"You seemed rather unimpressed, Lord Ives." Catherine interrupted the awkward silence between Arthur and Captain Amos as they arrived in front of the mansion.

  Arthur almost laughed, seeing the Captain’s rather disappointed expression , who had probably expected a more enthusiastic response after he showed them the courtyard fountain.

  "It's nice..." He tried, but somehow this just made the situation worse.

  "Please forgive my Lord, Captain Amos, but he forgets that water is a very limited resource, even in the city." She bowed apologetically and the Captain looked at him in stunned silence before his eyes widened.

  "Ohhhh! You probably can produce the water in your country with magic?!" He asked in a tone suggesting he had received a revelation from above.

  "In a pinch..." He shrugged. "However, water is not uncommon in Arcadia. Many rivers and lakes can be found in my homeland across its verdant plains and wild forests. I would even say that water is something that my countrymen don't have to think about."

  "Ummm..." The Captain rubbed the back of his head.

  "I believe that you will be present during my meeting with Baron Howthorns?" Arthur followed the soldier into the fairly big manor house.

  "I... Perhaps? That's my Lord's decision." Amos smiled and opened the doors into a sitting room and bowed.

  Inside, a middle-aged man wearing a long, white robe with purple and crimson decorations was nervously sitting in a chair. His hands were full of blisters and hardened by years of sword usage. He was shorter than Arthur, but considering that the Inquisitor's body was enhanced by Saintess Irene's magic, that was to be expected. However, Baron Howthorn looked like a veteran soldier who wasn't a stranger to the rigours of training. His rather gentle, brown eyes were looking at Arthur with a sceptical reservation. He kept his brown hair very short, but the first strands of grey hair were slowly creeping in, creating faint stripes near his temples. He slowly stood and put on a friendly expression.

  "Count Arthur Ives of the Arcadian Empire," Amos announced with a bow. "Baron Sion Howthorns, Lord of the City of Howthorns."

  Arthur decided to extend a little bit of courtesy and welcomed the local noble with an Arcadian knightly salute.

  "I hope I find you in good health, Lord Sion Howthorns." Arthur lowered his fist that he had pressed to his heart. "Catherine."

  The Nekomi bowed respectfully and brought the scroll she was holding to Baron Howthorns. She opened it with reverence and presented its contents to the Saftian noble. The Baron's eyes widened in visible shock, and he looked at Captain Amos with a puzzled expression. However, he nodded at his soldier who walked behind the Baron. After he let her know with a gesture that it was enough, Catherine bowed deeply to him and rolled the scroll closed, returning to her spot near Arthur’s side.

  "I... Welcome you to my city, Lord Arthur Ives of Arcadia. I wasn't informed about your arrival so I was extremely surprised to hear about your visit. What brings you to the Kingdom of Saftia?"

  "Putting it frankly... An accident." Arthur decided that there was no point in hiding that fact. "But this is a longer story. I can indulge you with it, but..."

  He looked around and the Baron blushed slightly.

  "Oh, my apologies! Please sit down, Lord Ives." Baron Sion pointed to the comfortably upholstered chair.

  "Thank you, Lord Howthorns." Arthur made a step towards the chair and took off his cape, which he had given to Catherine.

  All eyes in the room were fixated on him, or more precisely, his armour. The black, red, and gold heavy armour was stunning, so he couldn't blame them for staring. However, he knew that they were shocked to see him wearing the heavy armour at all.

  "As I said previously, I was brought here by an accident." Arthur began with a smile. "By the will of my Lord, my companions and I were tasked with clearing a monster den. That place turned out to be the catacombs or some sort of underground complex built by an unknown civilisation. We had no previous knowledge of that place and the dangers that could await inside."

  "So what kind of accident could possibly send you so far away from home, Lord Ives?" Baron Howthorns asked in a voice full of curiosity.

  "I suspect a teleportation trap." The Baron sharply inhaled the air as he looked at Arthur.

  "That means you have no idea how to return to your home?"

  "For now." Arthur shrugged. "However, once I learn where exactly I am and where Aderon is, I will figure out a way home. Meanwhile, I plan to travel and discover new places and meet new people. Once I return home or my Lord's forces find me, I will certainly inform my Emperor about this land and the opportunities it provides. I see potential venues for trade."

  Generally speaking, Arthur wasn't lying. In the worst-case scenario, the Kingdom of Saftia will receive Ibrevell's treatment. He smiled at the local noble who wasn't exactly sure what to do.

  "I'm honoured by your honesty, Count Ives." The Baron relaxed. "I don't know, however, how to proceed with your presence in the Kingdom. By the quality of your gear, I assume that you are a capable fighter, is that right? I was told that you like to hunt monsters, so..."

  "Indeed. But there are monsters and monsters..." Arthur smiled flatly, no warmth reaching his eyes. He decided to use the opportunity and interrupted whatever monster-hunting quest the Baron had to offer. The Inquisitor reached into his pocket and took out the testimony of the bandits who attacked them yesterday. "Some bandits tried to attack me of late, and before I executed them, I demanded they write down their meagre explanation. I couldn't let them go scot-free after they committed an act of banditry. Especially after they threatened to kill me."

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  "Griss Vul..." The Baron's face turned red in anger. "How many of them attacked you?"

  "Nine." Arthur shrugged with a dismissive expression. "However, that name, Griss Vul was repeated too many times in my presence. I was told that he is a crime lord."

  "You defeated nine bandits alone?!" The Baron asked in shock but quickly snapped out of it and took a deep breath. "He is indeed a local crime lord. That man has managed to amass considerable wealth and is constantly trying to undermine my authority. He most probably has a backing of one of the nobles who would like to take over my city. Unfortunately, I can't prove either of my claims. This letter is incriminating enough to warrant arrest, but I don't believe it would be enough to sentence him."

  "Baron Howthorns, I think that you are missing a point." Arthur crossed his arms in front of him. "What are the local laws regarding a commoner offending a noble?"

  "Depending on the degree of the offence, it's usually enslavement or even a death sentence." He replied almost immediately and his eyes widened. "But you are..."

  "Yes, I'm a noble. I took his offence very seriously and perceived it as a personal attack." Arthur said in a cold tone. "If there is a bounty on his head, I will collect it as well."

  Baron Sion Howthorns opened and closed his mouth in a vain attempt to say something. However, he sharply shut his mouth and gave Arthur a prolonged stare.

  "I won't be pretending that I don't want that man dead. However, he is dangerous, Lord Ives. I can't spare you any help..."

  "I won't require any help. I simply ask if I won't inconvenience you by punishing that man." Arthur said with a grim little chuckle. So far, the discussion with the Baron has gone smoothly. "I simply need... Permission."

  "I'm just concerned about your safety, Lord Ives..." The man clenched his fists and lowered his head. "Are you sure you can deal with that man in your lonesome?"

  "Appraise me, Lord Howthorns," Arthur said calmly and quietly.

  "A level one hundred Paladin?!" The Baron shouted in disbelief while the Captain looked at him in awe.

  Only Catherine remained calm, but he felt her burning gaze on his neck.

  "Indeed. Getting rid of lawless pests like Griss Vul is part of my responsibilities as an Arcadian noble. I won't stand for their brutality that makes the common folk suffer. I can't allow the slight his people committed to stay unanswered."

  "I understand that..." The Baron nodded.

  "There are a few things we should also discuss, but after a taxing few days, I would gladly take an opportunity for rest." He stifled a yawn that was only partly for show. "So if you allow, I will have to find accommodation for myself and my Maid."

  "Of course! Of course... You must be tired after everything, Lord Ives." The Baron raised his hand and smiled warmly. "Please, allow me to show you a fitting hospitality. Janna!"

  A woman in a maid's outfit entered the room. "Yes, Lord Sion?"

  "Take our guest to the guest room. Prepare refreshments for Count Ives and food for his Maid." The Baron ordered and stood up. "Captain Amos, I believe that I need to speak with you."

  "Yes, my Lord!" The Guard Captain snapped to attention.

  "As you wish, my Lord!" The Maid quickly bowed and looked at Arthur with curiosity.

  "You are a real saviour, Lord Howthorns!" The Inquisitor stood up and lowered his head in gratitude. "You have my thanks."

  They were led by the maid across the mansion to the large apartment with a separate sitting room, bedroom, and bath. The Maid explained everything to them, and before she finished, another Maid arrived with food. After giving Catherine an uncertain gaze, they left them and closed the doors. The woman turned towards Arthur, but he raised his finger and put it to his lips. She looked around as if she expected to find someone hiding behind the window drapes and eavesdropping on them. He took out a small and incredibly detailed figure of a man playing a lute and sitting on a cloud made of white gemstone. Catherine felt a gentle gust of wind on her skin and Arthur sighed.

  "All right. I had to improvise but I mostly managed to convince Baron Howthorns. I used the artifact that will provide us with a privacy field so eavesdropping is impossible, even if we start screaming near the open window. You can be casual..."

  "No... I can't, SIR." She pouted but sat down and gave the figure a passing look after which she looked at him with her amazing blue eyes. She was equally scared and angry. "What were you thinking?! It looked like you were the host during your meeting with the Baron! You said that Griss Vul offended you as a noble but even I could tell that you couldn't care less if that man lives or dies. Haven't you thought that your arrogance could equally offend the Baron, SIR?! After you treated me like a person, I had high hopes of living a normal life again. I don't want to die because my Lord offended a noble."

  "Ahh..." He sat down as well and picked up a cup of juice. He sniffed it with curiosity and gave it a try. It was slightly sour at first but turned pleasantly sweet in the aftertaste. "So... Let's start from the beginning. Do you know the social ladder between the nobles?"

  "I know that as a Count you outrank a Baron, Sir, but I don't think it's that important since you aren't a Noble of this kingdom." She said and looked at the food trays. Her ears twitched, betraying her emotions.

  "Take whatever you desire to eat." He said, and she gave him a flat stare in exchange. But she did take a plate with roasted meat and some vegetables that, most probably, had been intended for him. He grinned at her, earning a quiet sigh of defeat. "You would be right only in a situation where he knows the exact standing and power balance between our nations. As it is, he doesn't know what kind of power I have at my disposal, but most importantly, what kind of backlash he might expect if he chose to make an enemy of me."

  "So... He was cautious, my Lord?" She asked after swallowing a bite. Her eyes shone with delight at the meal.

  "And rightfully so." Arthur nodded and took a vegetable soup that was probably intended for Catherine. Despite its strange, green colour and being very thick, it was actually very tasty. It reminded him of the taste of the creamy pea soup from Arcadia, but the spices in this one were on the hotter side. "Depending on many factors, a Count of a sufficiently powerful country could have a status equal to the King of a small or poor nation. Which, on a side note, is exactly the case here from what I can tell. The Baron can't afford to antagonise me. I allowed him to appraise me and learn that I'm level one hundred. If everything I observed so far about this country is correct, I'm one of the most powerful individuals in the entire Kingdom. I also make it clear that my Emperor would certainly look for me. That is an obvious signal for any noble that things might go really bad if I'm mistreated in Saftia."

  "Are you sure that they are even looking for you, Sir?" She asked quietly.

  He took a long sip of his juice and looked outside the window.

  "They are, but it will take them a lot of time." He sighed. "My homeland was waging war, so most of our forces were busy. However, my Lord has many other means of finding people, so I'm pretty sure he will find me. Or more precisely, his wife, the Third Empress of Arcadia, Luna va'Theon, who is in charge of the Inquisition."

  Thank you all for reading.

  I wish you all a great day and as always I wait for your comments.

  A big thanks to and who edited the chapter!