Before the gods were born, the Demon Kings already existed. These ancient beings entangled the world and brought suffering upon it. Guided by the gods, humans and elves waged a war against the Demon Kings that lasted thousands of years.
Although the Demon Kings that ruled the land were eliminated one by one, and humans and elves ultimately claimed victory, ... the side of light was always shadow. The weaker Demon Kings were destroyed, only to be replaced by even stronger ones...
"O hero chosen by the Holy Sword—grip the sword in your hand tightly and defend this world! Remember, the gods shall be with you—"
"Ah—" Tiadam woke up on the high bed in the inn. The soft down bedding carried the scent of milk and bread. Delicate water bottles were engraved with images of the gods, while roses in the bottles gave off a faint fragrance. A ray of winter sunlight shone into the quiet, peaceful room.
"This should be... an inn in the Upper District..." Tiadam forced himself out of bed, the sensation of being scorched by flames still faintly aching in his heart.
"Ya... Yalila..." Tiadam smashed the vase beside him with one punch. "You damned half-elf, did you think I couldn't live without you?! Let me tell you, I'm a hero! A chosen one! Someday I'll have wives and concubines by the dozen, with sons and grandsons filling the house! You profit-chasing, faithless XXXX, I XXXXXX you!!!"
"Hmm... looks like you recovered quickly~" Eliyi said with a smile from a corner by the wall, holding a set of newly bought clothes. "I'm really happy that you managed to emerge from the shadow of heartbreak so quickly~"
"Eliyi, you bastard... did you save me?" Tiadam casually grabbed the clothes from Eliyi's hands. "Thanks~ I'll repay you double for the clothes and the inn fees later."
"Oh~ those are just small expenses~" Eliyi pointed at the vase Tiadam had shattered. "That vase alone is worth at least thirty Kralimaya Gold Coins."
"Uh... a mere... thirty... Kralimaya Gold Coins..." Tiadam's stammering proved just how dire his situation was.
"Then how much money do you have right now~~" Eliyi asked faintly.
"One lousy vase is worth thirty Kralimaya Gold Coins?! You damned merchant, you must have skimmed a kickback from me!!"
"Is that so?" Eliyi smiled slightly. "Then shall we call the innkeeper over and have him appraise the vase's value~"
"Fine, appraise it... who's afraid of who..."
A moment later, Eliyi called the innkeeper up from the lobby to Tiadam's room. When the two opened the door, they found only an empty room and an open window.
"Oh~ that guy already ran away~" Eliyi said calmly. "Innkeeper, please assess how much this shattered vase is worth~"
"This vase?" The innkeeper stepped forward, crouched down, and picked up a fragment. "This is a work by Mitellara, an artist from the royal capital. It is King's Vase, part of Banquet of the Gods. It features Qi, the Northern God King, as its central figure, and aims to depict Qi, King of the Gods..."
"I'm just a merchant~" Eliyi cut off the innkeeper's explanation. "Please don't talk to me about concepts or art. I only care how much it's worth~"
"My apologies..." the innkeeper replied. "The market price of this vase is around thirty to fifty Kralimaya Gold Coins. If it encounters an art enthusiast, it could sell for even more."
Eliyi tossed a small cloth pouch to the innkeeper. "There are fifteen gold coins in here. Consider it an advance payment for part of your inn's losses on behalf of that friend. You'll have to ask him for the rest."
"I see... then what should I tell Mr. Molakasu?" The innkeeper accepted the pouch and asked, "Should I report it truthfully?"
"As for that—" Eliyi drew out his breath. "Leave it to me..."
"Then... I won't disturb you, sir..." The innkeeper turned and left the room.
"Did you hear that~ Tiadam~"
After watching the innkeeper leave, Eliyi knocked on the wardrobe door. "Stop hiding. I know you're in there... How could someone injured and naked possibly jump out the window from a third-floor room to escape~ Anyone could tell that's impossible."
Everything that happened seemed to be entirely within Eliyi's grasp.
"Uh... that lousy vase was really worth... thirty Kralimaya Gold Coins..." Fully dressed, Tiadam awkwardly emerged from the inn wardrobe. "You really are... amazing..."
"It's just professional habit... As an auction merchant, it would be terribly unprofessional if I didn't know the value of Mitellara's work~" Eliyi said.
"One vase... is worth two or three months of my old income... I really shouldn't have become a bandit back then... I should've become an artist..." Tiadam complained.
"Who can say for sure when it comes to art and artists~" Eliyi glanced at Tiadam. "What do you plan to do next? Keep being a bandit?"
"Ah..." Tiadam gazed up at the ceiling. "I was a bandit outside Canfor for five years. It's time to change careers. The money I stole and the brothers I gathered have all left me... Maybe this is an opportunity. Eliyi, what do you think about me starting a small business?"
"Such as?"
"Selling bread?" Tiadam said casually.
"Using Canfor as a reference... let me calculate. A good street-side shop would cost eighty to a hundred silver coins in annual rent. Then there are... ingredients, daily expenses, and taxes... Your initial investment for the first year would come to about two Kralimaya Gold Coins. And right now, how much do you have?" Eliyi asked.
"Zero... zero coins..."
"Oh~ I almost forgot..." Eliyi looked at Tiadam. "You currently owe me fifteen Kralimaya Gold Coins, and you owe Mr. Molakasu fifteen gold coins... You have quite a lot of debt~"
"Uh... so what..."
"So I intend to have you do something..." The smile on Eliyi's face became increasingly frightening.
"Mr. Eliyi..." Denolan came running up from a room downstairs. "M-Mr. Eliyi... um... um... the merchant I... I contacted earlier, he's willing to... to cooperate with us..."
"You've worked hard~" Eliyi said as he looked at the panting Denolan.
"This... guy..." Tiadam looked at the blond man before him, who had hurried over in pajamas and still smelled faintly of bread. "I feel like... I know you..."
"He's awake already... but why does he... seem familiar to me too..." Denolan stared at Tiadam, inexplicably finding his face familiar as well.
After staring at each other for several minutes, the two shouted at once, "It's you—"
"Since you two know each other, I'll leave my Dragonblood Gem business in your hands. Go ahead and do it boldly. I'll give you plenty of financial support~" Eliyi then turned and left the room, locking the door behind him.
"Mr. Eliyi... don't... don't leave me with this... thug—" Denolan tried to flee, but before he could finish speaking, Tiadam grabbed him and dragged him back.
"Brother~" Tiadam draped an arm over Denolan's shoulder. "What were you about to call me? A ban—dit—?"
"N-No..." Denolan was held tightly by the neck and could not escape.
"Then tell me about the Dragonblood Gem and the business Eliyi mentioned just now..." Tiadam showed a friendly expression.
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