Leveling up the World

Chapter 819: Gathering of Leeches

Disappointment came in many shapes and sizes. Dallion had experienced it more often than he would like. That said, this was the first time he was important enough to experience a noble party. There was every reason for a noble to celebrate. At one point, in the distant past, Dallion had thought about it as well. That was before he had acquired his magic trait in a twist of fate. Yet, even then, he didnt expect to be the last person made aware of the sudden celebration or that hed have to suffer the presence of all the leeches in the city that his house could hold.

What did I tell you? Ber asked, never separating from his glass of alcohol for longer than a few moments. This is one major celebration. It took a lot of effort to organize this.

I bet, Dallion thought.

All of his guests had an awakening level of thirty or less. Some of them didnt even bother to pretend to be important, only there for the free food and gossip. Taem, who diligently stocked the place with food and drink, attempted to introduce all of them, but after the tenth person, Dallion waved his hand for the butler to stop. Even if he could remember everyones name, family, and appearance perfectly, there was no reason for him to bother. At best theyd be inconsequential, at worst, they were plants by the more powerful members of their families.

Did you do that thing about the guilds I told you? Ber asked.

You only told me a few hours ago, Dallion sighed internally. Apparently, this was his life now: being useless on a major scale. The sad part was that he had to learn how to play it. The surrounding nobles had years, maybe decades, of experience. If he didnt want to stand out, he had to catch on fast. Then again, it was always possible to go another direction.

Say. Dallion discretely cast a silence illusion, encapsulating him and his cousin. You know people, right?

Sensing that he might be asked a favor for once, the leech all of a sudden froze.

I know some people, he said in evasive fashion.

Then you know how to get out of the city?

Why would you want to get out of the city? Theres nothing out there. Just dirt and dust and

I know you have. Dallion bluffed. Even with his music skills, he could sense no indications that Ber had ever set foot outside the walls. However, if there was one thing he was familiar with after working as a hunter, it was spoiled nobles. Its discouraged, so at one point you must have done it. Or know someone who has.

Ber looked around for support. Unfortunately for him, no one in the crowd of people seemed to pay any notice.

You cant only make ripples for so long before they become splashes, the noble said. Take a rest. Have some fun for a change. Suns know you need it.

Was that a yes?

There was a long moment of silence.

No one will know, Dallion said, using his music skill to put some calm in his words. Ive cast a spell to take care of that.

Of course you did. Ber sighed dramatically, then finished his glass. I know someone, but shes not here. Shes a bit out of my league, but I guess that wont be a problem for you. Ill need a few days to set it up.

Days?

Its not like I can just walk up to her. We had a disagreement about something Of course, if you give me a little something, things could move along faster.

Dallion had no doubt that the leech would ask for something. That was what leeches did, after all. Still, there was no deception within the noble, at least none he could clearly sense.

I thought that everyone here had money.

Its not about money. Ber moved closer. Its about history. Youve probably gotten the idea that heirlooms are a big thing around here. You can say they are the true currency after power and he waved his hand whatever those like you do.

Heirlooms were also incredibly powerful. There had already been one scandal regarding Dallions possession of his grandmothers harpsisword. If domain rulers fought about things like that, what chance did Dallion have of getting one to give to one of the less prominent members of his family?

Really? He narrowed his eyes.

Im not asking for the powerful stuff. Ber quickly took a step back. Just a small trinket that will prove that Im in relatively good standing within the House. With one of those I could walk up to my friend and ask. If not, Ill have to spend a few days getting her interested in coming to me. Of course, its your decision.

What exactly do you want?

A ring, the noble said. One of the emblem rings. Theyre said to have belonged to the third emperors brother or the emperor himself, depending on who you believe. Point is that they are considered heirlooms and a mark that their owner is trusted enough to wear them.

I take it you arent.

Well, thats the risk you have to take. Whoever has an heirloom can do whatever they want with it. Thats the definition of it being yours. There have been cases of nobles burning heirlooms just to make a point. Of course, youll need to be strong enough to back that up. Burning stuff belonging to a House might be seen as a challenge.

So, if I give you the ring and you gamble it away

Then Ill become the pariah of the family. The person who owns it gets in trouble, not everyone who gave it to him.

It didnt sound like a difficult task, but most difficult tasks were like that. There was no way that Dallion could go back to the palace and ask for the item tonight. Then again, he could easily do it the following morning. With the role that had been forced onto him, he could afford to be a bit arrogant, and if the item was a trifle, as Ber claimed, there was no reason for the duchess to refuse.

Ill see what I can do. Dallion snapped his fingers.

The noise of the party enveloped them once more. It was as if the rest of the guests suddenly noticed their presence and quickly went back to doing what they did best: ask for favors they knew they wouldnt get.

Dallion spent the next few minutes finding polite ways to refuse. The bonus of having high music skills was that he could do so without being insulting or even rude. Also, it allowed him to train the practical use of his skill a bit. This was very different from getting merchants to offer a better deal. Here, he had to be beyond subtle. These were nobles who were used to having music awakened among them. On the positive side, they were unimportant enough, so were likely to get the hint even if Dallion messed up.

The pattern became instantly clear. Everyone wanted to be seen with him in one place or another, potentially to get invitations to events they otherwise wouldnt.

Maybe next time, he said for the twelfth time in a row. Things had gone so streamlined that neither he nor the people asking for favor wasted time with taking the long approach. It was almost sad, but apparently part of life in the capital. Thats why the first deviation he heard made Dallion pay more attention.

When do you want me to take you to my father? a tall woman asked.

She was half a head taller than Dallion himself, with well-formed muscles visible even beneath her clothes. If he couldnt see her awakened level, Dallion might well have assumed she was past the fourth gate. As it stood, though, she was still in the low thirties.

Her clothes were simple compared to everyone else and, more importantly, had no indication as to which family she was part of.

Youre quite direct, he said.

Smooth, Vihrogon said within his realm

Me or you? The woman crossed her arms, amused. You came to my house first.

That was even more unexpected. Try as he might, Dallion couldnt remember anything of the sort. Granted, Ber had taken him across most of the city, but he would have remembered chatting up a woman such as this.

Thinking of the leech, the noble was nowhere to be seen. That was unfortunate, since Dallion could have used his help for once. For that matter, Taem also wasnt anywhere nearbymost likely off to get more drinks.

So? The woman seemed instant.

Dallion considered his options. He could refuse and keep on refusing until the early hours of the day, when, hopefully, the leeches would go home. Or he could accept and escape the whole lot of them. After all, having one person keep asking for favors was better than having a houseful of them.

Why not? He nodded. Lets go.

The two walked out of the house, where Dallion was quick to cast an illusion bubble. He had no intention of having others follow behind. The spell had its effect, bringing utter confusion to some people. Their mind rejected the notion that their target had suddenly vanished, then found the only plausible explanationthat he was back somewhere inside.

Dont mind them, Dallion said as the two walked along the road by his mansion. Just keep close to the first corner.

Magic? she asked, looking around in an attempt to see the spell itself.

Yes, but dont tell anyone.

At the corner Dallion turned right, getting out of direct view from his house.

Any idea where youre going? the woman asked.

A name would be nice, he responded.

Tonia, Tonia Pilih.

Pilih? Though. That was the family that had supposedly crafted the first emperors sword. With the duel and everything else, Dallion had forgotten all about it. He definitely didnt expect a member of them to go visit him so soon. Apparently, the leech had been righthe was an Elazni, so when he wanted a meeting, more often than not people came to him.

My apologies, Lady Pilih. Dallion bowed slightly. I didnt expect you to come to my event.

Looking at you, its a surprise you were invited yourself.

He couldnt help but let out a stifled laugh.

You probably know this already, but a word of warning. Theres no such thing as free favors in the capital. You showed interest in my fathers forge, just as my father has shown interest in your weapons.

Even back in Nerosal, news was quick to spread, but the capital brought it to an entirely new level. In the hours since the two had glanced at each other, Count Pilih had managed to find out pretty much everything there was to know about Dallion and his weapons. No doubt he was interested in the harpsisword, but it seemed that some of Dallions other creations merited some curiosity after all.

Are you fine with that, Harp? Dallion asked.

Its nothing Im not used to, the guardian replied. People were very curious back when I was with your grandmother. Your father was extremely curious. He even tried to forge a copy of me.

Did he succeed?

The nymph didnt answer.

The walk to the Pilihs estate was a lot more pleasant than Dallion expected it to be. Since both he and Tonia knew where they stood, they could spend their time ignoring the usual pretenses and make meaningful small talk.

Theres no harm in flirting a bit, you know, Vihrogon suggested.

I might, Dallion replied, though he clearly had no intention.

The thought made him wonder whether Eury had received his message. No doubt she too had a lot of explaining to do to the powers that be in her alliance. When she got some time, shed respond, though. He was certain of it. Even if she couldnt use magic herself, she could easily get Dark to do it for her.

The entrance to the Pilih estate wasnt one that Dallion remembered. In fact, it wasnt remotely close to the workshop Dallion had visited early that day.

Even without assistance from Adzorg, he could see what was going on. The reality bubble of the realm wasnt as bright as the one he had seen before, squished between others like it in a less significant part of the city. The family must have held very high esteem once, but throughout the generations had lost a lot of it to the point that only the forge that made the emperors sword was allowed to remain on prime real-estate. The current residence was pushed out to the lesser neighborhoods.

On behalf of my father, welcome, Baron Elazni. Tonia said in a far more formal manner as they reached the outer gate leading to the buildings itself. I wish you both find what you came for.