Gamer Reborn
Chapter 506

Chapter 506

Aranor Starfury P.O.V.

My dislike for the dwellings of humans and dwarves still hasn’t gone away. They both build far better homes than the beastkin but that is a low bar to clear considering they only make various sizes of tents. My former teacher always said I would get used to them eventually when we used them for shelter during the war but I never did.

“I need to talk to your father about having a proper tree transplanted here for us to have a proper embassy.” I complain to Arianwyn as she looks outside the carriage to take in Gryndor’s capital as we approach.

“You would trade away the secrets of our people for some comforts.” Emeris Leafsong attacks as soon as I finish my words.

The young boy is barely thirty years old and only reached level fifty, a talent compared to most people but still a step behind his competition. It was easy to notice the glares he tossed Elara any time he thought we wouldn’t notice. His family and hers had a rivalry going back all the way to the days when I was young.

“What secrets am I giving away?” I asked, already knowing the answer but looking to bait the boy. I know it was beneath me but his grandfather and I did not get along at all and if he insisted on keeping an antagonistic relationship throughout the journey I could allow myself a moment or two to retaliate every now and then.

“Only elves know how to properly grow and care for Mana infused trees.” Emeris rolled his eyes as he explained. “You would trade that knowledge to the humans who have the best chance to adapt it for a treehome every now and then.”

“That’s not exactly the case anymore.” Elara cut in, her voice sweet. “While it may take them time to reach a higher proficiency Gryndor already found out about how to grow basic Mana infused plants and trees during their delving trip.”

“Enough,” Arianwyn cut off the conversation before it could explode into an argument. “There is nothing that can be done to put that leaf back on the tree. And no father won’t allow a transplant like that to happen for at least a century based on the expenses it would take alone.”

She was right about that part, our kingdom was doing better financially than we had been a year ago but it was by no means good. It would take us a while to reach that point. Archduke Goldenleaf insisted that we should take advantage of the rush to dungeons that was taking place to ease our financial troubles but that would leave us a lot weaker than the other kingdoms in a few centuries when this current new generation reached the levels of elites and champions.

“Can’t be doing that bad considering how much you gouged us for a spot on this trip.” Leandra Deeproot chuckled.

Leandra was the only noble getting access to the dungeons on this trip that wasn’t part of a ducal House or the royal family. At fifty years old she was only level fifty, something considered quite poor for the standards of old noble lines.

House Deeproot however had one of the oldest lineages of all elven Houses. They never pushed for more and were always focused on their specialty of growing plants. They could grow anything: plants, trees, bushes, flowers, food. They then specialised in processing what they grew. Leandra herself was a monstrously gifted alchemist, her Skill already surpassing level one hundred and there were rumours of her having Rare and Epic skills to support it as well.

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The reason House Deeproot had such a long lineage was because they were always neutral in any rebelion. They never pushed for more and simply waited for the winner to be decided before they started trading at a loss to show fealty. Unlike all the other prodigies here Leandra would probably make this delving circuit every few decades as she rose in levels since she won’t be able to push too far above her level to clear any of the higher floors.

“Easy come, easy go.” Arianwyn's response hit everyone in attendance.

Ajax might not know it but the delving spree he started over all the kingdoms would do a lot for the Houses whose current generation was weak. They wouldn’t be investing the current sky high prices for early access to the dungeons since they people simply didn’t have the potential to match it. All the while the royal families would be pressured to spread the wealth they received from other kingdoms delving their dungeons. This would leave them with extra wealth to ensure the future generation, the ones raised with higher stats from his training method and had the time to fully develop and grow.

“You don’t seem all that interested in Gryndor’s capital.” Elara pointed out when Leandra just laid her head back and closed her eyes.

“That’s because I am not.” Leandra admitted, though she quickly raised a hand to stop the follow up scolding she knew was coming. “No need to worry, I know how to behave once we exit the carriage. This is as much a political mission as it is a delving trip.”

As the official booster for the trip I was going to be delving all of Gryndor’s dungeons with the group which is why we were all traveling together in one carriage. But alongside us a number of representatives from all over Sylvanthal had also joined us.

“Is there something you are looking forward to?” Emeris asked with a snarky tone. I wasn’t sure if his social skills are too low to mask it or if he was intentionally suppressing them.

“My family has a rather new long term agreement in place with Gryndor, I am looking forward to meeting that House.” Leandra said with a smile, ignoring the intent behind the question. “They seem to have made quite the impression on my aunt.”

“House Goldmancer’s young heir?” Arianwyn asked, I could see a small shiver run down her back that I’m sure everyone else missed. No doubt she was remembering Lady Goldmancer’s business acumen every time we saw her negotiate a deal. “Despite her age she shows promise to surpass even her father.”

I frown as I process the question. House Deeproot doesn’t make deals with foreign Archdukes, it would be considered too political for them. They would instead work with Archduke Goldleaf or the royal family to work as a go between.

“A deal with the Goldmancers.” Elara nodded in support towards Leandra. “Father says your family could rise quite easily if they wanted to.”

“It wasn’t with the Goldmancers.” Fealin Whisperwind finally joined the discussion. As part of Archduke Whisperwind’s family they were the most likely to be informed of any such ambitions. His words were aimed to reassure Emeris who paled a little at the thought that House Deeproot was growing ambitious since they currently didn’t have a good relationship with them.

“No, it was a rather new House, House Hearthbound.” Leandra clearly took pleasure in the shocked reactions from all the noble scions in the carriage. “The humans my aunt traded with were young and rather low level. The deal itself being more of a promise than anything else.”

“A promise of what?” I asked the question everyone was doubtlessly wanting to know the answer to.

“Of future cooperation.” Leandra said. “Despite clearly being merchants and a new House they seem sure of themselves to branch off into alchemy. The contract as it stands right now barely has us trading one thousand gold coins worth of merchandise over the next couple of years but it does leave openings for increased dealings.”

“You may find yourself returning with an amendment to that deal when we are done here.” Lord Whisperwind said. “I have it on good authority that House Hearthbound just gained a massive infusion of gold following a trip to the Empire.”

“Pulled straight out of their dungeon.” I draw a glare from Arianwyn as I reveal my own information on the subject. She was aware this was information I had gotten from her father who received it from Gryndor’s crown prince. “Wish I could have seen their faces when he showed off the treasure before walking away with most of it.”

It wasn’t ideal to share information like this but I knew I made the right move when Fealin didn’t show any reaction. The boy’s social Skills were good enough to block out any emotions from showing but he wasn’t yet adept enough to cover them with fake emotions. I’m not sure why he was looking to sour everyone else's impression of Ajax by making it seem like he had dealings with the Empire but I wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Oh, your agreement is going to change for sure.” Elara looked to push past the topic of where the gold came from. “Ajax is nothing if not an alchemy enthusiast. You might even get to develop some merchant Skills since you won’t be dealing with extremely high Skilled merchants.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle once more as I took in the look on Leandra’s face. She didn’t seem to be able to decide if she was happy about gaining new Skills and the increase in experience gain that would come with that, or if she was hoping she wouldn’t get them so that her family wouldn’t push her towards the business side of their operation.