The Rise of the Sword Expert
Request and Transaction

I was eating my breakfast at the famous cafe, in Invit. On Earth, young people love to chat and enjoy time while exploring food.

I was the same, enjoying breakfast with a new menu in Invit. I ordered a menu called Atlantic cod fillet and poached lobster, and it was delicious. The soft, fresh fish made my mouth so watery, and the rich lobster really made me fly.

"Hm ...."

Unknowingly I made a sound because it was so good. Tanka and Levian looked at me who looked like a boy, “Is that so good, Mr Akion?"

I'm nodding. During my time in this world, I never ate seafood, sea products including steps, it was because the Sanktessy sea was full of sea monsters.

"You try to eat." I brought the old plate in front of him. He seemed doubtful.

A knight sat with his master. That alone is considered impolite.

"Eat. No one knows who we are here."

"I will, my Master."

I purposely used the word teacher, so that she would know I was now talking to her as a student. Naturally, students respect the teacher and consider themselves under his teacher.

He nodded slowly, and cut the lobster off. Put it in her mouth, I saw her chewing. Levian's face shone. I know it. He must have been drunk with his coolness.

"Tanka, you eat too."

I glanced at her and found something surprising, Tanka had finished eating without being ordered. He smiled without guilt.

A waiter came and put my dessert called Classic Invit baked cheesecake with strawberry compote. Wow, what an interesting look.

Each of our desserts arrived. While we were enjoying our dessert, there was a commotion outside. Some soldiers ran in one direction. I just smiled, they must have found something really interesting this morning.

"It's my best breakfast." I said after finishing my meal.

Poor Sanktessy, unable to provide much high quality food.

"Will Akion bring his chef home?"

I saw Tanka quickly. It was an interesting idea to bring their chef to my house. However, the condition of the Sanktessy region is not stable.

I have to finish this and that. There is still a lot of homework to complete. I moved my hand.

"No. There's a lot more important." I rejected Tanka's idea in disappointment.

We left the breakfast cafe that morning. The crowd grew more and more, they seemed to have trouble organizing it.

We walked opposite the center of the crowd. Who cares about the two men, the father and son I stripped naked and hung in an empty field with insults written on them?

I tried hard to clench my lips together so as not to laugh imagining them in an embarrassing position.

Rather than finish them off, making them lose face is much better. Hurt in one attack is easy, but making them suffer from old pain is better.

Levian looked suspicious of me. He must be thinking I caused the crowd.

"Hey, Count Invit and his first son were hung upside down on a tree in that empty field!"

"That's karma for those who always raise taxes!" The girl laughed.

Their unhesitating whispers made Levian stare intently at me. Yeah, he knows now I'm the cause.

I pretended not to know and asked Tanka to speak to divert her suspicions.

I have bought souvenirs for Renia, my most beautiful sister.

**

I bought her a pretty and sweet dress for her, Tanka gave a little advice for that.

This dres must have been a perfect match to his blonde hair, he would have looked like a doll.

Too bad, we used a horse instead of a horse carriage, so, I can only bring two dres for him. Yes, I also have to save money in order to build the Sanktessy region.

We're riding horses, all the business in Invit is done. My father would have been surprised by the fact that I had paid off all our debts. Even more shocked, if he finds out about our family's vast treasure.

I imagined his face. He's a gentle father figure, who doesn't really like power. So that he often rolled himself without taking sides with any party, and ended up being taken advantage of. The mounting debt makes it a strong restraint for Sanktessy.

Dad's too naive. They're too naive

We walk when the sun is over our heads. Tanka took refuge under my cloak, she said she would sleep to increase her natural energy.

The fairies gather energy just like humans, they meditate. In Tanka's case, since she was a high-level fairy, even in her sleep she was able to gather that natural energy.

I don't understand how that is. An axe of a swordmaster, he could use aura, but not magic. The magic-user swordmaster was something even more step away. They understand the use of Mana well.

As we passed through the exit gate, I saw Verion waving at me. His friendly smile made me uncomfortable.

Her slightly red hair covered part of her eyes as it was blown away by the wind. The jet black mole was under his right eye, when he smiled, I somehow remembered the samurai x character of kenshin.

But I still feel uncomfortable.

"Mr Akion, I'm Verion. We met yesterday." He greeted me kindly.

With this unfriendly face, I tried to repay him as well as he did.

"Of course I remember you, Pastor Verion."

He was still smiling, there was something he was hiding seemingly.

"Can you take your time?"

We used the horse to get to the location that the priestess Verion had directed. He looked so skilled at riding a horse, his style looked just as dashing as Levian.

I looked at his white back. Carrying the sunlight, he looked like an arrow darting towards the bulleyes.

"Mr Akion, why did you agree to follow him?"

Levian spoke to me while still controlling the pace of his horse.

"Of course."

Levian was silent with my answer. He respected my answer, and knew that I chose to shut up now

Actually, I don't know why I'm following Verion. Within her, I felt that something was mysterious and it attracted me. Her smile makes me uncomfortable, but that doesn't mean I want to stay away from her.

In the interior of the forest of the Invit region, I saw a large tent standing. Some soldiers were on guard when they saw us.

I glanced at Levian.

"Beware of something" I commanded.

Verion got off his horse, entered the tent and came back to me.

"Mr Akion, please come in" he asked.

He was the controller of commerce, the heart of the trading center in the empire of Elderanda.

Marquis Kingston's.

Verion helped Marquis Kingston to take a seat.

"Thank you for coming here, Mr. Akion Naal Sanktessy." Voice weak.

"I'm sorry, you have to see my pathetic form." He laughed softly.

"It's okay, I can understand that. What business does Lord Marquis Kingston want to see me with?"

I got straight to the point.

He laughed, "You're a brave young man, indeed,"

"Look, you're a swordmaster." He glanced at me sharply, in silence, I knew Levian was preparing to raise his sword.

"Don't be too wary, Knight."

Marquis Kingston appears to have a sharp brain, as well as sharp eyesight.

"I want to ask you a favor."

I dragged the chair, and sat on it.

"It seems that the explanation will be long, and full of secrets." I smiled at him.

Marquis Kingston was shocked. He understands who I am, a person who is too serious to stiff facial veins.

"You do have a keen intuition, Mr. Akion."

Where I might not understand. He is a Marquis, and we are not far from the center of the Invit region. Compared to meeting there, she would rather meet me here.

"Explain me. Accepting or rejecting it, I will think after receiving your explanation, lord Marquis Kingston."

In the trade union led by him, it turns out that many rotten rats are stalking his life. No wonder if he was framed while passing through the forest of the Invit region, which is not famous for being dangerous.

That was the reason why he was sitting weakly, a fire element attack magic managed to break through his body's defenses and caused quite severe injuries.

Verion has treated it, but it can't be treated perfectly.

Then, he heard about me being in Invit, a very good coincidence to him. He wants me to control him, and he'll pay off our debt.

"It's a pity that Marquis Kingston, I have repaid our debts."

Face paled.

"I must also return to my territory immediately to take care of many things."

He racked his brain, "Mr Akion, how about I help build your territory?"

"Isn't that excessive for my poor country?" I deliberately lowered it to know what it really meant.

"No, it's for me and my son."

I squinted my eyes.

'Kids?'

"From your face, I know you're surprised." Marquis Kingston smiled. He took a glass of water that Verion had given him, and drank a few sips.

"As you know, I need to get back to Kingston territory as soon as possible to take care of that crazy bastard." He was puffing, his face flushed.

"They want my power to support the Imperial family. You must know that the title of crown prince is still up for grabs."

I nodded slowly.

"Imagine, if they had a trade union, it would make my family subservient among them. Then the party who succeeds in making it, will have a big hand to win."

I agree about that. High wealth, good trading lines, and smart trading, have high benefits to get votes.

Marquis Kingston has not sided with anyone. Just like Sanktessy, she was in a white position that was actually disadvantageous.

A family as big as Marquis Kingston alone they dared to attack, and it seemed that they were making use of the Marquis Kingston's only son.

"So you said your life and your son were targeted? And if you both die at their hands, they'll use someone else for that fortune?"

"That's exactly right.." she replied softly.

"Your son is unknown to anyone. Isn't that nice? He will be safe" I replied casually.

He looked at Verion beside him, that look of an eye that looked like telepathy.

"Mr Akion," he said hesitantly.

"If you want to trade, then convince me and don't hide too many things" I complained.

"Dad, it's okay. I'm Verion Kingston."

The priest named Verion bowed respectfully to me, visibly feeling guilty about the little lies they were playing.

"So you've been hiding it in the holy temple at Invit?"

"I've only been there two years, Mr. Akion."

I looked at Verion's face, maybe he's the same age as me. He could inherit the title of Marquis Kingston at this age if anything happened to his father.

"Why now?"

He should have stayed hidden.

"They've managed to sniff out my son's whereabouts. Verion's not a fighter, Mr. Akion."

"alright. Put those problems aside first,"

"Now about my benefit in helping you? The Kingston Region is quite far from here. A month. I've got a lot of business to do in Sanktessy." My forehead is a little wrinkled. Yeah, heaps of work pile up.

Then, Sanktessy's eldest son was somewhere. Harzem is the crazy woman.

"You just need to drive me to Redvet village. There's our witch waiting,"

"It takes four days to get there. More so with your current condition."

"We have a magic paper that can teleport. I'll give you that paper, and not just one,"

The face of Marquis Kingston was full of confidence in that. His deep gaze seemed to sink into my heartbeat, I knew this was something step and precious.

Wouldn't I save the other days?