Chapter 16: Venture (2)
[Fifty fifth day]
Three days after their departure, the 'Business' team was haflway away from the Vermillion mountain city.
During their travel, they have encountered many kinds of beasts and plants, both medicinal and carnivorous.
"By the way, how are we going to keep a steady supply of 'wine' when that wine needs merfolk meat to be created?"
Aldo asked as he use his golem to hold down a starving tiger that attacked them.
"Those three, as we suspected, are planning on mergin option A and option B. Though I don't know how they will do it, I do know that they will try to earn us more merfolk corpses"
Marco replied as he nonchalantly cooked their breakfast.
"Are you not worried about Lexi?"
"I am, just a bit though. I know what he is capable of and that the others won't mistreat him. Even if one of you guys plan to kill me, you simply can't since I have a big role to play in your survival"
"What a realistic thing to say. And here I thought that you were the idle type of guy"
"Business is about being rational and cool headed at all times while grabbing an opportunity that you see. It is only normal for me to be like that
In any case, what are you trying to do?"
Marco asked, wondering why Aldo was creating a magic circle.
"Do you know those fantasy comics and novels? I'm trying to 'tame' this guy. It is kinda hard to make something that would make it so that his loyalty to me will last, even if the spell disappear"
"Roar!"
About fifty meters away from them, another tiger appeared and rushed and ready to maul them.
"Happy Birthday~ To You~!!! Happy Birthday~ To You~!!!"
With Marco's singing, the tiger stopped and sat down.
"Here you go, you must be hungry right? You poor thing!"
After it ate the dead rabbit Marco gave, the tiger purred and became affectionate to Marco.
"What did you do?"
"A bard has the ability to become friednly with animals with a bit of singing"
Feeling that he wasted his time, Aldo finished the magic circle and installed it inside the tiger's brain.
"Hey now, directly putting that in someone's head is risky!"
"I know. But don't worry, since I've already taken that into account"
The golems released the tiger.
The tiger then ate a dead rabbit that Aldo gave to him.
After eating the rabbit, the tiger sat down with its head up high, as if waiting for an order.
"You turned him into a robbot!?"
"Putting this trivial matter aside, how are you planning on taking care of the mayor of their city?"
"I am a businessman who loves to play Dating sims and sex games, can't you put a little bit of trust in me, you diamond spoon?"
Marco replied while petting the emotionless lion.
"What makes you say I'm a diamond spoon?"
"Your habits. Your mannerism, including the way you talk. And your aura. A sort of vibe someone born from an ultra rich family would possess"
"What about the others?" He curiously asked.
"Charlie is the sort of neutral in a group. Tony is a diamond spoon like you but had a hard childhood base on his actions. And... all of us already know that Leon has commited a crime or two"
Thinking back on it now, Marco's words does sound true making Aldo believe him.
"Okay. I will be gathering intel while you're talking with them. You can have Aldo junior with you since I am sure they won't attack me"
"How kind of you" He said as he rolled his eyes.
...
Three more days later, they arrived at the main gate of the Vermillion mountain city.
"I feel a strong energy around the entire city..."
"Think of it as something similar to a barrier"
"Okay"
A few minutes later, the guards knelt down as the priestess of the city came out to personally welcome their guests.
She extended her hand. Aldo did the same.
They then swore an oath using mana to ensure safety between the two parties to avoid conflict.
A beast kin stepped up and bowed towards the two.
"I am Henry, the city mayor's assistant. Please follow me for I will be the one to escort you to the mayor's abode"
"I'll get going then"
"Go ahead"
Aldo junior transfered the 'products' they brought and rode the carriage prepared by the mayor with Marco and Henry.
"Shall we have a talk? If you do not mind that is"
"It would be my pleasure to have a chat with a genius magician such as yourself"
"I am sorry but... why are you regarding me so highly?"
"Although I can only sense an average amount of mana inside of you, you are already capable of casting fifth level magic. And base on its smooth movements, I think it is comparable to sixth level magic"
"Are you perhaps talking about my golems?"
"Yes"
Aldo turned back to see his golems and faced the entrance guards and the escort guards who are in charged of Jarianne's safety.
He noticed that Jarianne's escorts were wary despite completing the oath. Some demi humans were even taken aback after seeing two golems moving independently.
"I am only capable of doing it in current level because of a language I created which makes it easy for me to cast the spell needed to conjure them"
"What!?"
Someone asked in disbelief.
"You're saying that you created a language for magic by yourself? Do not be ridiculous! Who do you think you are to think you would be capable of doing such things!"
The escort guard closest to Jarianne said with certainty.
"Moran, enough. What he said is the truth. So apologize"
"....? Priestess... I..."
"You accused our guest of lying and denied his hard work without proof. Apologize this instance!"
"....."
Aldo waited silently as the guard reluctantly bowed down slowly.
"I... I am sorry for slandering you with my baseless accusation, Sir"
Moran said while biting his lip.
"It is alright. So you can raise your head now"
The guard went back to his position while avoiding eye contact.
"I believe this is not a place where it is apporopriate to chat. Please follow me elsewhere. We can have a chat more comfortably in a tranquil place"
"I understand. But... where should I tell my golems to place our carriage?"
"My men will be the one who will take care of it. If you do not mind, please deactivate your spell"
"Okay"
The earth golems cracked and became a lump of dirt after the spell was deactivated.
Amazed, some of the demi humans could not help but have their mouths open.