CH17: Eventful Welcome

***

CH17: Eventful Welcome

Two days later, I was ready to leave Pryford again.

I expected that my departure this time would be for quite a while. I was going to stay in Landrose for a few years.

Fortunately, there was nothing I was going to miss in the town that I couldn't get of a better quality where I was going.

The only thing the capital city, Landrose City, couldn't give me, which I had in Pryford was the Mana Vein.

I wasn't too bothered about that though. It's not like I wasn't coming back anyways. Perhaps the time I was away would give the Vein Core the chance to evolve.

I was only a little disappointed I wouldn't be able to witness it if I were away when it happened.

-

I packed my things, which weren't a lot. I only added one more luggage bag, which was filled with clothes and some personal items, to the three chests I brought back from Pyremonte.

A carriage was already waiting since the early hours of morning to take us to the train station.

-

I got the chance to see the influence and status of a Champion in this world's society.

Rowland had sent word to the train station the previous night to book tickets for the trip to Landrose. Although I expected an exaggerated reaction from the station's management, what we met surpassed my imagination.

The station's management dedicated an entire train car for Rowland's use. They were also the ones who sent the carriage to come pick us up.

The train to Landrose City had to be delay for a quarter of an hour for the private luxury car to be affixed to the train.

Expectedly, people complained at first. However, the complains turned to elation once they were informed they had the 'honour' of riding with a Champion.

Rowland noticed my confusion at their reaction so he explained the reality of the situation to me.

It turned out that intercity travel wasn't completely safe. There was a possibility of the train being attacked by beast. While these beast tend to be on the weaker end of the spectrum, Terror-class at most, they still caused some deaths when they attack.

Aside respecting the prestige of a Champion, the people on the train were more elated because the presence of a Champion on board essentially guaranteed their safety.

-

The journey to Landrose City took three hours.

I barely noticed the passage of time in the Luxury car.

Unlike during my trip to and fro Pyremonte, I hardly felt the train bump or shake. It was a smooth journey all through.

The passing scenery through the window also did wonders in calming my nerves.

The city of Landrose was now in sight.

The first thing that came to view was the gigantic city walls which took me by surprise.

Honestly, because Pryford and Pyremonte didn't have walls, I assumed the cities and towns of Arun were similar to that of my old world.

Not only did Landrose feature a city wall, the wall was massive. I wouldn't be surprise if the wall was fifty ~ seventy metres high.

For someone who had never seen a city wall before, this was quite massive.

"The Guardian Wall... a truly impressive sight." Rowland commented after seeing my shock. "The wall has protected Landrose for about a millennium. Back then, the country of Bayveth didn't exist and the five tier1 cities including Landrose were frontlines in the War against the beasts.

"We've pushed the line far further now. That's the reason why new generation cities and towns don't have walls anymore."

I nodded in understanding.

-

We soon arrived at the Landrose Central Station.

Once again, the station's management was on hand to help with our (my) luggage and transportation.

Much to my surprise, Landrose was no different from any major city in my previous life. The city was a dense concrete (well, brick) jungle, endowed with many high-rise buildings.

Honestly, I didn't expect to see any skyscrapers, but I did. In abundant number even.

The major thing that jumped out as a difference between Landrose and the cities of my previous life was... cars!

Instead of cars, I saw many animal-pulled carriages.

There were an exotic choice of carriages and the animals which pulled them.

Another difference was that Landrose had an ancient vibe to it with its many brick buildings with an antique design (at least to me).

Our carriage moved through the city centre till it eventually reached a quiet upper class neighbourhood.

The buildings here were built like castles, which showed the owner's wealth or status.

Finally, we reached a large estate.

There was a large green cloth with golden corners draped over both sides of the gate. A crest was embroiled at the centre of the cloth.

It was a red-brown lion with a black mane.

This was the crest of the DoomMane Guild.

*

The property was quite large and it took some time to move from the gate to the mansion residence.

Turned out the estate also doubled as the Guild's base in Landrose.

The carriage stopped before a castle/mansion.

There were two rolls of maids waiting with an old man, the butler, in front of them.

"Welcome back, Sir Rowland." They greeted and bowed when Rowland got out of the carriage.

The bow was a perfect 90 degree bow.

The man just nodded and walked between their formation

I waited for the maids to raised their heads before I followed behind my host.

I saw the butler look back at me with an intrigued smile.

I responded with a smile too.

"My wife and children?" Rowland asked.

"They're waiting for you in the living room." The butler responded.

Even someone like me who knew nothing of this world's luxuries knew I had entered a noble's home.

Everything was either shining or looking so immaculate that you knew they cost a fortune.

Although Rowland didn't look like someone so vane, he didn't have much of a choice with the house. He had to build his home with expensive ornaments because people expect a certain level of luxury from a man in his position.

Don't be fooled, people certainly judge books by their cover.

His house screamed luxury and affluence so that people would recognise his position as a Champion ranker and the Guildmaster of an A-rank Guild.

The butler signalled to the maids to move my luggage from the carriage so I followed behind Rowland.

We came to the living room where Rowland's wife and two children where waiting.

"Father!" The children ran to Rowland.

The girl jumped into his embrace while the boy stayed a step behind.

Rowland greeted his children and his eyes fell on his wife.

"Welcome home, dear." His wife greeted.

The man smiled.

"Introductions are in order." He waved to me to step forward. He introduced his family. "This is my wife, Ingrid; my son, Jarret; and my princess, Zora."

"This is Lionheart's cub, Leo. He will be staying with us from now on."

I faced Ingrid and greeted by placing my right hand on my chest. But I didn't bow.

Bowing meant acknowledging someone was superior to you.

In other words, it indicated your intention to be subservient to the person.

This was why I didn't follow behind Rowland until the maids had risen from their bows. If I had followed before they raised from their bows, it would've meant I was requesting for their subservience.

Something I had no intention of doing.

The Butler didn't expect a teenager to understand this unspoken rule, which was why he smiled at me.

The family looked at me with varying expressions; curiosity, disinterest and disdain were the most notable ones.

"Why did you bring him here? Can he use mana?" Ingrid asked.

It was clear she wasn't happy about my presence.

"He can't. However, he is still Lionheart's cub. Like father like son." Rowland smiled at me.

I noticed that Jarrett wasn't happy about this while Zora's curiosity towards me increased.

"Besides, he is Amelia's son." Rowland said to his wife.

Ingrid didn't reply verbally, however her raised eyebrow and folded arms said 'and so what?'

I glanced at her for a moment before my vision shifted to Zora who was staring at me.

When our eyes met, she shyly hid behind her brother.

Jarrett in turn moved to hide her from my vision.

'A shy girl and a Siscon.' I gave my evaluation of the siblings.

Gears turned in my head as I tried to come up with a plan that I can use.

"I'm impressed with him. I intend to have him train the Guild's recruits."

Everyone present; Ingrid, Jarrett, Zora, the Butler and myself, were stunned by Rowland's announcement.

"What can a boy who can never use mana teach the carefully chosen recruits of the DoomManes, an A-rank Guild? Do you want to destroy the image of our Guild?!" Ingrid shouted.

"'Our' Guild? Since when we you concerned about the Guild? " Rowland laughed coldly at his wife. "The DoomMane belonged to me and Lionheart, his father. So what if him teaching the recruits diminishes the Guild's reputation? What does it have to do with you?"

A pressure rose from the man as he spoke.

"The Mane in our Guild's name shows that half of our Guild's reputation came from Lionheart. If his son destroys that, so what? It is what he has earned from his father's efforts. He may do with it what he wishes." Rowland declared.

"Quite frankly, I am disappointed in you." He added.

Ingrid was horrified by her husband's response. She looked at me with blame.

'Rowland O' Rowland. You just created me an enemy.' I thought.

I saw Jarrett also glaring at me. It didn't take a genius to realise that Ingrid had likely poisoned the boy's mind before we arrived.

Then, at that moment, an idea came to me.

A way for me to take advantage of the situation.

It was a somewhat hideous method, but since they hated me anyways, they was nothing stopping me from using it.

(To be continued...)