My Goblin System : Levelling up with my SSS Class Devouring skill-Chapter 315

"How do I look?" he asked.

"Like a tired merchant who’s had a long day on the road," Cassius said approvingly. "Perfect. Your posture sells it—slightly slumped shoulders, not standing at full attention. That’s good. Guards notice people who are too alert or too nervous. You look appropriately weary. Lady Sylvara?"

Sylvara had already put on her cloak, the hood casting her features in shadow. She adjusted her posture, letting her shoulders slump slightly and adding a subtle weariness to how she held herself.

"Ready," she said, her voice taking on a slightly different quality—less the precise tone of an assassin and more the tired timbre of a merchant who’d spent days traveling.

"Excellent. Voice work too—good instinct." Cassius nodded approvingly. "Now, one more critical detail: act natural. You’re not assassins infiltrating hostile territory. You’re weary travelers relieved to finally reach the city after a long journey. Tired posture, maybe complain quietly about sore feet, ask if there are any decent inns still open. Small behavioral touches that make you seem completely ordinary and forgettable."

"We can manage that," Satou said.

"I’m certain you can. I’m sure." Cassius stood, adjusting his armor and settling his helmet back on his head. "I need to return to the gate before Marcus wonders where I wandered off to. Give me five minutes to get back into position, then approach with that small group of merchants I see waiting by the tree line—the ones with the two wagons. Blend in with them as you approach. It’ll look more natural than two people walking up alone."

He pointed to a cluster of travelers visible in the distance, clearly waiting for something.

"Those are traders who arrived just after the last inspection cycle finished," Cassius explained. "They’re waiting for the next processing window. When you see me return to the gate and raise my hand to signal them forward, join that group and approach with them. You’ll blend into the crowd."

"Understood," Satou said.

"Good. I’ll be the guard on the right side of the gate—the one who looks alert and professional. Marcus will be the one on the left, slouching against the wall and looking like he wants to be anywhere else. When you approach, make eye contact with me so I know to intercept you first."

Cassius started toward the gate, then paused and looked back.

"Oh, and Lord Satou? When this is over and Richard Clay is dead, remind me to ask Lord Loki for a hazard bonus. This assignment has involved far more creative problem-solving than my standard reconnaissance work typically requires."

Despite the tension, Satou found himself smiling slightly. "I’ll put in a good word."

"Much appreciated." Cassius’s expression became serious one more time. "Five minutes. Then approach with the merchant group. Stay calm, follow my lead, and in ten minutes you’ll be inside Valstrath legally with official documentation."

He disappeared into the darkness, his gait changing completely as he moved—no longer the predatory vampire but the professional guard returning from a patrol break.

Satou and Sylvara watched him go, then settled back into the shadows to wait and observe.

"He’s remarkably good at this," Sylvara said quietly, genuine respect in her voice. "Most spies focus purely on stealth and observation. Cassius thinks several steps ahead—not just gathering intelligence but actively creating opportunities for mission success before they’re even needed."

"Loki chooses his people well," Satou agreed, watching Cassius return to the gate and take up his position. "And Cassius has been doing this for years. That level of preparation doesn’t come from natural talent alone—it comes from experience and professional discipline."

They observed the gate for the remaining few minutes. Cassius had resumed his position on the right side, standing straight and alert, the perfect image of a dedicated guard. The transformation was remarkable—all traces of the casual vampire had disappeared, replaced by a professional soldier following his duties.

Marcus, the other guard, was exactly as Cassius had described. Slouching against the left wall, helmet pushed back on his head, clearly counting down the minutes until his shift ended. Even from this distance, his body language screamed bored and unmotivated.

The contrast between the two guards was almost comical—one professional and attentive, the other barely functioning.

"Marcus is definitely the weak link," Sylvara observed. "If Cassius weren’t here, that guard would be easy to manipulate. A small bribe, a sad story, an attractive smile—he’d wave almost anyone through just to avoid extra work."

"Which is exactly why Cassius targeted him for this operation," Satou said. "Cassius didn’t just infiltrate the garrison—he studied the guards, identified the exploitable ones, and positioned himself to work alongside the perfect target."

Five minutes passed. Cassius scanned the waiting area, then raised his hand in a clear signal.

The group of merchants near the tree line immediately began moving forward, their wagons creaking as they started toward the gate.

"That’s our cue," Satou said.

They emerged from the forest shadows and quickly moved to join the merchant group, falling in naturally as if they’d been part of it all along. The other travelers barely noticed—two more tired people joining a group approaching the gate wasn’t worth attention.

Satou adjusted his posture further, letting his shoulders slump and adopting a slight limp as if his feet hurt from long travel. Sylvara did the same, even adding a quiet sigh of relief that other travelers could hear—the sound of someone finally reaching their destination.

The group approached the gate together, a cluster of perhaps eight people plus two wagons. Normal evening traffic trying to get inside before curfew.

Marcus barely looked up, clearly uninterested in yet another group of tired merchants.

But Cassius stepped forward with professional efficiency, his hand raised to stop the group for standard inspection.

"Evening, travelers," Cassius called out, his voice carrying practiced authority. "Gate’s about to close for curfew. I’ll need to check papers and register everyone before you can enter. This won’t take long if you cooperate."

The merchants groaned quietly—the universal sound of people who just wanted to get inside but understood this was a necessary procedure.

Cassius began working through the group systematically, checking papers, asking basic questions, marking entries in the official registry. He was professional but not overly thorough—fast enough to be efficient, careful enough to seem legitimate.

Then his eyes landed on Satou and Sylvara, and his expression shifted to recognition.

"Hold on," Cassius said, his tone changing to surprise. "Tomas? Renna? Is that you two?"

Satou looked up just enough for Cassius to see his shadowed face, making brief eye contact to confirm identity while keeping his hood positioned to shadow his features.

"Cousin?" Satou replied, his voice carrying weary relief. "What are the odds! I didn’t know you were stationed here."

"Started last month after rotating from the eastern garrison," Cassius said smoothly, moving closer as if greeting relatives. "This is fortunate timing. I was just thinking about the family earlier today. What brings you to Valstrath?"

"Trade route," Sylvara said, her voice tired but warm. "We’re merchants now, traveling between cities. Keldris to Valstrath, hoping to establish new supply contacts."

"Ambitious," Cassius said approvingly. "The market here is good if you know the right people. Marcus!"

He called to the other guard, who had barely moved from his slouching position.

"These are the relatives I told you about," Cassius continued. "The ones traveling through from Keldris. My cousins Renna and Tomas Blackwood."

Marcus finally looked up, squinting at Satou and Sylvara with minimal interest. "The ones you mentioned? Yeah, whatever. Get them registered so we can process the rest of this group. I want to finish this shift sometime tonight."

"Appreciate the flexibility," Cassius said, then turned back to Satou and Sylvara with an apologetic smile for the other travelers’ benefit. "Sorry, this is still official business even for family. I’ll need your full names for the registry, where you’re traveling from, and intended length of stay in the city. Standard questions."

"Renna Blackwood," Sylvara said, her voice perfectly matching a tired merchant’s tone. "From Keldris, planning to stay three to five days depending on how trade negotiations go."

"Tomas Blackwood," Satou added, keeping his voice low and his head down. "Also from Keldris. Same timeline—however long business takes."

Cassius pulled out the official registry book—a massive leather-bound tome with hundreds of entries—and flipped to a new page. His handwriting was neat and professional as he made quick notes.

"Renna Blackwood and Tomas Blackwood, merchants from Keldris, entering Valstrath for trade purposes, three to five day intended stay, vouched for by Guard Cassius Drake..."

He stamped the entry with an official wax seal, the symbol of Valstrath’s garrison pressed into red wax.

"There we go, all official and legal," Cassius said, showing the entry to Marcus who glanced at it for approximately half a second before waving dismissively.

"Fine, fine. They’re registered. Let them through."

Cassius made a show of examining Satou and Sylvara’s travel packs—a quick visual inspection that looked professional but didn’t actually check anything thoroughly.

"You’re clear to enter," he announced. "Welcome to Valstrath. It’s good to see family. How long has it been? Three years?"

"About that," Satou agreed, playing along with the fictional family history. "Life gets busy, you know. Trade routes don’t travel themselves."