's strategy? Play stupid.
"The ones on Black Magic," Lavi's expression turns serious, although his mouth is twitching like he wants to smile. "I heard you explain to Komui, but you looked like you were holding something back."
"I wasn't holding anything back." Complete and utter lie, actually.
"Really now? I know a lie when I hear one Allen Walker; I'm going to get your secret out of you eventually," and that seems to be that, because Lavi stays quiet and picks up his book again, leaving Allen to finish reading his materials.
It is going to be a long day.
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An excerpt from Jasper LuRim's persona journal; Written: The Eight Day of May, Eleventh Year in the Reign of Amadeus riFriolle
My men have brought home an injured young man, his face was dirty and bruised, barely recognizable, and yet I am under the impression that I have met him somewhere before. Rules have been broken but I shall not punish my men until I discover who this person is truly. If he proves to be useful, there shall be rewards instead of punishments. I have asked Lannette to care for the lad. There will be much to do when he awakens.
An excerpt from Jasper LuRim's personal journal; Written: The Tenth Day of May, Eleventh Year in the Reign of Amadeus riFriolle
It seems that I shall have to reward the men who brought this boy into the underworld. We will finally breach that once impassable territory. We thieves shall forever glorify the name Hansel duFroid.
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Allen, looking distraught, flips between two pages in Jasper LuRim's journal. "Lavi, there are pages missing from this book."
"Hnh? Which one?" Lavi rises from his chair and walks over to the snow haired boy. He leans over his shoulder and looks at the Allen's book. "That's how it really is."
The former heir gives him a confused look. "But it's... It's missing a year."
"Yes, curious thing isn't it? He mentions the name Hansel duFroid, then, an entire year is left out and he resumes his entries as if nothing had happened. Rumor has it Hansel took the records with him when he left."
"He stole it? From the Thief Lord?"
"And the then Head Scribe, if the rumor stands true; Hansel duFroid was one talented thief..."
Lavi pauses and gives Allen a look, the former heir finds himself uneasy. "What is it?"
"Are there any records of a certain Hansel riFriolle in the Royal Archives?"
Allen blinks, once, twice. "Well, now that you mention it, I don't believe there had been any of the sort. It's almost as if Hansel never existed."
"But he did, as proven by this entry of Jasper LuRim—" he points towards the said text. "—and 'The Tale of Hansel duFroid'."
"Hmm... Who wrote 'The Tale of Hansel duFroid'?" It almost sounded like an innocent question.
The Junior Scribe looks surprised for a few moments, then laughs. "Haven't got a clue! If I could inspect the original script I might be able to figure something out, but alas, that's hidden away at the Royal Palace."
Allen smiled inwardly, he could use that.
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You may or may not have read an edited version of this chapter (chapter 5 for details)
A/N: Not much to say about this chapter. What is Allen plotting, is he hiding something? That's to be tackled in this 'Arc' of the story. Thank you very much for reading and reviewing!