Chương 1322: [1238] - Y06.138 - Respecting Elders I

Adam eyed up Jonn and Nobby, who were each eating their light breakfast of flatbread and a stew, though there were plenty of mixed vegetables and fruit on offer thanks to the business. His eyes darted to the merman woman, who chatted with the girl lightly, listening to her random babbling about this thing or that thing, Adam requesting her to entertain the girl during breakfast.

'I guess I'll need to watch over her for now, and then… should I ask Bael to watch over her? I'll watch over her for now and then I'll ask Bael when we travel?' Adam sipped the salty stew, chewing on the soft goat meat.

"Alright, you guys, you can spend your gold, and write down how much you spend so that the business can figure out what to expense, or at the least, refund to you. If you need money, you can ask any of the Executives to help you procure something, but you guys earn so much coin, you should be able to afford it, right?" Adam's laughter filled the air, only to instantly stop, the half elf realising he might be giving off the wrong impression.

"No, seriously, if you need more money, or want to buy something that's out of your budget, just ask us. We'll figure out a way to lend you the money, or just put it on the business' expenses, since I don't want you to find something amazing and not buy it since you can't afford it if it's useful to the business, or… you just really want it because it's something you've dreamt of."

Adam hoped his ramblings made sense to the group, eventually allowing them to travel as they pleased, though moving at least in pairs, with at least one Iyrman in the group. Meanwhile, the half elf walked around with Kizwolima, allowing her to hold his hand, while Jash stalked them from behind. Dunes and Jurot also followed along, for at least a Brother of Black Mountain and an Iyrman were needed to make sure he kept out of trouble.

John also followed, doing his best to seem almost invisible, except the Brother kept directing his attention over to the young father.

"What would you like, Kizwolima?" Adam asked.

"Do you want to buy any new clothes? Do you want some new clothes? You tell mister Adam what you want, and mister Adam will get you what you want!"

"Mm…" Kizwolima thought for a moment before nodding. Adam bought her all manner of items, with Dunes' presence allowing them to buy whatever they needed without much fuss, the half elf spending handfuls of silver and gold at a time, his heart lightening with his pouch.

'At this rate I'll need to top up again.'

"Wow! Look at that scarf! It's so pretty on you!" Adam reached down to rub the girl's head, but stopped, instead fixing her scarf.

'Ah, right, she isn't my kid. I've got to be careful.'

"Hehehe!"

"What do we say when people do something nice?"

"Thank you!"

"Our Kizwolima is so polite!" Adam chuckled.

"Should we get some food? What kind of food do you like?"

"Sharks!"

"I'm not sure if they have much shark, but what about the goat meat that we had?" Adam asked.

"Yes, I liked the goat."

"Ah, is there any food you're not allowed to eat?"

"Not allowed to eat people."

"That's good," Adam replied, smiling slightly.

"What else are you not allowed to eat?"

"Mm…" The girl thought for a moment.

"Can't eat coral. Can't eat metal." Adam chuckled at her pout, eventually buying them a large platter of food, roasted vegetables and fish, the group sharing out of the platter as they rested up.

"Ah, Kizwolima, here," Adam said, having all but forgotten, reaching into his cloak.

"This is a Ring of Protection. It will keep you safe. I got this from Laygak, who wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Oh!" Kizwolima gasped, feeling the gentle tingle, the ring shrinking upon her finger.

"It's magic?"

"It is! It will protect you, just in case. You have to keep it on at all times, okay?"

"Wow! Okay, mister!" This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Haha! You don't have to worry though, since your greatest protection is our businessfolk, who will watch over you!"

"Okay!"

"You're such a good girl."

"I am not girl! I am Kizwolima!" the girl replied.

"Right!" Adam laughed. Dunes smiled slightly, glancing aside towards the merman, who wasn't sure why the half elf had handed over a ring. If there was something that dangerous that would harm her, she'd be dead. Dunes shook his head lightly since there was no way Jash would understand, since it was Adam. The Priest reached up to brush his hair to one side, wondering if he should go get a hair cut, an experience that the half elf may enjoy too.

'Perhaps in the capital?' As the group made their way through the side roads, where the colourful clothing fluttered upon the lines, Adam heard they stepped past a certain inn, one which held a raised garden to one side where various folk enjoyed their time drinking and eating, watching over the masses beneath them.

"Young lady, don't you know who I am?" the young man asked, adorned in crisp clothing, the figure adorned in bits of gold, surrounded by two other companions, and four guards, each wearing long cloaks over their chain, keeping cool within the shade, which just so happened to allow them to blend in to the side if one was almost blind.

"Some merchant boy?" the woman replied, who stood rather tall, well muscled, her hands rough and scarred through effort. It was the spear upon her back that brought Adam's attention, however, for it was forged of a silversteel, quicksilver, he assumed. There was another upon her back which was wrapped up within a scarf too.

"The Flaming Spear Wyrm knows of me?" the young man asked, his pearly white smile contrasting his skin.

'Oh?' Dunes thought, shaking his head slightly.

'The young lady is in quite some trouble, but the young man is asking to be beaten.' It was rather unfortunate the guards in chain were under the command of the young merchant men harassing the young warrior.

"I don't care who you are, I just know that it's no good to speak with those who eat from a golden spoon from birth."

"There's no need to be so envious!" the young man replied, causing his companions to laugh.

"I just want to share a drink with you."

"You stink of silver and gold, but I like my men smelling of steel and blood," the woman replied, growing more and more annoyed, but she understood she needed to be careful.

'It just had to be today of all days.'

"You should know that we're still being polite," the merchant said, flashing a coy smile, though his eyes held a darker gaze.

"Isn't that you all you know?" the woman replied, tilting her head slightly.

"Politeness with those soft hands of yours."

"If you like men who smell of steel and blood, then…" The merchant snapped his fingers.

"Wild Cobra Sword."

'Wild Cobra Sword?' the woman thought, eyes darting to the side towards the man, who was adorned in chain, and wore a helmet that was covered with a scarf, allowing only his eyes to be seen. Her eyes darted to the blade at his side, the blades handle and hilt was that of a snake that coiled around the base of the blade.

'Shit!'

"You should come along quietly while the esteemed young master is still being polite."

"I'm not the kind of woman your young master can handle," the young woman replied, sweating slightly.

'They won't go too far since they know who my grandfather is, but…'

"What woman can my young master not handle?" Wild Cobra Sword asked.

"Tell him to go hire some other shadowed bitch."

"If you wish to do it the hard way," Wild Cobra Sword said, reaching for his blade, the woman reaching for her own spear.

"The hard way?" called a voice, the figure stepping up the steps, a worker glancing his way, noting the trouble, and quickly shuffled towards the half elf, only to be stopped by a glare from one of those who wore tattoos upon their forehead.

"What's the hard way?"

"Make your way, young master fae," Wild Cobra Sword said, his eyes taking in the sight of the tattoo, for a moment thinking Adam was one of them, but they did not wear such tattoos.

"Ah? My way? My way just so happens to be this way, though?" Adam replied, smirking slightly towards the figure opposite him.

"You should step aside while we are showing you politeness."

"I was told to respect my elders, but isn't this too much?" Adam asked, tutting at the warrior.

"What's this treehead doing?" the young merchant asked, causing his companions to laugh.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I'm just a father, that's all, so what are you punks doing to someone's daughter?" Adam asked, smiling politely towards them, his jaw tensing.

"Hey, Wild Cobra Sword, teach that treehead a lesson."

"I needed to warm up for-," Adam began, only to be cut off by a sigh.

"Are you trying to show off in front of me?" the woman asked, glaring at the half elf.

"I'm not showing off in front of you, but my brother, the Brother, another father, and of course, our adorable little Kizwolima," Adam replied.

"Although, I am a little interested in you, since you can use a spear. What did they call you? Flaming Spear Dragon? That's a cool name." The young woman narrowed her eyes towards the half elf, who was undoubtedly poking fun at her.

"If you don't want to be beaten, you should step back. Wild Cobra Sword might be strong, but I'm strong too."

"Oh? You look pretty young though?"

"I'm twenty two."

"Right, just a kid. I'm twenty four, so leave this to your elder, and I'll slap some manners into this guy. What was it? Wily Cobra Sword? You know, I know a Cobra, and she's a lot cooler than you, even if you do have a pretty cool nickname yourself."

"You-," Wild Cobra Sword began, only to be interrupted.

"Wait, did you say you were twenty two?" Adam asked.

"Yes."

"How strong are you that you think you can take him on?"

"I am at least an Expert, so I don't need your help."

"Really? An Expert at twenty two? What are you, an Iyrman? Why are you kids always in such a rush!" Adam huffed.

"Anyway, you seem pretty talented, so I want to hire you to train our hardworker during our journey in Aswadasad, so we'll discuss your wage, but right now, it looks like my dear elder can't wait until he gets his ass beat." Wild Cobra Sword tensed up, ready and eager to kill this smarmy little half elf.

'Ah, wait,' Adam thought, realising his mistake.