The Newblade estate was quite large, though nowhere near as large as the other greater families, like Ken’s own. There were several pavilions all around, as well as a small outpost towards one edge of the estate.
The gate was quite large, the top of the gate made from a dragon flying, and the sides were made of some kind of foreign stone. Being a noble, Ken wondered if the dragon was a guardian of the family.
"Who are you and state your business!" A guard at the gate said, before the other guard elbowed him.
"You idiot, use your brain and your eyes!” The female guard then looked to Ken, smiling at him. “Is this the sir Alchemist?”
"That's right,” Ken said. “Though I would prefer to go by Arrayist.”
“I apologise for my foolishness,” she said, bowing slightly.
The other guard took the chance to bow as well. “I apologise, young Alchemist! I had eyes but could not see Mount Tai.”
“You were just doing your job, oh good guard. I’ve come to speak with…” Ken paused for a long while. He hadn’t actually introduced himself properly to the Newblade man, and didn’t know what their rank was.
“I’ll call for the Patriarch,” the woman said, bowing slightly and then leaving.
The male guard remained outside, looking around awkwardly. He looked to Ken, seeing his legs, and then to Yue and Chandi. He seemed unsure of whether to mention the fact that one of his guards was afflicted with the disease of being born not human, but for once, he kept his lips sealed.
The Patriarch quickly arrived, and it was the man from the party. He was middle aged with long hair and a short beard.
“I greet you, Patriarch Newblade.”
“I greet you, Arrayist Ken,” he said. The female guard beside him smiled slightly, taking her place at the gate again.
“I’ve come to speak about the matter from the party,” Ken said.
“Then please allow me to welcome you into our humble estate,” Patriarch Newblade said, leading Ken and his guards inside.
There was a guard nearby him at all times, but he remained out of obvious sight, instead allowing the Patriarch to move somewhat unrestrained.
“What a lovely estate you have,” Ken said as he was led into an open pavilion, one where there was a fanciful sofa and tables.
“It’s nothing worth mentioning,” Patriarch Newblade replied, his arms motioning for him to sit, but he quickly crossed his arms again, having momentarily forgotten that Ken was crippled.
“Is there a section which has been cleared for me to do my alchemy?” Ken asked.
“Ah, yes. We have prepared a room for your alchemy. There is a small bath, as well as a place to sleep and relax.”
“Good, good. Is there also a place where I can cultivate in peace as well?” Ken asked.
“We will move a boulder to your room. We have a jade boulder which assists in cultivation.”
Ken’s eyes flashed with alarm for a moment. He hadn’t expected the Patriarch to offer him such a wonderful item to use. A jade boulder was something which could increase one’s cultivation by at least 50%, and usually it was much more than that. Only the Elders or the Patriarch would have access to it.
[[Oh? They’re quite nice to you.]]
“Since you’ve offered, then I can only accept.” Ken smiled with his eyes towards the Newblade Patriarch.
It seemed that the Newblade family was wishing to create a deeper relationship with him. Ken wondered if he should accept the relationship, since there may come a time when a greater power could infringe on their relationship.
“Would you like some tea?” The Patriarch asked, nodding his head towards a servant nearby, who quickly rushed off.
“This one will thank you. I am always a fan of drinking tea when taking treasures form others.” Ken chuckled.
The Patriarch smiled as they settled down together. The tea was quickly brought, and some incense was burnt nearby. Ken sniffed the air to see whether it was a toxic incense, but it seemed to be quite normal.
Ken raised the cloth of his mask to slowly sip the tea, which tasted extremely sweet. It had taken him aback, but soon some bland biscuit were brought. With the fairly plain biscuits, the tea was muted slightly, and he could enjoy it far more preciously.
“Have you heard of the small realm?” Patriarch Newblade asked.
“I have. Commerce Head Rojja informed me about it. Is there any news on the front?”
“It seems that it’s a dungeon.”
“Oh?” A dungeon? That was quite precious as well. A dungeon would be far more dangerous for certain, but the treasures within the dungeon would compensate for that danger.
“However, it can only be accessed at certain times. We do not know of the dangers yet. We are allowed to send in a Martial Expert, a Martial Warrior, and however Martial Apprentices for the seats we have seats remaining.”
"Why is it structured so?" Ken asked, thinking about how they could probably send a few more Martial Warriors instead. Martial Warriors weren’t extremely rare for such families, so it was a surprise that they wouldn’t send in a Martial Master, a Martial Expert, and then as many Martial Warriors.
"It is the best way when considering the risks and the rewards. After all, if everyone sent in a Martial Expert, then only the small families would be in danger of being wiped out."
"I see. That does make sense. Losing a Martial Expert would be rough for a minor family, but if you send in more and they all die, your family would be in greater danger…”
“That’s exactly so. There is even the choice of sending in a Peak Martial Warrior instead of a Martial Expert, in order to protect the few Martial Experts we minor families have.”
“Are you planning on sending a Martial Expert?”
The Patriarch nodded. "The chances of gaining something are increased by sending in a Martial Expert. We won’t force any to do our bidding, but we do make it worth their while. If we didn’t send one, then we’d be left with nothing, which is worse than sending in someone and having them die.”
"Well, at the very least, you can afford this hobbyist Alchemist,” Ken joked. “When does the dungeon open?”
"Unfortunately, it only opens up in six week, and only for a single week. However, there is a powerful array which they are currently trying to break."
"A powerful array? Oh my." Ken smiled, thinking about how much power he suddenly held. "Who is currently trying to break it?"
"The town Arrayists are trying to break it currently. They’ve been hard at work for quite some time already."
"What's the payment?"
"One tenth of all the treasure will be given to the Arrayists, and they do not need to go into the dungeon.”
Ken almost spat out the tea from what the Patriarch had said. A full tenth of the treasure? Even if they were left with trinkets, it would be completely worth it.
“Usually, families will hire outside Martial Apprentices who hold other abilities, offering a fair share of the loot.”
"Did you have anyone filling your Apprentice slot?" Ken asked, wondering if he could slip into the spot if it seemed worth it.
"I thought about sending my second son, who has some minor knowledge in arrays."
"Well, if I'm interested, I wouldn't mind tagging along. How do you split the loot?”
"The loot would be split so that 60% going to the family, 20% going to the Martial Expert, 12% to the Martial Warrior, and 8% to the Martial Apprentice.”
"Interesting." He rubbed his chin. "I suppose there's no point in thinking about it. Who knows? They might not be able to break the array."
"I wouldn't dare suggest they couldn't," Patriarch Newblade replied.
"Well that’s fine. If they need help, It's fine. If they need help, I'd be willing to take the role.” Ken sipped his tea. “For a price.”
Patriarch Newblade chuckled, sipping his tea as well. He was glad that he had the opportunity to form a relationship with Ken.
"Do you wish to enter the vault?” Patriarch Newblade asked as Ken finished his tea.
"Please."
The Newblade estate was quite large, though nowhere near as large as the other greater families, like Ken’s own. There were several pavilions all around, as well as a small outpost towards one edge of the estate.
The gate was quite large, the top of the gate made from a dragon flying, and the sides were made of some kind of foreign stone. Being a noble, Ken wondered if the dragon was a guardian of the family.
"Who are you and state your business!" A guard at the gate said, before the other guard elbowed him.
"You idiot, use your brain and your eyes!” The female guard then looked to Ken, smiling at him. “Is this the sir Alchemist?”
"That's right,” Ken said. “Though I would prefer to go by Arrayist.”
“I apologise for my foolishness,” she said, bowing slightly.
The other guard took the chance to bow as well. “I apologise, young Alchemist! I had eyes but could not see Mount Tai.”
“You were just doing your job, oh good guard. I’ve come to speak with…” Ken paused for a long while. He hadn’t actually introduced himself properly to the Newblade man, and didn’t know what their rank was.
“I’ll call for the Patriarch,” the woman said, bowing slightly and then leaving.
The male guard remained outside, looking around awkwardly. He looked to Ken, seeing his legs, and then to Yue and Chandi. He seemed unsure of whether to mention the fact that one of his guards was afflicted with the disease of being born not human, but for once, he kept his lips sealed.
The Patriarch quickly arrived, and it was the man from the party. He was middle aged with long hair and a short beard.
“I greet you, Patriarch Newblade.”
“I greet you, Arrayist Ken,” he said. The female guard beside him smiled slightly, taking her place at the gate again.
“I’ve come to speak about the matter from the party,” Ken said.
“Then please allow me to welcome you into our humble estate,” Patriarch Newblade said, leading Ken and his guards inside.
There was a guard nearby him at all times, but he remained out of obvious sight, instead allowing the Patriarch to move somewhat unrestrained.
“What a lovely estate you have,” Ken said as he was led into an open pavilion, one where there was a fanciful sofa and tables.
“It’s nothing worth mentioning,” Patriarch Newblade replied, his arms motioning for him to sit, but he quickly crossed his arms again, having momentarily forgotten that Ken was crippled.
“Is there a section which has been cleared for me to do my alchemy?” Ken asked.
“Ah, yes. We have prepared a room for your alchemy. There is a small bath, as well as a place to sleep and relax.”
“Good, good. Is there also a place where I can cultivate in peace as well?” Ken asked.
“We will move a boulder to your room. We have a jade boulder which assists in cultivation.”
Ken’s eyes flashed with alarm for a moment. He hadn’t expected the Patriarch to offer him such a wonderful item to use. A jade boulder was something which could increase one’s cultivation by at least 50%, and usually it was much more than that. Only the Elders or the Patriarch would have access to it.
[[Oh? They’re quite nice to you.]]
“Since you’ve offered, then I can only accept.” Ken smiled with his eyes towards the Newblade Patriarch.
It seemed that the Newblade family was wishing to create a deeper relationship with him. Ken wondered if he should accept the relationship, since there may come a time when a greater power could infringe on their relationship.
“Would you like some tea?” The Patriarch asked, nodding his head towards a servant nearby, who quickly rushed off.
“This one will thank you. I am always a fan of drinking tea when taking treasures form others.” Ken chuckled.
The Patriarch smiled as they settled down together. The tea was quickly brought, and some incense was burnt nearby. Ken sniffed the air to see whether it was a toxic incense, but it seemed to be quite normal.
Ken raised the cloth of his mask to slowly sip the tea, which tasted extremely sweet. It had taken him aback, but soon some bland biscuit were brought. With the fairly plain biscuits, the tea was muted slightly, and he could enjoy it far more preciously.
“Have you heard of the small realm?” Patriarch Newblade asked.
“I have. Commerce Head Rojja informed me about it. Is there any news on the front?”
“It seems that it’s a dungeon.”
“Oh?” A dungeon? That was quite precious as well. A dungeon would be far more dangerous for certain, but the treasures within the dungeon would compensate for that danger.
“However, it can only be accessed at certain times. We do not know of the dangers yet. We are allowed to send in a Martial Expert, a Martial Warrior, and however Martial Apprentices for the seats we have seats remaining.”
"Why is it structured so?" Ken asked, thinking about how they could probably send a few more Martial Warriors instead. Martial Warriors weren’t extremely rare for such families, so it was a surprise that they wouldn’t send in a Martial Master, a Martial Expert, and then as many Martial Warriors.
"It is the best way when considering the risks and the rewards. After all, if everyone sent in a Martial Expert, then only the small families would be in danger of being wiped out."
"I see. That does make sense. Losing a Martial Expert would be rough for a minor family, but if you send in more and they all die, your family would be in greater danger…”
“That’s exactly so. There is even the choice of sending in a Peak Martial Warrior instead of a Martial Expert, in order to protect the few Martial Experts we minor families have.”
“Are you planning on sending a Martial Expert?”
The Patriarch nodded. "The chances of gaining something are increased by sending in a Martial Expert. We won’t force any to do our bidding, but we do make it worth their while. If we didn’t send one, then we’d be left with nothing, which is worse than sending in someone and having them die.”
"Well, at the very least, you can afford this hobbyist Alchemist,” Ken joked. “When does the dungeon open?”
"Unfortunately, it only opens up in six week, and only for a single week. However, there is a powerful array which they are currently trying to break."
"A powerful array? Oh my." Ken smiled, thinking about how much power he suddenly held. "Who is currently trying to break it?"
"The town Arrayists are trying to break it currently. They’ve been hard at work for quite some time already."
"What's the payment?"
"One tenth of all the treasure will be given to the Arrayists, and they do not need to go into the dungeon.”
Ken almost spat out the tea from what the Patriarch had said. A full tenth of the treasure? Even if they were left with trinkets, it would be completely worth it.
“Usually, families will hire outside Martial Apprentices who hold other abilities, offering a fair share of the loot.”
"Did you have anyone filling your Apprentice slot?" Ken asked, wondering if he could slip into the spot if it seemed worth it.
"I thought about sending my second son, who has some minor knowledge in arrays."
"Well, if I'm interested, I wouldn't mind tagging along. How do you split the loot?”
"The loot would be split so that 60% going to the family, 20% going to the Martial Expert, 12% to the Martial Warrior, and 8% to the Martial Apprentice.”
"Interesting." He rubbed his chin. "I suppose there's no point in thinking about it. Who knows? They might not be able to break the array."
"I wouldn't dare suggest they couldn't," Patriarch Newblade replied.
"Well that’s fine. If they need help, It's fine. If they need help, I'd be willing to take the role.” Ken sipped his tea. “For a price.”
Patriarch Newblade chuckled, sipping his tea as well. He was glad that he had the opportunity to form a relationship with Ken.
"Do you wish to enter the vault?” Patriarch Newblade asked as Ken finished his tea.
"Please."
