Chapter 16

As we emerged from the Dimensional Gate, I immediately noticed Varion Storme still standing there, his face pale with fear. His hands trembled slightly, and his gaze darted between me and the others, uncertainty written all over him.

I exhaled slowly, regaining my composure. Then, turning to the group, I spoke in a firm yet measured tone.

“Forget what happened here. We move forward.”

The air was tense, but I had no time for lingering fear or doubt. However, before we could proceed, there was one matter I needed to address.

My gaze settled on Varion Storme.

“Varion,” I began, my voice level but carrying undeniable authority. “Do you have any idea what creatures those were?”

He hesitated, swallowing hard. “No, my lord. Even the appraiser I hired could not identify them.”

I scoffed, my disappointment clear. “Then I suggest you never hire such a cheap appraiser again.”

Varion stiffened, but he quickly responded, “M-My lord, if I may ... He is a well-known professional.”

I met his gaze, unyielding. “Varion, if he is as great as you claim, then tell me—why was he unable to appraise such a rare beast? They were Soulbinder Gryphons.”

A wave of sharp gasps rippled through the room.

One of the onlookers muttered in shock, “Soulbinder Gryphons ... but they are the rarest magical beasts ever recorded.”

Varion’s face drained of color as realization dawned upon him. “M-My lord ... I had no idea.”

I let his words sink in before continuing. “Tell me, how did these Gryphons end up in your possession?”

Varion fidgeted nervously but answered truthfully, “They were caught at the outskirts of Aldrenor by a group of

adventurers. These adventurers specialize in capturing rare beasts.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Do they always bring in creatures in such horrendous conditions?”

A shadow of guilt crossed his face. “Y-Yes, my lord ... But I assure you, as soon as the beasts are purchased, we treat them with the utmost care. We tried everything to heal them, but in the case of these Gryphons... nothing worked. For the past five days, we used every potion we could find, but they only grew worse. Then ... they went berserk.”

His words hung heavy in the air.

I took a slow breath, my voice lowering into something colder. “Do you realize that your reckless experimentation almost killed their unborn child?”

The room froze.

Several people paled further, a few stumbling back in horror.

“If the Gryphons hadn’t called for me ... the entire city might have been destroyed,” I finished.

A thick silence filled the space, dread settling into the hearts of those who had heard me.

I allowed the weight of my words to linger before shifting my tone, offering them a path forward. “Regardless, the crisis has been averted. However, I want this made clear—if anything like this ever happens again, send a runner to fetch me immediately.”

Varion nodded so quickly it was almost frantic. “Absolutely, my lord. I will not make the same mistake again.”

Wanting to break the tension, I decided to steer the conversation in a lighter direction.

With a small smirk, I asked, “Do you happen to have any more beasts for sale?”

Varion, sensing the shift in mood, instantly brightened. “Yes, my lord! I do!”

He quickly brought out a selection of exotic creatures, and the moment I laid eyes on them, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

My previous serious demeanor vanished as I lit up like a child in a candy store. “Oh! A Whispering Panther? A Runeforge Golem?! A Voidstrider Stag?! And Ironroot Beetles?!”

I was practically bouncing on my feet, rattling off facts and possibilities a mile a minute as I examined each beast.

Behind me, Aldric Voltron, Aldric Valefang, and Bao exchanged amused looks before bursting into laughter.

Everyone in the room soon forgot the previous tension, the atmosphere shifting to one of lighthearted amusement.

By the end of the exchange, I had purchased several rare creatures:

We parted on a happy note, the grim weight of the past fading into the background.

After finishing our previous dealings, we headed next to a serpent specialist beast tamer. The shop was filled with the low hissing of countless snakes, their scales glinting under the dim lanterns.

I took my time inspecting the creatures, and before long, I had purchased all the elemental serpents—Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Lightning, Ice, and Lava.

As we prepared to leave, my eyes caught something unusual.

A single serpent, resting lazily in its cage, yet exuding an air of quiet mystery.

I felt an inexplicable pull toward it and instinctively moved closer. Upon my signal, the merchant approached.

“Yes, my lord?” he asked eagerly.

I pointed at the snake. “What is this one called?”

The merchant barely glanced at it before answering dismissively, “Ah, just a simple snake, my lord. It’s known as a Starborn Serpent.”

I studied the creature with interest. Its scales shimmered faintly under the light, almost as if they reflected the cosmos itself.

“What’s your price for this serpent?”

The merchant shrugged. “Five gold, my lord.”

I blinked, then simply shook my head at his sheer ignorance.

Turning to Sir Aldric Valefang, I asked, “Have you ever come across this species before?”

Aldric scratched his chin, glancing at the serpent before nodding. “Yes, Asher. They are common serpents—just difficult to catch.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at their cluelessness. “Hand him ten platinum coins, please.”

The merchant’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets at the sum.

Then, I turned to Aldric. “Sir Aldric Valefang, let’s meet at ten bells tomorrow—right after breakfast. We have two new guests to meet and some important business to discuss.”

Aldric gave me a sharp nod. “Understood.”

I faced the merchant once more. “Send two hundred Starborn Serpents to the castle immediately. Do not wait to collect them—send what you have first, then gather the rest. If you find more than that number, I will buy all of them.”

The merchant grinned ear to ear, bowing deeply. “Of course, my lord! I will deliver them as soon as possible.”

Outside the Shop

As we stepped onto the busy streets once more, Aldric Valefang turned to me with curiosity. “Alright, Asher. What’s so special about those snakes?”

I leaned in, lowering my voice so only he could hear. “Their shed skin is used to make the ink for summoning magic. And when made correctly, it guarantees 100% success.”