"Me?" Arthur blinked his eyes with surprise. Gruen nodded, making Arthur stand up and walk toward the stage. "I'm not sure if I'm truly worthy, but I'll make sure to keep these artifacts in safe hands. Every city will be getting its share from them!"
His words were loud enough to be heard by everyone in the hall. The applause rang louder until the Knight of Nobility obstructed Arthur's way toward the stage.
"You were bidding for this item a few moments ago, and you get ten now! The runemaster's gift to the people is appreciated, but I feel like it's a bit unfair toward the duke. As the Kingdom is already indebted toward him, I think granting him the rights for safekeeping is better than giving it to an outsider."
"You talk a lot, but I fear that your intentions are flawed." Gala stood up and walked toward the Knight. "The Seika is the best person to hold these artifacts because he goes by another name. I'm sure that everyone here is aware?"
"Hm? What name is that?"
Some of the merchants and nobles from other kingdoms were confused, as the rumors didn't spread that far yet. However, for the people of Freda, they knew of Seika's Saga, although a lot of them considered him to be Lorius.
"The Gardener!"
"That's true! This reason is why his Majesty invited him! No better person could safe keep the artifacts!"
"As you heard, Knight of Nobility, our Seika is the best person who can handle the artifacts. Who knows, maybe they'll grow stronger under his care?"
"That's nonsense!" The Knight glanced at Gala but didn't look at her directly. As he was about to speak, Arthur whispered to him something.
"If you want to get beaten in front of these people, try insulting her."
He made sure that no one heard his voice other than the Knight of Nobility by using mana. Arthur knew that he was about to bring up the same disgust he showed back in the cell, so he made sure to warn him.
"I..." The Knight of Nobility paused and didn't dare continue. He coughed and changed the topic. "It's still a form of fraud. If Hidden Gems still wishes to proceed with this, I think the duke would need to enforce some punishment as the Lord."
All eyes turned toward the duke, whose face has recovered. His signature smile returned as he walked confidently toward the stage.
"It's indeed a form of manipulation, as the value of the artifact also depends on its rarity. If you intend to go on with, I will remove Hidden Gems from Contracts City!"
His words caused ripples among the crowd. Being removed from the trading hub of Freda was a death sentence to a new business. This city enjoyed a statue among the kingdoms of being the center of attention.
The attention turned toward Gruen, who was standing on the stage. Arthur also wanted to see how Gruen would act now that his chance has arrived.
The dwarf straightened his back with a calm expression. Arthur marveled at his level-headed attitude facing the man who denied him his love and humiliated him.
"I think you don't remember me," Gruen said with a smile. "You summoned me to your mansion a few months ago. It was for my meetings with your daughter and gifting her jewelry, as well as admitting my love."
"Oh damn, he's doing it." Gala fidgeted beside Arthur, who smiled as he looked at the young dwarf.
"What is going on? Manager Gruen had a falling with the duke?" The crowd was confused. The duke's eyes held a hint of recognition and killing intent.
"Yes, exactly that face." Gruen laughed. "You wanted to have me hanged, framing me for theft and fraud, the same thing you're trying to do now. However, Lady Aimee pleaded otherwise, and I got to live until now."
"What is your point, dwarf?" The Knight of Nobility said with a frown.
"It's Manager Gruen." Gruen corrected with a glance. "You've looked down on me, Duke of Contracts City. The reason being my nonexistent wealth, disdain, and your pride as the Lord of Contracts, the wealthiest city in Freda!"
'He's having his moment.' Arthur inwardly snickered, feeling a bit proud of Gruen.
"That's why I'm going to take that away from you." Gruen continued with a smile, his sharp features twisting into a smirk. "Hidden Gems will move to Livia starting today. The artifacts sold here will be half the price over there. I invite everyone to visit and look forward to our next step."
"Next step?" The Knight of Nobility squinted his eyes while the duke was shaking with rage.
"We have already begun preparations. All that we need now is his Majesty's approval to proceed. The next step will be the tenth city of Freda and the new trading hub: Hidden City."
The announcement pulled everyone's hearts until they reached their throats, making them unable to produce a single word.
"We will share half of the city's earnings with the Kingdom to improve the living condition of the citizens. A lot of money will be needed to start," Gruen walked toward the box of gold and picked up a coin. "Thank you for your donation." He grinned at the duke.
***
There was nothing that the duke or the Knight of Nobility do anymore. The auction hall was almost torn apart by the applause and cheering the guests did.
The chaos spread toward the people outside, and the whole city knew what was going on. The news of the tenth city of Freda, Hidden City, shook everyone down to their cores.
It was insane.
No one can construct a city on a whim or overnight. They were the cumulative efforts of several generations and thousands of people.
Now, a new shop declared that they were going to create such a place, solely supplied by a single runemaster, Ghost. After a few minutes of the announcement, flyers descended from the sky.
They were an invitation to every capable person to move to Hidden City after it gets built. The first ten people from each profession will get privileges that made Contracts City look like a scam.
The news didn't stop at Contracts City but spread like wildfire toward every corner of the Kingdom in a single day. During that single day, the person who thought of such an idea was sitting leisurely with his companions.
"Where, exactly, do you plan on getting so many gold coins from?" Gala asked with amusement. They were sitting in an inn together with Gruen. Manager Gruen asked to join the 'Seika' on his travels in front of everyone, giving them the perfect reason to meet.
"Do you want to steal the Royal Vault?" Arthur asked, and the two flinched. "I'm kidding!" Arthur laughed. "We'll find a way, but it was so satisfying."
"Seeing the duke run away?" Gala snickered. "Well, what else could he do after Gruen's announcement of dethroning him from Lordship?"
"I thought he would attack me," Gruen said with a relieved expression.
"Not in public, and not after declaring that you will share half of the earnings with the Kingdom. The King would have turned against the duke if he did anything to you." Gala explained.
"Maybe attack you in an ambush," Arthur added. Gruen shivered, but Arthur simply laughed. "Don't worry. Since you'll be traveling with me, I'll protect you. However, what about your love?"
"I've sent her a letter to run away with me so that we can build the new city together," Gruen said with a smile. "If she wants to accompany us, she'll be coming to Hidden Gems before we depart."
"Make sure that she disguises herself well." Arthur smiled as he leaned back.
"You seem to trust the daughter of the duke. Why so?" Gala asked with suspicion. "You didn't trust me until we've spent so much time together, but you didn't even meet this one." She pouted.
"Hm, just a hunch." Arthur smiled, but that was a lie. He tested her before, as soon as he arrived at the mansion.
The Knight of Courage was sleeping on his shoulder when the duke's daughter walked into the library. She begged him to hide Gruen from her father or release him at least so that he wouldn't be harmed.
Arthur was suspicious that she was this caring about him, so he used his art to test her. She was also foolishly in love. That's why he was sure that by tomorrow, a princess would slip from the duke's mansion to run away with the love of her life.
"How did you manage to make her love you, Gruen?" Arthur was curious, as everything about them was different.
"Oh, I simply confessed straight on," Gruen said with pride. Gala grinned and turned toward Arthur.
"It's better if you learn from him, Seika. Otherwise, you'll die alone!" She said, trying to create new drama to enjoy.
"I don't mind," Arthur said and closed his eyes.
