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The whisper of a voice reached the guard\'s ears, though he couldn\'t pinpoint its source. "Here, take this," it had said, soft but clear. His eyes darted back to the ID card, then up to the young man, who stood still, calm as ever. only found at mvl _e-mp|y,r

The guard\'s frown melted into a neutral expression. He straightened his posture, tucking the ID card away and nodding curtly. "Everything seems to be in order," he said, his voice now devoid of the earlier suspicion. The glint of the coin remained tucked in his pocket, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken agreement between them.

With a respectful gesture, he stepped aside and motioned for the other guards to do the same. "You may enter the city, sir," he said, his tone now formal, almost deferential.

The young man, still without a word, took back his ID card, slipping it into the folds of his clothing as he turned and remounted his horse. The white-furred cat on his shoulder flicked its tail, casting one last glance at the guards with its piercing emerald eyes.

******

Lucavion passed through the noble\'s gate without a word, the guards now standing respectfully aside; their earlier hostility evaporated like mist in the morning sun. His worn clothes and dust-covered appearance no longer mattered. The subtle exchange, the silent understanding, had smoothed the way.

As he entered the bustling streets of Andelheim, the familiar sights and sounds of the city greeted him. Merchants called out their wares, noble carriages clattered along the cobblestone roads, and the air hummed with the energy of the upcoming tournament. Lucavion\'s gaze remained steady, his focus sharp despite the crowd around him.

On his shoulder, Vitaliara\'s emerald eyes glinted with amusement. [I see you\'re still familiar with Gerald\'s methods,] she remarked in his mind, her tone a mixture of curiosity and playfulness. [It seems he hasn\'t changed much since those days when he traveled the world—always quick with a bribe when necessary.]

Lucavion\'s lips curled into a small smile as he navigated through the throng of people. "I did not learn it from Master; I just know what is important," he replied quietly, his voice calm and composed. "Money can always be made. Time, on the other hand, cannot. I\'ve learned to prioritize what matters."

[Is that so?] Vitaliara\'s tail flicked lightly, her curiosity piqued. [You never were one to waste time, but I didn\'t expect you to just give one gold to that guard.]

Lucavion chuckled softly, his eyes scanning the bustling streets as they made their way toward the tournament grounds. "A not small price to pay for efficiency," he said. "Bribes are simple, and they save me the hassle of unnecessary confrontations. Besides, in this world, most people would rather turn a blind eye for the right incentive."

Vitaliara\'s eyes narrowed slightly, her feline instincts sharp as she studied the people around them. [And what happens when bribes are no longer enough?] she asked, her voice quieter now, more serious.

"They are enough most of the time."

[When they are not?]

Lucavion\'s gaze flickered toward her for a brief moment, his expression thoughtful. "When bribes are no longer enough, I\'ll adapt," he replied. "There\'s always a way to get what you need if you\'re resourceful enough."

The streets of Andelheim were crowded, filled with warriors, merchants, and nobles, all preparing for the tournament. The city\'s atmosphere was thick with anticipation, the tension palpable.

Merchants shouted out their wares, warriors of all kinds strolled confidently through the streets, and the noble carriages clattered along the cobblestones with the kind of pomp and elegance that defined the wealthy.

As he rode through the city, it quickly became apparent that his horse would be more of a hindrance than a help in such crowded conditions. The narrow streets leading to the tournament grounds were packed with people, and navigating them on horseback would be nearly impossible without attracting unwanted attention.

Lucavion\'s gaze flickered over the various signs hanging above buildings until he spotted a stable at the corner of a bustling street. It was a modest establishment, but it appeared well-kept, with a few other horses already tied outside, waiting to be stabled. Lucavion turned his horse toward it, making his way through the crowd until he reached the entrance.

Dismounting, Lucavion approached the stable master, a burly man with a ruddy face and hands weathered from years of tending to animals. The man gave Lucavion a cursory glance, his eyes briefly lingering on the fine, powerful build of the horse.

"Looking to stable your horse, sir?" the stable master asked, wiping his hands on a rag.

Lucavion nodded, pulling out a small pouch from the folds of his coat. "For the tournament\'s duration," he said, his voice measured and calm.

The stable master nodded in understanding. "That\'ll be ten silver coins for a week, or if you\'re only here for a few days, five silver for three."

Lucavion, without hesitation, placed a handful of silver coins into the man\'s outstretched palm. "I\'ll take the week," he said, though he didn\'t plan on staying that long. Having the extra time just in case was worth the price.

The stable master accepted the coins with a satisfied nod, quickly counting them before motioning toward one of his workers. "Take good care of the horse," Lucavion added, his tone soft but carrying a hint of authority. "It\'s been a long journey."

The worker, a young boy, hurried over, taking the reins of Lucavion\'s horse with wide eyes. He looked slightly intimidated, not by Lucavion\'s words, but by the sheer presence of the man before him—his quiet confidence and the piercing eyes that seemed to see everything.

Vitaliara flicked her tail, watching the exchange from Lucavion\'s shoulder. [You\'re really paying a bit extra everywhere today, aren\'t you?] she teased, her tone light.

Lucavion smiled faintly as he handed the reins over to the boy. "Peace of mind isn\'t cheap," he replied, stepping back as the boy led his horse toward the stable.

As they left the stables behind, Vitaliara purred softly, [If you keep paying like that, will your money not end?]

"It won\'t, don\'t worry. And I don\'t have an immediate need for huge sums of money either."

[If you say so.]

The streets of Andelheim opened up before him once more, the tournament grounds now drawing closer.

Lucavion made his way through the bustling streets of Andelheim, weaving between the crowds as he neared the tournament registration area. The energy in the city was electric, and the closer he got to the grand arena, the thicker the crowd became. Finally, as he turned a corner, the sight of the long queue came into view.

It stretched out from the registration tent, a snaking line of warriors, mages, and other competitors, all waiting impatiently to register.

Lucavion\'s face immediately grimaced at the sight. He wasn\'t a man known for his impatience, but the thought of standing in the blazing sun for hours just to sign his name was far from appealing.

[Now what?] Vitaliara purred, sensing his frustration. Her emerald eyes gleamed with amusement as she perched on his shoulder, her tail swishing playfully.

Lucavion let out a resigned sigh. "It seems we have no choice but to wait in line for now," he replied, though his tone betrayed his annoyance. The last thing he wanted was to waste precious time standing idle.

But just as he was about to step toward the end of the line, something caught his attention. His eyes perked up, narrowing slightly as they focused on a figure further ahead in the crowd. It only took a moment for recognition to dawn, and then, unexpectedly, a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"Hehe….Who would have thought she would really do it?"

His eyes had turned into an arc for some reason.

********

Valeria stood in the line, her arms crossed and her mind wandering as she waited. The minutes seemed to stretch on, and despite her resolve to stay put, impatience began to nibble at the edges of her thoughts.

The bustle of the city around her was nothing more than background noise now as her mind flicked through everything she had experienced in the last few days—her decision to leave her knights, the tension at the inn the night before, and the upcoming tournament.

But before her thoughts could spiral any further, a familiar, infuriating voice broke through the noise.

"Well, well, look who we have here."