NOVEL NEXT Chapter 134: Search
After the Frostsilk Dress incident, word spread faster than wildfire. By the time the group stepped out of the emporium, whispers trailed them down the street.
"Did you see that? A million coins on a single card!"
"They're either children of royalty… or monsters."
"No ordinary adventurer carries that kind of fortune."
Merchants who normally shouted at every passerby suddenly lowered their voices, eyes darting nervously toward the pair. A jewelry seller rushed forward, bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the cobblestone.
"Honored guests! Might I interest you in rings crafted with Phoenix Flame rubies? Only 120,000 each!"
Before Venus could respond, another stall owner shoved past him. "Ignore him! My stall carries genuine Leviathan-scale trinkets. Resistant to both fire and frost. A priceless treasure fit for nobles such as yourselves!"
The street transformed in an instant. Where before the air was noisy and carefree, now it was tense, almost reverent.
John scratched his head awkwardly. "This… is a bit much, don't you think?"
Maki grinned crookedly. "You're just not used to walking behind royalty."
Venus waved her hands frantically. "W-we're not royalty! Please don't—"
But Ryuzen's calm, unshakable presence only reinforced the illusion. With his tall frame, golden eyes, and faint aura of draconic pressure, no one dared think of him as ordinary.
Evangeline observed quietly, her smile gentle but her gaze sharp. She could see it clearly—the shift. Her daughter and Ryuzen were no longer just children. The city was beginning to recognize them as rising powers, entities who could not be ignored.
Venus looked at Ryuzen uncertainly. He gave a small nod, as though this was all perfectly natural.
The moment she accepted, the entire street seemed to bow in silent acknowledgment.
From there, they headed to a Old Blacksmith Shop. The blacksmith was famous for crafting high grade Runic Weapons.
Inside the blacksmith's forge, the air was thick with the scent of burning coal and molten steel. Weapons and armor lined the walls, each piece etched with faint runes that shimmered softly under the forge's light.
The blacksmith, a burly man with soot-stained arms, gestured toward a rack at the center. "These are my finest. Forged with mithril, inscribed with mana-conductive runes by my own hand. Fit for high-ranked Evolvers."
Ryuzen's gaze swept over the selection before stopping on a sleek, silver blade. The sword hummed faintly with restrained power, its runic lines glowing faint blue, pulsing in rhythm with the wielder's aura.
"A B-grade Mithril Runic Sword," the smith explained with pride. "Lighter than steel, harder than dragonbone, and it channels mana seamlessly. Price: 100,000 gold."
Without hesitation, Ryuzen slid his runic card across the counter. Gasps erupted from the apprentices working in the forge.
"That much… without a blink?"
"He's a monster."
Ryuzen tested the blade, giving it a light swing. The edge sliced through the air with a resonant hum, as if eager to devour mana. He nodded with faint satisfaction. "It will do."
Meanwhile, Venus had wandered to a glass case where a pair of gloves rested on silk. Black leather embroidered with golden runes that spiraled up the fingers, they radiated a subtle pressure.
"These are Draconian Gauntlets. A B-grade set of magical gloves made of Wyvern hide that amplify damage by 20 percent and reduce mana cost slightly. A rare find. Price: 120,000." the blacksmith said with a respectful bow.
Venus' eyes lit up. "I'll take them." She glanced at Ryuzen, who gave her a slight nod of approval before she slid her own runic card forward.
The forge fell silent for a moment, then erupted with murmurs.
"Two purchases… over 200,000 in one go!"
"Who are these two?"
As Ryuzen sheathed his new sword and Venus pulled on the gloves, the faint magical glow around them intensified. Their presence grew heavier, undeniable. The smith himself bowed low.
"May your names echo in legend, young masters."
Evangeline smiled knowingly at her daughter, while John and Maki exchanged stunned looks. The weight of their power and wealth was no longer something they could hide.
The shopping bags jingled lightly as the group made their way back toward the family estate. John and Maki carried most of the items, Evangeline and Venus chatting cheerfully behind them. The evening sky of Atlas Skycity was painted in streaks of gold and crimson, the sun slowly sinking below the floating citadels.
As they neared the gates, Ryuzen slowed his steps. His golden-slit eyes shifted toward Venus for a brief moment. "I need to take care of something," he said calmly, masking his intention. "I'll be back soon."
Venus tilted her head, suspicious, but his tone carried a finality that made her simply pout. "You better not run off to train again," she muttered, though a small smile curved her lips.
"I'll be fine." He gave her a reassuring glance, then slipped into the bustling evening crowd, his presence blending into the stream of people.
Once alone, his demeanor changed. The warmth in his gaze hardened into determination as he headed toward the lower districts of Skycity. His mind sharpened on a single name.
Runa.
The little girl he had met first in jungle alone, yet carrying eyes far older than her years. After thr destruction of Belfort City, they met once as stranger. That time she had found a family with another girl named Aruna.
Still, something about her lingered in his memory, an echo he could not ignore.
He wandered past the glowing lanterns of merchant streets, descending to where the stone roads grew cracked, the crowds thinner. The scent of spices and perfumes from the upper district gave way to dust, smoke, and faint traces of blood.
Children ran barefoot across the alleys, their laughter hollow, their clothes torn. Ryuzen's sharp gaze scanned them one by one, searching for the familiar figure of the tiny girl with messy silver hair and wide, hollow eyes.
For a moment, he paused at a bakery corner, recalling the way she had once glanced longingly at bread she couldn't afford. His chest tightened, though he pushed the feeling aside.
"She should be around here…" he murmured, activating Mist Phantom Steps, his form flickering through the shadows of the alleys as he searched deeper.