A cobblestone pathway led to the palace, with two small, grated canals of clear water flowing on either side of it. Even though it was evening, there were enough lights and lanterns everywhere on the pathway to leave no shadows anywhere.
The pathway forked into two separate paths so distance down the line, separating to make a path for a large fountain with the statue of a man.
The man in the statue had an angular face, with curly hair and no facial hair of any sort. The statue wore no cloth of any sort, but the entire statue was sculpted in a way that nothing unseemly could be seen through.
What surprised Ning the most was that the statue was made entirely of gold.
Jasmine quickly made a gesture with her hands, which Ning recognized to be a gesture for a quick prayer to a god.
"Is that ant to be Zurinus?" Ning asked her.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, that's Zurinus," Jasmine said, realizing only at that point that she had prayed to him, despite knowing what she knew about the so-called god.
Zarius made a quick prayer as well, and so did Arya. Arya just did it out of tradition, but Zarius seed to hold quite a lot of faith in Zurinus.
Ning wanted to ask him why, but they saw a few servants walk toward them from the side, telling them that they were there to take them to where the party was being held.
To Ning's surprise, they were taken in carriages, as they would've otherwise had to walk for nearly half a kiloter's distance. The party was being held in a private garden of the Emperor, quite a distance away from the palace.
The garden was already filled with dozens of people, not counting the staff. Many people, rich and powerful, were already gathered at the location, and many were yet to co.
Soone recognized Zarius and imdiately ca to talk to him. The man was a prince of a neighboring country where Zarius had worked a few years ago.
Another person ca and t with them, and then another. Soon enough, there were more than enough people coming to et Zarius, most of whom were interested in the people he ca with.
Zarius introduced them. Ning was an investor, and the other two beside him followed him. He also told them that Jasmine had been invited by one of the princes, which caused a great deal of surprise and envy from the people, especially the single ladies.
People did not want to talk to Ning and the rest, so Ning decided to walk away. He only needed to stick with Zarius to get to the party so way after all.
"Now that I'm thinking about it, I didn't bring any gifts," Ning said to Tim and Jasmine who had followed him. "Is that bad?"
"No one else did either," Jasmine said. "And I'm pretty sure the invitation ntioned sothing about not having to bring any gifts."
She picked a piece of food off a passing server's place, and Tim grabbed so drinks. "That's true," Ning said as he took one of the drinks. "Good thing, or else I wouldn't have known what one gives an Emperor. I'm used to dealing with Kings. Emperors are a bigger deal right?"
"You deal with kings?" Jasmine asked.
"I was one half a year ago," Ning said. "Anyway, let's keep going. I need to go and see—"
"That man!" Tim was about to point but stopped. Instead, he gestured with his head. "Am I wrong, or is that Naman Reyworld?"
"Naman Reyworld?" Ning quickly turned around and saw a man in his late 50s, with a big fat belly, thick salt and peppered beard, and a bald head. His cheeks were quite fat as well, along with the rest of his body.
"Holy shit! That is Naman. Good job, Tim."
"What do we do now?" Jasmine asked. "I have my treasures if you need or sothing. I doubt you need ."
"Don't worry, we won't need treasures. Stay here."
Ning left the two, walking toward Naman, who was in a group with several other people that Ning didn't recognize.
"Hello, fellas. Nice to et you all."
Ning's interruption caused a few heads to turn. Ning reached out for a handshake with the man closest to him. "Nice to see you, sir Charles." The man instinctively reached out for a handshake, only rembering to ask a question later.
"I do not believe I know you. Would you mind reminding if we've ever t?" the man nad Charles asked.
"I t you in passing once. My na is Ning. I do not know if you rember or not. It was a long ti ago."
"My apologies," the old man said. "My mory isn't what it used to be."
"That's alright. Consider this our first eting then."
Ning turned around to the second person in line. "Sir Adam." He shook his hands as well.
"Ning!" Naman suddenly spoke. "You're the man that damn man has been telling about. Jacob told how you ca out of nowhere and sponsored sir Zarius. Given that I had never heard of you, I have been very curious to et you."
"Oh!" Ning raised an eyebrow. "The feeling is mutual."
Ning reached out with his hands for a shake, and the man shook it.
The final individual that Ning had thought was Zurinus turned out to be just another human being. He was quite disappointed at that.
"Tell , how did you co to such a fortune?" Naman asked. "You didn't steal from soone did you?"
The question brought a round of laughter around the group.
"Haha, of course not," Ning replied. "Although it did belong to a pirate at one point, so I don't know if that counts."
That brought on more laughter. The group talked to Ning for a while, and Ning managed to touch each of them to confirm their existence.
Once he was sure none of them were Zurinus, he left.
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