Translator: CinderTL
"Avril?"
Roland stood in the doorway, his brow furrowing as he gazed at the radiant, brown-haired girl before him. She waved enthusiastically, while the bard beside her remained stiff and awkward.
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, this?" Avril cheerfully clapped Galvis on the shoulder, each strike producing a dull thud. "We met during my travels and thought we'd catch up."
"Is that so?" Roland's eyebrow twitched slightly.
The atmosphere in the room clearly wasn't as lighthearted as she claimed, but he decided not to press the matter. He nodded and turned his attention to Galvis.
If he remembered correctly, this flamboyant bard had boasted endlessly during their voyage about his popularity among the nobility. Perhaps he could pry some intelligence about the River Domain Nations' noble circles from the man's lips?
However, when his gaze fully landed on Galvis, Roland couldn't help but freeze in surprise.
The poet's once-proud, smooth brown hair now sported a massive bald patch on top, revealing his shiny scalp like a half-eaten chestnut.
"Galvis, what's with your—"
Avril's hand on the poet's shoulder suddenly tightened.
Galvis's lips twitched as he forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"This is... uh... that..."
After stammering for a long moment, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Fashion! Yes, that's it—fashion!"
As if grasping at a lifeline, the poet instantly reverted to his usual flamboyant demeanor, gesticulating wildly.
"Roland, you wouldn't understand! This hairstyle is all the rage among the nobles of the River Domain Nations! I specifically asked Miss Avril to trim it for me."
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his gleaming bald head and casting comical reflections.
Avril stood beside him, smiling "sweetly," her fingers subtly drifting toward the dagger at her waist.
"Hmm..."
Roland's gaze flickered between the two, clearly unconvinced by Galvis's explanation.
But since it was their personal matter, he refrained from pressing further and instead steered the conversation in a different direction.
"Since you're here, Avril, I wanted to ask you something."
He casually pulled up a wooden chair and sat down, his eyes drifting to the corner of the table.
There, for some reason, a jagged crack had appeared.
Roland's gaze paused subtly, but his tone remained steady as he recounted the details of the mission entrusted to him by Lord Graham, his fingertips tapping rhythmically on the table.
"So, Avril... why do you think Lord Graham would offer a breathing technique as payment and assign this task to me?"
"Hmm..."
The brown-haired girl furrowed her brow slightly, her fingertip pressed against her chin, her expression thoughtful.
"I haven't spent much time in the River Domain Nations, but I've heard plenty about the open and covert struggles between merchants and nobles."
Her fingers subtly shifted, just enough to conceal a crack in the corner of the table.
"Especially the conflict between Lord Derek and Lord Masdon—it's practically common knowledge."
"Outside these two factions, Lord Graham's Knight Academy stands as a third force. Though it lacks formal authority, his personal strength and influence mean no one dares underestimate him."
"Both factions have been trying to court him recently, and yet he assigned this task to you..."
Avril tilted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Perhaps he's trying to signal his stance?"
"A neutral stance?" Roland raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly." She nodded gently.
"According to Lord Graham's instructions, the task itself is simple. The reward is practically free—a gesture of goodwill toward Mr. Colin. But assigning it to you..."
"As Mr. Colin's recommended candidate, whether you accept or decline, it sends a clear message to both factions: the Knight Academy remains unaligned."
She stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Of course, this is just my speculation. I can't possibly fathom the minds of such powerful figures."
Galvis, standing nearby, couldn't help but shiver at her innocent and carefree demeanor. He silently scooted his chair closer to Roland.
At that moment, in the poet's mind, the burly young man's side felt like the safest place on the entire continent.
"Uh..."
Sensing the Bard's intense gaze, Roland frowned slightly and subtly shifted his posture before continuing his questioning.
"What's the Merchant Faction's stance on the Wolf King? When do they plan to strike?"
"I wouldn't know that," Avril replied with a smile, her fingers lightly brushing against the scabbard at her waist.
Click.
A faint metallic rasp echoed through the air. Galvis immediately lowered his head, staring intently at the tips of his boots as if a flower had suddenly bloomed there.
"However..." Avril continued. "The Shadow Veil Organization has been moving frequently lately. They're likely preparing for the Wolf King's subjugation."
"Understood."
Though Avril's information was limited, combined with his own deductions, Roland had pieced together a rough understanding of the situation.
He must have been caught in the crossfire of the power struggle.
But it didn't matter.
All he cared about was the Knight's Breathing Technique.
"Since the Merchant Faction is already planning to move against the Wolf King, that simplifies things."
Roland felt a flicker of relief. He turned his gaze to the Bard, who was still staring at the floor.
"Galvis, didn't you say you could navigate noble society like a fish in water?"
Seeing the Bard's continued fixation on the floor, Roland frowned and pressed on.
"Could you help me gather information on the Noble Faction's attitude toward the Wolf King? As for compensation..."
Click!
Another crisp sound of a sword sheath.
Galvis straightened his back abruptly, his face now radiating an unfamiliar, righteous solemnity.
"No! No compensation needed!"
His voice was slightly shrill with nervous tension.
"Roland! After our friendship, what's a small favor like this?"
"...Then I'll leave it to you."
Roland's lips twitched slightly.
After a few more brief exchanges, Avril excused herself and departed.
As soon as the brown-haired girl left the room, Galvis slumped onto the table as if his bones had been removed, his entire body melting into a puddle of liquid.
"Galvis, you and Avril..." Roland finally couldn't resist asking.
"It's nothing. Whatever she says, goes," the Bard replied reflexively, but stopped mid-sentence when he saw Roland's confused expression.
Words of comfort caught in his throat like cotton.
In the end, he simply sighed deeply.
"Roland, when are you planning to leave the River Domain Nations?"
"Huh?" Roland raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Didn't we just arrive? And didn't you say you wanted to stay here for a while longer?"
"That was... that was a mistake," Galvis said, abandoning any attempt at explanation as his fingers unconsciously plucked at the harp strings.
Seeing his state, Roland shook his head gently and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
The Bard suddenly lunged forward, nervously grabbing Roland's sleeve.
"Where are you going now?"
"Fishing," Roland replied, waving his newly purchased fishing rod.
"I heard there's a good fishing spot by the sea."
He had picked this up on the way back.
Since his current status prevented him from intervening in the power struggles, he might as well try to trigger the advancement conditions for other classes.
After all, according to Avril's analysis and his own deductions, he would eventually obtain the Knight's Breathing Technique.
Even so, he couldn't rule out unexpected developments.
So, instead of waiting for the outcome of the two factions' conflict, he decided to use this time to enhance his strength.
Moreover, he was also curious about the mysterious fog surrounding the Wolf King's territory.
"And those fishmen who seem to be controlled or drawn there..."
Just as Roland was lost in thought, the Bard's voice rang out again.
"Then I'll go with you!"
Galvis clung to his harp like a piece of taffy, sticking to Roland like glue.
Roland shrugged indifferently, and the two set off toward the coast, one ahead of the other.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the sand, while the Bard frequently glanced nervously over his shoulder, as if evading some terrifying pursuer.
(End of the Chapter)
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