Chapter 260 Ruler of the den
As the rest of the group headed for a meal, Keyara charted a path toward the heart of the city, navigating her way to the towering structure— the first-ever building constructed in this burgeoning city.
Nerves prickled at her skin; the merchant's unsettling demeanor during their initial encounter lingered in her memory. She found his behavior somewhat off-putting. Yet, she had no choice but to confront him, settling her debt by offering the noxlight flowers. Rumor had it that the merchant was the sole individual accepting these blooms in exchange for goods.
Summoning courage and taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she approached the imposing edifice. At the reception, she spoke up, her voice composed despite her internal apprehension. "Excuse me, I'm here to submit noxlight flowers."
The receptionist, a middle-aged individual, flashed a slightly widened smile upon hearing her request. "Please wait a moment; the branch director will be with you shortly," he assured her before attending to his tasks.
Keyara shifted her weight, her anticipation growing with every passing second. The reception area exuded an aura of polished efficiency, yet an undercurrent of tension lingered in the air, adding to Keyara's unease.
Minutes stretched into an eternity as she stood there, her mind drifting between thoughts of the merchant and the peculiar dealings she was about to undertake. Finally, a door creaked open, and a figure emerged from the hallway.
The branch director, a distinguished-looking individual with an air of authority, approached Keyara. His demeanor was courteous but held a hint of calculation, as if he weighed every word before uttering it. "Miss Keyara, I presume. I'm the branch director, Kyle Shina. Please, follow me," he said, gesturing for her to accompany him.
Keyara's nod carried a hint of surprise as she realized it wasn't the same man she had initially struck the deal with, but everyone was bowing to him and calling him branch director so she followed him.
Keyara followed the director down a corridor adorned with ornate decorations, feeling a mixture of apprehension and determination. She knew this meeting was crucial; it marked the beginning of her efforts to settle the debt and navigate the intricate dealings with the enigmatic merchant.
As they reached a lavish office, the director motioned for her to take a seat, his gaze inscrutable. "Please, have a seat. Let's discuss the matter at hand," he intoned, his tone measured yet holding an air of authority that demanded attention.
"I gathered from our database that you struck a deal with my business partner. You promised to provide us with twenty noxlight flowers in exchange for facilitating your sister's passage across the den to reach Agenya Academy. Am I correct?" the man stated, his gaze fixed on the holographic screen on the table.
Keyara nodded in affirmation. "That's right. I have seven of them with me now, and I'll have the rest within a few weeks." She carefully presented the securely packaged seven noxlight flowers for his inspection.
The director observed the presented flowers with a scrutinizing gaze, his expression unreadable. He leaned in slightly, examining them closely without touching. "Very well," he murmured, more to himself than to Keyara.
Carefully examining each bloom, the director meticulously assessed them. After scrutinizing each flower, he finally spoke, "They all meet the criteria. Miss Keyara, you've reduced your debt from 20 to just 13."
Keyara acknowledged his words with a nod, observing as the man began to carefully place the flowers into the prepared box. Unable to contain her curiosity, she couldn't help but voice the question that had lingered in her mind since she first learned about these merchants.
"May I ask," Keyara began, her voice steady yet filled with curiosity, "why do you require these noxlight flowers in such high quantities?"
The director paused, his movements briefly halting as he regarded Keyara with a measured gaze. Setting down the apparatus, he responded, "Miss Keyara, I can answer that question. However, as a merchant, I abide by a principle of equitable exchanges. I'd be willing to answer, but in return, let me pose a question to you."
Keyara, considering the proposal, leaned back in her chair, pondering for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll go first."
The man smiled, acknowledging her agreement. "You wish to know why we seek this herb, correct?" Keyara nodded, prompting him to continue. "First, allow me to ask: do you understand why the den was once deemed so perilous, yet now, from your own observation, it doesn't seem as hazardous?"
Keyara affirmed with another nod. She had noticed the discrepancy between the information she'd received, painting the den as treacherous, and the reality she experienced, finding it not as perilous as described. The disparity intrigued her, prompting further curiosity about the truth behind the den's reputation.
"I can't delve further into it, but I can tell you this much: we've received an exemption from the ruler of this territory to establish our business within a certain area. The regions surrounding this territory are relatively safe. However, as you move farther away from this hub, particularly into the jungles, the danger intensifies. Our permission to establish this town stems from an agreement involving these herbs," the man explained, surprising Keyara and prompting a flurry of questions in her mind.
With a mix of curiosity and surprise, Keyara inquired, "But why can't the ruler gather these herbs himself? He governs this place, so why involve a third party like you? Couldn't he mobilize others or even do it himself, given his authority?"
The director's faint smile persisted at Keyara's inquiry, maintaining an air of composed caution. "I don't have an answer for that, and frankly, it's not my concern. Now, it's my turn..."
Keyara, eager to ask further questions, paused, recognizing it was now his turn to inquire. She listened attentively as he posed his question. "From the information available, your group has been in the den for merely 7 days, yet in this short time, your party of 11 members has managed to gather 7 noxlight flowers—one each day. That's quite a remarkable achievement. Our own groups typically takes weeks to find just two or three of these per week. So, how did you manage it?"
Keyara's thoughts raced, grappling with the fine line between disclosure and safeguarding their strategies. After a brief contemplation, she carefully chose her words. "You see, it's a mix of luck and a rookie approach. Are you familiar with the shadowcrest lupins, the wolf-type monsters in this region?"
Kyle's interest piqued at the mention. "Yes, I am. They aren't particularly formidable. What about them?" he inquired, intrigued by Keyara's reference.
"Well, these creatures tend to make their dens near rare herbs, incorporating them into their diet when necessary. The noxlight flower happens to be one such rare herb that attracts these lupins. So, instead of painstakingly searching for these nearly invisible flowers, we track down these monsters, and they end up guiding us straight to the herbs," Keyara explained, a smile gracing her lips. She observed Kyle's thoughtful expression and continued, "It's not exactly the stroke of genius you might imagine... but it does the job."
Kyle nodded, processing the information. "Still, it's a pragmatic approach. It gets the job done efficiently," he acknowledged, acknowledging the effectiveness of their unconventional strategy.
Kyle leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "But isn't it risky to engage with those lupins? They may not be formidable, but they travels in pack?"
Keyara considered his question. "Yes, they do. We've only encountered one pack so far, and for some reason, they aren't as powerful I had info about. We managed to handle them easily, but I can't speak for the deeper regions," she explained, hinting at the potential unpredictability of the lupins in more remote areas.
Kyle nodded thoughtfully, appreciating Keyara's insights. "Thanks for sharing that. It'll be useful for us in understanding the dynamics of this area."
He then paused, considering their arrangement. "Given the information you've provided and your unique approach, I'm willing to release you from three noxlight flowers of the remaining 13 owed. Consider it as a token of appreciation for your valuable information."
Keyara felt a sense of relief wash over her. "Thank you, sir. That means a lot," she said, expressing her gratitude for his understanding. She acknowledged the gesture, recognizing the significance of this alleviation in their debt.
As the conversation drew to a close, they finalized the details of the transaction, affirming the settlement of the debt and the agreement between their parties.
With this new information in tow, Keyara exited the building, her perspective of the dark forest transformed. Firstly, the revelation that this forest was governed by a ruler intrigued her. The fact that this ruler required these elusive flowers and relied on a third party like the merchant's group puzzled her. 'Why wouldn't the ruler collect these himself or delegate the task?' she pondered.
The only logical conclusion she could draw was that there were barriers preventing the ruler from acting directly or independently. She was convinced that a ruler existed because the den, she realized, wasn't the sort of place where a thriving city could sprout up within a mere few months. It necessitated assistance from incredibly powerful individuals, far more potent than she could fathom. The mystery surrounding the ruler and the forces at play within the forest deepened her intrigue.
The conversations she had just engaged in at the merchant's branch added layers of intrigue to her perception of the forest's governance.
Lost in her contemplation, she felt a hands on her shoulder belonging to Keith, who was waiting for her "Hey, Keyara! You seem lost in thought. Everything alright?" Arya asked, noticing the distant look on Keyara's face.
Keyara shook herself out of her reverie, offering a faint smile. "Yeah, just processing some information. I've been thinking about the ruler of this place and the reasons behind their reliance on outsiders for these rare flowers," she explained, her mind still whirring with unanswered questions.
Keith raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "The ruler? There's a ruler here?"
Keyara nodded, her curiosity piqued even more. "Seems like it. This city, Arya, it couldn't have sprouted up without some influential backing. There's more to this forest than what meets the eye."
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