The chamber was circular and magnificent. Zane's eyes swept across the vast expanse before him, taking in the overwhelming majesty of the space that seemed to dwarf his very existence.
The chamber stretched fifty meters in diameter, its sheer scale making him feel like an ant beneath the gaze of giants. The floor beneath his feet was a masterpiece of craftsmanship—polished marble so pristine it reflected the dim light like a mirror, each surface gleaming with an almost supernatural cleanliness.
Intricate designs sprawled across the marble in mesmerizing patterns, geometric formations that seemed to pulse with their own inner rhythm, converging toward the center where he now stood like rivers flowing toward the sea.
Rising around the chamber's perimeter stood a wooden structure that commanded both respect and terror—a towering construction that reached ten meters into the shadows above. The wood was dark and ancient, carved with such precision that every grain seemed deliberate, every curve purposeful.
Upon this elevated platform sat thirteen figures, arranged in a perfect semicircle that allowed each to peer down upon the chamber's center with unobstructed vision. They were like judges from some otherworldly court, their positions calculated to inspire both awe and dread in any who stood below.
Each council member wore identical purple robes that hung from their forms like liquid shadows, the fabric so deep in hue it seemed to absorb the light around them.
The robes were unadorned yet somehow magnificent in their simplicity, cut with a precision that spoke of ceremony and tradition.
Hoods concealed their faces, creating an anonymity that was far more unsettling than any revealed countenance could have been.
They looked less like governing officials and more like members of some ancient, aristocratic cult—beings who had transcended mortal concerns and now existed purely to pass judgment upon lesser creatures.
But it was their auras that truly paralyzed the soul. Each figure radiated power so intense it seemed to physically press against Zane's skin, a suffocating presence that made the very air thick and difficult to breathe. The energy emanating from them wasn't just strong—it was terrifying in its absoluteness, like standing before forces of nature given human form. Their stillness only amplified the effect, as if they were coiled springs of destruction waiting for the slightest provocation to unleash devastation upon the world.
Fridger moved to the center where the intricate designs converged, then pointed at the spot. "Stand here."
Clink-clank clink-clung
The sound echoed once more as Fridger exited the chamber through what wasn't a door but rather two intricately designed pillars converging in an arc, their surfaces carved with symbols that seemed to shift and dance in the flickering light.
STRANGER. IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
A heavy voice boomed from everywhere and nowhere at once. The voice sent chills down Zane's spine, though it wasn't enough to truly scare him. If they wanted him dead, he'd be long gone by now. Zane presumed they just wanted to question him.
Composure.
Zane told himself as the sound sent vibrations through his bones.
"I am Mr. Ling, a trader from another realm. I came to Eryndor to conduct business. I don't know why I was attacked or arrested. Can you please tell me why? Is this how you treat guests? I'm an envoy from Ashburn Kingdom. If anything happens to me, my people will come here to demand answers."
Zane said, still seething after finding himself in a cell like some common prisoner. The truth was that Zane wasn't from any kingdom—if he died, no one would come looking for him. He would be forgotten. Zane could only bluff to ensure his safety. If the council felt threatened by the non-existent Ashburn Kingdom, they wouldn't dare kill him. The most they could do was exile him from the city. From Zane's experience as The Masked Devil, he knew a little intimidation never failed.
There was silence, and then—
WE HAVE NO MOTIVES OF CAUSING ANY HARM TO YOU. WE ONLY WANT TO KNOW OF YOUR INTENTIONS. BUT SINCE YOU CLAIM TO BE HERE FOR BUSINESS REASONS, TRADING TO BE SPECIFIC, WE ARE INCLINED TO TAKE YOUR RESPONSE WITH SUSPICION AS WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU INTEND TO TRADE WITH US. WE ONLY FOUND CLOTHING IN THE INN YOU RESIDED IN WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN TOWN. THE HUNTERS WHO LED YOU TO OUR CITY CLAIM THAT YOU ONLY HELPED THEM ESCAPE A DREAM SHARD AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING WITH YOU THEN. WE THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR KIND. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO TRADE WITH US?
The voice boomed through the chamber, loud and clear. It sounded like Nyx speaking in his head, though that wasn't the case. The voice didn't emanate from his brain but rather from his surroundings, as if the very walls themselves were speaking.
There was a short, nearly negligible pause, then it continued.
SINCE YOU DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE ANY MERCHANDISE, WE CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU WANT TO TRADE INFORMATION. SINCE YOU COULD HELP THE HUNTERS TRAPPED IN THE DREAM SHARD ESCAPE, WE ASSUME YOU HAVE OTHER INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP US. MIGHT I ASK, HOW WOULD YOU BE SELLING THE INFORMATION TO US? ERYNDOR WOULD LIKE TO TRADE WITH YOU, ESTEEMED GUEST. PLEASE DO FORGIVE US FOR ATTACKING AND ARRESTING YOU—IT WAS A MISTAKE ON OUR PART. ERYNDOR HAS NEVER HAD A VISITOR SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED. YOU ARE THE FIRST VISITOR TO EVER COME TO ERYNDOR, SO PLEASE DO FORGIVE US IF YOU WERE TREATED IN ANY UNSUITABLE MANNER WHATSOEVER. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH YOU, ESTEEMED GUEST. YOU CAN MAKE A DEMAND TO THE COUNCIL AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR MISTREATMENT, SO LONG AS IT'S WITHIN THE CAPABILITY OF THE COUNCIL, YOUR DEMAND WILL BE FULFILLED.
Just then, the council member who sat at the very center of the highest seat stood up and removed the hood covering his face. He then bowed deeply, his crystalline hair catching the chamber's dim light. The other council members followed suit in perfect synchronization, creating a wave of reverence that rippled through the semicircle. The one at the center appeared to be the council leader. Zane could make out from the distance that he had a blue, middle-aged face with long blue crystalline hair reaching his shoulders. He also had a crystalline, medium-length beard that sparkled like crushed sapphires. Zane couldn't discern anything else from his position at the chamber's center.
Zane was surprised—he had expected the council members to be intimidated a little, but he never expected they'd be so fearful to the point of apologizing and even bowing to him. He wasn't in Eryndor to trade information originally, but now—given the council's deferential response—he sure was. He already had some knowledge of how this realm functioned. Given his understanding from Earth and the additional details he'd learned during his stay in Eryndor, he was going to sell them information. Also, he decided it was going to be expensive.
Zane was also relieved that the hunters hadn't revealed any of his abilities to the council. Given their response, the council didn't seem to know he could produce items from a book.
Since I managed to intimidate them this much, they must think I'm an important person. They would definitely agree to my prices. Though I shouldn't make it super expensive—just enough to earn 2 million dollars. I'll then increase my stats, upgrade the realm traveler skill, then return home. I'll take dad to a hospital in Nexus. Once he's treated, I'll make money selling fast paints and live the rest of my life with dad happily. I'm never using the realm traveler skill again once I return home.
Zane smiled internally as he thought of the plan. He didn't smile physically but rather maintained his composed exterior. He now knew how he was going to respond to the council. Zane didn't know what demand he was going to make yet—he would request time to think. He first wanted to consider the best possible outcome that could result from his demand. First, he needed to understand Eryndor better before making his request.
"I won't take your mistreatment to heart. I'll forgive you this time. I hope the same won't happen again. You are correct—I'm here to trade information with your kind. I would need time to compile the information since I won't be able to give it verbally. I would need time to learn how to write in your language."
Zane didn't have extensive information about this realm, though the little he possessed could prove invaluable. He wanted to give information to the council in small portions as he increased his attribute stats. He knew that when information was scarce, its price became higher. Zane could learn how to write Gentish in only a matter of seconds, yet he requested time. He needed time to organize how he was going to present the information strategically.
"Would you please give me time to think of my demand to the council? Wait... Actually, you can give me Lady Sylvia to become my assistant while I'm in Eryndor and help me with daily needs. Since she was the one that attacked me, this could be the only correct demand."
The words left his mouth before his brain could stop them. Zane wanted to punch himself. He didn't know why he'd made that demand.
What was I thinking? Why did I make this demand? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Zane berated himself internally. The demand had just popped into his mind and then he'd said it. Just like that, he had made what felt like a foolish demand, wasting his only opportunity to request something more strategically helpful. Yet it was he who had made the demand—no one forced him. Still, even Zane didn't know why he had made that request. It was just a thought that had floated in his mind, and he could only blame his impulsive mouth.
Yes, it was my mouth's fault.
Zane thought, deciding to assign blame to his traitorous mouth. He hadn't consciously wanted to make that demand. Actually, hadn't he just said he was going to think? Was Lady Sylvia really the best possible outcome? Still, he couldn't take back the demand now—he wanted the council to take him seriously and maintain his credibility.
All council members diverted their gazes to the council leader, waiting for his response with an intensity that made the air feel even heavier.
Zane also looked up at him, his heart beating faster as he waited for the response that would determine his immediate future in this realm.