Chapter 111: Favor Merchant

Julius couldn’t explain why, but his gut was screaming at him that this man was not Tier 4 like Liz had told them. While there were no signs of aura leaking out or any other evidence supporting his claim, Julius knew deep in his heart that this man was one of the most powerful people he had ever met.

Julius could barely breathe. He didn’t perceive any external influence affecting him, but for some reason, his chest was awfully tight. He looked over at Declan, wanting to see if he had sensed what Julius had. However, Declan didn’t look stressed or worried. He was behaving like normal and for a second it had Julius doubting his own instincts.

He paused for a second and took a deep calming breath. Perhaps he had been jumping to conclusions. There was always the possibility that the man in front of him had some other skill that hid him from Julius’s [Spatial Perception].

Julius watched as Dante scrutinized Declan and himself with impassive eyes. Declan had a large smile on his face again and bowed to the man in greeting. “Hello, Mr. Dante. My name is Declan and this here is Julius. Liz was kind enough to give up directions to where you lived, I hope we aren’t intruding.”

The man didn’t say anything right away. He just kept glaring at the two of them while standing in the doorway of the cabin. Finally, he spoke, “I know. She let me know you two were coming.” His voice was a deep baritone and was a voice that sounded like that often gave orders. It actually reminded Julius of the voice of a military commander.

If the man’s unfriendly attitude dissuaded Declan, he didn’t let it show. “Oh, she did? That’s perfect. Did she also happen to mention why we wanted to meet you?”

“She did and the answer is no,” Dante straight up denied Declan before he could even make his request.

“Oh,” Declan said crestfallen. “You won’t even consider it? Please, your work is one of the finest I have come across. Even if it is just a few pieces, I would love to buy anything you have on hand.”

“Why do you want my items so badly?” The man asked Declan bluntly.

Declan nodded his head. “They are masterful pieces.”

“Let me clarify. Who do you want them for? Do you want them for yourself or for me to outfit your guards?” The older man asked.

Julius was immediately put back on guard. Neither one of them had mentioned that Declan was a vice-captain, not to Liz and certainly not this man. Yet, Dante appeared to know about it. He wouldn’t have made that comment otherwise. Julius noticed that Declan also seemed to understand the implications on the man’s words, but he still maintained a friendly expression on his face.

“I admit, I would love to have my entire unit outfitted with equipment made by you. But I realize how unreasonable that would be. However, I have a son who is a crafter and he would be able to learn a lot just by seeing your work.”

Julius saw Dante look at Declan quietly for a moment before he let out a sigh and without a word, went back inside. Declan and Julius both looked at each other, wondering where he was going. A few moments later the man came back holding two items in his hands.

One was a metal cube the size of a closed fist with inscriptions all over its surface. The other was a wooden figurine that resembled a young boy with angel-like wings extending from his back. Both items were clearly well-made. The details of each one were refined and delicate. The figurine was particularly impressive. The feathers of the wings were so intricate and beautiful.

Julius could also sense that each item had many layers of enchantments. He would not be surprised to learn that both objects had functions beyond the purpose of just looking pretty.

The man handed over the objects to Declan before saying, “Give these to your son. Tell him he should practice recreating both of them. The cube is a puzzle that will help him with learning how to layer enchantments more efficiently. The wooden boy will help him with creating more creative and intricate enchantments.”

Declan held the two objects with reverence and thanked the man profusely. “What can I give you for these items,” he asked the old crafter.

Dante shook his head. “I don’t have a need for money.”

Declan also vehemently shook his head. “I can’t just take these for free. Tell me what I can do in return,” he insisted

The older man frowned at Declan’s obstinance. “I told you, I don’t have a need for money. The only reason why I gave you these was because Liz asked me to help you guys out.”

“There must be something I can do.”

The man nodded his head. “I do have something that I would like…”

“Name it,” Declan smiled at him.

“Just an answer to a question,” the man said vaguely.

“I can hear out the question, but I can’t promise that I will be able to give you an answer that will satisfy you,” Declan tentatively said.

“That’s okay. Because the question isn’t for you.” Dante turned to look directly at Julius who had been standing in the background for the past several minutes. “It’s for him.”

“Him?”

“Me?” Julius pointed at himself. Both of them asked surprised.

The older man stone cold face pressed on Julius’s body. Julius started to feel that same feeling that he got when he first saw the man. It was a creeping feeling of dread.

It was Declan who interjected. “What do you want to ask him?” he asked confused.

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Finally, the man’s lip upturned a hair. However, it didn’t reassure Julius at all. No, if anything it made him feel like he had just gotten into a cage with a starving polar bear and he was its next meal. “Nothing much, I just wanted to ask him how he knew.”

Declan was still confused. “Knew? Knew what?” At this point, Julius didn’t know how Declan wasn’t picking up the weird feeling that Julius was.

The man ignored Declan and only had eyes for Julius. The man’s stare was intense. Almost as if he was challenging Julius to dare look at him. “Tell me, how did you know?”

Julius beat down the rising fear and looked back at the man, staring directly into his eyes. Showing that he wouldn’t be cowed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

The man started to actually grin now and slowly walked from the doorway and down the steps of the cabin porch, approaching Julius with intense focus. Julius could feel the pressure getting greater and greater the closer the man got to him. The ground vibrated with every step, almost as if the man weighed as much as a mountain.