"Yes. Given that we had spent all our own money during the journey, Pitt went to the pier and started working as a baggage carrier to earn enough for our living costs here," said Sheams stuttering.
Larne called out in the direction of the inn. "Randy!"
Randy quickly appeared before him.
"Go ready the carriage and fetch Sheams to the pier to seek out his friend and bring them to the public bath. Let them wash up and give them some clean clothes before bringing them back to me," instructed Larne as he put two gold coins in the hands of Randy.
"That won't do, young master. We have our own money, we can't use yours," said Sheams quickly as he took out a black, dirty pouch. "Young master, I still have 20 imperial gold coins here."
"Oh? Didn't you say you ran out of money just now?" asked Larne curiously.
"Young master, these are the funds for your return trip to the North. Now that we've found you, we don't have to worry about using it anymore," said Sheams as he entrusted the bag of coins to Larne.
Larne was somewhat touched at how they wouldn't spend the 20 imperial gold coins they had and would rather have one work as a laborer and the other in charge of begging for food. Were they just stubborn or really that loyal to the family?
Larne then handed two gold kans to Randy and said, "Have them change into clean clothing."
Randy then brought Sheams along and went to seek out Pitt.
Larne returned to his table in the inn with a distraught mood and opened the black money pouch and emptied its contents on the table. 20 golden coins could be seen: these coins were slightly smaller than the regular gold Kans and had a picture of a crowned old man's head on one surface.
Upon seeing the gold coins, Pella's interest was instantly piqued. He took one up and inspected it before saying, "An old head of the former Adox Empire... It's no longer worth much... 1 gold Kan can be exchanged for 3 of these. Currently, the four kingdoms and eight duchies in the northern part of the continent have started to use the currency of the Akan Trade Alliance and started recalling these imperial currency to be exchanged for the trade alliance currency instead. Where did you get these, Landon?"
"Some people from Landon's family came here and summoned him to return to his homeland to inherit the dominion. These old heads are the money they prepared for Landon to use to travel back to his homeland," explained Evans.
"What? Landon, you're going back to become a lord?" Suddenly, every one of Larne's acquaintances gathered around the table.
"What are you guys so surprised about? I haven't decided if I would go back yet," said Larne as he furrowed his brow in frustration. Right now, he had already made quite a name for himself in Akan City and already considers himself an Akanian after ten years of living there. The sudden summons from his family was far too shocking for him. Even though the Northlands were technically Larne's hometown, he wasn't too familiar nor attached to it given that he had left it at a very young age.
"What is there to hesitate about? Of course you should go back and inherit the land. In Akan City, you're only an academy instructor but back at your homeland, you're a mighty and respectable lord! In your dominion, you are the law!" The one who said that was Rahman, whose homeland was a place called Tyrol, which was also well-known for their mercenary knights. Craving battles and adventures were second nature to most Tyrolians.
"However, Landon's life here is pretty good now and he even has his own property here in the city. Additionally, he's a famous dual Gold ranked instructor of our academy. There really isn't a point of going back to the desolate Northlands as life here in Aakan City is definitely way better," said Steve. Being a local of Akan City, he was rather proud of the city and being one of its local inhabitants.
"Maybe Landon can go back once, inherit the dominion and then come back. He can leave the managing of the dominion to his subordinates and live his life in Akan City as usual," suggested Uriel, thinking that it was the perfect solution for both spectrums of the issue.
Larne gave a bitter laugh and thought, it's not as simple as you think, Uriel... The dominion in the Northlands is easily over thousands of kilometers away from here and traveling to and back on quick horseback would take 3 months at least. After all, Larne wasn't like the nobles who had their dominions on the Planka Plains or the neighboring kingdoms who could return to their dominions within a few short days from Akan City.
Pella asked, "Where are the people sent by your family?"
"Randy brought him to go find his partner. Both of them split up to look for me in Akan City," replied Larne.
"Find you? But you're so famous. Doesn't your family know that you are an instructor at the Orca Academy?" asked Pella in a surprised tone.
"I have already lost contact with my family for almost 7 years you know. The people who do know about me studying at Akan City had already perished from bandit attacks, including my third uncle, who was the one who sent me here in the first place. The rest of my family members know that I'm studying in Akan City, but not which academy I've enrolled in. After that, the 7-year-war made it even harder for us to communicate. Only with the recent turn of events in my family did they decide to send someone to come for me. However, none of them know of my reputation as Iron Landon here. They have asked people at many different academies but no one knew who Ruslan Larne was. After that, they decided to gather information from different inns before they met Sophia, who then came over to tell me about them," explained Larne.
"I see... No wonder they had a hard time looking for you. While many people know you as the famous Iron Landon, those who know your full name don't measure up to the numbers of your fingers. So, what are you going to do?" asked Pella.
"I still don't know..." Larne shook his head and said, "I'm really confused right now and I don't really know which is the right course of action. I'll decide after I talk to them when they come back."
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A moment later, Randy brought Sheams and Pitt who were dressed in clean new clothes back to Larne. At that time, he was hugging Sophia as he sat looking at Howard having his hair cut by old man Luke across the back alley of the La Mesa Inn. Sophia looked at Larne and asked, "Uncle Landon, you said that that beggar just now was looking for you? Are they sent here by your family?"
Larne nodded and said, "Yes, I really have to thank you, Sophia, for treating him to the chicken drumsticks. Sophia really is a good girl."
Sophia furrowed her brows and thought for a bit before showing an enlightened expression. "I know, Uncle Landon's family are people who beg for food! They're beggars!"
Pffft! Evans spit out a mouthful of ale at Pella who was sitting opposite to him. Ignoring Pella's complaints and clutching his belly while laughing, Evans said, "So... Sophia... What you said was... too funny! Landon's family members... are beggars... hahahahahaha!"
Larne showed a troubled expression and said, "Sophia, Uncle Landon's family members do not work as beggars. Look, he's in front of you right now. Does he look like one to you?"
Sheams who stood before them had a face that was as red as a baboon's rear. He really felt like finding a small hole and diving into it. Pitt, who was standing beside him wore a swordsman garb and looked rather valiant.
Larne placed Sophia down and walked towards Pitt. After comparing their heights, he sighed and said, "Pitt, long time no see. Both of us have already grown up to be so different from the rowdy brats we used to be."
Pitt sighed as well and said, "That's true, young master. We've really grown up haven't we..."
In Larne's memories, Pitt was his rival from the days of his childhood. When the both of them met, they always broke into a fight and one of them always went home crying. If they meet on the next day, the whole cycle would begin all over again. Now that the both of them had met after such a long time, a feeling of intimacy and nostalgia sparked between them instead.
Patting Pitt's shoulder, Larne laughed and said, "That's great. You're even taller than me now. I really don't know what you ate to grow so tall. This journey must have been tough on you. Let's fill our bellies first before we talk about the rest. I've already got the cook to start preparing the food in the kitchen. Sister Alice, you can start serving the dishes now," shouted Larne towards the inn counter.
After that, he turned to old Luke and said, "Luke, after cutting Howard's hair, take care of Randy's too, followed by Sheam's and Pitt's. I'll pay you two large silvers in total."
"Thanks for your patronage. I'll make sure that they will looked refreshed like never before," said old Luke, elated.
Larne noticed Sheam's and Pitt's uncomfortable expressions for having their master pay for their expenses and said, "This is my turf, so you better leave things to me. I'm your young master to begin with, so just let me handle the things my way. I'll bring you back to my house after we have a nice meal. We can start having a serious talk after that."