NOVEL NEXT Chapter 121: I'll have to be patient...
Ding.
[You have completed the mission: Talk to Bloody Sage of the Seventh Heaven Zu]
[You received 20 stat points]
Ding.
[Mission #2]
· Kill the young lady Elizabeth of the Blander family before leaving Dubhu Mountain.
· Reward: Mana capacity at 100%, with no consequences.
Kael closed the notification windows, his expression extremely cold. With the information he had gained from talking to that strange Zu, many of the doubts he had previously had were cleared up.
He couldn't help but let out a cold laugh; the more he thought about it, the darker his eyes shone, looking like two black holes.
According to what that strange Zu said, I have to go to the Southern Jungle region, where I will find more information about my regression.
However, he knew that there was nothing he could do now; he was too weak. The Southern Jungle region was extremely dangerous to go to in its current state.
So he pushed the thought of going to that region deep into his mind; for the moment, it was too stupid and a waste of energy to think about something he had no control over.
Kael focused on his current objectives, which were to kill Elizabeth and take the Star Lord's inheritance, to greatly accelerate his strength. He observed his surroundings for a brief moment before re-entering the room.
After about ten minutes, Kael had changed his clothes; he was now wearing a purple yukata with tree patterns. He gathered his hair and tied it into a simple bun, and when he left the room, a maid was standing there.
"Is there anything you would like, young Kael?" asked the maid, bowing, not daring to look up.
"I want to visit the city," Kael replied as he passed by the woman as if she were just another piece of decoration in the hallway.
The maid's eyes flashed coldly, but she decided to hold back; as head maid, she had to maintain her composure for the sake of her master.
With a deep sigh, the head maid, Roberta, approached Kael and said:
"Young Kael, please follow me; I will show you around the city."
Kael said nothing, but simply nodded his head; he had many thoughts running through his mind at that moment.
Without further ado, he turned and followed the maid Roberta closely.
...
After leaving the Blander family mansion, Kael and the maid Robarta walked through the streets, which were much livelier when they arrived than they were now.
Kael looked up again at the curved, dark roofs. In the streets, purple paper lanterns rose in multiple levels, forming a maze of passageways, but now they were unlit.
The air was still filled with the scent of incense and street food; the distant murmur of conversations and laughter mingled with the deep tolling of ceremonial bells.
Wooden bridges crossed canals where slow boats carried goods and passengers, while children ran along the docks laughing, dodging street vendors offering their wares.
Kael observed everything with calm eyes, but from time to time, he caught the glances of those walking down the street, due to the maid accompanying him, who stood out quite a bit.
Not long after, he entered a shop where manuals and manuscripts were sold, just like Zu.
Upon entering, an elderly gentleman was standing at the counter with a long pipe, white smoke coming out of his mouth.
When he noticed the people entering his store, a smile appeared on the old man's lips, because he knew they weren't normal customers when he saw a maid following them.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" His voice came out a little hoarse from smoking and drinking too much.
Kael approached the counter with calm steps, while Roberta followed him, covering her nose; she couldn't stand the smell of tobacco and its derivatives.
"I want to sell these items." Kael took them out of his space rune ring and placed them on the counter. They were aura cultivation techniques and manuals for magicians.
The old man's eyes lit up slightly as he looked at the items. Although they weren't very high-ranking, they were quite rare to see in the market.
"How much do you want for these products?"
Kael raised his hand, showing a figure.
"Forty...?" asked the old man with a slight smile; he couldn't believe this young man was so naive.
"Four hundred mana stones," Kael said in a flat tone that brooked no refusal.
"Four hundred! Kid, you're taking me for a fool. I'm not buying that for four hundred... three hundred and fifty mana stones is the most I can give you for that."
"Then it's no deal. Maid, let's go to another store." Kael turned around and began to leave the store with the same calmness with which he had entered.
The old man was a little worried when he saw the young man leaving.
"Wait... I'll buy it from you for four hundred mana stones."
A small smile appeared on Kael's lips.
"It won't be four hundred anymore. Four hundred and fifty."
"You brat! Are you calling me stupid? It's obvious that's not worth more than four hundred mana stones!" the old man roared indignantly; clearly, this was a scam, they were robbing him in his shop.
However, Kael's expression remained indifferent, and he raised the price even higher.
"Five hundred mana stones. Otherwise, I'm leaving."
The old man's expression was complicated; he knew that the manuals and aura cultivation technique, although not high-ranking, were not worth more than four hundred mana stones... but...
"I accept." As a merchant, he couldn't let his competition benefit from a product that he had rejected.
They quickly completed the paperwork, and Kael received his five hundred mana stones. He said to the old man,
"It was a pleasure doing business with you."
"Get out of here. I never want to see you again."
Kael left the shop and continued exploring the city, followed by the maid Roberta, who now looked at him with curious eyes.
...
Elsewhere in the city.
The sun filtered through the uneven rooftops, illuminating streets crowded with merchants and passersby. Michel and Elizabeth made their way through the bustle, breathing in the air saturated with aromas: spices, incense, roasted meat.
They stopped in front of several tents filled with merchandise. There were rough fabrics dyed with strange pigments, crudely carved jewelry, and rustic handmade utensils, all from Mount Dubhu. The variety was wide, but the quality hinted at the harshness of life in those lands.
Michel glanced at the products. There was no sparkle in his eyes; he felt no excitement. When he had arrived in the city, he had imagined that Mount Dubhu would be a vibrant place, bustling with activity. However, at this hour, it was nothing more than a dull echo.
Maybe I'll have to go out tonight...
The thought crossed his mind as he let out a stifled yawn. He shifted position with quiet steps, as if what he saw barely registered in his attention.
But in reality, most of his mind was elsewhere.
Kael.
From the moment he met him, Michel had felt an uncomfortable shadow in his gut. Although they had only interacted briefly, he had picked up enough nuances to sense part of his nature. Not everything, of course, but enough to be cautious.
Kael was no ordinary man. His presence was imbued with a controlled calm, the kind that does not come from kindness, but from a mind that is always several steps ahead.
Michel's impression was clear: Kael was a dangerous individual, someone who would not hesitate to use him as a disposable pawn if it meant achieving his goals.
He didn't notice it when he arrived at Mount Dubhu, but looking back, the signs were there. Kael showed no surprise at the butler's arrival. It was as if he had been waiting for him to show up.
And during the meeting with the head of the Blander family, Kael acted with such mastery that he seemed to be moving on a stage whose plot he already knew.
Too unpredictable. Too calculating.
But that unpredictability, far from scaring him away, sparked a curiosity in Michel that was difficult to quell.
He let out a slight sigh, pushing those thoughts aside and focusing his gaze on the female figure in front of him. Elizabeth seemed cheerful, as if something in the atmosphere was sparking her enthusiasm. Michel, however, made no effort to discover the reason; he simply returned his eyes to the products on display.
Elizabeth, a few steps ahead, had a smile on her lips. It wasn't broad or cheeky, but it was constant. She felt Michel's gaze on her, although she didn't turn around. The silence between them had been almost complete since they started walking together. It didn't bother her. After all, they had barely met. Closeness is built over time, not with empty words.
But deep down, Elizabeth knew that if she wanted to get closer, she had to be the one to take the first step.
She sighed inwardly, then turned slightly.
"Young Michel, is there something that caught your eye?" she asked with a warm smile, controlling the tone of her voice so that it sounded friendly and unpressured.
"No," he replied without looking at her, his tone dry and distant. He continued to scan the surroundings, but not with interest, rather with the gaze of someone simply watching a game board.
Elizabeth felt a slight weight on her chest. Dealing with a young heir to one of the rising houses was not easy.
I'll have to be patient...
That thought was etched in her mind as she quickened her pace to catch up with her.
On the surface, they were still two people walking among tents. But beneath that calm exterior, Michel was thinking about Kael, and Elizabeth was thinking about Michel. They both knew that their paths had not crossed by chance.