strokinit Chapter 106 : The Trading Kingdom of Diva (2)
Chapter 106 : The Trading Kingdom of Diva (2)
Massive docks stretched before us, merchant guild banners snapping in the harbor wind. The air hung thick with the aroma of exotic spice.“My word... so this is the trading kingdom,” Hans breathed.
“I’ve never seen a city with so many people…” Roxen added, his voice filled with wonder.
We had disembarked at the harbor moments before. Around us, sailors hauled cargo from ship holds while merchants shouted frantic bids at impromptu auctions.
“Three gold!”
“Bah! I’ll make it five!”
The cacophony was extraordinary. Even coming from the Empire, I’d never experienced population density like this.
“Mind you don’t get lost,” I warned my squad.
“Come on, Captain. We’re not children,” Lancelot grumbled.
I exhaled softly and shook my head.
Finding Martel in this sprawling metropolis would be like searching for a specific grain of sand on a beach.
But would be there. The Grand Master, Enoxia Brahms—the strongest brawler alive and Diva’s shadow queen.
Getting on the wrong side of someone already infamous for her temper would spell nothing but trouble.
“Tsk. I suppose we’d better get moving.”
I scratched the back of my head and started walking. Standing around here wouldn’t accomplish anything, and we had to start somewhere.
“Let’s move out,” I murmured to my squad.
Just then—
“Hey!” A familiar voice rang out behind us.
I turned to see that noble brat from the ship, standing there bristling with righteous indignation. He should have been catatonic with terror for hours yet.
A supremely skilled healer or high-grade potions could manage instant recovery, but short of that, this kind of bounce-back was impossible.
As I puzzled over this, the noble brat unleashed his fury with apoplectic rage.
“Where do you think you’re running off to!”
I was so astounded I could barely form words.
Despite having graciously spared his life, this was how he repaid me—with fresh provocation.
The little fool clearly had a death wish.
A new cluster of knights surrounded the brat. These were qualitatively different from the ones I’d seen before.
None had reached Master-level, but they all carried themselves with competent menace. High-level Aura Experts, by the look of them.
Honestly, I wasn’t worried about losing, but the problem was all the eyes watching us.
Sure enough, merchants who spotted the disturbance began backing away one by one.
“Hah.” A small sigh escaped me.
Cause a scene here and Enoxia—that old grandma—would show up. She was personally responsible for maintaining order in this place, after all.
I preferred not to make an enemy of her before meeting Martel.
“…Just walk away and I’ll let this slide,” I said, waving dismissively.
Fortunately, the knights beside the brat seemed to grasp the situation. Rather than charging straight in, they focused on restraining their young master.
Unfortunately, the brat himself appeared completely oblivious to context.
“I said seize those filth immediately! Or else I’m telling Father!”
“Very well, Young Master…”
The knights sighed weakly and began moving forward.
One approached me and spoke in low tones. “Sorry, but I have my orders. You should regret crossing the House of Marquis Belferia.”
He raised his fists.
I was just debating whether to blow off his arm when—
The sound of a blade tearing through flesh echoed right in front of me.
“AAAAAARGH!”
The knight screamed. In an instant, his wrist had been severed, and Kai stood before him with murderous light flashing in his eyes.
“Worthless dog. How dare you threaten Young Master?” Kai hissed furiously.
The situation had escalated without warning. Merchants panicked at the sudden violence and began fleeing in all directions.
Then—
“My, my. Are our little darlings putting on a show here?”
A voice drifted down from above. I looked up to see a woman descending from the sky as if gravity were merely a suggestion.
Snow-white bobbed hair, a long pipe clenched between her teeth, and an overwhelming aura of intimidation radiating from her very presence.
“It’s Lady Enoxia Brahms,” one of the merchants whispered, as if they’d encountered their savior.he pendant. The truth is contained within.”
“Is that so?” Enoxia nodded as if she understood.
She began focusing on the recording crystal inside the pendant. Images emerged from the record, playing out the events I’d witnessed.
Soon, Enoxia let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha. Haha…” It was a light chuckle, but the fury contained within it made the Veilmaster’s killing intent seem tame by comparison.
“A little Imperial runt had the gall to attack my future husband?”
“…Do you believe me now?”
“Hah. Yes, I believe you. And I apologize—I misunderstood.”
Enoxia flicked her fingers. Instantly, all the fatigue and pain accumulated in my body washed away, as if I’d rested for hours.
I was stunned by her Aura ability. She’d forcibly healed my body using a massive amount of Aura, even cleansing the impurities that had built up in my system.
I was in better condition than before we’d fought.
“This hardly constitutes an apology. I’ll grant you one favor later.”
A favor from Enoxia. That was something no amount of money could buy.
Getting beaten up unfairly was frustrating, but the world had always been about survival of the fittest. I’d save my petty complaints for after I got stronger.
First, I needed to go see Martel with her.
“Could you heal my companions as well?”
“Of course. It was my mistake.”
“Thank you.”
“Anyway… Having seen this, I need to go to Martel immediately. Tell him the truth and punish those rotten bastards.” Enoxia’s eyes flashed with dangerous light.
I nodded as I watched her.
Then out of nowhere, a voice interrupted.
“P-please wait! Lady Enoxia, I’ll give you a million gold if you capture that scum!”
It was that Belferia brat, shouting from afar.