Ch. 96 - Really That Affable 

As the meeting concluded, the Masked Lords seated around the circular table disappeared one after another as the mist dissipated before their eyes.

Just as Leon Lionheart was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he discovered that two lords still lingered, unable to leave for quite some time.

The Council's seating order was fixed, allowing him to recognize each Masked Lord's identity.

He turned to one of them:

"Is there something else you need? [Orion Silvershield]."

The other party got straight to the point:

"When will the Martial Law Order be lifted?"

"After the next round of 'Spear Tax' collection is completed."

"My daughter is still locked outside the city."

"We all know the orcs won't attack this city. Even if she's not within Longgold City, her circumstances are perfectly safe. You can rest assured."

"No, I just haven't seen her in a long time. Let her in."

"Then the Martial Law Order becomes nothing but empty words."

"Since you could allow Melade Barrye to walk through the city gates, then my daughter must also have that qualification."

"I didn't 'allow' anything.

[Nightwind]—"

Leon snorted coldly. After his lion-like roar of a summons, a figure that had been hidden in the shadowy corners finally walked slowly forward.

The ground was like fine sand to him, so much so that he didn't make any footsteps.

"Have you investigated clearly why Melade was able to walk through the gates?"

Nightwind's voice was hoarse and low:

"Someone persuaded the captain of the guard."

"Just that simple?"

"I didn't detect any other clues. When I arrived at the gate, they were even still talking. No traces of any magical effects were found on either of them."

"You're saying that person, with just their gift of gab, persuaded a guard captain who always loves to oppose me!?"

The 'Flying Dragon Cavalry Commander' Orion cursed furiously,

"Damn it, where the fuck did this talent come from!?"

"He was carrying a lute—perhaps a wandering bard."

Nightwind only provided simple descriptions and deductions, not offering opinions on other matters.

"So what if he's a wandering bard? Have I not seen enough bards? Aren't they all just a bunch of show-offs who only know how to brag and flatter? Shouldn't he be even more at odds with that bastard guarding the gate?

Dismissal—we must dismiss this derelict bastard!"

"I'll do it when I find a suitable replacement."

Leon walked slowly toward the 'window' behind the circular table.

It wasn't sealed, so approaching the 'window sill' allowed him to feel some of the restless evening breeze ruffling his mane.

He was standing in the 'dragon's' eye socket.

This allowed his gaze to overlook the entire prosperous, brightly lit city that never sleeps from the highest point, looking toward the magnificent gate at the dragon's tail:

"There aren't many guards who dare to defy the nobility. I always need some people to balance you out—

So you don't turn this city into a cesspool like [Terran] or [Black Reef Harbor], treating commoners like they're not even human."

"When have I ever hindered the city's development by leading my soldiers?"

"How many examples are there of people taking advantage of being part of the 'Cavalry' to walk into brothels and freeload?"

"Only three incidents this year, isn't that much less than previous years?"

"It's four!"

Leon frowned,

"Just this evening, the 'Brotherhood Club' sent a complaint letter to my desk!"

"Son of a beach! I only ordered them strictly forbidden from barging into 'brothels,' who would've thought someone would be repressed enough to go to a 'club'?

Fine, I'll go deal with this matter seriously right now, before the trend spreads throughout the entire force."

The last lord also couldn't be bothered to explain more and hastily disappeared.

He was terrified that the entire cavalry would become 'brothers who know each other intimately.'

Leon felt his ears had become much quieter. He then turned to the other lord, the leader of [Deep Well District] who had cast the final vote—

"Report on the 'Spear Tax' collection situation."

"Only some adventurers unwilling to pay taxes for nothing, and impoverished households remain."

"Record the names of those adventurers who don't pay taxes, and deduct it from their future quest rewards. As for the money from those poor households, I'll cover it as usual from my own funds."

"Two silver coins. Half to pay those vanguard troops as wages, half as consolation money for the wounded. Correct?"

With Leon's nod, the last lord also disappeared from the Dragon Council Hall.

"Nightwind, continue to monitor that bard—

I don't believe that little white pig walked out of Dawnmist Forest by his own abilities."

Nightwind didn't respond, but vanished from sight in an instant as if melting into the shadows.

Only then did Leon finally seem to relax, slumping onto a long bench in front of the circular table.

After a long while, from a corner of the hall, the figure of a Masked Lord suddenly appeared.

The other party looked around and discovered that only an exhausted lion remained in the council hall:

"Am I early?"

Their pronunciation was slurred, as if they had just woken up.

"It's already over!"

"Then I'll leave."

"Stop, Stella!"

"What is it?"

Leon took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, then pinched his forehead:

"I don't even demand that you propose anything constructive, but could you at least be on time!?"

"These clothes are too troublesome to put on."

"Is that the point!?"

"'Meow-meow,' you're so loud."

"Don't call me that name—I was bestowed the heroic name [Leon Lionheart] hundreds of years ago!"

"Too troublesome, can't remember."

Leon slammed his fist heavily on the circular table. The entire council hall's 'dragon head' visibly trembled, emitting a "rumbling" sound.

But the Masked Lord wasn't even truly standing before him, so naturally wouldn't be frightened:

"I need a nap."

"Wait—you can see everything Melade experienced through that eye, right?"

Leon's breathing was extremely heavy, but after struggling, he ultimately chose to compromise, bringing the topic back on track.

Only then did the other party dismiss the thought of leaving:

"I can."

"Although I tested that little white pig with [Domain of Honesty], it's hard to guarantee there isn't something he overlooked that wasn't counted as a 'lie.'

So I must ask you one more time—

Among that batch of people who left Starberry Town, did anyone discover the 'dragon egg's' existence?"

"..."

"Why are you silent?"

"Just woke up, let me think."

Stella shook her head,

"No."

Leon breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling somewhat at ease:

"That means that dragon egg might still be hidden in some corner of Starberry Town... After we've acquired the land, we should send some adventurers to investigate carefully."

"Why not now?"

"'The land and all treasures within it shall belong to the local lord.' This is the law she established when founding Longgold City."

"If you really cared about her that much, you couldn't have killed her."

"..."

"Sleepy. Good night, 'Meow-meow.'"

"I said, don't call me that name again—"

Before Leon's roar could subside, the other party's figure had already disappeared from the spot.

He couldn't help but stomp his foot, but his overly robust build made it inevitable that he'd bump into the circular table in front of him:

"Damn it, my knee!"

...

"Hah, I used to be an adventurer like you, until I took an arrow to the knee!"

"That's truly unfortunate. Life must have become boring after being stationed at this city gate, hasn't it?"

"Not really. Occasionally I still encounter some interesting things—like two days ago, I stopped the young miss of the [Silvershield] family.

In this world, the only dishes fit to accompany wine are 'spicy and sour fish skin' and 'the embarrassment of nobles'!"

"Brilliantly said! Perhaps I should toast you!"

"No, no. I'm still on duty. After this Martial Law Order ends, we two good brothers should find a tavern—how about [The Mermaid's Song]? Their [Spicy Abyss Fish Skin] is the signature dish. We can have a proper drink!"

"No problem, call on me anytime!"

"Of course, take care!"

Watching that congenial good brother walk toward the small town outside Dragon's Tail Pass, the guard captain finally returned to his duty post with a cheerful gait.

Only then did the guards who had watched them chat all evening finally approach to inquire:

"Boss, is that a friend of yours? We've never seen him before. What's his name?"

"Name? I don't know."

The guard captain blinked, then, as if suddenly realizing something, slapped the table and stood up abruptly,

"Oh no!"

Several guards nervously asked:

"Were you fooled by magic? That person is suspicious!?"

"I forgot to ask his name!"

"Huh?"

They looked at each other, gazing toward the direction where the bard had departed, unable to help muttering:

"Is he really that affable?"

In truth, the effect brought by [Hero of the Common Folk] was far more effective than Tang Qi had imagined.

It was like an imperceptible aura—any [commoner] who came into contact with him would display friendliness due to Tang Qi's 'affability.'

Even more so, the higher their sense of identity with their [commoner] status, the greater the benefit.

This actually allowed him to easily get the guard captain to let Melade and his 'guard' Stonecrusher pass through with just the reason of 'reporting details about the orc tribe to the lord.'

But 'feeling affable' didn't mean abandoning principles.

So Tang Qi, an outsider with no identity whatsoever, still couldn't mix into Longgold City no matter how much he talked his mouth off.

"I'll just have to wait until the Martial Law Order is lifted before making other plans..."

He desperately wanted to find some water to drink and hurried back toward the main group outside Dragon's Tail Pass.

But before he'd walked many steps, the halfling Chuck jumped out from the door of [Friendly Home], holding a cup of clear, transparent ale in his hands, and jogged up to Tang Qi:

"To be honest, before meeting you, I thought the person who talked the most in this world was [Motor-mouth Rumi].

That's a gnome adventurer who's cycled through seventy-three different adventuring parties in Longgold City. Every team, after kicking him out, would say the same thing—

'A silent Rumi might be a very reliable fellow, but making Rumi shut up is impossible.'"

Tang Qi took the wine cup Chuck handed over and gulped it down in one go.

The chilled ale diluted some of the bitterness, moistening his throat, allowing Tang Qi to laugh heartily:

"Then I really hope to meet him."

"There'll be a chance. After all, he has trouble getting quests, so he always runs to Dragon's Tail Pass to drink."

Chuck couldn't even imagine what kind of cacophonous scene would unfold at that time.

But that wasn't something he should be considering right now,

"Sir, that red-haired young lady has already decided to stay at our [Friendly Home].

She told me that after you finish chatting with the guard captain, you must come to her room—

'This concerns the subsequent planning of [Golden Oak]. As a shareholder, you must know about this...

We... may not be able to proceed according to plan.'"

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