A Mythical Journey To Remember - Chapter 24

Chapter 24 - Authority of Coins

I felt nervous as I waited for judgment to be passed down. However, I had secretly used blood to draw a transmutation circle capable of activating in an instant if necessary.

The circle would split the earth below, engulfing me. I already had another transmutation in mind that I would draw down there while my fingers were still stained with warm blood. It would cause earth spikes to emerge from the ground and grow towards the balconies.

Performing such large-scale transmutations would require a significant amount of Kar, and I had never attempted anything of this magnitude before. Yet, it seemed like that was the only way I stood a chance of survival if things went awry. Additionally, I couldn't help but feel anxious that the King might have someone with supernatural strength, or worse, his own magic user. This would be a bad time to meet my first demi-god.

Perhaps, following the usual narrative of Mythological Greek stories, the demigod could be the King themselves. The King appeared nonchalant, resembling a teenager who, in modern times, would have spent an extensive amount of time on their phone. However, if Myrina, a woman, could effortlessly move boulders, then I wouldn't judge a book by its cover.

"You're free to go," said the King.

I couldn’t believe my ears at first and relief washed over me. As I got up, I smudged the transmutation circle with my feet.

"Thank you, my King," I bowed my head one last time, and Budas followed suit. We walked out casually, neither too fast nor too slow. However, as we exited, other unfortunate individuals were being brought in, their faces filled with terror.

I had wrongly assumed that the thugs could somehow influence the King. This wasn't a time when organizations like the Mafia and other criminal groups could exist, as the police needed evidence before making arrests. Here, the King could simply order the execution of those becoming too powerful, and no one would object.

Such power in the hands of one person was horrifying, but I also felt a hint of envy. If I were to become a King, most of my problems would vanish, allowing me to focus on honing my alchemy skills. Moreover, I could obtain any ingredients I desired, even those not commonly found in the markets.

I could even create miraculous potions to keep the people content, without having to hide my powers. If anyone wished to utilize my potions, they couldn't simply strong-arm me; they would have to pay a fair price.

My heart raced at the thought of grand ambitions, and a faint smile almost formed on my lips. However, I quickly dismissed such notions, pushing them to the back of my mind. Let’s not get ahead of myself. It was crucial to focus on one thing at a time, and perhaps the pursuit of personal success would have to wait. After all, as far as I knew, I had no connection to any royal lineage, and ascending from a peasant to a King was no easy feat, especially at a time when Greek Gods might actually exist. Even if I managed to establish a kingdom, a single enraged Greek God could easily obliterate it.

A soldier came back with our belongings and told us he was the one who was going to escort us out of the estate.

Just as I was about to leave through one of the estate's many doors, accompanied by the guard, my path was blocked by two soldiers at the gate. They crossed their spears and stared at Budas and me with intensity.

Once again, my instincts flared, and I readied myself for a fight. This time, defeating two soldiers and fleeing would be relatively straightforward, especially since I had my weapon returned to me.

"The King has ordered that his... guests may leave," declared the soldier escorting us, though he maintained a firm grip on his spear.

Was he prepared to battle his fellow soldiers? Why?

It appeared that the atmosphere in the palace was not as peaceful as it seemed.

Was this reminiscent of a Game of Thrones scenario, where betrayals were commonplace, factions formed, and certain guards were in the pockets of the wealthy?

Regardless, I had no desire to be entangled in such matters. I was merely a man skilled in potion-making, uninterested in the intricacies of politics. I would rather be grinding Alchemy than getting involved with the scheming side of the world.

"Do not worry, I merely wish to speak with the young man," an aged voice interjected. It belonged to the same old man who advised the King.

"Lord Custodian," the escorting guard bowed his head and stepped back. His expression revealed nothing, leaving me uncertain whether meeting the old man here was good or bad for us. For all I knew, he could be here to kill us.

"Young man, your name is Idas, correct?" The custodian fixed his intense gaze upon me. As we drew closer, one could unmistakably discern the fierceness in his eyes. There was something about his aura that reminded me of a formidable beast, too dangerous to be hunted.

This man must have been a warrior in his prime. "Yes, sir, my name is Idas."

By his complete lack of attention towards Budas, it was evident that the old man had drawn his own conclusions regarding our power dynamic. Unlike many others, he wasn’t fooled by appearances.

============

"While the King is always merciful, as the one handling the caste's finances, I am responsible for managing the smaller matters that are not worth the King's time," he said, flashing a smile. If it weren't for the strange feeling I had about him earlier, his smile could have been mistaken for that of a friendly old man. "Recently, I heard rumors of you opening a shop. It seems you've made quite a fortune, which is why those thugs bothered you. Your success can be attributed to the King's grace in allowing you to start your business."

I think I understood what he was getting at. What a fox-like old man, he worded his speech in such a way that if I refuted it would be like I was opposing the king. This wasn’t someone who I should get involved with too much, he was the kind of old schemer that was dangerous to both friends and enemies alike.

"Indeed, my earnings exceeded my expectations. I am more than willing to share my wealth with the King, as my business thrives under his protection," I smiled respectfully, bowing my head to the old man. He was attempting to extract more money from me. "Instead of fifty copper, how about I offer the King one silver per month?"

"One silver?" The old man raised his white eyebrow. "I understand you mean no offense, but that would be an absurdly low offer. At least ten silvers would be more appropriate."

That was far too excessive! While I earned more than one silver on the first day, there was no guarantee of continued success. "My Lord, even for me, that amount is quite substantial. I fear that if sales decline even for a day, I would be unable to fulfill my obligations to the King. The best I can offer is two silvers. After all, perfume is not a daily necessity, and sales will eventually slow down."

"That's insultingly low. How about you pay us five silvers as a discount, considering the three days we left you in the dungeons?" the old man proposed. "Moreover, it seems that people are more interested in your bottles than the perfumes. Bottles can break, and people will need replacements."

Old coot, he had seen through me already. Still, I had to restrain my smile upon hearing his words. Although I wasn't an experienced merchant, and I can't recall ever bargaining for anything in my previous life, the old man's willingness to negotiate meant there was room for discussion.

However, it did worry me how he already knew that people were more captivated by the intricate bottles than the contents within.

"Of course, five silver is a reasonable price, especially considering the protection granted to me by the King," I nodded.

Five silvers still seemed somewhat excessive, but I wasn't merely paying a tariff; I was also purchasing protection. With the King backing me, no one would dare to interfere with my affairs. Except the King himself of course.

After the deal concluded, the old man smiled and excused himself, and we were let go. Once outside, I immediately realized another problem we had to address: the shop had been closed for days, potentially dampening the excitement surrounding it. However, an even more pressing concern was the possibility that Auto had absconded with the money and perhaps even sold Billy.

Although earning money again would be challenging without funds, I clung to the hope that Billy had not been sold. Knowing Auto's past as a thief, it seemed unlikely she would have waited for three days, assuming we were dead, and instead prioritized getting everything she could out of this endeavor.

Nonetheless, we proceeded towards the tavern where we had lodged, intending to devise a plan and check nearby butcher shops in the hopes of finding Billy unharmed.

As we approached the tavern, people began to whisper and cast curious glances in our direction. I noticed a pair of shady individuals surreptitiously observing us, their eyes gleaming with menace. The situation had escalated into a dangerously precarious state, far beyond my comfort zone.

Should I flee and sever all ties to this predicament? Perhaps seek refuge in a neighboring town and establish a new enterprise there?

No, there were still unresolved matters that demanded attention in this place. Suddenly, Budas touched my arm and whispered, "Boss-man, look over there."

I followed Budas’ gaze, and was surprised by what I saw.