The sun was just beginning to rise, bringing an end to the darkness of the night. Isolde was in her room staring out of the window at the rising sun. The surroundings were peaceful and silent besides the occasional chirping of birds. Her gaze would occasionally fall on to an empty training ground, where three new targets had replaced the ones previously destroyed.

A light knock broke the silence, and Isolde spoke without turning around, "Grandpa Alec, come in..." The door opened and Alec walked in a hurry. Isolde spoke out without turning around, "Grandpa why are you so early today? Did you miss me?" 

Alec spoke out in a serious tone, "Lady Isolde let us leave the Brishman family... I can't do much but I promise that I will not let you suffer under my protection. But... I know that you care for your father and is worried what that hag--," he coughed and continued, "--mistress Isabella will do with him completely under her influence, but you can't let your life be ruined just--"

But Isolde interrupted him, "Grandpa Alec, did you know, this was way before you came to take care of me and when I was only 4 years old, that there was a little boy who would occasionally visit the Brishman Mansion. I can remember that he was a kind and cheerful kid. Every morning my father and mother would watch us as he and I happily played around the entire day. On some days, we even sneaked into the Berthelien forest, and when we returned there would always be someone waiting to scold us." 

She laughed lightly as she continued speaking still facing the window, "I remember that they were peaceful and simple days. But one day in the forest we were attacked by a demon beast, I don't remember much of it... but he apparently saved my life. However, that boy got gravely wounded as a result and fell into a coma."

Isolde let out a sigh, "I was too little. I didn't even understand the situation enough to feel guilty. All I knew was my friend didn't come back to play with me again. That boy woke up from his coma five years later. But by the time he woke up and recovered, he wasn't the same person. 

That kind and cheerful boy had turned into a self-centered and ruthless kid. This only became worse as he grew up. He trampled on commoners and treated women like trash. Maybe something happened to his mind and soul that day in the forest, or maybe the fact that he missed his childhood affected his psyche. Either way, he didn't come to meet me and neither did I go to find him. I was afraid that he would hurt me like he often did or even worse, in hatred...

That boy was the Crown Prince, Prince Tristram..." and spoke out almost in a whisper.

She lightly tucked her blonde hair behind her ear, "When I was old enough to understand this I felt horrible, and as such threw myself into using Goddess Eir's divine blessings to help the sick and poor. Maybe I wanted to repent? Maybe I felt guilty? Nevertheless, soon after my mother died giving birth to Little Isaac. And he too died in my arms in Cerullia. I isolated myself from father in sorrow and he, in turn, remarried many times maybe to fill his own sorrowful heart. In the end with Isabella's arrival, life finally became truly unbearable and empty for me.  

And I couldn't help but wonder, were the gods punishing me for having given up on Tristram? Was I being punished for not helping my father in his--our time of need? The people of Lyoness called me the 'Healing Goddess', but I am just a pitiful girl trying to do something good...

Grandpa, you were the only person who was truly with me since my childhood. But... on that day, just a few weeks ago, that person crashed into my room bleeding all over the place," this time she laughed genuinely, even Butler Alec couldn't stop himself from grinning. 

Isolde continued to speak but in a satisfied tone, "He was like a shining beacon in this pathetic cardboard life of mine. I saved him just because he reminded me of my brother, but he, in turn, gave me life. His grace and character reminded me of my perfect father in my childhood. His talent and capabilities reminded me of Isaac. His kind and cheerful nature reminded me of Tristram. You asked me back then why I cried and hugged him? That was because I had stupidly concluded that he was merely showing off by trying archery. But when he truly showed his talent and ability, I felt that I had given up on him... the same way I did Tristram and Father."

The sun was now shining with bright splendor, "Those two weeks I spent with him was the happiest I had been since Isaac passed away. Even Grandpa Alec was happy during that time, right? To an ungrateful woman like me, that bit of happiness is enough. Now to protect my father, and that man who gave light to my dark life and to repent, I'll handle Prince Tristram myself..."

Isolde turned around suddenly, causing her hair to wave and shine brilliantly under the rising sunlight streaking through the window sill. She smiled brightly as she spoke out cheerfully, "Maybe... I might even be able to jog his memory and return the prince to his usual self. Maybe he'll treat me differently... So Grandpa doesn't need to worry. Grandpa, you should leave by yourself..."

Alec immediately bowed, "How could I live with myself if I left. Since young lady Isolde has decided, I'll help you to the best of my ability."

Isolde smiled lightly now with her hair in the usual position, "I knew this would be your decision. But I hope Grandpa won't act so as to lose your life in the Prince's presence, leaving me completely alone..."

Alec grimaced but bowed in agreement nonetheless. 

Isolde turned back to look at the training grounds where three targets lay still, 'Zhen Shi, I'll never forget your face under the moonlight! But, I hope that you'll forget me and will never come back to the Lyonesse kingdom..."

🏯🏯🏯🏯🏯

Zhen Shi and the group finally left the Berthelien forest as the sun was glowing brightly in the sky. Vivienne was wearing a beautiful white gown while Myne and Zhen Shi were dressed in a similar set of black clothes. Except for the fact where Myne's was extremely loose revealing his upper chest for all to see.

Immediately below them lay a majestic city expanding to a distance of several hundred kilometers. Countless regal buildings and houses were surrounding the awe-inspiring king's palace. It was visible even from their distance as the palace was several times larger than every other construction and was also placed at an elevation. However, there was one other building with a spherical dome at the top and gleaming like silver under the sunlight, which reached a height similar to the palace despite not being placed on elevated land.

Myne and Vivienne were smiling brightly, "I can't believe we're finally out! We've been trapped in that valley for countless millenniums and now we're free and looking at civilization..."

Myne said, "Good god! There weren't this many constructions the last time I was at Lyonesse kingdom. Time indeed has changed the world..."

Zhen Shi laughed out loud, "Well, Peeps, I can't believe it took us all night just to leave the Berthelien forest!!" 

Myne grimaced, "Well I blame it on you two and your blasted herbology! Stopping every few minutes just to be entranced by a random weed or insect and waste time collecting them," and spouted.

Vivienne frowned, "Hmph if that's the case hubby, I suppose it will be fine if only me and little bro eat my herb-based meals from now on!"

Myne immediately gasped, "No, no my beautiful lady, please forgive this stupid husband of yours!! How could I live without eating you... *cough* your food" 

Vivienne frowned even more with a red face, while Myne was contemplating how to hang himself and his stupid mouth.

Zhen Shi gaped,

SHIET! Did I hear that right? Are brother Merlin's masochistic tendencies going to come out? 

As such to 'help' Zhen Shi spoke out, "Aiya! It's getting late. C'mon, you slowpokes lets get going!" and dashed forwards. Myne followed immediately while thanking the gods for giving him this kind-hearted brother. Vivienne who was getting used to this happening, lightly sighed before following them.

Moments later, Zhen Shi and the duo arrived within the streets of Lyon City the capital of Lyonesse. There were various buildings on either side of the winding cobblestone paths. There were also several positioned guards at the core formation stage. Zhen Shi began to regret the fact that previously, he had only stayed within the Brishman Mansion and later had immediately jumped into the Berthelien forest, without going out to see the city at all. 

Nevertheless, he spoke to Myne and Vivienne about his intention to buy materials for pill refining and blacksmithing.

Vivienne nodded with a strange look in her eyes, "Indeed, with little bro's skills in herbology, pill refining is indeed suitable. But blacksmithing..."

Myne laughed out loud, "Bro don't worry. Blacksmithing is definitely better than pill refining. The reason for that is super simple... it's because Blacksmithing involves the amazing and wondrous formations, unlike pill refining which needs shitty herbology! I actually had a Mythril Class Furnace back in Camelot, but I have no memory of where it is now..."

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Vivienne frowned at Myne with a strange look.

Zhen Shi jumped at the chance, "Bro what were you doing in this 'Camelot'? I thought you kept saying you weren't Merlin?" Vivienne who was acting strangely immediately laughed at this situation.

Myne frowned, "Shitty Kid! Do you have to be Merlin to be in Camelot? Huh? Huh?" and spoke while poking his finger onto Zhen Shi's chest.

Zhen Shi frowned, FUCK! That is indeed true. How do I answer that? System this is all your fault...

System: "..."

Zhen Shi laughed, "Ahh.. forget it... Let's just go into the market. Otherwise, the people around will think you're some sort of weirdo!" and said nonchalantly.  Noting that there were indeed many people looking at them Myne stopped. Then the trio got directions from a passerby and wordlessly entered the market area.

The market area was a fairly wide winding path leading towards the more lucrative shops. But there still were hundreds of shops selling daily wares for mortals and commoners as well as shops for cultivators on the sides of the cobblestoned path. Some people had even laid down a cloth with various odds and ends, and sat down intending to make a quick coin or two. 

But the guards took no action to stop these people selling wares without a stall. Myne and Zhen Shi were excitedly going to check out the shops, "C'mon let's go out on a shopping spree!!" when suddenly Vivienne stopped them by grabbing them from their shirt collars. She spoke out lightly, "You and whose money?"

FUCK! We're broke and inside a market! Oh, wait...

"Haha! Sis Vivienne of course, who'd be stupid enough to buy without money. I collected quite a bit of demon beast cores. I was planning on going to sell them first," said Zhen Shi while proudly slapping his hand on his chest. 

"Oh, then you have my apologies, little bro," said Vivienne letting go of their collars. Zhen Shi grinned satisfactorily and walked into a nearby shop labeled 'Sales Hut'. 

Inside, there were several small cubicles with dozens of people in line to exchange items. These cubicles were categorized based on the item to be sold. Fortunately for Zhen Shi, it seemed that there wasn't any who had come to sell beast cores early in the morning. Vivienne mentioned that she'd go sell off some excess herbs and walked away. Myne stayed with Zhen Shi as he walked over to the relevant cubicle. Within it, there was a young man in his teens who was lazily seated in a chair. Noting the arrival of customers he lazily glanced at them, but upon sensing Myne's cultivation he spoke with a modicum of respect and a polite but lazy smile, "Greetings Respected Customers, I am Seth, what would you like to exchange today?"

Zhen Shi was surprised and wondered how this place operated with only a bunch of Core Formation expert salespeople. But he immediately lost his surprise when the air aether showed him several stronger cultivators with one at the Nascent Soul stage inside the building. Still, he wasn't worried.

Zhen Shi nodded at the salesman, "I want to exchange these core formation beast cores, as well as this soul transformation beast core." 

Seth counted them carefully and nodded, "Respected Customer, there are 6 basic beast cores and one soul transformation core of a dark spiritual nature. We can give either 5 silver coins or one lesser spirit stone for one basic beast core and the dark natured soul transformation core either for 6 gold coins or one ordinary spirit stone with one gold coin. What is the respected customer's preference?"

Zhen Shi had already prepared an answer for this, "Spirit stones for the basic cores and gold coins for the other." Seth nodded immediately handing out the due amount with a polite smile. 

"Oh yes. I also have two nascent soul stage demonic cores here to sell," said Zhen Shi handing them out. This caused the lazy Seth to immediately perk up and stand up respectfully.  Seth was a Sales Hut employee who prided himself on making the best deals and turning out huge amounts of profit. And he was excited at the chance to make a big deal once again. As such, he respectfully took the two beast cores and checked them.

Zhen Shi was flabbergasted as he looked at this lazy salesperson switch into a serious employee in a flash.

NANI? Isn't this guy too shameless?

Seth's eyes lightly shone as he checked the first core. He looked at Zhen Shi with calm eyes and a polite smile, "The respected customer can get the general price of 100 gold coins or a middle-grade spiritual stone for each core. What is the respected customer's preference?" 

Zhen Shi was about to reply in agreement when suddenly Myne spoke to him mentally, "Bro, that salesman's eyes lightly lit up when looking at the demonic core from the Bat type beast. I felt that it is from a rare bloodline as well, but I don't know the exact price it would go for..."

Zhen Shi glanced at him and nodded. 

FUCK! I almost got cheated there because I forgot to use the appraisal skill. System you almost ruined me...

System: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

And he did so, the beast core from the earthworm was a fairly ordinary one besides the long life that earthworm had lived. But the beast core of the bat...

Zhen Shi gaped at this and went over his knowledge regarding this species. He gaped, even more, when he realized the price...

Now with great confidence, he spoke out to Seth, "Kid, you're too wet behind the ears to trick yours truly..." This causes Seth to be taken aback as he had previously been confident that he was dealing with a rookie. But he still respectfully asked politely smiling, "Then what is the respected customer's asking price?"

Zhen Shi smiled maliciously, Dare to make a fool out of me? I'll let you choke on your own foolishness then...

"For the earthworm beast core, I am fine with the general price in spirit stones. But for the Bat core, I require... 1500 gold coins!!"

This caused Seth to immediately be dismayed, as he realized that he had underestimated this person. His pride in judging the characters of customers was thrown into the sea along with his hope of making a huge profit. But since this price would only allow them to make a smaller profit than usual his inner-salesman took control and said, "Respected Customer, this is too close to our selling price. How about 700 gold coins?" 

This got Zhen Shi to wag his index winger side-to-side, "Kid, kid, if you're unhappy how about I sell this super rare demonic core at some other place. Do you think I'm stupid to think you can't gain more by auctioning this?"

Seth grimaced mentally, if the higher-ups got to know he had let this auction-worthy item out of their grasp he would be in extremely hot water. As such with a polite smile, "Respected Customer how about we settle down at 1000 gold coins? This is indeed the general price."

Zhen Shi wagged his index finger again, "Kid, Kid..."

Seth was getting really annoyed with this respected customer. Respected customer can you keep that annoying finger out of my face, and whose MOTHER is a kid? Isn't this respected customer even younger than me?

But Seth still faced Zhen Shi with a polite smile as he listened to him. However, Zhen Shi leaned closer to him, "Kid, what do you think will happen if these people here got to know that you tried to cheat me of the item's actual worth at first? Do you think they'll leave immediately or leave bad reviews about your organization?"

Seth's polite smile almost died on the spot. But he still held steadfast and spoke neutrally with a polite smile, "Customer that is blackmail. But in the end, it would be my word against yours. Which side does the respected customer believe the Sales Hut will take?"

Zhen Shi was pissed. FUCK? Respected Customer my ass! If you respect yours truly so much, just bend over respectfully and let me blackmail your ass respectfully while you smile politely!!!

However, Myne who had been silent the entire time spoke out, "Kid, are you sure you want to do that?" and brought out a small piece of crystal. He lightly tapped on it bringing out a blurry mist. An image of Zhen Shi and Seth slowly appeared upon the mist. The entire conversation they had had was played back with audio included. 

Seth's eyes widened at the sight of the recording on the scrying crystal. He couldn't believe that these respected customers of his were actually respected con-artists. More importantly, he was very dissatisfied with the fact that he had dug himself a grave to jump into.

Zhen Shi laughed out loud while clapping this awesome brother of his on the back. He proudly wagged his index finger in front of Seth's face while saying, "Kid, what do you say now?"

Seth lowered his head in defeat but still managed his polite smile, "Very Well, Respected Customer the exchange can be done at the aforementioned price of 1500 gold coins." 

But Zhen Shi wagged his index finger again, "Tsk-tsk. Respected Kid, don't you know about inflation? Particularly in this respected stall of yours, there is respected inflation... The respected price has risen to a more respected one of 2000!" Myne too responded to this by grinning and menacingly waving the scrying crystal. 

Seth's polite smile finally collapsed at this point. But he hurriedly lowered his head in defeat before these respected con-artists raised the price so much that there would be no profit at all. He was unable to comprehend how his usually successful strategy and tactics had led him to this sorry state.

With tears of defeat in his eyes he spoke, "Yes, respected customers here is the due amount," and handed out a bag full of coins. Zhen Shi momentarily paused and rather obviously passed his spiritual energy over the bag to confirm the amount.

Seeing this Seth almost immediately broke down in tears,

Respected customer, do you disbelieve me so and think I'm that much of a liar and robber? Just because of my sales tactics? 

Zhen Shi laughed happily and wagged his finger in front of Seth's forlorn face, "Well then respected kid, pleasure doing business with you. I'll be sure to come back and recommend you to all my friends! But I do hope you'll treat us and them just the same as today..." and finished with a grin.

Myne grinned happily as well as they walked away from Seth's Cubicle. Seth finally broke down in tears of despair, Respected Customer please never come back! I'll have to quit if your respected friends are just like you...

Zhen Shi, on the other hand, was extremely happy. He even gave a silent prayer and wish of good luck to the passed away Batsy for letting him become rich within a day. 

They walked over to Vivienne who had watched the entire scenario. She smiled and shook her head, "That kid is actually crying because of you..."

Zhen Shi laughed at this and turned around to wave at Seth in the cubicle who immediately ran into the shop crying even harder. "Nah... Sis you've got it wrong. He is just so happy about me fixing his calculative ways. He probably ran into the shop to pray to god in thanks for having met us..."

Myne laughed at this and patted Zhen Shi on the back as the trio walked out of the Sales hut. But suddenly Zhen Shi asked frowning, "Bro Myne, do you record every single second fo your life with scrying crystals like that? No right?"

Myne grinned proudly, "Of course. I always do!"

Zhen Shi grimaced, FUCK! Isn't that pretty perverted? Do you look at those recordings at night as well?