A middle aged man entered the study of House Yuglev’s head and spoke after bowing.
"My lord, the rumors we spread in House Orlen’s territory have spread to other regions. We don’t know who is behind this."
The house head replied without raising his head from the papers he was going through.
"So? It may be some other noble house that opposes House Orlen’s advancement. There are plenty out there. The more people who know about it, the more difficult it will be for House Orlen to advance to a duchy.
"Capturing people’s hearts, swaying public opinion, standing on moral high ground, and all such things are skills a noble house must possess if it wishes to survive."
Marquis Yuglev raised his head, looking at the middle aged man and spoke.
"Just look at House Orlen. Their military probably ranks among the top five in the Flenn Kingdom. Yet what is the rank of their house? A marquisate.
"Marchioness Orlen wasn’t good at court politics, and her son is hardly any better. He collapsed into a drunkard as soon as his mother left for the border.
"There is no need to pay attention to them anymore. Their title upgrade will be much more difficult now."
*****
Alaric sat in his study, gazing out of the window at the carriage which was getting smaller and smaller in his vision.
Evan had left for the Sunward Knight Academy.
Since he had asked the Squire to hurry with the task, it would likely be completed by tonight.
As Alaric used the Mana Channel Construction Orb, he couldn’t help but think of Zephyr’s quest.
He had sent him a message this morning, and the baby dragon had said that it would take him another couple of hours to get it done.
Alaric was quite surprised when he heard that. He remembered Zephyr’s quest.
Eliminating a hidden slave market should technically take a long time. That was precisely why Alaric had hurried Evan along with his own quest. He only needed either of them to finish.
However, the baby dragon had turned out to be quite efficient.
I guess invisibility gave him some advantage while eliminating the slave market?
Alaric reckoned that the quest completion notification should pop up anytime soo—
[Quest: Eliminate the hidden slave market in Tikka Town - Zephyr Nightscale]
[Completed]
[Issuing Rewards.]
[The host has leveled up. Talent Point +1]
[Level: 5]
Level five! Finally!
As expected, just as Alaric was mentally cheering, more system notifications popped up.
[Unlocked quest grading mechanism]
[Unlocked System Shop]
Alaric didn’t wait, immediately opening the system shop.
His eyes widened.
This is what I’ve been waiting for!
*****
A pitch black baby dragon the size of a sedan, with golden eyes flew through the air, landing in the middle of several empty and destroyed buildings.
He had returned to the now abandoned slave market after killing everyone involved in running the place.
None of the slaves knew how their doors opened, or how their locks were suddenly broken, but all of them took this chance to flee this hellish place.
Well, all except one. A young girl of around ten years of age stood in the middle of the street yelling to thank her savior.
Zephyr had noticed her previously when killing the slave traders, but had no mind to pay attention to her.
Now that he had completed his task, he returned to the slave market out of curiosity instead of going to the House Orlen’s mansion.
"You are welcome." A voice spoke out of thin air, abruptly silencing the young girl.
The thin young girl with dusty blonde hair reaching up to her waist looked around with her wide brown eyes.
"G-g-g-ghost?" She stuttered, before eventually mustering some courage. "T-thank you f-for saving m-me."
"I am no ghost. But like I said, you are welcome." The voice spoke out of thin air again.
This time, the girl looked at the empty space where the voice came from and asked.
"Can I become as powerful as you?"
The baby dragon frowned in genuine confusion. His invisible head tilted, before he spoke with some hesitation.
"I gave you your freedom. The people who captured you are dead, and there are no other slave traders in House Orlen’s territory. You are free to live your life now. Why would you need power?"
Zephyr couldn’t understand the young girl’s thoughts. After gathering information, he had come to know that House Orlen’s territory had no slave trading market except this recently opened one which he had already destroyed.
She had gained her freedom and wouldn’t be caught again. The young girl could live her life without worry. Why would she need power?
The young girl on the other hand also showed a look of genuine confusion when she heard the words of her invisible savior.
"Why would I NOT want power? I was caught in the first place because I was powerless to fight back against the people capturing me.
"They raided my village. My mom had left for the city so only me, my little brother and my dad were at home.
"My dad died trying to save us from the captors while I was helpless to do anything but struggle in their grip.
"I don’t know where this is. I don’t know where my mom is. I don’t know where my little brother is. My dad is dead.
"Would any of that have happened if I’d been powerful enough to blast their heads off?"
Towards the end, her voice had risen so much that it seemed like she was shouting.
Zephyr snapped at her. "None of that would’ve happened if you all just knew how to hide."
"HOW DARE YOU!!" The young girl swung her tiny fist at the air in front of her. It hit something solid, but she didn’t relent, swinging another tiny fist before she yelled.
"THEY ATTACKED US FIRST AND YOU’RE TELLING ITS OUR FAULT WE DIDN’T HIDE?!"
The baby dragon snorted, finding the little human annoying. He flicked his limb, sending the young girl crashing onto the ground.
"Fighting against people more powerful than you is a fool’s endeavour. Why would you fight instead of just running or hiding?"
The young girl struggled to get back up, but she didn’t forget to shoot back. "What if there’s no place to hide anymore one day?"
Zephyr didn’t even bother to think about this question. "There will always be. I can always hide."
He had his divine ability invisibility. Not to mention with Alaric’s hint, he could perhaps grow his divine ability even further.
The young girl’s chest heaved in anger, but she held it in, ignoring his opinion and asked a question.
"How do I become powerful?"
Even to the lowest strata of the population, the existence of Knights and Mages was common knowledge, but not the source of their power.
The baby dragon thought of the enigmatic smile on Alaric’s face who always seemed to have everything under his control.
He wanted to have nothing to do with this little human so he diverted her. "Meet the young lord of House Orlen."
Even though she held a slight contempt for her invisible savior, she still thanked the empty air and staggered away.
Zephyr shook his head, and took to the air, on the way to return to House Orlen’s mansion.
He regretted returning to this place. Such a waste of his time.