Ken didn’t have much of a chance to ask, as he was brought back to the dungeon many miles away immediately afterwards.
“Do you know anything about the branch?” Ken asked.
Rojja shook his head. “I am confident I would be able to appraise at least half the vault, but this branch…”
“Then didn’t I pick a great item?” Ken chuckled.
“Indeed.” Rojja smiled, glad that he didn’t press the matter any further. It seemed he had made a great choice in befriending the crippled Arrayist Alchemist.
When they finally returned to the dungeon, Ken noticed that the Arrayists were decoding the array. However, he also saw that Chandi was heavily injured, and his three had retreated back.
Emerald wheeled him to the three, and Ken tried to remain calm. He clenched his fists and felt the heat of rage slowly building up, but he inhaled deeply to try and calm himself.
“What happened?” Ken asked the trio, nodding at Patriarch Newblade.
“They forced us away from the array,” Chandi said.
“Why are you injured?”
“Forgive me, Arrayist Ken.” Patriarch Newblade bowed his head slightly. “The Arrayists were a little impatient in moving people back away from the array.”
"I see..." Ken sighed, annoyed by the behaviour of these noble fellows. Even he felt a little ashamed by sharing a similar title to them, even if it was just an unofficial title. “Don’t fret over it, Patriarch Newblade. Thank you for assisting us.”
“Ah! I believe I have it!” One of the Arrayists near the array brought out a brush with paint.
“Oh!”
“The Arrayists are fixing the array!”
“Amazing!”
"Since you aren't going to be fixing the array, perhaps you should return the treasure?” Patriarch Bluewind asked, though it wasn’t much of a request. “This matter can be washed away so simply.”
Ken was already sick of all the politics. “I understand.” He tossed the branch back to the Patriarch, who quickly put it away into one of his rings.
“Let’s leave,” Ken said. “The show will be too boring.” Since the families were so eager to disrespect him, he decided that it would be a good time to go. After all, his presence would only aggravate some of them, and by the time they notice what was happening, it would be too late for them to regret their choice.
The Town Lord was keeping an eye on Ken, just to see if anything was going to happen. Then he saw Ken begin to leave, and he could only guess what would happen when these Arrayists continued to try and fix the array.
[Bluewind, you damn fool.]
"Arrayist Ken, would you be willing to wait a moment?" Town Lord Firewind asked.
"I’m afraid that today’s events have tired me out so I must retire for the night.” Ken tried to hide his smile, and was glad he was wearing a mask still. “"If it's truly important, you can send an envoy to come and pick me up."
[It seems you understand what’s happening. What a shame you didn’t show a little more effort earlier.]
Yue pushed Ken out towards the carriage which had taken him here. Ken looked up to the sky, gazing at the late afternoon sky. He closed his eyes. "It seems it's time for us to leave before we get into greater trouble."
Rojja watched as Ken left, quickly following after him. "Arrayist Ken, is something the matter?" He could feel something was a little off about Ken.
"I believe it is time I should leave this town. I’ve spent quite some time here, and I still have business to attend to elsewhere.”
Rojja was alarmed to hear such news, but he did recall Ken say that he wouldn’t be staying within the town for a long while. “Then is there anything you require from my commerce pavilion?"
"I will pay a visit around dusk, and then I will leave some time after. I might stay the night, I’m unsure at the moment.”
"As you wish."
“Ah, and if you would pass on a message to the various Patriarchs. They should have their people leave the dungeon six hours after the array is fixed. Please stress this to them, as my last bit of advice to them all.”
“I will do as you ask.” Rojja nodded his head towards one of his Martial Experts, who stepped towards Ken. “I will send my man with you so that you aren’t bothered on the way to my commerce pavilion.”
“Many thanks,” Ken replied.
The Martial Expert led him to one of the commerce pavilion’s carriages, and Ken accepted it with gratitude. The Commerce Head had looked after him well, and Ken wouldn’t forget that.
Ken left to the inn and packed his items. The others didn’t need to ask him why he was in such a rush, as they could sense the bad will the families had for them. Once they fixed the array, they no doubt send people inside. Some of them will not realise the problem until too late, as they would no doubt ignore his warnings. Then he’d be in trouble.
He had a quick meal with everyone, rice with mixed vegetables and plenty of meat. It was a delicious meal, and the last he would probably have within this town. “Order whatever else you want,” Ken said to the others. They were flush with coin, so there was no need to be so
Ken made his way to the Commerce Pavilion, where Rojja had recently arrived.
“I apologise for departing so soon, but I have a few gifts, and an item as part of breaking my deal.” Ken placed down a large quantity of all kinds of pills. Most were low grade and middle grade earth pills, but there were plenty of high grade and perfect grade earth pills too. Then there was an additional low grade mountain grade pill, one which he had asked Emerald for.
“To think you would part so soon after being refused entry to the dungeon…” Rojja sighed. “I apologise for not being able to mediate properly.”
“No, no. It was highly likely I would have been able to join, but you know how arrogant Young Masters are.”
“It’s unfortunate that he was so. It may not be my place to say such a thing, but he was quite spoilt from his birth for one reason or another. I wouldn’t take it personally.”
Ken looked up to Rojja, whose eyes were apologetic. “Well, I won’t go out of my way to bother with him.” Ken also placed down a few arrays he had made, mostly scrolls, but a few talismans too. “Here. As a gift from me to you.”
“I won’t stand on ceremony, I will gladly accept them.” Rojja then nodded towards a servant, who took the items. “I have a gift for you as well, and I will have it prepared before you leave.”
“You didn’t have to, but I won’t stand on ceremony either.” Ken laughed.
“The matter with the auctions. I have accepted them on your behalf and they are currently within a safe. Would you like for me to hand them over now? Or would you prefer to accept them from another commerce pavilion?” Rojja stressed the last sentence, focusing Ken’s attention on it.
“I will leave them in the commerce pavilion’s care for now.” Ken understood the intentions behind the words of the Commerce Head.
[So, it’s that bad…]
A sword was brought out to him. “My gift to you,” Rojja said.
Ken looked at it, his eyed wide. “Isn’t this a…”
The sword was low grade mountain.
“I’m not sure I can accept this.”
“Are you standing on ceremony?” Rojja asked.
Ken would need a sword and something like this would be suitable for someone who was a Martial Expert. Should he really accept it?
[No. He’s giving it to me for a reason.]
“I won’t forget what you’ve done for me, Commerce Head.”
Rojja smiled. “I hope so.” Rojja then reached into his robes and placed down a small bronze talisman. It was stamped with the commerce pavilion’s sigil, a stylised coin which was detailed intricately with tiny dragons around its edge. There was also a symbol in the centre, one that Ken couldn’t comprehend.
“I didn’t expect this,” Ken said. The coin was worth quite a lot, though Ken figured that he had dealt with the pavilion enough to earn it.
“You are a valued guest at our commerce pavilion and I would like to keep that relationship in our other pavilions.” Rojja smiled. “You will also be able to use it to withdraw your items from our vaults.”
“It was a pleasure to do business with you, Commerce Head.” Ken bowed his head.
“You as well. If you ever have need, our commerce pavilion will be able to assist you if you reveal this talisman.”
Ken didn’t have much of a chance to ask, as he was brought back to the dungeon many miles away immediately afterwards.
“Do you know anything about the branch?” Ken asked.
Rojja shook his head. “I am confident I would be able to appraise at least half the vault, but this branch…”
“Then didn’t I pick a great item?” Ken chuckled.
“Indeed.” Rojja smiled, glad that he didn’t press the matter any further. It seemed he had made a great choice in befriending the crippled Arrayist Alchemist.
When they finally returned to the dungeon, Ken noticed that the Arrayists were decoding the array. However, he also saw that Chandi was heavily injured, and his three had retreated back.
Emerald wheeled him to the three, and Ken tried to remain calm. He clenched his fists and felt the heat of rage slowly building up, but he inhaled deeply to try and calm himself.
“What happened?” Ken asked the trio, nodding at Patriarch Newblade.
“They forced us away from the array,” Chandi said.
“Why are you injured?”
“Forgive me, Arrayist Ken.” Patriarch Newblade bowed his head slightly. “The Arrayists were a little impatient in moving people back away from the array.”
"I see..." Ken sighed, annoyed by the behaviour of these noble fellows. Even he felt a little ashamed by sharing a similar title to them, even if it was just an unofficial title. “Don’t fret over it, Patriarch Newblade. Thank you for assisting us.”
“Ah! I believe I have it!” One of the Arrayists near the array brought out a brush with paint.
“Oh!”
“The Arrayists are fixing the array!”
“Amazing!”
"Since you aren't going to be fixing the array, perhaps you should return the treasure?” Patriarch Bluewind asked, though it wasn’t much of a request. “This matter can be washed away so simply.”
Ken was already sick of all the politics. “I understand.” He tossed the branch back to the Patriarch, who quickly put it away into one of his rings.
“Let’s leave,” Ken said. “The show will be too boring.” Since the families were so eager to disrespect him, he decided that it would be a good time to go. After all, his presence would only aggravate some of them, and by the time they notice what was happening, it would be too late for them to regret their choice.
The Town Lord was keeping an eye on Ken, just to see if anything was going to happen. Then he saw Ken begin to leave, and he could only guess what would happen when these Arrayists continued to try and fix the array.
[Bluewind, you damn fool.]
"Arrayist Ken, would you be willing to wait a moment?" Town Lord Firewind asked.
"I’m afraid that today’s events have tired me out so I must retire for the night.” Ken tried to hide his smile, and was glad he was wearing a mask still. “"If it's truly important, you can send an envoy to come and pick me up."
[It seems you understand what’s happening. What a shame you didn’t show a little more effort earlier.]
Yue pushed Ken out towards the carriage which had taken him here. Ken looked up to the sky, gazing at the late afternoon sky. He closed his eyes. "It seems it's time for us to leave before we get into greater trouble."
Rojja watched as Ken left, quickly following after him. "Arrayist Ken, is something the matter?" He could feel something was a little off about Ken.
"I believe it is time I should leave this town. I’ve spent quite some time here, and I still have business to attend to elsewhere.”
Rojja was alarmed to hear such news, but he did recall Ken say that he wouldn’t be staying within the town for a long while. “Then is there anything you require from my commerce pavilion?"
"I will pay a visit around dusk, and then I will leave some time after. I might stay the night, I’m unsure at the moment.”
"As you wish."
“Ah, and if you would pass on a message to the various Patriarchs. They should have their people leave the dungeon six hours after the array is fixed. Please stress this to them, as my last bit of advice to them all.”
“I will do as you ask.” Rojja nodded his head towards one of his Martial Experts, who stepped towards Ken. “I will send my man with you so that you aren’t bothered on the way to my commerce pavilion.”
“Many thanks,” Ken replied.
The Martial Expert led him to one of the commerce pavilion’s carriages, and Ken accepted it with gratitude. The Commerce Head had looked after him well, and Ken wouldn’t forget that.
Ken left to the inn and packed his items. The others didn’t need to ask him why he was in such a rush, as they could sense the bad will the families had for them. Once they fixed the array, they no doubt send people inside. Some of them will not realise the problem until too late, as they would no doubt ignore his warnings. Then he’d be in trouble.
He had a quick meal with everyone, rice with mixed vegetables and plenty of meat. It was a delicious meal, and the last he would probably have within this town. “Order whatever else you want,” Ken said to the others. They were flush with coin, so there was no need to be so
Ken made his way to the Commerce Pavilion, where Rojja had recently arrived.
“I apologise for departing so soon, but I have a few gifts, and an item as part of breaking my deal.” Ken placed down a large quantity of all kinds of pills. Most were low grade and middle grade earth pills, but there were plenty of high grade and perfect grade earth pills too. Then there was an additional low grade mountain grade pill, one which he had asked Emerald for.
“To think you would part so soon after being refused entry to the dungeon…” Rojja sighed. “I apologise for not being able to mediate properly.”
“No, no. It was highly likely I would have been able to join, but you know how arrogant Young Masters are.”
“It’s unfortunate that he was so. It may not be my place to say such a thing, but he was quite spoilt from his birth for one reason or another. I wouldn’t take it personally.”
Ken looked up to Rojja, whose eyes were apologetic. “Well, I won’t go out of my way to bother with him.” Ken also placed down a few arrays he had made, mostly scrolls, but a few talismans too. “Here. As a gift from me to you.”
“I won’t stand on ceremony, I will gladly accept them.” Rojja then nodded towards a servant, who took the items. “I have a gift for you as well, and I will have it prepared before you leave.”
“You didn’t have to, but I won’t stand on ceremony either.” Ken laughed.
“The matter with the auctions. I have accepted them on your behalf and they are currently within a safe. Would you like for me to hand them over now? Or would you prefer to accept them from another commerce pavilion?” Rojja stressed the last sentence, focusing Ken’s attention on it.
“I will leave them in the commerce pavilion’s care for now.” Ken understood the intentions behind the words of the Commerce Head.
[So, it’s that bad…]
A sword was brought out to him. “My gift to you,” Rojja said.
Ken looked at it, his eyed wide. “Isn’t this a…”
The sword was low grade mountain.
“I’m not sure I can accept this.”
“Are you standing on ceremony?” Rojja asked.
Ken would need a sword and something like this would be suitable for someone who was a Martial Expert. Should he really accept it?
[No. He’s giving it to me for a reason.]
“I won’t forget what you’ve done for me, Commerce Head.”
Rojja smiled. “I hope so.” Rojja then reached into his robes and placed down a small bronze talisman. It was stamped with the commerce pavilion’s sigil, a stylised coin which was detailed intricately with tiny dragons around its edge. There was also a symbol in the centre, one that Ken couldn’t comprehend.
“I didn’t expect this,” Ken said. The coin was worth quite a lot, though Ken figured that he had dealt with the pavilion enough to earn it.
“You are a valued guest at our commerce pavilion and I would like to keep that relationship in our other pavilions.” Rojja smiled. “You will also be able to use it to withdraw your items from our vaults.”
“It was a pleasure to do business with you, Commerce Head.” Ken bowed his head.
“You as well. If you ever have need, our commerce pavilion will be able to assist you if you reveal this talisman.”
