Lucien activated Basic Dark Magic Spell: Illusion.
A shimring black mist swirled around their faces, cloaking their features in shadow.
Lucien closed his eyes, visualizing the face he wanted. Slowly, the mist began to shift.
It molded and settled into a new image.
A familiar one.
When the spell finished, it was flawless.
To any untrained eye, there was nothing out of place. The illusion was seamless.
Of course, that was thanks to the Divine Energy, making it hard to detect.
Lucien now wore Thornel’s face.
And Edric... looked exactly like Dorian.
When their eyes t, both burst out laughing.
"You look absolutely hideous, Uncle Ed" Lucien grinned.
"Speak for yourself," Edric shot back, chuckling. "I’d cry if I woke up like that."
Their laughter echoed as they continued on their way.
A few minutes passed before Lucien asked.
"Uncle Ed... what’s the deal with those assassins earlier?"
Edric grew quiet with his brows furrowing.
"I’m not sure. But... I’ll say this. The Assassin’s Guild isn’t what it used to be."
Lucien tilted his head.
Edric gave an amused smile as if recalling sothing strange and distant.
"You know... twelve years ago, sothing unbelievable happened. The king’s roar echoed across the entire capital."
Lucien blinked. "His roar?"
Edric nodded.
"It lasted for about a minute, maybe more. I was in the capital then. I heard it clearly. At first, it sounded like he was mourning. Grieving. But halfway through, that sorrow turned to fury. Raw, terrifying fury."
He paused, the smile fading slightly.
"The king has always been calm. Composed. Cold, even. I’ve never seen him show much of anything... almost like a statue. But that day? Sothing broke in him."
Lucien listened closely, fully absorbed.
"There were whispers from inside the castle... that he suddenly bolted from the throne room. No warning. No escort. Just... vanished."
Edric looked off into the distance as if reliving it all.
"They say his first stop was the Assassin’s Guild. You know how their bases constantly shift, always hidden? He found them anyway... and rampaged. But strangely... he didn’t kill anyone. He held back."
Lucien’s brows furrowed. "Why?"
"No one knows. But after that, he stord into the Magic Tower. Sa story. Destruction. Chaos. But no deaths."
"It was like..." Edric’s voice dropped lower. "Like he was searching for soone. And when he didn’t find them, he threw a tantrum big enough to shake the capital."
Lucien’s heart tightened.
’That was twelve years ago... I might have just been born.’
He thought of the king again.
Powerful.
Distant.
Untouchable.
And now? Unpredictable.
’What could have driven soone like that to lose control? Who or what was he looking for?’
Edric gave a small laugh though his tone remained somber.
"Every noble in the capital rembers that day. But none of them dare speak of it... not even in whispers. They’re afraid the king might co knocking next. After all... he’s already at the peak of Tier 9. No one in this kingdom can stop him."
He leaned in slightly, voice playful again.
"So let’s just keep this between us, Nephew. Hahaha!"
Lucien gave a dry chuckle in return though sothing about the story left him deeply unsettled.
Soon...
They finally arrived at the Commoner’s District.
Lucien glanced around, eyes wide with curiosity.
It was nothing like the border territories.
The streets were clean and wide with well-maintained stone roads stretching far ahead. The buildings were modest but their charm was undeniable.
Each ho was uniquely painted with little details that reflected the personality of those who lived inside.
It wasn’t as extravagant as the noble estates. Not even close...
But to Lucien, there was sothing comforting about it all.
Children ran and played without a care in the world. Neighbors gathered in front of their hos, laughing and chatting like family.
Lucien took a deep breath, letting the peaceful atmosphere sink in.
’So this is what normal life in the capital feels like...’
Carriages rumbled by from ti to ti.
So people rode mounts.
Horses. Wolves. Even a few exotic beasts.
But none drew as much attention as their golden drakes.
The mont the drakes passed, heads turned.
Young boys stared in awe, whispering how cool they looked. Girls peeked from behind corners, their eyes shimring with fascination.
Others, especially the adults, were more cautious. They glanced with quiet wariness, clearly sensing the presence of nobles.
A few excited children even tried to approach, only to be pulled back quickly by anxious parents.
Lucien sighed, watching the quiet reactions unfold.
’If I weren’t in disguise... I would’ve loved to talk to them. Ask them about the city. Their favorite places. Their stories...’
They pressed on.
As they rode deeper into the district, other mounts instinctively moved to the sides of the road... unable to match the sheer presence of the drakes.
Even from afar, people continued to watch with admiration in their eyes... but also a respectful distance.
After nearly an hour of riding, they finally arrived at the heart of the market.
"Look, Nephew," Edric said. "Told you. It’s completely different here. More people, more life... and a whole lot more to buy."
Lucien looked around and couldn’t disagree.
It truly felt like another world.
The market was alive with color, sound and motion.
Stalls and tents lined the broad avenues. Their vibrant fabrics fluttered in the breeze.
The air was thick with the scent of fresh bread, roasted ats, sizzling oil and sweet spices.
rchants stood behind their tables, calling out to passersby with practiced enthusiasm. They were offering everything from glittering jewelry to polished weapons and crates overflowing with strange exotic fruits.
Music drifted through the air played by street perforrs on handmade instrunts while children weaved between legs and stalls, chasing each other in playful chaos.
In one corner, a fortune teller laid down cards with quiet mystery.
In another, a blacksmith struck steel with rhythmic precision.
Lucien’s eyes scanned the lively crowd.
There were fewer nobles here but still a lot.
So wandered curiously. Others confidently, even trying to haggle with the more expensive vendors.
Lucien had underestimated the Commoner’s Market.
There were more shops and stalls than he’d imagined... selling things he didn’t even think existed.
From trinkets to rare spices. Handwoven fabrics to odd contraptions.
This place was a treasure trove.
Still, he and Edric had a goal. The larger shops and permanent establishnts.
The stalls and tents mostly dealt in coin and wouldn’t accept noble credit.
But the bigger shops? They were used to noble dealings. And more importantly...
They can use the Golddust Seal.
That ant Lucien and Edric could buy without using a single coin of their own.
Lucien smirked.
"Uncle Ed," Lucien began, lowering his voice slightly. "Do you know where the shop for Spatial Bags is around here?"
Edric gave a knowing grin. "Of course. I’ll take you there. But first, we need to park the drakes. There’s a place nearby that caters to noble mounts."
He turned the reins and led them through a quieter side street, eventually arriving at a spacious compound with high wooden gates and a large open lot beyond.
As they approached, a stable attendant stepped forward. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of them and though he said nothing, it was clear he recognized "Dorian’s" face.
He quickly scribbled sothing in a ledger then offered a respectful nod. "Rest assured, noble sir. I’ll personally see to your drakes’ care until your return."
Lucien gave a faint nod and took a mont to feed the drakes himself and gently pat their necks. "Behave while we’re gone," he whispered.
With that done, he and Edric stepped away and grinned like mischievous boys.
"Alright," Edric said. "Now to the real fun."
Their first stop?
The Spatial Bag shop.
It didn’t take long to find it. Tucked at the corner of a busy intersection stood a well-maintained building with smooth stone walls, polished wooden accents and a gleaming silver sign carved in the shape of an open spatial bag spilling stardust.
As they approached, a uniford guard at the entrance stepped aside, offering a respectful bow.
"Welco, honored guests."
Inside, the shop was just as refined.
Tastefully decorated with glass display cases.
Velvet-lined shelves.
Softly glowing light crystals that gave the whole room a warm ambiance.
The shopkeeper erged from behind the counter.
A middle-aged man with neatly combed hair and an attentive air.
He greeted them with practiced elegance.
"Esteed guests," he said with a low bow, "thank you for gracing my humble store. Please, take your ti. Let know if you require any assistance."
Lucien’s gaze scanned the store. His eyes flickered with interest.
He didn’t waste ti.
"How many Spatial Bags do you have in stock?" he asked directly.
The shopkeeper reached into the inner pocket of his coat and pulled out a neatly folded note. He glanced over it briefly then looked up with a respectful bow.
"We currently have approximately one hundred and fifty, young master."
Lucien raised an eyebrow. ’Less than I expected...’
But he nodded in understanding.
This was the Commoner’s Market, after all. Spatial Bags were expensive items.
Not sothing that sold in bulk.
Still, even a smaller quantity held incredible value.
"Gather them all," Lucien said flatly. "I’m buying everything."
The shopkeeper blinked, stunned for a brief second but then his face lit up with a professional smile.
"At once, young master!"
He clapped his hands sharply and a few well-dressed assistants quickly moved into action, sweeping through the store with practiced efficiency.
One by one, the spatial bags were collected and placed inside ten large sacks.
When everything was gathered, the shopkeeper turned to him once more.
"How would you like them delivered, young master? We can have them sent discreetly to—"
"No need," Lucien interrupted. "We’ll handle it ourselves."
With that, he casually tapped each sack. He stored them all directly into his INVENTORY.A
The room fell silent.
Every assistant, every clerk, even the shopkeeper... stared in disbelief.
That shouldn’t have been possible.
They all understood the nature of spatial magic. You couldn’t store spatial bags inside another dinsional space.
Yet Lucien had done it as if it were nothing.
Still, to the shopkeeper’s credit, he recovered quickly.
"Ahem... Very well, young master," he said smoothly. "Shall I prepare the contract?"
Lucien nodded. "Make it out to the Golddust Estate. And the total?"
The man hesitated only for a mont before answering.
"We can offer all one hundred and fifty bags for a fair price of eight thousand gold coins."
Lucien narrowed his eyes. His voice dropped coldly.
"What? Are you mocking ?"
The shopkeeper froze.
"Double the price," Lucien continued. "And make sure that is what’s written in the contract."
After all, eight thousand wasn’t nearly enough to put pressure on Golddust. He wanted them to feel it.
The shopkeeper’s eyes sparkled with understanding. "As you wish, young master."
He imdiately moved to draft the docunts, his hands working quickly.
Soon enough, the contract was prepared and laid out on the counter.
Lucien pulled out the Golddust Seal.
Seals have another important use. When imbued with mana, they could act as a stamp for formalizing important docunts.
Lucien channeled mana into it.
With a soft click, a chanism within the seal activated. Then, he pressed it down on the parchnt.
A golden sigil appeared on the docunt.
The crest of House Golddust.
And just like that, the transaction was complete.
The shopkeeper personally escorted them to the door, bowing deeply and repeatedly.
Lucien walked out with a confident smile and Edric chuckled beside him, clearly enjoying the charade.
But then Lucien’s attention shifted.
He spotted another shop just across the street.
A shop filled with raw gemstones.
It was nothing like the elegant jewelry stores nobles typically frequented. This place dealt in unrefined, untouched stones.
Their magical essence were still intact. Not yet diluted by aesthetics or polished into useless trinkets.
Lucien’s eyes glead.
These were true resources.
His Crafting Division could work wonders with these stones, embedding magic circles and special runes into them for powerful effects.
He also thought of giving the finished products to Vivian... and perhaps her friends too.
Without hesitation, he entered.
The mont the shopkeeper stepped forward to greet them, Lucien raised his arm and pointed across the entire shop floor.
"I want everything. From there—" he gestured to the entrance, "—to the very back. All the raw gemstones. Put them in a Spatial Bag."
The shopkeeper blinked in shock.
He then bowed.
"As you command, young master!"
Soon, assistants gathered every gemstone. Sack after sack was filled with uncut gems, glittering faintly even in their raw forms.
As for the contract, the sa ritual repeated.
The Golddust Seal pressed down with a pulse of mana. The sigil burned onto the docunt.
Another extravagant transaction complete.
And another shopkeeper left stunned as he bowed them out with trembling hands and a heart full of profit.
Next stop. An equipnt shop.
Lucien’s eyes lit up the mont he stepped inside.
Rows of weapons lined the walls.
Swords. Spears. Bows. Staves.
Racks of armor also stood proudly on display.
From heavy plate to lightweight leather. Each piece were crafted with care.
Without hesitation, he walked straight to the counter.
"I’ll take everything," Lucien said, calm and direct.
The shopkeeper froze, clearly thinking he’d misheard.
Lucien clarified with a slight smirk. "Your entire stock. Armor, weapons, everything. Pack them into Spatial Bags."
He took this chance to stock up for his people back in Lootwell. The sheer variety ant that his allies could choose what suited them best.
Soon, the once-bustling equipnt shop was stripped bare.
But Lucien wasn’t done.
He spotted a shop displaying goods from foreign nations.
Exotic blades with unfamiliar runes.
Cloaks made from unusual beast hides.
Even perfus and spices from across the sea.
He bought it all.
A few streets later, he swept through a herbalist’s shop.
Purchasing every dicinal herb. Alchemical ingredients. And rare flower the vendor had.
Then ca a textile boutique, where bolts of high-grade silk, threads and noble-quality cloth were put into sacks and vanished into Lucien’s storage.
One shop after another.
Edric burst into laughter every ti Lucien declared another full sweep.
And Lucien? He laughed with him.
It wasn’t just shopping. It was robbery in broad daylight.
Not from the shops, of course...
But from House Golddust, who would soon receive bill after bill for this "noble expedition."
Every contract bore the Golddust Seal and every sum was overpaid by design.
By the end of it, Lucien had spent more gold than so baronies could muster in a decade and none of it ca from his own pocket.
They continued their spree, looking like the most generous nobles in the district...
While behind the scenes, a mountain of unpaid bills began to bury the Golddust family.
Finally, Lucien turned to Edric and said with a grin...
"Uncle Dorian, please help spend. It’s getting tiring being the one buying everything."
Edric raised an eyebrow, amused by Lucien’s deadpan delivery.
"GAHAHAHA! You said it! Alright then... I want that."
He pointed boldly at a nearby shop.
Lucien followed his gaze... and paused.
It was a wine and liquor shop.
Without a word, they both entered.
They didn’t just buy the bottles. They bought the barrels!
Edric’s mouth was practically watering.
His eyes sparkled like a child at a candy store. He even cradled a barrel like it was a newborn.
"This... this is the good life, Nephew," he said reverently.
Their spree continued with loud laughter echoing down the streets.
Then suddenly, Edric leaned in... His tone shifted into mischief.
"Nephew, I just thought of sothing GAHAHAHA! A brilliant idea!"
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Edric grinned devilishly.
"Let borrow the seal... and I’ll go to the bank to request a loan GAHAHAHAHA!"
Lucien’s eyes lit up like a child discovering a new trap chanism.
"Uncle... you’re ruthless. I like that."
They both erupted into laughter that turned heads as they passed. Onlookers instinctively moved out of their way, unsure whether they were drunk or dangerous.
Probably both.
And so, Edric took the Golddust Seal and went on his "business errand."
anwhile, Lucien continued wandering the square alone.
His hands were in his pockets and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
He would wait for Edric there.
That’s when he caught a delicious scent in the air.
He looked up.
Food stalls.
The air was filled with the savory aroma of grilled at, sizzling oil, sweet pastries and bubbling stews.
Lucien’s stomach growled.
User Comments
0 comments from readers