--Vanni—

He really did look great today. His shoulder-length hair gleamed in various shades of chestnut brown and gold; braided with black strips of leather (with a charisma-boosting effect enchanted into them), it looked like a woodsman’s crown.

Not that he was dressed as Royalty. No, Vanni’s perfectly proportioned and, frankly, sculpted-looking body was clothed in simple brown pants (well-cut to suit him, of course) and a deep green shirt with elbow-length sleeves. The look was solidly middle-class, even if the colors did make his hazel eyes practically burn the viewer with vivid beauty.

By Laurus did he love having a high charisma stat. He just always looked so damn fine.

But good looks aside, the [Incipient Tyrant] really did need to keep his lineage on the down-low today. It was his first time in the Scoop, and he wanted a good sense of what the place had to offer before he took governance of it.

Well, Vanni smirked, Other than the massive wealth from their dungeon.

The fruit-sellers cart bumped to a stop as they pulled up in front of a brick building. Overhead, the Scoop’s stone ‘ceiling’ loomed ominously.

“Belvedere.” A teenage girl greeted the fruit-seller happily. She was shelling peas with an elderly lady, both sitting in wicker chairs outside the building. “You know it’s not time for harvest yet.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“What, I can’t just visit, Clara?” Belvedere replied, chuckling. “Besides, I brought you guys a gift.”

The old woman had already been staring at Vanni, but now the teenager turned his gaze to him, too.

“Hello.” He gave them a ‘shy’ smile. “I was hoping to join an Old Sect. You’re all based here, right?”

The old woman—[Eye of Horus] whispered that she was the High Priestess of the Lux Sect—squinted at him suspiciously. “That so.”

“Priestess! Don’t be rude!” Clara said, flustered. “Um,” she turned back to Vanni, “What sect were you thinking of joining?”

He scratched his neck sheepishly. “Well, could you tell me about them? I just,” he let some Grimeville accent bleed in as if he were embarrassed as well, “I just couldn’t find myself getting along with the Laurus sect, ya know? But I wanna be religious. My old man always said it’s best to have a god.” Which was a complete lie. The filthy king would have sold the gods for a ham sandwich.

The High Priestess instantly brightened.

So, she hates the Laurus sect. I can work with that. His skill warned him not to get comfortable, though. Maybe the old lady had her own info-seeking passive?

Belvedere nodded cheerily at the events. Vanni had convinced him with the same story. “Figured you guys always need an extra hand, and I always need a free dinner and drink.”

The priestess scowled. “I really am surrounded by shameless old codgers. Well, fine, it’s good to eat with the other sect sometimes. You—” she pointed at Vanni. “What’s your name?”

He gave her a winning smile, drawing a reluctant blush. “Vanni, priestess.”

“Well, you go with Clara—don’t you dare seduce her—” He repressed a scowl. Like hell I’d touch a minor, “And go help make food. It’ll give you a good intro to our doctrine.”

“Well,” He pushed his irritation aside, making room for another wide grin. “I’m always one for food.”

Clara huffed at her high priestess, face flushed, before turning to the prince.

“Welcome to the Scoop.”

He gave her a half-bow. “I’m glad to be here.”