The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 69: The Art of Deception

For Corimo, the day had taken a dismal turn, all thanks to Alice’s coercion into becoming a guide.

As a resident of the east, his life had been a paragon of routine. Every morning, he’d rise with the sun, carefully stuffing cotton into the horse’s saddlebags to create a convincingly bulky load. Then, he’d hasten to the border gate, eager to be among the first in line.

A law-abiding citizen, Corimo never dared to smuggle contraband in his packages.

The border guards, familiar with his daily ritual, would often conduct only cursory inspections, thoroughly examining his goods only twice out of every ten crossings, and usually, they’d simply wave him through.

Once he’d cleared the national border, he would seek out a secluded spot to wait, lying in wait for a specific individual—someone who resembled a fat sheep. Upon spotting his mark, he would approach with unbridled enthusiasm, striking up a conversation with an air of effusive friendliness.

When individuals venture east for the first time, they often let their guard down. Amidst their naivety, they can easily fall prey to someone like Corimo, who appears to be kind and genuine. With his exceptional communication skills, he effortlessly wins people over, offering to guide them through unfamiliar territory—but at a price.

His rates are steeper than expected, yet still reasonable enough to seem legitimate. This facade helps him gain trust.

To others, he seems like a harmless vendor, earning a modest income by showing people around and selling goods. Little do they know, his true livelihood comes from the kickbacks he receives from illicit establishments, cleverly disguising himself as a humble peddler.

In the broder gates, numerous individuals like him, preying on unsuspecting travelers. However, most of these swindlers lack the audacity to target armed knights, instead opting to deceive ordinary tourists to earn a meager hotel rebate.

Corimo, a self-proclaimed master of deception, boasts exceptional skills and courage that surpass those of common fraudsters. He specializes in targeting armed individuals, introducing them to the fabled “mage towers” where weapons are said to be enchanted, thereby earning substantially more than he would from guiding ordinary tourists.

He considers introducing these mage towers an art form, which he executes with finesse. He begins by listing the most renowned mage towers, followed by moderately known ones, and then adds a few reliable-sounding recommendations.

Typically, knights have done their research before arriving in the east, and upon hearing Corimo’s convincing pitch, they gradually let their guard down.

It is then that he subtly weaves in his true recommendation among the mage towers, cleverly disguising it as a legitimate option that even ordinary people might suggest.

To avoid arousing suspicion, he would cleverly guide the visiting knights to his desired destination, even if they were unfamiliar with the location.

The “mage tower” he led them to was conveniently situated near the national border, yet he would intentionally take a circuitous route to prevent easy discovery.

This supposed “mage tower” was, in reality, a sham—a small group of apprentices who had abandoned their studies at a genuine mage tower. They had stumbled upon a tower that a rogue mage had discarded, made some basic repairs, and then employed illusions to create the illusion of a towering structure that seemed to stretch up to the clouds.

The sight of this fake “mage tower” was so convincing that even those with initial doubts would soon be swayed, and most would willingly pay for the apprentices to enchant their weapons or armor.

Inexperienced mages, who hadn’t completed their training, lacked the skill to genuinely enchant objects. Instead, they resorted to deception, applying a layer of blue fluorescent powder to armor to create the illusion of enchantment. The gems they sold as enchanted were, in reality, low-quality items crafted from recycled waste materials. Although these counterfeit goods were cheap, the mana they contained would rapidly deplete, typically lasting no more than thirty seconds.

Anyone who dared to use such tainted weapons and armor in battle would be putting themselves in grave danger.

Should a survivor manage to return, seeking revenge and attempting to locate the “Mage Tower,” they would find it to be a futile endeavor. The tower’s exact location would be impossible to pinpoint, and even if they stumbled upon it, they would discover that the sign above the door had been altered, rendering it impossible to identify the original perpetrators.

Corimo’s latest maneuver was destined for success, with a near-perfect track record. However, he unexpectedly found himself face-to-face with a red-haired female knight, a blunder he hadn’t anticipated.

A cardinal rule governed the actions of con artists like Corimo: never cross the Flamel family.

This wasn’t due to any formal arrangement, but rather the immense power the Flamels wielded in the East. Trespassing on their territory would have dire consequences, far exceeding the loss of livelihood—it could be fatal.

Upon catching sight of Alice’s distinctive red hair, his instinct was to flee. Unfortunately, his path had crossed with none other than Alice herself.

Alice’s youthful appearance often led people to underestimate her, but she had a secret: she was a skilled and street-smart individual, trained by the seasoned mercenary Rom at the local tavern. With her extensive experience dealing with various characters, she was well-versed in the tactics of con artists and knew how to protect herself.

Her prudent nature and habit of saving money carefully made her even more cautious when it came to parting with her hard-earned cash, rendering her virtually immune to deception.

However, Rom’s lessons on frugality went beyond just avoiding scams, “Con artists may have a deep understanding of the local area and a vast network of connections, but they often lack courage and strength,” he would say. “If you can see through their schemes, use your physical strength to assert yourself, and offer them a small incentive, you might just find yourself saving a substantial amount of time and money.”

Rom, a shrewd and calculating individual, knew how to extract every last bit of value from even the most cunning of swindlers.

Alice had already made up her mind to enlist the help of a local, and since this opportune stranger had appeared at her doorstep, she had decided he was the perfect candidate.

She took hold of his horse and relieved him of his wallet, claiming she was simply “keeping it safe” for him, thereby ensuring he couldn’t make a quick escape.

Corimo gazed at her with a pitiful expression, “What do you want in exchange for my freedom?”

Alice’s response was straightforward, “As I’ve already stated, I require a guide. Escort me to the Flamel Mage Tower, and not only will I set you free, but I’ll also reward you with a substantial sum of money. However, if this proposal doesn’t appeal to you, I have no qualms about returning you to the border and handing you over to the local lord. I’m sure the dungeons there would be more than happy to accommodate someone of your… particular skillset, specializing as you do in duping knights.”

“Since you belong to the Flamel family, why do you have to make me look bad here?”

“I’m not a Flamel,” she replied softly. “I just happen to have red hair.”

His skeptical gaze betrayed his doubts, but Alice didn’t require his belief.

As Corimo realized escape was futile, he resumed his composure, adopting the demeanor of a seasoned businessman.

“Very well, I’ll accompany you,” he said, “but be warned, the Flamel Mage Tower is distant, and the price will be steeper.”

Though Alice was uncertain about the tower’s exact location, she was aware of its reputation.

“Agreed,” she replied, her voice firm. “In return, you must guarantee your honesty and refrain from attempting to flee while guiding me to the Flamel Mage Tower.”

“I promise,” he vowed.

The two stood at the roadside, negotiating the terms of their agreement. Alice produced a covenant ring from her luggage, its presence a testament to her determination.

“Now that we’ve reached an understanding, let’s seal this arrangement.”

Corimo recoiled in alarm, his eyes widening in fright.

“Is this truly necessary?” he asked, his voice laced with trepidation.

“In the East,” Alice explained, “it’s said that every visitor is deceived three times. I, however, am not one to be cheated.”

The ring, crafted by LadyMeredith at the duchess’ suggestion, had been prepared specifically for Alice.

Initially, she had thought it an unnecessary precaution, but now it seemed a wise decision. With Corimo by her side, she felt no qualms about using the ring, her unease dissipating in the face of his dubious character.

Corrimo’s exceptional ability to read situations was one of his strongest assets. As he gauged Alice’s expression, he reluctantly extended his hand.

However, Alice, being cautious, didn’t directly place the valuable ring in his palm. Instead, she took his finger and slid the ring onto it, accompanied by a gentle smile.

Corrimo, much like a bride in an arranged marriage, forced a smile despite his inner turmoil, “The contract is now established, you can rest assured.”

She reassured him, “The ring will automatically fall off when I arrive at the Flamel Mage Tower. Until then, I’ll treat you well.”

Her words, laced with an air of impending tragedy, brought little comfort to Corrimo. The weight of wearing the covenant ring signified the end of his flawless record as a fraud artist, marking a significant crisis in his career.

His eyes now seemed empty, and his vitality had vanished.

Alice attempted to lift his spirits, “Don’t be so glum. I’m a fair employer, and I don’t mistreat my employees. Take me to a pub, and I’ll buy you a drink.”

Typically, after a long day of work, Corimo enjoyed unwinding with a drink. If he’d had a successful day, he’d even treat his less fortunate colleagues to a round. The pub was his sanctuary, a place where he could relax without worrying about his “customers” infiltrating his personal space.

But having already failed, he saw no need to maintain this boundary.

He led Alice to his usual pub, where the familiar faces greeted him warmly, “Hey, Corimo! How’s business today?”

He responded with a weary wave of his hand, his exhaustion evident.

He walked into the bar, taking a seat as Alice joined him, exchanging a familiar greeting with the bartender, “The usual for her, and a pale ale for me, please.”

The bartender’s eyes darted between the two, a hint of confusion on his face. He was aware that Corimo never mixed business with his visits to this bar, yet it seemed unlikely that a knight like Alice would be associated with him in any other capacity.

Turning to Corimo, the bartender asked cautiously, “Is this lady a family member of yours?”

Alice’s smile spread wide as she replied, “Not at all. I’m his new superior.”