This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
The plot is getting more and more interesting! If you want to read more chapters in advance, check our Patreon offer here:
"Captain Pryde...what are you doing?"
Vanessa approached, remembering what Captain Pryde had complained about to her the previous day.
—So, this is the warhorse that the pegasus, Sasha, fell in love with at first sight. It is indeed a handsome warhorse.
"Miss Vanessa, good evening… I'm just warning this warhorse to stay away from Sasha."
Captain Pryde's expression was serious, but that only made the scene even more comical.
Vanessa knew this was an opportunity to get closer to him, so she pretended to be concerned and approached him.
"I thought pegasuses only liked other pegasuses. This warhorse must be quite charming."
"Don't tease me, I'm already furious!"
Dris Town was a small place, and this was the only stable in town. Captain Pryde couldn't take Sasha to the inn.
So, he had to keep this warhorse under control here.
But strangely, the more Pryde looked at the warhorse, the more familiar it seemed to him; he felt he had seen it somewhere before.
—Could it be a friend's warhorse? But whose?
Pryde went to the stable manager and asked for the name of the horse's owner.
"A boy named 'Fick' has it stabled here. Is there a problem?"
The manager's answer caused a sudden silence.
Pryde stared, his mouth agape, while Vanessa was surprised, but also secretly amused.
"No, no problem... Go ahead and do what you need to do."
Pryde waved his hand. He finally remembered; this was Master Banning's warhorse! No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity.
"What will you do, Captain Pryde? Now that you know this is your 'Master Fick's' warhorse, can you still scold it?"
Vanessa's question struck a nerve with Pryde, and he hesitated slightly.
But then, remembering Master Banning's character, his doubts vanished.
"Of course, I can. Master Fick wouldn't allow his subordinates to act recklessly, not even his warhorse."
Pryde stood in front of the warhorse. He now had an idea.
Since this was Master Banning's warhorse, it must be extraordinary. Perhaps communicating with it carefully could yield results.
"Little Zuzu, I ask you, do you truly love the pegasus, Sasha?" Pryde asked solemnly.
The warhorse actually understood human speech and nodded!
Beside him, Vanessa was stunned.
Pryde himself was inwardly amazed. Indeed, it was worthy of being Master Banning's warhorse—truly exceptional!
"Okay, Little Zuzu, let me tell you, Sasha is not an ordinary horse. If you want to be with her, you must prove yourself to the Greenwood City Cavalry. Only then can you be responsible for her. Before that, any affectionate behavior towards Sasha will only damage her reputation. Do you understand?"
The warhorse nodded again, its dark, shining eyes fixed on Pryde. "Alright, then, we have a deal. Once you prove yourself in the Greenwood City Cavalry, I will acknowledge you and allow you to formally pursue Sasha. Little Zuzu, do you accept this agreement?"
Pryde extended his fist towards the warhorse, and after Little Suzuki nodded, it actually raised its front leg and ‘bumped fists’ with him!
"Good! We've officially made a 'men's' agreement! Don't make me regret this, Little Zuzu!"
Little Suzuki whinnied twice in response, then reluctantly bid farewell to the pegasus and went into another stall.
Clearly, it understood Pryde's meaning and would no longer have any inappropriate intentions towards Sasha.
As the person involved, Pryde was once again deeply impressed by Master Banning.
He had originally only tried it out on a whim, but he never expected that the warhorse would possess such intelligence.
Everything around Master Banning was so profound and mysterious.
Meanwhile, Vanessa was even more convinced of her theory. She believed that it was undoubtedly the kingly aura emanating from Fick that had influenced the warhorse; otherwise, how could a mere warhorse possess such human-like intelligence?
…
"Captain Pryde, I've truly opened my eyes tonight."
Walking back to the town, Vanessa couldn't help but express her amazement again.
"Are all of Master Fick's subordinates this outstanding?" She asked.
"Yes, but I still have a long way to go. I need to strive to be as good as my comrades."
Pryde possessed the awareness of being a member of the team, and at the same time, he didn't forget his own shortcomings.
"So, Captain Pryde, would you mind telling me about the true identity of Mr. Fick?" Vanessa asked tentatively.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that."
"How about telling me how you met Mr. Fick?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Vanessa, I can't tell you anything about Master Fick."
Although Pryde refused all her questions, Vanessa gained one piece of information: everything about Fick was top secret.
This only strengthened her suspicions. There were many powerful people in the world, but the most secretive and shadowy figures were undoubtedly the ‘bastards of kings’.
"Then, Captain Pryde, how about you take me to meet Mr. Fick? I'd like to talk to him in person. Surely you won't refuse that request?"
Captain Pryde thought about it. Master Banning hadn't forbidden him from doing this, but...
"Miss Vanessa, I don't know where Master Fick is, but I can accompany you to look for him."
...
Pryde and Vanessa finally found Fick downstairs at the inn, just as he was about to leave.
Pryde bowed and stood behind him, while Vanessa, lifting her skirt slightly and abandoning her previous haughty demeanor, curtsied to him.
"Good evening, Mr. Fick."
"Good evening, Miss Vanessa."
Fick didn't ignore her this time, which Vanessa considered a good start.
"Lord Fick, I'm sure you remember our chance encounter on the road, right? I never expected we'd meet again here in Dris Town."
"Yes, indeed. So... Miss Vanessa, what brings you here so late at night?"
Fick's direct question was exactly what Vanessa wanted to hear, but before revealing her true purpose, she wanted to probe him further.
"Haha, nothing serious, really. I just thought Lord Fick was so outstanding that it would be a shame not to make his acquaintance."
"Oh?" Fick smiled slightly, then continued, "Is it a shame not to befriend me, or... is it a shame to miss out on potentially befriending a member of the 'Dragon Shadow'?"
Vanessa, who had been quite relaxed, froze for a moment. This young man actually knew about the 'Dragon Shadow'?