I Refused To Be Reincarnated-Chapter 726: Prestige and Predators

Adam followed Yann through the forest, shadows of pines’ branches coiling around his fluttering coat. With each echo of their steps, the mist intensified, robbing them of a few more meters of clear vision until all he could see were the arabesques of grey wisps against the even greyer forest.

Amidst the deepening silence, however, a sly grin tugged at the corner of his lips. Yann only served his interests. He knew questions would only meet more demands for wine or items from the arcanist. As if he would let anyone take advantage of his ignorance—he never had, and never would.

Instead, he was merely waiting for the hooked fish to exhaust itself and rise to the surface, information flowing out of its gaping mouth. After all, his crafting show was not entirely innocent. And just as expected, Yann’s discreet glances at his coat began to turn into focused glares.

The time had come. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

With a sharp turn, Yann took a deep exhale, then spoke. "We’ll cross villages and cities on our way to the capital, and if something never changes, it’s the need for money—or prestige in this archipelago. At least to make our stay comfortable."

He paused, his gaze locked onto the impressive behemoth embroidered on Adam’s coat. The swelled muscles, ebony fur, and its thrown back head, maw wide open into a roar he could imagine, made him rub his hands like merchant assessing jewels rather than fabric.

Adam leaned forward, hand finding his chin. It was the second time Yann mentioned prestige. Was it more than public acknowledgement, possessing intrinsic value like the sect points from the Jin Long sect? Time to solve this mystery.

"I guess you’re not wrong. So, how do we earn prestige?"

"Nothing hard for you." Yann caressed his moustache, hiding his broadening smile. Then, he stretched his hand. "You craft and I sell—fifty-fifty on the revenue."

Adam scrutinised the hand for a moment before he shook his head. "I have no clue about prestige, you know? And do your beautiful eyes warrant half the revenue, or are you trying to swindle me?"

And now he would learn about prestige because of Yann’s own greed.

"Right." Yann’s fingers twitched as he brought them to massage his eyes. His honeyed approach gave way to the forcefulness of a merchant trying to seal a deal at any cost, convinced that his products were the best the market could offer. "Let me explain about prestige first, then you’ll understand why half is more than fair commission, lad."

He raised a finger. "Much like anywhere else, gold doesn’t hold much value to mages. Long ago, we relied on favors and bartering, but trade was tedious, and I’m not even talking about efficiency or dissatisfaction with uncontrolled prices."

He waved his finger, raising another one. "Anyway, Prestige replaced that obsolete system long before my birth. And it charmed everyone with its cruel simplicity. Meritorious deeds and currency were merged into an efficient system that dictated our fate itself. We saw slums orphans rise to nobility, and nobility crumble under the weight of their own extravagance. It served both as a trade stabiliser and a purge." His voice turned into a hiss. "Only the worthy ones remained after Prestige was established... And many of them still vanished in our extensive catalogue of banished."

"Doesn’t sound too bad since it gave everyone an equal chance," Adam replied, eyes narrowed on Yann’s twitching moustache. "But something tells me you’re about to add something darker."

Yann snarled. "Since what couldn’t be bought became buyable, schemes and off-the-books transactions multiplied. The honor you could once get by reporting someone’s crimes became a percentage of their total wealth. And this ignited our lives with false reports, forged proofs, and new waves—unending waves—of banishment."

"Including yours." Adam shook his head, the weight of the knowledge pressing against his ribs. If even Yann, descendant of the rector, was banished, he had no doubt his capabilities would attract too many predatory eyes. The best would be to earn what travel requested until he built a firm footing in the capital. Strength wouldn’t cut it in this place. Risks would loom without the right connections.

His mind raced with possible approaches. Bribed enforcers, preferably their chief. Friendly relationships with the greater number, while passing for a fortunate incompetent—powerful enough to justify development yet foolish to ward off envy. He’d need to gather reliable information, too. The quickest way to fall was to operate on assumptions, and his network was currently non-existent. He’d have to start building it, one carefully placed seed at a time.

"Including mine." The mist emphasised Yann’s contorted features. "Don’t think I’ll tell you more about it. It’s beyond the point and not a story for you to learn." He swung his palm, chasing the mist away, only for it to slither back in the blink of an eye. "Back to business. I know who’s safe to deal with and who to avoid. Of course, you can try on your own, but chances are that I’ll find you the next day, surrounded by enforcers and chained in the public plaza. Trust me, the crowd’s mocking glares, the contemptuous defamation... They’re not something you’ll ever forget."

Adam watched Yann lower his face, his gaze dim and his clenched fists trembling. The forest’s silence thickened to something unnatural as if carrion and insects vanished. Betrayal was never easy to overcome. But it was just Yann’s version. And he knew to walk carefully around men’s words—especially the self-serving kind. Any traces of empathy faded from his mind, doubt replacing them. If anyone could betray him right now, it was Yann.

Thick mists blanketing a cursed grove no one ever visited. Should he give up on his guide and... dispose of him? After all, even if Yann didn’t mention them, he knew about his demonic cleaver, knew about his cultivator prowess, and knew again about his ownership of a flying fortress.

As dark thoughts began to emerge and a single wisp of mana drifted from his eye, Yann stretched his hand again. "Forget about my story. The deal’s fair, so what’s keeping you from accep—?"

BAM

A loud crash interrupted him. Rushing mist ruffled their hair, tremors rocking the ground.

SCREECH

The flaps of wings threw more mist behind them, clearing their vision to the creature that lay in front of them.

A massive beak lined with sword-sized teeth gaped open beneath reptilian eyes that burned with ancient malice. White feathers crowned its serpentine head in a regal crest that flowed down its scaled neck, while its body merged the worst of dragon and bird—leathery wings sprouting alongside feathered pinions, creating a grotesque double set that cast overlapping shadows. Talons like curved daggers sliced effortlessly through the underground roots as it landed.

The sight of this chimeric horror made Yann stutter. "N-No... It shouldn’t be on ground... It’s a basilisk!"

The basilisk locked eyes with Adam, its skin wrinkling around its nose in an unmistakable hate that made him frown. Was this creature mad?

In a single movement, he slid his left foot forward, light condensing in his raised right hand. However, before his blade condensed fully, Yann charged at him.

He heard the man growl as fur erupted on his skin, his legs swelling with bestial power. "The entire archipelago will feel your blade. Run! That’s all we can do, lad."

Even as he ran, Yann continued to explain, each word searing through his breath. "It’s an ancient magus-level creature that feeds on demons and ghosts—the Ashenveil Grove’s guardian!"

The stomps of the creature echoed behind them, each gouging three trenches on the earth.

---

AN: I feel like a zombie, ngl...