Herald of Steel

Vidiyan and Arrya talked for a good while, revealing a set of information in their native tongue that Alexander really did not understand.

Fortunately, the pirate captain would fill him in on the details after concluding the meeting, grinning that he got to know the girl's family name, the place where she lived, how to meet with her parents as well as the things he might say to prove that she was really with them… such as a unique experience and personal item.

Arrya's full name was apparently Arrya Herzberz, and her family ruled a territory to the extreme north of the country, bordering the steep barbarians.

This territory was also called Herzberz, named after her family, and the city she grew up in was named Herzberg, with just one letter changed.

It seemed this family was really short on creativity.

But hey you also had multiple Georges, Johns, and Philips in the real timeline, so this was hardly surprising.

As Alexander thought about this, the description of the place also quickly made him compare the territory to Pasha Farzah's Matrak, given they were placed along the same longitude.

In fact, now that he thought about it, he soon began to see Arrya sharing similar characteristics with Mikaya- both were extremely pretty with similar facial features, they had fair, blemishless skin so pale that it was almost pink and possessed exotic hair found little elsewhere.

The basic nature of genetics, a similar climate, and similar interbreeding between the barbarians taken as slaves seemed to have produced similar bodily features even when the groups were thousands of miles apart.

As for her personal story from childhood, it was just about a rare, exotic puppy she had been gifted which had shortly died due to an illness, and Arrya chose to give away one of her earrings as a personal item… although she did not appear at all happy with the exchange.

In fact, Alexander had to promise he would make her another one exactly like this just to make her part with one. The other one was still kept as a sample for the jeweller.

While Vidiyan grinned from ear to ear upon receiving the precious item, seeming to be in an extremely good mood.

The reason for this soon became apparent as he chuckled,

"Hahaha, also my lord, it seems now I will no longer need to go meet the Iyizardian king. According to my lady, the capital of the country- Koninberz is one month on foot south of her city. That is a full 1,000 km at least. So…."

"No, you will go to the royal court."

Vidiyan's ecstasy at the thought of not having to meet the cruel royal family and put his life on the line was however brutally crushed by Alexander even before it could get its wing off the ground.

Then, as the man made a face that appeared to just swallowed a fly, crumpled and twisted, Alexander fearlessly lowered his eyes and coldly reiterated,

"I want you to go there and establish preliminary contact with the Iyizardians first. Then you can travel north to Herzberz and meet with her parents."

"But… but… my lord," For the first time since their conversation, the pirate captain found the guts to talk back, forcefully producing a smile had seemed very cramped and twisted,

"Would it not be faster to just go to Lady Arrya's city first. Then…on my way back… I can… surely that would be better…. first finding Lady Arrya's…."

The pirate captain had never felt so nervous in his life and the stuttering and jittering the man produced quickly gave Alexander the clues to what he was thinking.

Clearly, this pirate was afraid to enter those exalted royal halls and now that he had found a good excuse, he desperately wanted to use it.

But Alexander had other plans and so decided to cut through all the talk with an imperious flash of his palms,

"Captain Vidiyan, I think you are misunderstanding some things here. Why do you think I am spending so much money and effort to send you there? Out of the goodness of my heart?"

"....." The cold words stunned the man into silence, letting him turn his gaze up with a sort of confused look.

'Is that not so? Because you are smitten by her?' The pirate captain mused to himself with some incredulity.

Given that Alexander had openly claimed how beautiful Arrya was and how he had 'enjoyed' the gift, it was also quite reasonable for Vidiyan to think like this.

And he certainly would never believe the girl was still a virgin even if he was beaten to death.

Thankfully though, Vidiyan had the presence of mind and great luck to keep his mouth shut and just listen.

While Alexander continued with a gentle shake of his head,

"You are sorely mistaken if you think I want to give Arrya back to her parents out of the goodness of my heart. That is only an excuse. What I really want is for you to meet with the king using this as a pretext and then try and open up the country to some of my products."

"Business! That is my true goal here for sending you there!"

"Otherwise why would I bother spending so much on a mere slave? Just because she is a bit pretty? Snort, as if! When did the Pasha of Zanzan start lacking beautiful women?"

Producing this disdainful sneer, Alexander finished aggressively with the ask, "So now do you understand what I am saying, Vidiyan?"

"....." While hearing this, Vidiyan slightly paused here with a blank look, trying to calm the surprise in his heart.

He found that his initial assumption regarding this whole thing was all wrong. The pirate captain originally thought the pasha was just trying to pamper his new mistress.

As a young man working formerly as a mercenary, Vidiyan even thought it was only natural for Alexander to fall into such a trap of indulgence.

Vidiyan himself had a similar phase.

After becoming part of the senior crew and gaining quite a bit of coin to spare, the man had indulged greatly in this vice, giving his body to many women, both in the red light establishments as well as during the plunder.

He even gave his heart to one, although they were not meant to be. That woman had sadly taken the 'blinded by love' man for all he was worth and then ran away from her brothel.

Yet despite the betrayal Vidiyan did not feel bitter about the women and even fondly remembered the times they had together. It seemed the man was somewhat a romantic in heart and his love for his muse exceeded his hatred.

This was also why he did not judge Alexander for this.

As a self made pasha, the pirate thought the man deserved the privilege to splurge on the women he liked.

Yet.. now, he was finding that he was totally wrong about the entire thing.

The cold and ruthless way Alexander revealed the entire thing even made the pirate captain's heart palpate a bit.

He was originally of the impression that Alexander was a very gentle lord with great moral values. A part of him even somewhat disdained him for his naivety, such as the surprise over the use of pirates to hurt a rival's trade.

Hence the pirate captain thought due to his age, Alexander was somewhat green in the world of politics and was of the mind that he only got his position mostly through military victories.

However now, Vidiyan found evaluating that assessment, as a look of realization surfaced in his eyes.

He swiftly replied,

"So that is how it is. Indeed, a great noble thinks nothing like us mere commoners, hehehe. I understand my lord. Rest assured, I will try my utmost to get the best trading privileges possible for you."

Making this gallant announcement with a subtle thump on his chest, Vidiyan however then suddenly slightly turned his voice reticent, adding,

"However…Lord Pasha… what about Lady Arrya? What do I say when I meet the king? Because if they learn you have taken her as slave… Iyizardians hate those you buy them as captives."

The weird statement drew a small frown from the lord himself,

"What do you mean? Don't they have slaves of their own?"

This was Alexander's first time hearing such a bizarre custom. Especially as slavery in this age was as much a fact of life as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

So to object to it…

"Of course they do. They just do not like having one of their own taken as slaves. They in fact absolutely detest it. So I fear…. I fear they might harm me learning of this… just to retaliate against you."

Vidiyan said this with quite a few pauses and reluctant frowns, clearly apprehensive about his journey there.

While Alexander, facing such constant obstacles, suddenly seemed to become visibly irritated and so with a small wave of his hand, spat,

"Then if you are so afraid, send someone else. Surely there are a few you can trust among your 10,000 men, right? Let him and I will reward them accordingly."

"....." The peeved reply instantly sent the room into a frozen silence.

Let us say no to piracy! Don't take part in a crime! Don't patronize thieves!

Please come Here!

=>Link to the original /book/herald-of-steel_24388579605084705