Chapter 144: 8th Floor

***Caddock, level 65 High Paladin***

They were at a party teeming with sycophants, aiming to secure funding from the richest man in the world…and Orev was treating it like a bit.

“So I don’t know if you knew this, but I’ve been to the thirteenth Floor and back,” Orev Harti said, subtly flexing as he made his best attempt at flirting with Maybin Glasswind. “No big deal.”

I think that man has a learning disability, Caddock thought to himself.

“You do realize that I’ve been to the fifteenth Floor?” Maybin asked, stirring her drink with a tiny glass spoon, staring up at the lean ranger with a cocked brow.

Orev glanced off to the side. “Usually that line works.”

“…On children?” Maybin guessed.

“…mostly. Though to be fair, you are very short.” Orev said, measuring her against his chest. “So maybe I got confused.”

“You do seem like the kind of man who would hit on children.”

“That’s not what-I don’t…”

“I present the Baron Akul!” The announcer said, his voice carried by an Ability above the chattering of the crowd.

Thank Granesh, Caddock thought, rolling his eyes and leaving the idiot to his own devices.

Caddock began crossing the party towards the baron. Typically, you were expected to mingle in place without moving too much so that the baron could make the rounds, visiting each cluster without missing anyone.

It was very rude to simply approach him with a business proposition, bordering on offensive.

The man’s attendants took it that way at least, the two of them forming a living wall as Caddock strode forward, forcing him to gently brush them aside as he approached the Baron Akul.

Caddock’s purposeful stride broke as he took in the man’s face.

“You’re not the baron.” Caddock accused.

“I have been since my father passed,” Luis Akul said, relaxing as Caddock didn’t make any more movements.

“Ah. My condolences. He was a friend.” Caddock said, his thoughts broiling. He’d been counting on the rapport he’d established with the old Baron. This was a setback.

Probably.

“Friends of my father rarely show their faces around me unless they want something from me. Usually money. What purpose do you have here?” Luis asked, looking Caddock up and down.

“Money.” Caddock said with a shrug.

Luis burst into a laugh, causing the nearby sycophants to frown, glancing between the two.

“I appreciate your honesty. Now if you’ll excuse me-“ Luis moved to walk around him.

Caddock stopped the baron with a hand on his shoulder, and the tension in the room shot up as the chatter around them went quiet as the entire party collectively held their breath.

“I never told you how I know your father,” Caddock said. “I carried his ass through the twelfth floor before he chickened out and went back down to play at being a Lord. That was more than eighty years ago.”

Luis glanced down at the hand on his shoulder and an ominous aura spilled out of him, flooding the party with dread.

“And that entitles you to a handout?” Luis asked, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

“Word is you’re providing supplies to promising Lord candidates.” Caddock said. “I’ve got three hundred people that need food and water. Clothes, wagons, wood.”

“Promising young candidates.” Luis Akul said, a glowing blue forcefield manifesting long enough to pluck Caddock’s hand off his shoulder.

“I’m eighteen.” Caddock said without an ounce of shame.

Orev spat his drink halfway across the room, thankfully he was turned away from Maybin when he did so, avoiding being vaporized.

“And what is your purpose for becoming a Lord?” Luis asked.

“Retirement.” Caddock lied. “The church and I have been at odds lately, and retirement outside the tower was driving me mad. I already have the strength to become a Lord, just never had the inclination until now.”

“You’ve got one foot in the grave already.” Luis said, taking in Caddock’s advanced age. “You can’t possibly hold a Stronghold long enough for it to be worth it for me to fund one.”

“I’ve already got a successor picked out.” Caddock said, gesturing for Maybin to approach them.

The Nuker handed her drink to a confused Orev and approached, giving a graceful curtsy, revealing her background in high society. While the young woman wasn’t much for manners, she could turn it on when she needed to.

“Greetings, Baron Akul, my name is Maybin Glasswind, It’s an honor to meet you. Your father was a great inspiration for my Build.”

“Maybin Glasswind?” Luis asked, his eyes widening.

“Yes sir.”

“And who did you say you were?” He asked, glancing up at Caddock.

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“I didn’t. My name is Caddock, High Paladin. No last name.”

“You want to create a Stronghold for your…retirement?”

“Yes.”

“I thought Paladins were sworn against such things?”

Caddock heaved a tired sigh. “As I said before, the church and I have had a difference of opinion. I respectfully believe that I can do more good granting humanity one more toehold in The Tower rather than wasting away in the Ring.”

Luis’s gaze slid from Caddock to Maybin.

“If you truly are Maybin Glasswind, then I could fund your operation solely on her merits. Having her holding a Stronghold above us for the next hundred years could be very beneficial for Akul.”

“That’s very generous-“ Caddock began.

“If she is Maybin Glasswind.” Luis said, snagging a drink from a nearby server and downing it before holding the glass out on his palm.

Over the course of a couple heartbeats, layer after layer of shielding peeled off of Luis and wrapped around the glass, until it was barely visible behind all the layers of protection that resembled rose petals.

“Show me your strongest cantrip.” Luis said, holding the glass out.

Maybin shrugged and took a few steps back, her eyes narrowing as she took a stance.

“Ahem.” Caddock cleared his throat, drawing the young woman’s attention before she killed someone.

“Show him your cantrip most appropriate for the situation,” Caddock clarified before he glanced past the wineglass and gestured for some of the spectators to move out of the line of fire.

Kids these days.