Chapter 407 – Time For Departure.

The sun began to set as Roland made his way to Arthur’s estate. The sprawling grounds were immaculately maintained, a testament to the wealth and power of the Valerian family. The main residence, a grand mansion of stone and wood, stood as a symbol of the family’s prominence in its now-finished state.

The guards recognized him as he approached the entrance and quickly opened the gates for their Knight Commander. The interior of the mansion was adorned with luxurious furnishings and intricate decorations. Arthur’s base of operations was finally looking like a proper noble home. Everything had gotten up several levels since his first arrival and this villa was finally fit to accept other nobles.

While moving further he nodded back at a few butlers and maids, new faces that he didn’t recognize. In a spacious study, Roland found Arthur reviewing documents and reports. The young lord looked up as Roland entered, concern etched on his face due to the temporary loss of his best knight.

“Roland, you’re here. Come, take a seat. We need to discuss a few matters before your departure.”

“Of course, Lord Arthur.”

Roland took a seat across from Arthur, who leaned back in his ornate chair. Arthur’s fingers started tapping rhythmically on the polished mahogany desk as he started speaking.

“I’ve prepared a few things for your journey. Firstly, here are the documents from the guild, if anyone doubts your identity, just hand them over. Thanks to our Guild Master, you will be taking on the role of a guard for a reputable merchant. They will be making a trip to the kingdom’s central regions, from there it will only take you a day or two to reach the Institute.”

Due to Arthur’s unwillingness to give him a referral letter, he would not be able to use his family name to get a free ride. Instead, he would use his adventurer credentials that had been upgraded recently. Roland was now a Platinum-rank adventurer with a lot more prestige. His card had been updated to a newer model to signify this event and would usually be enough to confirm his identity. While his guild name on the card couldn’t be altered, not many people would associate Wayland the adventurer with Wayland the Knight Commander.

It appeared that his contacts within the guild yielded more benefits than those within the union. It was understandable that no union dwarves were planning a visit to the central regions, and instead, he would need to attach himself to a merchant. Fortunately, the city was going through a second growth phase. It presented an opportunity to invest and earn a large amount of gold, prompting various merchants and companies to act swiftly.

“Thank you, Lord Arthur.“

“There’s more. I’ve also arranged for a sizable amount of gold to be provided to you. Traveling comfortably requires resources, and I want you to have the means to secure your safety.”

Roland was genuinely surprised by the generosity. The amount of gold Arthur provided exceeded his expectations, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude.

“This is a lot of coins… are you sure?”

“Take it before I change my mind, with the current expansion underway, gold has become a trivial matter. Just be sure to return safely and you can use it for the trip back.”

“I will do my best, Lord Arthur and I don’t plan on staying for more than I have to.”

The two men soon stood up to shake each other’s hands. Their relationship has grown through the years and Roland was starting to consider Arthur as an actual friend. From the way the young lord acted, it seemed that he reciprocated those feelings but he couldn’t be sure. Perhaps he was just treating him as one of his best assets; however, normally a person wouldn’t let their best asset stray away too far from their domain.

“I wish you luck, I hope you find whatever you are looking for.”

“I hope so too.”

As the two men were finishing up their conversation a knock on the door resounded and was followed by Mary’s voice.

“Lord Arthur, the adventurers have arrived.”

“Great, just on time, shall we?”

Roland nodded as he waited for Arthur to leave the room first, trailing a few steps behind to maintain the appearance of the Knight Commander. A scheduled meeting awaited him, involving two acquaintances.

“Anything I should know before I meet your two friends?”

“Hm, I guess Lobelia has a good head on her shoulders, so it should be fine… but when talking to Armand, it would be better if you didn’t use any big words? I can guarantee his strength, but don’t expect him to be too nuanced.”

“I see, good to know.”

Arthur chuckled at the description Roland gave of the two new bodyguards. During his absence, there weren’t many people he could trust with Arthur’s life. The issue lay with his Knight Commander position; he was somewhat responsible for Arthur’s safety. If anything were to happen to his lord, he could be held accountable for it. This dependence on the main family and the Duke could lead to severe consequences, possibly even a death sentence. The only way out of such a predicament would likely be to run and seek refuge in another kingdom. An alternative would also be the territory of an opposing Duke.

“Welcome.”

“Uh… good day, My Lord?”

The two finally arrived to see two awkward-looking individuals. Lobelia attempted to perform a curtsy, but it was quite awkward and untrained. Armand, on the other hand, gazed into the distance as if he had something more interesting to attend to. Only after a jab in the side by his younger sibling did he turn his head to face the approaching Arthur.

“Hey, shape up; we’re in the presence of a noble! Do you want us to get thrown into the dungeon?”

“I’d like those skinny soldiers to try!”

“Haha, you were right, they are truly an interesting duo!”

Roland glanced over at Mary, who was rolling her eyes. She seemed to have some experience dealing with the two, so he felt confident leaving Armand to her. With that, he bid his farewells and exited the villa. He promised Elodia to review their contracts and steer them in a more favorable direction. Once signed, they would become part of Arthur’s private entourage, responsible for his safety in his absence. Now, he could focus on completing his other inquiries and preparing for his journey ahead, set to commence in around three days.

‘I guess I’m really doing this…’

While walking through the city, he continued to ponder his current situation. The prototype he had provided to the church was operational, and they were already analyzing all of his schematics and writings with their own craftsmen and mages. The place was filling up with even more people, and the entrance gate was more crowded than the time he had arrived here all those years ago.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The expansion of the city had been reignited as people began purchasing plots of land outside the main city walls. This influx brought in substantial revenue, likely one of the reasons for Arthur’s generosity. Prices were on the rise, and everyone seemed poised to make substantial gains. He took in the sights, contemplating how different the place would be upon his return.