Chương 1679: [1576] – Y07.076 – A Man of Silvers I

As the half elf returned, he greeted Mohammed, Tamil, Aliya, and noted the several unfamiliar faces, as well as several workers who stood to one side, holding blades which would make any warrior green with envy. Adorned in cream attire, the scarlet turban atop his head hid away long hair, his large beard barely contained by a fresh shaping, his moustache twirled upwards into a playful smirk, the gentle smile on his face which hid away his eagerness to meet such a fine hero.

'Who is that?' the half elf thought, having not expected another guest, though if Mohammed had brought someone along, it meant he was someone of note, and there was probably a benefit to meet with them.

"Mo Adam, this is Kal Rushad, of the Scarlet Sun," Mohammed said, motioning a hand to the Kal, who had stood as the half elf approached, and reached out towards the young fellow, clasping a hand within both of his.

"Mo, many blessings," Kal Rushad said.

"Many blessings to you too, Kal."

"I can see why akh spoke so highly of you."

"Akh?"

"Kal Shawkat."

"Ah? You know Kal Shawkat?" Adam asked, his shoulders relaxing lightly, the smile widening on his lips.

"Who does not know the great Kal Shawkat? He and I have some relation, for we have fought alongside one another a few times in the past," Rushad said.

"A friend of Kal Shawkat if a friend of mine," the half elf assured, his smile widening even further.

'So this is the fool?' the young apprentice thought, eyeing up the half elf. He was a young man himself, matching the half elf's age, and though he was not adorned in his armour, his body was still the kind which was sculpted from marble, as though he may have been born within the Rot family. He was young, young enough to think ridiculous thoughts about the half elf, but not so young he was going to cause trouble in this place of all places.

He was as handsome as his mentor, his moustache reaching around to his chin, his goatee short but thick, and his eyes were piercing, a mixture of green blue, like a sea in duskval.

"My sister, my brother, and I have each come to spend many thousands, so if there is something you like, please tell me, we'll treat you this time," Adam half joked, in the sense his tone was a joke, but he was more than willing to open his pouch today.

"Aha! How generous, young Mo!" Rushad chuckled, reaching up to tickle the tip of his beard lightly. Even this close, he could barely feel it, but there was the undeniable aura of someone who was either a weak fool, with no sense of care, or the kind of strength which denoted he did not need to worry, even in the presence of a Master like himself.

"Ahm Mohammed, since my grandmother enjoyed your gift, I hope you're willing to allow me to spoil you a little?"

"If my nephew is going so far, I will allow you to spoil me," the old man joked, grinning wide, while the others continued to gather.

"Now that I think about it, where is Kal Zayan?" Adam asked, his eyes darting between them. He had expected to meet the Bear of the Mountains at the auction, so he could inform the fellow of his conquest against the pair of Amber Blades.

"We sent him to assist the force which is defending the northern coast from the Reavers," Aliya said, sipping her tea lightly, for how many could claim they had provided a Grandmaster to the effort? The Faro herself, perhaps slightly annoyed, would still reward them appropriately, and the Shen would appreciate their favour.

"If it's him, you probably don't have to worry," the half elf mused.

"How are the skirmishes going anyhow?"

"Thankfully, much of the damage has been contained after the Grand Coalition Forces gathered and pressed forward."

"It would be difficult for the Reavers, for a great many warriors have stepped ahead," Tamil said, adjusting his glasses.

"Though the likes of the Sleeping Dragon of Arisa remains within the city, there are many others who have stepped out. Scholar Muh, Two Finger Demon, Weal and Woe Sabres to name a few, but there are also those from Floria and Aldland too."

"What a sight it would be to watch those three fight," Adam whispered. Scholar Muh was apparently strong enough that even Jurot and Kitool were unsure if even he could defeat the older Aswadian in the same way he had defeated a great many warriors, and Two Finger Demon and Weal and Woe Sabres were both apparently equally as powerful.

"If I recall, the Order of the Scarlet Sun is on the northern coast, isn't it?" This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"We are, and though the Reavers have dared to tread nearby, we were sure to make them regret their actions," Rushad said, a playful smile upon his lips. He couldn't admit how much damage it caused, however, for that would cause too great of an alarm through the land, though all the people who needed to know, knew.

"They're tough aren't they?"

"They were quite tough," Rushad admitted.

"Have you fought them?"

"There was one who dared to swing at my brother's apprentice, so I cleaved its neck-," Adam said, holding his hand up like an axe, but swiftly planting his palm upon his knee, since his wife was nearby.

"I made sure to deal with it."

"You are blessed with the strength to carry chariots of gold!" Rushad chuckled. The half elf smirked lightly, glancing aside to his wife, who was currently in the middle of talking with Aliya about how much damage the Reavers had caused to the northern coast.

"Well, I suppose I am? I'm on some important business this year, but next year…"

"Yes?" Rushad mused.

"I feel a little guilty I haven't done much to assist, though…" The half elf's tone turned dark towards the end, the fool sitting up a little taller.

"I suppose I'll just have to make up all the lost time."

"The Reavers aren't so simple," the young fellow said, with striking eyes like the sea.

"Even my Master will not allow me to step out, I, who has claimed the title of Expert."

"The Reavers I am familiar with are the kind that can trouble even Masters, but I hear the weakest are those who are Experts?" Adam replied.

"The weakest seem to be just a little under, those who are Adepts, but even so, they possess quite the ferocity," Rushad admitted.

'Oh?' Adam thought.

'I thought their weakest were Experts? If they're not, that makes things much simpler.' Jurot did not want to admit it, but the Iyr's estimation had been rather high for the Reavers. However, it was true they possessed a great many considered Adepts, but the number of Grandmasters and Paragons were slightly higher than they expected.

"Though the Reavers are impressive, they are not quite as impressive as the Iyrmen before us," Rushad declared, for as he looked around, other than perhaps the youths, he would be considered the weakest. His eyes fell to the most powerful, who was currently whispering something in her elder brother's ear, and almost immediately the little girl relented, for the girl bit into the cheese her brother offered her.

"You're telling me," the half elf huffed.

"This is my brother, Jurot. This guy, he's so talented. He's twenty five, and he's a Master already." Rushad sat a little taller, his eyes snapping to the Iyrman.

"He is?"

"Not just Jurot, but Kitool here too." Rushad looked to the young woman, who held quite the intense aura about her, and assumed she was one of those from the Iyr. As his eyes fell between the pair, it was only then he realised. Was he among the weakest three in this group?

"Not only that, they were Masters when they were twenty four, actually, I think we were all Masters are twenty three, same with Jaygak. Then there are our cousins, Chosen and Tanagek, have recently stepped into that realm too, at twenty five. It's a shame they weren't born as talented as Jaygak, but it's still impressive, isn't it?"

Pam noticed Jurot tensing up, one of the few times he did so, however he remained as still as a statue, while Kitool's eyes remained firmly fixated on Kal Rushad's turban, also doing her best not to break into laughter.

'How can he be so terrible at making jokes, but then come up with a joke like that?' Lanarot cackled, covering her mouth, snickering to Pam, who smiled. The pair cuddled between one another as Lanarot half squealed into her hand.

"You all stepped into such a realm at a young age?" Rushad asked, surprised.

"What kind of life have you lived?" Adam sighed, looking up towards the clear sky, closing his eyes as the sun threatened to bear upon him.

"You see, Kal, in my youth…"

"…"

"I am my daughter's father, after all," the half elf said, smirking.

"My niece is such trouble," Lanarot whispered, but the kind of whisper that was loud enough for even those in other sections could hear.

"You must have been in so much trouble…"

"I am my daughter's father, after all," the half elf said.

"What did…" Rushad stared at the half elf for a long while, who picked up a cup of tea, and stared up at the sky once more, holding his hand up to provide shade upon his face.

"I am my daughter's father, after all."

'That bad?' Rushad thought. Meanwhile, as the half elf reminisced upon the trouble he caused, from slaying dragons, to defeating small armies, and then to what he had managed in other worlds, a pair of old men battled with their eyes.

'Bastara! Introduce me to him!' Azim glared, for he had yet to speak with Adam, the one who had caused his family such trouble. No. If he wished to survive, he had to admit it was his family who had caused such a great figure trouble.

'Oho? You wish to greet this nephew of mine? You goatson! Know your place! If you had such a blade, I would have offered him to you, but this is a treasure I have managed to claim all by myself, all thanks to my granddaughter, who has the same heart as I, so it was all thanks to me!'

'How oppressive!' the old man thought, continuing to glare at the old man, though then the half elf turned to look at him, and the old man smiled and waved.

"Who is that elder?" Adam asked, waving a hand.

"He is Azim Shums, of the Setting Sun Merchants."

"Ah," Adam said, deciding against glancing his way once more. There was no need to get involved with people like that. Even if he did give up the twins, the old man should realise he was here to spoil his family, so he needed to keep himself quiet as a mouse. Azim sighed, for he hadn't brought his son or grandson just in case, but it seemed that did not matter.

'Noor bless me.'