The baron looked around without hiding his obviously disgusted face. The people, dirty and tattered stepped back in fear.
They knew who Octavius was. It was a matter of pride that a noble that ruled a territory must be known within that territory.
There were several reasons for this. First, was respect. If the baron came here, and no one knew who he was, they might disrespect him.
If his fellow aristocrat knew he was disrespected by commoners, it would bring great shame to his name.
Other than that, it was very satisfying to see the way the peasants looked at him. Something about their gaze made him feel superior. He felt like a god that could decide their fate with nothing but a single word.
However, his pleasure soon became annoyance. He stomped his luxurious scepter on the ground and demanded. "What is this? Is this how you treat your lord? Where is my chair? Where is my drinks and entertainment?"
The people looked around in confusion. Who would consider giving the lord something like that during this time?
"You!" Drakon pointed. "Come here!"
A man hesitantly approached the lord and bowed. "What do you need of me, my lord?"
"You still dare to ask? Humph!" Drakon raised his scepter and struck the man's head.
The man screamed in pain and fell on the floor.
"You incompetence! As a subordinate, you should know how to attend to my needs!" Drakon struck the man over and over again, splashing blood all over the place.
"Please stop. Have mercy, my lord."
Lord Drakon raised his feet and stomped the man's face. Smearing the man's lips with dirt and stain. "I have enough of you fools! Kill him!"
Two guards approached and raised their sword.
The man widened his eyes in fear. He couldn't believe that the lord was truly planning to kill him.
As the guards approached, their form were covered in silhouette as the sun set behind them, blinding the poor man.
The guards swung their blade and the man closed his eyes.
Clang!
The man heard the sound, but he soon realized that he didn't die. Opening his eyes, he saw another figure in front of him, blocking the two sword with his forearm.
Everyone cheered silently, relieved that Aldred came to the rescue.
"Lord Drakon. Why do you have a need to kill this poor man?"
"Why? Fail to entertain the lord is a sign of incompetence! I do not tolerate incompetence and his punishment will be an example for all of my subjects."
Drakon then realized something. "Wait, you are Aldred. So you come to accept my invitation after all. Haha! I knew you wouldn't take long to come to me."
Aldred shook his head. "I am not here to join you."
"THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON OF ONE MY PLANET?"
"He saved this planet you dumb fuck!" someone said in the crowd.
"Who said that?!" Drakon gritted his teeth in anger. How dare someone mocked in him in public!
"And what did you say? Save the planet? Without the super soldiers, what can you do? Look at all of these destructions? You called this as saving the planet."
Drakon spat on the ground. "Don't think too highly of yourself." He circled around Aldred while staring at him as if he was an inferior being. "You're just a single person with some power. You think you're so special? You are nothing but dirt. There are far more powerful people than you."
Drakon grinned. "I know exactly what you want. You're the hero type. You like saving people aren't you? Don't you want more power so you can save more people?"
Laughing, Drakon said: "Seems like I gave you the wrong first impression. I am a person that can sell dream but unlike others, I can turn that dream into reality. If you pledge your allegiance to me, I will give you power to protect humanity if you so wish."
"What do you think?" Drakon asked.
"I don't need your power," Aldred replied. "And I am not doing this for free either. You're going to pay me for reducing the casualties of your planet."
Drakon was silent at first but then he burst into laughter. "I thought too highly of you."
The lord reached into his pocket and then threw a bunch of strange coins on the floor. "Now pick up those coins like a starving peasants."
Drakon turned around and entered his ship before leaving immediately.
Aldred just stood there. "Seems like we aren't getting paid."
"What the hell are you talking about. He gave us those coins," Salamander said.
"What the hell are we going to do with just a bunch of coins? Besides, I've never seen anyone use coins for transactions since I am here."
Salamander sighed and picked up all the coins. He then scanned the coins with his comms and the coins all vanished.
"What?"
Salamander checked his balance account. "Oh, he's quite generous."
"How much did he gave us?" Aldred asked.
"Enough to buy us a battleship." Salamander smiled.
Aldred shrugged. "Well, at least we got that out of the way."
He then looked at Shuzib. "Have anyone inform you about your family yet?"
Shuzib shook his head. "It's fine. Maybe they are outside the city. It's no big deal. The super soldiers said that the xenos and demons were mainly attacking this city."
Aldred nodded. "Also, didn't you said that you were enslaved by Lord Drakon? Is your family enslaved as well?"
"They are, but it's actually not that hard for us to escape. Lord Drakon barely ever saw our faces. That's why I am not scared when he was in front of me. He has millions of slaves, even if thousands escaped, he wouldn't notice a thing."
"So, what's our next move?" Salamander asked. "Our mission on this planet is over. The people can rebuild their societies by themselves. We don't have to help them in that part."
"I guess, we continue to find the thing we're looking for."
Everyone nodded.
"Shuzib, I hope you will respect your promise and guide us to the Chronicles of Ascendria."
Shuzib nodded. "I will be your guide until you find it."
Aldred stretched his body. "However, before we leave this planet, I want to relax a bit."
After the intense battle and the encounter with Lord Drakon, Aldred and his companions decided to take a few days to relax and unwind before embarking on their next mission.
They found a peaceful spot near a pristine lake, surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowers. The serene atmosphere was a stark contrast to the chaos they had faced, providing a much-needed respite for the weary warriors.
Aldred, Salamander, Shinari, Cleome, and Shuzib spent their days enjoying the tranquility of nature and each other's company. They set up camp near the lake, creating a comfortable space with soft blankets and pillows. Salamander, being the expert cook among them, prepared delicious meals using local ingredients they had gathered.
"That guy knows how to do everything," Aldred said.
Cleome and Shinari agreed.
"I agree with you. I don't know if we can live without him."
During the days, they explored the nearby forests and hills, discovering hidden waterfalls, exotic plants, and fascinating wildlife.
Cleome and Shinari, with their keen senses, identified various herbs and plants, sharing their knowledge with the group.
Shuzib, despite his initial reserved nature, gradually opened up, sharing stories from his past and teaching them about the customs and traditions of his people.
He now trusted Aldred and the others. After all, they had truly done a lot for the people on this planet.
In the evenings, they gathered around a campfire, sharing tales of their adventures and dreams for the future.
Shuzib strummed a soothing melody on his guitar, filling the air with music that harmonized with the sounds of nature. They laughed, exchanged jokes, and even engaged in friendly competitions, showcasing their unique skills.
Aldred, ever curious, practiced his abilities, manipulating the elements around him to create mesmerizing displays of light and fire.
He crafted intricate patterns in the night sky, leaving his companions in awe of his mastery over his powers.
The sight of Aldred's abilities fascinated Shuzib, who observed with wide-eyed wonder, realizing the true extent of his newfound allies' capabilities.
"Incredible!" Shuzib exclaimed. "I've never seen someone with your power before. The way you use your abilities are very unique."
"Did I told him that I don't come from this galaxy?"
"Ah, that explains it."
A different region within the galaxy could result in a completely different way of using magic. If Aldred came from a different galaxy, then it would be weird if his magic was the same as the magic here.
And then Shuzib asked for more details about Aldred's hometown.
Under the starlit sky, they shared their hopes and fears, forging a stronger bond among them.
Cleome, with her sharp intuition, sensed a deeper connection between them. She was happy to make more friends and create deeper connection.
After all, that was what make humanity whole: Emotional connection among each other.
