Transmigrating to the World of Thaumaturgy was the Start of Everything Chapter 29: Reactions from the Aristocratic Families

"Young Lord Damien. You’ve disrupted my business and assaulted . I suggest you leave now before this escalation continues."

Elias spoke calmly, his voice carrying a hint of coldness despite the muffling mask.

He released Damien’s hand with a gentle push that nonetheless sent the young noble stumbling backward several steps. Damien’s face cycled through various shades of red and purple; his humiliation was palpable.

A common shopkeeper had effortlessly handled the heir to the prestigious Blaze Family.

—This would leave a stain on his reputation.

Damien wanted to retaliate a third ti, but recalling Elias’s firm grip, like the claw of a predator, he relented. This was the second ti he had backed down in a confrontation. The first was when he faced his cousin, whom he hadn’t seen in three years, and now this insolent shopkeeper who appeared out of nowhere.

In the past, with his status and reputation, Damien would have had anyone who got in his way crippled if he couldn’t do it himself. But recalling why he had co to Sun Kingdom and his father’s warnings not to cause trouble in a foreign nation, he chose not to escalate the matter with Elias and this shopkeeper.

—He still hadn’t displayed his full strength in the exchange with the shopkeeper.

"You can take your leave now. My humble shop does not welco uncouth individuals like you."

Elias suddenly declared, infuriating Damien completely.

"This isn’t over."

Damien threatened, his voice low and dangerous.

"I’ll find out who you really are, and when I do—"

"You’ll what?"

Elias interrupted calmly, asking:

"Attack again? Bring the might of the Blaze Family to bear on a simple pastry shop? How noble of you."

The sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable, and several custors had to stifle their laughter. If this had been a noble from their own nation, they might have cared about Elias’s mocking words, but with a foreign noble, they couldn’t care less about how he was treated, especially when Damien was acting arrogant in their kingdom as if he owned it.

Seeing the mocking expressions of the people in the shop, even so of Damien’s own entourage looked uncomfortable with their master’s behavior.

"Mark my words."

Damien said, backing toward the door with as much dignity as he could muster.

"You’ve made an enemy today. The Blaze Family doesn’t forget insults."

The declaration dripped with murderous intent.

"Noted."

Elias replied dismissively, pointing at the exit.

"Now, please leave. You’re holding up the line."

With a final glare at Elias, Damien stord out of the shop, his entourage hurrying after him. The normal bustle of business slowly resud, though everyone kept stealing glances at the mysterious masked proprietor who had so easily handled a noble’s assault and kicked him out.

The spies from the various families completed their purchases and departed, each eager to report what they had witnessed. The mysterious shopkeeper of Mama’s Pastry had just beco significantly more interesting to the powers of Sun City.

As the morning rush finally began to subside, Elias gathered his three employees in the back room.

"You all handled that situation well. Staying calm during conflict is an important skill in any business."

He said to Nathan and Amanda, removing his mask to wipe the sweat from his face. While the whole exchange was happening, neither Nathan nor Amanda had panicked. Instead, they stood in the corner, watching the situation unfold.

"Sir, that man with the fire hands... was he really from a noble family?"

Nathan asked hesitantly, recalling past experiences with nobles, which were generally unpleasant.

"He was."

Elias confird, adding:

"And he won’t be the last noble to cause trouble here. Are you still certain you want to work for ?"

All three nodded without hesitation.

"That man was a bully."

Amanda said firmly, adding righteously.

"Noble or not, he had no right to act that way in the boss’s shop."

"Besides, we’ve already seen that you can handle such people. We’re not afraid."

Selina added with a small smile.

"That’s right, the boss is strong!"

Amanda said excitedly, recalling how cool Elias looked when he caught Damien’s flaming fist with his bare hand.

Elias felt a warmth in his chest at their loyalty. In his previous life as a Quantum Seeker, he had commanded armies and ruled over star systems, but this simple trust from these young people touched him in a way that cosmic power never had.

Maybe experiencing raw human emotions now and then isn’t so bad.

Elias thought to himself, sensing the strange feeling coursing through his entire being.

"Very well. Then let’s prepare for the afternoon custors. I have a feeling our business is about to beco even more popular."

With his mask removed but his cape’s hood still up, shrouding his face in shadows, he smiled at them, a smile that only the children could see. Witnessing his genuine expression, the children gawked at him in stunned silence. Selina, in particular, hadn’t seen Elias smile like that in the past or recent tis.

"What are you all standing there for?"

Elias’s voice snapped them out of their dazed state, and they imdiately began preparing for the afternoon custors.

As they returned to the shop floor, none of them noticed the small bird perched on the windowsill, a bird whose eyes held far too much intelligence for a re animal. It had observed everything and would soon carry its report to its master.

...

anwhile, in the aristocratic quarter of Sun City, four different etings were taking place simultaneously.

In the Goldre mansion, Lord Aldric listened intently to his spy’s report.

"Neutralized a Ninth Stratum Neophyte’s fla attack with his bare hand?"

He mused for a mont and then made a comnt.

"Either this shopkeeper is far more powerful than he appears, or he possesses so unique defensive artifact. Either way, he’s worth investigating further. Send Reeves to make a formal business proposition. Let’s see if he’s interested in partnership."

...

In the Silverton estate, Lady Evangeline’s beautiful face showed no emotion as she received the news.

"A mysterious figure who hides behind a mask and demonstrates incomprehensible abilities."

She said thoughtfully and added:

"That’s enough for the basic investigation. Marcus, I want you to dig deeper. Find out where he ca from, how he acquired his recipes, and what his true intentions are. Soone with such power doesn’t open a simple pastry shop without greater ambitions."

...

In the Thornwick compound, Lord Garrett’s reaction was less asured.

"He humiliated the Blaze Family’s heir? That’s rich! Hahaha!"

He roared with laughter before abruptly pausing, his expression turning serious.

"Still, this changes things. If he can handle nobles so easily, without caring about the consequences, simple intimidation won’t work. Thomas, gather our best alchemists. I want those pastries analyzed. If we can’t force him to share his secrets, we’ll uncover them ourselves."

...

In the Ravencrest tower, Lady Isadora’s scarred lieutenant finished his report.

"Interesting."

She murmured, her ageless face revealing none of her thoughts.

After a mont’s contemplation, she said:

"Viktor, expand our surveillance. I want to know everyone who enters and leaves that shop. Pay special attention to the girl and those slum children he hired. They might be the key to understanding our mysterious shopkeeper. Oh, and Viktor. See if any of our foreign contacts have heard of soone matching his description. A person like that doesn’t develop in isolation. They might have a backer."