Chapter 516: A Man Like an Eagle

Chapter 516: Chapter 336: A Man Like an Eagle

“If you want to talk about any big news in the Wilderness lately, it would have to be the wedding of Lord Levi—the Baron of Exploration of Debei, Lord of High Cliff Castle, Eagle of the Kingdom, the world’s only Dragon Knight, Lion Hunter Knight of the Northern Territory, Uncrowned King of the Wilderness, the shared Lord and protector of the borderland demi-humans, and the perfect husband in the hearts of countless maidens.”

It was another unremarkable day. If there was anything to be happy about, it was the rare, bright sun. A Rabbitman lay sunbathing on a pile of weeds outside his Tribe’s encampment, somewhat annoyed that his afternoon nap had been interrupted by the three large, mysterious men standing before him.

However, compelled by the Gold Coins glinting in the air, he answered their question.

He was just repeating things he’d heard from others, but that didn’t stop him from using them now.

“My heavens! Are all those people getting married on the same day?” one of them—a burly man in a thick bearskin cloak, his hair woven into many braids—exclaimed in surprise.

“You idiot! Those are all titles for our great Lord Levi!” Pitius was so furious he practically jumped, slamming a hard punch into the man’s chest.

But he quickly had to clutch his reddened fist and blow on it, as if he had just punched a rock.

“You lowly rabbit whelp!” The braided man had only been speaking to the Rabbitman—who he considered as worthless as a dog—out of strained patience.

Now, being insulted and punched was the last straw. He drew his longsword, ready to cut the Rabbitman down.

Pitius jumped, genuinely frightened by the gleaming longsword. Still, he stuck out his neck and blustered, “You big oaf! My… my grandmother’s son’s daughter’s eldest sister is Lord Levi’s personal Maid! If you kill me, you’ll never leave this Wilderness alive!”

Rabbit People are notoriously timid. In the past, he would never have dared to speak to someone like this, but now he had backing!

Because Lord Levi had chosen several Rabbit People to serve as Maids, most of the Rabbitman Tribes in the Wilderness felt like they had a new lease on life. Everyone treated them with the utmost respect.

‘What a pity his mother wasn’t chosen by the Lord,’ he thought. ‘Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be stuck in this backwater, but would be enjoying a life of luxury in High Cliff Castle.’

At first, the braided, burly man was indeed intimidated, thinking this Rabbitman really had some incredible connections. But when it turned out that this impossibly distant relative was just a Maid, he felt like he’d been made a fool of and grew even more furious.

“That’s enough! Stop this disrespectful behavior!” A slightly shorter, thinner youth wearing a headscarf stopped the burly man.

His brow furrowed. The commotion was already drawing the attention of the other members of the Rabbitman Tribe.

“Sir Rabbitman,” Kemish began with a smile, “we are three poor merchants, lost in this vast Wilderness. We’re hungry and thirsty. Might we rest here for a day? Rest assured, we will not be stingy with our payment. We can give you money, or anything else you might want.”

Pitius was about to refuse, but the pleasant clinking from the sack made the words catch in his throat.

His eyes darted about. “I’m not the Clan Leader, so I can’t give you permission. However, if you’re willing to pay me one silver coin, I’ll introduce you to our Clan Leader.”

“That’s simple enough.” Kemish nodded and handed over a worn silver coin.

The three were soon brought before the tribe’s Clan Leader: an old Rabbitman, leaning on a staff, so old that he had lost both of his front teeth.

‘Merchants from the south came to the Wilderness every year to barter with the tribes,’ the old chief thought. ‘But for merchants to appear now, with the snows falling so heavily, is a little strange.’

But the temptation of money was something no one could refuse. Even the Wilderness People knew the value of these round, thumb-sized objects.

“Very well, but you must leave first thing tomorrow morning.” The old Clan Leader took the money pouch, but only took one silver coin from it before handing it back, which surprised Kemish slightly.

“There’s an unused underground wooden hut nearby. It just needs a bit of tidying up and you can stay there.” The old Rabbitman Clan Leader instructed them carefully, then remembered something and warned with a grave expression, “You had best not get any ideas about the young female Rabbit People! Otherwise, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

The three men glanced at a young, white-furred Rabbitman girl in the distance and felt insulted. ‘Who would be interested in a furry creature like that?’

They nodded in agreement and returned to the dwelling the old Rabbitman had told them about.

Pitius watched their disappearing backs, then immediately returned to his own burrow and began to pack his belongings. He stuffed all his worldly possessions into a bundle, hoisted it onto his back, and when he was sure no one was looking, headed south alone.

‘Those three are definitely not merchants!’

‘I’ve lived in the Wilderness my whole life, and I’ve never seen merchants that… shady. Plus, they immediately started asking all about High Cliff Castle and whether there were any powerful nobles in the Wilderness. It all proves they’re up to no good!’

‘They can’t fool the brilliant Lord Pitius!’

‘I’m going to High Cliff Castle to tell the true master of the Wilderness about these schemers. And I’m not asking for much in return. I just hope that Lord Levi will take my mother on as a Maid. Then my own status will rise accordingly.’