The Basolo Family’s actions did not cause much of a stir in the royal market.
For this high-end market, reserved exclusively for nobility and wealthy rchants, it was not unusual for the rich to spend lavishly.
Here, the truly sensational deals generally only occurred at the auction held once a month.
That was where various nobles, wealthy rchants, and major powers fought so fiercely it was as if their brains might burst -- sensational deals were usually born on that battleground.
Although Aquil and the others were displeased with the Basolo Family’s overbearing behavior, they truly could not afford to provoke them, and had to swallow their bitterness.
Reiger also returned empty-handed, unable to acquire the sword technique he wanted.
On the other hand, Kaliya and Shafni, these two young ladies, could almost be said to have returned fully loaded. They had their escorts load up the carriage with their many large and small packages as soon as they left the royal market, making it look as though they were wholesalers stocking up.
This gathering of the group thus ca to an end.
"I’m heading back now."
Reiger said so to Aquil and the others.
"Leaving so soon?" Aquil hurried to keep him, saying, "Not staying for the second half?"
"No." Reiger shook his head, saying, "It’s about ti, and I’m currently at the rcies of one’s household, so it’s not good to stay out too late."
This excuse forced Aquil, who wanted to keep Reiger around as much as possible, to give up.
What could Aquil do when Reiger even brought up Yuri? He couldn’t encourage Reiger any more, could he?
Tis had changed, and it wasn’t like before when Aquil could provoke Reiger at such gatherings by saying things like "Don’t be such a killjoy," "A man should be free," "Surely you can’t be restrained," and stirring Reiger’s spirit of defiance. Now, however, he could no longer do so.
He couldn’t possibly ask Reiger to disregard the feelings of that person, right?
Aquil was not so unrestrained as to do so.
"Alright then." Aquil said with regret, "Let’s find another chance to get together next ti."
"Yes." Reiger nodded faintly, then turned around without any reluctance and walked outside.
There, the carriage arranged by the Fransel family had already been brought by the coachman.
Reiger got into the carriage, followed by Ai En and Ian, who also entered without giving another glance back at Aquil and the rest.
Before long, the carriage drove away, leaving Aquil and his seven companions there watching and watching as the carriage bearing the Fransel family’s crest disappeared, seemingly caught up in mixed emotions.
"We should leave, too."
Only then did Kaliya speak up, still holding Shafni’s hand.
"Alright." Aquil, lacking interest, said, "Take care on your way ho."
Kaliya pursed her lips, noncommittally leading Shafni away to leave.
However, before leaving, Kaliya still had sothing to say.
"I advise you to not sche against him," Kaliya said, either advising or exposing scars, "He’s different from before, not the naive country boy that you could easily deceive anymore."
"...I don’t know what you’re talking about," Aquil spoke with a slight smile to Kaliya, "Reiger is my good friend, how could I deceive him?"
"If that’s what you say, then so be it," Kaliya looked aningfully at Aquil and said, "I only remind you out of our long-standing friendship. Whether you listen or not is up to you."
So saying, Kaliya paused montarily, then with a regretful tone, she said,
"I have a feeling that severe injury over a month ago truly transford Reiger."
Leaving such a reflection behind, Kaliya, with the now silent Shafni, went to her own carriage and gracefully departed.
"..."
Aquil, with a stern face, stared at Kaliya’s departing figure for a long ti without speaking a word.
Seeing such a scene, the group of varied build and stature didn’t even dare to breathe freely.
Only Sena managed to muster the courage to speak up and inquire from Aquil.
"Aren’t you supposed to ask Reiger to introduce you to that person from the Fransel family? Why didn’t you say anything?"
Sena was perplexed by this.
"Do you think I’m stupid?" Aquil said coldly, "We’ve been out of touch for over a month, and to ask for such a favor right after reuniting, what would you think if you were in his shoes?"
Wouldn’t that make you suspect you were summoned out just for this purpose?
Sena was left speechless.
"We can’t rush into this," Aquil said with a stern face, "Kaliya was right; Reiger really has changed from before. If we continue to treat him like a fool, we might end up the ones suffering the consequences."
For this reason, Aquil suppressed the urge within and dared not rush things.
"Let’s wait a bit longer," Aquil said, "Let’s hang out more in the anti, and when his guard is down, we can bring it up."
Such patience and waiting, Aquil still possessed.
"I’ll follow your lead."
Sena nodded in agreent.
Neither Aquil nor Sena knew that they would have no next ti.
...
"Once we get back, tell the butler to decline any letters or requests for etings from Aquil and his group," Reiger suddenly said from inside the carriage.
Ai En and Ian both were taken aback.
"Is that really okay?" Ian wondered, "Aren’t they Mr. Reiger’s friends?"
"They must truly regard as a friend for it to count," Reiger said unflinchingly, "After this eting, it’s clear that among them, only Kaliya and Shafni have no ill intentions, while the rest harbor thoughts they wouldn’t easily reveal to others."
The actions of Aquil and his group had almost directly told Reiger that they were in cahoots.
Whether it was Sena or the various other figures, they had likely already been swayed by Aquil to beco his people.
This second young master of the Rein family might seem to be fooling around all day, but in reality, he was secretly building his own faction, amassing his own connections.
Those people around Sena were the fruits of his efforts.
Reiger had reasons to suspect that the families behind Sena and his diverse group, including the house of Viscount Rui whom Sena was part of, had been coaxed into becoming supporters of Aquil.
Aquil had also attempted to recruit him, eyeing his forr talents, wanting to subjugate a future Magician of Tactical Level Magic.
The positions of Kaliya and Shafni were sowhat delicate.
Shafni appeared to follow Kaliya’s lead without significant actions of her own.
Kaliya, on the other hand, seed to maintain a superficial relationship with Aquil. Though they appeared to be a group, Aquil seed sowhat unable to control Kaliya who kept a certain distance, unlike the others who were harmonious.
These were details that the previous host had never detected, and Reiger had only co to vaguely understand these people’s personalities and stances after this eting.
Having understood this, Reiger imdiately concluded that these people were not worth forging deep connections with.
Thus, Reiger naturally decided to cut ties decisively and no longer associate with these people.
"In the future, it’s best if we never et again."
Reiger decided thus.
"A wise move," Ai En agreed expressionlessly with Reiger’s approach.
Clearly, this female knight had also taken a dislike to Aquil and his group after observing them.
"That’s for the best," Ian mused, "At least, this way the young lady won’t be involved."
Upon hearing this, Reiger was about to say sothing but suddenly froze.
"Hmm?"
Ai En and Ian looked oddly at Reiger who had suddenly stopped moving, and then they too seed to perceive sothing and squinted their eyes.
In the perception of the trio, the carriage that had been running smoothly suddenly began to slow down.
The surroundings inexplicably beca very quiet, no longer filled with human voices, and the coachman had jumped down from the box and was frantically preparing to flee.
"Stop!"
Ai En finally shouted coldly, leaping out of the carriage and grabbing the coachman who was about to run away.
The coachman scread in terror.
"No, it’s not my fault! Those guys threatened to drive the carriage here! I had no other choice!"
The coachman’s screams led Reiger and Ian to co down from the carriage as well.
Reiger’s expression remained calm, while Ian’s face turned stern, gripping his sword more tightly.
The trio glanced around, only to find themselves in a secluded alley.
The surrounding buildings enclosed them, with only one or two narrow alleys leading elsewhere. The footpath’s cobblestones were quite spacious, easily accommodating the luxurious carriage of the Franzer family, almost like a plaza.
Ai En threw aside the shrieking coachman, moved in front of Reiger, and positioned him behind her.
Ian did likewise, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ai En, their sharp gazes directed forward.
"Co out!"
Ai En called out coldly.
"————"
The surroundings remained silent, with no one responding.
However, Reiger knew that they had co.
Those responsible for the severe injury of the original host, and his subsequent transmigration, had located him as he had anticipated, and they had co once again.
"Swoosh..."
Suddenly, a soft whooshing sound arose.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh—"
The next instant, countless whooshing sounds erupted, sending arrows streaking across the sky from all directions above the buildings.
Reiger and his companions were imdiately enveloped in a rain of arrows, with no escape to the heavens or the earth.
Thankfully, the two female knights had been on guard.
"Quick, dodge!"
Ian grabbed Reiger and with a stamp of his foot, the pair turned into a blur, darting away, dodging the incoming arrows.
"Clang!"
Ai En, anwhile, drew the broadsword from her waist, sweeping it in an arc to send the incoming arrows flying away.
The empty space of the alley was soon filled with the sound of arrows striking the cobblestones, turning it montarily into a field riddled with arrows.
"Swoosh!" "Swoosh!" "Swoosh!"...
Simultaneously, a series of figures leaped from the buildings, landing on the ground.
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