Carlos currently had a little frown of displeasure on his face as he wore an old tunic and dusty brown trousers along with the muddy brown boots that waited for him.

"Why am I dressed like a beggar?" He questioned looking at himself in the mirror.

"You need to fit in for getting information, if they see you as a Prince no one would talk, but if you approach like this they would feel like you’re one of their own." Ruel explained.

"Is it necessary to dress like a homeless beggar for that?" Carlos made a face as he pinched the rough fabric of the tunic taking a sniff.

"This smells like horse manure." He groaned.

He heard Ruel laugh in his head before he said, "You should have as many experiences as you could. The man you’re so scared of, is an expert at this, that’s why he has made his own empire in shadows. If you want to gather some information you will have to take a page or two from his book."

Carlos pursed his lips, he knew Ruel was talking about Ocean Ryujin, but to think that that man who looked so conspicuous would be dressed up in rags to collect information.

Carlos had mostly gotten his information from the ones who were eager to be on his good side or from his mother or from his knights. But having to do it personally was still a big feat.

Carlos sighed as he felt the task too daunting before he blinked an idea clicking in his head, "What if I give money to them and get them to tell me everything?"

"Ocean’s men are keeping an eye on you and besides, he hasn’t assigned either you or that other Prince a good amount. You saw your luggage, didn’t you? Only the absolute necessities are packed, no extra money or accessories."

Carlos hung his head in defeat as he recalled that. He had checked his luggage the evening after it was unpacked and realised that unlike his usual luggage which would consist of several outfits, money, jewels and other things that he considered necessities, he was given only bare minimum.

Carlos released a heavy sigh before he walked over and plopped on the edge of his bed.

"What about my appearance?" He asked in a resigned tone.

Ruel was quiet for a moment before he said, "You will have to remove that pendant for that."

Carlos stiffened.

The only valuable thing on him presently was the pendant that Ocean had given him with a strong warning to never remove it or else things would be bad for him.

"I can’t." Carlos said and Ruel sighed.

"I can’t change your appearance with this pendant on you, it blocks my power."

"Can’t we do something without removing it?"

"Your hair could be changed but the moment your eyes are visible they will know it’s you."

"But, red eyes aren’t that uncommon. There are a few people who-"

"Who else would come to their mind when they see a new person with scarlet eyes asking them questions about the Barony?" Ruel cut him off.

Carlos was quiet for a moment, he held the pendant in his hand, it wasn’t like he didn’t trust Ruel but he was still unsure of whether he should remove the pendant or not. Ocean’s warning still rang in his head.

"I’m warning you, Your Highness. If I see you without this pendant, I’ll personally cut you open and put in inside your body."

Carlos shuddered as he recalled those menacing blue eyes gleaming down on him.

Ocean had mentioned that his mother had forsaken him but according to Ruel she had arranged it so that Carlos could have a proper guide to win this Trial.

Carlos held the pendant in his hand clenching his fist as he slowly but reluctantly went to remove the pendant. His heart hammered crazily as he removed the chain and now the pendant sat on his palm.

He was expecting the whispers to begin again but his head remained clear.

"Ruel..." Carlos whispered and felt the surge of energy in his chest.

"I’m here." Came his reply.

Carlos gulped, he couldn’t dare keep the pendant away from him so, he grabbed a small leather pouch and placed the pendant inside it before securely putting it into the pocket of his trousers.

"This should be enough, right?" Carlos asked.

"Yes."

Carlos hesitantly walked over to the mirror scared to see his reflection.

"It’s fine, look up, son." Ruel spoke and Carlos slowly lifted his head.

The moment he saw his reflection his jaw almost dropped as he saw his form looked different now. His blonde hair turned deep blood red and his eyes the deepest black.

"H-How did you do this?" Carlos asked touching his face and Ruel chuckled.

"I’ll explain you some other day, for now, let’s go."

Carlos hummed before he stepped towards the door but then his body locked up, he couldn’t move.

"Wh-What’s going on?" He asked.

"Where are you going? If you walk out of that door, you’ll be spotted." Ruel said.

"Then how will we-"

Carlos gasped as his body moved towards the window.

"B-But, Ocean’s men will notice us, if we go out of there." Carlos spoke trying his best to stop his body but it wasn’t in his control anymore.

"Leave that to me," Ruel said, "All you need to do is sit back and watch."

Carlos didn’t resist after that and slowly he felt as if he was in half asleep state. His body was moving on its own and it was as if his senses had just opened up to the whole other level of stimuli. He saw, he listened, he sensed on an upgraded level and his body felt way lighter than ever. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ruel scanned the area right outside of Carlos’s room and noticed instantly give figures already having their eyes trained on the window.

"Sneaky bastards." He muttered.

If not for the mana stone pendant he wouldn’t have to deal with any of this. He could have just killed Eric during the second Trial and taken over Carlos’s body. If not for that mana infused rain he would have won, if not for that Dragon, he would have had it so easier.

It was a fortune that Carlos was a foolish and weak willed child that he could manipulate so easily. It was only the matter of time before they would destroy everything that the Dragon cherished but before that he needed to improve the reputation that this brat had.

It was already dark out but he couldn’t underestimate those spies so, he blew off the candles burning inside the room before he opened the windows. He grabbed the long, old black cloak before he walked out of the windows feeling the eyes of the men on him.

Ruel’s plan was never to make sure that they got out from under the noses of Ocean’s spies but he wanted the control of Carlos’s body. Carlos was wary of his despite his coaxing as his fear for Ocean preceeded his need for assurance.

He had to give it to the Dragon, he was far more scarier than a demon.

Ruel made sure to hide his face before he got onto the railing and then leapt off. He sensed movements from the spies but none approached him and he proceeded to run out of the garden.

He felt three of them take off behind him but they all followed him from a safe distance, it was as if they were only there to keep an eye on him.

Ruel leapt off the fencing wall that ran across the border of the estate. He felt Carlos’s consciousness in the back of the mind still watching and sensing everything but he couldn’t do anything for the night.

Ruel rushed straight down the empty streets feeling the spies easily keeping up with him from above. He could see the shadows

"He’s sent some capable men," Ruel muttered before he smirked before he noticed the sounds of the market area he had seen earlier in the day.

He rushed into a narrow alley and for a brief moment he felt as if only one person’s eyes were on him but they weren’t above him but right behind him. He saw a heap of crates and garbage accumulated ahead and he rushed ahead grabbing a few crates before smashing them into the ground.

He faintly heard the sound of a grunt before he smirked and then shot out of the alley straight into the masses. He removed his hood and stood near a stall right beside the gathered crowd.

Carlos’s body wasn’t that athletic so, he was huffing but among the people no one was able to notice.

Carlos noticed the spies entering the crowd but they couldn’t spot him and he couldn’t help but feel slightly triumphant as he got out of their gaze.

"H-How did you do that?!" He heard Carlos’s voice and smiled.

"That’s how you get the rats off your back."