Chapter 1430: A Decent Young Man

It was a great boon of course that Northern found a genuine material to build a sword, but an even greater boon was the opportunity to analyze a Divine rank. That alone in and of itself, had already made this endeavor worth it!

’Everything seems to be going too well. The outer wall of the Empire had fallen, my half brother is on his way to meet me, I bet he must be so excited... well, if he’s not, I am.’

He had not been too excited to meet his eldest sister because she was the complete opposite of what he had imagined but from what he saw of this little Crazed Demon, he was looking forward to Revant’s return.

’I wonder how the Emperor would react if he discovers his new son took a few fingers and teeth of his old son. I’ll take my time rooting them out.’

Such malicious thoughts filled his head with a straight face as he walked along the southern forest of the mountain with the two highly esteemed men of Ryugan, heading to one of them’s household.

The entire place was drenched in an eerie silence, even the sound of the forest seemed to be nonexistent, it was like they were walking amidst a grave.

Duke Amene was the first to speak. He tilted his head slightly.

"Seth, are you sure we are passing the usual route?"

There were certain sounds that he recognized the forest by, which he wasn’t hearing.

General Sethran turned back to his friend with a contemptuous look.

"Do you know another route?"

He glanced around with a slightly dazed expression on his face.

"You’re talking about the strange behavior of the forest right?" His voice dropped into a whisper.

Duke Amene had a strange expression on his face as he looked at his friend, even though he could practically not see him.

"Why are you whispering?"

General Sethran quickly glanced at Northern and glared at him, as if trying to say something with his face, literally mocking his friend.

Strangely enough, Duke Amene got the message, he turned his sightless eyes to Northern and studied him for a moment.

"Ah... I see."

What the General was simply hinting at was that, whatever was going on in the forest, was because of the new person walking ahead of them.

After all, both of them had passed here multiple times, even though Savage rank monsters were not foolish enough to cross their paths, sometimes, Bestials and Hellions were filled with arrogance. However, even now, none of those arrogant monsters were here.

The sound of the forest was usually prominent, unthinkable insects making eerie sounds as if communicating with each other. However, that too was gone. There was no sound besides the sound of silence. The forest clearly was holding its breath for whatever was amidst them to pass as quickly as possible.

Duke Amene turned to Northern and shook his head. He felt a deep feeling stir inside him, rising with a strong will and desire to be stronger.

Monsters were known to have a sharper and keener senses than Drifters, if they were running away from Northern and holding their breath to make sure he doesn’t look in their direction, then that meant they had seen a vast and indescribable terror. Or at least felt it.

Meanwhile, all this young man was doing was... walking.

He inhaled deeply, exhausted of just being a Sage.

Then he hastened his step.

"Lord Northern, before the General Sethran’s heirloom became the subject, it seemed you wanted to achieve something with your craft called Argent?"

Northern removed himself from his thoughts immediately and turned to Duke Amene, a certain light returning to his face.

"Oh! Right! That’s correct, I wanted to sell them."

Duke Amene glanced at his friend.

"You want to sell them to us? Lord Northern, that is generous of you. But just ask someone why?"

Northern tilted his head with a question on his face.

"What Duke Amene means is that, if you were to put this sword on Auction, you would probably sell it for ten times the amount you want to offer it to us. Besides, the Empire could very well buy them from you? Why bother with us? Despite having done so much for us."

Northern stared impassively for a moment. While he looked like there was no emotion on his face, his mind was racing.

’What? I can sell it for so much?! Ah ah, well why didn’t I think about that... But it’s not a total loss, that’s why I have Hao, I’m sure he has thought of it and is already working towards something of such.’

He had after all, delivered some really astounding bows to him, to sell.

Northern understood well that he wasn’t the best with money, which was why his partnership with Hao was very crucial, both were still far from where they were headed but had come a long way from where they started. It was only a matter of time before they got noticed by the strange and hidden organization of merchants.

Northern smiled. As he could not make an excuse at the moment, the answer was obvious.

"Because I want to? Don’t be mistaken, I have my motives in all of these, so I’m not kind like you all suggest. But at the very least I can assure you that my interest will not put the future of your nation in peril."

General Sethran smiled gratefully, while the Blind Duke merely stayed silent and impassive, seeming to be lost in his head.

"So how much do you wish to sell them to us?"

Northern thought for a heartbeat and answered.

"How about a hundred Credis per unit?"

A standard house cost about a thousand Credis, one unit for a hundred didn’t seem too far off, especially with how scarce items were bound to get in the future. Of course, after killing Ul, he would create an economy around this very trade, easily ruling the world with scarcity of items.

But earning fifty thousand Credis for five hundred pieces of sword, didn’t seem bad for a start, that money was enough for a small nation’s revenue for a month.

’I wonder if it’ll be too much for them...’

The two were silent still.

’Ah, did I shoot too high?’

Then General Sethran spoke.

"I will bring the matter to the King." He seemed to have a second thought as he studied Northern, "However, I’m sure the King would have loved to hear this directly from you."

Northern smiled a little.

"That’ll be overstepping my mark..."

"I’m sure the King does not have a mark for you, Lord Northern."

"It doesn’t matter, I do for myself. This way, commands more respect for the King on my own side."

General Sethran studied Northern for a few more seconds as they continued to walk down the slope of the mountain.

’He is of a decent character, not proudful and arrogant like several strong people. I can’t think of anyone that’d be this decent with his kind of power.’ The General thought, looking at Northern with new respect.

He smiled and nodded.

"Alright, I shall bring this matter to the King myself."

After a few steps, the forest was reducing and the life of it blooming slowly over two hundred meters behind them. The vast estate of the General was making piercing out of the slope.