"Sal, fetch Lord Nuu, two bottles of Chateau de mol!" A refined gentleman sat behind the clerk's desk.
" I'll pay for the extra bottle. I almost forgot, is there anymore Gouma's cheese in stock?"
"Ah, of course. Please wait a second. I'll package everything." The young attendant when to the back of the tavern.
"That will be 3,000 ducats!" said the clerk
"…"
Nuu paid and waited for the lad to return, 'Truly envious, the wench definitely taking a cut.'
Nuu's guess wasn't far off, the 73 acres of privately-owned Vineyard has other businesses on its property besides the famous winery.
17 years ago, La Moti Winery could barely pay the annual Imperial tax of 27% after the death of Louie Van Moti, their 2 years grace period was running out.
[The Imperial tax includes: Labor 3%, Property 9%, and Business 15%.]
Thanks to Nylah's 'guidance.' La Moti's tax was placed on hold, under the Death forgiveness Act.
Nylah was able to extend the tax forgiveness to 3 more years.
The official exemption letter send to the Magistrate, stated that 19-year-old Jacques recently turned 15-year-old and require time to adjust.
She didn't do it out of the kindness of her heart.
Nylah wanted a percentage in their business.
A chest of ducats was delivered to the Magistrate's office. If Marcus knew the exact percentage Nylah planned to gobble from the Moti Estate. He definitely wouldn't sit quietly.
The City Lord and Magistrate complement each other. However, a Magistrate is appointed by the Crown, unlike the City Lord whose appointment comes from their Lordship.
A Magistrate can be found in every city across the Khan Dynasty, and their job entails taking up census, tax management, upholding the laws, and the right to divorce.
The 19-year-old Jacques took advantage of the grace period granted by the Magistrate, he expanded his deceased grandfather's vineyard, and now they have a Fine Dining Inn and a Bath-house.
The current income of La Moti's Estate is 2.7 million Ducats a year.
La Moti is open 24/7, only on Sugu their door is closed.
It's currently Mogu. The number of customers willing to drink is few.
Furthermore, the nightlife starts at 9 pm and it's currently 3 pm in the afternoon.
The city truly comes to life with the help of Firelilies, their light illuminates the street.
The firelilies are similar to fireflies, but twice their size.
The native of Khan used them as paper lanterns, the firelilies' energy comes from the moon.
From 9 pm to 4 am, they're actively providing energy throughout the city.
Around 5 am to 7 pm the lilies slumber.
Once they're up, their next goal is to secure nutrients. The fireflies can eat anything, and they're non-aggressive Insecta.
The sound of cheering reverberated around the city.
" I need to hurry back." Nuu shifted his gaze on Hilda.
"Sr. Nuu. No, wait that's improper, Lord Nuu. If I may…How long are you expecting this project to last?" Phi's excitement couldn't be helped. He traveled to Bervin City in search of a stable income for his family.
As a talented Architect. Things haven't been looking up, he would start a project and everything is going well, at the last minute the employer suddenly had financial issues.
The job opportunity in Fyorc is not abundant. After all, it's a seafaring city, that focuses on shipbuilding. Phi's ambition isn't to build ships, but castles.
His identity as a Rank 1 Squire might make life easier if he chooses to work for a Noble Household.
However, Phi became a practitioner to protect what's precious to him. As a man with a large family. He can't protect two households.
If he's not careful he might offend someone he shouldn't; who's going to protect his family if the other party decides to target them? When he weighed out his options, he made the decision to work as an Architect.
He would spend time with his wives, and work alongside his 7 sons.
"I'll be honest, Sr. Phi. Once we start, it might take us decades to complete the project." Nuu paused to see the reaction on their faces.
"Ooh, it's that long." Phi's excitement plummetted, 'No, no no, I have to respectfully decline, it's going to be like my other commission.'
Hilda's countenance also fell. She could guess Phi's thoughts.
"Darling don't be hasty, let's hear Lord Nuu's proposal," she whispers in his ear.
*Sigh*
"You became quiet Sr, Phi, I hope I didn't say anything out of line, is there a problem?" said Nuu
"Umm, with such a long tenure…I worry about the funds runni..." Before Phi could finish his skepticism.
"Gu Gu Gu" Nuu's laughter caught them off guard.
"You need not worry about such thoughts, Sr. Phi. We are currently working for the City Lord, and that contract should end 5 months from now, so if you have any projects, please complete it within this time frame! The matter concerning your payment can be discussed." Nuu's gaze fell upon the red hair, Hilda.
Hilda's occasional glance his way didn't go unnoticed.
She wasn't alone. Obscene gestures were being played out with the bratwurst, but none of them caught Nuu's attention as Hilda did.
She may not be as attractive as Lyla the dark elf or the Wench, but the charm of the busty 160 cm redhead dwarf occupied his thoughts.
"Madame Hilda, please let me know if you still feel any discomfort, I know a few techniques to alleviate your back pain," said Nuu.
Hilda couldn't help blushing, 'What am I doing? This isn't proper. I'm a happily married woman with 3 sons' she couldn't help admonishing herself.
Phi's impression of Nuu increases. 'Such a caring lad. If only I had a daughter...'
As they continued to chat, the attendant ran back with everything neatly packed in a basket.
The clerk and servants bowed towards the departing silhouette of Nuu and his companion.
___________________________________
The Maverik Mansion, the west wing.
There were five people within the courtyard.
At the moment, four people were seated in a gazebo, the only person standing was a tall man with long linen sleeves, the foot of his pants were tucked into his knee-high lace-up boots. The standard dress code for a male servant.
" Sr. Phi, Madame Hilda, we would like to officially welcome you into House Thornbrick, Please let me know if you require anything," said Oga
"I would like to thank you in advance, but is it truly okay for my family to stay here?" Phi and Hilda look up nervously.
When they first met Oga, they were caught off guard, the person look exactly like Nuu, the only difference being their hair and Aura.
Lord Nuu's hair is short and messy, unlike this fellow.
Nuu comes off as wild, but this gentleman seems scholarly and reserved.
"Gu Gu Gu, It's fine. The more the merrier, don't you agree Yanis?" said Nuu
" It's as Milord stated" the 200 cm, blonde hair, grey eyes, Yanis replied.
"You're as stiff as ever," said Oga.
A trustworthy fellow, serving by their side for more than a decade
10 minutes later, the sound of someone approaching, made its way into the boisterous courtyard.
"Pardon me, Lady Nylah requests your presence." A 27-year-old woman dressed in a red gorean camisk hurriedly enter the resident.
"Alright, we will be there soon, take this with you!" Nuu handed the basket with wine and cheese.
Nori, crossover the arch bridge into the gazebo.
Below were a school of koi fishes playing in the pond
'Isn't this too much? She barely has anything on.' thought Hilda.
It's kinda ironic when you think about it, Hilda had on a black double-up high slit dress, that was barely containing her busty figure.
Phi remains indifferent, as a man that used to work for nobles, He has experienced his share of depravity first hand.
"Nori, I'll be requesting your service at tonight's banquet. This esteemed guest is Sr. Phi and Madame Hilda." Nori briefly looks over the couple, remembering their faces, and nods her head.
"Yes, Milord. How many would be in attendance?"
"Please reserve a hall for 9 people. You may take your leave," said Oga
"Lord Oga, you mustn't." Phi wanted to protest, but Oga wave his hands.
"Sr. Phi, we are sincere about inviting you into our household, please don't refuse. Yanis, escort them to retrieve their family from the Outer District," said Oga
"The 5,000 ducats use it for any expenses they may require," said Nuu
"If you'll excuse us, Milord," said Yanis.
Phi and Hilda stood up ready to leave with Yanis.
"I'd like to once more thank you, for your hospitality." Hilda and Phi bow as they follow Yanis.
"We'll talk more tonight, the guest house is yours," said Oga at the departing silhouette
Nuu got up and ready to leave as well.
"Nuu, wait a moment. I'd like to discuss a few things before heading to Nylah. I'll be right back I need to retrieve an item Baba left us." Oga stood up and didn't give Nuu a chance to see his facial expression.
'It's time to put on a show' thought Oga with a low chuckle
" ? "
A few minutes later, Oga had an antique silver box in his hands. He was holding it as though it's a baby, afraid it would drop.
"Oga, why did you bring that old thing out?"
"Shusss" Oga places the box on the table. He began to look around as though someone was listening.
His lips begin to move and the words that came out weren't normal. "What are you doing?" Nuu's patience was running thin with Oga's shenanigans
"If you're going to cast a sound barrier, just do it already, and stop fucking around."
"..."
"Don't be impatient brother…The wind takes heed, whisper me not. Lest bones nor feather pick thou flesh, Burn thou blood to secrecy, Nuu. Here the calling of the Ancient, return to the land of our forefather, darest mouth speaketh." Oga's countenance became grave. His gaze locks on Nuu.
"Nay, thou worry not, eternal our forge. Secrecy is thou blood. The bone of bone, the flesh of flesh, our path is one, lest my soul scattered to the wind, betrayal shall not cometh from thou lips. Speak and I shall follow!" Nuu no longer had the same calm, he stood erect and focus.
Oga's hands move rapidly forming signs in succession one after the next, as layer upon layer took form, " Black Curtain: Shroud the Heaven with a Palm."
"You…you, why are you going this far brother?" Nuu hurriedly rush by Oga's side, as his face became pale.
"What I'm going to tell you, cannot be shared with others. This is Baba's farewell gift. He told me to hold onto it. The reason the box was empty, I took the content from it." A trace of madness could be seen in those hazel eyes.
"Why did you use your innate spell? A level 8 barrier could have done the trick."
"That won't do, the fluctuation can be felt by those of the same rank, it would draw unwanted attention. Also, Official Magus cannot pry into Black Curtain without prep time. I'm sorry to test you like that Nuu…Please open the box."
'Damn it, if only he was dumb, I could have just said an Old grandpa give me Blood Spawn. Got me coughing up blood and forging Pops' handwriting.'
Oga just sat there and watch nervously.
Nuu opens the box and there were only two items a seed and a parchment, he ignores the seeds and focus on the parchment, a frown could be seen:
[Little shit, you are all grown up now, right? A shame this old man couldn't accompany you. I hope you're continuing with the Meditation Technique. What I'm about to tell you can not be revealed to others, it stays within our Household.
I risk my life to acquired an elixir to extend your mother's life, but what I came across in that Secret Plane was these seeds instead, by the time I return. My precious Tulu had already breath her last.
These seeds became useless to me, I hope they would serve you well.
Below 'Baba's farewell message' was the instruction.
By ingesting Blood Spawn, An innate passive to forcefully take over an entity of similar origin.
An imprint will form with each new life, those carrying Your bloodline will become a dormant vessel.
Be warned, if the target Soul exceeds Your willpower, there's a chance of losing everything. Also, a newly acquired body can not be discarded. With each spawn, a new sequence must be created. ] Nuu couldn't help sucking in a cold breath.
"Oga, this..this. We need to, how is this possible? No, something isn't right?" Nuu's thoughts became scattered his mouth just open wide with astonishment.
He had to practices breathing again. This was truly too shocking.
Nuu read the parchment again and again to find the unsettling feeling. The seed he once ignore became more precious than Ducats.
Oga just sat there watching him pace back and forth as he read.
"Gu Gu Gu, brother do you know what this means, we need to change our plans," said Nuu, while laughing like a madman. Oga just smiles.
He knew Nuu already found the hidden pitfall of Blood Spawn.
" There are 5 interesting things I find with this passive ability:
1. Why did the instruction say we'll lose everything, isn't that obvious, the result of failure is death, but the opposite can be said as well.
2. When it mentions Imprint are they talking about Soul? If so then this is a trap.
3. Since it comes with two seeds, I think it wasn't expecting identical twins with bloodlines to obtain it, so does that mean we can abuse this loophole by possessing each other spawn?
4. If a vessel enters a secret plane does our imprint temporarily get cut off?
5. This passive makes it difficult for us to die Oga, we're unkillable cockroaches." Nuu and Oga came to a similar conclusion, and both tacitly took a seed and consume it without saying a word.
A warm feeling washed over the brothers, their blood felt as though it was on fire as the pain slowly intensified, bringing them down to their knees.
" Arrghhhhh"
The sound of banshee wailing when on for 5 minutes, but it felt like it was an hour. Their body was drenched in sweat, when they took their shirt off, the brothers became alarmed.
A tribal tattoo covered the chest and right arm.
The tattoo resembles those Maori warrior tattoos, but Nuu and Oga depict the path of depravity.
"I like it," said Nuu
"..."
15 minutes later the brothers cleanse themself and already discussed their future plans.
"Let's head back, It's time to meet with Maverik's family," said Oga
" You're serious about adopting the wench's lad?" said Nuu
"As if you have any room to talk, you think I didn't notice the way you and Hilda gaze upon each other. We need Phi, so don't go overboard," said Oga
" Hehe, can you blame me, brother?" As he lick his lips
*Sigh*
"Once Yanis return, the Aether you got from the Wandering Naga Clan, should cover the Soul Enhancement Potion, let's just purchase a bottle and save the remaining 70,000 Aether. I hate to agree with you.
You might be right, maybe the child wouldn't take half to maintain the imprint, the only way to be sure is to test it out. We still need to discuss further..." Said Oga.