Silversh.o.r.e was the capital of Sylestra. There wasn"t much sh.o.r.e or anything silver about it. It was more of a symbolic name for its status as a major trade center. The Silverfork river connected to the major waterways that led to the sea, and many caravans stopped at Silversh.o.r.e to embark on their next journey. It was also one of the few routes through the mountain-chains and into the Empire proper. That, and its mountains were rich with precious stones and rare metals. Sylestra was one of the major exporters of magical materials, blessed with high level dungeons and wealthy land.As Somnus approached, he saw a few Deathbringers standing on the towering walls, next to the Gram soldiers who fought at Ord Pa.s.s.
Silversh.o.r.e was originally a Citadel, according to Gemma. Invaders from another continent landed here aeons ago, back during the Unification Wars when the Empire was founded. In due time, a city developed around the Fortress, and now Silversh.o.r.e was one of the largest and most impressive cities in the world. It was a pity that its ruler was too obsessed with profit to train an army that could defend it.
Now that Somnus saw the walls, he realized that if the king had simply waited Somnus out at the capital, his army likely could never take it, unless the spiders got involved. Most of the city was outside the walls of the Citadel, but from the southwest side, which Somnus was approaching from, there was a small shanty town sitting in the shadow of the walls right outside the gate.
Somnus"s approach had been noticed, and most people did not know that one of the Silver Masks was also their conqueror. Beyond the open gate, Somnus saw a sea of people, all waiting for him. Or rather, the Silver Masks. No one knew their ident.i.ties, but they knew that the human was a Starmetal adventurer. However, what confused them was the fact that there were three humans and two taller-than-usual dwarves. Had there always been five members in the Silver Masks?
The people quickly figured out that the Starmetal adventurer was male, and his two human companions were certainly not that. By human standards, both Gemma and Mia were very attractive, even with their masks on—the mystery added to the charm. Gemma had an ideal form because of her Fragment; Therefore, she was bound to be attractive. Mia was an elf; even the ugliest elf would compare favorably with the most beautiful human. When the people saw his two companions, and their n.o.ble and imperious mannerisms, combined with the aesthetics of their appearance, the people went wild. Not because they were jealous, but because this is exactly what they expected of their Starmetal Hero—their savior.
What kind of Legendary Hero was not flanked by beautiful and deadly companions? Every Hero they could think of, from ages long past, had at least one fabled beauty at their side. To these people, who had just been occupied by a foreign army, the appearance of Somnus, in his adventurer guise, was like a prophecy come true.
But when Somnus pa.s.sed the gate, they could only stare at him from a distance as the guards held them at bay. They did not know his name, cla.s.s or even what Jobs he used. If they knew any of those, surely they would have shouted those things and flattery at him.
Most of them just cheered, and others welcomed him to Silversh.o.r.e. Others demanded he free them of their conqueror. Still, a few more demanded that he try to usurp the throne like "those bandits from earlier". What bandits?
Somnus glanced back to Gemma who sighed with quiet indignation. She knew that it wasn"t the people"s fault for not knowing that the person they were cheering was also the same person that they all universally loathed. Somnus"s conquest cost them more than just peace of mind. A country at war is not a preferred trading partner, or a well-visited trade hub. For months, the enemy army at Ord Pa.s.s crippled them, and though their king argued that Silversh.o.r.e was safe, even going as far as venturing to the front-lines himself to guarantee this fact, it did not help their business recover. However, a king who was also a Hero, that was very good for business.
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"Perhaps it serves them right," Gemma whispered. "Shallow minds yearn for the glimmer of fool"s gold."
Lod and Det took it far better than Gemma. They proudly waved to the people, while snickering under their breaths.
"Stupid humans salute goblin," Lod whispered.
"Poetic justice," Det said, agreeing.
"Det actually say something smart for once," Lod said. "Maybe Det learn to count without using fingers."
"That very good idea," Det said. "Ever since Det lose finger, Det can no longer flip bird or count properly."
As if to prove his point, Det held up his left hand where his middle finger was missing.
"How Det lose finger anyway?" Lod asked.
"Det try to cut sausage," he said. "Det not realize sausage was finger."
Lod facepalmed so hard, his mask nearly fell off.
"I take back words. Det is idiot," Lod growled.
"Det was hungry!" Det argued. "You never be so hungry to see things?"
"Lod once see beautiful goblin," Lod said. "Lod was hungry, all right."
Det sniffed dismissively. "Now Lod going to die. Lod should have cut off his sausage. Then maybe Det not have to die."
"That pretty human looking at Det…" Lod said, nodding towards a blonde human girl in her early twenties. "You think goblin and human can b.u.mp?"
"Probably not," Det said. "She find out I am not handsome dwarf and then she probably scream and call for help."
Lod nodded. "Yeah, Det ugly. Lod sometimes want to scream and call for help when see Det"s ugly mug."
Det tried to spit on the ground, but only made a mess inside his mask. "Det handsomer than Lod. Scientific fact. Baryon do measurement."
At this time, Somnus had reached the person to whom all the guards belonged. The guards weren"t there exactly to keep Somnus safe. They were here to keep Duke Peron safe.
"Your Majesty…" Duke Peron whispered, suddenly nervous. "Is the… mask necessary?"
Of course, Peron knew that Somnus was the SIlver Masked adventurer. He was there when he and s.h.i.+non discussed the plan to become an adventurer and attract powerful individuals under his banner. Considering the atmosphere, Peron was right to worry that Somnus may use this opportunity to slay the "evil" governor of Sylestra and "free" the people. In fact, the longer Peron thought about it, the more he thought it was a good idea—if it weren"t for the fact that he himself was the "evil" governor of Sylestra.
"Input discarded," Somnus replied as he continued walking down the streets, and Peron had to catch up to him to walk by his side. It was not easy for Somnus to ignore someone"s question. He thought it was proper form, as reinforced by centuries of operating as a tool of war for the humans, to let someone know their question is ignored.
Peron nodded, "Well, we have only occupied the city a few days ago. When we arrived, some bandits were laying siege to it. They had tags, so they were probably adventurers. The Deathbringers killed them."
"Objective?" Somnus asked.
"They probably heard that the king died, and wanted to conquer the city to become the next king," Peron shrugs. "Might makes right?"
Somnus agreed with those words, deep in his heart, but he also knew that "might" was a very relative thing. One might have a powerful army or gifted followers, but when outmatched, they look like a fool. Somnus was unfortunate enough to have been in that situation himself once or twice. For a long time, he thought he was the ultimate existence in this world—and he still does—but now he realized that there are a lot "ultimate existences" in this world. He had to be careful.
"Can activity: conquest give one the right to be king in this world?" Somnus asked. He knew that being a king was more than being born to the right family. It went back to ancient times when adventurers had to accomplish great deeds to earn that right. To be specific, they had to gain a lot of followers and loyal subjects.
Peron tilted his head slightly at the particular choice of words—"this world"—and then shrugged. "I don"t know. In theory, yes, if the people recognize you as their ruler."
Peron looked to Gemma, a quizzical look in his eyes.
Gemma nodded, confirming his words.
"But that would be unlikely to fly with the Imperial High Arbiters," Gemma said, keeping her voice low.
Cheers filled their surroundings anyway, even if they spoke out loud they"d be unlikely to be overheard.
"Define Imperial High Arbiters," Somnus said.
"You were in trouble with them," Gemma said. "s.h.i.+non told me."
Mia cleared her throat and stared daggers at Gemma. It was obvious, even with the mask. Mia told Gemma, because Gemma would rather die than talk to a Herald.
"The n.o.bles complained to the Arbiters and demanded to revoke your right of rulers.h.i.+p," Gemma said. "They can do that."
"Not for long," Lod added in with a grim chuckle.
Those words suddenly reminded Gemma of their true end-game here and fell silent.
"Either way, it will take more time to occupy Silversh.o.r.e and Sylestra," Peron continued. "Some local n.o.bles are raising armies in rebellion."
"Terminate them," Somnus said.
"… My Liege?" Peron blurted out. He should have seen this coming. He could bring up all the arguments he wanted about why killing n.o.bles was a bad idea, but he also knew that none of them mattered. "It shall be done."
Somnus continued walking, not even acknowledging Peron"s words.
After a few dozen steps, Peron finally asked. "What do you plan to do next, your Excellency?"
"Gain information," Somnus said.
"As you wish, my Liege," Peron said. "I shall have a room prepared for you outside the Castle."
"Can not stay inside castle, master?" Det asked.
"Negative," Somnus said. "Disguise required for information gathering."
Eventually, Somnus and Peron split up, and even the people got bored with cheering for someone who apparently did not come here to set them free, after all.