The sky was beginning to darken as he approached the Newblade estate. Outside, two guards remained still as statues, noting the approaching carriage.
When Ken was helped out of his carriage with the driver’s help, a man who had taken a hefty payment from him to drive the carriage for a month. The Newblade guards at the front straightened further. Here was an honoured guest of their family, one who had helped them so much.
Yue wheeled Ken towards them. Ken realised it was a little awkward to have Yue wheel him since Nana didn’t have anything to do, and Yue still acted as his liaison to make money with the commerce guild.
He snapped out of his thoughts when he was in front of the guards. “Good evening, I apologise for bothering you this late, but I’ve come to speak with Patriarch Newblade if he is in.”
“Good evening, Arrayist Ken. Please enter,” the guard said, looking at the two escorts beside him, but saying nothing about them.
Ken was wheeled inside, seeing how the estate had changed due to his recommendations. As he was wheeled towards one of the pavilions outside, Patriarch Newblade came into sight, followed by two of his own guards.
“Arrayist Ken, I did not expect to see you so soon.” Patriarch Newblade smiled, though he worried why Ken was here. He recalled being unable to save Chandi from a fight when Ken had gone.
“I was just wishing to speak with you before I left.”
“Left? Are you leaving the town?” Patriarch Newblade asked.
“Yes. I have some business I need to attend to, and things are a little heated. I only have a couple of hours before I will be targeted.” Ken talked about his life being threatened so casually to the Patriarch.
“Is it about the advice you had given us earlier?”
“That’s right. I assume it’s been some time since they fixed the array?”
“That’s right. I gave a warning to my own to make sure they retreated after six hours.”
“Good. I am certain that the Arrayists didn’t manage to fix it properly.”
“Why are you so certain?” Patriarch Newblade asked, before continuing quickly, “not that I doubt your abilities.”
“Let’s say it’s a hunch. I gave them such a large hint, but I don’t think they noticed the bigger picture.” Ken couldn’t say more, otherwise he would be unable to peacefully work the array when he next came around the area.
“What was the matter you wished to speak about?” Patriarch Newblade asked, taking a seat and offering Ken some tea.
“I was wondering if Hana would want to work under me,” Ken said. “I think it might be useful to have someone from nobility around me in order to protect myself from any obvious attacks.” Ken looked up at Patriarch Newblade, realising he was being too forward. “I trust you enough, Patriarch Newblade, to also understand that this is a benefit for your family.”
“What you’re saying isn’t unreasonable.” The Patriarch was glad he wasn’t drinking the tea when Ken revealed his wish, otherwise he would have spat it out. “I’ll call for Hana immediately!”
[Thank the heavens I didn’t send her into the dungeon.]
Hana was sent for, and she quickly arrived. She saw Ken, bowing her head slightly and raising her hands politely. “Arrayist Ken.”
“Young Miss Hana. I’ve come to offer you the chance of working with me.”
“Working with you?” Hana asked, looking to her father for guidance.
“I was hoping that you would reconsider the offer of joining me.”
Hana could feel her face flush red with anger. She clenched her fists and her voice grew cold. “I believe I have stated my intentions previously, Arrayist Ken. Isn’t this inappropriate.”
[This useless father! How could he think about selling me off again?]
“Hana, be careful with your words. Arrayist Ken, please forgive her impudence.”
Ken raised a hand. “It’s no matter. I came to offer you against since I was leaving, and thought you would appreciate it. It seems I was wrong. I’m very sorry for bothering you.” Ken bowed his head to her.
Hana quickly calmed down, turning red with embarrassment instead. “Please raise your head, Arrayist Ken. I have taken your good intentions and wish to thank you for them, but I must refuse.”
“What a shame. Well, I should be leaving.” Ken placed down a few scrolls and talismans, as well as a few pills. “Please take these as my parting gifts.”
“Please allow me to retrieve a gift for you as well before you leave,” Patriarch Newblade said, before then sending for a sword. It was a high grade earth sword, one that would be given to a Young Master.
“I won’t refuse your good intentions,” Ken said, even though he had a greater blade. He realised that it would be a good idea to have two sword, one which he would wear publicly as the cripple, and another which he could use for another identity, when he wasn’t crippled.
He had hoped he had made enough good will for Hana to reconsider, since she was such a beautiful girl, but also because it could have led to a pathway to a different kind of relationship with this family. He didn’t mind being tied down to the family through marital ties since the Newblade family had risked quite a bit on defending him.
“I hope that our paths cross again,” Ken said.
“I as well, Arrayist Ken.”
With that, Ken left, keeping the sword on his lap so that others would see it and rumours would spread. The other blade he had received from the Commerce Head, had been stowed away in the spatial ring, so no one had seen it.
“Let’s head to the inn and get the other two before we continue.”
They returned to the inn, seeing Gin with a drunken grin on his face, and a filled gourd. He waved at Ken, swaying from foot to foot. “Kind cripple Ken! Cheers to you!”
Ken facepalmed. “Let’s head to Mill Blackforge’s store.”
They were given directions to the store, which was already closing up.
“Smith Blackforge,” Ken called out.
“We’re closed for the day,” Mill said, not even looking back at him.
“What a shame, I was hoping that I could procure a few items before I leave. Perhaps you have time for me to say goodbye at least?”
She looked back to see Ken, her eyes flashing with surprise. “Arrayist Ken! You’re leaving?”
“That’s right. I have some other matters to attend to and thought it was a good time to leave.”
Mill looked to the escorts around him and then back to him. “I see. I wish you the best of luck. Were you here to buy a few weapons?”
“If it’s not a bother, Smith Blackforge.”
“Since it’s you…” She nodded her head. “What do you need?”
He looked to the escorts. “Pick a high grade earth weapon,” Ken said.
Lan and the twins looked at him in surprise, and Gin raised his gourd. “Cheers to the kind cripple!”
“Except you, you can have a middle grade earth weapon,” Ken said.
“Ah! Come on now! Uh, cheers to Arrayist Ken!” Gin grinned wider, chuckling.
“Fine.”
The twins looked at one another and then to Ken. Lan nodded his head and walked inside. “I shouldn’t be surprised since it’s you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Ken said, smiling. He looked to his slaves and to Emerald. “You guys can buy a high grade earth weapon too.”
“Master has already bought me a high grade earth claw,” Chandi said, raising her hand to show the weapon.
“Just accept it,” Ken said, looking away from them. “You two too.” He looked to Nana and Yue. “You will be learning martial arts soon, so pick a weapon that you’d like.”
“Yes, master!” The three replied.
Ken looked to Emerald. “What about you?”
“I don’t need a weapon,” Emerald replied.
“I won’t force you.” Ken smiled up at her. He had already seen how powerful she was without a weapon so believed it.
They each bought themselves weapons. Gin and Lan bought swords, the twins Lily and Ash bought spears, Chandi bought a claw, and Yue and Nana bought swords too. Ken wondered if they actually spent time thinking about which weapons they wanted, or they picked the most common weapon.
Ken placed down the gold coins for the weapons, which had totalled close to 350 gold coins, roughly fifty for each weapon. He also placed down a couple of arrays. “A gift from me to you,” he said.
“Can I let you go without giving you a gift?”
“I already received quite the sword from the Newblade family,” Ken said, allowing her to spread rumours for him. “Don’t worry about me.”
“At least take this,” she said, offering him an axe. “It’s a high grade earth axe which I recently made. I made it for fun in order to test out a few things, so don’t refuse it.”
“I’m sorry for not being able to speak with you more often. Things were a little hectic and I was so busy.”
“Next time you come around, you’d better treat me to some drinks.”
“You can trust him on that!” Gin offered on Ken’s behalf.
[I should have exchanged him for another Martial Expert.]
The sky was beginning to darken as he approached the Newblade estate. Outside, two guards remained still as statues, noting the approaching carriage.
When Ken was helped out of his carriage with the driver’s help, a man who had taken a hefty payment from him to drive the carriage for a month. The Newblade guards at the front straightened further. Here was an honoured guest of their family, one who had helped them so much.
Yue wheeled Ken towards them. Ken realised it was a little awkward to have Yue wheel him since Nana didn’t have anything to do, and Yue still acted as his liaison to make money with the commerce guild.
He snapped out of his thoughts when he was in front of the guards. “Good evening, I apologise for bothering you this late, but I’ve come to speak with Patriarch Newblade if he is in.”
“Good evening, Arrayist Ken. Please enter,” the guard said, looking at the two escorts beside him, but saying nothing about them.
Ken was wheeled inside, seeing how the estate had changed due to his recommendations. As he was wheeled towards one of the pavilions outside, Patriarch Newblade came into sight, followed by two of his own guards.
“Arrayist Ken, I did not expect to see you so soon.” Patriarch Newblade smiled, though he worried why Ken was here. He recalled being unable to save Chandi from a fight when Ken had gone.
“I was just wishing to speak with you before I left.”
“Left? Are you leaving the town?” Patriarch Newblade asked.
“Yes. I have some business I need to attend to, and things are a little heated. I only have a couple of hours before I will be targeted.” Ken talked about his life being threatened so casually to the Patriarch.
“Is it about the advice you had given us earlier?”
“That’s right. I assume it’s been some time since they fixed the array?”
“That’s right. I gave a warning to my own to make sure they retreated after six hours.”
“Good. I am certain that the Arrayists didn’t manage to fix it properly.”
“Why are you so certain?” Patriarch Newblade asked, before continuing quickly, “not that I doubt your abilities.”
“Let’s say it’s a hunch. I gave them such a large hint, but I don’t think they noticed the bigger picture.” Ken couldn’t say more, otherwise he would be unable to peacefully work the array when he next came around the area.
“What was the matter you wished to speak about?” Patriarch Newblade asked, taking a seat and offering Ken some tea.
“I was wondering if Hana would want to work under me,” Ken said. “I think it might be useful to have someone from nobility around me in order to protect myself from any obvious attacks.” Ken looked up at Patriarch Newblade, realising he was being too forward. “I trust you enough, Patriarch Newblade, to also understand that this is a benefit for your family.”
“What you’re saying isn’t unreasonable.” The Patriarch was glad he wasn’t drinking the tea when Ken revealed his wish, otherwise he would have spat it out. “I’ll call for Hana immediately!”
[Thank the heavens I didn’t send her into the dungeon.]
Hana was sent for, and she quickly arrived. She saw Ken, bowing her head slightly and raising her hands politely. “Arrayist Ken.”
“Young Miss Hana. I’ve come to offer you the chance of working with me.”
“Working with you?” Hana asked, looking to her father for guidance.
“I was hoping that you would reconsider the offer of joining me.”
Hana could feel her face flush red with anger. She clenched her fists and her voice grew cold. “I believe I have stated my intentions previously, Arrayist Ken. Isn’t this inappropriate.”
[This useless father! How could he think about selling me off again?]
“Hana, be careful with your words. Arrayist Ken, please forgive her impudence.”
Ken raised a hand. “It’s no matter. I came to offer you against since I was leaving, and thought you would appreciate it. It seems I was wrong. I’m very sorry for bothering you.” Ken bowed his head to her.
Hana quickly calmed down, turning red with embarrassment instead. “Please raise your head, Arrayist Ken. I have taken your good intentions and wish to thank you for them, but I must refuse.”
“What a shame. Well, I should be leaving.” Ken placed down a few scrolls and talismans, as well as a few pills. “Please take these as my parting gifts.”
“Please allow me to retrieve a gift for you as well before you leave,” Patriarch Newblade said, before then sending for a sword. It was a high grade earth sword, one that would be given to a Young Master.
“I won’t refuse your good intentions,” Ken said, even though he had a greater blade. He realised that it would be a good idea to have two sword, one which he would wear publicly as the cripple, and another which he could use for another identity, when he wasn’t crippled.
He had hoped he had made enough good will for Hana to reconsider, since she was such a beautiful girl, but also because it could have led to a pathway to a different kind of relationship with this family. He didn’t mind being tied down to the family through marital ties since the Newblade family had risked quite a bit on defending him.
“I hope that our paths cross again,” Ken said.
“I as well, Arrayist Ken.”
With that, Ken left, keeping the sword on his lap so that others would see it and rumours would spread. The other blade he had received from the Commerce Head, had been stowed away in the spatial ring, so no one had seen it.
“Let’s head to the inn and get the other two before we continue.”
They returned to the inn, seeing Gin with a drunken grin on his face, and a filled gourd. He waved at Ken, swaying from foot to foot. “Kind cripple Ken! Cheers to you!”
Ken facepalmed. “Let’s head to Mill Blackforge’s store.”
They were given directions to the store, which was already closing up.
“Smith Blackforge,” Ken called out.
“We’re closed for the day,” Mill said, not even looking back at him.
“What a shame, I was hoping that I could procure a few items before I leave. Perhaps you have time for me to say goodbye at least?”
She looked back to see Ken, her eyes flashing with surprise. “Arrayist Ken! You’re leaving?”
“That’s right. I have some other matters to attend to and thought it was a good time to leave.”
Mill looked to the escorts around him and then back to him. “I see. I wish you the best of luck. Were you here to buy a few weapons?”
“If it’s not a bother, Smith Blackforge.”
“Since it’s you…” She nodded her head. “What do you need?”
He looked to the escorts. “Pick a high grade earth weapon,” Ken said.
Lan and the twins looked at him in surprise, and Gin raised his gourd. “Cheers to the kind cripple!”
“Except you, you can have a middle grade earth weapon,” Ken said.
“Ah! Come on now! Uh, cheers to Arrayist Ken!” Gin grinned wider, chuckling.
“Fine.”
The twins looked at one another and then to Ken. Lan nodded his head and walked inside. “I shouldn’t be surprised since it’s you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Ken said, smiling. He looked to his slaves and to Emerald. “You guys can buy a high grade earth weapon too.”
“Master has already bought me a high grade earth claw,” Chandi said, raising her hand to show the weapon.
“Just accept it,” Ken said, looking away from them. “You two too.” He looked to Nana and Yue. “You will be learning martial arts soon, so pick a weapon that you’d like.”
“Yes, master!” The three replied.
Ken looked to Emerald. “What about you?”
“I don’t need a weapon,” Emerald replied.
“I won’t force you.” Ken smiled up at her. He had already seen how powerful she was without a weapon so believed it.
They each bought themselves weapons. Gin and Lan bought swords, the twins Lily and Ash bought spears, Chandi bought a claw, and Yue and Nana bought swords too. Ken wondered if they actually spent time thinking about which weapons they wanted, or they picked the most common weapon.
Ken placed down the gold coins for the weapons, which had totalled close to 350 gold coins, roughly fifty for each weapon. He also placed down a couple of arrays. “A gift from me to you,” he said.
“Can I let you go without giving you a gift?”
“I already received quite the sword from the Newblade family,” Ken said, allowing her to spread rumours for him. “Don’t worry about me.”
“At least take this,” she said, offering him an axe. “It’s a high grade earth axe which I recently made. I made it for fun in order to test out a few things, so don’t refuse it.”
“I’m sorry for not being able to speak with you more often. Things were a little hectic and I was so busy.”
“Next time you come around, you’d better treat me to some drinks.”
“You can trust him on that!” Gin offered on Ken’s behalf.
[I should have exchanged him for another Martial Expert.]
