Chapter 111: Old Feibo

"You seem to have scared her off, Sera," Aive grumbled quietly after they left the colosseum, watching Constance and Hendrix walk away. "And just after you finally managed to ignite her adventurous spirit."

"That’s just sending her to get hurt," Sera muttered, busy counting her money. "Even with the kids in our own tribe, we wouldn’t encourage them to just recklessly charge into the wilds to fight nature."

"It’s like goading a mortal to face Grom head-on. That’s tantamount to murder."

"Sigh, she’s such an outlier," Aive sighed in resignation. "My aunt was in the Alliance Army, too. She was even more formidable than my mom. But she was a born wanderer, always chasing thrills, war, and adventure. She never stopped for a moment in her entire life, and in the end, she got exactly what she wanted."

"My mom only gave up that path completely after she met my dad—so who do you think she takes after? My uncle?"

"Have you considered the possibility that she’s just like most Humans and Elves?" Ron asked, looking at Aive. He waited until he was sure she wasn’t feigning ignorance before adding, "Compared to most people, wouldn’t you say your family is the weirder one?"

"Nonsense," Aive scoffed. "Elves are often driven by wanderlust to spend centuries adventuring, to say nothing of the human thirst for exploration. Just look at the humans in our group. Who exactly are these ’most people’ you’re talking about?"

"There’s nothing wrong with living a peaceful life," Victoria said reassuringly. "And it looks like Hendrix cares for her a lot. That’s not a bad thing, is it?"

"Ah, forget it. It’s been years since I last saw her, so why should I worry about how she’s doing," Aive said, scratching her head. "Ron, where to now? Feibo’s place?"

Figuring it was about time, Ron and the others decided to go check out Carlos’s home. According to Aive, it was rather unusual for a family like theirs to live on Violet Gate Street.

"Violet Gate Street, 22B," Delaford said, tilting his head back to read the house numbers. "I think this must be it? All the houses on this side are even numbers; there’s no 23A."

"It’s over here, you dummy. The streets in Rose City are numbered with odds on one side and evens on the other to make it easier for administrative officials to do surveys."

The goblin turned toward the voice and saw that Ron and the others were already across the street, standing before a house with a plaque that read, "Violet Gate Street 23A."

The building’s exterior walls were made of marble, thick, sturdy, and weathered by time. The entire structure was arranged around an inner courtyard, with a combination of arches and columns creating a stately facade facing the street. Through the iron gate, one could see the courtyard was filled with a variety of flowers and green trees, with an old well at its center. Meticulously pruned vines and other climbing plants crept up the colonnade that encircled the yard.

"Hmph. You can tell no Elf or Half-Elf had a hand in planning or tending to this courtyard," Aive commented. "Look at these plants. If they’d chosen the right species, this place could be evergreen year-round, like my family’s home."

"Not everyone can replicate the environment of Night Wind."

As they were speaking, Carlos’s older brother, whom they had met earlier, came out of the house. He smiled as he opened the gate for them. "If our father hadn’t told us you bear a striking resemblance to the lady of Night Wind, my brother and I would still be in the dark about your identities. Please, come in."

Following the brother’s introduction, Ron and the others met Old Feibo, the current head of the Feibo clan and Carlos’s father. He was a middle-aged man who looked extremely stern and serious. Even in his own home, not a single hair was out of place, his attire was immaculate, and his every word and deed was meticulously proper.

It was hard to imagine that such a man would raise two sons who got into street fights and flirted with another man’s fiancée.

"I have heard about the help you all provided my unworthy sons," Old Feibo said, gesturing for Carlos to step forward. "Though if it were up to me, I’d have let him keep a few scars to learn his lesson, but I must thank you for your kindness nonetheless."

"I am a member of the Rose Council, responsible for the maintenance and management of the city’s public facilities, such as its squares and parks. Perhaps I haven’t lived in this city for even half as long as Miss Capeleun here, but if you all wish to see some of the newly built structures, I may be better equipped to assist you."

A hint of a self-satisfied smile touched Old Feibo’s lips. It was clear he was extremely proud of his accomplishments over the years.

"Ah, I have noticed a lot of new places since I returned. So you were behind all of them?" Aive looked at Old Feibo in surprise. "I would have thought your creations would be a bit more... stately. Like you."

"Art, work, and character are three separate matters," Old Feibo said, closing his eyes for a moment. "Art must have vitality, but one’s conduct must not be too erratic."

"Unfortunately, my two sons do not seem to have grasped that."

Under their father’s gaze, Carlos and his older brother lowered their heads in shame.

"Well, it’s good for young men to be energetic," Silvia said with a small smile. "Speaking of which, I am rather curious, who exactly is this Fernando he was fighting?"

"Just the scion of a noble family," Old Feibo said. "His grandfather made his fortune in the spice trade. His father inherited the business and the title, and I imagine in a few more years, it will be his turn."

"According to the law, if a noble title is held for three or more generations, it becomes hereditary by default. Their family is probably trying to achieve that, which is why they arranged a marriage with the Pierre Clan."

"However, from what I understand, the fiancée in question seems to have her heart set on someone else. Isn’t that right, Carlos?"

Carlos’s face flushed bright red as he just stood there giggling like a fool. He’d already rounded the bases, so there was really nothing left to say.

"The spice trade," Ron said with a laugh. "Rose City certainly has no shortage of spice merchants. Don’t tell me more than half the nobility made their fortunes that way?"

"Not necessarily, but plenty of council members and nobles do rely on that steady source of income," Old Feibo said casually. "You’ve heard of Yunier Cindy Hendricks, I presume? Many in the Council practically live and breathe by his word, and it seems he’s now preparing to secure a seat for himself."

"This will affect Fernando’s family. They already have plenty of friction with him in the business world. If they allow Hendrix to join the Council on top of that, they can forget about becoming hereditary nobles."

As he said this, Old Feibo seemed to remember something. "I hear Hendrix’s business has run into some trouble lately. It’s probably inextricably linked to this situation."