Chapter 185: Value of Aureo (1)
lKjVWhen Vlad opened the door, the first thing he saw was the elderly knight Duncan, sitting unsure of what to do.UW29
3Elq“Oh, oh…”n3b0ynv
VpfrIt seemed he had been under unbearable tension.hqV
IZUDuncan, upon seeing Vlad enter through the door, could finally release a sigh that sounded almost like a groan.D8wEyV
w5z5g“…Nothing happened here, right?”UqGNw
FNDVlad’s eyes began to sharpen as he looked at Duncan’s pale face.9h5wuZH
baAbrSHe realized that something in the room had recently made the experienced and cunning knight shrink.22JM
6HWNN‘The air feels strangely heavy.’unn
Dee8The residual tension that only a swordsman could perceive.VWCfd
rSWjPGRHowever, there were no obvious signs of enemies here at the moment, just two women smiling at him.5jpWvV
zK4bGxAlthough both had a much more intense smile than usual.pvZJ
o6AAK“I see you’ve come running over here. You’re panting.”x2POHbD
oVnV“Drink this and breathe. Lord Vlad.”cvlPT
JFGzdGVlad saw the two glasses of water being offered to him at the same time.FY6
AsZzHe didn’t know why they were sitting together, but Vlad, who was thirsty, unconsciously reached for one of the glasses.33Aai
SDEA“Thank you.”CIdK
Evz3FHe trusted them, so he wasn’t on guard.mRF8
pOKzTherefore, Vlad couldn’t feel the cold, penetrating gaze of the two women at all.Je3MxZS
ywKJX[Wait!]BQYeSpI
huETk“…!”zWf
ju8ZhCUSuddenly, a warning from Kihano resonated louder than ever.jipj
Y4SDoMzVlad shuddered strongly at the sound of Kihano’s voice echoing like thunder in his head.nkRZQEH
dZps[The moment you even take one of those cups, you’ll be in real trouble.]SERod2
T40AFy0‘Why?’g8RMD
nd1eJ[Look around you.]IqchpAC
ohNSuThere’s a kind of atmosphere that can only be recognized through experience.S7KL
xE9pFAnd in that sense, there was no one better than Kihano to quickly understand the situation.nkayz
DVj8XCpFor a hero like him, the danger represented by the women was like a calamity that pursued him like a shadow.HmuDUW
PyJJUU[It seems that the sinister prediction of the cat refers to this situation.]zf00I
tTuWr‘…’87ivYO
pbjProphecies and revelations that are only understood by living in the moment.qAalX
BdbrcIRVlad, with the habit of looking around the room, finally noticed that Zemina and Alicia seemed somewhat strange.AxRI
k8z“I’m very glad that nothing happened.”4dd2FvZ
ZrgwR7Vlad, who lived in the alleys, knew it well.UZD
NP9That there are occasions when one must follow the criterion of instinct more than reason.gXMlN
Ktf“Please share what you said. I’ll be leaving now.”MLLK
5Dep05Vlad raised his hands as if he wouldn’t grab anything.ld4FSx
01yMvThe movements in which he tried to quickly drop the two glasses of water in front of him were more agile than ever.RCve81
26drU1H“Aren’t you going to drink this?”wnOeo
FcFOhX“I’ll go down and drink.”xREXAN
ZjFUd4“This is for you.”Z6W
VRol0kQ“Thank you for your consideration. But I have something urgent to attend to.”YrayTEx
DJcym6jPickpockets must have tact.hED4vIc
5lMgINow, is this a moment when it’s okay to approach or not?C6U8ZZ1
oU03hAnd Vlad was one of the pickpockets who survived until now.JfXSY7m
gRZQD“I’ll come to see you later.”pnzqC
zKMvThe blond knight bowed politely as the door closed quietly.ZiX
IwbqGThe two women moistened their lips with their tongue as if disappointed by his clean exit, which no one could criticize.lW2
JohkqLVlad, who didn’t ignore the warnings directed at him, was a man who deserved to survive.im35o1i
NqM***oHTeH6
YkQs[I need to be kind to that cat. He’s a really helpful guy.]l8OmI
VR6Us9x‘I know, right.’l19o
HygdZVlad’s movements as he descended the stairs were swift, as if he had just escaped from hell.dndK
JuxEven as he descended the stairs, Vlad recalled the previous situation and could discern the kind of tension he felt.C3xQNA
uIno7[But you’re quite used to such a situation, aren’t you?]k4vJk
Dy8Dv“This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced something like this.”m5474GC
Um4pVW0In response to Kihano’s question, Vlad shook his head from side to side as if old memories were coming to mind.tmwDty
Xfxz‘Zemina has grabbed dozens of girls by the hair until now.’R2kiu
pjJoCq[No wonder that girl doesn’t seem easily overcome.]Ku5
p3qgluAlthough facing a noble, Zemina could defend herself because she had enough experience.wkI7CI
Cwi9JThe girl’s struggle to stay by his side was as intense as the boy’s struggle to rise.0iLkz
6RU‘But why with Lady Alicia…?’pLTS0
T22m6kHowever, Vlad still didn’t understand why there was tension between the noble Alicia and Zemina.p5SNMZ
h6GiQVlad was not oblivious to the signals between men and women, which only made him feel more puzzled.9jL
GMmBR[Now is the time for you to recognize your own worth.]Yhz35
gTbFBUXDid noble Alicia have any reason to confront Zemina, a woman from the lower districts?1Aex
q3IWLAnd that question was answered by the sight Vlad was now witnessing.oZxDgNW
aZQ“…”WTznH
x6XczcThe merchants rose in unison at Vlad’s appearance.ge5rJBY
lgRZPcSeeing them rise like waves, Vlad was momentarily speechless.2I2
lxNx[From now on, your worth cannot be evaluated solely by your swordsmanship.]AJLP
F8jld1IThe merchants bowed their heads as they looked at Aureo, a knight and noble.InrYgNe
ZiyEven Harven, in the distance, tipped his captain’s hat.YzQ
hg6iIVlad was momentarily speechless at the fact that he had created the entire scene he was witnessing.L7Tti
fR6yzvrNever before had the staircase to the first floor, which he had always overlooked, seemed as high as it did today.QY7Yig
uFBzOE***4bKMKlc
rqjEySeHarven and Otar rise following Vlad’s gesture.vXekb
lqrSzSeeing them, the eyes of the surrounding merchants sparkled with interest.j3Ckd
4h5TuFSome of the cleverest merchants were already slipping bribes instead of tips into Ned’s pocket.H1c
jd5vwxj“What are these people doing here?”4gv06
EicZFiB“Well, because the noble Vlad Aureo…”uGq
bDOfr“Don’t pull my leg, before I take away your cane.”d2HGZfI
oHtyoThe men who ascended to Vlad’s room.4wT7
7QSIPDjAlthough Harven’s words were rough, he couldn’t help but smile shyly at seeing Vlad pull a chair for him.cSHXW
vLvj8lQAlthough their positions may have changed, their relationship didn’t seem to have changed at all.RP3WoDL
D3hZDd“The rumor that the elves have settled in Deirmar has already spread throughout the north. Furthermore, it has also become known that they severed relations with the Count of Vitskaya.”1EG
JB8jMkAs Harven said, one of the rumors causing a stir in the North these days was about the elves.egRE6N
pjZIQThe elves severed their relationship with Count Vitskaya, with whom they had been doing business, and left alone.icm7
oClqUU5The eyes of the watching merchants had already turned red.R29lXuA
NpjukV“After selling drugs, that was to be expected.”bYtH
g6Nhfmr“In any case, the merchants are now very interested in the elves in Deirmar. And it’s said that you brought them.”acC
eZ63O“I didn’t exactly bring them…”cGg
e7wh49Although he hadn’t brought them, it was true that they had followed him.0Vja7vi
vMmqIn any case, it was true that Vlad had some influence over the elves.wwjp
gK6v“Moreover, there are the dwarves, right? That’s also significant.”OOrOthO
gZUlLa“Why?”mJPf0o0
3RJiThis time, Otar responded to Vlad’s question, not Harven.Vr9uUZ
nx0oL“Look at this.”PVPp
wVx“What’s special about this axe?”tAcvjF
ScGJTyHA dark axe was gently pushed toward Vlad’s side.Azvw6QI
eBU2Vlad unconsciously grabbed the axe and was startled for a moment when he felt a heavy sensation enveloping his palm.xV6
TSN19“It’s good, isn’t it? Even knights covet it.”6jOk2x
Da7Gs6PA simple axe, made purely to be functional, without adornments.B9L
ThXgqHowever, unlike its appearance, the feeling in the hand was that of a masterpiece, recognizable only to those who wielded it.CHye3
ifuaoqW“The dwarves didn’t bring their ships here by chance. They tested some trade goods, and their quality is impressive.”WwTnzPJ
Ha7xgVlad knew well that Harven was not one to exaggerate or lie.ZA1
bD9ABut now, using gestures to explain, it was easy to imagine the impact those trade goods had caused.tYe
eQX“Some merchants I know say they can’t be compared with the weapons from the West, which are jealously guarded. Of course, there’s a big difference between something made by forced slaves and something made by artisans.”fAURJL
vS80RbThe cavalry of the West was superior not only because of their skills, but also because of the excellent weapons they possessed.akksQK
5RetAeHowever, the weapons brought by the dwarves from Nidavellir were made by artisans, not slaves, and the difference was obvious.oKOMXNn
Aw2udO8“And those dwarves, whenever they could, would get drunk and mention your name and Sir Joseph’s. Honestly, with all this…”1ntW
76RUtF3Harven gently took the cane brought by Otar, shrugged, and said.Fzm4nB8
AGBOw“Even if it were me, I would come here. Don’t you think?”TmXqK
RVOb“…”iMSIO
ukWaAfter hearing Harven’s words, Vlad could vaguely realize what position he was currently in.A6oG
NWZei9A position where one doesn’t make the decisions but can have significant influence.e71pZGy
nQY4AEven amid the great concentric waves, the person who would be at the center was a man named Vlad.JGiTfvh
2yk“…You told me before when you handed me the boat.”N3SPb
FLpgSThis could be my chance.”RHR
Hd33WVlad, who had struck a deal with the Kannor family along with a boat worth 200 gold coins, spoke to Harven.1THWLa
bl8Now it’s your chance to change your life.E8xQff
qfPOsR“But in my view, it seems that moment has also come for you.”r32
rHIrHarven, who picked up his now polished captain’s hat, looked at Vlad and smiled cautiously.l8jfyK0
2mvLP4“This is an opportunity. Right?”E8N
1KIXVuSo far, Vlad had relied on the wind and waves created by others.8b3D
c2XtkDBut now he knew he had the chance to make them himself.jbG
Y9sIrkVlad, who had been lost in his thoughts for a while, looked at Harven smiling at him and silently nodded.8QHvuU
n04vEhd***KigT
jwqg“At least you’ve arrived on time.”NqxNzJ
wIwGAfter finishing his work at the Smile of the Rose, Vlad visited the mayor’s office in Soara, where Rutiger was, as he had mentioned during the day.gphFq
kfRYUeB“The furniture has changed a lot.”5Ylgk
4CAmy“They say that’s exactly what the mayor did here as soon as he took office.”86n
UbVbKSZThe cabinet that carefully contained liquor bottles was adorned with paintings and sculptures of unknown significance.OmtcTL
Z7pLooking at the mayor’s office, where there was no trace of Joseph anymore, Vlad began to feel uncomfortable in this place.EdZ
7upT“Where’s my mage? Didn’t you bring him with you?”ndJCMhW
XUW4“He’s out of action.”XltUb
IJPlRutiger shook an empty bottle next to his desk and chuckled playfully.5moRA
tha“His limit is just half a bottle of rum. Seems he’s not from the North, unlike Dorothea.”lEgzTR
C1jfAl“Hmm. I see.”JXYT
NzAIGLThe method of confirming someone’s origin from the North by their alcohol capacity is an ancient custom that has existed for a long time and is also a very reliable method.Fq3
LsJ2gTo endure the cold weather, people from the North had to get used to alcohol, and those who couldn’t would have died a long time ago.Je8T6fX
Mhem“Should we have a drink?”zKpjZTH
iC2800“Thank you.”YeIm
f5TIn the room where there were only the two of them, the large, bright moon shone through the window.glPA
3hIfQAlthough many things around them had changed, the landscape of that moment seemed the same, allowing Vlad to feel a bit calmer.K3pdC
kDoDze“Was it from the peanut days that we first met?”UCRez
N9cspR“…Yes, that’s right.”WewP
OqnGA5There were bitter memories that came with the taste of alcohol on the tongue.rX9N26M
vAxA scruffy boy who immediately rejected the favor offered by the eldest son of the Bayezid family.BWC2f
xZ0f7JbVlad’s mistakes towards the nobility began at that moment.fHVjU
ZlQs2“When I first saw you, I thought, ‘Who’s this guy?’ I worried about Joseph, who had worked hard to bring you here.”0KFA2cg
8R7eHowever, while Vlad frowned, Rutiger laughed heartily, as if the memory amused him.tTK
0pqNyr7Though he resembled Joseph, his laughter was more exuberant, which made Vlad involuntarily laugh too.E4F
Dzl“It was the same during the dragon hunt, you were an interesting and fun guy.”SGnhNE
acBl“Thank you for thinking that way.”fi2SrWu
6NIRAs their glasses emptied, their voices relaxed.NFVp
LLJAs he had just said, Vlad and Rutiger were comrades who had been through a lot together.XCbl
nrASoaSIf it weren’t for Joseph, the two might have had a closer relationship than they do now.O6tyCZu
0PM“Yeah. Since I think so highly of you, you shouldn’t hate me so much.”BHgiJb9
rqwZM6E“…What do you mean by that?”MWz1fk
art3pVlad, who was laughing, set down his glass at Rutiger’s incomprehensible words, but only dark shadows covered his face.xBTu0
cDYWrs“It means that it’s time to do what’s been postponed.”3ZQB
6Rg1GRutiger starts saying something different from his usual temperament.ZqfIG3
w69t7wVlad tried to see his expression, but the shadows created by the moonlight completely hid his face.YBN6
YFq7XS“So, at that time, I hope you won’t refuse the peanuts I offer you, Vlad Aureo.”nqjxe2
i5clAlthough he couldn’t see his face, Vlad felt like he knew what Rutiger’s expression would be.ajsg
d11vA legitimate heir compelled to fulfill his duty.2Wl
1PVs8Rutiger, speaking of impending destruction, would probably be smiling sadly in the shadows where no one could see him.7EaR
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