The old man hesitated and looked back and forth, looking from Cale to Venion and back again. Cale simply ignored him as he turned and extended the hand that had been on the normal man's shoulder towards Venion.
— It was a pleasure meeting you today, Young Master Venion.
Cale asked for a handshake.
Those who did not miss Venion's disgust towards the old man raised their eyebrows in surprise.
- You have done it subtly, Young Master. Accept our admiration.
Venion stood quietly and looked at Cale. At that moment, one of his servants quickly came up to them and whispered quietly to Venion, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
- Young Master, we have been late enough already.
— ... Do not interrupt the conversation between the nobles.
Venion looked at his servant without a smile on his face, and he quickly bowed. Venion smiled again, grabbing Cale's hand.
- I have to continue on my way because I am very busy.
Then he stepped back. It was a brief handshake. Cale began to smile, as if he were drunk, as he answered:
- If we meet in the capital, let's have a drink together.
— ... I don't think it will be appreciated, but we will do it, rest assured.
Venion's smile was warm. Cale decided to do something more to end this conversation.
"Yes, based on our interaction today, it truly seems that only Young Master Venion is worthy of becoming the future patriarch of the Stan Family. You are simply an amazing person."
- Why is he saying this?
In his anger at the green-eyed Choi Han, he seemed to be looking at the world through very tunnel vision.
Patriarch. This word made Venion's eyes glaze over. As Cale expected, Venion began to smile again and praised Cale in return:
- Young Master Cale is also a very interesting and free-thinking person. Let's definitely meet in the future.
"No way. I have no desire to see you again. Even if I do, I will look at you from afar."
Cale hid his true feelings and just nodded. Venion quickly returned to his carriage as if he was really busy and disappeared.
As the people on the screen watched Venion return to his carriage, Choi Han turned to Eruhaben:
- Eruhaben-nim, could you explain what exactly you meant? I don't understand.
In response to these words, Lock, Mary and even the Black Dragon nodded their heads and stared at the elder with undisguised interest.
Sighing heavily, but unable to refuse the children, Eruhaben began to explain:
"He saved you from future problems, and most likely saved the old man's life with his appearance."
The intensity of misunderstanding increased.
Rolling his eyes, he continued:
- Venion is a sick psychopath who tortures a dragon - forgive me, kid - to get rid of competition with his brothers and sisters. Let's imagine that you beat him up. Who do you think he'll take out his anger on? Neither you nor the old man are people to him, you are rabble. Cale's appearance drew attention to himself. They are more or less equal in status. With his reputation, even a conflict would not have caused him any particular problems. But this did not apply to you and the old man. If you touched him or his lackey, he would have harbored a grudge. And the old man would have been the first to suffer. He would have remembered the reason why his pride was hurt. As soon as you disappeared from the horizon, nothing would have stopped him from finding the old man and God knows what to do with him, just for self-affirmation. And remember that as a "hero" you must go everywhere and perform "feats". A psychopath holding a grudge against you, especially one with connections to a secret organization, is the last thing you need for your own safety and the safety of the people around you. Because of Cale, Venion left with his mind in tatters. The only thing he can think of is, "Another nobleman has recognized me." He will never remember what you or the old man looked like. Before you raise a hand against someone, no matter how much they deserve it, take a second to think about the consequences of doing so.
The room was very quiet.
Cale watched the carriage disappear from view before patting Choi Han's shoulder.
— Half of the nobles are like this.
"This is not very encouraging..."
Choi Han's shoulders shook at Cale's words, but he squatted down in front of the old man again.
- Grandpa. Can't you get up? Have you hurt your leg?
Pat.
Cale looked at the old man's body as he spoke. It seemed he was unharmed. Cale began to notice a frightened expression appearing on the old man's face. He then called out to Choi Han:
- Choi Han.
Instead of answering, Choi Han continued to stare at Cale's squatting back.
- You must take this old man home.
- No, no, I'm fine. That bar you were talking about...
- No need. I'm not in the mood to drink.
- So it really was to get rid of Venion.
Cale stopped the old man from trying to lead him to the bar and looked at Choi Han who was standing next to him.
- Since you saved him, it's your responsibility to make sure he gets home safely.
- This is a surprisingly profound thought.
It was Vitira. She was trying to break the tension that had built up again after Eruhaben's words. It was not working well. But a second entry appeared on the sheet of paper with the quotes.
Choi Han opened and closed his mouth several times, but said nothing. At that moment, the old man's voice reached Cale's ears:
- Apparently, that Choi Han also doesn't quite understand what happened.
The swordsman lowered his head.
— I live where alcohol is sold.
- Hm? Old man, do you live in a bar?
Cale's eyes reflected his genuine surprise. The old man smiled awkwardly, but continued speaking in a slightly more relaxed tone:
- Yes, sir. It is the only inn in this village. It has both a bar and a restaurant.
- Since this is the only tavern, it must be the best place. Hans!
Even if Cale hadn't said anything, Hans would still quickly walk up to the old man and help him up, and only then would he start asking him about the inn. As soon as the two started moving, everything around them began to change.
Ron quickly walked up to Cale and brushed the dirt off his clothes. The vice captain and the rest of the group headed towards the entrance of the village. Only Cale and Choi Han remained.
— ... Kayle-nim.
- What?
— Aren't you angry?
Everyone was eager to hear what Cale would say. How close Eruhaben was to the truth.
- For what reason?
Choi Han hesitated for a moment, but couldn't bring himself to continue speaking. Cale shrugged and spoke himself.
- You mean the way he looked down on me? Or the way he made that incredible statement to you? Or the way he almost killed that old man instead of apologizing and calling him an obstacle in his way?
Cale's voice was calm and firm. He wasn't angry at all. In fact, his voice even sounded indifferent. The young man continued speaking:
In fact, many of them noted that Cale had a very mesmerizing voice when he spoke in that tone. They first appreciated it in the tea shop.
- You have to keep moving when you see someone in front of you? Why didn't you try to avoid him? Didn't you see that you could have hurt the old man? How can you say that the man was an obstacle when you almost killed him?
Choi Han turned his attention to Cale, who was looking at the distant mountain range. At the same time, he did not forget to listen to Cale's every word. The young man continued to speak firmly:
The Black Dragon had a feeling that he was looking straight at him through the entire mass of stone.
- Venion, why did the old man apologize to you? After all, it is you who should apologize to him.
Cale could talk like Choi Han, and there was a time when he wanted to do so. But...
- I'm not the one who can say something like that. I don't even want to. I'm not even angry.
But it wasn't time yet. Cale knew it was one of the things that made Choi Han look cool, but he didn't want to look that cool.
The old man was unharmed, and so he was unwilling to do anything that would point the blade at his family. The fact that he himself looked bad would be good for Basen, so it was all for the best that it didn't happen.
Eruhaben glanced at everyone with a look that clearly read: "Understand?"
- Besides...
Cale was the one who always paid his dues, no matter how much time passed. If someone looked at him or did something to him, he would always find a way to get revenge.
"Apparently, tea with lemon was just the beginning..."
- This bastard will most likely be thrown out of the house soon.
- ... A?
- What?
Now Cale was looked at in shock.
Choi Han could tell that by "bastard" Cale meant Venion. That was why Choi Han showed a rare shocked expression on his face when he looked at Cale.
The latter had a mischievous smile on his face. The two kittens that had been silently approaching him froze. Cale's smile widened as he continued to look towards the mountain to the right of the village. He thought about what he couldn't tell Choi Han.
Now the Black Dragon was sure. This was exactly what his prison looked like from the outside. How could something so green and beautiful be so scary inside? And it wasn't just the mountain.
"I plan to snatch the dragon from that bastard's clutches."He raised his muzzle and listened very attentively.
Once the dragon escapes, Venion will have to face the wrath of the Marquis, and a new obstacle will arise in his path to becoming the patriarch of the family. Who, who does not know when to stop on the road, has ever faced even one obstacle before?
"This is a completely different level than lemons."
Cale was ready to arrange a major obstacle in Venion's path. Of course, it would be done in secret. He casually talked to Choi Han, who looked at him curiously:
- If you are interested, you can help me.
- Whatever it is, I definitely want to help.
"Here my double and I are the same…"
Choi Han also started to smile. It was a rather evil smile for such a good-natured person, but the kittens were intrigued by this smile.
Cale looked at the mountain that was supposed to explode in three days and began to mutter. The fact that he had met Venion, as well as the blood on Venion's sleeves, and the sight of the old man bowing before that bastard were still fresh in Cale's mind.
- Let's note the fact that he is soft-bodied.
- Fine.
- You won't regret it.
He will be able to pay the bastard back for everything.
- You definitely won't regret it.
And none of them. Whatever the redhead has planned, it will be interesting.
And while Cale tried to calm the old man in the inn by saying that there was simply no soul worse than him in the territory of the Henituses, Choi Han thought deeply about Eruhaben's words.
Could his actions really have led to such results? He would have defended the old man's honor and left feeling that he had done the right and good thing. Would he ever remember this old man? He would remember that he had helped someone, but his face? No, hardly. He would have gone to save other old people, not knowing that it was his "good deed in the name of justice" that led to the man's death. And to the death of his own people. Okay, Ron, I don't feel sorry for him. But Cale said that Locke and Rosalyn were with him. Locke is still just a child. The honor of the old man or the lives of the team members? What is more important?
The more he thought about it, the less he liked it.
In fact, if Count Hanitus had been a little more concerned about his son's well-being, Choi Han's situation could have ended back in the Western. In prison.
He didn't really think about it.
*Knock-knock-knock*
A knock distracted him from his thoughts.
Someone was knocking on the door.
— Come in.
The door opened and the deputy butler, Hans, brought a small box inside.
- Young Master, you only asked for this box, right?
- Yes, leave him.
This box was a magic item of the highest quality, with a strong lock on it. The seal on the magic box was the emblem of the Flynn Merchant Guild, one of the major Merchant Guilds, one that had a close relationship with the Hanityuz family.
— Did he prepare something?
Everyone was eager to find out what was inside.
Cale said emotionlessly, looking at Hans:
- Shouldn't a butler hide his emotions on his face? Especially curiosity?
— One of the rules of conduct for a butler is the obligatory demonstration of all his emotions to his master.
- A funny man.
— I guess I really am a little funny.
"I love how Hans is getting bolder every day."
For Rosaleen, Hans was like a flower opening in the sun.
For someone who didn't want to go to the capital until he heard that the kittens were headed there, Hans was a bit cheeky. But Cale still thought he was much more sincere than the other butler candidates. Seeing that Hans was starting to warm up to him, Cale simply replied in his usual manner:
- Get out.
- Yes, sir.
And Hans left immediately, as usual. However, before closing the door, he still asked a question about their journey:
— Will we spend three days here?
- Yes, take care of everything.
- Yes, sir.
The Crown Prince frowned.
- Why so long?
How was this dragon guarded if his rescue took three whole days?
- This could be a very dangerous undertaking.
Especially considering that the mana explosion is supposed to happen in exactly 3 days.
Hans answered and closed the door. Aside from the vice-captain, who was responsible for Cale's safety, Hans was in charge of everything else. However, he showed no signs of dissatisfaction with this and continued to take care of everything efficiently.
"He seems like a good butler," said the silver kitten, On, who approached Cale. The boy nodded. Then the ginger kitten, Hong, approached:
- He's a pretty good butler.
Cale ignored the kittens who approached him and opened the box. The method of opening the box with the magic lock was quite simple.
*Beep! Click!*
The box made a quiet sound before opening.
Everyone held their breath.
Inside the box were items that Cale had prepared four days before leaving for the capital.
- I'm really curious what this is.
- It's really curious.
Cale ignored the two pairs of golden eyes looking at him and gave a rather vague answer:
- Things that will help save a poor soul, put pressure on some scumbags and prevent me from getting hurt.
He and Hong looked at it curiously, but Cale only fondled the items in the box. He remembered the conversation he had with Bylos, the bastard son of the head of the Merchant Guild, Flynn, before he left his hometown.
* * *
— Young Master, where do you plan to use these things?
- I don't understand, why do I need to explain this?
— ... I understand... But it will cost quite a lot if you decide to buy all these items.
— ... Is it possible to rent them?
- For you, of course, this is possible.
* * *Bilos's own behavior raised more and more questions.
Most of the items inside the box were magical tools. Cale expected them to be expensive, but they exceeded his expectations. Cale had to spend all of his pocket money that he received from his father. He also had to return it all to Bylos once he arrived in the capital.
"It's a shame, I didn't want to meet him in the capital, but I simply had no choice."
* * *
- Two items simply cannot be rented to outsiders. I rented them in my name for you. So you will have to return them to me in the capital. In person.
- Certainly.
* * *
The list grew and grew. They would discuss this again. When they finally found out what was in the damn box.
Cale grabbed one of the items in the box. It was a black ball with many symbols engraved on it. The ginger kitten, Hong, placed his paws on Cale's lap and then spoke.
Trying to ignore the unrealistic level of cuteness of the ginger kitten so as not to be distracted, Rosalyn said with reverence in her voice:
- Can't be…
Those who didn't know what kind of ball it was looked at her with questions in their eyes.
- I'm actually very interested in this...
- It's a mana suppression tool. It costs almost a billion gallons.
*Woooooh*
Both He and Hong let out long sighs.
And the crown prince suddenly became a quarter cat, because he sighed in exactly the same way.
He has so far refrained from commenting. Or he simply couldn't. Who knows…
— It cost me twenty million gallons to rent it.
Hong slowly lowered his paws that were resting on Cale's knee before walking towards the bed with his sister, On. They tried to stay as far away from the black sphere as possible.
Cale remembered the information about the orb. Bylos found the very item Cale was looking for.
Seeing that His Highness had still not come to his senses, Rosalyn took over the task of recording the information. As the most qualified.
"It causes a disruption in the flow of mana in a certain range, causing all magical tools to cease functioning. It's also quite durable. So even if something like a mountain explodes, it won't break."
- Then what about the surveillance tools? Will they break immediately?
- Of course. However, you will need to install it within twenty-seven hours. It is designed to slowly infuse power that will disrupt the flow of mana gradually, so that the mages will not notice.
- How long will this continue?
- Forty minutes. Isn't that great? Of course, if there are mages nearby, they can sort out the problem in five or ten minutes.
- I will remember this.
The corners of Cale's lips began to turn up. It was the most expensive item he had rented from Bylos, but it was the one that would be most useful to the young man on this trip.
"I really like its durability."
The Flynn Merchant Guild was a very useful place. Cale smiled with satisfaction before throwing the black sphere, which was smaller than a child's fist, towards the kittens crouched in the corner.
- Hook!
- Miu!
The sharp sound made by the frightened cats finally brought Albera out of her stupor.
One of them almost choked, while the other meowed and tried to avoid contact with the black ball, but in the end, they were forced to sit quietly in front of Cale with the black sphere frozen in front of their eyes.
— Do you know how to read cards correctly?
In response, they wagged their tails on the floor:
- Of course, at some point we were potential heirs of the Mist Cat tribe.
- That's right, my sister is telling the truth.
Cale took out another important item from the box: a map. It wasn't very detailed, just a general outline of the area around Hanityuz. Most of the merchants going in and out of Hanityuz used this map.
"We are in this village now," Cale pointed to the mountain to the right of the village, "do you see this mountain?"
- I see her.
- It's very easy to see.
Bilos said the same.
"Ah, the range matches the strength."
One mountain.
— If you go to this mountain, you will see a villa in the distance. There will be a cave behind it.
There should be no mages around the Black Dragon right now. The members of the Magic Tower respected the Dragons as the greatest magical race and did not want humans to try, much less succeed in domesticating the dragons. They considered it a great disgrace to magic.
The people around the cave and villa were knights and soldiers trusted by the Marquis, as well as commoners who did their dirty work for them.
- Don't even go near her. You mustn't get caught.
- He cares about them. Even if he doesn't show it much.
Vitira decided that exploiting child labor (for cakes) to save another child was perfectly justifiable, as long as the first children were not harmed in the process. After all, it was not her place to point this out. Even the younger whales helped in the war against the mermaids. Cats were safer.
Cale knew about the abilities of these two little ones. That's why he was sure that the kittens would be able to do it, but he still wanted to warn them. It would be bad if their curiosity made the kittens enter the cave.
- There's someone suffering there. We're going to save him, so you have to be very careful.
- Someone?
- Yes, he is even younger than you, Hong.
— ... Even younger than me?
- Yes... He is four years old.
Heads turned to the Black Dragon, who was crawling onto Eruhaben's lap. He knew they were watching the rescue instructions, but it was still hard. He didn't want to be in that cave again. Even if it was just as an observer. He liked being outside.
Of course, this four-year-old was strong enough to send On or Hong flying once the restraining mana shackles were removed.
- Are we going to save him?
On and Hong's eyes lit up as they fell to their paws, pressing themselves into the bed.
"You can't be so nice."
- Save? Sure. Just stay in your cat form and go without leaving a trace, and hide this ball on the mountain.
Their feline forms should have left no chance for the others to detect anything. Cale placed the black sphere in a small pouch before placing it around the neck of one of the kittens like a necklace.
Taking a deep breath, Alberu decided that this time he would forgive.
Giving away a billion dollar item, rented for twenty sacks of bread… million, into the hands of kids who actually had paws was a very interesting way to do business, but it was for the sake of saving the dragon. That same quarter of elven blood was keeping him from going crazy now. Anything was possible for the sake of the dragon.
- Where should we bury him?
- Anywhere on the mountain.
- Really, anywhere?
- Yes.
The brother and sister looked at each other before nodding.
- Easily.
— We even managed to get past the elders of the Cat Tribe to escape.
Vitira thought:
- Why would the heirs of the cat tribe run past the elders?
The reason was that the beastmen tended to stick to their own kind. Humans had many prejudices against those who were different from them. So why did these children run away from the tribe, move to another continent and settle in the slums of the quietest territory, the quietest country?
What happened to them?
She frowned.
Cale agreed with them.
- It should be easy for both of you. You have enough skills for this. I wouldn't ask someone useless to do something like this. This is very important.
Both kittens looked at Cale with their golden eyes. This pair, brother and sister, who were almost killed by their own tribe for not having enough ability, despite never having the opportunity to learn, began to feelemotions. Their tails swished from side to side, the kittens even sniffled to hold back tears.
Cale realized what the two were up to and continued sternly:
- I will give you as much beef as you want as soon as you return, having successfully completed the task.
The brother and sister immediately jumped over the windowsill, darted out the window, and secretly headed up the mountain.
Naturally, the siblings did everything as Cale expected and earned their reward. They were able to get a ten-tiered beef steak. The next day, Cale drank the lemonade he had now become accustomed to drinking and asked Choi Han:
- Have you ever seen a dragon?
This is where the memory ended.
And just as Alberu was about to open his mouth, he was interrupted by an overexcited child jumping around Eruhaben:
- Strange God! Strange God! Come on, turn on the next one!
- Dragon-nim...
- But they'll save me soon! I want to see! We'll talk later!
No one could deny such arguments.
- Turn it on, Strange God!
- As you say, my darling.
And while everyone was wondering since when the God of Death had become so gentle, the wall melted...