Chapter 413: Open and honest
Chapter 413: Mano a Mano
A light knock came from the door, and the people in the house who were cleaning stopped their movements in unison.
Sevia frowned, her group was new to the city and had little socialization in Port Fulan, who was at the door.
Could it be McKinley?
Gesturing for the crowd to get ready, Servia carefully made her way to the door, then gently opened the store door.
“Is that you?”
The person standing in the doorway gave her a small surprise, it was the Demoness of Cyan, Laddie Sertia, whom she had met just yesterday.
“It’s me, and not just me.”
Sevia immediately looked behind her, and the person standing behind Sertia made her heart jump up in her throat.
Surprisingly, it was the local lord and his guards!
She had seen Paul before at the switching ceremony of the Customs Union, so she recognized them.
“How dare you follow me and actually betray me?”
Fear and anger took over Servia’s mind at once. Besides being approached by the local lord, her fear came from another reason – she herself was surprisingly ignorant of the Green Witch’s stalking.
The atmosphere in the air tensed up all of a sudden, and the companions behind Servia immediately began to make various gestures or mumble something under their breath.
Seeing this, the guards behind Paul immediately pulled out their muskets and pointed them at Servia and the others, but of course, the wizards who had just arrived at the Northwest Bay didn’t know what this meant.
“Oh, don’t say it so harshly, Ms. Asitini.”
In this moment of saber-rattling, Paul, who was standing behind Lardy, suddenly spoke out.
“I’ve come to visit you, nothing else, so please drop your guard.”
He tried his best to show his kind side.
“You see, I personally came to your door as a lord, can’t I still show my sincerity?”
Hearing these words, Servia’s tightly wrinkled brows loosened slightly and waved her hand for her companions behind her to stop moving.
Paul’s guards also put away their muskets.
Their muskets had all been reloaded, and the wizards had no idea that they had just strolled through the gates of Hell.
Servia stepped out of the doorway and made an inviting gesture, “Come in, my lord.”
Laddie was the first to enter the house, Paul and the guards following.
Paul took his place at a round table, and Laddie waited beside him.
He held out his hands, “Let me begin by saying that I welcome talents such as yours to the Northwest Bay, ‘Alchemists’.”
Unperturbed, Servia stared at Paul as if trying to see how much sincerity there was in the other man’s eyes.
“I know that you’ve just been through the wringer in Horn Bay, so there’s a sense of distrust in everything around you that will take time to heal.”
Paul said to himself, “In order to build trust between both of us from scratch, I’m here to give you my word up front that as long as you obey the laws here and pay your taxes on time, I’ll treat you like ordinary people and won’t treat you ‘special’. ”
Servia deciphered Paul’s meaning – he wouldn’t kill or banish them, but he wouldn’t treat them like guests like some aristocrat with a passion for the occult.
Ha, that was just as well, now that he and his companions were living as peacefully as they could, and as for the proposal with the Green Witch the other day, it was just a passing fancy.
“Thank you, Lord Greymane. Swear to you early here – I will abide by your laws and not do anything out of line.”
Servia bowed to Paul.
A similar oath had already been said in front of Ladi Sertia anyway, and it wouldn’t be a big deal to say it again in front of this lord.
“Good!”
Paul clapped his hands as he continued, “Also, I hope that you won’t use your …… special abilities in front of the usual people, or else it will still be quite troublesome for me if it causes a stir.” Servia nodded and said, “Please rest assured on this, we ourselves do not wish to expose our identity.”
Paul again said with some difficulty, “That’s good, in addition …… after all, you guys have abilities that other people don’t have, so ……”
Hmph, are you going to eat your own words so soon? Just now he said he wouldn’t treat us special.
Sevia sneered in her heart.
“I expect you to take the initiative to report to my people once a week, just at Port Fullan. If you have to go out of town – like back to Horn Bay – forget it, but report in advance.”
Having said this, Paul was a little apprehensive; if the other man didn’t agree, then he would have to resort to some strong-arm tactics himself.
On the contrary, Sylvia, listened to Paul’s words heart but put down a lot of wariness, although this is some of the feeling of being watched, but she is in front of this man’s but has a few points of trust.
Witches in the eyes of the world is what image she knows, suddenly a stranger came out to say unconditional trust you, that must be something else – at least in his own heart is this thought.
Shushing lightly, Servia walked over to her companion and conferred in a whisper in the Horned Bay language.
“I think it’s fine! It’s only right for people like us to be on guard.”
“But aren’t we here to seek freedom?”
“Freedom? You’re willing to go elsewhere to continue living that kind of life where you’re on edge all day long and insecure.”
“Yes. Sacrificing a certain amount of freedom in exchange for a peaceful life is still worth it, I think.”
After the companions discussed the matter in various ways, they all finally agreed to Paul’s program.
Servia returned to Paul’s side, “Lord Gleeman, my companions and I are willing to accept your proposal.”
Her voice no longer carried the indifference it had before.
“Very well!”
Paul nodded in satisfaction.
“It’s also easier to draw attention to yourselves without having to run errands of your own accord to check in. Aren’t you guys going to open a store? My people will come by as tax collectors.”
“Thank you for thinking so well.”
“This is also just a pre-management measure, if your performance earns my trust, then you will eventually be able to live the same life as the ordinary residents of Arda.”
Sevia’s heart rejoiced as she curtsied here and said, “Thank you a million times over.”
“Alright! The matter is settled, and it’s time for me to leave. I hope you will be able to settle into life in the Northwest Bay soon.”
Paul stood up, intending to leave.
“Please take your time, Lord Graiman.”
Servia walked Paul to the door.
Paul relieved her, “I think the day will soon come when you will be able to walk the earth with honor.”
“I hope so, if only the others in power possessed an open mind toward you.”
A thousand times worn, horse’s ass is not worn, and Paul laughed out loud at that, “Hahaha! I too feel like one of the most enlightened people on the planet.”
Ahem! Servia didn’t expect Paul to say that about himself.
Lardy followed Paul closely as she walked past, giving Servia a word of warning as she passed her.
“I hope we don’t have to resort to petty tactics when we meet in the future.”
(End of chapter)