CHAPTER 75: LUCKY

"In Swargaloka Province, leadership lies with an elder council made up of dukes and other powerful nobles. The capital of our kingdom is the same.

Even though it’s called the Bhumi Kingdom, there’s no actual monarch, only representatives from each race. It’s to ensure no single power rises above the others."

"Even after hundreds of years, tensions between the races still linger. And even with the Mist Monsters—our shared enemy—capable of attacking and destroying at any time, inter-racial politics never truly disappear."

His explanation only reinforced the gods’ evaluation about this world’s people, that even when united against a single enemy, they still found ways to quietly turn on each other.

Strength was supposed to come from unity, but instead, they were weakening themselves.

Tristan continued, "The peace treaty between humans and druids—led by Commander Gavin and Lady Vita, your father and mother—was one way to try to ease those tensions."

"It’s a shame they died before they could make it happen."

Gara let out a heavy sigh.

Some had tried to bridge the gap between races, but the differences were too vast. Each race had its own laws, and when those laws were broken, they became the perfect excuse to carry out long-held desires to wipe out the others.

His parents had been among the few who dared to stand in the way of that cycle— and paid the price.

Sensing the mood had turned grim, Tristan didn’t push the topic further. "Once the situation improves, I’ll take you to the Esalavya Duchy. For now, you’ll come with me to Cakranloka City—Marquess Cakra’s territory."

"Uncle Tristan, I’m not going." Gara’s voice was firm. "Right now, the druids haven’t detected me because we’ve stayed hidden and unmoving for sixteen years. No one knows what will happen if we suddenly appear, especially with your help, when they know you’re connected to my father."

Tristan was taken aback by the refusal. At first, he had planned to persuade his boss’s son... but hearing Gara’s reasoning, he realized the boy’s logic was far sounder than he expected.

Even if the druids were no longer watching closely, suddenly bringing someone into the Marquess’s territory—someone they would immediately suspect—was sure to draw attention.

Before they knew it, they had passed through the empty herb fields—deserted now that the villagers had finished their watering—and continued up the slope until they found the wire barrier.

Their conversation fell silent; no one wanted their voices to draw the attention of wild beasts.

They passed a massive banyan tree and soon reached the spot where Fian had killed the snake the day before.

Blood still stained the ground. Flies, ants, and other small insects swarmed over the dark red patches.

From there, they followed a narrow path running alongside the river.

"Those are the snake’s organs you took out, huh?" Tristan pointed toward the scattered remains, reeking in the sun.

Some wild animal must have rummaged through them during the night, and without rain, the mess still lingered.

They kept walking until they stopped not far from where Gara had found the saltstone crystal.

Since they had begun following the riverbank, the guards accompanying Tristan had started scanning the surroundings.

Gara let out a quiet breath of relief. If Tristan had searched this area first, that saltstone crystal never would have ended up in his hands.

He was even luckier that Satyo and his men hadn’t gotten to it either. Though without a close look, it would have been nothing more than a trick of sunlight glinting on water.

Eventually, they stopped at the river’s edge while the guards spread out, checking the area.

"Raksa County wanted to send their Liners here to investigate this case," Tristan said suddenly, "but I convinced them to leave all evidence searching in and around Falopo Town to me."

"Thank goodness, Uncle." Things would’ve gotten a lot messier if he’d had to deal with the county’s Liners.

Once the inspection was complete, Gara, Tristan, and the others started back.

As they passed the pile of scattered organs again, Gara’s mind wandered to something else entirely.

"Uncle," Gara said quietly, "I actually have an idea for a business. Do you think you could help me?"

...

When Gara returned home, Tristan and the guards bid farewell, heading for the village chief’s house before moving on to the town.

A miniature bamboo house for Rea and her babies stood in front of the main house. Its floorboards were set five handspans above the ground to keep water from seeping in.

If there had been trees inside the protective barrier, they could have built her a proper treehouse, but the yard held only herb plots.

Before Madha left, he mentioned he would be going on his third Liner mission the next day.

Gara quickly packed him some lumora tea, niskara tea, a jar of medicinal herbs for external wounds, and a jar of herbal pain-relief liquid—warning him to use it carefully, as it could cause drowsiness.

When Madha left, his eyes looked as if he’d just lost something important in life. Gara could only shake his head.

That night, Wina returned home, escorted by Emir, the vice-captain of the town guard.

After dinner, Gara gathered Wina and Fian to discuss their plans for the business going forward.

The three sat in the front room, with Rea lounging on the table, nibbling on poppy seeds.

Gara had already reminded the white squirrel that she needed to nurse her babies, but she had simply replied that she never felt full without eating them.

Thankfully, Wina had bought goat’s milk in town earlier. The milk that was supposed to help Gara maintain his nutrition now belonged to Rea’s little ones.

The money they had earned from selling the snake’s meat and skin was far more than expected—24 yellow coins— enough to buy a house in town outright.

It was the first time Gara had ever seen a yellow coin. It wasn’t truly yellow, but more of a bronze color, with a faint light dancing inside it.

...