They entered a big yellow tent. A beautiful woman in blue dress greeted them.

“Prince? You’re back. All good?” she kissed Calbot in the cheek.

“Yeah, everything’s okay.”

“Not really, Meira, Prince Calbot would be dead if this young man did not save him," said Jared.

“Prince!? Is it true!?” her calm expression changed.

“Really, Jared? Must you make her worry?” said Calbot.

Jared shrugged.

“Yes, something happened, but it’s okay now, Meira. And this is my savior," Calbot reassured her and introduced Cain to the woman called Meira.

“I’m Meira Frena, you can call me Meira. Thank you for saving Prince Calbot’s life," Meira slightly bowed.

When she bowed, Cain saw a chain like mark on her neck a bit. He couldn't see it clearly because her dress covered her neck.

“I’m Cain," he also bowed.

“Please take a seat Cain," Calbot invited Cain to sit, then he turned towards Meira. "Meira darling, please bring us something to drink and eat," said Calbot while smiling.

Meira smiled and nodded, then she went outside the tent.

They sat down in front of a wooden table.

“So, before you shoot us with your questions, I’ll tell you this first," Calbot’s tone became serious.

“I am the Prince of Farferis, Calbot Hanea. But, you can just call me Calbot, a privilege after saving my life," he smiled.

“Uh-huh," Cain frowned.

“You must be thinking, why the Prince was being chased by his own knights, yeah? Well that’s because I’m planning a revolution," Calbot continued.

“Revolution?” It tickled Cain’s curiosity.

“Yes, as you know, Farferis Kingdom, has a slave system far before this Kingdom named Farferis," said Calbot.

“I’m planning to erase the slave system from Farferis. But, somehow, my uncle, the current King of Farferis, found out about my plan, and declared me as a man who would harm this Kingdom’s economy and security. Thus, here I am, being a “criminal”,” he continued.

“Your uncle is the King?” asked Cain, he was a bit confused.

“Ahem! Let me answer that," Jared cleared his throat.

“The late King and Queen, prince Calbot’s father and mother, died when the Prince was still five years old. So, his uncle, Termura Hanea took his father's throne until he’s ready for the crown. But when the Prince was ready in terms of age, Prince Calbot refused the throne himself because he didn't like being a ruler. Then after a few years had passed, Prince Calbot planned for the revolution, he asked his rights of the throne. His uncle refused, and already bribed most of the nobles to back him up. Then he found out about the plan and you know the rest.”

“That’s… quite a story. You haven’t told me why do you want to erase the slave system though,” Cain became serious too. "It's not like I agree to slavery, but as far as I know, one of Farferis Kingdom main income is slave trade."

Meira brought them food and drinks to the table. Then she sat beside Calbot.

“Have you seen Arozora Kingdom?” asked Calbot. “It’s prosperous without any slaves! Their equality among the citizens is what makes them become such a great Kingdom! When I retake the throne, I will make Farferis as great as Arozora! Even better!” Calbot’s eyes were sparkling when he talked about Arozora.

“If the slave system is erased, then, I can finally marry her," Calbot held Meira’s hand.

“You see, she is a slave, as long as the slave mark is still on her body, she can't be a Queen," Calbot looked at Melia’s eyes gently, Meira shyly smiled.

“A chain like mark I saw on your neck, Meira? Is that it?” asked Cain.

“Oh, quite an observer, aren’t you? Yes it is," she revealed her neck a bit and showed her slave mark.

“I found her when she was being auctioned, it’s love at first sight. So here she is, alas I can’t do a thing to her slave mark," Calbot shrugged.

Every slave marked with a slave mark, with this mark, they couldn't disobey their masters. Slave mark was created with Spirit Soul Magic by a Marker, it couldn't be erased by other magic, not even by their master who bought them, only the Marker could erase it.

Usually the Marker was the seller of the slave. When someone bought a slave, the Marker transferred the slave mark command to them, the Marker lost his command on the slave but he still had the authority for the slave mark.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

There was only one way to be free from the slave mark, both master and the Marker must release the mark. If only one side released it, then the other who wasn't would take full control of the slave. If only the master released it, then the Marker would regain his control over the slave. So if someone became a slave, it’s almost impossible to be free again.

If the Marker died, a portion of the mark would be erased. But only a fool who would try to kill a Marker, they were powerful magicians, they also usually had deep connections with nobles, so they were hard to deal with.

Slave business was Farferis’s pride. It’s rare for the Marker to erase the slave mark unless it's under the King’s order. Only the King could freely order the Markers if they still wished to do business in his Kingdom.

“So… in a nutshell, you want to become the King, so you can marry her?” said Cain after he summarized what he heard.

“...”

All of them were silenced by Cain’s question.

“Hahahah! You’re so bold, Cain!” Calbot burst into laughter while Meira and Jared were holding their laughter.

“That’s one way to put it!” Calbot wiped his laugh tears.

“That’s great, good luck to you!” Cain gulped his drink.

“Now, this is the real question,” Calbot went back to his serious tone. “Will you help us, Cain?”

“Huh? Why do you need my help? You’ve got a whole army out there. I don't even know how you got your soldier," said Cain.

Cain realized if Calbot was the Prince of Farferis, then he would have a deep pocket to hire some mercenaries. But what he saw there were no mercenaries, but knights.

“They’re Sun Knight Order,” Calbot answered. “They only answer to the true bloodline of the King, so they’re following me out here. And you, I’ve seen what you are capable of, you’re probably on the same level with Jared here," Calbot looked at Jared.

Jared frowned, he underestimated Cain. He thought he was just a simple Hunter passing by. But if Calbot himself said it, then he wasn't a simple Hunter.

“Then, why don't you just seize your capital with this Sun Knight Order?” asked Cain.

“That was the plan, but if I can avoid such bloodshed, I better choose the peaceful way," said Calbot.

“There’s another way?”

“Yes, but I can't tell you about that unless you agree to help us," Calbot crossed his fingers.

“Hmm… how about the reward?” asked Cain.

“Spoke like a true Hunter, I see," Jared smirked.

Jared meant the Hunters usually took some quests because of how high the reward was.

“Not really, I only need sufficient amount enough to cover my journey," Cain dismissed the notion that he was only after the reward.

“You don't have to worry about the reward, Cain. If you help me seize back the throne, I’ll make sure you’ll be one of the richest men in Farferis,” Calbot answered the question.

“Hmm…” Cain closed his eyes, thinking. Then he looked at Calbot and Meira that were waiting for his answer.

A glimpse of Lexa and Higa flashed when he saw the couple.

“............. Fine, I’ll help you.”

“Really!? Thank you, Cain!” relieved expressions were glued on Calbot and Meira’s face.

“Well, as long as your goal isn't bad, I’ll be happy to help. Moreover, it’s to erase the slavery, which is good. I believe in equality after all," said Cain.

Cain didn't tell them about his personal reason, the glimpse of his best friends when he saw Calbot and Meira.

Jared nodded, he was perfectly agreed with Cain’s words.

“Alright, we’ve secured Cain’s help. Let's eat first, we’ll talk about the plan after that!” Calbot raised his cup.

They had a feast in the tent. After that, Cain was escorted to a tent for his stay.

At night, he was called by Calbot to his tent to prepare for the plan.

When Cain entered the tent, Calbot, Jared and Meira were already there. Cain sat on the empty chair.

“Okay, Cain, are you familiar with the history of Farferis?”

“Hmm… yeah a bit. Farferis is… quite famous for their bloody way to fight for the throne," Cain answered Jared’s question.

Farferis was quite dark among the Kingdoms in the continent. Not from their people’s welfare, but from the royal family fighting for the throne. Brother killed brother, sister conspiracy, assassin or poison, and such.

“Indeed, but, what if my ancestors foresee this and have prepared a countermeasure?” Calbot rubbed his thin beard.

“Then, shouldn’t you be on the throne already? Unless this countermeasure… hmm… I don't know," Cain was curious for this “countermeasure”.

Jared rolled out a map on the table.

“There’s a legend in our Kingdom. A sacred place of our ancestors, northeast from here,” Calbot tapped a temple like drawing on the map with his finger. “This is Hanearian’s Rest. Our ancestors built this place to counter such condition if it were to happen," said he.

Calbot opened a book that had an emblem on its lustrous cover, the same emblem Cain saw on the Farferis Knight's armor.

“There’s an item there. Called the Staff of Mgre. It says that the true bloodline of Hanea can restore his rights if he brings the staff to the throne. When the throne and the staff were reunited, the bringer of the staff will be bestowed upon the power of Willbender,” Calbot read it from the book.

“Power of Willbender?” asked Cain.

“Yeah, any Hanean would bend to the will of the staff bearer according to this family treasure and history book," Calbot replied.

“Won’t your uncle already know about this, or even your great great grandfather?”

“Hahah! My uncle is the one who told me this when I was a kid! And if he had it, I’m sure I would be dead by now. As for my great grandfather, he is one of those legend chaser maniacs. He almost made history for himself. When he found himself at a dead end in the Hanearian’s Rest, he tried to make hole in the wall, yeah he found a secret path. But endless undead skeletons came out from the hole he made. Even today, that place became their lair. After that, no one dared to set foot there.”

“Interesting…” Cain listened intently to Calbot’s story.

“Now, I have spilled the beans. I’m requesting your assistance to retrieve the staff, Cain.”

“Sure! I’ll help you to find that staff!” said Cain right away.

“Great!” said Calbot.

Seeing Cain’s enthusiasm made Calbot very delighted. As for Cain, this was his first treasure hunting, there’s no way he could hide his excitement.

“Then, we will depart tomorrow morning, you should rest, Cain," Calbot continued.

They closed the meeting, and went to their respective tent. Cain went to a secluded place and consumed three Hineru stems. After he was freed from the paralyze, he slept in his tent.