In fact, Kai didn't know anything at all about the inner workings of the city's high society. When he first arrived here, he and Diso were at the very entry level. You could say in the lowest strata of society. The rest of the time, he wasn't in the city at all. Now, finally, he realised that there were noble families and powers here too.
What was especially difficult was that the warriors didn't behave like the people around Kai now. Such behaviour was typical of powers tied to money and influence.
While Kai thought, a conversation continued in the background.
- And you have my greetings to you and the Ryn family. My name is Zera and I am here, as you know, about the sale of this book. - With a bow, Zera took out a book wrapped in a white silk cloth and placed it on the table.
Kai's intuition told him that there was something wrong here... It seemed that Mrs Zera, who was the representative of the Leinor family was very eager to get straight to the presentation of the goods. She only had time to greet the other party and immediately put the goods on display. This made it clear, her desire to finalise the transaction faster.
"Okay, something strange is going on here..." - Kai sensed a strange uneasiness or unsettledness from Zera-san. He couldn't say exactly what he felt, but he knew for sure it was nothing good.
The room had two red, chic-looking couches and a square table between them. Zera sat on one side, and Bale, who realised there would be no noble courtesies, took a seat on the other side. Danfil and Kai stood behind Bale, they now made out like some kind of guards.
As the woman unrolled the silk, an unremarkable looking, tarnished yellow-grey book was revealed. One that seemed to have been lying on the shelves of an abandoned library somewhere for hundreds of years.
Looking at the book, Kai first thought it was a lot of respect for such a book to be wrapped in an expensive cloth, and asked:
- Are you sure this book has any value at all? - With a strange expression on his face, Kai said.
In fact, this book showed a strong interest in his mind. It was just that he decided to play along a bit with the farce going on.
''These nobles, strange people... Even their manner of speaking is annoying. But this book is really strange..." - Kai thought.
- You don't believe in the words of my honourable family Leinor! - Mrs Zera said angrily.
- I apologise for that inappropriate comment. Of course we believe your words. - Bale said with a smile.
- My family found this book in an ancient ruin east of the borders of the empire we come from. Not only that, but there is a map with strange markings on it... But the language in which the book is written is obscure and unknown to any of the magisters in our family. It has only collector's interest. Since the knowledge of this language has long been lost and it is impossible to decipher it. - Snorting, Zera said.
Her words sounded reasonable and convincing enough. But Kai was not left with the feeling he smelled from Zera-sama. As she set the book on the table.
"If everything she says is true. Then why is she so fiercely eager to dump this book?" - Kai thought.
- Grab it by the cloth... The book is very ancient and I don't advise touching or turning the pages with your hands at all. It can be damaged even by a simple movement. This is a special delicate, white silk that our family had a hard time getting our hands on. It won't damage the book. - Mrs Zera said seriously.
Kai again felt that strange feeling of anxiety and the desire to sell and get rid of the book.
- Ok, let's have a look at it, Kai, please look at the book. - Said Mr Bale.
Kai calmly walked over to the table and carefully took the book holding it by the cloth. He began to turn the pages of the book, using the silk.
Indeed, Kai could not identify this language and this writing. They were very mysterious and very ancient. And at the end of the book was indeed a map of some large structure with various notations.
"The method of construction of this building is different from the way they are built now, this building might even be from the Astral Alchemy Emperor era" - Kai thought.
At this moment, Kai's expression changed slightly....
"Wait... What the hell... Why didn't I notice this earlier! The whole letter is very similar... It's very similar to how I see my energy with the Eyes of Essence!" - Suddenly realising the similarities, Kai was instantly shocked. This was the first time he had ever seen anything similar and related to the nature of his energy.
The longer Kai watched, the more Zera-san's nervousness grew. She slowly began tapping her fingertip on the table. And nervously shifted her gaze from the book to Kai from Kai to Bale and back again. At one point she couldn't take it anymore, and she said:
- Forget it, you are incapable of appreciating this book, I'd better take it, the deal is off! - She snatched the book from Kai's hands and nervously pulled it up to her. But then, her gaze instantly went blank. She noticed she had touched the corner of the book.
- Shit!!! - Mrs Zera swore, which made everyone surprised, it was rare to hear a lady noblewoman swear.
That snapped Kai out of his stupor. Danfil touched the edge of his sword, suspecting something wrong.
- Mistress... - Kai was about to calm her down, but no sooner had he finished than....
- Kggh!" Zera spat out a large amount of blood onto her white dress, staining it half of it scarlet.
Before Kai and the others could come to their senses. As a thin, jewel-cut red line with bright scarlet beads slowly began to appear on her snow-white neck. In the blink of an eye, a large amount of blood began to pour from her.
Just as Danfil wanted to react and run to Zera's aid... His legs gave out and the same line appeared on his neck. He started choking on his blood, incomprehensibly waving his hands and covering his throat.
Kai watched numbly as, in the blink of an eye, the two men around him quickly bled out.
"Damn, at this rate, we're all going to be finished! What's going on!" - Shouted Kai in his head.
He had only recently managed to escape the captivity of the Astral Grad. And now because of a new stupid mission, his life was in jeopardy again. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Kai frantically started to recall all the information that could help with the current situation. And a line of blood was already starting to appear on Bale's neck as well. As if giving a countdown to his death.
Kai remembered what Master Mo had said about vigilance in the ancient ruins. There were rumours that artifacts could be found there that had the spiritual trace of their powerful creators, or the sealed soul of their creator. Sometimes old monsters couldn't pass on their legacy and sealed themselves away.
That's when it hit Kai. Although it could all be fiction, he had to try at least something.....
- Mighty Master spare us, we didn't know we had desecrated your legacy! - Shouted Kai, but saw the line on Bale's neck continue to move further.
Kai realised that it was impossible to physically reach the old entity.
"Perhaps... Spiritual Sea! Is there any way to try to contact through it? Strong masters must have it!" - Kai feverishly thought of options.
He didn't know how to do it properly, so he just improvised. He began to voice his words in the spiritual sea and spread his energy in parallel. Kai tried to do his best.
"Mighty master have mercy, we didn't know what we had defiled!" - Kai froze, holding on to his last hope.
"Hmm, quite interesting... I didn't realise there was anyone here... How did you get spiritual power and also this energy kid?" - An ancient and powerful voice resounded in Kai's head, so that Kai's brain stabbed and his legs almost went under.