Kazuki was welcod as a hero. His subordinates knelt in solemn respect, honoring their Champion. However, before the atmosphere grew too heavy, they broke rank, rushing toward their leader. Within seconds, Kazuki was hoisted into the air like a rock star, smiling as cheers echoed around him.
The sight struck Priam as odd until it clicked: the hoplites revered their general as much as they loved him. A mix of respect and joy, the duality of the ceremony was refreshing to witness.
That wasn’t the only thing worth noting. Priam’s draconic instincts stirred, refusing to fully calm whenever Kazuki was around. There was only one reason his bloodline would keep him on edge: the Tribulations and their rewards had vaulted Kazuki back into the ranks of the most dangerous rivals. If he managed to master his new Concept...
Priam’s heart raced at the thought of sparring with his friend.
The next few hours flew by. Following their leader's example, the hoplite soldiers triggered their Tribulations in turns. Priam tended to forget this, but these warriors were the best among billions. Trained by Kazuki, hardened by the Necromoon hordes, equipped by the Sun Shop, and ard with knowledge of what awaited them, they passed their trials with flying colors.
Only Hyshana chose to wait. The general wanted to bide her ti to attempt a quadruple Tribulation.
“My talent may not match yours or your rivals', but even the hardest exam becos manageable when you know the questions in advance. Thanks to you, that’s exactly my position,” she said, nodding at Priam.
“There’s truth in that, but it’s still a risk. Think hard before you make that leap,” Priam advised.
“Without , my wife would be the heroine of this generation,” Kazuki chid in, beaming with pride. “I have absolute faith in her.”
There wasn’t much else to say. Leaving the craftsn to continue building the Valaryth outpost under Myuri’s supervision, the rivals returned to Elysium. As they traveled, Priam noted a few differences from the erased tiline.
The second Terror hadn’t shown up, possibly because they had shifted the timing of the Tribulations… or maybe due to the lack of blood in the ocean. Priam could only hope Titus hadn’t crossed its path this ti. He had considered going after him but stopped himself: he wasn’t ready to face the Terror.
Another difference was Esmée’s absence. In the other tiline, she had returned to observe the Tribulations. She must have figured out that Priam had used Back in Ti and adjusted her plans accordingly. Since her presence wasn’t urgent, Priam decided it was ti to visit the Oasis rchant.
“rchant Ymir.”
“Lord Priam.” The half-elf bowed. “Judging by the hoplites’ high spirits, I assu your endeavor was a success.”
“They made good use of the intel I gave them to pass their Tribulations,” Priam confird, then furrowed his brow. “Now that I think about it, I never offered to help with yours, did I?”
His relationship with Ymir was more professional than the ones he shared with Louis or Myuri, but the rchant had been one of the first mbers of Oasis. Priam hoped they could maintain a good rapport.
“It’s nothing. We rchants advance by purchasing our upgrades from the System. What costs you Potential, I pay for in cold hard cash or Sun Points. Buying and selling is literally how we progress.”
“Oh.” What was likely obvious to the natives of this universe was news to Priam. Talking further, he learned that Ymir didn’t face Tribulations like Priam. Instead, he had goals to achieve: move large volus of goods, trade rare items, gather crucial intel, or broker contracts with heroes. The missions were varied and tailored to each rchant.
Despite the lack of deadly trials, the profession was challenging due to High Tribulations. The System couldn’t help rchants master Supremacies, and purchasing affinities for comrce-based Concepts was expensive. Outrageously expensive.
“Hence why so few rchants Tier up. My kind is naturally cautious, and there cos a point when upgrades are so costly only heirs of massive companies can afford them. This concentrates rare items in major cities and capitals.”
Priam thought of Ève and his two remaining rivals making their way to the heart of the Knaya Empire. Was he making a mistake staying in his secluded corner? I’ll have to travel eventually, but for now, the Sun Shop offsets the need for access to civilization.
“What kind of power does a wealthy rchant wield?”
Ymir’s smile turned sharp. “Depending on his expertise, they might connect unique artisans or track down hundreds of needles in one haystack. So focus on gathering intelligence, but the Grand Guardian of Secrets has a near-monopoly on that market,” he said, gesturing to the nhir of Secrets standing at the Forum’s center.
“What should I fear from a shady rchant?”
“If your willpower or charisma are too low, they could persuade you to buy any trinket at a hundred tis its value, trick you into signing predatory contracts, or get you to spill more than you intended.”
Priam could already imagine the power so cri lords held in a universe where breaking magical contracts could be… final.
“Aren’t they afraid of getting robbed?”
Ymir grinned. “Most of us choose a protector with a bright fate to defend us.”
Looking at the Oasis rchant, Priam realized their relationship would likely beco more symbiotic. If he needed rare tals for Prosse, Ymir would find them. In return, Priam would have to protect Ymir so he could do his job in peace. Like a feudal lord and his vassal…
“I’m more than just your protector—I’m a resourceful man,” Priam said with a smile, opening a portal to Concepts Archipelago. “In the erased tiline, I was able to duplicate all your items.”
Ymir’s smile widened. The two then began unloading the goods into the rchant’s shop until they reached the plants.
“My paynt for the duplication,” Priam explained, keeping the samples in his internal world.
“Naturally. I assu I took a deposit? Allow to refund you.”
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