"Haha, the youth of today are truly exceptional! My humble shop welcomes you, Young Master, and the great sirs and madams here as well. My name is Oliver Frenq, at your service." The fellow made a noble bow which was reciprocated by everyone else as they introduced themselves one by one.
The boyfriend of the Journeyman lady who had warned Darius out of goodwill was first to do so.
He had blond hair, light blue eyes, as well as a handsome face, and a lanky body. Darius could tell he was an Adept mage as well. "My name is Jonathan Silverwater, pleased to meet you all."
The girlfriend herself curtsied next, her delightful voice ringing in the room. "I'm Genevieve Kirlio. It's my pleasure to speak to you all."
Another woman who was in the room, an Adept fighter who had a cold expression and the most beautiful visage Darius had come across so far, also introduced herself. "The name's Henrietta Diavolo. A pleasure to interact with you all."
The final person, the old man who wore casual clothes and had a light stubble introduced himself last. "I'm Valentine Debrau, but you may know me as Kubrick."
Once he mentioned his name, everyone's eyes lit up, including Darius'. At once, they all rushed over to the old man and shook his hand one by one, like star-struck fans meeting their idol.
Jonathan looked humbled. "It's an honor to meet you, sir."
Genevieve looked shy, like a young maiden seeing her role model. "S-Same for me…"
Henrietta was more forward. She greeted Kubrick and showed fighting spirit. "Great hero, if you are free, I want to spar with you!"
Oliver, the merchant, shook hands with Kubrick and smiled. "I hope these items are, at least, somewhat to your liking Great Sir. In fact, I have an idea I will share when we are done."
Kubrick chuckled and received everyone's enthusiasm calmly. He shook hands with Jonathan and complemented his Mind Power's concentration, telling him to focus on condensing it more.
Jonathan accepted the praise and the pointer with glee. Next, Kubrick told his girlfriend, Genevieve, to focus on her Shadowmancy and practice intensely during dawn and dusk if she wanted to breakthrough.
Enlightened, Genevieve bowed and thanked Kubrick profusely. Kubrick next told Henrietta that he would love to spar with her, but asked her to go easy on him. The whole crowd laughed as they knew it was impossible for this woman to give this man trouble.
As for Oliver, Kubrick told him that anything could be discussed when the time was right. Finally, the old fellow gazed at Darius with an appreciative but curious glance.
"Lad, for all the others, I can see through them. Only you and the friend behind you are strange. It's like... while you are part of us, you are also simultaneously ruled by a separate system of laws." He noted with a pleasant tone.
Darius nodded, but inwardly, his eyes flashed. As expected of the nation's greatest man. Kubrick was an entity as old as the Andrato Kingdom, being the protector who had been sent here with Julietta to found this kingdom.
He had lived over 300 years and had been the bedrock of this kingdom's existence ever since. Why didn't Fraterina just invade and claim Andrato back? Why didn't the nearby kingdoms annex or try to turn the Royal Faction into puppets?
The answer was Kubrick!
He was an Adept mage that was at the cusp of his stage, although some rumored him to be a Master-stage expert masquerading as an Adept to lower the guard of enemies before striking them down.
The reasons for these rumors started after a powerful Master-stage mage from a nearby kingdom had represented his nation that wanted to 'merge' with Andrato. Of course, this basically meant that they were using force to annex the kingdom and claim its territory.
To make things civil, both nations chose a representative to duel in a friendly battle. Whoever won would decide the fate of the kingdom.
If Kubrick won, Andrato would be left alone for 1000 years, if it was their man, they would claim Andrato without insurgency.
Getting a free kingdom without bloodshed... that other kingdom had already dreamed about becoming part of history for creating a record for the fastest bloodless takeover.
However, after the duel between Kubrick and the master-stage expert, they had been left speechless at their loss!
The entirety of Fallon Continent, who had their eyes on this matter, was shocked! The master-stage expert had only stated one phrase as he passed out.
"Definitely not Adept, but not Grandmaster!"
As such, everyone assumed Kubrick was a Master-stage expert, hence the respect and worship from Adepts in the kingdom. After all, it was thanks to him that they still had their sovereignty and were not the playthings of bigger empires.
Kubrick himself had neither affirmed nor denied his stage. Apart from the time he stated that the Adept-stage was where he stood, he had never commented about his power since then.
Darius wasn't too surprised that Kubrick could see some aspect of the Supreme System's laws on him and Gunner. After all, the Supreme System was powerful enough to overwrite the native laws of this world, so anyone powerful enough could tell that Darius and Gunner were 'unique'.
However, Kubrick was the Royal Court's Mage Advisor. A person like him was perpetually holed up in the Royal Castle protecting the Royal Family... since when did he have time to come to Listo?
Of course, Darius knew why. His mission and its rewards seemed to have galvanized many interesting fellows. However, he felt it to be hard for this man to enter the Plains of Death, for he would be dooming the Royal Family then.
The rewards Darius offered was far from enough to abandon the Royal Family. As such, Darius was beginning to wonder if there was some kind of plot at play, which was what all the other upper echelon in Andrato were wondering ever since the Royal Faction had moved to the Mercenary Guild's aid.
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