Chapter 238: Merchant Rivalry

Rumble— Rumble— Rumble—

A few minutes later, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed through the building— the march of armored boots pounding against stone, stirring old dust and silence.

Clad in full armor, a crowd of armed guards spilled into the Hall of Awakening.

"Huh? Where are they?"

"I don’t know, Sir. The people outside said Aurum and his company entered the Ruins of Gold not even an hour ago."

The commander’s brow furrowed beneath his helmet.

"Squad One and Two, check the upper floor. Squad Three, search the halls. Squad Four, sweep the corners and behind the statues. Leave no place untouched."

"Yes, Sir!"

The men split off quickly, their footsteps scattering in every direction, steel boots echoing against the stone floor.

On the first floor, one of the guards ran a gloved hand along a pillar’s edge.

Upstairs, doors creaked open, old floorboards groaned, and more guards moved with purpose.

"No signs of magic up here!" A voice called down.

Back below, a younger guard crouched near the center of the hall, inspecting the ground.

"Sir, over here! Faint heel marks. Still fresh."

The commander knelt beside him and brushed a hand over the stone.

"Warm. They used magic... something like teleportation, perhaps." He muttered.

He rose slowly, gaze sweeping across the silent golden figures.

"Check the statues again. Behind them, beneath them, even the eyes if you must. Report anything strange."

The men moved quickly.

The Hall, once still, filled with the clatter of metal and murmurs of suspicion, as a thorough search was underway, but already too late.

While the others were busy investigating various places, the commander’s gaze seemed to be caught on something.

His eyes remained fixed on one particular golden statue— it was of a little girl with a joyous expression and a wide smile, holding what seemed to be an empty vial in her hand.

Tap— Tap— Tap—

He walked toward it slowly, each step heavy with emotion.

When he reached the golden statue, he gently caressed its cheek.

"Don’t worry, my daughter... your father will avenge you."

There was a slight tremble in his voice as if he were suppressing a deep, burning anger.

’It’s already been eight years since you were cursed by that wretched girl... I’ll make sure they pay for everything.’

At that moment, his head — still covered by an iron helmet— turned slowly, following the gaze of the statue.

As one of the victims of the incident eight years ago, he visited his daughter’s statue whenever he had the time.

And though he had not memorized every detail in the Hall of Awakening, some parts had burned themselves into his memory.

Like the fact that his daughter was always looking toward the statue of a family.

But now...

"Wait... something’s wrong."

His heart dropped as he noticed it— three particular golden statues that were supposed to be there were missing.

***

Elsewhere, at Midas’s Mansion...

Aurelia, her siblings, and their mother were seated together on the soft couches in the living room.

"I can’t believe this... my daughter’s grown up so well!!"

Martha, an elegant lady with black eyes and long, curly blonde hair, hugged Aurelia tightly, pressing her cheek against her daughter’s while caressing her face.

Beside Aurelia sat Patti and Auryn, who were also hugging her, their eyes wide as they looked at her like they were seeing her for the first time.

Well, they were — so it was not entirely wrong.

"M-Mom... pleas stwo—"

Aurelia struggled to speak, overwhelmed by everything happening around her.

She could hardly breathe from Martha’s aggressive hugging and cheek-rubbing.

Hearing her daughter’s muffled protest, Martha whined playfully, "Oh, come on! We’ve been apart for eight years. Just let Mom have this, please~"

"A-Alright..."

Knowing she had no other choice, Aurelia gave in with a sigh of defeat.

Not that she really minded it.

Meanwhile, Patti was inspecting his younger sister’s now-matured face.

"Should I call you Big Sister now?"

"Now that you mention it... she is bigger than us already..."

Auryn chimed in with a dazed voice as if echoing something whispered to her.

Hearing their innocent questions, Aurelia and Martha both giggled.

"Of course not! I’m still younger than you, Big Bro and Big Sis!"

After a few more minutes of reclaiming the hugs they had missed over the years, Martha, Patti, and Auryn gradually began to calm down.

Then Martha turned to Aurelia, her expression softening.

"Lia."

"Yes, Mom?"

"I’ve been meaning to ask..."

Aurelia — and even Patti and Auryn — looked at her, waiting curiously.

Seeing their eager faces, Martha’s lips curled into a smirk.

"...Who’s that handsome boy to you, huh?"

"W-W-What?"

Auryn’s eyes lit up with interest as she leaned closer.

"Yeah... who is he? Is he your crush or something?" Auryn grinned mischievously.

Patti tilted his head, thoughtful, "Regis, right? He seems kind. And cool."

"N-No, it’s not like that! He’s just a friend!"

Aurelia waved her hands frantically, her face flustered.

"Hmmm..."

Judging by the looks on their faces, none of them believed her "just a friend" excuse.

"I-It’s r-really not like tha—"

"Hahaha, don’t worry. I’m just teasing you." Martha laughed softly.

Then, her gaze softened as she looked into Aurelia’s eyes.

"I just... missed you so much, Lia. That’s all."

Her voice was quiet but full of warmth — the kind of love that had waited years just to hold her again.

"Lia... how have you been all these years?"

There was a subtle shift in her voice — a quiet depth filled with longing, worry, and love.

Emotions that couldn’t be captured by words alone.

"I..."

Aurelia’s lips moved, but it took a few moments before the words began to flow.

She began to speak, slowly at first, then with growing emotion, telling them everything, and how she had missed them at every passing chance.

***

At Aurum’s study...

While Aurelia continued her heartfelt reunion with her mother and siblings, Regis and the others followed Aurum to his study.

The room was spacious yet warm, its walls lined with shelves of ledgers, old scrolls, and ornate trinkets from distant lands.

A large desk sat near the window, scattered with quills and open documents.

Despite being uninhabited for years, the servants of the Midas household had maintained the mansion so well that not even a speck of dust could be found on the paintings that adorned its walls.

"So, from the beginning, you’ve been in competition with this so-called Crypto Merchantry?"

Regis repeated the key point he’d gathered after discussing the possible enemies Aurum might have in the city.

Beside him, Killian and Pandora were doing everything but listening to the conversation.

If not for the fact that they wanted to give Aurelia time alone with her family, they would have been outside playing with her.

Aurum, however, did not mind.

He focused entirely on his exchange with Regis.

After all, he had known them for three years now.

He was familiar with their quirky behavior that others might see as disrespectful, but not him.

Not someone who already considered them family.

Especially now, after Regis had helped him reunite with his own— something he had once thought impossible.

The recent events had only deepened that bond.

Aurum nodded, taking a sip of his tea.

"Exactly. Montrelle City, being at the center of three of the major settlements within human territory, including the now-fallen Toran, is also surrounded by nearly a hundred villages. Add to that the travelers from nearby forests and mountain regions, both humans and other races, who stop by the city to restock."

He set the cup down with a quiet clink.

"In the past, Montrelle was considered one of the major trade cities in human lands second only to the Royal Capital. But that all changed eight years ago..."

"The incident involving Aurelia’s awakening?" Regis asked after finishing the milk from his glass.

Aurum nodded.

"Yes. Since then, Montrelle’s economy has been in decline. Before Harmonia’s construction began, there were even hints that Ligera intended to develop Montrelle as their satellite city. But after the incident— and the rumors branding this place as cursed— Montrelle fell far from its former glory."

He leaned back, his brow furrowing.

"And regarding the Ruins of Gold..."

"I discovered it was the Crypto Merchantry’s doing. That site used to be a memorial for those who perished in the incident. But only recently did I find out that the Crypto Merchantry persuaded the City Council to turn it into a tourist attraction."

He clicked his tongue.

"My source said it was an attempt to recoup some of the city’s economic losses, and the Council acquiesced to the Merchantry’s suggestion."

"So that’s why the people reacted that way back then, huh?" Regis said, a look of realization crossing his face.

"I assume so. But I doubt the Crypto Merchantry’s plan worked as well as they’d hoped—I’ve made sure to handle everything related to the incident."

"Aside from declaring the Hall of Awakening a protected zone, I also took care of the victims’ families... I’ve been supporting them for the past eight years. Besides—"

Knock— Knock— Knock—

Just as Aurum was about to continue, three knocks sounded at the door, drawing everyone’s attention.