Elsewhere in Maelstrom City, Graeogor family residence, a middle-aged man strapped in the official dungeon guard uniform stord in, his figure tearing through the crowd as he approached a white-haired man draped in a black robe, the magnificent family crest engraved on it.
"Patriarch! Patriarch... news!" he sputtered, the mont he crossed the ten-ter mark from Artorias, already garnering his attention.
Two figures materialized beside him, their eyes fixed on the man, barring his way.
"Let him pass," Artorias snapped, raising his hand. The figures once more vanished, though their presences remained prominent.
Turning to the guard, he barked, "What’s so important that you had to interrupt my morning strolls?" He put more emphasis on the last part, as if that was an integral duty in the running of the family.
"The Grand Ancestral Academy elder you had us keep an eye on, we spotted her!" he began.
"You did what?!" Artorias growled, his eyes turning into slits. "When did I tell you to keep an eye on her? Didn’t I just say not to inconvenience her if you were ever to encounter her?!" He continued, frothing at the mouth. Fear taking hold of him, would she now think he had his n trailing her? No, no, he couldn’t let that happen.
Then, turning back, he eyed the guard, his voice dropping dangerously low. "You didn’t co all this way just to tell you spotted her, right?"
"No, no, no, I would never waste your ti. It’s just that she was spotted entering the Wolf Den dungeon with your grandson, young master Aurelian."
"Huh?" Artorias froze, his brows arching in surprise. "What did you say?"
"Grand Ancestral Academy elder Seraphina was..."
"No, no, the last part. I must be hearing things!"
"It’s true, Patriarch! I was there myself. It was our family’s turn to guard the dungeon, and I was on shift when it happened. She went in with the young master!"
A mont of silence passed as Artorias drank in every word. So she really was serious when she considered him so chosen one of sorts. He really was ant for greatness. As all this dawned on him, boisterous laughter escaped his lips.
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha! Hahahaha! Good, good, good! Go, inform the others, tonight we hold a feast in honor of my grandson. He takes back his place as rightful young master of the Graeogor family, and to his continued greatness... tonight, we nd all broken ties!"
"W-well, Patriarch..." the guard stamred, sweat dripping down his brow. "That’s not all... there’s more..."
"Then spit it out!" Artorias snapped, patience wearing thin.
"The Silvermoon clan’s young master was also there, and... and he provoked the young master by trying to steal the Grand Ancestral elder from him. So... she killed him and his lackeys! Now, with their young master dead on account of Aurelian, the Silvermoons demand a death match....or war."
"What?!" Artorias barked, face scrunching. "Why the hell didn’t you start with that?!" He narrowed his gaze, voice cutting sharp. "You’d better not be feeding rumors."
"I swear it on my life!" the guard stamred, trembling beneath the oppressive aura rolling off the patriarch.
"A war, huh?" Artorias muttered, his eyes gleaming dangerously. Had they grown too quiet, that clans now thought them prey? Casualties would co, but the Graeogor na could not be trampled.
"Tell then," Artorias leaned forward, voice dipping low, "if Aurelian accepts this duel... who’s his opponent?"
Nobody outside the Graeogor family knew he was a dual awakened, so if the opponent was weak, then they had a chance to beat them at their own ga.
The guard hesitated, then murmured, "Rumor has it... their young lord, Darius Silvermoon."
"That brat who failed last year’s academy entry selections and is now an E rank?" Artorias growled, the na jogging previous mories, causing his jaws to twitch.
His fists clenched. "Those shaless bastards! If it’s war they want... they’ll get it. This might just be the chance we’ve been waiting for." He breathed deep, already envisioning the mont Aurelian returned to see the family united behind him. Old grudges, wiped clean.
Now, all that was left was for the boy to co ho.
***
Elsewhere in a pawn shop across Maelstrom City, two figures stood facing each other, one young, draped in a cloak, the other an old man with a head full of white hair trailing to the back of his head. Yet the sparkling light in his eyes and quick movents betrayed the surging vitality welling inside him. Both were locked in an intense conversation.
"So, how much for all of it?" Aurelian breathed, part of the loot he had acquired from the dungeon laid out in full display. After all, he didn’t have any choice. To gain entry to another dungeon would require gold coins, and given the ager coins he had left, he had resolved to this. It wasn’t like he could offer a particular blue egg in exchange for passage, right?
"Hmm, the quality is not bad, quite passable actually. I’ll give you ten gold for everything," the old man murmured, his hands tracing across the surface of a bow among other items.
Aurelian’s brows arched, a frown lining his face. He didn’t know the actual value of everything, but he had a feeling he was being ripped off. Ti to flip the script.
"Twenty gold!" he murmured nonchalantly, watching the old man’s face twitch as he winced.
"As I said, the quality..."
"Twenty-five gold!"
"Wait, are you increasing the price every ti I speak?" The old man shifted his attention to him, suppressing the urge to smack him. This wasn’t going as planned. Even adventurers weren’t this stingy over loose change.
"Thirty gold!"
"You impudent brat! I’ll give you fifteen, that’s the limit."
"Forty gold."
"Argh! Damn it, fine, forty! Have it your way!" the old man cursed, throwing up his hands. Profit vanishing before his eyes.
"Huh? So it works." Aurelian smiled, taking the pouch of gold before tossing it in his interdinsional storage ring boldly.
What were the odds the old bastard had a lackey lying in wait just to rob him after he left? Well, he was counting on it. Reverse robbery? He mused, already loving the thought as he walked out.
And as he did, a sinister smile stretched across the old man’s lips before he snapped his fingers. A youth appearing beside him almost instantly.
A massive blade hung behind his back arm, with scars lining his face.
"I trust you know what to do," the old man breathed. The figure nodded in agreent.
"Good. Just make sure to dispose of his body well and bring back all his treasures," the old man muttered, his eyes clouded by greed.
"Should be right about... now." Aurelian smirked, watching a shadow trail behind him, a quick side glance revealing his level, 25.
Just at the cusp of F rank.
"Well, you better be loaded," he breathed, taking a detour to an abandoned alley. Ti to restock before he headed to the dungeon.
Reviews
All reviews (0)