"Oh right, my cane," Lucian's words made Uldric look at the two halves of Lucian's cane that Jax had broken and thrown away earlier, "Its loss will be added to your debt as well."
Jax didn't even try to negotiate. Lucian could break his bones, and he would still somehow end up thanking him for it, feel guilty about it, and compensate him for it. "I will repay it, Boss," he promised, "With interest."
"Good, you are improving."
The praise made Jax a bit happy, even though his body was in pain. It's been a while since he got wrecked in such a one-sided manner, "Thank you, Boss."
With a slight nod, Lucian ordered Uldric to take care of Jax.
"Y-yes, Sir!" Uldrick rushed to pick up Jax, patting the dirt off of his body, his own hands trembling in fear.
If Lucian could treat his Vices, his closest confidants, his right-hand men, like this, then what about the others?
He tried to persuade himself that it was for Jax's sake and that Lucian was simply trying to save Jax from himself, but it didn't help much to calm him down.
Was this what Jax meant by a desensitized Lucian being the worst thing that could happen to anyone who had a debt to him?
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Klaus' eyes widened at the sight of the half-dead Jax in Uldric's arms. He quickly opened the carriage door for Lucian to get in, then helped Uldric place Jax on the carriage roof.
Lucian was more prepared this time, having a change of clothes ready.
'Isn't there a cleaner way of fighting? Why do my clothes always have to suffer the most?'
He was going to stick to darker colors for the hunting competition, the ones he used to wear for gathering herbs.
The hunt would start on the 10th day of the month and last until the 18th day.
The cost to participate in the competition was based on the camp one chose to stay in, with the most luxurious ones being secured by the royals and nobles.
The participants were allowed to bring servants and guards to assist them in the competition. The more helpers one had, the fewer contribution points they got, and thus the lower their final ranking would be.
The limit was set to six people, excluding the participant. There couldn't be two participants in one group either, everyone was on their own (+their helpers).
Every two days at noon, a horn would signal for the participants to return with their caught beasts to the hunting grounds campsite, and to have their catches weighed, measured, registered, and then roasted or smoked for the public to enjoy in the evening.
Merchants and other non-participants could rent a spot to sell their goods.
It was an exciting festival that would bring the whole kingdom together.
The hunting area was off-limits most of the year and heavily guarded by the military. The reason for the restriction was a few cases of shackled beasts emerging in the area from time to time. It was only opened once it was deemed safe enough.
If a shackled with a body of a weak, slave woman had the strength of twenty men, then what a bear would be capable of after becoming a shackled?
'Do people know that shackleds act based on their host's dying wish?'
Lucian wondered as he took out a toolbox from under his seat and proceeded to dismantle the broken cane, revealing the needle mechanism hidden inside it.
'Maybe one short spear and one axe?'
Lucian contemplated what he should pack for the trip. He had to keep the weight of the luggage in mind.
He usually used traps to catch his prey. Bow was a classic, but not very suitable for close-range combat.
'A rope and a knife for sure, sleeping bag, a canteen…'
He traveled a lot, so he always had these things inside his carriage, packed and ready to go.
He only had to buy the short spear; the rest of the materials he already had in stock.
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Forward to the 9th day of the month, the day before the hunting competition…
Large banners hung from every pole, welcoming the participants to the hunting grounds. The road leading to it was busy, filled with people all headed to the same place.
A lot of merchants had set up shop along the way. Lucian caught sight of a few familiar items among the other stalls that he imported from the Southern Alliance.
The Glory of Snow had also set up its stall: one side was stacked with perfume bottles and oils, the other with floral and herb byproducts such as balm remedies, candies, and honey.
His employees greeted him as he stood in line, waiting to pass the inspection.
The line was long, and there were a few nobles complaining about the lack of priority.
Silence descended as a black carriage stopped next to the line. Everyone recognized the Rochefort emblem on the carriage door, hoping it wasn't the Duke's daughter they were about to meet.
Their wishes weren't granted, as Celine stepped out of it, wearing a dark blue riding outfit with a matching hat.
She followed her butler's lead, frowning after finding out that she had to wait for her turn, just like everyone else, "Why am I waiting here like a commoner? What is the meaning of this?"
The person the Rochefort house had assigned to hold their place in line ended up two people behind Lucian, which made him chuckle at Celine's 'unfortunate' circumstances.
The butler apologized, bowing deeply to her. "I'll try to talk to the inspector to let you in first, My Lady."
"There's no need," Edmund appeared from inside the carriage, wearing a hunting suit and boots that matched his sister's.
Two knights with their faces covered in masks and light robes accompanied them, each one taking a stance next to them as if they were their shadows.
Lucian would have described how intimidating they looked, if not for the fact that one was carrying a fluffy cat in his arms and the other an embroidered fan, fanning the mentioned cat.
Their ranks were concealed, but Lucian recognized the sapphire knight from his past, who had dealt with the shackled assassin as if he were an ant.
"My dear sister will wait like everyone else, and will not receive any special treatment," Edmund continued, smiling at her, "Right, dear sister?"
Completely ignoring her brother, Celine silently eyed the two people who separated her from Lucian. She looked like she was pondering whether she should have a little chat with them or not.