After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 762

Chapter 762: Baltimore’s House
After the lack of such tools during the first war, she overprepared a bit on this one. Added to the fact that she didn’t have to use a lot during the war since it was their home base, she still had a few in her space.

They also took a few servants, especially the older-looking ones, and made them drink the truth potion. Sadly, they knew no more than the guard they killed.

They did it repeatedly in many places and fortunately, the slaves and servants left weren’t particularly strong. Basically, while they sauntered across the lord’s house, they were relatively undisturbed.

As they perused the rooms, most of which were empty, Althea also low-key stole some interesting items like unique decorations and cheap tools. Nothing too valuable, but since it was there might as well take it. Maybe… magically the token was hidden in them, anyway.

(Of course, even Althea was not that lucky).

However, the somewhat happy ‘shopping’ mood turned sour when they ended up in a room with about a dozen girls. The smoke didn’t get all the way here, and they were all safe and awake.

The smell was strong and the atmosphere was dreary inside that room.

Some didn’t move while some raised their heads to meet hers. They didn’t have much life or fight in them, but they were studying them and were a bit surprised to see another woman.

Althea pursed her lips and turned to look at the surprised Luis. “I’ll talk to them,” she told him, closing the door on him.

She turned back to watch the women in thought. She had been wondering who to ask to get more clues to the token, but—since the use of the servants was limited—she thought that this might just be the place.

Baltimore was an untrusting individual. If there was anyone who would have a clue, it’d be his closest cronies who signed detailed oaths. The other servants here unsurprisingly did not know anything about the token, leaving her with this option.

The bed partners.

The aborigines had a sort of predisposition to underestimate women.

To be honest, it could very well be the downfall of many strong men here.

“Hello,” she said to the nearest responsive woman. “My name is Thea, I just arrived here, I was hired to ‘assist’ your lord.”

They looked at her, some in guardness, while some in jealousy of her beauty.

“Does anyone know when he’ll return?”

No one answered her at first, mostly either dazed or of dislike. Althea sighed and looked for someone one with the most hostility.

“I wonder who knows most about the lord?” she asked, appearing genuinely curious.

A few women perked up a little. The most obvious was a woman who was leisurely laying on her bed. It was a beautiful woman, and had some pride in her, indicating she must have the favor of Baltimore or someone in his circle.

She raised her head, looking arrogantly at her. “He will return at night, he usually comes and takes one of us. Usually, me.”

From this, she knew that they were unaware there was a war nor that they already lost.

“I see…,” she paused in thought. “Actually, it’s just between us but I’m actually here to test you girls out.”

The women naturally looked at her guardedly, obviously anxious. No one dared question her though, because there was a chance that she was telling the truth and losing favor could easily mean death here.

“Who here genuinely loves the lord?” she asked. “The war… has taken a toll on him, and he wishes to have a… purer interaction tonight.”

“Me!”

“I do!” another said. “I know all of his likes!”

“He loves my voice!”

A few women immediately approached her, showing off how well they knew the lord.

She observed each one of them, and they showed various expressions. Her emerald eyes fixed on someone though. She was located at the back of the room and among those who did not bother getting closer.

She had the strongest negative emotion at the question.

“You,” she said, pointing at the girl. “Come with me.”

At this, the women flinched, especially the woman from before. “Why her?”

“She dislikes him! I can tell! The way she scowls—”

Althea shook her head, “I know,” she said. “Sir Seto told me to get rid of the bad grass. He doesn’t want to infect you girls with her negative energy.”

At her words, the women obviously relaxed. At the same time, knowing the lord would be taking them today—they would get money or resources or good food when they did well—many immediately started to prepare themselves.

Meanwhile, Althea pulled the girl into a room. The girl didn’t fight much, obviously surrendering to whatever fate awaited her.

“How much do you know about Baltimore?”

The woman looked at her weirdly.

“Do you hate him?”

The girl’s jaw clenched but didn’t answer, but her facial expression was good enough.

Althea’s eyebrows rose and she pulled out Baltimore’s head out of her space with one hand, and she used her clean hand to cover the woman’s mouth.

“WA—”

“Calm down. Promise not to scream ”

Shaky and a little teary, the woman nodded. Althea soon realized the tears were not of fear… but of happiness.

“Finally!” She exclaimed, taking the head into her hands and threw it down the floor, kicking it repeatedly. “FINALLY!!”

Althea watched.

Wow. Baltimore must’ve really messed with this one.

Baltimore had indeed messed with this one.

Her name was Yllana, a beautiful daughter of a small noble—a village lord. Her territory lost a few months ago and she witnessed all her family either killed during the war or died suffering as slaves.

How could the hate be small?

This man tortured people for fun. He even buried people alive. He used his ability to enjoy listening to their weakening breath as he deprived them of air!

Now… he lost the right to do so as well!

….

Althea did not have the time to wait for the girl to complete all her emotional reactions to this. They headed out of the room to see Luis waiting there patiently.

Yllana glared at him guardedly, but didn’t do anything else. “He’s with you?”

Obviously, the girl had a dislike of men—and understandably so.

“He’s a good guy,” Althea said. “He killed a lot of your guards you know.”

For the next half an hour, the three of them rummaged through the house and found a few things, but there was still no token. Yllana tried her best to remember what she knew about Baltimore, though so far nothing had borne fruit, making her feel embarrassed.

If Althea had time, she’d have comforted her. To be fair, the other woman really did know a lot about Baltimore. It was likely Yllana had been remembering all details she could, in the hopes of using them someday to deal with him.

However, none of that mattered for now. They were running out of time.

Althea’s brain ran fast, putting together all the information they had so far:

Baltimore was an earth user. He liked to bury people. And he was a bastard.

At some point, her eyes brightened, “Where did you say Baltimore’s favourite garden was?”

Yllana blinked and thought, pointing in a certain direction. It was a large garden at the back, and it also had a few skeletons.

The girl led them to his favorite spot. It had the richest plants, likely because of the number of ‘fertilizers’ it had underneath.

Althea heaved a deep breath and used [Earth Sense] to peruse whatever was underground. She thought of a place that was not so easily found but accessible enough.

It wasn’t straightforward. After all, her ability could only see until 2 meters below her. In the end, she could only vibrate the ground to soften it and place the soil in her space, and then let it out again.

She dug like this until she could peruse some 5 meters or so below the ground. She practiced her skill a lot, until she had at least some impression of what was happening beyond her radius of capability.

She used her skill to zone in on where aether was a bit denser compared to its surroundings.

After a while of searching, she found a rock that had many cavities, and she looked closer at what was inside.

After what felt like forever, her emerald eyes finally shone brightly.

“Found it!”