The waiter led Remus up to a table at an inner balcony.
The expensive restaurant was a large hall. Circular tables filled the floor. Wealth and exuberance flowed from all the couples and parties.
Above all of them, curtained by private balconies, lay more impressive guests.
Remus was led to a table, already occupied by a man.
Expensively dressed, the older gentleman was very thin. His grey hair was neatly brushed back into a tail. Seeing Remus and the waiter approaching the table, he stood from his seat in greeting.
Thanking the waiter, the man gestured for Remus to sit at his table.
"Welcome, Professor Blake." His voice was deep and courteous.
"Thank you, Ambassador," Remus replied, sitting down. "For the invitation to settle in, and of course, for the recommendation."
"Speak nothing of it." The Ambassador waved the thanks away as he also sat down. "And please, call me Falkin."
"Of course, please call me Remus."
"Oh? Not Dentes then?" Falkin responded with a slight grin.
Remus just smirked in reply.
"I took the liberty of ordering for you. Her Majesty already informed me of your preferences." Falkin continued, turning his attention to his meal.
"Of course she did," Remus muttered to himself, not unhappily.
Both men paused the conversation as they settled into their meals. Eventually, Falkin continued after a sip of wine.
"How did the interview go?"
"I start in a few days," Remus replied, continuing his meal as if he hadn’t eaten in a week.
"Very impressive." The Ambassador nodded to himself in approval. "This sets the foundation of your identity perfectly."
"Yes. I will begin taking the toll soon."
"So eager?" Falkin raised an eyebrow. "I would have thought you would have begun laying the groundwork for your own agenda?"
Remus had just finished his meal, then took a generous drink of wine. Eyeing his companion over the glass, he replied, "I can multitask. Besides, who is to say that they both would not contribute to my goal?"
"Interesting." Falkin approved, his grin increasing. "You are certainly more entertaining than the last Knight."
Remus didn’t know who that was, nor did he care. Not their name, not what they did or didn’t do.
Not even how they failed.
An Infernal Knight was the sole mortal representative of a Demonic Liege. There were many Kingdoms with many Kings and Queens within the realm of Hell. Each Kingdom had its own Knight, their sole servant for the Garden. The mortal realm.
There was a major difference between him and the other current Infernal Knights, even with his predecessors.
None of them had actually been to Hell.
A mortal soul goes into Hell. It does not come out again. Only through death or extraction will access be granted.
And yet, for Remus Blake, that was not the case.
Not only was he Her Majesty’s Knight. He was her secret weapon.
"How are you adjusting to Garden life? I know it has only been a day, but part of my duties is to gauge your sanity in this unique situation," the older man asked politely.
The young professor settled back into his chair, letting his meal digest.
"I am perfectly sane. I always have been."
Falkin eyed him, as if slightly unconvinced.
"As long as you are fit to serve."
Remus looked up again from his slouched seat, looking directly at the Ambassador.
The noise of the restaurant had quieted for the old demon.
All of Falkin’s senses instantly fixated on that lazy glare from Remus.
As if a switch had been flicked, he didn’t know when he had started sweating.
"I will serve to the best of my abilities," Remus answered coldly.
The ancient demon could do nothing but nod in agreement.
"My apologies. It was an observation, not a criticism." Falkin muttered, his face looking like it had aged a decade.
"Of course." Remus smiled as the noise roared back to natural volume around them.
Before they both went their separate ways, Falkin passed over a small envelope. Within it were the safe houses and resources for their faction within the city.
Remus read it quickly, then placed the page against one of the burning candles at the table. The page ignited and transformed to ash instantly.
Falkin also handed over what looked like a fountain pen. Neither of them commented on it.
Both men rose at the same time, taking their leave.
"Good hunting, Sir Blake."
"And to you, Ambassador."
Remus returned home, only to be greeted and fussed over by Ms. Harrow.
For all the power and capability the man wielded, he couldn’t outargue the woman giving him a cup of tea.
Afterward, he finally returned to his room.
Ensuring that privacy wards were in place around him, Remus took out his new fountain pen. Infusing it with a bit of his mana, he lifted it to his mouth and spoke into it.
"Your Majesty. I have settled into my post. My position with the Royal Academy is secured. I have met my contact, Falkin, and have received the local information. With your approval, I will begin the toll tomorrow."
Remus lowered the pen and stopped the stream of mana going into it.
He didn’t remove his wards. He just waited.
Eventually the pen became hot. Immediately, Remus activated it again.
A voice filled the space around him within the wards.
A voice that very few in the Garden had ever heard. It would haunt the wicked and entice the innocent.
A voice so sweet and pure, it didn’t belong in mortal ears.
"My Knight. Always so quick to please... I continue to remain satisfied. Do as you must."
The amused voice message ended, and the pen went cold.
Placing it back in his pocket, Remus readied himself for bed.
He would begin the first of many tomorrow. The toll would be paid once more.
Even though he was advised that it wasn’t necessary for a while yet, Remus believed in stockpiles.
After all, Hell’s wall would always need its bricks.