Chapter 13 - Establishing Relationships

"A VICTORY! A VICTORY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! A COMPLETE WIPEOUT!" The announcer shouted in his microphone. The crowd roared with cheers and the nobles watching stood up from their positions and clapped.

"We did it Zieg!" Rize happily jumped up and down.

"We can't get the unstable thing from them so let's go back for now."

"Okay! Can we get something to eat?"

"Yeah."

As soon as we got to the exit of the Itz Arena we were greeted by people blocking our way.

"What do you want?" I intensely glared at them.

"W... Well... His majesty wishes to meet with you." I could see their nervousness and their sweat running down from their face.

"What does he or she want with me?"

"I need to talk to you." The guards blocking me opened up for a path for their king. And he appeared. "I wish to convey my utmost gratidute to what you have done to the serpent. I wish to invite you in my chambers."

This is it. Finally. I can get a good relationship with this king. By the way he talks to me, he doesn't boast authority. He is a wise king.

"I can join you but can Rize come with me?"

"She's a Goblin is she not?" When the king spoke those words the bodyguards behind him held their unsheathed weapons. "I don't mind. She looks harmless since you enslaved her." He noticed my enslavement spell on Rize.

"I don't consider her a slave." I put my hand on Rize's head. "She's a comrade right now."

"Hmm... Very well. Guards! Escort us to the castle." As soon as the king approved Rize the guards loosened up their grip on their weapons.

We walked for a while. The castle was in the middle of the entirety of Itz. We were greeted by several maids lined up perfectly on both sides of the pathway. The castle was shimmering with accessories of gold but looking at the condition of the castle, its pretty old.

We soon walked in a private room.

We all sat down on the comfy couch.

"First of all, my name is Mir Itz II. I want to thank you personally for killing the Serpent. I want to give this to you." He got the sword resting on top of the furnace. By looking at the shape of the sword...

"Is that a Katana?" I blurted out loud.

"Oh. So you know about people from the south and you're quite knowledgeable about them too. Yes. This is a Katana. Its been enhanced by the finest blacksmith in this town. You might've met him. Ruz and Ruf. This is their masterpiece."

"Oh yeah those two. Actually our armor and weapons was by those two."

"Then this is more fitting to give this to you since you know those two." He gave me the sword.

"System, analyze."

[+500 Strength, +50% Speed, -100 Defense. Item buff:

Bleed, each time you damage the enemy the next slash continues to increase. Every slash increases by 5%. Slash multiplier will reset after 1000% and will deal a critical bonus damage for 200% more. If you hit a different enemy the multiplier will reset.]

That's some insane buff. But the conditions for the additional damage is pretty difficult to attain. But the bonus stats are really good.

"Thank you very much."

"Its no problem. I have a task set up for you. I need you to keep an eye on the cargo we're going to send."

"Hmm..? For what? And this job is easy. You can put it on the guild."

"You know we are in a great famine right? Ever since the Serpent appeared a month ago all of our trades are getting either stolen or eaten by the Serpent. But just today when we sent our trades to the neighboring town, we didn't receive any gold nor response to the villagers we sent."

"Bandits?"

"No its not Bandits. I sent out large group of forces to the area the villagers were travelling everytime we ship out a trade. Its impossible for a mere bandit party could eliminate experienced fighters."

What the king is saying is reasonable. There may be someone who lured the Serpent to the woods near this kingdom to have an excuse to steal the trades of Itz.

"I will accept this quest. Are you in dire need of food right now?"

"Yes. The rations of our farm is nearly depleted."

I don't want to scam him right now for money. I need him to get on good terms with me.

"I'll give your kingdom this." I pulled out from my inventory 250 pieces of the Serpent's flesh. "System, analyze."

[Serpent's Flesh x250, poisonous when eaten raw. If cooked, it gives a nice poison resistance buff. Edible when cooked.]

"As you can see, its edible."

The king stood of from where he sat and bowed. "Thank you very much sir Ykir." He raised his head. "I wish to buy this from you f-" I cut him off.

"Take it as my payment for the Katana. Well I think its not enough but please just accept it."

"I'll take it. I really appreciate it on behalf of the kingdom of Itz."

"By the way, King Mir, I want to complete this quest with the team Bladedge."

"I'll allow it. But I don't think the Bladedge will."

"I'll find a way."

"I'll send you two off your way. Take a good rest. I'll send the trades tomorrow morning."

"We will be on time. Thank you very much King Mir."

We went back to the inn we slept and got a good night's sleep.