The day started well until Yory and Joe found themselves arrested. Joe was chained and waiting outside with two guards while the merchants continued entering the city through the gate. Yory, on the other hand, was in an interrogation room on the second floor of the guard post, also chained and silent, with two guards watching him.
Then, the door swung open, and the captain entered with a bruise on his right eye, clearly angry. When he saw Yory, he spat on the ground. Yory couldn't help but laugh, saying, "That bruise suits you, makes you look like a real captain."
The captain, initially furious, strangely started laughing, saying, "If you'd kept your mouth shut, we wouldn't be in this mess. Extorting some money from you shouldn't cause such a ruckus, you son of a pestilent. I'm a level three knight, quite strong and influential enough to make your life miserable."
Yory sighed, retorting, "Enough with the theatrics. You call yourself a level three knight? Knocked out by an ordinary merchant's punch, you're barely a level two, not strong at all—your position is what's making the fuss. HAHAHAHAHA."
The captain's face turned red, and one of the guards shouted at Yory to stop talking.
Meanwhile, outside near the gate, Joe noticed the noble Nietyro approaching, clearly there to investigate. When the guards saw the noble, one of the captain's friends discreetly signalled to the guards watching Joe to hide him from the noble. Joe saw his chance and remarked, 'Well, this is my moment, lads."
Two guards helped Joe to his feet, but he suddenly punched one of them in the face. The other guard drew his sword and attacked Joe, who swiftly dodged, then twisted the guard's arm and disarmed him. Joe followed up with a kick to the guard's left knee, sending him to the ground. When the first guard attempted to retrieve his sword, Joe kicked him hard in the face. Then, the second guard regained his footing and tried to grab Joe from behind, but Joe headbutted him, causing him to fall once more. Joe then used his chains to choke the second guard.
As the noble Nietyro conversed with the guards, one of his men noticed Joe choking a guard while the other lay unconscious. He pointed this out to Nietyro, who was taken aback. Joe, trying to put a positive spin on his actions, smiled and said, "Greetings, my lord. They attempted to steal from me and my friend."
Back in the interrogation room, the captain instructed his assistants, "He's a criminal. Confiscate his cart and goods, even his money."
One of his assistants, clearly puzzled, responded, "We can't do that without a trial; the court won't allow it."
The captain, growing impatient, declared, "This little shit is making me angry and also embarrassing me in front of my men. Just do it. I'll use my connections; I'll resolve everything and seize whatever this scoundrel has in his cart."
He then turned to Yory, threatening, "I'll make your life miserable, merchant. Luckily for us, you have quite a valuable cart."
Suddenly, Yory began laughing, leaving the captain and his assistants bewildered. Yory, after a hearty laugh, turned cold, his eyes devoid of emotion, and said, "I think I've been too lenient with you, lads." He then checked the chains restraining him and astonishingly BROKE FREE.
The guards were taken aback. Yory kicked the table with all his might, sending it flying and hitting the captain's face. It fell to the ground, and while one of the guards drew his sword, Yory acted quickly, lifting a chair with his foot and kicking it at the guard's face. The guard joined the captain on the ground, blood oozing from his nose. The second guard attempted to use Lightning magic but before he could aim, Yory seized him by the neck, muttering, "Weak, utterly useless."
Meanwhile, Joe, who had been facing the city's lord Nietyro, said, "Guards, stay back. Now, tell me, what's happening here?"
Every guard lowered his sword, and the noble's right hand shouted in anger, "I DON'T HEAR ANSWERS!"
Joe quickly released the guard he had been choking with the chains and raised his hands in a sign of non-aggression. "My lord, these putrid spawns of a trogg tried to steal from me and my friend."
Nietyro interrupted, "Your friend? Is there..."
Nietyro's sentence was cut short when the door of the interrogation room on the second floor was flung open by a guard, who was sent flying to the balcony fence with his head crashing through part of it. Yory confidently walked out of the room, casually wiping his hands. The captain attempted to strike him with his sword, but Yory swiftly dodged, landing a knee to the captain's stomach, causing him to collapse. Yory's expression turned serious as he advised, "Always keep wearing your armour, even when interrogating a chained man."
As the other guard emerged from the interrogation room, Yory kicked the door, sending it crashing back toward the guard's face and sending him back into the room.
When the captain tried to rise, Yory grabbed his attire and pummeled him mercilessly, resulting in Yory's hands being covered in blood. Joe, seemingly unfazed, shouted, "YORY!!! The noble believed my story, so don't kill the captain, OKAY?!"
After hearing Joe's words, Yory nodded in agreement.
After a while in Roxana’s castle, Yory and Joe sat on a luxurious couch, dining with surprising refinement given their recent ordeal. The noble faced them with a warm smile. "Did you enjoy the meal? Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
Joe wiped his mouth with a fancy-looking napkin and replied solemnly, "Return what that scoundrel stole, and we'll call it even."
Nietyro agreed with a smile, "Certainly, we'll return everything and compensate you for your trouble..."
Yory interrupted him: "What is the equivalent of that?"
Nietyro's expression turned somewhat sad and disappointed as he replied, "It would be helpful if you could forget about what happened today. Roxana city has a good reputation among the kingdom's lands, and having corrupt guards tarnishes that reputation is the last thing this city needs."
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Joe added, "We won't speak of it, but offer us something valuable. We aren't mercenaries looking for quick coin, but rather a profit."
Nietyro, with confidence, proposed, "After leaving Roxana, your next destination will be Undvik, and the villages along the way are known for trading wheat, barley, and meat. I'll collaborate with you to provide high-quality, expensive goods. And our city will remember you as friends. Does that sound acceptable, my merchant friends?"
Yory agreed, "That sounds agreeable," and inquired about the fate of the corrupt captain.
Nietyro revealed, "He's in jail for theft from numerous merchants, abuse of authority, and general misconduct. Under pressure from my right-hand man, he confessed to his misdeeds. We are currently attempting to contact the affected merchants."
Joe nodded, satisfied. "Excellent. Now we have a market to attend to."
Leaving the castle, Yory positioned his cart in the designated market area, uncovered it, and prepared to greet potential customers. Joe mentioned to Yory, "I’m heading off to take care of my business. Catch you later."
Yory replied, "Later."
Joe walked into a large, upscale store and exchanged pleasantries with the owner, who inquired, "How may I assist you?"
Joe inquired, "What is the current price of gold? I'd like to sell."
The owner responded, "Gold prices have been low lately due to the recent discovery of a gold mine near FONOBO MOUNTAIN, close to the city. It's now 120 golden coins for one gold bar."
Joe slapped his forehead in shock upon hearing the news. Deep in thought, he mumbled, "I have eight gold bars and 260 coins. It's risky, but if I reach Daekrahm City, I'll be safe."
After a moment of contemplation, Joe wiped his face with his hands and told the owner, "Give me two bars." The owner nodded and fetched them from his storeroom.
Meanwhile, Yory engaged with a couple interested in the high-quality fur he was offering. The woman asked, "How much does that fur cost?"
Yory replied with a smile, "Six gold coins, miss."
The husband mentioned, "We already have fur at home."
However, his wife insisted, "But, dear, this is of high quality, and it's not that expensive."
Observing the couple, Yory recalled his brother Monroe and his humble wife, who treated everyone with kindness, regardless of their status. Yory interjected, "How about four gold coins? Does that sound fair?"
The couple happily accepted Yory's offer and purchased three high-quality furs. Yory then recommended, "If you desire more of this quality, there's a shop in Landow village where I acquire these leathers and furs. The owner is an honest trader. Feel free to visit him and share the word with others if you're satisfied." The couple bid farewell to Yory, who responded with a nod as they departed.
An hour later, Joe returned to Yory's cart, looking somewhat upset. Yory inquired, "Joe, you seem distressed. Was it an unsuccessful day?"
Joe smiled, letting slip a secret he hadn't shared before with a stranger. "I never mentioned this, but I'm involved in the gold business, and it can be quite messy at times."
Yory whistled and said, "I had no idea. Gold trading is risky, from buying and selling to potential robberies on the road. But why are you telling me this? I could rob you while you're not looking."
Joe chuckled and said, "I know your type—'Don't mess with me, and I won't mess with you.' And, even if I didn’t tell you, you’d figure it out. A trader with a backpack usually means potions, scrolls, or gold."
Yory smiled, satisfied with the response. "Fair enough. I've finished my work. It's time to rest."
Joe agreed, "Yes, it's been a long day."
The following morning, Yory and Joe continued their journey towards Undvik city, departing from the west gate of Roxana. As they approached the gate, Yory attempted to pay the guard, who refused the payment with a smile. "Sir, the lord informed us that you're a friend, and we treat our friends and the lord's acquaintances well." Yory waved his hand in gratitude, and both he and Joe proceeded on their way.
On the road, they set up a camp and lit a fire for warmth and cooking. Yory prepared soup, pouring some onto a clean plate and handing it to Joe who said. "Thank you, my friend. It looks delicious, courtesy of Chef Yory."
Yory chuckled and said, "You're welcome. Let's eat."
After their meal, they sat by the campfire, but the horse Boris suddenly neighed loudly, disrupting the silence. Joe glanced at Boris and remarked, "Yory, what kind of horse is this? He seems wild, even more so than regular horses."
Yory explained, "I mentioned before that I had dealings in the demon kingdom. After a particular task, they gave me this horse. It's a demon horse."
Joe observed, "That explains his red eyes and wild demeanour. When I tried to pet him at the inn in Roxana while you were inside, he almost bit me. Is that normal for him?"
Yory smiled and said, "That's Boris. Joe, let me teach you something."
That's when Yory reminisced about his past in the demon kingdom, back when he was 21 years old. He was with the head of the butlers, who had said, "Prince Yoranios, this horse comes from a purebred lineage, and they are known for their pride and fearlessness. This is precisely what you need for times of war." Yory nodded in response. The butler continued, "They won't permit just anyone to ride them. Firstly, they'll allow it during times of war because they can sense whether you're a true warrior or a coward. Secondly, you can earn their trust by simply asking for permission. Come, my prince, let me instruct you on both..."
Returning to the present, Yory instructed Joe, saying, "Joe, start by calling his name."
When Joe called out, "Boris," the horse turned its gaze towards Joe, its eyes fixed.
Yory went on, "Now, bow to him." Joe looked at the horse and bowed, mirroring its gesture.
Yory recalled the moment when he himself had bowed to the horse, and the horse had responded with a bow as a sign of acceptance. At that time, the head of the butlers had smiled and said, "Congratulations, Prince Yoranios. He believes in you, as we all do. Take good care of him and use him in battle."
In the present, Boris bowed to Joe, signifying acceptance and trust, and Yory grinned. "Congratulations, Joe. He respects you. But remember, don't pet him; he interprets it as a sign of disrespect."
Joe smiled in return. "Got it. Thanks, Yory. This was a valuable experience."
Suddenly, rain began to fall, and Yory and Joe sought shelter inside the cart. Joe suggested, "Can we cover the horse with something?"
But Yory shook his head, declining the idea. "These horses are accustomed to much harsher conditions. He won't mind the rain, and even if we tried to cover him, he'd just toss it aside."
Joe remarked, "The animals in the demon kingdom sure are different."
As Yory and Joe settled on their makeshift bed inside the cart, Yory started a conversation, asking, "You seem comfortable talking about the demon kingdom as if it's a normal thing. Don't you have any issues with demons?"
Joe responded, "We're not too far from the demon kingdom, so there aren't many people here who hold grudges or fear the demons. As for myself, I don't have any problems with them. They've never done anything to harm me, so there's no reason for me to dislike them."
Yory contemplated the idea that if people like Joe had held positions of power, perhaps the war could have been avoided. However, Joe interrupted Yory's thoughts, saying, "But right now, they're prospering. Their king, Giovani—sorry, I can't recall his full name—has turned their kingdom into a gem."
Yory corrected him, "Yoranios. His name is Yoranios Gyovani."
Joe continued, "I don't envy him, but it's true that he's likely sleeping in the most luxurious hotels and enjoying the company of beautiful women."
Yory burst into laughter, and Joe added humorously, "And here we are, sitting in the cold rain, our little weak bones chilled to the core." Joe feigned crying, making Yory laugh heartily. Eventually, they fell asleep in the chilly weather.
The following morning, after the rain had ceased and the sky was a clear blue, Yory and Joe resumed their journey towards Undvik city. Meanwhile, in a Landow village, a mysterious woman arrived with her cart, concealing her face. After paying the guard and visiting the inn, she rented a room and unveiled her face. She was a stunning, tall woman with long black hair and beautiful golden eyes. Despite her commoner's attire, she concealed a fashionable dress. She glanced around her room, then sniffed the air once. Her eyes widened in surprise as she remarked, "Yoranios was here."