Sometimes I lose hope, sometimes I try not to think about it too much, and sometimes my entire being wants to succumb and lose itself.

The four stood in silence for a second, looking at each other. Kai's hidden expression resembled that of a happy friend, sprinked with the life-shattering anxiety of his identity being revealed before a man whose power he cannot resist. Lutha and Yasa didn't know whether to look at Vlad or Kai with their shocked expressions, though, but decided instead to look elsewhere alltogether.

"We've travelled together before." Kai explained, causing the look of confusion on Vlad's face to be replaced with understanding.

"Well, that's fine and all, but how did y'all even get in here?" He asked, considering that the entrance was supposed to be guraded.

"Uhm…" Yasa began, her ussualy stoic face filled with nervounsess upon meeting Vlad's questioning look. "Well we wanted to get some equipement for the upcoming attack, some potions and safe measures as well."

"Hmm, big attack you say?" Vlad rubbed his chin. "Anyway, what I mean to ask is that there were supposed to be guards at the entrance forbidding entry."

"Guards?" Yasa and Lutha looked at each other, confused. "We didn't see any guards."

"No guards?" Vlad echoed and walked past them, the three following after him. "Indeed, what could have happened?"

As if the universe heard him, his question was answered by a large white fluff of wet fur running around from one corner to the other, with a few guards and maid following after him.

"Kid is that…"

"Onyx!" Kai yelled, then whistled, and the white fluff immediately switched direction and ran toward the group. It was indeed as Vlad thought; Onyx ran around like a madman… madbeast from the maids and guards trying to bathe him. He stopped in front of Kai with a happy expression, panting as water dripped down his fur.

"Onyx what are you doing?"

"Arf!"

Kai let out a heavy sigh and turned toward Vlad with an awry demeanor. "I'm so sorry Sir… he's ussually well-behaved."

The man let out a chuckle and slapped Kai gently on the shoulder before saying. "You're alright kid, can't say I've ever had this happen before, but I guess there's a first for everything. Most important are those guards who left their post, though." His eyes landed right on them, their backs immediately strengthening and legs slightly shaking. "Wait here, I'm gonna go deal with them first."

Kai shook his head and pulled out wind and fire crytals, drying Onyx and turning him into a puffy plush-like toy. Yasa and Lutha watched Vlad head toward the guards, then looked at Kai who played with the Obborik without a care in the world.

"Ichor, what's your relationship with the head of the Orchid Merchant Organisation?" Yasa asked softly, as to not attract the attention of the man in question.

"He uh…" Kai stuttered as he straightened himself. "He's very grateful to me for a favor I did some time ago, that is all." He explained, without wanting to go into too much detail about it all.

"Does he know…" She shot him a quick glance to make sure he wasn't looking their way.

Kai shook his head, but wasn't sure how to express for them to have pity on him. "I'd rather he not." He mustered, but it wasn't the best way to ask for what could only assumed to be mercy.

Yasa shook her head and sighed, questioning herself for the words she was about to say. "You're not a bad kid… and I'd rather not get invovled in whatever business you got going."

Kai's expression brightened upon hearing that. "Thank you Miss Yasa… I won't forget this." He said just in time for Vlad to pitch in.

"Forget what, kid?"

"Ahh… well… I'll never forget how they helped me come here from Bilvet to here. The journey wasn't exactly easy and I haven't had the time to thank them properly."

Vlad nodded, giving Lutha and Yasa an appreciative look. "Any friend of this lad here is my friend. Since you're here, I can make you an offer. Armor, weapons, whatever you need, you get 25% off. How's that sound?"

Lutha and Yasa's expresions stopped for a moment before a wide smile creased their lips. "Yes, that is… very generous. Thank you very much!" Yasa replied, shooting a curious glance at Kai, though neither said anything.

"Ah just to be clear, that's limited to the two of you here. I don't think I can afford to give that big of a discount for every memeber of your expedition."

Yasa chuckled awkwardly, the prospect of that not even passing through her mind. "That's completely fine. Ah, we do have another member who didn't want to come in, well…" She hestiated briefly. "Yeah he didn't want to come in."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Haha, that's fine, you can pick some out for him as well." Vlad chuckled, placing a hand over Kai's shoulder. "Come on lad, let's go see the mask creation process. It shouldn't take more than two hours. Oh and I already informed people to bring out the stuff you want, they'll be delievered at the workshop."

"Alright," Kai replied happily and signaled Onyx to follow them. The Obborik got up and walked behind them, his fluffy tail moving back and forth.

Lutha and Yasa gave each other an helpless glance. "I didn't know the kid had such connections." The man said, adjusting his glasses.

"Oh you don't know the half of it." Yasa chuckled, remembering the badge Kai had from the prince. "Let's go, we shouldn't let this price reduction go to waste. The Office may be loaded, but they'd still frown if we were to spend too much."

…

Vlad and Kai walked through the organisation, with the latter gawking at every little thing and the former explaining everything to him.

"You see, this organisation of mine has connections and trad routes all throughout the continent. Besides the deepest depths of 'The Forbidden Forest' nowhere is off limits. Sadly…" He sighed, looking in the distance at nothing in particular. "I'm not the only one. Those Padure bastards keep making my life hell…"

Haha, I think Orphelia said that as well. Looks like she learned that from him. Kai chuckled inwardly.

"Ah sorry, I don't want to bore you. As I was saying… We cover a wide variety of items, essentials, medicines, and so on and so forth. If you want to buy something, we most likely have it, and if we don't have it, we'll get it. That's been our motto for a generations, and I don't plan to make it false under mine, or my daughter's supervision."

"You sound sure that Orphelia will take over."

"Bahaha, of course. She's as capable as me, if not more. She's got a keen eye already. Though I would say her only flaw would be being devoted to the Goddess to an… unhealthy extent."

You can say that again… Kai thought, remembering once again how she threw him inside the church. He still couldn't figure out why she did that, but it was clear that Lumiera wanted that to happen. They were both conspiring against me… Kai sighed and followed Vlad toward the crafting section of the organisation.

The sound of bellows and smell of charcoal, accompanied by hissing hot metal and various other sounds Kai had not heard in a long time welcomed them. Vlad didn't bother to explain what each craftsman did or what they even produced, perhaps due to laziness or privacy reasons. He led Kai all the way to the back, where an old man with white hair and stuffy beard carved onto a piece of wood with a sharp knife.

"Sir…" He said with a smile on his face, pausing his craft. "You've returned so soon."

"Yes, I brought the kid with me." His eyes shifted to Kai, and the old man's followed.

"Oh my days!" He exclaimed with a shaky voice. "Boy, have you been wearing that for long?"

Kai nodded, "A few months yeah."

"Oh Lumiera!"

"Haha, don't be so dramatic old man." Vlad chuckled at his reaction.

"My boy, how could I not be? That awful, useless thing has been desecrating his visage for so long. This won't do!" After saying that, he took a close look at the mask Kai was wearing and at the shadows it cast under his chin, and nodded to himself. "Alright then, I see that it's also way too big for your head. Ayye, what a torture. I'll make you a mask better than any craftsman could ever make!"

His eyes drifted to Onyx though, as the big white fluffy creature grabbed his attention briefly. "I'll make something for the dog too."

Seeing the enthusiasm on the old man, Vlad chuckled once again and brought Kai away. "We won't bother you again then, old man. We'll be back soon though."

The old man didn't say anything, but a satisfied smile was plastered on Vlad's face as they walked away. Kai looked up at him much like a child would an adult, because that was the case, but also in the sense of awe and respect. I never expected Vlad to be so humble and generous… Orphelia never talked about him from what I recall but I thought he would be some greedy tyrant… Way to break expectations huh.

"Well then kid, there's nothing much to do until the old man is done with your mask and whatever else he's planned on crafting. I still have some affairs to take care of, but I can see you off after you're done with whatever you want to do here."

"Ah!" He exclaimed just as he prepared to leave. "Almost forgot, looks like the items you wanted are arriving." Vlad then raised his arm and an object hurled toward his hand at an impressive speed. He caught it efortlessly and handed it to Kai. "The ring is that one and everything else is inside. Let me know if anything's missing. There's changing rooms in the clothes section if you want to try them on rightaway."

Having said that, Vlad's figure blinked, disappearing before Kai could even fully register his words. What a weird man… Kai shook his head and put on the ring, trying to hold back his excitement. However after seeing all the items he asked for, plus a few extra things, his happiness went through the roof. I can't believe I have so many expensive things now… is this what it feels like to be rich? He thought, giddly.

However he had no plans on putting on his new acquisitons at the moment, but instead wanted to take advantage of his 'Platinum' card and spend money.

I only need… every type of mana rich medicinal plants and lifeforce rich medicinal plants… I have a hundred gold with me so that should be enough for a few training sessions.

Without waiting for a second more he made his way through the large organisation, only now realising it would be equal to one of the Mall's in his old life. With different stores, sections and many floors, except all of them were owned by a single company.

Hurrying to the part of the store that held all the medicinal plants wasn't an option though. For starters, because Kai had no idea where it was, and to reach a map they had to walk past a section that had five food stalls one after the ohter. The smell made both him and Onyx drool, though he guessed that Onyx's fellings somehow mixed with his, as he wasn't that much of a gourmand… ussualy.

Brower… food!

"Yeah yeah I know…" Kai rolled his eyes and walked made the round at every stall, buying whatever Onyx wanted by abusing his 'Platinum' card. The vendors looked to be annoyed, mumbling something about paperwork and how they would need to show proof and other stuff Kai didn't really care for.

He handed Onyx a few pieces of food before storing them into one of his rings, then strutted toward the medicinal herbs section of the organisation after checking the map. They also had portable versions, so Kai took one and kept going. It's going to be a long walk…

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