RE - Ascension

After the battle against the bandits, Both Gareth and Marco has become acquaintances with each other.

Marco was truly grateful to Gareth and his companions for their efforts in rescuing the caravan. Marco had even tried giving each of his saviors a hefty reward as a gratitude. However, Gareth refused it because he and his team were just coincidentally nearby when the battle was happening.

To be honest, Gareth had no interest in the reward, so does the other member of his team. Let just say, they saved the caravan only to acc.u.mulate good karma.

Although Gareth had refused the reward, he had accepted Marco's invitation to travel together as both of them have the same destination. Thus, the team have been travelling along with the caravan since then.

Currently, within Marco's luxurious carriage, Gareth is in the middle of enjoying Marco's hospitality. However, only he and Marco presents within the carriage. Marco's family is inside another carriage, while Diandra, Heinz, Zeke and Arda are outside doing god knows what.

"So, you want to make a trip to the Beastman countries?" Gareth inquired Marco about his plan with great curiosity.

"Indeed I am, Sir Gareth... I've been planning it for almost a year now. I've done that a few times in the past and always make a killing when I came back to Genosia. There are lots of rare and valuable goods or stuffs that you can only found there, you know..." Marco replied enthusiastically.

Initially, Marco did not dare to be impolite to Gareth, thus he spoke in a very formal and polite manner. But after they both have interacted for some time. Marco found that Gareth is someone who didn't put any air of superiority even though he's a powerful warrior. He also did not mock or looking down on Marco at all. Extremely warm and approachable.

That's why Marco is happy having a conversation with Gareth.

"I thought humans are not allowed to enter the Beastman countries because of the friction between the two races. How come you could enter their countries then?" Gareth asked further as he was confused.

According to Siri's intelligence regarding the eastern continent, due to the bad relationship between humans and the Beastman, humans were not allowed to enter any kingdoms ruled by the Beastman.

"Hehe... As you must know, Sir. I'm one of the few human merchants that have gained the Beastman's trust. That's why I have the permission to enter any of their countries as much as I like to. Besides, humans also living inside those countries as well, but their population is really small, I even knew few of them personally... Those people received fair treatments, and they didn't suffer any discrimination from the Beastman at all. But it's true, though, the Beastman did prohibited humans from outside their countries to enter." Marco answered with a proud expression.

"I see..." Gareth nodded as he understood.

"Well... Many humans, unfortunately, did have racist views towards the Beastman. That's why the Beastman only gave the permission to the people who didn't have those kind of view in their mind as well as the people who had gained their trust... And apparently, I'm one of those people." Marco finished his explanation.

Gareth hold his chin as he pondered, 'It looks like the Beastman is much more enlightened than the humans of this continent.'

Seeing that Marco had a Bearman as his most trusted subordinate, and the fact that most of his personal guards are also members of the Beastman race. It's obvious that Marco did not hold any racist view at all.

Gareth think this fat man in front of him is a very remarkable person.

"You'll travel there with a ship, isn't?" Gareth asked again.

He was really curious about Marco's business. He didn't have any bad ideas about it, though. Gareth simply found it interesting, that's all.

"Yes... It is the only way. Going through the land route is too much of a hassle. It's long, dangerous, and tiring too. There's no way I'm going to the Beastman countries through all that... Nope!" Said Marco decisively.

The territory controlled by the Beastman race is located in the eastern coastline of Eastern Profound Continent. It is extremely far from Lampero Coast. Thus, it was not surprising for Marco to choose travelling via the sea as it would be faster and less dangerous than the land route.

"If it's like that Baron Bonucci, I wish you a good luck then. I hope your journey will be safe and successful." Gareth gave his blessings, while he also raised a cup full of wine with his hand.

Marco was a noble, and during their introduction, his nobility title was revealed to Gareth. However, the person himself is more proud of his profession as a merchant rather than his status as a noble.

Seeing that Gareth has offered him a toast, Marco did not waste any more time. He grabbed his own cup and raised it too.

"Thank you very much, Sir Gareth. I hope the same thing happens to you as well." Said Marco as he is letting out a huge smile.

"To our journey!"

Both of them toasted each other's cup before drinking the wine.

*Gulp*

"This wine is not bad at all..." Gareth praised the wine he just drank.

"Haha... I got it from a friend who lived in Eternal Fragrance. Gotta give the credits to the people there for producing this good wine." Said Marco with a slightly red face. It seems he's weak against alcohol.

Suddenly, Marco remembers something and asks, "By the way, Sir Gareth... I've just realized that I still did not know your ultimate destination. Can I know about it? It's fair for me to know right... Since I've told you about mine earlier."

"Well... Actually, my team is on our way to Eternal Fragrance. We'll be resting in Genoa only for a day most likely, before we have to resume the trip..." Gareth replied honestly about his journey.

He see no reason not to tell, since being paranoid to anyone else is definitely not a good attitude. Besides, Gareth feels that Marco is someone who can be trusted.

Hearing that, Marco squinted his eyes as he stared at Gareth silently.

But it doesn't take a long time before he opened his mouth again, "I'm sorry if I do seem rather intrusive, Sir. But do you also wanted to come to Eternal Fragrance because of the ruin that has been found there recently?"

Gareth's eyes widened as he was surprised that Marco had correctly discerned his real intention.

"I do, indeed." He replied shortly.

"Hah! I knew it... That ruin has become a hot potato ever since its discovery. It has even attracted someone such as yourself, Sir... Haha." Said Marco while he loudly laughed.

Gareth merely shrugged his shoulder in response, then he spoke, "Baron, you seem to know a lot about the ruin..."

"I've only heard some rumours and few legit news... To be honest, I do not have any interest on the ruin itself, but as a merchant, sometimes, you still need to paid attention to these kinds of news and rumours, especially the one which could shock an entire region and the neighbouring lands." Marco spoke seriously.

"Tell me the information you have, then... As you probably had known, I'm not a Lampero's native, and I've just arrived in this region not too long ago, so my knowledge regarding the ruin is limited, especially the recent one." Said Gareth as he tries digging the information about the ruin from Marco.

Even though Marco did not know precisely where Gareth originating from, he somehow already feels that Gareth is not a native from Lampero. In this region, powerful cultivators could be easily recognized since all of them are famous, but Marco did not remember any local cultivators that matched their profile to Gareth and his companions.

Thus, Marco had assumed Gareth is someone that came from abroad.

Marco start to tell the information that he knew of, "The ruin was discovered just a few kilometers away from Eternal Fragrance' northern border, but I'm sure you already knew this, right?"

Gareth nodded.

Then, Marco resumed his explanation, "Eternal Fragrance had shut any access to the ruin since a few months ago, and this action has angered many cultivators that came specifically for the ruin... To tell you the truth, Sir. The entire fiasco has become a mess, literally."

"How come? Did the ruin is really special or something?" Gareth asked.

Marco sighed before he continues, "Well, although things like ruins or vestiges is rare and scarce, their discovery still happens sometimes. However, those ruins mostly only ordinary ruins that was left behind by minor powers or lesser cultivators from the past, it does not attract much of attention or causing any uproars at all. But this particular ruin is different because..." Marco lowered his voice, "According to one of the rumours, it was the ruin of an ancient Martial Sage..."

After he had heard that, Gareth began wondering, 'It looks like my conjecture is correct, that ruin must be Sage Galhart's vestige. Rumors could not happen without reason.'

He replies, "No wonder it could attract many cultivators... There should be lots of valuable and precious stuffs stored within the ruin, it was left behind by a Martial Sage after all."

"That's right... Even though it's basically just a rumor, but that rumor has drives many people crazy. I've been told that cultivators from Delian Empire has arrived in this region for the purpose of entering the ruin as well... You know what their arrival means right, sir?"

"Of course..." Said Gareth.

That means the whole situation will become even more complicated.

Delian Empire is one of the powerhouses in this eastern continent, and the empire is located within a region called Mandala.

Mandala region is the continent's center of power. Many powerful empires, organizations, sects and orders have made the region as their home or headquarters. In terms of strength and prosperity, Mandala is the most powerful and wealthiest region which could not be compared even remotely to the other region across the continent.

Also, cultivators from Mandala are generally more stronger and skillful than the other region's cultivators.

That's why the people from Mandala region would always be admired and be respected by the people of other regions.

Somehow, being born in Mandala region has already become a great and grand honor for the natives of this continent.

'What will happen if I told Marco that I actually came from the central continent?' Such a weird thought popped up inside Gareth's mind.

Marco would probably dismiss it as he thought Gareth was merely joking. But if Gareth could prove it, then Marco will definitely died due to a heart attack. To most people of this backwater continent, Central Profound Continent is like a heaven that is so far away, to the point, they could not reach it even if they want to.

They rarely heard about it, but they still knew it is a magnificent land.

.

"So, what's Eternal Fragrance's response to this whole event? Do they still close the ruin to this day?" Gareth continued the discussion.

Marco nodded, "Apparently... But there should be some kind of negotiation concerning the ruin going on right now. Unfortunately, I did not know anything else beyond that."

"It's already enough intel for me, Baron... I'm going to that ruin to try some luck. I'm not holding any expectation, though. But, thank you for the information..." Gareth thanked Marco for telling him about the ruin's info.

"No problem, Sir Gareth. You're the one who had greatly helped me before. The information is just small part of my gratitude to you." Said Marco in a humble manner.

*Knock*

*Knock"

Suddenly, knocking sounds came from one of the carriage's windows.

Marco quickly opened the window and saw the Bearman Dima, who is sitting on top of his horse.

Dima respectfully spoke, "I'm sorry for the interruption Lord Baron... Sir Gareth. I just want to inform both of you that we have arrived in the outskirt of Genoa."

"I see. Thank you Dima." Said Marco as he thanked the Bearman.

Dima immediately return to his post after Marco's words.