〈System: Congratulations for becoming the rightful owner of a «Prime Property». To complete the process, please head to the plot and give it a rightful name.〉
After reading through the notification, Kieran's expression slightly changed. 'Oh? It's not exactly what I expected, but it isn't putting me out of my way. Thankfully, I intended to check out the property regardless.'
Since he had decided to check out the property, Kieran also changed the meeting location, requesting Hamon and Sorcia to meet him at the exact coordinates he sent them.
At the same time, he also made preparations for the upcoming dungeon run by asking Sera to acquire certain materials and consumables.
"Judging by the pristine nature of this deed, you must have obtained a piece of prime property, is that correct?" Mayor Lowe asked, handing Kieran the authenticated deed.
"That's correct," Kieran admitted, nodding.
"Excellent! It's to be expected that you shall have nothing less than this standard. Despite its extravagant worth, you'll still need to pay property tax, albeit already heavily discounted given your status in the city. However, all profits shall remain yours. It's the least Aeredale owes you," Mayor Lowe stated.
Though this was all described in the title Kieran possessed, Mayor Lowe felt that he needed to stress this benefit to ease Kieran's mind.
"Aside from this matter, is there anything else that needs addressing?" Mayor Lowe asked.
"Since you've mentioned it earlier, the upcoming auction—may I reserve a seat in it?"
"Eh? Young man, do you take me for an insensitive fool?! I have already reserved a special suite specifically for you!" Mayor Lowe exclaimed in response, feeling as if Kieran was belittling his appreciation.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to offend you, Mayor Lowe. I'm simply the type that's liable to confirm matters outright instead of relying upon hearsay," Kieran genuinely said.
"I understand. After all, that tentative nature will get you far. Sometimes, believing the words of others could lead to your downfall. With that, you have not offended me. Instead, you have deepened my respect for you!" Mayor Lowe revealed a genuine smile as he patted Kieran's shoulders.
Due to the angle Mayor Lowe adopted while clapping Kieran's shoulder, he finally realized the presence enshrouded by Kieran's physique. "Is this lovely lady your lover, young Aatrox?"
"My lover?" Kieran blinked, glancing toward Agatha. However, he quickly shook his head. "Not in the slightest. She's more like my nuisance and colleague-..."
Ssst!
Before Kieran could finish his sentence, Kieran sharply inhaled as an intense pain shot through his torso. This pain was naturally another one of Agatha's pinches, one severe enough to make Kieran react.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you clearly. Could you perhaps say that again?" Agatha remarked coldly.
Her plum-colored hair swayed as a mystical breeze swirled around her body.
"It's a joke, Agatha! A joke!" Kieran exclaimed.
However, Agatha's action led to a situation Kieran didn't suspect.
〈System: An immense threat has been located. Your «Vengeful Soul» is attempting to make contact with the slumbering «Seed of Vengeance»!〉
'What the hell?' Kieran guffawed and blinked exasperatedly.
The last time the Seed of Vengeance reacted to a great stimulus was against Dusvim when Kieran's fury soared to heights that he struggled to contain. But even that situation couldn't compare to this one.
During that incident, Kieran's soul didn't reach out to the Seed of Vengeance. Rather, the Seed of Vengeance was the one that sought the reaction of his soul!
"Agatha, rein in your anger," Kieran warned, using a tone that made Agatha realize that there was something completely amiss.
Thinking back to the matters of his soul and the things she discussed with Hekaina, Agatha understood the gist of the current situation instantly.
As per Kieran's suggestion, Agatha reined in her bloodthirst as she sighed.
〈System: The imminent threat has vanished. Your «Vengeful Soul»'s signal has fallen dormant.〉
'I believe she's even worse than that woman. What a fiery temper. To think someone bearing an ancient Mystic Soul could be angered so easily. Well… it must have something to do with that remnant jealousy in her heart,' Kieran thought.
He naturally didn't speak these thoughts out loud in fear of Agatha's fury igniting once more.
If his Vengeful Soul was successful in contacting the dormant Seed of Vengeance, Kieran wasn't sure what the repercussions would be.
After all, Hekaina had placed a temporary seal on Argexes' blood. Would her efforts be rendered null by the communication of these two powers that exceeded Kieran's knowledge?
While that was happening, Mayor Lowe froze after hearing Kieran address the absolutely stunning woman behind him. "A-Agatha? The Mystic Mistress, Agatha? Of course, of course! No wonder your beauty is simply unrivaled! I can't believe that I'm in the presence of such an unfathomable individual. Please forgive my lack of awareness."
"Oh, no. You're fine," Agatha remarked, nonchalantly waving her hand, but her eyes remained fixated on Kieran while she spoke.
A second later, Kieran received a mental message.
"It was your soul being triggered, wasn't it?"
"Correct. I've never experienced such a thing before. It viewed you as an immense threat."
"Mm… it must be a byproduct of you spiritually binding with a True Relic," Agatha presumed, drawing the most logical conclusion.
After understanding what took place, Agatha spoke candidly. "Next time, you shouldn't be so irritating. You're very annoying."
Hearing that, Kieran was taken aback, looking at Agatha in silence.
There were many things he could address at this moment, but he felt that this was one of the instances where he should simply cut his losses and bury the hatchet as best as possible instead of treading in even murkier waters.
'If not for her unimaginable value in my upcoming quest, I would have tried my best to separate myself from her. Welp…' Kieran ultimately shook his head and decided to bid Mayor Lowe farewell.
…
A short while later…
Kieran approached a large edifice in the bustling part of Aeredale City. Before this edifice stood two people—one middle-aged man and a woman seemingly in her early thirties.
These two people were naturally Hamon and Sorcia, who agreed to meet with Kieran after changing the location.
Hamon, the middle-aged man, was dressed in a simple leather tunic and pants. As he wasn't an Adventurer, he had no reason to equip fancy armor. Instead, all the items he wore were related to boosting his craft.
He had short brown hair and fierce yellow eyes that complemented his scruffy beard. Due to the usual environment, those hairs appeared singed.
"Are ya Aatrox?" Hamon questioned, taking a single step forward.
"That would be me," Kieran answered with a nod.
"What exactly is this item you want to be crafted that it must remain so confidential? No beating around the bush, gimme it straight. I hate folks that beat around the bush the most," Hamon brusquely stated.
"It's not a single item. It's multiple items," Kieran replied.
"Several items? Are ya mad, kid?! Do you know how hard forging is? Ye think I'm a big joke?! My success rate is 16%. I could have continued honing my craft rather than listen to this bullshit!" Hamon scoffed.
Kieran's expression didn't show it, but he inwardly grimaced in response to those words.
'It's just as the rumors said. He's like a bitter old man… then again, it's not like managing his personality is impossible.'
At that moment, Sorcia interjected politely, combing back a few strands of her deep red hair. Her light blue eyes shifted from Kieran and Hamon multiple times before she spoke up.
"If you're interested in items, why did you reach out to an Alchemist like me?"
"Because I'm also interested in potions—several potions. If you two don't understand where I'm going with my words, I'll put it simply—I want to employ both of you," Kieran revealed.
As soon as he revealed his intentions, Sorcia and Hamon's expressions grew complex, perhaps even stale.
"Um, I'm sorry to inform you sir, but I'm not interested in being employed." Sorcia respectfully declined without hearing out Kieran's offer.
"Hell no! Do you think I'm stupid? I won't be tied down by you backhanded fools! I was taken advantage of once before and I've already learned my foolish lesson. I'd be a damned fool to let myself be taken advantage of again," Hamon shouted, scoffing and flailing his arms angrily.
"Pfft." Agatha covered her mouth and snickered behind Kieran, but he ignored her.
'Oh? This must be part of his history.'
Hamon, in real life, was a blacksmith, true to the art.
However, his place of business was snatched away from him after being in his family for generations due to him being unable to pay off his debt.
In this day and age, where burst weaponry was king, blacksmithing was a practice that was pretty much on its deathbed. Unless it was for the sake of collectibles, there weren't many people seeking to commission the work of a blacksmith.
"Are you really not interested in the slightest thing I have to say?" Kieran questioned.
This time, his tone seemed off but not in a way that alarmed Hamon and Sorcia. It more so made them feel as if he was trying to insinuate that they'd be missing out.
"We all want something in this life, don't we? If you're not trusting, how about I extend an olive branch where your commitment may remain undecided."
Before answering, Hamon and Sorcia looked at each other questionably.
"I'm not sure of your backstory… nor am I particularly interested in such a thing. But I can confidently tell you that my origins may very well be below you. I'm not one of those conniving children born with a silver spoon trying to pull one over on you."
"Hmph, that's exactly what one of them would say."
"I suppose you aren't wrong but—
"Aatrox!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from not too far away.
After glancing in the direction of the voice's owner, Kieran could not help but smile. "Right on time, Aspaira. I have a present for you."
"A present?" Aspaira blinked, her gaze brimming with apparent excitement.
"Correct…"
Instead of continuing the conversation with Sorcia and Hamon, Kieran walked up to the building beside them and placed his hand on the door.
〈System: Please name the unnamed «Prime Property»!〉
"The Godhand Bazaar," Kieran answered.
