The blonde man eyed Nier and walked towards him.
"Those light blonde hair, is that a Shaw family member?"
"That's their leader's middle-son Beyan Shaw, what's he doing on the mountain side?"
"I heard he's a not a bad guy"
murmurs rang as Beyan walked reached the table Nier was sitting at, who was promptly ignoring him eating his food when before Beyan could even say something-
"If you by any chance want my seat, pay me 10 mana stones, I'll leave" Nier offered while stuffing his face with food.
Contrary to what one would think he'll do- Beyan merely smiled and glanced at the audience which was fully focused on them and cleared his throat with a light cough.
"All gentlemen and ladies, would you be kind enough to let my and my important friend here have a private conversation about our experiences. I shall pay for my discomoding by paying for the food you are eating" maintaining the gentle smile, Beyan announced in a soothing voice.
Hearing which, all the customer stood up and began leaving- many factors like Beyan's family background, hostpitable demeanor and free food convinced them to leave when-
"I'd like your best dish!" Nier suddenly shouted to the counter, he then stood up and began moving towards the counter.
Beyan's temples twitched as spoke in a rigid tone "Did you not just understand what happened?"
"I did, you are going give everyone here free food as they leave...and you talk to your friend" Nier answered nonchalantly waiting for his food.
"And I say, why don't you sit and talk with me? you know...what's going on here, who I am, why am I present here, I'll appreciate if you stop your petty acts" Beyan answered calmly as though he never lost his cool.
"Dude, we've literally never met before, and are you denying my free food? You are going back own your words" Nier answered nonchalantly as he saw the Monland Monstermash Taco being made
"BE QUICKER, YOU TORTOISES- YOU ARE SLOWING THIS GENTLEMAN'S REUNION"
Nier shouted at the chief who were working hard and used his aura to press them.
"I don't know if I should say you are lucky or too smart for your own good, because the person you are annoying is me, most nobles, you see...Aren't as lenient and forgiving as me, Nier Silvernova" Beyan said in an amused tone watching Nier's antiques.
"Oh! you were talking about me? What a surprise...You should've said that from the start" Nier's expression suddenly changed into a friendly smile.
"Now- we are talking, San, go outside and give them their payment. " Beyan looked at his companion and ordered him to leave as he took a seat nearby.
The middle-aged man left the restaurant as Beyan watched Nier sit across him.
Beyan Shaw- he was the second son of the Shaw family leader, one of the 5 noble families of Maya. His looks could be considered above average and well defined while his bright hair gave him a rather peaceful look, no one- however, knew the man behind the face.
A young master in flesh and blood.
No one said anything as they just sat across each other in silence when Beyan broke it-
"Nier Silvernova, quite an interesting name, but I shall be honest with you. I am not trying to boast, but when I say that I am one of the person most knowledgeable about the families of Maya, only a few exist who'll deny my claim. I have never heard of such name in Mayaricorn kingdom" Beyan asked with a smile, yet his eyes held an interrogative gaze.
"No offense mind you, but- then you shouldn't claim to be so knowledgeable..then again, I myself haven't heard of my own surname as much" Nier answered in a mocking tone, an indifferent expression remained on his face.
"Hmm...I see that it was my own lack of awareness, it's just that...I thought it was a surname thought of by a child without one, quite catchy...I like it"
"Hmm, who knows...maybe one of my ancestor was indeed a surname-less kid, but then again, there are places named Winterdove, Springcrow...etc. The list goes on. Anyways, do you have some business with me? Because I don't recall meeting someone like you" Nier inquired in an irritated tone, though he already knew the person he was talking to- why he was talking too.
"Before meeting you, I had several thoughts. Brutalising you, maybe have you kiss my brother's feet, maybe hanging you nak-
"Woah woah woah buddy, calm down your fantasies...I don't swing that way"
"-ed....."
"I don't understand you, why do you try to annoy everyone you see, offend everyone you see. You insulted my brother who tried to invite you in his faction, you could have simply declined, I'd have understood- you see- my father taught me and my brothers 'forgiveness' and 'humilty'...
Even though we are top nobles of the kingdom. But he also taught us to take to care of each other, in this world of ours, those who make mistakes, pay the price...that is why-"
Suddenly Beyan took out a knife from nowhere and stabbed one of Nier's hand with it.
"Hmm...! AAAAAAAAAAA!" Nier screamed as Beyan pulled the knife out of Nier's hands.
"A fair price...isn't it? Mind you that I was much more merciful compared to some of my peers" Beyan said calmly as though what he did was normal- and indeed it was.
Nier's scream soon stopped as he gritted his teeth.
"Huff huff....You basta-"
"Hmm? Have you not learned your lesson? Should I cut your tongue? Although what I did was a suprise attack, I assure you...no matter how you revolt, you'll face consequences higher than mine.
Do you think going against your superiors will end in your success or something?
You are trying climb mountains- of whom, the summit you cannot see"
"No....I'm not trying to climb for the summit...I am just planning to jump to the land from it, you are just the rocks that have held my rope from reaching the ground...besides, you haven't read enough stories- the underdog always comes on top."
"You think this is fiction?"
"How many people do you think--said the same things to Yuverion Branley before he set for conquest?"
"Are you comparing yourself to Yuverion the conqueror?"
"..."
"That's quite sad- as a citizen of Mayaricorn- for you to compare yourself to that crazy bloodthirsty monster, even still- he didn't unite the world as he set for, he retreated before he even faced our great nation.. Is that the underdog that came on top?"
"I don't know about the comparison part, I don't know if he was like me. Though I do relate to the 'crazy bloodthirsty monster' part...and though you say that he retreated, which he did. you know Maya stood no chance...Dude had god-damm dragons with him at that point."
"I am not surprised you 'relate' to it, after all...you are indeed crazy to insult people without any reason, I've heard some history about you...how you kicked someone's face because they bumped into you and apologized, how you accidentally caused a statue to fall over a bystander and blamed him for being 'weak' and those are just some of your countless heroic tales. I guess that confirms it...you are a crazy bloodthirsty monster" Beyan spoke in a low tone which got louder as he reached the end, their was a grin on his face.
"....I don't get why we are talking about overthrowing the strong or things like that? Nothing I did suggests that I want to do that. I don't know why you brought that up."
"..."
"So why did your bal- b- brother even make a faction in the adventurer guild? Aren't you young masters all rich and privileged? what does being an adventurer even get him? And what do you even want from just a D- like me, it was annoying when he asked me join?"
"Those things- you need not know...I'll leave now. Oh right! I forgot to say this but I do read stories, you see- you can't rely on those 'underdogs' from stories, when they usually have a godly bloodline, support of some expert old man, are a reincarnation of some expert or have some power different from the rest. If anything it's their enemies that are the underdogs facing the wrath of the plot armor" Beyan said with a grin as he stood and prepared to leave when-
A waiter arrived and put a plate filled with delicacies on the table, his face was sweating as he felt tremendous pressure.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You pay"
"...I will keep my word"
Beyan left as he eyed Nier who was eating the food with both his hands as if he was starving for days, the waiter left still in sweat.
Soon after Beyan left, Nier's expression suddenly turned indifferent as he glanced at his 'injured' hand- the wound on which- was healing rapidly.
'I can feel it...this pain, although just a little, I can feel it! this isn't the internal pain as usual...It's the external pain! my body is getting less numb from outside...I am regaining my touch!. And my fake scream must have confused him, heh.'
A smile came upon Nier's face as he thought this while looking at the wound.
'This knife was poisoned with poison mana but I negated it...my message should've got to him.. if everything I've heard about him is accurate' Nier thought as he looked outside the window while eating his food.
Nier was by no means- stupid, he knew when he insulted the younger Shaw brother, Milan Shaw- he'll face consequences. But he still did because being smart doesn't necessarily make one choose the better choice than it does discerning them.
It was a mistake, a 'stupid' mistake...for reasons he bothered not to care about.
___________________________
Meanwhile outside....