Lord: Starting from a Goblin Nest

”Oh, you mean this? I got it from that Carlos fellow—”

Delaford’s voice died in his throat. The owner of the badge in his hand was emerging from a shop just then, his eyes fixed on them.

”Uh, don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not what you think...” ’It’s best not to get caught red-handed when swiping things, or it’ll be a little awkward for everyone involved.’

Aive, being a local, quickly stepped forward to explain.

”And what might you think I’m thinking?” Carlos blinked. The young man was clearly a smooth operator himself. ”Isn’t it that you kind people found my badge and were about to look for its owner?”

”Oh, right, right, right! That’s exactly it!” Delaford hurriedly handed the Obsidian badge back to Carlos.

”Don’t worry, good deeds are always rewarded,” Carlos said with a cunning smile. The movement pulled at the cut on his lip, making him grimace in pain, but he still reached for the money pouch at his now-empty waist. ”Thank you for returning what’s mine. I’d like to reward—huh? Where’s my money pouch?”

”Uh, is this it?” Delaford held out the money pouch.

Whether Carlos was being sincere or not, he had smoothly recovered his lost belongings. Just then, a man who looked like his older brother found them.

”Carlos, I thought you’d been kidnapped!” The man laughed and hugged him. ”That cut on your lip...”

”It’s nothing,” Carlos said with a wave of his hand. ”Just a scratch. It’ll heal on its own.”

Ron inspected the size and depth of the wound. ”A cut like that could be trouble. You should really see a doctor, or it’ll get infected.”

’Fernando and his cronies had played dirty.’

”Did you hear that, Carlos?” the man’s eyes lit up. ”Come on, we need to get that wound treated properly. If your face gets scarred, how are you going to keep seducing other men’s fiancées?”

”Uh, please wait,” Victoria called out just as the two brothers were about to leave. ”There’s no need to find a doctor. I can heal you—consider it an apology.”

The Lawful Priest couldn’t overcome her own conscience and insisted on healing Carlos. When the light in her hand dissipated, the corner of Carlos’s mouth was good as new, without the slightest scar.

”Whoa, are you... are you a Priest?” Carlos touched his mouth in amazement, then pulled a few faces. Finding no discomfort, he immediately shot her a look of admiration. ”This is amazing! It doesn’t hurt at all!”

”You’re a truly kind person,” Carlos’s brother added his thanks. ”How can I pay for the treatment? Forgive me, but the church’s fees are quite high, so we’ve never actually gone.”

”It was no trouble at all,” Victoria said with a faint smile. ”You don’t need to pay me anything, really.”

”Well... all right then.” Carlos’s brother thought for a moment before taking a card from his pocket. ”In that case, please accept this. It has our family’s address on it. You’re all welcome to visit when you have the time.”

”I have to take Carlos to see our old man now—sigh. He’s bound to get an earful.”

The card was framed with silver-gray patterns. In the center was an eagle’s-head family crest, and beneath it were two lines of small text: Feibo, 23A Violet Gate Street.

”It’s near Dale Plaza,” Aive said, looking at the address. ”Their family must be pretty wealthy. The area around Dale Plaza was prime real estate, even when I was a kid.”

”They must have moved here in recent years, too. Ever since I became an Adventurer, I haven’t paid much attention to the changes in Rose City. I’ve never heard of a Feibo family on Violet Gate Street—and that surname doesn’t sound local, or even from around here.”

”Want to go check it out?” Silvia asked Ron. ”It sounds like it could be interesting.”

”Let’s wait a bit, or we could go tomorrow,” Ron said, glancing at the sky. ”They’re probably too busy to receive guests right now.”

”Oh, Aive,” Sera suddenly remembered something, ”do you have any fighting pits or anything like that here? Back in the tribe, merchants told me that cities usually have entertainment like beast fights or gladiatorial combat between people. Can you take me to see it?”

”Feeling nostalgic for your life up north?” Aive asked with a smile. ”I wouldn’t recommend it. You’ll be sorely disappointed.”

”It’s fine,” Sera said with a wave. ”I’m not expecting to see polar bears or mammoths here. It’s just... seeing those kids brawling in the street got me thinking.”

”Fine, fine.” Aive led Ron and the others through a few alleys to a crowded notice board. ”Let’s see... here we go! In half an hour, there’s a three-on-three beast fight in the southern district. Three Gladiators against three Fearsome Wolves. Want to go see it?”

”It’s very close to Dale Plaza. After the show, we can swing by the Feibo residence.”

”Sera gets antsy if she goes a day without a fight. Even if she’s not fighting herself, she has to watch someone else do it,” Silvia said, covering her mouth with a laugh. She had just bought an exquisitely made, deep red gown, which finally accentuated her elegant, Vampire Descendant aura. She no longer looked like an Adventurer, but a young noblewoman.

”Let’s go buy tickets, then,” Ron said. He’d spotted the ticket window next to the notice board, but there was another booth beside it with an even larger crowd. ”What are they selling over there?”

”That’s the betting stall,” Aive knew with a single glance. ”Want to place a small wager? The minimum is usually one Silver Coin. Don’t bet too much.”

”Why not?” Sera asked, confused. She pointed at the lineup description on the notice board. ”Isn’t it perfectly clear? They’ve listed the Gladiators’ height, weight, and even their equipment. They’ve also listed the Fearsome Wolves’ age and size—I just can’t see any way the wolves could win.”

”Then you can add a Copper Coin to your bet,” Aive said without arguing, but she was adamant about preventing Sera from spending more than two Silver Coins on this.

”You mean...” Ron said, turning his back to Sera and giving Aive a meaningful look.

’Once money gets involved in any competition, it’s hard to maintain its integrity and fairness. This kind of combat is probably no exception.’

”Good, as long as you understand,” Aive whispered. ”Sera’s all excited. Don’t rain on her parade.”

”Given her perceptiveness, she’ll understand what’s going on within five minutes of sitting in the audience.”