Chapter 34: Oh, Didn’t Expect to See an Acquaintance
A few days later, in the North City District.
Dressed in formal attire and riding a warhorse, Joshua dismounted under the enthusiastic yet respectful service of his attendants and entered through the main gate of this seemingly lively mansion.
“It drinks alcohol and eats meat. Don’t feed it grass or soybeans.”
As a groom led the warhorse away, the warrior offered a brief reminder: “If that still doesn’t work, add two raw eggs. Be careful—it has a bad temper, so don’t get kicked.”
“Yes, Lord Count.”
With a respectful nod of acknowledgment, the groom turned back immediately after Joshua left, carefully soothing the black warhorse, which was a bit displeased by its master’s departure and was shaking its head and stomping the ground. He cautiously led it toward the stables in the rear.
Speaking of this horse, it was no ordinary creature. It was the very warhorse that had accompanied Joshua on his journey from the Northwest Plains all the way back to the Northern Lands, traveling day and night for seventeen days—making it, in a sense, a companion.
Earlier, when Joshua entered the city, he had left it in the wild to fend for itself, originally intending to set it free without any plan to retrieve it. Who would have thought that this horse, bearing the bloodline of a Ground Dragon, could actually recognize scents? It had forcibly charged through the city gates a few days ago and tracked him down on its own.
Since that was the case, there was no reason to insist on letting it go. Joshua felt the horse was loyal and indeed not slow, so he simply decided to keep it well-fed and well-cared for, using it as his personal mount.
“The banquet has already begun; they’re just waiting for you to make your entrance.”
Walking along the path toward the mansion, the steward leading the way was visibly tense. Facing the black-haired man before him, this seasoned professional, who had weathered countless storms and hosted numerous nobles and celebrities, found himself speaking with an involuntary nervousness, even a dry mouth: “You are the star of today’s event.”
“Is that so?”
Joshua, however, felt nothing in particular. He noticed the steward’s slight lapse in composure but paid it no mind: “No need to be nervous. Tell me who will be attending this banquet.”
In truth, given the warrior’s current attributes, the fact that this steward hadn’t been scared speechless already was a testament to his broad experience and mental fortitude. With the two newly acquired image traits—[Bloodthirsty] and [Destroyer]—few could remain calm in his presence.
[Character Image - Bloodthirsty: Charm -2, Intimidation +3, Natural Creature Affinity -2, Natural Creature Fear +2, Initial Cold Attitude from Healer Trait Holders]
[Your hands are stained with blood; countless lives have ended by your hand. Others will instinctively distance themselves and feel fear. Even a starving beast would choose to take a detour around you.]
[Character Image - Destroyer: Charm -1, Intimidation +2, Natural Creature Affinity -1, Natural Creature Fear +1, Initial Cold Attitude from Builder Trait Holders]
[Wherever you pass, only ruins, death, and bones remain.]
A character’s initial charm and various affinity skill levels were proportional to their appearance. For example, an elf with maximum appearance would have a natural charm of 20 and a natural creature affinity of 20. At that level of charm, even a starving wolf wouldn’t target them as prey but would instead docilely beg for food. Similarly, a dwarf with maximum appearance could tame a Steel Drill Mole with just two words: “Come” and “Follow me.” The same principle applied to other races, with slight variations.
Although Joshua wasn’t ugly—his appearance score of 20 was around 14 or 15, making him a ruggedly handsome man with a strong aura—his initial charm was a respectable 14. However, due to his long years in the military, his overall temperament and image leaned more toward ‘majesty’ than ‘affinity.’ As a result, his charm plummeted while his intimidation soared.
Now, the warrior’s charm was a pitiful ‘4,’ but his intimidation, bolstered by the two recently acquired character traits, had reached an astonishing ‘18.’ An ordinary person with a weak mind would feel their legs go weak just from being stared at by him. In a way, it was like having a small aura of fear.
“There aren’t many guests, but they’re all major figures from various trade associations. For example, the leader of the Grey Goose Dragon Carriage Caravan, the vice president of the Grey Rock Trade Association, and the president of the Winter Wolf Trade Association. They all want to meet you, the new lord.”
After calming himself a bit, the experienced steward steadied his nerves. As he led Joshua into the mansion’s reception hall, he spoke smoothly: “Of course, my master, the president of the ‘North Frost Trade Association,’ also wishes to pay his respects. Your willingness to attend today has greatly honored my master.”
“That’s nothing. Rather than having you all visit one by one or send letters, it’s easier for me to attend a banquet, have a drink, and relax.”
Joshua shook his head. Lately, he had developed a strong aversion to the word ‘letter’: “Judging by your expression, your breathing, and the rhythm of your blood flow, there’s something else you’re holding back, isn’t there? No need to hesitate. Speak plainly. There’s no need to be so formal. This is the Northern Lands, not the Imperial Capital. You can loosen up a bit on etiquette.”
“In that case, I’ll take you at your word.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the steward instinctively glanced around and then said cautiously: “Well, I hope you might grant my master a private audience before the banquet begins.”
“Oh?”
Turning his head to look at the nervous steward, his dark red eyes fixed on the man, Joshua considered for a moment and replied with interest: “Interesting. Fine.”
“Thank you for agreeing to this presumptuous request. Please follow me.”
Having received the answer, the steward of the North Frost Trade Association’s president let out a sigh of relief. He immediately changed course, leading Joshua to an elegantly decorated reception room. After the warrior sat down, the steward stood at the door and bowed respectfully: “Please wait a moment. I’ll go inform my master. He’ll be here shortly.”
“No problem. Go ahead.”
Joshua waved his hand, indicating he didn’t mind. Since the host of the banquet wasn’t in a hurry for him to appear, he couldn’t be bothered to think about it. Sitting was fine; waiting a bit was fine too.
But he didn’t have to wait long. Soon, after two or three minutes, a series of quick, rhythmic footsteps stopped at the door, and the reception room door opened.
It was a middle-aged man in formal attire with a knife scar on his throat. As soon as he entered, he immediately bowed in a flawless display of etiquette. Then he looked up, allowing Joshua to see his face.
“Oh, it’s you?”
Although he had considered various possibilities, Joshua still couldn’t help but lean back in surprise when he saw the face: “What a coincidence.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized by you, Lord Count.”
Clearly, judging by his weather-beaten appearance and the scar on his throat, this president of the North Frost Trade Association was the same middle-aged man from the caravan who had warned Joshua to be careful of danger when he was riding toward the main city. Who would have thought that the seemingly exhausted fellow back then was actually the president of one of the largest trade associations in the Northern Lands?
That being the case, as someone of considerable status, to personally go out in the freezing cold and warn a stranger he didn’t know showed a good heart. The warrior’s opinion of him improved significantly.
Standing up, Joshua didn’t waste words. Since they already knew each other, there was no need for excessive formalities. He smiled: “How about it? Wasn’t I right? Just wait a few days, and there will be a huge change. You’ll also gain an unexpected reward.”
“Lord Joshua, your power exceeds my imagination. Meeting you in advance is indeed a great reward.”
The middle-aged man spoke respectfully, but his tone was frank and bold: “My name is Alfonso Carlos. As you can see, I am the president of the North Frost Trade Association. I invited you here today because I have a favor to ask.”
“Speak.”
Joshua appreciated this straightforward way of speaking. He didn’t mind others asking for his help. In fact, it was precisely because he had the capital and strength that others relied on and valued him: “Moldavia is my territory. If it’s not a major issue, I can certainly handle it.”