Rebirth: The Shadow Of Greed

... The rest of the guards are alright too."

Z nodded his head,

"As long as everyone is alright. That's fine."

"Oh also, I was just curious, how did you break free of the poison? It seems like you were able to shake off a portion of the poison."

Lord Daymas asked, curious about the state of Z.

"I had collected some poison sacs from the scorpion beasts, perhaps in the process of carrying me up, they broke one allowing the scorpion poison to enter my body and combat the poison within, it may be just luck."

Z smiled while looking at Daymas, his heartbeat was steady as he looked on.

"Whatever it is, it's still thanks to you that everyone got back safe. When you recover we'll hold a banquet, it's my treat. I'll let you know when Soli and Odrunn are up too."

Z Politely nodded as he proceeded to lie back down while Daymas left the room.

He raised his commswatch and started calling his mother, he knew the news would have gotten to her some way or another and he had to allay her fears. After an earful of scoldings and crying over the phone by a hysterical mother, she finally decided to hang up, leaving a very tired Z in bed. Z slowly shut his eyes. He had finally found a place where he could sleep peacefully and rest.

_____________________

5 days later, the banquet at the clear sky restaurant had kicked off, the hunters had sold off beast meats to the restaurant at exorbitant prices, but due to Lord Daymas being the one hosting the party they had to put in their full expert and spared no expense in making themselves look good.

Z, Odrunn and Soli were sat together. Dressed in a nice tuxedo, Odrunn who wasn't used to wearing one started to put his finger around his colour as he started to wiggle it trying to make more room.

Z sat quietly observing the room. There were many guests invited, Soli's family were apparent, including her sister and her step mother's family.

Many of the politicians and lawmakers in A city had arrived as well. Gleefully shaking hands with Daymas.

The banquet was in full swing and Z and Odrunn were eating at full speed, the food was plentiful and very nutritious, coming from someone who ate entire wild beasts in the wild, of course, Odrunn would be hungry.

As they were stuffing their faces with their food, a handsome young man with beautiful golden hair walked behind them as he tapped Soli on the shoulder.

"Dear Soli, it's been a few short months and you're looking as beautiful as ever."

The young man said, giving a side-eye to the commoners stuffing their face beside her in disgust. His two lackeys at his side crossing their arms as if they were absolutely disgusted by their behaviour.

"Oh, good to meet you again, Waldorf, why are you here, aren't you off at the B city academy for your studies?"

"When I heard that you fell down to the basin, I was distraught and horrified, my heart felt like it would break. Who knew, my dad told me that you had survived the fall, I had to come immediately, I can't miss this banquet, I've come to see you. How about you join me at my table, it seems this environment isn't fit for you."

Waldorf smiled, putting on a sickening fake grin that would make anyone lose their appetite.

"I'd rather sit with my friends here, I'll catch up with you again."

"Mistress Soli, you can't be serious, look at these 2 slobs! You practically rescued them and here they are stuffing their faces, how undignified. You can bring the commoner out of the slums, but you can't take the slums out of the commoner."

One of the lackeys said, looking disgustingly at Z and Odrunn.

"These. Are. My. Friends."

Soli spoke, her eyes turned cold, with an aura of iciness emanating from her body. Taken aback, Waldorf pulled his lackey back and apologised as they went back to their tables.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that,"

Soli said apologetically, I didn't expect them to treat you so harshly.

"Don't be sorry, we don't belong here and it's a fact that we come from different backgrounds. If they want to judge us as they do, I'm fine with that too."

Z said as he continued putting food in his mouth.

"Yeah, it's okay Soli. I don't really care about what they think anymore."

Odrunn happily replied with his mouth still full.

Walking back to their table Waldorf sat beside his old man, one of the nobles from A city, Minister Nuebus, he was a cunning and deceitful man who made his way up to ministerial level through his cunning ways, having being born a commoner, he managed to claw his way up to get a noble rank.

Under the Holy capital laws, nobility can be obtained in 2 ways the first, they inherit the title from their ancestors who played a part in the founding of the country. Or the second, they claw their way up as a commoner, having provided a great service for the Holy capital. These titles, however, are non-inheritable, which means, when he dies, his family will be demoted back to commoners.

Minister Nuebus had always been worried about his son Waldorf and the well being of his family, constantly racking his brains on finding a solution to his problems. He was planning on his good for nothing son getting any achievements of any sorts, nor did he believe that he would amount to anything of that sort in the future.

So he hatched a plan, he realised that his son had some potential with women. Waldorf was a natural Cassanova that had swarms of women surrounding him. If he could somehow charm the daughter of the Aquos family and get married, his family would intern get to keep a noble title.

Upon seeing Walforf return dejectedly, he frowned.

"Soli didn't come back to sit with you?"

"Father, she didn't want to come back with me, she'd rather sit with those filthy common..."

Minister Nuebus grabbed Waldorf and pulled him in close whispering into his ear.

"Your father, me, was also a commoner. If you don't get Soli to marry you, you will become a commoner too. So will our entire family"

Waldorf pulled back away from his father looking a bit stunned.

"I understand father, but it would benefit me greatly if we could send her two friends away."

.