Chapter 595 – Nightly Visit.

“Well, that was unexpected. Sorry, without my golems, it’s hard to predict who might be nearby.”

Roland spoke while glancing at the tea house in the distance. He could tell that the people they had just encountered had gone up to the third floor and were probably discussing the same incident.

“Oh no, that’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Even I didn’t expect my older brother to get here this quickly.”

Arthur and Roland walked through the area, both deep in thought about what had just happened. It seemed that Ivan had arrived not long after they did. Roland could confirm this by examining the residual energy left behind by the teleportation gate used by Ivan and his knights. His mana senses allowed him to gauge the residue’s deterioration, which declined at a predictable rate. Based on this, he estimated that Ivan had arrived roughly an hour after they did, a detail that carried its own importance.

“I suppose this is a good thing, and perhaps an opportunity.”

Roland’s voice trailed off as he looked through his visor. The people who had been following them were still present, but to his surprise, some had stayed behind at the tea house. He couldn’t be certain yet, but there was a chance they were keeping an eye on Ivan Valerian as well. This Valerian son had a reputation for being a bit of a brute, and his larger-than-average build, combined with his earlier emotional outburst, only confirmed it.

“An opportunity for what?”

Arthur glanced at Roland, unsure what he meant.

“For you to take his position. He’s in a vulnerable state right now. He suffered heavy losses during that cultist attack and hasn’t had time to recover.”

“I see. That might be true.”

While they hadn’t been sure when they first arrived, it now seemed that Ivan’s status was slipping while Arthur’s was beginning to rise. The timing of the gate transfer confirmed it. Normally, if Ivan’s standing were higher, he would have arrived the following day. Although he was the third son, it now appeared that even the fourth son, Tybalt Valerian, had surpassed him. Arthur was still ranked last, but there was a real possibility he could overtake Ivan and claim the fourth position.

“Perhaps this gathering was meant to be a test of some sort for you and the others.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. My father doesn’t usually go out of his way to do such things.”

Arthur replied. He implied that Duke Alexander took a more hands-off approach to raising his children and would not orchestrate artificial battlegrounds for them to earn merit. Roland, however, remained unconvinced. The entire culling event felt like one of those carefully arranged trials, and after examining the underground tunnels, he was certain it had been manufactured to some degree, though not by the duke.

That part was the most worrisome of all, and he still wasn’t sure whether he should bring it up with the duke. Arthur already knew about his examination and was planning to use the discovery to earn favor with his father, but neither of them knew the right moment to reveal it. For now, the tunnels beneath the island remained a secret known only to them, a secret that could prove highly profitable and greatly strengthen their cause.

He had already constructed one teleportation gate to the super dungeon without anyone noticing, and an underground railway system was now a real possibility. Working with Sebastian, he had completed the necessary measurements, and thanks to the size of the tunnels and the mana-reinforced walls, the structure was stable enough to proceed. Their only real concern was the group involved in the culling. Those individuals also knew about the tunnels and could become a threat later on.

“Well, shall we take things slowly? Let’s get through these two days without any more incidents.”

Arthur spoke as they walked through the central district of the castle grounds. They visited several places, including an alchemical perfumery known for its scents infused with subtle enchantments. The shop was fascinating and filled with noblewomen browsing the displays. It was part of a larger section that featured boutiques and high-end clothing stores. Even from the outside, the prices appeared astronomical, making it clear that only the wealthiest could afford to shop there.

Afterward, they came across a magical store unlike those found in Albrook or other cities. In the places they came from, shops typically sold enchantments designed for combat or monster hunting. Here, however, the magic was tailored to elevate the lifestyle of nobility.

The stores had grand names like ‘The Arcane Whispering Silk.’ Inside, they found floating fabrics and dresses that changed color and pattern according to the customer’s wishes. Some pieces even grew or shrank to better fit the wearer’s body shape, a fascinating display that actually caught Roland’s attention. He was skilled in working with metal and creating various alloys, but he had never explored the world of magical threads in much detail.

“Interested? Should we take a few samples back home?”

Arthur spoke up when he noticed Roland silently staring. Even though Roland wore a helmet, Arthur had long since learned how to read his moods. If something captured his attention, he would fix his gaze on it without saying a word, and Arthur had become familiar with that subtle habit.

“We could probably find similar threads through other channels at half the cost.”

“Haha, so that’s what you were worried about?”

Although Roland had been earning a considerable amount of money recently, he still disliked unnecessary spending. Arthur, on the other hand, saw this as the perfect opportunity to indulge. It was true that displaying their wealth in such prestigious locations could help spread favorable rumors. If people believed they could afford to shop in high-end boutiques, their reputations would naturally grow.

“How may we serve you, my lord?”

“I wish to buy a suit and perhaps something for my knight here, maybe some new stylish boots or a new cape to fit the occasion?”

Arthur smiled and gestured toward a surprised Roland. A man resembling a butler approached and began examining them from every angle, as if measuring them with his eyes alone.

“I understand. I believe I have just the thing for both of you. Please follow me.”

Roland wasn’t too pleased with this turn of events, but standing in the open where people were watching them, he couldn’t refuse Arthur’s order. The young noble had a playful look on his face, and soon Roland was forced to choose a new cape for himself, one made from shape-shifting threads.

As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, the group emerged from the shopping district with their arms full of elegantly wrapped parcels. Roland’s new cape shimmered subtly in the fading light, shifting between deep navy and a faint emerald depending on the angle. He still looked slightly uncomfortable, especially with Arthur grinning triumphantly beside him.

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“See? You almost look fashionable now.”

“A High Knight Commander doesn’t need to look fashionable.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, my friend. A knight’s appearance reflects on their master, and you wouldn’t want to make a duke’s son look bad, would you?”

“Calling yourself a duke’s son now? What happened to being proud of being a bastard?”

Roland felt mildly irritated after the hours they had spent wandering through shops. Arthur had bought a large quantity of clothes and magical trinkets, at least giving something to everyone in the group. Mary received a bracelet, and all the knights were given new capes, with his own designed to be more elaborate to emphasize his higher rank.

“That’s just how we nobles are. We can’t be trusted, my friend.”

“Yeah, I know, don’t remind me…”

Roland wanted to roll his eyes at the response. Although they spoke freely, he had been using magic to block their voices from being overheard. Speaking to a duke’s son so casually could raise suspicion, but they could always claim they were joking and that Arthur had ordered everything.