I expected them to freak out somewhat at the idea but they all seem happy, how much of a dick is this king?
Me: You're all supporting me just like that?
Malcolm: Yup he's been harassing the people for far too long, we haven't rebelled yet because it won't succeed without a strong leader but now with you in the field, i think we have a pretty good chance at it.
Lucius: That coward scammed my people out of all our precious metals. He even spat on Lycathiel's sacred grounds like nothing!
Selene: And all of my people has been mistreated and even enslaved yet he has done nothing and even participate in it. My mother has been waiting for a chance to make the pig suffers.
Me: well this makes things a whole lot easier then, the plan is for me to rally the people suffering under his reign for a protest which i then add my own force to make it a riot. Malcolm you need to slowly gain control over all of the routes, not just trading ones but every single one of them to cut off the reinforcements. Lucius, i need you to use your men mining skills to create a system of tunnels that lead inside Regalia's walls. And Selene, you and your mother are to support our combined forces with mages, archers healers and you're also responsible for slave camps raid. Make sure all of them are freed before the final assault at the royal palace. We still have the problem with the church but i think if i can get Margaret on our side then she'll be able to convince them to join our cause or stay neutral.
With all of our objectives clear, the meeting comes to an end. Before Selene heads out of the room i also hand her the healing potions that i have left on me for her mother, now that i have recovery magic i wouldn't need potions anymore though i'm still keeping the greater ironskin for dicey situations. Wait, i still don't have a proper weapon.
Me: Malcolm wait up, where should i go if i want to buy a proper weapon in Canvastor?
Malcolm: i'd recommend the auction house if you have an eye for artifacts or maybe shops in the rich side of the town, prices are high but so is the quality.
Hm if that's the case then i'm better off going to the auction house, i do have [observe] after all. Besides, if reality shows have shown me anything, then it would be that treasures are always hidden (usually in random garage doors). I leave Osmond to govern the town while i'm gone before taking with me 4 skeleton knights to ride with to Canvastor. It's not that i need protection, it's that it would be weird if a rich guy walks around without his personal guards.
The trip was quite uneventful, no bandits even attempted to rob me. I guess the fact that the so called bandit king being killed really fuck up their morales and spirit. It took 1 and a half day for us to reach the city, it would take longer but me and the knights don't need to eat or rest. Only the horse does so on the way we stop for 30 minutes after 5 hours of riding 7 times in total. The city is way bigger than Gobi with higher walls and more patrols. In the heart of the city i could see something unusual. It was a giant spiral tower with 10 floors which i guess is probaly the city hall where Margaret works. Most people would be amazed but i've seen more bizarre shit in anime and i can make dragon-shaped elemental attacks if i focus hard enough. I'll give it 6/10 for interesting design, normally you make a tower straight instead of curly like a spring. It seems the situation here is the same as in Gobi. Poor people still filled the slums and i can still see scumbag nobles being arrogant pieces of shit. I'm grateful for Gobi not having such things or i would have to spend a lot on cleaning the blood off the streets.
I ask around for some directions to the auction house from the guards. They point me to the center of the city next to the church and question me about why we're all hiding our faces. I swallow my pride and say i fucked up a fire spell and accidentally severely cooked all of our faces so we have to wear armor covering it up until the wounds heal. Some of them even laugh at 'my stupidity' and leave us alone afterwards.
The auction house was ordinary on the outside but on the inside was the very definition of extravagance. Not single person in here (excluding me and the guards) doesn't have jewelries on them, even the staff and manager all have their own gold bracelets to show off. The lavish room was covered in red carpet with huge white drapes covering the stage much like a theatre. I find an empty seat near the back and quickly settle down for the auction to start with my knights leaning on the wall behind me. People alike cast me some questioning glance for wearing armor instead of expensive clothing like them but they paid it no mind as they too get ready for the auction. From behind the curtain, a skinny man in a black suit with a top hat and black bowtie steps who i presume to be the manager.
Manager: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the monthly auction of Canvastor. This month, we have acquired an abundance of exotic goods that may interest your taste. Let's start with items shall we? For the first item, we have 15 greater healing potions, the starting price is 10 gold.
Murmurs spread through the crowd as an elderly woman raises her board for 20. An old gentleman not far from her raises his board for 25. This go on and on through numerous people before the potions were sold to young man for 37 gold. Next up is an ironskin potion, i already have a greater one so this didn't interest me at all. I was a little surprised to see the price reaching up to 70 gold for that singular potion, it must be really useful, i wonder how much mine is worth. After that is a myriad of ingredients and materials, most of them only sold for below 20 gold save for rolls of silk which were purchased for 120 gold by a young noble girl.
The equipment is coming up next and my god was it terrible. My armor may have been centuries old but even then it was still better than the garbage they showcase on stage. More than half of it were for decoration as they are made purely out of gold and gems, they can't even take a hit from a dagger not to mention a hit from a sword. The actual armors that are used for combat is either worse than what i'm wearing or too heavy to be used. I'm starting to think it was a mistake to go shopping here. The weapons then come up and i observe each of them only to be disappointed as they're no different from the armors, flashy or flat out useless. Staves and bows are just not my thing and i still have 2 shields so i'm trying to look for a good sword but none proves worthy so far. I was about to lose my patience when i found something unique with my [observe]. A sword covered in runes yet the tip was snapped off, it looks like decoration (which is probaly why the others even bother to bid for it) but i can sense power from it.
{Enchanted runic sword}
rarity: epic
description: a sword crafted by a skilled enchanter and made for warrior-mage. The sword itself isn't great and can barely damage armors but if the user channel their mana into the blade itself then the sword will fully form with its size depending on the user's mana. The energy blade can cut through nearly all types of metal and can even pierce magical barrier if the user's arcane strength is strong enough.
Without hesitating, i raise my board and completely crush the opposition with the price of 340 gold. The blade was handed to me with everybody else in the room looking at me confusedly wondering why i would have bought a 'decoration' for such an amount of gold. After weapons were artifacts and skillbooks but most of the skillbooks i've already learned and the artifacts only have temporary effects which in my opinion aren't worth it. With that part finished, i was about to call my knights and leave until the manager makes another statement.
Manager: And now, for the part most of you were waiting for... THE SLAVE BIDDING!
Son of a bitch they actually went there. I was tempted to jump on the stage and strangles that prick and order my knights to kill the bidders that lick their lips at such a thing. Well, i can't wait to see the look on their face when i take all of the slaves for myself. And after the manager brought out 7 elves girls that were chained wearing rags, i noticed an odd one out. The one standing in the middle seems to have fire still burning in her eyes unlike the others and i can feel strength with experience behind those eyes. Curious, i cast [observe] on her.
Lamia Ashton
Level 43 (20) elven knight
Hp: 1063 (234)
Atk: 243 (79)
I knew something was off, she's an elite elven knight with her powers sealed, must be because of those chains. There was no way in hell am i leaving her here along with the others. I waited for the highest bidder to show themselves before i make my power move. What i didn't expect was who the highest bidder turns out to be. A blonde hair dickhead that looks like Dio if he was less of an evil maniac and more of a pompous jackass, the prince of Regalia himself.
Prince: 1500 gold.
At such a declaration all of the other bidders fell into silence at such a monstrous offer. They couldn't afford to spend that much and even if they did, they would not dare to go against royalty. The elves on stage looks horrified that the prince was the highest bidder for they all know how much of a racist abusive and sexist bastard he is, the fire in the elven knight's eyes started making room for desperation too. This is the time to strike. I stand up abruptly and slam the table before yelling.
Me: 2000 GOLD!
Everybody had a heart attack from that declaration, not only did this random knight oppose the prince but he had the wealth to back it up too. The prince quickly snaps out of his shock as his expressions turn to rage.
Prince: YOU DARE GO AGAINST ME FILTHY COMMONER! 2700 GOLD!
Me: YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT ME BRAT? 3500 GOLD!
The bidders and the manager as well flinch at the boldness of this unknown man to provoke the prince in a game of bidding. They also couldn't wrap their head around the number of gold being tossed around. The prince briefly shows shock before putting up another offer, but this time i can start to see the uncertainty in his actions so i hit the final nail in the coffin and cut him off.
Me: YOU THINK YOU STOOD A CHANCE? PATHETIC! 6000 GOLD!
At this, the prince nearly faints at the verbal attack and could only grits his teeth as i claim my prize. Though things were a bit complicated when i took out the 6000 gold from my ring and nearly ended burying the manager. After a couple of minutes with my knights helping load the gold into wheelbarrows, i leave with the speechless elves by my knights and the runic blade slung across my back leaving behind a stunned room filled with nobles witnessing the first time the prince didn't get what he want.
Total inventory:
Brigand's greatshield
Enchanted runic sword
The iron castle
Warp dagger
Diadem of supreme arcane might
Helm of clairvoyance
Old knight captain's armor
11 slime essence
130 bone powder
10 scrap metal
Crystal of decay
Greater ironskin potion
Captain Lambert's journal entry #1
76 copper 53 silver 39414 gold
Current familiars:
- Sergei the Skeleton Paladin