Chapter 28: Chapter 28 : A place to belong

The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread drifted around the Capital of Mersell as multiple carriages adorned with intricate designs and family crests made their way across the road.

Ryu’s eyes sparkled, his head snapping towards the scent of a roasted meat.

"Can we eat there? " he asked quietly. He was expecting a rejection, but instead, he felt a hand resting on his shoulders.

"You okay with that? It’s just skewers? " Zeres asked, his hand ruffling the boy’s auburn hair.

"Yes!" Ryu nodded. Then he followed quietly behind Zeres like a child waiting for his toy to be bought.

"We’ll buy you clothes after this ok? " Zeres winked, then he stepped before the stall.

"Beef Skewers, 10 pieces pls" he handed two Haven coins, their silver surface shining against the sunlight. The engravings of a sun was there.

"Coming right up! " the old woman behind the stall swiftly moved, precisely seasoning the beef skewers with a sauce.

Ryu wiped the drool that had came out of his mouth, then he mumbled beside Zeres.

"It looks expensive. Why did you just toss a money on the guard gates before? " he couldn’t understand it, someone like him wasn’t worth that effort.

"Ohh that? Don’t worry, it’s all copper" he laughed lightly, then he handed Ryu a stick of five of skewers—the delicious smell made his stomach growled once more before he took it.

"So, what do you plan on making me do? " Ryu asked, his slightly longer auburn hair partially covering his face as he munched at the skewers in his hand.

"I want an information network, but that will take time" Zeres smiled softly.

"Can I ask why? " Ryu glanced at him, somehow—he looked lonely.

"There will come a time where I’ll have to leave the Human Empire" he said, leaning against a tree while he bit the skewers on his hands.

"Why? " Ryu tilted his head to the side, his crimson eyes narrowing.

"You grew up inside the underground black market so you probably don’t know; the relationship between the church and the vampires are rotten." Zeres sighed, gently massaging his temple.

"I’ll try my best then, but we need a fund first" Ryu said flatly, there was a crease between his brows as he asked. "You have money right? "

Zeres felt the urge to smack the kid in front of him but he held on. Truth be told, his vault was beginning to be emptied—it’s not like a goddess will save the money of humans. Most of the wealth she’ left behind was elven coins anyway.

"Then we’ll start with an appraisal shop in this capital" Ryu then threw the sticks to the side as he stared at the sky.

Seeing this, Zeres felt contented. Ryu wasn’t just a villain in the story, he was a businessman—one who was able to stand against the elite families.

"Stop thinking of such things, let’s get you some clothes first" Zeres rested his arms on Ryu’s shoulder while they trudged towards the nearest tailor shop.

"Take everything you want"

"Really? "

"Yeah" Zeres nodded lazily, already settling on a couch while Ryu went to pick some clothes.

’The Trials for the midterm is already near’ Zeres flexed his fingers. The start of the second semester only meant one thing; the beginning of the human empire’s downfall. The first that they attacked most is the Academy—and though it managed to fend them off, countless students have died.

The root of all the chaos was for two reasons; the Covenant of Ash had started to move, or the succession war between the two prince as the emperor’s condition worsen.

’I’ll need to be prepared all the time’ Zeres thought. The timeline had already changed, there was even a spy sent by the church to monitor his actions.

"What a mess" he sighed as he stared at the ceiling.

"Brother, I’m done" Zeres was pulled away from his thoughts when he heard Ryu’s excited voice.

"Is it really fine for me to wear this? " Ryu asked, his hand carefully touching the fabrics.

"What are you saying? It’s fine" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Hmm, good, you’re looking decent" Zeres scanned him, up and down, then he nodded.

Ryu wore a a gray linen shirt with a black trousers, a pair of good quality boots and a leather coat.

"How old are you again? " Zeres cocked his head to the side.

"Fifteen"

Zeres nodded slightly, he thought he was much younger, given how skinny he was.

"Let’s go, we still need to find a place" Zeres stood up then went on the counter, paying everything Ryu had bought.

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"A wide shop with 3 floors? " a man with long beard asked, sitting cross-legged, he stared at the white haired man before him.

"What’s the business you plan to do there? "

"An appraisal shop" Zeres replied flatly, his gaze sharp.

"We have one that suits your request, but its an abandoned one—but it’s still at the Helva district." The chubby man said, his eyes scanning the parchments resting on his table.

"Guide me then, I’ll need to see it for myself" Zeres stated, then he stared at the nameplate resting on the table.

[Manager Edson]

"How long before I got the permit? " he asked, already in front of the wooden door.

"It depends, if you pay more—it will be faster" the man smirked, then he flicked the bell on his table.

"What is it? " a man entered, he had long blonde hair and a monocle, he had the presence of a scholar as he looked at Zeres.

"Guide that man to Helva district. Show him the abandoned shop there." The man ordered, his feet resting in the table while he sipped a tea.

"Understood"

"Well then, if you could please follow me" the man shifted his monocle slightly, then he smiled.

"Pardon the manager if he had been rude, almost all new merchants have told that to us; that the manager of the merchant guild is notorious for his rude temperament." The man smiled politely, the papers on his hand as he boarded on a carriage.

"Well, he certainly is rude" Zeres said, unperturbed as he boarded the carriage, it was a simple one. Made of a strong wood, nothing more.

"What are you doing there? Get in here" Zeres stared at Ryu standing outside, he looked like a silly bodyguard.