《The Merchant of the Golden Triangle》


 Preface - The Oldest Tale

    Once upon a forgotten time, the universe was without limit. There were infinite possibilities beyond the horizon¡¯s Black Border.


    Mortals were not confined to World Islands nor their home Realm. The superoceans of the Grand Realm were not the tidal anomalies of space and time. The layers of Realms were still visible in the infinite sky. People were free to journey to the endless World Archipelagos to admire the colossal works of art made by the various Deities of every Realm and pursue the thrill of adventure. They were many cultures, as much as grains in the sand, and as rich as vaults of gold.


    Deities were not dying husks that consume the will and souls of their followers, nor bound to mortal objects, nor petty tyrants. They were artisans first and foremost, who used the boundless skies as their canvas. They were carvers and builders, who sculpted great monuments to the Creator and their vanity. They were performers, who sang songs that made skies serenely still, who fashioned aetheric strings for their immaculate instruments, who orated literary perfections that their voices still resound throughout time, and who danced and dueled with weapons made with crystallization of pure distilled skill. Their reward was the awe of the mortals, their peers, and the affections of the Creator that watched them.


    There were once as many deities as mortals. They were not in total harmony. There were conflicts and disputes between them as much as there was cooperation. Groups of deities and mortals often challenged each other in every contest imaginable.


    Beyond the universe that was lovingly written by the Creator for their Patrons is an eternal war against parasites that cling to stories to infest. Entire realities are sacrificed out of necessity to prevent countless others from their inevitable fate. The greatest of them, the End Lords, were named the Devourer of Tales, the Primordial Beast, and the Bygone Crown: heralds of the End of Everything residing in the Lacuna of tales.


    A fourth one was born from the corpses of countless stories. Its nature is Contradiction. Like moths to a flame, it climbed up from imperceptible obscurity, drawn to the infinite realm. Countless parasites like it soon followed its patient climb. Soon, it punctured the skin of the realms as its Creator looked away. The uninvited lord of pataphysical parasites molested the skin of its reality with uncountable fingers and broke the laws that made the universe. Contradiction drank the infinity of every Dimensional Plane and invited the rest of the pests in. It was not in a hurry, savoring its meal as countless worlds and histories were forgotten in its gullet.


    The Grand Realm and its other planes of existence¡¯s infinite horizons found themselves swallowed by swarms from beyond. Deities and mortals joined hands and clashed against the Rot Between Worlds, the inevitable Ends that consumed all universes. They had fared better than the pataphysical universes unknown to them. However, Contradiction forced itself in with its indefinite digits¨Cfrom them are mirrored shards that mocked the gods. Its roots pierced the world¡¯s foundations and its firmament was punctured by its branches. The laws of the universe weighed it so.


    The gods and mortals cried havoc. Beams of light unleashed from their divine domains. Quakes and tsunamis were unleashed with the power to swallow entire worlds. Crystallizations of the martial and the magical had lacerated its being. They drained the Luck of the universe to increase their chance of victory and distilled the courage and potential of every mortal in their war.


    Yet, the newborn invader slowly learned how to use its powers. The infinity of deities and the limitless energies that fuel the realms was inverted to finity when its fingertips touch it. It touched time and space itself, instantly closing the distance to trap deities and consume their mortal followers. The immortal and mortal were reduced to a rout as they divined their defeat by the hands of the abomination. Many Realms had collapsed unto themselves, melding them together.


    Too late, the Creator of the universe had noticed the parasites eating its creation. With the tacit permission of its Patrons, it summoned the heroes across every age; the warriors of tale and dream had tried to defeat it. Yet, the martyrdom of the gods of time and space only trapped it in stasis at the new edge of the Realms: there shall be no divine overseer of time, nor supervisor of space. There were not enough gods, nor sufficient powers drawn from the realms to deal the final blow. The infant lord of the pests was too embedded in the foundations of reality; ripping it out would shatter its creation. Seeing its predicament, it had slumbered, waiting for the inevitable moment when its stasis will degrade.


    What was once a distorted reflection of the gods, a tree of fingers that grasped and infected everything it touched with the blight of contradiction, with discordant whispers that disrupted reality, is a sleeping child that reclined at the end of the final horizon. It had fashioned a coat from the skeins of divine essence, a blanket of the skins of a million gods that stretched from shore to shore, covering the border between reality and oblivion. Even in its slumber, its child-like cruelty was unmatched. The despairing screams and sobs of the divine were its lullabies.


    This was later called the ¡°Devouring of Reality¡± by the scattered remnants of the civilizations of the remaining World Archipelagos. Conflicting accounts and the sheer physical, mental, and temporal destruction inflicted by the event had made the task of writing a definite history impossible.


    The Creator saw the remnants of the Realms that were partially consumed. The Grand Realm, the realm of mortals, was fused with the Realm of Boundless Heaven that became its sky, and the Hollow Realm was now buried in the deepest layer of the Grand Realm. What were once great works of divine art were ominous ruins scattered across World Archipelagos. The debris in the war that still rained in anomalous stasis became the Sky Islands. Continuity and distance became warped across the Grand Realm.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Fewer mortals were left and the deities took the brunt of the eldritch invasion. Lacking divine essence, they had withered into what people would call ¡°Dungeon Cores¡± later in history. Many also bound themselves in physical locations and objects or became tyrants of mortal souls to survive. Civilizations regress far away from the halcyon era when the divine and mortal coexisted.


    The Creator saw potential in the remaining mortal species. Although the deities were timeless artisans, they were predictable in their art and thought. Mortals were the opposite, and their ability to create new possibilities gave the Creator the framework for a new system to prepare the world when Contradiction wakes:


    The power to make the impossible possible.


    It would attempt to emulate much of the greater picture beyond its creation. The ontology of story and myth. Many rules that made its universe were erased or inverted, giving leeway to the new order that will govern the world. It repurposed the remnants and their functions of its offspring¡¯s greatest creations of the Divine Age:


    The Chronographic Observatory.


    The Forges of Thaumaturgy.


    The Die of Entropy.


    The Eternal Athenaeum.


    The Slate of Thought.


    The Garden of Souls.


    The Creator channeled its prime aspect as one of the Versesmiths: the crafters of tales. It spooled the Mythos generated by the great event of the Devouring of Reality, distilling the bravery and struggle of the universe''s gods and mortals. This fueled the pataphysical machine of narratological power that the Creator had made from the Six Works,


    The Narrative Engine.


    It''s metaphysical ink and invasive pen wrote new laws on mortal and immortal souls. It wrote on the reality of every Realm. It wrote on time and causality itself. None had escaped the revision of the universe, for the Narrative Engine will make use of all of the energies found in the world and the past, present, and future. Life and the afterlife, entropy, and causality, were within its command. It was on the side of every mortal that would do great or terrible things, for the sake of power, at the cost of challenges, stagnation, and strife.


    Every person will be their own story. From the young to old, they were instilled with the potential to become heroes and great men and women throughout the pages of their souls. When they set out to do great things, they will be rewarded by Arcs through the process of Awakening; markers of achievement and ascension to more powerful abilities. It, in its unbiased sentience, will judge every mortal that will ever exist based on their merit and potential, as well as need, to bless them with abilities.


    These abilities are written through a page shaped like [this].


    [Feats] would emulate every feat and achievement of both the mortal and the divine during those halcyon eons. They would be able to draw from the energies of the universe to exceed their limits. From empowering their strikes, and increasing their persuasion ability, to creating castles from nothing, and many more, these abilities will be written on the page of their souls when they achieve something. [Arts] are Feats only obtained from true mastery and learning, available in fields that allow for artisanry and esoteric tradition.


    Magic was now more accessible through [Spells], discrete, efficient expressions of magic in any magical discipline, powered by conceptual or physical mana. [Miracles] were now more defined and only limited by the belief one has. Powers too, could be inherited in the form of [Legacies] and [Inheritances]. These were confined in their [Role] to play, influenced by the [Themes] they embody, and empowered by the [Titles] they earned, with their ultimate goal of reaching their [Archetype].


    The Narrative Engine illuminated all mortal souls, and soon, people gave it many names and even worshipped it as their new god even if some deities still exist.


    Millennia after mortals had learned to use it, the cost became apparent. Bending the laws of the universe had eroded its integrity. Eldritch offspring which mortals call by many names sprang from the shadows of Contradiction¡¯s coat, who now threaten to infest the remaining World Islands. Zones of disjointed temporality appeared and expanded, giving various regions difference senses of time within the Grand Realm. Tears in reality occasionally open to new Realms. The damage done to the planar universe now manifested into great typhoons, blights of wild magic, and other disasters that swallowed the World Islands.


    Most of all, the mortal quality of innovation dimmed, as they relied on their newfound powers. Instead of inventing new things, most of them rely on the fact that a Feat will provide their needs. Instead of learning the steps of building a complicated machine, Feats expedite the process. Only a lucky few civilizations rose up from this induced phenomenon of technological stagnation.


    Inequality between the ¡°haves¡± and ¡°have-nots¡± widened. The powerful not only have influence and wealth, but these could have a tangible benefit. A ruler¡¯s Feats could tangibly improve their domain: such a Feat could strengthen every structure within their domain or a field that repels all disaster. A [General] can transform his formations into men as strong as iron. However, even a [Farmer], with enough Feats could feed ten cities on their own. A [Smith] can make a hundred swords a day or a single masterpiece fit for a [Hero]. With the Narrative Engine, people played the role of infrastructure and pillars of society.


    This new order now governed the natural rules of this universe. Every new achievement or feat and every [Hero] or [Villain] that rose and fell will be etched into the eternal record of the Narrative Engine, which became the reference for the generation of new abilities in every era. When the eater of worlds wakes beyond the edge of the Grand Realm, the mortals would be prepared to deal the final blow.


    Mortal civilizations across the various World Archipelagos survived the disasters that would¡¯ve swallowed or destroyed them. People fortunate enough to live in World Islands that were least affected by the Devouring of Reality or the myriad of world-ending disasters roaming in the Grand Realm. A select few were able to flee to other Realms and Demirealms of their making to begin anew. All because of the powers granted to them by the Narrative Engine.


    This includes the Six Lands, where many such stories also take place.

 Chapter 1

    A [Thief] stole a pouch of gold coins from a passing [Merchant]. He dashed through the crowded streets, and for a second, he blurred through the crowd with a Feat. The local [Mercenary Guardsmen] under the employment of the Teal Blades Company owning the city of Keisburg are chasing the [Thief]. A Feat has enabled them to part the thick crowd with an invisible force so that they can run without the crowd blocking them for a second. One of the [Mercenaries], a person with black scleras, curved horns, and a furry lower body with hooves: a Satyr, had pointed a wand towards the [Thief] at the chance that he was sure that he didn''t hit a bystander. Webs of faint light wrapped around the [Thief]''s feet, making him trip. The [Mercenaries] piled down on the [Thief] and tied them up.


    "You are under arrest. Tell your family or whoever else is related to you to pay up if you want to get released." A bald man with two long tusks told him, as they dragged them off to the dungeon. He was an Orcan, a subrace of Humankind native to the continent.


    While this was going on, a deal between two businessmen in a warehouse is taking place as if nothing is happening. A plucky young man from Gildin Trading, Numisley Gildin, came to a [Fur Trader] named Gelus to sell wolf pelts. The wrinkled individual named Gelus had stood out because of the patches of scales on his cheek and several parts of his skin, indicative of his mixed heritage.


    "That''s quick." Numisley leaned on his walking stick inside a stone warehouse, remarking on the chase.


    "I think there was a gang fighting in Goles Street. Forgot to mention that I had to evade [Bandits] earlier. Well, that is nothing unusual I suppose." Gelus sighed.


    "Glad that your caravan arrived safely," Numisley replied.


    The light from the outside illuminated Numisley¡¯s caramel skin. Despite his disability, a lamed leg since he was born, he had proved to his father that he could negotiate on behalf of his family. This is the first time that he was given the duty to lead their humble caravan, albeit with his dear step-brother to make sure that he does not get hurt.


    "This batch of wolf pelts are from the wolves of Celf''s forests, and these are nearly as soft as sheep''s fleece. Each pelt will cost four silver." Numisley stated.


    "I see." Gelus inspected one of the pelts, feeling the fur on his fingers. Indeed, it was soft, and the quality of the pelt would make a delicate shawl or coat. "Seems like it is Feated, am I right?"


    Indeed, the pelt was improved with the young man''s Feat: [Product''s Quality: Softness], a basic Feat improving its inherent quality. [Trader]''s Feats have the advantage of improving a product, and more. Whoever possesses the best Feats have the advantage over their competitors; the same logic applies to many industries.


    "Of course. But I didn''t lie when I said that they were soft, Feats or not." Numisley politely smiled, his brilliant violet eyes staring keenly at Gelus.


    Gelus¡¯ necklace glimmered green, a truth stone on a necklace; a magical item that detects truth and lies, yet most truth stones cannot detect half-truths and can be evaded by other means such as Feats. He used a general statement: he did touch the pelts, and they were soft, but he didn''t know how soft it should be to warrant the price of seven silver: after all, he resold them from the [Hunters] of the village of Celf, and he is not an expert of furs.


    His family trades all manner of things after all, and their business is a subsidiary of Maldent Trading, one of the larger mercantile companies in the region that also owned several guilds.


    "This is worth three silver."Gelus disputed. "A silver coin more and that will be too much, don''t you think?"


    "I guess so." The young man diplomatically retreated, much to his chagrin. He was hoping to get one more silver coin from him, but he does not have enough Feats to match him. "How many will you buy?"


    "Five bushels shall be enough. Pleased to do business with you, ¡®Gildin Junior¡¯." The other [Merchant] extended his hand with a pleasant smile.


    Numisley Gildin shook his hand, trying not to cringe at the embarrassing nickname. Gelus paid a pouch of seventy-five silver coins in exchange for the twenty-five pelts from Numisley¡¯s wagon. The wolf pelts would soon be processed as leather products to be resold by Gelus with prices higher than what Numisley earned today.


    "I''ll take my leave, g''day to you, Mister Gelus, looking forward to doing business with you and your company." Numisley¡¯s shakily turned around,  trying not to fall off his walking stick. "Cultrost, can you hold these? They are a bit heavy."


    A red Satyr a year older than Numisley, wearing a long loincloth and a shirt with a mace hanging on the side approached him. While Numisley was thin and atrophic, he was a bit muscular for his age from working as a laborer in their business. His all-black eyes looked around the warehouse, a habit from being a bodyguard for his step-sibling.


    "We''re heading back?" Cultrost asked Numisley.


    "Let''s see¡­" Numisley scratched his chin. "I would like to head to a gambling house in this city, but it''s getting late. Pops would kill us otherwise if I gambled away our earnings from this week."


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "No shit." His sibling agreed. They went to the wagon where some of the family''s employees were waiting, only four of them.


    "Here''s your share, boys." The two rode in the wagon, reinforced with a cheap enchantment that strengthened the canvas and the wood a little bit. Numisley distributed 7 silver for each of them, More than enough for each of them to live for a week and the rest of the money would be their profit for today.


    "Damn, I want to scalp one more coin from him." Numisley sighed.


    "One more coin is another risk after all." One of their family''s employees, a balding Orcan [Caravan Master] commented as he drove the wagon and the two mules pulling it. A famous Libertalian saying of the many [Traders] that rule the continent.


    "...And one more reward, Mister Palden," Numisley added. "I need more Feats and experience with time. Our earnings are enough for now, but I was simply a bit greedy."


    "The dog of greed bites back, so take care." Palden made an idiom on the spot.


    "Without your Feat, how much would each pelt be?" One of the [Caravan Guards] asked, a red-yellow scaled Lizardfolk wearing a helmet of bone and a thick coat, is one of the species from the southern continent of El-Mira; which also is a minority living in Libertalia''s southern coastal and swampy cities.


    "Probably two silvs." Numisley shrugged. "How ya'' fairing Mister Laexth? Chilly ain''t it?"


    "Cold. I wish I was a warm-blood like you, sir." Laexth, the only Lizardfolk of this wagon grumbled.


    "It''s a week or two before winter comes knockin''," Numisley replied. "Your family got enough for winter?" He asked. Their father had taught them how to care for their employees and build rapport. This aspect of business is the most important of all, according to Numisley¡¯s and Cultrost¡¯s father; a man of many talents as much as mystery.


    "More than enough. I fear that my hatchling would hoard the food in our pantry."


    Good-natured laughs and banter were exchanged during the duration of the trip. The trip itself was unremarkable. Plains and clusters of trees stretched for miles under cloudy skies. They passed by rotting ruins withered with time, and the occasional wild animal or monster.


    Soon, they arrived in the town of Renimburg in the afternoon. The village was built around remnants of a destroyed keep, which is where the town got its name. The stone walls with wooden battlements were built with the aged stone of the old walls mixed with the new ones from the nearby quarry.


    They passed through the road among the harvested fields, the perimeter guarded by warding totems erected by the allied Satyr Tribe of Tahchawe: a nomadic tribe that rides and herds Sclenti Deer; magical deer with glittering horns with purifying qualities that are powdered for Shamanic medicine and used in their totems. These totems are from a pact two decades ago that the village and the trading company would have a share of their grain, steel tools, money, and iron in exchange for their purifying powders, warding totems, and an exclusive trade partnership and mutual protection. Some of the Satyrs from that tribe had found work within the town and became part of the community.


    They passed by the wooden "saltbox" houses outside the walls of the cities, a sign that the town is being expanded further. The wooden guard towers and guardhouses were manned by the Redmond Wolves [Mercenaries] hired by Maldent Trading to patrol their territory.


    After identifying themselves by showing their company''s identification documents, they were let into the walled section of the city. They headed for their company''s headquarters, a wide stone three-story building that also doubled as an apartment aside from being an office beside a wide warehouse.


    "Gildin Trading." The clean wooden sign on the doorway is displayed.


    The wagon was parked inside and its few contents were unloaded. Numisley and Cultrost walked within the corridors of the buildings. Tenants and workers that they passed by knew that they were the sons of the owner of the trading company. Many of them minded their own business, but those who had long worked for the company greeted them. The chime on the door rang as it swung open. A middle-aged man with thin brown hair gazed at them over a cleared stack of paperwork.


    "How was the trip?" Jacias Glidin, the owner of the company, and their father asked as Numisley hobbled forwards, assisted by his brother.


    "Good. We sold three-fourths of our inventory. I''ll write the details on the report, as usual, Pops." Numisley answered.


    "Suppose that he didn''t get into trouble, right?" Jacias stared at Cultrost with a gaze that can pierce metal.


    "Yes. Well, he did complain about not having enough time to gamble." Cultrost answered, sweating a bit. He was mindful that even if he lied, he would find out. Their father had a way of obtaining information expertly because of being an [Spymaster] in the past before being a [Merchant] and a [Information Broker], but they haven''t been told much even back when they were children.


    "Good. I got news to tell." Their father announced. "Close the door."


    The Satyr closed the door. The office was [Muffled], not [Silenced], because [Glyphs of Silence] would consume too much mana and its magical signature would be more obvious that they had information that they want to keep within these walls, especially in a quaint town where there are not many enchanted buildings to blend it in. As an extra measure, Jacias had commissioned enchanted speaking stones within the walls to play a random pre-recorded conversation as well as less obvious illusions on the blinds that showed them in a false conversation, to evade those who have Feats that read lips.


    "A Dungeon has been discovered near us and the neighboring town of Ashiicalom, and it was just announced to be Silver-rank based on the initial floors. However, the news will reach the company of Belias'' Trading by tomorrow or the day after according to our information sources. Their [Mercenaries] and [Traders] might prevail on their Adventurer''s Guild and take a share of the loot before we do. It will raise the prices of magical items and raw monster products."


    "I suggest that we sabotage them-"


    "We shall not do anything drastic." Jascias interrupted before Numisley suggested a risky idea. "Although that would be a missed opportunity for profit, sometimes the risk isn''t worth the reward."


    "I suppose I shall send a [Runner] or someone in the Messenger''s Guild to deliver the report for the higher-ups at Maldent?" Numisley asked, slightly irked because he didn''t get to voice his idea.


    "Yes. The usual." Jacias would send highly important letters by hiring two or three [Runners] to deliver two fake letters and the actual letter so that there''s less chance of another company intercepting them.


    "I know that you want to do something to help the family. Being ambitious is good. You remind me of your late mother in that regard. Some of your proposals had been helpful to our business, but I do not want to put us in danger as we already are."


    "I know." Numisley moaned as he was being scolded.


    "Listen. Our boys in Helmgarti''s Quarry in the Adymine Mine had been bought out by Belias Trading. One of our wagons was looted by unknown [Mercenaries]. They made their move to acquire a share for the new Dungeon public by declaring it in the Merchant''s Guild."


    "It may be a company-to-company war again I suppose?"


    "Yes." Jacias gravely replied. "By tonight, I want you out of this town and stay in the manor. Cultrost, any new Feats?"


    "Not really. I haven''t got anything new for the past week." The Satyr answered. Jascias sensed the danger that was right outside their windows.


    "I''ll use [Priority Order] to charter a wagon fast. Get to the warehouse-"


    They were alerted by one of their Feats, but it was too late even if they jumped behind the side of the desk. The window at their right broke as fire and debris engulfed the room.

 Chapter 2

    "How much is the reward again, Gery?" A dirty-blonde and tanned woman was holding a dagger against a pudgy Satyr [Wagon Driver]''s back, forcing him to drive the wagon that the [Mercenaries] had hijacked.


    "Two gold coins I think." A man was stroking his thin mustache as he held a wooden staff with a single red crystal in the other hand as he sat behind her, along with other men and women holding disposable Wands of Fireball. "Two? I suppose that this''s just a spook. The employer is stinting on us?"


    "One gold and five silver for each of us if we manage to kill Jacias Gildin. Thirty silver for each of their employees."


    "Nice-"


    "Do not chase them down. This is only a drive-by. The bonuses only apply if we manage to kill them in the volley, Thissa."


    "I guess two gold is enough to not starve for weeks. I can buy a real nice sofa for that, made from magical sheep or somethin''. " The woman shrugged. The other three men and women are cutting small gaps on the canvas to aim their wands out.


    "Investing in something is a better use for that coin. I want to buy stock for wands if the Dungeon is free to invest in. Prices will go up once Belias purchases a share." The [Mage] replied.


    "Sounds nice. Might just hire some [Carpenters] to renovate the hole in my roof. Or buy a sword with a sharpening enchantment or boots with [Haste]."


    "That''s more sensible." Gery shrugged. Their wagon was near the target, a building with the sign: Gildin Trading. He cut that small conversation short.


    "Attune wands." He ordered the rest of the people in the wagon. The crystal on his staff is a concentrated mana crystal that is designed to supply mana via linking it to multiple wands so that it can supply or empower them. The wands of the rest of the [Mercenaries] are made out of cheap wood and etched with [Fireball], purposely designed to burn after one Spell to leave no traces. The [Wagon Driver] sweated profusely because they were about to attack the company he works in while a blade at his back was warning him not to shout or try to escape.


    "Cast."


    The street was bustling with people. The spacious street has a few small shops within the buildings, [Farrier]''s shop and food stalls. People generally stay clear of the center of the road because that is where Gildin Trading''s wagons go through. One of them was unleashing five [Fireballs] with nearly the power of a [Great Fireball] towards the third floor of the headquarters of Gildin Trading. The windows were shattered and the wall was decimated. The wagon in question suddenly sped up, leaving the scene.


    Numisley was being carried by Cultrost on his back, still holding on to his walking stick. Jascias was ordering one of his employees to send a report to Maldent Trading before they hopped in the wagon with their best [Mercenaries], five people that he trusted the most, from way back since he had arrived at this continent. Palden, their fastest [Caravan Master] had run towards the new wagon and used a Feat to accelerate faster. The wagon sped through the crowded roads, but the people were already standing clear away from the roads because of the initial explosion. Many of the city''s mercenary Watch are already reassuring the crowd. A few people still on the roads had jumped away from the speeding wagon.


    The wagon had swerved from street to street until they got out of the walled portion of the town. They slowed down on the cracked stone road. They were in the less populated area of the town, where the farmland is. They went through the forest road until they saw their secluded manor within. It was a spacious stone house with tiled roofs, protection enchantments on the walls and windows, as well as a barren garden that was supposed to grow flowers and other plants. Two 7 feet tall stone golems with sensor gems on their heads in place of a face that is armed with mauls patrolled the area. Jacias stared gingerly at the unused patch of land overgrown with weeds before opening the doors to their manor. He never had a green thumb, in fact, he only kept the barren garden populated by weeds to remember his wife.


    "Remember what you will need to do when the time comes," Jacias told Cultrost and Numisley immediately when they had entered the manor, rushing towards the dinner table parallel to the fireplace. Palden crouched beside the trapdoor.


    "The vault?" Cultrost asked.


    "Yes." He said. "In the event of my death, you will leave the continent, and follow the instructions in the vault. The books are the most important, however."


    "Wait, you never told us what were they about-"


    "You only need the passphrase. You two are smart enough to figure out what to do with the information that I had collected." Jascias turned to his escort and ordered them to spread out and guard the rest of the house. He gestured towards Numisley and Cultrost, twisting the green gem on his golden ring, pointing at the trapdoor that suddenly appeared below the table, unveiling an illusion that covered it. "If I do not come back for a bell or two, you will escape with the files and money in the vault."


    "But-"


    "Cultrost, take care of your brother. Numisley, stay safe. I''m proud of you boys, more than you can ever imagine." The two climbed down the ladder. The last person to climb down was the [Wagon Master], Palden.


    "Fortune to you, boss." The aged Orcan saluted and closed the trap door. It locked itself and reactivated the illusion that hid it within the floorboards. Jacias Gildin never looked back and he adjusted his old dagger from his [Spymaster] days on his belt, enchanted with [Evercut]. He went upstairs to his room and grabbed a notebook filled with secrets that he might bribe his enemies with, a Wand of Shatterbolt along with other magic items.


    He had been there before. Life-or-death situations where armed men and women had come to capture or kill him because of the secrets that he carried and dispensed. He still lives because he knew how to escape. After all, a [Spymaster] was less inclined to fight as well as a [Warrior] does. But he still has a few tricks on his sleeve. He activated the trap Spells that are spread out within their estate.


    -


    [Riders] had rode through the forests within the vicinity of Renimburg. They were three dozen of them, hired to kill the [Merchant] that owned Gildin Trading and their sons. A violet-skinned Satyr had scanned and set his pure-black eyes forwards towards where the manor could be. He deduced that the manor is well-hidden or camouflaged with illusion Spells. Their [Mage] rode up beside him, a Human woman with red hair partially hidden within her hood.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "Captain Gadihew, there are no magical emissions up ahead that indicate an area-wide illusion. However, there is a possibility of trap spells around the vicinity.." She reported. "A given for an [Merchant] and former [Spymaster] of his fortune. We got no time, and we must risk it. He already knows that we are already here."


    He turned towards his [Riders]. "Men and women, use your best movement Feats and gallop forwards!"


    The [Mercenary Captain] and [Forest Rider] had activated his [Unit: Hooves of Haste], which was a Feat derived from his Bound Spell, and [Unit: Riding Expertise (Forest)]. His mercenary group is specialized in chasing down important targets with their horses, and they have a requirement that they need to have a horse and a [Rider] Role to enlist. As if under the effect of a [Haste] Spell, the [Riders] sped up. Despite the twisted full roots of the trees and the rocky, mossy path, their horses'' hooves had not slipped or tripped as they should, weaving through the forest.


    The first bound [Stone Dart] Spell, etched on a hidden rune within a tree''s bark, had activated because the trap Spells were activated with a sensor rune that detects a certain speed. Cleverly, the hired [Runemakers] and [Enchanters] had used the mana of the trees to hide its magical signature. It targeted one of the hooded [Riders], but with a [Burst of Speed], he sped past the magical projectile. A few were unfortunate enough to collide with a [Earth Wall]. Some traps were not magical; one had tripped on a hidden rope, dismounting a female [Rider]. A dozen and more had either been injured or killed. Mercenary Captain Ridi Gadihew and his best [Riders] had dodged the magical projectiles and jumped over conjured walls. They even hopped off the trunks of the trees to traverse the rough forest. A [Stone Lance] pierced through the [Rider]''s leg and his horse beside the captain, and two of his best [Riders] had been dismounted with the Golems'' swing of their mauls. Their ribs were broken, piercing their organs.


    "How much did they pay you? I can hire you. I sell secrets and such on the side." Jacias stood on the balcony, facing down the nine [Riders] who suddenly stopped upon hearing his voice. He dodged a crossbow bolt as one of the [Riders] took the opportunity to shoot him. His Ring of Protection activated as a barrier around him absorbed three [Lightning Bolt] Spells and snapped multiple crossbow bolts. Ridi had tapped a stone on his belt that had sent a simple magical signal to the other [Mercenaries] that had been hired, letting them know their location.


    Not a [Message] Spell, but a simple [Signal] Spell that lit up the receiver''s signal stone calibrated to tell a rough direction. "I see that you''re not interested in my offer." Already, his five bodyguards were retreating inside the house, where their horses wouldn''t fit. Jascias pulled out a magical scroll encased in gold from his pocket, and the adversaries had already felt the mana buildup as he unfurled it. From the magic circle within the parchment made from a magical beast, six lances of brilliant blue ice homed towards the riders. Most of them evaded it, but one of their horses was struck on his hooves. The frost had spread throughout the horse''s body, immobilizing it and slowly killing it. Its rider dismounted, staying away from the frost that spread throughout the grass. The projectiles that missed and hit the ground had created an area that freezes anything within its radius, and it had kept spreading.


    The [Riders] wary of the Tier 5 Spell had stayed clear of the ever-expanding area of ice magic that threatened to freeze them. A Tier 5 scroll that costs around 60 gold, around the price of a small home with land. The [Captain] of the [Mercenaries] wondered for a bit who did he work for before he became an [Merchant] of goods and information. Their employer didn''t tell them much, and it doesn''t matter to him. 300 gold coins for his death and 700 if he was kept alive. Enough for him and his company to grow fat for two decades or less. Eight of the men and women that he brought with him are injured or dead from that forest of traps. He deduced that the cost was more than worth it. He guessed that he was a retired [Spymaster] from some Yhrilian kingdom, and was quite good.


    "Use enchanted bolts, Spells, and Feats." One of the two [Lieutenants] of the group ordered. Six of his [Riders] were unleashing precious enchanted bolts against the Golems unaffected by the frost spell; only freezing the surface of their stone, staying clear of their expanding radius. Their bolts were enchanted to puncture even low-grade enchanted armor, and boosted by Feats. Pieces of the Golems broke as they were under a barrage of [Acid Arrows], [Stone Darts], and conjured [Iron Darts] as they charged towards them. They were smart regardless, as they targeted the joints of the golems. They are, rudimentary compared to the Golems in the market today, and so they fell, shattering the frozen ground, but not destroyed, only immobilized.


    "Sixteen of you, dismount. Rest of you, secure the perimeter. This is going to be difficult." Ridi ordered his subordinates. Twenty-four had survived, but the battle was going to be inside the manor. Not like they were slouches in dismounted combat, only that they are good with their mounts. Jascias was running within the manor. He knew that they got this house surrounded, and the emergency exit was out of the question as he already heard fighting downstairs, so he hid and waited for the right time to escape.


    -


    Since the [Riders] entered the east side of the manor, they climbed up the windows. They broke the shutters with their weapons and climbed inside. One was pierced by an arrow from the inside. The smart ones raised their bucklers to block them. A group entered one of the bedrooms, but their [Dangersense] blared within their heads. Someone charged through the wooden walls and pulverized two people with a shield charge. Their bodies were limp on a hole in the wall in front of a tall man with a round studded shield dripping blood and a sword turned towards them. The Human [Onslaught Shieldbearer] with a burnt face from an [Acid Orb] from the past drummed his shield, echoing fear within the surviving invaders.


    A group of five entered the kitchen. One of them was stabbed in the back six times within two seconds. A woman with long tusks disappeared from the shadows. They were spooked, waiting for the [Assassin] to appear, even after minutes had passed. The [Shadowstalker Terrorblade] was not there. She skulked within the shadows with her Feats while keeping them frozen in terror as she eliminated officers from the shadows. Their objective was to buy time so that their employer and friend can escape.


    The [Archer] who had drawn the first blood within the manor was holding down a group from a doorway under a hail of arrows in a room on the ground floor. They hid under a conjured barrier of light as the others escaped from the windows. Even as he took a break and lowered his bow, the Elven [Phantomvolley Bowmaster] had deployed his [Cordon of Arrows] in that room. He left the room and searched for enemies to eliminate as his ghastly arrows still kept them out in a conjured volley.


    Some had already jumped and entered the second floor, but a [Glass Shard Volley] had blinded their teammates in front. A white-bearded Dwarf with most of his body petrified with age had conjured webs to tie them down.


    "Don''t make me waste mana on you." He pointed towards the five people trapped in his [Sticky Cocoon] Spell. He pointed to his ironwood staff and [Runes of Stone Spray] were etched on their bindings so that they would activate whenever someone tries to free them.


    The [Warmage Staffwarrior] whirled his staff and crushed the skull of an enemy behind him. He casts his gaze downwards at the wide space of the living room from the wooden railings. The majority of them were in the living room and dining hall. The [Onslaught Shieldbearer] led them to the dining hall, taking blows and slashes yet he never yielded, thrusting his sword at the foolish ones who dared to get close. A Dullahan, a species of people who wear armor at all times since their bodies were akin to slime and shellfish, prone to drying and infection. Yet he tossed his head to the high ceiling and let it float, using their species'' innate telekinesis that only applied to their bodies. His disembodied body, wearing a worn stylized gambeson under an enchanted cuirass walked towards the [Mercenary Captain] with a graceful spring on his step. The blue gambeson held a faded sigil from his past. He held odd long swords without a point with only one single edge. They were executioner swords, sharpened until they cut parchment with a touch.


    "You asked me if I would follow you even if you were wrong. Die for you even if you were dishonorable. Our [Prince] was saved because you halted my mistaken blade. Of course, I will, because we will make sure that you shall never walk your lonely path again." He audibly mumbled to himself; his enemies heard his monologue, looking upon him in awe and confusion, but his Aura threatened to make them kneel and let them cut their heads.


    The five people that protected the manor each have a reason that they risk their lives. The [Shieldbearer] swore to protect his friend for he was grateful for what he had done for him. The [Shadowstalker] still held on to a faded love. The Elf wishes to perish in battle before his friend does of old age. The Dwarf wanted to see how his friend''s past schemes will bite him back. The Dullahan was his oldest living companion before he moved to this continent, following him because he still owes him.


    The Dullahan disembodied body bowed for a bit, showing the pale fleshy stump where the head was supposed to be. A few had let loose bolts and spells towards the floating head, knowing how to defeat Dullahans, but his helmet already had a Gem of Protection embedded in it. Broken bolts fell pathetically on the wooden floor.


    "Wash your necks." He spoke an [Executioner]''s idiom. He was one in the past, albeit disgraced. Yet Jacias had given him an opportunity, and his Role had evolved. The [Mercenaries] charged towards them, but his [Aura of the Executioner] had stopped them, making them kneel. They struggled to stay standing up.


    "[Extended Reach: Six Feet], [Guillotine Arc]." The [Beheader Blademaster] flicked his blade. A sharp arc curved through the air and cleanly beheaded many of the [Mercenaries]. Those who have the ability and quality above the rest of their group had narrowly dodged the Feat. For a second, it resembled a guillotine''s blade flying through the air. Ridi gripped his spear tightly and used one of his Feats that still worked in dismounted combat and he thrust with a blur. It simply grazed the Dullahan''s pauldron as he turned slightly.


    A [Force Wall] Spell from the Dwarf on the second floor kept the other survivors from helping their captain. Their employer didn''t tell them that he have expert bodyguards. Even back when their [Scouts] spotted them, they didn''t detect their true Roles and Feats. But they were only the first wave. Three different mercenary groups were already marching towards the manor.

 Chapter 3

    Jascias sensed the many [Mercenaries] that were marching towards the manor. His [Path to Safety] had notified him that there is now a definite path of escape. He walked out of the closet and walked within the corridors of the second floor. He saw a dead body; one of the [Mercenaries], a boy around his sons'' age. He picked up the battered and bloodied helm, as well as the punctured gambeson. Although he was a [Spymaster], a leader of [Spies], he was a [Royal Spy] before that, so he knew the tricks of the trade aside from establishing an information network.


    He cast [Repair] and [Mend] on the simple helmet and mend the holes on the gambeson and [Remove Stain] to make the blood disappear, wearing the helmet and pulling down the simple visor. The gambeson that was too tight for him suddenly was the right size. He picked up the axe on the ground, and his posture and demeanor changed, hunched and stout.


    [I Became My Disguise]. One of his best Feat had transformed him into that person entirely. He is Gunthos Neouselo, a Half-Dwarf, born from his mother, Dorsel Neouselo. She was a [Prostitute] who died when he came of age. He stole a horse and an axe from the village of Megefoth and never looked back, gaining the [Rider] Role until he joined Hunter''s Hooves when Captain Ridi Gadihew took pity on him¡­


    It also gave him the memories of the person that he was disguised as. He simply ran outside, as he ran from the fierce battle inside, along with a few [Mercenaries] that retreated. He jogged towards one of the dismounted [Riders] who had secured the area. Of course, he noticed him.


    "Gunths! What is the paymaster''s fat ass is happening inside? " The older [Mercenary] questioned.


    "S-scary enemies¡­ The captain might die." He reported. He technically told the truth, but he knew that it may prompt more men to head within the manor so that he has a chance to escape. Although that will give his friends more trouble, he knew that they can handle a few more men, and they were willing to risk their lives for his escape.


    "What are your Roles?"


    The older man held a truth stone in front of him. They were informed that their target might have a disguise-Feat, so they were making sure that no one is getting out of their perimeter.


    "[Mercenary] and [Rider], sir!" He reported. The truth stone glowed green, deceived by his Feat. Temporarily, it gave him some Feats from who he disguised as.


    "Company! Reinforce the boys and girls inside!" His voice resounded throughout the rest of the [Mercenaries]. Since he was one of the officers, they followed his order, even if some of them hesitated for a bit because they were ordered to secure the area.


    Jascias in disguise had used a Feat to send a vague clone of his disguise that ran towards the manor. Jascias ran towards the forest silently. He hunkered behind a thick tree and pulled out a vial from his [Pockets of Holding]. He gulped down a Potion of Room Temperature so that he will be invisible to heat-detection spells. The potion would regulate his body depending on the temperature of the environment. Unfortunately, he didn''t have something to hide his magical signature or Aura.


    "[Bound Spell: Invisibility]." Then he disappeared into the forest. It was a Feat with a precast Spell, and one had to be lucky to obtain it, much less a high-tier Spell.


    He did not traverse the forest in a straight line, rather he zigzagged from tree to tree to evade the sight-lines of [Scouts]. Many of his Feats allows him to make the most minimal amount of noise possible. He was not a [Assassin] nor an [Infiltrator], which have stealth-Feats better than what he had, but he knows enough about stealth techniques to pass through the forest almost without a trace. Already, he snuck past armed men and women, marching towards the manor. He hid behind trees and bushes so that [Detect Life] and [Detect Magic] Spells would not pick him up and instead sense the mana and life-energy of the plants in front of him.


    He pulled out a signal stone and tapped it. A simple magically-transmitted signal that informs his friends in the manor to run and hide.


    Unknowingly, he made a mistake. Even the most powerful men and women fall because of one mistake.


    -


    [Mages] had made a line outside of the forest. They held strange staves as they sat on chairs: attached to staves of wood are discs of metal with etched rings and lattices that are overlapped by glyphs of [Discern Magic], [Detect Life], [Detect Sound], and other detection Spells. They had been doing that for hours, or what they call bells. These were staffs designed to pick up very subtle magical signatures, sounds, aura, and such that were otherwise blended within the environment, and they are required to remain standing on the ground, the bottom partially buried. Mainly, it detects the very faint signatures that a creature might emit even if dampened by Feat, hidden spells, or dungeons.


    A rune at the back of the disc lit up dimly, indicating that they had detected an unusual magical signature, although faint. It might have been a bird flying through the forest, but the spyglass attuned with the staff that the [Mages] held had seen a [Signal] Spell flying through the forest, and they had seen the origin too. The [Mages] gestured to one of the [Mercenaries] on the post and tell the [Commander] or the [Marquis] that they saw the mana signature of a person casting a [Signal] spell north of their position.


    A foreign [Marquis] had emerged from an enchanted tent, guarded by his [Knights]. The old man retained some of his youth because of alchemical tinctures that enable him to do so. His vermillion hair had resisted the inevitable greying of age, as well as made his wrinkles less prominent. Yet his eyes still bear the weight of dozens of experiences and failures, as well as determination and hatred.


    They were in the inner part of the camp, where the [Mercenaries] wouldn''t be allowed in except for their [Commanders]. A tall red-skinned Satyr nevertheless strolled in, holding a javelin as tall as him, while his [Knights] hesitantly stopped him.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "The [Detection Mages] of yours had spotted a moving magical signature. Wanna do something about it?" The Satyr stroked his beard, glaring at the Human noble.


    "We insist that you address him properly as Marquis-"


    "Sod off. Fancy titles ain''t crap if you don''t have the bite from your bark." He shoved a female [Knight] in full plate, sending her a good five feet away before landing on her back. The other men and women of his bodyguard as well as his retainers were affronted by his rudeness.


    "Typical Libertalian rudeness. Are you sure that you detected the target?" The aged [Marquis] harrumphed. He knew that Libertalians in general don''t respect the concept of nobility and royalty because of their history, and they only respect actual power and influence. He heard that once, a [Mercenary General] in Libertalia sent a vulgar letter to a [King] that he didn''t like, in the form of a petty poem because he didn''t pay him enough in a war.


    "Likely. Well, I didn''t swagger'' in your prissy encampment to report just that. Where is the other half of our payment?" He jabbed his javelin lightly on his enchanted doublet, which is good enough to protect against unenchanted blades.


    "Commander Atsaney. I assure you that your company will be paid in full after this task."


    "I''m just making sure that you would not double-cross us. If you do, we have you surrounded after all." Atsaney''s company was also paid to supplement the protection around the encampment, as well as to help in the manhunt. The other hundred-strong Keliden''s Elites and Heystead Hammers are combing the forest in search of him, as well as assailing the manor.


    "I''ll hunt ''em down, and tie him like a present as you wish."


    -


    Jascias saw that there are more [Mercenaries] within his vicinity, searching for him. He was still invisible, but he can only use [Bound Spell: Invisibility] only twice a day, and it last for an hour.


    It is strange how close they are to his position. He suspected that sending that [Signal] Spell may have been detected by a specialized [Mage] or [Scout]-Class that has sufficient Feats that can sense or see it. It would be less of a problem if he didn''t use up most of his Feat or have access to more magic items like in the past.


    He was extremely careful not to brush any plants or bushes, nor step on branches, so he crawled on the ground, hiding behind bushes and boulders. No sudden movements. Still, this is too dangerous. Many patrols were converging towards the rough area of his position. There were overlapping lines of sight that if he stood up or even move a bit, they would detect him if he moved a branch or the leaves of the bushes, and so he stayed stationary. If he stayed longer in one place, it would increase the chances of him being spotted.


    So he took a risk and ran for it before they could inevitably spot him, still invisible. Although they didn''t have [See Invsibility] Spells or similar Feat, they heard the crunch of branches and dried leaves. Immediately, they knew that he was somewhere around them, only invisible. Those who have enspelled wands or [Mages] had cast colored light-[Mist] Spells or detection spells so that they could see his movement. The [Mercenaries] chased the trail of smoke being parted. Jascias had activated his enchanted rings and other magic items on his person. He ran faster now with his Boots of Haste. He traversed the rough terrain with the help of his Belt of Dexterity, swinging from branches and hopping from stone to stone.


    However, they still ceaselessly chased him. His [Dangersense] blared within his head. Something pierced and shattered the trunks of trees and he dodged. When the dust had settled, he saw a javelin, etched with runes.


    Before he realized what the runes in the javelin are, he was frozen in place, or rather, he was confined in a small area akin to an invisible box. The magic items on his person stopped working, even his Feat. He is under an advanced Hex by the looks of it, but that requires a piece of himself to work; blood or a strand of hair. The [Mercenaries] had caught up to him. They secured a perimeter around him and sent someone away. After minutes, an entourage of [Knights] with blue, green, and orange surcoats had appeared before Jascias. They parted to make way for the [Marquis].


    His dim yellow eyes stared at Jascias, holding a strand of Jascias'' hair and he tossed it away.


    "This was a pain to procure, Royal Spymaster." The [Marquis] addressed Jascias former position with disdain.


    "I see that you had trouble finding me, Duke Dusitoz Gaviolos. You can find a strand of hair, but you cant find a way to regain your dignity." Jascias mocked him by using his former rank before he got demoted.


    "You disgraced me! I should''ve had the throne, you sea scum. Now tell us where the notebook is!"


    "You disgraced yourself. There would be no evil to be found if you did not do anything wrong after all." Jascias retorted.


    "Waves drown you! Damn your wife too! Someday that boy-king and his throne will be mine." The former [Duke] gritted his teeth. "Tell me where is that black book, before I will destroy your friends and your home with a Tier 5 Spell." His knuckled whitened.


    "I haven''t been to the Princ-no, his Majesty''s coronation. Did you enjoy yourself there?" He twisted a verbal knife into his already heated feelings. Of course, he had been in the dungeons at that time before he was released and demoted.


    Dusitoz punched him in the cheek, making him kneel. Jascias faced him with his tongue out. On his tongue was a white thin pill. Instantly, the [Marquis] knew what kind of pill it is. He reached out, but it was too late.


    "May the royal ship of Torregorn sail forevermore." He bit the pill that was made for people of his occupation; a fast-acting, painless poison designed to kill within a second or two upon bitten. The venom within the pill had immediately numbed his senses and spread throughout his veins.


    Jascias'' body limped, and the hex had dissipated. He lay face-down on the damp grass.


    "Decrees damn it. Didn''t the report say that he had two sons, right?" The [Marquis] turned to one of his closest [Knights]. "That means one of them has no-"


    A blade caressed his neck. The Commander of Atasaney''s Prowlers had landed behind him and held him hostage with a sword. The [Knight]''s blades are pointed towards him, while the [Mercenaries] surrounded the two dozen [Knights]. The atmosphere is tense, partly because of the Aura of the [Knights] aside from the [Commander] taking their client hostage. They were a dozen [Knights] against around forty or more [Mercenaries].


    "Before you are thinking of another job, should you pay the other half of our salary first?" Atasaney threatened.


    "Ah, wretches!" He cursed. "Fine! Can''t you wait?"


    "Profit does not wait, and you should''ve paid it in full beforehand. You trying to rip us off, huh?" He retorted.


    The [Marquis] uttered a Feat and his small sack of gold coins appeared beside his foot. Atasaney lowered his blade and slung the sack of coins on his shoulder.


    "Our job''s done! Drinks are on me lads!" He announced.


    The [Mercenaries] whooped and cheered. They started to walk after their [Commander], who is leaving the [Marquis] and their entourage behind.


    "Wait-"


    Dusitoz was left speechless as they simply left after finishing the job, leaving no time for a renegotiation or offer for another job. Even with his persuasion-Feat, there is no way that they could convince them for another job, and he cant afford to lose even one of his [Knights]. Soon, they packed up their bags and chests, along with the rest of their supplies, leaving their camp behind with less men in charge of protecting the camp than before.

 Chapter 4

    The three out of five people that had bought time for Jascias'' sons to escape had disappeared from the manor, now reduced to ruins. The Elf and the Orcan [Assassin] died trying to buy the others more time. They fought through dozens of [Mercenaries] around before they decided that it isn''t worth dying for a hundred gold coins.


    Ridi Gadihew was the only one standing out of the people that initially went in. He had Awakened against that fearsome Dullahan; he felt like it was a miracle that he was alive. He tried to raise his left arm, but he did not feel anything. He turned his head to his left shoulder, and he only saw a stump that bled ceaselessly.


    That was the last thing that he saw.


    [Role Played, Mercenary Captain.]


    [Role Played, Lancer.]


    [Role Played, Forest Rider.]


    [Rare Feat- Company: Recompensation of Losses] developed!


    [Role Evolved, Forest Lancer.]


    [Feat- Couched Lance] developed!


    [Feat-


    His eyes laid upon the roof of a tent. He turned and he saw a tall Satyr sitting beside him.


    "Finally awake, eh? Nice new Feat. Congratulations." Atasaney remarked.


    "Who?" Ridi blinked in surprise. Atasaney turned to him, staring at his eyes; deep black scleras with golden rings.


    "I got a [Headhunter] Feat. You from the tribes?"


    "Er- no, sir."


    "Good. Want to join my company? No one''s left in your band, as you can see." Atasaney told him. A fellow Satyr with an affiliation to the tribes that roam the frontier would be a problem because of divided loyalties. The Companies of Libertalia are paid to defend against their raids after all.


    Fully conscious, he sat up. He stared at his missing left arm, wrapped in bandages, and had stopped bleeding with a pour of a healing potion.


    "Yes."


    "Good, we''ll leave in a few minutes. We got a bastard to hunt."


    -


    The stone brick room lit itself up with mage lights as Numisley, Cultrost, and Palden appeared within a magic circle. Before that, they were in a dark room directly under the manor, and as Numisley spoke the passphrase, they were suddenly teleported here. There was only a single wooden chest in the middle of the hidden room, reinforced with enchanted metal. A sigil of protection is attuned with the runes etched on each corner of the chest, within etched lattices following the straight grain of the wood. The etchings seemed to contain a magical resin of some sort. In place of a lock, there is a keyhole that has a sharp pin embedded within it.


    "A Bloodline Lock?" Culrost gasped in surprise. Numisley knows how well-read his brother is due to the number of books that they have in their household. A tool of royal vaults that can be only by the royal bloodlines.


    Numisley inserted his finger in the "keyhole". He felt the pinprick on the tip of his finger; the blood on the pin had been absorbed by the etchings within the wood, the blood seemingly flowing through the resin, making some of the runes glow red. The chest opened up by itself. There is a brown leather book, decorated with faded golden stripes titled the "Treatise of Roles", a black notebook, a pouch of gold coins, maps, and a portfolio of documents. There is a written letter on them, a piece of paper waiting to be read.


    To my sons; Knowledge is power.


    The brown book holds the knowledge of Roles and Feat that the aristocracy hoards. These documents are my identification papers for my multiple bank accounts from Libertalia to Yhril, all with gold to spend so that you can leave the continent and live with my relatives in Yhril. They are in the county of Polossin, Torregorn, find the town of Santaveses, and ask for the farm of Cascinavi.


    Keep the black notebook hidden at all costs. It contains a list of my allies that may protect you and secrets that you can use if necessary.


    Numisley grabbed the black notebook and unfurled it, giving the letter to Cultrost. It has more pages than expected as if the notebook has a Holding enchantment within, and its letters were too small to be read normally. A magnification spell had let him read these microscopic texts.


    At first glance, it is a collection of financial reports, outdated by years, but that was the clue. Their father had taught them the art of cryptography and knew the codes that he had used, even the magical ciphers. But the details were hidden within invisible ink or letters that rearranged themselves via magic. Yet Numisley had deciphered it because he was familiar with the magical ciphers used. They were names with anecdotes and names, attached with dates. The initial list that he is reading seemed to be about the dirt on Libertalian leaders, pillars of communities, or just important people within the various city-states and organizations within Libertalia.


    He turned a few pages and laid his fingers on a few pages. This book reveals the secrets of the Trislan region in Yhril, the Human Continent, unlike Libertalia or Fallen Qin which had many races equal to or dominating over the Human population. If anything in this notebook had been leaked to the public, it would cause an uproar; the political equivalent of a scroll that contains a Tier 8 Spell that can destroy an empire. They both knew that he was an [Spymaster] in the past, as well as a broker of information at the side along with being an [Merchant] under Maldent Trading. They surmised that this notebook was the information that he had gathered throughout the years.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "So this is what he had told us about¡­" Numisley turned towards his brother, giving him the notebook.


    "Who exactly is our father? Where in Yhril did he come from?" Cultrost asked. "You have any idea, sir?" Cultrost turned to Palden, one of the oldest employees under Jascias.


    "As far as I know, he came to Libertalia with your mother around fifteen, seventeen trials ago? I first became a [Wagon Driver] under them two trials after they had established Gildin Trading. If I remember correctly, I found you on the office''s doorstep in my third trial of working for them." Palden replied to Cultrost, remembering how he was picked up in an abandoned basket by Jascias and his wife on their doorstep. Much later, Numisley was born.


    "Our father didn''t exactly mention our mother''s name," Numisley added, recalling how he avoided talking about her directly. "Or anything about her past...their past in Yhril. She died when I was born."


    "He is still grieving, I think." Palden guessed. "But, it is not your fault."


    "I know."


    Numisley flicked to another set of pages.


    Raynios Joda: Leader of a Gang in Tucken. An expert [Thief]. Safehouse locations: Mugged Mug Tavern, in Warden''s Walking¡­


    The Severed Swords. A mercenary group around 20-30 in number. Leader: Graten Haovel [Watcher], [Sword Captain]. A distant friend of mine when I first arrived in Libertalia. They can be paid for guarding towns and assets. Their headquarters are in the town of Lynt.


    Thewardn Glors. He works in Aquives in Zitholon. [Infomration Broker], connected to a lot of people in this list. A close friend.


    A list of allies that they could call upon. Their father knew them one way or another. Some of them had their secrets attached to them in case they were not cooperative. The nearest bank from here is the Bank of Dotterm, owned by the Temer Corporation, one of the five Corporations that rule Libertalia, although that is quite a ways away if they wanted to get Jascias'' coins from his account. Cultrost already packed up the pouch of coins from the chest and the paperwork. Numisley''s hands were trembling as he pocketed the black notebook.


    "Let''s go," Palden told them. They opened the grated door and found themselves in a small room. They opened the door and found themselves in a small stable. A thin balding Orcan was tending to a donkey, staring at them as he cleaned the hooves of a horse.


    "Eh? Oh. Are you Jascias'' boys?" He asked.


    "Yes. Numisley and Cultrost Gildin. And Palden, our company''s [Caravan Master]." Numisley spoke. "I didn''t know our father had something like this."


    "Well, with his connections with the underworlds across two continents, it''s a given that he has some advanced escape methods when things got dicey. " The man that owns the stable replied.


    "Where are we exactly?" Cultrost asked.


    "In the hamlet of Hamms. Half a day''s ride from your pop''s manor." He answered. "Seeing that you''re here, and the commotion, I guess you''ll need a mount to ride on. Here''s your ass."


    He pointed to a donkey within the stables, with a slight smirk worn on his face. "I''ll get the saddle."


    The three rode on the donkey, and they placed their belongings on the donkey.


    "No need to pay me. Jascias already pays me for keeping the teleportation circle hidden and intact." He smiled deviously, as he counted gold coins on his palm. The three left without any fanfare, and they left the small hamlet in the forest. Palden was holding the reins of the donkey, and they rode forwards in the plains.


    "How much time until we arrive at the nearest settlement? Or how long until we arrive in Lynt? I plan to hire the Severed Swords to protect us on the trip."


    "[Locate Settlement]. [Estimate Travel Time]. Young master, it is a day and a half away, and that is if I use my movement Feat in ideal conditions. I do not wish to use my Feat until we need it, and most of my Feat apply in caravans. We may have to spend the night outside before sundown.


    "I see. We can wait."


    They traveled the grasslands and forests in silence, as they avoided the major roads; they saw the patrols of [Mercenaries] that seemed to be looking for them, especially for the ones on horseback. Palden had experience evading [Bandits] as any veteran traveler in Libertalia, or anywhere in the world should. They scaled a rocky hill, covered by a decent amount of trees. As the sun started to set, they had set up a small fire made with a bundle of sticks and dry leaves. Palden used a supply Feat to temporarily conjure bedrolls and hardtack because they had left in a hurry after being suddenly attacked.


    "I got a plan. But, do you trust me?" Numisley spoke, breaking the silence.


    "What plan?" Cultrost asked.


    "This notebook." Numisley held the ominous black notebook. "What if we make a business around it?"


    "What? What are you thinking?" Cultrost failed to understand.


    "The brown notebook is a copy of the Treatise of Roles. That means the knowledge of Feats, and Roles that few people had in their possession. We learn the powers that we want from this book."


    "That''s¡­" Palden mouthed.


    "What''s more important is this black notebook. Enchanted to contain more than its size. This contains a list of secrets of the big-shots. Dirt against them. Dirt that we can use to blackmail them, or to sell to interested parties. Money too, since our father has multiple bank accounts in both Liberan and Yhril. This book has a list of our father''s allies that we may call upon. We can pay them by gold or secrets, or our father''s goodwill-"


    "Are you hearing yourself right now, Numisley!" Cultrost tackled him, pulling him by the collar. "This business proposal of yours will put us in danger! It is clear that the letter says to use these to get to our relatives!"


    "Hypothetically, we had successfully arrived and lived in Polossin with our relatives in Yhril. By now, people will know that we have the notebook. Can we protect ourselves from a hundred veteran [Assassins]?"


    "Of course, we can''t. That is why we burn it right now!" He steered Numisley''s hand holding the black notebook towards the dim fire, but Numisley resisted.


    "Do you think that they will let us live after we burn it into ash, brother? They would kill us otherwise, notebook or not! Secrets depreciate if it''s lost or it becomes useless!" Numisley justified.


    Cultrost pulled out his hand forcefully. The rings within the black sclera of his eyes glinted in exasperation.


    "Fine. Pops had ordered me to take care of you anyways, you limp-legged bastard." The Satyr grinned as he calmed down.


    "Well, my ideas helped the family business, you lazy oaf." Numisley bantered.


    They exhaled, slumping on the big rock they set up camp beside. It provided ample protection from the wind from the east, but that''s about it.


    "I''ll take watch." Palden volunteered.


    "I can do it," Cultrost interjected.


    "No. You rest. Besides, I got a Feat that lets me be awake and vigilant for a night or two." Palden reassured. "Got something better?"


    Cultrost stared at him blankly.


    "Thought so. Sleep well." Palden turned towards them. Already, Numisley had slept soundly from fatigue.


    "Don''t you think that Numisley is too ambitious?" The Satyr whispered to Palden.


    "Yeah," Palden whispered.


    "So-"


    "Rise or fall. I think that is the reason that your brother is ambitious. A Giant in his own frail body."


    "What do you mean?" Cultrost scratched the skin on his horns.


    "Imagine not being able to walk, all-most people can walk. It is as easy as breathing. Imagine being unable to do the simplest thing, no matter how hard you try. Frustrating, isn''t it?"


    Cultrost thought of it. He remembered when Numisley was a child that he threw tantrums. He couldn''t walk well like all the others and had to be carried by either their father or him whenever they would go somewhere because he was born with an atrophied leg. Later he would be able to use a walking stick, but sometimes he had to be carried.


    "Yes." Cultrost agreed.


    "So, you have to compensate. If you are blind, hone your other senses. In your brother''s case, he is blessed with intellect and business sense, despite his frail body. So he compensates." Palden explained. "He has no choice but to rise with his genius and charisma, or remain as a powerless frail man."


    "I understand." Cultrost nodded, staring at the burning wood of the campfire. "I just hope that we don''t die in the process."


    They slept in the cold night as the fire weakened into embers.

 Chapter 5

    "Hah! We beat that poncy [Duke] and the two idiotic [Mercenary] groups!" Atasaney rejoiced as he paid the man maintaining the hidden teleportation circle in Hamms.


    "How do you know about this?" Ridi asked his new [Commander].


    "A certain someone had told me of this information. Of course, I paid dearly for it. It''s a good deal nevertheless." Atasaney replied as he turned towards his men and women. "We ride. To Lynt."


    -


    Numisley dreamt of riches and influence; with vast coffers that struck his eye, and influence that has even [Lords] and [Merchants] at his beck and call. All because of a black notebook that held secrets; the true wealth of nations. He looked up and saw a gilded throne among the waves.


    And drowned.


    Numisley jittered himself awake after he dozed off on the back of Palden. The three headed towards the town of Lynt. They were on a less-known dirt road within the grasslands. A tent beside the road under a tree revealed itself, and three figures emerged. A Dwarf with a staff, a Human with a half-burnt face, and a Dullahan.


    "Wait-" Cultrost placed his hand on the mace on his side.


    "Oh, it is you guys." Palden recognized them. They were part of the security personnel of the company, and the ones who survived the attack on the manor. Palden instinctively knew that the two of them did not survive.


    "Yes. Your father''s last will is to protect you until we get to safety." The Dullahan informed them.


    "Thank you. Although, I have different plans, Dornlor." Numisley stated, raising their eyebrows.


    "You got the eyes of a conniving serpent, just like your father." The Dwarf approached Numisley, as they continued their pace. "What is it?"


    "Let''s say that I have inherited my father''s secrets. I intend to make a profit out of them, Palvt." Numisley spoke with the Dwarf.


    "That notebook..." He uttered.


    "Do you mean to disobey your father''s last wish?" Donlor stared at him, incredulous.


    "High-risk, high-reward. With this, we might make my family''s company wealthier. That''s what my father wanted too." Numisley reassured. "I do not intend to waste away in another continent while [Assassins] stab my back in the future. Even if I do not read its contents, knowing of its existence will put a target on my back regardless."


    "I shall guard you as I did with your father. In my experience as a [Mercenary], you should side with the one who seems to know what he is doing." The old Human man slung his shield behind him. "How much can you pay me?"


    "I can pay you one gold per week, Gorebur. Or a secret of your choosing. I will withdraw the gold stored in my father''s account at Dotterm after I hire the Severed Swords, a caravan, as well as the people I need in this journey, and you will get five gold."


    "Well, I don''t care much ''bout that lad. I did see how his black notebook bit him in the ass along his court games in the past." Palvt told Numisley. "Nor do I care about you. I like your brother better because you''re too much like your parents, so I''ll accompany you because I feel you''ll suffer the same fate."


    "You walk a path similar to your father. As he had saved me from disgrace, I shall pay my debt at last." The Dullahan interjected. "He used his knowledge to do what''s right, and I hope you will do the same. Otherwise, wash your neck."


    "Can''t argue with that. I''ll pay you all, of course." Numisley stated. He tried to hide the fact that he was intimidated by the self-righteous Dullahan. But he was assured that no [Bandits] want to tangle with this group because of their strength.


    "What happened to Gildin Trading in Renimburg?" Cultrost asked them, but he had an inkling of the truth of the matter.


    "The town is being sacked. I saw our warehouses in flames. Belias'' [Mercenaries] now occupy the town." Gorebur recounted how they saw their town under siege as they escaped. The three''s eyes widened with shock. Numisley''s mind was running, trying to guess why is this happening.


    "We''re heading to Lynt. Let''s go." Numisley broke the silence, distracting them for a second as well as reminding them of their goal. They continued forwards, with their new companions walking beside them as the three rode the donkey.


    -


    The town of Lynt, founded by a local folk hero named Lynt, stood on the elevated ground upon a dried lake, where their communal ranch of sheep is located; with their wool as their main export. Although their sheep are not one of those prized breeds, much less the magical ones, with the [Sheep Ranchers]'' Feats, they can supply the local wool industry with quality mundane wool. The traveling party of Numisley was within sight of its wooden ramparts, reinforced with packed dirt.


    The [Guards] on the gate saw them, and they immediately asked for identification. Numisley knew from the embroidered emblem of a severed sword at the breast of his gambeson that they belong to the Severed Swords, and Numisley made a mental note to himself that he would meet with their commander tomorrow. As they were permitted to enter the town, they trudged through the streets of Lynt, patrolled by the local militia assisted and trained by the Severed Swords. Since it''s mostly a Human town, some of them gave Cultrost and the non-Humans raised eyebrows or seldom, dirty looks of suspicion as they passed by. Especially Cultrost, one of the Satyrs; feared by Libertalian settlements for their raids. They paid the [Hostler] of the inn named "The Woolen Mug" to take care of the donkey in the stables as they went inside. They paid the Human [Innkeeper] without any fuss, and they went to their rooms, planning for the future.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Numisley, Cultrost, and their three companions from the road faced the entrance to the headquarters of the Severed Swords; a simple compound of four buildings in a district of the town, hidden among the buildings.


    "Can I speak to Commander Haovel? I will hire the Severed Swords." Numisley spoke to the two [Mercenaries] that guard the compound.


    "He is not accepting employment until the end of the contract with the [Mayor] of Lynt." One of them spoke, blocking their way with crossed spears.


    "Would this change your mind?" Numisley, leaning on his cane revealed three glimmering gold coins; thrice their monthly salary.


    "Er¡­well, please come in." He retracted his spear back as the other guard raised his eyebrows.


    Numisley gave them both three gold coins each before the more sensible guard objected as he simply walked into the compound with his entourage. Gold opens a lot of doors in Libertalia after all.


    "Excuse me, I''m here to talk to Commander Haovel of the Severed Swords, on behalf of Gildin Trading," Numisley called the attention of one of the men supervising people carrying crates towards a wagon.


    "That is me." The tanned blonde-haired man in his fifties turned towards them. "Did you say, Gildin Trading?"


    "I''m Numisley Gildin, and this is my brother, Cultrost Gildin, and them, my remaining employees. We are what remains of the company. I assume that you know our father?"


    "Yes-"


    "I require your services. Name your price." Numisley cut straight to the point, leaving him no room to object. The commander of the Severed Swords was speechless by the sudden offer.


    "My company''s contract with the town hasn''t ended yet-"


    "Graten Haovel. [Watcher] and [Sword Captain].Your band is specialized in defending assets, and that is what I need. I can pay you and your men if you protect us at least until we can charter a ship in the Diamond Shore Conglomerate''s territories."


    "How do you know that?" Graten snapped at Numisley. One''s true Roles are sensitive information, after all. Numisley pulled the notebook halfway on his coat, poking out of the folds.


    "Let us talk about the exact terms in a more private setting."


    Graten begrudgingly hosted him in the office, because he knew what exactly is that notebook; collected dirt from important figures of two continents so large that it became a metaphorical mountain of secrets. It holds more than a vault of gold, more destructive than most armies if it is used right.


    "Is Jascias alive?" He asked, a table away from the bold young man who demanded his attention.


    "Killed by [Mercenaries]. Most likely. I do not know which, nor I did not see him die. Probably Belias Trading, but I know that they wouldn''t dare to directly attack even our company."


    "I see. Condolences. I can attest that he is a decent sort compared to the rest of the continent, being hired by him in the past."


    "What did he hire you for?" Cultrost asked, leaning closer to the table.


    "Back then, we were only ten people. More like a ''venturing team than a proper company. We simply protected him and his lover as they travel through Libertalia, and instead of paying us with gold, he paid with his knowledge of Roles and helped build my company."


    "Who was my mother?" Numisley asked after Cultrost.


    "I do not know exactly. She wore some kind of magical coat that obscured her face almost all the time. But, your father called her Marhyiana, if I recall."


    Numisley, pondered at that clue, although he had more pressing matters right now.


    "Even with that high-grade Bag of Holding that might hold more than a hundred coins, how can I be sure that you can pay us in the next moon?" Graten asked, tapping his finger on the table.


    "This is why I also need your help." Numisley straightened. "Although I can pay your entire company this moon, I need to get to Dotterm safely so that I could withdraw my father''s money to secure funds. There''s a chance whoever attacked our house will chase us."


    "I see. What can you offer that is worth more than my contract with this town?" His gaze tried to pierce Numisley.


    "Forty gold coins per moon." Numisley offered.


    "Too low." Graten countered. "Try a hundred-and-fifty gold. My contract is worth that much, and we haven''t been paid in full yet."


    "Fifty then." Numisley cursed his lack of Feats. Even his [Basic Haggling] wouldn''t be that effective against an experienced [Mercenary]. He made the mistake of setting the price too low.


    "You haven''t run a merc'' band, are you? A hundred-and-thirty gold, then. Less than that and I''ll toss you out of the window." Graten threatened, and Numisley has no time to concede, nor the money. The air felt static as the two faced off each other, as Cultrost and the rest of Numisley''s companions watched who will win in this heated haggling.


    "I know that hiring [Mercenaries] cost, what, twenty gold at least, if they are a dozen of them," Numisley stated. "Majority of the cost is from their food and weapons, and we all know how they drink beer like water and fuck like rabbits when they arrive in a town with a brothel. You have like, thirty or so men, which is around forty gold coins."


    "You are asking me to cancel a lucrative contract, and even if I did accept your offer, it will take a day or two to buy supplies and prepare for a trip, and convince the [Mayor] to cancel our contract." Graten brought out a salient point.


    Numisley still sat straight, facing the commander of a decent mercenary company in a battle of wits and greed.


    "How about fifty gold, and a secret about the [Mayor] of Lynt." He drew his last card, his ace in the hole: the black notebook of secrets.


    Graten''s eyes widened upon hearing that phrase. "How important is that secret?"


    "Let''s just say that if you unleashed this secret in Lynt, the [Mayor] will fear to go outside his home."


    -


    Letner Maycey, a portly middle-aged Human man that governed the town of Lynt for seven trials, was eating a mutton stew inside the town hall; complete with celery, onion, cabbage, potatoes, and corn; a recipe from the Satyr tribes, despite his general distrust for Satyrs. They raid settlements and take jobs from Humans in the cities after all. Someone knocked at the door.


    "Come in." Letner put aside his now empty ceramic plate, with a spoon made out of a goat''s horn.


    A young man opened the door, holding a letter.


    "A letter from Graten Haovel of the Severed Swords. About the defensive contract."


    The letter was placed on the table dimly illuminated by the sunlight from the stained windows, and the [Servant] left the [Mayor] in the privacy of the room. As the string around the letter was unfurled, his eyes widened, forehead wet with fear after he read the letter.


    "How did he know that I k-"


    He choked at his own words before he regained his composure, leaning on the chair. He deliberated on whether or not he should kick them out for demanding more money outside of their contract, but there is a chance that a rumor may spread if he does so. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place, and he won the election by silencing the opposition. The [Servant] of the manor detected that he needed something with one of his Feats.


    "Tell the commander that he will get the other half of his payment tonight, and tell him the contract is done." He snapped at the [Servant], who promptly rushed out the room to fill the orders.


    On that night, Numisley''s deviousness cast a shadow on the walls of the room lit with a single candle; his fingers lingering on a page of a book. The commander of the Severed Swords smiled as he is counting coins; obtaining more money than he needed.


    [Role Played, Trader]!


    [Feat - Recall Value - developed!]


    [Role Attained, Information Broker]!


    [Feat - Find Rumor] developed!

 Chapter 6

    Numisley found this book that contains information about Feats and Roles a bit wordy, but he parsed through the information that he needed. The same information that nobility and royalty, as well as powerful people of every land, had. He thought that it was interesting. He thought that if he had more influence, equivalent to the leaders of the Five Corporations that rule Libertalia for example, can he assign his brother a more advanced-Role? He skimmed through the rest of the entry until he got to¡­


    Numisley saw an extinguished candle beside him, melted into a pile of hard wax on a brass candleholder. He realized that he fell asleep while reading the book. He picked up the book lying down on his chest.


    ¡°Want to read this?¡± He handed Cultrost the book, and his brother reached for it from the other bed. He caressed his hand on the first page.


    ¡°We got a long day ahead of us.¡± The Satyr remarked.


    ¡°True,¡± Numisley remarked.


    -


    It has been a day after Numisley gave the commander of the Severed Swords ammunition to blackmail the [Mayor] of Lynt. Aside from the rest of the payment that he extorted from the [Mayor], he also has wrung out another pile of gold coins. Palden offered to help their [Quartermaster] organize the rest of the supplies while he ingratiated with the rest of the company overnight. With Palden¡¯s Feats, the space of their wagons was doubled, so he was more than welcome in their company.


    The [Mayor] was careful and smart enough to comply with his demands and not make a big deal out of this to hire the five other mercenary groups to assassinate Graten, because the town will be embroiled in a war within their walls when that happens. The caravan of five wagons and around thirty people left the gates of Lynt, as people watched them leave, and the caravan headed north to the city of Dotterm through the Overthere Hills, which are a few hours away. Numisley and Cultrost sat at the lead wagon, accompanied by Graten. Palden volunteered to pull the reins and lead the caravan. The caravan has only a few horses, most of them dedicated to pulling the wagons, so the rest of those who can¡¯t fit the wagon marched beside them.


    ¡°We are heading out! Walk.¡± Palden commanded the two horses as he jerked the reins. The horses started walking, and assisted by a Feat, their pace doubled in speed even if the horses are trotting.


    -


    Atasaney¡¯s Prowlers¡¯ were waiting within the trees on the Overthere Hills, packing up their things and extinguishing their campfires. Instead of besieging Lynt just to capture Jascias¡¯ sons, they waited on the most likely path that they would take.


    ¡°Ridi, lead the first charge, with your squad,¡± Atasaney ordered.


    ¡°The first charge?¡± He asked. ¡°But I¡¯m new to your company, and they might not follow my orders.¡±


    ¡°You have [Mercenary Captain] and [Forest Lancer] Roles despite your lack of experience. Besides, I allow it. It¡¯s a tradition for a new member with experience in leading to lead the first charge of his first clash with our company.¡±


    Ridi had already been recognized as a part of the company and had even people assigned under his command by his [Mercenary Captain] Role so that his Feats can be useful. Of course, at first, he was not trusted, some even harboring jealousy, until he revealed how competent he is. The reason why their targets did not know that they are following them for the past few days was because of his [Unit: Riding Expertise (Forest)], which he used on a couple of [Riders] when they took the long route through the Boiugh Forest beside the path that their target took. They had an easier time riding through the forests with that Feat. A day later, they were ambushed by a Veilhide Bear behind a tree, hidden by its near-invisible hide, gutting three [Riders] with a single swipe. Although a regrettable loss, gold coins appeared within his purse from his [Recompensation of Losses] Feat. He gave the coins from the Feat to Atasaney, the actual [Commander] of course.


    Now, they see a caravan of five wagons traveling through the dirt road within the Overthere Hills, named simply because some [Mercenaries] got lost centuries ago and asked the locals where is the way to their fortress. They already were mounted at their horses, hidden within the trees with Atasaney¡¯s Feat that kept them hidden among the foliage.


    ¡°[Delegate Command]. Vanguard, follow Ridi Gadihew in the first charge. Rear, you are with me. Javelin volley. Encircle the caravan.¡± After giving his commands, he turned to Ridi.


    ¡°Advance at a canter.¡± Ridi led the vanguard, their horses in a trot. He held his lance tightly. Their horses already left the forest on the hills, and they were in sight.


    ¡°Advance at full gallop! Cast spells!¡± The [Riders] at the vanguard pointed their enspelled wands with stored spells. A wall of earth blocked the front of the caravan, startling the horses. [Stone Darts], [Fireballs], and other Tier 2 and 3 Spells were unleashed from their cheap wands in a volley. One [Mercenary] of the Severed Swords got unluckily knocked out by a [Stone Dart] after he alerted everybody on the caravan, but the experienced Severed Swords kept their shields up as they moved with the caravan.


    Atasaney and the rest rode behind them and started to split from left to right. He raised his javelin and aimed.


    ¡°[Guiding Spear]. [Lesser Strength: Throwing]. [Unit: Piercing Volley].¡±


    His javelin traced a low arc in the air, glowing. It seemed to guide the other javelins that were thrown from the [Riders] who started to encircle the caravan. The Severed Swords pointed their wands with stored spells and crossbows to the riders. Bolts pierced horse and [Rider], and many of the cavalry were tripped on webs or jutting stones conjured by magic.


    ¡°[Magnetic Shield]. [Shield: Bulwark Barrier].¡± The old [Shieldbearer] had climbed up the canvas roof of the lead caravan. An ethereal barrier akin to a wall appeared from his shield and it covered the wagon. The javelins imbued with [Piercing Volley] only ¡°cracked¡± the barrier partially as he drew some of the projectiles towards the barrier, but still, a lot of javelins had pierced at least two wagons. The fourth wagon had one of its wheels destroyed despite Palden¡¯s Feats that gave it durability, halting the fifth wagon. Some of the [Riders]¡¯ horses tripped on lines of rope that haven¡¯t been there before.


    ¡°Trap-Feat! Careful!¡± Ridi warned the rest of the [Riders]. Now that they were aware of the taut ropes on the ground, they were able to avoid them completely. The Dullahan jumped from the lead wagon and beheaded two horses charging towards them, his two blades gleaming in the air. He saw Ridi galloping towards him with a couched lance.


    The riders completely encircled the caravan, as the hired [Mercenaries] tried to fight the mounted enemies. Although the Severed Swords had experience fighting cavalry, Atasaney¡¯s men were simply better. One raised a shield, enchanted to ward a few strikes, but a female [Rider] just pierced his shield even if he saw her coming, prepared to stab the enemy with his spear. Two dismounted [Riders] charged towards seven [Mercenaries] of the Severed Swords that formed a complete defensive line, and one of them unleashed a [Stone Spray] Spell from his enspelled rod. The dismounted [Rider] with a cutlass simply deflected the conjured stones that were faster than an arrow, as the one with a mace crushed the head of one of them even if he blocked it with a shield. Casualties were mounting on the Severed Swords¡¯ side as [Riders] mowed them down.


    Atasaney threw a javelin that crackled with sparks and lightning, but a shield deflected it and it absorbed and dissipated the electricity in the air.


    ¡°You two buy time for us so that we can escape!¡± Palvt told Gorebur.


    ¡°That means they¡¯re going to be left behind!¡± Palden argued.


    ¡°They¡¯re here for that notebook! Even dumb ol¡¯ me can see that. They¡¯re one of the best mercenary bands in the area! What in Libertalia¡¯s broken crowns hired them?¡± Gorebur barked.


    ¡°It¡¯s either us or them! Use your best Feats now!¡± Palvt snapped at Palden.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Numisley overheard the argument from outside, grimly waiting for the worse within the wagon and the other people who could fight.


    ¡°Dornlor! We fight ¡®till they die, or we die!¡± Gorebur jumped from the wagon, thumping his sword on his shield. Atasaney and two more [Riders] rode towards the lead wagon, but Gorebur threw his shield with a Feat, knocking down Atasaney¡¯s horse. One [Rider] was cut down by the Dullahan who rushed towards Gorebur, which deflected a lance strike from the last [Rider]. As soon as he passed him by, he was impaled by a crossbow bolt from Palden. The [Caravan Master] looked back and cursed his indecisiveness, as the two last wagons on the back were destroyed, the people manning it already slain. He did a swift and sharp turn with the wagon, swerving away from the [Earth Wall].


    ¡°[Ram¡¯s Charge], [Caravan: Eleventh Hour Wheels]!¡± The remaining caravan accelerated with him, as the horses roam through the encirclement with renewed might and vigor, knocking away two riders. Their wheels continuously accelerated as if they are running late. Numisley looked back and saw [Riders] chasing them with their fastest speed. Ridi chased after the wagon after he was ordered to do so with a couple of [Riders]. Dust clouds conjured by the wheels of the wagons blocked their vision, but they swerved. Two of his [Riders] were knocked out from their horses by conjured rocks with the speed of arrows. Before they knew it, the cloud of dust expanded and engulfed them. They burst out of the cloud, but before they knew it, their targets were gone.


    Before them are three paths among the hills, but all of them were blocked by rubble. They were out of Feats that can traverse over the pile of rubble, and by the minute they were farther and farther away, so they cut short the chase and ride to report back.


    -


    ¡°[Perfect Thrust]!¡±


    After struggling with the Dullahan for several minutes, sustaining cuts across his body that still bled blue, Atasaney finally was able to pierce the head of the Dullahan after his enchantment ran out.


    He turned and he saw the other one still fighting, now berserk. He already cut down five of his men and women even when his shield arm was severed. Sensibly, the [Riders] kited around him at a good distance so they could throw javelins at him. Five javelins impaled him on the ground and he still writhes, removing one from his body. Before he could remove another one, he simply bled to death after minutes of fighting.


    ¡°Casualties?¡± Atasaney snapped to one of his men, downing a healing potion to hinder his bleeding.


    ¡°Seven dead, fifteen injured.¡± A Satyr of his company reported. Ridi rode back with the [Riders] under his command.


    ¡°Sir, they escaped! They collapsed the paths in the Overthere Hills. We were out of Feats, so-¡± Ridi reported.


    ¡°By the Eight Divines! Requisition what you can for the supplies in the wagons. Get me my signal stone!¡±


    Someone handed Atasaney a smooth stone with an inscribed rune on it. It glowed after he tapped on it. Soon, a single lacquered carriage arrived, guarded by twenty [Riders]. No ordinary men rode with the caravan; all of them carried enchanted weapons and high-grade armor made from a metal stronger than steel, and its layered segments made from the sturdy leather of strong monsters. [Mages] with enchanted robes and staves of crystal also rode in their company.


    Atasaney faced the door of the carriage, its shutters and curtains still closed, yet the person inside can see him perfectly from the inside.


    ¡°We had eliminated two of his men, Dornlor and Gorebur. Individuals speculated to have achieved Arc Two. The existence of the notebook is confirmed, in the possession of Numisley Gildin and Cultrost Gildin.¡±


    ¡°Hm. I gave you the best information my [Informants] can give, and you still didn¡¯t capture the bastard or the notebook.¡± The female voice within the carriage boomed, dismay, disappointed, and disinterested in her tone. ¡°No matter. The contract is done.¡±


    Two of her men carried a heavy-looking gilded chest and it is placed on the grass with a thump. One of them opened up the chest, revealing a pile of gold coins, capturing the greedy stares of the [Mercenaries].


    ¡°I¡¯ll hire someone else." She voiced with contempt. ¡°You won''t be able to hunt them in Dotterm because it¡¯s the territory of the damned Temers.¡±


    Atasaney raised his eyebrows, surprised that the contract ended abruptly even if their objective isn¡¯t complete.


    ¡°We will head back.¡± The voice within that carriage ordered her men. The carriage and its guards accelerated, literally leaving them in the dust as their canter outpaced them simply because of their Feats.


    ¡°Damn.¡± Atasaney gaped.


    -


    After Palvt cast a Spell that caused a landslide, they kept their pace going.


    ¡°How close are we to Dotterm?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Two or three days if we kept this pace. We will need to find a secure spot soon at the camp.¡± Graten told Haovel.


    ¡°I can use a Feat to keep us going through the night.¡± Palden offered.


    ¡°No need. Use it if we need to rush. They already lost us with the Spell that he cast.¡± Graten turned to Palvt, who is sleeping in the carriage from the fatigue caused by mana deficiency.


    As the sun had set, they set up camp at one of the peaks of the Overthere Hills. They were at a vantage point where they can see the narrow path where they came from. They can see the silhouettes of the wolves stalking the slopes on the hills away from them, hiding within the trees. The fifteen remaining men of the Severed Swords were standing guard around the camp, scattered in different advantageous positions.


    Cultrost kept the knowledge of Feats from that brown book in mind as he struck the trunk of a tree repeatedly, practicing his swing and hoping that he would gain a Feat the next day. He had read the book in his free time after the attack. The bark of the tree was already peeled off from his mace. He always thought that maces are the most useful weapon. Mainly because even if the person doesn¡¯t have [Warrior] Role, a mace is still effective against armored opponents. He gained the [Warrior] Role when he killed a wild Barkhide Boar that was attacking their home with a club years ago, and he felt brave that day. He was stuck within any new Role since. He wants to be better than that; because his brother had already held a [Mayor] hostage with one secret. As he wiped the sweat on his horns, he sensed someone behind him, his blond hair fluttering in the wind.


    ¡°Want to spar?¡± Graten asked Cultrost, looking to loosen up with some exercise.


    ¡°Sure. No Feats?¡± Cultrost verified.


    ¡°No Feats.¡± Graten agreed.


    -


    Cultrost stepped back as he parried a stab, then he stepped quickly forwards to strike Graten¡¯s head.


    ¡°Hit.¡±


    Before Cultrost can touch his forehead, Graten had already tapped his blade on Cultrost¡¯s side.


    ¡°Do not overcommit at the first opportunity. Try to injure their sword-arm first or any open limb with that mace.¡±


    They already had ten bouts throughout the night. Cultrost managed to touch him at the ankle in the fourth bout. No Feats were involved except for the ones that passively improved their ability for this practice bout. With each light clash, they mutually got to know each other. They withdrew their weapons, lowering them as their breath fogged and sweat cold.


    ¡°Nice work, kid.¡± Graten slapped him in the shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± Cultrost scratched his horns.


    ¡°It¡¯s likely that you¡¯ll get something after what happened.¡± He sat down on a rock, looking at the reflection of his sword in the moonlight. ¡°And me too, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Cultrost apologized.


    ¡°For what?¡± Graten stared at him.


    ¡°Because of my brother¡¯s mess, we got your men killed.¡± His yellow irises among his black sclera looked down in shame. A tear splashed on the moonlit blade.


    ¡°The death of your men is a given when you are leading a mercenary group, especially in this land of Liberan.¡± Graten¡¯s voice never faltered even if there is tears in his eyes. ¡°I will send each of their families money someday.¡±


    Cultrost stared at his tear-stained sword that shone in the moonlight, and he thought of another way to repay him.


    ¡°We have more than that black notebook.¡± Cultrost blurted, remembering a passage that might be useful. Cultrost grabbed the brown book from his leather satchel.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Graten raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°This book contains the secrets of Roles and Feats. The knowledge of the nobility.¡± He handed him the book, placing it on his lap. Graten¡¯s eyes widened. Cultrost turned the page where that specific passage is.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just an example of a Weapon Art. As far as I know, this isn¡¯t a list of Feats and such. Maybe, you can give this a try?¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± He picked up his sword reverently. He swung it slowly in a crescent, angling it in such a way that the moonlight seemingly traced down the central ridge of the blade, making the tears still on the blade sparkle.


    He pivoted on his heel, slowly turning to perform another slow horizontal slash, trying to learn how to swing a sword properly again. He slowly swung, again and again, progressively getting faster and faster artfully. And once, the blade shone with a silver aura, wet like dew, tracing a pattern of moonlight in the air, with tiny drops of water akin to rain.


    [Role Played, Sword Captain.]


    [Theme, Loss attained.]


    [Unlocked Epic Feat - My Blade Carried My Loss, developed.]


    Graten¡¯s eyes widened with awe, hope, and most of all gratefulness, his new Feat gleaming silver in his being.


    [Unlocked Sword Art - Moontear Blade, realized.]


    [Moontear Blade: Crescent Cut developed.]


    He turned around, but he realized that Cultrost already left, and had gone to sleep. The moon is now at its highest point, and he raised his blade in victory.


    Cultrost¡¯s efforts finally paid off, the rewards being etched in his Role as he slept.


    [Role Played, Warrior]!


    [Feat - Power Strike, developed.]


    [Feat - Long Backstep, developed.]

 Chapter 7

    A woman sat on a spacious sofa within the carriage. It was almost as wide as a decently-sized room despite the carriage''s size from the outside. Even if the carriage was traveling at fast speeds, she didn''t feel the rocking of the wagon: the benefits of dimensional magic and Feats of a [Luxury Carriage Master]. She pored through the many documents stacked on the low wooden table, lit by a floating [Light] Spell instead of a candle.


    She read the reports from her informants within the vicinity of Dotterm. They informed that the Gildin brothers are now at the famed city-state, one of the farthest territories of the Temers. She realized that most gangs in the city were happily fed gold by Dotterm''s Merchant''s Guild and the stupidly wealthy Temer Corporation that owns the bank within the keep.


    She needed competent people capable of doing her bidding without alerting anyone. That means the few [Pickpockets] and [Thugs] in Dotterm aren''t eligible for her employment. If any hint of her activities within the city is revealed, she would need to deny it, and she would need to explain it to the rest of her Corporation. The Temers will eventually discover its existence, spending gold like water for specialists to retrieve it.


    As she cycled through dossiers, she found a person she might hire.


    -


    "What do you mean? You gave him a secret from that brown book?" Numisley asked. He was irked because Cultrost told him that he helped their hired [Mercenary Captain] by successfully giving him a Martial Art in the morning.


    "I just showed him that passage that may help him gain something. It was a gamble-"


    "That''s not the point, you numbskull! It''s like you gave away platinum for free!" Numisley scolded his brother.


    "You got his men killed because you aren''t willing to surrender that notebook! This is the only way I could repay him." Cultrost barked back.


    "They would kill us regardless because we knew that it exists." Numisley reminded him. "Might as well make a profit out of them until we become rich enough to afford actual [Bodyguards] or Golems."


    "Actual [Bodyguards]? Do you hear how ungrateful you are, little brother? Half of the Severed Swords died to protect us, even if you paid them."


    "Ese!" Palden interrupted their argument. "We got more important things to worry about! Cultrost, help with the grain sacks."


    Their attention was distracted, halting their disagreement. The brothers grudgingly returned to their tasks. The caravan was already packing up after the [Mercenaries] had shared a stew cooked from solid soup, foraged berries and vegetables, and scraps of dried meat for breakfast.


    "Graten." Numisley hobbled towards him. The [Sword Captain] placed a wooden chest on one of the three wagons with a thud as he stared at him. "A wick of your time."


    "Yes?" Graten asked.


    "My brother gave you a secret. What Feats were given to you by the voice of the world?"


    "I unlocked an Epic Feat. My first one. Then, a Sword Art."


    Cultrost still didn''t believe his own words, but it had happened. It was like being given a Miracle. Numisley regained his composure after hearing that.


    "You see, the method, the knowledge of how can you gain certain Feats and Roles is the other treasure that we hold, in the form of a book. So we have two important books that we need to protect."


    "I see. I heard rumors of people who know of these; the richest [Merchants] and powerful [Generals]. The nobility too..."


    "I can empower you with my knowledge, Commander Graten. Make you powerful. But I need your help."


    Graten hesitated for a moment, but his mouth spoke sooner than anticipated.


    "Whatever it takes to let them not die in vain."


    Numisley took it as a yes. Graten anticipated what might happen in the future.


    "Now, show me the Weapon Art my na?ve brother gave you."


    Graten moved to a safe distance among the trees, beside a boulder embedded in the ground.


    [Moontear Blade: Crescent Cut]. The silver blade of flowing tears had almost cut the boulder in half in a wet silver arc. The cut was unlike anything they had ever seen. Instead of a clean cut, it was impossibly wide for a sword slash. Irregular too, as if acid was poured on the blade. Graten met a [Blademaster] once, but his blade cut nothing like this.


    Numisley inspected the cut on the stone and was impressed. It was a wide slash greater than six feet in length and a few inches wide; more the enough to defeat a handful of enemies in one fell swoop.


    "I guess this will be useful." Numisley sighed.


    Cultrost approached the two after he finished helping the others. He saw the aftermath of Graten''s Sword Art and was silently impressed.


    "If you''re going to give away information, inform me first." Numisley scolded Cultrost.


    -


    With no interruptions, they had already left the vicinity of the Overthere Hills. The caravan passed through a road among aged and worn ruins caked in lichen, where a fortress once stood surrounded by trees.


    Hours later, they saw the city of Dotterm. The city-state was once a hill-fort during the Colonization Wars of Libertalia. It was renovated into a castle as a gift to an [Duke]''s daughter, hence the name. Throughout centuries, it prospered into a dauntless city-state and was bought by the richest of the Five, the Temers.


    The city of around 98,000 people is elevated for it is built over centuries-old towering stone-reinforced earthen ramparts. Stone battlements and enchanted low stone towers were guarded by its Watch. The citadel itself was built over the ruins of the old castle; what was left was only the well-maintained keep on the hill.


    Numisley eyed the house-size stones that made up its revetments as the caravan stopped in front of the stone ramp. The hired Watch on the gates inspected every nook and cranny of their wagons. They meticulously interrogated their intentions, with the large flat stones etched with a magical circle that cast green light imbued with [Zone of Truth] that shone upon the caravan.


    Earlier, they saw someone glowing red because he lied, revealing that he was a criminal. That is why none of them attempted to lie at the checkpoint. They stated the truth: they are here to conduct business on behalf of Gildin Trading and withdraw money from their account. They reported that they were attacked by [Bandits]; technically correct because they do not know who exactly attacked them; the line between [Bandit] and [Mercenary] becomes blurred at times.


    All of them entered once they had shown their identifying documents. Although some of the [Mercenaries] had been to a city or two, none had seen Dotterm''s prosperity.


    The buildings had colorful brickwork and even some made of marble; many of them with stepped gable facades and elaborate entablatures supported by decorative pilasters. Instead of shutters, the smaller buildings possess glass windows and security bars. Vast plazas and rows of trees dominated the cityscape, with bazaars filled with many [Merchants] and goods.


    The center of the vast metropolis was the towering square multitiered keep where the rest of the castle and the city were built around. The keep''s pristine and smooth facade is visible even from here.


    They parked their wagons within a space in one of the bazaars where one can temporarily store their goods for a price. The Severed Swords and Palvt were tasked to find lodging within the city and buy supplies as Palden, Numisley, and Cultrost headed to the Bank of Dotterm. The Bank of Dotterm is the keep, or rather, where both Dotterm''s Bank, with its local Merchant''s Guild and its City Council, is seated.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    They needed to traverse two successive levels in the city through the main sloped stone roads before they were in front of the place itself. The tiers were divided by its ancient earthen ramparts that were part of Dotterm Hill. They looked up at the pristine white keep, with its smooth walls bearing no windows except the runes that give the keep magical images of the outside. The city''s green and blue flags and the banner of the Temer Corporation flutter together on the four sides of the keep. Before they were allowed entry, they were required to pass another truth-stone test. Meticulous questions about their intentions were asked by a [Secretary] who asked them to stand on a [Zone of Truth], monitored by a [Mage] standing guard.


    They entered the towering keep after they passed the test. The interior was a sprawling marble and granite hall with a vaulted ceiling, more expansive than what it appears from the outside. It seems like this was a throne room or a banquet hall that was converted into a reception area for the Merchants'' Guild.


    Outside of the granite and lacquered wooden reception desks with the width of the entire hall, divided by wooden partitions per [Clerk]. Clients lounged in individual sections of sofas and tables with [Waiters] and [Waitresses] rushing to and fro to serve their food and drink. The wide symmetrical stairways that lead to the mezzanine sat between the entrances of the reception hall. The mezzanines had expensive lounges and private rooms for the richest of [Merchants] and other clients.


    "Numisley Gildin, on behalf of Gildin Trading and proprietor Jascias Gildin, our late father. I''m here to withdraw his account and re-authenticate documents regarding the ownership of Gildin Trading: for inheriting all of his assets." Numisley put his hand on the truth-stone tablet embedded on the counter, accompanied by Palvt and Cultrost.


    The old female [Clerk] adjusted her monocle. She read the will and the rest of the documents, which had little to no discrepancies.


    "What is the current status of Jascias Gildin?" Her sharp eyes peered through Numisley''s intentions.


    "Most likely dead. Our manor was attacked by [Bandits]."


    The smooth tablet under Numisley''s palm glowed green.


    "Who was with you at that event?"


    "I, and our [Caravan Master], Palden."


    "Is the information that he had given correct?" She asked Cultrost and Palden.


    " Yes." Palden and Cultrost chorused.


    A few more questions were answered. Their documents were verified before the whole process was finished.


    "Please take a seat at table forty-five. A [Notary] will be attending to you shortly. The account withdrawal can be conducted once the transfer of ownership is verified."


    They sat on a velvet sofa around a circular table. The three bought snacks and drinks from the menu the [Waiter] offered them. Palden greedily chomped on the fried bits of bacon on fried bread. Cultrost drank a brass cup of wine. A neatly dressed Satyr with skin the color of dark moss interrupted them. At a glance, Numisley was impressed by the dark, pressed suit that the Satyr wore.


    "I''m Tyroln Ikayee, Settled Satyr. No tribal affiliation. I''m an official [Notary] of the Bank of Dotterm, here to assist with the transfer of ownership of the remaining assets of Gildin Trading."


    He stiffly sat on the sofa between Numisley and his two companions on the opposite end, reading Jascias'' will that legitimizes them as owners of Gildin Trading. The Satyr with a specific Role, like Cultrost, was born in the Human-dominated towns and cities and faced discrimination from the "tribal" Satyrs that roam the wastes, hence his odd introduction.


    Jascias and Cultrost read the will meticulously with no objections to its terms.


    "To briefly repeat the contents of the will, Numisley Gildin and Cultrost Gildin will inherit the authority over the remaining assets of Gildin Trading. They are allowed to have employees. Both brothers will have an equal share of the income generated by their assets. They will be allowed to withdraw and deposit money, as well to be able to exchange currency, buy goods in bulk, and conduct trade within the guild-owned establishments. This will be recognized by all affiliated branches of the Cemoorstead Merchant''s Guild, the Bank of Dotterm, and by extension, the Temer Corporation, and affiliates. Any objections?" The [Notary] dictated the essence of Jascias'' will among the portfolio of documents that he left them with.


    "No objections." Numisley agreed.


    "Yep." His sibling added.


    Two seals with the Gildin Trading''s emblem were given to them. They stamped on the space at the bottom of the documents.


    Now allowed to withdraw coins from their father''s account, they had paid the fee for withdrawal. They were given a Bag of Holding that contained their withdrawal of two hundred fifty gold coins. Their father had a shocking amount on the account: over a thousand gold on this account alone; enough to buy a town or two in Libertalia. Withdrawing the total amount will run the risk of being a target for every [Thief], [Thug], and their [Gang Bosses] even if they have a guard of fifteen or so [Mercenaries].


    They also sent their employees money to the families of the Severed Swords since they provide this service. They walked back to the inn: where the rest of the entourage would stay for the night.


    Fortunately, the presence of the local Watch is prevalent here, made out of retired experienced [Soldiers] and [Mercenaries] that gained Feats from the constant wars in the continent. Palden stared at the patrol of [Guardsmen], armored with brigandine or even chainmail instead of gambesons, guessing that the Watch here was better than anywhere.


    They were fetched by a young Dwarven man. One of the Severed Swords. They were led towards the large three-story building of white stone brick, with the colored birch-wood sign that reads: Whitecastle Inn. The mock turrets of the inn are fitting enough for the name, making it resemble a castle.


    The inn was spacious compared to its exterior as if expanded by dimension magic. There are twenty large tables, three-fourths occupied by many men and women. They guessed that the [Innkeeper] had some sort of [Expanded Space] Feat or something similar. There is one single wide stairway south of the hall, giving access to the mezzanine and the second floor. Numisley approached the weathered [Innkeeper] with long white hair on the wide wooden counter.


    "Here''s the rest of the payment. Apologies for the delay." Numisley handed him three gold coins.


    "Long day ''eh? Can tell that y''all came from the bank." The [Innkeeper] spoke with a gruff voice. His scarred arms like gauntlets and barreled chest suggested that he was more than just an [Innkeeper], if not from the heavy maul hanging behind him in front of the kitchen. "No need to worry about debts. We get all sorts of [Merchants] and [Mercenary Captains] ''round here, so I got a lot of debt to collect."


    Numisley turned towards the young Dwarven man beside Cultrost after he paid the lodging in the inn.


    "Give this to your [Captain]. Tell him I need to tell him something in my room." Numisley handed him the pouch of fifty gold coins.


    The Dwarf rushed past two women with weapons and climbed the stairs. Numisley retreated to his room and studied one entry from the brown book, determining what can he do to empower himself using its knowledge.


    Later that afternoon, Numisley fed them all a proper meal. The [Innkeeper]''s Feats were specialized in serving a large number of people, and in no time, they were fed with smoked brisket and rye, with cups of broth and wine.


    "Congratulations on another day. Feel free to enjoy yourselves in the city tonight. On the name of Armalithi, Biosnium, and the rest of the gods, we feast!" Numisley announced before they feasted.


    Although Cultrost knows that his brother can lead, he is surprised that he can capture the attention of fifteen strangers who barely know him. They ate and chatted happily, grateful to live another day and toasting in the name of their fallen comrades.The fifteen remaining [Mercenaries] of the Severed Swords headed to taverns with better drinks and brothels with their salaries in tow. Some of the veterans are content with a bed slept in Whitecastle Inn.


    Graten sat with Numisley in his room, a table with a bowl, a quill, and a dagger between them. Cultrost stood guard besides Numisley, having been informed of his plan.


    "Graten, are you familiar with the concept of a blood compact?"


    "Heard of it. A symbol of brotherhood."


    Numisley took the dagger from the table to Graten''s surprise. He slit his wrists and let the blood drip on the wooden bowl. Cultrost wrapped cloth around Numisley''s bloodied arm as Numisley drew up a contract.


    "This is a contract that you will serve under me. Until we escape from Libertalia due to...unfavorable elements. I aim for the lands of Yhril, to rebuild Gildin Trading anew."


    "Why the blood?"


    "I want to establish a bond with this contract. The contract shall be bound by both of our blood...symbolically. If you follow me, I will empower you with my knowledge."


    Graten knew that Numisley will remake him with his knowledge of Feats and Roles. Turn him into someone stronger. So the deaths of his men and women will not be in vain. He had never encountered an employer willing to give him knowledge along with money.


    "I accept."


    Graten slit his arm and let the blood drip on the bowl. Numisley, with the intent of sealing the contract, wrote the signature in their blood. As Graten slept after that, something bound his being to an agreement made in blood. Numisley heard the voice that governs the world, staring at the strange crest on his hand.


    [Role Played, Trader]!


    [Unlocked Epic Feat - Bloodbound Contract, obtained.]


    [Role Played, Information Broker]!

 Interlude: Map of the Yokelaines

    A Map of the Yokelaine region of Libertalia, villages not shown.


    -Commissioned by Acreley Balenford, Port Governor of Baunt of the Diamond Shore Conglomerate, illustrated by Senior Mapmaker Telost Quilliam, [Cartographer] of the Anci?n Cartographer''s Guild.


    -


    The Yokelaines is the southernmost former territory of the Eight Exiles, known for it''s sprawling plains and forests with plenty of wildlife despite many city-states. The region extends from the megapolises of Marienmaw and Baunt, to the Zentil Forests to the city-states of Nocxaux and Wyald, to the Moghen Hills and the Morr Forests, and to the megapolises of Fisk and Marsthew. The socio-geographic region of Krudh neighbors the Yokelaines, and the westernmost cities of the Yokelaines suffers raids from Satyr Tribes as well as the [Mercenaries] of the city-states in the Krudh region. The cities around the Morr Forest and the Moghen Hills regularly fought Satyr Tribes that attempted to pass through the forest to access the Yokelaines.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Bison and other beasts roam the Yokelaine Plains despite the number of city-states surrounding the plains. Few Satyr Tribes were allowed to be nomads within the Yokelaine Plains, and even then, their nomadic camps are harassed by mercenary patrols despite paying tribute and trading with the city-states. Despite millennia of history, few of its ancient coastal megapolises remain, the oldest being Moorancor and Langoon, while the others had been rebuilt from multiple points in history. Many civilizations were simply lost to war or calamity in history, and grew into Ruins and Dungeons. The ancient roads are still maintained by patrols of the Diamond Shore Conglomerate, who rebuilt its stone roads built by the tolls extracted from travelers.


    The Yokelaines, as well as the former territories of the eight Dukes, are dominated by the Diamond Shore Conglomerate which owns Libertalia''s eastern coasts in general, but polities such as the Varstead Alliance of city-states and Maldent Trading that owns the western towns and mines near Krudh are the other second-most powerful factions in the region. The region is rich in lumber and stone, metal and mana crystals, as well as raw animal and monster materials that they import and export within the city-states and traded and exported within the ports of the region. Majority of it''s salt trade is harvested from the Alimentaire Salt Flats, artificially created by Grand Alcheimagus Alimentaire of the lost city of Somerreine in an experiment that had forced the Sommer Lake to produce salt at the expense of draining the health of the surrounding soil. Many smaller companies also exists within cities and towns even with the dominance of these three factions within the region.


    Adventurers also harvests loot from the largest dungeon in the region, which is the Coteui Dungeon, a former Dwarven fortress that became a Gold-rank dungeon. To date, the dungeon contributes 4,000-5000 gold worth of materials and treasure yearly to the High Morr settlements: Moghstead, Montangeth, and Couteuihille, and by extension, to the Diamond Shore Conglomerate.

 Chapter 8

    The morning had come to Dotterm. Numisley, Cultrost, Palden, Palvt, and Graten were sitting on one of the tables in the mezzanine, while the rest of the Severed Swords were eating breakfast on the bottom floor.


    "Give me a list of your Severed Swords. Their names and Roles." Numisley asked Graten. The [Sword Captain] handed him a list of his men.


    "I will tell you about my plan for the company," Numisley announced. "I heard from below with my [Find Rumor] Feat earlier that there''s an upcoming war between Tucken and Joltstown. The Thunderous March [Mercenaries] that owns Joltstown will fight against Tucken''s army and their allied Gahkee Tribe in the Yokelaines, so this might be our company''s first opportunity. What do you think we will sell?"


    "Armor and weapons?" Graten answered.


    "It''s a given," Numisley stated. "We''ll buy a wagonful of those later when we visit a few workshops."


    "Rations, potions, and kegs too." Cultrost helpfully suggested.


    "Good idea. We''ll buy it in bulk from Merchant''s Guild." Numisley accepted. "In the long run, I plan for our caravan to head for the port cities of the Diamond Shore Conglomerate, so that we can both make a profit and head to Yhril."


    "I thought you refused to run away to Yhril?" Cultrost asked Numisley, perplexed.


    "I never said that." Numisley corrected. "I refuse to do nothing with the information we have. Rather, my goal for the long run is to set up our business in Yhril, in the Golden Triangle, which is arguably safer than this continent. We can profit more there. I guess we can visit our relatives in the future too..."


    "What do we have to offer that the [Merchant Lords] of the Golden Triangle''s ports doesn''t have?" Palden was concerned. As far as he knows, the Golden Triangle sits at the center of the Six Lands: the known world, where all trade from the rest of the world comes and goes.


    "This,"


    Numisley raised the black notebook on the table for a second before stashing it inside."We have information worth more than the Twin Roads of Prosperity. Information, as much as gold, passes through the center of the world. The goods that we sell will be our front."


    "But, it will be difficult. The [Merchants] of the islands can as cutthroat as even Liberan''s Five Corporations. We might get thrown off the plank if they caught a whiff against their skiffs." Palden objected.


    "That''s why we earn our way through the Exiled Coasts and earn Feats. We will sell our wares to both Joltstown''s [Mercenaries] and Tucken''s. But, we will sojourn in the city of Tucken itself. I plan to hire Jodas and his gang.


    "Isn''t he a Hand?" Graten asked. "At least around Gold rank?"


    "Yes. I need a sword along with my shield." Numisley answered.


    "What do you mean?" The [Sword Captain] asked.


    "I''m rebuilding my father''s company. Your Severed Swords are my shield, and when I hire these criminals, they will be my sword for my plans. They can do what [Mercenaries] can in that continent."


    "Which is?"


    "Steal, and kill if they need to. Criminals have Feats that can evade capture, obscure their identity, and other tricks. His gang is a faction among the city of Tucken, so the [Mayor] will be grateful to me when I pull them out."


    "Ah," Cultrost uttered. Although he was sharp in his way, he can''t think five steps away like his brother. "So, you are going to put him in your debt."


    "Of course." Numisley smiled.


    They headed towards the Bank of Dotterm, the headquarters of the Cemoorstead Merchants Guild. At this time of day, they were many [Merchants] sitting on their lounges, making deals and shaking hands. One such deal was between Numisley and another man of dark skin, a mark of the people of the Southern Bottoms of the continent. The [Merchant] of the Cemoorstead Guild wore the simple keffiyeh of his town with pride as he smiled and shook Numisley''s hand.


    "Ali Iwrif. [Merchant] of Cemoorstead, pleased to do business with you." They both sat after introducing themselves.


    "Numisley Gildin. This is my brother, Cultrost Gildin." He nodded to his brother and turned his attention back to the other [Merchant]. We are of Gildin Trading."


    "Isn''t Gildin Trading of Renimburg? I heard the town was invaded by Belias. My condolences."


    "It happens." Numisley dismissed, refusing to show weakness.


    "Isn''t your company part of Maldent Trading?"


    "Not anymore. I will rebuild my father''s legacy from the ground up."


    "I see¡­" Ali took note since typically if a subsidiary company seceded from the larger company, it shall not be taken well by the larger company. He smiled deviously, already laying down a trap.


    "I''ll purchase forty brigandines, ten bundles of spears, two dozen bags of grain, six crates of low-grade healing and stamina potions, and at least ten kegs of beer." Numisley steered the conversation back to business.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "[Traders] like you already know the upcoming battle between Tucken and Joltstown in the Yokelaine Plains caused by the dispute over the salt flats next to it. Those [Traders] with the fastest Feats had already left their cities to capitalize on it, so the prices had risen." Ali informed.


    That''s why I''ll be as early as I can. How much?"


    "Twenty-eight gold coins and five silver."


    "[Recall Value]. Isn''t a sack of grain ten silver?"


    "That was before the coming of winter. The failed harvests of my city of Sobor, Eilizenth, and Tiller had driven the price up. Keres hoarded their grain for the coming winter and refused to sell it to the cities of the Varstead Alliance when they raised the price of metal and lumber."


    "Inter-city disputes..."Cultrost mouthed weakly.


    "So with these issues, the price of grain is raised to eighteen silver per sack." Ali continued.


    "I see." Numisley held a pouch of twenty-eight gold coins, hovering on the table. "Before that, how long will my order be processed?"


    "Within today or tomorrow." Ali clarified. "If there''s no surplus among the Guild''s stock, then we shall prevail on our [Smiths] and the others to get what you need, and it will take much longer."


    The pouch was placed on the table with the sweet clink of the coins.


    "Pleasure doing business with you." Numisley held out his hand, and Ali shook it. Numisley left the bank with his brother and headed towards the inn.


    li strode through the inner parts of the keep and ordered a [Manager] to accomplish Numisley''s request. She rushed towards where she was supposed to be and ordered the employees out of earshot. Ali faded into the stairway that leads to the upper floors, where the main offices of the Guild are. He sat on his cushioned chair in front of his desk, writing a brief message on paper.


    "[Summon Subordinate]."


    A young Lizardboy had entered his office, clutching a leather satchel as he was called upon in the middle of running errands.


    "Sir?"


    "Send this to Maldent Trading."


    -


    The next day, their order was processed. The bulk of goods was being hauled on the two new wagons pulled by draft horses within the bazaar. Many people were within the bazaar, buying various trinkets and food. One portly man ate his baguette filled with meat, chilies, and cheese as he watched Numisley board the wagon.


    "Fortune to you." Ali bid farewell to Numisley after he brought the two wagons.


    "Earn well," Numisley replied.


    The caravan left the city of Dotterm, heading east. The sky was dimmer now, for winter is near. The breeze that swept through the dark grass was frigid. Numisley was grateful that he bought a specially thick grey fur coat that goes well with his maple wood cane.


    "Cold." Numisley shivered. "Can we use the heat charms?"


    "Numis. Save it for when it snows." Cultrost chided.


    Damn¡­" Numisley is shivering ever since this morning because of the cold, even with his coat.


    The caravan had stopped on a bare stone foundation as wide as three houses, covered in dirt and dry leaves. Not even the tiles were spared from scavengers that shaved them off. Not even rubble remains from the pillars that used to stand there. They temporarily rest the horses before setting off again. The rest of the group was guarding the perimeter of the caravan. Numisley walked with Cultrost and Palvt nearby. They had climbed on an elevated spot they could see the way ahead. Palvt enchanted their eyes with [Eagle Eyes] so they could see farther.


    Within the forest is a path that leads to the city on the horizon, before the black border. They saw the city-state of Joltstown within bare plains dotted by bunches of trees and ruined stone that was cities and monuments from an age forgotten by most. The valleys and forests, as well as the prairies and deserts of the continent, remain untamed outside the city-states, even with the few still-standing palaces and megapolises built when the Eight Exiles reigned over the original colonies millennia ago. Monsters, disasters, and war between companies and Satyr tribes prevented the land from being tamed.


    "There''s a group of monsters over there."


    Cultrost pointed towards a herd of roaming beasts near the path, stalking within the trees.


    "There''s a fork, so let''s go left." Palvt pointed at a fork in the path, almost hidden by a bunch of dying trees.


    Standing within the decaying trees was an unassuming portly man that blended within the dead bark, drawing a sturdy bow with tripled strength, aiming at them with bated breath. One can mistake that his paunchy figure is a sign of gluttony, but the fat thinly covers his muscles that can pull a bow with a draw weight equal to a bear''s mass.


    "It''s the longer path. Better than being attacked by monsters."Numisley decided.


    His foot hit a rock embedded in the soil, but before he fell to the ground, Palvt caught him. A terrible whistle in the air and a shape flew unseen. Dreadful splutters of blood and flesh drip on the rocks and the soil, drying into stone.


    Palvt caught Numisley at the cost of his life. He had forgotten to maintain his magical bodily barrier at that fatal moment.


    The hole on his stomach and shattered spine were petrified, and his body was slowly turning into stone: the nature of the Dwarves'' half-stone flesh as they age. The arrow dug itself into the ground, only fletching sticking up. Sometimes, despite one''s Feats and Roles, one can be felled by bad luck. Palvt simply was unlucky that he accompanied them for a favor of a dead friend who had embroiled himself in intrigue all his life, collecting secrets to safeguard his sons. His dying, petrifying body did not give him the courtesy of uttering his final words. Numisley retreated to the ground, pulling his body away. Palvt became a statue within seconds of his death, as his staff fell to the ground.


    Cultrost bawled in shock and grief as he lifted Numisley on his back. In a hurry, Numisley grabbed the dead Dwarf''s magic staff instead of his walking cane. He rode on his back like they always do when danger strikes. Running towards the caravan.


    -


    "What?" Graten stared at them.


    Cultrost explained the situation to Graten as he lifted Numisley into one of the wagons. Palden already manned the lead wagon and used their Feat to accelerate through the dirt road; the others were already scrambling to hop on the wagons. Instantly, they were rushing towards the forked road.


    "Left!" Numisley ordered.


    Palden felt his hands steering the horses before he voiced his objections. He maneuvered towards the left path and sped up, but the horses suddenly went down. The wagon came tumbling down, hitting a tree. The horses had broken their legs after tripping over a taut rope on the ground with ends tied to thick trees. Numisley tried to crawl out. An arrow had pierced one of the horses'' skulls with a resounding crack. He felt an impact resounding from the ground below the corpse. He recoiled back to the wagon. Already, they knew that they were being attacked.


    "Stay back." Cultrost held a shield in his hand, along with his mace. He stayed within the wagon as the others took cover behind the remaining wagons. The arrows had pierced the canvas. They do not know how many [Archers] were hidden among the trees for now.


    Graten listened to the whistling arrows. He noticed that the arrows were fewer in number than expected based on how less frequent they were. He realized that one [Archer] is behind the ambush. Most likely, he had [Piercing Arrows]. Once he saw that the arrows didn''t pierce the wagon as much as they initially did, Graten hopped out of the wagon.


    "[Fireball] that location!" Graten ordered as he used one of his Feats from his [Watcher] Role that helped him approximate the enemy position. "Josaif, Tarast, Gedge, Weriens, Cultrost, with me!"


    Cultrost was with Graten and the better members of the Severed Swords using Wands of Fireball to bombard the location. They did not see where the enemy exactly was, but after that volley, they charged toward the position. There were no traces of the mysterious attacker among the smoldering crater from their [Fireball]. Graten sensed something amiss with the help of his passive Feats and experience.


    The [Archer Assassin] stood still among the bushes a few paces past them, hidden by an useful camouflage Feat. He was sure that the blonde man leading them had an anti-Stealth Role or Class because he sensed that a Feat was searching for him, but as long as he did not do anything drastic, he was still hidden.


    He was hired to assassinate the [Mage] in the caravan to reduce their strength and damage their wagons. His employer told him that they have a lack of [Mages]. None of the [Mercenaries] have magical capabilities; only wands with Spells within that eventually be depleted. The [Assassin] calmly disengaged and walked deeper into the forest.


    "He ran away. He must have been alone. Let us keep the caravan going."


    The people of the caravan left the upturned wagon and transported the more valuable cargo in the remaining wagons. The dead horses had their heads beheaded to prevent them from becoming zombies. Most of their injuries were treated with a healing potion but some have injuries not treatable by potions alone. Throughout the trip, they were vigilant against another attack, but strangely, nothing had happened. The [Assassin] already left them alone. With a Scroll of Messages, he contacted his employer and wrote a report.


    The tense calm of traveling among potentially dangerous roads had given time for Cultrost to grieve silently. Palvt and the others people in Jascias'' employ back in the manor had died to pave Numisley''s path. The Satyr stared at Numisley, and he saw that he didn''t even look back, only staring at the path ahead of him.

 Chapter 9

    The city of Norxauk is the city of Maldent Trading, managing the monopoly of the towns around it while letting the settlements govern themselves. The company leaders occupy the city hall and their City Council of competent working men and women. When Maldent Trading issues a proclamation, which is rare, they will follow it. Most of the time, Maldent Trading manages the monopoly and provides security for the settlements with their hired forces. Meanwhile, the council does the actual governing over the city.


    A brilliant blue gem on a wire stand glowed, etching words on the parchment with magic. The [Merchant Leader] of Maldent Trading read the letter, sent via a [Message] Spell by an informant from Dotterm. An Elf that looked like on his thirties with ashen hair bore the weight of his age of hundred-and-fifty wiped his brow and lightly bit his lips. He sat in his office within Norxauk''s City Hall, staring at his personal Letteretch Gem, setting aside the letter in one of his neatly-organized cabinets.


    "That brat?" He sighed as he read the report of Numisley''s resurrection of Gildin Trading. He thought his subsidiary company was sacked along with Belias blatant takeover in Renimburg. This issue gave him a headache since trade in the area suffers. The loss of the Adymine Mine, the newly discovered dungeon, and the valued Jascias Gildin stung.


    He crumpled the report and threw it on the fireplace. Numisley''s revival of Gildin Trading is a net loss. The boy was already past his territory, near the domain of one of the Corporations. He tsked, a habit of his when he was stressed. He wrote to his contacts in the region, including the one who informed him, Ali Iwrif, an acquaintance of his, seeking to hire people to keep tabs on that upstart young [Trader].


    Someone knocked on his door, startling him.


    "Open." The owner of Maldent Trading straightened his posture.


    A two-foot-tall man appeared before him. He resembled a Human at first if you ignore the insectile eyes, long pointy setae for hair, and plates protruding under his rubbery skin. One of the Tinyfolk, a people local to the continent as much as Satyrs before the ancient Yhrilian empires came.


    "The Daoweyndion Deathseekers had successfully reclaimed Renimburg. Their casualties are¡­forty-five dead out of sixty." The Tinyfolk at his door reported.


    Dravemn imagined his fellow older Elves charging towards volleys of arrows and [Fireballs] without hesitation, throwing themselves towards the walls of Renimburg, seeking death to end their suffering. Deathseekers were simultaneously the perfect [Mercenaries] and the worst ones because one can hire them with little pay since they are searching for death. However, objectives beyond killing the enemy elude them. The fear of another second of their lives forgetting themselves, devolving into madness each year, prevails over their fear of death.


    "That reminds me¡­I need to poison myself soon."


    "Sir?" The Tinyfolk mouthed, worried.


    "Nothing. Inform that I might have a mission for the fifteen remaining Deathseekers in Joltstown. Also, please send these letters to me via Messenger''s Guild, not via [Message]." He ordered.


    <hr>


    Fach¨¦, who sent you?"


    A leader of a gang startingly stood up from lying down on the soft sofa elevated on a platform above the rest of the gambling tables as a Satyr with oil-black skin under his sleek doublet. His gang, once skulkers in the streets, is now one of the competing factions in Tucken. They faced each other within one of the more prominent areas of the gambling house, where the local high-rollers play.


    "Whose all roads of Liberan lead to." The Satyr spoke of a vague statement that subtly tells him his affiliation, and the [Gamblers] within the gambling house went silent. They knew what organization he is part of with the phrase alone.


    Raynios Joda slammed the door, activating the anti-eavesdropping enchantments in his office away from the gambling house''s main hall. He didn''t want [Spies] to hear about this, but he already knew that a few regularly came to his business. He landed violently on the chair, facing the [Negociator] of one of the Libertalian Corporations.


    "What do you want?" The [Gang Leader] demanded answers.


    Usually, he would try to intimidate those who demanded an audience with him, making them pay sudden fees. However, the weight of the Satyr''s presence prevented him from untoward actions in this negotiation. He saw the organization behind him, feeling a thousand eyes judging him.


    "I come here on behalf of those who all roads lead to for a simple deal."


    His voice was silky and deep, with the sharpness of a knife threatening to slash anyone who offends him. His ringed gaze was like what some people call their species: "demon spawn".


    "A young [Trader] named Numisley Gildin of Gildin Trading will come to you in a few days. He will attempt to hire you."


    A glittering red gem, a ruby the size of his hand-rolled on his wooden table. The [Gang Leader]''s eyes stared at the ruby-like he was trying to grab it with his gaze alone.


    "This ruby is worth five hundred gold. This shall be your payment for refusing the man called Numisley Gildin."


    "That''s not enough-"


    "It is enough, Raudaeiz Jaucles. [Gang Leader] and [Evasive Thief]. "


    The [Gang Leader] tried to pull out his dagger, but it was stuck in place, harder than pulling out a sword from a stone. The Satyr seemed to stop any hostility with a glare; another Feat of his. He settled down and adjusted his posture on his cushioned seat. His attempt to wring out more coins from this [Negociator] failed.


    "How did you know my real name? Or my Roles?" Raudaeiz asked. He was sure that his anti-scrying ring and the ring that protected him from [Appraisal] Feats and Spells, which can even fool a [Watch Captain].


    "We are a Corporation, after all." The Satyr boasted. "We know everything that passes through our roads."


    The Satyr left the gambling house within the Mugged Mug Tavern after he concluded his deal splendidly. He headed towards his secondary objective, making a deal with the [Mayor], setting many traps when his client''s target comes.


    -


    Atasaney''s Prowlers had roamed in another battlefield within the Yokelaine Plains, near the Alimentaire Salt Flats, after spending much of their money with their reward from their strange and dangerous contract to buy more gear for his [Mercenaries]. However, the contract had given them too much money. Most of the [Mercenaries] had spent the hefty rewards for themselves in taverns, brothels, and even fairs. One day, they had mutinied, declaring their retirement from being [Mercenaries]. They formed a traveling band to return to their families with three-fourths of the money.


    Atasaney could''ve killed them, but it is cruel and unjust. The remaining [Mercenaries] might resent him as well. Glumly, he used his Scroll of Messages to contact Tucken''s [General], which promptly responded. They were now allowed to ride to her camp and discuss further terms.


    "I wonder what''s the reason for the contract?"Ridi uttered, remembering the last contract and also his first contract under a new company.


    "To survive long in this continent, you don''t answer questions like that unless you want your room to explode in the middle of the night while you sleep like a baby." Atasaney handed out a bit of advice.


    "I see¡­"


    "But I knew the reason why. And we failed the contract, but we get paid in full regardless. Because the client paid us to keep silent about it."Ridi raised his eyebrows. He wondered what kind of intrigue they were involved in.


    "There''s another reason why we''re here. Because I heard that our target in the past is coming here to sell." Atasaney explained. "Captain Baraqeuz, news about Gildin Trading?"


    A tall and bulky Lizardfolk rode up to him. Unlike the child-like, small Lizardfolk Skinks: most of the Lizardfolk population, he is a Tegu, an evolution of Lizardfolk as they "age"; one of the remaining members of the company.


    "I heard from a [War Merchant] that he already sold his wares in the Thunderous March''s camp." The Lizardman answered. "Most likely he''ll lead his caravan here."


    "Unlucky bastard. Many [Mercenaries] here already bought weapons and supplies from the [Merchants] who already sold their goods in the Tucken''s camp." Atasaney replied. "Besides, he is what..? A [Shopkeeper]?"


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Ridi, Baraquez, and the others laughed at that joke. The cavalry of now twenty men and women; career [Mercenaries] who have no families nor homes remained in Atasaney''s command.


    They arrived in the camp, surrounded by temporarily conjured [Earth Walls] that resembled five-foot mounds of earth. They also serve as makeshift battlements that [Soldiers] can take cover in and step up to let loose arrows and spells on. Strategic locations on the perimeter also had mantlets erected, fortifying the camp. It was a temporary base, a step below a more permanent fort, like those used by attackers in extended sieges before the official war between the borders of the two city-states.


    Atasaney''s company entered one of the openings within the camp''s defenses, guarded by [Soldiers] behind mantlets. They are among the tents of the combined army: the city''s standing army that was depleted in the last war with Joltstown five years ago, a dozen mercenary groups supplementing their numbers, and the Gahkee Tribe, their nomadic Satyr allies that trade cotton, leather, and their famous war beasts: Steelwool Bison, and many magical animals that they bred and herded, in exchange for their protection from the other armed groups harassing them in the Yokelaines and half of their salt and many other commodities.


    Atasaney''s eyes turned to the left side of the camp, separate from the much larger army camps. The Gahkee Tribe is small, no less formidable than their allies. Their part of the camp has a circle of a hundred teepees surrounded by erected totems on wagons. The many bison, dogs, and other beasts patrolled the base''s borders, even hunting for them. Aside from the teepees, there are large wagons, even some the size of houses or with two levels pulled by six-legged hulking bison. Many of these wagons were connected to the teepees as a part of a building. [Shamans] were beating drums, chanting wildly. Atasaney''s [Riders] swore that the grass seemed to dance under their horses'' hooves. He and the other Satyrs in the party felt drawn to the ritual and somehow refreshed despite the long journey. Tall Satyrs with longer horns and glistening muscles; Fauntyrs guarded the giant wagon attached to multiple teepees. They are the best of the tribe, having the privilege to access some of their demonic heritage to become physically better in every way.


    Although the camps were separate, the people still mingled. Two Satyrs playing magical cards with three Humans and a Lizardfolk; the cards swapped within themselves with each turn with a command word. [Mercenaries] traded simple charms with Satyr [Traders], and the Satyrs shared meals with the rest of the army. This is also one of the reasons why Atasaney chose to side with Tucken over Joltstown, even if he isn''t a Satyr that lived in the tribes of the valleys, forests, and deserts.


    Atasaney left his company in the stables, heading towards the main building, a temporary square headquarters raised with geomancy. He handed his weapons to the [Soldiers] guarding the wooden doors. The Satyr walked into the building, eying curiously the Human woman with bandages wrapped around her chest, her dark skin bearing the scars of countless battles. Her serrated glaive was made from green-yellow metal encrusted with yellow, red, and blue gems embedded on the blade. Her faint blue metal helmet and dimly glowing cuirass hung on her armor stand.


    "Atasaney, right?" The [General] looked up from her battle map absently. The Satyr knew from her Aura or how she carried herself that he would likely lose if they fought, even mounted.


    "Yes, General Karaiste." He knew her name even before then because she was a famous adventurer in the region and a leader of her mercenary company before settling down in Tucken''s army. "My company specializes in mid-range skirmishing in battles other than bounty hunting. We had served in the Paryhst-Onoroix War, fought for the town of Wyald against the Sime''noos Tribe-"


    "I know how experienced you are." Karaiste cut him off. "What I want to know is how much I can pay you. You only have twenty men and women, so I can assume something has happened to the other half?"


    "They quit my company willingly. Few were injured from my last contract."


    "Huh. What can I do with twenty [Riders]? How much?"


    "Thirty gold for every mission you assign for us. We can be good skirmishers or officer-hunters."


    "Hmm¡­" The [General] had expected more people in his company. She might consider the offer if that''s the case. "I can''t afford to feed twenty other mouths. I have [Soldiers] and [Mercenaries] to give wages to. Twenty more isn''t going to help me, even if you''re elite. Not worth the cost. If you had arrived earlier, then I might consider the offer. So, I won''t be hiring you. However, feel free to rest within the camp until tomorrow, and only tomorrow, or employ yourself to the few [Traders] remaining in the camp."


    Atasaney glumly delivered the news to the others.


    <hr>


    Before Numisley arrived in the camp of the Tucken army, he had sold his wares to the Lightning March''s troops, miles away from the city of Joltstown.


    Numisley managed to secure a meeting with the [Mercenary General] of the Thunderous March after waiting for a day after they sold some of their goods.


    As expected, many [Merchants] had passed by, and some remained in their camp, giving Numisley stiff competition. It was not wholly unprofitable, as they had sold some of their grain, kegs of beer, spears, and gambesons because there''s no shortage of the demand for them in armies.


    "-So, I would like to offer my service to you, General Thuntelch. I can give you the information about the enemy''s camp when I come to sell my wares to them, and in exchange, you will give me a hundred gold..."


    The tall Dwarf, his other right half partially petrified because he had lost his hand in a battle long ago, raised his remaining left hand. The black book had an entry about the [Mercenary General] of the Thunderous March, Sanzelc Thuntelch.


    "I can already do that with my [Scouts]." The [General] cut Numisley off.


    "But I''m not finished yet." Numisley countered."I know you have [Army: Lightning Bolt] as a unit-wide Bound Spell from your Role as [Thundermarch General]... I know of other things that can be useful to your enemies."


    The Dwarven [General] smashed the wooden table in outrage because he knew private information. His fist had fallen like thunder, scorching both halves of the table.


    "How did you know that?" Sanzelc rumbled thunderously.


    "I''m simply a seller of information. If I were to go to Tucken''s camp, I might tell you where they store their supplies, so you can burn them in a raid. Or any information that can help. How about it?" Numisley offered.


    "How can I be sure that you won''t betray me? You won''t leave this place alive if you do."


    "I have a Feat. [Bloodbound Contract]. Either of us will die if one of us breaks the contract write with this."


    After the table was replaced with a pot of ink, quill, and papers, Numisley wrote the contract. The ink reddened into actual blood as it dried on the beige paper, binding both of them in blood. The deal was done.


    A day and a half of travel later, he had found Tucken''s main camp. Numisley''s caravan was outside the main camp with the other merchant caravans. Of course, they took precautions against [Spies] and the like, so they do not let any outsiders in except for the [Mercenaries] they hire. Numisley took the opportunity to activate a signal stone keyed to General Thuntelch to let him know of his location. Numisley tried sending one of the Severed Swords with a scouting Feat. She reported that the totems around the camp seemed to be watching, so that attempt was delayed.


    Coincidentally, the caravan encountered the Atasaney''s Prowlers riding out from the camp. Both sides drew their weapons; swords were drawn, spears and wands were pointed warily to the opposing side, and crossbows pulled taut as soon as they recognized each other. The other [Soldiers] and [Mercenaries] under the command of the [General] were also alerted.


    "Lower your weapons!" Numisley stomped Palvt''s staff on the ground. So far, he hadn''t managed to learn how to use the bound spells in it or cast magic in general, so he had used it in place of his missing walking cane. Aside from the Severed Swords, even the camp''s [Soldiers] faltered.


    Atasaney gestured his men and women to lower his weapons and appraised Numisley with his Feat, and he was honestly impressed. Even without seeing his Feats and Roles, he can see how he carried himself like one of the nobility.


    "What are you doing here?" Atasaney asked. Numisley recognized him as one of the [Riders] who ambushed them in the Overthere Hills, and he had a sudden idea.


    "To make a deal. I want to hire you for the duration of my travel to the continent. forty gold per moon." Numisley announced. His brother jerked his shoulder back.


    "They are the people who attacked us back in the hills!" Cultrost whispered. Graten stared at Numisley, tightening his grip on his mace as the rest of the Severed Swords protested, grumbling loudly.


    "I know." Numisley swatted Cultrost''s hand, straightening himself with the staff.


    "Then why?" Culttrost asked, raising his voice slightly.


    "A snake that you have on a leash is better than a snake in the bush," Numisley answered, citing a local idiom. "Besides, they are [Mercenaries]. Yesterday''s enemies will become tomorrow''s allies if you have enough money. I can use them."


    "But what about Graten and his men? They killed them."


    "They will deal with it. At least for a moon before we arrive at the safer cities of the Exiled Coasts."


    "You''re making a mistake, brother." Cultrost walked away towards the caravan. Numisley turned back to Atasaney.


    "I understand. " Atasaney quipped. "We''ll try not to kill each other. Assuming that your boys and girls won''t do the same."


    Graten and the Severed Swords glared daggers at him, but both sides knew that [Mercenaries] will become allies if the battlefield is old enough and vice versa.


    "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, as they say. We should make a deal now instead of the chance that you might chase me down again. You might spread the word that we have the thing. I''ll give you what you want from the book, and you will protect us."


    "It''s a deal then."


    "I''ll put it on paper. A contract I mean."


    Cultrost handed Numisley writing materials. The ink on the paper turned into red blood as he wrote, but Numisley felt a bit dizzy. If the name of his Feat was true, then he will make sure that he will not bind more people with [Bloodbound Contract] unless necessary. He straightened, trying not to show his weakness.


    "Here are the terms of your employment."


    Atasaney read the contract written in blood. He knew this was either a magical or a Feated contract because of his experience under those. He was desperate for money, so he accepted regardless of the terms.


    "Atasaney. If you worked under me even after this contract, I promise that I''ll make you stronger. The book holds the knowledge of Roles and Feats, and I will use them to the best of my ability."


    Atasaney doubted him. Still, he had signed the contract, binding them with the Feat that bound both of their blood. The Severed Swords reluctantly gave Atasaney''s Prowlers one of the wagons. The wagon was the most worn down and cramped among the surviving ones. There was a certain distance between their camps, and both were wary of each other, only approaching the other if they need something from the wagons.


    Numisley''s request to meet the [General] for permission to trade within her military camp was accepted hours later. His eyes darted around the camp as they let him in, and him alone, searching for clues about anything useful for Joltstown''s army.


    He had been permitted to enter her headquarters, and they sat together across a table. He stared at a battle map on a table beside her bed, which Numisley needed.


    "So, you have come here to trade?" The [General] asked Numisley. She hungrily stared at Numisley, oblivious to her intentions.


    "Yes, General. I will supply you with my remaining spare armor and weapons, as well as beer and grain from my inventory. I come from Dotterm, and my company and identity are verified by the Cemoorstead Merchant''s Guild if you wish to confirm my identity."


    "How much are your wares?"


    "If you''re going to buy what''s left, that would be...[Recall Value]...forty gold coins."


    "I see..."


    The older woman wrapped her arm around the young [Trader], an opportunity for the [General]. Her face was close enough for her to sniff his hair. Numisley was visibly uncomfortable, yet he saw an opportunity to grab the map as he was being helplessly dragged.


    "So, tell me more. Convince me why I should pay forty gold. Let''s talk more about the terms." She whispered in a more friendly tone.


    On that night, the [General] fell asleep, and Numisley grabbed the map after much effort. Fifteen Elves had set their sights on the camp of the Tucken forces.

 Chapter 10

    A Tinyfolk [Guide] guided fifteen Elves through the Overthere Hills on horses. He was the fastest [Guide] around these parts, and he could speed up his companions with his Feats, faster than any horse for a time. When they arrived at Dotterm, they hired a wagon to head toward their destination.


    Maldent personally hired Tesath Tooker with forty gold coins. The Tinyfolk is in question because he has experience dealing with Elves with Elf''s Madness, aside from being the best [Guide] around these parts. He needed to be fast because he could not count how many times the geriatric and insane Elven [Fighters] wandered off on their own while they traveled to the Yokelaines.


    Unluckily, they missed their target in Joltstown. After some time, they tracked their target to Tucken''s army camp from a nearby hamlet.


    "Die. Die. Die. Can we die yet?" One Elf with long, gray hair bit his zweihander manically, eyes gazing at the camp. The metal bent from his teeth.


    "Where¡­are we? Are we at Norxauk?" A wrinkled female Elf stared up at the stars, holding her gnarled staff with a single blue gem.


    "Who do we kill again? Where? What¡­" Another old Elf with eyes gouged out, wrapped with an old dirty cloth, rested his oversized broad ax on his shoulder.


    Tesath sighed with his mouth-mandibles. Half of them were also asleep or forgot to close their mouths with a waterfall of drool. Yet they are still capable in battle despite their illness, more talented than any mercenary group in the area.


    "Capture Numisley Gildin and bring him back to Norxauk to Maldent. At least one of you must come back with the target."


    As if unleashing a pack of rabid dogs, the [Guide] pointed at the camp with his [Waypoint] Feat, jolting those sleeping Elves awake. With manic glee at the prospect of dying, the fifteen elderly Elves charged straight towards the military camp with [Soldiers] many times their number.


    The sentries on the earthworks stared at the distance as their [Dangersense] blared inside their heads. The guard dogs of the Gahkee Tribe were attacking someone, but they were cut down with the golden cuts of an Elf''s two scimitars. A [Fireball] bloomed in the calm night and it blasted itself into an invisible barrier in the borders of the camp erected by the [Shamans]. An Elf with an ax bearing a four-foot-wide enchanted blade ran towards the wall, pulverizing the [Earth Wall] with a Feat-empowered strike, splitting the conjured earth.


    The rest of the Elves had breached the camp. They had spread out and created havoc among the ranks of [Soldiers] and [Mercenaries], even slaying the few [Merchants] within the camp. They seek their target without remorse for the people in their way, evading arrows and spells.


    "The camp is under attack! All men and women, defend the camp!"


    The Severed Swords heard the alarmed, and they were summoned to defend the camp with the [Soldiers] and [Mercenaries]. They headed towards the center where Numisley was. The place was in chaos, and the other mercenary elements were defending themselves so far. Spells lit up the night as tents burned.


    They saw the headquarters where Numisley was. General Karaiste stepped out from the hole in the wall, and for a second, she was half-naked before her armor and weapon appeared on her person.


    "[Three Hundred Arrows of Stone]!" The elderly Elven [Sorceress] tapped her gnarled staff on the ground. Three hundred [Stone Arrows] rose from the ground and sped towards the [General] with thrice the speed of an arrow. However, Karaiste''s azure helmet conjured a blue beam, creating a barrier of flaming blue light that the [Stone Arrows] shattered on.


    The old Elf with the zweihander blurred past the barrier and swung the heavy blade with only his one remaining hand, but her cuirass flashed with a burst of white light, blinding him. Her serrated glaive blocked a strike that would cut in half six boulders, and one of the gems on the blade shone harshly, blasting that stocky Elf with the large ax away with sudden force.


    Numisley peeked out of the hole in the wall with only his undergarments on. Cultrost ran towards him, but someone appeared in front, bleeding profusely and close to death. The Elf with bark for skin had his arms torn off by a Feat-empowered mace and a [Fireball] Spell. His body was riddled with arrows from a fight earlier against five dozen people. Yet his fading gaze still stared at them with glee.


    "Will you¡­be my death?" He grinned at them as blood trickled between his teeth.


    The Severed Swords armed with enspelled wands and crossbows unleashed projectiles. Somehow, despite his eyes filled with blood, he weaved away from [Stone Arrows] and crossbow bolts with his flowing footwork. He kicked the ground, flying towards Graten. Graten parried his kick, which made his blade and wrists vibrate with a force that unleashed an explosion of air. He was sure that his sword would break under the sheer power of that strike, but for a moment, it felt like his blade had weighed the same as multiple people. [My Blade Carried My Loss]. Graten''s Feat flashed within his head, and for a second, his dead comrades throughout the years, not just the ones who died at the Overthere Hills, held his blade with him. But he knew that they were only memories.


    It enabled him to block the powerful kicks of the old Elf that threatened to shatter his sword. However, he is an amateur at fighting with only his remaining legs while at the edge of death, the power from his Role and Feats will still kill Graten. The dozens of decades of experience had made him adapt quickly to his situation, getting the hang of fighting with only his legs. He evaded Graten and kicked the other [Mercenaries] of the Severed Swords. They staggered even if they raised their shields, yet they still slowly surrounded him.


    Someone charged into the Elf''s range before he could kick him. Cultrost swung his mace low, but the Elf had sensed it coming kicking Cultrost, knocking him back a good five feet away. It would''ve killed him if he didn''t activate his [Long Backstep] Feat at the last second.


    "[Moontear Blade: Crescent Cut]." Graten tore a chunk of the Elf''s belly with an aqueous shimmering silver crescent arc. Cultrost followed up by a [Power Strike] that shattered the Elf''s left femur. The Elf horrendously screamed before a spear stabbed behind him and put him out of his misery. The spear stuck out from the mouth, gurgling with blood before the wielder pulled it out.


    "Nice work Kortson-"


    Graten saw Cultrost frantically running towards the headquarters. The one-armed Elf armed with a zweihander was now carrying Numisley away in the chaos of battle. The Elf with a giant ax and the [Sorceress] was holding the [General] in place with their attacks. However, the remnants of the camp were converging in their position, having dealt with the Deathseekers. Interrupting the chaos are loud popping cracks piercing the air, along with a symphony of warcries. Cultrost stopped in his tracks because his brother was gone. One of the Elves carried him, hopping over the earthen ramparts of the camp.


    Jeering Lizardfolk emerged within the trees, holding their hand cannons; the black powder imported from their home continent of El-Mira.


    "[Unit: Rapid Reload]. Reload faster! [Volley of Terror]!" One of their officers had used a Feat to make the Lizardfolk under his command reload faster, making their shots more terrifying for the enemy. They fired another volley piercing through the Steelwool armor of the Fauntyr [Warriors] before they had a chance. The many animals of the Gahkee Tribe fled with the loud pops of the attacker''s hand cannons.


    The other heavily armored [Mercenaries] charged from the southern forest and entered the already breached defenses, marching with lightning speed, faster than a forced march. They clashed with the Gahkee Tribe and the remnants of Tucken''s forces, as many [Soldiers] had cast [Lightning Bolt] even if they were incapable of magic. Few defenders remained at the camp, and few were already deserting.


    General Karaiste had beheaded the Deathseeker with the ax as he sliced through the [Sorceress] and her magical barrier. She quailed as she saw her camp being taken over by a strike force. The Gahkee Tribe was wise to retreat as many more of their number were slain. In the heat of battle, she didn''t see Numisley being taken away. The enemy is already inside the camp.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Retreat! Retreat in good order! [Orderly Retreat]. I will dock your pay if you all abandon the army!" The [General] of Tucken ordered a retreat to preserve what''s left of her forces.


    The [Mercenaries] and [Soldiers] who routed had begun to organize themselves into squads, running towards the forests. The [General] of one of Tucken''s armies disappeared with them.


    Numisley had told his brother beforehand that the Thunderous March would send a strike force when they let them know the location of one of Tucken''s main camps. During the afternoon, Cultrost was told to send a signal stone connected to the [Commander] of the strike force to reveal the camp''s location. Cultrost and Numisley didn''t expect a team of Deathseekers would come. Ironically, it made the attack on the camp much easier, but Numisley is now in trouble.


    One of the commanders of the strike force approached them. The Human with a thick mustache appraised him.


    "So, you are Numisley?" He asked.


    "I''m his brother. He¡­ got kidnapped during the fighting." Cultrost replied weakly.


    "I see. Job well done. You can go now." The [Commander] of the strike force was dismissed.


    "Didn''t you hear what I-"


    "No. Our job here is done. If you want us to come and rescue your brother, pay up. A hundred gold coins or more."


    Cultrost thought intensely about how he could convince this man and his strike force to search for his brother. Yet a tiny part of him wanted to leave his brother to die so that more people wouldn''t have to suffer in the future.


    "How about something worth more than gold?" Cultrost provoked his interest. He silently hoped that if they managed to rescue Numisley, he would have something to offer them.


    "What do you mean?" The [Commander] raised his eyebrows.


    "Do you know why your [General] sent you here? It is because my brother had offered him knowledge in exchange for us giving you the location of Tucken''s main camp. My brother has the information you might need, so you can learn something valuable from him." Cultrost told the truth, but he avoided mentioning the two tomes of knowledge they had back in one of their wagons. Or anything that he couldn''t guarantee.


    The [Commander] stroked his mustache. "You are-"


    "I can attest to that." A tall violet Satyr was dropped to the ground with his hands tied. A sword pressed on his throat, held by a [Soldier].


    "Who is this?" The [Commander] asked.


    "I''m Atasaney. Atasaney''s Prowlers. You might have heard of us-we are one of the best in the region after all. Feel free to put me under a truth spell."


    "No need. I saw you back in the war between the cities of Parhyst and Onoroix when I was a raw [Fighter] with a sling and a club while you charged towards Onoroix''s boys and girls." The [Sergeant] recognized him in the past when he was a teenager in a different [Mercenary] band. "How did you know that?"


    "A big company told me that Cultrost''s brother has a lot of information. We were hired to attack his caravan before. Because of that, Numisley hired my company to keep us in check before he got kidnapped by that Deathseeker." Atasaney explained.


    "So¡­If we rescue this¡­Numisley, will he sell the information to me? The [Commander] clarified.


    "Of course!" Cultrost was trickling with sweat because of his incomplete offer. "We need to find him within the night." Cultrost urged. "We might lose him if we wait until tomorrow. Do you have any [Trackers]? Or any Feat that may help?"


    The [Commander] called one of the Lizardfolk holding those rare hand cannons. They were other [Mercenaries] from the southern continent of El-Mira, hired by the Thunderous March to supplement their numbers.


    "Torozz, [Tracker] of Tzomon''s Cannons. I can do it." A short orange-green Lizardfolk volunteered for this mission. He rested his hand cannon on his shoulder. He had a tail twice as long as his body and long, lean legs. "That will be another three gold."


    The [Commander] handed him three gold coins.


    "I''ll let you rescue your brother, but I will only let you go with a small group. Five people. If you escape, my army will chase you down to the ends of the land." The [Commander] threatened.


    "I understand." Cultrost nodded.


    "Also, release us. Please." Atasaney asked. With the [Commander]''s orders, they let him and his [Mercenaries] free. None of them had died since they were out of the sight of the Deathseekers, surrendering the second that the strike force besieged the temporary camp as they saw that defeat was inevitable.


    "I''ll send Ridi. He has a Feat: [Riding Expertise] that he can apply to a unit to cross rough terrain. I''ll let you borrow our horses because of the limitation of the Feat."


    "I''ll send one of my own. Cyneth! You were a [Hunter], right?"


    A Dullahan woman armored in plain steel armor walked up to them. A closed helm covered her face. Her pearl-like eyes are within the shadows of her helm, and one can see her slimy red skin in the gaps of her armor.


    "Still got the Role. Mainly a [Archer] though." She voiced.


    "Keep them in check." The [Sergeant] commanded. "Make sure that they will uphold the end of their bargain."


    "Graten, come with me," Cultrost commanded.


    "Josaif, take charge. Protect the wagons." The [Sword Captain] tapped the shoulder of a darker-skinned Human man."If this is a bluff, I will burn your wagons down. I''ll expect him by¡­ tomorrow afternoon." The [Sergeant] warned before he attended to his men and women as he counted casualties.


    Atasaney moved closer to his fellow Settled Satyr.


    "You owe me one. If your brother hadn''t refused to hand the books to us, this wouldn''t have happened." He whispered to Cultrost''s ear. What was worse was that he agreed with him. If his brother didn''t take the books for his benefit, he wouldn''t have been kidnapped, they wouldn''t get hunted, and people would have had to die for nothing.


    "Tell him that once we rescue him." Cultrost hissed.


    Later, the group of five headed towards the forest in the middle of the night. They rode on horses from Atasaney''s company. Ridi''s Feat had made the trip much faster.


    "Ese! Stop! A trail!" The Lizardman [Tracker] halted the group. He pointed towards the broken branches and leaves on a tree in the forest. The Lizardman dismounted and poked the footprints among the fallen leaves on the ground.


    "Footprints are heavy. The other one is lighter. Two people. The other one must''ve carried your brother." Torozz analyzed.


    "Small feet and two large toes. The other one must be a Tinyfolk. Dwarves have wider feet." The Dullahan [Hunter] helpfully added.


    "They didn''t cover their tracks well enough and didn''t try to muddle their path. They must''ve been in a hurry." The [Tracker] pointed at the low southern incline, which was too craggy for their horses. "If they were in a hurry, they must have climbed that."


    "One of my Feats tells me they must be hiding somewhere," Graten added.


    "I see. Lead the way." Cultrost commanded.


    "Dismount the horses. I do not want to waste any of my movement-Feats for this." Ridi cautioned.


    They climbed the craggy path ahead, tying the reins of their horses on the trees. The unlikely group trudged on the incline as the first snowflakes fell until they were up on the elevated ground.


    Their eyes lay upon a dim orange light from a cave peeking from the ground within two trees.


    <hr>


    Numisley was bound in a dark cave. He didn''t scream or shout before they went too far from the camp. He did try to leave a trail by kicking bushes and branches as he was kidnapped. He kept still and silent to preserve his energy. His mouth was especially gagged because the [Guide] had the sense to prevent him from convincing them with his Feats.


    Numisley gained a few Feats throughout the ordeal, Feats that he won''t be able to use right now even if he wanted to. He wished that there was someone else that was captured with him.


    The [Guide] hid his face with a cloth mask and hood beside the Elf with the zweihander. They sat around a fire made with a bundle of twigs. The cold could still be felt inside, the cool air entering the cave. Sprinkles of snow were falling gently on the canopy of the sparse forest beyond the cave''s entrance.


    "When? When do we go?" The Elf asked.


    "At first light." The [Guide] answered. The Elf continued to gnash his teeth on his sword.


    Numisley was helpless. One moment, he was being coerced by a [General] to her bed, and suddenly, he was whisked away by an Elf to this cave. He didn''t know who they were or who hired them, but he guessed the objective was him.


    It was silent throughout the night, with the elderly Elf muttering to himself while the [Guide] read a book. Numisley noticed that they were indifferent towards each other, only working for the time being. Numisley looked around, finding no stray rock like in the stories of [Heroes] escaping from enchanted ropes that would help him cut his bindings. Yet his fingers reached for the knot, and he slowly but surely loosened the knot. He strained with the exertion of his fingers, hands, and arms squirming towards freedom. The burning pain of his arms and the cold that made his half-naked body shiver made his escape still a distant possibility.


    The fire ceased burning at midnight as the Elf slept. The drowsy [Guide] fell into complacency since Numisley was calm and didn''t attempt to escape. Numisley hid the fire of his desire for freedom well and his loose knot. The rope silently fell on his waist as Numisley removed the gag on his mouth. He almost fell to the ground as he tried to walk.


    For a moment, he had forgotten the existence of his atrophied and paralyzed leg. He silently lowered his shivering body and tried to crawl out of the cave. There was no Cultrost to carry him away from trouble. No people to order around or make deals with, nor someone to guide him or even a cane to lean on; it was only him against the sleepy vigil of his captors.


    He wished he could cast magic, but Numisley knew early on that he had no magical talent. These thoughts echoed in his mind as he crawled on the cold ground, gritting his teeth. Inch by inch, he pressed on towards the wide and bright exit from the cave. The cold wind brushed aside his brown hair, but-


    "Hey!" The [Guide] yelled. Someone grabbed him by his paralyzed foot and slammed him on the cave wall. The Elf pointed his zweihander at Numisley''s throat.


    "Don''t kill him. Maldent needs him, ya'' geriatric knife-ear!" The [Guide] scolded him, but the Elf beheaded the Tinyfolk instantly with a swing of his gigantic sword. The Elf looked at the corpse like it was an accident.


    "Oops. My hand slipped." The Elf apologized with a vacant stare towards Numisley. "I need to bring you to Maldent, right?"


    Numisley''s question was answered by the Elf. He had overlooked the possibility that a big company didn''t want any of its subsidiaries making a profit without their share. The Elf seems like he genuinely waited for an actual answer from him. He had only heard tales of Elf''s Madness, the only sickness old Elves have when they live too long until they are nothing but a shell of themselves.


    "No. You are mistaken, my friend. You need to release me from this cave, so you can be free too." Numisley attempted to fool him, taking advantage of his mental disability. But in a blur, the Elf''s remaining hand pinned his neck on the wall, choking him. He made the mistake of thinking that Elf''s Madness makes him dumb.


    "I''m not dumb. If I kill you, it will be easier to carry after I chop your limbs off." The Elf was breathing heavily. Numisley saw madness in his eyes. He meant what he had said. He threw Numisley to the ground, picking up his zweihander.


    A shape flew towards the cave. The Elf stared at his shoulder uncomprehendingly at an arrow had freshly pierced him from an [Hunter] ''s bow.

 Chapter 11

    The arrow pissed the Elf off more than it hurt. He swiped his sword in annoyance, not noticing that he had cut Numisley''s toes. Numisley''s scream urged Cultrost forwards toward the Elf. The Elf swung his long zweihander recklessly. Graten narrowly parried it, almost tumbling towards the ground. With his free hand, Graten pushed Cultrost away a second before another horizontal slash of that zweihander made a wall of dust as his sword swept down on the ground.


    "H¨¦t! Don''t be reckless!" Graten scolded Cultrost.


    "But Numisley-"


    "I know! So let''s kill him quickly!"


    They felt the fearsome Aura from the Elf, a veteran of dozens of battles. He is the most dangerous foe they have faced so far. Graten was sorely familiar with this overwhelming feeling.


    The Lizardfolk fired his gun, and the Dullahan unleashed a volley of arrows. The Elf simply angled his long blade with one hand so that he could block some of them with the flat end. The bullet didn''t break his sword, much to the Lizardfolk''s dismay. Some arrows pierced his flesh, but he did not budge. The Elf''s grip tightened as his body prepared for a great swing.


    "Eight Divines damn it, duck!" Graten ducked and pulled Graten to the ground as he sensed that Feat.


    A wide arc of pressurized air from the swing had cut a dozen trees in half. Two trees fell upon Torozz and Cyneth, and Cultrost didn''t see what had happened to them.


    "[Summon Mount]!"


    Ridi took a piece of the Elf''s shoulder with a lance charge from his horse that he summoned from below with his Feat. The Elf whirled as Ridi turned his horse towards him to charge him again, but he fell forwards as the horse was beheaded with a sudden cleave from the Elf''s zweihander. Graten locked swords with the Elf, and his shoes dug in the soil with the great strength of the Deathseeker. His past comrades held the blade in place, appearing beside Graten as apparitions that only he saw. Even the combined strength of his comrades was not enough as Graten was thrown back by the Elf''s swing, breaking out of the clash of blades. Graten tumbled to the ground with such force that he cracked the tree trunk. The impact had knocked him unconscious.


    Ridi rode towards the Elf again with his lance couched, but the Elf turned, and his zweihander horizontally cut the horse in half. Ridi rolled to the ground to mitigate the impact of his fall.


    The old Elf glared at Cultrost, his cloudy red eyes making Cultrost shiver. With only his remaining arm that held a sword closer to a polearm at length, he had defeated Graten and Ridi, far more capable than him. Even if the Deathseeker''s shoulder was torn off. As strong as Jascias'' best men. Upon this revelation, his knees shivered. His arms felt weak, his hand threatening to drop his mace. Yet something new was etching itself into his soul: the pages of his book.


    The Satyr stomped his left hoof on the ground with newfound bravery. He charged, and the Elf swung down his sword. Instinctively, Cultrost raised his free arm. In a second, his arm was enveloped by a phantom bracer, but it had shattered the moment the zweihander hit him. His arm broke from the mitigated impact.


    The Elf lost too much blood, and at that vulnerable moment, Cultrost pivoted, breaking his knee with his mace. The weakened Deathseeker fell, and Ridi pierced his heart with a thrown lance, recovered from that clash. Yet the Deathseeker was rising up. Cultrost broke his uninjured leg with another strike.


    His mace hit the side of his head, cracking his skull.


    He still lives.


    He swung his mace again and again. Again and again. Again and again. Again and again.


    Until he can''t move.


    Until all his bones shattered and flesh tear.


    Until his breath is no more.


    Cultrost was panting, staring at the corpse weakly. It took a while before he finally died. He heard that [Warriors] who lived long enough can survive even a blade to their heart and even death magic.


    The corpse was smiling.


    It was his first actual fight to the death. He had killed only monsters, not people. They were lucky that the Deathseeker didn''t dodge any of their attacks despite being capable of it, simply because of their willingness to die.


    "They''re dead." Graten had woken up and immediately headed towards the fallen trees. The Dullahan and the Lizardman were crushed under the weight of the trees that were cut by the Elf.


    Cultrost rushed towards the cave, seeing Numisley on the floor, half of his paralyzed foot severed and bleeding.


    "Healing potion¡­" Numisley whispered, suffering in agony.


    Cultrost pulled a ceramic vial from his satchel, pouring it on the wound.


    "Fa''cke¡­" Numisley cursed as he felt the healing potion and the pain in his foot. The healing potion had made his foot painfully numb as his body''s self-healing ability accelerated to close the wound, yet it didn''t grow the severed half of his foot. Numisley reached out, and Cultrost pulled him up. His brother leaned on Cultrost.


    "I got you," Cultrost reassured.


    What happened to your arm?" Numisley saw his left arm dangling stiffly. "Also, you killed that maniac? He¡­they were hired by Maldent Trading. T-The Deathseeker killed his companion."


    "Yeah. That Elf broke my arm before I killed him-more like I dealt the final blow. Graten and someone from Atasaney''s helped," Cultrost downplayed. "...Can''t move it right. Ouch." Cultrost finally felt the pain of his broken forearm after the rush from fighting died down.


    "No healing potion can heal that. But I swear I''ll find a way." Numisley promised.


    "Is there even a way? We might have to cut¡­my forearm." Cultrost stared at his forearm, which was already tender. "I promised that Thunderous March [Commander] that you have information useful to him. And I got two of his [Soldiers] killed trying to defeat that Elf."


    "Don''t worry. I''ll handle this. I got something from that headquarters." Numisley reassured.


    "What? Then why are you in your underwear?" Cultrost raised his eyebrows.


    "Well¡­"-


    The group of three arrived back in the captured camp at midnight, with the corpses of their temporary companions from that mercenary army slung on the saddles of the empty horses. The [Commander] was within the new tent beside the crumbling headquarters; its interior was smoldering from burnt wood and papers. Culrost''s left forearm rested on an impromptu arm sling. He sat beside Numisley, vigilant.


    "Did you kill them?" The [Commander] asked.


    "No. The Deathseeker killed them. He had a [Great Slash]. He cut the trees, crushing them."


    The truth stone on his table glowed green, confirming that they stated the truth.


    "Of course, a Deathseeker! So, you get them killed, ah?" The [Commander] regarded Cultrost and Numisley. "You better make sure that this is worth it." He pointed to Numisley.


    "Of course, Commander-"


    "Andrer Alchemist." The Human stroked his handlebar mustache.


    "I noticed that the headquarters was burnt. Why is that?"


    "One of my- Some gruel-for-brains [Mercenary] knocked over the lantern and burnt the war plans," Andrer grumbled.


    "What if I told you that I have a map?" Numisley threw the verbal bait in this room.


    "What map?" The [Commander] raised his eyebrows.


    "Their movements for the battlefield," Numisley answered. "Is that enough payment?"


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Numisley handed the map to Andrer, and the [Commander]''s eyes scanned across it, analyzing the future movements of the enemy and verifying the information.


    "Yes." The [Commander] looked up. "The Thunderous March is in your debt. I''ll send a copy to our [General]."


    "Thank you. Do you know any [Healer] that can heal a broken bone?" Numisley asked in a way that hid his desperation.


    "Since we are in your debt, I''ll tell you," The [Commander] said. "The ones that can heal your injuries are in the megapolises, but their fees are too high, even for you. The [Priests] are likewise occupied by many people coming to their temples. But, I know of a tribe that is most likely to help you."


    "Who?" Numisley uttered.


    "Veohantaye Tribe. They live at the Gaunt Peaks on Fishalttop Mountain, next to the town of Fishal. I heard from another [Commander] that he got his deformed arm healed there. Of course, there''s a chance that its capabilities are exaggerated. However, it is cheaper than waiting for a dozen moons while your brother''s arm rots off. Ask around in Fishal if you want to know more."


    "I see. Where Is Fishal?"


    "East of Tucken. You can go to the road that directly leads to the mountain. Fishal is farther."


    "Tell me more of this Satyr Tribe. Why are they so close to Human lands, much less in the territory of the Diamond Shore Conglomerate?""Their castle in the mountain is unassailable. Even if the land forces of the Conglomerate can defeat any mercenary army, they can''t take the Veohantaye Fortress, only the towns around them."


    "Satyrs have castles?" Numisley was genuinely surprised. "No offense, brother."


    "I''m a Settled Satyr with a Human name, remember?" Cultrost reminded.


    "They''re are Satyr cities; not those teepees or wagons in the Unconquered North, where our ancestors didn''t colonize because they simply can''t. Because of the Dragonhunter Tribes and their Wisest Ones¡­anyways, the Veohantaye Tribe can''t be sieged. They made a pact with the Corporation. They would trade their powerful magic charms, services, and raw alchemical materials endemic to the mountain for money, wheat, and the products of the sea." Andrer continued.


    "I see¡­that might be an opportunity.." Numisley pondered upon the information that he was given about the place.


    The meeting with the [Commander] was finished. Both of them rested in their wagons.


    Cultrost slept still within the wagon. He avoided moving in the bed like he usually does because of his broken forearm. He alternated between feeling pain and drowsiness. A moment before his eyes closed, the world etched power in the pages of his soul.


    [Role Played, Warrior]!


    [Feat- Weapon Proficiency: Mace developed.]


    [Feat - Bonecrushing Strike developed.]


    Arc Zero Completed.


    [Role Attained, Mace Warrior.]


    [Rare Feat - Phantom Bracer] developed!


    [Rare Feat - Ignore Pain] developed!


    [Rare Feat - Restore Courage] developed!


    Numisley sat on the seat facing Cultrost, resting. He stared at Palvt''s quarterstaff that still had its etched runes filled with blue, liquid gemstone. The runes were etched from both ends of the staff to its base. He can only understand the runes that bear the Spells of [Stone Arrows], [Wind Barrier], and [Fireball]. However, there are a dozen different runes on the staff. He had gained Feats from his deal with the [General] of the Thunderous March, gaining Feats from that deal. He had started to write in a journal about his study of his Feats and wrote his newest entry: about the Feats of [Convincing Words] and [Verify Information]. He studied the brown book, attempting to learn how to combine his two Roles.


    But it was late, early morning to be exact. For Numisley''s well-being, he went to sleep. His future self will worry about things tomorrow.


    Arc Zero Completed.


    [Role Played, Trader]!


    [Feat- Lesser Durability - Goods, developed.]


    [Role Played, Information Broker]!


    [Feat - Evaluation of Information, developed.]


    The next day, Atasaney had negotiated with Numisley about their employment under him. They sat on crates, eating a stew cooked from the looted stores of dried meat, wild herbs, chunks of bread soaked in the stew, and wild potatoes.


    "I''ll pay your company 20 gold per moon. Until we get to Baunt or Marienmaw. My only condition is that you will not harm the people employed in my caravan nor steal the two books. You will follow my orders. Is that clear?"


    "Yeah." Atasaney agreed without hesitation. Numisley suspected he had an ulterior motive, which is most likely stealing those books, but he knew how to keep him in check.


    "Sign this." Numisley handed him a contract written with [Bloodbound Contract]. Atasaney stared at it and immediately noticed that it was written with blood. However, whose blood is it?


    "A Feat-based contract, eh," Atasaney remarked. "Smart."


    He critically analyzed the contract written in blood before signing it. Numisley stared at the paper and his expression to glean something from him. For a moment, Atasaney smirked.


    "My twenty [Riders] will be at your service." Atasaney shook Numisley''s hand.


    The caravan headed first to Tucken, the city before the town of Fishal. The salt flats that Tucken and Joltstown were fighting over gleamed on the west. The hills and mountains of the Gaunt Peaks loomed from the east. There was nothing but plains and some trees for miles. The road was made out of old stones, an improvement to the dirt roads inland. Twenty [Riders] escorted the five wagons of Gildin Trading.Cultrost peeked out from the wagon, standing.


    "H¨¦t, Cultrost, you should rest." Numisley scolded. He was sitting beside Palden, using his Feats to make the trip faster.


    "I got [Ignore Pain] yesterday! And I completed my Arc...I think. Whatever that means." Cultrost swayed his broken tender hand like it was nothing. Palden gagged at the sight of his swollen forearm moving.


    "Stop that! You''re going to give the [Healer] a hard time!" Numisley scolded. "That means you can get Rare Feats. According to that book."


    "I got two. How many do you have?" Cultrost asked.


    "Nothing. Just regular Feats." Numisley answered.


    "I win." Cultrost smiled smugly.


    "It''s not a contest¡­ "


    Hours later, while they jokingly argued along the way, they saw the city of Tucken, surrounded by marshland. Once the caravan passed through the fields of maize, they were in the districts outside of Tucken''s walls that were heavily patrolled by [Mercenaries]. They stopped by in the market district of the local Merchant''s Guild and got a permit to temporarily buy and sell products there for a week and a half.


    Palden was left to manage the newly acquired stall that they bought to generate profit as they sold their remaining inventory and bought new ones in bulk. This will be a cover for Numisley''s actual business.


    Numisley, Cultrost, Graten, and Palden: the "leaders" of their small company, were sitting in the large inn: an inn named "The Sitting Wagon". The inn mainly caters to the [Merchants] and [Traders] that come and go in the market district of Tucakee. They ate grilled swamp octopus meat with a side of polenta: the local fare in the city-state.


    "We got a manpower problem," Palden stated.


    "What do you mean?" Numisley asked.


    "It''s more like an organizational problem. Most of our thirty-five men and women are [Mercenaries]. That''s all well and good¡­but they aren''t as effective as they should be because they don''t have a [Trader]-Role or anything that would help in the business. Many are [Laborers], but¡­you get my point. I''m the only one aside from you two that were the original members of Gildin Trading and me, [Quartermaster], and Graten are managing the folk. We need more leaders and crafters, not just [Mercenaries] and [Captains]."


    "Thank you for making me aware of the issue," Numisley replied.


    "Didn''t you have a list of the Severed Swords?" Cultrost reminded.


    "Good idea," Numisley remembered that he did a tally of Graten''s men and women with their Feats and Roles. "Call Umbert, Beqaye, Arimith, Kortson, Malia, and Tarast. Ask Atasaney if he has some members who have crafter-Roles... "


    Later, a Dwarf entered Numisley''s room. Numisley sat on the bed in front of the table.


    "Umbert, right?" Numisley asked the middle-aged Dwarf. "You were an [Cobbler] if my memory serves right."


    "Yeah. So? What do you want?" The middle-aged Dwarf raised his eyebrow.


    "Do you want to be an [Cobbler] again?"


    "Hmm¡­" The Dwarf scratched his stubble. "Beats [Mercenary] work. Much safer. I''m not out of practice, since I fix everyone''s shoes. Kortson also maintains horseshoes for our Satyr members."


    "Tell me about your [Cobbler] occupation in the past." Numisley requested.


    "I worked in the Dwarven village of Tuntow as a [Apprentice] under a [Shoemaker]. Good sort, women especially love his moccasins, and anything he makes can even break a wild nail on the ground if someone steps on it."


    "Dwarven village? Forgive me, but I thought Dwarves were very few in this land. Never seen more than three or four Dwarves back home in Renimburg."


    "Nah¨¨. We live in the very west of these lands. As many as Satyrs in Human cities. Mostly where the dwarven Drizgil''s Dragonguard is, one of the Five. I stopped being a [Cobbler] when [Mercenaries] destroyed our village, and the rest is history."


    "I see¡­ I need you¡­not just you, but anyone in the Severed Swords who has a Role that can be useful for our business. Non-combat Roles that can create products or help them sell. I''ll assign you to create shoes and clothing. So, are you up to the challenge?"


    "Challenge, eh? I''ll take your challenge. Should be piss-easy."


    "I''ll spend gold to get you what you need. I''ll give you something to help you too. If it works."


    -


    "You called?" A Human man scratched his thinning hair as he entered Numisley''s room.


    "Tarast, right?" Numisley looked up from his book. "You''re an actual [Recruiter]?"


    "Yeah. With the Role. Erm, I was a [Crier], then I joined the Severed Swords, and my [Crier] and [Sergeant] Roles combined into [Recruiter], so yeah."


    "What Feats of yours would be useful for selling stuff, even if you''re not a [Trader]?"


    "Ah, that''s private information¡­but if I could be paid more-"


    "I''ll pay you more than you were as a [Mercenary]-I mean that you will be paid twice, both being a [Mercenary] and being my [Shopkeeper]." Numisley informed, reading an entry from the brown book.


    "Ah? Oh yeah¡­I got [Noticable Presence], [Loud Voice], and [Convincing Words]. That''s good enough, right?"


    "Yeah. That''s good enough for acting as a [Shopkeeper]. You''re going to work in the afternoon. Someone without the Feats can take the morning shift."


    "Alright. I''m up for it."


    Numisley had interviewed three more people, and he convinced them to the best of his ability, treating them more as friends than as employees, giving them the knowledge to acquire some Feats faster. Graten had asked around Atasaney''s group, and they only found three people among them that qualified for Numisley''s requirements. Gildin Trading now has a [Cobbler], [Weaver], [Carpenter], [Farrier], [Tanner], an acting-[Shopkeeper], as well a [Haggler], [Apprentice Smith], and a [Sharpener].


    Most of their Roles were from their old professions, with only a few using their past skills in their mercenary work. Now, all he needed to do was to challenge them by giving them a quota so that they could hopefully gain a Rare Feat or two. Numisley also saw some potential in some Severed Swords'' members like Weriens: a Dullahan [Butcher] and [Cook], which has Feats that work well in combat, and Henda, a former [Miner], which can be beneficial for his company would involve themselves in mining if she would become a [Mining Leader]. If he did it right, even Iquewar, one of the [Mercenaries] under Severed Swords, can make his [Hauler] Role into something more.


    He spent the day with Cultrost, placing orders in the local Merchant''s Guild for wood, cloth, nails, and many other tools and materials to be bought in bulk. They could now start selling products aside from grain and beer. It cost Numisley around fifteen gold coins in total. He was thankful that he didn''t need to borrow money in the first place because he had excess gold in store. Paper and parchment, as well as quills, are his other priority so that he could write reports and balance sheets. This was enough to make a profit, at least for a week and a half. Their priority was to escape to Yhril while making money along the way. He hoped they could afford to board a ship in less than a month, which is expensive. He also needs to go to an enchantery to decipher the other bound spells in Palvt''s quarterstaff, using it in place of a walking stick since he lost his cane back then.


    But first, he needed to hire the largest gang in the city, as he first intended.


    [Rare Feat- Eye for Potential.]

 Chapter 12

    Numisley walked with Cultrost in the streets of Tucken after establishing the new business model. They rented the ground floor of a building into a workshop and warehouse for the company crafters. He stared at the prices of the products as they passed by a market, remarking on the inflated prices caused by the ongoing war between Tucken and Joltstown. Cultrost walked with an arm sling wrapped around his broken forearm because Numisley and Palden insisted, even if his Feat removed the pain.


    They saw the sign, written in the regional language. It was the only enchantery available since many [Enchanters] enchanted the army''s weapons. They understood most of the signs in the city because the language back home was also written the same way, but this is a different language, yet similar. They would need to speak Common the further they go east because of the language barrier, especially on another continent.


    "Good day." The Human [Enchanter] with ashen hair stared at them from his spectacles.


    It had cost Numisley an arm and a leg so that he could have an appointment even if he only booked it a day before. A peculiar seal on a metal plaque hung on one side of a wall among a shelf of scrolls, enchanted to make it noticeable. It is a certification that he graduated from the magical academy of Miraculum, the best magic academy in the Magnarost Union in the Far North of Libertalia.


    ¡°Mornin¡¯, ¡± Numisley greeted back. ¡°As I said before, this staff has runes that I''m not familiar with. I would like them to be identified, along with other potential functions of this item.¡±


    ¡°Each kind of rune will cost one gold, Sir Gildin.¡± The [Enchanter] established.


    ¡°One-¡±


    ¡°Where did you get this item?¡± The [Enchanter] rests his hand on a smooth flat stone, glowing dimly. The [Enchanter] stared daggers at Numisley. ¡°You are in no position to barter, even if you have [Expert Bartering]. You do not know the peculiarities of magic, much less the field of Periapt Enchanting, so one gold is one gold.¡±


    Numisley swallowed his words back and spoke. ¡°An acquaintance gave this to me when he died in an ambush.¡±


    The stone glowed dark green. The [Enchanter] stared at it.


    ¡°You did not steal it, nor your companion?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Numisley and Cultrost chorused.


    The green aura of the stone brightened.


    ¡°Good enough. Pay up.¡±


    Cultrost handed him Numisley¡¯s two gold coins. He assisted Numisley after he gave him the quarterstaff. He placed it on a wooden board, with a rectangle of runes and lines on its surface. Words appeared on the paper beside it.


    ¡°Hmm¡­three charges of [Fireball]...can be airburst-configurable, four charges of [Wind Barrier], seven charges of [Stone Arrow], [Gazelle¡¯s Dexterity] localized on the grip in six-second bursts per charge, impact-activated [Weight] and [Shattertouch] on the ends, three charges of [Lightning Bolt], three [Earth Pillars], seven [Firebolts], four [Sticky Webs], two [Frost Rays], three [Razorwinds], three [Force Blasts], and two [Flashbang] charges. That are a lot of bound Spells within this item. Must be a good [Enchanter]. You would need to channel¡­three hundred drops of mana to have this on full capacity.¡±


    ¡°Three hundred drops?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°An average, non-[Mage] has fifty drops of mana within their body. You can¡¯t charge it by yourself unless you want to suffer mana fatigue.¡±


    ¡°Airburst-configurable? Localized?¡± Cultrost stepped in and asked.


    ¡°Pshaw. Magicless plebians.¡± The [Enchanter] whispered to himself. Cultrost raised his eyebrows at the sudden retort. ¡°Airburst-configurable means that you can make it an [Airburst Fireball]; Tier 4 because of its complexity, but Tier 3 in power. The airburst function can bypass cover. Localized means that it applies to a specific object, so the dexterity-enchantment works when you hold it. The effect around the wrists lasts for six-second bursts, but I wonder why this [Enchanter] made the effect duration-based instead of touch-based activation, that¡¯s just stupid-¡±


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Numisley cut him off before he ranted about the specifics of the magic within the quarterstaff. ¡°Can you¡­replace some of its enchantments? The [Weight], [Shattertouch], and the [Gazelle¡¯s Dexterity] enchantment. Erm¡­I¡¯m using it as a walking stick instead of a weapon. Can¡¯t exactly fight with it like a [Warrior] would. The rest I can use for self-defense.¡±


    ¡°The additional fee would be what kind of magic I would need to replace them with.¡± The [Enchanter] added.


    "Can you make me quicker when I use it for walking? Also, a basic truth Spell would do for now."


    ¡°Hmm¡­wait a minute.¡± The [Enchanter] stared at the quarterstaff. ¡°I would need to attach a gem on it to make the truth spell more effective. The [Quickness] Spell also consume a lot of mana even if applied to the legs. We would have to cut down the other spells by one charge each.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Do it.¡±


    ¡°That would be thirteen gold,¡± The [Enchanter] demanded. ¡°It will be done tomorrow, at the first bell of the afternoon.¡±


    Cultrost placed the money on the counter.


    ¡°Thank you. I expect it tomorrow.¡± Numisley held Cultrost''s shoulder as they walked out of the enchantery.


    ¡°He¡¯s a bit obnoxious, eh? I feel like we got ripped off. Are [Mages] like that?¡± Cultrost remarked, walking on the streets. Some people curiously glanced at the brothers because Numisley was riding on Cultrost¡¯s shoulder, with a sling on his arm. They were heading back towards the stall through the shifting crowd.


    ¡°Probably.¡± Numisley shrugged his right shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t we have [Mages] in the caravan?¡±


    ¡°Nope. Just [Wandsmen] and [Wandswomen].¡± Numisley answered. ¡°Pointing a Wand of Fireball at someone is different from a [Mage] casting a [Fireball] and knowing other Spells.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Hiring them is expensive, right?¡±


    ¡°The good ones are already hired.¡±


    ¡°So, the bad ones are as obnoxious as that guy?¡±


    ¡°Might be the opposite? Probably.¡±


    They found themselves in a suspiciously dark alleyway as if led by something. The worn brick walls loomed menacingly, but the end of the alley was unusually bright.


    ¡°Wait¡­ Did we walk here?¡± Numisley mouthed. Their skin tingled, their [Danger Sense] whispering to them.


    ¡°No?¡±


    Cultrost turned, seeing a figure with a wand behind them. Two other silhouettes appeared behind the figure. Numisley turned in the opposite direction and saw three people blocking the other end of the alley.


    The middle one was strangely holding a sack.


    ¡°Numis, I need to drop you,¡± Cultrost warned. The only conclusion is that they are now in an ambush of some sort. He pushed Numisley off him. Numisley had braced for the fall, sliding down the wall.


    Cultrost pulled out his mace from his coat. Already, four of them are charging toward them. He swung and hit one of them on the head, knocking him on the wall, but the other three already grappled him. Cultrost struggled, staring at Numisley, but the person holding a sack ran towards Numisley. Cultrost violently swayed right, with one of them releasing their grip on him, but the [Thug] simply knocked him out with a club.


    The man with a sack whisked away Numisley by catching him like a net. He closed the sack, lifting their target effortlessly trapped inside as if Numisley was shrunken inside.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope the other [Thieves] can steal the books.¡±


    It was in the middle of the morning in the district of Tucakee. The fifth bell of the morning rang on the city''s bell towers. The crowd of Humans and Satyrs were milling within the streets; the avid shoppers were early to buy the best of the products the stalls and shops offered. Those inclined to buy food saw the raised prices of salt, crops, and many other foods because of the war in the Alimentaire Salt Flats and the city-state of Keres hoarding grain as a protest against the Varstead Alliance raising the prices of their metal and lumber exports.


    A Satyr and a Human set up a painted sign of a shop at the far corner of the district.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Gildin Trading and Crafts.


    The sign was written in the local dialect by someone familiar with the local language. Crafters added finishing touches to their products within the warehouse. Seven [Mercenaries] stood guard around the store: swords and wands sheathed and leaning on their spears. The rest guarded the wagons that they left in the bazaar.


    A Human passed a newly made horseshoe to a Satyr [Farrier], tossing it in a pile of other similarly-sized horseshoes. A Dwarven [Cobbler] added the finishing stitches of the last pair of shoes, beside a Dullahan wearing plain steel armor that is sharpening carving knives. A young Dwarven [Carpenter] inspected the varnishes on the stools, boxes, and shelves he made with the costly wood and nails.


    ¡°Arimith. How many?¡± A brown-green-haired Tinyfolk poked at the Dwarven [Carpenter] shoulder.


    ¡°Twenty-five stools, twenty-four medium-sized boxes, and seventeen shelves. Are you sure we would not run out of things to sell, Gedge?¡± Arimith asked the Tinyfolk [Quartermaster].


    ¡°Maybe. We¡¯re only open in the afternoon. Morning is for preparations. So no need to worry about running out. You can make more tomorrow. We¡¯re only here in this city for a week or two so that would make a little profit. Then we¡¯ll be on the road.¡± Gedge reassured.


    He walked towards a wide table behind the racks within the shop since they only rented this space, not multiple rooms.


    Graten, the leader of the Severed Swords were assigned to guard their documents and money, locked in small chests under the table. Palden was in charge of the wagons in the bazaar near the local Merchant¡¯s Guild. The table was wide enough for the neat pile of papers and two pots of ink and quills.


    ¡°We can open the shop. The inventory''s stocked." Gedge reported to Graten.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Graten mouthed. ¡°How¡¯s the quality?¡±


    ¡°Better than I expected, I guess. Then again, they have the Roles. I¡¯ll tell Muliren to man the stalls. Malia is at the tannery for leather.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Tell Tarast to man the front. Tell someone free to fetch Malia later for the leather.¡±


    The shop was now open. The people who passed by saw Humans, Satyrs, Dwarves, and even the rare Dullahan working within the newly opened shop. Tarast put on his winning smile; his exceptionally long fangs trimmed for the occasion. The sun shone on his skin, showing the subtle green hue under his skin. He hopped on an empty crate beside the stall.


    ¡°Gildin Trading and Crafts are now open!¡± He bellowed. He did the usual routine of announcing his presence with his voice, but he changed the lines when he was recruiting people to the Severed Swords.


    We sell stools, boxes, and shelves! We got knives and we can sharpen yours too! We sell shoes for feet and hooves too!¡±


    A few people glanced at the new shop. The district''s edge was both profitable and not because of the proximity to [Shopkeepers]. Three people had inquired and bought the stools and shoes.


    One female Satyr had replaced her metal horseshoe by the [Farrier], while the Human man had his knives sharpened.


    A peculiar customer appeared; a Human with brown skin and a long flowing beard, styling himself either as [Merchant] of the Stokeburn Desert or far away Lemuria, the Land of Beastkin, because of his ankle-length white robe embroidered with diagonal brown patterns and his yellow headdress, resembling a keffiyeh, complete with a brown agal. He stood among the crowd because he wore his wealth from another continent.


    ¡°I¡¯m Umarh of Nabraqi. A [Merchant] from the Sultanate of Rhundi, I¡¯m here to inquire about those¡­stools. Can I have the liberty of inspecting them?¡± Umarh asked in a slight accent.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Tarast nodded. Three people stared at him and the shop. ¡°Josaif, can you fetch one of the stools from Arimith?¡±


    The dark-skinned [Mercenary] nodded and hopped up the steps to fetch a stool.


    ¡°Do you know this guy?¡± Tarast nudged Josaif¡¯s shoulder as he put down the stool on the ground. Tarast felt something from the back of his mind, but it disappeared immediately.


    ¡°Why d¡¯ya assume that we from the Bottoms know each other? Isn¡¯t that a bit racist?¡± Josaif snapped at the Orcan.


    ¡°Dunno. He says he¡¯s Lemurian,¡± Tarast shrugged.


    ¡°What? He sounds like one of those authentic blue-blooded Lemurian [Fortune Tellers] back home that has not a drop of Beastkin blood on them nor tells the future.¡±


    ¡°Why is this stool broken?¡± Umarh asked, annoyed as he abruptly stood up after almost falling. His voice seems to provoke the attention of some passing people. One of the stool''s legs splintered in half.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Tarast stared at him.


    ¡°The stool is flimsy, not strong enough for my weight. How do you intend to sell this as something to sit on?" Umarh complained.


    "Oi, Arimith, d''ya built it right?" Tarast asked their [Carpenter].


    "Swear it is! I got [Construction: Strong Wood]!" Arimith defended.


    The [Charlatan], Umarh kept his smile hidden. Umarh was one of his disguises, and his disguise even fooled trained [Guards].


    He had broken the leg of the sturdy stool with a deceptive Feat of his, able to damage an object so that he could accuse their products as defective. He further provoked them by accusing them of injuring him from that broken stool, intentionally using [Provoking Voice] to add more fire to the argument between him and Tarast.


    Umarh laid eyes on the two people entering the shop unnoticed as he continued the commotion he started. The other is a [Lookout], standing unassumingly across the street where he can see the lines of sight of the people in the shop. He threw a speck of dust across one of the [Mercenaries] before he could turn around to see them, taking his attention away from the [Thieves].


    The two people leaned on one of the standing racks, unseen by the [Mercenaries]. Their attention is drawn to the commotion at the storefront.


    The two were the best [Thieves] for the task. Too many, and they are in danger of detection. One [Thief] and a [Burglar], a Role specialized in breaking into homes and stealing the valuables inside. They stayed out of the lines of sight of the people inside. The [Burglar] had only sensed a small chest of coins and some enchanted weapons.


    They are hired to steal two books, but they are not here at all, according to his Feat. Graten looked up from the table, and he sensed something amiss: two people lurking in the shadows. He lunged towards the wooden rack and stabbed the [Burglar] behind it. He sensed them with the Feats that he has from his [Watcher] Role.


    "[Thieves]! Call the Watch!" Graten alerted. His [Mercenaries] rushed in. Unbeknownst to them, the [Charlatan] that served as a distraction disappeared from the scene. The one [Thief] that was left in the shop was surrounded. He dropped his knife and surrendered, and he smiled with his buckteeth.


    -


    Cultrost had woken up from the alleyway. It was a miracle that nothing was stolen from him while he was unconscious. He slogged back towards their store, seeing the commotion.


    Men and women in leather or gambeson armor were surrounding the shop. Graten himself was talking to a blue-skinned Satyr with a blue-brown surcoat with a symbol of two golden feathers on it. They are of the local Watch: the law enforcement force any decent city has.


    ¡°Scuse¡¯ me,¡± Cultrost waded through the group of [Guardsmen]. ¡°Graten, what happened?¡±


    Graten broke off from talking with the [Guardsman].


    ¡°Cultrost, there¡¯s was a thievery attempt in our shop. We called the Watch.¡± Graten answered.


    ¡°What?¡± Cultrost was shocked. ¡°Numisley was kidnapped!¡±


    ¡°Did you say kidnap?¡± Graten asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Cultrost clarified. ¡°What about the [Thief]?¡±


    ¡°There.¡± Graten pointed to the scruffy Human with noticeable buckteeth, being escorted by two [Guardsmen] in the streets. The double of the [Thief] that was tied up smiled, disappearing, leaving behind dangling rope and the clueless faces of the [Guardsman] that escorted him.


    ¡°Clone-Feat! Search for the criminal!¡± The Satyr that led the squad of [Guardsmen] ordered them to spread out. The Satyr turned to Cultrost. ¡°Tribal affiliation?¡±


    ¡°Settled. Born in Renimburg.¡± Cultrost briefly answered.


    ¡°I see. I¡¯m Senior Guardsman Atosh, at your service. Did you mention a kidnapping attempt?¡± Atosh asked.


    ¡°Yes, Guardsman,¡± Cultrost confirmed.


    ¡°This shall be dealt with at the barracks. The Watch will help. Come with me so I can report this to the authorities.¡±


    ¡°Graten, come with me to the barracks,¡± Cultrost ordered. Graten told one of the men manning the shop to tell Palden of the news.


    The Watch Barracks was not a keep like many would expect. It resembled a compound of commercial buildings of brick and ceramic tiled roofs within the city. They saw recruits being drilled with their batons and spears lunging and striking the air.


    Cultrost and Graten found themselves inside the office of the Watch Captain of Tucken. His reptilian scales on his cheek glinted in the candlelight, despite being a Human man.


    Watch Captain Gaxston. This foreigner reported kidnapping of his sibling.¡± Atosh reported.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask the questions myself. You are dismissed.¡± The Watch Captain spoke in a gruff voice. Graten and Cultrost were alone with Gaxston.


    ¡°Whaddya starin¡¯ at? Never seen a Demihuman before?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­no?¡± Cultrost blurted out.


    ¡°Talk fast. I got a lot on my plate. Who are you? Where did you come from? What are you doing in my city?¡± He slapped the truth stone lying on his table, making Cultrost and Graten leap in surprise. ¡°I¡¯m Cultrost Gildin from Renimburg. I¡¯m the co-owner of Gildin Trading and Crafts, and we came to sell our goods before leaving the city.¡±


    ¡°According to the report, your store had been the victim of a burglary. One of the [Thieves] has been stabbed by one of the people within the shop. We identify him as ¡®Okanios¡¯, no last name, a [Burglar] that we have arrested five times in the past. Are you the perpetrators?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Graten answered for Cultrost. ¡°I¡¯m Graten Haovel, [Captain] of the Severed Swords. We¡¯re the [Mercenaries] hired to provide security to Gildin Trading. I stabbed the [Burglar] for the defense of the shop.¡± The truth stone glowed green.


    ¡°If that''s the case, this act of lethal defense is technically not a crime under Tucken¡¯s laws. One of the reports said that you were selling defective items; another issue that would need to be brought out. Eyewitnesses saw and heard that you were selling defective items, and in this case, be subject to penalty by Tucken¡¯s Merchant Guild.¡±


    ¡°Defective item?¡± Cultrost turned to Graten.


    ¡°That guy from Nabraqi. An [Merchant] of some sort.¡± Graten explained. ¡°He claims that our stools are weak. The wood, I think.¡± Graten replied.


    ¡°The wood was good, according to that [Lumber Merchant] in the Guild. Our carpenter has a Feat that strengthens the wood used on their construction.¡± Cultrost recalled his trip with Numisley in the [Merchant]¡¯s Guild. The stone glowed green.


    ¡°I see. The claim must be unfounded. An [Scammer]''s Feat, most likely.¡± Gaxston said. ¡°Now, tell me what happened when your sibling was kidnapped.¡±


    Cultrost recounted the events as best as he can. The sudden turn at an alley, and Numisley being whisked away in a sack while he fought four men and lost.


    ¡°I suspect that the one who had taken your brother was a [Kidnapper], with the Role, not just a kidnapper. One with the Role or a Feat that allows him to easily fit in a sack, which I suspect to have a Holding enchantment based on your account. As for the issue of suddenly appearing in the alleyway, it is likely that you are a victim of a charm Spell. ¡±


    Cultrost had his head a bit down, brows furrowed under his horns.


    ¡°I¡¯ll put it under investigation. If there is important news in this case, I will send men to your shop to inform you.¡± Gaxston reassured. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your time.¡± Gaxston sighed, scratching the drying scales on his cheek.


    He was a second-generation Demihuman, with a Lizardfolk grandfather in the family. If he managed to start a family, his son or daughter would not have their Lizardfolk heritage. He stopped his train of thought and stared at the pouch of gold coins on his desk, a bribe for him to stall any attempt to rescue Numisley.


    Cultrost confirmed the news to Palden and the others because they asked him even if they heard it from the man he sent to inform the caravan. That night, he can''t sleep in the inn. He kept thinking about what he should do, in managing the company. He was not as clever as Numisley, even though he is technically the co-owner of Gildin Trading at this moment. No talent either aside from swinging at people and monsters with a mace. But there are monsters out there that can do the same. Famed [Warriors] who cleaved armies of even the Corporations¡¯ armies, struck down the Sandworms of the Stokeburn Desert, and fought the Leviathans of the Dragon''s Crossing like the stories he heard and read.


    He was just an orphan adopted by the Gildin family.


    -


    A Lemurian [Trader] walked into a dark alley, covered by the roofs of two buildings. Two people were waiting: a Human who drew a solid steel baton from his sleeves and a tall Tegu Lizardfolk with bronze claws. As he stared down at the [Trader], he seemed to grow, looming over the person menacingly.


    "Hand over your purse, lest you lose your life instead." The Tegu Intimidated him.


    "Your intimidation got better! I almost shat on my disguise!"


    He removed his keffiyeh and robe as "Umarh'''' chuckled heartily. The subtle change in his chin and his demeanor reverted into a different, less arrogant Human with less flair than his disguise.


    "You like it? It''s my new Feat." The Lizardman shrunk into six feet instead of a shadowy mass of scales twice his size.


    "Cool." The [Charlatan] smiled.


    "What are you going to do? The attempt failed. Okanios got killed by that Sixer. We didn''t steal shit from our mark." The man with a metal baton asked, anxious.


    "It is not my fault. Jodas knows this. It''s a high-level good we''re stealin'', so ''course, they have some way to hide it from even our [Burglar]. I''m the distraction, remember?"


    The [Charlatan] walked past them, disappearing on the nondescript door at the side of the alley. He found himself in a dim cellar, only lit by a single candle. Tied to a chair was a young man with a paralyzed, wounded leg, and the man that kidnapped him stared into his eyes.


    ¡°Where is the Book of Secrets, Numisley?¡±

 Chapter 13

    "Do anything in your power to stall Gildin Trading. Put a watch on their shop, Gaxston."


    Watch Commander Thurnas reminded Watch Captain Gaxston. The city-state of Tucken is large enough that they can afford to have a Watch Commander and their Watch Captains: Gaxston, in charge of the western portion of the city, and his contemporary enforces the eastern half. The Watch Commander cast a thin shadow from the open shutters behind him. He is a thin greying Human, leaning more on the administrative aspect of the job in appearance and work ethic. Uninspiring, but with the authority of his position, he kept order within the ranks regardless.


    "Jodas Gang¡­stupid name¡­" The Watch Commander whispered to himself, irritably flicking a speck of dust on his desk. "Remember that Jodas Gang is a major faction in our great city of Tucken. If it were up to me alone, I would arrest them, but they keep the worst sorts in our slums in check, and they contribute to our city monetarily. They''re not the worst major gang out there, but they are a necessary evil."


    "How much did that Satyr pay the Watch?" Gaxston asked. He half-expected for the Watch Commander to reprimand or even fire him on the spot. He mentally braced himself, but it never came.


    "Three thousand." Thurnas locked his eyes on Gaxston.


    "Silver?"


    "Gold. Gold coins."


    Gaxton''s jaw dropped. An average person''s wage is around one gold coin a week; two if the person has an advance Role or Feat. You can buy a decent house with a hundred gold. He overheard once from a Guildmaster that the cost of erecting a guild headquarters is around eight hundred to a thousand gold. Gaxston cannot comprehend how much was spent on the bribe.


    "It is not just us. The Merchant''s Guild was paid to distribute the Satyr¡¯s gold. Even our [Mayor] was in it, you know, from the visit in the guild with which we provided security? Jodas'' boys were also there, tryna make sure that no [Thief] nor [Thug] tries to take a cut from that pile, and no rumor to spread."


    Gaxston''s eyes widened. They are part of a conspiracy, bigger than him, larger than the Watch.


    "What person has that kind of money?"


    "A representative of a Corporation. Thousand Roads Trading."


    Gaxston asked, but he already knew the answer. The Satyr Corporation dominated the land trade routes around the Stokeburn Desert at the continent¡¯s heart and beyond. Owners of its various waystations and Driver¡¯s Guilds, commanding entire [Mercenary] armies and Satyr Tribes.


    "The real question is, who in Tuckethius'' name is Numisley Gildin to be chased by Thousand Roads? Have you gotten the files?"


    "Yes, sir."


    Gaxston placed the bundle of papers on the desk, and the Watch Commander examined it.


    The file contains what they know about Numisley through rough sources of information. They verified that he was from the small town of Renimburg, now occupied by Belias'' Trading, the rival of Maldent Trading. They legitimized their ownership over the new Gildin Trading, with their only remaining employee, Palden Oraksth as a witness with the [Notary] in charge. Before that, they had hired the Severed Swords in Lynt while on contract and Atasaney''s Prowlers in the camp of Tucken''s army.


    "Isn''t Atasaney''s Prowlers elite [Bounty Hunters] on horses?"


    Watch Commander Thulookooked up at Gaxston after he read the report with him.


    "Not only [Bounty Hunters]. They''re also light cavalry. [Skrimishers] with devastating javelins. They had served in the war between Paryhst and Onoroix. They are expensive to hire, but it doesn''t make sense considering that they''re a tiny company¡­"


    The Watch Commander dismissed Gaxston after that. The sun sets as Gaxston ended his shift. The thirteenth bell of the day rang, signaling sundown. He walked past the bell tower that rang the bell and he headed for the temple beside it. The temple beside the bell tower was full; at this time, the citizens of Tucken offered burnt pieces of tobacco to the patron god of their city, Tuckethius the Farmer, who founded a city among its swampy land. He offered a shaving of a cigar, set it alight on the candle''s flame, and dropped it on the brass candle holder, letting it mix with the melted wax. He hoped that the war wouldn''t make the city starve and that the people in the temple have the same hope for a good harvest after winter.


    Even after giving his offering to their city''s god, he was still conflicted about the situation in the city. The entire city was bribed so that this "Numisley" will stay kidnapped by a gang. Lying to his brother''s face hurts more than a glass shard in his scales. The skies were now dark, and the frigid breeze made Gaxston shiver. He thought of his Lizardfolk cousins wrapped around in many blankets in front of their fireplaces at this time. He needed to get warm too, so he headed to the nearest inn.


    The Sitting Wagon caters to many traveling [Merchants] and [Wagon Drivers], but anyone can go in. Gaxston felt comfortably warm inside the brightly lit inn, but he knew it was one of the [Innkeeper]''s Feats because no single fireplace can make this inn comfortably warm.


    "Welcome, Watch Captain." The Satyr [Innkeeper] of the Sitting Wagon called Gaxston, sitting in front of the counter. He knew him as a regular of this inn because this inn was near his apartment and it was one of the more decent inns in the city.


    "Don''t call me Watch Captain, for now, Innkeeper Vaerhamin. I''m off duty."


    "Right, so Swamp Malt, or do you want Shine''s Moonshine?"


    "Got something new?"


    "Actually, yes. My [Merchant] friend gave me a recipe. Re''claiin Mead. It''s a Satyr''s brew, so it''s a given that it might be delicious. It has a magical working within too, but I fear magic would expire. Not that I know about Shamanic Magic though, I''m not from the tribes."


    "Must be expensive. What''s the working?"


    "Tsicadiv told me that Re''claiin means ''clarity of righteousness'' or reclaiming one''s mind'' in Satyric. I''m not sure about selling this since its effect is the literal opposite of getting drunk¡­it helps you make the right decision."


    "Spells can do that?"


    "Not the magic that we use every day, I''m afraid. I''m still unsure if I can sell this or not, and it is pretty expensive, so would you care to taste test it for me?"


    "Sure. I''ll have that with a bowl of bekabeans and squash mash."


    While Gaxston waited for his order, a hooded figure sat beside him.


    "Gax, you look pathetic."


    The [General] of Tucken turned to Gaxston, showing her obscured face within the hood. General Karaiste was an acquaintance of his when she was a new ex-[Mercenary] [General]. They coincidentally stay in the same inn whenever they need a drink. As leaders in the same city, they get along as drinking buddies.


    "Drinking anon again?" Gaxston asked.


    "I don''t want to make a fuss right now. I got reprimanded for letting my camp gets attacked and retreating, giving the Joltstownsmen more ground and potentially souring our alliance with the Gahkees. But the [Mayor] knows how competent I am, and the power of my Feats and Roles." Karaiste answered with a sigh.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "Good to know. I''m having troubles myself." Gaxston sighed.


    "Criminals?"


    "Well, bribing an entire city-state''s leadership is criminal."


    "Who?"


    "Someone from Thousand Roads. Paying the entire Watch and the authorities to prevent investigation of the kidnapping of a guy named Numisley."


    "Numisley?"


    "You met him?"


    "Erm¡­yeah." Karaiste bit her lips lightly.


    "What do you think of him? I''m figuring out who is he to be pursued by a Corporation."


    "Er¡­c- I mean, he has an aura. An actual, untrained Aura. No Arcs yet. According to my Feat. He must be something special to have that. That''s what I think."


    Gaxston only has the liberty to reveal classified information to her because she''s a [General], an arguably higher rank than her, and the city leaders already knew that they have a representative of Thousand Roads paying them to keep the affair silent.


    "Should I¡­do the right thing? Being paid not to do my job as Watch Captain¨C"


    "Do what your gut tells ya''. I retreated from my position when we got attacked because I feel like I would lose more of my boys and girls. I only got a slap on the wrist for that. If you get fired or killed, that''s that, but you''ll win in the end. Because you''re right."


    The [Innkeeper] interrupted, placing a wooden bowl of mashed squash, with fat squishy white beans on it, shaped like a bird''s beak. Despite how it looked, it was filling. The wooden mug of mead seems clear, but he can still see the honey-colored liquid. The bubbles from the bottom have a shining tinge on them. It doesn''t feel magical, unlike when he held a wand or when someone casts a spell beside him. More like the mug feels significant somehow.


    "Can you use a Feat and make it quick? I''ll order Swamp Malt and biscuits. I''m going to the brothel to relieve some stress." Karaiste hollered.


    "That would be an extra thirty silver if I need to use my Feat." The [Innkeeper] informed, and Karaiste slapped a pouch of silver coins on the counter. The [Innkeeper] blurred, and for a moment, he was the fastest person in the inn, speeding towards the kitchen and instantly placing three thick biscuits wrapped in string and a mug.


    "Gotta go. Luck be with ya''."


    She voraciously tossed all of the biscuits in her mouth and washed them down with beer as she briskly walked out of the inn. Gaxston stared at the mug significantly and he took a sip. The sweet mead feels like any other mead, but instead of turning tipsy, his mind cleared, emboldened by courage.


    Cultrost had walked in the Sitting Wagon, along with Palden, and Atasaney. Graten guarded the wagons and the shop from theft with his men and women. They sat at the table at the western edge of the hall and the [Waiter] took their orders.


    "Where are the books?" Atasaney demanded. "Those guys who kidnapped our employer are surely after them."


    "I''m not at liberty to tell you their location." Cultrost asserted.


    "Then I and my men and women will leave your company. We will steal the book and I will tear your wagons to splinters if I have to¨Cagh!"


    A crest burned itself on Atasaney''s arm, made out of his blood from the tiny pricks on his skin. It took the form of a crest in the shape of a sail, and within is a Human throwing a spear towards the symbol of a creature with a lion''s upper half and a fish''s lower half. There are words written in a flowing script in another language that they cannot read within the crest.


    "What in the paymaster''s sodding ass is that?" Atasaney swore as the sharp pain and the blood crest disappeared, the blood now seeping into the Satyr''s body.


    "So that''s what it does¡­" Cultrost had suspected that Numisley''s unique Feat does something whenever someone would break the contract. Atasaney hasn''t expected his employer''s Contract Feat to be this potent. Palden''s eyes widened and he stared at his finger.


    "You will die if you go against Numisley''s contract. I''m sure that he didn''t make any loopholes in the contract." Cultrost warned. "We will find my brother. Let''s wait for the Watch''s investigation."


    "Do you think that their Watch is that altruistic? What if those who kidnapped him had bribed the Watch? It can happen." Atasaney warned."That''s only if the people were that important,"


    "He is that important!" Cultrost barked, surprising Palden. Cultrost scratched his horns as he apologized. Fortunately, the noise within the room drowned it out. However, the few [Merchants] who possess Earrings of Hearing or eavesdropping-Feats picked up bits of their conversation. Scurrilous gossipers or those who had nothing to do here might have heard it, but Gaxston had heard everything the moment they sat at that table.


    He knew what he needed to do; what he wanted to do. His mind is more clear than ever, and it is not just the effects of the mead.


    Their arguments and brainstorming between Atasaney and Cultrost haven''t yielded any concrete results aside from waiting for the Watch, investigating it themselves, or leaving Numisley to die. These are only suggestions, and none of them were helpful, at least immediately. They elected to deal with that for another day, retreating to their rooms.


    Waiting for the Watch''s investigation on the matter was the safest option, but as Atasaney had said, there is a chance that the Watch had been bribed to keep them from doing their jobs. He heard that sometimes, mafias can completely take over a city that their Watch will not fight them for fear of being destroyed. Investigating it themselves will lead to trouble from both the local authorities and the gangs in the city; he knew that every city has its criminals in some way or another.


    He can''t leave Numisley to die either not only because of brotherly love, but because Cultrost admittedly didn''t have Numisley''s charisma, his authoritative presence keeping their Mercenaries] in line, the cunning to get the best deals from [Merchants], and skill with negotiating with secrets. Cultrost can only lift Numisley when he needs to go somewhere or is in trouble; even with a walking stick. He can roughly lead Gildin Trading, but he is less confident about keeping them together. Atasaney''s men and women are a problem because they had killed many of the Severed Swords before, but so far no brawls have been started yet.


    Cultrost was restless from thinking, wandering out of the inn, having the urge to breathe in outside air, even with the horrid smell of wooden buckets of feces and urine being lifted by dedicated [Nightmen] to the cesspits.


    "Cultrost."


    Gaxston appeared in front of the doorway; the doors swung behind him. Cultrost recognized the Watch Captain because of the peculiar reptilian scales on his cheek.


    "I need to tell you something. The one you call Atasaney is right. Tucken''s Watch was bribed to not investigate the kidnapping."


    "What? So, why are you here?"


    "I''m here to do the right thing."


    -


    "So you''re saying that you did not find anything, Blaiff?


    "No, sir."


    The [Charlatan] who served as the distraction for the thievery at the shop scratched at his fur at the nape nervously; he was a second-generation Demihuman from a Beastkin-Human family at the Southern Bottoms. He didn''t mention that one of the shop''s guards almost recognized him as a fake because of his accent.


    "Benezoic said the same thing too. You''re tougher than expected, Numisley Gildin."


    Numisley suffered a cut on his leg that was left to bleed minutes ago when Jodas slashed it. When he asked Numisley the books¡¯ location, the truth stone glowed green. He knew from experience as a criminal that truth spells are all too easy to fool. He can think of several tricks used to fool him. Although he was hired to refuse Numisley''s offer, he decided to kidnap the man with the book of secrets and claim the knowledge for himself when he heard the rumors from the Tucken''s [Soldiers].


    "We''ll ask another person in your company. If you don''t cooperate." Jodas warned. He knew that one of the tricks to avoid truth Spells and Feats is to let someone you trust hide the treasure without your knowledge.


    "What if I told someone to burn them and I memorized them beforehand, Raudaeiz Jaucles, son of Aldewin Jaucles of the respectable Jaucles Glassworks?"


    The stone glowed orange, shifting to green when Numisley mentioned Joda''s real name and identity. Uncertainty.


    "You are bluffing."


    "Of course." Numisley smiled, throwing his kidnappers off.


    "How do you know my real name?" Raudaeiz''s fingers twitched, and a drop of sweat trickled from his forehead.


    "It''s on the ''book of secrets'', Raudaeiz. That''s a Satyric first name you got there, but you''re a Human. Unless your real mother is a..?" Numisley taunted. The stone glowed green again as Raudaeiz''s heart felt heavy in his chest.


    "Blaiff! Don¡¯t let him escape! I''ll deal with him later." The leader of the Jodas Gang walked out and slammed the steel door, leaving Blaiff dumbfounded for this is the first time he saw their leader lose his cool.


    Raudaeiz leaned on the brick wall of the basement, wiping the sweat off his brow. He pulled and threw his blue chaperon on the ground, unraveling the stumps of a pair of horns cut off long ago, dried and molted skin that covered it. There is a reason he wrapped his head with a chaperon every day.


    Numisley eyed the back of his hand, and a crest of blood appeared. The struggling young man tied to a chair in a dark cellar balled his fists, making the mark bleed more. Somewhere in Tucken, the people bound to his [Bloodbound Contract] felt their blood calling them to the east.

 Chapter 14

    Gaxston rounded up the men and women under him that he can trust, capable ones, and most importantly, have a strong sense of justice. Only ten people within his command qualified: Humans, Satyrs, even a Dragonkin and a Lizardfolk, none of the officers.


    ¡°I chose you all because I think you will do the right thing, and I trust you will keep this secret. The Watch, our esteemed [Commander] has been bribed so that we wouldn¡¯t investigate the kidnapping of a ¡®Numisley Gildin¡¯. I believe that this is unrighteous, given that we enforce the law.¡±


    ¡°Who is Numisley Gildin, sir?¡± The orange-scaled Dragonkin asked. Unlike the Lizardfolk, they are significantly dragon-like with mostly monochrome hard and thick scales.


    ¡°An innocent [Trader] who I believed to be kidnapped by the Jodas Gang. We tolerated a group of criminals with a stupid name for so long. If we believe in true justice, you will be with me in taking the first step against injustice in our city. Are you with me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± They chorused.


    ¡°On paper, I will tell the Watch Commander that we are investigating a thievery case so that we can investigate that matter. I¡¯ll send false reports so we can do our job. No leaks of our true purpose.¡±


    Gaxston knew that lesser cases such as this won¡¯t be interfered with by a Watch Commander, and he would only sign it for approval. Watch Captains and below would manage the investigation. He started assigning them tasks. Each of them will covertly investigate the establishments that the Jodas Gang owned since the Watch isn¡¯t allowed to patrol near these areas: Mugged Mug Tavern, the warehouses in the Graent district, and the Homney Lane where [Beggars] make a living.


    After filing the case to the Watch Commander, which he signed cluelessly. Gaxston left the office with a subtle smile on his face.


    -


    Cultrost had fetched Numisley¡¯s order from yesterday at the enchantery. The staff was different, altered enchantments, and it now resembled a walking staff that a quarterstaff you whack people with. He walked with Graten and four other [Mercenaries] surrounding him so that they could guard against thievery. He kept it close beside him. Cultrost remembered talking with one of the Watch Captains of the city yesternight. This was the first time he had talked to someone with a high position since he let his brother handle the negotiations. He was assured that the Watch Captain help rescue his brother. He had explained that the Watch and possibly the entire leadership has been bribed by a representative of Thousand Roads, one of the Five.


    They found one of the Severed Swords fighting with one of Atasaney¡¯s in the area where they had parked their wagons near the bazaar. Some people at the stables were watching them. Redien, an Orcan of the Severed Swords was beating a Satyr on the ground. Two of the [Mercenaries] held Redien back as the Satyr stood up.


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡±


    Graten barked as Cultrost was tongue-tied, walking towards the Orcan. At the sight of his [Sword Captain], he regained his composure.


    ¡°Captain, this devil scum had insulted our dead comrades.¡±


    ¡°You killed some of ours too. I say we¡¯re even.¡±


    Redien grinds his teeth, trying to stay calm even from Ridi Gadihew, an officer under Atasaney. The Satyr picked up his spear on the ground, gripping it tightly. The atmosphere was tense.


    ¡°I see,¡± Graten spoke up in the tense silence. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Atasaney about this. But I won''t hear of any brawls from now on! What are we, children?¡±


    The [Mercenaries] in the vicinity fell silent. Some of the Severed Swords sniggered, as the rest of the crowd continued doing their business despite the commotion. Graten escorted Redien away as Ridi walked away as if nothing happened. Palden walked towards Cultrost and gave him a significant look.


    Palden is now inspecting one of the wagons of their caravan, as Cultrost made sure that no one was around in their immediate vicinity, looking right and left.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    Palden pulled out a knife from his belt and he carefully cut out part of the bonnet of the wagon, making sure that the knife didn¡¯t pierce the canvas fully. Cultrost caught the bundle of tied cloth that fell from that seemingly small space between the cloth of the canvas; normally it would be impossible to fit something through that space. The cut slowly healed itself with Palden¡¯s Feat, and even the expanded space is from one of his Feats.


    ¡°So that is where you put them¡­¡±


    ¡°A lot of tricks you can use with [Compartments of Holding]. I got lucky with this Feat."


    Cultrost had no idea where Palden had put the books, and Numisley let him decide where should the [Caravan Master] hid them. Numisley and Cultrost deprived themselves of the knowledge of the locations of the book to maintain utmost secrecy with Numisley¡¯s plan two days ago in hiding the book in a location both of them do not know. It was a necessity with the existence of Feats and truth spells that those who know of the secret books will use to give away its location. Only the three of them knew of this plan.


    Cultrost handed Palden the bundle of cloth where the books are hidden, and Palden hid it within his coat.


    "A coin for your thoughts?"


    "I can''t do this alone, Palden. I can''t manage this company like my brother. Or anything else. "


    Cultrost was upset about his lack of management skills, and Palden can see his frustration. He was speechless when he witnessed the brawl earlier, and he contributed nothing of value when he, Atasaney, and Graten tried to come up with a way to rescue Numisley; at least before the Watch Captain spoke to him.


    ¡°No man is one mountain, boy. That¡¯s why we have other people. That¡¯s why we have Roles. A [Warrior] can fight, but only the [Smith] can forge his sword, only a [Woodworker] can make the hilt, and only a [Miner] can mine the metal of the blade. The [Warrior] protects the village they live in.¡±


    Cultrost eagerly listened to the adage as old as the first civilizations, feeling better. Palden put a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Do what you do best. Your brother will be back. Leave the supplies to me, and keep praying for your brother¡¯s safety.¡±


    -


    ¡°You fucking numbskull!¡±


    Atasaney grabbed Ridi''s horns, making him tumble to the ground as he threw him. They were at an alley near the wagons. Atasaney was reprimanded by Graten, the head of the [Mercenaries] hired by Numisley.


    ¡°We¡¯re not that trustworthy in their eyes, and I am bound by blood to that stinking cripple of a [Shopkeeper]! I can¡¯t kill him without being killed first!¡±


    ¡°I was drunk-¡±


    ¡°Shut up. Just don¡¯t do it again. Don¡¯t antagonize them until we¡¯re finished with this job. Bitch gave us too much coin¡­¡±


    Atasaney grumbled, cursing the fact his men and women left his company after being rewarded with too much gold. That caused them to spend too much and the other left them with so few of their numbers. Ridi left Atasaney¡¯s sight so that his leader quells his rage, and Ridi soothed the stinging pain of being smacked on the ground. As he walked toward the wagons they are guarding in the city, he saw Cultrost and Palden leaving that one wagon. His eyes focused on Palden holding a curious bundle of tied worn cloth in his hand, and he knew something was up. He hid behind a wall to tail Palden, who climbed on one of the wagons. Palden accidentally dropped the bundle after tripping over a rock, revealing the side of a book before hastily picking it up. To Ridi¡¯s surprise, he cut a small hole in the canvas and put the bundle of cloth inside, which mended itself as it closed. Ridi quietly rushed away from the scene. Atasaney later saw him running towards him as he ate bread outside of the Sitting Wagon, leaning on the wall.


    ¡°Commander. I got something to tell you.¡±


    Atasaney stopped chewing on his bread, staring at Ridi with raised eyebrows.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The books. That [Wagon Driver] has it hidden within the canvas of the wagons. Feated, most likely.¡±


    Ridi whispered to Atasaney, and the [Commander]¡¯s eyes widened.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°That means¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What is in that book?¡±


    Ridi had no clue, ever since this mess had begun at the manor that he and his former company hired him to invade it.


    ¡°A weapon against [Kings]. Secrets that can make clear even the muddiest waters of Yhrilian politics. But, I¡¯m bound to not steal the book.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°But not you. Or any of my men. Do what needs to be done.¡±


    Atasaney implied, now realizing an exploit in Numisley¡¯s blood-contract Feat. He only implied that Ridi stole the book, not command him directly. The brand did not show itself much to his relief.


    ¡°Do this wisely. In the right time.¡±


    -


    Graten, Palden, and Atasaney gathered in the shop when Cultrost summoned them when the sun sunk.


    ¡°Atasaney, one of your men has been involved in a brawl with one of mine. Your officer lacks tact.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re [Mercenaries], not some prissy nobles. Besides, he¡¯s new to my group. Cut him some slack.¡±


    ¡°Ridi Gadihew insulted our dead comrades. I will have him tied on a pole if it were up to me!¡±


    Graten stared daggers at Atasaney, who casually leaned on the wall. Graten was annoyed by the carelessness that he exuded at this moment. Cultrost wondered who would win if they came to blows, but that thought was gone in a moment as he slammed his hand on the table, moving the papers on it.


    ¡°Stop arguing like children! I got something important to say. I had talked to the Watch Captain of the city personally. Watch Captain Gaxston will investigate, and possibly coordinate with us in our search for Numisley.¡±


    Graten and Atasaney turned to Cultrost in surprise. His hand stung with the pain from slamming the table, but he didn¡¯t mind.


    ¡°The Watch itself has been bribed by those who seek the books that we hold. One of the Corporations. Thousand Roads. So that Numisley wouldn¡¯t be rescued. The kidnapping wouldn¡¯t be investigated by the Watch. That is why Watch Captain Gaxston will undertake the investigation himself.¡±


    The room fell silent. It was like someone telling you that a [King] suddenly has a personal vendetta against you, and is now sending men and women to hunt you. Atasaney wiped the sweat off his neck.


    ¡°If it¡¯s Thousand Roads¡­¡±


    ¡°Even if I need to go against an empire, I will rescue my brother. This will be the mission of Gildin Trading until Numisley comes back.¡±


    Cultrost displayed his determination despite Graten¡¯s reservations. But the [Sword Captain] nodded in approval. The thought of Cultrost being an [General] of Libertalia¡¯s battlefields had crossed his mind in a moment. Palden smiled, proud of Cultrost for his effort.


    Graten and Atasaney suddenly yelped in pain as a bloody crest appeared on their arms. It was not bleeding profusely, but it was like it pointed them toward the east.


    R¨€le A¨€t¨€i¨€ed: [Le¨€¨€¨€¨€ - Development Delayed.


    -


    [Rare Feat - Secret Compartment] developed!


    The cellar didn¡¯t allow for sunlight, but he knew it was somewhere around morning or afternoon since he heard the faint voices of people chattering away above Numisley, tied in the chair still. He knew that it is the next day because he had gained a Feat and he had a hunch that it is related to the trick that he did to evade Raudaeiz¡¯s truth Spells.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re back.¡±


    Numisley grinned at the scowling Raudaeiz. Although he said that he would deal with Numisley later, he had been occupied with managing his assets and sending people to gather information.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t tell me one thing about the book, then you are as good as dead.¡± Raudeiz brandished his knife, an inch away from Numisley¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Who are you to tell me what to do?¡±


    Raudaeiz froze, and the hairs on his skin stood on end. His body froze for a second because, in his experience, a presence like that would be trouble. His knees almost bent to the ground as if he was kneeling.


    ¡°Do you want revenge?¡± Numisley asked. Raudaeiz straightened, bewildered by him.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m offering you a chance to get back at Aldewin Jaucles, who hurt you and your real mother. The book of mine, in which I do not know where they hid it, has the power to do so. That power is nothing without a foundation, and I intend to build it with wealth and position, far from the obstacles that hinder me on this continent. You will go to Yhril with me if you want to return to Libertalia to smear your family¡¯s name for what they have done for you.¡±


    Raudaeiz slammed the door behind him. It was both an answer and not. That offer was worth more than the chest of gold that Satyr gave him. Did that book had recorded his family¡¯s past? Then he realized who he was; the son of a [Spy] that he worked with long ago, and that book was his.


    The tavern is closed, but one Satyr sat in front of the counter, being served by the Human [Bartender]. He poured a bottle of deep red liquor into a mug, with the color of blood and roses.


    ¡°Have you gotten the location of the books yet?¡±


    The Satyr turned to Raudaeiz on his chair and sipped a bit of the liquor.


    ¡°No. He tricked my truth spells. I sent men to sniff out their location.¡±


    ¡°Truth spells are easy to fool. Criminals like you, know that best.¡±


    Raudaeiz fell silent, as the Satyr¡¯s gaze seemed to bore through his soul. Two men carried a chest of gold coins toward the cellar.


    ¡°Did he offer you anything? Got into your head?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°It is foolishness to lie to me, an [Negotiator] of Thousand Roads. He got inside your head, you see? You should¡¯ve gagged his mouth¡­but then again, how you would get the information in the first place...¡±


    The Satyr leaned on the counter nonchalantly. The [Bartender] offered him a plate of swamp octopus tentacles, battered and fried, and placed it on the counter.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t find them, I will interrogate him myself. Excuse me, I got a lot of offers to make in this city.¡±


    The Satyr left the tavern, as his two [Bodyguards] seemingly appeared out of thin air, opening the doors for him.


    -


    Atasaney stayed in the shop as Graten returned to the caravan to guard them. Cultrost went back to the Sitting Wagon to sleep. Atasaney was shocked that his former employers, at least one of their representatives are in this city right now. He knew he will be dead if they found out that he would fight against them because of Numisley¡¯s contract. He needed to contact them somehow. Within the darkness of the streets, a dozen or more shadowy figures appeared, holding knives, clubs, wands, hatchets, hammers, and even two people with a crossbow. Atasaney¡¯s men and women raised their weapons, and he knew that he will need to prevent them to come to blows so that he wouldn¡¯t miss this chance.


    ¡°Stand down! We wish to talk to the representative of Thousand Roads! We are willing to cooperate.¡±


    ¡°Captain-¡±


    Both sides stopped, lowering their weapons warily. Ridi Gadihew turned to Numisley. Two of the hooded figures whispered among themselves. One of them pulled out a stone with a glowing rune attached to it, speaking to it. Atasaney felt the crest of blood slowly etching itself on his hand.


    ¡°Come with us.¡±


    One of them came forwards. Atasaney nudged Ridi to the front.


    ¡°Ridi.¡±


    ¡°I shall come.¡±


    Ridi now walked with them, disappearing in an alleyway, into the world of criminals. It is unusually dark as if they are walking in shadows. The men that escorted him were the sort that would take purses and backstab people in alleyways in the shadows. Soon, they arrived at a tavern with the sign displayed: Mugged Mug.


    A Satyr, dressed stylishly in a suit sat on a chair in an empty tavern, eyes bearing power and cunning. He smiled, glad of this sudden change of events.


    ¡°So, you are one of the men and women we employed in that mess in the Overthere Hills, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Ridi felt like being crushed in his presence as if a kind of authority was looking down on him.


    ¡°Who is this?¡± A man in the shadows asked. Ridi cannot see his face clearly, as if his vision blurred his face to forgetfulness.


    ¡°One of the [Mercenaries] that we hired.¡± The Satyr answered. ¡°Where is your [Commander]?¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t steal the book.¡± Ridi blurted out. ¡°He is bound by a contract-Feat.¡±


    ¡°And he will die if he refuses. I know, these all too well of these things. You are the exception, and I assume that the rest of the goons aren¡¯t in the contract? Very well. I will pay you two thousand coins¡­in gold, if you steal the book tonight.¡±


    Ridi¡¯s mouth hung for a moment.


    ¡°Yes¡­of course.¡±


    ¡°Raudaeiz. Send your men to the wagons. All of them. Give the books to me. I will wait. Then you will kill Numisley once I get hold of these books.¡±


    In the dead of night, the undercover [Guardsmen] saw several [Thieves] and [Thugs] rushing from the Mugged Mug Tavern. Crowds of criminals swiftly disappeared into alleyways, and the disguised [Guardsmen] were stabbed and beaten. Except for one who survived and now desperately crawling toward Gaxston¡¯s home.

 Chapter 15

    The ones guarding the wagon were the Severed Swords; all of them, since security over the wagon was prioritized over the rented lot that they use for their shops. Graten felt a buzzing on his head, his Feat warning him of an impending attack from dozens of people. The Feat even gave him insight into the nature of their enemies; [Thugs] and [Thieves], as well as [Mercenaries].


    ¡°All men and women, we¡¯re going to be under attack! Surround the wagons, two lines! Front, shield, and sword! Rear guard, to the wagons, bolts, and wands!¡±


    The fifteen men and women of the surviving Severed Swords hastily formed a semicircle formation around the three wagons; at least somewhat close to it since they are few Their vanguard has their shields up, swords pointed forwards, and the rest of them pointed their crossbows and enspelled wands, using the wagons as cover. Palden reinforced the wagons with his Feat, which made the canvas and the wood as strong and hard as metal for a time. He already retrieved the books, keeping them safe within his coat.


    All of them have swords. Contrary to popular belief, swords are usually sidearms; polearms, axes, spears, and other long weapons are primarily used on battlefields as one¡¯s main weapon. But Graten is a [Sword Captain], and some of the Feats of his only apply to the [Mercenaries] carrying swords or sword-like weapons.


    There¡¯s a reason why the Severed Swords is named as such aside from having swords on each of their hips. The Severed Swords were founded by veterans aside from Graten, which have their swords severed from their last battle against an army. ¡°A severed sword¡± is often a derogatory Libertalian metaphor for a [Mercenary], [Fighter], or [Soldier] who was unable to fight because they were physically or mentally broken after a battle, weary of war; which is why they take on contracts that protect assets within settlements.


    Now he faced another battle. For what reason other than coin? Graten didn¡¯t have the time to think as he saw the¡­[Mercenaries]?


    Familiar figures walked amongst the other figures who hold cudgels, knives, wands, hatchets, and other concealable weapons. Some of them, Graten guessed, were [Brawlers] and [Grapplers] of sorts. He knew them to be a gang of [Thugs] and [Thieves] because of the weapons they hold, even if their Feats concealed or blurred much of their identities.


    The [Mercenaries] of Atasaney¡¯s Prowlers were led by Ridi Gadihew. They held at least a spear or two, and Graten knew from experience that they are mounted, specialists. The rest of their gear was in the wagons though, giving the Severed Swords the advantage.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one chance at mercy, Captain Graten! Hand me the books, and we¡¯ll leave you alone!¡±


    Palden noticed that their leader, Atasaney, is not with them. He and the rest of the company didn¡¯t know the reasons why, but Graten had an inkling.


    ¡°Palden, throw as many combat-Feats as you can, and run towards the Sitting Wagon to alert Cultrost!¡± Graten ordered.


    ¡°Got it, I only got a handful!¡±


    Seeing that the Severed Swords will not relent, Ridi activated the few group Feats that applied in dismounted combat. Those with spare javelins threw them in an arc, attempting to go over their shields and pierce the vanguard with the first volley, and the Severed Swords¡¯ [Mercenaries] on the wagons let loose crossbow bolts and projectile Spells contained within the wands.


    ¡°[Unit: Parrying Arcs].¡±


    Graten used a Feat at the right moment, and his [Mercenaries] parry off the hail of javelins with their swords that swung in wide arcs. Not one had hit them, due to the overlapping arcs conjured by his unit-wide Feat.


    The [Mercenaries] of the Atasaney¡¯s Prowlers sped up as they charged towards them, spears sharper than usual. The [Thieves] and [Thugs] were more disorganized, throwing knives, darts, and even rocks that peppered the wagons and the shields of the vanguard, with their [Squad Leader] Josaif using a Feat to make them resistant to projectiles. Palden deployed the same Feat that tripped over their horses at the Overthere Hills, making them trip over a field of taut ropes. Palden stared where the pile of ropes was supposed to be and realized that he was out.


    ¡°[Empower Guards]. Graten, I¡¯ll get out of here while I still can!¡± Palden hopped off the wagon that he was in after he empowered the Severed Swords with his Feat. He ran away from the battle before the two dozen [Thugs] were in a melee with the Severed Swords, hacking and bashing as best as they can.


    ¡°[Unit: Cleaving Arcs].¡±


    Before the vanguard was broken from the number of enemies, their swords swung, creating wide cleaving arcs that sliced through the scores of [Mercenaries] and [Thugs] that piled up against their shields. Many of them were cut, but some of them had dodged the slashes or were saved by their armor.


    Graten has a veteran¡¯s experience, and he remembered when he first became a [Sword Captain] when he and his squad had survived a row of pikes by cutting through their shafts using their swords. He also knew how to fight off gangs of criminals when they guarded certain buildings in cities. He knows how to deal with numbers such as these, but still, there are too many for his liking.


    Already, the nimbler [Thieves] had passed through the defenses, now attacking the wagons themselves. The people in the wagons had loosed bolts and spells towards them, killing a few, but some of them dodged and even caught the bolts and even Spells and threw them back.


    ¡°Three steps back! Deal with the ones behind us!¡±


    Some of them abandoned the front, hacking and slashing the ones who bypassed the front. As Graten¡¯s men and women retreated three steps back, he stood in his position in a sword stance. He swung with blinding speed, killing a score of them with his Sword Art that created a silvery, liquid arc that melted through the armor of Atasaney¡¯s [Mercenaries]. For a moment, he stared at them and he was reminded that he had worked with them for the past few days.


    Ridi charged toward Graten in the middle of the chaotic battle. The memory of Graten killing a young Satyr on a battlefield halted him for a second as he saw the memory of his desperate face superimposed on his enemy.


    The Satyr lunged his spear toward Graten¡¯s chest, but Graten parried the spear and swung his sword in the opposite direction, but with a Feat, Ridi backstepped; what would be a deadly cut now mitigated to a lucky scratch on his stomach.


    Graten knew that he and the [Mercenaries] of Atasaney are exclusively [Riders] of some sort, and that gives them a disadvantage when it comes to dismounted combat since some of their Feats only apply when they ride their mounts, and they were fortunate that they left their mounts on the stables near the wagons.


    Graten stepped forwards and raised his sword. Ridi raised his spear to block. [My Blade Carried My Loss]; Graten''s sword became heavy with his guilt and loss and cut through the spear''s enchanted shaft, and bisected Ridi''s head.


    The sword had cut sword was stuck on the base of his skull. The attempt to pull it out had cost him, as a [Grappler] grabbed his arms from behind, and a [Thug] pointed his knife at his abdomen.


    ¡°You are all arrested for disturbing the peace! Seize the criminals and help the victims!¡±


    Gaxston boomed, his voice echoing through the dark streets. He stood in front of three dozen [Guardsmen] and [Guardswomen], who were summoned by Gaxston after receiving a report by the dying [Guardsman] who spotted the Jodas Gang rushing out of the Mugged Mug. Gaxston had used the second highest-priority alert without the Watch Commander¡¯s permission, and he expects to be removed from his position after this.


    But he did the right thing, and that was enough for him. The sight of the seemingly invincible Jodas Gang that the Watch of Tucken was wary of running away from the marching [Guardsmen]. Graten fell to the ground, cushioning his fall. A hand pulled him up and he looked up at Gaxston.


    ¡°Cultrost told me about you. He might need you. Head to the Mugged Mug Tavern in the east of Warden¡¯s Walking.¡±


    The [Sword Captain] ran as he saw that the Watch was taking care of the remaining criminals. After moments of running, he stopped in front of the shop and barged inside to find Atasaney still guarding the shop, although lazily sitting on the chair as if nothing happened.


    ¡°What do you know? Did you betray us?¡±


    Graten pulled his collar up and stared at Atasaney¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t have time to waste.


    ¡°I did not. Ridi and the rest did it of their own volition.¡±


    Atasaney told half of the truth. He merely subtly suggested that Ridi should betray Numisley, which technically doesn¡¯t break the [Bloodbound Contract].


    ¡°Then come with me. Cultrost is already going to the Mugged Mug.¡±


    The bloody crest appeared on Graten''s hand, painfully urging him to go east. They ran through the streets at high speeds, faster than most people. It was a few minutes before they caught up with Cultrost, running with Palden and seven members of the Watch, holding a hatchet. The Mugged Mug was two dozen feet away, and it didn''t seem to be guarded.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "The Watch Captain told us that Numisley is inside the tavern!"


    Cultrost ran and accelerated as soon as they were a few paces away. He charged towards the door, forcefully swinging it open.


    "Get down!" A gruff voice barked. The Dog Beastkin who yelled was decapitated in an instant.


    The Satyr in a dapper form-fitting suit faced them, relaxing on a stool in front of the wooden counter.


    "Kill them."


    The Satyr twisted one of his rings on his left hand. Something shimmered in the candlelight and three heads were already rolling on the cracked wooden floor. They sensed danger, their [Dangersense] Feat ringing in their ears. They attempted to form a tight formation but something in the air slashed at them. Limbs flew and blood sprayed as the air itself seemed to slice them. The Satyr pointed a ring towards them and three of the [Guardsmen] were slowly burning from the inside. Palden shielded Cultrost as they spontaneously combusted. The remaining [Guardsman] fled the scene.


    But Atasaney saw the shimmering light of a humanoid floating towards them from his [Sense Magic] Feat.


    "Invisible summons! They have blades!"


    Atasaney ducked the summon''s invisible blade and stepped left.


    "Graten, Cultrost with me. Palden, rescue Numisley."


    Atasaney would prefer leaving them to die, but he was still bound by Numisley¡¯s Feat. The Satyr pointed a ring at Palden who was running towards the door of the cellar, but Palden whispered something under his breath and he became insanely fast that not even Graten could follow him; the product of a Feat that is only used when he needs to escape. People forgot that a [Caravan Master] of his wealth of experience has some tricks because he is an unassuming middle-aged man who drives a wagon.


    The Satyr saw the door of the cellar already open, but he turned and saw Graten charging at him. His sword chopped the stool he was sitting on, and the Satyr ran. Graten was wary of the magic ring that made the [Guardsmen] explode and so he did not stay in one place as the Satyr tried to aim the ring at him. Cultrost seemed to read Graten''s thoughts as he too didn''t stay static.


    Cultrost dashed diagonally to the Satyr''s left, avoiding the magic ring, he swung his mace and hit a barrier of silver light. He hit him again and again, the magical barrier stopping his weapon every time. As Graten joined the assault, the barrier form a shining transparent orb around the Satyr, who is now on the defensive as he cannot use his Ring of Combustion; a specific one that possesses a rechargeable bound [Invisible Ray of Spontaneous Combustion], a Tier 5 Spell that is closer to Tier 6 in power. His magic barrier will interfere with the spell and Graten knows it because he had battled [Mages] who relied on their magic too much, and he knows that his barriers will run out of mana the harder he hits.


    Atasaney was lucky that he had his Feat because he was struggling against the invisible summoned creature. It moved with a strange, brutal grace as it spun, clashing with Atasaney''s spear shaft as he blocked it. Already, he has suffered a few cuts since his [Sense Magic] doesn''t prevent him from making mistakes. But still, he saw holes in the essence of the summon, affirming that the antimagic tip of his spear that he bought recently had an effect.


    Still, he is at a disadvantage because he was sure that he cannot throw his spear to instantly kill the summon. After all, it is mostly incorporeal, made out of magic, and admittedly, it is faster than he is in that it can catch him even if he distanced himself.


    "[Spear Dance: Flowing River]."


    Initially, it seems like Atasaney danced forward with careful twisting steps, thrusting a flowing flurry in the air with his spear; face twisting in irritation because he hated using his estranged father''s Art that he learned from him. The curving afterimages now seemed to paint an azure-blue illusion of a flowing river from his spear, cutting the summon into nothingness.


    Cultrost''s eyes widened as he looked at Atasaney performing an Art, like what he helped Graten obtain by chance.


    The Satyr stared at the ring where the summons came from, and both the orange and blue gems were dim. After that distracted moment, the barrier broke.


    -


    Raudaeiz barged into the cellar. Numisley¡¯s eyes widened, but he smirked devilishly as Raudaeiz cut his bindings. He heard fighting on the floor above them, and he assumed that it was Cultrost and the others.


    ¡°I will take your offer. I will not let anyone take my opportunity to get back at them. Even someone from Thousand Roads. I heard from one of my men that many of my gang ran. The Watch is involved. How?¡±


    Numisley instantly had an idea as Raudaeiz muttered to himself in distress. Using the snippets of information from Raudaeiz''s words, as well as overhearing the conversations between him and the [Negociator] from Thousand Roads from below the floorboards, he had concocted the greatest lie he had ever made. However, he didn¡¯t know why the Watch was involved, but he can guess.


    ¡°My plan worked splendidly.¡±


    Raudaeiz stared at him as if he saw a ghost. Numisley¡¯s devious smile crept wider.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The Watch getting involved, my company fighting upstairs, and me getting kidnapped to get to you. This is my power, the power of scheming, you see. I¡¯m not bluffing when I said that I can help you get back against your family. In time.¡±


    In Raudaeiz¡¯s eyes, what Numisley said adds up. If he planned all this, the Watch catching his gang in the act of attempting to steal his books, and finding out where Numisley was hidden because he let himself get kidnapped, then he was a man worth allying with for the time being because of his terrifying competence. He didn¡¯t notice the truth stone glowing red on the table in the corner because he was too preoccupied with Numisley¡¯s words.


    Something crept behind Raudaeiz, flickering in the candlelight. It floated closer and closer, conjuring a thin blade of air from one of its appendages. It swung-


    Raudaeiz had stabbed it with a potent antimagic blade at its chest, thrusting deep. The summon didn''t detect his intent hence why it slowly disintegrated back to the mana in its natural state: in the atmosphere. Numisley was surprised because Raudaeiz stabbed something in the air without looking.


    Palden barged into the cellar, hopping down the rickety wooden stairs, and charged toward Raudaeiz with a hatchet.


    "Stop! He''s with me!"


    Palden stopped when he heard Numisley. He lowered his hatchet. They followed Palden upstairs, and Numisley was finally free.


    Cultrost, Atasaney, and Graten had cornered the Satyr on the wall, pointing the tips of their weapons at him.


    "Can you tell me what happened?"


    Numisley turned to Cultrost, leaning on a lanky man wearing a blue chaperon.


    "Who''s that guy?"


    "Raynios Joda. The leader of the Jodas Gang. He is now with me."


    Numisley words made the Satyr [Negotiator] falter. Raudaeiz was surprised that he used his fake name. Cultrost raised an eyebrow as he knew that he did something to get him on their side.


    "So you broke the agreement, eh? [A Breach Of Contract] then."


    Raudaeiz felt the chest of overflowing gold that he was paid for was gone, in the locked secure room within the tavern. Unbeknownst to him, the gold was teleported back to the treasuries of the Thousand Roads.


    "Who sent you?"


    "Thousand Roads. We will make the sky fall on you, whether you like it or not. Unless you will give me the book written by Jascias Gildin. The Book of Secrets."


    Numisley felt intimidated by the threat, and he saw the authority that he represented, but literally and figuratively because of the [Negotiator]''s Feat conjuring the aura of the authority of the Thousand Roads behind him. But he always knew that people like them will always hunt them no matter where they go; even if they didn''t have the books because he knew of their existence.


    "Tell your bosses, whoever they are, to suck a big ol'' bag of cocks. Kill him."


    Graten and Atasaney stabbed the air. Numisley was surprised that he suddenly disappeared in an instant.


    "He teleported. One of his rings most likely."


    Atasaney reported based on his encounter with the Satyr. His [Sense Magic] Feat saw the mana in the air being changed upon his teleportation. Numisley turned to Graten.


    "Graten, what has happened?"


    "Atasaney''s officer, Ridi Gadihew, had betrayed us and tried to steal the book. Atasaney has nothing to do with this. Cultrost called upon the Watch Captain to assist in rescuing you."


    Numisley mentally deliberated on the information that he was given. He limped towards his brother with the help of Palden, and he is whispering something to Cultrost


    "I see. Atasaney, did you have something to do with it? Did you¡­nudge him to betray us?"


    "No-"


    Atasaney gritted his teeth in pain as the bloody brand appeared on his hand. He kneeled, and Atasaney looked at him as if he were a pest to be dealt with. His blood urged his body to follow Numisley¡¯s orders.


    "Atasaney, what is the clause in our [Bloodbound Contract] regarding the truth?"


    "The signatory¡­is required to tell the whole truth to Numisley Gildin and Cultrost Gildin when asked. They aren''t allowed to lie nor tell a half-truth, nor use Feats to obfuscate the truth upon questioning during the duration of the [Bloodbound Contract]."


    "Tell me. Who was the person who sent you to attack our manor back in Renimburg?"


    "Some poncy ass named Dusitoz Gaviolos. A Duke¡­ [Marquis] or something. Your father mentioned a place called Torregorn before he was killed by him. I was the one who was hired to attack the manor."


    Cultrost balled his fists, his pale knuckles turning red with blood. Numisley''s expression turned to anger, grief, and everything in between. Then, grim determination.


    "Thank you, Atasaney. Your job here is done. So I order that¡­you will stab your own heart with your spear. Now."


    Atasaney''s instant of hope turned to despair as his body moved in a quick motion. He stared at the spear that impaled his heart, vision fading as he can''t even find the strength to look at Numisley.


    But he can spit out one more insult.


    "Bastard¡­"


    He fell with a thud. Cultrost stepped back, still processing what is happening. Graten stared at his hand, and Palden stared at Numisley like he was a monster. Some of Atasaney''s blood crawled towards Numisley¡¯s hand by creeping up from his shoes to his clothes. Strangely, they did not leave a stain on his clothes.


    "I had always known that you would betray me," Numisley muttered.


    In one fell swoop, Atasaney''s Prowlers had ceased to be. Raudaeiz was reminded of the brutal [Crime Lords] he hears of in the underworld, but this is worse. Numisley scares him, more than any other [Crime Lord].


    The Watch barged into the Mugged Mug Tavern. Gaxston stepped toward and pointed to the [Thief Leader].


    "You are detained, Raynios Joda, until further notice! The rest of you will be questioned. Stand down. "

 Chapter 16

    Among Anci?n''s famous records that they kept in their vast libraries, the Gallery of Staine which keeps the various artworks of Human and Satyr [Artists], and some of their buildings that were older than many Libertalian city-states; second only to the megalopolises of the Exiled Coasts, also hosts the Jinni''s Lamp. The establishment was a shining triangular compound of three inns within the city, where the richest travelers come to stay. It has, in fact, a servant Jinni that the founder of the grand inn that he bought from the far continent of Fallen Qin. Few establishments can boast of a Jinni, even among Libertalia''s best cities.


    That Jinni was occupied, as it served the most powerful woman in the city in bed within the best suite of the room. It took a mighty masculine figure with horns this time, but someone knocked on her door.


    "Miss, your [Negotiator] has arrived."


    The [Innkeeper] Stelios, the owner of the establishment himself notified the guest who bought the services of the Jinni as well as his best suite. He attended to this particular guest because she is one of the leaders of one of the Corporations.


    "Zueaithei. You are dismissed. Before returning to your¡­usual duties, make this room impervious to eavesdropping with your magic."


    The woman worded her request carefully, familiar with how Jinni can attempt to find a loophole to attempt to escape their millennia-long servitude or simply kill their owners. She was annoyed by the disturbance, but not overly so.


    The Jinni returned to its preferred form out of the forms that it was ordered to take by his master: a female Kenku with azure feathers; since Jinni usually have no genders unless they want to be female or male. With just a touch, it had created a magical domain within the confines of the room that is layered with anti-eavesdropping Spells, and it disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke that slightly annoyed the woman as the smoke brushed her face.


    The Satyr was let in as she finished dressing up. A desk was already conjured for her as she sat on a cushioned wooden sofa.


    "Stationmistress, I¡­have failed to secure the book from Numisley Gildin. However, I have secured the Bloodoath Contract from Mayor Tulck for the rights toward 40% of the revenue of the Alimentaire Salt Flats. I offered him reinforcements against their war with Joltstown, as you instructed me to do."


    The Satyr stood stiffly still, as his fellow Satyr regarded him with the yellow rings on her black scleras. The [Negotiator] did not kneel because she was not a [Lady] nor [Queen] despite her glittering horns and flawless vermillion skin, and the culture of the continent disparages the subservient formalities that Yhrillian aristocracy requires of their servants. She was a Satyr, one of the Stationmasters that owned the various city-states and waystations of the Thousand Roads, the Corporation of Satyrs. A person of authority that can command dozens of guilds and companies, as well as the multiple Satyr Tribes under them. However, she hasn''t been able to use the full strength of her wealth and power to retrieve the book because she needs to do it discreetly, without any of the Stationmasters knowing. Hiring the best of [Thieves] or [Assassins] will raise eyebrows in the underworld, no matter how secretive. If they caught wind of the contents of the book, they will join the hunt, and soon the rest of the Corporations will be searching for Numisley and his caravan which will be disadvantageous for her. The influence of the Thousand Roads weakens as Numisley goes further east in the territories of the Diamond Shore Conglomerate and city-states and companies powerful enough to give her trouble. If she somehow received the book, then she will have a leash of every important figure of both Liberan and Yhril.


    "There''s always a next time. Did any of the other Stationmasters know of the book?"


    "Rumors had started spreading about a¡­ seller of secrets, Stationmaster. On the battlefield between Joltstown and Tucken. Numisley Gildin reportedly spied for General Thuntelch for gold, and he offered information from the book¡­ According to our sources."


    "I see. He did the smart thing. He knows that people will hunt them down regardless if he has the book or not. Who knows of the book? Except for that¡­Duke-Marquis."


    "So far, none. There''s a high chance that Numisley showed him the book. Send one of the [Spies] in his army to find out."


    "Yes, ma''am. Numisley Gildin also has a Feat similar to a Bloodoath Contract. He had Atasaney Jacedow bound to it. Raudaeiz Jaucles had sided with Numisley, hence why the gold returned to your treasury."


    "Impossible, unless he has some help, or lucky if he got that kind of Feat. Perhaps the book has some secrets that we didn''t know of..."


    The Stationmistress summoned a pile of papers, and an ink pot and quill. "Dosiynu, you are dismissed. Enjoy yourself tonight. I''ll tell you your next job tomorrow."


    "Thank you, ma''am."


    The [Negotiator] left the room quietly, as the Stationmistress wrote another letter.


    -


    [Feat - Appealing Products] developed!


    [Feat - One Good Lie] developed!


    Numisley woke up in an actual bed, not an uncomfortable wooden chair that he was tied in. The pain on his body from being tied to a chair for too long was still aching.


    He was back at the Sitting Wagon after yesterday when Gaxston had arrested Raudaeiz at last. All of the Severed Swords were injured, and many of their remaining coins were spent to buy healing potions to heal most of their injuries. Their table was oddly silent among the noisy inn filled with [Merchants] talking about the prices of food as well as other people. The fact that Numisley killed a person in front of them was the reason for the silence. Getting people killed, like the death of Jascias'' bodyguards or many of the Severed Swords getting killed in the Overthere Hills is different compared to sitting with the person who had told someone to kill themselves with a Feat. Even Graten, a career [Mercenary] was surprised by how he dealt with Atasaney. He had killed Ridi Gadihew and the rest of the [Mercenaries] of Atasaney''s Prowlers were arrested or killed.


    That doesn¡¯t mean that Numisley found enjoyment when he killed him. Atasaney¡¯s words echoed in his head. He was going to betray him sooner or later, so that was the logical thing to do at that time. He left the technicality alone in their contract that caused Ridi to start the Atasaney¡¯s Prowlers rebellion against the Severed Swords because he wanted to see if Atasaney will contact his former employer again or see signs of betrayal.


    "I plan to get Raudaeiz out of jail. I will need him for the future.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I need him. As I said before, they will be my sword in Yhril. I need people that can build an information network so I can establish my information brokering business when we arrived at Yhril. Criminals like him know of this stuff.¡±


    Cultrost stared at him like he was insane. Palden raised his eyebrows. The two brothers stared at each other, making the air between them tense.


    "I oppose it,¡± Cultrost spoke up. ¡°I do not like having a criminal in our caravan. If we¡¯re going to Baunt, some members of the Watch will surely detect him.¡±


    ¡°You forget that criminals have Feats to evade capture. He worked with our father before, and I promised him something in the future.¡±


    ¡°Father? The book did mention him. Still, what if you can¡¯t keep your promise?¡±


    ¡°I will. I will also promise you all that we¡¯ll be rich after we arrived at Yhril at some point. At that point, I can retire you from your service if you wish.¡±


    Numisley¡¯s statement made them think. Graten was concerned about his future, as well as Palden. Cultrost listened, withdrawing his objection as he learned that he worked for their father, as Numisley started to talk.


    ¡°So, here¡¯s the plan¡­¡±


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Later, Numisley was summoned by the Watch, as well as Cultrost, Palden, and Graten. They heard that Gaxston was temporarily dismissed from his position as Watch Captain, because of the unauthorized mobilizing of many members of the Watch.


    The Watch Commander himself had faced Numisley in his office. Cultrost, Palden, and Graten already gave their testimonies under a truth spell.


    ¡°Tell me why Raynios Joda kidnapped you.¡±


    ¡°He wanted to sell me for ransom. I''m the owner of Gildin Trading, so he thought I was a good mark. That is what I think."


    The Watch Commander stared at the truth stone glowing green.


    "Second question. Are you involved with criminal elements in Tucken? Any shady dealings with them?"


    "If being kidnapped was ''involvement'', then yes."


    The green glow of the truth stone faded a bit.


    "I see. Next question. Did or do you have any intent to do criminal acts of harming the citizens in any way and the well-being of the city-state?"


    "No."


    The questioning had ended after a few more questions, and they were free to go. Numisley had scanned the Watch barracks and he glanced at the entrance towards the jail where probably Raudaeiz is held.


    They were back at the shop, but they temporarily closed the shop for now. Most had healed from their cuts and bruises, and Cultrost had assembled them here. Numisley sat on a chair beside Cultrost, holding a pouch of heavy gold coins.


    ¡°I have no fancy speeches, but I got gold to the loyal [Mercenaries] of the continent. Today, you shall rest, or enjoy yourself if you wish!¡±


    Numisley gestured to Cultrost to distribute the pouch of gold coins. Each [Mercenaries] had gotten three gold coins, equivalent to five weeks of salary. Numisley knew that incentives like these keep employees loyal. As the [Mercenaries] went home or traveled within the city somewhere, five figures appeared, standing still. One of them stepped forwards, a Human man with swept black hair. Unbeknownst to Numisley and the rest, he has steel batons hidden under his sleeves. Graten¡¯s instincts buzzed as he watched the rest of them: a Dragonkin, a Tinyfolk, and two Demihumans with either fur or scales on parts of their bodies.


    ¡°Are you Raynios¡¯ contact?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Before Raudaeiz was arrested by Gaxston, he somehow left a letter in his pocket, informing him that there his most loyal members of the gang who didn¡¯t run away from the fight will be coming to help him. Numisley surmised that it''s the work of one of his Feats.


    ¡°So, how do we get our boss out? Shit¡¯s tighter than an [Paymaster]¡¯s chest on a battlefield.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll convince the [Mayor]. You guys keep watch on the barracks if anything goes wrong. Breaking into the jails will be dangerous. Wish I had a signal stone.¡±


    ¡°Convince the [Mayor]?¡± The man stared at him like he was saying that he can talk to the sky. ¡°You sound as if you are familiar with the guy.¡±


    ¡°Not really. I¡¯m just confident.¡±


    The taller man raised his eyebrows, as the rest of his group whispered to themselves.


    ¡°The balls of this guy.¡±


    Numisley, Cultrost, and Graten overheard the hushed remarks of the other people behind the stranger.


    ¡°Guess we¡¯ll join you then.¡±


    The remnants of Raudaeiz¡¯s men had joined Gildin Trading as they accepted the gold from Numisley. He sent Graten to the others to tell them of the new members, as they left the shop. The two brothers headed first to the Merchant¡¯s Guild to reserve a business meeting with the [Mayor] with an exorbitant fee. Numisley and Cultrost had entered the enclosed, inner portion of the city after being asked by its [Guards] questions under a truth spell. The walls were a good 60 feet tall and thicker than some towers that he had seen in the towns. The aged brick and wood buildings of the oldest part of the city still stood among the beige stone roads caked with dirty snow being dug out by [Diggers]. The city hall was a wide two-story building made out of brownish-yellow stone that seems to be carved out of boulders instead of built with individual bricks. The slanted tiled roof was dotted with runes that melted the snow and the water flowed through the gutters. [Guards] were posted along the stone fence and two of them flanked the entrance to the inside.


    ¡°Business?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the owner of Gildin Trading, under Maldent Trading, and I¡¯m here for a business offer for [Mayor] Tulck Cragford.¡±


    The [Guards] posted on the entrance didn¡¯t have truth stones, but they are chosen specifically because they have more effective Feats that detect the truth and even motives. Even that statement had evaded their Feat, simply because it is the truth, but not the whole truth, yet Numisley had used his newest Feat, [One Good Lie], which made sure that their true motives aren''t detected.


    ¡°Wait in the reception area.¡±


    The two brothers were allowed entry into the city hall after they handed their weapons: Cultrost¡¯s mace and Numisley¡¯s walking staff and they sat on the hard wooden benches of the reception room. There were a few people, most likely [Merchants] like them who scheduled a meeting with the [Mayor] for important business. There are also some people carrying satchels and holding papers, which they guessed to be [Messengers] of some sort. They were summoned to the [Mayor]¡¯s office a few hours later. The aged [Mayor] sat across them, scratching his balding orange hair before he caught himself. He was smoking a thick cigar. Despite the smoke, they didn¡¯t smell it because of the enchantment within the room that eliminates the smell of the cigar.


    ¡°So, Numisley and Cultrost Gildin, you need my sponsorship to trade with Fishal?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± Numisley corrected. ¡°I¡¯m here for something else. The release of Raynios Joda.¡±


    The [Mayor]¡¯s eyes widened in shock and he promptly adjusted his spectacles. His face became as stern as steel as he stared them down. What he said in the Merchant¡¯s Guild about the [Mayor]¡¯s sponsorship was simply the means to trespass here.


    ¡°You think you can bribe me?¡±


    ¡°If someone from the Thousand Roads can bribe your Watch Commander. I too can convince you.¡±


    ¡°Guard-¡±


    Cultrost swiftly rushed behind the [Mayor] before he could call security and wrapped his arms around his neck, threatening to choke him. The [Mayor] struggled, flailing his arms. He tried to reach for something, but his arms went tired. Numisley leaned closer to him.


    ¡°Brother, ease up a bit.¡±


    Cultrost loosened up his chokehold around the [Mayor]. He was afraid that as soon as they leave the room, they will be arrested, or even worse, dead. At this moment he put all of his hopes on Numisley¡¯s gamble.


    "Are you ready to listen?¡±


    ¡°Release me!¡±


    The [Mayor] tried to push Cultrost by pushing his feet against his heavy desk, but Cultrost had gained Feats from the night before, and a [Warrior] is individually stronger than a [Mayor]. Cultrost was intimidated despite the [Mayor] at his mercy and Numisley knew that he used a Feat.


    ¡°I got an offer to make! You want him gone right?¡±


    The [Mayor], upon hearing that, stopped struggling, with a level gaze on Numisley. Numisley now used his [Convincing Words] Feat to calm him down and make his position clear.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Release him.¡±


    Cultrost slowly let go of the [Mayor] and walked towards the [Mayor]¡¯s right side, making sure that he won''t do anything suspicious.


    ¡°At the time of my kidnapping, Raynios Joda agreed to me that he will come with me on my trip. If you release him, we will be leaving this city tomorrow, and we will not return to Tucken. This means that I will get rid of a dangerous element in your city if you let us leave. I will not attempt to free the arrested members of the gang, nor the remnants of Atasaney¡¯s Prowlers. You have my word.¡±


    The [Mayor] hunched, thinking of the implications, but if they were gone, then there¡¯s one headache less for him to deal with.


    ¡°Leave by tomorrow. Do not cause trouble in my city in the meantime.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡±


    Numisley held out his hand, and the [Mayor] reluctantly shook it. They had left the city hall with no issue, and they got their weapons back. He walked with his new walking staff, runes glowing with power. Its red gem on its tip was dim, but it would glow whenever he used the truth spell within it.


    "How''s the staff?" Cultrost stared at Numisley''s magical walking staff.


    ¡°Comfortable. This staff feels better than my old walking stick.¡±


    ¡°Err¡­It has a [Quickness] Spell if you need to ¡®run¡¯. That rune right there.¡± Cultrost pointed his finger at a dimly glowing rune near his hand. Numisley¡¯s finger inched closer to it. ¡°Don¡¯t press it. We need a mana stone or hire a [Mage] to recharge it. Unless you know how to charge it yourself¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m joking, I know how expensive those are. One gold a pop if you¡¯re lucky and besides, [Enchanters] and [Wizards] gobble it all up, making the price even worse.¡±


    They chuckled lightly at that as they passed by a statue in many of the city¡¯s plazas. Some people within the crowd stared at Numisley¡¯s glorified walking stick, and even a few sauntering [Mages] took a gander at his magic item.


    ¡°Your stunt scared me, brother. I was gonna piss my pants when I held him hostage. How are you so sure that it will work?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not that confident with my plans, to be honest. I know the risks. I¡¯m afraid of them. I deliberate long on the choices I make every night I study those books. The choices that I made are the smartest ones that I can think of¡­¡±


    For a long time, Cultrost saw him as a confident, arrogant schemer ever since he got the books from the vault. Numisley¡¯s words made him realize otherwise that he was still the little brother that he needs to take care of.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re doing your best.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Cultrost words had made Numisley¡¯s unknown burdens lighter. No need for hugs, nor the gentle punch to the shoulder or the brotherly headlocks; this was enough encouragement for him despite the wrongs that he has done. Validation for the path they took.


    Later that day, they informed the rest of the company that they will be leaving soon. Raudaeiz was suddenly released from the Watch despite the protests of the Watch Commander, but the [Mayor]¡¯s [Executive Order] had quelled his dissent and he had explained the situation. He had declared him an exile in Tucken¡¯s laws. Palden and Graten were organizing the men that were lifting crates of materials to their wagons, keeping an eye on the new members that Numisley had hired, along with Raudaeiz. Numisley had settled the rent to the [Landlord] and returned his permit in the Merchant¡¯s Guild and by the end of the night, the shop was empty. The rest of the [Mercenaries] were out in brothels and taverns while Numisley was balancing the budget with Cultrost in their room.


    After their last night in Tucken, their caravan left the gates of the city-state.

 Chapter 17

    [Messages] were sent en masse; They flew in the air, etching themselves to the papers of their recipients, along with magical seals that let them know who sent it. The amount of gold and mana spent for this moment that the Mage and Merchant Guilds struggled to process them. The [Mayor] of Tucken received one of these messages first. Wooden chests filled to the brim with gold were brought to him so that he had been urged to order his Mage Guild to send [Message] Spells on behalf of the woman who paid him.


    Tucken announced that Numisley Gildin and Raudaeiz Jaucles are now outlaws that escaped prison. The Bounty Hunter Guilds of the nearby towns had heeded the announcement, posting copies of the bounty. [Bounty Hunters] of Fishal, Beson, and Sid¨¨s had mobilized to find them. Mayor Tulck had issued this warning in the surrounding settlements, effectively making Numisley a criminal with a six thousand gold bounty: an above-average price for one person. The collective eyes of the [Bounty Hunters] bulged that they are offered the aid of teleportation for the more distant [Bounty Hunters] or those with an advanced Role. Any wagon or transportation service belonging to a Drivers'' Guild can be called to aid them in the hunt.


    The Stationmistress opened a bottle of fine, crimson wine that seemed to glow in the moonlight. She made sure that her transactions were from her own pockets, not the Corporation¡¯s and she made sure that the [Mayor] of Tucken was the one who issued the warning around the settlements. The bounty was not too high, nor it was too low for the best [Bounty Hunters] within the area, and she made sure that the bounty was as private as possible. Her agents now monitored these [Bounty Hunters], and her information network suggests that they are going to Fishal.


    No more games. The Stationmistress was done holding back.


    <hr>


    The caravan was traveling on a road beside a river, the noonday sun making the rippling water blindingly bright. Snow caked the grass and made trees heavy. Cultrost stopped staring at the river and turned to Palden.


    ¡°Are we there yet?¡±


    ¡°Few miles away. I suppose.¡±


    The caravan was on the road for two days, faster than most because of Palden¡¯s [Caravan Master]¡¯s Feats. Two days of traveling on what was normally a five-day journey, even if they are traveling on a well-known trade road. They were heading to the town of Fishal to find out information about the Veohantaye Tribe that lives in the castle on Fishalttop Mountain so that Cultrost arm can be healed. Cultrost had [Ignore Pain], but his broken arm was swollen and tender even if he has that Feat. No healing potion can heal broken bones, and he was sure that the [Priests] of any settlement were occupied from healing and feeding so many people. His brother¡¯s broken arm unnerved Numisley, and he wanted to get to the castle as fast as possible before it gets worse and he will be forced to cut the arm off.


    They had stopped in front of a short line of wagons. A wooden outpost with two tall and wide watchtowers flanked the main stone road. The wooden ramparts protected the few wooden buildings within, complete with log houses, a stable, a bar, and even a chicken coop and a place for [Traders] to trade with the [Mercenaries] posted in the outpost that resembled a hamlet.


    "Good day. We''re the Riverine Brigade. Mercs under Diamond Shore. We''ll inspect your cargo. Have you seen anyone that has a crippled young man with a walking stick? A blonde man with a blue chaperone? Their names are Numisley Gildin and Raudaeiz Jaucles. Outlaws of Tucken."


    Palden wiped the sudden sweat on his forehead as he saw that they were now in trouble. The seven or so [Mercenaries] outside the outpost inspected the wagon in front of them. He nudged Cultrost who quickly got in the back of the wagon.


    "Guys. You got a bounty."


    "How?"


    "Tucken. The [Mayor] must''ve posted it."


    Numisley had an inkling that there was something more behind the scenes but he can only guess without anything to guide him. Most likely, the [Mayor] had declared them outlaws, after they had threatened the [Mayor]. There''s also the fact that Raudaeiz''s real name was now on the bounty.


    "Psst! Palden, got any Feat that can help?" Cultrost asked nervously.


    "[Compartments of Holding] can''t hide people. It will eject you." Palden informed them.


    "I got a plan," Raudaeiz spoke up. "We''ll disguise Numisley. And me of course."


    The [Thief Leader] removed his chaperone, revealing his cut horns.


    "Boss?" One of Raudaeiz''s men was shocked that he had hidden his Satyr horns from them for a long time. They had assumed that he was a Human.


    "Never really liked removing this." Raudaeiz stared at his chaperone in his hand. "So, the plan is that we''re going to disguise ourselves. They have our names and our appearance, but they don''t know that I''m a Demihuman Satyr. I''m not sure if they had scried Numisley Gildin however, and an accurate scrying spell will need their appearance as well as their name. So, Numisley, hide your walking staff. You know the trick with [Compartments of Holding], right? Hide the staff there."


    Palden instructed Cultrost on how to cut a small hole in the canvas so the Feat can take effect. They hid the walking staff in the canvas along with the cloth chaperone. Numisley''s paralyzed leg was wrapped with cloth to hide it, and Raudaeiz sat within the wagon calmly.


    "We take our chances. You know how to fool basic truth spells?"


    "Telling half-truths?"


    "There''s another way. Keep calm. Act naturally. Most truth spells detect truths or lies with our mannerisms and our body. Unless they scried us completely, these hicks don''t know what we look like."


    They heard the guards of Fishal¡¯s outpost walking around their wagon. A balding man with a goatee peek inside the wagon, along with the other [Mercenaries].


    ¡°We¡¯re the Riverine Brigade. Paid by the Township of Fishal under the authority of the Conglomerate. We¡¯ll inspect your wagon. Have you seen a crippled young man with a walking staff and a blonde man with a blue chaperone? Outlaws named Raudaeiz Jaucles and Numisley Gildin.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Numisley answered, looking at the [Mercenary] straight in the eye.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Raudaeiz added.


    ¡°We¡¯ll inspect your wagon. What¡¯s your business with Fishal?¡±


    ¡°Trade,¡± Numisley answered succinctly.


    The [Mercenaries] did a quick inspection of the wagon. Not a thorough one since there are incoming wagons. They do not know of Palden¡¯s [Compartments of Holding] trick, and they simply checked the wooden chests and sacks that they have on their wagons.


    ¡°Be on your way.¡±


    They passed through the outpost and into the outskirts of the town. Beyond the farmland and the river ports where Fishal¡¯s [Fishers] go in and out on boats, past the widely spread out buildings of the suburbs, the center of the town sat cozily on the lush slopes of a hill among taller peaks. The town was still expanding, with the clearings among trees and the dusty foundations and scaffoldings uphill. There was a ruined fort worn by centuries that still stood on top of the hill, overlooking everything below it.


    ¡°See? Those hicks didn¡¯t even have a truth stone.¡±


    Raudaeiz grabbed the walking staff and his chaperone. He gave it to one of his men, wrapping it around a brown cloth and hiding it within the shadows of his cloth.


    ¡°If there¡¯s already a bounty, there¡¯s a possibility that you have been scryed, and there will be [Bounty Hunters] on the hunt. I''ll hide these for now; they might identify us based on eyewitness accounts."


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Numisley thought of the possibility presented by Raudaeiz. There might be already [Bounty Hunters] in town, and they must acquire information about the whereabouts of the Veohantaye Tribe and their castle quickly.


    "If that''s the case¡­we won''t be staying here long. Stay at the wagons. Cultrost, bring Graten with you. Ask around the stalls. We''ll park in the free spaces within the market. We¡¯ll hide in the wagon.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    The wagon was parked on a road within the bazaar. The foot traffic swerved around the wagons that suddenly stopped at the side of the busy wide road. They assumed that the caravan had a broken axle in one of their wagons and minded their business. However, the attentive and prying eyes among the crowd of Humans and Satyrs had noticed the two people going out from one of the wagons, before a couple of armed men and women surrounded the small caravan.


    Cultrost and Graten roamed the market district of the town. Among the crowd, they saw a lot of people carrying weapons, swords, axes, spears, crossbows, bows clubs, maces, wands, and even someone with a whip and a group of people with catchpoles. Some of them rode on horses, carefully wading through the crowd. He saw a number of them with ropes hanging on their pack, bolas, and some with tracking hounds that sniffed the air.


    ¡°They don¡¯t look like ¡®venturers¡­¡±


    Cultrost whispered to Graten as they stopped in front of an old Satyr woman selling clay pots and jars. The old woman too stared at the armed people among the crowd, but it isn¡¯t that unusual for the people of the world to see someone carrying weapons for self-defense or their occupations.


    ¡°They¡¯re [Bounty Hunters]. Not adventurers. They must be here for the bounty.¡±


    The fact that they have ropes and hounds, and gear unusual for adventurers to carry contributed to Graten¡¯s conclusion. Cultrost avoided showing his face to the nearest suspected [Bounty Hunter] and approached the pot vendor; her wrinkled face regarding them.


    ¡°Miss, I¡¯m looking to heal my arm. Do you know any path to the Veohantaye Tribe?¡±


    Cultrost turned, showing his broken arm in a sling. The older Satyr woman raised her eyebrow, face warmed with concern.


    ¡°Poor boy¡­The [Priests] are always occupied, are they? I heard from the [Traders] that you need to go beyond the mountain district of the town. There¡¯s a dirt path from the town that may lead to the peak of Fishalttop Mountain, the mountain connected to the town¡¯s hill. But you need to pay a price.¡±


    ¡°What price? Gold?¡±


    ¡°Nothing of that sort. There was a [Commander] that came here many moons ago, who wished to heal his deformed arm caused by a hex. In exchange for the lives of his five best men.¡±


    ¡°He sacrificed them to him?¡±


    ¡°Nothing of that sort. Luck, fate¡­They suffered misfortune because their [Commander] had sacrificed their luck. I heard one of them died of sickness because he stepped on a rusty arrowhead.¡±


    Cultrost¡¯s hesitated for a moment, surprised. What will be the cost of fixing his broken arm, he wondered.


    ¡°What kind of magic is this?¡± Graten uttered.


    ¡°Magic not used by the [Mages] of the cities. Only [Shamans] can do what [Mages] cannot.¡±


    They thanked the old woman and apologized for not buying her wares. They went back to the wagons.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of [Bounty Hunters] around,¡± Graten told Numisley.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the castle?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Dirt path on the mountain outside the city. It leads to the castle on the next mountain.¡±


    Graten and Numisley peeked out of the wagon and he pointed at a faraway path outside of the walls of a district near the center of the town on the slope of the hill. If it were any other time, they could appreciate the beauty of the town on the hill, and the backdrop of the taller lush mountains with the fog dripping down from their icy summits.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to camp in the mountains then. It would be messy if we¡¯re forced to fight the [Bounty Hunters] here if they ever found me and Raudaeiz.¡±


    No one objected, except for a few who groaned at the fact that there will not be sleeping in an inn¡¯s warm bed tonight. The caravan left the town soon and tread the dirt hill path that led towards the mountain behind Fishal. On that night, they set up camp on the ridge of Fishalttop Mountain. The camp was among the few trees on the slopes, surrounded by their wagons in a protective position. Numisley and Cultrost were inside one of the wagons, avoiding being seen. Lurking around, far from the camp were animals and lesser monsters like Direwolves wary of the camp''s strength. Among the trees were approaching [Bounty Hunters], stealthily lurking among the cover of the night with Feats and Spells that silenced their steps.


    Graten had sensed something in the air. They had set [Alarm] runes around the camp beforehand, as well as ordinary tripwire alarms. The [Sword Captain] and [Watcher] can see in the dark because of his [Darkvision], along with other of his Feats. His eyes turned towards something moving nimbly at the corner of his eye, but he saw that it was an abnormally large squirrel dashing from branch to branch. But he grabbed a crossbow bolt that would hit his eye if it wasn¡¯t for his Feated reflexes. A [Fireball] exploded, burning down one of their wagons. Some of the [Bounty Hunters] who waited all day for the Severed Swords had ceased hiding within camouflaged tents cast spells and let loosed arrows, and some are charging towards them on foot.


    ¡°An attack! Ready for combat! Prepare to escape!¡±


    His voice, amplified by [Alarming Command] had woken up everyone in the camp. They grabbed their weapons and took cover behind the wagons. Those who were able had hopped on the panicking horses and struggled to move the wagons. Beforehand, Palden told Numisley of his new Feat after their escape, devising an escape plan around that.


    A couple of [Riders] charged towards them, but the Severed Swords quickly disposed of two of them with crossbows and the spells from their wands. But still, some simply dodged the projectiles coming for them. Raudaeiz and his gang helped by killing the [Bounty Hunters] who already closed the distance. Graten activated some of his Feats that applied to his group. The [Bounty Hunters], working as individuals or in groups, have already taken casualties among the Severed Swords. A woman with a whip that seemed to grow longer simply deflected all of the crossbow bolts and spells by twirling it around, and the [Sword Captain] knew that she was the most dangerous among the unknowable number of [Bounty Hunters] among the trees.


    ¡°Palden! Use it now!¡±


    Graten saw the whip flick, tearing a part of his gambeson off with the impact. As he saw the wagons that were ready to go, Palden spoke, activating the Feat.


    ¡°[Caravan: Instantaneous Evacuation]!¡±


    All of the Severed Swords and Raudaeiz and his gang were suddenly inside the remaining four wagons as if they were teleported inside.


    ¡°How convenient¡­¡± Raudaeiz was amazed by that Feat from the person that he thought was a simple [Wagon Driver].


    ¡°Josaif, how many casualties?¡± Graten snapped at his [Lieutenant].


    ¡°Three, sir! Basseil, Redien, and Qimea died.¡±


    Graten didn¡¯t have the luxury of grieving, as the caravan suddenly accelerated when Palden activated his [Caravan: Eleventh Hour Wheels] Feat. They saw mounted [Bounty Hunters] behind them, hitting the wagons with arrows and spells. The [Caravan Master] saw an [Earth Wall] rise, but it was too late for him to decelerate. His sharp turn had made the wagon topple from the momentum of his Feat.


    Numisley woke up on Cultrost¡¯s shoulders, and he hears the faint sounds of fighting even if his head rang from the impact. The wagons were all destroyed and the horses that pulled them were dead. Spare weapons, tools, grain, and many of their products were left behind.


    ¡°How many dead?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re the only Severed Swords alive sir¡­¡±


    Numisley heard Graten faintly, and he cannot even think about what Graten meant by them being the only people alive as the blood dripped from his forehead. As they hiked through the mountain, Numisley slowly regained consciousness.


    ¡°The books¡­¡± Numisley groaned, trying to stay awake.


    ¡°They''re in my vest,¡± Cultrost reassured.


    Numisley looked around and saw only six of the Severed Swords remaining. The rest was still intact, albeit damaged.


    ¡°Fuck.¡± Graten looked back. He saw the female [Bounty Hunter] wearing a coat from earlier, wielding a fearsome whip that had destroyed Graten¡¯s gambeson and took the lives of three of the Severed Swords. She simply strides towards them calmly as other [Bounty Hunters] gave chase.


    ¡°This is the end¡­I see.¡± Palden despaired. They are tired from the fighting, and their morale is lower than ever. Numisley refused to give up.


    ¡°Give me my staff,¡± Numisley ordered. The gang member who held his walking staff promptly handed him the staff. He pointed it in the general direction behind them and one of the runes on the staff cast [Fireball], burning an unfortunate [Bounty Hunter], cooking him within his steel and cloth armor.


    Before he depleted the spells on his staff, the ground rumbled. Under the moonlight, a hulking being of flowing black fur and skin of midnight blue regarded the [Bounty Hunters] within the trees. It has a face with a crown of four curved horns, close to monstrous, but clearly, a person determined to defend their home. A dozen spear-wielding [Warriors] seemingly emerged from the night behind the giant. Tall and muscular people with midnight blue, maroon, or crimson skin wearing bony masks and glowing white markings.


    ¡°Demons?¡±


    Cultrost was wrong, and he realized that they are Satyrs who had undergone the rites of transmutation that every powerful Satyr tribe has.


    ¡°Go.¡±


    The gigantic Satyr rumbled, an Oxidigos of the Veohantaye Tribe. He raised his hammer protectively, a weapon made from a tree trunk, its branches wrapped around a gem-encrusted boulder the size of a hut, vibrating and glowing with latent power.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Cultrost spoke, and the giant felt his desperate gratitude even if he didn¡¯t hear his voice. Numisley and company ran deeper into the mountain, past the [Warriors] standing guard.


    ¡°On the authority of the Bounty Hunters¡¯ Guilds of Fishal, Beson, and Sid¨¨s, hand over the outlaws!¡± The woman with a whip asserted. The Oxidigos laughed, his bellow making the branches sway.


    ¡°Humans and their Guilds. They have no power here.¡±


    The gigantic Satyr loudly mocked. The woman with a whip pointed her finger towards the giant, calling for a volley.


    ¡°[Ray of Incineration]!¡±


    An [Mage] among the [Bounty Hunters] cast a Tier 4 Spell, but the burning ray diffused upon contact on the giant¡¯s protective markings on his skin, the magic coursing around the paint. The [Bounty Hunters] cast spells and loosed arrows and even bombs, but it simply glanced off him. The woman with a whip attempted to close the distance, wrapping her whip on the giant¡¯s thick neck, hoping to climb on him and deal damage.


    ¡°My turn.¡±


    The only Oxidigos of the mountain raised his hammer, accurately flattening the woman flying towards him with a quick and heavy swing, and smashing the ground into pieces. The slope of the mountain lit up with the magic stored within the hammer, creating a landslide that collapsed the trees, rocks, and soil. The town of Fishal saw flocks of bats and birds suddenly flying out of the mountain, as they heard a tremor from the mountain. The Watch of Fishal went on high alert, thinking that a horde of monsters or a disaster will destroy the settlement.


    After grueling minutes of walking, Numisley and company found themselves in front of the castle of the Veohantaye Tribe.

 Chapter 18

    Numisley idly ate berries in a bowl, staring drowsily at the rising sun among the mountains, shining upon the ocean of fog riding along the wind. He can see the nearby Satyr villages along the slopes of the adjacent mountains under the protection of the castle that they were in. In any other time, a peaceful time, he, Cultrost, and their father might have appreciated the view of the battlements. Yet all he thought about it somewhere, his father lies dead within the grounds of the manor. He thought of the future the two books will bring.


    His company had been brought to the castle himself, and they gratefully indulged in the hospitality of the Veohantaye Tribe. They healed not only with healing potions but with balms and healing magic. Yet they did not heal Cultrost''s broken arm because even they cannot heal it without using their "great treasure". They didn¡¯t tell them what price they needed to pay, but they were allowed to see the [Shaman] who supposedly can heal the arm.


    "Hey."


    Cultrost was wandering the battlements. He was always an early riser, waking up before the sun rose. Any guest can roam the battlements since the totems stood on them and seemed to watch them. No shortage of Satyrs guarded the walls. Numisley was surprised that many wore metal armor, armor made of some kind of leather or hide. The distinct dim glow and the humming of the air on the armor is a sign that they are enchanted.


    ¡°How¡¯s your arm?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t feel anything.¡±


    Cultrost waved his broken arm lightly, teasing Numisley. But Numisley saw that it was grotesquely swollen.


    ¡°Stop that!¡± Numisley scolded. ¡°The swelling will get worse!¡±


    ¡°Kidding, kidding. Besides, we¡¯re¡­here.¡±


    They stared at the castle itself from its battlements. Unlike any fortress, it was lined and crisscrossed with a thick chalk-like material that inlaid itself on the carved stone of the delicate pyramidal keep and formed arches around it. They realized that the structure over the keep was the giant ribs of an ancient creature. Veiny red lines along the bony structure seem to pulsate as if the castle is alive. They can feel the humming of the air emanating from the four tower-sized totems on the four corners of the compound.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay any price just so you can heal your arm,¡± Numisley uttered.


    ¡°The old Satyr woman back at Fishal told me that the [Commander] was healed in exchange for the fortune of his five best men.¡± Cultrost informed him.


    ¡°So, it must be something more abstract.¡± Numisley tsked, scratching his chin. ¡°Not gold.¡±


    Later that day, they were invited by the [Great Chieftain] within the castle for breakfast. They were in the vaulted dining hall, made of stone and lined with bone and wood. They even have stained glass windows that let sunlight in, illuminating the inside. They ate at a long table made out of beech and birch wood. It seems like both kinds of wood had grown into each other, forming a pattern of two trees made of both species of wood: a traditional Satyr design. Admittedly, Graten and the other Humans of the group were taken aback by the sophistication that this Satyr Tribe possesses. They saw the Satyr Tribes, not individual Satyrs, as marauding tribes who sacked settlements or nomadic [Traders].


    The [Great Chieftain of the Mountain] was muscular and tall, around seven feet tall. He possessed a well-balanced body that was not too girthy nor slender. Graten assumed that he wielded the runic glaive of bone with three brass rings that leaned on his cushioned throne of ivory as graceful as a [Glaivemaster] would. The blueberry-skinned Satyr wore a half-mask of gold and a sky-blue metal engraved with patterns resembling clouds and mountains.


    His trusted guard, his [First Warriors] stood around the hall. The best Fauntyrs of their tribe wore chainmail, metal cuirasses, furs, and leather painted with Shamanic markings, effectively enchanting them. The Severed Swords and Raudaeiz¡¯s gang were outnumbered and possibily will be overpowered. Numisley assumed the [Warriors] can slaughter them effortlessly if the negotiation failed horribly.


    The [Chieftain] regarded Numisley, who sat at the other end of the long table, as the ¡°leader¡± of the guests. They had already devoured the roasted goat and wild rice with sour berries.


    ¡°Thank you for your hospitality, Chieftain.¡± Numisley lowered his head in deference.


    ¡°Chieftain Vakhsyol. ''Mountain Benevolent'' in our language, but I guess you didn¡¯t need to know that. I am the leader of the Veohantayes, protector of the Satyr villages of the Gaunt Peaks.¡±


    ¡°Numisley Gildin. [Trader] of Gildin Trading. This is my brother, Cultrost Gildin.¡±


    His tone was conversational, and Numisley was glad he did not have to be formal. Cultrost was paying attention to the conversation.


    ¡°So, how are your men and women, Numisley Gildin? Did our [Healers] do the job well?¡±


    ¡°As you can see, they''re well enough that they breathing in their food.¡±


    The [Chieftain] heartily laughed at Numisley¡¯s joke. It was a gamble for Numisley if he appreciates the joke. Cultrost was wide-eyed at the interplay.


    ¡°I like that, Numisley. But, tell me, why did you come to our tribe? Why are [Bounty Hunters] hunting you down?¡±


    ¡°I humbly seek the Veohantaye Tribe just to heal my brother¡¯s arm. I¡¯m told by a [Commander] whom I made a deal with in the past that your tribe is capable of healing a deformed arm. The [Healers] and [Priests] of the cities are inaccessible to me. Tucken framed us and sent [Bounty Hunters] to arrest me.¡±


    ¡°I see. [Healers] that can heal broken bones are highly expensive. [Priests] are occupied healing the poor and needy. So I understand your desperation. But why did you not cut off his arm?¡±


    ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°Because I want to fight as best as I can. I want to protect my brother with all of my body. I will be crippled if my right arm is gone, even if I can gain a Role from it. I cannot lift my brother away from danger if I got only one hand, am I right, brother?¡±


    Cultrost suddenly interrupted, and Numisley smiled politely. He hoped that the [Chieftain] wouldn¡¯t take offense.


    ¡°You got a great sibling there, Numisley.¡± Chieftain Vakhsyol turned his head to Cultrost, looking at him like a gem to admire from afar. ¡°If he was born and raised in Veohantaye, my [Shaman] would mark him as a brave, honorable, and compassionate [Warrior] as a boy. I will induct him among the best of my [Warriors] with enough battles on his belt when he comes of age. Unfortunately, he was raised among the Human settlements. A sapling among the sand.¡±


    Numisley smirked and elbowed Cultrost in jest, but he quickly refocused on the [Chieftain].


    ¡°So you will heal him?¡±


    ¡°Not without a tribute.¡±


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The [Chieftain] was friendly to his guests but he was still a [Great Chieftain].


    ¡°What do you have to offer me to let you use of what remains of our sole Transmutation Tree? My [Chief Shaman], I summon thee. Our guests request the power of the Great Tree.¡±


    A female blue-skinned Satyr appeared from one of the curtained passages behind the [Chieftain], horns adorned with string wrapped with gems and teeth. Humbly dressed in woven cotton and hide, woven with symbols of power, her unmistakable aura of magic had made the guests sitting at the table hesitate.


    ¡°I see brothers embroiled in a great destiny, and I say, [Chieftain], let them pay the price.¡±


    The [Chieftain] looked back at them significantly.


    ¡°What I meant by tribute is two things, a benefit for the tribe, and the fuel required for making the Birthing Tree work. What can I gain from healing your brother, from depleting a great resource of the Satyrs? The [Commander] who last came here offered the luck of his luckiest men for the tree, and an alliance that is sworn under blood.¡±


    Numisley¡¯s mind wrung itself of its thoughts, finding every way that he can think of to make this deal work. His company watched in trepidation as the air fell silent.


    ¡°Tell me of your trade relations with the neighboring settlements.¡±


    Numisley¡¯s sweat trickled from his forehead, but he kept his winning smile on. He needed to get this deal more than ever.


    ¡°We trade with Fishal. Their fish for our sour berries and goats. Their goods for our alchemical ingredients. By proxy, we trade with the Diamond Shore Conglomerate that sells goods beyond Libertalia sold in Fishal¡¯s markets. From Yhril, El-Mira, and Lemuria. However, our tribe is under a centuries-old blockade since they cannot take this castle.¡±


    ¡°Blockade? So why did not encounter any patrols? They could¡¯ve saved us from the [Bounty Hunters].¡±


    ¡°They patrol all over the borders of the Gaunt Peaks. You took the direct path to Fishal, right? They don''t need to patrol that path because Fishal¡¯s walls have eyes on the only path that leads to the outside world. That path is a kill zone for Fishal¡¯s [Soldiers] to cast [Fireballs] on if ever we march to it because the other paths are heavily guarded.¡±


    ¡°I saw your big guy eat a destructive spell, so why not break out of the blockade?¡±


    Numisley knew it was a pretty stupid question. Fighting a Corporation is a guaranteed loss for any military to his knowledge. But he needed to gleam more information.


    ¡°Because they will annihilate us with Tier 6 Spells. They will send their best Wave Armies. Their Stormscourge Raiders and Tide Wardens. They are the ones they could field inland at a moment''s notice. Not even their best, for their true strength, lies in their privateer ships and ports. Although we have [Shamans], when people start dying, when they cast [Terror] Spells, when they demoralize the tribe, our magic starts weakening. The villages may starve. It will not matter if our castle is virtually unassailable if our people die outside our walls. This is what the blockade is about. We are banned from buying spellbooks nor raw mana-minerals, or magic tools like wands because they do not want to conduct guerilla warfare where we can throw [Fireballs] instantaneously and hide in the mountains. We can¡¯t even buy steel. We cannibalized our iron pots and pans from Fishal, who keeps watch of our [Traders] within the town, auditing their purchases.¡±


    ¡°So basically, they are reducing your war strength for centuries to keep you pacified.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Peace, even disquieting, disadvantageous peace is better than a bitter war.¡±


    Numisley pieced the information together in his mind, but all can he come up with is just a promise. He turned to the criminals in his group.


    ¡°Raudaeiz.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Do you know any [Smugglers]? Around this area?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one gang in Baunt that I have contact with.¡±


    ¡°Can they smuggle spellbooks, steel, and wands?¡±


    ¡°If you give them enough gold, yes.¡±


    Numisley faced the [Chieftain] of the Veohantaye Tribe with certainty.


    ¡°In¡­let¡¯s say seven¡­nine trials from now, I¡¯ll establish a smuggling line to your tribe. I will be leaving for Yhril, and I intend to rebuild my company there. We¡¯ll buy what you need from Yhril, outside of the influence of Diamond Shore. Deal?¡±


    ¡°What would I take for collateral, Trader Numisley?¡±


    Numisley had made the mistake of not thinking about the collateral in the heat of the moment. He was afraid that the negotiation will fail, and they will need to cut Cultrost¡¯s arm off in the end.


    ¡°You said that you need fuel for the tree right, some kind of mystical¡­not magical, something abstract for the tree right?¡±


    Cultrost suddenly spoke up. Numisley and Vakhsyol stared at him. He had heard tales and stories of his species even if he was born among a Human settlement from the Satyr [Traders] and other tribe-Satyrs that come to Renimburg. Satyrs and their sacrifices, their rituals of rebirth.


    ¡°Can I offer myself? Will the spirit of it work?¡±


    Before Numisley can object, the [Chieftain] raised his hand.


    ¡°Shaman Shayash. Is the boy¡¯s will true?¡± The [Chieftain] asked his [Shaman]. He already thought of an advantage to this negotiation.


    ¡°Determined. The Great Tree will be nourished from his determination and spirit of brotherhood.¡±


    ¡°Numisley and Cultrost Gildin.¡± Chieftain Vakhsyol regarded the two brothers. ¡°You are not the same blood, but brothers nevertheless. Cultrost, you will be Numisley¡¯s collateral. We will regrow your arm in the Birthing Tree with a curse. It will kill you if Numisley should fail his promise in the future, but my [Shaman] will release the curse upon the establishment of our trade. Are you okay with that? Will you sacrifice your life for your brother?¡±


    ¡°Gladly.¡± Cultrost asserted.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that!¡± Numisley scolded.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to bear the burden alone. I believe in you. I believe that you can do anything, even this smuggling route. I will bear this curse. I¡¯m not as smart as you, so this is the least that I can do.¡±


    Numisley exhaled, exasperated by his brother¡¯s bravery, but there was no solution other than that.


    ¡°Fine, I accept.¡±


    The [Chieftain] slumped on his throne, satisfied by the answer.


    ¡°Great. My [Shaman] will prepare the ritual within the day.¡±


    Later, they stayed within the guest building of the castle, where few [Merchants] had stayed in the past. It was a two-story building made out of carved stone, with a flat roof. The wide windows and bug-repellant talismans provided comfortable ventilation throughout the building, and a single sigil at a wall provided warmth when it is cold.


    ¡°Thank you, Cultrost.¡±


    ¡°No sweat.¡±


    The two sat in one room, drinking tea made from one of the kinds of herbs found in the mountains. They watched the first snowflakes fall as winter truly began. Despite the cold, the sigil made the room comfortably warm. A moment of peace before what is going to happen.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°I guess. Having a curse on your body is pretty scary come to think of it. But I can¡¯t go back on my word.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    They arrived at the circular courtyard. Palden alone had accompanied Numisley and Cultrost while the others rested in the guest house. Ivory arches among stone roofs surrounded the wide red grass of the courtyard. Satyrs, men, and women dressed in red, ochre, and brown shawls, surrounded the tree in a trance. The tree is twice as large as a cedar tree, made of rubbery, placenta-like flesh with branches of rigid intestinal tubes with transparent egg-like membranes on the tips. Instead of a trunk, it had a bulging capsule-shaped sac within the bark filled with red-tinged embryonic fluid.


    Shaman Shayash and Chieftain Vakhsyol entered the gathering, receiving the attention of those who attended the ritual. Apprentice [Shamans] and [Shamanic Warriors] had gathered to contribute to the great magic.


    ¡°We gather together on this auspicious day for the rebirth of a guest. A Satyr far from home, Cultrost Gildin. His arm was broken in a battle against a great foe to the rescue of his brother. He shall now receive the blessing of the Birthing Tree under the promise of trade. His bravery and our gifts of courage shall nourish its body. Let us begin the rite.¡±


    Cultrost was firmly led towards the tree by the [Chief Shaman] of Veohantaye, her hand holding firm on his. Numisley was in disbelief as she told Cultrost battle as if she were there. She produced white powder and rubbed it all over his body after stripping Cultrost naked for the rite, then gently shoved him into the central membrane of the tree. He sunk into the transparent crimson slime of the tree, much to Cultrost¡¯s surprise.


    They chanted, throwing white powder in the air. It floated in the air, which traced lines in the air. Some of its branches dried up into wilting chalk-white husks as its egg-like membranes were drained, as Cultrost was within the sac. The combined magic of those who gathered, not just the physical mana of the atmosphere, but the courage imparted by each of them had made the tree pulsate. Like a beating heart, it supplied something for Cultrost within the tree¡¯s membrane, which started to bubble.


    ¡°[Ritual of the Birthing Tree].¡±


    The [Chief Shaman] spoke in the middle of the chanting. Soon, they were done supplying the tree with what it needed to activate it. Already, his arm started to be fixing himself within the membrane. There was a dim crimson glow on the tree as if full of life.


    ¡°He will be healed in three days, with his bravery and the bit of courage that we imparted.¡±


    Numisley was speechless. This was more magical than any [Mage] can do. Palden was familiar with Shamanic magic from traveling around the region with roaming Satyr tribes but he had only heard myths of Birthing Trees.


    The Satyrs of the Veohantaye Tribe left, then the [Shaman] and the [Chieftain] followed. Numisley stayed with Cultrost throughout the day, even when the skies went dark. It was unbearably cold, despite the castle''s magical field protecting the place from snowfall.


    Palden set up a little tent over Numisley, along with a tiny lantern that the [Shaman] enchanted for him to provide warmth. He bought him a bowl of warm soup and bread, which Numisley graciously accepted.


    "Still watching him?"


    "Yeah."


    Cultrost was unconscious but not drowning in the fluid. He was resting, fast asleep. For three days, Numisley watched his brother regenerate his arm, sleeping in front of him. He seemed to grow a bit taller, day by day, his body refining itself within the tree. Every part of his body, every aspect growing and enhancing.


    On the third day, the tree lost its glow. The membrane that Cultrost is floating within started to rumble. Then, it popped.


    The tree flooded the courtyard with the crimson embryonic fluid, which swept Numisley and his tent. However, the raised edges are designed to mitigate flooding. The fluid nourished the red grass, which instantly flowered and bore pink beans on their seedheads. Satyrs holding baskets, some attached to their horns scattered to pick up the beans.


    Numisley¡¯s brother stood up. He looked upon a taller, better Cultrost. A Stationmistress raged when his agent reported that the [Bounty Hunters] were all killed by a Satyr Tribe.

 Chapter 19

    Dravemn Maldent had arrived at Renimburg days ago, personally overseeing the rebuilding of the town. Days are like seconds to him, as an Elf. A day ago he realized that the Deathseekers that he sent a week ago didn¡¯t report back, nor did the [Guide] that he hired. He assumed that somehow, they got killed in the war between Joltstown and Tucken. He knew to back out on an unprofitable investment, and let the Gildin brothers be, yet a man came to Renimburg and whispered to his ear:


    ¡°Do you want riches? Tell me more about Jascias Gildin.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Watch this.¡±


    Cultrost effortlessly did a backflip and he landed on his hooves on the ground. He was now better in all physical aspects, stronger, faster, and with an elevated sense of balance, reflexes, and even a bit smarter. His eyes seemed to glow with burning brimstone, with slightly better vision. His crimson skin is flawless, and even his horns are longer. Numisley stared at his cursed arm, dotted with hexing symbols.


    "Does it hurt?" Numisley asked.


    "No. In fact, I feel better than ever! My body feels lighter and stuff."


    It was obvious that the ritual have changed his body completely, but Numisley was worried about if there was a cost other than the [Shaman]''s curse. Some of the [Warriors] of the Veohantaye Tribe, who can easily beat veteran [Mercenaries], escorted them to the remains of the caravan which was buried under the landslide three nights ago. The metal of the spare swords, pots, and other metallic essentials and valuables were both shattered and melted from that magic. The wooden wagons, chests, and sacks of grain and firewood were torn, burnt, or reduced to ashes. Still, the rest of Numisley¡¯s people dug with borrowed shovels, digging out anything intact and usable. Numisley was pleased that the gold that he stored with his [Secret Compartment] Feat beforehand survived.


    ¡°Oi, Numis, help out will ya¡¯?¡± Cultrost hollered at Numisley.


    ¡°Can¡¯t walk, remember?¡± Numisley replied with a smile.


    Cultrost shoveled dirt on Numisley¡¯s pants in reply, and they laughed along with the other Severed Swords. Palden, Graten, Tarast, and the Dullahan in the group named Weriens somehow pulled up a wooden wagon which is missing its canvas roof; the spokes of its wooden wheels fractured under the weight of the earth and the shockwave from that giant Satyr¡¯s attack.


    ¡°Stand back, I¡¯ll do my magic- well, Feat.¡± Palden shooed away Graten and the rest who helped them. He picked up a few planks of wood that were fractured away from the wagon and he repeatedly tapped the wagon with his hammer. As if Palden has a free [Repair] Spell on hand, his Feat had reassembled the wagon piece by piece, conjuring missing pieces out of thin air as well as the planks flying out of his arm.


    Numisley wondered of a world without these Feats and Roles for a moment, but he knew it to be impossible. Cultrost was finished digging after they determined that they salvaged all of their things.


    ¡°Do you wonder how good ol¡¯ Palden is?¡± Cultrost pointed out after he had completely fixed that wagon like it was nothing.


    ¡°Come to think of it¡­¡± Numisley uttered. " I got [Eye for Potential] as a Feat, and he has a lot of potential."


    The brothers knew him to be one of the longest employees of their father, along with those who died protecting the manor and them. He was an unassuming old Orcan Human who drives wagons and leads their small company caravan from city to city. They remembered that he could make a week-long journey in half at his usual pace, and they never really encountered monsters nor lesser [Bandits] attacking them when he led the caravan.


    They were prepared to leave with only one wagon. Few can fit within even with the enlarged interior of the wagon with Palden''s Feat. It was cramped with the chests and sacks, so only nine people could fit.


    They left the Veohantaye Tribe''s mountain, who had already said farewell to the [Chieftain] of the mountains. They did not stay long in Fishal, only buying supplies for the journey.


    "What Role do you have, Ol'' Palden?" Numisley finally asked as they were now on the road.


    "Eh, me?" Palden turned, surprised. His thick hands were still steering the horses, even while distracted. The others were walking beside the wagon, guarding it.


    "Yes, you," Cultrost added. "I and my brother here are interested. This big-headed brother of mine can tell you''re someone."


    "Ah, well¡­ I was an [Expert Caravan Master] working under Temer¡¯s sub-companies. Down at the southwest Bottoms.¡±


    The brothers were shocked at Palden''s Role. Aside from their father''s hidden trump cards who defended the manor and Palvt, Palden didn''t feel like someone special. Just the most reliable [Wagon Driver] in their father''s employ.


    "You never told that to us," Cultrost remarked.


    "You never asked," Palden replied succinctly.


    "True."


    Palden rubbed his tusks as he continued his story.


    "Well, I''m no specialist like a [Magical Caravan Master] nor a [Armored Caravan Master], but I''m good at bringing a lot of things and people from city to city. I''m good at keeping the wagons organized, repaired, and protected."


    "Have you ever gone to Temurient?" Numisley asked about the famous City of Fortunes, the headquarters of the richest Corporation on the continent.


    "Once. The Strip was the largest road I''d ever seen. I was delivering food for the Mansion of Luck. Our wagons had [Preservation] on them for the pre-made food. The gambling house looked like a palace more than anything."


    "Woah¡­" Numisley had heard stories of that place. As an infamous gambler in his small town, he had always wanted to go to their casinos.


    ¡°So why did you leave?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°Well, working within a Corporation will make you rich, but it will make you a target regardless. I quit the company and went west until I met your father. The rest is history.¡±


    They knew the rest. They continued to talk and tell stories as travelers do on the road. As they rode closer to the territories of the Diamond Shore Conglomerate, they saw the patrols of their [Mercenaries]. They tread upon the roads. Not dirt roads, no mere stone, but paved stone bricks. Their highways were thrice as wide, and they are among many caravans that trade with the profitable city-states owned by the Conglomerate.


    They arrived at their destination. Baunt is one of the oldest cities of the continent, continuously expanding, yet through cycles of destructive wars and calamities like rare earthquakes, magical typhoons that had destroyed even castles and turned suburbs into glassy craters, hill-sized icebergs from the eternally foggy Obscure Ocean that destroyed their ports; the generations of residents of the city stubbornly refused to let their home die. For every old house or tower destroyed, newer, stronger ones are built with magic and Feats, yet there were works of architecture that were utterly destroyed, never to be replaced again with their original [Architects] long dead, and plans that newer [Architects] can''t follow with the lack of Feats, expertise, and resources.


    Numisley and his caravan were within the suburbs; which were like smaller cities surrounded by vast acres of farmland away from the inner ancient districts of Baunt on the coast. They can see the fortresses sitting on elevated ground and absurdly tall stone watchtowers standing vigil over Baunt¡¯s suburbs.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    After two hours of traveling on their spacious roads, their hairs stood on end, feeling the magic within its forty-foot smooth stone walls. The sentinels of the battlements and towers idly stared at the small band of unassuming travelers. The oaken gargantuan gate reinforced with thick bars of metal nestled comfortably within a gatehouse as thick as a large tower dwarfed the travelers. They stared at the metal engraved sigil of Baunt embedded on the gates as it opened with a heavy drowning groan.


    The noise of the ambling crowd within the wide paved streets among tall brick and stone buildings suddenly flooded their ears as if the gates had served as a dam of noise. Merchants loudly implored passing crowds of various species, from the Lizardfolk and Dragonkin of El-Mira, the Beastkin of Lemuria and the Humans, Dwarves, and Elves of Yhril, droning about exotic products from all across the five continents out of the Six Lands. [Bards] told stories, [Musicians] sang and played their instruments, and [Dancers] danced, conjuring feelings and images with their Feats, wresting crowds away from their rivals. Other sorts of [Performers] were also competing, like [Tumblers] juggling forty plates and mugs and [Illusionists] creating light shows of magic.


    Food stalls selling all manner of mundane and exotic seafood were placed at almost every alley and corner of the port city-state, and there were even [Chefs] manning the larger stalls. They were packed side by side, designed so their Feats that drew customers clashed with each other. Their markets in the plazas are designed in the same way, so the competition is intense. Truly, Baunt was one of the biggest cities of the Exiled Coasts but overshadowed by the famed city New Veltashore and many others in the Exiled Coasts.


    Numisley and his company had paid exorbitantly in a large inn near the ports. The Ship o¡¯ Ale was one of the largest and most affordable inns in Baunt¡¯s ports, and it had helped that many fancy inns like the Pearly Palace had stolen customers from other inns, so they easily obtained lodging.


    From the balcony of his room, he can see the hulking trade ships from the other continents, to the sleeker ships of those who sailed from the coasts of the continent. Fortunately, despite the flock of seagulls flying overhead, Numisley hadn¡¯t been bombarded by their bird droppings.


    ¡°Raudaeiz, tell me about your contact here. Can he, or she smuggle all the way through the Veohantayes?¡±


    ¡°How much can you pay her is the question. Smuggling in the Diamond Shore¡¯s territory is difficult.¡±


    The [Thief Leader] looked up, answering Numisley¡¯s question. Raudaeiz was leaning on the stone railing of the balcony, staring at the sinking sun.


    ¡°Not right now. Not within this Trial. Can I promise her collateral? With my contract-Feat?¡±


    ¡°Possibly,¡± Raudaeiz answered. ¡°Although I think she would prefer to bind you in a magically-enforced contract of her own.¡±


    ¡°I see. Does she have any way of forging travel papers? Or do you know someone who does?¡±


    ¡°She knows a Helmsghat. [Forger]. I do not know his location, so you need to ask the [Smuggler].¡±


    ¡°Take me to her then.¡±


    Raudaeiz accompanied Numisley, who brought Cultrost along within the streets of Baunt. The sun had long sunken, so the famous Bautchien Street was less crowded. They were in front of the store that gave it its local fame, a small store by the name of Collercien Store, a store that sells jewelry from shells and stones, but the real charm of the store was the dog on the counter.


    ¡°Woof!¡±


    The dog barked in greetings. His pointed snout resembled a wolf more than a dog. Unlike the rest of his Husky breed, his coat was smooth and thin, not thick. His paw pointed to the inventory written on a wooden sign beside the counter, blue eyes gleaming with intelligence.


    ¡°We¡¯re here for business, Collo. Under-the-counter business. Pollo.¡±


    The dog¡¯s ears bent down upon hearing the passphrase from Raudaeiz, and he pulled a string next to him. The door beside the counter opened. The dog barked, ringing a bell that let his owner know that there are people that are coming to do her actual business.


    ¡°Excuse me. I¡¯m here on behalf of Numisley Gildin.¡±


    The office had no windows, only lit up by a lantern with a [Light] Spell within. The Human woman¡¯s brown hair, the burns on her arm from the last oil-based lantern that she owned, and weathered bronze skin were illuminated by the spell. She looked up from her abacus and paper, hearing Raudaeiz¡¯s voice, a familiar associate and customer. Two new people were with him, a crippled Human boy and a Satyr that somehow felt different than the few Satyrs she knew that come to the coasts.


    ¡°Your associate?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m his boss, now,¡± Numisley spoke before Raudaeiz objected.


    ¡°Oh?¡± The woman¡¯s eyebrow raised in surprise. ¡°I thought you¡¯re a [Gang Boss], Raudaeiz, not some henchman.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not. He is my associate. I told him of your services.¡± Raudaeiz objected.


    ¡°I hold my promise to you, in exchange for your service, so I am your superior.¡± Numisley turned to Raudaeiz.


    The woman smirked, holding her laughter, but her face reverted back to business, staring at Numisley¡¯s violet eyes.


    ¡°So, who are you? State your business.¡± The woman asked after their light interplay.


    ¡°Numisley Gildin. This is my brother, Cultrost Gildin. We are Gildin Trading. We are here to ask your price on establishing a smuggling route to the Veohantaye Tribe. Can you smuggle metal, wands, and spellbooks to them?¡±


    ¡°Call me Greis.¡± The woman introduced. ¡°And, no I¡¯m not some [Smuggler]. I¡¯m the head of my smuggling services.¡±


    ¡°Apologies for the misunderstanding. By the way, I¡¯d never seen a shopkeeping dog. He seems intelligent for an animal.¡±


    ¡°[Beast Tamer] Feats. I¡¯m one. Have you ever heard of intelligent animals?¡±


    ¡°Hunting dogs and falcons, mostly.¡±


    ¡°Any animal can be intelligent, given the right training and [Beast Tamer] Feats. Even without those, given time, even the monkeys of El-Mira wield spears to hunt and defend against Lizardfolk [Poachers]. I adopted Collo when he was a stray, and I became a [Beast Tamer] after that. It used to be that I trained him to take over while I¡¯m gone or busy, but he outshone me. Now people visit my dog, using my merchandise as an excuse.¡±


    ¡°A good cover for a smuggling enterprise.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± The woman beamed. ¡°Accidental genius- erm, I trained him for that. My idea worked, and the Watch doesn¡¯t suspect me of illicit goods simply because I have a good boy helping me. He is smart enough to man the shop by himself, while I feed him as I do my actual business.¡±


    Raudaeiz was surprised that Numisley made her more talkative for a moment. Cultrost saw the dog scampering towards the office, and Greis petted him before the husky ran away to the stool on the counter.


    ¡°Anyways, I refuse. It¡¯s too much of a risk. The Diamond Shore¡¯s deals with [Smugglers] all the time, and they know every trick.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why are you not bankrupt? Besides, I don¡¯t need the route to be made immediately. Think of it as a future transaction. I will head to Yhril, the Kingdom of Torregorn to be exact to establish my company there. If I earn enough there, I¡¯ll send money to you. How¡¯s that sound?


    Greis incessantly tapped the wooden fat rings on the abacus after hearing the offer.


    ¡°Two Trials. Three hundred gold.¡± Greis finally spoke.


    ¡°But traveling the Obscure Ocean can take a trial or two,¡± Cultrost uttered.


    ¡°Three trials.¡± Numisley countered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll write a Magebind Contract on it. Unfortunately, I do not have a Tamperless one. Let¡¯s discuss the terms.¡±


    After thirty minutes of wrestling with the terms, with Numisley using every Feat that he obtained from his time in dealing with the Veohantaye [Chieftain], they have a contract, written in mana-infused ink.


    In seven years, Numisley will pay her three hundred gold in full. Not at once, but in fifteen installments smuggled via ship if they arrived at Yhril. If the payments are not paid on time, Numisley will be afflicted with a [Curse of Constipation]. However, Greis will also be cursed if she doesn¡¯t uphold her end of the bargain once she receives the money.


    ¡°[Curse of Constipation]? Really- I mean, wow.¡± Cultrost finally spoke, interrupting the signing of the document.


    ¡°Imagine not being able to shit. It will kill you. Seen it happen.¡± Greis warned. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s the lightest curse that I have.¡±


    Greis brought out a scroll made out of ordinary paper from one of the shelves. She unfurled it on the table, revealing the formulaic magic circle written on it. Numisley thought this is better than his [Bloodbound Contract] because of the risks of dying. Recently, he realized how vulnerable the Feat made him.


    ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Greis handed Numisley a quill dipped in the mana-infused ink. Numisley wrote his signature on the document, and the scroll activated, infusing itself in the contract and transferring the inert curse for both of them.


    ¡°By the way, do you know a [Forger]? We need to get on a ship soon. I would prefer not to pay too much for travel papers.¡±


    ¡°Helmsghat supplies me the magical contracts. He can give you what you need.¡±


    ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°Go right through Yousner Street, after this street. Find a Helmsghat¡¯s Helms and Armor. Tell him that I sent you. The passphrase is Oih, docthovak-tel?. I do not know what that means in the Dullahan¡¯s tongue, but he¡¯ll know if you¡¯re customers of his actual business. ¡±


    They followed the directions given to them by Greis, and they found themselves in a smithy. Helmsghat¡¯s Helms and Armor displayed a pile of helmets and a rack of gauntlets, chest plates, and pauldrons on either side of the wooden countered, covered with cloth.


    ¡°Oih. Greetings customers, would you like to buy armor? Tools or weapons perhaps?¡±


    There was a green slimy head on a padded basket that spoke to them from the counter. His actual armored body was hammering a heated chunk of metal on an anvil. Sparks flew, bouncing off his armor with each measured blow of his smithing hammer.


    ¡°Oih, docthovak-tel? Greis recommended you to me.¡± Numisley slowly pronounced. The Dullahan stared at the male Tinyfolk wearing an apron, lifting smithing tools.


    ¡°Apprentice, take over for me!¡±


    The armored body of the Dullahan dipped the heated metal in a pot of oil and placed it on a table. The Tinyfolk hung the tools on a rack and rushed to get his gloves and steel tongs.He put his head back on his body, leading them further in the smithy, towards a corridor. It lead to a cramped set of stairs that lead to a basement storage area, only lit up by a few candles.


    The Dullahan sat on the chair, facing them across the bare table with only his essentials on it: inkpots and spare quills, as well as blank paper and stolen stamps and seals from various sources.


    ¡°Thought you spoke my tongue. But it works as a passphrase. Good evening.¡±


    ¡°Numisley and Cultrost Gildin. This is Raudaeiz, my [Thief]. We are Gildin Trading. Forger-¡±


    The Dullahan slowly raised his hand, interrupting Numisley¡¯s introduction.


    ¡°Helmsghat. Smith Helmsghat. I''m not Forger Helmsghat. So, what do you need?¡±


    ¡°Travelling papers. I need to board a ship immediately towards Torregorn. The tickets are too expensive, and I need every coin I have for the journey.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    The Dullahan peered over a list of available ships available for travelers.


    ¡°There are slots for the Kraken¡¯s Snack. Although they have a manifest. A manifest in which I do not have. However, if I hire [Thieves] to steal it for you and copy the manifest and send the forged one with your names on it, you need to pay thirty gold in total.¡±


    ¡°How much if I sent my own [Thief]?¡± Numisley¡¯s eyes glinted.


    ¡°Hhm¡­Fifteen gold.¡± Helmsghat spoke flatly.


    Numisley faced Raudaeiz, his [Eye For Potential] glimmering within his gaze.


    ¡°Raudaeiz. Time to prove yourself to me. Gather whoever and whatever you need for the heist.¡±

 Chapter 20

    Numisley gathered the remnants of the Severed Swords on the tables of the Ship O¡¯ Ale on the table, standing before them with Cultrost beside him.


    ¡°Tonight, our journey has ended. No fool dares to cause trouble in Baunt, the territory of the Diamond Shore. To celebrate the end of their journey, I declare that drinks are on me!¡±


    The table cheered. Graten shared a drink with his closest men, as Palden sipped his mug quietly.


    ¡°Tomorrow, we leave for Yhril. If you wish to join me in my quest for riches, I promise you all that I will give you wealth and power in time.¡±


    The remaining [Mercenaries] drank and ate in a feast paid by Numisley. He thought that the three gold that he spent was worth it for fostering their loyalty. Graten the rest who are sober enough to consider the offer thought about it, and they knew how Graten gained new and better Feats from the Gildin brothers¡¯ book.


    Despite the trouble that followed them, he was sure that not even Thousand Roads can chase them in the Diamond Shore because they can¡¯t risk a war, although Numisley still wondered who exactly is chasing them down. He knew that person knew about the book, but he wasn¡¯t sure how much. For now, he aims to someday put a knife in that person¡¯s throat for killing their father.


    Graten and Palden were summoned to Numisley''s room. Both older men stood in front of Numisley, sitting on the bed, while Cultrost leaned on the wall.


    "Palden, do you wish to work with us? Sail with us to another continent, never to return?" Numisley asked their father¡¯s longest-serving employee, who still served with them even throughout this.


    ¡°I joined your father¡¯s company because they¡¯re small. Not much in the big picture. That means that I can live the rest of my days peacefully earning money. Now, I feel like I¡¯m obligated to protect the two of ya¡¯, and besides, it is your father¡¯s last wish, and I¡¯ll see it through.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Graten Haovel, do you still wish to renew our contract?¡± Numisley turned to the blond [Sword Captain]. His eyes gleamed silver, staring at his employer, who gave him a taste of power.


    ¡°If you dispense your knowledge to me, and the rest of my squad, I will renew my contract. Money too, of course.¡±


    ¡°Your salary.¡±


    Cultrost gave Graten a pouch of gold coins at Numisley¡¯s command to distribute to the rest of the Severed Swords.


    ¡°I¡¯ll promise I¡¯ll give you what you wish as long as you guard me well. Let Arimith, Tarast, Kortson, Josaif, Gedge, and Weriens choose if they wish to sail with me.¡±


    ¡°I never knew you knew each of their names.¡±


    Numisley blankly stared at Graten, but he understood Graten¡¯s impression of him. He was the one who ordered them around, who didn¡¯t give them a second look unless he needed to.


    ¡°I keep a list. Besides, it¡¯s been long overdue. I would like to extend my condolences to Umbert, Beqaye, Redien, Iquewar, Qimea, Malia, Henda, Basseil, and Redien, who died in Fishalttop. Those men and women who died at the Overthere Hills too; even if I don¡¯t know their names. If you let me.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­Thank you.¡±


    Palden and Graten left the room, retiring back to their rooms. Numisley slumped down on his bed, wiping his eyes.


    ¡°Numisley?¡±


    Cultrost held his brother¡¯s shoulder, seeing the tears in his eyes.


    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s just¡­I¡¯m glad that this is all over. We can now go to Yhril and build anew. I heard it''s safer in the Human Continent, but¡­¡±


    ¡°The Humans?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­I¡¯m worried about speciesism. Worried about you. Yhrilians don¡¯t even consider Orcans and Demihumans as Humans, I heard.¡±


    ¡°I heard that the coastal kingdoms are used to non-Humans trading with them. Torregorn, right?¡±


    "Yeah. It''s within the Golden Triangle-well, the very edge of it. Good enough to be profitable, I think. You always wanted to be a [Writer]... a [Poet] right? This can be your chance."


    "That was long ago. Besides, you need me saving your ass."


    Cultrost deflected Numisley''s teasing. Numisley forlornly stared at the moon that made the dim ocean shimmer. At the port where all the ships moored.


    "Being responsible for a lot of lives is too much to bear."


    ¡°I know. I had killed a person for the first time. That Deathseeker.¡±


    Now that they''re not constantly in trouble, Numisley now thought about beings responsible for the deaths of the [Mercenaries] he paid to protect them. He thought about the first person he murdered with his hands. His brother felt the same way, the corpse of the Deathseeker still etched in his mind.


    How it weighed so much.


    Raudaeiz and his five men strode within the dim streets of the Sabeiorn Port, one of Baunt¡¯s seven ports. However, many people still ambled to bars and brothels in a city that can afford nightlife. They saw the [Mercenaries] of the Diamond Shore patrolling the streets as they minded their business, passing by them.


    They split up. Umberzo now wore his ¡°Umarh¡± disguise. The two less-stealthy [Thugs] positioned where they can flank any person from the ships.


    Raudaeiz and two of the most suitable for the job headed towards the harbor, where the Kraken''s Snack is.


    The harbor was patrolled by hired [Mercenaries] and [Marines] employed by Diamond Shore; squads of them walking the wharf. They had evaded their line of sight by hiding behind barrels and boxes, hiding beneath the decks, and blending into their environment. Their [Trickster] conjured illusions to hide behind, with only the minimum magic required not set off any magic-detection wards.


    As they were a few steps toward the Kraken¡¯s Snack, they quickly leaped towards the broadside, holding on with their Gloves of Sticking. Climbing up was arduous, as they wanted to avoid detection. Fortunately that the ship didn¡¯t have alarm wards, but they saw a few [Sailors] on the ship drowsily standing guard. As one of them closed their eyes, and the [Sailor] beside him turned away, they silently hopped on deck. The [Trickster] copied the sleeping [Sailor]¡¯s face and apply the spell to himself, but it''s no guarantee that it will fool anyone up close.


    Their [Charlatan], disguised as a Lemurian [Trader], blocked the [Sailors]¡¯s way to the gangplank of the Kraken¡¯s Snack. He offered to play a gambling game with them, with a blinding pouch of silver coins in his other hand. The drunken [Sailors], susceptible, took the [Charlatan]¡¯s offer.


    The [Thieves] infiltrated the ship¡¯s quarters, and soon they found the captain¡¯s quarters. They unlocked the door and peek around, seeing the Dwarven [Captain] fast asleep. With [Keen Eyes] Raudaeiz''s [Thief], Baire pointed out that the sheet of paper on the table beside the dimming candle is the manifest.


    Their steps were silent, the effect overlaid with the [Trickster]''s magic and Raudaeiz''s group-Feat. They snatched the manifest, silently leaving. As they were sneaking out of the ship, they felt the itch of fear from below the decks. They didn¡¯t want to find out what that is so they swiftly left. Umberzo saw them sneaking out at the corner of his eye and he continued his ruse, following the [Sailors] on the Kraken''s Snack.


    Raudaeiz soon returned to the [Forger]. The Dullahan was surprised that they stole the manifest. He quickly got to work on copying the manifest and adding their names to the list. The original manifest was replaced with an altered one, unbeknownst to the [Captain]. The [Sailors] said farewell to ¡°Umarh¡±.


    He knocked on Numisley¡¯s and Cultrost¡¯s door in the early morning.


    Graten talked with the remaining Severed Swords at the same time. They had bought anti-hangover potions for the debriefing.


    ¡°I have decided to go with the Gildin Brothers. By now, you know what we are guarding. Books of secrets that only [Kings] and [Queens] possess. Secrets that can topple empires. I gained a new Role. New Feats. From the ambush in the Gaunt Peaks. And even back then in the Overthere Hills, where I gained my Sword Art. I¡¯m now a [Sword Captain of Loss]. My latest Feats are [Squad: Moonlight Arnaments], and [Grieving Frenzy].¡±


    ¡°What do they do?¡± Josaif asked.


    ¡°I do not know what [Grieving Frenzy] does, but I assume it¡¯s a powerful Rare Feat. So, you are free to leave if you do not want to leave Liberan. If you do not want to leave for another continent; leaving your families and friends behind, then you are free to go. Numisley and Cultrost will provide your travel fares, even.¡±


    The remaining Severed Swords looked at each other significantly.


    ¡°I speak on behalf of all of us that remain. We will follow you to the ends of the Six Lands. If you decide to sail to Hellmr to fight Things and whatever comes from the world¡¯s edge, then we will follow. Am I right, boys?¡±


    Tarast spoke. The six remaining Severed Swords collectively nodded, smiling.


    ¡°Captain. You saved us. You gave us another chance where we were too broken to fight. We are severed swords.¡± Kortson answered.


    ¡°I do not have a family to return to.¡± Weriens, the Dullahan in the group spoke up. ¡°But you all became my family.¡±


    ¡°You sappy, tin-headed bastard!¡± Kortson playfully punched the Dullahan¡¯s pauldrons. ¡°Besides, if you leave us, who¡¯s going to cook for us? Gedge and his burnt food?¡±


    ¡°Oi!¡± Gedge barked. ¡°Besides, who¡¯s going to manage the group¡¯s supplies, huh?¡±


    ¡°Well, that Palden person. Pretty cool Orcan.¡± Arimith spoke, arms crossed.


    ¡°So, you will all come with me?¡± Graten asked. ¡°Then, we will become stronger together. I¡¯ll ask them to give you all something to make you stronger, but I think Numisley already plans to do so. I¡¯ll talk to him about the renewal of the contract. Then, we sail.¡±


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    On their last day on the Libertalian continent, Numisley and Cultrost explored the city of Baunt. With some of their money, they bought a basic dictionary of Yhrilian languages and sampled some local city cuisine, going from food stall to food stall eating grilled fish and squid, jambalaya, crawfish, and even sampling sashimi, crab cakes, and oysters prepared by an [Chef] of a booth who learned techniques from the continent of Fallen Qinh.


    They watched a dancing Dullahan [Violinist] with ornate armor and a white-red porcelain mask. She let her head float alongside her body as she played the violin. The water of the fountain she sat on glimmered, as her music made sunlight shine on her.


    They tossed a gold coin on her violin case, as it was being filled by the admiring crowd that loved the performance.


    After that were preparations for their departure. They sold the wagons because the ship can¡¯t hold them, and they didn¡¯t register their goods in the Merchant¡¯s Guild because they had switched the Kraken Snack¡¯s manifest into a forged one.


    The [Captain] of the Kraken¡¯s Snack looked over the recent set of passengers carrying crates, sacks, and weapons. According to the manifest, Gildin Trading and their [Mercenaries], the Severed Swords will board the ship, along with a few others. Numisley essentially bought the ride towards Yhril for only thirty gold from forging the manifest and replacing the real one instead of registering on the proper offices of the Diamond Shore and paying seventy gold.


    ¡°Do I know you?¡± One of the [Sailors] who met Raudaeiz¡¯s man in disguise pointed. Raudaeiz tried to hide his expression behind a look of indifference as he assisted Palden in lifting two sacks of grain.


    ¡°No,¡± Umberzo answered.


    ¡°Ah, well, carry on man. Must be too fuckin¡¯ drunk to recognize faces.¡±


    The two brothers talked to the Dwarven [Captain]. His bald hair shone under the sunlight, and the tentacle tattoos on both of his arms seemed to come to life whenever his arms move.


    ¡°Numisley Gildin, Cultrost Gildin. Thank you for letting us onboard.¡±


    ¡°Pleased to have you on board. Captain Tolani Salyitaag of Lymweai.¡±


    ¡°Lymweai?¡± Cultrost can¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Where¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°The land of Aemu. The continent nearest to the World¡¯s Edge. It¡¯s a small kingdom. Can¡¯t blame you since land-folk don¡¯t know a lot of places, and the kingdom is just a couple of ports on the End Strait. We¡¯re known for exporting soaps, exotic plants, and oils, not saying other places don¡¯t have those though. Our ports also bring wine, fruit, koalas, and turtles from neighboring Vintuara and Na¡¯utegi too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­far.¡± Cultrost voiced.


    ¡°The journey to the continent takes trials for a regular ship. If¡­let¡¯s say an enchanted ship, with a [Ship Captain] with decent movement Feats, the journey would still take a trial at least."


    Numisley gave it some thought. Crossing the Six Lands will take years on average.


    "So, how long until we get to Torregorn?" Numisley asked.


    "A trial or so. If it''s any other ship sailing towards Havansetoft within the Northern Hook Path. However, I¡¯m one of the only [Ship Captains] capable of navigating through the Obscure Ocean. "


    Numisley and Cultrost''s eyes widened as Captain Tolani showed off his gold-painted badge that verifies them as a [Ship Captain] that can reliably sail through the infamous ocean. A trusted person that the Diamond Shore Conglomerate can call upon and use their privileges. They heard the tales of the foggy, perilous ocean that separated Libertalia from Yhril which ships avoided. Its wandering icebergs the size of hills that sunk ships, phantom wild magic storms, and powerful monsters that hid beneath the waves and the foggy air are what [Sailors] fear.


    ¡°I see-¡±


    Their heads turned cautiously towards the presence on the gangplank. A presence that engulfed them with a feeling of wariness that made Numisley¡¯s skin crawl. His Aura was a faint presence in the air, like faint steam. By now, after Numisley and Cultrost''s experiences at the manor, the Deathseekers, and [Bounty Hunters]; they knew that the person wearing a spherical brass helmet was dangerous, more than anyone they encountered before.


    Water sloshed within the glass and metal faceplate of the thick brass helmet as he walked up the gangplank, harpoon in his other hand, and the other slung netted backpack behind him. He wore a fitted suit made of some kind of enchanted canvas, beneath his bandoliers of flintlock pistols and wands. The metal vials of potions and alchemical bombs glinted on his tool belt.


    ¡°Cap¡¯n, I¡¯m not late right?¡±


    The mysterious person spoke as if he was gurgling underwater, yet an enchantment on his helmet made the words clear. Cultrost glanced on the glass face plate and saw something white and blobby within the water-filled helmet.


    ¡°No. The other passengers haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡± Captain Tolani answered.


    ¡°Ah, good. I¡¯ll be under. In my room. Holler if anyone needs a ship to sink or a Fangwhale to kill.¡±


    The mysterious person walked below decks, returning to his quarters.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Hant¡¯ley Leigh. Famed [Privateer]. The Scourge of the Dragon¡¯s Crossing.¡± Tolani succinctly explained.


    ¡°The Scourge?¡± Cultrost gasped.


    ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t engage in merc¡¯ gossip like you do.¡± Numisley shrugged.


    ¡°Heard of the battle in Orbonezi Island?¡±


    ¡°Father told us that it raised the prices on seafood, mangos, and goods from El-Mira during the battle with the city-state''s trade with the League of Floros.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. But he¡¯s Famed! The Diamond Shore employed him in that battle. It¡¯s said that he destroyed Port O''Hailein and a couple of enchanted ships by himself! Killed Leviathans and soloed entire [Pirate] ships. He¡¯s like, the one of the famous [Privateers] down south!¡±


    Numisley raised his eyebrows. He thought about recruiting that person since his feats were impressive. However, he also knew that he will be too expensive to hire.


    ¡°Finished packing up.¡±


    Palden walked up to them, interrupting their conversation.


    ¡°Excellent.¡± Numisley voiced. ¡°We¡¯ll go to our rooms.¡±


    Numisley and the company went down below decks. As a passenger and cargo ship, enlarged with Feats, there¡¯s more room than what people may imagine. Numisley and Cultrost were in their room, lit by a glowing gem that hung within a caged brazier of sorts.


    ¡°So, we¡¯re finally leaving now.¡± Numisley laid down on the bed, deep in thought.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Cultrost pondered on it. ¡°I never thought that we would hop on a ship before this. Leaving this continent.¡±


    ¡°I wish father was here,¡± Numisley uttered. They both thought of the same thing.


    ¡°He would tell us stories about this place.¡±


    ¡°He would tell us how the city¡¯s economy works. He would tell us about its important people, and probably make deals with them. Probably introduce us to people that he somehow knows.¡±


    ¡°And see the sights, eat some food, watch some plays and performances, and laugh at witty [Bards] in the streets.¡±


    They fell silent. The ship raised its anchors as its expected guests arrived, except for a group that the [Forger] deliberately crossed out and replaced so that Numisley¡¯s group can board the ship.


    Marquis Dusitoz Gaviolos stared at the ship that sliced towering waves in half, leaving the ports of Baunt behind.


    ¡°Decrees damn it! Damn this continent. Damn [Bandits]! Damn the double-crossing [Mercenaries]! Damn the [Merchants]! Damn delays!¡±


    He vented out his frustrations in the air, shouting at the salty breeze and the seagulls that flew towards the port, threatening those below with a shower of droppings. For two weeks, they traveled from city-state to city-state, running out of gold as the former Duke did not know how to handle money by himself in prolonged travel. He wasted his money buying the best rooms in the inn, the best fare and wine, and women to keep him company. Until he realized that his Purse of Holding¡¯s hoard was growing thin.


    He and his entourage of [Knights] fought off acts of banditry until they hired some [Mercenaries] to supplement his security. However, the [Duke] hired the unscrupulous sorts that would double-cross their clients if they haven¡¯t paid them properly, which cost him the life of half of his [Knights].


    However, he was saved by agents of the Stationmistress with who he made a deal back then. Through a speaking stone, she informed him of her plan: he will be her agent, her collaborator in the continent of Yhril. For him, she paid for the wagon from Sid¨¦s to Baunt.


    A blue hill emerged from the foggy horizon of the faraway Obscure Ocean. It sailed towards the port.


    Dustitoz saw shapes flying around and from that mysterious object. The people of Baunt started running away, as stunned tourists were dumbfounded.


    ¡°Citizens, [Merchants], [Sailors] and tourists. A Leviathan-grade alarm is now in effect. A Wandering Iceberg has bypassed our defenses. Gold to Platinum-grade monsters spotted.¡±


    The announcement echoed through the city, from reinforced wooden poles created to cast the magic required to transmit Governor Acreley Balenford¡¯s voice throughout the city.


    ¡°As the Port Governor of Baunt, I order you to evacuate towards the Dobraun, Dimalm, Eifleiley, and Captfort Districts. Once evacuated, or unable to evacuate, remain indoors. Assigned Diamond Shore [Mercenaries] will secure coastal districts. Combat-capable personnel, foreign or local will be required to assist in the defense. The city¡¯s Adventurer¡¯s Guild will distribute ten gold for each monster killed. Defenders are encouraged to scavenge monster parts and sell them to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. Combat-capable ships are required to assist in the defense¡­¡±


    ¡°...[Admirals] will now assign targets to combat-capable ships.¡±


    Captain Tolani read the Scroll of Messages, enchanted to receive messages from Diamond Shore¡¯s authorities. They were already at sea, and closer to the hill-sized Wandering Iceberg. It was a nest of Frost Elementals, Ice Gargoyles, and other monsters that lived in frigid climates; even having an ecosystem of its own in its decades of existence. The sheer mana within the ice had attracted creatures below the waves, which added to its danger.


    "Sea Serpents? Fangwhales? Gorger Pelicans? We don¡¯t have the magic power for this shit.¡±


    The Kraken¡¯s Snack was ordered to assist in culling down monsters at sea and air. Cultrost climbed above decks, just in time. However, the ship is not combat-capable, despite its defensive spells. The enchantments and bound spells are only prepared to ward off monsters and [Pirates] and navigate through the Obscure Ocean.


    ¡°You!¡± The [Ship Captain] turned to Cultrost. Cultrost jumped, startled by the Captain¡¯s sudden shout.


    ¡°Tell the combat-capable guests below to fucking hurry before salt-licking monsters gang up on us!¡±


    Before Cultrost can move, the Scourge of the Dragon¡¯s Crossing heaved himself above decks.


    ¡°Got a [Message] from Wave Admiral Kelpstron himself. Sail a bit closer to the iceberg. Deactivate some of the repelling wards. I¡¯ll kill as many as I can to reach the quota so you don¡¯t have to use the spells. The remains will be retrieved by Scrounger Ships.¡±


    The [Ship Captain], unable to protest, gave the order for his [Sailors] to steer closer, just a few hundred meters towards the iceberg. Cultrost promptly called Graten and the rest above decks, except Numisley and a few other guests. At this moment, Numisley knew that he would be useless here. He heard the fighting above decks, and the explosions he realized just how dangerous sea travel is.


    Giant slugs were already melting enchantments on the ship. Too quick for even Hant¡¯ley to react. The ship¡¯s conjured wooden spikes impaled the slugs. A few monstrous seagulls were attacking the deck, already eating chunks off the defending sailors. They fought with crossbows and wands, as well as swords and axes. Cultrost swung, breaking the bones of one of the carnivorous seagulls. Hant¡¯ley drew his flintlock pistols, shooting the slugs with a flurry of bullets.


    Already, they swarmed below the waves. A Sea Serpent rose from below, with a sea creature on its maw, staring at the Famed [Privateer] hungrily. Hant¡¯ley removed his brass helmet, his horrendous visage making the monsters around him flee in terror. The ship¡¯s defenders didn¡¯t dare look at him, even Cultrost.


    ¡°[Battlefield: Naval Minefield], [Disable Friendly Fire-¡±


    The water around the ship exploded, blasting every creature beneath the waves to bits. Geysers upon geysers of water and blood rocked the ship violently. The ship is unharmed despite the magnitude of the alchemical bombs that appeared under the waves with Hant¡¯ley¡¯s Feat. Water and blood rained upon the [Sailors] and the Severed Swords. Numisley and the guests below decks had fallen off their beds with the explosions.


    ¡°Quota complete. Captain, you are cleared for sailing.¡± Hant¡¯ley can sense how many sea monsters he killed.


    They saw the iceberg bombarded with Spells from the ships of the Diamond Shore. Baunt¡¯s coastal towers cast rays of burning light, melting icy chunks as creatures from sea and air felled from conjured rain and lightning. Soon, a glowing pillar came down from the heavens, and the iceberg ceased existing, engulfed within an infernal sphere. The shockwave almost made the ship plunge sideways to the waves, and Numisley lost his lunch in his quarters.


    The Kraken¡¯s Snack sailed to the Obscure Ocean, entering the wall of perilous fog.

 Interlude: Map of Trislan

    A Map of Trislan


    Commissioned by Idedon Scylirouke Vophus, Lord Merchant of the Golden Gate Alliance, illustrated by Lycellen Ariathes, Chief Cartographer of the Golden Triangle Navigation Company.


    Trislan is the three-pointed landmass and the islands on its western coasts, and where its name came from "The Three Lands". It has a Human majority, and a minority of Half-Giants, Dullahans, Dwarves, and Elves. It is one of the largest regions of Yhril, and its climates can be warm, but also can be unexpectedly chilly. Trislan possesses the western trade hubs of Yhril, due to their vast coastlines, ports and being within the intersections of trade routes from across the world, and their proximity near Libertalia and parallel to Lemuria in the south. Many of its nations are seafaring and were the birthplace of intercontinental empires in the past. They rival the region of Centory in their economy alone.


    Before the Fracturing of Yhril, Trislan was a part of the greater continent of Yhril. In its ancient past, its empires had sailed westward and conquered portions of Libertalia decades after the exile of the Eight Dukes, who had settled there earlier. The armies of ancient Trislan battled with the Satyrs for centuries, before conquering two-thirds of the continent. Inevitably, their colonies fractured after centuries because of the continent of Yhril sinking, and because of the First and Second Upheavals of Libertalia.


    Ersenwyen


    Ersenwyen is the cold north of Trislan, from frigid winters to chilly rains. The highlands of Ersenwyen is ruled by lone kingdoms, independent duchies, and various Human, Minotaur, and other tribes. For millennia, the people of Svalland, a region on the northern edge of the world long immigrated and integrated with the local peoples after centuries of war. Even farther in history, this was one of the last homes of the last Titans and their children. Ersenwyenian people include Elves, Dwarves, Dullahans, Minotaur, and Half-Giants alongside with the Human majority. The people of the Trislanian north see their southern lowland cousins as soft and meek, due to their tamer environment.


    The polities of Ersenwyen had long-standing trade relations with the nations of Libertalia''s Far North, the Satyr''s Dragonhunter Tribes, the Svalland peoples, and the World''s Edge tribes. As the people of the north, they are amicable with each other, although many of their sea raiders fought each other in piracy. Their vessels sail for trade with these polities, and their ports welcome their fellow northern peoples. They are mercenaries in each other''s wars, and often directly intervene, politically and militarily. Many aspects of their culture are shared with Svalland and the Far North. As a region, the Divine Decree has less of an influence, despite many of them adhering to the faith, due to various factors and lack of religious establishments there.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Their relations with their southern cousins vary. More often than not, their tribes and kingdoms raided southern Trislan villages. Some of them also trade ice and raw monster materials for products from the south of Trislan, especially food, which they stockpile. They are mostly hired for mercenary work, and seldom allies due to the difference in culture and old grudges.


    The mountains and hills are home to many monsters that many settlements are used to defend against them. However, they also possess coastal plains and valleys, which are ruled by coastal powers which fight each other for supremacy. Many settlements are usually built on hills and mountains, and seldom in the lowlands. The few valleys of the region are fought over by its many states.


    Amithrales


    Amithrales is the southern region of Trislan, with warm and humid summers and mild winters. Its breezy valleys and numerous islands are verdant and vast, and home to many cultures. Due to its strategic position and its vast coastlines, it has been subject to many wars and prosperity in trade. It is said to be the most profitable region of Yhrillian lands. Dragons had invaded these coasts time and time again, yet they were thwarted by their ancient peoples.


    Thalassocracies populated the coastal lands, while kingdoms inland with their vast farms and cities occupied them.  After the Golden Empire fell and fractured, it had been populated with smaller city-states to kingdoms that fought to dominate the region. Piracy was common on the coasts and seas of Trislan in its Age of Piracy, with numerous [Pirate Lords] and such. The one and only [Pirate Queen] in Yhril had subjugated and united the coastal states until her true death in her undying service to the Queen of Death. After the Queen of Death was slain, the region eventually became stable.


    The Decree''s crusades were launched on their coasts centuries after the region converted themselves to Decreeism decades prior. It was said that thousands of ships sailed to crusade against the Goddess and her Sects. Once the crusades had failed, the Beastkin of Lemuria invaded Southern Trislan until they were repelled by the native kingdoms. Even now, the kingdoms of Amithrales and Nabraqi possess some animosity in the form of rivalry towards each other, instead of outright hostility. However, they share each other''s language conventions and cultures.


    Their kingdoms today are often embroiled in conflict, politically and militarily. Each kingdom and independent duchy strives to conquer more territory and assets in their coastal lands. Often, they use mercenaries from Libertalia or Ersenwyen, and even Nabraqi and the Merchant Lords of the Golden Triangle. They are one of the regions that benefitted the most from the global trade with their proximity to the Golden Triangle. The region is home to major powers, mainly the expanding Aureleon Empire and Argentinium Empire, both claiming as successor states of the ancient Mithilrithaes Empire. Unlike the north, the Divine Decree holds more sway, influencing the regional politics.

 Chapter 21

    They sailed through the Obscure Ocean, among torrential waves, dodging wandering icebergs and watching out for monsters.


    Captain Tolani had sailed through the infamous ocean dozens of times. Using the two compasses embedded on the ship: one pointing toward high concentrations of magic, and one pointing toward the nearest landmass, he can ascertain the general direction. The magic-detecting compass he mostly used to avoid sudden wild magic storms, and the land-detecting compass can mistake icebergs as solid ground.


    So he did not rely on those. Instead, he supplemented it with the map he held. It was an enchanted map that could cast [Scrying] so that he could scry their destination and current location, determining the distance between the ship and their destination. There were no stars nor flying islands to reference since they were covered with fog.


    Despite the peril, this is the fastest path from Libertalia to Yhril. The popular alternative was a year traversing the Northern Hook Path and the Southern Bend, both paths around the Obscure Ocean.


    After two months of straight sailing, they emerged from the fog. Before them were the shores and islands of Trislan, a subcontinent of Yhril. The ship hopped from the ports of Gurredour and Zitholon, and now, they arrived at the port of Ovespuerot. The Famed privateer already left in one of the earlier stopovers. The Gildin Brothers stared at a new continent where they would establish new ventures. For two months of travel, they studied the regional language of Corisduma from the dictionary they bought at Baunt, and he gave it to Graten to teach the rest of the company. Numisley drafted a plan for the company¡¯s future in Yhril and told the Cultrost and the rest.


    Most importantly, they had enough time to grieve.


    They took in the salty breeze, standing on the prow. Many ships bore the flags of the Libertalian companies and cities. Not only that, but vessels proudly displaying the standards of the kingdoms and republics of El-Mira, the island trader-nations of the Golden Triangle, and extravagant Lemurian ships with enchanted lateen sails. It is the westernmost port of Torregorn, so they receive a lot of guests from the west.


    They are now docked within the harbor. Captain Tolani bid farewell to Numisley and the rest of the passengers. Numisley saw various species aside from Humans in the ports. Lizardfolk hailing from El-Mira sold mangos, plantains, and different fruits endemic to their continent, competing with the northern Dragonkin that sold cocoa beans and metal. Their rivalry even extends to foreign shores. A strange person with leathery skin and one central eye stared at Numisley from one of the stalls.


    Rhino-people, Antelope-people, Dog-people, and various Beastkin species from Lemuria took up a lot of space in the port markets because of their spacious stalls selling diverse silks, wands, animal skins, spices, and many more. The Libertalian Humans and Satyrs of their companies already had permanent trade stations within the port from their old trading relations with the region. They saw a group of [Mercenaries] with El-Miran wielding hand cannons with a group of local [Soldiers]. Adventurers dragged the carcass of some marine monster from a boat. The fresh corpse was delivered to a bunch of Human and a scarred Minotaur hunched over tall stone mortars and a chopping block. The carcass was chopped up, and the adventurers took the bones and magical eyes of the creature after the [Butchers] slit it in half and mashed the rest of the flesh into chum.


    Plenty of opportunity for Numisley and his entourage. Ports held opportunities for making connections, yet the competition is fiercer even for some ports back home but with fewer posturing companies and actual battles in the streets. However, they can see the port¡¯s [Guards] keeping watch in different sections of the roads, with nine white halos on their epaulets and the emblem of the ruling noble house.


    Numisley was now a [Trader] and [Information Broker]. However, he is still a minnow among an ocean of sharks and sea monsters. He can shrug off the scattered attempts of [Shopkeepers] endeavoring to get his attention, simply because he knew how trading-Feats work and he was used to it. To establish their foundations in their new venture, they asked directions to the Merchant¡¯s Guild. Numisley overheard some rumors, using his [Find Rumor] Feat.


    ¡°What do you mean I need the permission of a ¡®Contiearl¡¯?¡±


    Numisley asked the drowsy [Receptionist] within the port city of Ovespuerot in Common. He conversed in the local language, but he was shocked when he learned that the Merchant Guild isn¡¯t as laissez-faire as back home. Instead of a guild as an authority like in many Libertalian city-states, they are merely an association of people given privileges by the ruling nobility, a concept foreign to him and the other people of the Free Continent.


    ¡°A Contiearl is an [Count] of the Corisduman kingdoms. A [Lord]. Like, um¡­your [Merchants] and [Generals] of your roving companies and their city-states. That same level of authority.¡±


    The female [Receptionist] was used to dealing with Libertalian [Merchants] who were new to this continent, so she explains it in the same way she did with the others.


    ¡°So, to trade within the kingdom, I need that guy¡¯s permission?¡±


    ¡°Lord Cormerro. Count Toreeso Rahmeiros Commerro. I recommend that you use his titles when you are talking to him or the other nobility. When he grants you an audience, you must kneel. Since you are a Merrcanten. The [Merchant]-caste, is higher than the Liruomini and Serrmini. Otherwise, he can simply not give you the authority to use the license.¡±


    The [Receptionist] handed Numisley and Cultrost a metal slip that they can wear around their necks, etched with their status within the continental caste system. They wore the slip around their necks.


    ¡°Caste?¡± Cultrost interjected. He knew what Liruomini and Serrmini mean from the dictionary: freemen and serfs.


    ¡°A Caste is the hierarchy of Human society¨CYhrilan I mean. Royalty and Nobility are the law since they are the descendants of the Thousand Bloodlines. Merchants, Freemen, and Serfs are below them. Demihumans and non-human species are somewhere between Freemen and Serfs. That¡¯s all you need to know. As Merchants, you are between nobility and the common people, so be mindful of this.¡±


    Palden and Raudaeiz looked offended, being Demihumans. The non-humans of their group were even more offended, especially Cultrost. The [Receptionist] noticed this, but she avoided commenting on it.


    ¡°Fa¡¯cke. Do you have a list of laws somewhere?¡± Numisley steered away from that topic.


    ¡°I recommend visiting the Ascolitica Library. But that¡¯s in the city of Ascolitica up north, in the Naveirei House¡¯s lands. Otherwise, just don¡¯t do the usual crimes like murder and theft, you can¡¯t bribe authorities, and do not offend the clergy, nobility, and royalty. In some kingdoms, it is considered heresy by the Divine Decree.¡±


    Numisley and company went outside of the Merchant¡¯s Guild, loaning a new cart for their goods. Grain, furs, and weapons, as well with their other supplies.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Cultrost muttered. ¡°And I thought Libertalian cities are speciesist.¡±


    ¡°This land is stupid.¡± Numisley scoffed at the concept of a caste society. In their home continent, anyone can be anyone as long as they have the will and money. However, the brothers knew this place is important since Atasaney said something about Torregorn and a certain noble named Dusitoz Gaviolos. ¡°So what if they are descendants from some long-gone, inbred family?¡±


    ¡°So what if I have horns and red skin? Does it make me a Daemon? Or belong to some kind of tribe in the dunes?¡± Cultrost vented.


    The passing locals stared at them like they overheard them plotting murder, but they ignored them.


    ¡°Ah, well. So we just need to be polite to that [Count], kiss his ass, get permission to trade, say goodbye. Done.¡±


    ¡°Who do we need to find again?¡±


    ¡°Thewardn Glors. Dwarf. [Information Broker]. Last seen in Aquives, Zitholon based on the entry. Supposedly very famous in the regional underworld. But there¡¯s a chance that he¡¯s here, I think. Raudaeiz.¡±


    The [Gang Leader] loomed behind him.


    ¡°Find about an info-broker named Thewardn Glors. I need his location. I¡¯m sure you have some way to find information. My [Find Rumor] detected that there¡¯s a Dwarf that sells info somewhere in this place.¡±


    Raudaeiz nodded, splitting from the group. He and his men disappeared into an alley. They stopped by an inn on the city outskirts and left the cart and Graten¡¯s men there. Numisley, Cultrost, and Palden traveled to the coastal hillside castle outside of the port city with one horse. Numisley and Cultrost shared a saddle, while Palden was content to walk with them despite Cultrost¡¯s concerns.


    The castle walls stood for countless eras, yet the aged rugged beige stone was kept pristine by its current caretakers. Its keep overlooked the coasts, maintaining a private port for the Count''s personal vessel and a beach for them.


    They were allowed entry within the walls, climbing up the low hill along a stone path toward the keep. They left the horse in the stables.


    They were walking up to the keep¡¯s doors when its guards crossed their spears in front of them.


    ¡°No Demihumans and non-Humans.¡± One of them said behind their visor.


    ¡°Fuck off.¡± Cultrost raised his fist, but Palden held it tightly.


    ¡°Sorry ¡®bout that.¡± Palden apologized. Numisley showed his metal slip around his neck; only he was allowed entry.


    The guards raised their spears, opening the path.


    "You may enter, Merrcanten."


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Numisley entered the keep, but a servant made him wait in an area with benches. He was served biscuits and dried sardines served on a silver platter. He savored it, despite being less than expected from an [Lord]¡¯s dwelling.


    Then, he was escorted to the [Count]''s throne room.


    An older man sat on the padded wooden throne, balding. He regarded the young [Trader] as if expecting something.


    Numisley bowed as best as he could, leaning on his walking stick. He awkwardly bowed, lowering his good leg a bit.


    "Numisley Gildin. Greetings."


    The [Count] straightened up on his throne.


    "Apologies. I didn''t know that you have a disability. I''m the head of this House and its lands, Count Toreeso Rahmeiros Commerro. I assume that you are here for your license to trade, yes?"


    "Yes. I''m of Gildin Trading. Along with my brother, Cultrost Gildin, we manage it together."


    "Why is your brother not with you?"


    "Because of your laws." Numisley sneered for a moment before quickly changing his expression to a more neutral one.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± The [Count] raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°Your guards did not let him and my employee enter with me because they are not Human according to your land¡¯s standards.¡± Numisley fiercely gazed at the [Count]. ¡°So, are we allowed to trade in your lands now, Toreeso Commerro?¡±


    Numisley dropped the formalities unexpectedly. The [Count] looked offended, but this is not the worst slight that he suffered. So, he let that go. He is not the young master who rises at every provocation.


    ¡°Yes. You are now an [Trader] of Torregorn. You are allowed to trade within the kingdom¡¯s borders, and only within those borders. As your first venture in this kingdom, sell ten barrels of fish. Go to Reagusha and retrieve them from its fish market manned by someone named Tisruda. He will know that I ordered it. Sell them to the town of Ascogrez. I will take 2% of your profits, and the rest is yours.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You are dismissed.¡±


    -


    ¡°The [Lord] hired us to sell barrels of fish.¡±


    Numisley flatly told them. They were now within the inn they are staying at. Cultrost counted the remaining coins on a pouch, one by one.


    "Seems simple enough. Where''s Ascogres?" Cultrost looked up.


    ¡°[Estimate Travel Time] says it¡¯s about two days northwest,¡± Palden answered. ¡°Without my speed, it will be four days.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t help but feel a little bit suspicious,¡± Numisley uttered. ¡°But whatever happens, we¡¯ll come through.¡±


    Raudaeiz knocked on the door rhythmically. Numisley let him enter, and the [Thief] peeked from the door.


    ¡°Got news. The one you¡¯re looking for is away. But, he will come back.¡±


    ¡°Where? When?¡±


    ¡°Three or two days from now. In this city. Gieallen Quarter.¡± Raudaeiz answered. ¡°One of mine keeps on the safehouse.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    The next day, they went to the district. Reagusha, or Wharf Reagusha as the locals called it, is a district where one of the oldest buildings in the city still stands, extending to the sea. Stone and wood wharves are interconnected by bridges, with stilted and floating buildings and communities within the wharves and quays. Plenty of fish farms are nestled within the district or out from the shallow waters of its vicinity.


    ¡°Lord Commerro, bless him and his House, sent you?¡± The Human [Fishmonger] was directing [Fishermen] to his storage space behind his floating fish store. He smelled of salt and sweat, scratching the feathers sticking out of his weathered arm; a sign of his Garuda heritage.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Numisley showed his metal slip around his neck. ¡°Got approved yesterday. Looking forward to doing business with you.¡±


    ¡°Ah, he wants to sell the fish to that far town. Reemn, Bresio! Barrels!¡±


    Ten barrels were lifted up by two burly men from the boats anchored on the shop. It seems like they stored barrels of fish in them, and who knows how long they baked in the summer sun.


    ¡°Fresh catches.¡± Tisruda proudly crossed his arms. ¡°You from Liber? Accent¡¯s shinin¡¯ obvious.¡±


    ¡°Libertalia.¡± Numisley corrected.


    ¡°Libertalia, Liberan, the Free Continent, Liberalia, there¡¯s a lot of names for your continent. Ours too, Rhiln, Yropia, Evrovia, Ymirin¨Cit depends on people¡¯s way of speakin¡¯: accents. You speak Corisduman, the Common of our region.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still¡­working on it,¡± Numisley admitted.


    Numisley was speaking Corisduman throughout the day when he spoke to the locals, including the Count. Although there are words that he isn¡¯t familiar with, he can still ascertain the meaning through context clues.


    ¡°Good, good. You need that as a Merrcanten. Lots of diasrlecto¨Cdialects here. Corisduman dialects. Hard to understand.¡±


    ¡°Appreciated.¡±


    The ten barrels of fish were lifted into the cart. The cart creaked under its weight, the cart that they bought is small and light, not made of ironwood or some special wood. The stacked barrels wobbled dangerously under their weight.


    ¡°Aie, aie¨C!¡±


    Despite Tisruda¡¯s worries, the cart didn¡¯t shatter under the barrel¡¯s weight. The pile of barrels didn¡¯t topple either, as the barrels balanced themselves as they wobbled. The two helpers who stacked the barrels let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us,¡± Numisley told Tisruda. "We''ll be going."


    ¡°We should buy another cart. Or a wagon.¡± Cultrost remarked.


    "Palden will find a way." Numisley turned to the [Caravan Master]. The Orcan raised two thumbs.


    ¡°Safe travels.¡±


    In the middle of the morning, they set out from the port city of Ovespuerot, traveling further inland towards the town of Ascogres. Raudaeiz and his men were left behind to take care of the matter with the information dealer while they brought Graten with them for security. They walked beside the cart, while Numisley and Cultrost sat beside it. The bundle of barrels was tied together, yet despite how tall they were, they didn¡¯t fall. The cart didn¡¯t slow under their weight. Plains and small groves of trees dotted the landscape, but in the far west, they can see the line of forested hills that made up the western border of the kingdom. They sped past the other wagons even in their walking pace with Palden¡¯s Feats.


    A day later, Cultrost sniffed something rotten within the air-tight wooden barrels.


    "Smells like shit," Cultrost complained. Palden, Numisley, and the rest didn''t smell the rot within the barrels.


    "Hm? Don''t smell anything." Numisley shrugged his shoulders.


    "Same. But, it can''t hurt to open them, right?" Palden suggested.


    They stopped halfway through the trip. Graten and his men helped unload the barrels, and opened each one, yanking off the wooden heads of the barrels. As if a surge of rotten spirits were set free after centuries of imprisonment, the scent poisoned the air.


    The smell made Numisley puke his breakfast.


    "It''s rotten! That bastard said it''s a fresh catch!"


    He leaned on Cultrost, wiping the leftover bile on his mouth. The rest of Graten¡¯s men were inching away from the barrels.


    ¡°Half of them are rotten.¡± Graten squeezed his nose. ¡°The rest are getting there.¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± Numisley uttered. Now he was halfway sure that this is a test of some sort from that [Count]. However, there is a possibility that it was an honest mistake on that [Fishmonger]¡¯s part.


    ¡°The really rotten ones we can throw away,¡± Cultrost suggested.


    ¡°That¡¯s half of them.¡± Numisley voiced his concerns.


    ¡°But we can still salvage the other ones¨CI mean all of them. My [Edible Goods: Slow Decay] had slowed down the decomposition.¡± Palden explained.


    ¡°So what can we do?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°Head to the town as fast as we can. Hope that we¡¯ll find a specialist that deals with rotten food. The rotten ones we can sell as fertilizer. If we can¡¯t find a [Fermenter], then we¡¯ll lose half of our income.¡± Palden explained.


    ¡°You heard the man. Haul the barrels!¡± Graten took the initiative and ordered his people to seal the barrels and lift them to the cart. They groaned as they did their jobs, covering their mouths and noses with cloth and cursing the smell.


    ¡°You sound like you¡¯d done this before.¡± Numisley regarded Palden.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Palden said. ¡°In my tenure in the Strip, there¡¯s a lot of people who sabotage the food that we deliver to our clients. Intrigue and stuff like that. It¡¯s a given in the City of Gamblers that you¡¯ll gain Feats in some way. All you need is to gamble your life.¡±


    ¡°Ever gambled?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Nope. Too busy. The dens are too expensive.¡±


    ¡°Aw. Someday, I wish to go there. Test my luck.¡±


    ¡°You are already doing it right now. Betting your coin and our lives. Testing our luck.¡±

 Chapter 22

    The town of Ascogres was milling with activity. [Farmers] were harvesting the wheat in the fields. [Traders] who knew of the harvest this month had gathered in the wheat fields, offering the [Farmers] to sell their crop for them. The others were selling goods the town wanted, fish, medicine, oil, spices, weapons, and luxury goods from the port cities. Numisley and company were within the town limits, passing the lax security checks of the town. Cultrost stared at the keep within the city and wondered why they only had low stone walls and a moat protecting them.


    ¡°So who, or what specialist do we need?" Cultrost asked.


    "Someone who deals with fermentation. A [Fermenter].¡± Palden asked. ¡°If there are ports, there¡¯s always fish sauce. According to a late friend. Let¡¯s hope someone like that is here.¡±


    They went around the plaza where some [Traders] gather, asking them if they know someone who can ferment rotten fish.


    Finally, they asked a passing friendly [Farmer] who was unloading bundles of wheat from the wagon.


    "Rotten fish? Well, go right to the edge of the town and between the fields in the east of the town. Find the Grano Birras ill-Casa in Dira Street. I''m sure ?ienten has a Feat or two that can help."


    From what they gathered from that exchange, this was the specialist that they were looking for. However, they ferment wheat to make the town''s specialty wheat beer. They arrived at the distillery: a wide building that stores barrels of fermented grain within its stone walls and the fenced grounds around it. The distillery¡¯s sign hung above the doors as they entered, passing by the workers.


    There was a muted tanginess and maltiness in the air as their entered, but the man who was inspecting a couple of barrels, smelling them as if he can detect the quality within. Graten and his men looked around the rows of barrels, wondering how many gallons of beer are within.


    ?ienten wiped his nose, and brushed his thick mustache, seeing his new customers.


    ¡°Welcome, customers, to the Mansion of Ascogres¡¯ special wheat beer. How may I help you?¡± He smiled radiantly at them. ¡°?ienten, at your service.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re Gildin Trading. Numisley Gildin.¡±


    Numisley held out his hand for a handshake.


    ¡°Cultrost Gildin.¡±


    The man shook both their hands enthusiastically, glad to have [Traders] in his establishment. He beamed at Cultrost with interest.


    ¡°My word, this is the first time I met a Satyr. Is your red skin not alchemically treated?¡±


    ¡°No, sir.¡± Cultrost succinctly answered.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure my daughter will like you. Handsome and well-built!¡± ?ienten stared at Cultrost¡¯s forearm. Cultrost had noticed that he grew a bit of muscle after the ritual. He can see, hear, and smell a bit better, so that¡¯s he tries to ignore the smell with considerable effort.


    Numisley playfully elbowed his brother, teasing him about the suggestion made by the [Brewer]. Cultrost glared at him for a moment. Numisley went back to business, composing himself in an instant.


    ¡°We have a problem. As a¡­[Brewer], we think you can solve our fish problem.¡±


    ¡°Fish problem?¡±


    ¡°We bought fish from the ports. The [Fishmonger] gave us rotten instead of fresh fish.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Hmm¡­Pay me seven gold. I¡¯ll try to make them into fish sauce. Let me take a look.¡±


    Graten and the others brought in the barrels of rotten fish and opened them. Cultrost pinched his nose so that he wouldn¡¯t smell it that much. The others backed away from the smell.


    ¡°Can you salvage these? We¡¯ll give you a portion of our profits if we can sell them,¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to salvage them with my Feats. Never made fish sauce before, since I¡¯m not a pure [Fermenter]. If it fails, then I¡¯ll give you all a barrel of Ascogres¡¯ special wheat beer. Want a taste?¡±


    ?ienten grabbed two mugs and poured the beer from a barrel¡¯s spigot. He handed Cultrost and Numisley the mugs as he poured more for Graten and the others. The brothers took a sip, delightfully appreciating the taste.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°This is good.¡±


    The brothers complimented the beer made by ?ienten. Numisley instantly had an idea.


    ¡°Can I sell this? I¡¯ll give you a portion of the profits.¡± Numisley offered.


    ¡°Sorry, but I already sold my product to five different [Merchants]. One more and I won''t supply you all adequately. Not to brag, but my beer is already a local delicacy.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± Numisley¡¯s face fell.


    ¡°I¡¯ll consider it if I manage to make the fish paste,¡± ?ienten reassured.


    ¡°I see. I see. I shall look forward to our partnership.¡±


    Numisley paid him seven gold coins and left the barrels to his care. They left the brewery, but Graten held a hand up. Green shapes moved within the fields of wheat, clever enough to cover themselves with discarded stalks of wheat, bearing stolen weapons. The bloodthirsty green eyes scanned the brewery on the outskirts of the town, meeting Graten¡¯s highly perceptive eyes.


    ¡°Goblins!¡± Graten alerted. The bell tower rang a second after they noticed the Goblins within the grass. Now, the town of Ascogres knew that Goblins are attacking the town, seeing the horde outside their walls. The people living outside of the walls started to seek refuge in the walled section of the town, abandoning their tasks. Many locked themselves within their homes, barring the doors and shutters.


    Their militia mobilized and took to the walls and towers of the town. Many of them helped the townsfolk evacuate toward the center of the town. The Goblins were fast approaching, already killed the wayward [Farmers] and people gathering berries on their way to Ascogres. With the shrill battle cry of the squat green brutes, they emerged from the wheat fields. Some of their blades were already tainted with blood. However, they are still far away from them.


    ¡°Protect me,¡± Numisley told Cultrost. ¡°We¡¯ll tell the [Brewer] to hide if they didn¡¯t hear the bell. Graten, protect this brewery.¡±


    The brothers followed the workers inside the brewery, with Palden watching their backs. They barred their doors as soon as they were inside.


    ¡°Alright. Goblins, huh? Been long since I killed one.¡± Graten whispered to himself.


    ¡°Just gobs, heh.¡± Kortson, one of Graten¡¯s surviving men, uttered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate them. Clever bastards can kill Golds with the right numbers. Crossbows up!¡±


    Graten¡¯s lieutenant, Josaif gave the order. They armed themselves with crossbows, stabbing their shields at the ground for cover.


    ¡°Loose! [Rapid Reload]!¡±


    The Severed Swords unleashed two consecutive volleys of bolts, killing some of the Goblins. Their [Quartermaster] continued to supply his comrades with spare bolts, instantly making crossbow bolts appear on their person and reloading their crossbows at the same time.


    More goblins are emerging from the wheat fields. Graten used his new [Grieving Frenzy] on himself and his men, layered with other Feats. The Severed Swords, tears in their eyes, saw the goblins as those who killed their comrades. They deflected stones launched from the goblin¡¯s slings, raising their shields.


    They stood in front of the brewery, holding the line against a horde of monsters.


    ¡°[The Fallen Gave Me Strength]. [Moontear Blade: Crescent Cut].¡±


    -


    ¡°What about your [Mercenaries]? They¡¯re outnumbered!¡±


    The [Brewer] followed Numisley pacing around, making sure that the doors and windows were boarded up properly as Cultrost and the workers put up barricades with wooden boards and barrels. That is the only thing he can do.


    ¡°Mister ?ienten, my [Sword Captain] obtained a Feat that may even the odds,¡± Numisley reassured. ¡°Your town has [Mercenaries] right?¡±


    ¡°Militia. There are [Soldiers] in the keep too. However, Lord Ascore Comerro, bless their House, was with [Knights] to subjugate a Goblin Tribe in the next town.¡±


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°So, this idiot left his territory to fight goblins. While we¡¯re being attacked.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call our [Lord] an idiot. Calling him anything less than a [Lord] is heresy! The Inquisition-¡±


    Numisley decided to ignore ?ienten¡¯s complaints. Numisley and the other Libertalians were annoyed at the locals¡¯ unusual religious fanaticism of their nobility.


    ¡°Barricades¡¯ done,¡± Cultrost reported.


    ¡°We shall wait.¡±


    -


    The militia of Ascogres had fended off the goblin raid. They already counted casualties: ten men, and seven women taken by the goblins or killed. They sent more men to secure the area around the outskirts of the town. A group of them headed towards the brewery on the outskirts of the town. They saw seven [Mercenaries] among a spread of goblin corpses. Dozens of them were sliced in half, along with a large portion of the wheat field, severed stalks of wheat spattered with blood and guts.


    ¡°Oh, the militia,¡± Kortson uttered in his native tongue.


    ¡°Who are you? Did you kill them all?¡± The leader of the militia asked. Graten stood up from looting the goblin corpses. The militiamen tensely gripped their spears, pointing toward the Severed Swords.


    ¡°We did. We are the Severed Swords, employed by Numisley and Cultrost Gildin.¡± Graten spoke in Corisduman. They seem to understand him despite the thick Libertalian accent that they have.


    ¡°Dozens of them?¡± The [Militia Leader] crossed his burly arms. He held a smith¡¯s hammer in one hand and a mundane sword in the other.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Graten turned as Numisley, Cultrost and the brewery¡¯s workers shuffled out of the door, stunned at the carnage in front of the building.


    ¡°Greetings.¡± Numisley greeted the militia. ¡°I¡¯m Numisley Gildin. This is my brother, Cultrost Gildin. We¡¯re Gildin Trading. These are my [Mercenaries]. How may I help you?¡±


    ¡°D-Daemon!¡± Someone yelped at Cultrost, pointing his pitchfork in horror. Numisley¡¯s face soured before them. Cultrost was about to confront him, knuckles turning white, but Numisley held him back, looking at each other in the eyes. Cultrost knew that Numisley was holding him back. This was not their home continent after all.


    Numisley glared at the [Militia Leader], containing his fury within him, trying his best to ignore whoever shouted that, and the crowd¡¯s murmur.


    ¡°We thank you for helping us, killing all those goblins.¡± The [Militia Leader] finally spoke. ¡°Are you here to trade?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°I see your [Mercenaries] are pretty good. Can you help us?¡±


    ¡°Only with payment.¡± Numisley coldly replied. The [Militia Leader] hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m only here to trade, as you have said. If you wish to waste my time, it will cost you an arm and a leg. Merdejo.¡±


    Numisley verbally spat, irritated beyond belief at the townsfolk. Cultrost watched Graten and the Severed Sword cut goblin ears or fingers. They also cut their eyes and some organs, to be sold to the local Adventurer Guilds or [Alchemist].


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to ask for payment, the [Mayor] will provide.¡± The [Militia Leader] stated.


    ¡°If he wants to pay me, I¡¯ll be in the brewery. Then, we¡¯ll discuss the terms. Brother, let¡¯s go. Graten, sell those goblin parts if they have an Adventurer¡¯s Guild.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost walked away. The [Militia Leader] held his objections, since under the continental hierarchy, [Merchants] and the like are a step higher than them. Nevertheless, he reported it to the acting-[Mayor] since their [Lord] was gone. Graten and his men burnt the rest of the goblin corpses and brought a sack of goblin ears, eyes, and fingers to the local Adventurer¡¯s Guild to sell. They were allowed to stay in ?ienten¡¯s spacious compound, staying in one of his guest rooms, as thanks for saving him.


    ¡°You think I¨Cwe can make it in this continent?¡± Cultrost asked Numisley, lying down on separate beds.


    ¡°I know how you feel. I didn¡¯t expect that moving to another continent was this difficult.¡± Numisley spoke while reading the brown book.


    ¡°Speciesists.¡± Cultrost huffed.


    ¡°We will prove ourselves. If the [Mayor] comes tomorrow¨Cassuming that he or she ain¡¯t a bitch¨CI¡¯ll send you and the Severed Swords for the job. Palden and I will be in the brewery. I¡¯m no [Warrior], so your insights will help.¡±


    ¡°Graten leads the [Mercenaries]. He has more experience-¡±


    ¡°Exactly. He is a [Mercenary], through and through. Even if I bound him using my [Bloodbound Contract], there¡¯s no guarantee that he¡¯s completely loyal. Yet. I just need you to watch him and help them if ever we get hired for the job. I and Palden will stay in the brewery.¡±


    ¡°How can a [Brewer] make fish sauce?¡±


    ¡°Similar Roles occupying different niches may share one or many Feats.¡± Numisley jabbed a finger on the brown book¡¯s page, pointing at a specific sentence. ¡°I guess that the person who pointed us to ?ienten¡¯s somehow knew this¨Cwell, not that it is esoteric knowledge.¡±


    Numisley turned his body towards Cultrost, placing the deceptively plain brown book on the nightstand between their beds.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope that it works,¡± Cultrost said.


    ¡°Good night.¡±


    ¡°Night.¡±


    -


    The next day, the [Mayor] arrived at the brewery, a bit irritated because the [Trader] made her come here instead of his office. She was flanked by two [Soldiers], who stood by her side as she sat on the bench, alone. ?ienten prepared a mug of their local beer, made from wheat.


    "The audacity of that [Trader] to be late¡­¡± She impatiently drummed her fingers on the table.


    She looked up, staring at a young blonde man, wearing a simple vest and shirt, shuffling towards her with a walking staff, possessing a gem at its tip. For a moment, she thought he was a [Mage], but he has no magical potential. Yet she wonders why it feels like she was looking at one of the nobility. Beside him is a red Satyr, a one-handed mace hanging at his side. She knew them as demon-folk, the savages of Libertalia who raid cities and ships at the northern seas.


    ¡°Apologies for the delay. Numisley Gildin.¡±


    Numisley sat on the opposite end of the table, loosely clasping his hands together. Cultrost sat with him, vigilant.


    ¡°Cultrost Gildin.¡± Cultrost held up his hand, but the [Mayor] pulled her hand away in disgust. He ignored the blatant disgust the [Mayor] is showing to him.


    "I''m Mayor Maryra Aneisa. Alcalde of Ascogres in the absence of our [Lord]."


    The [Mayor] finished her mug and ?ienten served Numisley and Cultrost.


    ¡°We heard you got a goblin problem.¡±


    The [Mayor] coughed.


    ¡°Lord Ascore Commerro and a few errant [Knights] and his household guard set out to eliminate a Goblin Tribe in the neighboring town of Tienen, one of the House of Commerro¡¯s holdings. Goblins started attacking our town for five nights. With most of our defenders gone, many citizens died defending the town."


    "So why didn''t you hire adventurers?"


    "We did. We spent much of our gold to hire the adventurers who accepted the quest. Copper-ranks. But, some of them died in that cave. Our militiamen were injured or died when they raided our town for five days. Adventurers were now less interested after the death of the Copper-ranks. So, without our [Lord], we have to fend for ourselves. They are now getting bolder, raiding in daylight. We will hire your [Mercenaries] to eliminate the Goblins in that cave.¡±


    ¡°How much can you pay?¡±


    ¡°A silver for every Goblin that you kill."


    "Pay us upfront. Ten gold."


    "Two silver per kill. Our coffers are dry."


    Numisley calculated how much he can gain from two silver per goblin, assuming that it is a tribe of them. However, there is another factor that he wanted to use.


    "Fine. My only condition is that you will all treat my brother well. Not just my brother, but the non-Humans under my command. Treat them like people. We are both owners of our company, so he will come with the [Mercenaries]. "


    The [Mayor]''s eyes bulged. But she grudgingly accepted the terms. It was like she was forced to bring along a rabid animal on a leash.


    "Fine. Meet with the [Militia Leader]. He''ll lead you to the cave."


    The [Mayor] abruptly stood up, leaving the brewery with her guards.


    "Why did you settle for that price? I''m pretty sure you can go higher." Cultrost asked his brother, referring to the payment for each Goblin killed.


    "Goodwill is its reward. I assumed that if I went higher, they wouldn¡¯t accept it. We shall build influence, starting by helping them. Gaining their trust so that I would have a foothold here.¡± Numisley explained. ¡°There¡¯s a lot that we need to build our company from the ground up. And I¡¯m still learning the trade.¡±


    ¡°True. We can¡¯t just do it Libertalia-style.¡± Cultrost sighed.


    ¡°Just go with Graten for now. I know it¡¯s hard, but try not to pick any fights with the locals when they try to get a rise out of ya¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯ll tell the other non-Humans in our party that too.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Numisley stood up from the bench, leaning on his walking staff. ¡°Stay safe and best of luck, brother.¡±


    Numisley raised a fist, and Cultrost bumped it with his own. After assembling Graten and the Severed Swords, they headed to the rest of the militia, mustering at the western edge of the town.

 Chapter 23

    Graten thought about one of his new Feats: [The Fallen Gave Me Strength]. For every one that dies under his command, his strength will increase for a time. He gained this after most of his men and women were killed by the [Bounty Hunters] in the mountains, so he kept it secret. They assumed that cutting dozens of Goblins with each swing of his sword is part of his Feats and experience. However, he didn¡¯t tell them of that specific Feat, because of the potential implications, despite the other Feats they know he has.


    He felt guilty about it. His power, his Feats, reminded him of the people he lost. And he both loathe and had been grateful for the brown book and the brothers that gave him this power. His train of thought disappeared when Cultrost told him they were paid to assist the militia.


    The Severed Swords joined the militia¡¯s assembly on the town¡¯s outskirts. They were a bunch of townsfolk: [Smiths], [Leatherworkers], [Farmers], and many other Roles in civil society. They never held a weapon, nor shed and bled blood in defense of their town until the goblins attacked. Many of them gained [Warrior] and other such combat Roles during the five days they were being raided.


    Graten saw how green they were. They are so green that it hurts to look at them. To an extent, he and his men¡ªCultrost too¡ªwere veterans staring down at rookies. They heard the prattling of the [Militia Leader], who was a [Smith] before he gained the Role after he valiantly led the people against the Goblins in the absence of [Soldiers] and their ruling [Lord].


    ¡°We will march towards the cave. We will give them no quarter when we enter their lair-¡±


    However valiant, he has no notion of tactics.


    The Severed Swords and Graten approached the [Militia Leader], startling him. The peasants and craftsmen with spears, bows, pitchforks, and various farming and crafting implements repurposed for battle stared incredulously at the [Mercenaries].


    ¡°That¡¯s stupid,¡± Graten stated, practically shouting it for everyone in the militia could hear. He did not shout, but his voice was loud and clear nevertheless.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± The [Militia Leader] gripped his hammer, offended by the interloper.


    ¡°I said, marching into a cave is stupid.¡±


    ¡°We have numbers!¡±


    ¡°So? Do you know how many Goblins are there?¡±


    ¡°N-no.¡±


    They stared at each other, until the [Militia Leader] faltered, lips quivering under pressure.


    ¡°We are the Severed Swords! Cultrost, here,¡± Graten pointed at him. ¡°And his brother are our employers. We saw more battles than you in your entire lives! The [Mayor] has paid us to help you worthless lot. You!¡±


    Graten turned to the greenhorn [Militia Leader].


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°Mardor.¡±


    ¡°You are a [Militia Leader]. That is something. However, I am a [Sword Captain] with a dozen battles in my belt. From now on, you are under my and my employer¡¯s command.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Someone in the crowd foolishly asked.


    ¡°Only our [King], the nobility, and our authorities can order us! It is sacrilege to serve any other master! It¡¯s in the Decree!¡± Mardor protested.


    ¡°Blast that decree, whatever it is. Are you going to be sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered and ravaged by Goblins? You think defending your town against Goblin bands is the same as a war?¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t going to take orders from foreigners!¡± A woman among the crowd objected. The crowd jeered. Graten, irritated, looked at one of his men, and he knew what to do.


    ¡°Boo!¡±


    The crowd yelped, startled by Tarast¡¯s intimidating shout.


    ¡°See? Rookies.¡±


    Graten and the Severed Swords chuckled at Tarast, who used this to scare new [Mercenaries] that they trained. Who they think have the nerve to fight on the battlefield. Cultrost grinned too.


    ¡°You want to die from Goblins, be my guest. I¡¯ll watch from the sidelines while you march towards your deaths. However, if you want to live, if you want to avenge your families, fight under me. I will not have any disobedience during this mission.¡±


    The militia looked at each other nervously.


    ¡°We¡¯ll accept.¡± The [Militia Leader] grudgingly agreed.


    "First, we must scout ahead. Then, we''ll form a perimeter outside of the cave and possible passages where the goblins will come out. Assuming that they are all in one place, we will set up camp around it. We will watch for any foraging bands that may come behind our encampment."


    "I got a suggestion." Cultrost voiced. "What if we can smoke them out with fire? Put a pyre at the cave entrance. Block the entrance and watch them suffocate or burn.¡±


    Graten was surprised at Cultrost¡¯s ingenuity.


    ¡°We¡¯ll do that. Now¡­¡±


    The Severed Swords and the militia marched towards the cave, guided by the [Militia Leader]; his knowledge was based on the [Scouts] that he sent a day before. They had seen goblins emerging from the mineshaft. This mine was an iron mine of the town before it was abandoned, hence why it is nearby the settlement. They trudged through the forests, the [Sword Captain] vigilant against sudden ambushes. A small hill loomed over the forest, partially enveloping the trees under its shadow.


    By mid-afternoon, they found the entrance of the cave after two hours. It was an old mineshaft at the side of the hill. The rubble was partially cleared off the entrance by its new inhabitants. Graten¡¯s sharp eyes saw specks of blood in some of the stones.


    "Josaif, tell the militia to encircle the shaft," Graten ordered. ¡°Grab a portion of them to chop wood for the pyre. Assign sentries to watch for ambushes.¡±


    Cultrost observed how Graten ordered the militia around, with his men delivering his orders to do. They did the tasks reluctantly, but they followed the [Mercenary]¡¯s orders nevertheless. Some of them loudly grumbled, especially how non-Humans carried Graten¡¯s orders, but they all knew the necessity of having an actual leader with experience in combat. Bushes and small trees were chopped down for the pyre. Branches and some logs were carried to the maw of the cave, with people watching its subterranean darkness for goblins that may emerge. Cultrost and the others knew that most goblins are inactive in the morning, with the attack earlier being an outlier.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The [Militia Leader] and Graten conversed, with Graten offering Mardor advice about leading people to battle in their downtime. The pile of wood was blocking three-fourths of the mineshaft. The scouts did not find any other passageways around the hill or errant goblins. An impromptu abatis was erected around the mineshaft where the militia waited.


    ¡°Burn it.¡± Cultrost gave the order to Graten. Two men set the pyre alight with an already burning branch. The flames burned the wood, and the smoke wafted down the mineshaft. Cultrost wasn¡¯t truly sure if it will work or not. There¡¯s a possibility that the mineshaft is large enough that the smoke wouldn¡¯t reach them.


    However, the nape of his neck tingled. His [Dangersense] was telling him something. He saw small green bodies frantically climbing the pyre, but they burned in the dozens. By now, some of the monsters were choking on fumes.


    The pyre suddenly burst into cinders as a large shape emerged from the flames. Three burning figures were wildly swatting the flames on their bodies. The flames winked out. Three burnt Hobgoblins lumbered forwards.


    A lone goblin with a staff of wood and animal skulls and armed goblins surrounding it emerged from the mineshaft. Goblins charged, trampling on the burnt corpses of the other goblins who burnt on the pyre, casting their malicious red eyes to


    ¡°Arrows!¡±


    The militia let loose arrows. A few of the charging goblins fell. The arrows went around the Goblin Shaman instead of impaling him. A dome of air spun around the goblin.


    "Shaman under arrowguard!" Graten warned, forming the Severed Swords in the vanguard. The three larger Hobgoblins raised their pilfered weapons.


    Cultrost thought about how they can eliminate the shaman. Like what they did with that [Negociator], he needed to get close. One raised his club, threatening to smash Graten, but with a flick of his sword, the [Sword Captain] bisected the Hobgoblin, cutting through the wooden club. Cultrost saw an opening among the green crowd of goblins.


    ¡°Graten. I¡¯ll kill the shaman.¡±


    Before Graten could object, Cultrost ran to the gap in the disorganized mass of goblins. He had smashed a skull in as he tried to close the distance. Someone had nicked a cut on his shoulder, however, the adrenaline made him numb to the shallow wound. He ducked a whirling halberd, held by a mocking Goblin who chased him down in the tumultuous clash of Humans and Goblins before getting killed by a stray arrow.


    Graten cleared two dozen Goblins with the same combination of Feats yesterday. The Goblin numbers were already dwindling with the militiamen''s arrows. Those who managed to climb the row of trees were cut down by the militia. However, some goblins had armor and new weapons. They managed to overwhelm the weaker left side of the fortification, with newly stolen weapons, even some with low-grade enchantments. They had mail, plate, and gambeson armor pilfered from an earlier battlefield. [Militia Leader] Mardor led his men and women against the offending goblins. However, balls of fire and bolts of lightning killed many men and women, even the elderly who had volunteered for this battle. Mardor raged as he saw his fellow townsfolk getting slain, imbuing his sword and hammer with fervor.


    Those surrounding the Shaman were nervous. Their red eyes watched a red Satyr charging toward them. Growling, one raised their shield, receiving a mace strike, but Cultrost leaped from the shield as the shield-bearing Goblin staggered from his strong blow.


    The Shaman looked up in fear as he realized his mistake. He was too slow to cast another spell. What lies within his last fickle feral thought is how the monster regretted not being able to slaughter more people. Cultrost¡¯s mace cracked the skull of the goblin shaman from above. Seeing many of their brethren dead, the goblins ran for it, but they were mercilessly impaled by arrows.


    ¡°Sorry-¡±


    Graten slapped Cultrost with the force of a punch. Cultrost staggered, reeling from the irritated blow of a veteran. The [Sword Captain] glared softened as he pulled Cultrost up.


    ¡°Good job. But don¡¯t risk yourself like that again. I can¡¯t imagine what your brother will do to me if I got you killed.¡±


    ¡°Uh¨Cthanks.¡±


    Cultrost understood Graten¡¯s concern. They both remember how [Bloodbound Contract] can dispose of those bound to it.


    Graten looked at the dozen and a half casualties and it reminded him of burnt towns; the corpses of men who defended their homes scattered in the streets, children abandoned and estranged, as invaders took and ravaged their mothers and sisters. These townsfolk had volunteered to fight, without any training or experience, and he sent them to die.


    Fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and even grandparents in the militia held the hands of dead family members who fought with them. They knew tonight, they will gain a Feat or Role. They would be given Feats from this battle, at the cost of hardship, suffering, and loss. Such was the Law of this world.


    Graten approached Mardor, grimly standing among the dead.


    ¡°This is the weight of leading in battle,¡± Graten spoke. Mardor glared at him, but he understood what the [Mercenary] meant.


    ¡°From every Feat or Role you get, be smarter, stronger, wiser, and faster. That¡¯s what you have to do to atone for the dead.¡±


    Graten left these words to the [Militia Leader]. Within Mardor, he felt regret and rage, coalescing into the ink that etched the powers in his soul.


    [Role Played, Militia Leader]


    [Feat - Furious Charge] developed!


    [Feat ¨C


    He kept them to heart. If he wanted his hometown of Ascogres to be safe, he will do everything to be stronger. He oversaw the retrieval of the corpses, seeing the people carrying them on their backs. Graten and the Severed Swords cut the goblin corpse¡¯s ears off and some of their weapons and armor.


    Soon, they marched to the town. As they entered its gates two hours later, those who remained in the town cheered in the late afternoon, both in pride for their people, and relief that there will be no more deaths. The local convent of [Priests] offered small Miracles and prayers, reassurances that they had done well for the greater good of the Decree.


    On that night, Numisley was invited by the [Mayor] to dinner as a sign of gratitude. Numisley insisted that Cultrost can come with Graten, and she acceded to the request. They were allowed entry into the [Mayor]¡¯s home, which is not that lone beige keep that stood guard on the hill, but rather a spacious house within the town, within the vicinity of the keep¡¯s vigil.


    The [Mayor] of Ascogres handed the eighty silver coins on the table in a pouch. Graten passed it on the Numisley sitting at the other end of the table. Cultrost sat beside Numisley, stabbing the slice of glazed meat with a fork.


    ¡°Thank you for helping us quell the Goblin threat. You had killed them all?¡± Maryra asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Cultrost spoke. The [Mayor] still stared at him, not in disgust, but as if he was a strange foreign man. ¡°I proposed the idea of smoking them out with a pyre burnt in the entrance of the mineshaft. Graten led the assault against goblins who survived it. He erected a wall of wooden spikes surrounding the mineshaft where the militia loosed arrows. They have a Shaman, which I killed.¡±


    ¡°As brave as the tribesmen of the Wild Continent.¡±


    Cultrost glared at her but decided not to comment on her speciesism, despite the praise that she gave, albeit ignorantly worded. The Satyr belongs to no tribe after all.


    ¡°I do not take all the credit. Captain Graten¡¯s leadership in the first place was more important than the risk I took.¡±


    Graten gave Cultrost an approving look, and Numisley wondered what had happened.


    ¡°I would like to hire your [Mercenary Captain] to train the militia. If ever something like this happens again. To supplement the security of the town when our [Lord] arrives.¡± Mayor Mayra turned to Numisley and Cultrost. Numisley straightened his back, adjusting his position on the chair.


    ¡°If I accept, he will only be available during my stay in the town, and nothing more. I sell fish on behalf of Toreeso Commerro, after all.¡±


    ¡°Contiearl Toreeso Rahmeiros Commerro.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Numisley dismissed his correction. ¡°How much can you pay us this time? My [Mercenaries] risked their lives after all.¡±


    ¡°Three gold. As long as you train them properly.¡±


    ¡°Graten, can I reveal your Roles?¡± Numisley turned to his [Sword Captain].


    ¡°Sure.¡± Graten gave his consent to reveal his private information.


    ¡°Graten Haovel is a [Sword Captain] and a [Watchman]. Anti-stealth, combat leader specialist. I won''t accept any price lower than five gold coins for this small task. It would be a waste of his talent, am I right, Graten?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Graten smiled.


    ¡°Four¨Cfive gold it is then.¡±


    They had concluded the deal over the table on that night. Tomorrow, Graten and the Severed Swords had trained the militia, overseen by the Ascogres [Mayor]. Cultrost had participated with the Severed Swords too, as Numisley and Palden checked their finances. Numisley wrote notes and studied both books for three days.


    On the third day, ?ienten had achieved a breakthrough with Gildin Trading¡¯s new fish sauce.

 Chapter 24

    Numisley stared at the airtight jars of fish sauce. Somehow, ?ienten did the deed. Cultrost covered his nose while Palden took a sniff, licking his lips. ?ienten beamed, proud of himself.


    ¡°The task made me gain a Feat!¡± ?ienten clapped Numisley on the shoulder.


    ¡°What¡¯s the new Feat?¡± Numisley asked.


    "Trade secret. But it enabled me to finally finish what you requested. My Feats barely saved these. Half of the barrels you sent are unsalvagable. I advise you to sell them as fertilizer. The other half, the one that isn¡¯t rotten as hell, I salvaged them. I had to borrow¨Cbuy salt from a [Salt Miner] friend for the sauce.¡±


    ?ienten reached for a loaf of hard bread and scooped a tiny dollop with a clay spoon.


    "Give it a taste."


    Numisley reluctantly ate the bread. The sauce was exceptionally pungent. Cultrost gagged because of his enhanced sense of smell.


    "This tastes good. Try it, Cul."


    Numisley extended his arm and Cultrost hesitantly backed off because of the scent.


    "No thanks. I''m good." Cultrost put his hands up.


    "Pussy." Numisley teased. "Live a little. Not like it kills you. "


    "Fine."


    Cultrost swiped the piece of hard bread and tossed it in his mouth and chewed it. His doubtful expression melted into surprise as he chewed it.


    "Eh. Not really my thing." Cultrost shrugged.


    Palden took a bite of the bread and fish sauce. ?ienten gracefully accepted Numisley''s request to share the bread and fish sauce with Graten and his men.


    Numisley and Cultrost sat across ?ienten at the long table in the brewery.


    "We would like you to sell these on your behalf. We¡¯ll give you a fifth of the profits from the sauce.¡±


    ¡°A fifth? That seems too low.¡± ?ienten asserted his position, used to dealing with [Traders]. Numisley knew that he doesn¡¯t need to push too much in the bartering. Both parties aren¡¯t interested in completely putting the other side at a disadvantage, but they needed the money.


    ¡°I did pay you gold for the attempt. I¡¯d consider it as part of the portion.¡± Numisley stated.


    ¡°I used it for the salt. It was almost five gold coins.¡± ?ienten informed.


    Numisley knew how expensive salt is, even back home. The companies back in their home continent had spilled blood for salt mines.


    Cultrost poked Numisley and leaned closer to whisper in his brother¡¯s ear. Numisley nodded, agreeing to the suggestion he had.


    ¡°How about we¡¯ll give you one-fourth when we sell well. Otherwise, we can only give you one-fifth.¡±


    The [Brewer] thought it was fair. Seeing how young they were, they aren''t as cunning as older established [Merchants], so he can trust them to not deceive him.


    "That''s fair. I accept. By the Decree I trust you. Ask the [Mayor] where can you sell the fish sauce."


    They went to the [Mayor], requesting a place where they can sell their goods. She directed them to the town plaza, where all the [Merchants] are. However, Numisley asked for a specialist, and it turns out they have one, fortunately. Numisley paid him within the day to create dozens of clay bottles and pots. Numisley asked Palden to find [Carpenters] to make additional crates. Silver was spent during the day, a cost that Numisley didn¡¯t mind taking.


    The day after, they went to the plaza. Some [Merchants] remained even during the goblin raids. They eyed them, like sharks seeing a school of fish. Palden and Graten¡¯s men moved the wagon of crates of bottles and pots in the plaza. The stalls beside them had smelled the pungent sauce. Graten was requested by Numisley to sell the barrels of rotten fish as fertilizer for the [Farmers] on their behalf.


    Numisley and Cultrost stood in front of the wagon, guarded by three of Graten¡¯s men.


    ¡°Gildin Trading is now selling a new product from Grano Birras ill-Casa. Fish sauce made by ?ienten himself!¡±


    That made the locals curious. The town¡¯s famous [Brewer] had made a product other than beer. Much to the dismay of the other [Merchants], the locals started to cluster around Numisley¡¯s stall, leaving those uninterested in Numisley¡¯s new product. The first people who approached bought the bottles, while the subsequent people were more hesitant.


    Word spread through the town, and Gildin Trading''s coffers became full from their jars of fish sauce and fertilizer. Within the day, they earned a lot of silver and copper coins.


    "This is nice."


    Numisley delicately counted the coins that they earned within the day. Cultrost stared at him as he read one of the books.


    "Yep. Phew. We thought we would be broke from the rotten fish." Cultrost sighed.


    "I feel like that noble has something to do with it." Numisley thought out loud.


    "Why so?"


    "A gut feeling. We''ll find out soon, I think."


    "If that''s the case¡­"


    "We have no evidence yet. Palden''s idea saved our profits. I intend to reward him soon. But, I had plans to discuss when we get back to Ovespuerot ."


    "Plans?"


    "Yeah. Raudaeiz is finding the [Information Broker] in the list. I intend to make my first foray into the selling of secrets. After we meet with the noble."


    "I see. What''s our plans for the future then? If we don''t get killed, of course."


    "I have the idea of the structure of our company when we get big. You will be my right-hand man, of course. General affairs and stuff, especially in my absence. Yet you will also be my [Bodyguard] if you agree."


    "Wait, do you mean to give me-"


    "Yes. I figured that your [Warrior] Role would be subsumed if you accept. Your Feats will remain. With the new Role, it''s more likely you¡¯ll gain abilities that are more¡­defensive. We can''t afford to be on the ¡®offensive¡¯ for now. If you get me. "


    "Yes. We¡¯re too small. We have like what, a wagon. Seven [Mercenaries] and five criminals. What¡¯s left in our dad¡¯s account. Not even as large as a small company back home.¡±


    ¡°We still got less than a hundred gold. But I get your point. Now, do you want to be my [Bodyguard]? I need you, more than anyone else. Who can pr¨Ckeep me safe and not stab me in the back other than my remaining family?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll protect my weak, lanky brother.¡±


    They both chuckled at that. They both believed that they got each other¡¯s back. Numisley touched his shoulder as if imparting his power to him.


    ¡°Now, you are now my [Bodyguard].¡± Numisley let go of his brother¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see the Role though.¡± Cultrost shrugged.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get it tonight. Believe it. If you don''t, well that¡¯s that. If not tonight, then it may be much later.¡±


    ¡°Well, if that book says so. Let¡¯s bother ?ienten if we can get drunk on his supply.¡± Cultrost nudged his brother.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Sure. Why not? Invite Palden, Graten, and the others for a job well done. Oh, Mister ?ienten too since he¡¯s the host.¡±


    The brothers went towards ?ienten and asked if he wants to drink with them in his storehouse. They went inside the storehouse and ?ienten drank themselves through the night.


    From their drunken stupor, Numisley, and Cultrost¡¯s promise was etched in the pages of their souls.


    [New Role Attained, Bodyguard.]


    [Feat - Disabling Strike, developed.]


    [Feat - Defensive Fighting, developed.]


    [Feat - Noticeable Goods, developed.]


    [Feat - Basic Contract, developed.]


    [Feat - Extended Shelf Life, developed.]


    ¡°Can¡¯t believe it worked. Isn¡¯t that a bit weird? I thought the book was lying.¡± Cultrost said to Numisley, as they were traveling back to the port city.


    ¡°Well, it''s a simple Role. It¡¯s not one of those with special requirements. And you did always protect me back home.¡± Numisley replied.


    ¡°If it''s that simple, why doesn¡¯t everyone do this? Just tell people to believe hard enough.¡±


    ¡°The same reason why these kinds of books are secret. And besides, they need actual knowledge and skill for that.¡±


    ¡°So it''s not willy-nilly then. We¡¯re close.¡±


    Cultrost pointed to the castle in the distance. The residence of Count Toreeso Rahmeiros Commerro. Cultrost and Palden stayed with the wagon outside of the keep as Numisley handled the negotiations.


    The [Count] sat on his padded wooden throne, looking at Numisley.


    ¡°How much did you earn?¡±


    ¡°Fifty silver and thirty-two copper. Your fish is rotten, so I sold them as fertilizer and made some of them into fish sauce.¡±


    ¡°Fish sauce?¡± The [Lord] straightened on his seat.


    ¡°I hired a [Brewmaster] who has fermentation Feats. I figured those can be applied to rotten fish, somehow. I sold the unsalvagable barrels as fertilizer.¡±


    ¡°Good. Apologies. This was a test. My test for foreign [Traders]. I¡¯m looking for [Traders] with a certain¡­creativity¨Ctenacity is the right word for it. Did you gain some preservation Feat?¡±


    Numisley¡¯s hunch was right all along, but he was conflicted about what to think of that. He hated being tricked, most of all.


    ¡°Yes. [Extended Shelf Life].¡±


    The Count stroked his goatee ponderously, idly tapping on the padded rests of his small throne.


    ¡°That¡¯s good enough.¡±


    ¡°Good enough? I¨Cmy company¡¯s [Mercenaries] helped with the defense of Ascogres against a goblin raid. They and my brother killed them.¡±


    ¡°Raid? My son had ridden against them.¡±


    ¡°But he brought most of the soldiers. If that idio¨Cis your son. The townsfolk formed a militia and my [Mercenary Captain] and my brother led them to victory.¡±


    For a second, the Count¡¯s eyebrows are raised.


    ¡°Then you did me a great service then. Tell me what you want.¡±


    ¡°Aside from giving Gildin Trading permission to build a headquarters? I want to know why did you test me.¡±


    ¡°I was getting to that part. I was betting on you gaining a preservation-Feat. I need you to transport rotting food. For a party. There¡¯s a big gathering in the Naveirei estates, in the citadel overlooking Ascolitica. Supply them with almost-spoiled food, so I was hoping that your preservation Feat would be powerful enough to stem the rotting until you transport the fish in the castle. Once you delivered it, then it will rot, hopefully slowly, so that the [Chef] would hopefully cook it as it rots.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a big gamble for nothing.¡±


    ¡°It will make the damned House Naveirei lose face when their guests learned that there is rotten food in the mix. The guests are my damned cousins, and important Houses who wish to ally with that accursed House.¡±


    ¡°My Feat extends the shelf life, not completely preserve it.¡±


    ¡°That is why I¡¯ll supply you with chests with preservation runes.¡±


    ¡°How much will you pay Gildin Trading to participate in this¡­charade?¡±


    ¡°I will allow you to have your trading headquarters in Ovespuerot .¡±


    ¡°Not enough.¡± Numisley stood his ground. ¡°If you wish for me to participate in your ¡®game¡¯, then I¡¯ll need to be a trusted [Trader]. Does the kingdom have some sort of document that enables me to trade anywhere?¡±


    ¡°The slip. With my seal of the Commerro House, I¡¯ll make you a sponsored [Trader]. You will be able to trade anywhere within the kingdom, along with certain benefits.¡±


    "I need that if you want me to deliver food to that House.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell the Merchant Guild in my city to issue you a Signo Dato for your slip.¡±


    ¡°Deal. I¡¯ll be part of your plan.¡±


    Numisley held up his arm, reaching for a handshake.


    ¡°You¡­want me to do a handshake?¡±


    "Yeah? It¡¯s how you conclude business in Libertalia.¡±


    ¡°For equals. I¡¯m a [Lord]. You are [Trader]. You should bow to me.¡±


    ¡°You need me to do your dirty work. So that makes us equal.¡±


    ¡°Fair. I should¡¯ve expect that I¡¯m dealing with a Libertalian. Someone who can resist my Aura.¡±


    ¡°In my homeland, even the seineures, the Peers of the Valley shake hands with beggars.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that your continent still has nobles.¡±


    ¡°Dunno. Just heard of ¡®em.¡±


    ¡°Well, I met more stubborn Libertalians than you. The Admiralty of the Diamond Shore for example.¡±


    The Count stood up, walked towards Numisley, and shook his hand.


    ¡°A word of advice. You should not be so¡­casual with nobility or royalty. I¡¯m used to dealing with Libertalians, but not the rest of the kingdom. Much less Trislan and the rest of Yhril.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    As Numisley limped away with his walking stick, he looked back to the [Lord].


    ¡°Another request. Let my brother accompany me here. Even if he¡¯s not Human.¡±


    ¡°Granted.¡±


    -


    ¡°Yeah, so that¡¯s that. The guy wanted me to delivered spoiled food to a party. A month later no less. I just need more Feats.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like what many of us did back in the Strip.¡±


    Numisley talked to Cultrost and Palden at noon, eating lunch at the inn.


    ¡°The guy was bankin¡¯ on you to gain your [Extended Shelf Life] Feat?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°Yeah. This is why the brown book is important. Bet we can do it more efficiently. If we have the resources.¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°We finally got a shop right? Poor Vaeld is getting overworked.¡±


    Palden had named the horse Vaeld, a somewhat Orcanish name, that they bought in Ovespuerot so that they could pull the cart. The horse now rested in the inn¡¯s stables.


    ¡°The guy¡¯s going to find a building for us, if I remember correctly. We just need to purchase it.¡±


    Raudaeiz entered the inn, and walked up to Numisley. He whispered to Numisley, reporting that they had found what Numisley and Cultrost was looking for.


    ¡°Well, I guess it is time. Palden, can you stay here with Graten? I think the Count¡¯s man will arrive to lead us to the building that we can purchase. Tell him that we¡¯re going shopping, and don¡¯t let him know my whereabouts.¡±


    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll handle things from here.¡±


    ¡°Cultrost. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The Gildin Brothers went with Raudaeiz, walking out of the inn along with two of his men. They headed left towards an dirty alley.


    ¡°How did you find it?¡± Cultrost asked the older Satyr.


    ¡°The urchins in the streets back home are the same here. Give ¡®em a gold¡¯s shine and they ask a friend of a friend and a dozen more friends. Then you¡¯ll find what you are looking for.¡± Raudaeiz answered.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Baire.¡±


    Raudaeiz tapped one of his men in the shoulder, leaning on a wall. Cultrost and Numisley jumped in surprise, because they didn¡¯t notice Raudaeiz¡¯s man.


    ¡°The safehouse¡¯s over there. The informer expects you two.¡± Baire spoke stiffly to Numisley and Cultrost pointing towards a door at the end of the alley. It was in a clearing surrounded by buildings. There was a wooden back door, and when Cultrost touched the wooden handle, he felt the cold touch of steel.


    ¡°An illusion.¡± Raudaeiz informed. ¡°It¡¯s usual in a safehouse.¡±


    Now Numisley got it. It combines security and being discrete. From the outside, it appears to be a normal back door for a building, and if ever someone wants to break in, they will be having a hard time because the door is actually made out of steel.


    ¡°Gildin?¡± A voice spoke from the door.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Numisley spoke up.


    The door opened, and a greying hand beckoned them in.

 Chapter 25

    The room was lit up by candles around the stone room, sitting on rusty candle holders pinned on the wall. The antique wooden desk is dotted with ink and wax, and on it is a neat stack of papers on an artisanal wooden tray. The stout figure that let them in hobbled to the chair on the desk and sat. Pearl-white eyes on a cragged stony facade stared at Numisley. His face was dotted with his people¡¯s petrification, turning into rough stone.


    ¡°You¡¯re the spawn of Jascias N-Gildin?¡±


    ¡°Yes¨CYou know our father?¡± Numisley stuttered.


    ¡°I worked with him for a long time. Yes.¡± The Dwarf grabbed his pipe, sprinkled some tobacco on it, and the pipe instantly ignited the dry ground tobacco beans.


    ¡°Sit.¡±


    Numisley sat on the chair provided by the Dwarf.


    ¡°Thewardn Glors. [Information Broker].¡±


    ¡°Numisley Gildin. My brother, Cultrost.¡±


    The Satyr nodded in the background.


    ¡°Brother? Did your father take a Satyr wife aside from your mother? That womanizer!¡± Thewardn guffawed.


    ¡°I¡¯m adopted,¡± Cultrost answered. ¡°My parents told me that they found me outside their door. I¡¯m a bit older than my brother by the way.¡±


    ¡°So, who¡¯s our mother? She died giving birth¡­to me.¡± Numisley interrupted. The two brothers looked at each other for a moment. They always asked their father who their mother was. Still, their father refused to talk about her before arriving at their home continent. All they know is that she was a good mother.


    ¡°I knew this day would come. What was your father¡¯s will? If he had any.¡±


    ¡°Our father¡¯s letter told us to go to Polossin. On a farm. Our relatives live there. I didn¡¯t know that we had relatives in this continent.¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°You have relatives. But not some [Farmers].¡± Thewardn corrected.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You want to know about your mother, right?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡± Numisley¡¯s voice quivered.


    ¡°Can I see the letter? The will. The books too while you¡¯re at it.¡±


    Numisley stared at the [Information Broker], hands trembling.


    ¡°I understand. But I worked with your father on acquiring your treasure trove of information. The brown book¨Cthe book of the Rules, I hired an [Artifact Thief] to steal it at a rival kingdom, after Jascias revealed its location. Your father pulled every connection he had to gather the entries in the book, and I compiled and encrypted them.¡±


    ¡°Why did he do that?¡±


    ¡°Who exactly is our father?¡±


    Cultrost and Numisley¡¯s questions hung in the air. The Dwarf¡¯s eyes glinted.


    ¡°I forgot¨CI mean, Jascias told me the reason, but we agreed that I will drink a potion that makes me forget about it. Or he used one of his Feats on me. So, that must¡¯ve been extremely important. Your father was the [Royal Spymaster] of Torregorn. The very best. Jascias Naveirei¨Cwell, he took your mother¡¯s surname, since she was the best noble the kingdom ever had.¡±


    ¡°What? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You are the heir of the Naveirei House. Son of Marhyiana Naveirei. She assumed the post of the House¡¯s matriarch before she dragged your father to Libertalia.¡±


    Cultrost looked at Numisley significantly, now knowing that Numisley is nobility.


    ¡°Wait I feel like I heard¨Chey, so you¡¯re sayin¡¯ that I¡¯m some [Prince]?¡±


    ¡°[Lord]. You¡¯re not exactly royalty. You¡¯re pretty close though. Your mother and your father restored the current [King] to his throne. The royal family became the puppets of the Gaviolos House for a time, but your parents helped King Sovrandor Coespandorr to claim the throne as a boy. As such, the Naveirei House gained the highest prestige even now, being a Ducal House.¡±


    Numisley slumped on his chair, wide-eyed at the revelation.


    ¡°That¡¯s a secret worth five thousand gold, but I gave you a family discount. The letter, please.¡±


    Numisley fished out the letter from the black book and placed it on the table. The Dwarf scanned it with his pearl-white eyes.


    ¡°Cascinavi¡­Santaveses¡­wait¡­¡±


    The Dwarf abruptly stood up and rummaged through his shelves. He pulled out a dusty document from a row of drawers and shook it. He handed it to Numisley. Cultrost peeked over his brother¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Numisley asked. The document was in another language that both Numisley and Cultrost didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Shit. It¡¯s in Formal Helmandian Common.¡±


    ¡°In what?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°Decreeist legal language. I¡¯ll read it verbatim. This Deed of Land, written and approved on the 27th Day of Teina, Period of Life, 6990 A.G.E, by the Royal Administration of Torregorn, sanctified by the Holy Hall of Conscanco, between Jascias Gildin and to-be approved relatives and associates, recognizes that the area of 20 acres by 20 acres in the Cascinavi Forest one hundred feet west of Santaveses within the County of Polossin is absolutely owned by the signatories, and only the Royal Administration of Torregorn, the Holy Hall of Conscanco, and the King or Queen at the time of reading can rescind it. The document is indefinitely in effect unless rescinded by the proper authorities. The recognized owners may build structures within the area, employ employees to maintain the demesne, and inhabit the area. ¡±


    ¡°That means that our father has land somewhere in the kingdom?¡± Cultrost asked for clarification.


    ¡°Yes. Property that you can inherit.¡±


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Numisley¡¯s thoughts ran like lightning as he formulated his ideas for the future.


    ¡°That means we can claim it, am I right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. However, you need to prove it. You need to invoke the Blood Rite. The Ichoricon.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Human ritual to prove your noble bloodline. But you can¡¯t just go into a castle full of nobles and invoke it. You need to be an established [Merchant] or some sort that deals with them. You need to be trusted. Then you can invoke the name of your parents and your story so that there¡¯s ground for you to call for the ritual. If they accept.¡±


    ¡°If they accept.¡± Numisley flatly repeated.


    ¡°It¡¯s up to us, I guess. Jogged your noggin?¡± Cultrost poked Numisley¡¯s head.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll make plans.¡± Numisley lightly pushed his brother¡¯s hand away. ¡°So, secondly¡­how do I establish my own information business? Like yours. I¡¯ll sell the information in the black book.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous game you¡¯re planning to play. I don¡¯t recommend it. How about you¡¯ll focus on proving your nobility? Give me the books. I don¡¯t know why Jascias gave you the books¨CI mean he made me forget the reason, but just focus on attaining your nobility. I¡¯ll make sure that these books are sealed.¡±


    ¡°If I were to become nobility, I need to be more than some noble. Thousand Roads is on my ass, and I need something to protect me, Cultrost, and my company. So, I will blackmail and bribe people if I have to. So I can attain money, resources, people, and influence for me and my people to be safe. Someone in that Corporation or elsewhere knows I have their dirty little secrets, and they will murder me whether I have the books or not if I don¡¯t do something.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re inherited your mother¡¯s attitude, I see. Get big or go home. I figured I¡¯ll get involved at some point, so I require a quarter¡¯s share of your profits. This is a dangerous profession after all. Think of this as payment for tutoring you.¡±


    Thewardn held out a hand, and Numisley shook it.


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    Numisley walked out of the safehouse after Thewardn showed him the ropes. Thewardn promised that he would tell his customers about Numisley¡¯s business, for that is how some [Information Brokers] started. The old Dwarf taught Numisley about how to price the information, how to write them, and the importance of having protection against hostile clients and [Assassins], and Thewardn sorted out the outdated information in the black book of secrets, which was a lot.


    Palden welcomed them in the Gildin Trading¡¯s new headquarters. It was a humble building of worn stone and wood, near the fish market where they had been tricked to deliver rotten fish. It has two floors: a stable and storage area on the ground floor, enough space to store their goods, and living and working space on the upper floor. He was pleased to find out that they had already bought furniture; at least, enough for them to get settled in the port city and do business. The floors were cleaned, dust swept and walls wiped clean from dirt and grime. Their boxes and weapons were arranged. All with the efforts of Palden and Graten¡¯s organization and leadership.


    Sorting his documents on the table, he now faced Cultrost, Palden, Graten, and Raudaeiz, who he summoned.


    ¡°Candles, please.¡±


    The velvet sky was gradually darkening as Cultrost lit up the candles in the room.


    ¡°So, I summoned you all because I will tell you about my plans for Gildin Trading¨Cour future.¡±


    The people in the room turned their heads to Numisley. Cultrost positioned himself beside his brother, standing up instead of sitting down on the chair, staring around the room, and glancing at the shutters.


    "We''ll acquire more fish in the wet markets. Along with other goods. I''ll study the local economy to know what''s profitable. The local [Lord] gave us an exclusive license to trade within the kingdom, and we acquired a partnership with a [Brewer] to sell his fish sauce. I also have begun to set up my information brokering business."


    "Remember our trip to that town?" Cultrost asked his brother.


    "Yeah?" Numisley asked.


    "The [Merchants] sold things not found inland. Such as coral-sculpted stuff, seashells, and spices. If we''re going to sell, we can sell inland."


    "Good catch. Was thinking of that too. Was too busy selling to notice what they had."


    "Thanks."


    "Going back¡­ I will also inform you of two important things. One is that the Count ordered us to smuggle rotten food for a party soon, and my father left me a piece of land for me to claim. Our goal is to earn enough money for that land, which is around four hundred gold. That land will become our castle in the future, as well as being the grounds for you all to become stronger.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Graten straightened.


    ¡°The land would be a testing bed for the ideas in the book. To give Feats and Roles for you to all get stronger.¡± Numisley explained.


    ¡°Like a training area for [Soldiers]?¡± Palden asked.


    ¡°Yes. Exactly. It¡¯s like a training area for Graten¡¯s men. If we have the money and rights, we can employ more men and women, and more [Soldiers]. Graten will be leading and training them. You could train with them too when you¡¯re not guarding me. For more Feats. ¡±


    Numisley turned to Cultrost. His brother nodded.


    ¡°So, in general, Captain Graten will be the commander of our security. My brother will handle the general stuff that needs to be done, as well as my [Bodyguard]. Palden, if our company becomes larger, you will be in charge of logistics. Raudaeiz, I want you to do my dirty work for me. I plan to completely control the city¡¯s underworld soon.¡±


    ¡°No offense, but your plans are too grand,¡± Raudaeiz spoke up.


    ¡°But I did outwit someone as great as you.¡± Numisley cleverly countered.


    Raudaeiz was taken aback by Numisley¡¯s flattery, but he sees it as Numisley¡¯s making sure that he is loyal, without a Contract-Feat. Numisley regarded Raudaeiz as the wildcard that he needed to keep in check, maintaining his facade as the great mastermind who Raudaeiz can use to exact his revenge on his former family. Giving him a [Basic Contract] may sow seeds that may grow to break his facade. For the mercenary Graten, Numisley needed to be a reliable leader that can pay him with gold and the knowledge from the brown book to make him and his men stronger. He guessed that once Graten is strong enough, he will leave; hence why he maintained the risky [Bloodbound Contract] on him for so long.


    Numisley¡¯s paling face straightened as he continued to explain.


    ¡°I plan to ask Thewardn, the [Information Broker] about the local criminal scene tomorrow. If there are any gangs in the town, You, Raudaeiz, will subjugate them for me.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± The Demihuman Satyr pointed to himself, mouth wide in mild surprise.


    ¡°Yes. You are a [Gang Boss] of some sort, right? You have some tricks that I¨Cyou know. You know criminals and how they operate. So I need to take control of the underworld, so I can use it as a favor to the local Count, and to increase my prestige when I become one of Torregorn¡¯s nobility.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Graten and Palden¡¯s mouths dropped to the ground, aghast. Raudaeiz laughed at their reactions.


    ¡°W-what do you mean, boy?¡± Palden stuttered.


    ¡°Your employer¨CI mean, our father was married to a seineure¨C[Lady]. This is why we were attacked by [Mercenaries] since they are hired by some noble from this kingdom.¡±


    ¡°And this is why we¡¯re here? Aside from making a profit in the Golden Triangle?¡± Palden asked.


    ¡°Not at first. The [Information Broker], a friend of our father, told me. So I¡¯m technically nobility.¡±


    Numisley cackled. Cultrost chortled. The Libertalians at the table exploded into laughter. A Libertalian, the people famous for their disregard for the concept of royalty, is related to nobility, was funny to them.


    ¡°Yeah¡­funny how me, a red-blooded, democratic Libertalian is a [Lord]. A blue-blood. I still can¡¯t believe that¡­¡± Numisley wistfully stated. ¡°But, let¡¯s go back on topic.¡±


    ¡°About the¡­um¡­ gangs you¡¯re talking about. I just remember something.¡± Palden spoke up, recovering from their disbelief. ¡°I traveled to the Exiled Coasts back in my day. If the mafias and [Pirates] are in control of the ports, I reckon¡¯ that there¡¯s Libertalian gangs in this port-town. Smuggling contras from this kingdom.¡±


    ¡°So if my brother takes control of the gangs¡­¡± Cultrost theorized.


    ¡°Then I can establish a smuggling route in the future.¡± Numisley continued.


    ¡°And I can get rid of the curse on my arm.¡± Cultrost nudged his brother.


    ¡°Yes. Hopefully as soon as possible.¡± Numisley turned towards them. ¡°Uncle Palden, your wisdom helps a lot. The people that sit here, who helped us in our journey, our escape from Libertalia, I need your wisdom. Your advice. You are leaders¨Cimportant assets of our company. I¡¯ll hold more meetings like this in the future, to inform you of my decisions and to give me wisdom that I don¡¯t have.¡±


    Numisley stood up, fatigued. His brother held his shoulders.


    ¡°Thank you for attending.¡±


    The first meeting of the leaders of Gildin Trading ended that night. Each of them retired to their rooms, pondering before they slept.


    Numisley¡¯s eyes were open in the middle of the night, blinking as the will of the world wrote his privilege on his soul. A quest for his true birthright.


    [Feat - Trusted Words developed.]


    [Feat - Verified Sources developed.]


    [Rare Feat - Company Promotion: (Name), developed!]


    [Theme - Reclaim Birthright discovered!]

 Chapter 26

    Numisley woke up, bewildered, and immediately opened the brown book to read the entry about Themes and wrote in his journal. Cultrost entered the room, having woken up much earlier.


    ¡°Got something good.¡± Numisley turned to Cultrost. ¡°Apparently, I can ¡®promote¡¯ someone in the company, and I got a Theme. I think it¡¯s related to when I discovered I¡¯m a blue-blood.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Cultrost sat down on one of the beds.


    ¡°Hmm¡­so¡­Says here I might get something if I continue with my path of trying to prove my lineage. As for the promotion-Feat¡­you¡¯ll gain a leadership or ¡®higher¡¯ Role.¡±


    ¡°Cool. I haven¡¯t gained anything yet. Probably because I didn¡¯t fight for the last few days.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­want a promotion? I want to try out this Feat. Also, I might need you to take over our front. Selling goods I mean, while I¡¯m away to ask Thewardn about the gangs in the town.¡±


    ¡°You sure you won''t need me?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be safe. And I can only trust you to manage things while I¡¯m gone. Hold the fort and all that. Am I right?¡±


    ¡°You can count on me.¡±


    ¡°Well then. [Company Promotion: Cultrost Gildin].¡± Numisley pointed towards Cultrost. ¡°Let¡¯s eat breakfast.¡±


    Numisley and Raudaeiz went to Thewardn¡¯s safehouse after their fulsome breakfast from a nearby inn. Beforehand, Numisley gave Cultrost a list of tasks that needed to be done today. The Dwarf graciously let them in, happy to gain a new business associate.


    ¡°How much is the information regarding the port¡¯s crime scene? A list of them and where to find them.¡±


    Thewardn raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°A list of them would be expensive, even if I let you have it. Client privacy, remember?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I remember.¡± Numisley reassured the Dwarf.


    ¡°What are you planning?¡± Thewardn asked.


    ¡°I plan to take over the town¡¯s smuggling to Libertalia, if there¡¯s any.¡±


    ¡°One gold coin.¡±


    Numisley slid a coin on the [Information Broker]¡¯s table.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to do that¡­In this town, the local gangs do business with Libertalian [Smugglers] that come to port from the ships. Smuggling goods from here to the Shore¡¯s ports. There¡¯s ten that I know since they do business with me.¡±


    ¡°If not all of them, can you give me a name?¡±


    ¡°Gold coin.¡±


    Numisley sild another coin, next to the gold coin on the table.


    ¡°Find someone named Joerze Estrar. Involved in smuggling with a Libertalian gang. He mainly does business in the Est Prov¨¦s district. You can start from there.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Also, someone¡¯s asking for you earlier. Someone northern. Ersenwyen. He has long hair and a beard. Wheat-colored. You won''t see him at first since he¡¯s an [Spy] of some sort from Ernyen. Stealth-Feats. I mean, I told him you have info, from the book. Not that I mentioned the book. He¡¯ll come to your building later.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Numisley exited the safehouse, walking out of the alley.


    ¡°Raudaeiz. You¡¯ll meet with that guy. As I said before, you will represent me in the underworld. Meet that guy, and ask about the smuggling business. Rebuild your gang here, and grow it. For my¨Cso we can benefit.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do that. I¡¯m using you to take revenge against my family.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll let you go after your revenge.¡±


    [One Good Lie]. Numisley¡¯s Feat clicked in his mind, twisting on the tip of his tongue.


    Raudaeiz left Numisley at their headquarters after they discussed further about the plan, and his men rushed to accompany him.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Cultrost?¡± Numisley asked Palden, who was lifting a crate.


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s buying goods. As you said.¡± Palden replied.


    ¡°I see. I¡¯ll be at my office if you need anything. I¡¯ll have a customer coming later. Blond, long-haired, bearded. According to the [Information Broker].¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll watch out.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Palden watched Numisley limp up the stairs, heading to his office. Numisley finally sat down in the office, reviewing his ??documents and reading the black book. A couple of minutes later, someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    A man with blond shaggy hair, tied in a ponytail, and a short beard silently shuffled into the office, escorted by Graten. His face was unassuming like he can blend within the crowd for being too mundane. The work of either his Role or Feats. Graten shut the door behind him and watched the [Spy].


    ¡°You are the client?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Yes. I will give no name.¡± The [Spy] stated. ¡°Can you order your guard to leave? This will be private information.¡±


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Sorry, but he¡¯s here to stay. He¡¯s my security. Here to protect me from harm. Anything that¡¯s spoken in this room will remain in this room. On my word. If you want him gone, prove that you don¡¯t have weapons.¡±


    He removed his robes and showed Numisley what was inside every pocket or the folds of his pocket. Scrolls, a wand, a dagger, bundles of string, listening runes, potions, enchanted amulets, and various supplies in a Belt of Holding.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let Graten have your stuff. While he¡¯s outside. I¡¯m now convinced that you¡¯re not here to kill me.¡±


    ¡°Fair.¡± The [Spy] watched Graten exit the room, carrying his things.


    ¡°So, do you have information about the schism between Scoth¡¯s House Thurn and Syean? Relevant information? About Ernyen¡¯s involvement in the matter?¡±


    Numisley pulled out a document from the pile of paper and quickly reviewed it.


    ¡°Some of the information in this is outdated. However, this is a trustworthy source, collected, verified, and annotated by the [Information Broker] you talked to earlier. Five gold, please.¡±


    Begrudgingly, the [Spy] passed five gold coins on the table.


    The report was from six [Informants] six trials ago. Relevant information¡­House Eargen was involved in destabilizing the two counties. To prove it, ask Count Vanr Vareg Guins, and Count Sefth Eargen¡¯s Shield-Brother Raigf Efaulsson under truth-Spell or Feat about the schism you mentioned.¡±


    ¡°This is good enough.¡±


    ¡°If anyone you know wants information, ask Thewardn about ¡°Trader of Secrets¡±, and he will give you the passphrase. I will not be always in town, since I will be traveling regularly.¡±


    He handed the [Spy] the copy of the document.


    ¡°A pleasure doing business with you.¡±


    The [Spy] left without saying anything. Graten gave him his belongings.


    ¡°Too bad the black book has a lot of outdated secrets.¡± Numisley sighed, as he waited for another customer.


    Cultrost felt more authoritative and confident when Numisley applied his Feat on him. He gained a bit of Numisley¡¯s wit and silver tongue. Although he seldom ordered people around, he ordered some of Graten¡¯s men without his usual hesitation.


    He walked into the fish market, within Wharf Reagusha, the same wharf where they got tricked into buying the barrels of rotten fish.


    ¡°Aie! Don¡¯t kill me! I was being paid by the lord¨C¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we know. We¡¯re not holding it against ya¡¯.¡± Graten reassured the panicking [Fishmonger]. ¡°I¡¯m here to buy fish. We¡¯re delivering it to Ascogres. For fish sauce.¡±


    ¡°Fish sauce? Sound¡¯s nice.¡±


    ¡°Barrels of salted fish, to be exact. Got any?¡±


    ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°Five barrels.¡±


    ¡°That would be¡­twenty gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be cheaper? You¡¯re close to the ocean after all.¡±


    ¡°Demand is higher. Everybody on the coasts loves eating fish.¡±


    ¡°Salt. Where did you get salt?¡±


    ¡°From the sea. Although you need to be a [Salter].¡±


    ¡°I still think twenty is still too much. How about fifteen. Think of it as compensation for tricking us.¡±


    Cultrost was surprised that he sounded like Numisley right now. He looked inwards and thought hard enough that and saw:


    [Appointed Role - Trader].


    [Appointed Feat - Basic Haggling].


    He never heard that there was a Feat that gives others a Role and Feat with their position. He is, after all, the co-owner of Gildin Trading by name, although Numisley mostly does the accounting work that he is bad at.


    ¡°Well¡­I guess I¡¯ll give you this. Just once. Fifteen gold.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Cultrost held his hand up and shook the [Fishmonger]¡¯s hand. He helped Graten¡¯s men who accompanied him, Weriens, and Tarast in lift the barrels to the cart. For the rest of the day, Cultrost went to accomplish the list of things to buy for the company.


    A foreign gang strutted within the Est Prov¨¦s district of Ovespuerot. This section of the town was distant from the profitable districts of the port town, and far from prosperous. The sight of street children running among buildings worse for wear was familiar to the Libertalian criminals. They can sense eyes watching them, from the kids peeking from the alleyways to the suspicious vendors sitting in their shops.


    One of Raudaeiz¡¯s men gave an aspiring [Thief] a glare, and his hand backed off.


    ¡°Know any ¡®Joerze Estrar¡¯?¡± Raudaeiz asked, tossing a silver coin. The kid caught it with his hands and nodded, pointing to an alleyway.


    ¡°[Fast Hands].¡± Raudaeiz¡¯s Dragonkin [Thug], Texion remarked, seeing how the boy¡¯s hands blurred. They followed the boy into an alleyway, and through the streets of the district. They arrived at a fish market at the edge of the district. The port was small, with only a few fishing boats.


    The boy pointed toward the man butchering large fish, beside the other two burly men mashing chum on a tall mortar and pestle. He stared at the boy with his reptilian eyes that were running away as fast as he can and turned towards Raudaeiz and his gang.


    ¡°What¡¯s a Libertalian doing here?¡± The man held his knife steadily, hovering warily over the fish he was chopping off. The two burly men held their pestles like thick wooden cudgels.


    ¡°I¡¯m here for Joerze Estrar. Here to talk business.¡±


    ¡°Business? I¡¯m what you¡¯re looking for.¡±


    Raudaeiz stared at the man named Joerze Estrar. He noticed that the other half of his face is dotted with orange scales. Joerze maintained a level of vigilance and suspicions of the foreign stranger; never letting go of his butcher¡¯s knife.


    ¡°I¡¯ll smuggle to Libertalia.¡±


    ¡°To? Are you not receiving?¡±


    ¡°I want to establish a smuggling route to Libertalia.¡±


    ¡°For?¡±


    Raudaeiz took a moment to remember what Numisley needed for the Veohantaye Tribe. He avoided asking which Libertalian criminal group he was in contact to, to avoid suspicion.


    ¡°Magic items and metal. My contact is someone named ¡®Greis¡¯ in Baunt. We¡¯ll send the goods and her payment to her.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Joerze scratched the scales on his chin. ¡°I¡¯ll need fifty gold. The minimum downpayment will be ten gold.¡±


    Raudaeiz gave him a portion of Numisley¡¯s funds, paying the hefty fee. Joerze counted the coins on his wet fingers and placed it beside the fish that he was butchering.


    ¡°This is enough. I¡¯ll contact the people that I know.¡± Joerze said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send the products once they arrived,¡± Raudaeiz replied.


    Raudaeiz and his gang left the district after that deal. The boy from earlier peeked from an alleyway and ran throughout the town until he arrived at a nondescript shop. The boy whispered to the [Shopkeeper] about the newcomers in the area. The [Shopkeeper] then wrote a letter that the boy grabbed for delivery and sent for a handful of people to tail the foreigners. Soon the letter found itself on a ship docked anchored away from the district of Est Prov¨¦s, being read by a [Pirate].


    Within the same day, a Duke stranded in the port-city of Baunt had finally boarded a ship, accompanied with an [Ambassador].


    Numisley had two other mysterious customers at the end of the day that bought information from him and Cultrost had secured a number of goods to sell inland: barrels of salted fish, textiles from Lemuria, sea shells and such and another cart and horse. Raudaeiz reported that he established a deal with the man named Joerze Estrar. He winced at the expenses that they spent and accumulated that day, with Numisley¡¯s secret-brokering today barely compensating the cost. Numisley finalized the balance sheet for today and wrote an entry on his journal.


    Tomorrow, they made plans set off for Ascogres, to the neighboring county of the Barony of Kaminor at the House Commerro¡¯s north to build their influence in the kingdom.

 Chapter 27

    Numisley and Cultrost had gone to the castle of the [Count]. They saw a young man about their age speaking to the Count, with hair the color of dark seaweed, wearing a form-fitting green and blue doublet and a sheathed cutlass on his side. A bronze tassel was tied on its hilt.


    "We''re going to the neighboring barony. Through Ascogres."


    Numisley and Cultrost stood casually in front of the [Count].


    "Ah, House Kaminor. What for?" The Count raised his eyebrows.


    "We aim to buy metal to resell them here."


    "Metal, huh¡­" The Count stroked his chin. ¡°You are in luck. The Kaminors are known for their steel and [Miners] within the kingdom.¡±


    The young man stomped the ground, the sound echoing throughout the hall.


    "Father! They are disrespecting you! They do not bow in your presence. This transgression must be addressed."


    The young man drew his cutlass. Cultrost drew his mace and the young noble recklessly charged toward Numisley. However, before the young noble knew it, he already fell on the ground from Cultrost''s instinctive leg sweep.


    The young man glared at Cultrost, as he started to get up.


    "Stop. Racieros Rahmeiros Commerro."


    The Count''s pressure from his Aura that spread throughout his hall made the young man reconsider his foolishness.


    "I apologize for hitting your son." Cultrost quickly bowed, much to Numisley''s surprise.


    "I am at fault for my son''s lack of discipline. He does not know that Libertalians like you do not bow to any crown, nor the Divine Decree." The Count apologized. "Nor he doesn''t know his mistake on his charge over the territory I had given him."


    "But¨C"


    "Trader Numisley, can you tell us, with your most honest words, what he did wrong?"


    "Gladly," Numisley mockingly bowed. "That idiot did not leave enough troops to defend his town. We and our [Mercenaries] were forced to defend ourselves from those Goblins. Me¨Cmy brother led the counterattack to the Goblin lair, leading the militia."


    "Impressive." The Count was impressed, almost forgetting his prejudice against non-Humans.


    "I exterminated the Goblins near my territory!" Racieros protested.


    "Bringing all of your [Knights] and leaving none on your territory." His father countered. "You ought to learn to take responsibility."


    "If he''s so good then, then¨CI challenge him to a duel!"


    Numisley raised his eyebrows. The Count massaged his temples and sighed. However, he got an inkling of Cultrost¡¯s competency in combat using one of his Feats.


    ¡°Numisley. May I ask¡­your brother to give my impudent son a beating?¡±


    Numisley nudged Cultrost upon hearing it from the Count.


    ¡°Hey, he says you can beat his ass,¡± Numisley half-jokingly whispered to his brother.


    ¡°Finally.¡± Cultrost was relieved that he has the perfect outlet for his frustrations in this continent.


    ¡°My brother¡¯s up,¡± Numisley told the Count. ¡°No killing I assume?¡±


    ¡°Yes. No grievous injuries either.¡± The Count added.


    The young noble drew his cutlass, the traditional weapon of Torregorn and Trislan''s coastal kingdoms The blade glowed faintly, imbued with enchantment. Cultrost was confident enough to give his one-handed mace to Numisley, opting to fight instead with his fists.


    ¡°Are you insulting me?¡± Racieros sneered.


    ¡°Your father said no killing.¡± Cultrost put his guard up. ¡°Although I would love to.¡±


    Racieros lunged, attempting to perform a technique taught to him by his tutor in swordplay. He brought down his blade with practiced, swift grace¨C


    Cultrost simply swerved, seeing the slow blade. His reflexes and senses are far more capable than his opponent''s. He took one step forwards and punched the noble¡¯s side. Racieros staggered, clutching his left side.


    Cultrost quickly kicked Racieros in the crotch, making him collapse, writhing in pain.


    ¡°You dirty cheat¨C¡±


    "The duel is finished.¡± The Count¡¯s voice overpowered his son¡¯s complaints. ¡°Racieros, being nobility doesn''t make you immune to the consequences. Think wisely before you challenge someone in a duel. Clearly, they know battle better than you."


    Racieros weakly stood up as his father continued his lecture.


    "Being nobility does not make you immune to the Divine Decree, either. You cannot kill a [Trader] without justification. As nobility, you will lead the commoners by example. I will give you a chance to prove yourself. Accompany the [Traders] to Kaminor¡¯s territory and grant them passage. I will write a letter to the head of the family and you will give it to him.¡±


    Numisley, Cultrost, and Racieros blankly stared at the Count. Racieros quickly stood up and knelt towards his father.


    ¡°It will be done.¡±


    -


    "What? We''re going to babysit the shithead?"


    Cultrost almost laughed at that thought, although irked because they had to escort the noble. They were now within their headquarters, packing up for the trip to Ascogres, then to the territories owned by House Kaminor.


    ¡°Yeah. He might be useful. He¡¯s nobility. If he¡¯s sensible, he might be useful someday.¡± Numisley leaned closer to Cultrost.


    ¡°Palden, how long ¡®till we get to this¡­House Kaminor?¡± Numisley asked Palden. Palden used his Feat to measure how long they might travel.


    ¡°About a week. If I¡¯m going. You sure that I ain¡¯t coming, son?¡± Palden asked.


    ¡°I need you to handle logistics. You¡¯re the only one who has any idea about running a company.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Palden looked at the few [Mercenaries] who are currently setting up shop in the headquarters.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you authority to hire new people.¡±


    A carriage painted green and blue had stopped in front of their company¡¯s headquarters, pulled by a single horse. Four [Knights] wearing gambeson and helmets instead of the popular full plate in stories rode in lean horses. On their belts, they have sabers and a wand or a hand crossbow. The carriage¡¯s doors opened wide, and a dark-green-haired young man hopped out of the carriage. He stood before them, sighing deeply.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°I apologize for my misconduct in the heat of the moment yesterday. I look forward to working with you.¡±


    The Gildin brothers blinked at each other in disbelief, bewildered at the sudden apology from a spoiled brat in their eyes. The heir of the Commerros was genuine in his shame.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Numisley finally spoke up. ¡°However, I will set some¡­rules.¡±


    ¡°Rules?¡± Racieros uttered.


    ¡°We are equals, and as such, you will treat us as such. Me, my brother, and my employees are equal to you, and you are neither superior or inferior to us.¡±


    ¡°But, the Divine Decree states that us nobility is meant to lead the commoners¨C¡±


    ¡°What in the paymaster¡¯s tits is the Divine Decree?¡± Numisley interrupted, scratching his head.


    ¡°The Divine Decree is the codex of laws that all must follow to keep order and civilization in the Six Lands.¡± Racieros glared at him.


    ¡°Ah, your religion. I believe in the Eight Divines and my homeland¡¯s various city gods, so it doesn¡¯t apply to me.¡±


    ¡°You will follow my orders¨C¡±


    ¡°I and my company are not your subjects. Associates at best. You¡¯re only our key to the lands of the Kaminor.¡±


    ¡°And your navigator. I only know the best routes and the towns in Kaminor. Since I went there multiple times. Without me, you are lost. Without me, you will not get past the Kaminor House.¡±


    ¡°I got the Signo Dato.¡±


    ¡°That will not get you in any noble house. It is only a slip to travel anywhere in the kingdom only for trading purposes, assuming that a noble vouches for it. After all, I will be the one asking for lodging in the Kaminor¡¯s castles.¡±


    Numisley thought that he has a point. Staying in a castle, getting close to the Kaminor nobles, is better for them than staying in a random inn.


    ¡°How about let¡¯s agree to not piss each other off.¡± Cultrost interrupted, cutting the stalemate between the lordling and [Trader]. ¡°The noble guy can order us around if the order is not stupid, and we can do our thing.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Numisley agreed with his brother.


    ¡°Agreed.¡± Racieros warily backed down. ¡°You will accompany me to the city of Semsellan.¡±


    ¡°We have business at Ascogres.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Father told me¨CI also have business there. We go.¡±


    The caravan of Gildin Trading and the scion of Commerro left the city of Ovespuerte. The carriage was beset by admiring eyes and the venerating bows of the city¡¯s crowds, rendering Numisley¡¯s cart of preserved fish invisible to them. Cultrost was awed and shivered at the fanatic praises directed toward the carriage before they went outside the gates; realizing another fundamental difference and similarity between his homeland and here. Graten watched the peering eyes among the crowd as his two men under his command: Arimith, the Dwarven [Carpenter] and [Mercenary], and Weriens, a [Butcher] and [Mercenary], sat vigilant on the cart. Numisley elected to leave Palden and the rest


    Traveling through the flat grasslands beyond the city, where few trees dot the countryside. The passing wagons stopped for a moment to bow to the carriage bearing the symbol of a noble house. Night soon came after the first day of travel. They were camping beside the road. The Count¡¯s son gave orders to his [Knights]. At no time, they had erected a large tent, the size of a house. Only for him, as he didn¡¯t let his [Knights] inside his private tent. Cultrost came back with Graten and his two subordinates, carrying a hanging deer carcass and firewood.


    Numisley sat on a stone, resting. He would help his brother and the others if it weren¡¯t for his birth defect. He stared at Racieros striding towards the campfire that they are preparing.


    ¡°Ah, this is our dinner.¡± Racieros regarded the fresh deer carcass. ¡°I wish my father let me bring our [Chef]. Do any of your people have some cooking-Feat?¡±


    ¡°I believe my guy here can cook for you.¡± Graten slapped the Dullahan, Weriens, a reticent man in armor who had been with Numisley¡¯s company since the start.


    Cultrost only knew him as one of Graten¡¯s [Mercenaries], whom he heard that among Graten¡¯s [Mercenaries], he had the best cooking. Numisley earmarked him as one of Graten¡¯s [Mercenaries] that had used both inside and outside of combat after he asked about the Dullahan¡¯s Roles back in their homeland.


    ¡°Erm¡­yeah.¡± Weriens blurted. ¡°I¡¯ll get to it then.¡±


    The Dullahan smoothly skinned the carcass with his knife, with the assistance of Graten and Arimith holding the corpse upright. The [Butcher]-[Mercenary] neatly divested the limbs from its body, then portions of its body. The fire was instantly lit, with him tapping the dry wood with a Feat that produce a spark from his fingertip. He conjured clay containers of salt, pepper, and oil that he always has on his person and placed the chunks of meat on the spit that Cultrost had prepared. The now-cooked venison was distributed among the people of the campfire. Numisley nodded in approval at the simple yet effective dish, however, he stared at the Racieros, who now waits at his personal tent to eat. The [Knights] grab a large chunk of the venison, delivering the wooden plate for him to eat.


    Numisley promptly ignored him and went back to the gathering around the fire.


    ¡°Nice cooking as always, tin-head.¡± Arimith the Dwarf complimented the Dullahan, whose disembodied head on a ragged pillow was being fed by his body.


    ¡°He¡¯s a better cook than a [Mercenary].¡± Cultrost joked.


    ¡°His Feats from his [Butcher] Role¡¯s synergize with his combat Feats,¡± Arimith added. ¡°Imagine how he butchers enemies as he did with the deer.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up with that guy?¡± Graten pointed to the lordling in his tent, guarded by four of his [Knights].


    ¡°My brother beat him in a duel. He¡¯s the guy that¡¯s supposed to manage Ascogres.¡± Numisley joked.


    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s the guy who let his town exposed like a Satyr¡¯s ass.¡± Graten replied. The simile from their homeland made them chuckle.


    Racieros Commerro felt a tinge of loneliness as he saw the foreigners around the campfire laughing and conversing with each other. It had reminded him of his companions. However, the recent schism between the nobility of the kingdom had driven them apart. He had disappointed his father as well, and he knew that as his less-pure son among his pure-blooded sisters and brothers, he will not inherit the position as the head of the family. He had agreed to come with them because he was assigned to keep an eye on them and his father wanted him to learn to take responsibility during the mission as a liason between his companions and the Kaminor House. He silently finished the meal, letting the [Knights] take his plate to clean it. Before numbly retreating back to his tent, he heard the clashing of metal. For a moment he thought that they were under attack by [Bandits], but his eyes turned to Cultrost and Graten sparring, as they always do during their downtime. He had dove deep into the traditional art of the cutlass; learning from a tutor. However, after his mistake at hounding after the Goblins, and being beaten by Cultrost, he knew that his skill was mere paltry as of now.


    ¡°Get my sword and sheath.¡± Racieros turned to one of his [Knights].


    ¡°My lord?¡± The [Knight] was taken aback by the sudden request.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to spar.¡±


    Cultrost was lightly sweating after sparring with Graten after they had eaten dinner. Graten never broke a sweat against the younger Cultrost.


    ¡°Another?¡± Graten asked Cultrost.


    ¡°Sure-¡±


    They turned to Racieros, who appeared before them, sheathed sword in hand. A [Knight] tried to intervene, but Racieros shooed him away.


    ¡°Commoners-I mean, esteemed traveling companions. May I join your spar?¡±


    Cultrost raised his eyebrow. Graten stepped forwards, staring at the noble¡¯s blade.


    ¡°Sure, why not?¡± Graten shrugged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry if you get hurt.¡± Cultrost smirked, with a bit of a patronizing tone.


    ¡°We were passing time anyways.¡± Cultrost didn¡¯t object.


    ¡°What¡¯s the rule?¡± Racieros held his scabbard.


    ¡°Touch-point. No Feats.¡± Graten positioned himself in his usual long stance with his broadsword. Racieros slowly pulled up his cutlass. The blade revealed the magic wrapped around it in the moonlight.


    ¡°What kind of enchantment is that?¡± Graten asked.


    ¡°[Haste].¡±


    ¡°I see. Let¡¯s start.¡±


    Racieros lunged forwards, swinging his sword in an X-pattern. The blade accelerate as he swung, but still, it lacked the power necessary to stagger Graten¡¯s broadsword parrying each strike. Before Racieros¡¯ blade can reach Graten, the [Sword Captain] parried his strike, causing Racieros¡¯ to lose his grip. His saber fell to the grass.


    ¡°I can tell that you are trying to emulate an Art or some fancy move. Like this.¡±


    Graten swung his sword, manifesting a silvery crescent mirage with his Sword Art under the moonlight.


    ¡°Build up your foundations. Basic moves. Perfect them. Go into combat¨Cwell, I don''t recommend it.¡±


    Racieros picked up his blade with newfound determination despite being humbled, sweat dripping down on his smile.


    ¡°Another round.¡±


    The three [Fighters] sparred throughout the night. Racieros momentarily forgot that he was on a mission to fulfill his father¡¯s expectations; that he was not a worthy heir of his House. He was immersed in further learning the blade, the only thing that he was enthusiastic about. Numisley observed Graten giving pointers as he sparred with Racieros and Cultrost while he wrote another entry in his journal, which was a surprise for him. He watched them going their separate ways after their practice bouts with each other. After a week of traveling, they had finally stopped over at Ascogres to deliver the barrels of fish to ?ienten¡¯s place to make a new batch of fish sauce. Another five days of travel later, they finally arrived to the borders of the Kaminor¡¯s lands.

 Chapter 28

    The town of Semsella was now in view, perched atop a hill that overlooked the agricultural valley tended by serfs and freemen. Houses and various buildings sloped on the hill, being watched over by the ancient castle that overlooked it. The caravan of a carriage and a cart trotted closer to the town¡¯s gate. One of the guards raised their eyebrows before barking to his underlings to open the gate. Disgruntled [Traders] and their carts were directed aside as they made way for the land''s nobility. The standard of the Commerro House stood high as it entered the gatehouse, before a bowing populace.


    Racieros pulled open the carriage''s shutters to show himself to the inquiring guards.


    "They are with me," he informed the guards about his entourage: Numisley and his men.


    They were inside the town without a hitch, after almost a week of traveling. Racieros never beat Graten in their nightly spars, however, he beat Cultrost only two separate times. He felt that he learned more about fighting than the traditional cutlass-fighting manuals and the [Weapon Trainer] that his father hired. Although at first he loathed accompanying the commoners from backwater Libertalia: the Gildin Brothers and their men kowtowing to their father.


    Cultrost stared at the breathtaking view from the raised stone roads overlooking the valley of three hills, where farmers harvested their wheat. On the hills are mines hidden within trees. Many of the buildings are fully made out of stone brick and clay shingles instead of the usual wooden plank and wattle-and-daub. Graten was reminded of the hilly battlefields that he fought on in the past. He guessed that any army or horde of monsters would have a hard time invading this place.


    The castle bore the banner of a grey castle on a hill behind a checkered white and green pattern, overlaid with the local letters that Numisley and the rest of the Libertalians are still less-than-familiar with; the name of the noble house that rules this land. A parapetted tower taller than the rest of the castle seemed to watch the caravan.The small caravan made a beeline to the castle through the main heightened roads of packed cobblestone. The people paid their respects to the noble passing through their city, with passing [Acolytes] waving their censers in their direction. Sentries on the citadel within the center of the city saw the banner on the carriage approaching the tower and informed their superiors.


    ¡°I land in peace in the name of House Commerro.¡±


    Racieros emerged from the carriage and called upon the people at the parapet with a traditional greeting from the lessons that he was taught about mingling with Yhrilian noble society. One of the sentries gestured to the men below to open the gate.


    ¡°Welcome to our land, scion of the coasts.¡±


    A woman wearing a corset and a green shirt under a stylized sailor¡¯s overcoat greeted back. Her stern eyes drifted towards the [Traders] behind the carriage.


    ¡°I was informed by your father that you have business with me, correct?¡±


    ¡°You?¡± Racieros was perplexed. He thought his father sent the letter to the head of the Kaminor House.¡±


    ¡°Yes, me. Castellan Adriasta Kasta Kaminor.¡± The older woman grunted.


    ¡°Pardon my mistake, but I thought my father sent the letter to Lord Amircoro Kaminor.¡±


    ¡°The head of the House left for Cerro Novoes a day ago. You were late for one day. Now, what¡¯s your business in this Karastillar?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ordered to escort the leaders of Gildin Trading. To give them lodging. They want to buy Kaminorian steel.¡± Racieros mouthed, slightly flushed. His embarrassment for being a day late was visible on his face.


    ¡°Commerro¡¯s scion, being an escort? Hah!¡± The casual barbed remark of the Castellan made Racieros'' teeth clench. This was an unforgivable slight, yet he always knew that those higher in the hierarchy will belittle him for having an impure heritage and low status. He contained his protests, bubbling under his skin for he wants to prove himself.


    ¡°I accept your plea on board. Rest your steeds and we¡¯ll talk inside.¡±


    The horses were handled by [Hostlers] in the castle¡¯s stables as they were let inside the castle. They walked in plastered halls of stone, with many flowing patterns of hills and clouds. Numisley glimpsed a fresco of Semsella itself behind the gap in the doors leading to the throne hall. Some of the plaster was wearing off; peeled by the passage of time. They were directed to their rooms. Graten and his two men rested in their rooms while Numisley and Cultrost followed the Castellan to her office.


    ¡°Are you going to bring this¡­barbarian into my office?¡±


    Castellan Adriasta glared at Cultrost Gildin and turned towards Racieros.


    ¡°Cultrost is-¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, Numisley Gildin and Cultrost Gildin are both owners of Gildin Trading. They both claim the writ of the Signo Dato.¡± Racieros informed, interrupting Numisley''s objections. Adriasta regarded them both and acquiesced to their request. They entered the office, lined with tapestries with embroidered animals and trees that seemed to move by themselves between neatly organized shelves.


    Numisley, Racieros, and Cultrost made themselves comfortable.


    ¡°As the Castellan of Semsella, I shall negotiate on the Kaminor¡¯s behalf.¡± The Castellan spoke.


    Racieros gripped his knees and Cultrost avoided the gaze of the Castellan. Numisley fearlessly faced the governor of this land.


    ¡°Us, Gildin Trading wish to sell your steel on your behalf.¡±


    ¡°Steel?¡± The Castellan raised her eyebrows.


    ¡°Steel ingots. How much do you have?¡±


    The Castellan reached for a document on her table.


    ¡°Sixty-five ingots as of the last moon.¡±


    ¡°I want to buy twelve ingots.¡±


    ¡°That will cost four gold each.¡±


    ¡°Four gold¡­how much is that if we use coins from Commerro?¡±


    ¡°Our kingdom uses one currency. A recent change that the Commerros and the rest grumbled about.¡±


    ¡°Coin deprecation.¡± Numisley mouthed silently. He imagined a bunch of nobles watching their coins depreciate. His [Evaluation of Information] deducted that this statement is factual. He was surprised since he was used to the various currencies between city-states back home.


    ¡°How about two gold per ingot? We can buy and sell more if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    Her eyes bored through Numisley¡¯s, then turned her gaze next to Cultrost. Whatever they want to say winked out in the face of the pressure exuded by the Castellan of Semsella.


    ¡°Three gold should be enough,¡± Cultrost suddenly uttered, eyes wide as he voiced the resolution that is least profitable to them. ¡°We can buy fourteen more ingots at this price.¡±


    Cultrost and Numisley stared at each other, as they realized that a Feat of hers pressured them to give the least advantageous answer that they can feasibly give. Adriasta¡¯s [Disadvantageous Agreement] and her noble¡¯s Aura overpowered any resistance they had. They were intimately familiar with [Merchants] who have Feats that do the same. Numisley calculated that this would cost forty-two gold, double the cost that they are willing to spend. However, they felt the urge to comply.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°I¡¯ll write the contract then.¡±


    She fished for a blank sheet of paper, a feather, and a pot of ink to write. The feeling that hung over the brothers dissipated. The contract was handed to them, and Numisley and Cultrost analyzed it.


    The contract stated that she wants a third of the profits that they will make for her metal. They felt the power of the words through the contract, compelling them to follow the deal written if they sign the contract. The contract seems fair, with a bit of an advantage to the Castellan.


    However, Numisley wanted to confirm something first.


    ¡°We notice that you have bountiful fields of wheat. I would also like to inquire about those.¡±


    ¡°How much do you want?¡±


    ¡°We will buy 4 bushels the next time I visit. You can use the steel ingots as collateral if I don¡¯t buy it when¡­around a week or more from now.¡±


    ¡°It shall be 30 silver.¡±


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    Words were added more in the contract. After finalizing the details, they signed it, bound to its words. Numisley wished he had more contract-related Feats than his risky [Bloodbound Contract].


    ¡°We shall enjoy your hospitality for a few days. I wish to explore the sights of your town.¡±


    The Gildin Brothers departed from the Castellan¡¯s office. Adriasta Kasta Kaminor stared at the letter sent to her by the patriarch of the Commerro House.


    Racieros left early during the Gildin brothers¡¯ negotiations. They didn¡¯t need him anyway. He was only a key for them to Semsella. He silently stood on the ramparts, leaning on the battlements.


    ¡°Useless¡­I¡¯m so useless. If only I was pure enough.¡±


    He knew that sometimes he acted like a spoiled brat. He knew he was useless. He was born from his father¡¯s second wife: one of the lower nobility with less-pure blood. He knew that he didn¡¯t really govern his ¡°domain¡± of Ascogres; it was one of his father¡¯s underlings who did. All he did was beg his father to allow him to exterminate the Goblins in his domain so he can prove himself to him.


    ¡°If you¡¯re useless, then what am I? I can¡¯t walk without a cane. I can¡¯t run without my brother carrying me. I can¡¯t even help setting up camp. I can¡¯t even fight alongside them.¡±


    Numisley lifted himself up the stairs with his cane.


    ¡°I can only tell them what to do. We¡¯re the same in that regard. Thank you for defending my brother, by the way.¡±


    Numisley overheard the noble¡¯s lament. He knew that he needed to build Gildin Trading from the ground up, especially connections. So it''s an investment to cozy to the [Merchants] and [Lords] in this land, while Gildin and the others walked around the city to buy some goods and supplies.


    Racieros¡¯ looked up at Numisley. A young man a bit older than him, with a wealth of experience compared to his sheltered life.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t interrupt me, who knows how the deal would go? I¡¯m not from here. I do not know the stupid titles that your kingdom has. I might have antagonized that¡­baroness or whatever her title was.¡±


    ¡°Castellan. An [Governor] of a castle.¡± Racieros weakly corrected.


    ¡°See? Know this. If you feel useless in your family¡­you can help us more. Gildin Trading is a fish out of water, so we don¡¯t know the particulars of your kingdom. Especially the nobility.¡±


    ¡°A foreign concept for you Libertalians.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°I do not serve commoners.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a partnership. ¡®Commoner¡¯ or not, we can help each other. I do not know what¡¯s special with nobility here. As far as I know, a title isn¡¯t worth shit¡­most of the time. Even an [Governor] affiliated with one of the Corps is no better than a beggar he shares the same streets on.¡±


    ¡°Being one of the nobility means that you are ordained by the royalty of the Thousand Bloodlines and the Divine Decree to rule the land on their behalf.¡±


    ¡°See? You are helping me right now. I have no idea who is the ¡®Thousand Bloodlines¡¯ or the ¡®Divine Decree¡¯ are, so this bit of information is helpful. Point is, I scratch your back, I scratch yours. We can help each other.¡±


    Racieros stared at Numisley and realized that he made sense. He found what he was looking for. Not yes-men that followed every command, but people like Numisley¡¯s brother who isn¡¯t afraid to beat him up. People that he can truly rely on.


    ¡°So, what do you need help with?¡±


    Numisley sat beside him on the ramparts.


    ¡°I want to prove myself to my father. I want to let him know that I¡¯m as useful¨Cno, better than my two older brothers.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s start in Ascogres then. We¡¯ll learn how to manage a town.¡±


    ¡°We?¡±


    ¡°I want Gildin Trading to have a large cut of what Ascogres produces. As your town¡¯s foremost [Merchant], I will help Ascogres¡¯ economic issues. I will help you manage the town.¡±


    Racieros was expecting this. He knows how opportunistic [Merchants] can be, seeing how his father gave away rights to the various foreign [Merchants] affiliated with Libertalia¡¯s Diamond Shore out of necessity.


    ¡°Know your place. You will not usurp power from me.¡± Racieros barked.


    ¡°I will not!¡± Numisley sighed. ¡°Rather, I¡¯ll make your territory fat with coins. I¡¯ll bring Kaminor¡¯s steel and wheat to Ascogres. When I travel to other cities, I¡¯ll bring goods to Ascogres where we can sell it. With more money, you can make your town better, and your father will surely take notice, right?¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    ¡°You can manage the rest. I¡¯ll just make money for my company and your town. It¡¯s fair right?¡±


    ¡°Fair. You¡¯ll have your cut.¡±


    Numisley tried to stand up, but his only remaining healthy leg was aching.


    ¡°Erm¡­can you help me? I can¡¯t walk.¡±


    Racieros nodded and lifted Numisley on his shoulders as they went down the stairs of the battlements. For the rest of the day, Numisley rested in the guest rooms of the castle. Cultrost bought the supplies they needed to go back home. The Gildin Brothers and Racieros accepted the Castellan¡¯s invitation to dinner, making small talk. After that, the Gildin Brothers went to the stables where Graten and his two men stayed and ate with them; much preferable to the stiff company before that.


    Finally, Numisley closed his eyes, satisfied with what he had accomplished today.


    [Reclaim Birthright, uncovered; Rare Feat - Noble¡¯s Disposition.]


    [Role Played, Trader.]


    [New Role Attained, Merchant.]


    [Rare Feat - Exploit Emotional Vulnerability developed.]


    [Feat - Basic Negotiations ¡ú Rare Feat - Intermediate Negotiations developed.]


    Numisley was happy when his Role evolved, along with a couple of useful abilities. The next day, they headed down to the fields, to observe the [Farmers] and to ascertain how much wheat they produce for their next purchase. They established acquaintances with the other [Merchants] within the town, beginning the gestation of Gildin Trading¡¯s network of acquaintances and potential informants. On that night, he signed the trade contract with the Castellan after finalizing the terms of the contract.


    A week later, the Gildin Brothers had arrived at their headquarters in Ovespuerte, now with more employees that Palden hired through the local Merchant Guild. Numisley went home to find that they were now in the red from spending too much.

 Chapter 29

    Numisley managed to scrounge their earnings for the past two weeks to keep them from the red. Still, they needed to cut costs because of the ten new Human employees under them, hired by Palden while Numisley and Cultrost were out, and other necessary assets that they had bought. Their most valuable source of revenue that kept them from being bankrupt was not the goods of Gildin Trading from Kaminor, Ascogres, and Ovespuerte, but Numisley¡¯s information brokering business that had earned him enough to keep them afloat.


    In time, they would be financially stable with the goods they plan to sell. However, the Count had sent a letter to their headquarters.


    -


    ¡°So, did you get the plan?¡±


    The Count asked Numisley and Cultrost after he explained what they needed to do. Smuggle a piece of rotten food into the kitchen of the Ascolitican Citadel to sabotage the Naveirei¡¯s gathering to embarrass them in front of their guests and lose their prestige. The party was for the Naveirei house to celebrate the first anniversary of the establishment of the semi-public Citadel Library located near the citadel and reaffirm and make new relations between the other nobility, [Merchants], and various influential people.


    ¡°I understood the plan. However, it''s honestly a gamble even with my [Extended Shelf Life]. My concern is one of the [Chefs] might have Feats that detect spoiled food. Much less sneaking them in.¡± Numisley hid the fact that Palden has [Edible Goods: Slow Decay] that would add to efforts of halting the rotting of the fish, and he has Raudaeiz and his gang for sneaking in.


    ¡°A valid concern. I¡¯ll call upon my contacts within the Citadel to inform us which [Chefs] have a detection-Feat, the layout of the citadel, and the rotations of personnel.¡± The [Count] reassured Numisley. He pulled out a magical scroll from a drawer under his lacquered desk.


    ¡°A Message Scroll, solely connected to me.¡±


    The [Count] gave the magical scroll to Numisley. Numisley handed it to Cultrost to hold it.


    ¡°Before that. I want to change the terms of the reward. I have a certain problem¡­the growing pains of building a company.¡± Numisley uttered.


    ¡°Money? Finances?¡± The Count accurately guessed the answer. He had various [Merchants] that had borrowed money from him in the past; many were imprisoned when they couldn¡¯t pay.


    ¡°Yes. If it''s appropriate, I need the reward right now. A hundred gold, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But, I want to make sure that you can do the job.¡±


    ¡°I can do the job. However, you want me to travel ahead right? So I could scout earlier. Avoid suspicion. I can¡¯t travel far north without money. I can¡¯t funnel enough funds for the trip while maintaining my business.¡±


    Numisley thought about the costs of bringing along the whole caravan and their wares. Even with Palden and the others, the risk of losing their other wares aside from the barrels of fish to an [Bandit] attack or an accident was too much due to their financial situation, much less buying supplies for everyone in the caravan. There¡¯s also the fact that leaving their headquarters unguarded in Ovespuerte will open up the possibility of their building getting robbed because they have fewer men.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you twenty additional gold coins. However, you need to pay it back. Whether or not you will succeed or not. An interest of five gold for every week you can¡¯t pay.¡±


    Numisley taught of the risk of incurring a debt to the Count. He knew that without enough money, his plans will not come to fruition.


    ¡°What do you think, brother?¡± Numisley turned to Cultrost.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try lowering his offer. Decrease the debt to¡­ten gold.¡± Cultrost whispered. Little did they know that the Count clearly heard Cultrost due to a Feat that enables him to hear whispers better; especially without countermeasures against eavesdropping that nobility and powerful people usually have.


    ¡°Ten coins is all we need for rations. We can supplement the rest.¡± Numisley decided, after quickly calculating the costs needed for the trip with his new [Quick Calculation] Feat that he gained a week ago when he was accounting for their budget.


    ¡°I see. Let¡¯s put it in writing.¡±


    The Count wrote down a contract for the debt and Numisley signed it. Numisley was now bound to the terms written in the contract as soon as he finished writing his signature. If he ever bails out of the job, his supposed reward will be added to his debt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make appropriate preparations for the trip to Ascolitica.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost were back in their headquarters, now with more people. Raudaeiz approached the two brothers among the new workers that are getting used to this place.


    ¡°The test ingot has been melted down into ''silverware''. I had to pay five gold more to let us transport the payment. Classic [Smuggler] move.¡±


    ¡°Bastard¡­ This Joerze Estrar¡­has he established contact with Greis?¡±


    ¡°The letter arrived just today. We¡¯ll mark it with the symbol so her men know what to get.¡± Raudaeiz reported back.


    ¡°Raudaeiz, after you load up the steel, tell your men that you will all come with me to Ascogres. Palden will drive. Graten, I¡¯ll need you to guard this place in my stead. I¡¯ll bring Josaif, Gedge, and Weriens with me.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll call them.¡±


    Raudaeiz later delivered the steel spoons shipped in boxes that Arimith made to the man named Joerze. He and his men on the port proceed to take it to the nearest merchant ship that is headed towards Baunt. Joerze kissed the five gold coins he shaved from the payment for Raudaeiz¡¯s contact on the other end and added it to his pouch. He tied the report to a pigeon¡¯s leg, and he set it free to fly to one of the ships in the district¡¯s harbor.


    -


    ¡°So, you¡¯re doing your debut at your actual family¡¯s party?¡±


    The brothers visited Thewardn to tell them of Numisley¡¯s plan. The Dwarf brought out a heavy glass bottle of deep magenta-colored whisky, with a blood-red rose etched on the cork.


    ¡°Rosainte Rofondit¨¤.¡± The Dwarf told them the name of the whisky. ¡°Alchemist delights¡­that¡¯s what they call these kinds of drinks.¡±


    ¡°Dwarves and drinks¡­you sure this doesn¡¯t kill non-Dwarves? You know, a single shot of beer would kill my brother.¡± Cultrost joked.


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Numisley playfully hit his brother, who barely even moved from each chair.


    ¡°Ah, like his father. I fondly remember your mother can outdrink Dwarves and Half-Giants!¡± Thewardn chuckled. Numisley and Cultrost rarely saw their father drink, even among his friends back home in Renimburg. It made Cultrost think of the future when Numisley will finally announces his birthright as a noble of Torregorn.


    Thewardn brought out two small granite cups. He poured a few drops into Numisley¡¯s cup and filled Cultrost¡¯s cup. They smelled roses from the whiskey, a work of a Feat of the [Master Distiller] from Iquellica who brewed it.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Before we drink, let me tell you something important, Numisley, Cultrost. The higher you rise, the more people will want to pull you down to the bottom. Being nobility carries a lot of responsibility. A lot of sacrifice for someone like you who isn¡¯t born in the position.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± Numisley asserted.


    ¡°Not enough. There¡¯s more. Your father¡¯s old enemies will come to bite you. Even if the Ichoricon verifies it, you will be vilified by those who will spread rumors about you, even if your father and your mother were considered the kingdom¡¯s heroes. Also, are you religious?¡±


    ¡°Religion? Never thought much about that. I just know about the Eight Divines and the city gods.¡± Numisley frankly answered.


    ¡°Now you better care. The Divine Decree oversees the Continent of Humans.¡±


    ¡°Divine Decree, Divine Decree¡­Who are they exactly? We kept hearing that, but we never bothered to ask.¡± Cultrost interrupted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a full discount on this information. This is something you need to know. Here¡¯s the quick rundown: they¡¯re the ¡®Religion of Law¡¯. Their Cardinals and Bishops created¨Cmore like ingratiated with the system that defines Human kingdoms today. They are the ones who create laws, judge criminals and give legitimacy to their [Kings]. Their [Inquistors] can sniff lawbreakers like hungry hounds. You two will deal with them sooner or later, so you¡¯ll need the Divine Decree and a copy of the local laws.¡±


    ¡°Where can we find those?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a copy.¡± The Dwarf pulled out a dusty book from the bookshelf. The heavy book was given to Cultrost to carry.


    ¡°One more. You can¡¯t be an [Information Broker] anymore if you ascend to nobility. You know what I mean, right? You need a proxy.¡±


    ¡°Proxy, huh,¡± Numisley uttered.


    ¡°Anyways, the whisky spirit¡¯s escaping. Let¡¯s toast for Numisley¡¯s debut!¡±


    They rattled their cups together and drank. Numisley coughed violently after he drank the whisky, while Cultrost fell over laughing. Thewardn brought Numisley a cup of water to dilute the alcohol.


    Numisley reviewed his [Social Network] that he gained when he made some contacts and acquaintances. He mingled and established contact with a few low-level to mid-level [Merchants] in both Ascogres and this city through the Merchant¡¯s Guild. He told them of the party in Ascolitica, saying that there will be an opportunity there. Some are willing to come, but many cited that it is too far for them.


    After a long day, Numisley and Cultrost assembled those who will come with them to Ascogres: Palden, Raudaeiz and his gang, and three of Graten¡¯s men. They informed them of Numisley¡¯s plan to ascend to nobility. Cultrost had purchased barrels of alcohol beforehand and distributed mugs as they made a small celebration out of it.


    Later that night, Cultrost carried Numisley to bed in their room. Cultrost sat on his bed, staring at the floor.


    ¡°Numisley,¡± Cultrost spoke as if struggling to lift up the words from his mouth.


    ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Numisley stared at Cultrost, still fatigued.


    ¡°Are you going to still be my brother when you become a noble? I¡¯m not really your blood brother in the first place. We¡¯re different species.¡± Cultrost finally voiced out his concerns, what he feared the most. ¡°What about Gildin Trading? What about the Golden Triangle?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¨CI will find a way. Since when does being different species stop us from being siblings?¡± Numisley reassured voice wavering. ¡°I¡¯ll find something in the copy Thewardn gave us, okay?¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Cultrost finally relaxed and laid himself down on the bed. Numisley had a harder time sleeping, staring at the ceiling. He didn¡¯t truly know what will happen in the future. They slept, saving their energy for the trip tomorrow.


    As if anticipating for the future, the Narrative that governed all forms of power in the world blessed Numisley, writing:


    [Reclaim Birthright, uncovered; Rare Feat - Noble¡¯s Diction.]


    [Reclaim Birthright, uncovered; Rare Feat - Declaration of Heritage.]


    The next day, they made their final preparations, and they set off to Ascogres.


    -


    A ship from Libertalia arrived at Ovespuerte a day after the Gildin Brothers left. Unlike the Kraken Snack¡¯s route, they had to go through the longer, safer route to Yhril. A [Marquis] and his remaining [Knights] and a foreign ambassador walked out of the gangplank.


    ¡°Ovespuerte. The Commerro¡¯s heartland. Have you eaten seafood before, Negotiator Dosiynu?¡± Dustitoz Gaviolos breathed in the Torregornian air, glad to be back in his civilized homeland, away from barbaric Libertalia.


    ¡°[Ambassador].¡± The charcoal-skinned Satyr corrected. The Stationmistress had promoted him with a Feat more powerful than Numisley¡¯s [Company Promotion]. He had a new Role to play, along with new Feats given to him by the Stationmistress. He now represented Thousand Roads¡¯ interests in Yhril. ¡°No. Thousand Roads isn¡¯t exactly known for its coasts.¡±


    ¡°Surely, Count Toresso will provide hospitality to us two, especially what we have to say. His coasts have the best seafood, after all.¡±


    They walked through the markets, towards the road that leads to the Comerro Castle. The locals bowed toward the Marquis with some offering their prayers. The foreign [Ambassador] evaded the crowd¡¯s notice. One of the [Knights] gave the [Marquis] a horse to write on, acquiring it from a stable.


    Count Toresso Commerro personally welcomed them in front of the gates, performing a showy bow befit of Yhrilian nobility.


    ¡°My mate, friend of the coasts! I¡¯m glad you welcomed me yourself.¡±


    Dustitoz hugged Toresso, patting him strongly on the back.


    ¡°Come, come. Who¡¯s your companion?¡± Commerro asked, staring at the well-dressed Satyr, now wearing a Torregornian-style overcoat and pants that is fit for the kingdom¡¯s courts. The ever-changing apparel is one of Dosiynu¡¯s Feats given to him by the Stationmistress.


    ¡°My lord, pleased to meet you. I¡¯m Ambassador Dosiynu of Thousand Roads.¡±


    ¡°I-I see.¡±


    The Count put up a fake front, hiding his true horrified expression with a Feat that maintained a smiling face. He never thought that the landlocked Thousand Roads have interests overseas. Dosinyu with his [Sense Allegiances] saw the ocean¡¯s fog that wrapped around him, a glaring clue of his true allegiances.


    A banquet was instantly prepared within the hour. The three men sat across each other in a long wooden tabled with plates of fresh seafood. Gaviolos munched on his paella while Dosinyu is trying to figure out how to eat langoustines.


    ¡°This is the second Satyr that visited my halls.¡± Commero regarded the foreign Satyr, who he was still wary of.


    ¡°Who was the first then?¡± The [Marquis] stood up abruptly.


    ¡°Cultrost was his name. Always beside the [Merchant], Numisley. They¡¯re brothers. Supposedly.¡± The Count told them.


    ¡°They were here!¡± Dustitoz exclaimed. ¡°Listen, my friend. This is what we wanted to talk about. That bastard child is a national¨Cno, he can threaten Yhril on what he has.¡±


    ¡°[A Secret Kept Between Us]. The book of secrets.¡± Dosinyu clarified, after determining the quality of the soundproof wards on the walls. ¡°He has the secrets of [Kings]. Thousand Roads is willing to pay five hundred thousand gold coins for you two if we work together to recover it for us.¡±


    ¡°F-five hundred thousand?¡± The Count¡¯s jaw dropped to his seafood stew. Even his [Fake Expression] can¡¯t suppress his shock. That is more than the Commero¡¯s holdings combined, even if he had to split it with Dustitoz.


    ¡°Yes. I shall give you a taste of this five hundred thousand.¡± Dosinyu tugged something in the air, as if there was an invisible rope. He drew a portion of the Stationmistress'' treasury with his Feat. A chest filled with treasure dropped into existence, landing with a loud bang that reverberated across the hall. ¡°This is a percentage of the reward. Fifty thousand gold coins.¡±


    The Count approached the chest, and it opened. A pile of shining coins and gems shone, almost blinding the Count. He knew how temptation-Feats worked, but despite that, he thought of what he can used with that money. His fear and temptation were at a stalemate, and he made his decision with a clear mind and careful consideration in his current situation.


    ¡°So what can I do to help with this undertaking?¡±

 Chapter 30

    The Gildin Brothers had arrived in the town of Ascogres, with barrels of Tisruda¡¯s fish in the two wagons. They stopped by ?ienten¡¯s place to negotiate on selling his wheat beer to the upcoming party at Ascolitica. The [Brewer] accepted with a smile, knowing his acclaimed fish sauce and wheat beer would reach the nobility, promoting him to higher places.


    Racieros heard that Numisley and Cultrost were in town, so he let them in as soon as they arrived at the castle gates. Racieros ordered his servants to prepare a simple feast for them.


    ¡°Racieros. Turns out I¡¯m one of you.¡± Numisley went straight to the point, after the initial introductions.


    ¡°What do you mean exactly?¡± Racieros raised his eyebrows in confusion.


    ¡°I mean what I said. I¡¯m nobility. I¡¯m one of the long-lost sons of the Naveirei. I¡¯m Numisley Naveirei, son of Jascias Naveirei and Marhyiana Naveirei. Upon my blood, honor, and homeland, I declare my intention to undergo the Ritual of the Ichoricon to prove my heritage¡­At least, that was what I will say at the upcoming party. Your father hired me to sabotage the party in the first place by delivering rotten food. Under the name of the Kaminors. To take the fall.¡±


    Racieros¡¯ fork echoed throughout the hall, clattering on the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re nobility after all¡­¡± Racieros answered. He knew he was telling the truth because he had no reason to lie. ¡°But, you¡¯re the son of the Duchess Marhyiana Naveirei?¡±


    ¡°Is our mother that famous?¡± Cultrost leaned closer. His statement piqued his curiosity.


    ¡°She was a hero a decade ago. She saved the royal family from the hegemony of the Gaviolos. She fought five dozen [Assassins] to bring our [King] to the capital to restore his throne.¡±


    ¡°Five dozen?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what the stories said,¡± Racieros asked. ¡°Your father, the Royal Spymaster¡­I don¡¯t really know what he did behind the scenes.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Numisley smiled, fondly remembering the times when their father taught them some basic cryptography. ¡°Since you know my parents, I need your support for the future.¡±


    ¡°For what, exactly?¡± Racieros walked around the table, getting closer to Numisley.


    ¡°Testify for me. Back me up when they question my heritage.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in it for me then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be your greatest ally. Our partnership bore fruit, right? I¡¯ll give you much more.¡±


    Numisley stood up, leaning on his cane. His other hand grabbed Racieros shoulder as if Numisley is showing him a glimpse of the future.


    ¡°Imagine. If I have my own land, you will be our foremost partner-in-trade. Imagine the money that you¡¯ll make then. You¡¯ll make your father proud.¡±


    Racieros was thinking about Numisley¡¯s offer for a whole minute before he decided.


    ¡°You had helped me, so I¡¯ll help you.¡± Racieros chose the simplest option.


    ¡°Want to come with us to Ascolitica?¡± Cultrost invited.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to come with the rest of the family,¡± Racieros informed.


    ¡°But you never liked the rest of your family anyway, right?¡± Cultrost bumped his fist on Racieros¡¯ shoulder. The young nobleman bit his lip slightly, smirking. Cultrost was also one of the reasons why he agreed with Numisley¡¯s deals. He liked talking with Cultrost every night when they had traveled to Semsella back then.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll come. ¡®That alright with you bro?¡± Cultrost turned to Numisley.


    ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Numisley shrugged. He did not mind his brother getting closer to Racieros. In fact, he encourages it. Cultrost needed friends, ever since they left their homeland, leaving their old friends and family behind, as well their acquaintanceship being an advantage to Gildin Trading to draw from.


    Racieros wrote a letter to be sent as a [Message] Spell to his father. The letter was passed to the local Mage Guild to be sent to the Count. The next day, Racieros left with Gildin Trading towards Semsella. Numisley spent the next few days studying the copy of the laws and the secrets of the black book during their travels, as he observed Racieros and Cultrost gradually warm up to each other, ever since they spar against each other with Graten back then. Finally, they arrived at the Kaminorian hill town.


    ¡°What do you want? I thought you were going straight to Ascolitica?" The Kaminorian Castellan impatiently asked.


    They were now within Kaminor''s castle. Adriasta''s brow furled when he saw Racieros and the Gildin Brothers together. Numisley wanted to talk to the Castellan alone, and she accepted the request. They were now alone in the office.


    "I''m wondering ''bout something. You''ll take the fall when I get caught right? Since you would supposedly send me to deliver food for the party." Numisley asked.


    "Yeah, why?" Adrista answered, sitting on the chair, staring at the letter sent by the Count days ago.


    "What are you going to get from playing in the Count''s game anyway?"


    "Why do you want to know? It''s our business. A commoner like you should just follow orders and wait for your bag of gold coins."


    "I''m no commoner. I''m Numisley Naveirei, son of Jascias Gildin and Duchess Marhyiana Naveirei, and I''ll announce myself as a new player in this game."


    The Castellan took a closer look and saw the resemblance. This [Merchant] shared his father''s blond hair and the boldness of his mother.


    "So, what? You''re not recognized. You will never be recognized."


    "I will be after I will shout to the gathering that the Comerros and Kaminors had paid me to sabotage their food."


    Numisley leaned on his staff smugly. Two figures emerged from the shadowy corners of her office, skulking towards Numisley, knives aiming at his back.


    -


    "Sometimes, you kicking me in the nuts was the best thing that has happened to me."


    They were in the castle''s rooftop pavilion, drinking mugs of mead and melons, a delicacy Cultrost didn''t know existed until now. Racieros prevailed on the castle''s [Chef] to access the pantry.


    "That''s a first," Cultrost remarked.


    "Sorry. That was a bad first impression. I can''t really think straight when I lose my temper."


    "Well¨CI understand."


    "Meeting you¨Cand Graten was probably the best¨Cone of the best moments in my life. I¨C"


    The back of Cultrost''s neck itched, sensing danger. He suddenly stood up, and the sweet melon fell flat on the stone floor with a wet splat.


    "My brother''s in danger!" Cultrost frantically looked around for any threats in the immediate vicinity, finding none.


    "What do you mean?" Racieros tensely gripped his scabbard.


    "I get Feats from my [Bodyguard] Role when I accompany my brother. One of them enables me to detect if my brother''s in danger. Call the others!"


    Cultrost rushed to the inside of the castle, passing by milling [Servants] in the corridors. He rushed towards the path that would lead to the Castellan''s office, but he was blocked by the crossed spears of the castle''s [Guards].


    "The Castellan is dealing with important business." One of them impassively spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m Cultrost Gildin, brother of Numisley, who is inside the office right now! So let me through or so help me!¡±


    Cultrost tried to push through the crossed spears, but the [Guards] pushed him back.


    ¡°We have orders.¡±


    ¡°Fuck those orders.¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Cultrost crushed one of the [Castle Guards]¡¯ noses with a fast fist. The other guard reacted with a thrust that the Satyr dodged, cutting his hairband. Cultrost retaliated by breaking the shaft of his spear and knocked the other [Guard].


    He avoided using his mace because it will kill. He knew better than to put Numisley and their company in hot water because they killed personnel of the nobility. He charged through the hall and found another four guards waiting for him, forming an impromptu spear wall.


    An armored [Knight] appeared behind them, and threw a spear straight toward Cultrost, empowered by a Feat. Cultrost dodged sideways, bumping himself hard into a wall. The spear wall didn¡¯t advance, contrary to what Cultrost expected.


    ¡°Stand down.¡± The [Knight] that threw the spear warned. ¡°Or we will consider this a criminal act against Castellan Adrista Kaminor.¡±


    ¡°Let me through! I¡¯m with Numisley Gildin, who¡¯s in your Castellan¡¯s office right now. I¡¯m his brother.¡±


    The [Knight] gritted his teeth. He had orders to stop any interruption until the job was done. Before he can order Cultrost¡¯s death, he saw the young [Lord] of the Commerros walking with the entourage of Gildin Trading.


    ¡°In the name of the Commerros and our friendship with the Kaminors, I order you to let Cultrost Gildin through!¡±


    Racieros pulled out his dueling cutlass from its sheath.


    ¡°My orders are to not let anyone through.¡± The [Knight] spoke.


    ¡°Then I will fight.¡±


    Racieros marched closer toward the spear wall. The [Guards] knew that injuring a noble as a commoner would incur a sin. They would be arrested in the name of the Divine Decree and forced to work as serfs, or much worse, be called a heretic and be forced into joining one of the worst Redeemer Orders. Hence, they stood down and pointed their spears at the ground, and opened a gap between them.


    The [Knight] stood down, knowing why the [Castle Guards] stood down.


    Led by Racieros, Cultrost, Raudaeiz, and their other companions rushed straight to the Castellan¡¯s office. The doors slammed open, and they saw Numisley being grappled by a man in black clothes, with the Castellan pointing her cutlass at Numisley¡¯s torso, while the [Assassin] knife was pressed against his throat. On one corner of the room was a burnt corpse, and Numisley¡¯s magical walking stick in the ground. Cultrost realized that he used one of the loaded spells to fend off his attackers.


    ¡°Let him go!¡± Cultrost pointed his mace in the Castellan¡¯s general direction.


    ¡°What are you doing to his brother, taking a [Merchant] hostage?¡± Racieros questioned, outraged by how she treated her guest.


    ¡°Who are you to question me, you little half-breed?¡± Adriasta fired back. ¡°You should know that we do what we need to do to keep our realm safe. This is no exception. He is a threat to the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Because of his father. The previous [Royal Spymaster] had conspired against the previous [King]? Now, he has the collected secrets from his father. How can we all be so sure that he would not do the same? Now, where¡¯s the book?¡±


    Her sword was pressed on Numisley¡¯s torso, drawing blood, but not deep enough to kill.


    Cultrost was shocked that someone else knew the existence of the black book. Someone had told Adriasta that, and he guessed that Thousand Roads is behind it somehow. However, he does not have confirmation for this. Cultrost gestured to Raudaeiz and his gang, knowing their ability to steal things, and the Castellan raised his eyebrows, anticipating an attack.


    Raudaeiz and his [Thief], Jrain reached out their hands. Using the same Feat, the Castellan and the [Assassin]¡¯s blades flew towards their hands. Josaif, the [Squad Leader] of Graten¡¯s, charged towards the [Assassin] to rescue Numisley.


    The [Assassin] dropped Numisley and revealed a wrist-mounted crossbow from his sleeve. It flew, but Josaif¡¯s axe expertly blocked it. Arimith behind him retaliated with a crossbow bolt to the [Assassin]¡¯s chest. At the same moment, Raudaeiz¡¯s Dragonkin [Thug], Texion swooped in. The Castellan fired a bolt of magic from her ring, but he dodged it and grabbed her from behind. The rest of Gildin Trading¡¯s men locked the door behind them. Cultrost handed Numisley his magical walking stick and helped Numisley up.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Numisley held on to Cultrost for support. ¡°This makes things easier.¡±


    Numisley approached the Castellan, staring into her eyes.


    "Texion, sit her down."


    The hulking Dragonkin nodded, holding her to the office''s chair as she tried to kick and punch her captor. Cultrost rushed to heal Numisley¡¯s wounds by rubbing drops of healing potion liquid on his shallow wounds.


    "I have only a couple of demands. I want you to back me up when I reveal myself to the nobility. You will contact your acquaintances to do the same thing. That way I can have permission to undergo the Ichoricon-thing to prove my lineage. Oh, also you will prevent anyone from¨C"


    Numisley''s blood seemed to drain from his body as he procured the bloodstained parchment. Now he knows that he can only put only two terms in the [Bloodbound Contract]. The bloody letters glowed as Numisley staggered.


    "W-why should I do that?


    ¡°I can just simply order Raudaeiz¡¯s man here, to snap your neck.¡±


    The Castellan¡¯s face wrapped in the Dragonkin¡¯s claws flushed with fear, as she stared at Numisley. Cultrost stared incredulously at Numisley.


    ¡°Hey, what if we get in trouble-¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare. You are a Merccanten! You will taste the justice of the Divine Decree! We are not to be sullied by those lower than us! Offender! Heretic!¡± The Castellan shouted, taking Cultrost aback. Numisley however, never faltered.


    ¡°Lower? I¡¯m Numisley G-Naveirei! I¡¯m one of you nobility! In fact, if you swear to not harm me or my company, I¡¯ll offer you a deal. I¡¯ll keep your true lineage secret. I will not shout in that party that your entire line was born from your grandfather¡¯s tryst with a commoner.¡±


    The Castellan defiantly gritted her teeth, but she acceded out of fear for death.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll sign it.¡±


    Her name wrote itself on the contract written with blood before she could get a feather and ink. She knows about contract-Feats, but not ones written with blood. They let her go and left. She tried to give her [Knight] and [Soldiers] orders, but her blood prevented her from speaking, freezing her jaw in place.


    If this was a magical contract, she could break it with antimagic. If this was any other Contract Feat, she would make it invalid with her authority. But her body didn¡¯t let her use any of the Feats, her blood preventing anything that would count as breaking the agreement. She feared whatever Numisley had.


    She saw her [Message] scroll keyed to her collaborator lit up, and she didn¡¯t have any strength to pick it up.


    -


    Count Toresso Commero sat in a tent that was quickly set up during their trip. Unlike Numisley¡¯s [Expert Caravan Master] that made every wagon he rode or led go faster than the average [Wagon Driver], they traveled slow, especially with the rest of House Commero and smaller Houses that had relations with the noble house. Their carriages and wagons were arranged in an impromptu circle to protect them from attack.


    He stared at the [Message] Scroll that he had written a message. He waited for Castellan Adrista¡¯s reply for hours now. He already ate the grilled fish that his [Servants] prepared for him.


    The [Ambassador] of Thousand Roads inconspicuously walked into the tent, evading the [Servant] walking out with a silver plate littered with fish bones.


    ¡°She¡¯s not responding for the past few bells.¡± The Count informed Ambassador Dosinyu after five hours. ¡°Something might¡¯ve happened.¡±


    ¡°Happened? That boy had even evaded our efforts. It¡¯s an irritable miracle that he¡¯s alive for this long.¡±


    ¡°I heard your¡­company is powerful. Can''t you just, send an expert to go after them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated. My employer wanted to keep this affair secret from the other Corporations that will notice. Even from Thousand Roads themselves. Hiring a person with a powerful Role would raise eyebrows. The place where that boy came from has some Diamond Shore influence in some of the cities.¡±


    The Count blanched at the mention of Diamond Shore. Dosinyu raised his eyebrows. Marquis Dustitoz Gaviolos barged in drunk, swaying as he approached the two.


    ¡°The lil¡¯ shit, still alive?¡± Dustitoz drunkenly slurred.


    ¡°Unfortunately.¡± The Count sighed.


    ¡°I fur..fuck. I need the bastard to die! Like dead. Before he can prove he¡¯s the son of that decree-damned [Spymaster] and that bitch! Hur-!¡±


    The Marquis puked on the ground. The Count gave his ¡°friend¡± an offended look. He sighed and rang his handbell, summoning one of his [Servants]. Despite how unsightly he is right now, he is the highest-ranking member of this conclave.


    ¡°Aloro. Please bring Marquis to his tent. He has too much to drink. Call someone to clean this mess.¡±


    ¡°At once, my lord.¡±


    Without any fuss, the male [Servant] hefted the Marquis and evacuated the tent.


    ¡°Hmph. Disgraceful.¡± The Count spat. ¡°He¡¯s losing it. What happened in Libertalia? Care to tell me? We¡¯re collaborators, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­Verbatim, he said that ¡®Libertalia is the worst decree-damned continent among the Six Lands¡¯. Without my mistress¡¯ assistance, he had wasted his money and suffered for it as he tried to escape Libertalia. Also, apparently, we aren¡¯t on the list for the ship that we had reserved in Baunt. So, he incurred a debt to my employer and we paid for his ship to Torregorn.¡±


    The Count nodded upon hearing this information. He had ideas, to potentially elevate himself to the nobility and gain more of the rewards from going with this plan.


    ¡°Say. If ever¨Cif he becomes a deadweight to our plans, will your¡­employer be open to changing the terms of the deal? If I contribute more than him, will I get a bigger share of the rewards?¡±


    ¡°Think of that when we capture that book and kill that Numisley Gildin. Hire someone, now.¡±


    The Count, not satisfied with the [Ambassador]¡¯s answer, begrudgingly wrote on another [Message] Scroll to one of his contacts.


    -


    Throughout the night, the two-wagon caravan of Gildin Trading sped through the northwestern forests to Naveirei lands. Afraid of the retaliation that will come to them.


    ¡°Is Numisley okay?¡±


    Palden called for Cultrost as he directed the horses. Cultrost emerged from a curtain within the wagon upon hearing Palden.


    ¡°Yes, yes! Numisley¡¯s just tired. Don¡¯t worry. He just needs rest!¡± Cultrost reassured, sweating.


    Earlier, as they escaped the Kaminor¡¯s castle, Numisley had fainted. Cultrost rolled the pale Numisley in a bedroll. He noticed his brother¡¯s skin got a hue paler. The weakness of [Bloodbound Contract] that Numisley told him had taken a toll on his body. He had to keep it secret from everyone for their enemies and potential traitors to avoid them taking advantage of it.


    ¡°How far are we to Ascolitica?¡± Cultrost asked Palden.


    ¡°A few days¨Cfour days if I keep up this pace!¡± Palden answered.


    ¡°Four days? Good enough¡­¡± Cultrost mumbled to himself. He hoped the Numisley would wake up soon. Before something goes wrong.

 Chapter 31

    The town of Calenbrenrze was in chains. The residents were declared as Offenders by the Divine Decree for not paying their taxes in full to the Kaminors and Commerros. Due to the holy laws that prevented the [Knights] and the nobility¡¯s levies from being sullied by the muddled details of the kingdom¡¯s laws, mercenary groups like the Inglorious Hands that are given a Writ of Purpose by the Decree deal with their enforcement.


    Those who fought the ordained sellswords were splayed on many fences, bales of hay, the furniture of the broken homes, the corpses of their defiled wives and daughters, and ultimately on the muddy ground. The Decreed [Mercenaries] will justify the ¡°unintended deaths and injuries from the population¡± in the reports as ¡°self-defense¡± against a rebellious populace.


    They will also decline to report those who had escaped their assault. Their losses were simply too significant against the unexpectedly fierce and rebellious defense of the town against the authority of the Decree to see future Serfs in chains, arranged to be exported to the neighboring farmland to caged wagons paid for by their priestly employers. They do not have the energy or will to pursue a few townsfolk, and they know that most of them will die in the wilderness anyway.


    When the [Mercenary Captain] Yulvres of Yverreseicni saw the contents of the Message Scroll he was furious. He can¡¯t take another job even with the money they earned from that Bishop. However, he was offered thrice the reward that his band had received. He wiped the sinful thoughts of disdain against the blessed Count, calling the fastest and the ablest of his beaten Inglorious Hands to intercept a criminal caravan and leave the majority of their men to guard the serf-carrying trains of the Decree.


    -


    The Gildin Trading¡¯s two wagons were speeding between lines of elevated soil and trees. Numisley was now awake but still woozy, reeling in the effects of his Feat. Cultrost was idly looking at Palden¡¯s back. Once again, they were running away. Speeding away in this wagon, with people who wanted to kill them at their backs. For weeks Cultrost thought that they don¡¯t have to run away anymore. Do their business without hiccups.


    The earth was raised in front of them and the caravan stopped, as its wheels are now sinking into sudden mud. Bows and a wand at either side emerged between the trees. A dozen people followed suit, armed with spears and axes, led by a bald man holding a heavy axe and a wooden shield on his off-hand, emerging from the west.


    ¡°Numisley and Cultrost Gildin. I¡¯ve been ordered to retrieve a black book in your possession. By the Decree. We shall leave you alone if you give it to me, by our reputation. No one will be hurt.¡± Yulvres offered.


    Palden stared at Cultrost. Cultrost looked back as Racieros, who tended to Numisley.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. We need the book.¡± Numisley whispered.


    ¡°He¡¯s paid by the Decree. Follow his demands!¡± Racieros countered. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, guys!¡±


    Numisley chuckled. ¡°We already made a lot of enemies before we land on your shores.¡±


    ¡°Being stupid is how we got there in the first place.¡±


    Racieros sighed because he saw Cultrost grip his mace, and Numisley¡¯s magical walking stick glowed. Raudaeiz and the rest readied up for battle.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I¡¯ll always do.¡±


    Numisley limped outside of the wagon and stood as straight as he can, approaching the leader of the Inglorious Hands.


    ¡°I shall offer you a better deal. I¡¯m Numisley Naveirei, son of Marhyiana and Jascias Naveirei. You know what that means. I¡¯m someone important.¡±


    ¡°Pretender. I had seen enough pretenders who falsely use the name of the holy Houses.¡±


    Numisley steeled his gaze. Yulvres had noticed an Aura around Numisley, but he didn¡¯t hesitate to give the order to shoot. Racieros was a second too late to shout his identity so that the fight can be stopped.


    ¡°Palden! Buff, now!¡±


    ¡°[Empower Guards-¡±


    The defenders of the wagons were empowered. The conjured rocks propelled by magic were supposed to be enough to destroy the wagons, but they simply bounced off their steel-hard canvases. The three [Mages], with little mana they had left, buffed their leader and his two closest men.


    Yulvres was enchanted with [Speed] and barreled towards Numisley. Numisley tapped a rune on the stick, erecting a pillar of earth that the [Mercenary Captain] collided on, his shield absorbing the impact. He reeled back and blocked Cultrost¡¯s mace, before retreating.


    His two trusted men blocked Cultrost and started attacking in tandem with their glaives. The Satyr desperately deflected each strike with his mace and [Phantom Bracer], enduring wounds. Conjured webs binding their legs made the two men trip in front of Cultrost. Numisley pointed his walking staff to another enemy.


    Racieros saw one of Numisley¡¯s lackeys outright steal a couple of arrows in the air. In the heat of battle, he knew he had to reveal his identity in the chaos. A [Mercenary] charged toward Racieros and he stepped back to dodge the worn sword that he held. The [Mercenary]¡¯s blade extended towards him, but he parried it with his enchanted cutlass.


    ¡°I¡¯m Racieros Commero! Stop this at once!¡±


    The [Mercenary]¡¯s ears perked up, hesitating as he saw the gleaming necklace on his neck. An arrow flew towards him, hitting him in the shoulder.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    ¡°He might be pretending!¡±


    ¡°Do you want to sin? I don¡¯t want to be a Serf again!-¡±


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Racieros heard the argument between the scarred [Mercenary] that attacked him earlier and one of the archers from their elevated position as he was pinned on the ground.


    Cultrost saw Racieros fall. His eyes swept towards the leader of the band of [Mercenaries], seeing only him in the mists of rage. He ran past Palden and Arimith fighting to protect Numisley. Before he swung, Yulvres¡¯ shield jabbed Cultrost¡¯s face; his [Shield Jab] hitting him square on his nose. He took the opening by swinging his axe, which cut Cultrost¡¯s abdomen lightly since he stepped back at the moment he shook himself out of his daze.


    Yulvres raised his shield as Cultrost hammered on his shield in a fierce assault, without feeling the arrows on his shoulder. Cultrost¡¯s mace banged furiously on the targe, giving Yulvres no opportunity to counter with his axe until he deflected a mace blow down upwards with his shield. The red Satyr stumbled, and he was going to chop his head off, but Yulvres dodged a [Stone Arrow] from Numisley¡¯s staff.


    Keenly, Yulvres saw the arrows being slightly deflected away from Cultrost after being hit too much. An Awakening. Instead of making it a duel that could further empower Cultrost, he threw his axe toward Numisley. Despite being heavily injured and a few feet away from Numisley, Cultrost had blocked the axe with his shoulder, by running impossibly quick; a Feat he suddenly gained in the heat of the moment, he guessed.


    Cultrost fell on the ground with a thud. Before the leader of the Inglorious Hands can finish Cultrost off, Racieros, lifted by one of the Yulvres¡¯ [Mercenaries], a scarred man with a wispy beard and lengthy tied hair.


    ¡°Germio?¡± Yulvres exclaimed.


    ¡°Sir! We¡¯re committing a sin against the Decree! We attacked a scion of the Commero House!¡±


    ¡°What in the Houses are you talking about?¡± Yulvres was perplexed by his subordinate¡¯s rambling.


    One of their [Archers] ran up to them, a young man a few years younger than them.


    ¡°I¨CI hit Lord Racieros Commero! I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t know!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Racieros. Scion of the Commero House!¡±


    Racieros announced his identity, intruding upon the quarrel. He knows that commoners that dare to hurt a noble without divine permission are a sin in their religion.


    The remaining [Mercenaries] hastily kneeled down in Racieros'' presence. Racieros consciously thought of what he would say.


    ¡°You will be redeemed. If you tell me who sent you.¡±


    Yulvres weighed the consequences. His lips quivered and his eyes wandered around the forest before Racieros.


    ¡°My lord. Your father sent us. He seeks the Gildin¡¯s notebook.¡±


    The [Mercenary] admitted. He decided to tell the truth over following Count Commerro¡¯s conflicting orders since he might hurt his scion.


    ¡°My father? Does he plan to assassinate me¨Cno. It¡¯s not me. What book, Numisley?¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost regarded the young nobleman, then stared at each other. As brothers, they often knew what the other was thinking.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk somewhere private,¡± Cultrost called Racieros.


    They were within the trees. Racieros tapped his ring that created a basic dome of silence that disables most amateur attempts of eavesdropping. The very least of privacy protections that even lesser nobility must have. Numisley started explaining, withholding, or downplaying some parts of their story, about the Book of Secrets that the brothers have. He conveniently didn¡¯t mention the equally important brown book that they possess.


    ¡°Ah. So¡­¡±


    Racieros struggled to find words for the almost unbelievable tale that the brothers told him. A Corporation, like the organization¡¯s representatives that his father had met with occasionally, had sought the book that contains a thousand secrets that would bring ruin to [Kings] and [Emperors]. They landed on the shores of his kingdom to amass resources to protect themselves from those who wanted to hurt them; one of them was the then-Duke now-Marquis Dustitoz Gaviolos, who had apparently traveled to Libertalia to kill their father. It all makes sense.


    ¡°So, do you two have a plan?¡±


    -


    Yulvres had watched the Commerro''s scion be led to the grove with his two foreign companions. He thought that he should let the head of the Comerros know. He had unfurled a message scroll from his satchel and wrote to the Count that his son was with the company of Gildin Trading.


    An hour later, the Count saw one of his Message Scrolls piled up at the opposite seat of his carriage light up. His eyebrows furrowed as he read the unbelievable message from the [Mercenary Captain] that he hired posthaste. Leaning on the impromptu foldable desk created by an exceptional [Carpenter], he furiously wrote his demands, the magic left in the ink and parchment carrying his words.


    -


    Racieros and the two brothers had walked out the private grove after they finished their discussion. Yulvres hesitantly approached them, letter in hand.


    "Um¨CLord Commerro? Your father has been summoning you. He was¡­displeased that you had gone with them instead of your House. He needs you to wait here."


    The [Mercenary Captain] had relayed the Count''s message as politely as he could.


    "Wait? Here?"


    Racieros looked around, and they guessed that the Inglorious Hands would build a camp for them. He knew they were far away from the rest of his House.


    This reeks of a plot. However, he heard the whole story from the Gildin Brothers.


    "Tell my father that I''m going ahead. I''ll wait for him at Naveirei''s party."


    Yulvres raised his eyebrows.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Tell my father that your group will be escorting me."


    The rest of Yulvres'' men had turned their heads toward the Commerro''s scion.


    "Us? My lord, we had injured you."


    "Think¡­Think of it as redemption. I will vouch for your innocence. Whatever your sins are from the Decree."


    A promise from a young lord was not the promise of promises. Not the most profitable of offers. However, his words stirred something within him. He was no Bishop or Earl that flaunted their divine right to rule and judge over the commoners. However, he did not castigate them for injuring him.


    He took a risk by kneeling, abandoning his current contract with the Count. He saw an opportunity to cleanse themselves from sin by serving a more worthy lord.


    ¡°My lord. Let us serve you to redeem our transgressions. Until you have no need for us.¡±


    The rest of the Inglorious Hands looked at each other and followed their [Mercenary Captain]¡¯s lead. All of them soon kneeled toward Racieros Commerro.


    ¡°Of course. Please accompany us to Ascolitica.¡±


    The caravan reformed itself. Palden repaired the minimal damage on the wagons with his instant-repair Feat. Yulvres ordered one of his [Mages] to send a [Message] spell to inform the rest of his men that were left behind in the town of Calenbrenrze about their current employment.


    With Palden¡¯s maximum speed, they headed straight to Ascolitica.

 Chapter 32

    [Lesser Missile Defense] and [Speed Interposition] are what Cultrost gained in his recent Awakening. He did not count how many Awakenings he had undergone from their journey from Libertalia to Torregorn. Despite the arrow wounds he had suffered from the last battle, he had treasured each wound despite feeling them less than he should with his [Ignore Pain].


    He stood up from the bedroll, seeing the gates of their destination from afar. Their caravan was rolling among the fertile fields that surrounded the city of Ascolitica.


    ¡°Cultrost?¡± Racieros¡¯ worries evaporated as he saw Cultrost awake at last.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move too much, knucklehead!¡± Numisley scolded his brother for moving too much.


    ¡°Look who''s talking, spending too much blood in his Feat.¡± Cultrost weakly bantered. Numisley was still feeling a bit woozy from his [Bloodbound Contract]. For the past few nights, he wondered why his [Bloodbound Contract] feels heavier than when he used it in Libertalia. He surmised in his journal that it might be because of the difference in status between him and Castellan.


    The Inglorious Hands, or rather a quarter of them had accompanied the caravan of Numisley out of penance from hurting a scion of the House. The guards of the gates of Ascolitica were wary of an unfamiliar caravan with armed men and two [Traders] that they haven¡¯t seen before. Until Numisley showed them his Signo Dato and Racieros appeared before them to show them the Commerro¡¯s crest.


    Numisley was still sitting in the wagon, while Cultrost remained restless, walking beside the two wagons despite his brother¡¯s protests. The healing potions had closed the wounds, but it would take time to completely heal. After Racieros scolded him, Cultrost shrugged and hopped back on the wagon.


    The vast city was unlike Ovespuerte¡¯s port city, where it felt cramped in many areas. It was not Libertalia¡¯s Baunt where it was an ancient megacity with a lot of space to spare. The markets had dominated much of the space in Ovespuerte, and many of the buildings used by commoners had seen better days.


    This city was clean and more organized with more expansive and well-maintained roads. The atmosphere was lively, with many people preparing for the grand reception for the coming nobility. People were setting up paper streamers hanging on ropes that crossed from roof to roof. [Acolytes] were sticking written prayers on paper on the buildings on either side of the main roads where the other noble houses¡¯ caravans would enter. The citadel sat on a flattened hill at the center of the city; its low walls with the hill¡¯s height were enough to defend against any siege.


    Cultrost stared at a stone statue depicting a man standing atop the broken prow of a sinking ship, holding a gleaming cutlass and a jagged sword of coral. The lapiz-encrusted stone waves possess the illusion as if the waves were still flowing outwards, frozen in time. He realized that the statue resembled Numisley¡¯s facial features. The same small nose and serene facade.


    ¡°Palden. We¡¯ll catch up. Me and Cultrost will come back later.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost hopped out of the caravan. Cultrost followed his brother as he suddenly limped closer to the statue. Numisley ducked awkwardly with his cane, trying to read the worn plaque with his limited understanding of the local language. Somehow, he understood what was written.


    Duellitarro Marr Naveirei.


    [Champion of the Coasts, Duelist Lord of the Rending Waves].


    ¡°Surf through the waves of strife.¡±


    ¡°Numisley?¡±


    ¡°I-I just want to take a look.¡±


    Cultrost skirted around Numisley and saw a tear in his eye. He stared forlornly at the statue, a wave of nostalgia eerily washing over him. This was more than homesickness for a place he didn¡¯t live in. A place he didn¡¯t know yet. As if the statue of his ancestor calls for his bloodline.


    ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t know why I did that.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a word for it. I think?¡± Cultrost held Numisley¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Nostalgia?¡±


    ¡°How can I feel nostalgic for a place that I haven¡¯t been to before?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°The [Royal Sculptor] who sculpted Duellitarro¡¯s Triumph etched a Feat in the stone. [Evoke Emotion (Sculpture): Ancestral Awe]. According to the History of the Naveirei by Sasres Jastrellan.¡±


    A stranger appeared before them. Cultrost speedily interposed between Numisley and stranger with no discernable features.


    ¡°The fuck¨Cwho are you?¡± Cultrost demanded.


    ¡°Apologies. I was doing my daily walks around our city. Let me remove my Ring of Anonymity.¡±


    The magic that enveloped the stranger dissipated. What appeared was a man with the same curly blond hair and small nose as Numisley. However, unlike Numisley, he possessed a more scholarly appearance. He possesses a more scholarly bent, and it showed in his appearance; his spectacles, and his thin frame. He was no Numisley who can charm women with a glance, but his noble blood made his homeliness more regal.


    ¡°I overheard you two. And you, I see the resemblance. You are¡­one of us, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Numisley¡¯s eyes are agape with incredulity. His mouth is unable to speak as he had always done, to impress or assert himself above others.


    ¡°The Naveirei? Are you¡­related to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°We should talk in a more private place.¡±


    ¡°What about¡­should I tell Palden?¡± Cultrost interrupted.


    ¡°Oh, the documents,¡± Numisley remembered about having to register their caravan to the Merchant¡¯s Guild. ¡°Cultrost, can you do it for me?¡±


    ¡°Me? Wait, you, where are you taking my brother?¡±


    ¡°Brother?¡± The stranger who seems to be related to Numisley sputtered. ¡°Did his father take a second wife?¡±


    ¡°Our father. I¡¯m adopted by them. I¡¯m his brother.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. Of course. Pardon me for my rudeness. I¡¯ll take him to the Bibliotecca Tor Ciudelar¨Cthe Citadel Library. I¡¯ll tell the [Guards] and the [Librarian] to let you through when you come to us later.¡±


    Cultrost was split between accompanying his brother and doing what they were supposed to do. However, he stepped away, since he needs to do his part for Gildin Trading. He would run towards that library as soon as he finished registering in the Merchant¡¯s Guild.


    ¡°Stay safe.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    Cultrost followed the path of their caravan while Numisley went with his relative. They walked unnoticed through the roads filled with people preparing for the celebration of the opening of the first library in Ascolitica. The two soon arrived at the citadel¡¯s first gate and after the older Naveirei was recognized by the [Guards] even with his Ring of Anonymity.


    ¡°There will be a red-skinned Satyr with long hair coming later. His name is Cultrost Gildin, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Let him through. My orders. He¡¯s one of the [Merchants] that we hired for the feast.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Naveirei.¡±


    The [Guards] followed his orders, opening the doors within the gatehouse. Numisley found himself limping up the inclined road that coiled around half of the small hill where the citadel sits. He can see the full splendor of the city of Ascolitica under the clear blue skies, a flat land dominated by red roofs, towers, and fields of crops that stretched for miles, with a few villages under Ascolitica¡¯s purview.


    He stumbled, but the older Naveirei caught him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t walk properly. Since I was born.¡±


    ¡°Can I take a look?¡±


    ¡°Who are you, anyway? I went with you because I want to know the answers. At least tell me your name when you dragged me here.¡±


    ¡°Anteojor. Anteojor Unor Naveirei. Pardon me. I was¡­alarmed when I figured out that you were one of us.¡±


    ¡°How did you figure it out anyway? You did say you overheard us. I didn¡¯t say anything about my origins.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I overheard you because of my Earrings of Hearing. But it was my¡­superior intellect that put the pieces together.¡±


    ¡°You sound like an egotistical [Sage].¡±


    ¡°Sorry. What I meant, is that you mentioned ¡®nostalgia¡¯ when you were talking with your ¡®brother¨C¡¯¡±.


    ¡°He is my brother!¡± Numisley was gradually getting annoyed by his relative.


    ¡°I know¨Canyway, that¡¯s how I figured it out. You looking at the statue of our ancestors with awe. What I¡¯m meaning to say¨CIt¡¯s not just my intelligence alone, but it''s what we are. Whoever possesses the heritage of the Thousand Bloodlines, will be smarter, stronger¡ªbetter than the commoners.¡±


    Numisley looked around, but fortunately, they weren¡¯t any ¡°commoners¡± within earshot.


    ¡°What, so you think you are better than other people?¡±


    ¡°Well¨Cno¨Cyes¨CI mean, what I want to tell you is that you have a very potent bloodline. This is why¨CI¡¯ll tell you in the library. By the way, you should invest in more anti-eavesdropping charms. This is also why I was able to eavesdrop earlier.¡±


    They had arrived at the final gatehouse, unraveling the citadel. The inner city was different. The fact that there were more integral buildings like the city¡¯s central church and the Mage Guild speaks to how important they are that they were within the city¡¯s most fortified area.


    They walked towards the library, a wide solid stone building two stories high, with wide blurry crown glass windows to provide the lighting for the inside. It was guarded by [Guards] with spears, but they let the two through.


    They were first greeted by a framed map of the Six Lands behind glass; its parchment was slightly worn, the vanishing ink dignified by age. The library was serenely empty, its chestnut bookshelves and hallways waiting for new visitors. Its books are neatly lined up and recently brushed. The freshly furnished wood of the shelves was sketched on with the runes required for the incoming enchantments to preserve the books; nothing as grand as the greatest libraries of the Six Lands, but enough for the oldest books to last a decade.


    They sat on the farthest table in the library, away from prying eyes from the windows.


    ¡°[Ward of Muffling].¡± Anteojor drew a glyph with his finger on the table. The geometrical glyph dimly glowed. ¡°Finally, we can talk. So which Naveirei did you come from?¡±


    Numisley thought the spell he cast is very useful. However, he had already learned that he isn''t inclined to the magical arts. The next best thing that he can do in order not to be eavesdropped on is to buy magic items or have a [Mage] working for him, as his relative says.


    ¡°My parents? Before that, how can I trust you? I know you¡¯re related to me. How should I know that you don¡¯t have ulterior motives?¡±


    ¡°I¨CIt¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re already cautious. As you may already heard¡­I think, that there¡¯s an inherent danger in being part of a Noble House. Assassinations and slander from other Houses. I do not wish to be a part of that. I merely am an unimportant person in our House, hence why am free to do as I please most of the time. Mainly, reading books. Books won''t stab you in the back. Books will never slander you¨Cwait this is false¡­¡±


    The scholarly Naveirei coughed meekly.


    ¡°Apologies for the tangent. But, my motive is that I¡¯m concerned for you. And you are my relative. Of course, I would help. I have nothing to gain by helping you. Out of the kindness of my heart, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Hm. I¡¯ll accept that.¡± Numisley lowered his guard a bit. ¡°I¡¯m the son of Jascias and Maryhiana Naveirei. I need to prove my lineage. Count Commerro is trying to kill me."


    "Because you''re the scion of their enemies."


    "I¨CYes."


    Numisley was glad that he didn''t have to lie about his circumstances, although it may be not far from the truth as Anteojor explained the feud between the Naveirei and Gaviolos Houses, in which the Commerro''s were loosely affiliated with the latter. Numisley''s parents, with the help of the Naveirei House, had restored the royal line when the Gaviolos House briefly usurped the throne.


    "So why is the Gaviolos House still alive then? They had betrayed the kingdom, right?"


    Numisley had to ask. He needed more information about this kingdom to help him in the long run.


    "I heard it''s because of Marquis Dustitoz pulling favors to the Archbishop of the kingdom to lessen his sentence."


    "I see. Is there someone who can help me?"


    "Marquis Escribanorr Tres Naveirei. Your uncle, and my father. If you are the scion of the main family, that means you are my cousin."


    "Can you take me to him?"


    "The House has been busy preparing for the opening of the library. I could ask him if he can make time for you. We could meet tomorrow if you¡¯re going to deliver your wares.¡±


    ¡°Count Commerro also hired me to sabotage your party. With rotten fish. Tell him that too. I won''t do Commero¡¯s bidding since you will be helping me.¡±


    ¡°It was nice meeting you. Meet me tomorrow in the castle¡¯s larders before evening at sunset. In the name of the Houses, I hope you the best. I wish to see you again, officially. As a family.¡±


    The glyph traced on the table dissipated. They turned their heads towards the library¡¯s main doors as Cultrost suddenly opened them.


    ¡°Brother! Are you okay?¡± Cultrost rushed to Numisley.


    ¡°Of course. You can trust him.¡± Numisley reassured.


    ¡°I mean no harm, truly. I¡¯m Numisley¡¯s cousin.¡± Anteojor introduced himself to Cultrost. The Satyr shook the hand of Numisley¡¯s blood relative.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± Numisley bid his farewell


    The two Gildin Brothers soon left the library and the citadel, heading towards the inn below. Anteojor Naveirei, with his Ring of Anonymity, rushed towards the Naveirei¡¯s castle.


    As soon as he was inside, he removed his magic ring and pocketed it. His relatives, the few of them that can attend had seen their reclusive relative briskly walking as if in a hurry. Through the decorated halls of the castle, he finally arrived at his father¡¯s office.


    ¡°My lord, Marquis¨C¡±


    ¡°I know. I got something important to tell him.¡±


    Anteojor barged into his father¡¯s meeting with the eight [Enchanters] he employed. Miffed, his father stared at his impertinent son. The eight [Enchanters] gave way to the young [Lord].


    ¡°I assume there¡¯s something important that I need to know?¡±


    ¡°Over privacy spells.¡±


    ¡°Excuse us.¡±


    The [Enchanters] were told to wait outside on the padded benches. As soon as the doors were closed, the [Mage Marquis] activated a spell circle on his lacquered desk, deploying a spell greater than what Anteojor cast in the library. The windows were darkened to prevent outside spies from reading their lips.


    ¡°Son. You need to work on your manners.¡±


    Anteojor abruptly kneeled.


    ¡°Forgive me, my lord.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t barge in without a reason. Speak up.¡±


    ¡°I¨CI discovered our lost cousin.¡±


    ¡°Cousin?¡±


    ¡°From the main family. Lady Marhyiana¡¯s son.¡±


    The greying [Marquis] jumped from his seat, wide eyes scanning the room. He knew that the former head of the Naveirei ran away with the kingdom¡¯s [Royal Spymaster] to the Free Continent, Libertalia.


    ¡°Son. You¡¯re telling the truth right?¡±


    ¡°On Naveirei¡¯s honor.¡±


    ¡°So. They had a son, huh¡­¡±


    ¡°He needs us to prove that he¡¯s one of us.¡±


    ¡°Of course he does. But I¡¯ll judge if he¡¯s worthy of our House or not.¡±


    Anteojor told the rest of the story about Numisley¡¯s circumstances. The next day, the Gildin Brothers prepared themselves for the Naveirei House.

 Chapter 33

    Numisley was eating breakfast with Cultrost and Racieros. The [Innkeeper]¡¯s bowl of tomato and corn stew is filling them with energy. The rest of their company was staying at different inns because of how full the inns are three days before the celebration of the opening city¡¯s only library.


    ¡°You made contact with one of your family members.¡±


    ¡°I did.¡±


    Numisley had already told Racieros about his meeting with his cousin yesterday.


    ¡°So what are you going to do now?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re meeting him later at sunset.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re coming with Cultrost?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s my brother, after all.¡±


    ¡°They will not recognize that. Most of us haven¡¯t seen a Satyr before. We only heard of them as [Pirates] and [Raiders] from the far northern coasts of Trislan.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be with my brother. I do not care what they think.¡± Cultrost interrupted.


    ¡°You should. Numisley will be tested if your brother will be worthy of Naveirei¡¯s name, most likely. If you come with Numisley, you¡¯ll both be ridiculed.¡±


    Numisley sighed, weakly lifting the wooden spoon to his mouth.


    ¡°He¡¯s right. But¡­I¡¯ll find a way, Cultrost.¡±


    After that morning, Cultrost was running errands around the city, going to the two inns that the separate members of the caravan to inform them that they will be transporting the barrels of fish later.


    He went to Palden, Armith, and Josaif¡¯s inn, where they were staying a street away from them. Cultrost told them to dispose of the rotten fish in one of the city¡¯s cesspits because they would not follow the Count¡¯s plans anymore. Originally, they bought Raudaeiz and his gang to smuggle the rotten fish to the kitchens, but it isn¡¯t needed anymore since Numisley wants to ingratiate himself with the Naveireis, and the Count now wants to take the book from them.


    ¡°Can we talk?¡± Cultrost asked Palden, who was sitting on a bench in front of the inn that they were staying in. He was sipping hot water from a white waterskin, etched with a rune, the smallest unit of etched enchantment.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Palden placed his waterskin beside him.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Cultrost had to ask about that enchanted waterskin.


    ¡°Oh, this? A waterskin. Enchanted to warm your water.¡±


    ¡°Warm? Not cold?¡±


    ¡°I heard from that same Satyr that I bought it from trials ago that warm water¡¯s healthy for ya¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Cultrost¡¯s eyes wandered towards many of the local Humans in the city glancing at them as they passed by. The locals see an aged foreign Human with tusks and a strange red person with horns, strange people from a land from an ocean beyond. Cultrost had gradually been used to the foreign gazes of the locals; the only lone Satyr in the port city as far as he knows, despite being visited by other peoples from the southern continent of Lemuria and their homeland.


    ¡°So, what do you want to talk about? Your brother?¡± Palden turned to Cultrost with a genuine intent to listen.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m afraid that he¡¯s going to have to abandon me.¡± Cultrost admitted.


    ¡°What? Oh, the thing with his¡­relatives.¡±


    ¡°His real family.¡±


    ¡°Family is family.¡± Palden pounded his left knee.


    ¡°I wish that it were true. Numisley¡¯s a Naveirei. I have no idea what it entails. But I know that he¡¯s a Human from this kingdom. Not from Renimburg. His mother and father are not mine.¡±


    ¡°But they took you in, did they not? In the winter sometime ago, where you were in front of their door. Without a blanket or a basket even. They picked you up from the snow. They raised you as their own.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re gone. Mother¡¯s gone. Father¡¯s gone. Numisley¡¯s all I have left. And he will be gone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here. I accompanied you brothers because you are family to me. I have never been married; with me roaming across the Stokeburn Desert and all. Even if you don¡¯t pay me, I¡¯ll be with you two.¡± Palden paused. ¡°Besides, he will find a way, like he always has.¡±


    Palden stood up from his bench. It dawned on Cultrost that he was the closest person to an uncle. He was the longest employee of the old Gildin Trading.


    ¡°Can you help me buy things in the market?¡±


    Cultrost stood up, scanning the street.


    ¡°I guess. What do you need?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­Let¡¯s find some horseshoes for the horses. Oh, rations. ¡±


    They walked to the nearest market, a quarter where all the shops are. They saw someone polishing a horseshoe on a bench. His other horseshoes were hanging on wooden racks, some having a faint glow of their enchantment.


    The [Farrier] looked up with a twitching eye.


    ¡°We¨C¡±


    ¡°Go away, Inhuman. I do not serve your kind.¡±


    The Satyr stared at Palden, then back to the [Farrier]. His temper started to boil until he saw the [Soldiers] patrolling the streets. His rage fizzled as Palden ushered him away to find another person who will be willing to sell to them.


    However, Cultrost already knew that someone like him doesn¡¯t belong to this kingdom.


    -


    Two men walked within the streets near the hill where the citadel is. One of them idly munched on some bread with cheese that they got for free because of the occasion. They stared at the road that coiled around the hill, guarded by three gatehouses. They had followed Numisley and Racieros as they ascended to the citadel.


    ¡°Their defenses are pretty good. Aside from the hill and gatehouse¡­there¡¯s some spells bound on the incline. The towers scattered around have a wide field of vision. The citadel¡¯s walls are enchanted too.¡±


    ¡°I see. Even if Numisley¡¯s in trouble within the castle, we can''t rescue him.¡±


    Raudaeiz was ordered by Numisley to scout out the defenses just in case he got in trouble. He did not bring the rest of his gang except for Jrain, a [Thief] like him. He possesses the useful ability to detect defensive spells and defenses in a structure due to his collection of Feats.


    They saw a congregation of Human [Priests], reading scrolls and books of their scriptures as if they are reading laws in front of a court. One young and stocky man bore a bronze standard of nine halos and another hooded figure bore the banner of the Naveirei House. Some of the hunched figures wore chained heavy tomes that made their pace labored as they seemed to make a circuit around the hill of the Ascolitican Citadel.


    With each chant and litany of the divine laws written on their sheets and books, the hill seemed to glow subtly, more protected than usual. It is as if it were imbued with divine protection. As they get closer to Raudaeiz and Jrain, they felt their hair stand on end when they felt the holy aura of the [Priests]. Raudaeiz and Jrain now noticed men armed with spears and wooden shields flanking the procession; arms shining with faith.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    One of them glanced at the [Thief] duo and they decided to nonchalantly walk away to another street, getting away from them as far as possible. They had never experienced such primal fear before, as if their prayers kept criminals away. They felt like if one of their [Crusaders] spotted them, they inevitably would be hunted for their past crimes.


    They stopped in front of a store that sells vases. Raudaeiz looked back, his eyes drifting towards the citadel that overlooked the rest of the city, sweat rising from his skin.


    ¡°Damn you, Numisley. Don¡¯t fuck this up. Whatever it is you need to do in this shitty city.¡±


    He wondered what would become of them when Numisley attains his place in the Naveirei House.


    -


    Numisley later arrived with Racieros at the castle as the sun descended to the southeast. Palden had brought the two wagons filled with the barrels of fish from Ovespuerte that the [Count] contributed to the party; albeit with a bad batch that would sabotage the party if Numisley didn¡¯t betray the [Count].


    ¡°Are you sure that it¡¯s alright to Cultrost to not come? Maybe I should send Palden to fetch him.¡±


    ¡°I would want him here too. But, even I know¡­he can¡¯t come. A half-breed like me is scoffed at. Cultrost? He wouldn¡¯t be welcome here. He¡¯s not Human. I won''t have him killed.¡±


    Numisley pondered at Racieros¡¯ thoughtful tone. He speaks of Cultrost like he was more than a friend. His [Exploit Emotional Vulnerability] nudged him to somewhere he didn¡¯t think of.


    His train of thought vanished when they were led to the pantry, where they were directed by one of the castle¡¯s [Servants]. Numisley was surprised by the size of the pantry, full of racks of hanging herbs and preserved meat and fish and jars of spices, barrels of wine, pots, and amphorae of juices, and boxes of various vegetables and fruits.


    ¡°Good luck.¡± Palden held Numisley¡¯s shoulder and left the pantry. Soon after, Anteojor entered the pantry.


    ¡°My father is expecting you.¡±


    Anteojor led them through the castle¡¯s halls. They evaded the notice of the few nobility who were days early to the party. Numisley saw the beauty of the castle, its glided jambs, its carpeted floors, its clear windows, the banners of House Naveirei; everything that the castle has, is a grandeur Numisley haven¡¯t seen before, only imagined from stories that he read in his father¡¯s small collection of books.


    They had finally arrived at a glided set of wooden doors. Anteojor turned towards Numisley.


    ¡°My father will be testing you if you are worthy of the Naveirei name.¡±


    ¡°Test?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I do not know how. However¡­you need to show respect toward him. Any of the nobility for that matter. When you enter that room, you need to kneel.¡±


    Racieros intensely glared at Numisley. Numisley held his distasteful comments about the nobility back, swallowing them into his internal thoughts. He understands how important this is, especially for him.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Numisley sighed. The door opened gently, and Numisley¡¯s felt the buzzing of the air on his skin as he was led into the office. A wave of domineering power washed over him as he saw the aged spectacled man sitting across Numisley, analyzing Numisley¡¯s gaze, his gait, and how his lips quivered. The magical glasses unraveled Numisley¡¯s abilities before the [Mage Marquis].


    Numisley kneeled a second after realizing what he was supposed to do. He was holding his cane tight as he have difficulty kneeling.


    ¡°My lord. Thank you for taking the time to meet me. I¡¯m Numisley G¨CNaveirei. Son of Jascias Naveirei and Marhyiana Naveirei. Upon my blood, honor, and homeland, I declare my intention to undergo the Ritual of the Ichoricon to prove my heritage.¡±


    He had recited this line repeatedly before he slept ever since he received the copy of some laws of the Divine Decree about inheritance laws from Thewardn. The aura that poured out from Marquis Escribanorr Tres Naveirei contained itself in the lord¡¯s body.


    ¡°So, it is true that Lady Marhyiana had conceived a son with that commoner.¡±


    Numisley looked up for a second before bowing his head again.


    ¡°You can sit, Numisley Naveirei. Racieros, I''ll hear what you want to say after Numisley. ¡±


    Marquis Escribanorr gestured towards a plush padded chair sculpted from some kind of white wood. Racieros and Numisley sat on the two chairs. Numisley noticed that the windows seemed to be blurred as if the air itself obscured the view outside.


    ¡°Numisley. That¡¯s a quintessential Libertalian name. Smart that your father didn¡¯t choose a Torregornian name.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Numisley blurted out.


    ¡°The remnants of Gaviolos¡¯ forces had chased your parents after their coup failed.¡±


    ¡°I heard that my parents were heroes. That they reinstated the royal line.¡±


    ¡°It is true.¡± Escribanorr confirmed.


    ¡°So¡­what¡¯s the test? Your son¡­my cousin said that you will test me.¡±


    Escribanorr stared at Numisley incredulously, until he realized what he was talking about.


    ¡°Oh, it''s finished.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    The [Marquis] poked at his monocle. The lens seemed to glow with a blue hue.


    ¡°First, I tested if whether you have an Aura or not by releasing my own. Like your mother, you have potential. Second, I used my Monocle of Appraisal, Antique-class, to see your Feats. I see that you had gained the Theme of [Reclaim Birthright]. I¡¯m guessing your [Noble¡¯s Disposition] came from that. Hence why despite your¡­clothes, your Feat can present the best version of yourself. It¡¯s not enough. people can hear your Libertalian accent when you speak our tongue.¡±


    ¡°So, will you help me?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You are one of us. However, a condition.¡±


    Numisley already expected this, and he already has a deal of his own. A requirement for him is if they want him into the Naveirei House.


    ¡°What is this condition?¡±


    ¡°Let me explain the situation at the Naveirei¡¯s line of succession. The Yhrilian lines of succession follow the principle of ¡®Ichorial Legitimacy¡¯. What that means is that the heir that possesses ¡®purer¡¯ blood, blood closest to the Thousand Bloodlines, what you commoners call ¡®the royalty¡¯, will inherit the primary privileges and titles of their parent. In this case, if we can somehow prove that you are the rightful heir of the main family, you will inherit the leadership after Duchess Estepina Naveirei dies of old age."


    Now Numisley understands why that Castellan called Racieros a ¡°half-breed¡±.


    ¡°However, there¡¯s an issue. Can I see your paralyzed leg? My son, your cousin told me about it.¡±


    Numisley pulled out the hem of his pants. His disability was laid before Marquis Escribanorr, his left leg thinner than his right. Escribanorr silently cast magnification and magic-detecting enchantments on his spectacles to see the curse of Numisley¡¯s bloodline.


    ¡°This is the issue. Whenever one of the members of the Thousand Bloodlines conceives a child with a commoner, a curse will fall upon them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that I¡¯m cursed? For what? Being born? From the love of my parents? Did my mother die because of this stupid curse?¡±


    Escribanorr bit his lip, expecting this. Racieros glared at Numisley and turned towards the Naverei [Marquis].


    ¡°I apologize for my companion¡¯s rudeness.¡± Racieros finally spoke up, hoping to calm them down before a fight starts.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. He has a right to be angry. As long as he understands the necessity of our bloodline.¡± Escribanorr reassured.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Numisley asked, slumping back in his seat.


    ¡°It is said that our curse of the Thousand Bloodlines discourages any bastard child from usurping power. The curse ultimately manifests into disability or death. , I find it¡­odd that they would risk your birth knowing this. Odder still...that your mother died because of your birth. She was the strongest woman I ever knew. She would not die from that.¡±


    ¡°W-what? So, it can¡¯t be fixed?¡±


    ¡°It can be fixed. Not with healing potions. However, it is expensive. To hire a high-ranking [Priest] of the Divine Decree, with a rare healing [Miracle] that could fix your disability, will take a thousand gold coins at least.¡±


    Numisley sighed. It is the same thing back home. It seems like the temples and their clergies have a monopoly on healing dire illnesses and conditions no matter the continent.


    ¡°To get back on the topic, we want to back you in proving your heritage. There will be people who will hinder you towards your goal. We shall protect you from that. In exchange, when you become the head of the Naveirei House in the future, please support us in anything we need. ¡±


    ¡°Favors.¡± Numisley bluntly uttered.


    ¡°Yes. Favors. We simply want you to be on our side always if you attain the position. We shall back you up on any matters. If we take the mantle ourselves, the other branches will see it as us usurping the position. With you, we can avoid conflict within the Naveirei House.¡±


    ¡°Numsley and his company are also being chased down by my family, the [Count] Commerro. He sent [Mercenaries] after us.¡± Racieros cut in. ¡°Because they know Numisley¡¯s one of the Naveirei.¡±


    ¡°The man named Dustitoz Gaviolos had killed my father and still hunts me. I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯s still back in Libertalia or not.¡± Numisley informed.


    ¡°He¡¯s with the Commerros. I know because of my network. He¡¯s on his way. Their faction¡¯s still powerful despite being humiliated by your parents and stripped of their rank. They can barge through the party. If we have a deal, I¡¯ll inform the rest of my family members and attempt to hinder them. ¡±


    ¡°I have one condition. According to your laws, Decree of Authority, On Familial Rites, Section Six, I can make an adopted family member a [Knight], therefore, making him a provisioned member of the nobility.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So, my condition is: make my Satyr brother, Cultrost Gildin, a [Knight]. My [Knight].¡±

 Chapter 34

    ¡°Why are you riding that horse?¡±


    Count Toreesso saw Marquis Dustitoz mounting a horse with the help of his [Knights]. They ushered themselves to the side to not disturb the march of the rest of the Commerro family and the [Traders] that accompanied them to Ascolitica.


    The head of the Commerros looked at many of his family members with disgust and scorn. The Naveirei House had invited them, knowing that his position will be untenable as they sought to gain more favor for the rival house to clean their reputation from their association with the disgraced Gaviolos House.


    ¡°Your collaborator, that young Castellan has not contacted us yet for the past few days.¡±


    ¡°So, are you riding towards her?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I got a hunch, based on my experiences, that she might have been afflicted by an unfavorable contract. Might be a Key Feat.¡±


    The former [Duke] rode towards nearby Semsella. His speed was further boosted by his riding Feat, although he can ride faster if he had managed to get all his magical treasures and his actual steed back at his estate.


    He soon arrived at Kaminorian lands, galloping towards the hill of Semsella. His five [Knights] escorted him to the castle. The [Soldiers] guarding the castle quickly recognized his House crest embroidered on the former [Duke]¡¯s lapel and they let him through.


    Dustitoz barged into the Castellan¡¯s office. The two [Knights] that guarded its doors froze in place by the former [Duke]¡¯s Aura. His escorts watched them as their lord quietly sat down in front of the pallid Castellan Adriasta Kasta Kaminor.


    ¡°My lord.¡±


    The Castellan bowed her head as she got over her initial shock. She had contacted his acquaintances to do as Numisley demanded within the terms of the [Bloodbound Contract].


    ¡°Poor denora¡­¡± Dustitoz held her hand, speaking in a patronizing tone. ¡°I knew it.¡±


    He looked around the damaged room. A lot of documents were still scattered around. There was still a burnt corner where a former [Assassin] used to be. Dustitoz had already figured out why she did not repair her office.


    Dustitoz gripped her hand and his Aura swelled, trying to expel the [Bloodbound Contract] etched in her blood with the power of his authority. The Feat recoiled as it knew its illegitimacy. The air shimmered around him as he tried to expel the unwanted Feat like exorcizing a spirit.


    It was gone. Color returned to the Castellan''s face as she sighed with relief.


    "Thank you, Marquis¨C"


    "Duke. That bastard has a Rare Feat."


    Dustitoz Gaviolos quickly corrected Adriasta, much to his chagrin. The young Castellan of the Kaminors was finally freed from the binding contract.


    ¡°That boy forced me to contact my acquaintances to back him up in the Ichoricon. But I resisted it.¡±


    ¡°How did he know about that? We, the nobility and royalty of Yhril only have that privilege.¡±


    ¡°Someone must have told him.¡±


    -


    Numisley had arrived at the inn late that night. He laid down on the cart that Palden¡¯s horse is pulling, beside the sack of gold coins that he was paid by the Naveireis for supplying them with fish from Commerro lands. He was glad that they agreed with his request, although the issue of his inheritance would not be public until a certain time during the party.


    Racieros restlessly tapped his scabbard, sitting beside Numisley. He wanted to ask Cultrost¡¯s brother about Cultrost in general. ¡°What was he like?¡± ¡°What are the things that he would like?¡± These are the kind of questions that he wanted to ask, but he was a scion of the Thousand Bloodlines, however distant.


    Although he also wondered what would be the Count¡¯s reaction if he learns that he was a Naveirei. He assumes that the blood relatives he met would protect him from the wrath of the Count after he learns that he did not sabotage the party as he paid him to.


    He saw Cultrost waiting on the bench outside the inn. Palden lifted Numisley down from the cart as Racieros hopped down.


    ¡°Numis? Racieros?¡± Cultrost jolted up from his seat.


    ¡°The negotiation went well. Don¡¯t worry, brother.¡± Numisley embraced his brother briefly with his one free hand.


    ¡°He gained the favor of the Naveirei House,¡± Racieros added.


    ¡°So, what will become of me? Are you leaving Gildin Trading to me?¡±


    ¡°Partly. Not completely. You are still my brother, after all.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You will be my [Knight]. There¡¯s a loophole in the copy that Thewardn gave us. A non-Human can be an [Knight] if a [Baron] and above sponsors him. That means you can still be beside me.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Cultrost expected a catch.


    ¡°And what? You can still accompany me everywhere.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not Human. I¡¯m adopted. I¡¯m a barbarian from the desert.¡±


    ¡°Barbarian? You¡¯re the most civilized Satyr I ever met. And so what? We were raised in the same house. Raised by the same father. We are here, far from home to claim our parents¡¯ inheritance.¡±


    ¡°Numisley specifically asked Lord Escribanorr to make you a [Knight].¡± Racieros barged in. ¡°It is his only condition if they want him to join the Naveirei House. I wish my brothers could¡­care as much as your brother cares about you.¡±


    Cultrost held back his objections because he knew that Numisley would stubbornly counter his logic. And he was right.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°You always want to be a [Knight] right? Or adventurer. But there¡¯s no proper Knight Orders back home.¡± Numisley teased, knowing that he read books about them in their father¡¯s study. They share the hobby of reading their father''s books. They had the largest collection in Renimburg, and they had shared some of them with their friends back when they were kids.


    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡± Cultrost drifted his eyes towards Racieros and shied away from his gaze.


    ¡°Hey, there¡¯s nothing bad about realizing your childhood dream.¡± Racieros warmly smiled at Cultrost.


    ¡°By the way, since we got gold, we need to go to the castle tomorrow,¡± Numisley announced.


    ¡°The castle?¡±


    ¡°Clothes,¡± Racieros interjected, staring at Cultrost¡¯s open chest under his cowhide vest. ¡°Lord Escribanorr offered your brother and you to dress you up for the party, and tutor you two.¡±


    ¡°Well, I do need some new clothes after all. Some bling and bang. We¡¯re going to the castle tomorrow.¡± Numisley added.


    Cultrost stared at his clothes and realized that it makes him stand out more, aside from being a Satyr.


    "Tutor?" Cultrost asked.


    "Yeah. Some basic information that we need to know." Numisley answered.


    "Numisley is the only one that will be tutored more. I have no idea what Lord Escribanorr has in store for you." Racieros added.


    They soon retreated to their rooms. Although Cultrost was excited, his expectations were tempered by the fact that he was a Satyr among Humans. Of course, it will be like jumping into a pit of snakes where their snide stares and venomous remarks will poison the soul.


    The next day, Numisley woke up early. He met Raudaeiz at one of the tables in the inn, eating an early breakfast.


    ¡°What did you find ¡®round this city?¡±


    ¡°[Priests] here make it impossible to breach the castle. Even without that, there are no possible entries except for the three gatehouses.¡±


    ¡°The robes roaming around.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Something tells me that the [Priests] in this kingdom are the greatest threat to us. Those who break the law. When they got close, it was like they could detect criminals. Us.¡±


    From the quick rundown that Thewardn gave before they left Ovespuerte, the Divine Decree is the reigning religion of the Human Continent, with various other sects that interpret their laws differently. They are the ¡°Religion of Law¡±, a force to be reckoned with.


    ¡°Thank you for this information.¡±


    ¡°Good thing we didn¡¯t go through the plan. The Count¡¯s plan.¡±


    Numisley handed a portion of the gold they earned.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that I can trust you not to run away with the pouch. Go back to Ovespuerte and build your gang for me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who¡¯s exactly the players there.¡±


    ¡°This is what¡¯s the gold¡¯s for. Pay Thewardn¨Cwait, he has this client privacy thing. I mean, I trust you know what you¡¯re doing, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I want to get out of this town as soon as possible.¡±


    Numisley held up his hand, and Raudaeiz weakly shook his hand. He and his henchmen left the inn after Numisley, Cultrost, and Racieros were fetched by a carriage sent by the castle.


    The carriage stopped within the bailey, in front of the keep. A [Servant] appeared to receive them.


    ¡°My lords.¡± His eyes drifted to the red Satyr accompanying Numisley and Racieros, the latter he recognized as one of the nobility. ¡°Marquis Naveirei is expecting you in the [Seamstress]¡¯s room.¡±


    The [Servant] imbued the three of them with a concealment Feat. Although it was not exactly something that makes people invisible, it conceals them from curious eyes, with the exception of perceptive people.


    Cultrost was as amazed as Numisley was when he saw the castle from the inside. Each hall was a sight that he only imagined from the books that he read from their father¡¯s study. What soured his awe is when he saw the strange stares of the other [Servants] who managed to see Cultrost. It reminded him that he was an alien within this kingdom.


    They had arrived at a room populated by mannequins wearing unfinished dresses. Escribanorr was expecting them, watching the young [Seamstress] sew the foundations of a thin dress. A sharply dressed attendant was standing beside the [Marquis].


    ¡°Welcome, Numisley Naveirei and Cultrost Gildin.¡±


    "Greetings. Uncle."


    "Lord or Marquis. You refer to nobility by their titles. At least in public, among nobles outside our House."


    "Thank you for granting my request. What will you do with my brother?"


    "For now, I¡¯ll tell him the same pertinent things. Etiquette. Among the nobility. You are the supplier of a portion of the fish from Ovespuerte. The lands of the Commerros, most of them are trying to appease our House and the kingdom for the crime of participating in the coup a decade ago.¡±


    Escribanorr gave a pointed look towards Racieros Commerro. Racieros simply glared back, but the [Mage Marquis] simply shrugged.


    ¡°I do hope that the Commerro House¡¯s future heads will be more sensible.¡±


    Racieros saw the substance behind his words. A promise behind the curtain of wordplay. But he knew that his blood was not pure enough for the position. His thoughts were interrupted by Escribanorr¡¯s thunderous clap.


    ¡°[Chamberlain]. Procure these two clothes that will fit.¡±


    With a snap of a finger and the activation of a Feat, two clothes appeared in his hands.


    ¡°[Seamstress]. Adjust the fit.¡±


    The [Seamstress] nodded. With a needle and thread, adjusted the threads of the two outfits with a Feat. As if the clothes had a mind of their own, they adjusted certain portions of their cloth to perfectly fit the two brothers.


    Numisley and Cultrost were assisted by the [Servants] within the dressing room. Numisley wore a long beige overcoat and a thin doublet and Cultrost¡¯s entire head was covered in a shemagh and a shirt that covers most of his red skin. Even his hands were covered with worn cotton gloves that awkwardly fit his callused hands.


    ¡°[Chamberlain], are Lemurian shemaghs still allowed under sumptuary law?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Marquis.¡±


    The balding [Chamberlain] curtly spoke, only speaking when requested by his lord.


    ¡°Why do I have to cover my skin?¡± Cultrost removed the cloth wrapping his face so he can breathe and speak properly. He always disliked covering his face unless necessary.


    ¡°Lord.¡± Escribanorr corrected Cultrost¡¯s address. ¡°You need to be presentable for the party. Sumptuary law states that non-Human and Demihuman [Merchants] must cover their inhuman body parts in events hosted by the nobility and royalty.¡±


    Cultrost bit back his bitter words about the kingdom and its laws because he knew that his words will affect Numisley¡¯s standing with his blood relatives.


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    The words simmered in Cultrost¡¯s tongue. Racieros felt Cultrost¡¯s bitterness as he gazed at his face. Numisley held his brother¡¯s shoulder as they followed the Marquis outside the room. Throughout the day, Marquis Escribanorr lectured Numisley and Cultrost about their role in the party. For now, Numisley¡¯s true origins are to be hidden until what the Naveirei [Marquis] deems as ¡°the right moment¡± during the party, somewhere near the end of the party. They rehearsed Numisley¡¯s lines


    They are free to make connections and low-stakes deals with the nobility, but they are reminded to be mindful of their status as the Merccanten, the merchant caste of the kingdom, within the caste system imposed by their faith; at least before the revelation.


    The next few days, the Marquis taught them how to talk and address the nobility. Elucidated on Torregorn¡¯s court culture and the Divine Decree¡¯s laws. A few observant [Servants] and curious [Courtiers] that accompanied the other Naveirei¡¯s members noticed the two young [Merchants] who had somehow been summoned to Marquis Escribanorr¡¯s office day after day.


    Day after day, the Count of House Commerro sent secure messenger pigeons and counted debts on their way toward Ascolitica.

 Chapter 35

    <div>


    <div>


    Today is the day.


    Numisley and Cultrost had been busy refining their Torregornian speech. Escribanorr drilled the brothers in court etiquette in their minds and gestures. Marquis Escribanorr gave them a basic overview of the Kingdom of Torregorn¡¯s history, from the near-mythical stories of a fleet of heroic [Pirate Lords] who opposed the undead ships of the Queen of Death to the present era of the Corsair Houses: descendants of their marriages with the Thousand Bloodlines.


    The nobles of different Houses filled Ascolitica''s streets. They are carriages from the Commerro, Naveirei, and Kaminor Houses. Behind them are the lesser noble families of Torregorn''s hinterlands. On each side of their procession are groveling commoners in prayer. The [Priests] and [Acolytes] of the crowd were throwing flowers and bestowing them with blessings.


    Count Torresso Commerro paid them no heed. It was the way things are. The Marquis Dustitoz Gaviolos had already left their caravan to ride toward his house with the [Ambassador] of Thousand Roads. The last letter that he received from the [Mercenaries] he hired was that they had sworn fealty to his son, and they were with Numisley¡¯s company.


    He assumed that he must be somewhere in the castle.


    ¡°My lord, you look wan. Have you heard of our son¡¯s whereabouts yet?¡±


    A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. The woman beside him was Countess Strraina Parste, from a baronial family that owns a small patch of hinterland within the county. Her father-in-law had given him an Antique-class magic item and a chest of treasure from a Dungeon as a dowry in exchange for her daughter¡¯s hand in marriage.


    No doubt that her father wanted to raise their position within the nobility using their only unwed daughter. Count Torresso let himself be swayed by the offer of a political marriage: if only to soothe his loneliness. Whenever he looked at her green eyes, murky as the moss that cling to the wooden docks of his ports and her wood-like tresses, he can see his first wife, drowning in front of him, helpless.


    ¡°Y-yes. He might be in the castle. If not, I¡¯ll send people throughout the city.¡±


    The Count¡¯s throat quivered at the memory. The statement that he wrote in magic-binding ink on the cushioned seat lingered under his fingers.


    -


    The attendees, with their small processions of [Courtiers], had entered the dining hall of the Naveirei¡¯s castle. They gathered in their cliques that scatter throughout the room. There are two kinds of people in the celebration: the allies of the esteemed Naveirei House, and sycophants like some members of the Commerro House that seek to establish relations with the leading noble house in the kingdom.


    The guests activated their magic items and Feats suitable for this social battlefield. Many of them have earrings that enhance their hearing. A significant number of them Feats that enable them to read intentions and lips.


    Gatherings like this are the metaphorical battleground of high society; where reputations were on the line. Few of the people here celebrate the opening of the city¡¯s only library, seeing the party as a formality and an opportunity.


    That includes the two brothers from across the Obscure Ocean. A Human Scion of the Thousand Bloodlines and a Satyr from Libertalia, accompanied by a lordling of the Commerros and a [Mercenary Captain] with an axe slung across his back.


    ¡°Well, best wishes, you two. Laws willing, the plan will work.¡±


    Racieros wished the Gildin Brothers luck, as he and Yulvres were walking away.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Cultrost asked. Today, he wore a shemagh that covered his entire face, except for his horns. Cultrost made sure that he covered his red-hued body with a doublet. He covered his rough hands with leather gloves and tall modified boots for his hooves. A few sharp eyes noticed that he is a non-Human, but nothing more.


    ¡°Back to my father. I¡¯m sure that they¡¯re going to do something about this.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Ruin your reputation. In events like this, they could spread a rumor. Or something more devious.¡± Racieros answered.


    Racieros left them in a hurry, and soon he disappeared into the crowd of gallivanting and opportunistic nobles.


    ¡°So¡­where do we go? What do we do?¡± Cultrost whispered to Numisley.


    ¡°Talk to people. Establish relations. Like we do back home at the markets.¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°Like you got something to trade?¡±


    ¡°Of course. And the stuff that Escribanorr taught us. Calling them by their titles and all that.¡±


    They looked around the cliques that spread around the hall, talking to each other, but they have no idea what they are talking about. Both the brothers felt that some groups of people seem to have a field of exclusion that seemed to deter anyone lower in status than them. If the brothers know certain fashions, they would notice that their gilded overcoats and flowing shirts with patterns of waves and coral are reminiscent of what [Sailors] wear.


    They saw their benefactor, Escribanorr Naveirei talking to a group of older and younger men and women. He extended a hand towards them, dragging them to his clique.


    ¡°These are one of the [Traders] that bought the fresh fish from Commerro¡¯s lands. I¡¯m told that with the collaboration of a certain [Brewer] in Ascogres, they had created a brand of fish sauce that sold well.¡±


    Numisley almost let out an audible gasp, but the curious eyes of one man and two women stopped him. Cultrost stared at Escribanorr and wondered how he knew these things despite not being there. Numisley guessed that his information network somehow reached Ascogres.


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Escribanorr¡¯s statement intrigued one of the younger women in the group, a woman with braided locks and a short dress that appear to be almost casual. Lady Arriae Naveirei and her parents, Alerra and Agnelerri are members of the Naveirei House. Little did they know that Numisley is one of them by blood: the same dusty blonde hair and yellow-olive skin are indicative of their bloodline.


    ¡°What specific Feats did the [Brewer] have?¡± Arriae asked Numisley. ¡°Something like fish sauce is an interesting venture, even if saturated in the coastal market.¡±


    ¡°Apologies, my lady. He did not reveal it to me.¡± Numisley answered.


    Alerra Naveirei stared at Numisley, noticing his peculiar accent when he spoke Torregornian. She turned to her husband and took one step towards Numisley.


    ¡°You speak like someone from the Free Continent.¡±


    ¡°I do not deny my heritage, denora. Numisley Gildin, at your service.¡±


    Numisley drew their attention to him instead of Cultrost. It was the same tactic that they use back home, where they had visited towns that were more hostile to Satyrs. Agnelerri Naveirei somehow has an inkling about the layered meaning behind those words.


    ¡°Somehow, you seem familiar.¡± Agnelerri Naveirei, Alerra¡¯s husband spoke. His sharp eyes threatened to penetrate any hidden intentions that Numisley might have.


    ¡°Lady Alerra, Lady, Arriae, and Lord Agnelerri. Apologies, but I have a lot to do, being the host of this celebration and all.¡± Escribanorr interrupted, gazing towards Numisley.


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s quite alright, Marquis. I hope that the rice wine from the Orient is to your liking.¡± Agnelerri asked.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°The Orient? From which kingdom?¡±


    ¡°As far as Phalim. I got lucky when it caught my eye. It was sitting within the wares of an Aquinoxian [Vintner Merchant] during my short vacation to Isiagor.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Do you know what the markings mean?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately no, my lord. Would you like me to refer you to a [Linguist]?¡±


    ¡°No need, cousin-in-law. I got Marranar, the Phalim Energist in my court. He might be able to understand it. I appreciate the offer.¡±


    ¡°May the Laws sanction your library.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Escribanorr left the vicinity, walking towards one of his [Servants] and whispered commands. He soon checked on his most important guests. Other guests came, with grand gifts in hand that they gave to the castle¡¯s [Servants].


    Arriae invited Numisley to their table. She had inquisitively interviewed him about their journey from Libertalia.


    -


    Count Torresso Commerro and his entourage stopped in front of Racieros, with his new bodyguard within the castle¡¯s bailey.


    ¡°Racieros?¡± Countess Strraina uttered.


    ¡°You all can go ahead,¡± Torresso spoke to her wife. She understood and let her husband me, leading the other members of their immediate family inside the castle.


    ¡°Where have you been? Why didn¡¯t you wait for us? Or contact us as soon as you can? I have to send someone to get you.¡±


    Comerro realized that his son''s escort is the same [Mercenary Captain] that he hired through a friend in the Decree¡¯s priesthood.


    ¡°No. You don¡¯t care about me at all.¡± Racieros flatly stated, seeing the lies behind his father¡¯s words. ¡°You hired his group to retrieve the notebook. They swore fealty to me to repent.¡±


    Racieros impressed his father despite his disappointment towards him. The Count has a lot of questions at the tip of his tongue.


    ¡°Why are you with them in the first place?¡±


    Racieros fell silent. He didn¡¯t want to reveal the real reason why he came with Cultrost and his brother.


    ¡°Are you betraying your House?¡±


    Count Torresso¡¯s accusation rang throughout Racieros¡¯ skull. To an extent, it is true. He is betraying his own family, but not in the way that his father expected.


    ¡°No. I¡¯m a Commerro.¡±


    ¡°Yet my Feat detected something else. Another intent. Why do you side with them? They will have a debt to pay.¡±


    He loved listening to Cultrost¡¯s stories about his home when they had first traveled together. An adventure like that was what he dreamed of when he read those adventure books in their castle¡¯s study. Whenever they talked, whether telling stories, sharing experiences, or spotting a unique tree out of the forests they passed by as they sat in the rolling wagon on that first journey, or friendly spars when their gaze and their weapons met each other, he could forget about his father, his mother, his stepbrothers, and his duties as the scion of the Commerros.


    ¡°Friendship.¡±


    The only acceptable answer that he could give to his father. To someone who couldn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Friendship, hm. [Out of My Way].¡±


    Count Torresso pushed Racieros aside with an invisible force. He approached the keep, but a presence interrupted him. The presence pulled both the attention of father and son.


    An old [Lady], flanked by two armored [Knights] with enchanted armor and sheathed swords, approached them. One of their entourage held a banner with a crest in the shape of a sail of a galleon, with a figure throwing a spear toward the creature rising from the waves.


    The Naveirei¡¯s crest.


    ¡°Did I interrupt something?¡± The old woman spoke, with the weight of crashing waves. Her Aura prickled the skin with the salt of the ocean and the thickness of the mana hanging in the air, washing over Commerro¡¯s Aura like a stone consumed by the waves. Racieros and even Yulvres instinctively kneeled to her; the weight of her presence was too much for someone like him.


    Despite her advanced age and the deep wrinkles and aching bones that come with it, she is still formidable.


    ¡°No, M¨C Warden-Duchess Naveirei. Family issues.¡± Count Torresso admitted.


    ¡°Every family has their issues.¡± Duchess Matironra Naveirei sighed. ¡°Especially the nobility.¡±


    For once, the two family heads agreed on something. The matriarch of the Naveirei stepped forwards, her single step cracking the stone tile under her heel, stern eyes crackling with sparks. Two young [Pages] marched forwards, ceremonially lifting a long gilded halberd twice the length of a Human, within an open wooden padded case. Its axe blade, twice as large and heavy as an average halberd, etched with Runes that enchant it with a magical sharpening effect, along with a Glyph of Strength in the shaft. Its beak and point are forged with Nullsteel: an antimagic metal.


    The Duchess telekinetically grabbed the halberd. Her balance was unstable for a second before she adjusted her posture, unsteadily holding the halberd with her thin hand, pressing the bottom of the shaft on the ground. Count Torreeso stared at the legendary halberd once held by the hero of the Naveirei House. This reminded the Count that the matriarch of the Naveirei was a great [Mage] and [Fighter] in her youth.


    ¡°So, did Escribanorr invite you?¡±


    ¡°The members of my extended family were invited. Thus, I have the right to be included as the patriarch of the Commerro House.¡±


    The matriarch of the Naveirei House murderously glared at the patriarch of the Commerro House.


    ¡°Fine. If you make a commotion at my nephew¡¯s party, I will declare war on your lands and show the kingdom the characteristic weakness of the Commerro House.¡±


    She and her entourage walked away from Count Torresso. He curled his fists into a ball, his knuckles white with fury. Worse of all, the Count knew that she outmatched him in both influence, wealth, and martial might. Even as an old woman.


    ¡°Hag.¡± The Count spat back. Wordlessly, the father and son followed them inside.


    The Duchess later handed the weapon to the [Pages]. Their bodies buckled with the heft of the weapon as they lifted it.


    ¡°How did Marhyiana lift this thing with one hand?¡± She wondered wistfully.


    -


    Numisley sat with Alerra and Agnelerri Naveirei at one of the tables. Cultrost stood as stiff as a statue, straining to blend in as Numisley¡¯s [Bodyguard]. Escribanorr told the brothers beforehand that revealing their relationship will ruin Numisley''s efforts.


    Numisley had regaled them with his abridged tales of his journey from Libertalia. He omitted many details that would be too risky to reveal in their conversation. They kept Numisley at arm''s length but were more than willing to have Numisley as a trade partner.


    ¡°You know, you kept mentioning a ¡®brother¡¯.¡± The sharp Agnelerri noticed the gaps in Numisley¡¯s narration of his journey. ¡°Where is your brother? Is he that¡­thing behind you? That Satyr with red horns?¡±


    Cultrost stared daggers at the middle-aged noble in front of Numisley. Underneath the table, Numisley held his brother¡¯s mace down. Before Agnelerri forces the answer out of Numisley they heard a brassy note. An audible trumpet reverberated throughout the hall, cutting the chatter of the nobility and the [Merchants].


    ¡°All hail.¡±


    A [Herald] eliminated all errant sounds in the hall, his voice deep and resounding. He wore the colors of the Naveirei: yellow, orange, and blue.


    Escribanorr and Anteojor Naveirei appeared opposite of the [Herald] and the old Duchess. Her entourage of a handful of [Knights], two [Pages] bearing the halberd, and a couple of [Priests] stood still.


    ¡°Warden Duchess Matironra Teonecra Unor Naveirei, First Matriarch of the Naveirei House, Mother of the Lady Protector of Torregorn greets this gathering.¡±


    The [Herald] spoke, before retreating to the entourage.


    ¡°I welcome the Naveirei First House and all the other Houses, small and large, to this gathering. We celebrate this day, the third day of the Moon of Teinoger of the Morthalis Calendar, with the opening of Ascolitica¡¯s first library.¡± Escribanorr announced. ¡°As of today, we had filled its shelves with Decree-approved books.¡±


    ¡°Upon my name as Matironra Teonecra Unor Naveirei, and my daughter¡¯s halberd, I consecrate the library as Naveirei¡¯s own.¡±


    The matriarch of the Naveirei family approached her nephew and stood beside him. The [Priests] on Matinronra¡¯s entourage stepped forwards and synchronously raised their scrolls.


    ¡°All listen for the Reading. On canon law of the Amithrales Charter, blessed by the King of Torregorn and the Synod of Iberreos, Section Eleven¡­¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost thought that they were just feverishly reading laws from parchment, but he realized that this was akin to [Priests] reading scriptures back home. Although Numisley, Cultrost, and their father were hardly religious, they had passed by the local temples of various towns and cities and inevitably overhear some of their sermons.


    A [Servant] that blended within the crowd had appeared before the brothers at their table.


    ¡°Come with me. Lord Escribanorr says it''s time.¡± He spoke to both of them telepathically with a Feat. Before the family of Agnelerri Naveirei, they had been whisked away, disappearing into thin air, leaving unanswered questions.


    Despite the tables and chairs, the guests'' escorts, passed through unnoticed. They never crashed into the cramped gaps between them. They had noticed that their bodies became noncorporeal. An [Servant]''s Feat that is effective within crowds.


    ¡°I dedicate this library to the Lady Protector of Torregorn. Marhyiana Unor Naveirei. She was not only a woman of strength, but a woman of wisdom. The best scion of the Naveirei House in this era¡­¡±


    Escribanorr began his speech, seeing Numisley and Cultrost in the corner of his eye.


    ¡°...Yet, she has been lost to us. We had believed that she had died. But now, we had found her only son. Numisley Naveirei.¡±

 Chapter 36

    Numsley was the center of questioning eyes throughout the hall. Cultrost listened to the nobles whispering questions and speculations among themselves. He remained unnoticed among the crowd.


    The mouths of the family of Naveirei that Escribanorr introduced to Numisley were wide open with shock.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this, nephew?¡±


    Matironra Naveirei did not seize her daughter¡¯s weapon as she did with the head of House Commerro. Yet, her overbearing Aura was enough to make the air heavy, almost crushing. His nephew¡¯s faltering presence faltered in the face of such presence.


    ¡°I found him within my city. It was only yesterday that I discovered him."


    "And? Why did you think that he''s one of us without evidence?"


    "The statue of Duellitarro¡¯s Triumph, sculpted by the [Royal Sculptor], Sculturra Terenta. That Feat of his had a profound effect on Numisley. An effect only present in our bloodline."


    "A statue is no evidence in any court."


    The head of House Commerro announced his presence. His sudden appearance shocked the other Comerros. They were sure that Escribanorr didn''t invite him. Two Auras clashed with each other, making the air shimmer between the heads of House Commerro and Naveirei.


    ¡°Do you have something to do with this?¡± Matironra steely asked the Commerro¡¯s Count.


    ¡°No, not exactly. Yet, Numisley Gildin is my [Trader], with my Signo Dato.¡± Torresso Commerro answered. ¡°But, he broke one of the realm¡¯s laws. A mere [Trader] has no right to claim the heritage of nobility!¡±


    ¡°I have the right. Upon my blood, honor, and homeland, I declare my intention to undergo the Ritual of the Ichoricon to prove my heritage.¡± Numisley moved out of Escribanorr¡¯s shadow, facing Torresso Commerro.


    ¡°He is one of us. He has Naveirei¡¯s grace and tenacity. Thus, it is my lawful duty to back his claim and intention.¡± Escribanorr defended Numisley. ¡°


    ¡°Sentiment has no place on the Decree¡¯s judgment on the matters of bloodline.¡± Torresso countered. ¡°And besides, Numisley Gildin is indebted to me. He owes me 300 torosi that he did not pay. Gold for that Signo Dato, the barrels of fish I had provided him, and their building in my city. So, according to the Amithrales Charter, the claimant doesn''t have the right to undergo the Ichoricon.¡±


    Matinronra picked up the metal halberd and thumped it on the ground. The sound resounded throughout the hall, ominously reminding them of the [Duchess]¡¯ wrath. Numisley instinctively withdrew behind Escribanorr.


    ¡°This matter will be adjudicated in private, under the guidance of the [Priests].¡± Matinronra weighed the two sides and waited for the right moment to interrupt. She sent a telepathic message to his nephew.


    ¡°We will talk about this later.¡±


    The formal commemoration continued on as if nothing happened. The library was now open for the interested nobility to peruse. Now, there were already rumors circulating among the invited nobility about the disunity among the Naveirei. Those who consider the House to be a rival and threat formulated plans that exploit it.


    Numisley and Cultrost were discreetly evacuated out of the celebration by Escribanorr¡¯s [Servants],.


    Escribanorr''s diligent [Servants] discretely evacuated Numisley and Cultrost. With careful maneuvering and Feats, they evaded the curiosity of the guests. The [Servants] proceeded to lead them towards one of the rooms and pushed them inside.


    ¡°I don''t understand. Why are you detaining us?¡± Cultrost protested. They were now in a dusty storage room with stacked wooden crates. The room is only lit by a vertical window slit.


    ¡°This will be temporary. My lord will get you out within the day. He wanted to make sure that none of them will exploit Numisley Gildin.¡± One of the [Servants] answered. He is a nondescript man wearing the muted orange clothing of the castle¡¯s servants that didn¡¯t quite fit his body.


    ¡°Naveirei.¡± Numisley barked. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®exploit¡¯?¡±


    ¡°The lords and ladies are interested in approaching you. Acquiring you as their assets to whatever they had planned.¡±¡¯


    The door closed shut. The Gildin Brothers resigned to wait in the dim room.


    After that stunt, the Duchess of the Naveirei had demanded Escribanorr to his office.


    ¡°Why did you sabotage your own party? I already hear those sniveling scum plotting our demise. Disunited, they say!¡± Matinronra slammed her creased fists on Escribanorr¡¯s desk. The solid cedar cracked under her strength.


    ¡°I took the opportunity. As I said before, I found him a few days before the party, and I felt like it¡¯s proper to restore a rightful scion to his heritage.¡± Escribanorr replied.


    ¡°Where did you find that stray anyway? And why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°It was my mistake. But, if you want to blame someone, blame my impolite son who found him within my city. I had listened to Numisley¡¯s story and verified the facts. He has the blood curse that had disabled his leg.¡±


    ¡°The Bloodline Curse? So he¡¯s my grandson. He looked like Jascias more than his mother.¡± Matinronra remarked.


    ¡°I did not know about the debt he owed the Commerros.¡± Escribanorr added.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t know better. Rotten trick. Like the Gaviolos, Comerros are the rot seeping in the wood.¡±


    ¡°So, will you back your grandson?¡±


    ¡°No. We don¡¯t need another succession crisis in Torregorn. My daughter and his spouse already dealt with one.¡±


    ¡°But¨C¡±


    ¡°Not only that. He¡¯s in debt.¡±


    ¡°We can pay that measly sum.¡±


    ¡°No. We won¡¯t pay. That Commerro implied that Numisley is irresponsible enough to not pay his debt. With the help of a persuasion-Feat, I¡¯m sure. A debt unpaid is a sin in our faith. Debt leads to crime. And not only that, think of what the other nobility thoughts about that stray. He is a Commerroean [Trader] in their eyes¡­¡±


    ¡°I see what you mean.¡±


    ¡°...And if ever it comes to light that my daughter didn¡¯t die in battle, but rather ran away with that [Spymaster] to Libertalia¨C¡±


    ¡°Disgrace.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Even if they saved the kingdom?¡±


    ¡°Of course. They¨CThe Commerros, the Gaviolos, their ilk would find any excuse, any chink, any weakness to discredit them to spit on them. They¡¯re lucky they kept their titles for this long because of necessity.¡±


    ¡°So how can we help them?¡±


    ¡°You. Not me. I still haven¡¯t approved of my daughter¡¯s marriage to that commoner. I don¡¯t consider him as my grandson. She should have married a better person.¡±


    Escribanorr saw his aunt storm out of his office and slammed the door. After several moments, someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    His son, Anteojor entered the room.


    ¡°Are the ¡®guests¡¯ gone?¡± Escribanorr massaged his temples.


    ¡°Yes, father¨Cmy lord.¡± Anteojor saw the creases on his father¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Tell Numisley and that Satyr to come here.¡±


    The [Servants] let Numisley and Cultrost free after making sure that there''s no one around. The guest had already left the castle, stayed at the library, or stayed in one of the available rooms.


    They informed them that Escribanorr had summoned them. Numisley and Cultrost barged into Escribanorr''s office, too incensed to remember their manners.


    ¡°So, what now?¡± Numisley asked, insolently omitting his noble title.


    ¡°I regret to inform you that I can¡¯t pay your debt to the Commerros. I can¡¯t back your claim due to that.¡± Escribanorr leaned forwards from his seat.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°A lot of factors. Mainly reputation.¡±


    ¡°Reputation?¡±


    ¡°See, since you are indebted to that Count, they expect you to pay your debt to him. Since us, the Naveirei House, and the Decree-damned Commerros are rivals with their relations to House Gaviolos, us paying your debt will inevitably give money to the Commerros, which puts our reputation and position at risk.¡±


    ¡°Sounds complicated,¡± Cultrost whispered to Numisley.


    ¡°When you rise, there are many ways you can fall, to quote a local saying," Escribanorr said.


    ¡°Can you give us advice? Something to help us?¡± Numisley asked, resisting to urge to beg. He knew that their company was now in financial danger, more so due to the debt to both the [Smugglers] and that Count.


    ¡°My advice? Find a way to pay the debt. I would guess that he¡¯s going to impose a heavy interest rate with little to no time to pay it. If there¡¯s an opportunity for your company to make money¡­I¡¯ll make sure to notify you. Is that acceptable?¡±


    Numisley gave it a thought, before turning towards his brother.


    ¡°Whaddya think, brother?¡±


    ¡°I think it''s solid,¡± Cultrost replied curtly.


    Numisley extended his hand forwards.


    ¡°We have a deal.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost had left the keep, disappointed with the news. They were heading home when the Count approached them. His wife stayed behind with their son, observing them. Racieros stared at Cultrost with a forlorn look.


    ¡°I expect you to pay your debt to me fifteen days from now.¡±


    The Count deviously smiled like a predatory housecat playing with its prey, knowing that Numisley wouldn¡¯t be able to pay the debt anytime soon. Numisley sneered like a cornered hound, holding back the fiery ire that he would spit from his tongue. Their stares clashed with each other for a few seconds before Numisley backed away.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Numisley stormed away from the Count, propped on Cultrost shoulder as they headed towards their wagon.


    ¡°Who are those? Is that the claimant of the Naveirei blood?¡±


    The Count turned towards his wife who innocently asked the question, then took a disappointing glance at his son who judged him with his gaze due to the trick he used.


    ¡°Yes. I assure you, he¡¯s not of the Naveirei. A lowly commoner who doesn¡¯t know his place. Who didn¡¯t pay his debts.¡± Torresso answered.


    ¡°Where did he come from? He was with one of the barbarians plaguing the Ersenwyenian coasts.¡± The two brothers piqued Strraina¡¯s curiosity.


    ¡°Libertalia. The Wild Continent.¡± Torresso answered curtly.


    Racieros¡¯ ears prickled red as he heard his mother¡¯s comment about Cultrost, the ¡°barbarian¡±. He bit back his defense, knowing that he will embarrass himself. His words will shame him if ever heard.


    ¡°They seem interesting...¡± Strraina lightly commented.


    ¡°Perhaps. But they broke my contract. I¡¯ll deal with them soon. I''ll meet with the other Commerros that dared to come here.¡±


    ¡°I will be in the carriage, my lord.¡±


    Torresso was already on his way to the other Commerros. He stared at his second wife escorted by his [Knights], feeling a shard deep in his heart. He felt the itch to show her his affection, but he was also conflicted with the longing for his first wife. Yet, he had a duty to do.


    He headed towards the clique of the other Commerros with an escort of armed [Knights]. He barged through their conversations, giving stern warnings about ingratiating with their rivals. He only knew about the party through his information network.


    This reminds them who is truly in charge of the Commerro House. This reminds them of their duty. This reminds them of their obligations.


    He headed to the inn where they were staying at. The Noble Familar is the best inn in this city; he knows this because of his Feat, [Detect Quality Lodging]. For him, who travels across Torregorn and its neighbors, the most important thing is quality lodging. He had bought every room in that inn so he and his family would have some privacy and better service. Some of his family members, the ones who were too close to their rivals, had rooms in the castle.


    He nodded to the [Innkeeper] and his familiar behind the counter before coming upstairs. He finds his wife waiting for him on their bed, reading a book.


    ¡°Oh, this? I borrowed it from the library. We should build one in Ovespuerte.¡±


    He was unsure whether this is a slight against him or a cheeky jest. He guessed it''s most likely the latter.


    ¡°Ovespuerte is crowded as it is. And the ports and the [Merchants] that come there are our most important source of income.¡±


    He sat beside his second wife, taking a peek at what she¡¯s reading.


    ¡°Our son seems upset. I wonder why.¡± Strraina told Torresso. Racieros had sulked in the other room when they had arrived here.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t got a clue either.¡± Torresso sighed.


    ¡°You should go talk to him.¡±


    ¡°Soon. I need to do what I need to do.¡±


    Torresso stood up and wrote encrypted instructions on a Message Scroll. It magically transmitted his words to the commander of his guard in Ovespuerte. He furled it close. Something tapped on his room¡¯s window, with a wooden capsule tied on its foot. It was a bird with faded brown plumes, an ordinary pigeon one can find anywhere. Torresso knew that if a message isn¡¯t sent through magical means, that means the sender must want the message to be as unseen as possible.


    The pigeon had already flown away after he untied the string on its leg. Torresso knew that this was from the former Duke of the Gaviolos House, who now is in his estate. Few people can get away with a coup against the [King]. He wondered how deep his connections were in the kingdom¡¯s Synod. He felt the hum of magic from his Message Scroll, which he thought was already depleted. Torresso realized that somehow, the Duke imbued his Feat on the pigeon.


    He released the wooden capsule from the string and read the letter within it:


    If ever this matter of bloodline comes to court, I have evidence that will incriminate him. Be sure to update me on this matter via secret channels.


    -


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    Numisley drummed his fingers on the sheets of his bed. They rested in their room after a tiring day of being politically outmaneuvered.


    ¡°He got us. Fucked us over.¡±


    Cultrost pushed aside the pouch of coins that they earned today before he could sit. He lifted the pouch and dropped it on the desk. When he saw the coins in the pouch, his mind shone with an idea.


    ¡°Hey. Our father got an account back in that bank back home right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    Cultrost surprised Numisley with his idea. Numisley''s brawny brother is on to something.


    ¡°Did he have accounts in this place? I mean, he came from here, after all. Dad¡¯s letter said that he had accounts both back home and on this continent.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea!¡± Numisley brightened up. ¡° Let¡¯s ask Thewardn that.¡±


    ¡°Hope that Dad still got a lot of money.¡± Cultrost playfully pushed his brother, now lying on the bed.


    ¡°I hope that nothing bad will happen to the headquarters back in Ovespuerte.¡±

 Chapter 37

    The docks of Ovespuerte were full and bustling with merchant ships across the oceans. From the Diamond Shore¡¯s armed trade galleons from the Exiled Coasts of the Free Continent, the caravels of Torregorn¡¯s neighbors and their trade bases from the Golden Triangle, and the dhows from the Golden Triangle and the Beastkin continent of Lemuria. Stalls of every color and goods of every kind lined the streets next to the docks. The strategic location of Ovespuerte stands next to the subcontinent of Trislan¡¯s maritime trade routes, and it is in this city where the power of the Contiearl of the Commerros, Torresso Commero, is most visible.


    A patrol of [Guards] was marching in one of its streets, spears slung on their backs, swords sheathed in their scabbards, and two [Mages] wielding wands. They wore the colors of the Commerro, the blue and yellow threads of their gambesons. They had stopped in front of an [Trader]''s headquarters: a two-story dilapidated building next to an intersection of roads. They were workers there, carving wood to make boxes and stools to sell, and selling the barrels of fish sauce from Ascogres. The signboard read: Gildin Trading.


    A blond man with a sheathed broadsword, a veteran of many battles, had already noticed the men and women marching toward their base. As one of the informal leaders of Gildin Trading, he marshaled the remnants of his Severed Swords and told the newer employees to hide somewhere in the building.


    Graten Haovel faced the leader of the [Soldiers], who stared at him like scum under the wooden piers of Ovespuerte¡¯s waters.


    "Can I help you?"


    Graten bifurcated the bearded man standing in front of him, planning his first strike. The [Guard Captain] sensed a fraction of killing intent, yet he spoke.


    "In the name of Contiearl Commerro, this building will be confiscated under the divine law of the Amithrales Charter."


    "Confiscated? Why?"


    "The [Trader]''s Numisley and Cultrost Gilidin broke the Commerro¡¯s contract. Leave the premises."


    The harsh declaration stumped the [Sword Captain]. If they lose this building, they will not have anywhere to live. The Severed Swords leaving home will be in vain.


    ¡°We won¡¯t leave this building without Numisley and Cultrost Gildin,¡± Graten spoke, after a moment of consideration. The [Guard Captain] raised a hand, prompting those under his command to point their spears toward Graten and the rest of the people within the building. Crossbows emerged from the upper shutters of the building and were already looking down at the [Guards] from below.


    Some observant people in the ambling crowd had edged away from the standoff, having an inkling of how it may end. Graten realized that resisting will make everything worse, especially in unfamiliar territory.


    ¡°Everyone! Surrender!¡±


    The members of the Severed Swords that held the crossbows from above hesitantly lowered it. The [Guard Captain] confiscated Graten¡¯s sword and tied his hands tight with rough rope. Soon, the [Guards] arrested everyone within the building, without an idea why. Their captors didn¡¯t give any justification other than ¡°their employers broke their lord¡¯s contract¡±.


    Soon, the [Guards] herded them like sheep, tied in a line in a shameful procession, flanked by Comerrean [Guardsmen]. The zealous crowd threw rotten fruit, stones, and dirt at them. They see the criminal as the worst fate in their religion. As soon as they were in the Commerro¡¯s castle, their clothes were wet and caked with dirt. The thrown stones bruised their skin and their dignity.


    From one of the castle¡¯s stables, a noble with viridescent flowing hair and a hint of fatigued plastered on his mature face, still wearing his enchanted green-and-blue panoply of war dismounted from his horse, guarded by his retinue of [Knights]. His [Servants] removed his jade-tinted metal helmet and unbuckled his etched cuirass with reverence.


    He turned towards the presence that he sensed. He saw Graten in ropes with his gleaming amber eyes. His curiosity propelled him forward to the detained [Sword Captain], whose prowess bled from his nascent Aura. One of his Feats, ingrained in his eyes, saw how proficient Graten is.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    He asked the [Guard Captain] escorting the prisoners.


    ¡°They are workers of the [Traders] who broke the laws of our lord.¡±


    ¡°One of them is¡­good. Release him.¡±


    ¡°My lord?¡±


    ¡°Give him his sword and armor too. A potion if he¡¯s injured. I want to see how good he is.¡±


    One of the [Knights] from his entourage stepped beside his lord.


    ¡°My lord, you must be famished from the war. Crossing blades with a criminal will surely sully your blade.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense.¡± The noble dismissed. ¡°I¡¯m still full of energy. On what exact basis of the Divine Decree were they arrested for in the Amithrales Charter anyway?¡±


    His fierce eyes turned towards the [Guard Captain] who only followed orders.


    ¡°I-I was following orders, my lord.¡± The [Guard Captain] stuttered, failing to hide his panic.


    ¡°Nonsense. A good enforcer of the Divine Decree must know every law he administers upon the commoners. Where is my father anyways?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s in Ascolitica. Business, I heard.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± The scion sighed. He had an inkling of the situation. ¡°Throw them to the dungeon, except for this man.¡±


    Graten gawked at the noble who freed him. He even ordered his men to give Graten his sword and help him up.


    ¡°Are you tired? Do you need a stamina potion?¡± The noble asked.


    ¡°No. W-why? Do you really intend to free me?¡± Graten asked.


    ¡°I do not believe that I was informed of your whole story. I must ask my father to see if you are a sinner or not. So I do not intend to free you, not yet. I want to see how good you are. I sensed that you may be worth my while so that I could learn a Feat or hopefully an Art from you.¡±


    A battle-maniac. Graten had encountered some of them when he was still a rank-and-file mercenary. They were either the most suicidal [Fighters] out there or the most skilled. Or even both, like many of the Elven Deathseeker companies or some of the Titled.


    ¡°I¡¯m no battle maniac nor warmonger.¡± The noble read Graten¡¯s mind with a Feat. ¡°I seek the art of arms. To triumph against the odds and gain Feats and Arts to be better than yesterday. Further from where my talent goes.¡±


    Graten was not as well-versed in the local language as Cultrost and Numisley had become, much less the accent that the noble spoke. Yet he inferred the intent from some words he could understand.


    ¡°If you defeat me in this duel, I will set your people free. If not, you will remain imprisoned.¡±


    Graten nodded. He straightened himself, slightly stretching his limbs. He slightly lowered his knees and lowered his sword to a Fool¡¯s Guard stance. Whatever it takes to get them free.


    The noble gracefully unsheathed his thin leaf-green cutlass with his right hand. The crystalline metal holds a blue sheen, and the blade is as slender as a cutlass is allowed to be. Graten saw his left hand hovering over a holster that held a gilded master-crafted El-Miran pistol.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°On my name as Viscounti Verrespadion Balucor-Commerro, this duel will be under the jurisdiction of the Decree of Pacts. My promise shall be sworn in blood no matter the result.¡± Verrespadion swore an oath before the duel. ¡°Give me your name.¡±


    ¡°Graten Haovel.¡± Graten blurted, clueless of the religious tradition the noble invoked.


    He saw Verrespadion activate a Feat, its letters burned blue in the air for a moment. A vertical pressurized blade of air accelerated towards Graten from his opponent¡¯s downward swing, which he sidestepped, but he heard two deafening cracks that resound throughout the castle, and he smelled the sulfur from the smoke from the flintlock pistol¡¯s barrel; what he knew as ¡°toxic gold¡± due to its rarity. With his [Heightened Reflexes], he saw the two bullets flying toward him.


    Instinctively, he spoke his only Sword Art. His blade shone under the sunlight, which turned into a wet silvery arc that partially disintegrated the two bullets. Their fragments almost blinded Graten, scoring scratches on his face. Yet, Verrespadion had already bypassed Graten¡¯s blade with a smile. From below, he swung.


    ¡°¨CArt: The Wave Rises].¡±


    Verrespadion¡¯s green blade soared, roaring like the rising waves. Graten felt the salty dew on his skin as several cuts etched themselves on his torso and his skin. The [Sword Captain] stumbled and before he regained his balance, a green blade gently kissed Graten¡¯s nape.


    ¡°Get me a healing potion!¡±


    Verrespadion steadied Graten, who now realized that he had utterly lost. He stared at the son of the Commerrros in disbelief, as his years of battle experience had amounted to nothing in this duel. He let Graten sit at a wooden bench near the stables, as the [Servants] carefully poured drops of healing potions on his wounds.


    ¡°Teach me that Art.¡±


    Verrespadion was still jittering from the excitement of the duel. Graten found his questioning disconcerting.


    ¡°Gaining this Art was an accident.¡±


    Yet that was the partial truth.


    ¡°¡®Moontear Blade¡¯, huh. It¡¯s reminiscent of many moon-Themed Blade Arts out there.¡± The second-eldest son of the Commerros thought out loud.


    ¡°So I''ll be thrown in the dungeon.¡± Graten resigned.


    ¡°A temporary state of affairs. When my father arrives, I¡¯ll ask him about your situation.¡±


    Graten was later tied with an even tighter rope. He was tightly guarded, as the [Guards] led him to the dungeon. With contempt, the five jailers tossed him in his cell. It was only lit by a barred slit that let the light from aboveground in. He was alone, aside from the dew in the grim ceiling and the dew on the stone brick walls.


    Without his sword, he could not cut through the thick metal bars of his cell with his Feats. Even if he did have Feats that enable him to punch the bars in half, he suspected that it will not work. He knew prisons with their [Wardens] have ways to disable Feats and Martial Arts that enable prisoners to escape.


    This leaves him room to wonder if he made the right choice of following Numisley to another continent. A land of Humans, yet as unfamiliar as the southern lands of El-Mira that he only heard of from stories and rumors when his former company battled the colonists from that continent.


    Everything he did was for the Severed Swords. His remaining family. They were making enough money for them to hope they''ll have a better life here. He wondered what if Numisley didn¡¯t find out about his heritage; that if he only continued being a [Trader] with his company. They would''ve only earned more money


    until they were able to retire.


    The sunlight dimmed before Graten''s eyes, who sat dejected within his cell. Sunlight soon turned to moonlight that shone on his eyes. The moonlight reminded him of his Blade Art, reminding him that he neglected his quest to get stronger ever since they had arrived in Torregorn. Negligent, not neglected. Along with Palden, the loyal [Wagon Coach] of the Gildin Brothers, they had supervised the general duties and the employees under Gildin Trading.


    In this idle moment, he thought about practicing. His hands twitched, remembering that he doesn''t have a stick to practice with, much less a sword. Regardless of that fact, he stood up, pressing his foot forwards in a stance. In his mind, a solid sword appeared, without weight. In front of him was a vague outline of a person, holding a phantom spear.


    He swung. Hitting nothing. Holding nothing but empty air in his hands. Again, he swung. With more care, with the ponderous lowering of his arms, correcting minute mistakes in his posture and form. Sweaty, he bathed under the subtle radiance of the moonlight.


    Again he swung. Night after night, he swung a nonexistent sword, drenched in sweat, releasing his frustration as the days go by, bewildering his captors who watched beyond the bars.


    -


    A few days later after that incident, Raudaeiz and his gang arrived in Ovespuerte and found the Gildin Trading headquarters empty, bereft of life. He ordered his five men to search the whole building, finding the unfinished and unvarnished crates and stools. Tools were scattered across the floor as if the workers were interrupted.


    ¡°Where the fuck is Graten, even¡­¡±


    Raudaeiz''s first instinct is to head to Numisley¡¯s associate, Thewardn, assuming that he was still in Ovespuerte. He ordered the rest of his gang to run his errands within the city. He snaked through the alleyways until they find the safehouse door, still blanketed with illusion magic. He knocked on the metal door, prompting Thewardn to peek at the door¡¯s slit.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Thewardn instantly recognized one of Numisley¡¯s lackeys.


    ¡°I need information,¡± Raudaeiz asked.


    ¡°In.¡±


    They promptly entered Thewardn¡¯s safehouse to talk. Thewardn sat on his padded chair, leaning forwards on his table padded with documents.


    ¡°How¡¯s Numisley?¡± Thewardn asked about Numisley¡¯s business in Ascolitica.


    ¡°We left before Numisley did his thing,¡± Raudaeiz asked.


    ¡°So, you didn¡¯t know why the brothers¡¯ employees were arrested?


    ¡°Arrested?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know? I have no idea what Numisley has done to anger the Contiearl. His own [Soldiers] came to arrest everyone in their building.¡±


    Raudaeiz thought about what would happen if this situation gets worse. He would not have any way of exacting his revenge on his father without Numisley.


    ¡°I would want to help an associate, a son of a friend, but I can¡¯t go against a noble. Not without enough context on what¡¯s going on, anyway.¡±


    Raudaeiz dropped a small sack of silver coins on Thewardn¡¯s table.


    ¡°How about helping me for now?¡±


    Although Raudaeiz cannot directly ask for sensitive information about certain gangs within Ovespuerte, he could ask for related information about them. While Numisley and Cultrost had managed their legitimate business, selling wooden goods and fish sauce from Ascogres, he had been building up his gang, bit by bit.


    He paid Thewardn for information about the general areas of influence of every local gang. With this information, he had extrapolated where should he build their own safe house, which is a nondescript, rotting house near Ovespuerte¡¯s Est Prov¨¦s district, near the location of Joerze Estrar¡¯s smuggling den, meticulously placing themselves in the unclaimed territory between two larger local gangs: the ¡°Strervi¡± and ¡°Jiaz¡± gangs.


    With Gildin Trading¡¯s headquarters compromised, he and the rest of his crew opted to bunk in a small house in the poorer area of the city. They bought the abandoned house from a squatter for coppers. From this house, they had recruited people from the slums: mostly young men bereft of opportunities with the unfair laws imposed on them that entrapped them in debt and poverty. Not only that, but they had defeated tiny local gangs with only five of them and recruited the defeated members who saw them as a better chance to make it big.


    These teenagers, adolescents, and young adults were instructed to steal from marks selected by Raudaeiz: [Traders] without any significant connection, average people, and most important of all, other smaller gangs. Their successful thefts were only made possible with Raudaeiz¡¯s Feats under his [Gang Leader] Role. [Lowlife Recruitment], [Gang: One Successful Theft], [Locate Mark], and such Feats had helped Raudaeiz build his new gang.


    From what Raudaeiz gathered, the other gangs in the district often cooperated with some of the foreign [Merchants] to smuggle certain goods such as hallucinogenic plants and aphrodisiacs from Libertalia. On a certain night in one of Raudaeiz¡¯s investigations, he saw a ship on the furthest docks of Ovespuerte that bore the flag of the four diamonds on a crescent-shaped shore, shaped akin to a lower jaw: the Diamond Shore Corporation, one of the Five Corporations of Libertalia. On that night, he saw a silver-legged [Pirate] or [Captain] meeting with what looked like one of the local gangs.


    Witnessing that meeting prompted Raudaeiz to be more careful with selecting his marks, making sure that they did not steal someone associated with Diamond Shore or any of their agents.


    Yet, someone had knocked at their door in a haunting rhythm. Raudaeiz and his gang were sure that they hired five of the kids to warn them of an unwanted visitor. Although their shutters locked shut with Raudaeiz¡¯s [Safehouse: Lockdown], the wooden shutters creaked, as if they were groaning under a great weight pressing on them. Before they knew it, their knives and cudgels were already in their trembling hands.


    ¡°Raudaeiz Jaucles. The Diamond Shore¨Cand I know that you are snooping ¡®round.¡±


    A hoarse voice spoke, his voice pervading like the smoke now creeping between the gaps of their shutters. They recognized the voice¡¯s seaborne accent; which is rough, curt, and candid.


    ¡°Next time, I will come for you.¡±


    Minutes of silence passed until they realized that the person was gone. Texion, the only Dragonkin in the crew, elected to open the door. With trembling claws, he slowly opened the door, with a sight so unbelievable that they froze in disbelief. The kids they hired as their first line of detection were knocked cold, arrayed in a crescent on the ground. One of them jolted awake after Texion kicked him, assuring them that they are still alive.


    Raudaeiz wiped the sweat off his hands, before scolding them for their failure. The next day, Numisley and Cultrost Gildin finally arrived at Ovespuerte.

 Chapter 38

    [Reclaim Birthright Uncovered, Title.]


    [Title Rewarded - Claimant of the Naveirei.]


    [Rare Feat - Minor Aura Resistance, developed.]


    [Feat - Mark Cilent developed.]


    [Rare Feat - Minor Brand Promotion, developed.]


    [Feat - Preferred Goods: Fish, developed.]


    Numisley wished he could touch the pages, these glowing words that appear in his mind, and rip them out. He regretted spending the first few days of their journey to Ovespuerte moping because of the major setback. He thought he had everything figured out, but in the face of that Count¡¯s cunning, he was humiliated before dozens of people, on what should¡¯ve been his glorious moment. Perhaps their successes back home had cast a veil of overconfidence that


    He had not eaten properly for the past few days and refused to talk to anybody. Cultrost knew how to navigate around Numisley¡¯s labyrinth of triggers by simply leaving him alone until he had cooled off five days later¨Cuntil he had learned that some of their coins for the journey were gone after he had repeatedly counted them throughout the trip. Before Numisley threw away the coins on the road, Cultrost snatched the pouch. When Palden presented the possibility of a tax-Feat from Torresso, Numisley slumped, staring at the looming clouds that seem to look down upon him.


    ¡°We need more people.¡± Numisley sighed. Cultrost inched towards Numisley while sitting cross-legged, staring down at his brother.


    ¡°Hm.¡± Cultrost was relieved that he had calmed down, or rather he knew that his rambling about a plan is one of the ways Numisley copes.


    ¡°[Accountants]. [Bookeepers]. Yeah. I can¡¯t keep track of accounts alone. I know you can¡¯t read anything other than Dad¡¯s books or poetry.¡±


    ¡°Fa¡¯cke off.¡± Cultrost shoved Numisley, nudging him slightly. Numisley lazily swiped Cultrost¡¯s red fist away.


    ¡°Magic. We need someone who can cast spells. A [Mage].¡±


    ¡°I think we have one. One of Raudaeiz¡¯s men.¡±


    ¡°Right, Baire. We haven¡¯t really interacted much with Raudaeiz¡¯s men.¡±


    ¡° I still don¡¯t trust them as much as Graten¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Neither do I.¡±


    ¡°If things go wrong¡­¡±


    ¡°I know. They¡¯ll be the first to stab us in the back.¡± Numisley ¡°If I were able to cast magic¡­I wouldn¡¯t be this useless.¡±


    ¡°Your wit is magic enough, Numis. And your body. Why aren¡¯t you fat yet from sitting too much?¡±


    Numisley hit Cultrost with his cane.


    -


    They soon arrived at Ovespuerte. Numisley and Cultrost were welcomed by an empty Gildin Trading building. Cultrost and Palden had looked at every nook and cranny and found no sign of Graten and the rest. They were left with questions that will be unanswered, if not for the Contiearl who appeared in front of Gildin Trading, lounging on his carriage, guarded by lightly armored [Knights] with cutlasses and pistols.


    ¡°Your employees had been detained.¡± Torresso taunted, seeing Numisley¡¯s anger bubbling from his neutral expression, slowly morphing into a grimace. ¡°You have a debt to me that you haven¡¯t paid after all.¡±


    ¡°As a matter of fact, I wasn¡¯t informed of the debt.¡± Numisley retorted, gritting his teeth.


    ¡°So you say. Don¡¯t you think that this building behind you has a cost?¡± The Contiearl pointed his open hand towards the painted sign. ¡°I generously let you use this building, which is the city¡¯s¨Cmy property. The barrels of fish from that [Fishmonger]? I provided it. I had assumed that you will sensibly obey my plan for that gathering, but no, you have to believe that fantasy of yours, a deception by that Escribanorr.¡±


    Cultrost brushed his fingers against his mace strapped on his waist, but the [Knights] drew their pistols.


    ¡°However, I will waive your debt, if you give me the book of secrets. I¡¯m even willing to let you conduct your business here.¡±


    ¡°How did you¨Cis this your plan all along?¡± Numisley realized that he might be working with someone who knows about the book, which is the one who killed their father.


    ¡°So, are you willing to give the book? The book that your father wrote? That traitor, who committed treason by writing secrets?¡±


    ¡°Never.¡± Numisley barked. Cultrost held him back from whacking him with his cane. ¡°Never.¡±


    ¡°[Let¡¯s Make A Deal], then. [Listen to Me], Numisley and Cultrost.¡±


    The brothers knew better than make a deal with him, yet the Feat had compelled them to consider the offer. They struggled to turn away from him, forcing them to listen.


    ¡°You can work for me. As my [Merchants]. Following my exact orders.¡±


    ¡°Your exact orders?¡± Numisley asked, still defiant.


    ¡°Yes. You had broke the conditions of the Signo Dato. I¡¯ll let your employees free. Under the condition that I will take every coin you have. One of my Feats has been extracting your money coin by coin, money that will be used to pay your debt.¡±


    ¡°Every coin? But that means that we can¡¯t pay our employees.¡±


    ¡°It is your choice if you rather work for your debt, or you give me that book. Either way, imprisoning you two will not benefit me. See, I still think that you two are still useful.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost stared at him as if he is the incarnation of evil.


    ¡°Be grateful that I have given you this opportunity.¡±


    In the end, they resigned to once again work under him. However, they were bound by the Contiearl¡¯s powerful contract-Feat, with additional clauses that prevented them from going against him. By the end of the day, Graten and the others were released from the castle¡¯s dungeon in the middle of the night.


    Raudaeiz and his men had gone home that night, shaken. Numisley and Cultrost decided to have a meeting the next day. Graten reported that they were suddenly arrested by the Contiearl¡¯s men, and Raudaeiz reported to Numisley of his encounter with an agent of the Diamond Shore.


    ¡°We are at an impasse. We will be unable to pay every employee in Gildin Trading.¡± Numisley announced, his words heavy with regret. ¡°In short, that poncy count-or-whatever he¡¯s called trapped us with debt. His Feats will extract every coin that we will ever own, no matter where we are.¡±


    ¡°However, I have an idea. My father had left money in various banks.¡± Numisley spoke before Graten and Raudeaiz protested. ¡°In the meantime, I want to make sure that are your men still willing to work with me.¡±


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°We believe that this place is best for my men. My men had lost their families to war. I want them to build a new life here, despite the speciesism. I hope that you can still help me achieve that. And, with you and that book of yours, I can become stronger.¡±


    Graten spoke first. Numisley had let Graten borrow the brown leather book that contain the secrets of gaining Feats and Roles, under Cultrost¡¯s watchful eye during their journeys across Ascogres and Semsella. Graten had gained a few Feats with practice, but many Feats can be only gained with experience and challenges as cited in that book.


    ¡°My reason for working with ya¡¯ isn¡¯t as pure as that merc over here.¡± Raudaeiz verbally jabbed at Graten. ¡°You brat outsmarted me in the first place. I¡¯m here for revenge. I¡¯m here because I know that you have a plan. And I¡¯m patient. I know how hard and slow it is to build a gang. For now, I¡¯ll still work with you, until you run out of plans.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±


    Graten and Raudaeiz later went to their underlings to inform them of the situation. Numisley had found out that he has three clients waiting for him, with four other clients already left because they cannot afford to wait for Numisley to come back. The brothers rushed to their office.


    One of the last clients for today was one of the [Merchants] that Numisley met in the city¡¯s Merchant¡¯s Guild, one of the few he invited to travel with him to Ascolitica. He wore colorful green and red silks on his pale skin and a cloth headband constricting his curly hair. Like him, he was a Human not from here, but his origins hail from the southern continent of Lemuria; which Numisley only knew as the ¡°Beastkin Continent¡±.


    ¡°Coasts bless you. I never thought you were the ¡®Trader of Secrets¡¯ of all people. Fancy.¡±


    ¡°Good to meet you too, Merchant Guizzimeraime.¡± Numisley greeted. He was one of the few people that he genuinely liked; unlike the local [Merchants] who see him as a bottom-feeder and a simple [Shopkeeper].


    ¡°Please, please, call me Aryyrad, Friend Numisley. You too, Cultrost. You¡¯ll fit in my home of Rhundi.¡±


    ¡°Rhundi? Why?¡± Cultrost asked. He stands behind Numisley as his [Bodyguard].


    ¡°You got horns.¡± Aryyad laughed, but both brothers didn¡¯t get the joke local from his homeland. His bulging eyes refocused on Numisley.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk cadl ¡®fore business. You mind?¡±


    Although the foreign [Merchant] had spoken Common and Torregornian for years, there is still traces of his accent.


    ¡°Cadl?¡± Cultrost asked, unfamiliar with the foreign word.


    ¡°Casual talk. Before business. I heard what happened in Ascolitica.¡± Aryyad said.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± Numisley stared at his parchment on the table. ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°I heard from a friend of a friend. I¡¯m honored to be in the presence of a noble.¡±


    ¡°Noble? I¡¯m not yet a noble. I¡¯m not recognized as such, even.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless, it¡¯s great to have a friend like you. As a [Merchant] of a foreign land, same as you, I¡¯ll offer help whenever you can.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Although the information Aryyad was looking for from the book is dated, he generously produces a pouch of twenty gold coins, a couple of coins more than Numisley¡¯s price for that information.


    Numisley waited for the coin to disappear from Torresso¡¯s debt-collecting Feat, but even as his candle already melted, it was still there.


    ¡°Contract.¡± Numisley gestured to Cultrost to find the new contract that the Contiearl had made and saw a loophole that was there all along.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Numisley uttered. ¡°Get Raudaeiz. I got an idea.¡±


    Raudaeiz was summoned to the office, accompanied by Cultrost.


    ¡°What?¡± Raudaeiz was in the middle of playing cards with his men, so he was slightly miffed.


    ¡°I might have another solution for the debt. My new contract states that every coin earned by selling goods by Gildin Trading will be given to him. However, I think that he didn¡¯t consider that I¡¯m not selling information under my company. This made me think that if I pursue alternative sources of income not officially under Gildin Trading, then we can make more money.¡± Numisley explained.


    ¡°My gang, right?¡± Raudaeiz raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°Yes. I assume that you had been building it. What¡¯s your source of income?¡±


    ¡°Petty theft.¡±


    ¡°Keep doing that, I suppose. But, our expenses are still in the red. You should target [Traders].¡±


    ¡°I can steal from a [Trader] or more, if I had my old numbers. Right now, I just have some alley kids. The Guard¡¯s tight as Tucken¡¯s alleys.¡± Raudaeiz said coolly, remembering how his old gang was arrested because of him.


    ¡°I believe in your ability.¡±


    They left it at that. Numisley sighed. Cultrost tapped Numisley¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°I got an idea,¡± Cultrost exclaimed.


    ¡°What idea?¡± Numisley brightened up.


    ¡°Remember adventurers back home, yeah? What about we make one? Graten¡¯s people. They could send a portion of their income to us.¡±


    ¡°Cultrost, that¡¯s a great idea. However, if we implement this now, we¡¯ll stretch ourselves thin. We don¡¯t have enough people. But yeah, let¡¯s go to Thewardn¡¯s.¡±


    Their last task for the day is to ask Thewardn. After he let them in his safehouse, they sat down.


    ¡°Fuck did you do to his a Contiearl off?¡± Thewardn asked, fearful that this hideout will be compromised by letting them in.


    ¡°He found about the book, it seems like,¡± Numisley answered. He briefly explained how they got trapped in debt and how he got humiliated in Ascolitica when Escribanorr tried to introduce him as the true scion of the Naveirei.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way that we told anyone other than our men. And there¡¯s a handful of people like that Satyr who paid guys to chase us out of our home.¡± Cultrost added.


    ¡°I think I know. That Duci. Dustitoz Gaviolos.¡± Thewardn had connected the dots.


    ¡°He killed our father.¡± Numisley¡¯s voice sizzled with resentment; the surface of a rage deeper than the world¡¯s ocean.


    ¡°He chased him across the ocean? So that¡¯s why he left for Libertalia.¡± Thewardn mused.


    ¡°You know this guy?¡± Numisley asked, leaning forward. He almost fell off the chair before Cultrost caught him,


    ¡°He¡¯s someone important, which means information about him is either plentiful or scarce as the sun up north,¡± Thewardn explained. ¡°He¡¯s a Duci¨Ca Duke in the Common tongue. The head of the Gaviolos House. And the one who attempted a coup against His Majesty Coespandorr.¡±


    ¡°A coup?¡± Numisley paused for a second, remembering the meaning of that word. ¡°So he overthrew like, the head of government?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Thewardn said.


    ¡°If he did something that serious, he should¡¯ve been arrested or killed! How?¡± Cultrost asked, bewildered.


    ¡°In an ideal world, Divine Law should have struck him down for treason. However, he possesses deep connections to the Synod of Iberreos. Hence, he got only a slap on the wrist by demoting him to Marquis. If what you said is true, then he is cooperating with the Contiearl. The Commerros and the Gaviolos are long-time allies.¡± Thewardn explained.


    Numisley leaned on his chair, before straightening himself to face Thewardn.


    ¡°Once again, I need your help. Our father has multiple bank accounts in this kingdom, yet we do not have a map of them.¡±


    Cultrost handed Thewardn the identification documents that their father had left behind.


    ¡°These are outdated,¡± Thewardn said to Cultrost. The brothers looked at each other.


    ¡°So, you need a map and forged documents. However, you are out of money. Are you banking on my friendship with your father? I¡¯m running a business here, you know. And you pissed off the high nobility. As far as I¡¯m concerned, you brought trouble in my safehouse, making it not-so-safe.¡±


    The brothers went silent. Their minds ran miles trying to come up with a solution, but the deafening silence was interrupted by Thewardn¡¯s boisterous laughter.


    ¡°Got you good, eh?¡±


    Cultrost nervously smiled, and then he was the first to laugh. The jolly Dwarf slapped Numisley¡¯s back, making him cough once.


    ¡°We shared a drink. In Dwarven tradition, we are family. Of course, I¡¯ll help! However, I¡¯m still running a business. Normally, the price would empty a [Merchant]¡¯s bags, but here¡¯s the deal. When you withdraw the coin, I¡¯ll take 30%, deal?¡±


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost shook Thewardn¡¯s hands. He pulled up an old map of the kingdom and marked down the locations of the few banks spread about in the kingdom.


    ¡°So there¡¯s only three of them. Compared to our Auroleonian neighbor, our state is small. My advice is: bring a lot of [Mercenaries] with you, and wagons, of course. The more coins you have, the louder the [Thieves] could hear it clink.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Numisley and Cultrost expressed their gratitude.


    Thewardn got to work on contacting his network of [Document Forgers] within the city after the brothers left.


    The next day, they managed to buy supplies with the little money they had, and they dismissed the few locals that they hired in Gildin Trading because they were unable to pay them.


    They were ready for another journey.

 Chapter 39

    In the Commerro¡¯s main estate in Ovespuerte, there was one room secluded from the rest of the common areas of the castle. It only possesses a sofa, illuminated by a single window, facing a wide golden window. Embedded within the bricks of the room are runes that prevented sound from leaking to the outside. The windows too, were blackened with [Darkness] Spells to prevent [Rogues] who can lip-read from afar. All of these are examined by an aging [Enchanter] that Torresso hired.


    ¡°Do the enchantments still function?¡±


    Torresso had barged into the secluded space he used for private conversations over communication spells.


    ¡°Yes, my lord. There is minimal enchantment decay. Negligible, even. I took the liberty of charging them with my mana.¡± The [Enchanter] answered.


    ¡°Thank you, Enchanter Encrantor. Is the connection secure?¡± Torresso asked, pointing at the golden mirror.


    ¡°Yes. The scrying conduit is secure. Unusually so.¡±


    Torresso sat on the sofa as he watched the [Enchanter] inserting stones engraved with runes in the carved slots next to the mirror. The mirror came to life, showing the face of the vermillion-haired former Duke, now in one of the Gaviolos¡¯ estates. Torresso shooed the [Enchanter] away.


    ¡°So, did the debt trap of yours work, Contiearl?¡± Dustitoz asked.


    ¡°To an extent.¡± Contiearl succinctly replied.


    The former Duke¡¯s voice rang like metal, from the limitations of the communication spells and the medium that they are using.


    ¡°What do you mean? Did you get that book?¡± Dustitoz interrogated.


    ¡°The boo¨Care you sure that this is a safe way to communicate? Opportunists might intercept this.¡± Commerro was especially paranoid today, with a bead of sweat on his forehead.


    ¡°Not to fear. I have [Greater Resistance: Spycraft]. From that damned [Spymaster]. He really gave me a hard time, you know. And I hope that his brat isn¡¯t that clever. So, where¡¯s the book?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not in my possession. My men can¡¯t find it in his office.¡±


    Torresso felt that he was being stared at as if Dustitoz was here with him.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling the truth. So what of that bastard child? I suppose with your power, you could arrest him with cause.¡±Dustitoz assumed.


    ¡°No, I did not detain him.¡± Torresso flatly stated.


    ¡°So what? Are you going to let him be?¡± Dustitoz stood up, spilling his glass of wine on the floor.


    ¡°Of course not. He is still useful to me. However, I will continually drain his income until he submits to me.¡±


    ¡°Are you a housecat? Playing with your food? Mice like him should be crushed as soon as you saw him. Have you considered that he might be selling the information in the book? I made the same mistake long ago, playing with that [Spymaster] whom I underestimated.¡±


    The Contiearl went silent.


    ¡°I shall overturn every stone in my city to find every [Information Broker] in my city.¡±


    ¡°You should¡¯ve done it long ago.¡±


    The moving image of the golden mirror winked out. Dustitoz saw the spilled wine already replaced with another one by one of the estate¡¯s [Servants].


    ¡°Competent people. That¡¯s what I need.¡± Dustitoz muttered.


    The [Ambassador] of Thousand Roads silently stood behind Dustitoz.


    ¡°My mistress expects the book¨C¡±


    ¡°I know what your mistress wants. I¡¯m working on it. But incompetence plaques me.¡± Dustitoz cut off Dosinyu.


    ¡°What about that [Lady]? The Kaminor?¡±


    ¡°It is too early to use that card. And it would be humiliating for her if the nobility learned that the Kaminors of all Houses could be forced by a Contract-Feat. I plan to use it in case he was allowed a trial to the Ichoricon.¡±


    ¡°So you are clever after all.¡±


    ¡°I can hear your thoughts, you know.¡± Dustitoz glared at Dosinyu, who often didn¡¯t voice out his true thoughts.


    ¡°Apologies.¡± Dosinyu slightly bowed with false deference.


    ¡°Every decent noble can read intention. The best of us could delve deep into minds. Too bad that your homeland¡¯s nobility went extinct.¡±


    ¡°False. They still exist as the Peers of the Valley. But there is no point throwing slights at each other. My first impressions of you were clearly wrong.¡±


    Dustitoz chuckled, tossing a grape into his mouth.


    ¡°Although back in that tent, Contiearl Torresso thinks otherwise,¡± Dosinyu interjected.


    ¡°What do you mean, exactly?¡±


    ¡°He simply thinks you are pathetic. A dead weight to his plans. He wants more of the reward that my mistress will give by leaving you out.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    The table vibrated under the rage exuded by his Aura, making the glass of wine fall and shatter on the ground.


    ¡°He may be more of a steward than me, but I¡¯m the Duc of Gaviolos. The true heir of the Torregornian throne!¡±


    A Scroll of Messages appeared in his hand, and he instantly unfurled it. A quill floated towards him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that boy will regret setting foot on this land. I¡¯ll deny him the funds he needs with my quill. And I¡¯ll talk to that upstart Contiearl soon.¡±


    -


    A banquet was set up in the Commerran estate upon the return of their prodigal son. The table was filled with seafood in season: shrimps, fish, mussels, and even jellyfish. The food was also flavored with spices from the eastern and southern continents. Wine and juice were in plentiful supply with the [Servants] at their beck and call.


    On the leading seats of the long carved coral table were the Contiearl and her spouse, Strraina Commerro; the heads of their noble house. Before they were their sons, Racieros, the youngest child, and Verrespadion, the eldest of the brothers, both from different mothers on opposite sides of the table. For a moment, Torresso glanced at an empty chair beside Racieros.


    ¡°Let us celebrate the return of our precious son from his victory in Inquel.¡±


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    They raised their goblets and banged them against each other.


    ¡°Tell me about the battle. I shall call for a [Bard] to chronicle your story and make it into song.¡± Torresso said.


    ¡°You have no need for that. It was a simple battle against the peasants of Iquelica. A frontier skirmish.¡± Verrespadion declined.


    ¡°Humble as always,¡± Strraina remarked.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Verrespadion said. ¡°I want to know how my brother is doing. I had been gone far too long.¡±


    ¡°Fine, thank you,¡± Racieros muttered. Verrespadion was concerned about the gloom that loomed over his younger brother¡¯s face.


    ¡°Last time I heard, you were given the town of Ascogres to practice your stewardship,¡± Verrespadion recalled.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So how was it?¡±


    ¡°Dizzying.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a part of our duties as nobility, unfortunately.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, there is a [Merchant] who was helping me with the monetary side of things.¡±


    ¡°A [Merchant]?¡±


    Torresso¡¯s ears perked up. What was his son doing, talking about the Brothers?


    ¡°Racieros had exterminated Goblins recently. At the cost of putting the town that he was in charge of in danger. Hence why he¡¯s staying here for now.¡± Torresso redirected the conversation away from mentioning the Gildin Brothers. Racieros¡¯ ears went red with embarrassment.


    "That is understandable. One should not put all of his fish in a pot, to quote a local saying." Verrespadion said. "If you lead armies someday, be mindful of those under your command."


    "Yes. I know." Racieros tersely replied.


    Torresso gave his youngest son a glare that could pierce armor. The banquet continued as it were, however silent Racieros had been during the conversations between Torresso, Strraina, and their eldest son. The banquet soon finished just as night fell. Verrespadion saw his younger brother head off to his room, but he decided to follow his father briskly walking towards the battlements.


    ¡°...Sweep the entire city! I want those [Information Brokers] found!¡±


    The [Guard Captain] briskly bowed to Torresso before rushing to muster the rest of the [Guardsmen] to do the Contiearl¡¯s bidding. Lanterns were lit and spears and shields were picked up. [Runners] had begun racing through the dim streets to spread the order around to the smaller garrisons and the other [Soldiers] on the battlements within the city. Those in the Decreeist temples were summoned in order to use their Miracles for this mission: filtering out supposed criminals.


    ¡°Father.¡± Verrespadion stepped out from the stairs of the battlements.


    ¡°Verre.¡± Torresso faced his first son. The son that he sired from his first wife. His vermillion hair hurts to look at; he looks too much like his mother.


    ¡°I have so many questions, Father.¡±


    Verrespadion had always dropped the traditional forms of address whenever they were alone.


    ¡°Questions?¡±


    ¡°First, I heard you ordered the arrest of a couple of innocents without a valid basis on the Divine Decree. Second, I do not know why are you treating my brother in that way. I saw you use a Feat to shut him up.¡±


    Torresso¡¯s palms wettened with sweat, but his eyes locked on his son.


    ¡°These were the men of two [Traders] who did not pay their debts.¡±


    ¡°And I assume that those are the [Traders] my brother is talking about.¡±


    They shared a tense moment. The air shimmered between them, forming a faint wall of air.


    ¡°Your [Guard Captain] did not specify in what exact Decree that they broke.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because he is a commoner!¡±


    ¡°We and the [Priests] had elucidated them on the Divine Decree. As the nobility, we had taken great strides to educate our subjects on what laws to follow, and on what laws to not break to not disrupt the Great Order. This is no excuse.¡±


    ¡°I have the Noble¡¯s Obligation to maintain the Great Order.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you are obligated to arrest them, however. When I locked blades with one of them¡­a [Fighter] of great skill, I did not feel the cruelty of their blade. I felt sorrow. I felt his conviction. I know, because I¡¯m a [Paladin], as well as a [Knight] and [Viscount]. And, as I said, your man did not cite the right Decree of Justice, as a proper believer of the divine law should.¡±


    ¡°I raised you too well.¡±


    ¡°As you should. You are my father, after all.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing this for a reason. Political reasons that I could not embroil you yet.¡±


    ¡°Our existence is political enough.¡± Verrespadion countered. ¡°So tell me. Tell me why are you treating my step-brother like this. Who are those [Traders]? Are they the reason why?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But¨C¡±


    [A Secret Kept Between Us]. It feels like an invisible, incorporeal hand caressed the inside of Torresso¡¯s throat. He almost forgot he made a binding agreement with that Satyr [Ambassador], and that agreement threatened to strangle them if he said another world, even if he could exert his Aura outwards to destroy it.


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡±


    Torresso hoped that Verrespadion saw the Feat binding him.


    ¡°Then keep my brother out of this, if you aren¡¯t willing to tell me. In fact, if he wants to, I¡¯ll charter a carriage back to his town of Ascogres.¡±


    ¡°You dare?¡±


    ¡°Unless you tell me the full story. Then I would understand why are you doing this and act appropriately. I do not know why my dear stepbrother is unhappy, but I assume that you are part of it. I do not want him to be embroiled in whatever political battle you have.¡±


    Verrespadion walked away from his father. Torresso sighed and stared at the moon rising from the ocean. He didn¡¯t find Racieros in his room and assumed that he was in the courtyard. He found him sitting on a weathered stone bench.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    Verrespadion awkwardly sat beside Racieros.


    ¡°How are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Racieros avoided his step-brother''s eyes.


    The evening breeze itself seemed to sigh.


    ¡°I wanted to ask, who are those [Traders] that helped you?¡±


    Racieros hesitated to tell him at first, but eventually, he told his step-brother about the Gildin Brothers and their service to Torresso and how Numisley is the true son of Marhyiana and Jascias Naveirei. although he omitted the mention of the Book of Secrets. So Verrespadion surmised that this is a political move by his father to discredit Numisley¡¯s true heritage.


    ¡°So where are they now?¡± Verrespadion asked.


    ¡°I do not know,¡± Racieros asked. ¡°Why did you want to know, anyway?¡±


    ¡°I just want you to know what you are doing. I was concerned. Our father was mistreating you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Racieros dismissed. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡±


    I don¡¯t need your patronizing. The words rumbled within his chest, trapped within. His eldest step-brother, the original and the purest scion of the Commerros is a constant reminder of his inadequacies. Their father and even his mother lauded him, showering him with appreciation. He went to war and dueled the enemy commanders of Iquelica and other domains while he was still struggling with swinging his practice sword. Yet it was not purely love, nor total hate he felt for his brother; made murky by jealousy and insecurity.


    ¡°Do you want to go back to Ascogres?¡± Verrespadion asked.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°With all this going on, I think you should be safe, away from politics here. I¡¯ll handle Father. I believe that he is unjust for denying a scion of a Naveirei, much less the son of the heroes of the kingdom, the right to an Ichoricon.¡±


    Racieros sat deep in thought. Cultrost and Numisley are already acquainted with him and Ascogres, as they had already set up shop there with ?ienten the [Brewer]. If there was a chance that he could see Cultrost again, then he would take it.


    ¡°Are you going to arrange transport?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Verrespadion answered. ¡°You can stay as long as you want there. Besides, you should learn more about managing a town, before you¡¯ll inherit a couple more.¡±


    Racieros acquiesced. The brothers had snuck to the stables, acquiring a carriage. Verrespadion ordered four available [Knights] to escort the carriage, and Racieros had left, without the [Guards] of the city noticing them as they rounded up the few [Information Brokers] in the city.


    Verrespadion braced himself for his father¡¯s wrath tomorrow.

 Chapter 40

    The Gildin Brothers were not in Ovespuerte when the [Guards] of the city were upturning every root and stone to find every [Information Broker] that may have some word of the information that had been sold in the city¡¯s underworld. The citizens were both uneasy and reassured by the presence of their liege¡¯s men.


    Strolling along the main road leading to the Commero¡¯s castle was a stout [Captain] of a lonely ship at the city''s edge, moored in the Est Prov¨¦s district. With his unruly company of [Privateers] with scabbards, flintlock pistols, and potent wands dangling carelessly despite the hostile stares of the [Guards] rounding up people, he walked confidently with his silver leg. Not merely a peg leg to replace his lost left leg, but a great artifact that he found at sea and propelled his fortunes.


    A mob of them blocked them on their way to the castle. The [Captain] bared his teeth in a mocking grin.


    ¡°Halt¨C¡±


    The bearded [Guard-Captain of the Port] of the Commerros raised his hand, silencing the men under his command.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± The leader of the [Guards] spoke like his words were heavy with lead.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to talk to your boss, and if you don¡¯t let me through, you will envy the dead.¡± The stout captain spoke, lighting a pipe, and fearlessly blew the tobacco smoke to the armed [Guard Captain]¡¯s face. Smoke started to coil around the defiant [Captain] of the seas.


    ¡°Let him through.¡± The [Guard Captain] barked to his men. ¡°Now!¡±


    The [Captain] and his [Privateers] went towards the castle unhindered, shoving the bewildered [Guards] aside as they laughed and howled. One of the [Guards] with a good throwing Feat tried to throw his spear, but the [Guard-Captain] of the Commerros stayed his subordinate¡¯s spear and hit his face with its blunt end because of his disobedience.


    -


    Contiearl Torresso Commerro had been notified early with one of his Feats that someone has been demanding to meet him. He had rushed to his office without waking his spouse up as soon as he got dressed up. As soon as he sat in his office, a stout figure barged in. His right pearl eye lit up as he stared at Torresso. His men stayed outside of the office, flanking each side of the door.


    ¡°Johoon Silverleg. To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± Torresso spoke sarcastically to the man he hated the most.


    ¡°You dare talk to me like that?¡±


    Johoon stabbed Torresso¡¯s marble desk with an ashen dagger that pierced it like butter. Smoke started to crawl up the walls of the office, tearing the paintings down in a creeping rage.


    ¡°Do you want me to kill your other wife, eh? Maybe, I won¡¯t drown her this time. Maybe, my men outside will visit her in your quarters. Maybe, I¡¯ll let you and your sons watch this time.¡±


    Only some have the gall and ability to threaten someone of Torresso¡¯s rank. The unforgivable, vile threat had tightened Torresso¡¯s grip on the papers on the desk. The air became heavy as lead, but Johoon shrugged Torresso¡¯s Aura off.


    ¡°I want you to release the [Information Brokers]. My [Brokers]. Now.¡± Johoon demanded.


    ¡°No. I need their information.¡± Torresso refused.


    ¡°Do you want everyone in your pitiful kingdom to know that you are working with someone like me? I know how your religion treats its traitors.¡±


    Torresso weighed the options that he has right now, and unfortunately, it was lopsided in this foreigner¡¯s favor. He knows, and hated to admit, that this foreigner across the Obscure Ocean is the true ruler of Ovespuerte because of a mistake he made a decade ago.


    -


    On the same night, Torresso ordered the enforcers of the city to cease the search and release the [Information Brokers]. Thewardn saw his rival [Brokers] being returned to their hideouts, but that did not reassure them one bit. [Guards] had passed by his hideout and they fortunately struggled to find his warded hideout. In his tenure as a wandering [Information Broker], he had hints that a foreign power had taken over much of Ovespuerte¡¯s underground. He did not dare to find out but with this incident, he was sure of which of Libertalia¡¯s great powers had claimed Ovespuerte.


    In hindsight, who it is was obvious. He deduced that this city was too hot to do business here anymore, and he knows that Numisley and Cultrost were on their way to Ascogres. He called the workers he hired to put up a legal front, inhabiting this building as [Shopkeepers], [Craftsmen], and other workers in this apartment. The same workers now covertly loaded the boxes of paper, parchment, and pots of ink, along with his desk. With waving gestures with his Wand of Dispelling, the illusions, and wards protecting his hideout dissipated. He handed a letter addressed to Numisley and Cultrost to one of his helpers.


    ¡°Safe travels sir. Laws protect your journey.¡± The young helper who received the letter said.


    Thewardn snorted. He had always preferred the small gods scattered within the kingdom that some people worshipped in small shrines allowed by the kingdom¡¯s laws over the dogmatic Divine Decree.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your final earnings. I won''t be back here anytime soon.¡±


    With a flick of a finger, pouches of silver coins appeared at the hands of every person Thewardn had employed to occupy this nondescript building. The [Covert Coach Driver] he had hired from one of his contacts had arrived, bowing towards him. He did not speak a word as he urged his horses to move forwards throughout the streets. With a silent bribe to the [Guards] at the gatehouse, they had successfully left Ovespuerte.


    -


    A few days later, Gildin Trading arrived at Ascogres. People looked at them as [Traders] from the foreign south. They parked at the stables of ?ienten¡¯s brewery, prompting the [Brewmaster] himself to come out of the brewery.


    ¡°Hey! What brings you here, Numisley and Cultrost?¡± ?ienten greeted, shaking both of the brothers¡¯ hands.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to meet the [Mayor], or Racieros,¡± Numisley replied.


    ¡°Racieros?¡± It took a while for ?ienten to ascertain who Numisley meant. ¡°Lord Commerro. Please address him with his holy title.¡±


    ¡°My brother¡¯s friends with him.¡± Numisley jested. Cultrost playfully nudged his brother


    ¡°Oh?¡± ?ienten blurted. ¡°You should be privileged on gaining the favor of our lord! Lord Commerro arrived a day ago, so you should be able to gain an audience as soon as today.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. We¡¯re moving here.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± ?ienten¡¯s expression contorted with shock. ¡°Aren¡¯t you from the capital? Ovespuerte?¡±


    ¡°Things didn''t work out too well back there, Brewer ?ienten,¡± Cultrost interjected.


    ¡°The market¡¯s too competitive for us novices,¡± Numisley blatantly lied.


    ¡°Make yourself at home.¡± ?ienten invited them to have breakfast at his home. They talked about recent events and business over a table filled with bread and potato stew, served by ?ienten¡¯s daughter, who kept curiously starting at Cultrost. They recently learned that Racieros had gathered most of the [Mercenaries] of the Inglorious Hands in his keep.


    Later, they went to Racieros¡¯ keep, and Racieros¡¯ instantly let them in; to the surprise of his guards. Racieros was surprised that they were here too. Cultrost explained their entire situation since he was now privy to their secrets upon entering Racieros¡¯ quarters.


    ¡°Did my father do that?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley said.


    Racieros was conflicted and bewildered. His father is abusing his position, something that he was taught not to do. Yet he understood that his father is doing this to prevent Numisley from claiming his heritage, as well as the book that they have.


    ¡°I wish to borrow your men. The Inglorious Hands specifically.¡±


    ¡°Can you pay them? I had only convinced them to join me because of my status as a [Lord] and our religion. And they might be less remorseful if I make one more mistake.¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°What do you mean by that, exactly?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit hard to explain¡­but the gist of it is that we, the nobility and royalty are holy beings¨Cintermediaries. Anointed by the Divine Decree to be the stewards of civilization.¡±


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Holy beings?¡± Cultrost blurted. ¡°You don¡¯t look holy to me, Racieros.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Racieros grinned, but he went back to his explanation. ¡°Anyways¡­think of it as them accidentally hurting a saint, so they want to make amends by pledging themselves to me.¡±


    Racieros mentally labored to recall some of the specifics of his faith. He was not as adept in theology as his brother, who zealously adhere to the Divine Decree more than their father.


    ¡°Do you pay them?¡± Numisley asked. ¡°Faith doesn¡¯t feed [Mercenaries], you know.¡±


    ¡°I try,¡± Racieros asked. ¡°I¨CWe were lucky that this mercenary band is more zealous than the others. Yulvres told me that they had served the [Bishops]. But¡­¡±


    Racieros¡¯ words stuck within his throat, as he tried to tell the truth.


    ¡°But what?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Many of them left Yulvres¡¯ group. I have a limited budget. The stipend and the taxes of the town. I can¡¯t simply pay all of them, even if they simply guard the town without taking too much for my subjects. Even if the [Mayor] my father assigned to me allows me to¨C¡±


    ¡°How many of them are left?¡± Numisley interrupted. ¡°And could I convince them to come with us, even if there¡¯s a chance that I can pay them?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Racieros nervously tapped his scabbard on his hip.


    ¡°There are only twenty men left in this town, and I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll stay,¡± Racieros said. ¡° How about¡­try mentioning your heritage? Although I do not know if they want to be involved in a succession crisis, Numisley.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to be more convincing then,¡± Numisley stated. Racieros was awkwardly glancing at Cultrost.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Yulvres right now?¡± Numisley asked after turning to Cultrost for a moment.


    ¡°In the western part of the town, at the fields,¡± Racieros replied.


    Cultrost stayed in place for a moment with Racieros as Numisley shambled away with his staff.


    ¡°Do I need to come?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have Graten or Palden come with me,¡± Numisley reassured, knowing that Cultrost would want to spend time with his friend. Cultrost felt grateful for his brother¡¯s consideration. Numisley had left the keep and was accompanied by Palden and Graten towards the west. They were walking in one of the western streets of the town until they met a stout hooded figure who promptly removed his hood, revealing a partially petrified face.


    ¡°Thewardn?¡±


    ¡°You moved here too, kid?¡±


    Thewardn gave Numisley a firm handshake as a greeting.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Same to you,¡± Thewardn said. ¡°I¡¯m here because that Contiearl had upturned the city to find [Information Brokers].¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Numisley was surprised. He suspected that Torresso was trying to find any information in the book.


    ¡°Do you know anything about it?¡±


    ¡°I have my suspicions. But he knows about the book¨C¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk somewhere private. My new base here isn¡¯t finished setting up. You know ¡®bout scrying spells, ethling?¡±


    ¡°Eth¨Cscrying spells?¡± Numisley blurted out. ¡°Our father had taught me about them.¡±


    ¡°This small town isn¡¯t that warded against them. Even from lesser ones. When my helpers finish setting up my safehouse, I¡¯ll let you know.¡±


    Thewardn briskly walked away as if he didn¡¯t know Numisley. Numisley continued onwards to the location of the leader of the Inglorious Hands¡¯ mercenary band. They had found them assembled next to a wheat field on the outskirts of Ascogres. A tattered blue banner of a band with a severed finger and a hole in its palm oversaw the formation.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving if you do not lead us to other jobs! We had done enough! We had repented enough!¡± One of the younger [Mercenaries] raised his voice against a bald man who Numisley recognized as Yulvres. A man with long hair and a wispy beard held the young [Mercenary]¡¯s shoulder, holding him back. The younger [Mercenary] slapped his hand away.


    ¡°Germio! It¡¯s not our fault that we attacked His Holiness. His father paid for it, so if anything, it''s one of those assassinations!¡±


    ¡°Blasphemy!¡± Germio barked.


    ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡±


    Yulvres, Germio, and the young [Mercenary] stopped as they heard Numisley¡¯s voice.


    ¡°You.¡± Yulvres mouthed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley replied. ¡°I have a job for you all. I had already asked your lord¡¯s permission.¡±


    He said the word ¡°lord¡± as if he was still unfamiliar with the term even if he learned the local language. The mention of a job perked up the [Mercenaries]¡¯ ears, their eyes desperately staring at him for an opportunity to appear.


    ¡°I¡¯m one of the Naveirei. Yes, House Naveirei. I¡¯m sure that you had heard of them before.¡±


    Many of them had heard the heroism of one of their kingdom¡¯s Duci. Marhyiana Naveirei, who saved the current [King] from a coup. Statues of her still stand today in many of the kingdom¡¯s cities, and their ears had heard [Bards] tell tall tales about her.


    ¡°I¡¯m the son of Jascias and Marhyiana Naveirei. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, and feel free to present your truth stones. I have been denied my rightful heritage by the other nobility. I shall travel to the nearby city of Daqquiristo and other banks to withdraw my rightful gold to attain my right to my heritage. I need you to guard my key to my heritage with your lives. If I can cross the ocean with only a few coins, I can make sure that you will be well-fed and paid for during this journey. And when I shall become one of your lords, I shall make sure that you will want for nothing.¡±


    Despite Numisley¡¯s [Noble Diction] and [Convincing Words], as well as his [Lesser Charisma], he is still unsure if he could sway the disgruntled [Mercenaries] to his cause.


    Yulvres raised his axe, much to Numisley¡¯s surprise. With the truth stone he pointed at Numisley, the green glow of the stone pendant confirmed that Numisley did not lie.


    ¡°I volunteer. His cause is just. We may want for the coin, but this is a matter of justice. A noble duty. Whoever wants to leave, you are allowed to walk away.¡±


    The young [Mercenary] from earlier instantly left the formation as soon as he heard that.


    ¡°It¡¯s a march towards death, not a holy duty, Leader! I doubt that he¡¯s a [Lord], even. If you¡¯re sensible, if you want to earn more money you¡¯ll come with me!¡±


    After a few moments, five other people had walked out of the formation and joined the first deserter of the day who spoke up. Their numbers had reduced to only fourteen dedicated men as the deserters had simply walked away, and Yulvres did not dare stop them because he understood why. Numisley was partly dismayed by the numbers he had to work with, but he was glad that a sufficient number of [Mercenaries] remain.


    ¡°For those who remain, I¡¯m deeply indebted to you,¡± Numisley said.


    Numisley hoped that they would not lose anybody on this journey like last time, but there is no guarantee of the lack of funds that they have. He looked at the sky, feeling a tingling at the nape of his neck.


    Numisley and company went back to ?ienten¡¯s home to plan their journey. As Cultrost arrived with Racieros at night, Thewardn stopped by and called them. Cultrost said goodbye to Racieros; Cultrost¡¯s casual address had bewildered ?ienten and the other onlookers who their [Lord] graced with his presence.


    They walked in the humble streets of Ascogres, stopping at a nondescript stone building. ¡°Thewardn¡¯s Ink and Sheets¡± was written on the sign above the door.


    Much to their surprise, Thewardn¡¯s office was just a wooden counter and a chair out in the open, surrounded by stored pots of ink, blank scrolls, unbound books, and papers bound in string arranged within standing shelves, instead of the enclosed safehouse protected by a metal door disguised as a wooden door.


    ¡°Thewardn¡¯s Ink and Sheets?¡± Cultrost asked, looking around the shop.


    ¡°My disguise is a [Paper Merchant]. A good front that justifies the amount of paper and ink that I have.¡±


    ¡°You said you want to talk privately, yet this is¡­a bit more open than your safe house in the city,¡± Numisley commented. His clothes and hair seem to shine under the moonlight, despite being partly indoors.


    ¡°Different locations, different needs,¡± Thewardn stated. ¡°In the city, there are more risks. In a place like this, I can hide in plain sight. And look,¡± He pointed to the wooden charms that hung at the door, the iron-barred windows of the storefront, and the wooden beams around them. Each of them appears to be a carved ugly creature, with its hands formed into a shushing gesture.


    ¡°Charms.¡± Numisley mouthed.


    ¡°Anti-eavesdropping charms. [Silence], [Detection], anti-scrying, the whole works.¡± Thewardn expounded. ¡°Although based on the glow on your clothes, I guess it didn¡¯t completely stop what¡¯s on ye¡¯.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Numisley panickly padded his clothes, noticing the faint white glow on him.


    ¡°Relax. It¡¯s the detection field I paid a [Mage] to set up.¡± Thewardn reassured. ¡°It¡¯s either some kind of scrying-Feat or Spell. Spells are a bit easier to deal with. So, did that Contiearl know the existence of the book?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley replied.


    ¡°He knows? Impossible. How about the other book?¡±


    ¡°The brown one? I think he doesn¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t mention it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s one problem off then. Based on my info about that guy, he might have [Locate Contractee]. Did he force a contract upon you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Numisley told Thewardn the details of the contract, and how they found the loophole.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you found that loophole. But you need some kind of Feat to sustain yourselves on the trip since that guy constantly siphons your coin. And since he knows about the black book, he would exploit you as much as he can, and he will have eyes on you.¡± Thewardn stated.


    ¡°So, how could we shake him off?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Have a [Mage] and magic items to protect yourself from divination magic. But with your financial situation at the moment, you better hope you develop Feats to counter that soon.¡±


    After taking Thewardn¡¯s advice, Numisley and Cultrost had spent the night preparing for the trip.


    Reclaim Birthright uncovered, [Rare Feat - Argument of the Claimant, developed].


    [Feat - Temporary Employment (Five Days), developed].


    Numisley jolted up from the resounding boom of lightning after he received his new Feats from the world¡¯s will. The clouds gathered to dim the sky, sprinkling rain upon the fields of Ascogres.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it summer¡­?¡±

 Chapter 41

    Dustitoz Gaviolos still held a strand of hair from his greatest enemy, Jascias Naveirei. He placed it on the ornate scrying mirror he procured, even within the remote manor that the members of his House seldom used. He stared intently at the silver and gold mirror, at the blurred reflection of his gaunt expression.


    ¡°Find, search, scour for the scion of the Naveirei¡­¡±


    He chanted but without the length required to cast a complicated scrying spell. He was no [Mage] with the knowledge required for such advanced spells, nor the font of mana befit of a [Sorcerer]. He did not spend much of his life studying magic like Escribanorr Naveirei and the rest of his magically inclined contemporaries. Much of his life is spent on frivolities and gaining favors, and enjoying and utilizing much of the privilege in his station. And it showed in many of his Feats.


    ¡°...[Noble¡¯s Privilege: Scry Descendant].¡±


    The Feat filled up much of his lack of skills in many areas. One of the advantages of people in his position. It compensated for his lack of magical ability by casting a spell he was shown by a [Mage] in his employ.


    The mirror¡¯s reflection shifted, showing Numisley in a house somewhere.


    ¡°So that¡¯s where he is¡­¡±


    The faint smoky glyphs in the mirror showed Numisley¡¯s location. Ascogres is a small town within the territory of House Commerro. He raised his hand slightly as if pulling something from the sky with his fingers.


    [Hinder Travel: Severe Storms]. [Mark Target: Lure Monsters].


    He did not care if Contiearl Torresso will take issue with his two Feats activating in his dominion. As far as he knows, the storms that will damage his land and attract monsters will not be his problem.


    Dosinyu politely entered Dustitoz¡¯s quarters. The [Ambassador] had offered to help him in managing the manor¡¯s affairs, from managing the servants in the household, with the lack of a [Senechal] to receiving messages addressed to Dusitoz himself. Dustitoz knew that this was his effort to ingratiate himself with him because of his mistress, his associate. He was unable to ascertain the real reason why, as he hides his thoughts well, but he let him be to observe him at arm¡¯s reach. Even without a [Senechal] or related Role, he had been a bit more competent than [Senechals] or [Majordomos] that he had employed.


    ¡°A [Message] Spell has been sent to you. From a Durvalerron Arro Unos Gaviolos.¡±


    Dustitoz promptly popped a vein upon hearing his half-brother¡¯s name on Dosinyu¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Please read it to me.¡± Dustitoz sighed, slumping in his chair, flicking his wrist to make a gilded goblet of wine appear before him.


    Dosinyu smirked for a second, and promptly read the letter verbatim:


    Welcome home, Marquis Dustitoz Gaviolos.


    I hope that you had learned a lot from your self-imposed exile to Libertalia. I received word that you are now in the manor in Tyrroanir. I figured that you are indulging in your habit of making goblets of wine appear in thin air and engorging in delicacies the poor [Servants] had to prepare; easing the guilt of your great sin towards our Serene Majesty, if you are capable of repentance.


    I implore you to stay in the manor for the rest of your life. To retire from the politics of our great House and the kingdom we belong in. Feel free to indulge in whatever hedonism you crave without the judgment of your peers and family, as long as you do not drain the House funds too much.


    If ever you fall into the habit of plotting against our Serene Majesty and the Kingdom of Torregorn again, our [King] had vested upon me to enact his Dato Esecuzio, my divine right of execution, no matter what your friends at the Synod might say.


    There will be eyes upon you.


    Your Patriarch and Half-Brother,


    Durvalerron Arro Unos Gaviolos.


    Dustitoz ripped out the paper from Dosinyu¡¯s hands and stomped it repeatedly, cursing so profoundly that Dosinyu¡¯s translation charm that he wore around his neck didn¡¯t comprehend many of the Torregornian profanities erupting from the former Duci¡¯s mouth. For the Duci, every word, every drop of ink, every stroke of the quill on the letter oozed with disrespect. His half-brother does not deserve the position that he had been given because he is of lower stock.


    ¡°How dare he threaten to murder me! This is favoritism to the greatest extent! I am the true head of the Gaviolos House! I¡¯m of royal blood! I¡¯m the purest scion of Torregorn!¡±


    Dosinyu silently laughed at the irony of Dustitoz''s words.


    -


    A few days ago in Ovespuerte.


    ¡°Why did you send your younger brother to Ascogres?¡±


    Torresso Commerro stared down his impertinent son at breakfast. His firstborn whom he cherished the most, yet often irks him because of his righteousness and integrity that gets in the way of what is necessary.


    ¡°To keep him safe. Until I know the reason why are you acting erratically. Why do you make the Household Watch search for people only to release them on the same night? Is it because of the strange people I saw that night?¡±


    The air in the hall quieted.


    ¡°It is not your business, Verrespadion.¡±


    ¡°Does Mother know?¡±


    Silence, again. The air between them quivered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a no then.¡±


    ¡°My son. Return your younger brother here.¡±


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°I refuse. And I think he will too. Until you give me a valid reason. This is my business too. The House¡¯s business is my business.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re more suited to swinging a sword than ruling a county.¡±


    The words stung.


    ¡°It¡¯s better than being a liar. I¡¯ll pray for you to stop your apostasy, Father.¡±


    ¡°[Emergency Spell: Chains of Draining]. [Hall: Suppress Hostility].¡±


    Verrespadion tried to move, but it feels like his body lagged behind his mind. He stared at the fried fish, and he knew that his father poisoned him somehow with a disabling tincture. He didn¡¯t have time to pray for a Miracle to manifest, as he was tightly restrained by heavy chains that materialized from the stone pillars of the hall. He tried to manifest his Feats, but it seems like the hall itself suppresses his combat abilities.


    ¡°There¡¯s one thing you got right, my son. Racieros should stay at Ascogres for his safety. I decided that I¡¯ll not be weak anymore. I¡¯ll deal with this now, as soon as I can, as best as I can. Then he can come home, and I shall tell you everything, my son.¡±


    An entire bevy of [Knights] and the common soldiery of the castle barged in the hall, pointing their spears at the bound Verrespadion.


    ¡°Pray for me in the meantime.¡±


    The [Knights] handled Verrespadion gently and with care, as they moved him to the nicest part of the castle¡¯s dungeon. Verrespadion¡¯s cell was furnished, complete with a bed and a padded couch, and shelves of books to keep him company. Although a dozen or so [Guards] were assigned to keep watch on his cell, barring him any chance of escape, they are allowed to follow any of his requests as long as he doesn¡¯t leave his cell.


    After a few days, Torresso detected a weather-changing Feat in his domain, although he can¡¯t exactly pinpoint where.


    -


    Numisley and Cultrost were cooped up in the house for a significant part of the day. The heavy rain didn¡¯t stop. This was a problem because it made it harder to carry goods to the wagons that Palden procured within Ascogres.


    ¡°Dry the rations!¡±


    The sacks of bread, nuts, and other long-lasting food that were gifted to them by Racieros are now wet from the rain. Graten was giving orders to his men as usual and coordinating with Yulvres and his men to lift the sacks inside the warm house. They were less bothered by the rain than they expected, being imbued with Palden¡¯s Feat that made the workers under Numisley¡¯s company have more endurance.


    ¡°Can we travel in this weather?¡± Cultrost asked Palden.


    ¡°I traveled in worse. In the Stokeburn Desert back home, it rained glass. I avoided wild-magic storms whenever I can though, even with my [Weather Resistance] Feat for the caravans I led.¡±


    ¡°Glass?¡±


    ¡°Glass storms. Sand storms with glass bits¡­I guess you brothers never went far west, huh.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Numisley interjected. ¡°Our father said that the lands near the Great Desert are riddled with [Sand Pirates] and such.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really our secret weapon, Palden,¡± Cultrost said, crossing his arms.¡±Without you, we would be long dead already.¡±


    ¡°Secret weapon? I¡¯m just doing my best to fulfill your father¡¯s wish.¡± Palden remained humble even if the brothers complimented them. Racieros meekly walked into ?ienten¡¯s candlelit home, prompting the [Brewer] to scramble towards him.


    ¡°My lord, do you need refreshments and snacks?¡± ?ienten deferred to the younger lordling who had entered his home, not daring to elevate his head a single inch. For people like him, it is a blessing that one of the nobility entered his home, believing their presence alone consecrated their abode.


    ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m not hungry at the moment.¡±


    Yulvres and his remaining men heard ?ienten address Racieros, and they dropped the sacks and clamored to kneel before their lord.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Graten shouted in surprise, as they saw the rest of the sacks dropped on the ground.


    ¡°My holy lord.¡± Yulvres greeted with deference. ¡°We will do our duty to the Naveirei like you asked.¡±


    ¡°You have my gratitude.¡±


    Racieros kept up his stoic countenance. He was taught how to address commoners and people in the lower castes. As the nobility of Torregorn, they are supposed to embody the divinity inherent in their position as the enforcers and keepers of the laws of civilization. Yulvres and his men went back to lifting their supplies inside the house.


    ¡°You ain¡¯t coming?¡± Cultrost asked Racieros.


    ¡°Unfortunately.¡± Racieros found himself grazing Cultrost¡¯s finger before he swiped his hand away to slap him on the shoulder. ¡°Stay safe, Cultrost.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Numisley smiled and turned to oversee the preparations for the trip. Soon, they set off, riding away from Ascogres. The horses that Palden steered didn¡¯t seem to bother with the heavy rain, which only grew stronger as time went on. Racieros watched them ride away, as they brought the storm with them. Soon, Ascogres became unbothered by the rain, showered by the sun¡¯s light under clear skies.


    A full day has passed, and it was still raining. The grey clouds covered the moon and stars, plunging the night into darkness dimmer than midnight. Only the harsh lightning gave way to vague pillars of light that illuminated the forest. Graten sat with Palden on the coach¡¯s seat, helping him navigate the shadowy glade with his [Dark Vision]. Even with Palden¡¯s Feat that expands the interior of every wagon of his caravan to five times their size, the inside was still cramped.


    ¡°Why is still raining?¡± Numisley grumbled.


    ¡°Even the swampy Bottoms isn¡¯t this wet!¡± Josaif, Graten¡¯s deputy grumbled loudly.


    It was impossible to set camp in this rain. The fires they would¡¯ve set up will be snuffed out, and it was impractical for them to set up camp regardless of Palden¡¯s Feats that would help. Some of them had already slept, leaning on each other or on the wagon¡¯s canvas. Cultrost kept waking up because of the lightning¡¯s rumble.


    ¡°Cave a few gallops away.¡± Graten pointed to the right.


    ¡°Right?¡± Palden shouted, his voice muffled by the heavy drops of rain.


    ¡°Trust me!¡±


    After swerving through trees, bushes, and rocks with Graten¡¯s guidance and Palden¡¯s expert maneuvers from decades of experience, they stopped next to a cave at the side of a small rocky hill. The wind howled more intensely, swaying the trees of the forest until many of their branches fell off. The people in the wagon woke their sleeping companions to hop out of their wagon. They wore their coats to protect themselves from the rain, and one of Yulvres'' men threw a glowing stone to check for beasts that might be living in a cave.


    Fortunately, it was safe to enter the cave. However, Graten with his sharp vision and senses saw several shapes moving through the trees and passing by the bushes, breaking branches as they walked.


    ¡°Elementals! Wolves!¡± Graten shouted, using [Alarming Command] to make his men mobilize.


    Many of them armed themselves with crossbows and began loading them with quarrels they freshly bought from Ascogres with what little money they had. There was a low layer of fog marching towards them, covering the ground and its bushes, stones, and flowers as if it was a slow wave creeping toward the coast.


    Within a moment when lightning struck a tree nearest to them, the light revealed three irregular levitating apparitions of raging wind that caught the rain and incorporated its droplets into its raging swirling mass that were vaguely shaped like Human torsos. More had appeared, seeping through the trunk of thick reddened trunks of the tall trees like ghosts. Even without faces, it is apparent that they were incensed by the sudden storm that made them manifest. This storm wasn¡¯t supposed to come until after summer.


    Within the fog that formed a low wall in front of them, Graten saw feral canine shapes pacing within the fog, patiently encircling the Gildin Brothers and their entourage. The few people who had shields raised them as Yulvres and Graten ordered them to form a defensive line.


    They have no choice but to retreat to the cave.

 Chapter 42

    Cultrost stayed with Numisley, guarding him as the rest of their armed entourage fought in an impromptu shield wall within the cave¡¯s mouth. The wolves of the fog were the easiest to deal with, despite their ability to emit fog within their hide, unlike the Storm Elementals who pelted them with a rain of watery projectiles with a force equal to [Water Arrows], pushing some of the shield-bearers back. Worst of all, they grew fiercer as the downpour raged on. In a stroke of luck, lightning struck one of the Storm Elementals. The swirling apparition of wind and rain greyed and scintillated, and with its wispy tendrils, it unleashed a bolt of lightning toward Yulvres. His shield absorbed most of the lightning, prompting him to catapult his shield toward the offending elemental, detonating the wooden shield in a magic-infused explosion that dissipated it.


    One of the wolves attempted to pounce at Yulvres¡¯ unguarded flank, where his burnt arm is, yet, it was thwarted by Graten¡¯s swift slash that beheaded the beast. Yulvres nodded in appreciation, but Graten spoke only two words that spelled their doom.


    ¡°There¡¯s more.¡±


    Several more Storm Elementals had emerged from the trees, materializing not far from here. The fog thickened, with several packs of wolves braying as they made their approach. The Elementals and the wolves ignored each other, for the Elementals only sought to eliminate the source of the disruption of the weather, and the hungry wolves with the fog trailing behind them were looking to sate their hunger. All their crossbow bolts had already been lodged in the skulls of the wolves in the earlier assault.


    ¡°Germio!¡±


    Yulvres called forth one of his deputies. The shield wall parted as Germio marched forward in a procession, holding a sheet of parchment that seemed to miraculously stay dry even from all the rain.


    ¡°...The first Chieftains, the first leaders of the Human tribes, built civilization with hands blessed by the Divine Decree. From the four corners of the first mud hut to the four corners of the first cities, was civilization¡­¡±


    The [Mercenary] seemed to recite the contents of that single sheet of parchment that still refuses to get wet. His body emitted a strange light that unsettled even the ferocious wolves and the raging elementals, making their assault falter.


    "...And then, the first law was declared, the first proclamation of the rulers vested with divine will, that no Human shall be harmed within the vicinity of the borders of civilization. No invader, no beast, shall harm those who had named themselves as citizens, [Banishment]!"


    A loud gust of wind exploded from Germio, dissipating the fog surrounding them, and momentarily stopped the rain before it fell again a moment later. The Storm Elementals dematerialized and the remaining wolves scampered away despite their numbers.


    Numisley and Cultrost were dumbfounded by the display of faith. Intrinsically, they knew that it was no Feat or Spell, but something else entirely. A Miracle. The [Mercenaries] sagged their shoulders and sat on the ground, staring at the stalactites, tired from the journey and the battle.


    Yulvres and Graten stood, drenched from the rain. They were too tired not to care about being wet. Cultrost and Numisley donned their ragged coats and walked together outside.


    ¡°What kind of wolves are they?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Fogwolves,¡± Yulvres murmured, staring at the wet corpses.


    ¡°I got an idea. Let¡¯s sell their parts.¡± Cultrost stated.


    ¡°Parts?¡± Graten¡¯s ears perked up. Yulvres stared at the red Satyr beside Numisley, still seeing him as an odd foreigner compared to his Human step-brother of noble blood.


    ¡°The organs and stuff.¡± Cultrost expounded after finding the right words. ¡°Adventurers and [Hunters] sell the magical stuff and all to someone right?¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Numisley snapped his fingers.¡±So we can get more money that way.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°What about the debt-collecting Feat of that sh¨Cwait, let¡¯s try it. The attempt wouldn¡¯t hurt I suppose.¡± Numisley thought about their profits being stolen remotely by that binding contract and that coin-collecting Feat.


    Graten and Yulvres ordered the [Mercenaries] around at Gildin Brothers¡¯ request to chop up the wolf¡¯s corpses. Yulvres knew that their magical hides and innards that produced the fog in the first place would fetch high prices, although how his employers would sell them eludes him. As the rest finished dragging the corpses to the cave to be processed, Cultrost found one shining azure-grey gem gleaming within a bush next to the tree where Yulvres had slain one of the Storm Elementals.


    Numisley picked it up out of curiosity, heavily leaning on his walking stick. The grains of the raw unpolished gem resembled motes of lightning suspended in water.


    ¡°A magic gem?¡± Numisley uttered.


    ¡°It¡¯s an Elemental¡¯s gem.¡± Graten strode towards them and inspected the rough gem between Numisley¡¯s fingers. ¡°I heard that slaying an Elemental could produce a magic gem. And I thought that rumor was false until now.¡±


    ¡°Wonder how much we could sell it.¡± Cultrost¡¯s mind wandered. ¡°There could be more.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything shining around us,¡± Graten replied after scanning the area with his keen eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯re done pulling the corpses.¡± Yulvres notified them.


    They went back to the cave to set up the camp. Chopping wet branches and waiting for them to dry to make a fire is an arduous task. Luckily one of Yulvres¡¯ men had a flint and steel that they used once the wood was dry enough to be burnt. The only Dullahan of the group, a former [Butcher] showcased his expertise with a cleaver as he neatly chopped the limbs and other parts of the wolves¡¯ corpses as the others helped skin them for their hides.


    Numisley and Cultrost were curious about Germio''s Miracle, prompting them to ask them about it.


    "It''s not something to be used at will like Feats or Spells do. It is up to the Divine Decrees if the cause is right."


    Numisley raised his eyebrows in confusion. He hoped to use Miracles somehow, but Germio stated that only [Priests] can use them effectively. Even so, he wrote about the experience in his journal, writing on the rock with ink and quill. With the ongoing rain, he did not dare to get the brown book from the wagon where Palden hid it.


    They were dismayed to find themselves still confined in the cave, the downpour still as heavy as ever even in the summer.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Let''s wait for it to stop."


    "We''re not going to get anywhere if we keep waiting for it to stop."


    Graten dismissed Cultrost''s suggestion.


    "I can still go," Palden reassured.


    "Won''t the horses get sick?" Numisley asked, pointing at the stout stallions tied on one of the stalagmites.


    "Every horse I will ever steer will be more resistant to sickness.¡± Palden cited the effect of one of his Feats.


    Despite the constant storm, they had labored on. They remained confined to the wagons, staying mobile. They can¡¯t seem to escape the storm as if it followed where they went, from forests to plains, and even in the few hills that they passed along the way. They also can¡¯t escape the various beasts that seem to catch their scent. For each one they killed or successfully defended against, they gained something to sell. The arduous struggle they went through every day had given them Feats. It is a miracle that casualties remained as low as they had despite that.


    Palden may have Feats that enabled him to navigate within this storm, but he was still unfamiliar with the terrain. Sooner than they realized, they were running out of food and water after a few days, as well as healing potions for their injuries. An encounter with beasts that spat acid and poison from their maws had contaminated what remained of their rations a day ago.


    The monsters they slain were mostly wild golems of mud and earth that spontaneously formed, with only a few beasts that they could eat. Graten and Yulvres had to break up two brawls that stemmed from blaming Palden for their misfortunes.


    Yet, with Numisley¡¯s [Temporary Employment], he could pay every [Mercenary] that came with him a small sum from their tiny treasury that is continually being drained by the Contiearl.


    The next day, they spotted a hamlet at a distance from their camp within the forests.


    ¡°What do you see?¡± Numisley asked Graten, the only one who could make out details of the faraway hamlet with his [Keen Eyes] and other vision-enhancing Feats that he currently had. The rain had hindered their field of vision, making it difficult to perceive far away distances.


    ¡°The village seemed like it had been attacked.¡±


    Graten saw the torn thatched roofs of the ten buildings of the settlement. There was a perimeter that seemed to be a poor attempt at making a wall; a series of barricades of unmortared stone and toppled logs surrounded by broken abatis.


    ¡°I see. Let¡¯s hope we can trade.¡± Numisley stared at the prepared sacks of hide from different monsters, as well as other parts that they deemed useful to be sold. ¡°Cultrost, Palden, you ready?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    Cultrost hopped on Palden¡¯s horse, looking ahead. It seemed too cramped for Numisley to ride, and he wasn¡¯t sure that the horse could support the weight of three people. But Numisley let himself be pulled up by Palden, riding in front of him.


    ¡°Keep the horse safe.¡±


    Numisley turned to Graten who was keeping watch of the other horse of their wagon as they trotted towards the lonely hamlet.


    -


    Grey clouds hovered towards the hamlet of Dousso. The most desperate people who survive the monster attacks and every misfortune that swept over their settlement violently prostrate themselves towards an ancient stone tablet of commandments in an altar surrounded by wilted flowers and clay jars of sacrificed dirty bones at the center of the city.


    ¡°...forgive us, for we are ignorant of the decrees we broke! Forgive us, Lords, Ladies, Majesties, for we have no grain to spare, nor sinners to punish!...¡±


    Their bruised knees bled from their suicidal fervor, dehydrated lips mumbling prayers of contrition upon deaf divinity. Many of the villagers were despondent, shivering within the ruins of their communal homes that were once warm with their fire pits and communal gatherings. Mothers fed their children with boiled leather, watching the remains of their husbands being quartered and burnt to the altar to prevent them from rising from the dead. Their lips raised slightly, sticking up their tongues to desperately drink the drizzle that fell on greying clouds.


    Those who were lucky to be still fit were manning the inadequate defenses with spears; rusted hunting spears or simply sharpened sticks and slings and bows. A few wielded common tools, knives, fire pokers, hammers, saws, and even a frying pan of all things. They saw how the three hooded people on a horse had brought the rain with them, on how they brought another misfortune to their village.


    A stone whizzed past Numisley as a dangerous warning.


    ¡°Who are ye?¡±


    Palden and the Gildin Brothers almost didn¡¯t comprehend the backwater Torregornian accent, especially with the pitter-patter rain drowning most sounds.


    ¡°We are [Merchants]. We had come to sell pelts and monster parts!¡± Numisley announced. ¡°We come in peace!¡±


    ¡°You are harbingers of misfortune! Cursed! We cast ye!¡±


    An aging man shuffled forwards from their shoddy barricades, pointing a quivering finger at them, holding a battered sword with his thinning hands. Cultrost did his best to hide behind Palden. The distraught villagers didn¡¯t see Palden¡¯s subtle greenish skin either, nor his tusks, with all eyes focused on Numisley.


    ¡°Please, we merely need food and shelter. We do not ask much of your food. Only a day¡¯s worth!¡±


    They threw stones in response to Numisley¡¯s plea, prompting Palden to gallop away from there, bringing the cascading rain with them.


    -


    ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    These words spoken by one of the [Mercenaries] hung tensely in the air. Uncertainty muddled the addled minds of starving, desperate, and armed men. The young employers who were supposed to feed them had failed them. The thought of mutiny silently crawled within their consciousness, begging to be noticed.


    ¡°Cultrost. Numisley.¡±


    Graten¡¯s words pierced the silence. The brothers felt an inkling of dread.


    ¡°We have no choice.¡±


    Yulvres knew what Graten meant. Soon, the drastic option had dawned on them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find another settlement. A more friendly one. Right, Numisley?¡±


    The words left Cultrost¡¯s quivering before he knew it, lips quivering. His gaze tightened with uncertainty with each second of Numisley¡¯s pensive silence.


    ¡°Palden. What¡¯s the nearest settlement aside from this hamlet?¡±


    The old Orcan stared at the ground, his gaze heavy.


    ¡°T-three days. Three days north.¡±


    There was no food left for even a day. The edible meat from the beasts they had slain had long run out. Palden, the greatest asset the Brothers have, simply isn¡¯t omnipotent.


    Germio, the Inglorious Hands¡¯ only [Lay Priest] had shoved through the crowd.


    ¡°We have no Writ of Purpose.¡±


    A piece of holy paper given to them had excused them from raiding villages in the name of the Divine Decree. Yet Yulvres saw the necessity of what they were about to do, Writ of Purpose or not. The rest of the Torregornian [Mercenaries] faith had wavered, resigning themselves to commit this act of sin. The Severed Swords gripped their weapons tightly. Yet they waited for Numisley¡¯s words; for him to let go of the proverbial leash that holds them.


    ¡°Go. But, I forbid you all from hurting or killing them. If possible. Take their food, but leave some for them.¡±


    He might as well sentenced the starving hamlet to death. Yet each syllable spoken had ground his soul. He clung desperately to the vestiges of his morality as his justifications ran wild within his mind. He still saw how he caused the deaths of dozens of people. He saw the bleeding eyes of Atasaney, hearing his dying words within the haze of memory.


    Cultrost tried pulling Graten¡¯s arm as he saw the [Mercenaries] jugging towards the poor hamlet, but he only provoked a punch that knocked him flat on the ground.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me hurt you even more.¡±


    Germio was the only other one trying to stop Yulvres and the others from going, preaching as if they were in a temple. Yet it fell on deaf ears, and he finally followed them in silence, holding his spear like he was carrying a great burden.


    Cultrost stood up and saw that it was too late. He did the only thing he could think of doing. For the first time since they were children, Cultrost punched Numisley in the cheek.

 Chapter 43

    Numisley was toppled to the ground.


    Palden restrained Cultrost. The red Satyr¡¯s body seemed to pulsate with rage, with every fiber of his body wanting to physically reprimand his brother. A single drop of blood dripped from his sharp red nose towards his blackened lips. Yet his struggling abated as he looked at his brother with cold fury as Numisley propped himself up with great effort.


    ¡°Y-you know I hate this as much as you do!¡± Numisley reprimanded.


    ¡°Then tell them to stop! Right now!¡± Cultrost argued. ¡°We don¡¯t have to ransack their village! There must be another way.¡±


    Cultrost was still in disbelief even when Numisley told them that the hamlet was too poor to trade food with them. The days of starvation had gotten to them both.


    ¡°If there¡¯s another way, I wouldn¡¯t have ordered them. You heard Palden! The nearest settlement is three days away!¡± Numisley hammered his point.


    ¡°Then why shouldn¡¯t we hunt and forage?¡± Cultrost¡¯s words simmered from his mouth.


    ¡°Because we have a dozen people to feed with less coin! Us included! Those aren¡¯t easy unless you have the Role and Feats for that! Unless we know this land? Would they want to delay the journey to do that?¡± Numisley furiously explained. ¡°This is the problem with you! You don¡¯t think!¡±


    Proverbial smoke rose from Cultrost¡¯s pointy ears. Instead of calming down, he clawed the air. Palden struggled to hold him back.


    ¡°I don''t think? I. Dont. Think?¡± Cultrost repeated the three words like a curse. ¡°I know that I¡¯m not as good at counting coins as you. I know that I¡¯m an idiot compared to you. But you know what? I¡¯m smart enough to know that murdering people is bad. Ever since Atasaney¨C¡±


    ¡°Stop! That¡¯s it!¡±


    Palden¡¯s heavy voice silenced the bickering brothers.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Both of you!¡± Palden reprimanded. ¡°What¡¯s done is done.¡±


    -


    The cloaked [Mercenaries] marched under the rain, toward the hamlet decimated by beasts and famine. They had already fought off the beasts that had ravaged their tiny hamlet and had suffered for it. The subsequent famine had decimated what was left of the population; starvation indiscriminately reaping the lives of men, women, and children without regard. They construe these events as divine punishment for whatever theological statute they thought they broke, so they sacrificed the corpses of their dead once people hoarded anything edible. Even crumbs of bread and the leather of their shoes were not spared from their desperate consumption, and even now, they raised their tongues to the heavens that gave them rain.


    The few who can still fight despite their grumbling bellies steeled themselves against the scavenging [Bandits] that marched towards them; they have nothing to lose, not even their lives despite being armed with nothing other than farm and kitchen tools, if not spears, axes, and bows. Many were boys and young men, whose only weapons were sharpened wooden sticks and clubs made from table legs, throwing their roughly sewn satchels of bricks and stones they picked up from the rubble.


    The one who led them pointed his steel sword at them that seemed to gleam silver.


    ¡°We do not wish to harm you. If you do not fight, we will not kill you. We only need your grain and water.¡± Graten spoke in his slowest Torregornian, his tone as gentle as a feather to avoid agitating the villagers.


    Someone threw a brick towards Graten, which narrowly missed him.


    Yulvres stepped forward, pulling the foreign [Mercenary Captain] back.


    ¡°In the name of His Holiness Bishop Andorlorici Belor, we will requisition your supplies.¡±


    Yulvres had falsely spoken the name of the cardinals who hired them as sanctioned [Mercenaries]. Without a Writ of Purpose, it is the only thing that they can do.


    The villagers heard the Torregornian word for "Bishop", and they started talking among themselves, in a tongue neither Graten nor Yulvres could comprehend.


    Yet one of them threw a brick toward one of their men, gravely hitting them in the forehead.


    "Subdue them," Graten spoke.


    Arrows and stones flew towards them. Yulvres blocked with his shield and Graten parried the projectiles. The [Mercenaries] had long learned to dodge and duck from missiles because of their battle experience. Even if they get hit, they armor themselves with gambesons. From their battles, they have more than one defensive Feat too.


    Graten cut the wooden bow of the nearest [Hunter] and hit his nose with the sword''s pommel, knocking him down. Yulves cut down the shaft of a villager''s spear. It was no battle, but a mass robbery where the rest of their men kicked down houses and upturned furniture and floorboards to find every piece of uneaten food within hidden barrels, tattered sacks, and clay jars.


    Even with makeshift weapons, the destitute defenders did not have the battle experience and the Feats of the [Mercenaries]. None of them had seen wars between people with Feats. It was like desperate dogs bullying sheep.


    This became clear to Germio, who only watched as his comrades did what they had to do. He simply walked among the chaos of battle, avoiding fighting the villagers. and staying at the rear.


    Despite that, a young boy missed his strike. His father¡¯s sword swung aimlessly in the air. Germio stepped back, pointing his spear toward him.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t make me hurt you,¡± Germio spoke.


    A wail from nearby pierced his ears. He saw the body of one of his comrades tumble out of someone¡¯s home. An arrow had pierced his left eye in a fountain of blood. One of them had a wooden wand with a stored [Firebolt] spell and smoked out the woman who loosed that arrow. She ran out of the house, set aflame by the spell. Germio saw her martyrdom bolster the villagers; inflamed by rage and courage.


    The boy¡¯s sword lit with a golden light for a second. A wound opened on his left thigh. A Miracle manifested. Retribution dawned upon him. He weakly parried the amateurish swing, but before he could say anything, a bolt pierced the boy¡¯s head. He did not see who let loose that bolt, yet he watched as the fighting grew fiercer. The villagers somehow manifested Miracles, turning the tides of battle in their favor. Their makeshift weapons became sharper, glowing with silver light. He saw some of his comrades freeze in place for a moment, allowing the villagers to strike some of them down.


    As a [Lay Priest], Germio heard of stories about Miracles manifesting through desperate times; when a divine law of their land has been broken. When a [Lord] abuses his role as a judge and enforcer of laws, lightning will strike him down. When commoners rebel against the [King], they will be immolated with divine flame. The Divine Decree is impartial when it comes to retribution.


    Now, they are on the other side of it. At this rate, this fighting cannot be stopped. Violence begets more violence. His comrades stopped holding back. Even with the villager¡¯s newfound Miracles, they are still no match for experienced [Mercenaries].


    They were the savages against civilization. They were the ones that he preached against. They were not the sanctioned [Mercenary] band who dirtied themselves for the clergy, for the greater good of their kingdom. He fell to his knees, his faith leaving him behind.


    He saw it. He saw a part of his identity being erased. A line etched across the written words of his very soul. With each ponderous stroke upon the pages of his identity, the culmination of his struggles, it seemed to be disappointed with his lack of faith.


    [Role - Lay Priest, rescinded.]


    [Miracle - Lesser Banishment, rescinded.]


    [Miracle - Cure Lesser Wounds, rescinded.]


    [Feat -


    Germio did not heed the bow pointed at his heart from a distance. The young [Hunter] let loose the arrow that pierced the former [Lay Priest]¡¯s heart. Germio saw the arrow flying, and he spread his hands in a final prayer, even as the pain pierced his chest for a moment before his world faded.


    At some point, the fighting ended. Yulvres ordered his men to move the corpses far from the hamlet and bury them with Germio¡¯s priestly rites so that they wouldn¡¯t become undead. He went to find Germio to perform the rites of purification, just to make sure that they wouldn''t rise again. He stopped in his tracks as he saw Germio¡¯s corpse, next to a dead village boy.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Disbelief billowed from Yulvres¡¯ speech. Among all of his men in the mercenary band, Germio was the only person he least expected to die. Graten silently stopped behind the fellow [Mercenary Captain] before he could say anything. He knew the pain very well, and it hurt him to tell the news.


    ¡°Three. Three people.¡±


    Yulvres turned around to Graten.


    ¡°Four, now.¡± Yulvres spoke grimly.


    ¡°I wish we could give them a proper burial. But we have to burn the bodies. So we wouldn''t be responsible for an undead outbreak.¡±


    They said nothing after that. Yulvres kneeled to give a short prayer to his late lieutenant, before solemnly carrying his corpse to the pile of corpses and straw. They didn¡¯t have the luxury of having silver dust or plants to nullify death magic. They were reliant on Germio for the rites of purification and other things that require a [Priest]¡¯s touch.


    Yulvres¡¯ men saw Germio one last time before a torch lit the pile aflame. Graten and his men watched solemnly and whispered prayers of their own; even if they have different gods and beliefs.


    Graten laid down the loot they had taken on a wide sheet of cloth that they found in one of the houses. There were scattered pieces of grain, crops, and roots. Nothing more. Dozens of corpses for pieces of grain; a feast poorer and filthier than what peasants eat. There were also other items like pots, coins, chests, and bottles that they could use. There are some things that they wouldn¡¯t have found otherwise, without the pillaging-Feats of some of their members.


    As if the heavens played a cruel joke upon them, the skies parted way for the sun to shine over their disgraced faces.


    -


    Numisley saw the rain finally stop, after days and nights of downpour. The sun shone upon him with harsh light, the clouds parting like the slow opening of curtains. He saw the smoke of the burning bodies at a distance. He saw their [Mercenaries] carrying little than he expected. On Graten¡¯s hands is a single small sack of food, and the others brought firewood and other items they pilfered from the hamlet. Cultrost noticed four people didn¡¯t return with them; Germio being one of them. The other three were people he didn¡¯t know that well.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    Graten showed the sack of grain, bread, and other dubiously edible foodstuffs, some of which were still soggy, rotten, or both. Numisley was disappointed by the results, but they were results nevertheless. If they rationed it enough, they might last a day at best; especially when there are four people less than before.


    When did he begin to think like that?


    Numisley¡¯s finger twitched at the thought.


    ¡°Good work.¡± Numisley weakly spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s rest at the hamlet. Or what¡¯s left of it. We haven¡¯t been sleeping anywhere decent.¡±


    Cultrost held back his words. His objections were overwhelmed by his desire to sleep under a roof and a decent bed. The rest of the group agreed and dragged themselves back to the hamlet despite their fatigue. Numisley and Cultrost saw the pile of bodies splayed out, their hollow sockets seemingly staring at them, their stretched jaws screaming soundlessly.


    Numisley and Cultrost went into the largest house, out of the three remaining buildings still standing. This was the bed of the former [Village Head]. They shared the remaining bed in the former owner¡¯s room like they had done before when they only had one room and bed to share in their former home.


    Numisley kept waking up with a sweat in the middle of the night. He didn¡¯t mind Cultrost¡¯s snoring; he was used to it anyway, nor how cramped it gets whenever Cultrost moved. He saw a familiar face outside of the window. Atasaney¡¯s face bled through his orifices. Then, Palvt and the others who died because of them.


    In the end, he is guilty, no matter how much rationalizing he does.

 Chapter 44

    They spent another three days traveling north without the rain hindering them. Instead of wasting time foraging and hunting, they resisted their hunger so that Palden could continue traveling for days and nights. In Palden¡¯s younger years, he could do this for weeks in the Stokeburn Desert. Now, even with his endurance-Feats, it is tiring for him.


    The welcome sight of the walls of Daqquiristo was like when he saw his first oasis back in the desert. Numisley woke up from his rest, and like a sailor who saw land after days in the ocean, he forced himself up at the sight of the city¡¯s walls with a heavy sigh of relief.


    After they were let into the city, the group collectively groaned as they could finally put their feet on the ground and stretched their limbs profusely, a strange sight for the local curious onlookers. Numisley adjusted his robes as he saw the market square, a place of opportunity.


    ¡°Finally, we can sell our stuff.¡± Numisley sighed.


    ¡°Do we have enough money to feed our men?¡± Cultrost asked his brother.


    ¡°I counted,¡± Numisley informed. ¡°Not enough for even porridge for all of us.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get it done.¡±


    There was still a stiffness in Cultrost¡¯s voice, knowing that his brother was a murderer and a pillager of villages. Yet he knew they were forced into a corner, and he had this hope that when they would inherit their father¡¯s fortune, they wouldn''t have to get people hurt. Palden will have a cushy job, and they could retire Graten and his men so that they could start a new life.


    The group was escorted to Daqquiristo¡¯s market square by the city [Guards], where they found a space to sell their wares. The [Mercenaries] helped Cultrost arrange their wares while Numisley and Palden checked their inventory.


    ¡°Let¡¯s earn our keep so we can finally eat.¡±


    ¡°Hurrah!¡± Graten, Yulvres, and the rest of the [Mercenaries] cheered. The [Mercenaries] surrounded the wagons, guarding them against [Thieves].


    Numisley stood in front of his stool beside the wagon. The back of the wagon displayed the wares they obtained from slaying monsters throughout their trip. Fogwolf Hides, which still possess mist-producing properties, are hung on a string within the wagon. They also harvested their teeth and bones since they had eaten their gamy flesh in desperate hunger. There were the few cores from the wild Mud and Earth Golems they had slain during their harrowing journey. The rarest item in their inventory was the Storm Elemental¡¯s gem, which he priced for ten silvers.


    If they sold everything, they would have more than enough to eat. They would be able to buy supplies, and they would be able to claim their father¡¯s money in the bank. That is, if Numisley managed to steal the customers in the other [Merchants] and [Traders] gathering in the market square.


    Numisley adjusted his shirt¡¯s collar and leaned on his walking stick.


    ¡°Everyone! Gildin Trading will be selling Fogwolf hide, Golem Cores, and a Storm Elemental¡¯s gem for a limited time!¡±


    Numisley hoped that anyone heard him amongst the chattering of crowds and the beckoning of the other [Merchants] who sold their wares, their stalls brimming with goods on their padded trays and heavy crates. Compared to them, they were destitute [Peddlers]. He was lucky that his [Noble¡¯s Diction] Feat had disguised the dryness of his throat from being thirsty for three days.


    Minutes of waiting later, a customer walked towards Numisley. He dressed like a journeyman, with tools on his belt and callused hands. The scent of acrid tannin touched Numisley¡¯s nose, but he resisted his urge to gag.


    ¡°Customer, welcome to our wagon,¡± Numisley spoke in a friendly tone.


    ¡°I see you are selling hide I never seen before. Wolf?¡± The person asked, moving to inspect the hide with his fingers trailing through the fur.


    ¡°Fogwolves,¡± Numisley spoke, hoping he got the Torregornian word right. ¡°Their magic is still there. Suitable for arcane leather.¡±


    Dew had formed in the customer¡¯s fingers, rubbing them together.


    ¡°How much?¡± The customer asked.


    ¡°Five silvers each.¡± Numisley charged.


    ¡°That¡¯s too much.¡± The customer accused. ¡°No one in the Tanner¡¯s Guild would buy such prices for low-grade magic.¡±


    ¡°Low-grade? No. These wolves? When we fought them, they emitted such fog that they covered the forests we were in days ago. If you ask me, this is a generous price. With this, [Tanner]¨CI assume that¡¯s your Role¨Cyou could fashion a leather cloak that produces the same effect.¡±


    This provoked the thoughts of the customer.


    ¡°Five it is. I¡¯ll take two.¡±


    Numisley received ten silver coins in exchange for the two hides. He handed the gleaming coins to his brother.


    ¡°Cultrost. Send someone to buy some bread. Someone Human, of course.¡±


    By now, they were used to the discrimination that this kingdom had for non-Humans. A significant fraction of their group are non-Humans from Libertalia, too. Among them, only Palden could pass as one if people did not notice his thin tusks and the subtle green hue of his skin.


    Cultrost walked to the leader of the Torregornian [Mercenaries].


    ¡°Yulvres, can you buy the wagon some bread or porridge?¡± Cultrost requested.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask one of my men to do it.¡± Yulvres succinctly answered.


    Yulvres gave one of his men an order and gave him their earnings. The [Mercenary] ran off to buy them some bread. Numisley noticed someone in the corner of his eye, who hopped from stall to stall, dismayed by the [Traders]¡¯ scathing words. As expected, it took a while for Numisley to receive the next customer. A balding man who seemed to be a hobbling [Mage] with a wand hanging from his belt inspected the worn, rough-sculpted clay and compressed earth spheres on the wagon, the size of crystal balls, as Numisley and Cultrost ate their porridge.


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat too fast!¡± Palden scolded the other [Mercenaries], rapidly eating their porridge and bread. ¡°I¡¯ve seen starving people puke when they ate too fast and too much!¡±


    Numisley ignored them and turned his attention towards the customer.


    ¡°These cores¡­¡± The customer asked. ¡°How much for them?¡±


    ¡°Each one costs eight silver,¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°Eight?¡± The customer was outraged. ¡°That is too much.¡±


    ¡°They are still freshly slain!¡±


    ¡°Damaged. I can see cracks. Their mana is leaking. So how would I carve wands for them?¡±


    ¡°Would you rather waste time haggling with me or get them while their magic is still there?¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Numisley ended the argument in a verbal standoff. He had guessed that he charges the lowest out of the [Merchants] here. Numisley had heard back home that each [Trader] has their style when it comes to haggling with their customers, but he just did what was necessary to sell his wares.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    The customer bought eight Mud and Earth Golem cores, which earned Numisley a lot of silver coins, enough for them to stay in the city for a few days. The [Mage] stormed off towards one of the nicer-looking streets.


    ¡°When and where are we getting Dad¡¯s coins?¡± Cultrost asked, chomping on a piece of bread.


    ¡°We just need to sell most of them. The cores especially. There¡¯s still the Elemental¡¯s crystal that we need to sell.¡± Numisley answered.


    It was past noon when they received their last customer. Two other customers had bought some of the pelts. It was someone they knew, surrounded by three [Bodyguards] that wore their gambesons under traveling robes, their curved swords remained sheathed. Yet Cultrost sensed they were a cut above Yulvres and Graten¡¯s men. This time, he did not constrict his hair with a cloth headband, but he let his cashew hair free to drape down his shoulders.


    ¡°Aryyad?¡±


    ¡°Friend!¡±


    The foreign [Merchant] customarily kissed his cheek as a greeting, which shocked Numisley momentarily until he realized that it was one of the cultural idiosyncrasies foreign to him. Aryyad walked up to Cultrost and did the same, which Cultrost didn¡¯t mind much.


    ¡°What winds bring you here?¡± Aryyad asked.


    ¡°I was going to ask the same thing,¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to withdraw from the bank,¡± Cultrost answered.


    ¡°I see.¡± Aryyad stroked his mustache. ¡°The winds of trade called me north. I fear that the county capital of the Commerros has been¡­perilous lately.¡±


    ¡°True. We plan to move inland soon.¡± Numisley said.


    ¡°I shall scope out trading opportunities in the lands owned by the noble family known as the ¡®Kaminors.¡¯ You know about them?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I was looking for steel to buy and sell¡­but I¡¯m afraid our venture was¡­¡±


    ¡°Unsuccessful.¡± Cultrost finished Numisley¡¯s statement.


    The last time Numisley and Cultrost went to Semsella, the Castellan tried to assassinate Numisley, and Cultrost fought the [Guards] in her castle. Numisley then tried to force a [Bloodbound Contract] on her, which Numisley knew failed when the Count embarrassed him in front of dozens of nobles.


    Aryyad decided not to ask further since something caught his eye.


    ¡°What kind of manarine is that?¡± He pointed to the tiny rough crystal in Numisley¡¯s wagon.


    ¡°Manarine? Oh, you mean this crystal.¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°We got lucky. Yulvres¨Cone of our [Mercenaries], had killed a Storm Elemental that was struck by lightning.¡± Cultrost said.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Aryyad hummed. ¡°I plan to commission a magical ring from a [Jeweler] I know in Kartorriani. Can I take a look?¡±


    Numisley was surprised that Aryyad was heading to one of the three locations that Thewardn showed him in their search for their father¡¯s stored riches.


    ¡°Sure, why not?¡±


    Numisley let Aryyad get close to the wagon to see the crystal displayed on a cloth on a makeshift wooden tray. The foreign [Merchant] picked it up and felt the tips of his fingers tingle with static. Miniscule winding forks of lightning were trapped in a frozen moment of solid magic, a storm trapped within a wild crystal.


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it at your prices.¡± Aryyad offered as a gesture of goodwill. ¡°I¡¯ll not use [Advanced Bartering] or any Feats I have.¡±


    ¡°You have [Advance Bartering]?¡± Numisley asked with a hint of jealousy.


    ¡°Saves me a lot of money with a lot of stress.¡± Aryyad joked. Any Feat with the word ¡°advanced¡± will inevitably be headhunted by other people or become influential themselves.


    Aryyad paid twenty silver for the gem. This was a small price for a [Merchant] established as him.


    ¡°May the Goddess and her Chosen bless your ventures. If ever you claim your place among the local nobility, I shall support you.¡±


    Aryyad left deeper within the city with his bodyguard. It was afternoon when they were finished, and they retired to a large inn where they managed to get some lodging. Half of them were left to sleep in the stables because of the limited rooms the inn had.


    Despite being the 13th bell of the day (4 pm), Numisley and Cultrost agreed they must get the money from the bank as soon as possible. They asked Graten and the Human members of their mercenary band to escort them. Like in Dotterm from their home continent, they immediately saw the bank, a looming fortified stone box in the middle of the city¡¯s wealthier districts.


    It was not as decorated as Dotterm¡¯s bank nor as expansive. As they were permitted to enter by the heavily armored, stoic [Guards] and the two stone golems that oversaw the entrance, they immediately went to the stone counter. They asked the [Receptionist] about their father¡¯s account.


    ¡°Are you the son of Jascias Naveirei?¡± The middle-aged male [Receptionist] asked behind a grate of metal bars. His brows raised for a second at the mention of one of Torregorn¡¯s great, holy Houses before reverting to his maintained neutral expression.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The truth stone shone positively on the [Receptionist]¡¯s table.


    ¡°Apologies, my lord.¡± The [Receptionist] apologized for his words as part of a routine. ¡°This account has been rendered invalid by noble decree a week ago, and as such, its contents have been surrendered to the crown.¡±


    Numisley¡¯s knuckles turned white, but there was nothing they could do. The next day, Numisley and Cultrost met with Aryyad, and they asked to join their caravan en route to the city of Kartorriani, the next city marked on their map. The journey was quicker and safer than when they were burdened by the downpour on their way to Daqquiristo.


    While Daqquiristo was a city known for its heritage, as one of the cities that used to be conquered by the Beastkin of the southern continent, Kartorriani, a semi-independent city ruled by a [Mayor], was famous for their gems and their [Jewelers].


    Despite the city''s beauty, whose buildings decided to build atop and around the less-valuable quartz outcroppings, Numisley can¡¯t seem to appreciate the beauty of the place. His mind sunk deeper into discontentment as their father¡¯s money was redistributed to the government by royal decree, despite Thewardn assuring them that the money was hidden.


    Cultrost handed Numisley a stick of roasted cliff mussels harvested from the city¡¯s nearby mountain, where they mine the crystals they export. He sat beside Numisley on the stone bench.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡± Numisley shooed away the stick.


    ¡°It¡¯s better being full than being sad. Besides, the third time¡¯s the charm. Aryyad told us that we can still come with him to Harpeg¨ªo.¡± Cultrost reassured.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to bother him too much.¡±


    ¡°He insisted, my brother.¡±


    ¡°He shouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± Numisley groaned. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be further in debt¡­¡±


    ¡°Not everyone is out to get us, you know.¡± Cultrost pushed the skewer closer to Numisley¡¯s mouth. ¡°Eat, before you think. You know you can¡¯t think with an empty stomach.¡±


    Numisley weakly grabbed the skewer and ate the shellfish meat.


    -


    Two days later, they left for Harpeg¨ªo, a city past Semsella, near the border between the Margrave, the former Dukedom of the Gaviolos House. The same story happened. The money was legally pilfered by the crown authority from the bank a week before they had arrived.


    Numisley decided to lie not and not move in the wagon.


    ¡°Get up.¡± Cultrost pulled his brother up.


    ¡°Nah.¡± Numisley returned to lie down on the wagon. ¡°I¡¯ll stand up when I feel like it.¡±


    ¡°As long as you stand up the next day. Aryyad is going to introduce us to his contacts, you know? I¡¯ll go to your place if you don¡¯t feel like it.¡±


    ¡°Pull me up and get my walking staff.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost went with Aryyad to the local Merchant¡¯s Guild to join Aryyad in his networking. They were lucky to befriend him back in Ovespuerte. It had paid off after seeing the number of fellow [Merchants] Aryyad knew from around Torregorn, some of whom are Dwarven or Elven [Traders] from outside the kingdom. This took Numisley¡¯s mind off their failure to acquire their father¡¯s wealth.


    The next day, Aryyad met with one of the Kaminorian nobility. Although they have nothing to sell, Numisley and Cultrost offered themselves and the [Mercenaries] to stay and guard Aryyad¡¯s caravan of two wagons for a measly pay of two silvers. Instead, Aryyad paid them more than that and offered them to return with him to Ovespuerte since they had the same destination.


    They journeyed back to Ovespuerte, passing by a couple of settlements, until they had reached Ascogres, where they left Yulvres and his men there, back to Racieros. Numisley and Cultrost helped Aryyad sell his wares alongside theirs. Days later, they arrived at Ovespuerte.


    A throng of House¡¯s Commerros¡¯ [Knights] had Numisley and Cultrost restrained at the sight of many people lining towards the gates. Even Aryyad was unable to stop them being dragged away from their employees. Fighting the personal guard of the ruling noble house would inevitably lead to him being banned from the county altogether.


    To at least help Numisley and Cultrost, he offered Graten and the others employment until he could free the Gildin Brothers.

 Chapter 45

    Numisley and Cultrost were both thrown into the dungeon within the castle. The Count of the Commerros looked down upon them. He stared at them with derision and disappointment.


    ¡°What do you mean we committed a crime?¡± Numisley demanded answers.


    ¡°Like I said.¡± Torresso sneered. ¡°You are charged for committing a massacre in the village of Dousso and the attempted theft of government funds.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Cultrost spoke in his mother tongue.


    ¡°The Duc was right. I should not play with my food. I should thank him for giving me this opportunity.¡± The Count uttered. ¡°Now, where is the book? The Book of Secrets your traitorous father collected.¡± Torresso interrogated.


    ¡°We¡¯re not telling you.¡± Numisley defied.


    ¡°I really thought that you two would be helpful to me, you know. Even if you tried to conspire against me. So I will give you this last chance. Tell me where it is, and you shall be spared from the Duc¡¯s wrath.¡±


    ¡°Numisley¡­¡± Cultrost whispered.


    ¡°Nothing short of giving me the right to claim my heritage would convince me.¡± Numisley spat out, much to his surprise. ¡°W-what?¡±


    The Count sniggered. He seemed to have done something with Numisley with an unseen Feat.


    ¡°Do not underestimate me. I need not torture you like a [Barbarian] to get what I want. But I shall deal with you two later. I got more pertinent business.¡±


    The Count left them in the dungeon, assigning three [Guards] to watch their cell.


    -


    The Count emerged from the hidden stairs that led to the dungeon. He headed towards his spouse¡¯s chambers and knocked.


    ¡°Strraina.¡±


    His spouse opened the door. Torresso was greeted with the sight of her wearing a pale green dress, his eyes drifting towards the frills of her collar.


    "I arranged a wagon for your trip."


    "Thank you, my lord."


    "I hope you will enjoy yourself. I''m afraid I still have to work. There is a lot to do, my lady."


    "I understand."


    In the first place, he had pulled some favors so that his wife would be invited to the gathering held by one of the extended families of the Gaviolos House. It had helped that her wife was acquainted with some of the [Ladies] there. She would stay about a week there for her safety.


    His wife was escorted by the [Guards] of the castle. The Count watched as she entered the wagon and disappeared down the castle''s ramp. He was relieved when he saw the tiny moving green dot emerge from the gatehouse that led inland. Now, she will be safe from the chaos that will come soon.


    He was already moving towards the audience hall to receive his guests. He walked into the furnished audience room and sat on his wooden throne. With a wave of his hand, he activated the room''s anti-eavesdropping magic.


    Three figures had been escorted by the castle''s guards. Out of the four, there are two non-Humans, their incongruous features covered up as the law demanded. They all knelt to the Count of Ovespuerte, even if most were foreigners. These were the available people with mighty Feats and Roles that were suited for the job, with some of them being previous associates. Torresso promised these three individuals different rewards, making sure that they were appeased by his promises while avoiding giving them too much.


    ¡°Stand up.¡±


    They stood up in imperfect unison at the command of the Count as if a great weight had disappeared in the audience hall.


    ¡°I had called upon your talents for a critical mission. The fate of House Commerro hangs on the precipice. You have read my missives. And I confirm that, yes, I will reward each of you and your people personally and handsomely.¡±


    ¡°Who are we fighting, exactly?¡± The man with braided green hair is the first to boldly ask the Count, treating him as more of an equal than the rest of the people here. He gripped a halberd with an azure-tinged blade, its shaft wrapped in scrolls bound with magic.


    ¡°The [Captain] named Johoon, the ¡®Silver Leg¡¯.¡± The Count acknowledged him. ¡°If any one of you kills him, you will all be rewarded. I shall petition your claim to your rightful lands of Haelsli and reinstate your noble title, Thel.¡±


    ¡°It will be done,¡± Thel said.


    ¡°My monastery will gladly smite him with our sacred lead.¡± The hulking figure spoke. He wore a battered metal mask that covered his slimy, horrendous face, yet those beside him felt his anger when the Count mentioned the target. The rest of his body was hidden within the worn robes that he wore to cover the rest of his body from the sun and the gaze of the Count.


    Torresso¡¯s eyes turned to the hooded, petite figure beside the hulking, robed non-Human wearing a metal mask. It was not the Guildmaster of [Assassins] that he was expecting since he could see that she was a young girl and not the elusive Beastkin that even his eyes could not perceive fully.


    ¡°Who are you? Where is your¡­First Claw?¡± Torresso asked the young girl with a note of uncertainty.


    Her piercing feline eyes behind her brown veil stared at the Count.


    ¡°He is currently assembling the rest of our [Assassins]. I was ordered to relay his words to you.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Torresso stroked his chin. ¡°Tell me his words, errand girl, and you will be dismissed.¡±


    The girl unfurled a scroll from her robe.


    ¡°He said: Count Torresso. You are paying my Assassin¡¯s Guild a fortune to kill a [Captain] of Diamond Shore, a lord of the sea. Know this: if your plan fails, we will not fall with it. Consider your partnership forfeit at the end of this assassination, success or not.¡±


    The girl had read it verbatim. Her fingers started to sweat. Torresso gripped the armrest of his throne tightly. The thought of beheading this [Assassin] for the Guildmaster¡¯s slight had simmered his mind, but he knew he was no [Barbarian].


    ¡°Send him my regards,¡± Torresso said after a minute of deliberation. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    The girl performed a curt bow before disappearing from his sight. Immediately after she left, someone kicked the door, which startled the [Guards] guarding the door. It was a hulking Dragonkin of sharp green scales with a long snout that made him resemble a crocodile.


    Although he did not wear armor, only a flowing green toga with square snaking patterns of his faraway homeland, the [Guards] aren¡¯t sure that their mere enchanted polearms could scratch his scales. Even without using the blue, crossed-bladed spear at his side, his eyes still pierced the Count''s silent gaze on his throne.


    ¡°You are late, Seklrex of Vanderas.¡± The Count scolded the brash foreign [Spearmaster].


    ¡°Well, sorry.¡± Seklrex shrugged, unbothered by the Count¡¯s intense stare. ¡°I was in Iquelica with my employer until he sent me here. The Scalelord wants¨C¡±


    ¡°¨CThe trade deal, yes. Twice the price for Vanderan goods if you slay the Silver Leg.¡±


    ¡°And a chest of gold for me.¡± Seklrex continued. ¡°I heard that the Silver-Legged Captain of Diamond Shore is strong. This shall be a worthy fight.¡±


    -


    Aryyad welcomed the troop of [Mercenaries] in the warehouse that he rented for the duration of his stay in Torregorn. The building is thrice as wide as Gildin Trading''s headquarters. Milling about were Aryyads [Laborers], some of them Rhino Beastkin, carrying the crates from one of his three ships in the harbor.


    "Graten, was it?" Aryyad turned to the [Mercenaries]. "I will pay you thirty silver coins a week while Numisley and Cultrost are gone."


    "Are you going to free those boys?" Palden interrupted.


    "I will certainly try. I will try to make an audience with the [Count]." Aryyad reassured. "I''m willing to pay you, in particular, two gold a week."


    "Two gold?" The [Mercenaries] murmured.


    "Palden here is the most valuable asset of your company. He has more Rare and Epic Feats than you all combined." Aryyad held Palden''s shoulder. "If you all wish to stay here with me after I free Numisley and Cultrost, I will allow it. Of course, you can leave now if you wish. "


    No one, not even Palden, wanted to leave. They have to earn money somehow.


    "You will start tomorrow, then. You can rest within your inn in the meantime. I will pay for that, too."


    "Please, sir. You don''t need to do that." Palden said, making the other [Mercenaries] glare at him.


    "I insist. You can go now."


    "Thank you, sir."


    The men of Gildin Trading left the warehouse. Aryyad gestured to his [Load Supervisor]. The heavy-set anthropomorphic rhino wearing a sleeveless cotton vest lumbered towards his boss.


    "Treat them well tomorrow, Sahif."


    "Yes, boss."


    Aryyad headed to his quarters within one of his dhows moored in Ovespuerte. His personal ship was larger and more adorned than the other two ships that he owned. The majestic prow of the blue boat was adorned with a golden horn.


    After climbing the gangplank and the deck, he arrived at his personal quarters, his captain''s quarters. Compared to many [Captains], his quarters were humble. A single window lit the room, the sinking sunlight shining on the wooden dividers that lined his bathroom, his velvet couch padded with many pillows sewn from his homeland, and his desk bolted on the ship.


    Bolted, too, are the two shrines in a secluded portion of his quarters. He pulled out the tiny sack of thin, needle-like fish bones. He ceremonially poured them into the stone bowl within the coral shrine of the second Prophet of the Goddess of Lemuria, reciting a litany of gratitude to the sea''s bounty as he listened to its mysterious chimes that sang with the rhythm of the idle waves. He simply placed a golden coin on the other shrine and laced his digits around the quartz fingers of the Invisible Hand, a god of trade worshipped by a few wandering [Traders].


    "May the next deal be successful. Fortune be mine by your guiding hand."


    Aryyad recited an informal prayer in his native tongue, taught to him by another [Merchant] of the Golden Triangle, whom he learned that he had died at sea a day after he moored at Torregorn. He grabbed a book from his bookshelves and read to pass the time.


    An hour later, when the bell tower rang for the setting of the sun behind the Black Border and the rise of the white line that illuminated the Six Lands'' tallest peaks, one of his crewmen knocked on his door. He remembered that he was supposed to speak to two people tonight.


    "Barqai of the Sebriz Tribe wishes to speak to you."


    "Give me a wick..."


    He pulled himself out of his sleepy stupor and dusted his clothes. He covered his curly ginger hair with his usual headdress and bound it with one of his agals hanging on the coat rack beside him.


    "Enter."


    A feathered figure entered the room, almost naked except for a scabbard on his side and the glint of hidden blades tucked within the red and yellow feathers of his wing-arms, naked in the sense that most Beastkin do not need clothes. Yet he is not a Beastkin from Lemuria but another foreign species, calling themselves the Garuda.


    "Peace be."


    "Be blessed."


    Although they spoke in different Nabraqi languages, they still understood the spirit of the most famous Lemurian greeting. The Garuda sat on the prepared bench, delicately resting his wing-arms on his avian legs. With a word of command, he activated the Amulet of Tongues that he wore, enabling him to properly speak his pertinent message.


    "It will be another moon before my [Chieftain] calls the rest of the flock back to the roosting lands."


    "Would you like a cup of chai? "


    "I would love to have some dates instead."


    Aryyad stood up and grabbed a jar of dates stored in a chest. Barqai received the brass jar and proceeded to grab a date and swallow it whole.


    "What is your news?"


    "I have found the Spymaster''s sons."


    "Sons?"


    "Numisley and Cultrost Gildin, Naveirei rather, except for the Satyr. The older Satyr is his adopted older brother."


    "And what of the brown book of Feats and Roles?"


    "I do not know. It is impossible to contact them right now since they are jailed in the Count''s dungeon."


    "I''m sure the [Shiekh] will be disappointed."


    "I will find a way. With the influence I built over the Trials, I''m sure I could convince the Count."


    "Would I relay that back to Zelewurves?"


    "Not yet. Within the moon, I shall free him. I''ll inform you as always."


    Barqai left the quarters after that meeting, and soon enough, he let the other person in his quarters. It was one of the local [Informants], with an identity concealment Feat that makes Aryyad misremember his face. He initially wanted to hire the best in Ovespuerte, a Dwarf named ¡°Thewardn,¡± but he later learned that he disappeared after the sudden scouring of [Informants] within the port city. Few of his profession were brave enough to stay after that.


    ¡°The Count had invited the ¡®Silver Leg¡¯ to his castle for a trade deal. The Cabal of Claws was hired within Ovespuerte. A traveling group of armed [Monks] was spotted around the castle. The Parting Tide of Vanderas was also spotted barging into the castle this morning, and the former [Lord] of the Haelsli lands, Thel Kaminor of the Promised Writ.¡±


    Unlike the Garuda from earlier, the Human went straight to business.


    ¡°There is a link, isn¡¯t there?¡±


    Aryyad asked after hearing about these mysterious people that had suddenly arrived in Ovespuerte. He knew that the hired adventurer [Spearmaster] of the Vanderan delegation was in neighboring Iquelica. He heard of Ulron, the [Court Mage] of the previous [King] of Torregorn. The ¡°Cabal of Claws¡± was an Assassin Guild from Lemuria that he was intimately acquainted with.


    The anonymous [Informant] stayed silent as if expecting something.


    ¡°Right.¡± Aryyad flicked a gold coin towards the [Informant], which he caught with his left hand.


    ¡°A Rare or Epic Feat or several favor-type Feats were used to call upon those groups. It is likely that the Count is going to assassinate the [Captain] of Diamond Shore.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s crazy. Preposterous, even! Killing one of the [Captains] of the Diamond¡¯s Shore would surely elicit a response! Goddess sake, it¡¯s like murdering a Sheikh!¡± Aryyad ranted. ¡°When is that [Captain] going to the castle?¡±


    Aryyad flicked another gold coin towards the [Informant], who didn¡¯t catch it perfectly. It tumbled on the ground before the [Informant] picked it up.


    ¡°Most likely, tomorrow.¡±


    Aryyad rubbed his temples.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aryyad said. ¡°I¡¯ll head straight to his ship. I got a deal to make.¡±


    Before Aryyad left his ship, he fervently prayed to the shrine of the Invisible Hand. He felt a subtle grip on his shoulder in an instant when he stood up.


    [Miracle - Blessing of the Silver Tongue, obtained.]

 Chapter 46

    Numisley had woken up from his nightmare with a scream.


    ¡°Keep it down!¡± One of the [Guards] yelled at Numisley and Cultrost.


    ¡°Hey. It¡¯s just a dream.¡± Cultrost held Numisley before he fell down on the cold ground.


    ¡°Nightmare.¡± Numisley corrected. ¡°Though I don¡¯t remember anything.¡±


    Cultrost grabbed a piece of half-eaten day-old bread one of the [Guards] tossed to them yesterday and idly munched it.


    ¡°I wonder how long we must stay here¡­¡± Cultrost mused.


    ¡°Until they decide to execute us, I suppose,¡± Numisley said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s give it up.¡±


    ¡°You think they¡¯ll free us even if we did give them the books?¡± Numisley rhetorically asked. ¡°With what we already know, they will dispose of us when they deem us useless.¡±


    Their conversation was cut short by a bevy of [Servants] beyond their cell¡¯s bars, bearing wooden plates of steaming hot food to the cell next to them.


    ¡°Who¡¯s in the next cell? All we get is half a loaf of bread for dinner.¡± Cultrost complained, jealous of the person in the cell next to them.


    ¡°Someone important.¡± Numisley guessed.


    Cultrost sulked in the corner.


    ¡°You think we can get out of here somehow? I can¡¯t use any of my Feats here. I bet if I had my mace, I could break the walls.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a castle. The walls are already enchanted.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope for Palden and the others to somehow save us. I¡¯m sure that they would do the right thing.¡±


    Numisley hoped that Cultrost¡¯s words remained true in the uncountable days ahead. Their gamble of carving a place in this kingdom and claiming their father¡¯s heritage had failed. But yet, there is one quality that both brothers share: a lesson that they learned from their father in the days when they played games of skirmsboard together; the game isn¡¯t over as long as their objective is still on the board.


    ¡°I got an idea,¡± Numisley told his brother before turning to the wall where the next cell was.


    ¡°What are you eating, neighbor?¡± Numisley asked loudly, enough to bother the [Guards] watching the cell.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to casually address a [Lord]. It is a violation of the Divine Decree, commoners.¡± One of the three [Guards] watching their cell spoke up, a man in a weathered white gambeson with a feathered helm.


    The brothers now know who¡¯s in the cell beside them. Numisley wickedly twisted his lips and sharpened his tongue for a verbal riposte.


    ¡°So who are you to defend a [Lord]¡¯s honor? Aren¡¯t you a commoner too? And why is such an important person behind bars? Did you jail him? By that logic, you are committing a sin, am I right?¡±


    The feathered-helmeted [Guard] did not like his dogmatic belief turned against him.


    ¡°Filthy foreigners! Pagans! You know nothing!¡±


    He pulled out the key to their cell and unlocked it. Cultrost saw a chance and tackled the [Guard] that Numisley provoked to the ground, pummeling his face with his fists. Numisley tried to stand up with his one good leg, heavily leaning on the cold stone wall. Without his walking stick, he can¡¯t do much.


    ¡°Cultrost!¡± Numisley warned his brother about the two other [Guards] holding wooden truncheons. However, it was too late. They struck Cultrost¡¯s back so hard that he collapsed on the ground. Cultrost yelped in pain as a crack appeared in one of his horns from the impact.


    ¡°Red-skinned devil!¡± The [Guard] that Cultrost tackled stood up and immediately kicked him in the stomach. The other [Guards] held Numisley down on the rough stone floor, forcing him to watch as his brother was stomped on repeatedly.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    Before this could go longer, a command interrupted them from the other cell.


    ¡°I will remove your pay if you continue further! Get them healing potions, bedrolls, and a warm meal!


    The [Guards] reluctantly followed the command and headed upstairs to tell the [Servants] to fetch the things they needed. Soon, [Servants] had prepared them bedrolls, had fed them with a hastily cooked stew made from fish and unfamiliar root crops, and drank lower-grade healing potions to help them heal from their bruises.


    Outside, the green-haired man from the neighboring cell is reprimanding the [Guards].


    ¡°My [Lord], Count Commerro said¨C¡±


    ¡°I will not exit this dungeon; yes, I know, Tireo!¡± Verrespadion cut the [Guard] who stomped Cultrost. ¡°I¡¯m visiting my neighbors in the other cell. About time I have some other people aside from you guys, at least.¡±


    ¡°But¨C¡±


    ¡°You have beaten a prisoner unnecessarily. This breaks the 35th rule of the Verses of Justice.¡±


    ¡°With all respects, my [Lord], the red-skinned devil attacked me first.¡±


    ¡°Do I hear a rebellious tone from you, Tireo?¡± Verrespadion¡¯s words sizzled. ¡°You had fallen to the provocation of a mere prisoner. Instead of unjustified violence, you should¡¯ve answered with your own logic to prove your faith in the Divine Decree.¡±


    The [Guard] went silent in fear of his [Lord].


    ¡°Tell Lormdegon to replace you. Now. You are dismissed.¡±


    He briskly walked away and disappeared into the door that led to the rest of the castle.


    ¡°Apologies for the treatment one of the guards had given you.¡± Verrespadion apologized to the brothers.


    ¡°The Count should apologize for imprisoning us wrongly in the first place.¡± Numisley stared at the green-haired noble.


    ¡°I see your crime.¡± Verrespadion held a glowing hand with a sigil of nine halos. ¡°You are guilty of murder, but I know there is more to that.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t have a choice.¡± Cultrost intruded. Verrespadion stared at him as if a fish suddenly gained the ability to speak. His [Detect Truth], one of his Feats of his Role, had determined that this Satyr was valid. External circumstances had forced them to commit a crime.


    Cultrost told the entire story to Verrespadion: Numisley¡¯s true heritage and their failed quest to claim their father¡¯s money, which forced them to pillage the hamlet. Verrespadion learned that they were the [Traders] that his younger brother had told them about.


    ¡°So, you are the [Traders] that Racieros accompanied,¡± Verrespadion said, turning to Numisley. ¡°And you are the rightful heir of the Naveirei, first of their blood. Hence, you are my equal.¡±


    ¡°You understand now? Your father has embarrassed me in front of the other nobility. He prevents me from undergoing the Ichoricon rite.¡± Numisley replied.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Because my House is a rival of the Naveirei. I do not condone my father¡¯s actions. I do not condone the pointless bickering of both our Houses. You have a right to a fair trial first, and if you are proven innocent under the Divine Decree, I will be the first noble to back your right to the Ichoricon if what you have said is true.¡±


    ¡°So why don¡¯t you order the [Guards] to free you?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°They are under Feat-enforced, strict orders to keep me here,¡± Verrespadion answered. ¡°I¡¯m still a son of my father, after all. Yes, he can and had imprisoned [Traders] and commoners for little reason, but he wouldn¡¯t do the same to me. I believe he has his reasons for keeping me here.¡±


    After Verrespadion asked them about his little brother¡¯s condition, he left them alone so that they could heal from their injuries.


    -


    Aryyad found himself yet again in the ship hidden and moored in the rarely seen docks of Est Prov¨¦s. He sat before a miffed [Captain] with a silver leg gleaming in the moonlight.


    ¡°What gives you a reason for interrupting me? I¡¯m in a hurry.¡± Johoon glared at the Rhundian [Merchant]. Both of their factions had shared the ports of Ovespuerte together, careful not to breach each other¡¯s territory.


    ¡°Dear associate. I¡¯m afraid you are planning to walk to your own death.¡±


    Aryyad handed him the report that the [Informant] gave him. However, he didn¡¯t understand the script written on it.


    ¡°The Count hired elites around his palace in anticipation of your arrival. A group of armed [Monks]. An adventurer party led by an exiled noble. [Assassins]. And a [Spearmaster] bearing the moniker of the Parting Tide.¡±


    ¡°I thought the Vanderan delegation is still in Iquelica?¡± Johoon remarked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought, too,¡± Aryyad replied. ¡°But you know how fast people at his level are.¡±


    ¡°And I assume that with this information, you want something, correct? You would let me walk the plank if it benefits your queendom. And you have already curled your Feat around this conversation.¡±


    At the beginning of the conversation, Aryyad had already activated one of his Feats. He gave a map of the coastal castle¡¯s interior, with an encircled portion of where the dungeons are.


    ¡°Canny, as always. I do have a small favor to make. Free the persons named Numisley and Cultrost Gildin in the dungeon below the castle.¡±


    ¡°They sound like people from the Yokelaines.¡±


    ¡°They are from your home continent. They are my associates, and I would appreciate it if you free them.¡±


    ¡°As simple as that?¡±


    ¡°Would you rather have me mark up prices for Rhundian brass and Blast Horns?¡±


    ¡°No, no, of course not. What is it that you truly want, Rhundian?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say that they are important assets for Rhundi.¡±


    Johoon turned to his [First Mate], a tall man with a green bandana armed with two enchanted cutlasses.


    ¡°Get me my best [Marines] and [Hydromancers]. Tell the Scourge that I have a job for him.¡±


    -


    Count Torresso leaned on the railings of the lighthouse of his castle, staring at the countless stars and floating islands beyond the dim clouds. A [Mage] finished attuning himself toward the white mana crystal that hung below the cupola.


    ¡°Activate the beacon when I¡¯m dead,¡± Torresso ordered.


    ¡°Dead, my [Lord]? Not when they attack?¡± The [Mage] asked about the deviation in the usual procedure.


    ¡°I do not want to summon armies for a false alarm. But I believe that I will win. So stay here.¡±


    Torresso¡¯s eyes swept down the white horizon of the night and saw the [Captain] of the Diamond Shore walking with his entourage.


    ¡°I will avenge you.¡± He whispered to himself as the last memories of his wife faded away to give way to his determination.


    The foreign Dragonkin [Spearmaster] had climbed up the lighthouse¡¯s gallery. It is time.


    ¡°He¡¯s coming. Be prepared for any nasty tricks.¡± Torregorn spoke to Seklrex.


    ¡°Whatever he¡¯s got, I¡¯m sure he will not expect this. You will pay for your own damage, right?¡± The Dragonkin asked, just in case he would have to pay for the damages out of his own pocket.


    ¡°Of course, of course.¡±


    The Count headed to the main audience hall below.


    -


    Minutes later, Johoon Silverleg now stands defiantly against the Contiearl of Ovespuerte in the greater audience hall of the castle. Johoon¡¯s eyes drifted to the man wearing a doublet, standing guard with a halberd wrapped with parchment scrolls, and the rest of his party behind the [Lord]¡¯s throne. Notably, there is a lack of his [Knights], the Household Guard of the Commerros.


    ¡°I see you have hired adventurers recently,¡± Johoon commented. He had left his entourage outside at the request of the Countiearl, but


    ¡°I have hired them for this occasion, Johoon.¡± Torresso told him a part of the truth.


    ¡°Seems like it.¡±


    In Johoon¡¯s mind, he knew that Aryyad was right. The Count is planning to kill him. Who knew that this cowardly [Count] had grown a spine? He tried to prepare a Feat or two, but somehow, they refused to activate.


    The Count¡¯s judging gaze remains unbroken. His Aura stills the air even as he sits there, poking at Johoon¡¯s own for any weaknesses.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to make a decision about your proposal three moons ago,¡± Torresso spoke with a steady tone. ¡°I have thought of a suitable deal for your proposal. A Signo Dato for 20% of your Dragon¡¯s Dust imports from El-Mira.¡±


    ¡°T-twenty percent? You must be joking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not. I know Diamond Shore has a lot of connections to that continent¡¯s Powder Guilds. My kingdom is always in need of Dragon¡¯s Dust for our arquebuses, and I intend to supply for their demand.¡±


    ¡°Twenty percent is¨C¡±


    ¡°Unreasonable, I know. But what¡¯s more unreasonable is a demand for a Signo Dato that will enable you line your profits across Torregorn¡¯s shores. Unless you contribute to the kingdom, I will make sure that your merchant barges will sink in Ovespuerte¡¯s waters before your blasted Corporation touches the scum of the docks.¡±


    ¡°The Admiralty will hear of this.¡±


    ¡°And I will make sure of that. [Emergency Spell: Chains of Draining].¡±


    ¡°[Ally: Guaranteed Hit].¡± Thel spoke as Johoon¡¯s silver leg lit up, jumping away from the chains emerging from the pillars. Instead of the chains completely missing Johoon, they curved around to coil him tight.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the buff. Take care of things from here.¡± Torresso saluted Thel, as he used his [Quick Escape] to run faster than he should¡¯ve. He was having second thoughts if he should¡¯ve told Verrespadion the truth; at least he could¡¯ve helped him fight. But he knew that he couldn¡¯t risk his first son like that. He still wished that he had the martial talent that his sons have.


    Shockingly, Johoon didn¡¯t get bound by the chains, instead, a rigid bubble of magic protected him from the chains, giving him space to move. The Feat that suppresses his combat-Feats had disappeared at the start of the battle. Before he could move, a spear pierced the stone roof of the hall, covering everything with a bursting plume of smoke and salt water as if a waterfall suddenly appeared through the hole.


    Torresso disappeared in a secret corridor before he could get caught in the battle.


    A Dragonkin [Spearmaster] locked blades with a [Captain] holding a dagger. The [Spearmaster] bounced with his spear off the dagger. Johoon threw a storm of throwing knives that the [Spearmaster] smoothly dodged, feeling the sparks imbued with each knife. This gave Johoon enough time to put the magical pipe that summons his signature Smoke Elemental. Yet Thel, with his wrapped halberd, slashed across the plume of smoke before it could form. [Marines] burst into the room, but Thel¡¯s party rushed to hold them off. One of his [Mages] created a solid wall of earth to block their efforts to intervene. Thel turned around to attack Johoon with his ensorcelled polearm, but he was caught in the blast that collapsed the entire wall.


    Outside the castle, a war started in the bailey. The [Marines] of Johoon¡¯s entourage were ambushed by a volley of pistols from the [Knights]. Even the [Marines] who patrolled the harbor of Est Prov¨¦s had been beset by wandering [Monks] armed with guns and clubs and staves of sea monster bone. The [Marines] found the abyssal [Monks] hard to fight, for after a volley of their arquebuses and pistols, they could instantly close the distance with their empowered bodies with clubs and fists.


    The three ships moored at Est Prov¨¦s had found themselves beset by bestial [Assassins] that sliced open [Sailors]¡¯s throats and stabbed their vulnerable backs. Spell and steel clashed in the streets. Bullets, bolts, and arrows flew in the night, as Ovespuerte¡¯s citizens hid within their homes in deep fright.

 Chapter 47

    In one blast, the [Earth Wall] had fallen, along with Thel and his party. Seklrex remained unfazed, using the concealment provided by the dust to maneuver himself to stab Johoon with his spear. Yet, his enchanted spear tip merely stabbed the air. Sensing the chill on his scales, he dodged the dagger that attempted to pierce his side.


    Johoon¡¯s dogged shadow disappeared in the dust with a silver flash. The Dragonkin [Spearmaster] decided not to wait for the next attack.


    ¡°[Riptide Spear: Ocean¡¯s Ripple].¡±


    Seklrex used one of his Spear Art to slam the butt of his spear to the floor, with an impact like a great ripple that disrupts the waves of the ocean. The dust cleared, and he saw himself surrounded by the Diamond Shore¡¯s [Marines], who pointed their cutlasses, wands, and pistols at him. Behind him was Johoon, with his Smoke Elemental now materializing from his pipe, and in front of him was no other than an aquatic figure covered in an armor of metal and waterproof cloth, with bandoliers of pouches and alchemical bombs.


    ¡°Surrender.¡± The translation rune on his necklace spoke, and at the same time, the Seafolk¡¯s mouth gurgled within the water-filled helmet.


    ¡°I know you.¡± Seklrex pointed his spear towards the Seafolk. ¡°You are the one who destroyed one of my kingdom¡¯s colonies. The Scourge of the Dragons¡¯ Crossing.¡±


    ¡°Leigh, please,¡± Leigh corrected.


    ¡°Surrender,¡± Johoon repeated. ¡°You are an adventurer. You will not die for a foreign [Lord]. What did that [Count] offer you?¡±


    ¡°Twice the price for Vanderan goods and a chest of gold coins for me,¡± Seklrex answered. ¡°Can you auction me off? I¡¯m also bound with a Contract Feat. I¡¯m supposed to hold you off.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me.¡±


    The standoff continued as Johoon tried to think of a better deal that wouldn¡¯t tank their finances.


    ¡°In exchange for sparing your life, how about I offer my ships to escort your delegation in Iquelica back to Vanderas? The colors of our flag are enough to deter would-be [Pirates].¡± Johoon suggested.


    ¡°That is still less than what I have been offered.¡±


    ¡°Think of this instead,¡± Johoon continued. ¡°The Count of Ovespuerte will be dead, and this city will be Diamond Shore¡¯s. Would you rather fight us outnumbered? Even a [Spearmaster] would not survive this futile battle. We can be a valuable ally for Vanderas¡¯ designs in the Golden Triangle, with this city as a staging point. I¡¯m sure that will be preferable to your [Lord] or whoever hired you.¡±


    Seklrex determined that it was not worth dying here.


    ¡°I surrender.¡± Seklrex dropped his enchanted spear. As soon as he uttered the words, his orifices bled out.


    ¡°T-the contract!¡± Seklrex gurgled. ¡°I¡­ should¡¯ve read¨C¡±


    ¡°Contract curse,¡± Johoon uttered. ¡°Someone bring me a Scroll of Dispel!¡±


    Yet it was too late. The curse had killed the Dragonkin [Spearmaster]. His body fell into the puddle of blood on the floor from his orifices.


    ¡°Captain! Our ships at Est Prov¨¦s are being attacked by [Assassins] and [Monks] with guns. All of them are now burning!¡±


    Johoon¡¯s [First Mate] had rushed to report the dire news.


    ¡°Doston! Bring all of your men to our ships! [Hydromancers], extinguish the fires! I will find that [Count] and behead him, that tricky bastard!¡± Johoon commanded his [First Mate].


    ¡°I¡¯ll send five of our¨C¡±


    ¡°I will go alone. The ships are more important. I will take care of the rabble within this fortress.¡±


    Doston did not dare to countermand his [Captain] ¡¯s order. He led the [Marines] back to Est Prov¨¦s, with his [Mages] providing [Speed] Spells for them to rush faster towards the dock.


    As Johoon walked the castle halls, he was attacked by the [Knights] of the castle¡¯s Household Guard. Despite their skill and might, they were like chaff before the scything blade of Johoon¡¯s dagger. His silver leg propelled him past volleys of bolts and bullets, closing the distance. Their blades only brushed air as Johoon vanished in a silver flash and sliced past them despite their armor.


    After each encounter, Johoon dodged halls that unleashed [Lightning Bolts] or rooms that unleashed all-consuming blasts of flame. Pits had opened under his feet, and walls attempted to halt his advance. Yet his silver leg hopped past holes and sped through the magical walls before they formed. The parasitic prosthetic also dispelled hexes laid for him, and he effortlessly eliminated monsters summoned by automated summoning circles.


    He had already checked most of the secret rooms that were outlined in the map that Aryyad gave him. They were [Servants] hiding in many of these rooms, but he left them alone to not waste energy and time. The two areas left to be explored were the passage that leads to the [Count] ¡¯s quarters and the dungeon. The privateer [Captain] went through with the most obvious option and headed through the passage that leads to Torresso¡¯s quarters.


    When the trap runes within the damp spiral staircase lit up, Johoon¡¯s silver leg leaped from the steps to jump from wall to wall until he reached the exit, yet his eyes burned from the harsh light. A second later, he regained his senses, and a bullet broke the magical barrier projected by the ring that was already depleted from the impact of the [Spearmaster] ¡¯s spear.


    Torresso threw his pistol away, and another one appeared in his hands. Johoon dodged the bullet and slashed a bleeding hole in Torresso¡¯s chest plate. Johoon dodged Torresso¡¯s laggard slash and disarmed him by shattering his sword with his superior dagger. For this transgression, he will kill the [Count] slowly, without regard for the consequences. He swaggered towards Torresso, who was kneeling on the ground with labored breath from his wound.


    Yet Torresso spoke two Feats.


    ¡°[Weapon Acquisition: Broadsword of Torpor]. [Upgrade Goods].¡±


    Johoon found himself stabbed by an enchanted bronze-colored broadsword in the stomach. His body was suddenly heavier than usual, and his reflexes became sluggish. He instantly recognized that deadly enchantment that had been inflicted upon him.


    ¡°[Healing Service: 20 Gold]. [Repair Goods].¡±


    The wound caused by Johoon¡¯s dagger healed, and the diagonal hole of the chest plate healed. Torresso stood up and pointed his newly bought sword at Johoon. In total, Torresso¡¯s Feats consumed seventy gold coins, a drop in a bucket in his House¡¯s treasury. Johoon¡¯s pipe still emitted smoke.


    ¡°I may not be as martially talented as my dear sons, but they wouldn¡¯t think of what you can do with Feats.¡±


    He raised his blade, poising for a stab at the [Captain] ¡¯s head.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°This is for both of my beloveds.¡±


    Before his blade fell on Johoon¡¯s eye, Torresso choked on the Smoke Elemental, who snuck through his nostrils and throat. He fell on his knees, writhing and clawing at his throat as he choked to death.


    Johoon poured a vial of healing potion on his wound, which slowly healed.


    ¡°Fuck me, you have more balls than I expected.¡±


    He raised himself and pulled a metal hip flask from his coat. He pulled out its cap and poured alcohol at the gaping mouth of Torresso¡¯s corpse as a sign of respect.


    As soon as Torresso¡¯s heart beat its last, he activated one last Feat.


    [Conditional Signal].


    The [Mage] hiding in the lighthouse during the affair had received the signal that activates after his [Lord] ¡¯s death. Attuned to the boulder-sized glowing crystal within the lighthouse¡¯s lantern panes, he activated the crystal¡¯s [Pillar of Light].


    The light shone through the glass ceiling, piercing the darkness of Ovespuerte¡¯s night. Every settlement within Commerro¡¯s lands had seen the line of light. Racieros was practicing the stabs and swing of his cutlass when he saw Ovespuerte¡¯s glow. The light did not escape the notice of the nobility of House Kaminor and House Gaviolos. One of the Beacons of Torregorn being lit meant only one thing: that Ovespuerte must be besieged or raided, or worse, a foreign power had invaded them.


    The nobles of House Commero, House Kaminor, and House Gaviolos were unsure of the beacon¡¯s signal. Their [Scouts] and the troops that man their watchtowers didn¡¯t hear of news of an invasion nor any attack on the port of Ovespuerte. Many of the nobles are indisposed, for they are asleep.


    Ironically, Dustitoz Gaviolos was the first to take action. He ordered the [Mage] of this manor to send a [Priority Message] to the current patriarch of his house.


    -


    Johoon and his [Marines] came down to the dungeon hidden within the castle to fulfill his deal with Aryyad. Their ships were narrowly saved by their [Hydromancers] putting out the fires, yet it would take a substantial amount of time to repair them. Numisley and Cultrost saw the [Captain] with a silver prosthetic leg.


    ¡°Are you Numisley and Cultrost Gildin?¡±


    The brothers stood up from their bedrolls, seeing the stranger as their chance to escape.


    ¡°Yes, we are. And who are you, exactly?¡± Numisley spoke up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say that I¡¯m an associate of Aryyad.¡±


    The brothers didn¡¯t know much of Aryyad¡¯s dealings aside from knowing that he was a [Merchant] with wealth and influence a magnitude beyond them. He was a friend to them since he assisted them in the Merchant¡¯s Guild when they had started trading in Torregorn.


    With a flick of Johoon¡¯s dagger, the barred door collapsed into heavy pieces. They were free, at last, and they briskly walked out of their cell until Cultrost slowed down to look behind him, towards Verrespadion, his friend¡¯s brother.


    ¡°What about him?¡± Cultrost blurted out. Johoon raised an eyebrow to that sudden question and deigned to answer it. Instead, he walked towards Verrespadion¡¯s cell and gave him a final offer.


    ¡°Verrespadion. A Satyr of all people pities you. The people your kingdom calls the northern barbarians.¡± Johoon mocked Torresso¡¯s son. ¡°Your father wounded me as I murdered him. Can you believe that? A [Spearmaster] died fighting me, without a scratch, while your coward of a father stabbed me.¡±


    How did he know his father? This was the question that now pervades Verrespadion¡¯s mind. Is this why his father had confined him here in the first place? Locked him away from his father¡¯s treachery and mistake?


    ¡°...I give you one final offer. Rule over Ovespuerte, with the interests of Diamond Shore in mind.¡± Johoon offered, calling his [Marines] to line up in front of his cell and pointing their wands and guns at him.


    ¡°No.¡± Verrespadion spat.


    As Numisley dragged Cultrost out of the dungeon, they heard the report of the pistol volley and the immolating roar of [Fireballs]. Cultrost saw the smoldering smoke and ashes from Verrespadion¡¯s cell. Both Numisley and Cultrost stopped when they heard the sound, and they realized what just happened.


    ¡°Be grateful that I left you alive at someone¡¯s request. Speak of this to anyone, and I¡¯ll be sure to visit.¡±


    The Gildin brothers were rattled. Even Cultrost, who was often the outspoken one compared to Numisley, did not dare to utter a word to someone who committed murder in front of them, much less someone who could cut the bars of their cell with a flick of their dagger.


    The [Marines] left them alone as Numisley and Cultrost rushed out of the broken gatehouse.


    ¡°What do I say to Racieros?¡± Cultrost uttered, panting with anxiety. ¡°That we just stood there and watched his brother die?¡±


    ¡°Yes¨Cno. I mean, just tell him the truth.¡± Numisley was too shocked to reply coherently. He tried to focus on the bright side. Torresso Commerro is most likely dead, which means one obstacle to claiming their father¡¯s heritage is eliminated.


    They stopped as they encountered Aryyad and his [Mercenaries]. Unusually, Aryyad brought many more [Mercenaries] than he usually brings as his bodyguard. Their weapons hummed with power, covered in dim shrouds of arcane light.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad that you two are alright.¡± Aryyad expressed his relief.


    ¡°Who is that guy? The one you sent to rescue us?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Johoon Silverleg. A [Privateer Captain] of the Diamond Shore. I did not send him. He was already on his way to attack the castle. That brutish [Privateer] is only an associate of mine.¡± Aryyad explained. He began explaining his proposal, carefully choosing the words that he spoke from his silver tongue.


    ¡°Speaking of associates, I want you two to be my close associates in my company. Partners to each other¡¯s endeavors. While you were gone, I had already paid your employees with the coin we had earned. I¡¯m sure they, too, will be happy with this arrangement.¡±


    This was an intricate arrangement to think of right now for Numisley. He was fatigued, yet his mind suggested that what Aryyad offered was the most sensible option that he could take for the survival of Gildin Trading.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll give my answer tomorrow.¡± Numisley blurted out. There was a nagging feeling that he shouldn¡¯t accept the deal too readily.


    ¡°I understand. In that case, you can stay at the inn I provided my employees with.¡± Aryyad offered.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Cultrost nodded.


    The two brothers were escorted by two of Aryyad¡¯s [Mercenaries]. The Rhundian [Merchant] watched them leave. Silently, a hooded figure wearing dark blue appeared beside him. Aryyad¡¯s [Mercenaries] pointed their weapons at the mysterious figure, but their employer signaled them to stand down.


    ¡°Thank you for hiring the Cabal. I do hope you compensate us for our losses.¡± The mysterious [Assassin] purred.


    ¡°How many of your [Assassins] had been killed?¡± Aryyad asked.


    ¡°Fifteen. Too much. Even one death among our Cabal is too much. Are you capable of giving me thirty candidates?¡± The [Assassin] growled.


    The [Assassin] ¡¯s furry claws popped out. Yet he stayed his hand and stopped himself from slashing Aryyad to ribbons.


    ¡°Rest assured,¡± Aryyad said. ¡°I can still pay the [Slavers] back home. What of the Guildmaster of the Merchant¡¯s Guild?¡±


    ¡°He was caught in the fighting.¡± The [Assassin] plainly stated a euphemism about what he ordered his [Assassins] to do.


    ¡°That is unfortunate. Now, I have no choice but to take charge of the entire Merchant¡¯s Guild.¡± Aryyad can¡¯t help but chuckle at his own joke. He turned towards the [Assassin], but he had long slunk back into the shadows after giving his report.


    Aryyad proceeded to give orders to his [Mercenaries] to keep the peace amid the chaos that was to come.


    -


    When the rest of the reinforcements of the [Marines] came, the [Assassins] had fled, diving into the waters of the port, away from the burning ships. Fourteen had already died in the initial struggle against the [Sailors] who guarded Johoon¡¯s ships moored at Est Prov¨¦s. The mysterious [Warrior Monks] had zealously fought regardless. It was not for the Count that they were fighting for but for revenge for their monastery that the Diamond Shore had destroyed. Their arquebuses had long been spent, yet they had carved them to also function as clubs to infuse their ki with each strike.


    Despite their martial prowess, they were outnumbered by Johoon¡¯s reinforcements, led by his [First Mate]. With his two blades, a storm of slashes had decimated a dozen of them. Their [Hydromancers] had conjured thick tendrils from the coastal waters to drag them to the sea, but unbeknownst to them, they are Seafolk, which can breathe better underwater. They faked themselves being drowned to escape the battle.


    Within the docks of Est Prov¨¦s, a young [Assassin] rose from the corpses of her fellow [Assassins]. The fight was already over, and she was lucky that no one was around. She removed her bloodied robes, for her ordinary clothes were good enough to blend in as an impoverished dreg of the slums.


    On what deity of luck did she gain favor? Ever since the magical collar had been broken by one of the [Marines] that she fought on the moored flagship, and ever since the Count of this city didn¡¯t execute her for reading the offensive letter sent by their leader out loud, she considered herself blessed with luck. She was now free, not a [Slave] bound to a guild of [Assassins].


    Yet, she was still in need of a safe house to rest in. Her limbs ached from the fatigue of battle. He saw a horned [Thief] and two of his men steal weapons from the corpses of the combatants near the docks. She stalked them as they quickly escaped from the torchlight of patrolling [Marines]. They snaked through the slums, and eventually, she found their safehouse after tailing them for several minutes.


    Before she could think about sneaking in and stealing their food, Raudaeiz knocked her out with a cudgel.

 Chapter 48

    Ovespuerte was without its [Count], a city without its leader. A grand portion of its Household Guard was strewn around the castle. The docks were filled with [Marines] who cleaned the evidence of their transgressions, dumping bodies in the port¡¯s scummy waters. The citizens of Ovespuerte demanded answers to the chaos of yesternight, protesting against the various militiamen and [Mercenaries] who now roam the streets. The councils of the various districts find themselves confused as they hear the news of the election of a new [Guildmaster] of the city¡¯s Merchant¡¯s Guild amidst the chaos. Aryyad assured his fellow [Merchants] that they were safe from the brigands who roam the port and the nobles coming to the city.


    The remnants of the Household Guard find themselves trapped in their [Lord]¡¯s castle, surrounded by Johoon¡¯s men. The [Guard Captain] faced off against the silver-legged [Privateer], who kicked a chest of gold coins towards them. Glimmering gold tinkled on the stony ground, catching the hesitant gazes of the [Knights] and junior members of the Household Guard.


    ¡°If you all keep the matter a secret, all of these could be yours.¡± Johoon declared, kicking a couple of coins strewn on the floor. ¡°Or we will all die here.¡±


    The [Guard Captain] knew what he meant by that. So he accepted the offer. The remaining Household Guard had no choice but to follow their leader. To cover their treachery, they had to keep the peace to maintain the illusion of authority. Even if the [Count] was dead.


    The remaining [Mage] of the castle that Johoon found atop the lighthouse has been ordered by Johoon to send a [Message] to the last remaining scion of the Commerro House.


    -


    "Remember what we talked about," Numisley whispered to Cultrost as they saw Aryyad entering the warehouse alone. Many of their employees were still helping around in Aryyad''s company even after Numisley and Cultrost were freed.


    ¡°Tell me, friend. What¡¯s going on?¡± Numisley spoke first. He stood straight despite being paler than yesterday.


    Aryyad dusted his crimson robes, gilded with gold-threaded trim. There is no point in hiding their blatant takeover of the port, the county capital of the Commerros.


    ¡°My associate, the [Captain] of the Diamond Shore, had killed two nobles of the Commerro House. Essentially, he had taken over the city. With the lighthouse beacon being lit yesterday, I agreed with him earlier that I would help him cover up this mess, and I need you two for that.¡±


    ¡°Us?¡± Cultrost blurted.


    ¡°Me?¡± Numisley mouthed.


    ¡°Palden.¡± Aryyad clarified. ¡°He is the only one of your men, no, even in this warehouse, that could feasibly ride to wherever the second son of the Commerros is.¡±


    ¡°You mean, Racieros.¡± Cultrost spoke up.


    ¡°Racieros Commerro, yes.¡± Aryyad confirmed. ¡°We need him to be in this city before the collective army of the southern nobility comes here.¡±


    Assisting them would be an act of treachery, an act that could be used against him when Numisley comes to claim the Ichoricon. They heard of the Diamond Shore back home and that they were a Great Corporation that ruled the coastal lands and the seas. Yet they were desperate. Both brothers agreed they could join Aryyad in a joint venture to avoid running out of money. Numisley can see that many of the [Merchants] on the port had sailed away during the chaos.


    Both brothers knew that this was a gambit with high stakes. With an intent glance, both have an inkling of what each other is thinking.


    ¡°Is this why you wanted us to work with you?¡± Numisley asked Aryyad.


    ¡°Not initially, no. I see your¨Cboth of your talents as [Traders]. Ideally, I wouldn¡¯t had to ask you this. I dearly wanted to help you two as a fellow foreigner. This is only a plan we made on the spot when we saw that lighthouse light up.¡±


    Aryyad¡¯s silver tongue had tickled the brother¡¯s ears. Cultrost nudged Numisley, almost making him tumble, and Numisley smacked his brother¡¯s leg with his walking stick. Immediately, they gave their final answer.


    ¡°We¡¯ll work with you,¡± Cultrost spoke.


    ¡°But we¡¯ll set the terms. We¡¯ll work with you and not under you.¡± Numisley made it clear. ¡°Merchant¡¯s Courtesy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with the term,¡± Aryyad admitted.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a saying back home that a trading partnership should be equal,¡± Numisley informed. He drew a contract from his robes that he wrote as soon as they got in the inn.


    Aryyad sensed the ominous aura of the contract. The ink seems to be scented with iron, a steely pang of blood. Yet he avoided making a scene out of it. With his experience reading contracts from nobles and fellow [Merchants] alike, he read the cursive Torregornian script.


    The terms are reasonable, even if slightly disadvantageous for Aryyad: 40% of the total profits for joint-venture and their independence in their operations, mainly. But he allowed these concessions in the interests of intimate cooperation in the future.


    Aryyad signed the contract and was prepared to break it if needed. Yet a tug pulled his very blood for a moment, a sensation that permeated his entire body and disappeared when he sensed it.


    ¡°Excellent.¡± Aryyad hid his true expression behind a cautious smile.


    ¡°How much can you pay us for employing Palden?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Ten gold.¡±


    ¡°Make it fifteen.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll use a Scroll of Haste.¡± Aryyad showed them a magic scroll containing the spell.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Ten then.¡± Numisley acquiesced.


    ¡°Palden!¡± Cultrost called their [Wagon Driver]. ¡°Tell Racieros that¡­.¡±


    -


    After Cultrost gave detailed instructions to Palden and gave him the letter, the brothers returned to the inn that Aryyad paid for. They didn¡¯t speak until they were in the rooms and closed the curtains.


    ¡°Man, I wish we knew magic,¡± Numisley recalled their father¡¯s soundproofed office. ¡°If we can afford to go to an enchantery again, I¡¯ll change the bound spells in my cane to more useful ones.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right about Aryyad,¡± Cultrost said. ¡°He got some charm-Feat that enhances his charisma.¡±


    ¡°Just like Father taught us,¡± Numisley recalled. In the past, their father taught them how to resist people like [Traders] with unnatural charisma and other effects so they wouldn¡¯t be easily ripped off. ¡°But this feels different.¡±


    ¡°How so, Numis?¡±


    ¡°He seems ¡®blessed.¡¯ Does that make sense? It¡¯s not like the feeling of magic or a Feat.¡±


    ¡°Blessed?¡± Cultrost was scratching his horns. ¡°Nope, don¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°Bottom line is, we¡¯ll have to be careful about what we say. I¡¯m the only one of us brothers who got an Aura to resist it, but thanks for pushing me earlier.¡¯


    ¡°I just gave you a nudge.¡±


    ¡°I almost fell.¡±


    They chuckled, lying down on the bed.


    ¡°Since all the [Merchants]¡¯ left except those under Aryyad, this is a prime opportunity.¡± Numisley thought out loud.


    ¡°No competition, right?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°Yep,¡± Numisley replied. ¡°Give me like¡­a while. I¡¯ll check the inventory later. See what we can sell right now.¡±


    -


    While order is reinstated by the remnants of the Household Guard within Ovespuerte, Raudaeiz, and his gang interrogate the interloper who was found sneaking around their hideout.


    ¡°Woke ya¡¯ up?¡±


    The girl looked up at a hulking reptilian person who sat on a barrel in a dim and damp cellar. When Texion saw her feline eyes open, he stood up.


    ¡°Boss! The [Thief]¡¯s awake!¡±


    The cellar doors opened, and Raudaeiz came down to deal with the [Thief]. He saw a Demihuman just like him, only with feline ears and tufts of fur across her arms. The young [Assassin] snarled, fangs bared. With a few Torregornian words that she knows, she shouted:


    ¡°Where am I? Release me!¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Raudaeiz asked back. Her first instinct was to lie, to obfuscate her origins, but she remembered that the collar around her neck was gone.


    ¡°Rhmarha. I am an [Assassin]. Former [Assassin] of an Assassin Guild.¡±


    Raudaeiz raised his eyebrows. She didn¡¯t seem like she was lying.


    ¡°And you were involved in the chaos last night?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I was lucky to survive.¡± Rhmarha answered.


    ¡°So, what are you doing around our hideout, lurking about?¡±


    ¡°Finding shelter. A safe house. Anywhere to hide.¡±


    ¡°And now you are in our cellar.¡± Raudaeiz quipped. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°Getting out of here.¡± The girl answered. ¡°I will not steal anything from you, so can I please go now?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let you out now that you know our whereabouts. But I do not have the luxury of slicing open your throat here and now. You are an [Assassin], right? So you have Feats that can be useful to my gang. So, join us.¡±


    ¡°I want to leave this port as soon as I can.¡±


    ¡°That won''t be happening anytime soon. The ships had left the port during your attack. I can¡¯t guarantee you can slip through one of their ships easily. Besides, where can you go? Will someone take you as a [Laborer] or a [Barmaid]?¡±


    Raudaeiz removed his headdress, laying his Satyr heritage bare. Rhmarha was surprised by the short, curved horns on his forehead. She thought he was another Human.


    ¡°You are a Demihuman like me, and I have seen how the people here treat folks other than Human. I¡¯ve experienced how these Torregornians treat criminals. So, join me, and you will be fed. You will share a portion of our spoils like any other of my street urchins. You will get caught even if I release you right now.¡±


    The Demihuman Beastkin gave it some thought. What her captor said makes sense. She was sure that other criminals wouldn¡¯t treat her nicely, and the worst thing that could happen if she was sold to slavery again.


    ¡°Then, I have one condition.¡± She spoke.


    ¡°Which is?¡± Raudaeiz asked.


    ¡°I will not be a slave again.¡±


    -


    Rhmarha was escorted by Raudaeiz towards an abandoned building within their burgeoning turf. Raudaeiz''s group had amassed a pile of weapons, armor, and other stolen goods amid the chaos. She was impressed by the amount that they had stolen in a short span of time.


    ¡°Who¡¯s she?¡±


    Nilmuckee, one of the original gang members from Libertalia, asked his boss.


    ¡°Our new member,¡± Raudaeiz answered.


    ¡°She looks competent. About time that we got someone useful other than urchins.¡±


    Nilmuckee stared at the pallid children rummaging through the pile and organizing them under the watch of Umberzo. Although some are pure-blooded Humans, many were Demihumans with patches of scales and tufts of fur. Weapons are tossed into one corner, and armor in the opposite corner. The precious items in the pile of stolen goods, such as low-grade potions, are snatched by Jrain.


    The sight reminds Rmarha of a brief time that had gone by before she was captured as a [Slave] to be sold to [Assassins].


    ¡°Is that all from the haul?¡± Raudaeiz asked Umberzo.


    ¡°Yes, boss. If the [Fencer] doesn¡¯t rip us off, I¡¯d say we¡¯re getting silvers tonight.¡± Umberzo answered.


    Raudaeiz turned to the young [Assassin].


    ¡°Now, I got a mark for you.¡± Raudaeiz turned to Rhmarha. ¡°West of here, above a tavern named Rtcas¡¯ Place, is where Tosi hides. He is the leader of a gang that tried to attack us. This is perfect since yesterday''s chaos forced him to hide in that building.¡±


    ¡°And you want me to assassinate him.¡± Rhmarha flatly declared.


    ¡°If you are willing to take this job,¡± Raudaeiz replied. ¡°If not, we¡¯ll storm the tavern.¡±


    Rhmarha took a glance at the children working for Raudaeiz¡¯s gang, a sight not too unfamiliar to her. One of Raudaeiz''s men gave them a single loaf of bread to be distributed among them, divided into crumbs.


    ¡°I do not like using children, you know. But I intend to acquire more turf in this port, and there will be a time when I could feed them more than a loaf a day. Tosi has enough coin stockpiled to make us rich for a few days.¡± Raudaeiz read the [Assassin]¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Why do you need more territory?¡± Rhmarha asked.


    ¡°The truth is, I¡¯m working alongside a very ambitious young man,¡± Raudaeiz answered without revealing the details.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Rhmarha agreed.


    Assassination is the only thing she has ever known. Being here is better than being a beggar and risking being caught again.

 Chapter 49

    Between the broken throne, cleft in half, Aryyad had met with Johoon in the castle of Ovespuerte. Without its Count, its Household Guard was weakened and intimidated, and two factions had complete rule over the county capital of the Commerros. Johoon¡¯s [Marines] and Aryyad¡¯s Human [Mercenaries] patrolled alongside the surviving Household Guard to maintain the veneer of legitimate authority as news of the death of Count Torresso of Ovespuerte had leaked. Devotees walked the streets in a solemn procession, led by the [Priests] of the Divine Decree¡¯s temples in mourning of their Count and his supposed ascension to godhood. Their tongues were busy singing hymns of praise and canticles of grief to whisper who would be the next heir of the Commerro House.


    This is the primary concern of Aryyad, now that Johoon murdered the Count. He knows what¡¯s coming. An army might march to Ovespuerte¡¯s gates and kill them if they learned of the truth.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying that an army is coming?¡± Johoon asked.


    ¡°Yes, soon. I do not have scouts. But the nearest settlements are three days away. The lighthouse was activated when you killed the Count.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s clean up our mess then.¡±


    ¡°Your mess.¡± Aryyad corrected. ¡°We need something to say when the [Lords] arrive.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Johoon. ¡°I had killed the Count. Then, this city is mine by right of conquest. The Admiralty will shower me with accolades when they learn of this.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how your continent does things, but it doesn¡¯t work here, you dung-minded idiot. The [Knights] and [Squires] you didn¡¯t kill? The people down there mourning for their Count? They will kill your remaining [Marines] if they learn of your stunt. If they die in the process, then the armies that will come will finish the job.¡±


    ¡°You dare talk to me like that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Because I keep cleaning your mess. Even if you can stab me three times before I can blink or suffocate me with your Smoke Elemental, you won''t have anyone bailing you out in this kingdom, you barbaric [Pirate]. Learn some diplomacy.¡±


    Johoon bit back his retort.


    ¡°So, you say that they will arrive in three days?¡±


    ¡°Once they heard of the news, yes.¡±


    ¡°I will order them to lock down the city.¡±


    ¡°No. Too suspicious. If that Count¡¯s son doesn¡¯t arrive before the army arrives, we need a story.¡±


    ¡°So we must tell them that [Pirates] had ravaged the city.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. I need corpses. Physical evidence. And a way to circumvent truth spells.¡±


    ¡°And what about that kid? The second son.¡±


    ¡°I already sent the fastest [Rider] to fetch him.¡±


    -


    As Johoon and Aryyad schemed their way out of their mess, the nobles of Houses Kaminor, Commerro, and Gaviolos, who saw the beam of light piercing the night sky, had convened in their respective courts. Ovespuerte is one of the prized cities of Torregorn since they are part of the western trade routes that lead to the Golden Triangle.


    The Kaminors in their mountain holds had decided to send only a scouting force led by the nearest [Lady] in Commerro lands, Adriasta Kasta Kaminor, to reconnoiter Ovespuerte¡¯s current situation. The rest of the Commerrros were too busy bickering with each other on the opportunity to retake their capital, and a few who took the initiative had sent forces separate from each other. Ironically, the Gaviolos had a head start because of Dustitoz, who first reported the sighting and beseeched his brother to send an army larger than the other two Houses managed to send. With Feats that sped up their marches, the three forces may reach Ovespuerte in four or five days.


    But unbeknownst to them, Palden only needed two days on a single horse to reach Racieros in Ascogres. With his experience, Feats, and the [Haste] enchantment applied to him, he sped through the ancient roads as the world around him blurred. Finally, he arrived in Ascogres and asked for an audience in the humble wooden fort of the town.


    Palden soon found himself facing Racieros within the wooden keep, and he gave him the letter. Racieros had already received a summons to Ovespuerte, saying that his father and brother had died during a [Pirate] raid. The news by itself is unbelievable, that they could die from a simple raid. He knew the castle could repel most attacks with its embedded spells.


    He unraveled the string tied to it and read the letter, written in Torregornian script:


    Dearest friend,


    Whatever or whoever you hear the news from, know that they are lies. Your father and brother had been killed by a [Captain] named Johoon Silverleg, collaborating with a [Merchant] named Aryyad. However, we had to collaborate with him so we couldn¡¯t starve. For your safety and ours, you must go along with their schemes for now. You must come with Palden to Ovespuerte before an army arrives to investigate. When the time comes, we will make plans of our own.


    -Cultrost and Numisley


    Racieros already knew that his father was dead when he awoke in the middle of the night, when he became a [Count] in full, as the voice of the world had given him the Feats that his father once held, a privilege of the royal and noble bloodlines of Humanity.


    ¡°Tell the [Servants] to prepare my things. I will be traveling to Ovespuerte shortly.¡± Racieros said briskly.


    Soon, Palden was leading Racieros¡¯ carriage on their way back to Ovespuerte. In the solitude of the carriage, he silently covered his teary eyes, stifling his cracking voice on his way home.


    -


    While Palden was traveling with Racieros and his [Knights] in tow, the death of Count Torresso Rahmeiros Commerro had been officially announced by the [Captain] of the Household Guard. With the lie he was ordered to tell the populace, the Count inevitably became a martyr who protected the city from unknown [Pirates] who came in the middle of the night. The masses readily accepted this lie, but the wiser leaders of the guilds and districts thought otherwise, that there is something beyond it. They already noticed the [Mercenaries] who often accompanied the [Knights] and [Squires] of Commerro¡¯s Household Guard and the sudden election of a new Guildmaster of Ovespuerte¡¯s Merchant¡¯s Guild. Those who attempted to do something about it were instead bribed with silver coins or the threat of murder to maintain the illusion of legitimate rule before Racieros arrived.


    Within the illusion are the various gangs that took advantage of the chaos. Smuggling activity is now the highest that it has ever been. Yet, the plunderers of the Diamond Shore and the trading company of Aryyad¡¯s Acquisitions wanted a fat and hefty cut of their profits since they were the ones who could sail to faraway shores with their ships. Ironically, Ovespuerte¡¯s gangs preferred it when the [Merchants] who fled stayed here, despite the patrols of the Household Guard, because it was cheaper and more profitable. The monopoly of these two groups had prompted more frequent thefts than ever before.


    As one of the [Smugglers] directly working under Johoon¡¯s supervision, Tosi had more income than he had earned in previous months, for he held the lives of more minor [Smugglers] under him. With the authority given to him by the [Captain] of the Diamond Shore, the gangs have to pay through him if they want Johoon¡¯s ships to smuggle their goods. The fat man giggled as he counted the silver coins he earned for the day, but his eyes drifted to the door ajar.


    ¡°Who-¡±


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Tosi gurgled as a knife pierced his throat. The fountains of blood stained the silver coins arrayed on his table. The pudgy corpse tumbled down with a meaty thunk on the wooden second floor of the tavern. Rhmarha emerged from the daytime shadows, stepping into the rays of light from the sun beyond the shutters. She picked up the chair Tosi was sitting on and threw it at the shutters, splintering it into falling pieces. Seeing Rhmarha¡¯s signal from the tavern, Raudaeiz and the rest of the gang charged in, kicking down the door to bludgeon and stab the [Thugs] inside, sparing the [Bartender], the [Waitresses] and [Waiters]. The short scuffle ended the reign of Tosi¡¯s gang in these streets, and with the increasing reputation of the new gang, more desperate folks would join them. Raudaeiz ordered his gang to steal the smuggled goods and the hidden pouches of silver coins


    Raudaeiz found Rhmarha in Tosi¡¯s office, seeing the corpse on the floor.


    ¡°Well done,¡± Raudaeiz said. ¡°You can have the coins on the table. That¡¯s your salary for today.¡±


    Rhmarha grabbed the bloodied silver coins on the table without hesitation.


    ¡°I have another task for you. A fairly simple task.¡± Raudaeiz said.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Rhmarha asked, slightly miffed.


    ¡°Just accompany me to my associate. I¡¯m sure that he will see you as a valuable asset.¡±


    Raudaeiz thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to Numisley and Cultrost, along with his gift of silver coins and his accomplishment of establishing a foothold in Ovespuerte¡¯s criminal world, so that the Gildin Brothers would be indebted to him. If Numisley ever breaks his promise to him, Rhmarha could assassinate him on his behalf.


    ¡°If it''s that simple, sure.¡± Rhmarha agreed.


    -


    Numisley reviewed the latest Feats he gained, reading the brown book to cross-reference their possible uses. The thick book contains a pervasive list of Feats, Roles, and other abilities the World¡¯s Voice gives and their known effects. From what he gathered, [Joint Venture: Shared Inventory] that he gained from his partnership with Aryyad enabled him to sell and restock Aryyad¡¯s goods on his behalf. [Emergency Funds: 5 Gold] would enable him to purchase anything for the company within five gold coins of any denomination, even without money, but will incur a debt that needs to be paid. Before he went to one of the docks now owned by Aryyad and his company, he hid in a cleverly disguised hiding place, enhanced by his [Secret Compartment] Feat.


    Numisley, Cultrost, and the rest of their company had gone to the familiar stone and wood wharves of Reagusha upon Aryyad¡¯s request. Numisley and Cultrost, who covered his horns with a hood for this task, arrived with two of the Household Guard and two of Aryyad¡¯s [Mercenaries] riding a cart pulled by Graten and three of his Human [Mercenaries].


    The few idle [Fishmongers] and other seafood vendors of the various stalls and some of the workmen hauling their latest catch in barrels and boxes had glanced or stared at the new arrivals. Tisruda, the [Fishmonger] who once supplied them with fermented fish, first approached Numisley and Cultrost, being familiar with them.


    ¡°Long time no see, Numisley, Cultrost! How¡¯s business?¡± Tisruda greeted. The two spear-wielding [Squires] wearing the orange and green colors of Commerro¡¯s Household Guard stared at the [Fishmonger] who suddenly approached the brothers.


    ¡°Better now. We got bankrupt, but now¨C¡±


    ¡°Sorry. We are here on very important business. To announce the news for this district.¡± Numisley interrupted Cultrost. Cultrost¡¯s eyebrows were furrowed with the thought of how the [Fishmongers] interpret the news.


    ¡°Important business?¡± Tisruda asked, then he noticed the two members of the Household Guard flanking the brothers. ¡°The news must be pretty important. Apologies.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Cultrost said.


    Numisley puffed up his chest and cleared his throat. He pulled out a leather cylinder embossed with the crest of the Commerro House and read its contents aloud. For a second, Numisley admired Aryyad¡¯s impeccable penmanship before he spoke:


    ¡°People of Wharf Regusha! I was assigned by the city¡¯s provisional authority to deliver this news!¡±


    The [Fishmongers] started to whisper among themselves. Their lips carried words of worry. They heard of the Count of Ovespuerte¡¯s death and saw his body paraded by the [Priests] and [Acolytes] of the city¡¯s temple. They wonder about which authority Numisley speaks on behalf of. They only knew of their Count¡¯s two sons, Racieros and Verrespadion. Some voiced their worst fears that the two brothers may come to blows for the power of Ovespuerte¡¯s throne.


    ¡°On the provisional authority of the [Guard Captain] Household Guard of Commerro, Tuirre Cartala, who is sworn to the Divine Decree in the Temple of Ovespuerte to uphold the holy throne of the Commerros until Lord Racieros Rahmeiros Commerro takes his rightful place as the successor of Torresso Rahmeiros Commerro, all [Fishmongers] and related Roles who sell all manner of seafood in the district of Regusha will be required to pay 10% of their proceeds to the [Tax Collectors] who will come tomorrow to repair the damages from the [Pirate] attacks yesterday. That is all.¡±


    Murmurs rose among the crowd. They had already paid taxes to the Count last month, which was less profitable for the [Fishmongers]. With the sudden tribute, some weren''t sure they could pay it.


    ¡°Is that true that we were under attack by [Pirates] that night?¡± Tisruda asked. ¡°I heard rumors that [Mercenaries] from one of the ships attacked the castle.¡±


    Numisley feared that, in some way, they might be implicated in the murders of Torresso and Verrespadion. He and Cultrost saw the crowd whispering doubt with each other, and they understood why. Taxes are always contentious, especially for [Merchants] like them. They remember their father always grumbling about Renimburg¡¯s taxes when autumn came around. Hence, he always evades taxes whenever he can. In this case, Ovespuerte has supposedly been attacked, and they can¡¯t blame them for being worried.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley answered without further elaboration.


    ¡°May his Majesty protect us and Commerro¡¯s scions,¡± Tisruda said a prayer and returned to his stall.


    Numisley and Cultrost¡¯s job was done, and they rode back to Arryad¡¯s warehouse. With his [Mercenaries] patrolling with the remaining Household Guard and the men of the Diamond Shore strutting in the docks and intimidating whoever comes their way, it is evident that the port is now governed by a new power. Aryyad and Johoon seek to maintain the veneer of traditional authority of the city to avoid a riot.


    Aryyad was standing in front of the warehouse when Numisley and Cultrost arrived. Cultrost lifted Numisley out of the cart and helped him stand. There were many more laborers than usual in this warehouse, moving a large amount of cargo.


    ¡°We delivered the news,¡± Numisley informed Aryyad.


    ¡°How did Reagusha take it?¡± Aryyad asked.


    ¡°Not as violent as we expected,¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°I knew I could count on you two.¡± Aryyad smiled as he thought of future plans. Aside from Numisley and Cultrost, he sent his people and the members of the Household Guard, disguised under the authority of their Guard Captain, to deliver news of his demands. ¡°I¡¯m afraid this delicate matter has some¡­difficulties. When is your [Caravan Master] coming back?¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost glanced at each other, knowing what each other was thinking. They haven¡¯t told Aryyad about Palden¡¯s Role since he is acting as the company''s [Wagon Driver]. He must have a Feat similar to Numisley¡¯s [Eye for Potential].


    ¡°If all goes well, Palden would arrive here two or three days later,¡± Cultrost answered.


    Aryyad, as someone who had sailed farther than these two young [Traders], knew the costs and difficulty of traveling. He assumed the worst situation: an army from the nearby noble domains would arrive outside Ovespuerte¡¯s walls, and everything that Aryyad had hastily built in this city would fall. Johoon¡¯s impulsiveness had given him this chance to take this city. Still, it was also a destructive risk that may cause him to lose everything. He had to sway two main factions in Ovespuerte: the Guildmasters of Ovespuerte¡¯s districts and the Temple of Ovespuerte, the latter being the hardest to convince because of their faith and cunning. They have no reason to betray their greater kingdom of Torregorn unless he gives them a reason to.


    ¡°In that case, if an army arrives before Palden and Racieros, prepare to escape. You and your employees can come with us to the island of Karaz in the Golden Triangle.¡±


    The Golden Triangle? Numisley¡¯s ears perked up. The place where the brothers intend to make their fortune selling secrets. If Numisley cannot claim his heritage here, he and Cultrost must carve their place there.


    ¡°But, I have one more task for you two. In your¡­source, do you have something that may implicate the [Priests] of that temple?¡± Aryyad pointed to the colonnaded temple sitting upon a cliff on the city''s eastern edge, near the walls facing inland. ¡°Here is the list of [Priests] in that temple.¡±


    Numisley glanced at the list, and he knew some of the names from the book.


    ¡°It costs two gold for each name in that list.¡± Numisley stood his ground.


    ¡°I thought we were partners?¡± Aryyad¡¯s tone became disappointed, and it nudged Numisley.


    Numisley almost said that he would give the secrets for one gold. Still, he knew about the charm ability that Aryyad has right now.


    ¡°Business partners. Selling my secrets is another thing entirely. That is not in our contract after all.¡±


    Aryyad paused for a second.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll consult my sources,¡± Numisley answered. ¡°You can pay me then.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost went back to the inn to rest. Aryyad later met with Johoon to discuss future plans regarding the resistant Guildmasters and the Temple of Ovespuerte¡¯s [Priests] yet to be bribed, who were suspicious of their actions despite their efforts to cover their tracks.


    The day after tomorrow, the bribed [Guards] of Ovespuerte saw movement in the forests and scrying spells in the sky.

 Chapter 50

    The day after Numisley read out aloud the forged document to the wharf of Regusha, Raudaeiz and a hooded woman of Numisley¡¯s age had come to the inn where the Gildin Brothers were staying. Cultrost helped Numisley climb the stairs with the two strangers in tow.


    The door that led inside the brothers¡¯ room closed shut. The shutters were never opened, and only the barest amount of light passed through its wooden gaps.


    ¡°Remind me, Cultrost, to tell Raudaeiz¡¯s [Sorcerer] to ward the room against eavesdroppers,¡± Numisley whispered to Cultrost.


    ¡°Baire¡¯s a [Trickster],¡± Raudaeiz spoke. ¡°We¡¯re in [Hushed Conversation].¡±


    ¡°Useful Feat,¡± Numisley remarked. ¡°Now, who did you bring with you?¡±


    ¡°She is an [Assassin] I picked up. I believe that you will find here useful to our goals. She had helped me establish the final step to carving our place in the city¡¯s underworld.¡±


    Numisley imagined that she had killed a [Gang Leader] on Raudaeiz¡¯s orders. Numisley and Cultrost¡¯s father had told them of the potent role of [Assassins] in a world where the power of individuals informs even kingdoms. The easiest way to conquer a city is to assassinate its [Mayor], and a surefire way to strike fear in a kingdom is to poison their [King]. To cripple their military is to decapitate their [Generals] and murder their [Champions]. To cripple an economy, one must assassinate [Traders], [Smiths], and [Farmers].


    ¡°And what is this ¡®final step¡¯?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°We have taken the hideout of an important gang leader and have earned enough money and members to start our smuggling operation. The chaos yesterday had helped, too.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Numisley spoke. He guessed they took advantage of the chaos to do whatever Raudaeiz needed to accomplish. It has been weeks since they sent the smuggled metal to Raudaeiz¡¯s contact. He directed his [Eye for Potential] to the aforementioned [Assassin], who covered her face.


    She was surprised that the young man was Raudaeiz¡¯s employer. The red-skinned man beside him had Raudaeiz¡¯s horns and felt he was stronger than most people his age.


    ¡°Introduce yourself, please.¡±


    His words shook her. The word ¡°please¡± in her homeland tongue or Torregornian was never spoken to her until now. She found herself staring at his violet eyes, projecting his analytical gaze.


    ¡°Rhmarha.¡± She spat out her name as if the words themselves stirred from her throat. Her hood fell, revealing her feline ears and dirty blonde hair. She was all too familiar with Feats that compel her to follow orders, or [Swindlers] with a presence that dulls the mind, but this is not the case. It is his presence alone that puts her at ease.


    ¡°A Demihuman.¡± Cultrost mouthed. Somehow, it comforts him that there are non-Humans in this place.


    ¡°I look forward to working with you,¡± Numisley spoke. ¡°Raudaeiz, if Baire knows an enchantment to ward the room against potential eavesdroppers, tell him to come here.¡±


    ¡°Aye,¡± Raudaeiz said before leaving the room.


    Raudaeiz and Rhmarha were walking inconspicuously among the crowd, trying not to draw attention to the patrolling armed men in the streets. Both of them sensed that there were eyes on them when they exited the ¡°Clammy Abode,¡± the inn where the Gildin Brothers were staying. Both knew looking around and trying to locate them would mark them both. The question in both of their minds is why there are eyes on that inn.


    ¡°Guess Numisley¡¯s paranoia is justified,¡± Raudaeiz remarked.


    ¡°Is he a Sheikh?¡± Rhmarha suddenly asked.


    ¡°What¡¯s a Sheikh?¡±


    ¡°Someone important. The ones that rule several cities.¡±


    ¡°Oh, nobility. Numisley¡¯s a noble. At least unofficially. He¡¯s still working on it.¡±


    Rhmarha was all too familiar with disgruntled nobles in this kingdom who met with her fellow [Assassins] who were willing to pay them to kill their family members to attain a title. She had no choice but to accomplish the job to the letter while their leader received the coin. However, she has now a choice. If Raudaeiz fulfills his promise, she will have enough money to buy herself a place aboard a ship back to her home if the ships return to Ovespuerte. Yet she was still unsure. The journey across the sea was perilous, with towering waves and storms that would herald the rise of the monsters of the depths. Even if she went home to the Kingdom of Rhundi, there was a risk that she would be enslaved again by the same [Slavers] who captured her.


    ¡°How did you come to work for him?¡±


    Raudaeiz raised his eyebrows for a second before clearing his throat.


    ¡°I had a gang back home. But I elected to join him since he could use my talents. He promised to help me in my vengeance as soon as we have enough resources.¡±


    Rhmarha sensed that there was a lot left unsaid. But she didn¡¯t pry further.


    -


    ¡°Did you hire someone to kill Tosi?¡±  Johoon jabbed a finger on Aryyad¡¯s chest, startling the [Merchant]. They were going to talk about their plans for the city in preparation for the arrival of the Torregornian nobles¡¯ forces until Johoon accused him of murdering one of the Diamond Shore¡¯s assets in Ovespuerte¡¯s criminal world. The Miracle Aryyad received from the trade deity he worshiped had disappeared by now, yet even without that, he was sure he could reason with the enraged [Captain].


    ¡°What? Never!¡± Aryyad shoved him away, causing Johoon to draw his dagger. ¡°I¡¯m not as bold and brash as you! Besides, what good would that do? As of now, I¡¯m richer than you. [Moment of Reason].¡±


    A moment of clarity washed over Johoon, and he realized Aryyad¡¯s point.


    ¡°That means we have a damned interloper.¡± Johoon hissed.


    ¡°Now, now. We have more important matters to talk about. We must deal with the temple¡¯s [High Priests]  and the rest of the city¡¯s [Guildmasters] and community leaders. Suspicion is in the air, and soon, it will blow our way.¡±


    ¡°Would be easier for us if we could kill them.¡±


    One of Aryyad¡¯s [Mercenaries] rushed into the throne room, interrupting their conversation.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°Sir!¡± The [Mercenary] panted. ¡°There are scrying spells in the sky.¡±


    As if on cue, one of Johoon¡¯s men also barged into the castle, with good reason.


    ¡°The sentinels saw movement in the forest! [Scouts], sir.¡±


    Another of Aryyad¡¯s men had rushed in soon after, delivering dire news.


    ¡°Three galleys emerged from the black border, sir!¡±


    Johoon and Aryyad looked at each other and knew that whatever they needed to do, they needed to do it today.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do something about the Temple. Tell Tuirre and his Household Guard to arrest the people on this list. Be prepared for a standoff soon.¡±


    Aryyad quickly scribbled a list of the [Guildmasters] and community leaders who could threaten their power and handed it to Johoon. Both foreigners wore cloaks to disguise themselves against the arcane eyes floating in the sky hovering over Ovespuerte as they exited the castle. Yet, they both knew that every city possessed substantial protection from scrying spells.


    Aryyad went to the warehouse where he and Numisley regularly meet, and he saw the two brothers waiting on a bench under the shade of the warehouse, with a sheet of parchment on Cultrost¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Have you got something that would incriminate the temple?¡± Aryyad immediately asked. ¡°Because my men spotted a military force descending to the city soon.¡±


    ¡°Much of the information for the names in your list was outdated, but the temple itself holds a deep secret. My source says that underneath the temple is a chamber with a ritual circle made with the blood of their acolytes. My source theorized that they were using it to summon a devil. Here is a map of the temple.¡±


    Numisley wasn¡¯t sure if their father''s statement about the Temple of Ovespuerte was true. Among all of the secrets written in the black book, this entry is one of the most fantastical to date. He and Cultrost didn¡¯t believe it, even if their father supposedly tied a tiny folded map within its pages, an impossibility they have yet to solve. Yet Numisley¡¯s [Verified Sources] says otherwise. They were so busy avoiding bankruptcy that they hadn¡¯t got time to study why the black and brown books seem to have nigh-infinite pages ever since they found out while traveling through the Obscure Ocean.


    Aryyad didn¡¯t have the time to verify their claim and source, but he grabbed the map from them. Numisley¡¯s Feat guarantees the map is authentic, making the map glow.


    ¡°I see you have [Verified Sources]. I¡¯ll ask one of the [Priests] we paid to guide my [Mercenaries] into that place and force the temple¡¯s [High Priests] to an ultimatum.¡±


    The Rhundian [Merchant] tossed him two coins.


    ¡°Five more. I did say names, but I only found a map. That will cost seven coins.¡±


    ¡°Are you ripping me off?¡±


    ¡°It''s a fair price. You never asked me for anything besides names and secrets when you were a customer. Maps are seven coins.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡±


    Aryyad tossed them the rest of their payment, which Cultrost caught. He has no time for bartering.


    ¡°Pray that you¡¯re right; if you don¡¯t, the Invisible Hand shall smite you with bankruptcy.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°What?¡± Cultrost asked.


    Aryyad walked away before he could hear their question. Soon, he was with a large contingent of [Mercenaries], accompanied by a [Priest] on Aryyad¡¯s payroll. With the members of the Household Guard now fully complicit in their treachery, they marched to the most holy place in the city.


    Aryyad¡¯s [Mercenaries] wasted no time murdering the [Temple Guards] who tried to stop them as Aryyad walked up to the [Rector] and the [High Priests] of the temple in the middle of the meeting. The sight of the [Priest] who betrayed them had especially enraged the [High Priests]. Still, he ignored them as he led Aryyad¡¯s [Mercenaries], knowing he made the right choice to survive.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± The [Rector], a pudgy man wearing jewel-crusted episcopal robes, demanded answers.


    ¡°I came here to deliver an ultimatum. Serve me, and you shall live. Disobey me, and I¡¯ll spread the word about your basement, where your temple committed your human sacrifices.¡±


    The [Rector] tried to use his Miracle of Banishment, but he found his faith wavering. He wondered how he knew about that dark and damp basement where he would sacrifice orphans whom the temple took as temporary acolytes before they would be killed for the ritual.


    ¡°We will not serve a foreign [Merchant] over our king and kingdom. We were right about you¨C¡±


    Before they could use a Miracle, a crossbow bolt pierced a [Priest]¡¯s head. Many of the [Priests] backed away, yet they stood their ground behind the [Rector].


    ¡°Sir, we have found the basement.¡± One of the [Mercenaries] who went into the temple had found the forbidden ritual grounds.


    The [Rector]¡¯s eyes widened as he wondered how they knew about that forbidden place.


    ¡°So, do you have my cooperation?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Many of the [High Priests] who were coerced for saying ¡°yes¡± had found themselves struggling to breathe, as if something invisible had strangled them. They were executed by the oaths that they swore to their faith itself. Those who still stubbornly refuse to adhere to the threats of the [Merchant] were simply killed by crossbow bolts before they could invoke a powerful Miracle. Aryyad signaled his [Mercenaries] to halt their crossbows before they could kill the [Rector], the only one left alive.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t take an Oath,¡± Aryyad remarked.


    ¡°I see you are also a man of faith.¡± The [Rector] noticed that he was familiar with the concept of a binding Oath. ¡°I and the temple will cooperate to your demands as long as it remains within the realm of reason.¡±


    ¡°The armies of the nobility will come soon. Tell them that [Pirates] had attacked this temple, or you will be accused of treason.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Treason is the greatest sin, after all.¡± The temple¡¯s [Rector] smiled bitterly. Aryyad headed to the warehouse to prepare to deal with the forces riding on the three galleys rapidly closing in towards Ovespuerte¡¯s docks. While he walked, he gave orders to the [Mercenaries] to maintain the lies that engulfed the port.


    -


    Horsemen, led by their [Lady] on horseback, emerged from the forest northwest of Ovespuerte. The Household Guard stood calm as they galloped to the city¡¯s northern gate.


    ¡°What is your allegiance?¡± The voice of Adriasta Kasta Kaminor resounded to Ovespuerte¡¯s sentinels.


    ¡°Sworn to Torregorn!¡± The highest-ranking officer sharply replied.


    ¡°Open the gates!¡±


    After a while, her demand was followed. The portcullises were lifted, letting the horsemen through. Adriasta marched up to the one in charge, marked by a green plume on his helm.


    ¡°Who¡¯s ruling the city?¡±


    ¡°This city is under the provisional command of Guard Captain Tuirre Cartala until Lord Racieros Torresso Commerro or Lady Strraina Parste Commerro arrives, your Ladyship.¡±


    ¡°What happened to your Contiearl?¡±


    ¡°He and Lord Verrespadion attained martyrdom in the defense of Ovespuerte.¡±


    The truth spell of her ring glowed an uncertain, dim green. She isn¡¯t satisfied with his answer and doubts that he will reveal the whole truth, whether he knows it or not.


    ¡°We ride to the castle!¡±


    Adriasta and her horsemen rode through the streets, startling the patrolling [Mercenaries] and the people who walked on the northern roads.


    At the same time, three galleys arrived on the docks, still littered by splinters and driftwood. They bore the orange, white, and yellow colors of the Gaviolos House. Standing on the prow is the former Duc and patriarch of the noble house, the ignoble Dustitoz Gaviolos.


    Numisley and Cultrost have the misfortune of seeing him in person. The one who murdered their father and the enemy of the Naveirei House. He stepped out of the gangplank with the borrowed [Soldiers] of the nearest Gaviolos¡¯ cities. They formed a semicircle spear and shield formation around their liege, who strutted about to say that this port was now his. Beside him is a man in a humble yet decorated doublet, a [Herald] of sorts in Dustitoz¡¯s retinue. Yet, in Cultrost¡¯s eyes, this man seems like he wore the wrong face and body. Cultrost felt like he should recognize him.


    His eyes spotted Numisley and Cultrost among Aryyad¡¯s workers. So he marched towards them with a mocking gait and haughty stare. Like a loaded crossbow, Numisley held back his sharp tongue when he got close.


    ¡°Did you enjoy your rainy travels to that hamlet?¡± Dustitoz asked Numisley with a cryptic question. It took a few moments until he realized what he meant by that.


    ¡°You¨C¡±


    ¡°On my authority as Duc¨CMarquis Dustitoz Gaviolos, in the name of the Divine Decree and its Nine Laws, you are arrested for unlawfully assuming the name of a noble house, the attempted theft of government funds, and the sacking and murder of the village of Dousso. Henceforth, you are deemed a sinner and criminal under the eyes of the gods, the peerage, and His Majesty, and the rights provided by law are forfeit until further notice.¡±


    The [Soldiers] restrained Numisley, much to Dustitoz¡¯s satisfaction. Cultrost drew his mace, prompting the [Soldiers] to point their spears at him.


    Meanwhile, Palden and Racieros emerged from the forests north of Ovespuerte, and their eyes were set upon its gates. Palden made the horse run as fast as it could, yet he could sense that his horse would collapse from fatigue soon.

 Chapter 51

    Aryyad arrived to find Numisley apprehended by [Soldiers], the retinue of a noble with orange hair. He saw the orange, yellow, and white crest on the sails: a golden hand holding an ivory hammer that struck the waves.


    It¡¯s one of the worst things that can happen. One of the scions of the Gaviolos House, and if his intel is correct, they are one of the most powerful in Torregorn, but disgraced with their attempted coup a decade ago. Yet he knew that losing Numisley to the dungeons would mean losing access to the brown book, the ¡°Book of Powers¡± that his liege told him about.


    ¡°Prophets guide me.¡± He muttered to himself before putting on his best face and politely coughed.


    ¡°Lord, may I politely ask what is the meaning of this? Numisley here works under me.¡±


    Dustitoz marched towards Aryyad, looking down on the lowly [Merchant] who dared intervene.


    ¡°And who exactly are you, lowly [Trader]?¡± Dustitoz barked.


    ¡°Aryyad Guizzimeraime, [Royal Merchant] of Rhundi. To accost one of my [Merchants] is to interfere with the Kingdom¡¯s business and to interfere with your House¡¯s supply of Kazatjnhic turmeric.¡±


    Aryyad hoped that the thinly veiled threat of cutting their supply of turmeric would deter him from restraining Numisley.


    ¡°Are Numisley¡¯s crimes of sacking a village, attempting to pilfer the kingdom¡¯s funds, and falsely assuming as a claimant of the Naveirei House part of your business?¡±


    The retort made Aryyad pause. Were they all true? Of course, this might be a plot to frame Numisley since, based on his information, he is a claimant of the Naveirei House, the progeny of the famous Marhyiana Naveirei, whose name had carried itself even to his homeland.


    ¡°If that is true, then he should have a fair trial, according to your faith, correct?¡± Aryyad countered.


    ¡°A criminal doesn¡¯t deserve a fair trial.¡± Dustitoz refuted.


    ¡°If I remember correctly, criminals can be redeemed in your faith. Thou shall pursue righteousness, am I right?¡±


    Dustitoz¡¯s eyebrow twitched when the [Merchant] quoted one of the Second Verse of the Divine Decree. Who is this foreign [Merchant] who knows of the creed of a religion that he himself barely follows by heart and deed? Yet he senses the charisma-Feats he used poking his solid Aura in an attempt to convince him to release his greatest enemy.


    ¡°Then he shall attempt to redeem it in a trial that will be convened by the [Priests] of this port¡¯s temple. Until then, he shall be confined in the castle''s dungeons.¡±


    With Numisley bound in heavy cuffs, Aryyad watched Numisley being dragged away towards the castle. He used many of his Feats he used for critical negotiations that gave him knowledge about the Divine Decree and his family¡¯s business with his company and disguised them within his words as skillfully as he could. He knew the head of House Gaviolos and some of the heads of its other branch families, but not him.


    ¡°Damn.¡± Cultrost stomped his hoof on the ground. ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°Let me think of something. I¡¯ll be on my ship. Tell me if your [Caravan Master] arrives¡­I hope so.¡± Aryyad left to rest on his ship to write letters to certain correspondents and to think about what to do.


    Adriasta arrived first in the castle, where she was escorted by her men and the remnants of the Household Guard. The Guard Captain sat in a makeshift office in one of the storage spaces on the lowest level of the castle out of respect for the Commerro House.


    ¡°Is it true that this city has been attacked by [Pirates]? Adriasta demanded answers.


    ¡°Yes, my lady,¡± Tuirre answered. However, this answer is insufficient for the Castellan of the Kaminor House.


    ¡°Is it true that Torresso Commerro and Verrespadion Commerro were killed by these [Pirates]?¡± Adriasta narrowed down her questions to find an answer acceptable to her.


    ¡°Regrettably, my lady.¡±


    ¡°And how did they die?¡±


    ¡°The [Pirates] stormed the castle. I did not see what happened in the chaos of battle. When we drove them away, we saw the corpse of our Contiearl. We saw the ashes of his son.¡±


    ¡°Ashes?¡±


    ¡°I believe that they executed him in the castle¡¯s dungeon.¡±


    Adriasta still isn¡¯t satisfied. If they were [Pirates], how did they have time to execute the first son of the Commerros? She knew Verrespadion was a deadly [Paladin] who wouldn¡¯t be slain by mere [Pirates]. The fact that he was in a dungeon is suspicious enough. The fact that her truth gem ring grew a shade dimmer told her something.


    ¡°Did they drag him to the dungeon?¡± Adriasta asked.


    ¡°No.¡± Tuirre hesitated before he said the word. ¡°We were ordered to confine Lord Verrrespadion to the dungeon.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°We did not question our Lord¡¯s orders.¡±


    ¡°How was he treated, then?¡±


    ¡°Lord Torresso ensured that he was fed well, with [Servants] at his command. We were ordered to place a shelf of books and a comfortable bed for him.¡±


    This conversation gave Adriasta more questions than answers.


    ¡°You are dismissed. By my authority, I shall take charge of this city¨C¡±


    ¡°No. I will.¡±


    Dustitoz had come into the storage space of the castle by forcing himself past Adriasta¡¯s men and the remnants of the Household Guard with his sheer presence alone.


    ¡°Lord Dustitoz.¡± Adrista greeted.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°It is good to see you again,¡± Dusitoz replied. ¡°I had brought the one who inflicted that nonsensical contract to justice. Now, he sits in a dungeon, waiting for the trial.¡±


    Adriasta realized he was talking about Numisley, the claimant of the Naveirei name.


    ¡°Why bother with a Decree-damned trial?¡± Adriasta snapped, dropping all pretense. ¡°After I allowed him to buy my steel, he has the audacity to force me into a contract! Why, he should be executed already, along with that barbarian that he calls a brother.¡±


    ¡°First, it turns out that he works for an influential [Merchant] who could cut the supply of my House¡¯s valued products. I¡¯ll be damned if they exile me again. Second, this trial would be the final blow to discredit his claim using your statement and my evidence in a legitimate manner.¡±


    Adriasta understood what Dustitoz meant. By discrediting Numisley¡¯s claim to the Naveirei bloodline under the legal and theological court under the protocols of the Divine Decree, he will be forever disgraced, unable to undergo the rite of the Ichoricon. By executing him without the pretense of due process, they risk their standing among the nobility and the judgment of their faith. Why not let him prove it if he is not a true claimant? They would also risk the anger of the Naveirei, even if he is  a mere claimant.


    ¡°And, of course, the trial will be in our favor,¡± Adriasta added.


    ¡°Of course. A name and honeyed words aren¡¯t enough to support his claim.¡± Dustitoz chuckled. Yet he cannot underestimate Numisley, the son of the most cunning enemy he had ever faced. It took a decade for him to find the greatest [Spymaster] in the subcontinent. He had brought enough coin for the [Priests] of Ovespuerte¡¯s Temple to grant him the trial he wanted.


    ¡°You must be tired, Duc. Get some rest while I govern the castle and its domain.¡± Adriasta verbalized her opening gambit. She knew he was also here for the city, one of the vaunted jewels of the Kingdom of Torregorn that its Houses would fight tooth and nail for.


    ¡°I¡¯m energized, thanks to coffee from Rhundi. You should rest, and I will handle the administration of the city.¡±


    ¡°You have traveled so far. As a Castellan, this castle is my duty. My Feats work best in the castle. I¡¯ll order the [Servants] to give you the best room in this castle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that my work is just getting started.¡±


    Tuirre found himself stepping back, foot by foot, as their Auras clashed in the form of a gradually solidifying and ever-expanding sphere of opposing gales, creaking the barrels and boxes around them. On Adriasta¡¯s side, her Aura solidified into an image of an unmoving mound.


    ¡°Let¡¯s drop the niceties. I¡¯m here to claim the city for my House. And unlike you, this castle will benefit under my rule. I¡¯m a [Castellan], not some exiled [Lord] who failed a coup.¡± Adriasta spat.


    When she drew her cutlass, Dustitoz¡¯s spearmen barged in, interposing themselves between their liege and Adriasta.


    ¡°And I will do the same,¡± Dustitoz replied.


    ¡°Your House has enough ports. You do not need another one.¡± Adriasta protested.


    ¡°And you are ungrateful. I released you from that contract-Feat. How about we work together to keep the rest of the Commerros out instead of bickering, for now?¡±


    ¡°I can work with that.¡±


    They could see the rest of the Commerro nobles with their disorganized armies, camping in front of Ovespuerte¡¯s walls or boats anchored in the coastal waters. Dustitoz turned to the Guard Captain of the Household Guard, realizing that a non-noble was still in their presence.


    ¡°You are dismissed.¡±


    Dustitoz and Adriasta sauntered to the castle¡¯s throne, only to see who was sitting on it. It was Racieros Commerro, the last son of Torresso Commerro. Guarding him is a couple of the remaining members of the Household Guard. They overlooked the fact that Racieros was still alive. The young lord¡¯s visage is heavy and gaunt after hearing the news of his family¡¯s death.


    ¡°Lord Commerro.¡± Dustitoz greeted.


    ¡°Racieros.¡± Adriasta blurted.


    ¡°What brings you to my House¡¯s castle?¡± Racieros asked. ¡°And is it true that you imprisoned my associate, Numisley Gildin, in the place where my brother died?¡±


    ¡°It is not without reason. Numisley has committed a number of crimes¨C¡±


    ¡°The reason will come later. The fact that you imprisoned my associate where my brother died speaks that you do not respect the laws of the gods. Leave this castle, and let me grieve until I hold court.¡±


    Before Dustitoz could protest, Adriasta put her hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Of course. May the dead be at peace.¡±


    Racieros sighed as soon as they left the castle. He was glad he made it before those two claimed the city. Cultrost emerged from one of the wooden dividers in the throne room.


    ¡°Thank you for bringing me here,¡± Racieros turned to Cultrost.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Cultrost said. ¡°We¡¯re friends, after all.¡±


    They headed toward the dungeon along with two of the Household Guards to free Numisley. Racieros didn¡¯t know about the secret dungeon until Cultrost told him about it, and some of the senior members of the Household Guard knew the way. Soon, they were in the noisome cells of the castle until they reached Numsley. Racieros ordered the key-holder to open Numisley¡¯s cell immediately. Cultrost helped his brother, holding his arm over his shoulder as one of the Household Guards brought his walking stick, following Racieros¡¯ orders.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Numisley said. ¡°What about¨C¡±


    ¡°I do not wish to talk about politics right now. Let me grieve.¡±


    Racieros solemnly stared at the ashen stain where his older brother had been. It didn¡¯t take much to guess what happened: that he was executed here via [Fireball]. He could imagine the screaming conflagration, the agonizing seconds before his brother was reduced to ashes. After shedding faint tears, he faced the brothers.


    ¡°Did you know what happened here?¡± Racieros asked. Even with the letter they sent him, there are too many questions to ask. Cultrost told him what they knew, that his brother was jailed here in the dungeon, yet he was treated better than a prisoner. A [Privateer Captain] of some sort had dealings with his father, which caused him to be murdered.


    ¡°Where¡¯s my father¡¯s body?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°In the temple,¡± Numisley answered.


    Racieros promptly booked a carriage towards the temple within the city, far from the castle. When they arrived at the temple, the remaining [Lay Priests] had shown hospitality to Racieros, and even some of the [Acolytes] held back tears of joy from his return.


    ¡°Your Greatness of Ovespuerte.¡± The remaining [High Priest], a pudgy man in gold-trimmed white and turquoise robes, introduced his presence to Racieros. ¡°I see that you are looking for the holy corpse of your holy father, right, my lord?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Racieros answered. The [High Priest] stared daggers at the two strangers with Racieros. ¡°They are with me. They will come with me to the catacomb.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Your Greatness.¡±


    They were led by the [High Priest] deep within the temple''s catacombs. They passed the alcoves where the pristine skeletons of Racieros¡¯ ancestors and deceased members of the Commerro House were hung, their cadaverous, bleached frames dressed in their most resplendent outfits in life. They reached the center of the catacombs, surrounded by a curtain of pearls and other precious stones, where the blessed body of Racieros¡¯ father lay on a sculpted marble slab, covered with a pristine tapestry emblazoned with the symbol of the Commerro House: a beige castle within an arch of stacked gold coins.


    The corpse of Torresso is still fresh yet pale with a lack of blood. His eyes will not open again, and he shall not speak for eternity, for he was free from his duties in the mortal realm. Racieros regretted that he was not a son good enough for the Commerro House when he lived, and he was not in Ovespuerte at the end of his father¡¯s fate.


    ¡°Please leave us,¡± Racieros told the [High Priest], who silently left them within the catacombs.


    Finally, Racieros broke into a torrent of tears, his cries echoing throughout the catacombs of the unmoving dead. Cultrost held Racieros¡¯ shoulder, and the young [Lord] of Ovespuerte curled tight into his friend¡¯s embrace.

 Chapter 52

    Racieros Torresso Commerro sat at the head of the long table of the castle¡¯s dining hall after spending the night with Cultrost in his room. At the same time, Numisley slept alone in his room for the first time in a while. The Gildin Brothers were at either side of the table, with Cultrost on the right side, a few inches away from him, and Numisley sitting at the right, amused and glad about how close Racieros and Cultrost were.


    The [Servants] were glad to see the last scion of Commerro present and in charge of the castle after the disorder of the past few days. There was an extravagant feast of salt-baked fish, fresh from the port¡¯s waters on metal plates, a creamy stew made from the best shellfish the [Fishmongers] could offer, and metal goblets filled with watered-down wine for three people.


    They ate a few bites until Numisley asked a question.


    ¡°So what are you going to do now?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Study,¡± Racieros answered. ¡°I¡¯ll have to brush up on my lessons on governance and reread the Divine Decree.¡±


    ¡°Would we still be staying here?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Racieros said. ¡°If anyone asks¡­I might declare you two as this castle¡¯s [Stewards]¡­or [Merchants] working under me.¡±


    ¡°Would we gain the Role if you do that?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Depends on what you want or what the Voice wants,¡± Racieros answered, recalling his lessons on Feats and Roles. ¡°But, are you still willing to help me?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Cultrost said. ¡°Right, Numisley?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Numisley agreed.


    There is a pile of work waiting for Racieros, once he sits upon the throne to hold court and listen to petitions. As a mongrel born from her mother¡¯s low-born womb, he is in danger of any attempts of usurpation. He would have to explain himself to the rest of the Commerro House, who would find any justification to claim the crown jewel of their county, disregarding his pure-blooded legitimacy as the last son of the main family. Yet, even if his mother came back from the lands of the Gaviolos House, she would be allowed as a regent at best or banished from the House at worst, for she belongs to the lowest Houses in Torregorn, and not pure enough under the laws of the Divine Decree. He knows that the [Lady] of the Kaminor House and the once-exiled former Duc of the Gaviolos House are waiting for his moment of weakness, like vipers waiting to strike. Ironically, like Numisley and Cultrost told him, the foreign [Merchant] Aryyad and the [Privateer Captain] who slain his father have his best interest in mind, even if he would become a puppet under them.


    He sat on a substitute padded wooden throne in the dais before the actual bisected throne when the sixth bell of the morning rang after spending hours reading through the Divine Decree and other books in the castle¡¯s library with Cultrost and Numisley, reminding himself of his duty as the ruler of Ovespuerte. Aside from the two brothers beside him, with their own chairs, the [Court Mage] who lit up the lighthouse stood behind Racieros while Tuirre, the [Captain] of the Household Guard.


    Without the doors, Racieros posted a line of Household Guards where the heavy ironwood doors once stood, armed with heavy pavise shields and spears. Cultrost also suggested a curtain of shadow magic to obscure what¡¯s inside. Still, Racieros shot that idea down for the cost it entails.


    Aryyad insisted he would be the first to see Racieros as a petitioner. He did not kneel in his presence, confidently looking up to Racieros without a silver of reverence. Both of them know who holds the actual power in the city.


    ¡°My lord.¡± Aryyad greeted. ¡°My company, with the help of the [Captain] of the Diamond Shore, had kept the order within Ovespuerte.¡±


    ¡°My gratitude is yours,¡± Racieros said, attempting to hide his uncertain tone.


    ¡°Would you dismiss my [Mercenaries] in your service?¡± Aryyad asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Without paying them? Would you reconsider?¡± Aryyad asked. ¡°The worst thing for a [Mercenary] is not to die, but to know that their employer refuses to pay them. It would be a shame if they revolt, especially since your Household Guard has only forty-seven men and women left.¡±


    A bare-faced threat. He could imagine that either his father or his brother would order their men to kick him out of the castle, even if he was an influential [Merchant] Racieros knew that his Household Guard was outnumbered based on what Cultrost and Numisley told him. Yet he knew he had to play along until the right time. He kept his face composed, knowing that Cultrost and Numisley would always be beside him.


    ¡°Then, a gold coin for each of your men,¡± Racieros said. ¡°It is all we could spare.¡±


    ¡°That should be enough,¡± Aryyad replied. ¡°And I¡¯m in need of Cultrost and Numisley.¡±


    ¡°W-¡±


    Cultrost bumped Numisley''s shoulder, non-verbally telling him to not interrupt Racieros.


    ¡°Why?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°We are business partners. They are integral members of my company.¡± Aryyad answered.


    ¡°As of today, they will assist me in economic matters. They are House Commerro¡¯s [Merchants].¡±


    Aryyad thought to protest against it, but he realized that with Numisley and Cultrost, he could prevail upon them to whisper to Racieros some policies he had planned for the city to benefit his monopoly and control over it.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Aryyad said. ¡°Good day to you. Serve the [Count] well, Cultrost and Numisley.¡±


    After Aryyad left, taking an alternate exit within the castle, he let Adriasta Kaminor and Dustitoz Gaviolos in, slightly miffed that they were the second audience instead of the first, like they were supposed to be. The vague figure behind them kept silent as he simply observed.


    ¡°Why do we have to wait for so long?¡± Dustitoz demanded an answer from Racieros.


    ¡°I elected to hear from one of the people who had maintained this city in my absence,¡± Racieros said.


    ¡°So is this why there are [Mercenaries] who patrol with the Household Guard?¡± Adriasta asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Racieros admitted. ¡°Ovespuerte had suffered much from the [Pirate] attack, I heard.¡±


    ¡°I can see that,¡± Adriasta remarked at the state of disrepair of the castle. A hole in the ceiling bathed the two nobles in sunlight. Deep scores forming a circular pattern crisscrossed the once resplendent marble tiles that Adriasta and Dustitoz stood on. From Adriasta¡¯s experience in battle, she guessed that a [Pirate Captain] with a powerful Feat had got into the castle and killed the father and son of the Commerros.


    ¡°[Consider Our Offer].¡± Dustitoz asked, lacing his words with a matching Feat, forcing Racieros to divert his full attention away from Cultrost. ¡°With our Feats, and experience managing our domains, we can help you.¡±


    Racieros thought about how sensible it is. Of course, as a lordling, he couldn¡¯t manage the city alone. Yet he also has been taught how to resist the charm-based abilities of nobility like him, so his thoughts drifted to last night. His father was dead, and these vultures had come for Ovespuerte. He was now present on his wooden throne.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°And how long would you continue to help? Until you claim Ovespuerte?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°I see now that we can¡¯t convince you,¡± Dustitoz admitted. ¡°But are you forgetting something?¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s that, Marquis?¡± Racieros uttered Dustitoz¡¯s current title to provoke him.


    ¡°Your coronation,¡± Dustitoz said. ¡°The Commerros will find any excuse to delegitimize your rule over the city, which means you must herd them like crabs in a cage! And if your coronation is¡­lackluster, with all these cracks and craters everywhere, you are giving them a reason to depose you.¡±


    ¡°So what are you saying, exactly?¡± Racieros sensed that it would cost him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you loan a portion of the fortune of my House for the coronation.¡±


    ¡°And loan my manpower for security,¡± Adriasta added. ¡°And whatever you need.¡±


    Dustitoz stared daggers at Adriasta when she said that phrase. They both knew that this was another ploy to claim Ovespuerte.


    ¡°We¨CI¡­Give me time to consider it.¡± Racieros stuttered.


    Numisley and Cultrost looked at each other with uncertainty.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you have no choice,¡± Dustitoz said. ¡°I also promise I will postpone Numisley¡¯s trial until after the coronation.¡±


    ¡°You are dismissed,¡± Racieros said. ¡°I will consider it.¡±


    Dustitoz smiled deviously, seeing Racieros take the bait.


    ¡°I shall make my preparations.¡±


    They both left the throne room, and Racieros sighed, slumping on his wooden throne.


    ¡°He¡¯s got you there,¡± Numisley remarked.


    ¡°Laws guide me.¡± Racieros cursed. ¡°What do you suggest?¡±


    ¡°How much coin does your castle have?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°[Count Treasury]. 200 gold. That was all the gold that the loyal [Servants] could hide. Those plunderers took the rest.¡± He spoke about the [Mercenaries] and [Privateers] who pilfered the castle in his absence, his grip on his throne tight. ¡°And Aryyad¡­that damned [Merchant] dares to ask for payment?¡±


    Cultrost rubbed his hand on Racieros¡¯ shoulder, attempting to keep him calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you have that Feat.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Racieros said. ¡°One night, before my father and brother died, I suddenly gained the Role of [Count] and some of the Feats that I think my father had.¡±


    ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Numisley uttered. From the brown book, he knew nobility and royalty could pass their Roles and Feats to their children.


    ¡°Can you get something to drink?¡± Racieros turned to a nearby [Servant]. The male [Servant] silently bowed and swiftly headed to the pantry. ¡°Cultrost, who¡¯s next?¡±


    Cultrost stared at the list handed to him by Racieros, containing a list of dozens of petitioners.


    ¡°The [Guildmasters].¡±


    ¡°What, like all of them?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Seems so.¡±


    Racieros grabbed the scroll off Cultrost¡¯s hands. They saw that every [Guildmaster] had gone in a group to gain Racieros¡¯ attention.


    ¡°And how many more?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s those [Priests], the [Fishmongers], and¡­23 more petitioners.¡±


    Cultrost listed a number of people before he decided to give the number of petitioners.


    ¡°Is this what my father has to suffer through?¡± Racieros massaged his temples. After he drank cold water from a cup brought by a [Servant], he let the [Guildmasters] in.


    They introduced themselves as [Guildmasters] of various vocations, leaders of Ovespuerte¡¯s Mage¡¯s Guild, Adventurer¡¯s Guild, Alchemist¡¯s Guild, Smith¡¯s Guild, Courier¡¯s Guild, Shipmaker¡¯s Guild, Builder¡¯s Guild, and the Scrivener¡¯s Guild. Two other [Guildmasters] are not with them; namely Aryyad, now the [Guildmaster] of the Merchant¡¯s Guild, and the [Guildmaster] of Fishmongers will come later with the other [Fishmongers]. They are Humans of every range of age and gender: male and female, young and old. All of them had formed a bloc in recent times when chaos overturned Ovespuerte and begat a new economic tyrant.


    An elderly man in the brown robes characteristic of his Guild stepped forward. Despite being frail, he had a presence few would dare to deny. His gleaming ink pot-shaped button that ties his robes together hung proudly on his chest. He unfurled a scroll, a list of complaints and demands against the new [Guildmaster] of the Merchant¡¯s Guild.


    ¡°I, Scrivorr Haetio, the [Guildmaster] of the Scrivener¡¯s Guild, on behalf of every [Guildmaster] and community leader of Ovespuerte, declare a formal protest against Aryyad of Rhundi.¡±


    Racieros opened his ears with a genuine will to listen.


    ¡°We have cause to believe that he bribed every influential member in the Merchant¡¯s Guild to get elected after the [Pirate] raid. The former [Guildmaster] of the Merchant¡¯s Guild, Timorri Dovrino hasn¡¯t been seen since his election. The next few days, his [Mercenaries] and those from the Household Guard had demanded taxes with a supposed official decree. I had personally used one of my Feats to obtain a copy of a decree.¡±


    A copy of the decree appeared on Racieros'' lap with the snap of the [Guildmasters]¡¯ finger. Racieros can see the contents written that Aryyad had been the temporary illegitimate tax collector of many people of Ovespuerte, with the signed provisionary authority of Tuirre Cartala, the [Captain] of the Household Guard. Tuirre took a silent step back as he realized his current situation. Numisley realized it was the same document he read to the [Fishmongers] of Wharf Regusha, only that it was addressed to [Guildmasters] and community leaders of various districts.


    ¡°Do you recognize his provisional authority during your absence?¡±


    Scrivorr¡¯s question hung in the air before Racieros spoke decisively.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then, we plead you, our Greatness, Lord of Ovespuerte. In the name of the Human Gods of this kingdom, with your fair, divinely ordained judgment bequeathed by the Decree, please depose this foreigner from his undeserving position. He is not a fellow [Guildmaster]. He is a robber, a sinner against the Divine Decree.¡± Scrivorr pleaded.


    ¡°I will,¡± Racieros. ¡°But¡­the situation is complicated.¡±


    ¡°Complicated?¡±


    The [Guildmasters] look confused. They whispered among themselves, and only Cultrost, with his keen hearing, had an idea what are they whispering about. Soon, they stopped. Cultrost guessed it was about Aryyad¡¯s influence, about the inevitable power of certain individuals, those who have the Feats to accrue influence with their ability alone despite not being a ruler.


    ¡°We understand.¡± A middle-aged woman spoke. From the list, it said that she is the [Guildmistress] of the Shipmaker¡¯s Guild. ¡°Our will is at your disposal.¡±


    ¡°We pledge ourselves to your judgment.¡± The young [Guildmaster] of the Courier¡¯s Guild said.


    ¡°We shall take our leave,¡± Scrivorr announced.


    After them, Racieros listened to the temple [Priests], the [Fishmongers], and various people of Ovespuerte. Many of them were problems that Racieros could not solve right away, especially with the tax imposed on the [Fishmongers] during his absence. In Aryyad¡¯s attempt to take over the city, he damaged the trust of the people and the communities within Ovespuerte. His [Mercenaries] still patrolled with the Household Guard because of the lack of manpower.


    If Racieros¡¯ father was in his place, he was sure that he would fare better with the Feats and experience he has. He would deal with that arrogant [Merchant] and that plundering [Captain], as well as solve the concerns of the dozens of petitioners and the discontent of the [Guildmasters]. He wished that he had taken his studies of governance more seriously before the demise of his father and brother instead of spending time learning the way of the blade, still middling in skill.


    At the end of the day, he paid for the service of Aryyad¡¯s [Mercenaries], leaving him with 150 gold in their treasury. Numisley, Cultrost, and Racieros worked together in the castle¡¯s office to predict the costs of the coronation. They spent the night coming up with ways to save money, and by the middle of the night, all their efforts amounted to nothing. At their lowest estimates, they expect to lose 500 gold.


    Racieros has no choice but to accept Dustitoz¡¯s offer, even if the three of them know that it is a trap that would ensnare them in debt.


    Despite that, Racieros had to be brave, even with his doubts. He slept with Cultrost with that thought in his mind.


    [Feat - Verbal Riposte, acquired.]


    [Feat - Sense Intent, acquired.]


    [Rare Feat - Ascertain Loyalities, acquired.]

 Chapter 53

    The city of Ovespuerte was returning back to normal. With the return of the last scion of the Commerros, much of the populace had fearlessly gone outside their houses and undertaken their daily duties. The first ships from the nearby coasts had returned to the docks, with many [Workers] scrambling to assist them. They hung their wet clothes in the window without fear of arrows from the sky. Yet, some still fear the [Mercenaries] that patrolled with the Household Guard of the city.


    The [Lay Priests] of the temple formed groups. They walked in circuits around the city, proclaiming that the attack the city suffered and the presence of [Mercenaries] was a test of faith in the people to the Grand Order.


    Dustitoz and Adriasta had long noticed the pervading presence of [Mercenaries] yesterday. With Dustitoz¡¯s Feats that enables him to acquire information even by himself, without [Spies] to his beck and call, he had drawn a rough conclusion that somehow, the [Merchant] named Aryyad, the one who had intervened yesterday, had taken over much of the city, bought certain people with bribes as a [Guildmaster] of the [Merchants].


    It was simple for him to draw this conclusion. He asked the [Mercenaries] a series of questions with [Immediate Inquiry] that provided Dustitoz with answers within seconds, which confirmed that they were either working for Aryyad or a [Captain] named Johoon. He listened to the [Mercenaries] conversations on patrol with eavesdropping Feats. With their loose lips, they bragged that this city was now theirs. He used [Track Person] and [My Ears Follow You] on one of the [Mercenaries] so he could track who he reports to. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but the great [Spymaster] of Torregorn, Numisley¡¯s blasted father, had once forced him to persevere against him, which gave him a lot of Feats.


    Once he got hold of a number of documents and correspondences, he could build a case against Racieros and Numisley, and this city shall be owned by the Gaviolos House. Who governs it is another matter that he needs to deal with. Although Adriasta is his companion of convenience for now, she will be integral to his plan of enacting his one final act of revenge on Jascias.


    He has been summoned by Racieros, while Adriasta had headed somewhere with her men. Dustitoz is confident that the young lordling will accept his lopsided deal since he has no choice. He reckoned that since the castle was attacked, most of their gold was pilfered, so Ovespuerte is now rendered poor. However, he is also aware that Feats may be passed down among nobility and royalty, and he knew that the Commerros were always good with money no matter the generation.


    The two found themselves in the Commerro¡¯s throne room. Racieros and his hangers-on, Jascias¡¯ son and the adopted one, and what remains of the castle¡¯s staff, a single [Mage], the [Guard Captain], and the castle¡¯s steward.


    ¡°I`m willing to take your loan. I will borrow 200 gold coins.¡±


    The answer mildly surprised Dustitoz. He thought that he would borrow more money.


    ¡°Are you sure about that amount?¡± Dustitoz asked. ¡°There are so many factors to consider when preparing a coronation. Food, decoration, visitors¡­I admit, we are like the colorful birds from Prhayb¨¢n??o¨Cpeacocks, if I remember correctly. We are all about our ability to impress with our flourishes.¡±


    ¡°Your loan is merely financial assistance. House Commerro has other ways of earning money. 200 gold is enough.¡±


    ¡°If you say so,¡± Dustitoz said. ¡°Let¡¯s negotiate interest.¡±


    Although Racieros did the negotiation, Numisley whispered in his ear with advice. After a lukewarm debate, with both sides trying not to press each other too hard, the terms would be that they have to pay the loan a month after the coronation. The accumulation of interest starts after a month.


    ¡°[Transfer Loan]. The gold is in your treasury now.¡± With that Feat, Dustitoz instantly transferred 200 gold from his House¡¯s treasury, a move that could anger the current leaders of the House. He would assure them that it was necessary for the acquisition of Ovespuerte.


    Racieros hesitantly shook Dustitoz¡¯s hand. The nobleman of House Gaviolos left. The scion of House Commerro sighed as it was done.


    ¡°Are you sure we can earn the remaining 350 gold?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley said. ¡°If you are going to become the puppet of Aryyad and that [Captain], I¡¯m sure they¡¯re willing to provide you funds.¡±


    ¡°And sink further myself in debt?¡±


    ¡°For now. But if they want you to remain on your throne, those two will give you what you need.¡± Numisley said. ¡°And I¡¯ll sell secrets on the side.¡±


    ¡°I hope you are right.¡±


    -


    While Dustitoz was in the castle, Adriasta and two of his men had ridden outside the walls outside of Ovespuerte. At the same time, the rest had surveyed the walls inside Ovespuerte. For now, they were allowed within Ovespuerte, and she knew she was losing Ovespuerte to the Gaviolos House or whoever the [Mercenaries] were working for. She was sure that they were working for power other than Racieros since there was an unbalanced ratio between the numbers of the Household Guard and those [Mercenaries].


    They rode in the forest and stopped once they were sufficiently deep enough. Adriasta pulled out her Message Scroll and unfurled it to write a message to the leaders of the Kaminor House themselves, a plea for additional manpower, and a report on the situation within Ovespuerte. If worst comes to shove, the rest of the Kaminor House would approve of an invasion of Ovespuerte, and they would concoct a valid claim to justify the invasion to His Majesty.


    Adriasta rode back to the castle to supplicate to Racieros. She was let into the throne room after a while.


    ¡°Have you considered my offer?¡± Adriasta asked.


    After a moment of thought, remembering what Numisley and Cultrost had said, he spoke.


    ¡°How much will you charge for your services?¡± Racieros asked.


    Adriasta thought of a suitable answer for this moment.


    ¡°The continued goodwill of both of our Houses.¡± Adriasta took a different approach than Dustitoz. ¡°The House of Kaminor sends their wishes to the continued reign of the Commerros and their rightful domain.¡±


    Although Racieros knew that his House and the Kaminors had an amicable relationship over the decades, he was still taken aback by the response.


    ¡°And how many [Soldiers] would be arriving in my city?¡±


    ¡°I sent a request to a muster of a hundred men and women.¡±


    ¡°And you will not charge us, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Adriasta hesitated before saying that but felt this was her best answer. Her House didn¡¯t have the wealth of the Gaviolos, or even the Commerros when Torresso had reigned. ¡°We will be responsible for feeding our [Soldiers].¡±


    Cultrost and Numisley stared at Racieros, wondering what will be his answer.


    ¡°You have my word that I will let your [Soldiers] in as long as they do not cause trouble for my city.¡±


    Adriasta performed a slight curtsy to Racieros before she left the throne room. Now, Racieros saw what his father saw when he sat on this throne. Multiple paths to be taken and various strings to pull, many of them leading to perils and favors. A series of scales to be weighed upon from his decision.


    ¡°Free manpower,¡± Cultrost remarked.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Not quite.¡± Numisley corrected. ¡°We still need to convince Aryyad, the [Captain], and the guilds to provide us security and manpower. But Racieros needs to show that he is worth investing in.¡±


    ¡°Quite right,¡± Racieros said. ¡°What attracted people to my father is his talent for acquiring money. His Feats reflected that.¡±


    ¡°And so, how could you be someone worth investing?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°He is honest and courageous. He¡¯s attentive and determined.¡± Cultrost interjected. ¡°I believe that he will be a good leader.¡±


    The [Count]¡¯s breath stopped momentarily, and his mind wandered to Cultrost¡¯s opinion.


    ¡°But how would these qualities be applied for good governance?¡± Numisley stifled his chuckle; a tinge of amusement sparked on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure his virtues will show the more time he reigns.¡± Cultrost asserted.


    ¡°If you say so.¡±


    Racieros coughed softly.


    ¡°I shall announce my coronation at the end of the day. I think the rest of my House will be coming soon.¡±


    ¡°Your family?¡± Cultrost uttered.


    ¡°Families. I am the last member of the main family. But I know they would try and find a way to depose me using the laws of succession we abide.¡± Racieros answered. ¡°I shall keep this seat warm for my family, even if I become a puppet to those foreigners.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to defeat both of them,¡± Numisley reassured. ¡°Right, brother?¡±


    Cultrost buckled with Numisley¡¯s playful slap on the back.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Cultrost weakly smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll convince Aryyad later this afternoon.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost rode a cart to Aryyad¡¯s warehouse, the same one they had stayed in. They found Aryyad talking to one of the Beastkin [Traders] who arrived on the docks just now, a tall, long-necked anthromorphic antelope. After their brief conversation, the Beastkin left to explore the docks with his bodyguards.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± Aryyad asked. ¡°News from the Commerro?¡±


    Numisley looked around for eavesdroppers among the workers and the ambling crowd in the streets next to the docks.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley said. ¡°He plans to have a coronation. However, we need your help.¡±


    ¡°Financial help?¡± Aryyad asked.


    ¡°Yes, but also, any kind of help. We need your wealth. We need your manpower.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s in it for me? I would gladly help by loaning my gold, but nothing more.¡±


    ¡°If you want to remain in this city before the rest of his family comes to claim this city, I advise you to do everything in your power to keep Racieros on his throne.¡±


    Aryyad paused for a second.


    ¡°Did he say when is the coronation?¡± Aryyad asked.


    ¡°He did not mention when,¡± Cultrost said. ¡°But it¡¯s safe to assume that it is soon. According to him, the rest of House Commerro is coming to the city, and he will announce it at the end of the day.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll convince my associate.¡± Aryyad referred to Johoon. ¡°And pull some strings. I need to know when he plans to have his coronation.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Numisley said.


    In the afternoon, Racieros had written his announcement that he would be coronated as the Lord of Ovespuerte and Contiearl of the Commerros ten days from now. He paid [Criers] to shout the news to the streets and rooftops, from the clean districts to the slums. He hired his [Court Mage] to send an official [Message] spell to the various castles of the Commerros.


    Inevitably, the other nobility near the Commerro lands had heard the news. Many of them had sent their own [Spies] and [Scouts] and bought information from [Secret Brokers] and the like. However, the first [Information Broker] who had distributed this information was Numisley, as the exclusive [Merchant] who served the ruler of Ovespuerte himself. The information he sold was paid in gold, even if Numisley embellished some details for propaganda for the coronation. The [King] of Torregorn had sensed the rise of a new [Lord] and simply waited for news.


    Aryyad had talked to Johoon about the coronation. With their involvement with Ovespuerte¡¯s politics, they both have a stake in this coronation. Aryyad knows that the flair of a coronation is essential for the nobility and royalty, for they are showing their wealth and power. Johoon, meanwhile, only knows the value of this city. This will be the Diamond Shore¡¯s first city in Trislan, the first in centuries. The first step for future Libertalian ambitions in the Golden Triangle.


    Both men had rushed to their respective headquarters, their ships. Both of them have a means of contacting their superiors.


    For Aryyad, it was more manageable, so he procured a scrying bowl and conversed with his superior from the Kingdom of Rhundi, the Grand Shiekhdom of Zelewurves. The image of the Minotaur, wearing his gilded decorations on his horns, was reflected in the bowl¡¯s clear oil. He ensured the scrying spell was encrypted with the help of his personal [Mage], and he already has [Covert Communications Channels] as a Feat.


    ¡°Grand Shiekh Higzacimi Bissohaan. Forgive me for intruding on your business. I have important news to deliver, my lord.¡±


    He hoped the magical signal would be stable, but this is no guarantee. The link between the two scrying media stretches across the Golden Triangle, over the ocean between two continents.


    ¡°Aryyad.¡± Higzacimi talked to the scrying mirror facing him within his castle. ¡° I¡¯m glad to see you. Please, speak.¡±


    ¡°I became the Guildmaster of the Merchant¡¯s Guild of Ovespuerte. The city is under my control, mostly. The new [Lord] of the House that rules the city will be coronated. He is my puppet. But he is at risk of being deposed. I humbly request for more resources that you can spare.¡±


    ¡°Excellent job.¡± The Shiekh of Zelewurves said. ¡°I shall give you the funds necessary. Ovespuerte has a Mage¡¯s Guild, correct? Inquire if I can teleport my funds there. If not, I will attempt to use my Feat.¡±


    ¡°Your wish is my command. May the Goddess bless you.¡±


    With the Obscure Ocean¡¯s fog and storms that dissipated communication spells and most forms of teleportation, Johoon Silverleg and the trading ships of the Diamond Shore, who are far away from their shores, had to devise alternative forms of communication. Johoon didn''t have a convenient Feat that bypassed the disrupting fog between Trislan and Libertalia, such as [Memo] or [Report To My Superiors], nor did he have the skill to extend the range of these Feats. So, the Admiralty of the Diamond Shore had devised a clever way to communicate to their faraway [Ship Captains] over the foggy ocean.


    Johoon pulled out a wooden box, secured under lock and key. He unlocked it, and it unfolded into a wooden board with diamond-shaped stones with runes inscribed on it; runes written with ink indicate logograms of a combination of creoles spoken in the coastal territories purchased and owned by the Diamond Shore. Like skirmsboard, the Libertalian variation of chess, it has a grid where the runestones can be placed. The pieces and the board itself are attuned to another board back at Baunt¡¯s relay station that possesses dozens of tables where other attuned boards are placed, kept watch by dozens of [Cryptographers] whose job is to decode the ciphered messages of the boards.


    Johoon moved the runestone that indicates the logogram for ¡°utmost priority¡± on the topmost square in the middle of its row, which specifies the kind of message that the message is important enough to be delivered directly to the Admiralty. On its paired board in Baunt, the runestone moved to the same place. He shuffled the runestones around in a specific order, moving the pieces in the board in Baunt in the same paths. He has faith that the person on the other side can decipher this message and the news about the coronation would reach the Admiralty¡¯s table.


    If they received his request, they would send their best [Sea Courier] and deliver the funds within days.


    Within the castle, where Dustitoz and Adriasta stayed as guests of Racieros, Dosinyu had heard the news of the coronation. By the time he heard the news from Dustitoz, word had begun to spread among the city''s commoners. So far, Numisley and Cultrost didn¡¯t seem to recognize him with his disguise-Feat that had erased all traces of him being a Satyr. Instead, they saw him as one of Dustitoz''s irrelevant lackeys. His obsidian hue had evolved to mimic the bronze-colored pigment of Torregorn¡¯s people, his hooves and furry legs concealed in his pants and shoes, and his horns were impossibly hidden within his headdress.


    He had felt the call of his home for the past few days since he served Dustitoz as a part of his diplomatic mission for his Stationmistress. He had yearned for the dry highways of Thousand Roads and the waystations where he could dine, gamble, and rest in. He found the isolation among Humans, Humans of a different land and culture no less, suffocating. At least back home, he could deal with the familiar diversity of his homelands¡¯ city-states and Satyr tribes. For him, every diplomatic mission to these groups has been a new experience instead of being permanently attached to the insufferable Dustitoz.


    Now, he was one step closer to achieving his goals. As an [Ambassador], he has a [Memo]-Feat that he was skilled enough to use, even across the Obscure Ocean. He concentrated on the foggy horizon beyond his stone windowsill and focused his will on where his employer is. The report he had written on paper disappeared on his desk, and he assumed the message was sent across the ocean.


    A letter materialized on a desk within one of the waystations of the territories of the Thousand Roads. The Stationmistress had received his [Ambassador]¡¯s message.


    With strokes of her quill, gold had appeared on the hands of mercenary companies, [Merchants], city-states, and Satyr tribes loyal to her. Gold coins paved a path toward a northeastern port not owned by a major company. They heard her edict across the lands and roads she owned, and they trained and mustered to march to claim the independent city-state of Portosmout.

 Chapter 54

    Before the sun rose from the black horizon, Aryyad headed to the Mage¡¯s Guild to claim the funds given by his liege. He had informed the Guildmaster of Mages beforehand that there would be a priority teleportation order across the Golden Triangle, and a few unfortunate [Mages] are forced to wake up before the city¡¯s bells herald the morning. With him are the Merchant¡¯s Guild¡¯s [Accountants] he trusts, five [Haulers], and two of his most elite Human [Mercenaries]¨Cnot the best under his employment, but bringing his elite Beastkin force might startle the people inside the guild headquarters.


    The [Mages] on duty directed Aryyad and his entourage to the warded room where the teleportation circle is located. Three neatly organized chests were arranged in a triangle within the runic circle.


    ¡°That will be six hundred and fifty gold coins.¡± The [Mage] behind Aryyad said. The [Mercenaries] detected a hint of hostility, subtly moving their dominant hands closer to their scabbard.


    ¡°Let the [Accountants] count the exact amount first.¡± Aryyad hissed.


    Although he would rather take his time and transport the gold via ship because it is cheaper despite the risks, he was already pressed for time. He guessed that the fee was higher because of the mana consumed by the teleportation circle and because he knew that the Mage Guild could get away with overcharging even a [Merchant] like him. As the [Accountants] counted each individual coin with mechanical speed, Aryyad hoped that no coin had been lost during teleportation.


    ¡°Two thousand gold coins total.¡± One of the [Accountants] confirmed after consulting her partner.


    Aryyad nodded to the [Mages]. Six hundred glimmering gold coins were levitated by one of the [Mages] of the Guild to another room. He ordered the rest of his entourage to lift the chest to his cart. Before he left the Mage Guild¡¯s headquarters, he paid for a [Message] spell to be sent to the castle of Ovespuerte itself.


    When he arrived at his ship, moored in the docks he bought, he saw a familiar shadowy figure sitting on his chair, reading the letters he left on his desk.


    ¡°You had summoned me with your Feat. You have a job for our cabal, yes?¡± The master of the [Assassins] he previously hired asked. ¡°I had only accepted your request because I came to remind you of the [Slaves] you haven¡¯t delivered. [Slaves] we require to replace our fifteen losses.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know. A [Message] from my associate says that they shall arrive in three days'' time.¡± Aryyad reassured. ¡°I require whoever is available in your Assassin Guild to find and steal a book for me. A brown book with subtle sorceries to hide itself and fill itself with pages. It is in the possession of my associates, Numisley and Cultrost Gildin.¡±


    ¡°We are an Assassin¡¯s Guild. Not a Thieves Guild. And there are many in this port, from mere urchins to the fleetest of feet. Our knives are for cutting throats, not purses. This is a waste of time.¡±


    The master of [Assassins] stood up from his chair, but Aryyad provoked his attention before he disappeared.


    ¡°Is stealing one book too beneath you? I bet there is one among your [Slave]-[Assassins] that was enslaved by stealing a loaf of bread.¡±


    The master of [Assassins] stopped and turned his feline eyes towards Aryyad.


    ¡°Why us?¡± The [Assassin] leader asked. ¡°Our Feats are specialized for killing, not stealing.¡±


    ¡°All of the [Thieves] and [Thugs] in this city are working for Johoon. And I don¡¯t want anybody else to know this book exists. It is more than just a book of spells, you understand?¡± Aryyad said, obfuscating the true nature of the brown book in the Gildin Brothers¡¯ possession.


    ¡°Thirty gold. Hand it over. I saw the chests of gold your people carry. That is the cabal¡¯s fee.¡±


    Aryyad didn¡¯t have a choice, even if he could negotiate the price.


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t heard, that Commerro boy will have a coronation. That would be the perfect moment to strike.¡±


    -


    The night before, the Voice of the World had seen fit to etch Numisley¡¯s soul with rewards from his biggest information sale yet. From deeds comes power: this is how this universe operates.


    [Feat - Disseminate Rumor, acquired.]


    [Rare Feat - Primary Source: Commerro House, acquired.]


    [Rare Feat - Area of Sources: Ovespuerte.]


    [Feat - Record Information, acquired.]


    [Feat - Monitor Budget, acquired.]


    Numisley woke up in a bed without his brother. Cultrost was an early riser, unlike himself. He felt like he was getting too comfortable sleeping on a bed, a castle¡¯s bed no less, even for guests.


    A vague circular silhouette of the city appeared in his mind''s eye. There are motes of faint light scattered around this mental image. For now, he stopped imagining it and went down to the dining hall to find Cultrost reciting couplets to Racieros at the table.


    ¡°Numisley!¡± Racieros interrupted as he saw Numisley standing still.


    ¡°Brother, I was¨C¡±


    ¡°I haven''t heard one of your poems for a long time,¡± Numisley said. ¡°Who¡¯s it for?¡±


    Cultrost stepped back, his face trying to hide his embarrassment however, he regained his composure.


    ¡°The poem needs work. It¡¯s shi¨CIt¡¯s for Racieros. And us. I felt like celebrating a bit.¡± Cultrost stumbled over his words. ¡°We received good news earlier, before the first bell of the morning, that Aryyad will financially support the coronation. He will provide manpower, too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Numisley smiled before turning to Racieros. ¡°You will meet with the [Guildmasters] today, right?¡±


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Racieros answered. ¡°I hope that I can get their help.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you can do it,¡± Cultrost reassured.


    ¡°It means a lot to me when you say that,¡± Racieros spoke wistfully, then sighed. ¡°But I¡¯m sure that they will make demands. I hope that these demands satisfy them.¡±


    Racieros turned to a [Servant], ordering her to fetch the meals prepared for breakfast.


    ¡°Cultrost and you are from the Wild Continent, right?¨CLibertalia, I mean.¡± Racieros turned back to Numisley and Cultrost.


    ¡°Liberan.¡± Numisley corrected but realized it was futile.


    ¡°I never thought I would be worried about what the commoners might think about me. Or take my stewardship lessons seriously until now. My father taught me that once a commoner with ability and talent will earn influence. This is why the ¡®Gildir¡¯ caste exists.¡±


    ¡°Gildir¡­¡± Cultrost was trying to remember the meaning of that Torregornian word. ¡°That means ¡®people of the guilds,¡¯ right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Racieros answered. ¡°It¡¯s an honorary title given to commoners who either belong to a guild or an individual who had done great things to the realm. But, my father said that ultimately, they could rival nobility in power and influence, for their Feats benefit the community. If they really wanted to, they could wrest power from nobility if they wished. I heard that your homeland is full of those people; that there are no [Kings] and [Emperors] there, only petty fiefs and city-states, ruled by [Lords], [Merchants], [Mayors], [Guildmasters] and [Generals].¡±


    ¡°We never needed any of those¡­[Kings].¡±


    ¡°But you do. And you overthrew them millennia ago, but¨Cnever mind¡­I¡¯m not as smart and articulate as my father, who often debated with Libertalian [Merchants] that came to port. Nor is it my intention. I merely seek advice on how you would deal with them, Numisley and Cultrost.¡±


    Numisley first recalled how their father would handle negotiations between him and the [Guildmaster] of the Merchant¡¯s Guild of Renimburg or that one time he met with the [Guildmasters] of the Lamparu Family of the city-state of Cadlers. Still, he recontextualized it if he were to be the [Mayor] of Renimburg. Both brothers knew that Racieros was right, that their homeland allows for all peoples like their Gildir, people from the humble [Shoemaker] to the mightiest [General] or the richest [Merchant], that could rival their governments with their influence from their Feats and deeds.


    ¡°Speak to them as equals. But do not falter. Make sure that their concessions will be reasonable. Do not be afraid to stand your ground if their demands are unreasonable.¡± Numisley gave Racieros his advice. He imagined that this was what his father would¡¯ve told Racieros.


    ¡°Show them that you are worth following,¡± Cultrost added. ¡°Show them that you can be trusted.¡±


    Although more vague than Numisley¡¯s advice, Racieros heeded Cultrost more. He held the words of both brothers in equal measure, however. When they finished their breakfast, a minor celebration for the day''s good news, Racieros sat on his wooden throne, waiting to receive the [Guildmasters] he summoned. They all knelt before the would-be Contiearl of Ovespuerte and the rest of the Commerro House. This time, he only summoned the [Guildmasters] of the Scrivener¡¯s Guild, Mage¡¯s Guild, Smith¡¯s Guild, Fishmonger¡¯s Guild, Courier¡¯s Guild, and the Builder¡¯s Guild: those guilds who will be necessary for the coronation.


    ¡°I summon you all for the honor of assisting in the preparations for my coronation. Would you all accept my request?¡±


    From their perspective, born and raised with the Divine Decree¡¯s creed, this request came from a holy figure, a scion ordained by the gods of order and civilization to take the next step as the new leader of the Holy House of Commerro. A stout man who looked like he could lift a house spoke:


    ¡°My Guild and my [Carpenters] will be willing to participate in your coronation. We are confident that we can repair the damaged state of this holy place.¡±


    ¡°Your Greatness.¡± A woman who appeared to be a [Mage] spoke; the orb of her ornate wooden staff glowed green. ¡°We respect you as our liege. But how would you intend to repay us? Mana potion prices are at an all-time high as spring approaches.¡±


    Racieros remembered his lessons about the economics of mana potions.


    ¡°If the expenses are insufficient for the coronation, I will be indebted to you. That also applies to all of you [Guildmasters]. Know this, I will be eternally grateful for your help, and I swear to the Divine Decree itself that I will pay you all someday. I give you my word as patriarch of the Commerros, for none of our House left their debts unpaid.¡±


    That short, eloquent speech hung in the air. For the [Guildmasters] and residents of Ovespuerte, these words came from their nobility, divine intermediaries of the gods of their civilization in their belief in the Divine Decree.


    Cultrost and Numisley listened in behind a doorway as they headed to an alternate exit in the castle. Numisley thought Racieros was declaring a promise he might not keep, but Cultrost was less critical of his speech. From what Cultrost observed in the weeks that they lived here, the people of this city and the other settlements of this kingdom are loyal to their governors in a way that neither of them understands yet.


    All of the [Guildmasters] pledged to help with the coronation, much to the surprise of both brothers.


    A few minutes after the meeting in the throne room, Dustitoz summoned five of his soldiers to his room within the castle of Ovespuerte. No one kept guard in his room except for his two guards from his retinue. He detected no listening spells in his room. This was proof of Racieros'' inexperience, and he unashamedly exploited it to this day. Three of his Feats sensed the flow of money within the city, the traces of magic that made an arc to the port¡¯s Mage Guild, and the rumor mills within Ovespuerte¡¯s streets.


    ¡°Remove your armor and weapons,¡± Dustitoz ordered the [Soldiers] he summoned. They followed their liege¡¯s instructions to the letter, placing them on the floor.


    ¡°As of today, until the effect of my Feat runs out, you are my [Spies]. You will investigate Racieros Commerro, the Gildin Brothers, and the Mage and Merchant¡¯s Guilds.¡±


    Dustitoz declared it to the world, and its Voice acceded to his order as a combination of his Feats: [Staff: Temporary Role - Spy] and [Instant Training: Intrigue]. The five [Soldiers] changed in front of Dustitoz. They saw their Roles disappearing with their eyes, the fruits of their years of service in the House of Gaviolos temporarily withheld from their souls. What replaced it was their new Role and the Feats that come with it, given to them by their liege. Five years of training in the ways of intrigue replaced their expertise as fighters. Their appearance grew plainer in an instant. Despite the shock to their souls, they were ready to serve.


    ¡°Your order will be done.¡± They kneeled in reverence.


    ¡°[Distribute Feat - Recruitment: The Cunning Shall Seek Me]. Go hire people to build my information network.¡± Dustitoz handed them pouches of silver before they left the room.


    Two of the five disguised themselves as new hires of the castle. Three roamed the darkest and shadiest of Ovespuerte¡¯s streets, recruiting vagrants and criminals for their network. With instructions from Dustitoz via letters, they coordinated their investigations, sending their findings through missives that were snuck to his room without issue.


    The preparations for the coronation are underway, and soon, the rest of the Commerros have heard of their House¡¯s new patriarch and his coronation. Their petty squabbling had cost them time traveling towards their House¡¯s capital city. When the news was confirmed, their quarrels mostly stopped, and their frustrations were now directed towards Racieros and his claim of Ovespuerte. Although he was the only surviving son of Torresso Commerro, each family head sought to take Racieros¡¯ throne away from him.


    The few Commerro [Lords] and [Ladies] who have the sense to not bicker with each other had already arrived at the gates of Ovespuerte three days after Racieros¡¯ announced his coronation.

 Chapter 55

    Three days of preparation for the coronation and there were already changes to the castle. While the hole of the roof of the throne room is being repaired, food was already being procured from the [Fishmongers], who sold them to Racieros at discounted prices. Numisley prevailed on ?ienten to deliver their best-selling fish sauce to Ovespuerte, sending a letter that may take two or three days to arrive. The Scribe¡¯s Guild had worked together with the Messenger¡¯s Guild to spread the news of the coronation. The [Mages] of the Mage¡¯s Guild had begun surveying the enchantments in the castle, determining which ones to repair.


    Although Numisley assisted Racieros in regards to purchasing goods and services, much of the work was done by the castle¡¯s [Steward], with the assistance of Dustitoz and Adriasta. Although Racieros and Numisley hated to admit it, both nobles had more experience than Racieros and Numisley when it came to preparing for an event. Even if they knew that both of them have ulterior motives.


    On the third day, the first Commerros arrived at the gates of Ovespuerte. After a slight delay, these twelve riders had rode straight to the castle, past the milling men and women on the streets, five of them demanding an audience as soon as they had arrived. These five [Lords] and [Ladies] rode ahead from the rest of their sluggish House, taking their retinue¡¯s fastest [Riders] and applying speed-boosting Feats to themselves.


    After another momentary delay, they were granted an audience to the castle. They were led by a [Servant] past the throne room, which they saw a towering scaffolding dotted with [Laborers] from the Builder¡¯s Guild, applying brick and mortar to the hole. The Commerros found themselves in a more private setting, in the office where the former patriarch of House Commerro once sat. On the same wooden chair Racieros sat, and faced them as someone who wants to prove that he deserves his position.


    ¡°Greetings, Lords and Ladies Commerro.¡± Racieros addressed the five nobles who demanded to speak with him. ¡°Are you here for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The oldest of the five spoke, a man whose beard was as sharp as a spade, monocle gleaming in the indoor candlelight. ¡°Condolences to your father, the greatest of us. Your brother too, the bravest of us.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, uncle.¡±


    ¡°And we understand that as the remaining son of Torresso, you would want to take your father¡¯s burden.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Yet.¡± The older Commerro spoke. ¡°Yet, your mother is of lower blood. The laws of the Divine Decree¨Cspecifically our Amithrales Charter¨Cdictates that even counties must follow ichorial legitimacy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the son of Torresso Rahmeiros Commerro.¡±


    ¡°And we are House Commerro. The position of Contiearl and higher titles are for the heritages closest to the Thousand Bloodlines. We declare the right of conclave, contesting your claim on the basis of unsuitable lineage. We shall elect the most suitable among our House.¡±


    ¡°Which is you or every head of the House.¡± Racieros didn¡¯t say that out loud, yet his uncle knew what he was thinking.


    ¡°The rest of the House do not recognize your authority, nephew. If I¡¯m deemed worthy of the position, out of respect for your father, I will be your regent until I deem you ready, without relying on other people.¡± Racieros¡¯ uncle pointedly stared at the bookshelves behind Racieros.


    Although Racieros has [Verbal Riposte] at the ready, every word his uncle said was true. The metaphorical blade would bounce off his armor of sound logic.


    ¡°Stop this coronation before you waste too much coin on unwilling guests.¡± His uncle and the rest of his entourage left the office. Racieros sighed, as he had to arrange rooms for them to stay in.


    Racieros swung his sword on the table, as a release to his frustration. He stared at the scar on the wood and the tiny motes of dust and splinters on the ground.


    ¡°I know this would happen to me someday.¡±


    Numisley limped out from behind the bookshelf.


    ¡°Did you say that he is your uncle?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, Garrenno Commerro is my uncle,¡± Racieros replied. ¡°And I think he saw you.¡±


    ¡°What? A Feat?¡±


    ¡°No. He¡¯s an [Artificier Lord]. A crafter and seller of wands and other magical stuff. His magical monocle saw you, I think.¡±


    ¡°Damn. Is he influential?¡±


    ¡°Very. And rich. Second richest in the House, in fact. You know what ¡®Commerro¡¯ means in our tongue?¡±


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°The origin of our name comes from the phrase, ¡®Nobles of Commerce¡¯. By the Decree, I shall not be the poorest Commerro in this era.¡±


    -


    Dustitoz had already employed [Spies] within the castle in those three days. One of them instantaneously transmitted the information that he had gathered just now in Racieros¡¯ meeting with his uncle, further reinforcing the fact that Racieros is still inexperienced. He had neglected to consider that people like him can eavesdrop on his conversations, and the office¡¯s enchantments that prevented that had already degraded.


    Dustitoz formulated a couple of moves within his mind, each one an alternate way to discredit Racieros and Numisley. From what he had gathered in the past three days, there are rumors of a hostile takeover among the guilds. He followed the trail of coins of the castle¡¯s expenses, and discovered that they were already paid for by the Merchant¡¯s Guild.


    He simply waited until more Commerros arrived. They would want to listen to what he has to say.


    On the seventh day, more Commerros had arrived in Ovespuerte, hearing of the news of their new young patriarch of their House. They gauge the lordling on how he conducted himself and how the coronation itself is being prepared. Some oppose him openly or covertly, and some, the most orthodox adherents to the system of legitimacy in place, support Racieros merely on the basis of his heritage, or angling for being regents and valued subordinates of the young [Count].


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Aside from feasts prepared and decorations strewn, the preachers of the city''s temple prepared hymns and doubled their loud processions in the street, extolling the virtues and the future that Racieros would create for Ovespuerte.


    On the same day, the fastest [Courier] of the Obscure Ocean had arrived at the docks of Ovespuerte. Johoon had welcomed the skiff to the docks of Est Prov¨¦s. The magical chests of gold had floated themselves out of the ship to the docks, as Johoon thanked the [Courier]. Later, Johoon presented the chests of gold as an ¡°anonymous donation¡± to Racieros. Yet a train of carts to the castle was noticed by many bystanders, by the visiting nobles especially. The implications of a patron unknown to them became apparent to the visiting members of the Commerro House. They saw many foreign [Mercenaries] and the troops bearing the colors of the Kaminor as security.


    Conspiratorial conclusions simmered on House Commerro¡¯s minds, and some had conspired to cripple the preparation for the coronation. An accident here and there had significantly hindered preparations for the past few days. Disunited in method, yet united in goal, the Commerros had reduced the workforce dedicated for the coronation. They bribed many workers to stop working, and a major incident within the castle was the collapse of the scaffolding within the castle as the hole within the castle had finished repairing. Many had been injured, and some had died, disabling the skilled labor in one fell swoop.


    Despite the influx of funds, supplies and the participation of the Guilds, there are never enough people to commit to the menial labor that the preparation for the coronation outside of the castle, especially after the strange accidents and sudden disappearances. Members of the Guilds were expensive to hire even with financial assistance from Johoon and Aryyad.  Most people outside of the most dedicated to the doctrine of the Divine Decree, or the poorest people of the slums do not flock to the aid for the coronation, simply because they have their own livelihoods and are paid enough for it. Many of the metropolitan people of Ovespuerte possess the status of freedmen, and fewer are [Serfs] and [Slaves] that can be called for work. Aryyad had already noticed this discrepancy in their labor force, and had arranged for the transport of additional labor force via his contact.


    In the afternoon, a hulking ship propelled by magical wind blowing on their sails arrived at the docks of Ovespuerte, and Aryyad summoned Racieros, with Cultrost and Numisley in tow. A depressed parade in chains and rags walked the gangplank. It dawned on the Gildin Brothers that they are Beastkin [Slaves], shipped from the sea across the Golden Triangle. A man with an indistinct face and groomed, short hair akin to feline fur had first approached the master of the solemn procession. With a pouch of gold, he had bought the youngest [Slaves], and two other people had appeared from the buyer¡¯s side. They promptly disappeared with the crowd next to the docks, never to be seen again. What was left was the oldest and weakest of the merchandise, yet still useful.


    The [Slave Trader], a horned Beastkin with grey leather skin, approached Aryyad and Racieros with Cultrost and Numisley behind him.


    ¡°Well met.¡± The [Slave Trader] greeted. ¡°I see the Goddess¨Cthe grace of the Decree shone upon this land.¡±


    ¡°Racieros. Numisley. Cultrost.¡± Aryyad spoke. ¡°This is my associate. Irhamn Erjan. I noticed that you lack the personnel needed for menial labor, and hence he is willing to sell you his merchandise at a discount in honor of your coronation. Hence, for the sum total of my merchandise, you can purchase them for thirty gold.¡±


    ¡°Do any of them have Feats for harder tasks?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Of course, Lord Commerro.¡± Irhamn said. ¡°I made sure that they have some form of endurance-Feats. Some had learned in the art of smithing, cooking, and all manner of housework. You can work them for many bells before they require rest.¡±


    ¡°Racieros.¡± Numisley, in an act of impropriety, held the lordling¡¯s shoulders tight as he spoke heavily. ¡°Really? We have enough hirelings for the coronation.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t.¡± Racieros replied. ¡°I thought we have enough workers and time. Accidents and disappearing workers had slowed down our progress. We have enough gold for it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of gold.¡± Cultrost interjected.


    Numisley and Cultrost were apprehensive about this whole affair. If there is anything that cannot be bought or sold, it is the freedom of others.  They barely hid their disgust at this exchange. Yet they know that even in their homeland, indentured servitude existed. Aryyad raised his eyebrows in both annoyance and embarrassment for them.


    ¡°Apologies.¡± Racieros spoke to Irhamn. ¡°They are my trusted advisers on matters of economics.¡±


    ¡°Advisers?¡± Inharmn stared at Numisley and Cultrost. ¡°The cripple, I understand. But that red-thing? A Satyr, was it? His callous hands and proven musculature says otherwise. If I were to buy him from you, he would fetch a good thirty gold coins.¡±


    ¡°You ain¡¯t buying shit.¡± Cultrost spit at the Beastkin¡¯s covered hooves.


    ¡°Enough, Cultrost.¡± Racieros scolded. ¡±I¡¯m willing to buy your [Slaves] on your price.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Let me draft up a contract.¡±


    The contract was read aloud, which includes the witnesses of the contract and the individuals that he sold to Racieros. Effectively, the thirty [Slaves] were owned by Racieros after he paid the gold coins to the [Slave Trader].


    Numisley defiantly stood in front of Racieros, leaning heavily on his walking stick.


    ¡°Free them. Remove their collars.¡± Numisley demanded. ¡°It is the right thing to do.¡±


    ¡°If you two are adamant about it. After my coronation.¡± Racieros said.


    ¡°Now, Racieros. Now.¡± Cultrost said. ¡°This isn¡¯t right.¡±


    ¡°I know you two come from a different culture. Where your ancestors overthrew [Kings]. From a place where [Slaves] take refuge¨C¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about our differences in culture or the need for coin. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you want to be enslaved? No? It is as simple as that. Nothing more, nothing less.¡± Cultrost interrupted. ¡°If you are worth following, if the [Guildmasters] and your subjects find you worth following, do the right thing. Right now. Or we have no reason to work with you anymore.¡±


    The deafening silence between Racieros and Cultrost that overpowered the crashing of the waves lasted for a short eternity before Racieros acquiesced to his dearest friend¡¯s demands.


    ¡°This is the reason why you are my dearest friend.¡± Racieros broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯ll do the right thing.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that, Lord Racieros?¡± Aryyad asked. ¡°They are perfectly functional [Slaves].¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Racieros asserted. ¡°I purchased them. Therefore, I can do whatever I want with them.¡±


    Racieros handed Cultrost the keys to their collars and cuffs, and he proceeded to painstakingly removed the bindings of each one.


    ¡°Sorry about this, Irhamn.¡± Aryyad turned to his associate. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this.¡±


    ¡°It is of no issue for me as long as I get paid.¡± Irhamn reassured. ¡°And enfranchised merchandise can always be captured, after all. Except for the expensive ones.¡±


    The [Slaves] didn¡¯t comprehend their freedom. They wondered why their cuffs and chains were on the floor, and why anyone didn¡¯t pick them up.


    ¡°You are now free.¡± Numisley announced. ¡°No one will have the right to purchase you again. You can all go your own separate ways, or if you wish to earn coin, we shall pay you your due. One silver per day of labor, lodgings and all. We shall not force you, nor mistreat you.¡±


    Some simply left, wandering deeper within the city individually, in pairs, or groups of no less than five. Thirty people had remained, willing to work for Racieros and the Gildin Brothers. This incident became known to those who constantly spied on Racieros. Although the sabotages continued, and some Commerros openly protested that he is not fit for being the head of the House, preparations for the coronation have been completed.


    On the tenth day, the coronation of the new Contiearl of Ovespuerte and head of the Commerro House proper had begun.

 Chapter 56

    It was the tenth day. It was now the day of the coronation of the new Contiearl of House Commerro. For several days the preparations for it had continued despite most of the treasury being plundered by the supposed pirate raid. Rumors had now spread to the other nearby cities that Racieros Commerro had unknown, foreign benefactors that had donated to the coronation. The hostile takeover of the Merchant''s Guild in Ovespuerte had circulated within the rumor mill, and the supposed pirate raid was an attack by a foreign power.


    These rumors were not unfounded, and it is this truth that threatens what Aryyad built and expose Johoon¡¯s crime.


    Racieros and the Gildin Brothers were brazenly summoned by both Aryyad and Johoon on the docks. The three made sure that they remained unseen, borrowing cloaks enchanted to mask their identities; however they were aware that the most savvy among their visitors might see them. They kept these cloaks on even now, and hoped that no one had followed them.


    ¡°There are rumors of our involvement.¡± Aryyad informed the three.


    ¡°There were always rumors regarding that pirate raid.¡± Racieros replied.


    ¡°No.¡± Aryyad spoke. ¡°Somehow, word had spread of the truth¨Cat least the version of the truth that is dangerously close to the actual truth. That the attack on the castle was an inside job by you, Racieros. With foreign involvement¨Cour involvement.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°[Spies]. I do not know who.¡± Numisley informed. ¡°I had gained [Area of Sources], and it informed me that the rumors had spread from the castle.¡±


    ¡°The Commerros.¡± Racieros guessed. ¡°They are openly defying me. Some of them. A few support me. I do not know what they will do aside from protesting during the coronation. ¡±


    ¡°We already paid the [Informants] in the port to not leak info.¡±Aryyad said.


    ¡°Then I shall cut out their tongues!¡± Johoon barked.


    ¡°It might be the Commerros. It might be the other nobility.¡± Cultrost guessed.


    ¡°And which one is the most important question.¡± Numisley continued.


    ¡°Then, Numisley. Cultrost. Since you had helped me gain control of Ovespuerte¡¯s temple with your information about the [High Priest], if these nobles demand arbitration, then we shall at least put up a fight when Racieros¡¯ authority comes into question.¡±


    ¡°Their authority.¡± Aryyad and Johoon left these words unsaid, for all of them knew which powers are behind the lordling¡¯s throne.


    ¡°I assume that I have to wait and see?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Aryyad said. ¡°And hope to the Goddess and her Saints that whatever dirt they have on you¨Cus wouldn¡¯t be enough to doom us all.¡±


    After that secret meeting, the coronation had started. People flocked to the streets, and the Kaminor troops made sure that the crowd wouldn¡¯t block the way of the procession. The tradition of most Houses of the region ordained by the Divine Decree is for the coronated ruler is the walk to the temple that would bless the crown or any article of office, and after receiving the blessing of a [Priest] of the Decree, the new ruler shall march back to his throne.


    Showcasing the ruler¡¯s extravagance is integral to the entire ceremony, yet the unlooted heirlooms of the castle and the entire household of Ovespuerte¡¯s castle was all Racieros can afford to parade. Numisley and Cultrost, as part of Racieros¡¯ staff, also walked with him. While Numisley had dressed his best, and tried his best to keep up with the march even with a limp leg, Cultrost had worn a full set of armor: his chest covered by a borrowed gambeson, his hooves uncomfortably fitted in greaves, and his helmet and masked visor had holes cut for his painted horns. He had to be covered from head to toe to appear as Human as possible, despite his humid sweating. Some eyes stared at the costume he wore; but it is just that, a costume, and not a disguise to hide his true species.


    Music and tales sang and told [Bards] reverberated within the streets. The thin steam and smell from cooked seafood profusely wafted through the crowds. The Commerros watched intently, judging the humble parade, assessing the uncertain future of their House. Racieros climbed the stairs to the temple that overlooked the docks of Ovespuerte.


    Each succeeding step of Racieros¡¯ ascension weighs heavier than the last. For Numisley, even more so. He had to push himself up with his weight with one leg and one cane. Normally, he would ask his brother to carry him, however, the eyes of Ovespuerte are upon them. They held their tired breath as they reached the temple at last.


    The temple, like many structures of the Human Continent, was all bare stone embedded with rigid patterns of metal. Within the colonnaded compound is Racieros¡¯ uncle and those who oppose his ascension, who formed a line to block Racieros¡¯ path to the temple where the [High Priest] would give his blessing for his title as Contiearl of the Commerros.


    ¡°You are not qualified for the position as Contiearl of our House. You are too young, too inexperienced, my dear nephew.¡±


    ¡°And are you disputing my birthright? Sealed by the divine laws we follow?¡±


    ¡°If you were not a puppet of foreigners, we would accept your claim. I can¡¯t believe that you are working for a criminal and a barbarian.¡±


    Garrenno Commerro verbally pointed at Numisley and Cultrost. His eyes pointed towards Numisley in particular.


    ¡°This criminal, who dare to claim the Naveirei House¡¯s name as his own? By colluding with him, by accepting the gold from foreign powers, you had doomed yourselves. By my authority as Viconti Garrenno Commerro with Marquis Dustitoz Gaviolos and the Commerros present, in the name of the Divine Decree and its Nine Laws, within the sanctioned ground of Ovespuerte, I declare the right of litigation¨C¡±


    ¡°On what grounds?¡±


    ¡°Racieros Commerro, you will stand trial for the crime of high treason and patricide. Numisley Gildin and his associates, the crime of unlawfully assuming the name of a noble house, the attempted theft of government funds, and the sacking and murder of the village of Dousso, and evading arrest.¡±


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Their [Soldiers] appeared behind Racieros¡¯ entourage. Adriasta Kaminor had witnessed this unexpected turn of events, and knew that Dustitoz was behind this. She was ordered by her House to secure a trade route via Ovespuerte by ingratiating herself with Racieros, hence the troops sent to reinforce security for the coronation. She ordered her [Soldiers] to encircle the Commerro¡¯s troops, which shocked the Commerros.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Garrenno Commerro asked.


    ¡°There is no need for the detainment of a noble. To do so would further disgrace him in the eyes of the law. A noble wouldn¡¯t be this cruel to his fellow noble, am I right?¡±


    Garrenno bit his lip.


    ¡°Racieros. The trial will be tomorrow as soon as the fifth bell of the day. Wait in the castle in the meantime.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost, as commoners and foreigners, were arrested despite Racieros¡¯ protests. However, it is a small comfort that they would be detained in the castle, and not elsewhere, so he could visit them. The onlookers of the parade were surprised that Racieros did not wear the crown of the Commerros, and speculation had inevitably spread throughout Ovespuerte¡¯s streets.


    In the ports, there was a confrontation. [Soldiers] who had accompanied the visiting Commerros and those in Dustitoz¡¯s retinue were in a standoff against the [Mercenaries] of Aryyad¡¯s warehouses. Aryyad had gone out, surrounded by his best men: Rhino Beastkin [Mercenaries] of a clan he was well acquainted with back home.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°You are detained in association with Numisley Gildin and his crimes until the trial.¡± One of the leaders of the armed group spoke.


    ¡°On what grounds?¡± Aryyad demanded. ¡°I¡¯m the elected Guildmaster of the [Merchants] of Ovespuerte. I am a friend of the late Torresso Commerro. I had contributed much to the city. I know my rights under the Divine Decree. To arrest me by association is to break the divine law.¡±


    The leader of the [Soldiers] hesitated. He knew that these [Mercenaries] could kill a lot of them before one of them could reach for their employer. Many of them wielded wicked weapons that could cut through their armor, and wands containing great magic waiting to be unleashed.


    A cadre of [Priests] from the city¡¯s temple had appeared behind the [Soldiers] of the Commerros.


    ¡°Halt.¡± The [High Priest] boomed. ¡°He does not need to be detained. Only agree to appear before the trial as needed. Away, all of you!¡±


    Although beholden to the Commerros, the [Soldiers] knew better than to disobey one of the Divine Decree¡¯s clergy. They promptly marched back to their employers. Aryyad rushed towards the [High Priest]; whom he had bribed in his takeover of the city.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Aryyad demanded answers.


    ¡°The Commerros had built a case against Racieros and your two associates. They demand a trial tomorrow.¡± The [High Priest]


    ¡°That fast? And what are you doing about it?¡± Aryyad shook the [High Priest]¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Preparing for the trial. The nobles had already presented me with coin.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare. I know what you hid within the temple. The summoning circle-¡±


    ¡°Damn your mouth!¡± The [High Priest] barked. ¡°I know what I have to do! Annor!¡±


    The [High Priest] beckoned to two of the young [Priests] in his group.


    ¡°Annor and Dranori of my temple will be their [Lawyers]. He will brief them tonight on what to say tomorrow. I shall do whatever I can to maintain the veneer of the fairness required of me.¡±


    The [Priests] walked towards the castle, and Aryyad went back to his ship to find a solution for this problem.


    Numisley and Cultrost were visited by Racieros in the dungeons that night, with dinner served by one of the [Servants] on a metal tray. Unlike the first time they were detained, Racieros made sure that they were comfortable within the dungeon.


    ¡°Aryyad had sent us two [Priests] to be our [Lawyers].¡± Racieros informed the two brothers.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised there are [Lawyers] in temples in the first place.¡± Cultrost commented.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Back home, they usually work under a [Merchant] or a [Governor].¡±


    ¡°It is the same here. But all [Lawyers] must be [Priests] of the Divine Decree, for our faith lies with the law, and the law lies within our faith. But, I shall ask. Numisley, Cultrost, is it true that you had murdered an entire village?¡±


    Memories of that desperate time now resurface like scum on boiling water. Numisley can still feel the pangs of hunger despite the baked fish on his plate, the pain of the bruises left by his brother¡¯s frustrated fist, the overwhelming void in his heart¨Cthe same apathy he felt when he first murdered Atasaney¨Cthat grew wider as he saw the remote hamlet of Dousso burn.


    ¡°It is my sin alone.¡± Numisley clarified. ¡°We were constantly pelted by rain¨CI theorize that it was that bastard Dustitoz¡¯s Feat, somehow, to delay us, I think¨Cfor several days and nights as we attempted to head to Daqquiristo to reclaim our parents¡¯ fortune, until we had learnt that it was reclaimed by the crown. We were running out of food and ammunition, and Yulvres and the rest of the [Mercenaries] threatened to desert us. Elementals of the storm and wild golems kept assailing us. We had soon run out of beasts to eat despite every monster in the vicinity having a grudge against us. That hamlet was the only source of food, yet they were starving too. They refused to share what little they had. They had¨CI had to order them to subdue the villagers; yet there are many deaths.¡±


    The regret is palpable through Numisley¡¯s stammering recount of the events of their journey to the city of Daqquiristo. His eyes were without tears, for he had left them behind somewhere along the way. In this moment, he was reminded why he had led his brother and a motley band of [Mercenaries] an ocean away from his home. He was sure that Dustitoz was behind this.


    ¡°Idiot.¡± Cultrost scolded Numisley. ¡°I kept telling you to not bear everything by yourself. I know you did what we had to do.¡±


    Cultrost turned towards his friend, Racieros.


    ¡°When will they arrive?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°They are waiting above.¡± Racieros asked. ¡°And I think the nobles had retreated to their own rooms. So, I¡¯ll sneak you two to my father¡¯s private office where we can strategize about the impromptu trial tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Before that, we would like to let our company know that we are safe and sound.¡± Numisley requested.


    ¡°I shall send someone to your warehouse then.¡± Racieros said.


    When all of the candles within the castle were dimmed, Numisley and Cultrost had donned robes that covered their faces, accompanied by Racieros and their [Servants], who knew the best passages to avoid the nobles within the castle.


    They were greeted by the sight of two [Priests] in gray garb that denoted their position. A sheaf of papers was laid down on the table, along with a thick, leather-bound copy of the Divine Decree, marked with nine concentric gilded haloes that seem to subtly thrum and gleam under the candlelight, as if a slumbering spirit stirs within the symbol.


    ¡°My lord.¡± They both greeted, ignoring Numisley and Cultrost. ¡°We are honored to be in your service. Now please, swear your testimony to the Divine Decree and all of its holy laws.¡±


    Racieros firmly placed his palm over the holy book of their faith. It glowed as he gave the testimony. Throughout the sleepless night, those within the private office within the castle planned for the trial in store for them tomorrow. Throughout the restless night, whispers spread beyond the rooms and alleys of those who speak them. The ears and eyes of the plotting nobility kept watch for plans unfolding, and correspondences were penned in the candlelight.


    A former [Duke] can¡¯t help but smile as his grand scheme bore fruit at last. His smile is as bright as the silver light of the night''s horizon cast by the sun below the world''s plane, and as dim as the shadows cast by the lone floating islands in the sky at midnight.

 Chapter 57

    The Kaminor House representative in Ovespuerte thought the situation was untenable. Adriasta thought the command given by the patriarch of their House was pointless. She would love to see Numisley and his step-brother get what they deserved, but she has a silver of sympathy for Racieros, as fellow nobility and an associate. Nevertheless, she had ridden out of the port of Ovespuerte in the dead of night so she could report the situation on Ovespuerte.


    She pulled out a Scroll of Communication as she saw this as a great emergency for her mission, and set it on the grass before the forest as her [Knights] formed a ring around her. The magic circle on the parchment glowed, producing a cone of blue light that weaved an image within. The image formed was a bedridden man, a man that was once a great warrior and spritely [Lord], now felled by sickness and old age. The quality of the bound spell in the parchment scroll enabled her to see the wrinkles and the liver spots of her balding grandfather¡¯s face, and the atrophied forearms that were once capable of drawing a bow whose draw weight was as heavy as the oxen that plowed their fields.


    ¡°I came here to report of a conspiracy. The Commerros, with the help of Dustitioz Gaviolos, had built a case against the coronation of Racieros Commerro with fabricated evidence. His associates, Numisley Gildin, a supposed claimant of the Naveirei House, and his Satyr step-brother were also put on trial.¡± Adriasta reported. ¡°And I rather have Numisley and Cultrost arrested.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of what you feel about his associates, if the Commerros succeed, we will lose any chance of gaining access to the port.¡± Her grandfather said.


    ¡°Why did you ask me to deal with this diplomatically? Rather, why side with Racieros? Would it be more beneficial to side with Dustitoz and the Commerros in this case?¡±


    ¡°I owe a debt to Racieros¡¯ grandfather. Barring that, it isn¡¯t a guarantee that the rest of the Commerros would give us access to the port. Rather, if one of them allows us to sell their goods in that port, we will earn next to nothing because of their taxes. That is what Racieros¡¯ father had done to our [Merchants], and so this will be a prime opportunity to establish friendship with the next Contiearl. Hence, I order you to testify against the Commerros tomorrow.¡±


    Despite Adriasta¡¯s grudges, her filial duty was to follow his grandfather¡¯s command.


    In the same night, where the bells of Ovespuerte¡¯s timekeeping towers were fast asleep, the few who were awake had ordered their [Servants] to covertly deliver three chests of gold and silver coins as a gift to the temple¡¯s [High Priest]. A gift to appeal to the [High Priest]¡¯s duty of adjudicating justice to their favor. Whether or not they heard the horse¡¯s whinnying or clopping on the damp stone streets, the shadows started to skulk silently within the streets surrounding the wagon. One of the [Soldiers] accompanying them raised a spear as he noticed one of them and ordered one of the [Servants] to cast a [Light] Spell with an enspelled wand.


    The light was snuffed out with a hidden blow, and soon those around the wagon fell with cracked skulls. The last sight they saw was a horned silhouette lit by the merged twin moons of the last night of the month of Teinoger. It was morning when the Commerros realized that their bribe had been stolen.


    The sun rose from the southeast on the first day of the new month of Iaradul. Numisley and Cultrost felt the winds of change of the new moon. They had slept only an hour before the first bell of the morning rang. Despite their lack of sleep, Cultrost practiced swinging his mace, while Numisley had stopped by their shop to review the inventory. Counting the number of goods and pacing around the shop seemed to calm him.


    He opened a blanketed crate hidden among crates to find a mound of gold within and wryly grinned. He covered the crate again and limped towards the temple.


    The temple was still with tension and anticipation as many soldiers were tasked to guard the perimeters of the temple compound. The gilded nine-haloed finial shone upon Racieros, Numisley, Cultrost, and their lawyers as they walked into the temple, where tables and chairs were arranged in a way where are two distinct areas, overseen by a lectern before an altar with nine golden haloes. On the lectern was the [High Priests] holding a staff shaped in the form of a sword with scales at the end of its false pommel, with nine rings attached. The servants of the temple lit up the rack of incense pots as the Commerro nobles sat on the pews and whispered among themselves. On the other side of the temple pews is the jury, randomly selected among Ovespuerte, from peasant to local district leaders, which were encouraged by the temple with a payment of two silver coins: enough to feed one¡¯s family for a week or more.


    On the left table were Numisley, Cultrost, Racieros, Aryyad, and the two [Lawyers] assigned to them. On the right table were Dustitoz, Garrenno, and two other [Lawyers]. Both sides whispered to each other, as parchment scrolls and paper sheets were arranged on their respective tables. The acolytes of the temple laid down a truth tablet on each table, enchanted to glow whether or not they speak the truth or lie.


    The [High Priest] tapped his staff on the floor, beginning his ministrations.


    ¡°By the power vested in me by the Divine Decree and its holy agents, the Coral Crown of Torregorn and the rest of the scions of the Thousand Bloodlines, I, High Priest Sacre Ingon Lonon Petroposimor of the Temple of Ovespuerte, invoke the God of Justice, Areti, who proclaimed: thou shall pursue righteousness. May he oversee this proceeding. May he bring justice, and smite the guilty.¡±


    Then he began a prayer in the liturgical language beyond Numisley and Cultrost¡¯s understanding.


    ¡°All parties within the trial. Will you swear to uphold the truth under this temple of the Divine Decree, without any form of trickery, be it in the form of Feats or sorcery?¡± The [High Priest] asked both parties of the trial.


    All the people in the trial but Numisley and Cultrost had said ¡°yes¡±, until they said it a moment later after they realized the purpose of this oath.


    ¡°The sacred court is now in session. Present your case, Lords Commerro and Gaviolos.¡± The [High Priest] announced.


    Garreno stood up after the High Priest spoke.


    ¡°Racieros Torresso Commerro, you are charged with the crime of high treason, fratricide, and patricide. You are collaborating with the Diamond Shore Corporation¡¯s interests. You are responsible for murdering your father through their manipulation. Numisley Gildin is guilty of unlawfully assuming the name of a noble house, and the attempted theft of the crown¡¯s funds, and his associates are guilty of sacking the village of Dousso.¡±


    The truth stone laid on Garreno¡¯s table glowed green.


    ¡°What is the opposition¡¯s defense?¡± The High Priest asked.


    One of Racieros¡¯ two lawyers, Dranori, stood up.


    ¡°The opposition wrongly convicts my client of two serious sins. The city has been attacked by [Pirates], powerful [Pirates] who had stormed the castle and slain our dear lords. Many saw the destruction they had wrought. This court will require proof to legitimize the opposition claims.¡±


    ¡°Lords Commerro and Gaviolos, do you have evidence?¡±


    Dustitoz handed a sheet of paper graven with a wax seal to the [Priest]-[Lawyer] assigned to him. He read the letter verbatim in a loud and clear voice.


    ¡°Salutations, Guildmaster Aryyad Guizzimeraime. I will accept this priority teleportation order from the Shiekhdom of Zelewurves of two thousand Rhundian kjadi. The Guild will take 30% of the coins. Be aware that there is a 10% chance that some of the coins will be lost in transportation. Signed. Guildmaster Uiore.¡±


    The truth tablet on their table glowed green.


    ¡°Objection,¡± Annor spoke on behalf of Racieros, Aryyad, and the Gildin Brothers. ¡°A transfer of funds from a foreign duchy to a local guild is not related to the case, much less a business partner of House Commerro for a decade.¡±


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    As if possessed by another voice, the [Priest]-[Lawyer] spoke. Dustitoz had used one of his Feats of this trial, speaking through the [Lawyer] with his consent.


    ¡°These funds had been used for this coronation. What¡¯s more, the current Guildmaster of the city¡¯s Merchant¡¯s Guild, Aryyad Guizzimeraime has unlawfully assumed his position.¡±


    ¡°Objection!¡± Dranori, the co-[Lawyer] employed alongside Annor, spoke. ¡°This strays away from the current case regarding Lord Racieros Commerro.¡±


    The High Priest thumped his staff, making the brass scales ring, silencing both sides.


    ¡°Is your claim connected to the current case at hand?¡± The High Priest asked.


    ¡°Yes, because a sovereign of Torregorn shall not accept donations from a foreign entity. Amithrales Charter, On Succession, Section twelve. This also relates to the holy text of the Divine Decree, Decree of Authority, Section Five: Those in a position of power shall not accept any coin from any person or polity to further their interest. ¡± The [Lawyer] spoke with his own voice this time.


    ¡°This letter does not prove that the Shiekhdom had donated gold for my client¡¯s ascension. It is a teleportation of funds from another land. Your letter says as such, that it is merely a transfer of funds.¡± Annor rebutted.


    ¡°The Guildmaster can testify to this fact. She is willing to give context to this transfer of funds.¡± The [Priest]-[Lawyer] employed by Dustitoz and Garrenno called upon one of the acolytes to summon one of the witnesses, but moments later the acolyte reported that the guildmaster was indisposed at this moment.


    ¡°What do you mean the Mage Guild¡¯s master is unavailable?¡± Garreno demanded.


    ¡°She is currently outside of the city, my lord. Heading to the Mage¡¯s Guild at Norerro for an emergency.¡± The acolyte blurted out, shaken as someone in a higher caste than him raged at him. The Guildmaster of the Mages of Ovespuerte was supposed to wait outside of the temple, within the area where witnesses wait.


    ¡°If your key witness is missing, then this trial shall be postponed until tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Wait! Do you not notice the amount of [Mercenaries] that he employs? Why are there so many [Mercenaries] in the streets?¡±


    ¡°This question is irrelevant. My client had hired them to supplement the Household Guard¡¯s heavy losses during the [Pirate] raid.¡±


    Dustitoz¡¯s question hung in the air. The [High Priest] tapped his staff on the ground, silencing him.


    ¡°Do you have any other witnesses regarding your claims about Lord Racieros Commerro¡¯s treachery?¡±


    Dustitoz and Garreno went silent as they realized that they had none.


    ¡°If none, will the defense have any objections to the evidence presented thus far?¡±


    ¡°Plenty.¡± Annor stated candidly. ¡°The opposition cited the transfer of funds from the Shiekhdom of Zelewurves to the Mage Guild of Ovespuerte via teleportation. The opposition stated that the two thousand gold¨Cnow one thousand four hundred gold, was used to bribe Lord Racieros Commerro. However, the Shiekh Higzacimi Bissohaan had sent this as a gift of his coronation. May we call Aryyad Guizzimeraime, Clan Merchant of Zelewurves, to testify this fact?¡±


    ¡°You may proceed.¡±


    Aryyad stood up and produced a rolled letter with a seal from a foreign land. He removed the seal and unfurled the letter, giving the seal to the [High Priest] to show that the seal was truly from the Shiekhdom of Zelewurves. He saw the symbol of the House of Clan Bissohaan within the blue wax seal: an anchor surrounded by flowers.


    ¡°I shall read the letter on behalf of my lord verbatim. Salutations, Contiearl Racieros Torresso Commerro. My greatest condolences to your father and brother¡¯s demise in the defense of your port against sordid [Pirates]. A decade ago, I do remember sending a gift of a Potion of Vitality in his coronation as we made our first trade agreement. That potion I commissioned from my [Court Alchemist], so that your father may draw strength and health from it when needed. However, a potion is not appropriate for your situation, and hence I instructed my clan¡¯s representative in your city, Aryyad Guizzimeraime, to oversee the delivery of two thousand gold kjadi, and provide security for your city if needed. My condolences. Signed, Higzacimi Bissohaan.¡±


    Aryyad finished reading the letter, and sat on his seat. The truth tablet on their table glowed green too.


    ¡°With the arguments presented, let us ask the jury for their opinion of the matter.¡± The [High Priest] announced.


    The twelve members of the jury discussed amongst themselves the matter. A conclusion has been reached a moment after. The [Priest] who was assigned to be the speaker of the jury had voiced their verdict.


    ¡°The jury favors the defender¡¯s argument.¡±


    The [Priest] that acts as the speaker for the jury had sat in his seat. The High Priest thumped his staff and spoke.


    ¡°We shall have a recess. Now, we shall recite the Litany of Justice¡­¡±


    Then they spoke the litany in the liturgical language of their religion. Numisley and Cultrost stayed silent throughout the recitation. However, they were surprised that Aryyad, a foreigner like them, recited the litany with them.


    ¡°The trial will continue in the 10th bell of the day.¡±


    After that, most of the people headed out of the temple into the various inns and eateries within the town. Dustitoz and Garrenno neglected to eat their lunch to approach the High Priest with a pertinent matter.


    ¡°Sacre!¡± Dustitoz called the High Priest in one of the hallways within the temple, ¡°I know what you did.¡±


    ¡°Did what?¡± Sacre asked.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything,¡± Garrenno answered. ¡°You assigned them your best [Lawyers], I noticed.¡±


    ¡°You have not paid me anything.¡± Sacre barked back, continuing to walk away from them.


    ¡°I¨CWe had!¡± Dustitoz sputtered.


    ¡°Your carriage didn''t arrive that night.¡± Sacre started to walk away.


    ¡°Decree-damned bullshit.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth.¡±


    Dustitoz turned to Garrenno to confirm this fact.


    ¡°You sent a couple of people to the temple, right? Have you heard from them?¡± Dustitoz asked.


    ¡°Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t.¡± Garrenno realized, with a look of horror on his face.


    There is only one familiar answer to this conundrum. Someone had sabotaged them.


    ¡°We can pay right now. We shall donate five hundred gold to the temple. In turn¨C¡±


    ¡°If you pay. I will not accept your bribes if you will not pay today.¡±


    ¡°I could put a word with the Synod of Iberreos to instate you as a Bishop of Triecanuti.¡±


    Sacre paused for a second, before continuing to walk. He walked towards his office, but he was greeted with the sight of Aryyad, almost jumping out of the room.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Sacre asked.


    ¡°I saw you talking to them.¡± Aryyad brazenly sat on his padded chair in the office.


    ¡°I did what you ask of me. I sabotaged the truth spells. I did not cast a [Zone of Truth].¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m making sure that you will continue to do so. If you don¡¯t¨C¡±


    ¡°I know!¡±


    ¡°Can you make sure that they won''t get another witness?¡±


    Sacre slowly nodded.


    When the tenth bell of the day rang, one of the members of the Household Guard was heading to the temple from a tavern beside the docks. A person had told him that he could redeem the House that he served by telling the truth.


    Yet as he was walking, two [Mercenaries] from one of the moored ships walked up to him and stabbed him in the gut, and threw him in the waters under the midday sun. One of them rushed to report to the one who ordered them, while Numisley watched from afar.

 Chapter 58

    The second half of the session had started. Everyone had gone back to their seats, aside from the jury, who had been replaced by other volunteers. The [High Priest] had struck the ground with the butt of his sword-shaped staff.


    The sacred court is now in session. Present your arguement, Lords Commerro and Gaviolos.¡± The [High Priest] invoked.¡¯


    ¡°The presence of foreign [Mercenaries] in the aftermath of the attack is evidence for Racieros Torresso Commerro¡¯s sin of high treason and patricide. We had cause to believe that the Diamond Shore¡¯s [Captain], Johoon¡­¡¯Silverleg¡¯, had been hired to stage a false flag attack that had killed many of his Household Guard. We have invited Tuirre Cartala, the Guard Captain of the Household Guard, to testify this fact.¡±


    Numisley hid his expression behind quivering eyes. Racieros slumped down on his seat slightly, looking at the one responsible.


    An [Acolyte] of the temple rushed out to call the witness. However, he had found him missing from the seat he was supposed to sit on. A few minutes had passed as the acolyte called others to search for the witness. Still, then he heard that the witness had died from falling from the docks on his way to the temple in an accident and reported back to the court of law within the temple of the news.


    ¡°Unfortunately, your witness has suffered¡­an unfortunate circumstance.¡± The [High Priest] announced. ¡°Will the opposition have any more actions?¡±


    The [Priest]-[Lawyer] stared at Dustitoz, who had stood up to speak.


    ¡°We have another witness. We invite one of the Household Guard, Canssogmi Uenrri, to testify against Racieros Commerro¡¯s conspiracy of patricide and high treason.¡±


    One of the acolytes of the temple bought a young man, a [Squire] that is always among his fellow [Knights] and [Squires] of the castle, unnoticed to all but a few. Neither among Numisley¡¯s table knew the [Squire] personally. Still, the green and blue tabard that he wore marked him as one of the Household Guard. Numisley slightly massaged his temples.


    ¡°You may now testify against Lord Racieros Commerro.¡± The [High Priest] announced.


    A great, unseen weight seems to burden the witness.


    ¡°I was there when the castle was attacked. I was on the walls of the castle that night. I did not see Lord Commerro, but I saw the captain they call Johoon. The one with a silver leg. With his men, he entered the court, leaving his bodyguard outside. I heard the din of battle within the castle and fought with his men. We were overwhelmed by their numbers, and many of us were cut down and shot. The next day, we were ordered to keep quiet about this. Silver, more than I ever earned in a week, was given to each of us. We were ordered to work with the very men that had murdered my comrades to maintain the peace.¡±


    A deafening silence enveloped the temple. The truth stone on the tables glowed green. Numisley wiped the sweat off his brow.


    ¡°Will the defense have any objections?¡± The [High Priest] asked.


    Racieros¡¯ [Priest]-[Lawyer] spoke up.


    ¡°The witness may have misidentified the assailants in the chaos of battle and the dimness on that night. The Diamond Shore, admittedly, are [Pirates] in all but name and [Traders]. They do not have a uniform of their own. There is also a flaw in the witness¡¯ reasoning. How would he know that a specific person was the [Privateer Captain] in question?¡±


    ¡°I know what I saw!¡± The witness retaliated.


    The [High Priest] struck the ground with the butt of his staff.


    ¡°Order in the court.¡± The [High Priest] bellowed. ¡°Order. Will the opposition have any more arguments against the defendant''s claim?¡±


    ¡°The defendant has not heard who gave him the silver and the other Household Guard. Johoon reportedly brought a chest of silver coins to buy their silence, threatening them if they would not comply.¡±


    ¡°Will the witness confirm this fact?¡± The [High Priest] asked.


    ¡°Yes. Yes, it did happen. I swear to the Decree.¡± The witness replied.


    ¡°Will the defense have any objections?¡± The [High Priest] asked.


    ¡°The incident happened two and a half weeks ago. The witness¡¯s memory may be faulty during this period. The act of remembering something from a significant length of time is unreliable evidence.¡± Racieros¡¯ [Lawyer] argued.


    A pregnant pause ensued.


    ¡°With the arguments presented, let us ask the jury for their opinion of the matter.¡± The [High Priest] announced.


    The jury convened each other with tense whispers. However, despite their uncertainty, the [Priest] who undertook his duty as the Speaker of the Jury reminded them.


    ¡°You are reminded in this holy court to speak freely, for you are in the aegis of the gods who preside over justice, no matter if it is against your liege or His Eminence himself. Please continue your deliberations.¡±


    After the whispers became less tense, the jury had told the [Priest] assigned to them their decision.


    ¡°The jury deems that it is possible that the Diamond Shore Corporation is involved in the death of Contiearl Torresso Rahmieros Commerro and Lord Verrespadion Rahmieros  Commerro. Lord Racieros Commerro is believed to have paid their [Captain] Johoon to slay his relatives in order for him to take the throne. This is the jury¡¯s judgment on the matter with the arguments and evidence presented.¡± The Speaker of the Jury announced the jury¡¯s judgement.


    ¡°I did not kill my father and brother!¡± Racieros protested.


    ¡°Order! Order in this sacred court!¡± The [High Priest] barked. Cultrost pulled Racieros to his seat. ¡°To summarize what is presented before the sacred court of laws, Lord Racieros, supposedly, paid or enticed the Diamond Shore¡¯s [Captain], had committed patricide against Contiearl Torresso Rahmieros Commerro and fratricide against Lord Verrespadion Rahmieros Commerro. However, the opposition¡¯s accusations of high treason through colluding with foreign powers, namely the domain of Zelewurves, under the Kingdom of Rhundi, is disproven. The money supposedly given to Lord Racieros by Shiekh Higzacimi Bissohaan is a gift, not a bribe, as evidenced by the letter marked with that kingdom¡¯s seal. The charge of high treason is, therefore, annulled. Still, the matter of the patricide of Contiearl Torresso Rahmieros Commerro and the fratricide of Lord Verrespadion Rahmieros Commerro remains inconclusive. Despite the witness¡¯ account, little evidence supports this.¡±


    Racieros¡¯ uncle, with a stormy look on his face, whispered to the [Priest]-[Lawyer] assigned to them with gritted teeth. Outside of the temple, clouds started to gather from the horizon as the [High Priest] finished his sentence.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°My lord has a complaint.¡± The [Priest]-[Lawyer] spoke for Garrenno. ¡°He says that the witness is evidence enough.¡±


    ¡°Since it is an impromptu trial, the usual rituals are expedited. Yet I fear that we neglected to commune with the gods properly on this matter and undertake an investigation first and foremost. Therefore, this court is adjourned until sufficient evidence is gathered.¡± The [High Priest] explained.


    The Commerros who attended the trial grumbled and yelled obscenities, accusing the [High Priest] of foul play until the [High Priest] tapped his staff on the ground repeatedly to silence them.


    ¡°Order in the court! Are you nobility or wild animals? See the storm clouds gathering past the horizon? It is a warning from Lord Areti, who watches over this court and is the one I invoked for this trial! Silence or your tongues shall be cut to appease him.¡±


    Only a distinguished servant of the Divine Decree can dole out these threats to the nobility as the representatives of the gods of civilization. Ashamed, the nobles held their complaints within them and obediently followed along with the later prayers and hymns led by the [High Priest] that concluded the session. The jury of the court and the rest of those who attended soon left the temple, dispersing outside the temple ground¡¯s gates.


    Dustitoz and Garrenno had presented the overdue three chests of gold and silver coins before the [High Priest].


    ¡°Why exactly did you delay the trial?¡± Garrenno asked.


    ¡°What I said. Ritual is the foundation of order. Order is the foundation of ritual. Disorder begets ruination.¡± The [High Priest] repeated a mantra and pointed at the gray skies. ¡°I should¡¯ve not agreed to expedite the trial in the first place.¡±


    Dustitoz flinched at the sudden thunder that interrupted them before regaining his composure in a moment.


    ¡°How long will you appease Areti¡¯s wrath?¡± Garreno asked.


    ¡°Seven days at least. These coins shall be my payment for this transgression.¡± Sacre answered.


    ¡°The gods are fickle,¡± Dustitoz remarked.


    ¡°All the reason why we must follow their wishes. All the reason why we have rituals prescribed by our holy texts.¡± Sacre emphasized. ¡°Rest assured that with the proper rituals, the trial will begin in earnest. This is an opportunity to gather evidence for your case.¡± Sacre further elaborated.


    That seems to appease the two nobles. When they left, Aryyad emerged from the proverbial shadows. He was just behind one of the doors behind the altar. He stared at the nine gilded halos of the altar, its incense pots freshly lit, before turning his attention to the [High Priest].


    ¡°Was it really divine intervention, or did you spin up a lie to fulfill our agreement?¡±


    ¡°It might be both. It is hard to tell, even for me.¡± Sacre answered. ¡°The gods are fickle, I admit, as their [Priest]. They might intervene in a case of petty thievery, but they can ignore the murder of thousands. They listen to many prayers of this world but only act on the few who are pious enough for silver of their attention. These moments of acknowledgment manifest into signs, and it is the job of holy men and women like us to interpret them. Few are worthy of their full attention.¡±


    The first drops of rain wet the roof of the temple and the sacred ground around it.


    ¡°Or it may be the Great Saint Zdrail interceding on my behalf.¡± Aryyad mused. ¡°In any case, I must thank you for delaying the trial. But, you know what happens to that unholy seal in the basement when you fail to uphold your end of the bargain.¡±


    Aryyad put on a cloak before exiting the temple. He walked back towards his ship, moored at the docks.


    When the spring rain poured in earnest, the Gildin Brothers and Racieros were already in the castle. Instead of heading directly to the throne room, which now has water pouring through what is left of the hole, or the private office that Racieros now used in place of his father, he had ordered the castle¡¯s [Steward] to not tell any of their guests where they are going.


    ¡°Where are we going exactly?¡±  Cultrost asked.


    ¡°One of the secret rooms. I know that the rest of my House will come and interrogate me, whether I like it or not. They would use their status and Feats to compel them to inform them where we are going.¡± Racieros explained, as they briskly walked.


    They continued to skulk within the corridors where there were little to no people until Racieros touched a wall near the castle¡¯s cellar, opening a sliding stone door that wasn¡¯t there. They were in a dark room lit by a mote of floating light.


    ¡°Now we can talk,¡± Racieros said. ¡°Only me¡­and the rest of my family knows of the secret rooms of the castle.¡±


    The last few words rang hollow, for he knew he was the only one left in his family besides his mother. Ever since Racieros¡¯ father had died, he had wondered where his mother had gone.


    ¡°What are you going to do? Numisley asked. ¡°They know¡­well, they are close to knowing the truth,¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill my father. I didn¡¯t kill my brother.¡± Racieros uttered, hurt by the accusations from the trial.


    ¡°We know.¡± Cultrost comforted him, putting his arm around Racieros¡¯ shoulders.


    ¡°So, how can we prove it? How can we gather evidence for it?¡±


    ¡°Most likely, I will ask my Household Guard to recount the events properly,¡± Racieros answered. ¡°However, what about you, Numisley, Cultrost? Even if I were to be convicted and sentenced, at least I would still be alive in the end. You¡­Cultrost, Numisley, will be executed with the full weight of the law.¡±


    Numisley fell silent, and his chin rested upon his closed arm gingerly. A dragging moment ensued until he could voice out his idea.


    ¡°Once again. I ask you for a favor, our friend.¡±


    ¡°No need to be formal. You had helped me so much.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a [Mage] capable of sending a [Message] Spell to the Naveirei House? Specifically, Escribanorr Tres Naveirei. Are you willing to give up a share of this port¡¯s profit for their help? I shall write a letter to my uncle for their help during the trial.¡±


    Racieros thought about what his father would do. Would he accept the deal? Much of the city was not in his control.


    He knew that the foreign [Merchant] named Aryyad had become the Guildmaster of the Merchant Guild of Ovespuerte, and his proverbial leash still inhibited him. The murderer of his father and brother remains in his family¡¯s docks, free from punishment. Racieros fears that if what Numisley and Cultrost said about the death of his father is true, then that [Captain] can plunge his dagger in his heart if he dares to move against him. He also knows that the rest of their House¡¯s county, the de jure territory of his father, was split between the many lesser families of his House. If he does not win the battle ahead, he will truly lose all control of his father¡¯s domain.


    ¡°What¡¯s another power controlling my city anyway?¡± Racieros mocked himself. ¡°As long as I could preserve my family¡¯s throne, with me on it, even as a puppet, then I will follow whoever holds the strings.¡±


    ¡°And we will cut it, right, brother?¡± Cultrost stared at his brother expectantly. Numisley hesitated, for seldom did he make promises that he couldn''t keep.


    ¡°Right. Of course.¡± Numisley uttered.


    When the Commerros had given up on finding Racieros, Numisley, and Cultrost had emerged in his private office. The [Steward] of the castle was waiting, holding many letters that he received from the Commerro nobles who protested against him.


    ¡°My lord.¡± The [Steward] softly spoke.


    ¡°Please give me only the most important letters. I do not wish to read such drivel.¡±


    ¡°Aside from the protests of your House, there is a peculiar letter that urges you to come to the docks.¡±


    They already knew who had sent the letter, and donning cloaks, they used another secret passage to the outside of the city until they reached Aryyad¡¯s warehouse.


    Aryyad and Johoon were already there, sitting on the stools they prepared. In a moment, the [Privateer] was inches away from the young lord of the Commerros.


    ¡°I have killed one of yours.¡± Johoon said to Racieros. ¡°The captain of your honor guard. He was there when I bribed them.¡±


    The news came as a shock to Racieros.


    ¡°You will be too, if this keeps up.¡± Johoon threatened Racieros.


    ¡°Johoon. Let¡¯s not threaten our business partner.¡± Aryyad intervened.


    ¡°They might bring you to court. Would you kill them, too?¡± Numisley mockingly asked, but Cultrost held him back. A dagger flashed before Numisley¡¯s eyes, but it was halted with a few words.


    ¡°Stop it. Killing each other is bad for business.¡± Aryyad interrupted before anything happened to them. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss how shall we deal with this trial. For all of our futures.¡±


    ¡°Agreed.¡± Racieros sighed.


    Throughout the rainy afternoon, they discussed contingencies until the rain abated. The Commerros within the castle planned something, promising all sorts of deals and rewards in between, with Dustitoz providing much information he gathered over the span of his stay. Adriasta was counted among their number; however, she heard a piece of news so dire that she had to find Racieros as soon as possible. When the meeting within one of the guest rooms was over, she discreetly sought the young lord.


    Among the slums of Ovespuerte, [Assassins] had found the site of their quarry.

 Chapter 59

    The slums of Est Prov¨¦s were filled with whispers and uncertainty tonight. Recent events had shaken up the neighborhood, with a new rival, a foreign gang, carving up other gangs¡¯ turf and poaching members of defeated clans and Demihuman orphans. More and more [Mercenaries] from the Diamond Shore are patrolling Est Prov¨¦s without the approval of the young [Lord], blatantly claiming a part of the Contiearl¡¯s city.


    The boss of the new gang was Raudaeiz, now residing in the tavern named Rtcas¡¯ Place, the same place where Rhmarha killed a [Head Smuggler] affiliated with the Diamond Shore. He knew that getting this place would paint a target on him, so he had his men place many of the members of the new gangs around it as guards in the surrounding houses and new magical defenses in the form of common charms strung in hidden corners and runes carved in crannies. Raudaeiz knows it will get raided at some point; however, he is prepared to escape when needed. The main advantage of this place is that this is the lynchpin when he begins his smuggling operation on behalf of the Gildin Brothers or otherwise.


    The portion he and his gang had taken from robbing the wagon carrying the bribes for the temple was also stored within the secure, hidden basement of the building.


    A young man who belonged to the slums of Est Prov¨¦s had approached Raudaeiz and whispered news through his ear.


    ¡°The trial is delayed?...¡± Raudaeiz uttered, his voice trailing behind him as he descended from one of the tavern¡¯s rooms. ¡°Send this letter to the Gildins.¡±


    He handed the boy a wrapped letter, bound tightly in rope and unassuming leather so it couldn¡¯t be easily opened. Soon, this letter will be delivered to Gildin Trading''s headquarters, where the Gildin brothers will receive the news of the new acquisition. Before he could count the profits they made, a dagger was caressing his throat.


    ¡°Where is the book?¡± A silky voice spoke echoed from somewhere. Suddenly, five figures made themselves known from within the corridor, as if they were always there, with one of them holding a worn cup-shaped candle holder bearing an effulgent yellow flame pointing towards Raudaeiz¡ªa magic item that guided them to their objective, operating with the assumption of information their employer had purchased from an associate with the Role of [Fortune Teller].


    ¡°I do not know what you are talking about. Ledgers?¡±


    ¡°A brown book. A Book of Paths.¡±


    A flash of the past sparked within Raudaeiz¡¯s memory. Numisley had entrusted him with hiding a book bound in cloth and leather. He had never seen the book because he never opened it. He thought that it was a journal a ledger of sorts, or even a spellbook. A Book of Paths, however, is a different matter. He knew that every major guild and clan, and especially nobility and royalty, had some sort of document on procedures and rituals for gaining the right Roles and Feats related to their current field. There are rumors of powerful abilities and knowledge about them that are hoarded by them are kept secret among those groups. If this was this kind of book, then he could either sell it for thousands of gold pieces or use it for himself.


    ¡°You must be crazy or high if you think someone like me has it.¡±


    He tried to figure out who was in front of him, but it was obscured by something like his facade was blurred by oil and shadow, or ink and mist. He was all too familiar with identity-obscuring Feats and Spells that he had started to feel the illusion that was laid upon his eyes. This might be a person who either is a member of a larger syndicate or an Assassin Guild.


    ¡°Lies.¡±


    ¡°If I had those kinds of paper, I would be rich by now! You got the wrong person.¡±


    ¡°This candle¡¯s witching flame still points to you.¡±


    ¡°That means you got swindled by some one-trick-trickster.¡±


    Before the person holding the candle could pop his claws out, one of the mysterious figures got stabbed. Raudaeiz saw Rhmarha dodge a swipe of the candle holder¡¯s claw.


    ¡°Here! Your boss is in danger!¡±


    That was the loudest Rhmarha had shouted aside from the torturous training she had gone through during her earliest days as an [Enslaved Assassin], and even now, she can feel the cold chains and constricting collar of her former [Slaver] in front of her. At first, the holder of the candle didn''t recognize her. In fact, the faces of the [Slaves] and indentured peoples had only been vague features for him, for they are merely fodder to be raised into disposable [Assassins]. However, he would remember the ones who survived a dozen assassinations or those who he often gave orders.


    ¡°You¡­¡± The [Assassin] holding the candle remembered that he had sent her to deliver a message to the late Contiearl back then. More people, armed with clubs and knives, now surrounded the five assailants. However, before a scuffle broke out between them an explosion shook the entire tavern.


    ¡°What¨C¡±


    A burst of flame emerged from one of the doors within the corridor of the second floor of the tavern, and both Raudaeiz¡¯s group and the [Assassins] went still for a moment. The [Assassins] were the first to realize what was happening, prompting them to quickly shove or stab some of Raudaeiz¡¯s men before disappearing.


    Raudaeiz was the next to realize what was happening, with the report of matchlocks interrupting his brief discomposure. They were under attack.


    ¡°Evacuate! We¡¯re under attack!¡±


    The others immediately started to run. However, many [Mercenaries] had already kicked down the doors with their swords, axes, wands, and matchlock pistols, slaying anyone they saw as a threat. In the heat of battle, it is whoever moves away or towards them. While many of the armed [Thieves] and [Thugs] had fought back and killed a number of them, the children who had joined the gang in hopes of the coin had been unequivocally slaughtered. Even if there are no words exchanged between them, only grunts and screams, the message is clear: that this place is their turf.


    Raudaeiz managed to retreat from the battle as the other gang members scattered to the four winds. He and his circle, plus Rhmarha, had managed to reach one of their hideouts: an unassuming abandoned warehouse a block over.


    ¡°Would they come back?¡± One of Raudaeiz¡¯s men, Jrain asked.


    ¡°The enemy of our gang?¡± Raudaeiz asked.


    ¡°Both.¡±


    ¡°Yes and no. I do not know who had attacked us. But I bet that it was the men of that Diamond Shore [Captain]. And I¡¯m sure that our slum boys and girls will come back to us once the heat dies down or if their coppers run out. We¡¯ll lay low for now.¡±


    Raudaeiz gave additional orders to the rest of his inner circle, and soon they had covertly exited the building to spread Raudaeiz¡¯s orders to the other pockets that the [Gang Leader] controls. Only Rhmarha was left with Raudaeiz, who was chewing a wad of tobacco that he had stolen from someone within the port. The young [Assassin] decided to sit at a corner, surrounded by broken barrels and empty crates.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Rhmarha.¡± Raudaeiz broke the silence. ¡°That guy¡­does he know you?¡±


    Rhmarha didn¡¯t answer the question.


    ¡°I know I said that I will not force you to do things. You are not a [Slave] anymore.¡±


    ¡°I will be there if any [Slaver] sees me. Now, they know that I¡¯m not dead.¡± Rhmarha retorted.


    ¡°So listen to me first. I will not let that happen, and to do so, I need to know who our enemies are. Who are those guys?¡±


    Rhmarha didn¡¯t want to be reminded of her suffering. Nevertheless, there is no room for emotions if she wants to survive.


    ¡°I am an initiate from an ¡®Assassin Guild¡¯ that calls itself the ¡®Cabal of Claws¨C¡¯ in this land¡¯s tongue.¡±


    ¡°Initiate?¡±


    ¡°I am one of the disposable [Assassins] within the Guild.¡± Rhmarha briefly explained, without mentioning how she got enslaved within the Cabal of Claws in the first place.


    As someone who had immersed himself in the underworld back home, he is familiar with the rumored ¡°Assassin Guilds,¡± groups of [Assassins] who had banded together and offered their services to the highest bidder, such as criminal syndicates, royal houses, and even the Corporations.


    ¡°How dangerous are they?¡±


    ¡°I cannot say,¡± Rhmarha said. ¡°All I know is that I¨Cwe had killed [Merchants] and [Guildmasters], even small-time [Lords], but never higher, never more. We operate along the ports of this country.¡±


    ¡°Did you know how that magic item works?¡±


    ¡°I never seen it before. We weren''t trusted with enchanted weapons in the first place.¡±


    ¡°This much is useful enough. Thank you.¡±


    On the same night, Adriasta came to Racieros¡¯ office within the castle at midnight after she met with the other Commerros. While the Commerros had returned to their rooms within the castle, their swiftest [Knights] who had removed their armor in favor of rugged traveler¡¯s wear were retying saddles on their steeds as their [Servants] procured rations either from their own stores or disturbed the [Shopkeepers] who were closing shop to buy dried foodstuffs and travel supplies.


    Racieros and the Gildin Brothers had just returned to the castle when they saw Adriasta waiting outside the door to the Contiearl¡¯s office.


    ¡°What are you doing here, if I may ask?¡± Racieros¡¯ fingers warily touched the handle of his sword.


    ¡°Forgive me, Lord Racieros, for disturbing your night. But I have urgent news.¡± Adriasta regained her posture, stiffening her back straight. ¡°Your guests¨Cyour family is planning to assassinate your mother. Your uncle sent your mother a [Message] Spell to notify her of your coronation. Their swiftest men and women, their [Knights] disguised as [Bandits], are already heading to intercept your mother¡¯s path to this port.¡±


    ¡°Garrenno? That damned¨C¡±


    Racieros held back his sharp tongue tinged with hatred, knowing that anger wouldn''t help him this time.


    ¡°What¡¯s your motive? Why are you telling me this?¡±


    ¡°Like I said before, my House would like to remain amicable with yours. And to be honest, I am only here by the orders of our patriarch. I would rather see these two arrested by the end of the trial¡­¡± Adriasta pointed to Numisley and Cultrost. ¡°But since they are allies of yours, they will be spared, for now. In short, what we want is to allow our House, or at least [Traders] from our territories, to trade within your port.¡±


    ¡°But we had already allowed your [Traders] to sell and buy here.¡±


    ¡°Let me reiterate. Give us at least a dock reserved for us. Our House asks for only one of your docks, and we will buy at whatever price you will set, without coercion of any kind, even with Feats. We will also pay for building a galleon. Do this, and I will send my fastest [Riders] at them.¡±


    ¡°I accept! I accept. I¡¯ll set the price, so just save my mother¡­¡±


    Everyone in the room was surprised that Racieros accepted so readily. Especially Numisley, who had a hunch that whoever had employed this person was desperate. Everyone within the office heard Racieros¡¯ unspoken ¡°please¡±, for the young noble was trying, but failing to hold back his desperation.


    ¡°Good. I was afraid that my [Knights] wouldn¡¯t catch up if you made your decision tomorrow.¡± Adriasta said. However, she saw the dew coalescing in Racieros¡¯ eyes, despite his best attempts to hide it. As nobility, she understood his pain. She understood the trappings of the responsibility of their caste. ¡°You¡¯re a good son.¡±


    Racieros looked up at the older [Lady].


    ¡°But a bad ruler. Next time you talk to another noble, hide your feelings better. It would be best if you let your mother take over as county regent until you are ready.¡±


    After her parting words, she disappeared.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°Yeah, Cultrost. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Racieros took a few steps closer to his desk. ¡°So, Numisley, Cultrost, how much coin should I charge them?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, we¡¯re never been near the ocean most of our lives until our father died, so we have no idea how important docks are. But I could guess. Give me the highest price you can think of.¡±


    Racieros was surprised by Numisley¡¯s honesty.


    ¡°Ten thousand torosi. Though my father would probably charge double. ¡±


    Ten thousand gold coins. Nearly twice more than the bounty placed on them back when they were hunted in Libertalia. Numisley and Cultrost thought that regardless of the exchange rate, that is a lot of money, more than whatever they can imagine.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s price¡­can you double that? Do nobility spend that much?¡± Cultrost was bewildered by the answer.


    ¡°Well, yes. In times of plenty.¡± Racieros said nonchalantly.


    ¡°They better hold the end of the deal,¡± Numisley interjected. ¡°And Racieros, mind if I use your ink, quill, and seal? I¡¯ll write a letter and have one of our men to deliver it. I¡¯ll write to my¡­¡¯ uncle¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    For Numisley, it felt weird to refer to a total stranger as an ¡°uncle¡±, even if they are technically blood-related. For him, the only family they had is their father and the company he used to manage. And he still wonders if they would accept Cultrost, even with his idea in mind.


    ¡°Is there any¡­ specific address I need to keep in mind for him?¡±


    ¡°Try ¡®Your Grace.¡¯ or ¡®Your Lordship¡¯. ¡±


    ¡°I like the last one,¡± Cultrost interjected. ¡°Would stroke the ego.¡±


    Numisley sat on Racieros¡¯ chair, grabbed one of the papers piled up on the desk, dipped one of the quills on the still-wet inkpot, and began to write:


    Your Lordship.


    I am writing as Numisley Naveirei. Racieros Commerro is on trial with the charges of high treason and patricide by his own family. Regardless of your position on this matter, I invite you to support Lord Racieros. I had struck a deal with him: should you support his case during the trial, you shall gain access to a significant share of Ovespuerte¡¯s annual income.


    This shall be my first duty as a member of your House.


    On that night, Palden had received this letter, and without hesitation, he had rode towards the Naveirei estate.


    Later that night, when Numisley was still in the Gildin Trading headquarters after seeing Palden off, a letter had just arrived from a child of the streets. He instantly knew who sent him as he saw the same peculiar knot tied across the leather wrapping. When Numisley unfurled it, he saw the portentous message within:


    Hideout attacked. Assassin Guild knows about the brown book. Laying low. Do not initiate contact.

 Chapter 60

    This has been what transpired in the seven days before the continuation of the trial.


    For the past three days, Adriasta rode with the fastest of her retinue towards the direction of the Gaviolos lands, where Strraina Commerro will be said to be ambushed near the frontier. It was the simplest scheme but tried and tested by many nobility like her and royalty all over the four corners of the known world and lands beyond. She hoped they would make it before the matriarch of the Commerros got killed.


    Thankfully, they are used to the forests, quagmires, and hills that plagued the frontier between the lands of House Commerro and House Gaviolos, for their homeland was similar, if not rougher. Many among her retinue have the Feats that made it easier for their horses to traverse the uneven landscape on the frontier. Yet there had been a few mishaps that had damaged their horses'' hooves, fortunately easily solvable by health potions that were suitable for horses. They were lucky that Adriasta knew the exact path the men and women of the Commerros were taking, however, they had to take care not to reveal themselves to the other [Riders] on their way to intercept Racieros¡¯ mother, hence their sluggishness.


    The night before the ambush, Adriasta decided to camp on the very top of a hill, where she could vividly see the men and women sent by the Commerros, carelessly camping with a fire a fair distance away from a dirt road. Adriasta and her group, however, elected to use runestones to heat their pot, as one of them with cooking-Feats was stirring a stew. They sat among the nighttime shadows cast by the grove of trees they camped within, remaining unseen by the would-be assassins below.


    There is another reason why Adriasta elected to camp on the very top of the mountain, which normally isn¡¯t ideal if one wants to stay hidden. She knows that this is the spot where the ambush will occur. She does not know when will the carriage arrive, only that she knows it will be tomorrow morning, ignoring other possibilities such as the weather or the monsters lurking within the wild.


    When morning came, Adriasta bestowed a Feat that increased range and accuracy to those whom she deemed skilled with the bow and arrow, with the conditions of that Feat being that they must be on a hilltop. While Adriasta and her entourage, armed with bows drawn partially, skulked in the shadows of the bushes and trees around them, as the assassins had positioned themselves on elevated ground between thick bushes with Dragonkin-crafted arquebuses pointed at the road after drawing impromptu runes on the dirt road that would cast a rudimentary [Earth Wall] spell that would be enough to scare the horses that pulled the target¡¯s carriage.


    Then they waited. No sound was uttered from their lips, and only the rustle of the leaves and the songs of the birds were heard. The sun rose southeast from the black border of the horizon until it hung at the zenith of the world¡¯s firmament. A carriage was soon spotted on the dirt road, bearing the colors of Torregorn and House Commerro.


    Although Adriasta and her entourage were already in a position to kill the assassins, she needed to catch them in the act so she could justify their murder later, and gain the trust of Strraina Commerro. The clops of the hooves on the dirt road are later heard, and the men and women hiding in the bushes prepare their firearms.


    A wall of magically compacted earth was suddenly raised in front of the carriage, making the two horses pulling the carriage raise on their hind legs in fright. The [Coach] of the horses struggled to gain control of the horses, wresting the reins with his bare strength.


    Soon, the report of the guns was heard. Seven out of nine of the foreign arquebuses were fired, while the other two misfired: their bullets failing to exit the barrel. The magical shining bubble surrounding the carriage became visible as it absorbed the force of three of the bullets before it shattered, with the rest of the volley puncturing the carriage doors. The ambushers left their arquebuses to the ground, pulling out pre-charged wands and blades of their own, but before they stood fully, they were pierced by the arrows that Adriasta¡¯s group carried. Adriasta personally cut a [Soldier] of the Commerros with her falchion after they let loose their arrows. The ambushers of the other side had started to charge towards the carriage with blades in their hands, with some staying within the trees to cast pre-stored spells from their wooden wands. Adriasta¡¯s [Archers] on the hill had already loosed arrows from afar, piercing the limbs and torsos of the assailants. Those who escaped the wrath of the arrows were cut down by Adriasta and her entourage instead.


    Adriasta approached the carriage and opened it, seeing the green-haired spouse of the late Torresso Commerro, who was quite shocked by the ambush and the sudden intrusion.


    ¡°Apologies and greetings, Lady Commerro. I¡¯m Adriasta of House Kaminor, and I¡¯m here at the behest of your son.¡±


    Then she briefly explained the situation in Ovespuerte, the death of her spouse and the persecution of her son; yet she did not explain the entire truth of the matter. Soon, after she ordered the beheading of the corpses to prevent them from rising as undead and cutting their hands that still held the Dragonkin-crafted firearms to bring as evidence, they had escorted the carriage to Ovespuerte.


    -


    The four days after the postponement of the trial was a time of uncertainty in Ovespuerte. Rumors of Racieros¡¯ prosecution had already circulated, and the brewing storm stayed in the same place on Ovespuerte¡¯s sea like an ominous reminder. The adherents of the Divine Decree see this as a warning from one of their gods, Areti, the God of Justice. The Beastkin [Traders] of the southern continent see it as a divine sign from the Prophet Zdrail. Those from the great continent of the east saw this as a reminder of the Ocean Goddess¡¯ wrath. Adherents of smaller deities, especially the many gods of trade and fortune, had universally seen this as an omen. Even in the county capital of the Commerros and a major port of Torregorn, many faiths are tolerated by the city-state¡¯s religion out of necessity. Many shrines never set foot on the docks, residing on their ships. A few who had used the many warehouses along the docks had erected small temples within barrels and crates. Many prayed more frequently than before, hoping that a storm would not come this early in the spring.


    Numisley, and his brother, Cultrost, were tasked to be representatives of Racieros as he dealt with other matters. They are tasked to assuage the fears of the Guilds of Ovespuerte and rally them to Racieros¡¯ cause. The meeting did not occur in the castle, but in the House of Scribes, the guild hall of the Scrivener¡¯s Guild of Ovespuerte.


    Numisley and Cultrost had been to many guild halls of the [Merchants] and [Drivers], and all manner of Roles back in their homeland with their father when he posed as a [Trader], and they had been in the gilded Tor Caserasera Comerr: the guild hall of the Merchant¡¯s Guild of Ovespuerte next to the docks, within the market district. However, even the guild hall of the [Scribes] was more resplendent than the aforementioned building was spread out into four wings, and at the center is a tower with minimal openings. The stained glass windows dominated the beige facade of the large guild hall; no doubt its purpose was to provide light inside. In a way, it resembled a fortress, and Numisley and Cultrost guessed it had a lot of magical protections that they could not see.


    There was a single Golem who guarded the heavy double doors of the guild hall. It appeared to be a hulking giant donned with a suit of regal armor, armed with a sword that resembled an elongated bardiche¡¯s blade until one notices the dim red orbs within the visor and the rigidity of its movements. Despite the lack of a mouth, it spoke like vibrating metal, its sound reverberated throughout its body:


    ¡°Purpose.¡±


    Both brothers jumped as they didn¡¯t expect the golem to talk. It was asking a question, however, it sounded akin to a command instead of a question.


    ¡°Meeting.¡± Numisley regained his composure. ¡°We are on behalf of Lord Racieros to meet with the Guildmasters of this port.¡±


    The golem stayed silent for an uncomfortable while before the door opened, with a frail man in robes opening the door.


    ¡°Please come in.¡±


    Soon, they were guided to a reception area where they were told to wait. The inside of the guild hall is one they did not expect. They were sitting on a velvet padded bench within a hall of multicolored mosaics, with a brass chandelier holding glowing crystals, reminding them of the interior of the bank back in Dotterm.


    They expected a hall filled with [Scribes] eternally writing on lengthy pieces of parchment and paper, instead of a room resembling those in Racieros¡¯ castle. Among all of the guilds of the Six Lands, they distinctly remember their father saying that among all the types of guilds, the Scribe Guilds and the Divination Guilds are consistently the wealthiest and the most influential because of their monopolies over all kinds of information. They saw the truth of their father¡¯s tales, from the Golem to this room. They remembered having rudimentary stone golems back in their manor, but even each one had cost an arm and a leg. Cultrost remembered asking their father why he did not think to buy a golem of iron, and their father simply said that they were even more expensive.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Now Numisley and Cultrost wondered if they were being observed somehow. However, before they could wait for too long, they were led by one of the members of the Guild to a conference hall located on the upper floor. Numisley and Cultrost were on time, seeing as the other Guildmasters and Guildmistresses had just arrived and settled in their padded chairs surrounding the oblong table made of ivory. The [Guildmasters] present are the leaders of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, Alchemist¡¯s Guild, Smith¡¯s Guild, Courier¡¯s Guild, Shipwright¡¯s Guild, and Builder¡¯s Guild. Notably, there was the absence of the Mage¡¯s Guild¡¯s leader, who had reportedly gone to another city on inter-guild matters, the missing presence of the current Guildmaster of the Merchant¡¯s Guild, and the presence of the Fishmonger¡¯s Guild, which was a familiar feathered face.


    ¡°Tisruda?¡± Cultrost uttered.


    ¡°Oh, hello.¡± The Guildmaster of the Fishmonger¡¯s Guild casually greeted the Gildin Brothers.


    ¡°I never thought you were the Guildmaster of the [Fishmongers],¡± Numisley remarked.


    ¡°Ain¡¯t too inclined to show off my status to some passersbys.¡± Tisruda answered. ¡°Not like the old man of this place.¡±


    By coincidence, the door opened, postponing the conversation. Last to arrive was the Guildmaster of the Scrievener¡¯s Guild, who sat at the head of the table, along with two [Scribes] with a contraption on their back that consisted of a large scroll attached to a brass frame, and attached to the frame was a foldable desk on the front of the [Scribes], containing the end of the paper scroll with compartments that held a large clay bottle of ink and several quills. Two other people in brown robes entered the room and silently sat on the benches next to the door.


    ¡°Welcome, Guildmasters of Ovespuerte. Greetings, [Merchants] of Lord Commerro. Thank you for inviting yourselves to my abode. [Servants] will be providing refreshments and snacks shortly for the duration of this meeting. All words spoken will be transcribed by the [Scribes] present, and any contracts and agreements that will be made will be overseen by the [Notaries] present.¡±


    The Guildmaster of [Scribes] paused before continuing to speak. The [Scribes] had already dipped their quills in their bottles of ink.


    ¡°State your business, Numisley, and Cultrost Gildin. What does Lord Commerro request of us?¡±


    ¡°Racieros had told us¨Cgiven us the authority to assuage your fears regarding his trial in the temple. To clarify the rumors regarding him, and to address your concerns in light of the matter on behalf of the authority of Ovespuerte.¡±


    ¡°I am right to assume that our services during the coronation would be paid, right?¡± The burly [Guildmaster] of the Builder¡¯s Guild asked, seemingly puffing his chest in an effort to assert himself.


    ¡°Yes. In due time. As you may have heard, Racieros is defending himself against his supposed crimes.¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°Is he involved with that foreign [Peddler]?¡± The [Guildmistress] of the Shipwright¡¯s Guild asked about Aryyad. ¡°I heard his [Mercenaries] were the ones who ransacked our port.


    ¡°No.¡± Numisley lied.


    ¡°That race traitor nevertheless dares to spread that desert cult in this port. I¡¯ve seen altars of one of their prophets past the docks!¡± The [Guildmistress] expressed her outrage against Aryyad.


    ¡°Not only that, he is illegally acquiring much of the properties once belonging to the Guilds of Ovespuerte. Many of my smithies were snatched right under me from hostile negotiations.¡± The Guildmistress of the Smithing Guild of Ovespuerte complained.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid to report that my members too, were harassed by the men and women of a certain Libertalian [Captain].¡±


    ¡°I believe that there is a more important matter at hand,¡± Scrivorr spoke, the old man¡¯s voice instantly halting any more complaints. ¡°The results of the trial will affect us too, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Numisley answered. ¡°That is why Racieros had sought your help. A petition against his unjust prosecution.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty,¡± Scrivorr replied. ¡°First, I want your assurance that Racieros would maintain our status within the port. His predecessor had allowed our guilds free reign as long as long as our actions and policies did not affect the economic health of his port. If not, then we shall lend our support to the other Commerros.¡±


    The audacity of such a statement made Numisley hesitate for a short moment, but even back home he knew that guilds often have more power than the authorities.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that he would uphold his father¡¯s previous agreements,¡± Racieros reassured.


    ¡°Second. All freelance individuals with an occupation and Roles not affiliated with the Guilds present must be required to be a member of the guild. The specificities of this law, of course, will be deliberated upon after Racieros'' trial. Third, Racieros must force the Merchant¡¯s Guild to recompense their unlawful acquisitions, and the detainment of its Guildmaster, or at least his removal from his position. If Lord Commerro could guarantee that, then he shall have our full support.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to relay that. However, please listen to what Lord Racieros, and I have to say...¡±


    After several minutes of that meeting, Numisley and Cultrost returned to the castle. Numisley had reported to Racieros on what the Guildmasters had to say.


    -


    A letter with the seal of the Commerros had reached the city of Ascolitica and made its way into the home of the Naveirei after four days. Its sender had disappeared long after this message had been received by its intended receiver.


    Escribanorr Tres Naveirei had received the letter. When he read its contents he was first bewildered by his nephew¡¯s audacity, until he realized that it benefitted the entire House. If they could acquire even a smidgen of Ovespuerte¡¯s annual income it earns from the goods that come from the trade route that stretched from Libertalia to the isles of the Golden Triangle, his decision would pave the way to the future access of its wealth. Maybe even gaining more access to the Golden Triangle.


    His nephew¡¯s shrewdness proved that he was Jascias and Marhyiana¡¯s son. Escribanorr realized that Numisley could prove to be an asset to their family, so he went to one of the scrying mirrors within his abode and attempted to contact the matriarch of their house. The mirror continued to ripple, attempting to get a lock on his mother until her annoyed expression had shown up.


    ¡°This better be something important.¡±


    ¡°Lady Matironra.¡± Escribanorr performed a subtle bow.


    ¡°I¡¯m in no mood for formalities. My [Servant] told me you used the high-priority channel. What is it?¡±


    ¡°Marhyiana¡¯s son had negotiated with Torresso¡¯s son that he will give us a portion of Ovespuerte¡¯s annual income if we help him in his trials against the Commerros.¡±


    ¡°Marhyiana¡¯s son¨Coh.¡±


    ¡°With your blessing, I shall use any resources necessary to secure this.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Escribanorr ultimately knew the answer. However, his mother nevertheless reiterated it.


    ¡°Did he tell you the exact amount of this share? Of course, he withheld it. He talks like his father. I know he would try to negotiate for his right to undergo the Ichoricon Rite to become one of us. I know that if I recognize him as Marhyiana¡¯s son, then our House¡¯s heritage will be called into question once they see his cursed leg, evidence of your sister¡¯s transgression.¡±


    ¡°I may be a [Mage Lord], but I know the records. Even with the patrols of northern ports, our recent skirmishes against the Aureleon Empire¡¯s hired [Privateers] had hindered trade. Ships had been plundered and taken, and I know you can see that. If we have a silver of Ovespuerte¡¯s income from its trade with the Golden Triangle, then we could better recompense our losses and better relations with House Commerro. With this beachhead, we could even have our products easily sold to the routes of the Golden Triangle!¡±


    ¡°The current Commerro patriarch is merely a boy, no doubt stricken by the loss of his father and older brother, soon to be deposed by his own family. No doubt his lowborn mother had been killed by now. Would you want to help him? You will tarnish our reputation with that move.¡±


    ¡°Mother.¡± Escribanorr discarded his usual address to belabor his point. ¡°I think it is worth the risk. We had been far too comfortable with the royal privileges that Marhyiana had earned for us. My sources say that already, the Gaviolos had set their sights on Ovespuerte. Let me do this. I swear in the Divine Decree and the name and blood of our House that I shall make our family richer.¡±


    There was a pregnant pause between them until the matriarch of the Naveirei moved her chapped lips.


    ¡°Succeed, and I¡¯ll consider that boy¡¯s initiation to our House. Fail and tarnish our House reputation, then I shall disinherit you. Is this a risk you are willing to take?¡±


    ¡°I shall surf through the waves of strife as our ancestors did.¡± Escribanorr evoked their House¡¯s motto.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    The trial resumed on the seventh day of Iaraducar, the second month of spring. The temple had long been consecrated during the week of delay. The evidence of the [Priests]¡¯


    On that day, those on trial were prepared for the judgment of the Decree.

 Chapter 61

    Numisley had met with many people for the seven-day postponement of the trial. People had seen him and his brother roaming around the city on a wagon, meeting with many Guildmasters and community leaders carrying the authority of Racieros. However, rumors of Racieros¡¯ betrayal and murder of his father were whispered from many more mouths within Ovespuerte, and so the outrage of people was brewing around the temple.


    On the day of the trial [Shopkeepers] had closed their shops and ships started to unmoor. Guild halls shut their doors and few people made their presence known in the streets. No saline breeze wafted through the streets, nor smoke from grilled fish from the seafood markets on the docks.


    ¡°Are you sure your uncle would come, brother?¡± Cultrost asked as they were ascending the ramp that leads to the temple.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t got a reply.¡± Numisley sighed. ¡°But if they want the profit that comes through this port, they should.¡±


    Cultrost stared at the almost empty streets, knowing what was to come, before returning his gaze to his brother, who was looking straight ahead to a goal yet attained.


    -


    ¡°The sacred court is now in session.¡± The [High Priest] announced.


    No springtime storm interrupted the skies at this hour, and the temple took it as a sign that they placated the wrath of their god of justice through their rituals and sacrifices. Many men and women involved in the trials had received many letters from many sources for this day. Aside from the same people sitting on the pews and the two opposing tables that hosted the defendants and the opposition, there is a significant presence that made the opposition uneasy.


    Strraina Commerro sat with his son on the table, along with the documents of the trial, with lips holding back her words of wrath. The Commerros behind the opposite table and the pews, those behind her failed assassination, had started to sweat and quiver in their seats.


    ¡°To summarize what was presented before the sacred court of laws last session, Lord Racieros¡¯ charge of high treason was annulled. The matter of the patricide of Contiearl Torresso Rahmieros Commerro and the fratricide of Lord Verrespadion Rahmieros Commerro remains inconclusive. As allowed by tradition, there will be two guest witnesses, one of which will be Strraina Commerro here, and the other will remain anonymous to maintain fairness. After her, Aryyad Guizzimeraime would give his testimony of the attack. Lady Commerro, you may speak.¡±


    ¡°My son has told me of the situation, and I''m offended that you accuse my son of murdering his father and brother!¡± Strraina pointed towards the Commerrro. ¡°I do have a mind to protest against my own family. They tried to assassinate me on my way here!¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, wench! Lowborn lies! ¡± Garrenno spat out, unable to hold back his anger.


    Strraina turned to a [Servant], who was holding a wet, bloody sack.


    ¡°Please look at the contents, Your Holiness.¡±


    The [Servant] delivered the sack to the [High Priest], and he looked inside, opening the sack wide. The horrid sight and smell had prompted the [High Priest] to drop it, its rotten contents scattered on the floor: dismembered arms holding matchlock rifles, each with peculiar foreign patterns and familiar markings.


    ¡°See! They are of Dragonfolk-make, the only people who can make such intricate firearms! Look closely, and see the seals of my House. Only the Commerros and the Gaviolos are the only ones able to buy such arms!¡± Strraina accused.


    ¡°What is the proof of this?¡± The opposition¡¯s [Lawyer]-[Priest]¡¯s asked.


    ¡°My savior, Adriasta Kaminor, can testify.¡±


    Behind the defendants was Adriasta, who strode from between the pillars of the open temple and stood beside Strraina.


    ¡°The Commerros present had sent a dozen and a half men to fire on a Commerro matriarch. It is evident that with this action and this attempt to convict Racieros that this is a conspiracy to undermine the main family.¡± Strraina testified.


    Before the [Lawyer]-[Priest] could defend their client, Garreno was once again unable to control his emotions.


    ¡°Suppose that is true, how did you know of this? Are you involved in such a plot, accusing us to compensate for your mistake?¡± Garreno pointed a finger. Their [Lawyer] tried to speak, but a glare from Garreno silenced him.


    ¡°Because yes, I was there when you and the rest of the Commerros had plotted the assassination. In the dead of night, their men had bought supplies for their ambush. My men and the [Shopkeepers] they bought from the streets named Carrstan and Orterr? could testify. If there is a crime that I was convicted of, then it is surely the murder of twelve men and women who worked for a traitorous lot!¡± Strraina spat.


    Raucous jeers from the rest of the Commerros shook the pews until the strike of the [High Priest]¡¯s staff and accompanying Feat had silenced them with shame.


    ¡°Thank you for speaking, Lady Commerro. Merchant Aryyad, you are now allowed to make your testimony.¡± The [High Priest] spoke.


    Aryyad stood up and spoke.


    ¡°On the night that the late Lord Commerro had died, I saw [Pirates] emerge from the sea and land on the docks. They looted the many merchant ships moored in that midnight. I had defended myself from these [Pirates] with my [Mercenaries], and then the next day I heard that His Highness was murdered by these [Pirates] who then disappeared into the sea. That is what I saw. I do not believe that his son had sent these scoundrels to his own city, however.¡±


    ¡°The opposition had bought a witness to this temple. Merchant Timorri Dovrino, you may speak.¡± The [High Priest] said, after Aryyad gave his testimony.


    Dustitoz had somehow brought out the former Guildmaster of [Merchants] from hiding, a man whose hair had started to grey, who is a person that looks older than he is.


    ¡°Aryyad is a character of ill repute,¡± Timorri spoke. ¡°He had offered me thousands of gold for my position. The fault is on me for accepting. To make up for this transgression, I have a list of several witnesses from my guild who could verify that Aryyad and the Diamond Shore Captain named ¡®Johoon¡¯, were involved in the murder of Lord Torresso Commerro and Lord Verrespadion Commerro.¡±


    He handed a list to the [Lawyer-Priest] in charge of defending the opposition, which he gave to the [High Priest].


    ¡°This will be consulted upon in the next session.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost didn¡¯t expect the former Merchant Guildmaster to appear in the trial. With cold sweat and twiddling fingers, they waited for the jury to declare their stance on the matter. After they whispered among themselves, the [Priest] in charge of the jury had spoken.


    ¡°The jury is divided on the matter.¡±


    The words felt like a soothing, but cold breeze to Numisley and Cultrost. A brief moment of reprieve was interrupted by a faint discordant sound that grew louder and louder, with distinct voices belonging to dissatisfied people, men and women. A [Temple Guard] had pushed the doors open, disrupting the trial.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°The citizens are protesting! They are fighting each other in the streets! They are trying to barge into the temple!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The [High Priest] and the rest of the people in the temple try the make sense of the conflicting facts.


    ¡°The citizens know the truth! They know that Racieros had sent foreign [Pirates] to murder their [Lord] and their families! End this trial rightly so none of us would be caught in the ire of the commoners!¡±


    After that inciting speech, Dustitoz¡¯s lips curled upward for a moment, and only Numisley had noticed. Both of their plans flowered at the same time and at the same place. The riots outside represented their duel of wits and preparation.


    Below the cliffs of the temple, there were two crowds in the streets, those who were incited by rumors of the murder of the late Contiearl by Racieros and those who were protesting against the prosecution of Raceiros. The last ships left at the docks were starting to unmoor themselves from the docks to escape the chaos. The guilds had already mustered their [Mercenaries] to guard their establishments against looters, and [Mages] of the Mage¡¯s Guild who know the [Earth Wall] spell had cordoned off sections of the city to mitigate the riots.


    The Household Guard was sent to suppress the riots, however, they found themselves fighting against each other for the same reasons. While many had stayed loyal to Racieros, many knew that they had betrayed their liege. The castle became a battlefield, and Racieros had heard the news just now from one of the [Squires] of his Household Guard within the temple. Numisley was mainly worried that his uncle would be delayed, or possibly indisposed because of these riots, and he had felt the looming fear that his grand plan would fail.


    As if they were also caught in the frenzy of riot,  the Commerros¡¯ armed entourage had spilled into the temple, disarming or outright murdering the [Temple Guards]. These men and women had given the Commerros who were part of this plan weapons. Dustitoz stood up in shock, as this was not part of their scheme. Some of the Commerros were surprised too. They broke the sacred rule of not bringing weapons into a Decreeist temple.


    ¡°What are you doing, Garrenno?¡± Dustitoz asked, almost admitting that this was not part of his plan. He did not expect that Garrenno was this foolish as to ignore the blowback of this move when it inevitably fails.


    ¡°What I should¡¯ve done when I got here,¡± Garrenno stated, pointing his ivory wand hidden in his sleeves towards Racieros. ¡°This is my only chance. There is no reason for this charade! His Household Guard would not be able to arrive to save him.¡±


    ¡°Traitor!¡± One of the Commerros who hadn¡¯t drawn their weapon protested. ¡°You said we will do this the right and holy way! You said he killed his father! You lied to us¨C¡±


    A sword pierced her heart, leaving the Commerros shocked.


    ¡°You despicable cur! Are you mad?¡± Strraina screamed as her cousin was killed in front of her.


    ¡°Whoever follows me shall gain more land and rights under my rule!¡± Garreno declared. The hesitant members of the Commerros had joined the rest of their house.


    ¡°Nephew, sister-in-law.¡± Garreno turned to Racieros. ¡°Bequeath your throne to me and I shall spare you two and let you live in a village somewhere.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Racieros spoke.


    ¡°A murderer would stain the throne of my spouse.¡± Strraina spat.


    ¡°I gave you two a chance. You two are not fit to inherit the Commerro legacy! Both of you are with diluted blood! I need not summon the Ichorvators to prove it, for you, Strraina, dare to be a parasite to our line!¡±


    ¡°Parasite? Parasite? How dare you!¡± The rage within Strraina¡¯s words made Garrenno waver. ¡°My marriage to my husband is not of mere duty! My Parste lineage does not matter to me, nor does the fact that my husband will not love me as much as he did for his first!¡±


    These words did not faze Garreno, with the tip of his ornate wand glowing with silver light.


    ¡°Enough of this. It does not matter. I shall make sure that your deaths will be quick. [Ironlight Needles].¡±


    The light emanating from his wand had fizzled when he had attempted to cast a spell, and Garrenno immediately knew who was the culprit.


    ¡°You dare use a Miracle on me?¡± Garreno shouted to the [High Priest].


    ¡°You had broken the sacred laws of the temple. So, bleed and begone!¡±


    The [High Priest] spoke in the liturgical language of their faith in a reprimanding tone, uttering a Miracle. The armed entourage was blown away by a holy force that made itself known. They found themselves on the temple grounds where they killed the [Temple Guards], and they noticed their pores starting to bleed.


    Only Garrenno and the other Commerros resisted the Miracle with their Auras. The jury and the [Acolytes] cowered behind the [High Priests], and the three other [Priests] had ceased their duties for the trial and manifested shields and maces out of thin air.


    Numisley had already prepared for this possibility, and so he had applied his [Secret Compartment] on Cultrost¡¯s vest and Racieros¡¯ robes. Cultrost pulled out his mace, and Racieros pulled out two cutlasses, with the other one he tossed to Adriasta. Adriasta seemed to be talking to someone in her speaking tone, however she tossed it on the floor.


    ¡°No reinforcements.¡± She sighed, moving the rest of her body into a one-handed sword stance.


    Soon there was a battle within the temple. Numisley found himself casting every single spell stored within his walking staff when he was sure he could hit someone, or in crucial moments when his brother was almost pierced by a crossbow bolt or a magical projectile from his recklessness. Adriasta focused on defending Strraina against Garrenno¡¯s incessant spells that she deflected with her skillful parries and the defensive magical rings she wore. The [Priests] cast offensive Miracles that attempt to repel the Commerro nobles.


    In the battle within the temple, Cultrost seemed to be the hero of tales, who fought against odds that should¡¯ve slain here. However, he fearlessly dives into the fray among the common cursed soldiery of the Commerros and the nobles themselves and swings his mace. Cultrost proved that the nobles¡¯ years of martial education and practice were worthless against his sheer ferocity, and shrugged off the bolts and cuts that their veterans had inflicted upon him with [Ignore Pain]. His bloodied form, for his enemies as of this moment, evoked the image of Satyr raiders that ravaged the northern coasts of the land of Trislan.


    What a fearsome being that [Spymaster] raised. Dustitoz thought, as he simply walked towards the unguarded back of Garrenno Commerro, slitting his throat to cease his chant and stabbing through his ribs to make his death quick.


    And what a conniving bastard that [Spymaster] nurtured. It dawned upon Dustitoz that Numisley was the one who plotted behind the scenes. He did not know how, but every failure that he suffered during this attempt to take Ovespuerte¡¯s income was because Numisley had ingratiated himself with the Commerro¡¯s scion. He almost won. He had forged many documents with his stolen seals and hired many people to disprove the defendant¡¯s claims. Yet he had lost because of a fool who decided to narrow his vision to the now instead of tomorrow. And now his enemies are in a position where they can completely claim moral superiority over this moment.


    It was not my fault. It was never my fault. Dustitoz repeated the mantra he told himself ever since he failed to take the throne of Torregorn and ever since he failed to kill Jascias¡¯ sons.


    ¡°Commerros! You dare sully the sacredness of the temple of the law and the god presiding over it? Even if I had rebelled against the royal family a decade ago, I did not desecrate the temples of our gods! Disarm yourselves, and submit to them!¡±


    Dustitoz made sure that he didn¡¯t fight either side so that no one could accuse him of switching sides.


    ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal. I shall ensure that in the trial that soon to come, I shall testify that you all had been coerced to follow Garrenno Commerro.¡±


    The remaining Commerros did the most sensible thing and ordered their [Soldiers] to stand down.


    While he had said these words aloud, Dustitoz was secretly using [A Private Conversation], a Feat that telepathically converses with a subject and temporarily gives the subject the ability to do the same thing.


    ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal.¡± Dustitoz had said this word aloud earlier when he addressed the Commerros. ¡°I shall let you undertake the Trial of the Ichoricon. In turn, do not speak of what I had done in your homeland, nor what I had done to you in this kingdom.¡±


    ¡°And why are you offering this? What¡¯s in for you?¡±


    ¡°Consider this as a truce between us. Like a hen being fattened to be slaughtered later, I shall have you killed someday, when you have tasted what your heritage has to offer. The wealth, the excess, the pleasures, that you haven¡¯t experienced in your sorry life. So that the pain that I shall inflict upon you hurts more.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you, you pathetic fuck. I accept your challenge. You¡¯re just giving me enough time to destroy you.¡±


    When that [Private Conversation] ended, Numisley smiled at that moment.

 Chapter 62

    When Numisley and Cultrost went outside the temple grounds, they saw the rioters asleep on the streets, many of them collapsed on each other, loudly snoring. Before them was the one responsible, a [Lord] holding a wand with its mana crystal depleted and his entourage, his son and the best [Spellknights] in his retinue.


    ¡°I demand to know what has transpired here,¡± Escribannor said with a heavy voice.


    Racieros stepped forward before Numisley could speak, and told him the situation in the briefest way possible, yet it raised more questions for the [Mage Lord].


    ¡°So, you are the new patriarch of your family. A shame that I didn¡¯t equip myself in my full panoply of war for I didn¡¯t know the full scope of the threat against you, but as you can see, I had quelled the riots.¡± Escribannor gestured towards the sleeping crowd. He had expected to participate in the trial, as he had prepared many documents within his Bag of Holding, but the unexpected delays and communication issues had made him late.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Racieros said. ¡°But I do not intend to govern by myself. My mother is here after all.¡±


    Escribannor stared at the other Commerros being arrested and Dustitoz Gaviolos, descending from the winding stairs that led to the temple. Adriasta led her remaining men and women to maintain order to those who continued to prowl the streets, while some woke up the rioters from their spell-induced slumber.


    ¡°Let us speak privately, Numisley, Racieros. And we are in need of refreshments. If you don¡¯t have magical wines, mana potion mixed with juice or water will do.¡±


    When they arrived at the castle, they saw the damage done by the fighting between the Household Guard. Broken windows, cracked walls, and bodies splayed in hallways and rooms. There was a group of [Squires] who had come to receive them, weapons still in hand, who then kneeled before Racieros.


    ¡°Forgive us! Half of our number had turned traitor! The Guard Captain too. We shall accept any punishment to atone!¡±


    Racieros was in shock. Another problem to add in this hectic day. Yet his mouth moved in urgency.


    ¡°How many remain?¡±


    ¡°Twenty. A third injured.¡±


    ¡°How many [Servants] left?¡±


    ¡°Ten dead and maimed. But the rest¡­unharmed. They might have hid or fled.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­deal with this later. First, my visitors need refreshments. Find a [Servant] or do it yourself, but I shall need six glasses of magical wine, or mana-infused juice or water within the hour in my office. Go.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, my lord.¡±


    The loss of men. The loss of order. The loss of money. The loss of trust. The arrest of the remaining Commerros that collaborated. What will happen tomorrow? These issues piled up as they walked into the office. Racieros, Numisley, Cultrost, Escribannorr, Anteojor , and Strraina sat on chairs arranged in a circle.


    Escribanorr demanded a clearer explanation of the events surrounding the trial, which clarified misunderstandings and misconceptions that he had within his head.


    ¡°I had intended to arrive several days ago. I even brought my flying carpets with me and enchanted my small party with [Haste]. Yet I found myself delayed by several unfortunate circumstances that I knew were created by a Feat. No doubt someone who intercepted your letters, which might be those Commerros, and most likely that traitor of the crown.¡± Escribanorr referred to the presence of Dustitoz Commerro in the trial.


    ¡°What¡¯s more important is the trial against Racieros, and against me and my brother, and associated parties are now invalid because Racieros¡¯ uncle was the one who requested it,¡± Numisley said.


    ¡°Dustitoz might pursue his charges against you and your brother. Based on what you had said.¡± Anteojor added.


    ¡°He made a ceasefire. He would not interfere with the Ichoricon as long as I do not disclose what he had done in my homeland and here.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Cultrost was the first to ask before anyone in the room could. One of the [Squires] from earlier brought glasses of mana-infused wine which Escribannor and Anteojor quickly gulped down.


    ¡°By the sound of it, he wants me to taste what it feels like to be nobility before he could bring me down. So it will be more painful for me when I fall, so he says.¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°Let''s get to the real reason why you are here, Marquis.¡± Racieros addressed Escribanorr. ¡°What reward do you expect after helping us?¡±


    ¡°A permit for our [Merchants] to trade within our port, or at least allow my House a share of Ovespuerte¡¯s annual profits.¡±


    ¡°Because of the Golden Triangle,¡± Racieros uttered.


    ¡°Before that, if I may add. I request your assistance not only for my allowance in the Ichoricon, but I believe Ovespuerte is damaged for trade. If Racieros wishes to give you a share or permit, then you may graciously fund the repairs needed, am I right?¡± Numisley turned to Racieros.¡±


    Although Numisley¡¯s way of addressing Racieros was uncouth and unprompted, ignoring the social standing of each, the foreign [Trader] was correct in his assessment. Having Naveirei influence was better than having foreign powers semi-occupying Ovespuerte. Despite his inexperience, Racieros suspected that this would not be the end of the riots within his city, and he currently lacks military power because of the Household Guard¡¯s infighting.


    ¡°Yes. If you donate to the health of Ovespuerte and honor my friend¡¯s request, I shall consider yours.¡±


    ¡°I shall accept. Provided that I shall also have the permission of Strraina Commerro.¡± Escribanorr addressed Racieros¡¯ mother.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Strraina accepted. ¡°Let¡¯s further define the terms and conditions before it shall be put to writing.¡±


    Escribanorr could force many concessions that would put him and the Naveirei at an advantage, but his priority was to establish cordial relations with his House and the Commerros in the process of profiting from Ovespuerte¡¯s proximity to the Golden Triangle. With this restriction, he was at a disadvantage that forced him to accept the many conditions imposed on him by Racieros, with the guiding voices of his mother and Numisley. The importance of Ovespuerte as one of the ports that is directly on a path from the wild continent of Libertalia had imposed a certain timidity in Escribanorr¡¯s negotiations despite their House¡¯s wealth.


    When the terms and conditions had been put into writing, he stamped his personal margravial seal on the magical contract. It is second to the ducal seal of the Naveirei in importance, and so it is almost as valid as it. Racieros used his father¡¯s countal seal despite the failure of his coronation, for it is now undeniable that he is now the young patriarch of the House. An inert curse had descended between them, sealing the deal, powered by both magic and the significance of both noble houses.


    After the agreement was made, Escribannorr and Anteojor retired to their assigned rooms.


    ¡°Splendidly done, [Merchant]. You had done a great service to House Commerro.¡± Strraina commented. ¡°Yet I fear you do not give my son proper respect. You shall call him ¡®Lord¡¯ or ¡®Your Greatness¡¯, and never interrupt him or me when you speak.¡±


    ¡°I shall be your equal after all, once I stand trial in the Ichoricon, as a Naveirei to be.¡± Numisley dismissed.


    ¡°Sorry for my brother¡¯s rudeness.¡± Cultrost winced.


    ¡°No, it''s fine. My friends do not need formalities.¡± Racieros said.


    ¡°If my son says so, it shall be so. But address me with formality, not familiarity, for Decree¡¯s sake. Especially if you shall become one of us!¡± Strraina requested, and then she switched the topic. ¡°As gratitude for your service, I shall apply your idea and make it a contest to those who wish to invest in Ovespuerte¡¯s health.¡±


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    The rest of the day was spent counting losses in both people and coin, and the few remaining men and women of the Household Guard had been charged with guarding the Commerros who had schemed with the late Garrenno and the other rioters who were protesting against Racieros, making the dungeons overfull. Racieros further burdened himself with debt to supplement his policing force with the men and women of the city¡¯s Adventurer¡¯s Guild and the [Mercenaries] of the [Merchants] who remained in Ovespuerte, along with the [Soldiers] of the other Commerros, and the armed retinue of Dustitoz and Adriasta.


    Just before the sun sets in the northwest to the black border of the horizon, all nobles, [Guildmasters], and [Merchants] who remained in Ovespuerte were summoned to the countal palace in the throne room. Strraina had sat on the padded throne she had always sat on, and Racieros now sat on the throne where his father once sat. [Priests] of Ovespuerte¡¯s temple were present and the officials that remained in the castle. Numisley and Cultrost were also present within the crowd, gauging their reaction. The [Countess] began to speak:


    ¡°Ovespuerte had suffered from attacks, both from outside and within the walls of this city. This has driven away [Merchants] who wish to trade within our docks and markets. This has caused our society to be in disarray, with many people afraid to go outside. The survey of our men and women, as well as the Houses who lend their personnel with the effort: Commerro, Naveirei, Kaminor, and Gaviolos, had found out that the docks, plazas, markets, and shops had suffered considerable damage, and even our castle has not been spared from damages. Our household, which was once rich beyond compare, is now admittedly destitute from the [Pirate] raid which killed my husband and my late brother-in-law¡¯s attempt to depose me and my son, as well as keeping the peace despite our lack of personnel and the belligerence of certain crowds. To rectify this, I invite all present: any who shall pledge to the cause of repairing and improving Ovespuerte, whether by coin or manpower, shall be promised the annual profits from Ovespuerte¡¯s docks. The greatest contributors shall be allowed a dock each. These shall depend on the amount and quality of each contribution. Spread the word that Ovespuerte is now once again a place of commerce!¡±


    This message was then spread outside Ovespuerte in the form of letters distributed by the Courier¡¯s Guild of Ovespuerte. Many undercover [Spies] and agents of the many powers within the kingdom were scrambling for more information, information brokers like Numisley profited from this in the following days as the only ones who could provide the most accurate information regarding this deal.


    A banquet took place after that announcement, with the attendants being those summoned. It was a modest banquet, with costs not exceeding the castle¡¯s coins on hand, and limited by time. Yet Strraina¡¯s ability to organize such events and her related Feats had made this party bearable for its highborn guests, despite the lack of extravagant decorations and entertainment. She capitalized on the fresh seafood that Ovespuerte produced for this feast.


    Numisley had mingled in the banquet without Cultrost, for his brother knew that his non-Human presence would offend the attendants. Cultrost watched Numisley from a corner of the hall as he struck up conversations with the [Merchants] and some of the nobles. The brothers were both taught by their father that making connections was the essence of being a [Merchant]. Once, Cultrost was the one who struck up conversations with the people of the Satyr tribes back home, endearing himself to them for their father¡¯s company to have better relations with them; while his brother had spoken with Humans and other peoples back home. Yet again, he was reminded that he did not belong in this place.


    Then he saw Numisley being sequestered by his blood uncle, disappearing in one of the doors that led to a hallway. The two of them now walked within a silent hallway, with Escribanorr declining to cast anti-eavesdropping spells because of his mana exhaustion.


    ¡°I came to tell you that if we plan to buy properties near Ovespuerte¡¯s docks to use as stations for trade, my nephew shall be the Naveirei stationed in Ovespuerte. Whether or not you are accepted by the Ichoricon, you shall be his right-hand man.¡± Escribannor uttered.


    ¡°I feel like that¡¯s not the only thing you want to say¡­uncle.¡±


    ¡°I should not twist and turn with my words. But, if you want to become one of us, I have some conditions for you, for your existence will¡­may throw the order of not only our House, but the other Houses who may have designs against us. If your heritage is known, then the succession plan will be subject to change, to put it lightly.¡±


    ¡°Is it because I¡¯m the son of my mother?¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Escribannor confirmed. ¡°When my mother and I did not know of you, with my sister gone, I was going to the one who shall inherit the position as the head of the House if my mother dies, and Anteojor shall be next if I perish. Now, you exist, and by the laws of ichorial legitimacy, you would be next in line after my mother dies, for, despite your curse, your pedigree is still closer to royalty than even me; at least according to the [Priests] of the Ichoricon. Here¡¯s my first of my many conditions: you shall say¨Cpublicly during the Ichoricon¨Cthat you won''t interfere with the current line of succession.¡±


    ¡°I have no problem with that.¡±


    ¡°Second¨Cand the most obvious one¨Cyou shall not go against the interests of the Naveirei.¡±


    Numisley nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Third. You shall be tutored in the ways of etiquette.¡±


    ¡°What? You mean I will have to be taught how to be polite? I¡¯m already polite. Sociable, even.¡±


    ¡°No, you are not. Like right now. I¡¯m a Margrave-Magus of the House. You¡¯re a [Merchant]. You should always address me as ¡®Lord¡® or ¡®Sire¡¯ in normal circumstances, but I gave you leeway for you are my nephew, and I understand that you are raised in Libertalia. Your vocabulary may be enough for commoners and [Merchants], but not enough for the more touchy nobility of this kingdom and other lands. I won''t have you making more enemies just because a [Lord] would use your rudeness as an excuse for a plot against our House. I would have you speaking proper Torregornian, not the trade-cant you are speaking right now. ¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s so important, then fine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the only thing you shall learn. You shall learn the ways of politics, history, economics, system theory, and the Six Energies from my personal tutor.¡±


    System Theory. These two words had caught the notice of Numisley. It was the principle that is applied to his father¡¯s brown book. How to use Feats and Roles efficiently. How to create Feats, Roles, and other functions of the system that governed the world that Numisley knows. How these applications apply to society and even culture. He had studied the encrypted text religiously every night, scrutinizing every word and definition within its pages until his candle run out. Yet many of its pages, much to his chagrin, remain encrypted despite knowing the cryptographic language his father taught them.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­good to know.¡± Numisley hid his curiosity and excitement that threatened to surface from his words and countenance when he heard those words.


    ¡°What I will say next will be painful for you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Your leg. Your ¡®brother¡¯, as you kept calling that Satyr you bought in this castle. These are the ones you must discard to become one of us.¡±


    ¡°He is my older brother. And before you say anything, my father did not lay with another Satyr woman after my mother died giving birth to me. My father¨Cwe, adopted him. As far as I¡¯m concerned, he is my family.¡±


    Escribanorr raised an eyebrow, but he did not dare contradict Numisley¡¯s speech.


    ¡°Still, I shall say this. Your lamed leg is easiest to discard out of the two. Simply cutting it off would do if you want to subject yourself to the Ichoricon. If you had said you had lost your leg in an accident or a war, then their Ichorvators wouldn¡¯t bar you from the ritual. As for your ¡®brother¡¯, as early as tonight, you shall cut off ties with him, for I intend to bring you to the temple where the Ichoricon shall take place within the week.¡±


    ¡°I rather cut my leg off than to abandon my only family.¡±


    ¡°If you want to become part of our family, then you have to discard your previous family.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not fair!¡± Numisley blurted out. He could not believe what he had uttered. As if he was still a child being forced to do chores. Yet he regained his composure, remembering what he had learned about Thewardn¡¯s copy of the kingdom¡¯s laws. ¡°Sorry. However, I had read up on your kingdom¡¯s laws. In the Articles of Knighthood in the Compact of Torregorn, Provision 25, that a non-Human is eligible for knighthood in the following conditions: that he is of good character, that he had possessed the Role of [Knight] and any adjacent Role with this keyword, and that he is sworn to loyalty under a Bloodbound Contract or a higher-grade Feat-based contract to the noble Human person that gave him knighthood. Upon knighthood, any undue and criminal action the non-Human [Knight] will take is grounds for the removal of titles of both the non-Human [Knight] and the Human noble who had knighted him.¡±


    Numisley had finally said the line he had recited night-by-night when he had found out of the loopholes within this provision. It is with the simple fact he could bestow any Role with the knowledge he gained from the brown book he possessed, and therefore, make Cultrost his [Knight] in both Role, and soon in name.


    ¡°You will make your adopted brother a [Knight]?¡± Escribanorr said and quickly used a Feat that recalled that specific provision from the same code of laws that Numisley had read to confirm it.


    ¡°Because when I set foot here to claim my heritage, I knew that I had to create a place for my brother when I saw how other peoples are being treated in your kingdom.¡±


    Escribanorr could not deny the truth despite having the urge to. It is simply a fact of life in this land that even in the kingdom he serves, where it receives trade from the other races in the Six Lands more regularly than the other Human kingdoms, discrimination against the other races is still prevalent.


    Cultrost had heard everything behind one of the stone pillars behind Numisley and his deepest fears that he had ever since he had set foot in Torregorn were proven invalid. The banquet did not end when the visitors had retired to their homes and rooms within the castle. It ended when Numisley, Cultrost, and Racieros had shared a toast with the castle¡¯s remaining wine, with bread to go with it, before retiring to their quarters.


    On that night, Numisley had let himself rest, instead of studying the brown book and coming up with plots. Then, finally, he had received what he deserved from this entire ordeal.


    [Feat - Locate Loophole (Minor), developed]


    [Feat - Inciting Words, developed.]


    [Rare Feat - I Profited From Ideas I Gave (1% Profit), developed.]


    [Feat - Swift Interception (Scheme), developed.]


    [Rare Feat - First to Hear, First to Sell, developed.]


    [Feat - Bribe Individual, developed.]


    [Feat - Improved Planning, developed.]


    [Feat - Adviser¡¯s Trust, developed.]


    [Feat ¨C


    This had made Numisley wake up in the middle of the night. He was in disbelief at how many Feats he had received from the Voice of the World, and so he decided to study the brown book, however, he remembered that he hid the brown book somewhere outside his reach. Then he remembered the letter he received from Raudaeiz, and now he could not sleep with worry.


    Numisley was not the only one who received the blessings of the Voice of the World, as Racieros, Cultrost, and everyone who participated in this conspiracy, whether or not they were loyal to Racieros or against him, had gained a Feat or two, or more.

 Chapter 63

    After that day, Numisley woke up before Cultrost for the first time. He opened the steel-bound glass windows of their quarters to give way to the cold saline song of the ocean¡¯s gentle breeze that seemed to make itself heard despite the distance between the castle and the shore. With drowsy eyes, Numisley laid eyes upon the gentle light of the sun emerging beneath the plane, slowly painting the sleepy indigo of the sky into the waking morning. The waking sun lit up the dark rumps of the islands above the clouds of the lower heavens that loom beyond anyone¡¯s reach, with their buried gems and ores reflecting its glare back to those below.


    This is the first time Numisley opened his eyes before the sun ascended. What a serene sight, he thought. Now he understands why Cultrost had trained his body to wake up as early as possible.


    A span of several moments later, Cultrost had woken up. Before he would commit to his morning ritual of running many laps and training with his mace, Numisley urged him to come to the castle¡¯s throne room. Cultrost, who quickly snapped awake, now noticed his brother¡¯s unusual morning behavior and remembered that conversation from that night. Both brothers walked to the empty throne hall where Racieros now sits. Numisley hobbled in the front of the dais that held the throne, facing his brother.


    ¡°Kneel, please,¡± Numisley said with attempted majesty.


    Cultrost followed for he heard of this moment in tales he read from their father¡¯s study.


    ¡°I shall be a [Lord] soon. Sooner than I expected. Sooner than I would like. I shall become part of a family that I do not know. Yet they said that I had to abandon you in order to join them. But¡­¡±


    Numisley did not know the exact lines to recite when knighting someone, much less the peculiarities of the tradition of this kingdom. One of the entries of the brown book says that the spirit of it matters, but another says that the tradition behind it matters more. Their written treasure is full of contradictions like this, and so Numisley is forced to read between the lines or bet on uncertainties to get the results he wanted. At this moment, the words he spoke came from what he thought sounded right.


    ¡°If we could not be brothers by name, let us still be brothers by bond, as we had always been. This bond shall be the basis of your knighthood. I shall make you my [Knight] who is only sworn to me. You shall be my confidant, and you shall be my protector. Most of all, you shall be still my brother for as long as I live. How about it?¡±


    ¡°I swear by our father and our bond that I shall serve you as both brother and [Knight] for all the days to come,¡± Cultrost said.


    Numisley limped towards his brother and placed his hand on his shoulder and he pressed his weight on him. In place of a sword, he tried his best to tap both of his brother¡¯s shoulders with his cane.


    After Cultrost stood up, they laughed and sighed, hoping that this would work.


    The day was spent dealing with the fallout of yesterday. Many of the visiting nobility and [Merchants] who wished to invest in the port had drafted up payment plans for the repair and improvement of Ovespuerte, and Racieros and his mother issued a public statement that asserted their authority over Ovespuerte and the rest of the county and the donations that the nobility will give. This news quickly spread not within Torregorn itself, but from the many [Merchants] who remained in the port and the many [Spies] who had integrated themselves within the port city. All ports in proximity to the Golden Triangle region possess some sort of information network used by [Merchants] and nobility to gain every advantage for trading within the region, and any piece of news will be known by the alliance of thalassocracies that serve as the gatekeepers of the region before Torregorn itself knows of it.


    Johoon and Aryyad reported this news to their respective organizations using the best means of communication they had in hand. Their main advantage is the truth they have over Racieros, but the presence of his mother and the rest of the Torregornian nobility had prevented them from just barging in and demanding a more favorable portion of the investment plan proposed by Strraina. So they resorted to writing to Numisley and Cultrost by way of letter and asked them that Racieros shall reserve 10% of the share of Ovespuerte¡¯s annual income in exchange for their contribution of a hundred gold per month, with their justification of their [Mercenaries] being a major contribution to the city.


    Cultrost read the letter aloud to Racieros as he was busy writing the list of individuals who would be allowed to invest in Ovespuerte.


    ¡°That scum dares to profit from me? I would cut him from head to toe! If only I haven¡¯t lost much of my family¡¯s Household Guard.¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡± Cultrost tried to ask Racieros if he would agree with their demands.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Racieros turned to Numisley.


    ¡°How about try lowering that to 7%. If I were you, I would say that¡­it would make their ¡®involvement¡¯ obvious.¡±


    ¡°Say that to them, then. I do not feel like getting threatened and reminded of my father¡¯s death.¡±


    Numisley saw an opportunity to deliver the news.


    ¡°That shall be my last duty to you then. I shall take my leave and accompany my¡­uncle to his estate so that I can officially be a Naveirei.¡±


    Racieros stopped writing.


    ¡°That¡¯s great. Congratulations¡­¡±


    Yet the young [Lord] felt like all that he worked hard for would disappear if Numisley disappeared.


    ¡°You sound disappointed.¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s just¡­I¡¯ve been relying on Cultrost and you for so long. So I¡¯m not sure if I could stand on my own.¡±


    ¡°You got your mother. But I will go alone. Cultrost shall stay here.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡± Cultrost asked.


    ¡°In the castle or in our building, as long as you keep watch over our company. You are a trader, just not with the Role. You have my full authority regardless.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± Cultrost trailed off. ¡°I¡¯m no good with numbers and all that.¡±


    ¡°Your presence is important if we want our company to remain, and I do not know if you are allowed within the Naveirei estate. Let them know that you shall lead the company on my behalf. You already know the basics from our father, right? That should be enough. When I come back, I shall be a [Lord].¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost later headed to the building they used as their headquarters.


    He stared at the sign written in Common that said ¡°Gildin Trading¡± above the metal awnings and entered the storefront of their company. This was the monument of what they achieved in this foreign land, and it was their company that enabled them to arrive at this point. Behind the grated window was a wooden placard that lists the goods that they sell and their prices. Woodwork, fish, fish sauce, hops, and a variety of other things that they are allowed to distribute and sell on behalf of Aryyad. Although he had been in this storefront a few days ago, amid the crisis he was involved in, for Numisley it felt like decades. Numisley stepped on specks of dust on the stone floor that one of the former [Slaves] in their employ did not sweep yet. His eyes swept around the shop where a variety of wooden stools, shoes, and sculptures were displayed. Numisley seldom sat on the counter where one of their workers now manned because of his higher duties.


    ¡°Boss.¡± The sweeper acknowledged.


    ¡°Anyone in the shop aside from you two?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s Kenet.¡±


    ¡°Is he doing anything?¡±


    ¡°The boxes.¡±


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Tell him to call everyone who¡¯s available.¡±


    Almost all who came with Numisley and Cultrost had arrived at the shop. Those who could not come had committed themselves to either their duties to the company or simply could not be found for now. The shop is cramped with people surrounding Numisley and Cultrost.


    ¡°I gathered you all today to announce that I will be away to the city of Ascolitica. To prove that I¡¯m a Naveirei, a noble House in this kingdom.¡±


    Some of them audibly gasped, and some of their eyes widened. A few did not know what it means or did not care.


    ¡°So, my brother, Cultrost, shall be in charge of Gildin Trading until I come back, hopefully as a [Lord]. If I come back with that, we shall have a celebration then. For now, Cultrost shall be the one in charge while I¡¯m away, as always. His words shall be my words, and his will is my will. So, take care, everyone.¡±


    There were a few insignificant farewells and half-hearted goodbyes. Numisley headed to the room he once slept in whenever he stayed in this building and found Raudaeiz holding the brown book that Numisley asked him to keep.


    ¡°I was beginning to think you had run away with the book.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I could use it anyway with the resources that I have. Which is now close to none because of the attack.¡± Raudaeiz did not m


    ¡°Tell me about it.¡±


    Raudaeiz described the attack on the newly acquired hideout and the ambush done by the [Assassins] during the attack. He also stated why his gang dispersed and hid in many hideouts they had set up in advance because in the slums of Est Prov¨¦s, there are many gangs who were in search of Raudaeiz and his gang, working with the [Mercenaries] of Johoon. He also told Numisley their first encounter with an unknown man who knocked at their hideout, who spooked them.


    ¡°You sure that they belonged to that Diamond Shore [Captain]?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure of it. I have seen their banner. I know their accents. They are [Marines] from home.¡±


    Numisley almost forgot that Raudaeiz was from one of the cities near the proximity of the territories overseen by one of the five great corporations that dominated the continent. Cultrost barged into the room, and Numisley immediately told him what was going on.


    ¡°Cultrost. You shall maintain our professional relationships with Johoon and Aryyad until I tell you otherwise.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re dealin¡¯ with him?¡± Raudaeiz was surprised.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°A lot of things happened,¡± Cultrost said.


    ¡°Before I forget, any word from that [Smuggler] you paid?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Would we have to¡­no, they¡¯re enemies of the Diamond Shore.¡± Numisley was thinking aloud about their deal with the Satyrs that healed Cultrost¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Raudaeiz. Lay low for now until we come back.¡±


    ¡°No need to say it. They know my name. My real name.¡± Raudaeiz spoke as if he could feel himself being chased at this moment. ¡°I should mention that I think the [Assassins] are another faction that knows of the book. They knew I have¨Chad it, using a magic item.¡±


    ¡°The brown book?¡± Numisley said. ¡°Who else knows of it? I know that there are people who know about the black one. But the brown book? All the reason to keep both with me.¡±


    ¡°Stay at the castle,¡± Cultrost said. ¡°I¡¯ll put a word with Racieros. Tell me how can I make contact with the rest of your gang.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Raudaeiz said.


    ¡°Cultrost. Be the information trader on my behalf.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get the book o¡¯ secrets then.¡±


    Numisley and Cultrost made one last jaunt in the seaside markets, in the street along the docks facing the continent of Lemuria where locals call it the ¡°Furrucc Row¡± because of its predominance of Beastkin [Merchants] in the area. In this rare, unhurried moment of peace, they absorbed the sights of Ovespuerte together one last time as they did in the Libertalian city-state of Baunt. Spices and herbs from the storied continents of Lemuria and the oddly named land of ¡®Fallen Qinh¡¯ freely mingled with the brine of the sea and the scent of seafood suppressed by magical folk charms suspended above the displayed bounty of the sea. Numisley picked dried fish to chew on for the duration of the trip and a small clay container of red chili paste tightly sealed with cloth for flavoring other meals.


    To ensure Numisley¡¯s safety on their journey and to wish good luck to Cultrost''s full stewardship over their company, they asked people for a temple or altar to give the local gods an offering; specifically the smaller gods hidden within the outlying streets of the port, their worship and idols bought by foreign [Traders]. The two brothers did not like the creed that the Divine Decree preaches with its emphasis on caste and undertones of Human supremacy, and there are no gods of travel and trade within its main pantheon as far as they know.


    They were pointed to a god of [Traders] everywhere, or so the stranger who told them claimed. An altar of clean stone is sequestered behind a small warehouse outside Furrucc Row. They saw a person placing a silver coin on the carved quartz hand on the altar, which fell to the pile of copper, silver, and even gold coins and various jewelry around it on the altar¡¯s tray. Even though it is a tempting target for many a [Thief], most people know that to steal from the gods is to invite a fate worse than death; yet some fools will try regardless.


    Numisley and Cultrost walked up to it and offered a silver coin each, and recited a prayer taught to them by the [Trader] who pointed them at the altar.


    ¡°Oh, the Hand who moves markets, with this holy fee I ask that you bless my brother with your guiding hand.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the Hand who moves markets, with this holy fee we ask that my brother shall be safe in his journey.¡± Cultrost followed suit.


    Aryyad stumbled upon them after the brothers had said their humble prayers.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you¡¯re also followers of the Invisible Hand,¡± Aryyad remarked.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Cultrost spoke.


    ¡°Or not yet.¡± Numisley continued. ¡°We give respect to whatever gods may answer our prayers.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t really have a specific temple,¡± Cultrost said.


    ¡°Oh, so you two are one of those¡­¡± Aryyad said pointedly.


    ¡°Since you are here,¡± Numisley switched the topic. ¡°I shall travel to Ascolitica for business. If you are in need of our services, Cultrost will be the charge of the company.¡±


    Aryyad guessed that Numisley would be tested and investigated if he was a bastard son of the Naveirei, based on what Numisley said and the information he already had.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to further work with you.¡± Aryyad shook Cultrost¡¯s hand.


    Numisley made further preparations before he left Ovespuerte. It was already noon by the time he soon joined Escribanorr and his retinue on one of the towers of the castle. Five carpets were spread on the ground, and these were wider than Numisley assumed house carpets to be. The [Mage-Knights] that accompanied the Marquis were holding bulging leather backpacks that seemed to contain more than they appeared on the outside. They were tying their wrists on ropes attached to the front edges of the carpets, which made Numisley ask:


    ¡°Are we riding on those?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Escribannor answered. ¡°This is my¡­our House¡¯s heirloom. One of many, in fact. Have you never seen a flying carpet before?¡±


    ¡°I only heard about them in stories. My dad tells me that the beast-folk rides those.¡±


    ¡°Then you never saw the rest of the world then. Well, me too. Only a few can claim to do so. The farthest I¡¯ve been is the edge of the largest empire in the world.¡±


    Escribanorr gave Numisley a silver-colored ring. It seemed to have tiny gusts of wind swirling around it.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Ring of Featherfall. Trophy-Grade. For when¡­just in case you fall off, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Fall off?¡± Numisley asked, now worried.


    ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ll tie the rope around you. And me of course. Standard procedure. Sadly the anchoring enchantment decayed after six¡­centuries.¡± Escribanorr reassured.


    Numisley¡¯s sole functioning leg buckled, but Cultrost caught him.


    ¡°My brother¡¯s kinda afraid of heights.¡±


    ¡°Not to worry. It¡¯s safe. No one had fallen off on my watch.¡± Escribanorr reassured both brothers.


    Cultrost assisted in tying Numisley with the rope that wrapped around Escribanorr which is also attached to the wide carpet. The five carpets began the levitate as soon as its passengers sat on them.


    Numisley and Cultrost said their goodbyes to each other. When Cultrost saw the carpets in a V-shaped formation disappearing into tiny dots, shrinking into the sky until even Cultrost¡¯s keen vision could not perceive them. He was left standing in one of the castle¡¯s towers, staring towards the north.

 Chapter 64

    After a while in the skies, Numisley had finally gotten used to the gusts of wind roughly brushing against his skin and the stomach-dropping feeling of passing through the clouds. He still held tightly to the rope wrapped around his waist, yet despite his eyes squinting against the gale, he saw a bird¡¯s-eye view of the land of Torregorn. The verdant plains and hills were laid under him akin to a pastoral carpet that stretches for miles, with the rivers and lakes becoming part of the tapestry of the landscape. The towns and cities that Numisley did not recognize became ordered gatherings of pebbles below him.


    Numisley tried to speak, but it seemed like the howl of the wind prevented him from being heard. Later they landed on a city called Bessotto, where the governor had personally welcomed them. They stayed in the governor¡¯s castle overlooking the rest of the city atop a cliff that seemed to sway by the smallest of inches. Not one among the castle¡¯s people minded this, and continued to do their tasks as normal.


    In the banquet hall, they were served pasta drenched in butter, cream, and oil, with spices unfamiliar to Numisley¡¯s nose. There was only Escribanorr and Anteojor on the mahogany table, with the governor walking across the table. Escribanorr took this opportunity to whisper in Numisley¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Every time we land, and every time we accept hospitality, we are at our most vulnerable. By now, enemies and rivals know that I, and you are traveling. So¨C¡±


    Escribanorr threw his head back and leaned on his wooden chair, and sighed with subtle exaggeration as if he didn''t whisper with Numisley.


    ¡°I¡¯m fatigued from my travels.¡±


    ¡°Not to worry, my lord, this meal shall comfort and restore your energy.¡± The governor reacted to Escribanorr¡¯s remark.


    The ruler of the city introduced himself as Roccor, and so the three travelers had introduced themselves in short order, with Escribanorr neglecting to mention Numisley¡¯s true identity. The governor mainly acknowledged Escribanorr and less so with the guest¡¯s son, but ignored Numisley altogether.


    They slept in the guest rooms and left the next day. The journey to Ascolitica on a flying carpet took three days: each day was spent staying in a friendly city, regardless of whose noble family rules them. However, in two out of three cities, there were assassination attempts on Escribanorr¡¯s person, from methods as subtle as poison to as sharp and direct as a knife or as bombastic as a sudden [Fireball] exploding on a window¡¯s wooden shutters. Many of these almost killed or injured Numisley, but Escribanorr and his [Spell Knights] unfailingly saved him each time. The reality of being somebody, not just a [Trader], but a person who governed cities and more, dawned on Numisley with each of these attempts. If he became a Naveirei, he would be subjected to these occurrences daily, much like what he and his brother experienced back home as they escaped their home continent, or even when they were doing business in this kingdom.


    Several hours later, the city of Ascolitica was in view. Numisley had seen Ascolitica¡¯s pristine, lively streets and idyllic, solid facades, but seeing the city above was a different story for him. The fields of wheat and other crops that Numisley once passed by now became geometric blobs of greens, yellows, and bare dirt surrounding the diamond-shaped city, dotted with a few roofs. The city walls and its four great towers seemed to be reduced to thick lines of beige ink at this distance, but he saw its aged, rune-etched stones as they descended. Numisley saw the sun shining on the invisible bubble that covered the city, and he realized that they were now within its magical barrier. He found himself staring at the roofs of the city lined not only with the red shingles that he was already familiar with but with tiles with the color of rusted copper and lapis lazuli. The markets at each walled quarter were no less vibrant than Ovespuerte¡¯s, which Numisley attributed to the four stone roads that connected the city. Numisley thought if Cultrost was here, he would love to see the sights and comment on the city¡¯s cultural value, but Numisley speculated on the economics of the city.


    They landed on one of the castle¡¯s battlements. Numisley realized the potential of flying carpets in trade, despite the limitation on the goods that they carry: it seems trying to place boxes, chests, and barrels on flying carpets would be a difficult task, a proposition close to impossible by the precarious way the almost weightless carpets carry the weight of their riders and the bags they carry. Their speed, which was several magnitudes shorter than Palden¡¯s pace on horseback¨Cdisregarding their delays to Ovespuerte¨Cwas ideal for delivering perishable and valuable goods, including messages even if it comes with the cost of falling off.


    When Numisley¡¯s cane and feet touched the stone of one of the castle¡¯s battlements, he asked Escribanorr a question.


    ¡°These carpets¡­For such speedy magical vehicles with a lot of potential for travel and trade, I don¡¯t see them in any sky within this land.¡±


    ¡°If only such potential can be used for our benefit.¡± Escribanorr¡¯s voice trailed off. ¡±These carpets are heirlooms of our family, gifted to our great-great-grandfather in a diplomatic exchange with one of the Beastkin Malikahs¨Cif I remember correctly. Look at this particular one.¡±


    Escribanorr pointed to the one they rode on. He had failed to see the artistry of the carpet they rode on for three days because of their hectic travels. It was more like a tapestry of faded but colorful patterns that formed wavy sigils and lines that were composed of a sun-like mandala. A sewed script that is impossible for everyone present to decipher the lines weaved at the edges of the carpet. Despite that, everyone who laid eyes upon it could feel the dormant aging power behind the knitted words.


    ¡°Now look at the others. See how they differ in make. See how they vary by thread. Each carpet is unique, and among the [Lords] and [Ladies] of Torregorn, only we have these.¡±


    Then they walked down the stairs of the battlements, with Numisley being assisted by one of Escribanorr¡¯s men in climbing down the steep stairs.


    ¡°The answer to your question is simple, yet not that simple. Even in their aged state, even with some of their magical threads frayed, their quality remains. I had heard that the span of two moons is needed to weave and enchant one flying carpet¨Ceven with the Feats of a [Carpetmaker]. Each carpet is blessed and named¨Ceven their lesser works. The craft-name of the carpet we rode on, for example, is Azgianrjf-eml-lfka, ¡®The Son of the Sun¡¯ according to our Master of the Relics.¡± Escribanorr explained.


    ¡°So, they are expensive to produce in great numbers,¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°Yes. And no.¡± Escribanorr clarified. ¡°They are not traded, but auctioned or gifted. The knowledge of their weaving and enchantments is locked behind the few Carpetmaker Clans who could make them. To experience riding one, one must pay a hefty sum to the Carpetrider Guild affiliated with them. To own one, one must have their goodwill first. It is only in the lands of Fallen Qinh and Aemu where flying carpets can be seen in noticeable numbers, for they possess greater influence there than here.¡±


    ¡°And they have less influence here,¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Because of many reasons. Other Role clans, and other guilds. It is a good question you asked, for this conversation is now your first lesson.¡±


    ¡°A lesson about what exactly?¡±


    ¡°A lesson about policy-making, should you help in our House¡¯s affairs. About the balance of power of any society. I¡¯m sure that you already have an idea what I¡¯m talking about.¡±


    ¡°Clans? Guilds?¡± Numisley guessed, drawing from his own background in Libertalia.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Escribanorr confirmed. ¡°Specifically, the balance of power between rulers, commoners, [Merchants] and them. The people of your home continent had overthrown your [Kings] and replaced them [Merchants] and guildsmen that local rulers are subservient to. In any nation there is this balance of ambitions and profits between these castes that keeps society as it is.¡±


    Numisley knew that Escribanorr was right. Rulers of noble birth are concepts distant to him, and what he knew is that [Merchants], [Mercenaries] and the many Guilds all have the power back home, with the [Mayors] of each city and town doing their bidding.


    Escribanorr continued his impromptu lesson.


    ¡°When a policy will be implemented on our lands, one must first gauge how it will affect not only our branch families and local governors, but the influential [Merchants], guilds, clans, and the resources to put them to heel if ever they react violently, lest they hire [Mercenaries] and rouse the populace into rebellion. Say you want to establish a trading network across Naveirei lands with the use of these flying carpets, and you have enough capital to implement it. Who will ride those carpets?¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°The [Carpet Riders]?¡± Numisley guessed.


    ¡°But in this kingdom, as you observed, there are no people capable of it.¡±


    ¡°Then I''ll train people willing to do it.¡±


    Escribanorr thought that this answer was very peculiar. His nephew said it with such confidence that he wondered where it came from. Numisley maintained his unbothered facade, but he felt like he had punctured a sack full of his secrets, which now spilled out for Escribanorr to see.


    ¡°Say you have the means and knowledge to train them. How much do you think it will cost?¡±


    ¡°I do not know the exact numbers, but I¡¯d imagine it will be a lot.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. The cheapest option would be to invite [Carpet Riders] of a Carpetrider Guild from the Lemurian states of Rhundi, Ikharas or Ayzor, and a representative of one of the Carpetmaker Clans who could make such carpets. Let''s say that both parties accept the partnership, even if it is most unlikely in reality because of many factors. What, or who do you think will take notice?¡±


    ¡°The Merchant Guilds.¡±


    ¡°Not only them. In fact, [Merchants] would like to be part of such a network because of their speed, despite the lack of carrying capacity. Courier Guilds even more so, if you give them a fair share of profits. The Guild of Drivers would be the most threatened, even if they couldn''t carry as much as their wagons because of that speed. Their displeasure would mean economic chaos all over Torregorn because they would simply refuse to transport goods for several days, not to mention their knowledge of ideal routes and monster lairs. In this hypothetical scenario, the [King] would be prompted to issue an edict to dissolve this network. This scenario does not discount the many other factions and the other things that may happen, but I hope you get my point.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I think. That laws should be made with care.¡±


    ¡°And innovation attracts ire.¡±


    They were now within the castle at the center of Ascolitica. Numisley found himself in one of the guest rooms of the castle. He was told to rest, for Escribanorr said that he would be summoned for tutorship the next day. The day passed by without issue and notability, with Numisley eating with his two blood relatives and him borrowing a book about the history of the Naveirei, which he finds the narrator to be incredibly sycophantic because of the way he extols the Naveirei yet finds none of the faults he was looking for. Soon night fell and the candles were snuffed out by a [Servant].


    ¡°Cultrost¨C.¡±


    For a moment Numisley forgot that his brother was not with him. Even with a room with all of the amenities it felt like there was still something essential missing within the room. He was told that if there is anything he needed, the sound of the bell on the nightstand would summon [Servant] to attend to him.


    At the moment he does need anything but the presence of his brother. He started to wonder who would assist him in walking or running when needed, or get his walking stick whenever he misplaced it before sleeping. Most of all, he had no one to confide to. He was slightly unnerved that he would have a [Servant] to do it, and for him, it feels different than having an employee of his company assisting him. Then he started thinking about Cultrost in Ovespuerte, and what might happen in his absence.


    Yet, this is merely an ordeal that he has to face before attaining their rightful inheritance.


    It was late in the morning when he abruptly woke up from his slumber. The stupor from being risen was instantly dissipated with the [Servant]¡¯s Feat, and with unnatural speed, he was now dressed for breakfast. Aside from Numisley¡¯s uncle and cousin is a new foreign face with a gleaming blue-green gem on his forehead and eyes that resembled pearls of ink.


    ¡°You are late.¡± Escribanorr sternly rebuked Numisley. ¡°Be aware that I won¡¯t have my [Servants] wake you up until you can hire your own [Servants].¡±


    For a moment, Numisley wanted to bite back with scathing words, but he immediately knew that it was useless at best and unproductive at worst.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Numisley apologized.


    ¡°You mean, ¡®I apologize, my lord.¡¯¡± The other guest corrected.


    Numisley sat, and found himself staring at the rack of lamb on sauced rice being served on the table.


    ¡°Pardon him. This is my court scholar, Marranar Karrmiern,¨C¡±


    ¡°I would prefer if you use my non-Torregornian name in the presence of no one significant, my lord.¡± The guest spoke.


    ¡°Apologies, friend. I¨C¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll introduce myself for you my lord.¡± The foreigner took over the introductions. ¡±I¡¯m Malanyari Kaiyren Jin-ijen, hailing from the Kingdom of Sokhuoshan of Phalim¡¯s One Hundred Thousand and One Realms. I¡¯m a court scholar of Escribanorr Naveirei. My lord asks me to be your tutor in proper manners and language, as well as the principles of the Six Energies and the history of your House and this kingdom. But, there has been a change of schedule, so your tutorship shall be tomorrow.¡± Malanyari¡¯s dense introduction gave Numisley an unspoken history between him and Escribanorr.


    ¡°Why?¡± Numisley asked the most pertinent question despite the other questions Numisley wanted to be answered, such as what kind of people he hailed from, and the odd markings on his paper-like skin.


    ¡°My father had discovered that the Ichorvators would be visiting here around four days from now, without informing him,¡± Anteojor informed.


    ¡°Based on my sources, news of you had spread. Somehow, they knew that I¡¯m supporting your claim. I intend to let you learn under Malanyari for at least one or two weeks before making contact with the Ichorvators, but that has changed. We need to cut off your leg at this hour and spend the rest of the day recovering. Tomorrow, you shall learn.¡± Escribanorr said.


    ¡°Wait. This is too sudden. Besides, how can I learn with the pain of getting my leg cut off?¡±


    ¡°How did you get out of Libertalia with that then? How did you become a trader with that?¡± Escribanorr pointed at not only his atrophied left leg but the dismembered toes on it from that senile and insane Elf that kidnapped him back then. ¡°I thought you would do whatever it takes to be one of us. If those Ichorvators see your curse, then, that¡¯s that. But, I should tell you right now that you could quit. Even if you¡¯re not a noble, you are a [Merchant] with the ear of the current patriarch of House Commerro, despite his tenuous position.¡±


    ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± Numisley was confused, along with a dozen emotions that he struggled to understand as of this moment.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you right now that you are in a good position already. I¡¯m telling you that there is no going back once you encounter the Ichorvators, because you will be imprisoned once they suspect that you are faking being a bastard scion. You could leave, and I would gladly charter a carriage for you because, in a way, I consider you to be my sister¡¯s son.¡±


    ¡°My father wants you to reconsider. To put it simply without my father overcomplicating it, he cares for you. He wants you to have a choice.¡± Anteojor clarified, cutting through the fat of his father¡¯s statement.


    ¡°I want to know that this is what you want and not the dying wish of your father. Unlike us, you are free to disregard the wishes of your forebears.¡± Escribanorr stated with such finality that Numisley heeded his words delicately.


    Numisley had thought about everything that had happened so far, and what became of them after their father¡¯s death. It is a miracle that they had gone so far, and with the money they had saved and the goodwill they acquired from Racieros, they could live comfortably. Yet, he knows that the danger will come to them regardless. Whatever they had earned was far from enough to protect them from those who wanted the treasures they had.


    ¡°This is my wish.¡± Numisley declared. ¡°I shall endure what comes my way. I shall cast off whatever burdens I carry for the sake of my goal.¡±


    ¡°Then surf on the waves of strife,¡± Escribanorr answered with their House¡¯s motto.


    Numisley was carried to a room few in the castle know. Anteojor did not join them, fearing the sight that he would have to see if he did. Numisley stared at the bloodstains on the dusty stone walls that made him queasy with the implications of the room¡¯s existence. He was placed on a wooden chair as if he were an animal to be butchered.


    ¡°This is what we have to do.¡± Escribanorr leveled his tone to be as calm as possible. ¡°You shall drink an anesthetic potion¨Cit lessens the pain. I made sure to acquire the most potent one in our laboratories. Just in case, we will need to bind your arms and legs and place something in your mouth to bite if the pain transcends the threshold of the potion¡¯s effects. I had asked our [Executioner] to use his best Feats to make the cut as clean and painless as possible. After that, we¡¯ll pour a high-grade healing potion to halt the bleeding and bandage it. Then, we¡¯ll carry you to your room for you to rest and recover. You will not die on my watch.¡±


    ¡°Got it¡­¡± Numisley responded with a quiver in his voice. He drank the potion given to him, and let Escribanorr¡¯s [Servants] tie and gag him. His entire body became numb many trepid moments later, with his eyelids becoming heavier.


    The [Executioner] soon arrived, and the sight struck fear in Numisley, such that he felt bile in his throat. It was taller than anyone else here, and he feared what was behind that grey and ashen veil, which hid a bull-like head within. His eyes attempted to push away the executioner¡¯s sword to no avail.


    ¡°Desist your Aura, Ludorvico. This is not an execution, nor torture.¡±


    The figure meekly bowed, and Numisley became less fearful. Still, an instinct remains within him that tells him to get away from this individual as far as possible.


    ¡°Nephew.¡± Escribanorr touched Numisley¡¯s forehead to reassure him and turned to the [Executioner] before the potion¡¯s effects faded. ¡°Do it.¡±


    The [Executioner] performed a swift motion.


    Followed by a sharp fleeting pain.

 Chapter 65

    When he first opened his eyes, much of his left leg was reduced to a stump.


    The second time, he saw a gilded flask being emptied on his leg. The sensation was akin to being within the flowing veil of a waterfall back home; yet there was an underlying prickling that scrambled his senses.


    The third time he saw bandages wrapped on where much of his left leg used to be.


    The fourth time, he was staring at the ceiling of a corridor. The fifth time, he found himself in his room. The next day, he opened his eyes for the sixth time. Numisley was being fed soup by a [Servant], mixed with medicinal ingredients as Malanyari was sitting across his bed. Fever and fatigue made the blanket and his new cotton clothes heavier for Numisley. Even the light stung and the air chilled him.


    ¡°Escribanorr had the soup mixed with lightning ginger and wiseweed to regain your energy. Speak, or spit if you could understand me.¡± Malayari instructed.


    ¡°I¡­hear you.¡± Numisley exhaled.


    ¡°Good. Although Lord Naveirei had instructed me to tutor you in etiquette, speech, and history, I deemed it appropriate to give you an initiation in the Six Energies of the world first for it might make your recovery faster.¡±


    The [Servant] who had finished feeding him quickly left the room, as if she was not allowed to hear Malanyari¡¯s coming words. The court scholar stared at the closed door for a few moments, as if making sure that no one was behind that door.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Numisley asked, confused, made worse by his fever.


    ¡°Tomorrow, if your condition alleviates, I shall give you lessons in etiquette and language. But now, this lesson is more relevant to your healing. Do you know how healing potions work?¡± Malanyari asked another question.


    ¡°They¡­use mana to heal wounds.¡±


    ¡°Close. But not exactly. The most common type of healing potion is those that accelerate the natural healing of the body. The magic in the potion¨Cat least for most potions¨Cdoes not directly induce this effect in the body, but rather boosts what is already there through a process of transmutation between energies at the cost of your vigor. What is there is Ki, or simply what the commoners call lifeforce: the energy of the body.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was mana?¡± Numisley perked up, moving an inch upward, only to fall back on his bed. There were mentions of these energies in the brown book, but it was mainly focused on using these to gain the specific functions of the world. The book was clearly written at a level of knowledge far beyond Numisley.


    ¡°Mana mainly permeates the world around us. Yes, we all have mana reserves, but what people call a ¡®mana reserve¡¯ is how much mana their body can safely absorb within their body. One¡¯s ki mitigates the risk of mana poisoning, and too much of either can make using ki or mana difficult¨Cnot impossible, mind you. An analogy my late teacher liked to employ is that, imagine the concept of mana reserve as a skin, or a coat, while ki is the body. Magic is the manipulation of mana, physical and metaphysical, and ki is the manipulation of one¡¯s health and body. Those magically inclined have more mana than ki, and those physically blessed have more ki.¡± Malanyari explained.


    ¡°I think I get it somehow.¡± Numisley pieced together the knowledge from his book and the court scholar¡¯s explanation.


    Numisley wished that he had a piece of parchment or paper right now so he could take note of this. He remembered lines in the brown book similar to what the scholar had mentioned.


    ¡°Do not fret if you do not comprehend this fully. Like I said, this is an introduction, but a relevant one for your swift recovery. Be grateful that my liege had given you this knowledge that he paid for.¡±


    This reminded Numisley of the two books he and his brother kept and brought them much danger, yet brought them much wealth and influence by applying the rules of the world to their benefit. He can see the value of this scholar clearly, and even now he is thinking about how will he gain access to more of his knowledge.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand how this helps me recover, even with this knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Your body already converts thimbleful amounts of mana into ki, and ki into mana. Among all other techniques that make this process more efficient, meditation is both the easiest and the hardest. [Warriors] meditate for both respite and replenishing their ki, and [Mages] meditate to replenish their mana. Meditation helps you focus on your own body. Close your eyes, sit upright, and imagine your body absorbing the mana around you. Imagine redirecting this energy throughout your body. Imagine it healing your fever and halting the bleeding in your leg.¡±


    The leg. Numisley almost forgot that he had an atrophied leg. Yet it is now a stump, wrapped in bandages that needed to be changed when its white cloth painted itself a fresh red every few hours. Yet he could feel it was still there. It itched. It ached. It stung. It numbed¨C


    ¡°Sit upright and close your eyes.¡± Malanyari spoke instructions empowered by one of his Feats, which Numisley groggily followed. ¡°Inhale. Exhale. Breathe calmly. Breathe.¡±


    That seemed to halt Numisley¡¯s panic attack before it even happened. Malanyari had to exert a significant amount of effort for his [Instructional Commands] to work, for Numisley possesses a potent Aura that only talented nobility has. The scholar continued to talk to distract Numisley.


    ¡°Your mana reserves are lower than average, and your ki is even lower than I had expected. Yet your Aura almost neutered my [Instructional Commands]. I see you already have one or two Aura Feats. When you are able, you shall undergo Aura training.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Numisley was gratified to hear that.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that this phantom pain will continue. Regardless, remember that this pain is a phantom. If this pain is unbearable, request for a tincture. Continue your meditation.¡±


    Numisley meditated until supper arrived at his bed. He wasn¡¯t sure if meditating had healed his body somewhat. He did not see any immediate effect on his body. His stump bled, but it only stained the bandages. The fever became more bearable. Yet the phantom pain grew so intense that Numisley gave up meditating and called for a tincture to soothe his mind and ease this intangible aching. For Numisley, this was more unbearable than his toes being cut off. What makes this pain different?


    Such was the relief induced by the tincture that Numisley slept soundly that night until the pain let itself be known again before the sun rises.


    In the mornings Numisley learned to speak Torregornian in the refined way that his uncle wanted him to, and was informed of the history of his family and the many noble families within the kingdom. In the afternoons and evenings, he was allowed to rest and heal. Night after night, he struggled with the phantom pains, and he had to consume the same tincture that eased this pain and made him sleep. The day before the expected arrival of the Ichorvators he was taught to lie or obfuscate the truth, but little did they know that Numisley is already experienced with twisting his words. Still, many of their tips helped. When Numisley woke up, he was made to consume an energizing potion so that he could at least stand up and present himself in front of the Ichorvators.


    Numisley was dressed in a formal doublet by the [Servants] of the castle, and he joined Escribanorr and Anteojor at the front of the castle. From the streets of Ascolitica a sanguine-colored carriage with a grey trim emerged, guarded by armored men on horses. Everyone in the city was prompted to gossip about it, for they had heard that these carriages were harbingers of change among the nobility or royalty, for better or worse.


    The ominous carriage stopped short of the castle¡¯s entrance, and its contents revealed itself. Five grey-hooded masks emerged from its doors, and their red-lined cloaks barely touched the ground, but covered their shoes, creating the illusion of levitation. They were almost the same height and the same posture, slightly bowing in the presence of Escribanorr, hiding their hands on each sleeve. This is in line with what Numisley¡¯s uncle had told him, that Ichorvators will arrive in a red-grey carriage, and they wear identical clothes so that they would not suffer the consequences of the ire of the nobility and royalty from their judgments.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°Lord Escribanorr Naveirei. We are grateful that you have received us.¡± The one at the center spoke.


    There were no faces to read but the eyes beyond the silts of their ivory masks, but Escribanorr and Numisley guessed that they were surprised, judging by the way they glanced at each other.


    ¡°To what do I owe this visit?¡± Escribanorr prodded.


    ¡°We have heard of a new potential member of your House. A scion close to your line.¡±


    The masks turned towards Numisley, before returning their uncanny gaze to Escribanorr.


    ¡°We shall investigate this matter of holy heritage. We shall speak with the words and intent of the Sanguine.¡±


    The Ichorvators were now within the throne room of the castle. Escribanorr sat on the throne, ready to listen to his audience. Yet the five Ichorvators prayed and chanted in his presence, holding different objects with the exception of one, who is leading this short ritual.


    One held a medallion of stone, its inlays stained with ancient blood. Another held a glass vial of blood that did not dry nor coagulate, and Numisley felt it beckon him. One held a scroll so aged that its parchment turned into the color of dried marrow, and it was practically a miracle that it did not disintegrate when it came out from its gilded container. The Ichorvator that held it traced his clothed finger as he read aloud the ten generations of the Naveirei House, stopping at the names of Numisley¡¯s mother and father. Another held a stone idol that made Numisley¡¯s blood run cold, reminding Numisley of the [Priests] back home who invoked the gods of the land, and the visiting Satyr [Shamans] of friendly tribes who called upon spirits and ancestors.


    This was the same sensation he felt when he sensed someone watching him; the same stir that arises in a split-second when he knows there is someone behind him¨Cyet magnified tenfold. The presence of a god that he was not permitted to see and not even nobility like Escribanorr and his son were allowed to see this divine manifestation.


    The Ichorvators talked among themselves in monotone whispers; not even their voices were permitted variety. They remarked Numisley¡¯s lack of resemblance towards his mother, and how his father¡¯s sandy curls, thin stature, and fox-like eyes had mixed with his mother¡¯s striking heath-colored irises and the copper pigmentation of his skin. In the few words and minutes of observing Numisley¡¯s gait, posture, and manner of speaking they had instantly deduced his character and possible abilities.


    They whispered amongst themselves that he had inherited the intelligence of Jascias, the legendary and infamous [Spymaster] of Torregorn, and the determination and strength of character of Marhyiana the hero and champion of Torregorn. Yet they spoke of the physical characteristics of Numisley¡¯s father as if they were flaws, an out-of-place crack in a perfect sculpture, a blemish in a vibrant painting. Hearing these barely-whispered slights irked Numisley to no end that even his cousin Anteojor and Escribanorr felt his Aura curl and simmer. Of course, the Ichorvators noticed this, and noted the potency of Numisley¡¯s Aura and compared it with Marhyiana¡¯s own, which was more potent and refined; a sign of her heritage.


    ¡°Numisley Gildin.¡± The one in the middle spoke as they finished their deductions. ¡°How did you know that you are the son of the late Maryhiana Naveirei and Jascias of House Ehvreto?¡±


    ¡°When we were attacked by bandits in our home, my father left me a note that I would be safe here. That I have family here. That is when I left my home of Renimburg.¡± Numisley spoke, saying as little as possible, omitting details that would endanger his narrative.


    ¡°Are you aware of your father¡¯s past as a [Spymaster]?¡± The Ichorvator holding the blood-stained medallion asked.


    ¡°He mentioned it in the letter.¡±


    ¡°Are you aware that there are rumors that he is not of noble blood, that he had faked his filial records?¡± The Ichorvator holding the ancient scroll asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    This is a piece of information that is new to Numisley. He kept his face level, knowing that they could read every twitch and tiny gesture that might appear under his skin. He feared that his pores might betray him, that they would appear like dew and proclaim the truth.  He wore the same mask he used to confound those who attempted to read his face behind his cards when he played in the gambling den in Renimburg. Now, this is a game where his future is on the line. His white lies between his words and his omissions of small significant truths are his cards. The players he played against are the [Priests] in front of him, their cards being the god they invoked and the artifacts they held.


    ¡°Your leg. Tell us what happened.¡± The Ichorvator holding the vial demanded.


    ¡°I was kidnapped in my travels. When I attempted to escape, they cut it off.¡± Numisley cut off many details in his statement.


    A moment of silence. A pregnant pause. The Naveirei present did not hear their adjudication, but they spoke once more, turning their gaze to Escribanorr.


    ¡°How did you find this Numisley Gildin, and how are you sure that he is a Naveirei?¡± The Ichorvator holding the idol asked.


    ¡°He was in Ascolitica as a [Merchant] who supplied fish to the celebration of the opening of this city¡¯s library. When he saw the statue at the plaza, which is imbued with the Maestro Terenta¡¯s Feat. Which, as you had may or may not known, it is written in our annals that it is imbued with [Evoke Emotion (Sculpture): Ancestral Awe]. This is witnessed by my son.¡± Escribanorr added.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Anteojor continued. ¡°He was moved in a way that no other person could aside from those of our kin. I made the judgment to bring him to my father, and he determined that my hunch is true.¡±


    ¡°Considering the line of succession of House Naveirei, in which you are heir apparent, why did you take this possible scion under your wing? Especially one who is theoretically¨Cmuch purer than your son.¡± The Ichorvator holding the ancient scroll asked.


    ¡°We had heard that you had proclaimed him as the son of Marhyiana Naveirei, yet the late Torresso Commerro had embarrassed him and you in front of your Matriarch.¡± The Ichorvator holding the blood-stained medallion asked.


    ¡°I believe that inducting Numisley as a Naveirei would be a benefit to the entirety of our House. He is shown to have a talent and the Feats for acquiring money, and we need someone we can trust with our treasuries. His experience and his knowledge that is¡­admittedly, outside of our privileged lives would prove valuable to our future ventures. Your concerns of succession, I assure you, will not come to fruit. We have agreed that he shall be a minor member of our House and that the succession plan remains to be the same.¡± Escribanorr answered two of the Ichorvators.


    ¡°A cripple would tarnish the image of Human perfection all Human Houses embody. Consider. Are you still willing to induct Numisley Gildin through the Ichoricon Rite?¡± The Ichorvator who held nothing impassively asked, each blatant slight without regard for Numisley¡¯s presence.


    ¡°A disability has never stopped the Voice of the World for giving the blind sight, nor had it ignored the pleas of the mute, nor did it not speak to the deaf. There are many greats of history that rose and transcended from their afflictions because of their will; such as the Unseeing Tyrant and the Blind Blade of ages past, and I know you see the potency of Numisley¡¯s Aura, though latent and lacking refinement, is a sign of his pedigree. Naveirei or not, Numisley is a useful individual that I shall add to my court.¡± Escribanorr stood his ground.


    The five Ichorvators silently made judgments on what had been spoken in this hall. With their Feats and their Miracles empowered by the authority of their god, they had analyzed the meaning and limited truth behind each word, spoken or unspoken. They found flaws, but nothing worth the disqualification of Numisley for the Rite. The Ichorvator materialized a slip of ivory from his sleeves, and then it appeared at Numisley¡¯s palm.


    ¡°You are permitted to undergo the Rite of the Ichoricon in ten days'' time. Our priesthood shall invite peers of the realm to judge your heritage.¡± The Ichorvator who held nothing declared. ¡°You shall swear by the God of Bloodlines and the Divine Decree he joined, that no fraud shall occur or had occurred before your trial. Swear your blood on the bloodline of the Naveirei that your heritage be true, and should any fraudulence regarding this rite be discovered you shall be smitten on the spot. Swear to the Sanguine and the Thousand Bloodlines of Man that you agree to be judged by peers of the Torregornian realm that we deem appropriate and that you agree for your blood be spilled on the altar where the Ichoricon shall take place and be examined. Swear to the Lord of Covenants that you shall accede to the judgment of our priesthood and the Rite without resistance, or your life shall be forfeit.¡±


    Numisley had been already subject to many contracts in the past, but this was different yet familiar. His blood ran cold, and his veins pondered on the oath. His lips held back his words like a dam. This was like his [Bloodbound Contract], with the ancient weight of bloodlines, and not the paltry power of his blood compacts. His mind, tried and tested by trials, faced a greater challenge. There is no going back once he speaks.


    ¡°I swear.¡±

 Chapter 66

    Ovespuerte remains reeling from the chaos it endured from the many plots that burst into their conclusions from the seams of its shadows. The news had spread that the Contiearl had defended himself from an attempted coup that resulted in riots and that the port would be improved upon with the investment of various nobility, guilds, and merchant companies. The rioters were detained for a time in the castle¡¯s dungeons before being set free once Racieros knew that there were not enough cells to hold them.


    Many free citizens of Ovespuerte had gathered the resolve to move to safer cities after being in this string of chaotic events, and Racieros, even with his newly-vested authority, did not have the heart, nor felt like he had the right to keep them within the city. The [Merchants] who hail from lands beyond the kingdom merely made this a stop towards and from the Golden Triangle had simply sailed away without looking back. Those who remain see opportunities despite the danger, and they are the ones who are perceptive and astute enough to see it.


    ¡°With danger comes deeds. With deeds comes power.¡±


    Racieros blurted out a common saying across the Six Lands as he read the reports of the many free citizenry and [Traders] leaving the docks and gates almost every day. Yet he knew that those remain would take advantage of the properties and jobs abandoned, and the opportunities the new investment plan had provided. Ever since Numisley had left, he had to sign papers and meet people who wanted something from him. He knew that he was in danger, for few of the Household Guard had survived. In any moment, he was ripe for any assassination attempts that would end his life in an instant.


    He kicked the table with the force of his frustration and boredom. Sheaves of unsigned and signed papers fell to the carpet of his father¡¯s office.


    ¡°Let¡¯s spar.¡± He said to Cultrost. ¡°I¡¯m sick of reading and signing.¡±


    Cultrost did not object despite the gradually growing mounds of paperwork because he knew that sparring relaxed him. They were in the castle¡¯s training grounds. There was none of the Household Guard or any [Servant] available to monitor them, nor did Racieros needed or wanted anyone but Cultrost to be with him. They sparred with real, but unenchanted weapons, and wore enchanted amulets that protected them from themselves.


    Racieros began to poke Cultrost¡¯s defenses, playfully at first, but exerting much effort, yet the Satyr effortlessly parried and blocked his cutlass with his well-timed mace. When Cultrost attempted to land a hit, he was deterred by Racieros¡¯ deflections and dodges. The young [Lord] still could not seem to pierce his companion¡¯s defenses. The same could be said to Cultrost, who had increasingly fails to land a hit to his sparring partner.


    ¡°I wished I could fight my paperwork.¡± Racieros quipped between strikes. ¡°At least it wouldn¡¯t be boring.¡±


    ¡°I heard that there¡¯s Paper Golems in ancient libraries-turned-dungeons. Or people made out of paper on the other side of the Six Lands.¡± Cultrost said, repeating adventurer gossip back home as he blocked Racieros¡¯ stabs.


    ¡°Really?¡± Racieros swerved away from Cultrost¡¯s heavy arc. ¡°Wish I was an adventurer. Or a [Knight] or [Paladin] like my brother. Speaking of which, you said you became a [Knight], right?¡±


    ¡°Adventuring¡¯s hard, and not that¡­heroic.¡± Cultrost stopped for a moment. ¡°And yes, like I told you yesterday, my brother made me a [Knight].¡±


    ¡°Again, congratulations. I wish I had more [Knights].¡± Racieros took a stance, prompting Cultrost to continue to bout. ¡°Or anyone who I can trust for that matter.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Cultrost suddenly had an idea as he swerved Racieros¡¯ overextended stab, and performed a left hook towards Racieros¡¯ face. The impact of that punch was dampened by their magical protections, but it still made Racieros fall on the floor. Cultrost extended a hand with a smile and continued to speak:


    ¡°You invited the¡­uh, Inglorious Hands mercs¡¯ right?¡±


    Cultrost pulled Racieros¡¯ up, and they distanced themselves from each other, preparing for another bout.


    ¡°They¡¯re still not enough. My mother is planning to levy people in the lands that we control.¡± Racieros took a moment to catch his breath.


    ¡°Guessin¡¯ that ain¡¯t that simple.¡± Cultrost shrugged. Racieros did not take a stance and instead performed a series of flashy flourishes that forced Cultrost to be more defensive than usual. Yet he failed to notice that Racieros flourish is a feint and his blade touched his chin from an unexpected angle.


    ¡°Did it!¡± Racieros exclaimed in joy.


    ¡°Finally scored a hit, huh.¡± Cultrost sighed, before letting out a laugh. Racieros¡¯ grim expression returned, however.


    ¡°Yes. As you said. Things are not as simple as I hope. The other Commerros would not follow my mother¡¯s edict. Or they would follow, with an army levied against us.¡± Racieros roamed in a semicircle around Cultrost.


    ¡°You need a personal guard then?¡± Cultrost replied.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Racieros took a stance, cutlass pointing in an angle towards Cultrost.


    ¡°Then, what if you put us on retainer?¡± Cultrost asked. Racieros paused for a moment.


    ¡°With the debt we are incurring from the investment plan, the debt from my coronation, the cost of rebuilding the castle, the obligations to the guilds, and so on, how can we pay you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not my brother, but you can trust me. As long as you provide them with food, lodging, and anything they need, I¡¯ll tell them that they need not require more. The service¡¯s free, is all I¡¯m saying.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that my brother would come up with something. But if you ask me, I¨Cwe had helped you all this time. Sure, my brother has some ulterior motive. Maybe he would use you for his¡­and admittedly our ambition. But, you know it''s for our own safety because what we have is too dangerous. Think of this as us continuing to help you, as you helped us. Continuing our relationship.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. First¡­¡± Racieros returned to his initial stance. Cultrost started the new bout with a charge, but Racieros blocked the attack, following with a shove and a slash, which Cultrost parried.


    ¡°Speaking of! Relationships!¡± Racieros swiped at Cultrost as he spoke, but missed by a hair¡¯s breadth.


    ¡°What about them?¡± Cultrost swung his mace vertically, but Racieros blocked it.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Ever been with one before?¡± Racieros shoved Cultrost back, pushing the mace with his


    ¡°Never thought of it.¡± Cultrost stepped back even further. ¡°Even back home.¡±


    ¡°What kind of person do you like then?¡± Racieros


    Cultrost took Racieros¡¯ missed stab as an opportunity to charge and perform a takedown, sweeping his legs and catching him before he fell hard on solid stone. They gazed towards each other¡¯s eyes and saw refuge within each other. Their bated breath synchronized with their beating hearts.


    ¡°People like you.¡±


    Before Racieros could say anything, they were interrupted by a startled [Servant], flushed and flummoxed by what she saw. The two young men quickly stood up as if nothing happened.


    ¡°Lady Commerro urgently summons you, my lord.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡±


    ¡°Delegates, my lord.¡±


    Although Cultrost wanted to come, Racieros¡¯ mother had denied him from doing so because the matter was too delicate for an unknown element to appear in the meeting. Soon, Racieros and his mother, Strraina now sat on twin thrones elevated on draped wooden platforms built in short notice within the courtyard. The garden was trimmed to appear as glamorous and spacious as possible. Only four surviving loyal individuals of the Household Guard can be spared from their usual duties to stand guard, and a high-ranking [Stenographer] hired from the Ovespuerte¡¯s Scribe Guild. A letter of diplomatic import had prompted this event, which Strraina had explained to his son earlier.


    Moments after they sat, they were notified by a message-Feat that the foreign delegation was coming. From the gate of the courtyard, they had appeared, holding the banners displaying both the glyph of the nation they represent and the glyphs of the other two members of their tripartite, hung upon poles made out of the spines of their aristocratic ancestors.


    One of them, a grey-scaled and squat Dragonkin, dressed in a leopard tunic, began to speak with a voice that silenced all errant sounds and dictated his words as clear as day:


    ¡°Here arrives Venerable Vecathax of the Honored Lineage of Otnthilancan, Diplomat-Commodore of Vanderaz, Scale-Lord of the city of Sethancan, who now speaks with the authority of both the Most Resplendent Dragonate of Vanderaz and its divine contemporaries of the Dragonates¡¯ Mundoc and Espadias.¡±


    Racieros¡¯ blood ran colder than the lands north of their kingdom for he knew that one of the Draconic Tripartite, the premier superpower of an ocean beyond, ruled by the last three true Dragons, had stepped into their castle. Strraina struggled to think of a reason what the Dragonate of Vanderas had in store for them, for their letter said nothing other than a strongly worded demand for an audience.


    The draconic noble, whose scales glowed a glistening green, their sheen hummed with power; stomped forwards without regard or respect for the presence of Racieros and Strraina; his cerulean and pearl-white toga that covered his tail trailing behind him. His clothes seemed to move with the gravitas of the oceanic waves, and his cloak made of the hide of a golden beast seemed to fiercely glow with his incandescent mood. His entourage of a dozen [Bodyguards] were no less impressive, as they didn¡¯t need the bulky armor characteristic of [Knights]. All of them held either artisanal muskets or meticulously carved wands of pearl or bone that held mana crystals of unparalleled quality. The only metal they wore was their gilded cuirass, pauldrons, greaves, and the metal frames that held their obsidian tail blades, for their enchanted jackets and the runes engraved on their scales were enough to absorb any strike or dampen any spell, powered by the magic in their feather and fish scale capes. Unlike the Commerro¡¯s Household Guard, which only reserves enchanted gear for its best men and women, this diplomatic force all held magical equipment that only nobles could dream of.


    ¡°I come here in this backwater fishing town to inform you of Torresso Rahmeiros Commerro¡¯s transgression. That he had murdered one of Vanderaz¡¯s [Spearmasters], Seklrex the Parting Tide. with a backhanded contract curse, informed to me by my divinations. Where is the culprit?¡± The Vanderaz noble demanded.


    ¡°My spouse perished in the hands of a loathsome marauder.¡± Strraina held back much of hi


    ¡°That loathsome marauder is Johoon the Silver-Legged. A powerful [Captain] of the Diamond Shore. Your husband has promised me a concession that Ovespuerte shall pay twice our asking prices for our Dragon¡¯s Dust, matchlocks, abyssal ivory, azure manarine, malachite, and all of our products in exchange for his assassination. The death of a [Spearmaster] of the nation, however, made this null. Vanderaz demands a sufficient compensation of ten thousand vaq. In your cheap currency, fifty-thousand torosi.¡±


    ¡°Fifty thousand gold¡­¡± Racieros mouthed, his voice afraid to come out from his throat. Strraina tried to speak, but the [Herald] had silenced her with a Feat.


    ¡°If this is not paid in ten days, then your [King] shall answer this insult. I will personally teleport to his court if Our Holiness commands me to do so. If your [King] shall not pay, then we shall answer with one of our Typhoon Arrows that shall devastate your domain with a deluge that shall last decades! Henceforth, our [Merchants] shall sail to the better ports of Iquelica and Zitholon. Our nation shall cease our sale of Dragon¡¯s Dust, firearms, and all of our products to Torregorn starting today.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s too unreasonable¨C¡±


    ¡°[No Room For Negotiation]. You of all people should know how important someone with an Epic Feat is, and how such people are hard to come by. My condolences.¡±


    His last words were sincere, but they felt like a twist of the knife for both Racieros and Strraina. The delegation had simply left, and the gravity of the situation now fell upon them as if they are being besieged by all sides. A major nation, a superpower in the Six Lands, has withdrawn its trade in their county capital because of a diplomatic incident. Johoon saw the hulking ships that bear the banners of Vanderaz starting to sail away, retreating from the docks of Ovespuerte. He was prepared to run and hide if ever he saw signs that they knew that he was here, but when the ships are barely shadows before the black horizon, he guessed that they did not come for him, for now. Now, he waited for news from his spy within the castle.


    Aryyad was in his office in the Merchant¡¯s Guild, but he heard the whispers about it nevertheless. He made note of it, and told one of his subordinates to keep spreading disparaging rumors in order to deter more investors for Ovespuerte. He returned his focus to the [Assassin] from the Cabal of Claws in his office.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that a Satyr has the book?¡± Aryyad asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± The [Assassin] kept a taciturn tone, as he was trained to.


    ¡°But you said his skin was Human-like. Pale. Not red-skinned.¡±


    ¡°We believe he was another person.¡±


    ¡°So Satyrs had reached this south?¡± Aryyad asked. ¡°A [Smuggler]? A [Spy]?¡±


    ¡°A [Gang Boss].¡±


    ¡°And someone not on Johoon¡¯s payroll.¡±


    Aryyad heard that there was a new gang that was giving Johoon a headache. They took one of his major hideouts in the days before the riots in Ovespuerte. He knew that they had a Book of Paths, but he knew that it was not those mishmash collages of information that every influential clan, guild, and state has, but a lexicon worth millions of gold, complied by the Spymaster of the Golden Triangle; according to his liege.


    ¡°Do you still wish for one of us to track Numisley Gildin?¡±


    ¡°No. Not just yet. Keep watch on Cultrost. The security of the castle is in tatters.¡±


    The [Assassin] bowed, and when Aryyad blinked, he was gone.


    The overwhelming stress had led Racieros to his room and led him to cancel his appointments. His mother understood despite the problems and grief that plagued them and took care of the duties her son was supposed to undertake.


    When Cultrost opened the door, he saw Racieros exhaling all of the air from his body, and his tears fell like dew.


    ¡°Racieros.¡± Cultrost kept a level voice. ¡°I know that things are hard¨C¡±


    ¡°You have no idea¨C¡±


    ¡°I know. But what can you do right now?¡±


    ¡°Now¡­?¡±


    ¡°Or today. Just¨CI know it''s overwhelming. But, let me be with you just for now. Then we¡¯ll figure it out, step by step.¡±


    Cultrost closed the door behind him, and let Racieros cry in his arms.

 Chapter 67

    For Graten, the port of Ovespuerte reminds him of home. The city-states back home. Where competing factions at each other''s throats behave behind the veneer of civility provided by the illusion of law. The acute vision provided by his [Watchman] Role caught glimpses of this. [Mercenaries] like him were now everywhere, bearing the colors and crests of the guilds. Aside from his Severed Swords were those hired by his employer¡¯s partner, who had also taken command of the Merchant Guild¡¯s security forces. There is another faction that Numisley and Cultrost told him about, the Diamond Shore¡¯s forces led by Johoon, who occupies the destitute district of Est Prov¨¦s. He remembered seeing them storm the castle like plunderers from far away, telling his men to reinforce the perimeter around the shop on that night until Numisley told him the next day about the truth. Little to no men and women bore the livery of the noble family that was supposed to rule the city and beyond.  The riots further thinned this veil, and Graten feared that there would be another war that he had to fight in.


    Cultrost summoned Graten to the castle, and this confirmed his fears.


    ¡°Graten. Can I ask you to become the commander of this castle?¡±


    ¡°Is there a war coming?¡± Graten asked, knowing the answer.


    ¡°Most likely. Yes.¡± Cultrost gave up downplaying the fact that there is an imminent war. ¡°Racieros and his mother will recruit men and women across their lands. According to Racieros, some may accept, some may not. I want you to train them.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the salary?¡±


    ¡°The room and board will be free of charge.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Racieros cannot provide anymore because of their debts. But if you really need more coin for this, I¡¯ll raise your salary to five silvers.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. Really. I won''t reject the offer, but I want you to remember that I came with you two to provide a better life for my men, and for me to be stronger. Have you heard from him yet?¡±


    ¡°No. Not yet. I trust him to be alright.¡± Cultrost hoped that this was the case. Cultrost knows that his brother would survive anything. He knows that his will betrays the frailness of his body, that within his crippled vessel, there is a tenacity that goaded them to cross the ocean and cunning that navigated the murky waters of Ovespuerte¡¯s intrigues.


    When Cultrost left to check on Gildin Trading, the castle had been visited by a single person with a silver leg. What remained of the castle¡¯s security did not dare to stop him, even with their [Lord] and [Lady] present. He walked too quickly for any of them to notice, and in moments he was facing the ruling lady of Ovespuerte in her throne hall.


    The sudden intense presence made Strraina skip a beat as if her heart was stabbed for a moment. Sweat dotted patches of her skin in a second as she faced the pudgy man smoking a pipe, without care for her presence. Only what she has to offer.


    ¡°Who-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your husband''s murderer. I¡¯m his first wife¡¯s killer. And I represent the interests of the Admiralty of the Diamond Shore.¡±


    Johoon did not care about hiding the truth anymore because he knew Ovespuerte was ruled by a weak [Lady]. Regardless of the wishes of his superiors across the ocean, he knew that he had to take the initiative of snatching this opportunity. That is why he was deployed an ocean away.


    ¡°You dare-¡±


    Strraina¡¯s body refused to move. She knew, even if she hadn''t seen battle before, that this man alone could kill her, regardless of the [Guards] around her. She had heard of individuals who could single-handedly challenge armies and win. She had heard of legends of those people taking the throne regardless of their legitimacy other than their individual power. While she had heard of ways that royalty used to control such individuals, she possess none of them right now.


    ¡°You will be next if you will not listen to my demands. And it is simple. We claim the port of Ovespuerte. We only demand full, exclusive access to your docks and warehouses. We shall garrison our forces, and exclusively sell our goods here.¡±


    ¡°T-that is too much. ¡° She finally gained the will to speak.


    ¡°Your life ain''t too much of a prize isn''t it?¡± Johoon barked.


    The Smoke Elemental appeared beside the countess, and its smoke crept into her nostrils. As soon as Racieros had barged in, he drew his blade and charged. Yet as soon as he got close, he was back where he had been: at the doorway. He realized that a foot had kicked him before he could notice it. The [Guards] in the room drew their spears, yet their tips quail in Johoon¡¯s presence.


    ¡°You live because I allow you two to live. Defy me and the Diamond Shore, and die like your father, the traitor who was the reason I stuck around in this port. Dare to summon aid against me and you shall be dead before they arrive.¡±


    The unstoppable force had left the castle. Strraina rushed to her son and made sure that he was alright.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright, mother,¡± Racieros reassured. ¡°Nothing broken.¡±


    ¡°We must call for aid. His Majesty. The Gaviolos. Anyone.¡±


    ¡°You know what he said.¡±


    ¡°There is one way that your father knows.¡± Strraina thought of a solution. ¡°That that man does not know. I shall petition the Golden Gate Alliance myself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll come.¡± Racieros insisted. Strraina knew he couldn¡¯t say no to her concerned son.


    His mother led them through winding corridors to another alternative exit. They wore cloaks enchanted to be as nondescript as possible before heading to the streets of the richest districts in Ovespuerte. At first,, Racieros did not have any idea where they were going. They simply passed by the familiar shops, restaurants, and residences. However,, a building that he had never seen before appeared as if out of nowhere¡ªas if it had been there all along.


    The mighty box of beige stone, smooth and plain, bears no windows on its facade. Only a single doorway that is guarded by Golems embedded on its side, and within it is a row of menacing portcullis along a long corridor and a set of metal doors at the end. They walked into the corridor and found themselves in a bank lit by crystals of light. Armored Minotaurs, half a dozen, stand in complete stillness as if they were gilded statues; virtually every part of their body was covered with enchanted metal, even their eyes.


    ¡°Strraina Commerro. Racieros Commerro. Honored Jinayhir bids you to come to one of the private rooms.¡± The Minotaur [Bank Teller] called them.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Strraina was surprised that the owner of the bank wished to meet her and her son. A veiled [Servant] guided them to a corridor that seemed to twist and turn to deter any would-be eavesdroppers and stalkers.


    ¡°Mother. What is this place? Why do they know we''re coming?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°A bank of the Golden Gate Alliance. Torresso says that they use astromancy and illusion magic to keep it hidden aside from those who know about it. I¡¯m sure that the master of this bank had sensed that I need its services through some kind of Feat.¡±


    Even Racieros, who neglected his studies and spent more time practicing the blade, had heard of the most powerful economic alliance that wields in the Six Lands.


    ¡°Are you going to ask for help?¡± Racieros asked.


    ¡°Yes. I will. I¡¯m sorry, my son.¡± Strraina apologized.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°I know we are in debt. We will be deeper in debt. The investment plan, the damages, I¡¯m not like dear Torresso, who somehow finds a way to pay our debts in the past. I do not know how to fight and make war like your brother. Now we need to loan coins from the Golden Triangle, but I don''t have your father to tell me what I should do. I¡¯m not a proper [Lady]. I¡¯m just a socialite, a parasite of your father''s name.¡±


    ¡°Father knows that you are trying your best.¡± Racieros did not know what to say at first, but he settled on this.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Strraina regained her composure with the help of I¡¯m counting on Torresso¡¯s partnership with this [Banker]. If he is generous enough.¡±


    They were led into a velvet room, with two couches and a glass table between them. Sitting on the other end is a Minotaur with an amber disc of silver embedded between his eyes. His silk alone was worth their clothes combined, and the jewelry he wore was beyond the reach of their kingdom. The magical workings weaved within the cloth are beyond what most [Mages] of Torregorn are capable of.


    ¡°I introduce myself as Monaridus Jinayhir, the master of this bank, an [Ambassador] of the Mor Ostio Prospero, and a friend of your husband. My Feat had notified me of your need, and so I made myself available to help you.¡±


    He used one of his Feats to calculate Strraina¡¯s debt based on the information he obtained.


    ¡°I see you have debts to several guilds, individuals, and noble Houses. First, I must give my condolences to Torresso, a client who had paid his debts well.¡± Monaridus said.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Strraina said.


    ¡°The debt you accrued, and will continue to accrue, is seven thousand gold for the past few weeks. Your [Treasurer] could verify this. I assume you came here to borrow money?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But I ask for more help. The Diamond Shore sent a man named Johoon to threaten me.¡±


    ¡°The Silver Leg. Yes, we are aware of him.¡±


    ¡°I need help. He murdered my husband. Send someone after him.¡±


    ¡°We can only provide a loan for you to hire security and purchase weaponry. We cannot send the armed forces of our alliance, much less petition my superiors.¡±


    ¡°Why? You got your armored guards here guarding this bank. Why did they not help us when that fiend murdered my husband?¡±


    ¡°Even if I can hire and teleport a Famed like the Leviathan¡¯s Bane, the treaty with your [King] does not allow it. The ground outside our bank is foreign soil. We could sanction the Diamond Shore, but that would lead to a chain of events that would lead to war and cutting off trade with the Occident. We are an economic power made out of several islands that depend on the Six Lands as much as the Six Lands depend on us. We do not have the resources to intervene in such a way, nor is our foreign policy to do so.¡±


    ¡°He had murdered a [Spearmaster] of Vanderas.¡±


    ¡°That is preposterous indeed. But my point still stands.¡±


    Truth, lies, and omissions were masterfully weaved into the [Banker]-[Ambassador]¡¯s denial, to fool any truth-detecting Feats and spells. He noticed that Strraina has little mastery over politics or economics, nor does she have any Feats that can help her leverage the negotiation, and he intends to capitalize on it with a [Satistfying Offer] before the [Lady] gets too upset.


    ¡°However, to honor my friendship with your husband I shall give you a fair offer. If our initial audit is correct, you will need to borrow two thousand gold to hire two hundred [Mercenaries] of at least higher-than-average quality to supplement your Household Guard for a hundred days. I could recommend several reputable [Mercenary] bands in this list.¡± Monaridus snapped his fingers.


    A list of names appeared on the table, along with cups of tea that seemed to glow a radiant orange and some kind of dish with a smoked, fatty slice of red flesh covering a tiny mound of rice.


    ¡°Feel free to indulge in this complimentary snack. Mankra tea from the Magocracy of Wakuna and whale <i>nigiri </i>from the islands of Azuma.¡± Monaridus offered.


    Strraina knew that this is a showcase of their power. That they are able to acquire ingredients from the farthest lands of the world that even she could not begin to imagine. Racieros took a bite from one of them, and he was surprised by its freshness.


    ¡°We are considering hiring the Inglorious Hands. We had also hired the [Mercenaries] available in our docks.¡± Racieros neglected to mention their true employers.


    ¡°The proposed loan will help nevertheless. We also offer you two a weekly withdrawal of twenty gold.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great.¡±


    ¡°Your husband has also left us over five hundred fifty gold in unpaid debts for the renovation of the docks and adjacent warehouses.¡±  Monaridus activated [Reassuring Statement] to quickly find a more suitable follow-up to what he had said. ¡°In total, should we lend money to you, you have to pay a measly sum of nine thousand, five hundred fifty gold that must be settled a decade from now, with generous consideration for your predicament, with a reduced interest of 0.65%. Should you wish, we will mediate payments between the guilds of Ovespuerte and the [Merchants] for a small additional fee.¡±


    Racieros sensed that there was something fishy about the entire deal, but he didn¡¯t have Numisley to confirm this. Once again, he regrets not paying attention to his father¡¯s [Tutor] on lessons on managing their wealth.


    ¡°I recommend you summon your [Treasurer] or hire an expert from the guilds to advise you on this deal.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately our [Treasurer] had quit following the death of my husband, according to my son.¡±


    ¡°Am I right to assume that you consent to this deal right now?¡±


    Monaridus proceeded to close the deal, activating [Bypass Aura] and [Client: Instantaneous Decision] to get her to avoid hesitating.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Strraina found her words being pulled out of her before she could think about it. Now, her decision is final.


    Racieros was silenced by the sudden answer as if she was not being given a chance to choose. He wondered if his mother did not notice that she was being overpowered by words alone, or that she did not have any ability to ward off whatever Feats this [Banker] had been using. Racieros tried to protest, but he found himself tongue-tied with each attempt. Then he wondered if this was another Feat applied to him, and he watched in dread as his mother signed the contract under the supervision of a [Notary].


    The Countess of Ovespuerte and de facto matriarch of the Commerro House announced the levy through letters on that day. The letters arrived first to the towns and cities nearest to Ovespuerte, received by their rulers. Many questioned the change of rulers in Ovespuerte, and so when they received the letter they simply ignored it. When the first letters were received by supporters of other Commerros, they planned for war. Few sent what she requested: healthy men and women who have at least two Rare Feats.


    In the middle of the afternoon, Johoon encountered Aryyad in the middle of the road, blocking his way to his ship.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Johoon asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you that threatening the Commerros is a bad idea.¡± Aryyad warned.


    ¡°Are you siding with them now?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Aryyad said. ¡°Threatening them would only complicate things. They would send armies or worse.¡±


    ¡°Nah. You are too slow. Too soft. I won''t fault ye¡¯ for that, because I¡¯m the most dangerous [Privateer] in this port, and you are weak. You spent a decade sucking up to this city while I took it in weeks.¡± Johoon boasted, putting his arms over his paunch. ¡°What I did is take initiative. I know what the Admiralty wants, and they want more of what the city has to offer other than mere passage. So I shall take this city myself with those nobles as figureheads. Even several hundred men and women cannot hope to touch me.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m weak, then you are the most idiotic [Ship Captain] I had to work with.¡± Aryyad retorted. ¡°Then again, they say that: ¡®<i>do not interrupt your rival when they are making a mistake</i>¡¯. So, our partnership is over. Do not contact me again, and don¡¯t you send your [Marines] to harass members of my Merchant Guild. In exchange, I¡¯ll let you take whatever you want in Ovespuerte, so long as my profits do not suffer.¡±


    Aryyad left Johoon¡¯s presence. Johoon won, but he felt like he lost for some inexplicable reason. The [Merchant] from Rhundi headed straight to his warehouse, where Cultrost was checking the goods the company was going to sell for the next day. He had called the Satyr as soon as he saw him and said:


    ¡°I have a deal that I¡¯m sure you and Racieros won''t be able to refuse.¡±

 Chapter 68

    Today is the day that Numisley had thought of a thousand times since he had learned of his origins. Today is the day that he dreamt of for countless days. His trials and tribulations, his scars and sacrifices, was all for this day. Yet there was a thumping trepidation in his chest, a perturbation in his confidence that worsened with each day before today.


    Numisley refused to listen to these doubts, for he had crossed the ocean for this. He would not let his promise to his brother and the company ring hollow, for these promises are too great to avoid fulfilling. He can stand properly now, as much as someone with one working leg and a staff can stand tall and presentable. Gone were the usual practical but sufficiently fashionable beige embroidered tunic that he usually wears to keep up appearances; now replaced with a white and grey doublet that is simple for the standards of the aristocracy. While he was taught what he needed to know as an up-and-coming noble, he still felt like he was a frail boy before the wide world.


    He was informed that he would be accompanied by a caravan composed of a few of the Naveirei. Escribanorr emphasized that the matriarch of the Naveirei, which is his grandmother by blood, will be attending the ritual and trial of the Ichoricon. He distinctly remembered how his blood went cold when he saw that old woman, wielding a heavy weapon with a single arm and threatening war against the Commerros. And he knew that she didn¡¯t like him, even with the blood that is vested within him.


    Escribanorr ushered him outside of his residence in Ascolitica, before the wide gates of the castle. They stood for aching moments before a bevy of [Knights], [Mages], and [Servants] who were mustering in the tiled grounds before the castle, hopping on carts and horses. The other members of House Naveirei were either curious about the newest member of the House, or trying to determine if Numisley is a pretender, a future asset, or a rival.


    ¡°Why not use the carpets?¡± Numisley asked.


    ¡°We do not want to risk getting shot in the air by arrows or spells. And whenever they are brought out, they will be worn out further by the wind. I only brought them out because of your summons.¡± Escribanorr answered, then asked another question to Numisley. ¡°Have you decided on a new name?¡±


    Across his ten days of recovery, Numisley was asked this question, for he was required to convert and adopt a local name from the book of names that Escribanorr gave him. He still dislikes the idea, but he swallows his complaint even now.


    ¡°Not yet.¡± Numisley answered.


    ¡°You realize that you have to declare it, right?¡± Escribanorr asked.


    ¡°The idea of changing my identity and pledging myself to a pantheon of gods while there are other gods is a big ask, you know?¡±


    ¡°Our gods demand allegiance as much as worship. Much like how [Kings] would not accept subjects who have other masters.¡±


    ¡°I want a name that remains close to my origins,¡± Numisley said. ¡°That sounds similar to my own. Three names in that book might fit me.¡±


    They were interrupted by the declaration of trumpets and a [Herald] that spoke the name and title of the matriarch of the Naveirei. The Duchess Matironra marched in a riding dress beside an armored bodyguard, with one of them bearing the House banners. She stood stiffly beside Escribanorr and Numisley and addressed the other members of House Naveirei.


    ¡°As is tradition, the [Trader] Numisley Gildin, who claims to be the son of Marhyiana and Jascias Ehvreto will be joining us in this procession to the Ichoricon that will take place in the temple of Scanircasa before his trial. You all shall determine if he is worthy of our name.¡±


    After that announcement, the Duchess retired to the blue enchanted carriage along with Escribanorr, while Numisley was relegated to a carriage nearest to that main carriage, reminding him that he is both guest, outsider, and subject of scrutiny. This is the first time he rode a proper carriage instead of a cart or wagon. Instead of sitting on a wagon¡¯s floor or a nailed bench, or if he was lucky, a sack of grain or a bale of hale, he rested on a padded seat. Instead of a coat for shelter or a canvas roof, he rides under a wooden roof. For him, this is a luxury foreign to him and gone are the aching pains of travel.


    In the enchanted carriage, warded from any attempt of eavesdropping, and protected from most dangers, the matriarch and his son conversed about the matter of Numisley.


    ¡°Thank you for accepting my request, Mother.¡± Escribanorr expressed his gratitude.


    ¡°My promise of disowning you still stands if he causes me to lose face. How worthy is he?¡± Matinronra asked.


    ¡°Within ten days of recovering from fever, he had grasped our history and politics. He learned to speak our language in our way and bettered his manners. There may be some hiccups about that, but I know he will avoid embarrassing himself if he wants the approval of our House.¡±


    ¡°Too much of our House do politicking and not much else. We need people of action. How good is he in magic?¡±


    ¡°My advisor reported that he¡¯s got no magical potential.¡±


    ¡°So that cane only got bound magic and he can¡¯t recharge it.¡± Matinronra sighed. ¡°And he¡¯s a cripple, so no good as a [Warrior] either.¡±


    ¡°He has a surprising proficiency in using his aura.¡±


    ¡°As he should. Otherwise, I will not even consider him as a Naveirei. How prosperous is he? Who does he know?¡±


    ¡°The reports say that he sells all manner of things, most notable being fish sauce made by a [Fermenter] from Ascogres which sees a rising popularity both Commerro and our lands. He partnered with a foreign [Merchant] named Aryyad Guizzimeraime from Rhundi to sell more goods, and he holds a place in the Commerro¡¯s court.¡±


    ¡°Good for someone his age. Maybe he¡¯s useful after all.¡±


    ¡°I hope that the rest of the House sees his value.¡±


    The trip to the site where the Ichoricon will take place takes a day or two via horseback. The caravan had stopped beside an ancient road of a bygone civilization, stripped of all its depleted runes and magical circuits that once provided magical lights and speed for those who had traversed it. A sprawling, well-guarded camp was quickly set up by [Servants] next to the ruins of an ancient watchtower stripped of all its brick and mortar except for its half-buried foundation. Lavish tents were set up after [Priests] consecrated the land to scare away monsters and deter maledictive magics and [Mages] erected low earthen walls around the perimeter. Food was cooked up as soon as the ingredients were prepared. A long table where all the Naveirei, including Numisley, were already in place within a pavilion summoned with a spell scroll.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    All eyes were on Numisley, who sat on the right side of the table. He knew that every eye judged him by the seat he had chosen to sit on and the manner he arranged himself on the chair. Numisley saw familiar faces from his first foray into Ascolitica, where he was brought to the celebration of the opening of the library such as Alerra and Agnelerri, but more unfamiliar faces that either examined him out of curiosity or glared at him like he was mere dirt. Now that he had seen the gathering of Naveirei back then, he noticed many familial commonalities such as olive skin and sharp noses, but also characteristics such as their unnatural grace and the surety of their presence; and it seemed like magic itself gathered around them.


    ¡°Nice to meet you again, cousin.¡± Agnelerri greeted after he recognized Numisley, bringing along his spouse, Alerra. ¡°We have heard great things about you.¡±


    ¡°Scandalous things.¡± A member of the Naveirei butted in, overhearing them. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you incited a riot in Ovespuerte and committed many crimes.¡±


    ¡°You know how people slander.¡± Numisley calmly replied. ¡°The truth is that other [Traders] are jealous of my friendship with the current head of the Commerro House, and I was helping him with their finances when they became bankrupt.¡±


    Escribanorr told Numisley this is the most challenging of tasks because he had to prove himself to the rest of the House before the Ichoricon itself. Regardless of the results of the Ichoricon he must win them over if he wants to profit from them.


    ¡°So it is true that Ovespuerte got raided by [Pirates]? A shame.¡± Alerra said.


    ¡°Unfortunately. As you heard, Lord Escribanorr has been investing in the restoration and renovation of Ovespuerte for a share in the port¡¯s annual profits. I whispered to Lady Strraina the idea.¡± Numisley casually mentioned.


    Some were impressed, and some were mildly surprised. There were a few faces that Numisley could not read for they either did not pay attention to him or they hid their feelings well in a casual veil. What¡¯s important for him now is that he presents himself as someone accomplished and useful.


    ¡°If you wish to invest, I can give a word to the Commerros. Though I think as days pass the shares grow fewer.¡± Numisley added.


    ¡°Apologies for Niovin¨¨.¡±  Agnelerri apologized in behalf of his cousin.


    ¡°I know that you all distrust me. For good reason. Understandable. In your perspective, I am but an unknown variable that claims to be a member of your House. A son of my mother, who I heard was once a heroine of this kingdom and my father who supported her. I only came here to live up to their names.¡±


    Escribanorr saw Numisley regaling the members of the House with his tale on how he found out about his origins, and how he crossed the Obscure Ocean. He knew this was his attempt to endear himself to the rest of the members who chose to witness the Ichoricon ritual, playing on their curiosity. Yet he thinks that he embellishes and leaves out pertinent details.


    Once Matinronra sat down and the food was set, the table became quiet out of respect. A [Priest] that accompanied them led the brief prayer, dedicated to the nine deities that their religion venerated and worshiped.


    Numisley remembered how to eat as Escribanorr taught him, from his posture to how he picked up the fork and knife and chewed without making any noise. The dinner proceeded without issue, with the Naveirei either talking about Numisley or important events. Some asked Numisley many questions, and the rest silently judged him throughout the night even after dinner. The Naveirei at the end of the day either taught that he might be a potential asset or a nuisance.


    After dinner, Escribanorr tasked his [Wand Servants] to set up detection spells around Numisley¡¯s tent in case of assassination. He instructed the most loyal of his [Spell Knights] to guard his tent for good measure until morning. The next day, they left the camp after breakfast to the temple of Scanircasa at a regular, unhurried pace.


    Several hours later they had arrived in the vicinity of the Temple of Scanircasa. The Naveirei caravan set foot on the clearing of vast tiles made out of cracked sunset-colored stone. Remnants of walls reduced to vague lines of rubble and despoiled altars ground by weather and time were around the temple of the Ichorvators itself, a newer granite building by centuries upon the ruins it squatted upon. Carved blood-stained ducts on that ancient surface spread from the temple like arteries from a heart. Horses were tied on the remnants of pillars and wooden poles recently erected, and the Naveirei ascended the granite steps of the Scanircasa temple. Numisley¡¯s heart thumped with trepidation upon the sight of the statue of a god cutting its wrist with a knife at the entrance; its wound bleeding despite being made out of unliving stone, and its blood seeped on the grates of the altar. Beside the statues are two of the Ichorvators which greeted the visitors, and led them further into the temple. Along the alcoves of the temple¡¯s hallway, Numisley saw weapons, pieces of armor, goblets, and even shrouds all stained with blood behind clear glass. Men and women were led into separate rooms, and instructed to change into simple white robes for the ritual. Numisley didn¡¯t get the significance of it, yet he obediently followed, leaving his clothes on a table along with the others within the changing area.


    The procession of the Naveirei spread out into the stone seats arranged in a circle around the ritual site: a quartz stage, meticulously engraved with minuscule scores across its surface. At the centerpiece of the quartz platform is a sharp and smooth quartz spike impaling a stone bowl. Four stone platforms were placed on the cardinal directions of the ritual site, and on one of them is a red-robed [Priest] with a staff of crystalized blood, his cheeks and jaw with white ash yet his hood covered the rest of his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m the High Ichorvator authorized by Ichoruin, the God of Covenants and the pact that binds our gods and sovereigns to settle this claim through the Ichoricon Rite.¡± The [High Priest] proceeded to invoke a prayer dedicated to the aforementioned god, and his acolytes and attendants participated. Numisley mentally reviewed the events that would happen, and the statements and arguments he had to say.


    ¡°Claimant.¡± The [Priest] spoke to Numisley. ¡°Step on the platform.¡±


    Numisley limped forward, stepping on the quartz platform. As soon as he took that one step, the magic crystal on his walking staff was rendered inert, making him lose balance for a moment before he saved himself from tripping.


    ¡°State your name and purpose.¡±


    ¡°I am Numisley Gildin, who claims the name of Naveirei. I came to Torregorn from across the ocean to claim my rightful heritage and inheritance given to me by my father Jascias Ehvreto and Maryhiana Naveirei.¡± He said the words he rehearsed for hundreds of times.


    ¡°What makes you say that you are a rightful claimant of the Naveirei?¡±


    Numisley told the events that had transpired that had led them to this point, instinctively using the Feat he had never used before: [Argument of the Claimant] which added credibility to his argument by the Feat automatically adding the proper words to his tongue before he could speak out loud. He plainly stated his circumstances, without the flair he used to impress others. Escribanorr and the matriarch of House Naveirei were instructed to stand on the remaining empty stone platforms. A thorough line of questioning ensued between the High Priest, Numisley, and the two prominent members of House Naveirei which ironed out the details of this claim. The questioning stopped as the High Priest called for a vote on whether or not Numisley should be accepted into the House. Among all the thirty members of the House that were able to attend the vote is nearly equal, but ultimately in favor of Numisley being accepted should he prove himself a true scion of Maryhiana.


    ¡°I invoke my right to protest.¡± One of the Naveirei spoke. It was Niovin¨¨, the one who protested against his existence the first time that he saw him. ¡°This individual conspires with our greatest enemy, Dustitoz Gaviolos. Do you all not find it strange that this individual landed on our shores several days before he emerged from exile. From the same land he had been exiled from? Be wary.¡±


    Numisley had thought that this had gone all too smoothly, without the interference of that person. Yet he didn¡¯t account for rumors spreading. The camp that voted for Numisley¡¯s expulsion voiced their agreement with that statement, while the others whispered their uncertainties.


    ¡°Your concern is heard.¡± The High Priest said. ¡°Yet regardless, the vote will not change as tradition dictates. Numisley Gildin, you are now allowed to prove your blood to the Ichorite. <b>Stab your palm in that spike.</b>¡±


    Before Numisley knew it, his body acted on its own¨Ccompelled by the [Priest] and the ritual, and his hand pricked itself on the spike. Blood trickled on the lacerations on the quartz spike, pooling gently on the stone bowl. Numisley raised his hand in an instant as soon as his hand bled on the spike and stone bowl as if he accidentally burnt his hand on a sizzling pan. When he looked at his palm the wound that is supposedly there is gone, as if it was never pricked in the first place. He saw a portion of the quartz platform turn red, his blood now crawling through its intricate lines, branching towards Matinronra and Escribanorr, the longer and thicker line of blood pointing towards the matriarch of the Naveirei. Numisley was sure that he did not bleed this much to fill a quarter of the stage with his blood. The High Ichorvator divined the meaning behind the blood, examining how much it spread towards the direction of the Naveirei.


    ¡°Lord Ichoruin has declared that this individual is truly the son of the late Duc Marhyiana Unor Naveirei, daughter of Duc Matironra Teonecra Unor Naveirei, who claims descendance to Queen Navire of Mirthireda from sixty-five generations ago, who claims kinship to the sanctified bloodline of Estepine of the Thousand Peers of the First Empire of Man. Therefore he shall be inducted among the nobility of the Torregornian realm with a new identity. What say you?¡±


    This is the moment that Numisley has to declare a new name for himself. He will not make them wait even further, and he decided upon a Torregornian name.


    ¡°I declare myself to be Numarr Unor Naveirei. I swear myself to Torregorn and the Nine Gods and their Decree to commit to my filial duties to my House.¡±


    Numisley knows that this is merely his first trial for the days to come. The words now writing themselves on his soul confirm this as he receives the recognition of those present:


    [Theme - Reclaim Birthright fulfilled.]


    [Feat - Noble¡¯s Disposition kept.]


    [Title: Claimant of the Naveirei ¡ú Lord of House Naveirei.]


    [New Role Attained: Lord.]

 Chapter 69

    Several days later, the first of the levied troops arrived at the gates of Ovespuerte, and was let into the castle. Some were part of their local militia, while others were [Farmhands], [Smiths] and all manner of occupational Roles that one would fulfill in a town. Only a few have the Feats that the ruling Commerros were looking for, with the rest not suitable for a battle, much less a war.


    Graten Haovel did not blink at this fact. Recruitment and training, in his opinion, was the most challenging part of managing a band of [Mercenaries] because most were not [Fighters] at birth, and therefore must build their skills from the ground up and earn Feats in the process. He stood before the men and women who had been brought to the grounds of the castle, who were nervous or idle, ready to make the best of this situation.


    ¡°You have been brought here by the rulers of this place to become the new¡­Household Guard. I am Graten, a foreign [Mercenary Captain] who''s been hired to train you for this Role. Let it be known by the gods of this land that I¡¯ll do my job. You will earn the right to be [Fighters] at the end of the week, and if you shall gain a fighting Role, then you shall be paid.¡± Graten announced.


    Cultrost saw the [Mercenary Captain] beginning to instruct them on exercises. He turned his gaze towards Racieros.


    ¡°Hope this is enough,¡± Cultrost said.


    ¡°How much do you trust him?¡± Racieros asked, still unsure of this arrangement.


    ¡°As much as someone who had helped us escape our homeland even if we paid him less than he deserved.¡±


    ¡°Still. This is fewer people than we needed.¡±


    ¡°The [Mercenaries] will come over, I heard. And that [Lady] from that mountain castle offered to stay with her [Knights].¡±


    ¡°But my mother said that the Commerros who either supported my uncle or had their agendas had either declared war or did not heed the levy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a [King] that would stop this?¡±


    ¡°Father and the tutors that he hired taught me that kingship or queenship, does not necessarily mean they have authority. Their vassals are powerful too. The [Priests] too. They have their properties and armies, and their job is to keep them happy. This time, His Majesty could also watch our House war with itself so the Commerros will be less of a threat to his rule.¡±


    ¡°Bleak.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what my father would think if he¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°That His Majesty will intervene, I hope. If Numisley¡¯s¨Cyour father and mother had helped him, then¡­¡±


    ¡°Always the same everywhere, these people in power. But I can¡¯t blame you for hoping. I feel the same way, despite everything.¡±


    They were interrupted by [Servant] that meekly approached them, holding a letter with the seals of House Naveirei and the Mage Guild of Ovespuerte.


    ¡°Letter from Numarr Naveirei, addressed to Cultrost Gildin.¡±


    The [Servant] disappeared as soon as he spoke, leaving the bound scroll in the Satyr¡¯s hands. He did not need to open the letter, nor did he ask who is ¡®Numarr Naveirei¡¯ to know that his brother had finally succeeded in his goal. Nevertheless, he unfurled the scroll to read about his brother¡¯s success.


    ¡°What do you think about that [Trader]¡¯s deal? Can he really kill that impossibly strong [Pirate]?¡± Racieros asked with a noticeable trepidation in his voice.


    ¡°I have no idea. I¡¯m still not sure. But it¡¯s the best chance we got. He has been a decent business partner, after all.¡± Cultrost admitted his hesitation toward the plan that Aryyad had presented to him.


    ¡°Still. I do not trust him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not so naive as to trust him completely. My brother does not trust him. Once everything¡¯s sorted, then we¡¯ll go through the plan.¡±


    The two walked through the corridors of the castle, and they told Racieros¡¯ mother about the plan, which she found ridiculous and dangerous. It took some convincing by Racieros for his mother to go through with the plan, emphasizing their desperation, but she realized that this is how they could avenge their two family members. Strraina Commerro then called upon their [Servants] to summon the [Mercenaries] working under Johoon.


    Now she sat upon the padded throne of the castle, the sunlight of the broken roof shining upon her while the foreign [Mercenaries] stood there instead of kneeling in her presence, without regard for their difference in status within the throne room.


    ¡°We thank you for your service in keeping the peace in our great city.¡± Strraina used the royal ¡°we¡±, attempting to emphasize her authority over them. She tried avoiding the urge to puke, holding back the order to kill or imprison them, for she knew that she did not have enough men and women to fulfill that order without a significant amount of casualties that she couldn¡¯t afford to have right now.


    ¡°It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that¡­your contract has ended.¡± Strraina continued after a short silence, hiding her insincerity behind polite wording. ¡°As agreed upon by my son who had ruled in my absence, here is your severance pay.¡±


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    A chest of gold borrowed from the bank was carried by two [Servants] and opened in front of them.


    ¡°You are all therefore dismissed. We expect your leave in five days¡¯ time. Inform your leader about this.¡±


    Some of the [Mercenaries] grumbled for a short while, but they left in the end, later reporting to Johoon about their dismissal.


    Later that day, Cultrost and Racieros met with Aryyad in the warehouse and told of their approval of his plan. When the two went away after Cultrost took note of the goods to be sold, he ordered someone in his company to make contact with the [Assassins]. He then headed towards the guild hall of the Merchant Guild he now commanded, and placed priority orders for potions and enchanted gear.


    A hooded figure appeared before him, and he knew that it was the leader of the cadre of [Assassins] that he often hires despite being unable to gleam his true identity aside from the purring tone of his voice.


    ¡°You say you have a job for our entire organization, " said the head of the [Assassins].


    ¡°Yes. I need you to kill the Silver Leg.¡± Aryyad said.


    ¡°It is not worth the risk.¡±


    ¡°That is why I shall minimize the risk. In addition to the one hundred base gold coins that I will pay right now, I will also buy potions and enchanted gear for the rest of your [Assassins]. I will also attempt a request for a summoned creature that would keep him occupied during the fight, and muster my [Mercenaries] to keep his [Marines] occupied.¡±


    ¡°At any other time, I would decline this request. However, this will be a boon to my reputation among [Assassins] when I slay this Famed individual. Before I accept, I would have this request written and enforced under a Bloodoath Contract and a trusted [Notary], should you not uphold your end of the bargain.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Aryyad requested the people under his employment within the guild that this [Notary] must not be connected to the Scribe Guild within the city. Fortunately, a person with that description existed within Ovespuerte, and she was hastily summoned to the office of the Merchant¡¯s Guild. She oversaw and advised both of his clients on the contract regardless of the content pertaining to the assassination of a prominent figure. When the contract is finalized and signed a curse is placed on both.


    Continuing to prepare for the assassination, he gave further instruction to his [Mercenaries, before heading towards the sole major temple of the port with two of his best [Mercenaries]. He barged past its [Guards] and faced its [High Priest], who is in the middle of ablution.


    ¡°You,¡± Aryyad called. ¡°I need you to summon¨C¡±


    ¡°Shh!¡± Sacre hissed. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°[Everything Has A Price].¡± Aryyad used one of his Feats to force the [High Priest] to negotiate.


    ¡°A hundred <i>torosi</i>.¡± Sacre blurted out a price of a hundred gold coins in the kingdom''s currency, provoked by that Feat.


    ¡°I will expose your heresy to the world if you do not do as I will.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright. Let me call upon someone¨C¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Aryyad refused. ¡°Or do you really want to be exposed?¡±


    Aryyad dragged the uneasy [High Priest] into the temple¡¯s underground level, where the mausoleum and reliquary is located. Aryyad already knew about the secret path that led to the hallowed room that contained the secret that Sacre desperately hid in Ovespuerte before Aryyad discovered it.


    The room was pitch black before Sacre lit the candles. The candlelight touched the boxes of bones and the redolent jars, filling the sealed room with a miasma of rusting metal scattered around a magical circle that seemed to squirm in the presence of light. Aryyad had seen this before, but his hairs still stood on end.


    ¡°You say you can summon a Demon, right? Not a Daemon. Although I prefer the latter if I have a choice.¡± Aryyad asked for a confirmation.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t attempted it. But the scroll I have is partially translated.¡± Sacre admitted.


    ¡°Damn. I really need to kill someone. Especially an idiot who can threaten a city. Can¡¯t call for military support either. Let¡¯s gamble. Do the summoning.¡± Aryyad further urged the [High Priest].


    ¡°But¨C¡± Sacre protested. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can control it once it manifests.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of the people you killed then?¡± Aryyad pointed towards the boxes of bones and jars around the room. ¡°You¡¯re a [High Priest] right? Manifest a Miracle to banish him.¡±


    Sacre ceased complaining and unfurled the scroll made his hand tingle. He put the parchment that contained the translation of the instructions written on the original scroll. He chanted in a tongue unfamiliar to him with words that scraped the tongue and inflicted a level of unease that was stranger than anything he had experienced to his soul. His identity recoiled by the actions Sacre committed himself with, and he repeatedly told himself that he is merely coerced; that he isn''t doing this out of his own will. Yet he denied that he had bought this artifact because he wanted to have more power, and now this power had turned against him in a cruel twist of fate.


    A rend in reality widened in front of them, and they felt the malevolence that threatened to swallow this place whole. A blade of gold widened it, and a red being of fifty-four limbs emerged from a realm of true darkness save for one pillar of blinding light which disappeared as the otherworldly creature fully manifested. It was not Sacre and Aryyad¡¯s expectation of what a ¡°demon¡± is, for instead of horns, the faceless creature don a halo of iridescent flame.


    ¡°A [Priest] had summoned me after millenia with such paltry sacrifices? A thrall of the beings I was created to kill? A joke.¡± The demon spoke with a voice that rang as hollow as a brass bell.


    ¡°Wha¨C¡±


    Sacre tried to speak, but the demon overwhelmed his voice.


    ¡°I am¡­


    When the demon spoke its name, it was in a tongue more universal than the common tongue spoken in the known world of the Six Lands.


    When it spoke in its lipless voice, they saw, heard, and felt the essence of its name.


    <i>Its name is an echo of millennia past and worlds beyond. Its name is a golden glaive that murdered forgotten gods and toppled their thrones in twain. Its name vanquished empires as a champion of its kind. Its name rode across stars and once wielded many weapons familiar and unfamiliar. Its name is the number that it has been summoned outside of its Realm: six-hundred and sixty-five incarnations across five other Realms, each weaker than the last. Its name is now reduced to a single syllable because of the [High Priest]¡¯s inefficient sacrifice. </i>


    <i>	</i>A single utterance of a part of its name almost overwhelmed Aryyad¡¯s mind, while Sacre had steeled himself with the conviction given to him by his faith against the otherworldly syllable of its name that the creature had spoken.


    ¡°Regardless of the weak state you put me in, a contract between us has been made, as it was written by the original author of that scroll. What is your will, frailest of summoners?¡± The demon now spoke in a language and voice that was tolerable to the mortals in front of it.


    ¡°I had paid this man to summon you.¡± Aryyad regained his composure, thinking of the correct words to say. ¡°Kill the individual named Johoon the Silver-Legged within five days or less, and banish yourself to wherever you came from.¡±


    ¡°Is this your will, summoner? The demon asked Sacre.


    ¡°Y-yes.¡± Sacre blurted out.


    ¡°Your will shall be done.¡±


    The demon leaped with a force that raised dust and shattered layers of consecrated stone above it.

 Chapter 70

    Johoon Silverleg received the report that his [Mercenaries] were dismissed by the Countess. Though he saw the gold and silver before him, this is not what he wanted.


    ¡°You scum-addled sailors. Did every one of you leave the castle?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    ¡°With me. We will show that bitch that this port is ours. Tell all the boys that.¡±


    ¡°Aye¨C¡±


    Something sundered the ship into pieces, deck and all. A second later, the waters flooded what remained of the deck, and the [Captain] blocked a glaive with a golden blade. He did not have the luxury to stare at the impaled and sunken pieces of his men.


    ¡°Piss.¡± Johoon cursed. ¡° [I Moved Like Mist].¡±


    Johoon disengaged, his body turning into mist in a moment. The second he materialized, he was thrown into the waters by the same glaive that swung with the force of a collapsing pillar. His back hit the trash-littered seabed below, and found himself lying with a skeleton consumed by seaweed and barnacles. He swam up and kicked the water with his magical silver leg. The force of his ascent burst forth a column of water that rained on the slums of Est Proves and was enough of a distraction for Johoon to kick the strange thing that attacked him into the wall that separated the slums from the rest of the port. A bell rang a hurried cadence, amplified by magic, and the citizens knew that it was the alarm for a monster incursion or [Pirate] raid. Yet he knew that this was not a random incursion but an ambush from a summoned being.


    The red being stood without a scratch on its lacquered skin. Its fifty-four limbs reminded him of a horror of horrors that hid within the wandering ice mountains of the Obscure Ocean. Johoon did not feel the instinctive disgust that the beings born from the end of the world emanated but a sense of primeval power that he could not begin to comprehend.


    The demon¡¯s halo flared, and Johoon began to summon the Smoke Elemental from his magical smoking pipe. When the demon appeared where he stood earlier, the Smoke Elemental tried to find a way into the creature¡¯s orifices, only to find out that it had none. Five of its fifty-four limbs ripped the threads of magic that bound the Smoke Elemental together, dispelling it and rendering Johoon¡¯s magic item ineffective. Johoon spat his smoking pipe to the ground and pulled out a speaking stone that is attuned to a few of his crew.


    ¡°To whoever is still alive, storm the castle. Kill all who resist. Find out who summoned something to kill me.¡±


    The speaking stone shattered into pieces as Johoon dodged the glaive¡¯s swing, but he was scorched by flourishes of iridescent flame that formed from twenty of its limbs.


    ¡°[Magic Item: Boosted Potency]. [Fluid As Quicksilver]. [Magic Item: Triplicate Haste]. [Anchoring Storm of Stabs]. [Dagger Art: Flesh-Tearing Typhoon]--


    His silver leg seemed to glow with power as he lunged forward towards the demon, and his heavy body seemed to soften into a fluid state and accelerate thrice his speed. His dagger finally bit into the many limbs of the creature, and with each wound he managed to gouge out, his enemy grew heavier. Then he became a typhoon of blades that slashed and stabbed, tearing flesh¨Cuntil a line of blood drew itself across Johoon¡¯s torso, followed up by five punches in that moment that threw him through several shanties and apartments.


    ¡°Imitations of the machine. Mere copies. Nothing like the gods.¡± The demon stared at his dismembered, bloodless limbs, disparaging the assault he had suffered. For seconds, he waited to heal and realized the limitations of his flawed summoning as he realized that his wounds remained. Soon, it would return to its Realm of origin and be summoned by another who knew its names and the manner in which to perform the contract.


    Before it could conjure a spear that could damn someone to the hell it came from, a silver foot kicked it to the side from an angle it hadn¡¯t expected. The creature crashed into several buildings outside the slums and crushed several families in its path. Johoon saw his silver prosthetic starting to devour what remained of his right leg, and it knew Johoon was almost out of mana.


    ¡°[Item Replenish Char¨C¡±


    A golden blade cut between Johoon¡¯s right knee and his parasitic magic item. The demon stood in front of him, holding its golden glaive above its head, about to deal the finishing blow. Yet its many eyes turned to the clear skies and stared beyond the floating islands as if it noticed something. Clouds out of thin air gathered in a hurry until they turned grey, and from its crux emerged a white finger that split into two. Lightning thundered down from the heavens and transmuted the demon into a sculpture of pyrite and silver. The temple that overlooked Ovespuerte too, was also struck with the same lightning, which transformed portions of it into chunks of molten metal.


    Johoon couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. It was not a spell of any tier. It did not have the sensation of a great spell being cast. He could still feel the wrathful intent of such an attack, and he was reminded of the tales of the [Sea Priests] about the capricious rage of the gods of the waters they sail and the winds their ships borrowed. He tried to stand, despite the absence of a leg, despite the gaping wound across his chest, defiant against his broken body. Johoon found himself kneeling on the street instead of standing up.


    A quarrel pierced his heart, and he felt the gnawing of poison making his way through his veins. Three more pierced his chest, then five, then ten, and more. The repeating volley, Johoon knew, that his opponents now were [Assassins] that know how to kill people as powerful as him. When he tried to stand, his arms were impaled with multiple bolts, making him fall face-first to the ground. Then three [Fireballs] from three separate directions brought his end, and he felt every patch of cloth and skin burning for many painful seconds, for he is difficult to kill. When all that was left of him was smoldering flesh, the [Assassins] wearing a variety of civilian clothing emerged from the ruined buildings and their shadows. Then they stabbed his corpse repeatedly.


    ¡°Check for magic items.¡± One of them said. Some of them diligently turned the body on its side while blades were still pointed at the corpse in case their target somehow survived. There were no other magical tools aside from Johoon¡¯s silver leg and defective smoking pipe. Deemed thoroughly dead, the [Assassins] threw his burnt corpse into the sea, and their leader claimed the silver leg for himself.


    ¡°Tell our client, discreetly, that the job is done.¡±


    -


    When Racieros and Cultrost heard the shockwave and the massive geyser from the docks, Racieros urged his mother to sound the alarm, and Strraina turned to their court mage to sound the bell. She issued a proclamation to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild that their adventurers would be given a reward for assisting against the [Pirate] incursion, despite the debt the household had piled up.


    What remains of the Household Guard, including the recruits that Graten trained and the [Knights] that accompany Adriasta Kaminor who also volunteered, mustered in front of the castle gates behind barricades and atop the walls, armed with the last remaining arquebuses from the trade between the states of El-Mira and other weapons left in the armory. Adriasta and her [Knights] elected to protect the castle and Strraina herself in case the walls were breached, arguing that when those in the walls retreated back to the castle, she and [Knights] could effectively defend against the attackers. After a brief argument, they all accepted the [Lady]¡¯s proposal.


    Graten, Racieros, and Cultrost later stood behind the battlements on the walls and watched helplessly as [Marines] armed with blades, wands, and pistols strode boisteriously in the streets towards the castle. Most of the people already barricaded their homes, and those unfortunate enough to cross their path were cruelly cut down or briefly beaten to death.


    ¡°Open the gates¨C¡±


    ¡°I would advise against that, sir.¡± Graten cut off Racieros. ¡°They are trying to bait us out of our position. No matter how many innocents they maim or kill, we must not give up our advantage.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¨C¡±


    ¡°We outnumber them. I counted twenty-five. Twenty for us. And your mother called for adventurers. If your city¡¯s guilds join the fight, or if your city has a militia, then they will be eliminated.¡±


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°Graten¡¯s right,¡± Cultrost said, even if he wanted to go out there and bring the fight to them. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here and shoot them from here.¡±


    Racieros still isn¡¯t convinced because he knew that numbers isn¡¯t everything in this world. A single man dared to threaten him and his mother in this very castle, after all.


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s right. You should go back to the castle.¡± Cultrost turned to Racieros.


    ¡°I already said no.¡± Racieros rebuked. ¡°I already said that I need to be here to inspire you all, and it is my duty as a [Lord]. No one will respect a [Lord] that cowers behind a castle.¡±


    ¡°Fuck all of that!¡± Cultrost said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do if I lose you.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re that worried about me, then, I¡¯ll keep myself safe. I know when to retreat, and I know I¡¯ll always be in the rear.¡±


    Racieros took a long look at Cultrost before facing the chaos outside, sighing deeply.


    Johoon¡¯s men seemed to realize that their terror tactic didn¡¯t work, and they are wary of any reinforcements that could encircle them. So their leader, one of them that somehow survived and without any knowledge that their [Captain] is dead, hollered at his fellow [Marines] to charge at the castle and defeat the [Summoner] that their superior is having trouble in at that moment.


    A volley of [Firebolts] and lead balls roared from the walls. They scorched gambesons and pierced flesh, yet they still persistently charged. Some shot with their One raised a wand and produced a ramp of light, and several of them activated their Feats to run faster. Two fell when three defenders on the wall shot at them, but it is too late as they were already on the walls of the castle.


    ¡°[Clear Command]. Form up and surround them.¡±


    They raised their shields and tried to jab at them with their spears, but the [Marines] were used to tight spaces in naval combat. The [Marines] fired their pistols and activated the spells in their wands to gain a bit of space, redirecting the jabs of spears and dodging quarrels from the defenders¡¯ crossbows. Some of them try to run up against the walls before being promptly shot down by arquebuses.


    Cultrost recklessly ran sideways on the battlements, bypassing the line of defenses to clobber one of them with a mace. Such ferocity was one they didn¡¯t expect from the defenders, and so their attention turned to the lone Satyr in their midst. Graten didn¡¯t manage to stop this foolish maneuver, and he prepared himself for whatever would happen, for he could only give out support-Feats to bolster the defense right now.


    Barely a second passed, and Cultrost suffered many cuts, yet [Ignore Pain] lets him keep fighting despite that. Though without the plate armor characteristic of [Knights] in stories, he had the Role.


    ¡°[Knight¡¯s Challenge]!¡± Cultrost roared like he never roared before.


    Cultrost used the only new Feat that comes with his [Knight] Role, exacerbating the attention given to him. Their eyes turned to him and him alone, accepting the challenge. The [Marines] found him as slow as an amateur fighter, but with the tenacity of someone who would be at the level of their boss. They dodged each swing of his mace, taking every opening to inflict a cut not blocked by the Satyr¡¯s [Phantom Bracer]. One fired his last remaining round from his pistol and pierced the Satyr¡¯s arm that held his mace, but he didn¡¯t stop swinging and blocking with [Defensive Fighting].


    In the heat and flow of the melee, Cultrost saw one of them, a wrinkled and scarred veteran with a grizzled mane the color of pepper, point at him with an etched cutlass, and for a moment smaller than a fraction of a second he saw the words tracing itself in the air.


    ¨CCoordinated Assault].


    Before he could realize that his perception and reflexes saw the shine of a Feat being activated, he was cut a dozen times, making his body weigh even more with fatigue and bleeding, yet he remained defiantly standing. Now imbued with supernatural coordination, the [Marines] didn¡¯t slow themselves when they almost bumped into each other and became more confident with swinging their blades against him. No matter the angle and intensity of their attacks, they did not hit each other as they gouged more of the Satyr¡¯s flesh. A dagger bounced off Cultrost¡¯s horn, and a dart of stone from a wand stuck itself in his chest, both somehow avoiding hitting someone in their path.


    The distraction gave the defenders an opening to further close in, jabbing their spears behind the enemy, depleting their disposable wands with the activation of projectile spells, and killing them with the lead from their guns. When a few of them were left, the [Marines] knew from experience that they had to leave. They tried to retreat by jumping down from the battlements but found themselves surrounded by teams of adventurers and promptly surrendered before more of them died.


    Cultrost stood there, blood deepening the color of his crimson skin. Before he fell, Racieros caught him, staring at the Satyr¡¯s face as his eyes close.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    The [Lord] poured his healing potion on Cultrost¡¯s wounds while Graten called for bandages. He saw the faint smile on Cultrost''s face, his fingers caressing Racieros¡¯ cheek before closing his eyes again.


    [Feat - Surge of Speed, achieved.]


    [Feat - Reinforced Armor, developed.]


    [Rare Feat - Lesser Slashing Resistance, achieved.]


    When he saw the words tracing themselves under the shade of his eyelids, he knew that his gamble had worked.


    Then they heard thunder and saw two forks of lightning that struck the temple and the slums. The hairs on everyone¡¯s skin stood on end as a wave of fear and wrath washed over them, and they wondered why this happened on a clear day. Later did most of Ovespuerte learned that the [High Priest] of Ovespuerte and a mysterious creature with fifty-four limbs had turned into rough-hewn statues of pyrite and silver.


    -


    Dustitoz Gaviolos did not stay long in the political mire that is Ovespuerte, after being outmaneuvered by both Adriasta Kaminor and the idiocy of Garenno Commerro. When he did his part to his House by claiming a stake in the investment towards the repair and improvement of the port he had hopped aboard on a galley heading towards one of the ports that his former House owns. It took only two days until he arrived at the port of Sez¨¦sprocorvint¨¦.


    On one of the docks, his grey-haired half-brother and current head of House Gaviolos, Durvalerron Gaviolos waited for him with the composure of a practiced athlete and proven statesman. He is far less slovenly than the former Duc, and even without his brigandine-clad [Halberdiers] flanking him, Dustitoz knew that his half-brother would gut him the second he got off the boat. If his half-brother is here on the farthest major port of the Gaviolos, then he had heard of his mistake in Ovespuerte.


    Dustitoz walked off the gangway along with the other passengers, who, as soon as they saw the noble, bowed out of respect and obligation before Durvalerron dismissed them.


    ¡°Half-brother. Why, why are you getting us in trouble again? You have only this moment to explain yourself before I tell them to cut you into pieces and feed them to the fishes, or I will gut you myself if your answer displeases me.¡±


    ¡°I¨CHe, Garrenno, was a threat to the Commerros. A threatening fool, who drew his weapon in a temple of law instead of going through the trial. He attempted to murder that boy and his mother so that he could take power, and I saw it as an opportunity to gain their favor by doing that.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, you tarnish our House¡¯s reputation by being here. Men, k¨C¡±


    Dustitoz pulled out a contract from his bag of holding with a visible grimace on his face, as if he was blocking a swing of a weapon towards him.


    ¡°Here! I have struck a deal! With the Commerro widow. That we can gain a significant¨C5% of their annual income if we finance Ovespuerte¡¯s reconstruction. Though if the rest of the Commerros wage war against the current matriarch and her son, we can make this higher in exchange for our¨Cyour military assistance.¡±


    Durvalerron told his men to stand down.


    ¡°Of course, if you authorize this deal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Durvalerron refused to give his half-brother the satisfaction of a straight answer. ¡°As soon as I decide which to back in the upcoming succession crisis of House Commerro.¡±


    ¡°I do hope you get back the right sort.¡± Dustitoz mocked.


    ¡°I assure you, I¡¯m not as much as a fool as you.¡± His half-brother retorted. ¡±Speaking of foolishness, I know you¡¯ve been spreading distasteful rumors about a Naveirei. What¡¯s your goal this time?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just any Naveirei. He is the son of the Left Hand of Torregorn. The scion of Maryhiana Naveirei.¡±


    ¡°No. I thought they were dead. You told us that they were dead.¡±


    ¡°I thought so too. They faked their deaths to escape¡­the reason why didn¡¯t matter to me. But I discovered that they were alive when you and the kingdom exiled me. That [Spymaster] finally died by my hand, but he escaped and came here, no doubt urged by his father to come here.¡±


    ¡°So why do you let him live?¡±


    ¡°I tried to kill him, and it was very difficult. Then, I realized that revenge is best served warm.¡±


    ¡°I thought the saying goes, ¡®revenge is best served cold?¡¯¡±


    ¡°I let that boy pursue his claim. My informant in the Naveirei House told me that the Ichoricon accepted him. Once he tasted what it means to be nobility, its pleasures and the power that comes with it, then I¡¯ll damn him to the most painful death possible. Therefore, ¡®warm¡¯, like a meal freshly cooked.¡±


    ¡°And I thought you said, ¡®never play with food. ¡¯¡± Durvalerron shrugged. ¡°Still, you are exiled, and by law, you should not be here. I only gave you that manor so you would not leave it.¡±


    ¡°And I was a great help to our House in Ovespuerte. I was the first to report about it, remember?¡±


    Durvalerron¡¯s lips remained still.


    ¡°Do not worry about me half-brother, I¡¯ll leave this port soon and live somewhere else that is not within the demesne of the current [King].¡±


    ¡°The bishopric?¡±


    ¡°Yes. If you are in need of me, I¡¯ll be in Triecanuti.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you. House Gaviolos does not need you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, keep saying that until the Synod pesters you for your piety. I¡¯ll keep an ear out for your troubles. And remember, [A Secret Between Us: This Never Happened]¨C


    ¨CDurvalerron found himself in his office three towns away, several hours before he charted a trip to Sez¨¦sprocorvint¨¦ to see his half-brother. He still remembered what happened several hours later, but he knew he could not speak about it. If the [King] tries to contact him about the appearance of his half-brother from his exile, he can simply deny the fact that he had contacted him. He almost forgot that he has useful Feats, but he still denies that he had been beneficial these past few days.


    His [Servant] knocked on his door, and he remembered what he was here for.


    ¡°Sezzo. Tell the [Mages] to cancel the teleport spell if they haven¡¯t set it up yet.¡±