"Hm, is that so. Well, it doesn't matter."
"What I mean is, if he's traveling with this many attendants, this Naga merchant must be a pretty high-ranking fellow."
"How many attendants?"
"At least eight Nagas."
"With that number, they're manageable."
If someone said that eight Nagas were manageable for a human to face, most would scoff.
However, Shati, having seen the battles Azadin had fought until now, knew well that his words were no idle boast.
"Still, he's a high-ranking Naga, so be cautious."
"Got it."
Taking Shati's advice, Azadin approached the merchant.
***
The Naga merchant, clad in flashy ornaments and accompanied by acrobats, had his troupe perform in the open space before the village pier, drawing a crowd.
The acrobats' tricks were nothing more than juggling and twirling flaming staffs, a low level of performance, but in this remote place, that alone was an impressive spectacle.
"Step right up, come closer. I've brought goods from far and wide, so please buy something today. Oh ho, you there, young lady, don't be shy. This is a fabric from Bruma called nasam, look how sheer it is. If you wear it as a veil, your beauty will shine with a mysterious allure that will stir the hearts of every bachelor in the village."
The Naga merchant was eloquent enough that he seemed capable of doing good business even without acrobats. The only issue was that the goods he brought were too expensive for simple village fishermen to buy.
"I'd like to buy a fishing line made of hemp."
"And a net cord too. I don't know why, but when we weave it here, it always comes out so thin and weak."
"Ah, how could the skill of your local weavers ever match that of true artisans? It's all in the craft. But, are you only buying those? You always take nothing but line and needles, how about something finer this time?"
"Oh, right, we actually have some guests with us this time."
"Guests?"
"Come on out."
As the villagers gestured, Azadin's party stepped forward.
"Hm? I don't recognize you. You don't look like travelers… perhaps from the Blue Sky Order? I dislike the Blue Sky Order, they always demand this and that without paying a single coin."
"Of course, we're not asking for free service. We'll pay the price, can you take us to Bruma? We intend to go there, but with the rainy season, the roads are a mess…"
"I've no plans to go as far as Bruma, but I can take you near, to Bel Hoda. Of course, not for free, the price must be right."
"Bel Hoda?"
Azadin unfolded his map and searched for Bel Hoda.
It was a town near Bruma, and judging from the main road drawn on the map connecting the two, once they reached Bel Hoda, they could easily continue to Bruma on foot.
"How about one gold coin to Bel Hoda?"
"Won't you offer more?"
"Pardon?"
"When you outsiders say 'gold coin,' you seem to think it's something grand. But eight-tenths of Hubris' gold comes from Bruma. Gold isn't particularly rare here."
"..."
Of course, it was bluster. Just because gold was mined nearby didn't mean it was cheaper than elsewhere. After all, gold coins had their value guaranteed by the Clan of the Eight Divine Kings and the firms.
Such bravado might fool those unfamiliar with the ways of the world, but Azadin was no such fool.
'So, he's trying to fleece me? Still, from this attitude, perhaps he has nothing to do with Bruma's invasion?'
Contrary to Shati's warning, this Naga seemed concerned only with business. As a merchant, he was wholly devoted to his trade, and his eloquence was impressive.
With his handsome looks and charming speech, even as a Naga, he was almost more likable than a human.
Could it be he truly had no part in Bruma's invasion?
"If gold is so worthless here, then never mind the coin. I'll pay you in goods instead."
"Oh, no, I didn't mean I don't take gold, I only meant I wanted more of it."
"Well, since gold seems unwelcome here, how about iron instead?"
Azadin took out the pile of weapons that had become a burden since his mountain goat died. Most of them were taken from enemies who had attacked him, their quality varied.
"Hm… what a collection of junk. Wait, isn't this the shaft of a heavy crossbow? But just the shaft? Who's supposed to draw this?"
Grumbling, the Naga merchant examined the weapons.
"I'll give you only the scrap value. Not enough."
"Scrap value? That's unfair. This blade is rather fine, isn't it?"
"Looks to me like you're stranded and burdened with these anyway. Too many weapons just weigh you down, don't they? Hm, I'll take this lot plus one gold coin. For that, I'll take you to Bel Hoda, food included."
"Deal."
Azadin sealed the bargain with the Naga merchant.
"Ah, I nearly forgot, let me introduce myself. I'm Deha. As you see, just a merchant."
"I'm Adan of the Blue Sky Order, this is Jiswa, this one is Scott, and here's Shati."
When Azadin introduced his companions, the merchant who had called himself Deha flinched.
"Shati?"
"Deha…"
Shati, too, seemed to recognize something upon hearing his name.
***
And so the fishing village began their trade with the Naga merchant Deha.
The villagers offered smoked fish, hides of animals hunted nearby, while Deha sold them nets, fishing lines, ornaments, seasonings, spices, and iron tools.
While they traded, Shati called Azadin aside.
"What is it?"
"Captain, that Deha fellow is a high-ranking Naga. I think he might be a royal of the Water Snake Tribe, the same lineage as the Naga Raja Dehares we encountered before."
"Hm, now even you call me captain?"
"After hearing Scott say it so often, it just stuck. What, should I call you 'darling' instead? Anyway, you don't seem too surprised, so you already knew, didn't you?"
"He looks a lot like Dehares, doesn't he. And since he calls himself Deha, he must be from that lineage. But it seems that fellow has also noticed you're a Naga, hasn't he?"
"He must have."
"Anyway, there's no other choice. We have to board."
Azadin decided to take passage on Deha's ship and paid the agreed fare.
"Excellent. Then let's board right away. Ah, but since I'm a merchant, I have a few more ports of call along the river and coast before we reach our destination. Surely you understand, it would be absurd for me to lose a fortune in trade just for a single gold coin."
"How long will it take?"
"To Bel Hoda, three days will be enough. Our ship is a swift vessel, after all."
With those words, Deha smiled.
Despite its ornate decorations and size, Deha's ship was very fast.
Normally it rode the wind with its sails, but when the breeze was weak or the current unfavorable, the Nagas cast spells to alter the flow of water and drive the vessel forward at tremendous speed.
"Now, while we steer the ship, why not take a look at some of the rare, exotic goods we've gathered in the cabin?"
"I won't buy anything."
"Just to pass the time, ha ha. So you don't get in the sailors' way."
Whenever the Naga sailors needed to cast spells, the merchant Deha would invite Azadin's party into the cabin, distracting them from seeing it.
Though Azadin already knew they were Nagas, he respected their effort to hide their spellcasting, and so busied himself examining the exotic wares Deha proudly displayed.
In truth, the goods were fascinating.
"Look here, a pendulum. Isn't it beautifully crafted? So smooth. Just imagine, what passion must a craftsman have poured into polishing metal to this sheen? Ah, but did you know? A pendulum will never swing higher than its initial height. Meaning, even if you try this…"
Deha lifted the pendulum, a set of small steel spheres, aiming it at his own philtrum, then let it swing down.
"Ah. But on a rocking ship—"
Azadin tried to warn him, but it was too late, the pendulum smacked Deha squarely on the philtrum.
"Gah! Ow. Such a small mistake… huh? My nose is bleeding?"
"..."
And so, whenever the Naga sailors cast spells, Deha found a way to divert Azadin's party's gaze.
***
Thus, Deha stopped at another coastal village to trade. It seemed he had done business there many times before, for both sides had prepared the necessary goods in advance, and the exchange was swift.
"Now, just one more stop and we'll reach Bel Hoda. From there, Bruma is but a day by ship or horse, two or three on foot, so you can rest easy. Did the meals suit your taste?"
"Yes."
"Then when we're nearly at the destination, don't you dare demand a refund, saying a gold coin was too expensive."
"Ha ha. Of course not."
"Very well then, just one last stop."
Smiling, Deha steered the ship onward.
Leaving the river's end, passing through the estuary and sailing along the coast, Deha's ship soon approached an island battered by rough waves.
But then—
[Azadin.]
The Emperor's Voice called out to him.
"What is it?"
[There are spirits in the sky, used for surveillance magic.]
Startled, Azadin did not speak aloud, but asked inwardly.
'Like a reconnaissance unit? Or perhaps… Arael's voice?'
[No. It is the magic of the Kurt Divine Clan. And beneath the waters, there are monsters.]
"..."
Moments later, Deha's ship docked at a pier. There, Nagas strode out openly in their true forms, securing the vessel with ropes.
"Welcome," Deha greeted Azadin's party with his usual smile.
But the sailors had taken up weapons, those approaching the pier also drew their blades, and from beneath the water, massive tentacles burst forth, tearing through the surface.
It was, unmistakably, an ambush.
Terrified, Jiswa hurried to Azadin's side.
"Mas—Master…"
"Strange. You worked so hard to hide it all this time, so why reveal yourselves now?"
Azadin asked Deha, who had suddenly shown his true colors.
"Because you are Azadin."
"Am I really that famous?"
"Your reputation precedes you. Among the Herald Clan, you're notorious for your rapid rise through the ranks."
"And that alone was enough for even the Nagas to know me?"
"Not only that. You've interfered with our Naga business many times. The Dagger of the Wendigo is in your hands, Count Salasma was slain by you, and it was you who destroyed our detachment at Coral Sahar. If we shared what we know of your deeds with the Herald Clan, they would see that your promotion to the Second Domain was no favoritism at all."
Amazingly, this Naga knew Azadin's past exploits in remarkable detail.
"Then you also understand that killing me here today won't be easy."
"Come now, we admire heroes. And you, surely, qualify as a great hero."
"..."
"There's even a tale, that if one devours the heart of a great hero, a Naga's stature will rise…"
"Hm."
"…Just a joke, ha ha."