100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?
Chapter 82 - Echoing Laughter

Chapter 82: Chapter 82 - Echoing Laughter

"Get behind me, Nephew. I’ll protect you," Edric said swiftly, stepping in front of Lucien on instinct.

But Lucien simply nudged him on the side without saying a word.

Edric paused. That small gesture told him enough.

Lucien was planning something.

And then the golden drakes drew near.

Lucien’s eyes sharpened. Without a word, he condensed his Sovereign Aura.

He directed it straight at the incoming beasts.

Instantly, the drakes faltered.

They screeched in alarm.

Their movements became erratic.

Panic surged through them as if they were struck by an invisible force.

Their claws skidded against the ground, disrupting the rhythm of the carriage. The coachman struggled to regain control but the drakes were no longer listening.

"What?!" Dorian shouted in disbelief.

These were their prized Tier 6 tamed monsters.

Well-trained.

Obedient.

Proud.

Yet now, they were completely out of control.

The coachman was finally thrown from his seat, crashing to the ground.

The reins slipped from his hands.

The carriage lurched violently then collapsed under the chaos.

And just like that...

The drakes were free.

The beasts looked around wildly, their instincts untethered. The sheer pressure of their presence sent a wave of fear through the gathered crowd.

Nearby noblewomen screamed in terror. Even some noblemen stumbled and fell back in panic. Guards rushed forward, drawing their weapons.

The tension in the air thickened.

But Lucien didn’t flinch.

The drakes locked eyes with Lucien.

Then... they charged.

Seeing this, Dorian smirked triumphantly.

"Edric, it looks like you’ve stirred up our drakes. You’re doomed! Hahaha!"

Edric tensed, ready to step in the moment danger struck.

But as the drakes neared Lucien, something unexpected happened.

They slowed.

Dorian’s smug grin faltered.

The massive beasts came to a halt in front of Lucien. Their intense gaze lingered on him.

Then... without warning, they lowered their heads...

And sat.

No... The knelt.

The wild, aggressive monsters were bowing before him.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Every onlooker fell silent. Even the guards froze, unable to process what they were seeing.

The beasts that were aggressive moments ago now looked completely tame.

Almost... adorable.

Edric stood frozen in disbelief.

He slowly turned toward Dorian.

The man’s jaw hung slack. His face was a perfect portrait of shock and confusion.

He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.

Suddenly... a mischievous idea sparked in Lucien’s mind.

The drakes were large.

In fact, most of the onlookers couldn’t see exactly who they were kneeling to.

And Lucien was more than happy to take advantage of that.

He turned to Edric with his eyes gleaming then instantly shifted into character.

Lucien was now playing the part of an innocent, wide-eyed boy full of admiration.

"WOW, Uncle Ed! LOOK!" he shouted. He made his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "I didn’t know your family was so amazing that even the Golddust drakes kneel to you! They’re so cute!"

Gasps and giggles rippled through the crowd.

Dorian’s face twisted with rage.

Edric was caught off guard. He blinked in confusion but only for a second.

Then he grinned wide and burst into laughter as he caught on Lucien’s act.

"Gahaha! Of course!" he bellowed. "Like they say. Animals recognize greatness! If they kneel to us, it just proves they know who the superiors are! GHAHAHAHA!"

His booming laugh echoed down the street.

The crowd erupted.

Some chuckled.

Others whispered excitedly.

Noble ladies clutched their fans, delighted by the unexpected drama. They were already spinning this bizarre event into their next round of gossip.

And just like that, Lucien had flipped the entire scene on its head.

Dorian’s eyes swept across the crowd. His expression darkened.

Then with clenched fists, he marched toward the drakes.

He needed to reassert control. To discipline them. Harshly, if needed.

Meanwhile, Lucien’s eyes briefly flicked toward the shadows. The assassins were retreating.

Their mission was complete and with the crowd’s attention fixed on the scene, they slipped away unnoticed.

Dorian stopped just short of the kneeling drakes, his glare burning with fury.

"You two," he said sharply. "Come now. Or I’ll beat you again when we get home."

At his words, the drakes raised their heads and gave a sharp, angry cry.

Then... they pressed themselves even closer to Lucien, curling around him protectively.

Their demeanor softened, acting almost playful and affectionate... like loyal pets refusing to leave their favorite person.

The message was clear.

They didn’t want to go with Dorian.

Dorian’s jaw clenched. His eyes slowly shifted to Lucien.

"Boy," he growled, "step aside."

There was a flicker of realization in his gaze now. Lucien wasn’t ordinary.

That presence...

That quiet confidence...

There was power behind it.

Still, Dorian saw him as an obstacle. And an enemy... by association with Edric.

"Step aside or else," he warned coldly. "You’ll get caught up in me punishing my mount."

Lucien met his gaze directly.

Unflinching.

He said nothing but his aura answered for him.

Lucien condensed it and released a controlled wave targeting Dorian alone.

The effect was immediate.

Dorian stiffened, caught off guard. He faltered, taking half a step back.

But he quickly recovered. His face hardened as he wrapped himself in a thick layer of mana.

Power surged around him and the air hummed with tension.

Dorian’s expression turned cold and murderous.

His eyes locked onto Lucien with fierce intent.

’This boy... must not be allowed to live.’

Mana surged to his hands, swirling with lethal energy. He began to weave a spell.

His voice was low but dangerous.

"I warned you."

He raised his hand toward Lucien.

Ready to strike.

But before he could release it—

A powerful gust tore through the space between them.

A sharp, howling wind exploded outward, stopping Dorian in his tracks. The air itself bent under the weight of the pressure.

Edric stepped forward.

His cloak whipping behind him as the wind curled around him.

Condensed.

Sharp.

Deadly.

His voice was calm but it carried like thunder.

"I’m warning you too, Dorian. If even a single hair on my nephew’s head is harmed..."

His gaze sharpened into a blade.

"...your head will fly... On the spot."

The pressure from Edric’s Wind Aura crashed into Dorian like a mountain.

The air grew heavy. Even the crowd felt the intensity.

Dorian’s body stiffened. His mana flared defensively but it was already too late.

"Tier... Tier 8?!" he gasped with his eyes wide with disbelief.

He stepped back instinctively, shaken.

"No... that can’t be," he muttered under his breath.

But Edric heard him.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You assumed Tier 7 was my ceiling?" Edric said. His voice was laced with amusement. "That’s your limitation. Not mine."

Dorian’s face darkened. His jaw was tight with restrained fury.

He stepped aside without another word.

He didn’t stay.

Without sparing Lucien another glance, he turned and began to walk away.

On his way out, he muttered something to the coachman still sprawled on the ground.

Whatever it was, it drained the color from the man’s face.

Then just before leaving, Dorian cast one final glance at Edric and Lucien.

His eyes burned fiercer than before.

There was no more arrogance in them.

Only cold calculation.

And with that, Dorian vanished into the crowd.

’So... he backed off without a fight,’ Lucien mused quietly. ’Looks like the Golddust family isn’t just about arrogance after all. Some of them know how to pick their battles. They know when to retreat.’

Then—

Edric threw his head back and laughed.

A loud, roaring laugh that echoed across the square.

The tension. Like a snapped string... unraveled all at once. The stifling atmosphere dissolved in a wave of relief.

Cheers erupted across the square.

Those who had watched the standoff broke into applause. Some even whistled. The tension had turned into celebration.

A few nobles who recognized Edric stepped forward. Their expressions were filled with awe and respect.

"Congratulations, Lord Edric!"

"A Tier 8... how impressive!"

They took turns shaking his hand.

Clapping him on the back.

And exchanging pleasantries.

Edric who was still chuckling from earlier, welcomed them with open arms.

Meanwhile, their eyes gradually shifted to the boy with him.

Lucien.

He was now casually riding one of the drakes as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The drake didn’t protest. In fact, it looked almost pleased.

To the common onlooker, it was simply amusing.

But to those who understood the nature of drakes... prideful beasts with dragon blood... it was astonishing.

Drakes didn’t submit easily.

Let alone let someone ride them.

Let alone a child.

A few of the more observant nobles narrowed their eyes. They knew. It wasn’t Edric’s presence that had tamed the drakes.

It was Lucien.

They didn’t say it aloud but they watched carefully.

Others, curious, began to ask questions.

"Who is that boy?"

"A relative of yours, Lord Edric?"

Edric smiled proudly and responded without hesitation.

"He’s an esteemed guest of my family. We’re as close as blood. I treat him like my own nephew."

Interest in Lucien immediately spiked.

The nobles exchanged intrigued glances.

Some nodded in approval.

A few were already thinking about connections, alliances... and opportunities.

A small group started moving toward Lucien but were quickly stopped in their tracks.

One of the drakes let out a low growl and stretched out a claw protectively, blocking their path.

They froze.

No one dared push further.

Finally, one older nobleman stepped forward slowly and bowed politely.

He addressed Lucien with a respectful smile.

"Young man," he said with a warm smile, "what you did earlier... it was truly impressive."

He reached into his robes and...

"Please accept this as a gesture of goodwill. My family runs a tea shop around here in the market. Show this and you’ll be served anything you want. Free of charge."

He handed Lucien something small and metallic.

Lucien glanced at it...

...and almost choked.

It was another medal.

Lucien glanced at Edric before accepting the medal.

Edric gave a subtle nod.

With that, Lucien smiled and took it politely.

"Wow... another one for the collection," he said. His tone was light and innocent. Like a boy collecting toys.

Then with a casual flick of his wrist, Lucien summoned several medals from his INVENTORY... letting them hover briefly in the air like gleaming trophies.

Gasps rippled through the onlookers.

The emblems were unmistakable.

Each one bore the sigil of a powerful noble family.

Formidable ones.

Prestigious ones.

The nobles who had been hesitating suddenly straightened their backs. Their gazes shifted.

Lucien wasn’t just some child close to the Silvermine family. He was someone already connected to the upper circles.

One by one, they began to approach him.

Even as he remained seated atop the drake, more nobles came forward.

Smiling politely.

Each offering him their own family medals.

Tokens of goodwill... but also investments.

In their eyes, Lucien was a rising node of influence. A bridge to multiple powerful houses. Gaining his favor now could open many doors later.

Lucien accepted them all with a faint smile.

’The more, the merrier,’ he mused, watching the growing pile in his hand.

He was starting to enjoy actually collecting medals.

The medals he got now weren’t just shiny decorations.

They were practical. Each one gave him privileges.

Free food.

Access to exclusive shops.

Favors waiting to be claimed.

’Sis would love this,’ he thought. ’I should take her to the noble market sometime. We’ll eat for free everywhere.’

After some time, he and the nobles exchanged casual greetings and pleasantries. The air was now light and buzzing with social energy.

Edric stood at a distance with his arms crossed. He watched with an amused smile.

’Even without the Silvermine name... this kid would thrive in the capital,’ he thought.

Lucien turned to Edric with a grin forming on his lips.

"Uncle Ed, should we head to the Commoner’s District market area? I think I can find something I want there."

There was a glint in his eyes. One that hinted at another plan brewing in that clever mind of his.

Edric raised a brow then smirked. "Of course, Nephew. Let’s go. Oh—wait a moment. If we ride the drakes, we’ll get there much faster."

He looked at the massive beasts with amusement.

"Would you kindly ask them if I can ride, too?"

Lucien’s grin widened. ’That was the plan all along.’

He turned to the drakes and gave them a playful command.

"You two don’t mind if Uncle Ed hops on, right? He’s a friend."

The drakes let out a soft growl... almost like a purr... and lowered themselves to the ground, inviting Edric up.

Edric hesitated for a moment, eyeing the creatures warily. "It’s been a while since I rode a monster..."

But with Lucien already on, laughing like a carefree boy, Edric gave in and mounted the second drake.

The moment they were both secure, the drakes launched into motion.

They shot forward... blazing through the streets like golden bolts of lightning.

Wind roared past them.

Buildings and people became a blur.

It was far faster than any carriage... especially since they weren’t weighed down by one anymore.

Within moments, the bustling noble market was far behind them.

They were already nearing the edges of the district. They are headed straight for the Commoner’s District.

Lucien’s cloak flapped behind him as he held on, eyes sparkling.

As they sped through the sky, Lucien shouted.

"Uncle Ed! Uncle Ed!"

Edric turned his head but with the wind howling around them, he couldn’t make out a word.

With a flick of his hand, Edric conjured a small wind barrier around them, isolating their voices from the rushing air.

"Say that again?" Edric asked.

Lucien grinned, "I said... I’m treating you to anything you want in the Commoner’s District market. So don’t hold back!"

Edric frowned. "Nephew, I haven’t even treated you yet. How is it your turn already?"

Lucien chuckled. "Well... technically, someone else is paying... so don’t hold back at all."

Edric blinked. "Huh?"

Lucien reached into his INVENTORY and pulled out a gleaming golden seal.

He held it up for Edric to see. "Look at this."

The moment Edric’s eyes landed on it, his face froze.

Then... he choked, nearly falling off the drake.

"What the—!" he spluttered.

It was unmistakable.

The Golddust Family Seal.

Edric stared at it, slack-jawed. Then suddenly... he burst out laughing.

"GHAHAHAHAHA!"

His thunderous laughter echoed across the sky, startling a few birds in their path.

He laughed so hard tears gathered at the corners of his eyes. It was like he’d gone back to his rowdy youth.

"Nephew! I—HAHAHAHA—I haven’t laughed this hard in years! I don’t even want to know how you got that but it’s... BY THE STARS, IT’S PERFECT!"

Lucien was also chuckling.

"He showed it to someone shady back then. I figured it might be useful, so... I borrowed it."

It was what Dorian had shown to the assassin. It was meant to prove his identity and authority for the covert transaction.

Edric wiped a tear and gasped for breath.

"Borrowed, he says! Gahaha! Let’s use it. Let’s go on a grand buying spree and bury Golddust in mountains of unpaid bills!"

Lucien’s grin turned even more devilish.

"Exactly my thought. But first... let’s change appearances. Can’t risk being recognized."

Edric straightened up and cracked his knuckles.

"Disguises then mayhem. Let’s make this outing legendary."

The two cackled like criminals on the run... soaring through the sky, leaving behind a trail of wind and plans for delightful chaos.