100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?
Chapter 61 - Arrival

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 - Arrival

Lucien could feel it.

Something powerful is surging from within.

An imposing aura radiated from his body.

Silent yet undeniable.

His divine energy core stirred, reacting as though it recognized the presence of something ancient.

The divine energy coursing through his body accelerated. It was no longer chaotic but smooth and precise. Slmost refined.

It was as if his entire being was undergoing a quiet baptism.

’What the hell? A passive aura?’ Lucien thought. His eyes narrowed as he sensed the shift more clearly.

Then, a flicker of movement. Maxim turned sharply toward him.

"Nephew... your aura. It’s changed?"

Maxim’s voice was steady but his eyes betrayed a hint of disbelief.

He could see it. No, feel it.

The space around Lucien now seemed denser as though the air itself recognized him as someone above the rest. The pressure was subtle but undeniable, like standing in the presence of royalty.

Maxim swallowed hard. The sensation was familiar. It was the same kind of pressure that clung to the king himself.

But that couldn’t be... could it?

He shook his head, brushing the absurd thought away.

"Ah, Uncle Max... I don’t know what’s going on either," Lucien replied honestly. "This aura... it just appeared. I need to figure out what it does."

Maxim remained silent for a moment.

He then shook his head again.

"Don’t misunderstand," he said. "This change or whatever it is... might just be your greatest shield in the capital. I told you before, it’s nothing like the borders. Show weakness... and they’ll circle you like vultures. Show vulnerability... and you’ll be devoured."

Lucien gave a solemn nod. He understood.

Maxim continued with a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "You might even be mistaken for royalty from another nation... That’s not a bad thing. It means fewer people will dare to provoke you."

He then added with a smirk.

"You didn’t forget your seal, right? It’s the only thing proving you’re the Baron of Lootwell."

"I have it with me," Lucien confirmed.

Maxim nodded.

"Good," he said with a proud smile. "Nephew, don’t hold back in the capital. You have our backing. Just show them the Silvermine medal and they’ll think twice before crossing you. We’re a Marquis house, after all. Our name still holds weight in the capital."

Lucien’s eyes lit up. Having strong connections really was invaluable.

Truthfully, the title of Marquis wasn’t just for prestige.

The Silvermine family, like other Marquis houses... was deeply rooted in military tradition. Their duty was to guard the kingdom’s borders, repel raiders, subdue monsters and defend against rival nations.

But the world had changed.

Since the four nations formed their alliance, major conflicts had faded. Peace reigned. On the surface, at least.

Still, the Silvermine didn’t grow complacent. They trained harder, prepared for the worst and remained ever vigilant against threats like monsters and the unknown.

Then the king... as if following some unseen script, gave them a new role.

Tax collection.

The three Marquis houses welcomed it. It brought in steady resources and deepened their influence.

But now... only two remained since the Copperrock Noble House had fallen.

This time, their destination wasn’t the Silvermine territory in the southwest borders but the Silvermine Estate within the capital itself.

It serves as the Silvermine family’s base of power in the capital. A place where influence moved quietly and legacy weighed heavier than gold.

Their journey continued.

Unceremonious. Peaceful, even.

Lucien and Maxim spoke now and then, exchanging thoughts, plans and idle banter.

Whenever monsters appeared, Lucien would casually sniped them with precise shots like it was second nature.

When things grew too quiet, Lucien entertained himself.

He browsed through his INVENTORY, sorting loot and reorganizing the contents of his Spatial Bags.

The sheer number of items he’d amassed required a bit of housekeeping.

Then came study time.

Lucien dove into the MAGIC BOOK, using Perfect Calculation to digest spell structures and formulas with ease.

He made rapid progress, absorbing spells across a wide range of elements.

Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Ice, Lightning, Light, Dark, and... Eclipse.

He also took time to use the Spell Cards he got from the drops.

The system notified him.

[You learned Basic Dark Magic Spell: Curse]

[You learned Basic Light Magic Spell: Boost]

Lucien’s eyes lit up with mischief.

"Curse, huh..." he muttered. His lips curled into a dark grin. "Perfect. Now I can return the favor to the Coalhearts."

He chuckled to himself.

"You’re doomed... hihihi."

•••

A day had passed and Lucien began to notice the change in their surroundings.

They had flown over vast stretches of wilderness, passing countless monsters along the way.

Glancing down, Lucien spotted all kinds of beasts.

Horned, winged, scaled, etc.

The sheer variety stirred something primal in him.

He was even tempted to leap down and hunt them just for fun.

More flying monsters appeared as they neared the capital. Some were bold enough to come close but Lucien welcomed the encounters.

A few well-placed shots were all it took to send them plummeting.

Of course, they couldn’t stay in the sky indefinitely.

When the wyvern grew tired, they would descend to rest in secure areas.

Lucien, with Maxim’s approval, had finally named the creature Storm.

Storm would let out a fond growl whenever Lucien fed it loot from the drops. Despite its size and fearsome strength, the wyvern had taken a liking to him.

Once rested, they would take to the skies again.

Now, they were close.

Then Maxim pointed ahead. "We’re near, Nephew. You can see the walls from here."

Lucien followed his gaze... and froze.

There it was.

Massive.

Towering.

Unending.

The walls stretched as far as the eye could see. So wide they vanished into the horizon. The structure was like something out of myth, carved from stone and pride.

Lucien said nothing.

He was speechless.

Compared to this, the wall surrounding Lootwell felt like a child’s drawing.

He swallowed hard. His eyes glowed with awe.

’So this is the capital...’

Truly, there was something greater beyond the borders.

He felt humbled, almost insignificant... but not in a bad way.

It only fueled his hunger to grow stronger.

Lucien had no idea how big the capital really was but if the walls were any indication, it was beyond comprehension.

Maxim had once told him that even a year wouldn’t be enough to explore every corner of the capital. Even lifelong residents still lost their way at times.

Lucien stared ahead with wonder.

Maxim noticed his nephew’s silence then glanced over.

He chuckled.

Lucien was staring at the capital like a boy seeing the world for the first time.

And in many ways, he was.

Then Maxim told Lucien...

"We might get attacked if we fly too close to the gates," he warned. "We’ll come down and walk the rest of the way."

Lucien gave a faint nod, still gazing at the towering walls in awe.

Moments later, Maxim guided Storm into a descent. The wyvern responded with a low growl. Its wings folded as they glided smoothly toward the ground.

Maxim took the reins and dismounted first, landing with practiced ease. Lucien followed shortly after.

His boots touched down on the well-trodden path leading to the city.

Together, they began walking toward the gates.

It didn’t take long for the guards stationed there to notice their approach.

At first, they recognized the taller figure.

Maxim.

He was familiar and respected presence.

But then their eyes drifted to the one walking beside him.

Lucien.

The moment they saw him, their bodies stiffened.

They froze.

Then as if jolted by instinct, every guard straightened their posture and stood taller. They became more alert.

The aura rolling off Lucien was calm but commanding. It wasn’t something they could ignore.

It was the kind of presence they usually only felt from high-ranking nobles. Someone born and bred in power.

They didn’t recognize him but that didn’t matter.

None of them wanted to risk a mistake.

As Lucien and Maxim approached the gate, the guards offered polite smiles.

"Good day, Your Excellency and esteemed guest," one of them greeted. His voice was full of formality and enthusiasm.

Maxim responded with a nod and a cordial, "Good day."

Lucien said nothing, only returned the greeting with a subtle nod.

That alone made the guards gulp.

The pressure this unfamiliar young man radiated was unsettling.

They had no idea who he was but he felt important. The kind of person you didn’t question without good reason.

One of the guards cleared his throat and addressed Maxim directly.

"Your Excellency, welcome back to the capital. May I see your identification for record-keeping?"

"Of course," Maxim replied casually, reaching into his coat. He showed a silver medal engraved with the insignia of Silvermine.

The guard examined it briefly then jotted something down into a thick logbook.

A moment passed before another guard finally asked with his tone careful but curious.

"Forgive us, Your Excellency. We apologize for not recognizing your companion. If it’s not too bold... may we ask which nation he represents?"

Maxim let out a short laugh, amused.

’Even they were fooled by my nephew’s aura,’ he thought with pride.

Before he could answer, Lucien stepped forward.

"No need for apologies," he said with a faint smile. "I’m not anyone particularly important. Just a Baron from the borders."

He reached into his coat and held out a small item.

The Baron’s Seal of Lootwell.

The guards went silent.

They stared at it then at Lucien.

They didn’t believe it. How could they? A border baron radiating the kind of presence that made their skin crawl?

But the seal was real. Its mana traces was authentic. It was impossible to fake.

Still in disbelief, they looked at Maxim as if silently asking for confirmation.

Maxim simply nodded with a glint of intrigue in his eyes.

And the guards realized...

Whoever this "Baron" was, he was someone to remember.

Even after learning Lucien’s identity, the guards didn’t shift their behavior.

They remained polite.

Respectful.

Amicable.

But beneath their courteous smiles was a shared, unspoken truth. They didn’t dare belittle someone who gave off such a frightening aura.

"Thank you for your time," the lead guard said, stepping aside. "You’re both clear. Please proceed...the gates are open to you."

Lucien smiled faintly. "Thanks."

Then without any ceremony, he reached into his Spatial Bag and pulled out a few small cans.

Sleek. Silver. Unfamiliar.

"Here," he said, handing one to each of the guards. "You all look exhausted. Have a drink."

The guards blinked, clearly surprised by the gesture.

For a moment, they hesitated. They were unsure if it was proper to accept something from a noble.

But before they could refuse, Maxim spoke with a casual grin.

"Go on, take it. They’re like elixirs. You’d be missing out if you didn’t."

That sealed it.

The guards’ eyes lit up with curiosity and appreciation. They accepted the drinks. Though they tried to keep a formal air, the subtle excitement was obvious.

Lucien and Maxim exchanged a nod then stepped through the gates together.

Behind them, the guards watched quietly, still trying to make sense of the strange young Baron with the royal-like aura... and the mysterious drinks that looked nothing like any elixirs they knew.

But one thing was certain.

They wouldn’t be forgetting him anytime soon.

The guards stared at the unfamiliar can in their hands.

"Uh... how do we open this?" one of them asked, unsure.

A fizzing sound answered his question.

"Woah! It opened!" another guard exclaimed, holding up his can. "You just lift the little handle thing like this."

Then came a loud gulp.

"This is—! Wow!" he tried to speak but quickly went back for another sip. "Unbelievable..."

The others, now curious, followed suit.

Pshhhk!

Crack!

The sound of opening cans echoed one after another as they lifted the tabs.

"This is amazing! I feel something... like a rush in my body!"

"My fatigue’s gone! What is this sorcery?!"

"I’m saving some for my mother. She’ll love this!"

"And for my brother! He’s recovering from an injury. This will help!"

Their excitement turned to chatter, laughter and amazement as they drank. Their bodies buzzed with renewed energy.

Then... one voice cut through the noise.

"Wait a minute, everyone... didn’t the king tell us something?"

They all froze and looked toward the speaker.

His expression was serious now.

"The king told us... if someone arrives with a frightening aura... and acts unusually... we should report to him immediately."

A tense silence followed.

Everyone looked at each other, expressions shifting to contemplation.

Then, someone chuckled.

"No way. We must’ve misunderstood the esteemed guest earlier. He’s just a kind Baron, not scary at all. He even gave us elixirs! Honestly... I feel like I’m about to break through!"

"Right, right! Haha maybe someone else with the scary aura is coming," another laughed.

Everyone nodded in agreement and continued drinking while a few tucked away their cans carefully to share with loved ones.

Meanwhile, Lucien and Maxim had taken to the skies once more, riding the Wind Chariot over the sprawling capital.

Maxim glanced to the side and spoke over the wind. "It’ll take about an hour to reach our estate from here. Now you see why I said the capital was huge."

Lucien nodded quietly.

The capital was indeed vast. Formidable in both scale and strength.

Even the gate guards they had encountered earlier were Tier 6.

He used INSPECT on them earlier.

Many of them are skill-holders and some can use advanced magic.

Trained.

Disciplined...

And thankfully, courteous.

Lucien’s eyes wandered as they soared above the capital.

What he saw below left him speechless.

The architecture was refined.

Elegant stonework.

Gilded towers.

Flowing banners.

And streets laid out with precise order.

It wasn’t just a city... it was a symbol of power. Every district they passed revealed something new.

Marketplaces bustling with activity.

Grand halls brimming with nobles.

Magical transports gliding along elevated rails.

It felt like another world entirely.

Fast-paced.

Dynamic.

Alive.

Above them, others soared through the skies.

Some rode majestic tamed beasts. Others maneuvered through the air on flying devices that hummed with magical energy.

Lucien’s eyes gleamed with curiosity and awe. The view changed constantly.

New wonders unfolding with every minute.

Then, the Wind Chariot began to slow.

Maxim glanced at him. His his voice was calm though pride laced his words.

"We’re near, Nephew."