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Chapter 621: Simply Effective

Translating the journal had been an eye-opening experience, giving them glimpses into a mind corrupted by madness and how that defilement led to psychotic impulses, but that didn\'t compare to the true bombshell they received.

...The Castellan\'s Catacombs was nested inside the Xesian Empire, which the Aeredale Kingdom was part of; however, the Hidden Dungeon was closer to the Imperial City, whose breadth could rival the expanse of the entire kingdom. There was a reason the Xesian Empire occupied the greatest portion of Nelorias.

If the Hidden Dungeon was any indication of what to expect, it likely belonged to at least someone of royalty or royalty-adjacent.

"This is going to be a real headache," Kieran muttered darkly. He felt gloomy, which showed in his downcast expression and slouched shoulders.

Gaining entry into the Xesian Empire wasn\'t the problem. With his current credentials, Kieran doubted anyone would give him much trouble when trying to brave new territories. But he couldn\'t be entirely sure.

There were always unpredictable outliers when it came to preparing for a situation.

"Yes, it will," Alice agreed. "The journey alone is going to be quite infuriating."

"Oh?" Kieran arched a brow, giving a look that asked Alice to continue explaining why she thought that.

Alice gave a sidelong glance, continuing shortly after. "The Teleportation Hall inside Aeredale isn\'t linked to Xesian City or any flourishing towns nearby. We\'ll have to travel on foot or find another mode of transport to get us there. Something about the Aeredale Kingdom being too inferior to claim a seat at the empire\'s table."

"Ah, so politics adorned with elitist tendencies. But that should have changed with the swell of Aeredale\'s economy, no?"

Alice shook her head. "There\'s a difference between a sudden increase in revenue generation and a sustained economic impact." Now that they were on the ground floor of the Godhand Bazaar, she pointed to where customers were being handled. "Take our shop, for example. It\'s fairly new — nothing more than a month old - but generates consistent profits for us, most of which is stashed to secure our future. I believe that is that concept the ones in command prefer."

Kieran understood her point and agreed.

He also looked around, noting that people purchased potions and enchantments instead of equipment. According to records, the bulk of their equipment sales came from mass orders being fulfilled, and that was likely the work of management-level staff from different guilds. Realizing that Kieran\'s attention was moving elsewhere, Alice tugged on his arm, wrenching his focus back toward her.

"The Bazaar is doing just fine - better than fine, really. We must focus on other things. Like devising a plan to somehow elevate Aeredale\'s standing in the court of kingdoms and their proxies. Adding to my earlier comment, we also need to choose where our focus will fall and make it so that place makes it on the list of territories with stellar contributions."

Kieran grunted in response, nodding. "I agree, but our hands are pretty tied. You heard the rumors; many guilds will be aiming at our throat. This means our choices are limited. Either take a step back or weather the storm and hope to prevail. But that\'s too hopeful of an outlook if I\'m being honest here."

Alice grimaced and sympathized with his point of view. After all, Kieran had clued everyone in on the conversation he and Alexandria had because it was not a situation that could be kept under wraps.

The Behemoths were scrambling to obtain any advantage possible and hold onto it with a vice grip.

That included stealing it from others who lacked the means to protect it. In short, people were vying for the Godhand Bazaar and the profits it brought. Though the information had never entered the knowledge of the masses, they could only speculate on the massive gross income the shop reaped by dominating the market as the only viable option of discounted goods fair prices, really.

"We aren\'t alone, though. We at least have Alexandria as an ally. And maybe you can bring Advent to your side-"

"I doubt it," Kieran interjected. "Advent is falling apart, and the covetous, carrion Behemoths are hastening its death by taking massive bites out of that carcass."

"What? Where did you hear that?" Alice stopped and went wide-eyed, staring at Kieran in disbelief. "If that\'s true, can\'t we step in and offer support? Advent did lend us an olive branch when we were struggling."

Kieran recognized the logic in Alice\'s suggestion, and he was of a similar mind, but it was too late. "The trust was broken within. And so it is crumbling from within - imploding as a consequence of human greed."

Alice stared absentmindedly with a saddened look until she shook her head, dispelled her thoughts, and voiced some things on her mind.

"You know, Advent is why we even got our hands on this journal. And our options aren\'t as bleak as we suspect. I know it means splitting the pie... but what if we merge with other guilds and not just take in the scraps?" Alice proposed.

Kieran silently pondered that idea.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Saying that he was averse to losing the profits was neither correct nor incorrect. While the idea of losing control of part of what he created unsettled him, he could stomach trading for that right for something of equal or slightly greater value.

However, his actual bottom line was ensuring those speaking rights did not fall into the hands of the enemy. He was deterred purely by that possibility.

"You say that as if it\'s an easy thing. It\'s all a matter of who can we trust. But everyone has ulterior motives, and when a tempting offer is slapped before them, many give into the allure of the temptation," Kieran shook his head.

He scrubbed his face with an aggrieved groan.

The reality of his aspirations weighed on him with an incomparable tonnage. To create something was to walk headlong into adversity, brave its absurd pressure, and face the challenge with resilient ferocity.

Except the numbers of his potential opponents were too great. They were too driven by competition, blinded by greed, and fueled with a perverse desire to crush anything that rose in their domain.

It was the law of the apex predator.

Kieran took a moment to process the entire situation and look at it from the lens of his Unique Path. Was it not designed to reinforce his penchant for going against the odds?

Sure, the situation looked dismal no matter how it was spun, but as the Unique Path put it, he was to thrive in conflict and chaos. He was warwrought, born in the flames of conflict, and purified by a hellish need for vengeance.

He was also Unbroken, meaning he had remained whole and unchanged despite the perils he

faced.

What was this situation but another mark to add to his tally of seemingly grim circumstances?

"You know what..." Kieran muttered. A fire returned to his sharp, dark eyes, and his lips curled in a devilish smirk. "You\'re right, Stella. Why not test the waters and see who we can merge with? Besides, we have Alexandria on her way to us. We won\'t begin this journey without

her."

"That sounds like a plan if I\'ve ever heard one," Alice agreed.

As they approached the door leading outside the Godhand Bazaar, Kieran\'s attention lingered

on the screen before him, confidently sending out a professional, composed message.

In it, it said: "We need to talk."

Simple and effective.