Unexpected Ascension Chapter 23

According to Bhodan, Dorn’s Armor And Weapons Trading Company could be located back at the Rasha District. It was one of the largest trading companies in the City of Dorn, which surprised the dwarf. 

“What business could you possibly have going there?” Bhodan asked, handing over a map of the city to the human.

Adrian shrugged. “I know the owner’s daughter.”

And Bhodan’s eyes crossed when he heard that. “You… what?”

Apparently, the company must have been massive, based on Bhodan’s reaction. Adrian hadn’t known that. The only reason why he was seeking out the company was because of Chavi.

“But how?” Bhodan asked, still completely wide-eyed. “Just what did you do in the last week that I missed?”

The dwarf looked at the pile of dead monsters, then looked back at Adrian.

“Seriously, who are you?”

Adrian gave a half-hearted response, “I’m just a guy who’s trying to survive like anyone else.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it— just how did you meet the daughter of Dorn’s Armor And Weapons Trading Company?” Bhodan asked, still in disbelief.

And Adrian explained. She had been a strange but strong dwarf he had sort of befriended while down in the Silk Mines. At the very least, he was the reason why she had survived the initial onslaught of monsters coming from further within.

Although the same could be said the other way around— while it was his idea, it was thanks to her collapsing the cavern that much of the expedition survived.

But with Adrian’s speed, he knew he could have easily survived if he simply abandoned everyone else.

Regardless, what mattered was that Adrian had befriended Chavi, and she had collected his payment for the expedition down into the Silk Mines for him. So he would seek her out to get paid. Even if it was only a single silver coin at most, it was necessary for him to survive.

After all, Adrian had no money, even now. He had to wait a full day before he could get paid for all the monster corpses he brought up from the Silk Mines. And he wasn’t going to crash at Bhodan’s place for the night.

No— not when a dangerous crime lord was after his life. 

Especially with how Bhodan had been caught in the middle of the mess, getting badly hurt in the process. Tonight, he was going to be staying at the Delvers Company Headquarters. Which was fair enough. After what happened, he probably wanted to better security so he wouldn’t be killed in his sleep.

Meanwhile, Adrian would have to sort out his sleeping arrangements and figure out how to deal with this Madam Chanda.

If half the rumors I hear about her is true… staying in this city is going to be very difficult, Adrian thought, making his way out of the Delvers Company Headquarters. At the very least, they can’t attack me in broad daylight.

He looked up, seeing the sun still hanging high in the sky. When he had emerged from Silk Mines earlier today, it had been dawn. The sun had only begun to rise from the horizon. Now, it was past noon. But it was not evening just yet.

Adrian still had some time to come up with a plan of action. Even if that plan of action amounted to sleeping in the city guard’s barracks for safety, or something similar to that. 

Following the map he had been given, Adrian made his way to the Rasha District, until he found a large building. It was five floors tall, which was relatively massive for the City of Dorn. There was a crowd of people continuously making their way in and out of the building, many of them dressed like either smiths or warriors. 

Adrian made his way inside of the building, only to find himself in a large room that looked like an armory of sorts. Except, the interior was designed in a way that almost reminded him of a fashion brand store back on Earth.

Immediately, Adrian’s presence attracted quite a lot of attention. Dwarves of all kinds— men, women, old, and young— turned towards him. They recognized the human, pointing at him as they exchanged whispered conversations.

Adrian wasn’t sure how to react to the attention. So he focused on what he needed to do. He scanned the room, searching for someone to direct him to Chavi. However, all the salespeople were preoccupied with other customers. 

Unsure of what to do, Adrian approached a person at the front desk who looked to be of a managerial position.

“Excuse me—” Adrian started.

And the manager, who had been talking flipping through the pages of a book, looked up, before recoiling and yelping in horror.

“Y-you!” the manager screamed. “You’re the human that’s endangering our city, aren’t you?”

“...no, that’s another human,” Adrian said flatly. 

“What are you doing in our fine establishment?” the manager continued, shaking his head.

Adrian sighed as he glanced back at all the staring faces. Even more attention was drawn towards him now, hearing the commotion.

“I’m looking for—” Adrian started.

But the manager lashed out, “Get out— we will not accommodate you into our shop!”

Adrian pursed his lips when he heard that. He tried to speak. But the manager refused to let up.

“Someone get the guards— call security! Get this human out of this shop!”

“Look,” Adrian finally got a word in, “I’ll leave if you just help me—”

“Absolutely not!” the manager exclaimed, drawing back in disgust. “Your presence in our city has put us all in danger! We will not accommodate you here!”

Hearing that, the crowd began to rustle. A susurration swept over the mass of figures in the shop, and they all turned to Adrian, eyeing him almost with disdain. 

He gritted his teeth, unsure how to defuse the situation. He hadn’t expected anyone to react so negatively to his presence. This must have been what Luxe meant when she said that she had expected him to have already been chased out of the city.

Perhaps it would be better for him to return in the evening, when it was less crowded.

Adrian took a step back as he heard the voices in the room grow louder. The manager looked around, searching for any guards to throw the human out of the shop. But right before anything else could happen, a voice called out.

“There you are!”

The manager spun around as he saw a figure making her way out of a doorway at the back of the store. Adrian almost smiled in relief when he saw her. It was Chavi. Exactly who he was looking for.

Paling, the manager started to explain, “Ms Chavi, I apologize for this human’s unsightly presence—” 

“Apologize?” Chavi came to a halt next to the manager, before looking towards Adrian. “What’s going on here, Saras? Are you trying to kick my friend out of the store?”

“Your… friend?” The manager, Saras, blinked.

“That’s right,” Chavi said as she tilted her head. “Didn’t I tell you a friend of mine will be visiting in the next few days, and when he arrives, you should bring him to me?”

“That’s—- but you didn’t say…” Saras trailed off.

Adrian sighed as he strode forward. He looked around the room, seeing how the susurration had died out. 

“I told you,” Adrian said simply, facing the manager with a flat stare. “But you didn’t listen.”

“I-I…” the manager hesitated.

And Chavi harrumphed, ushering Adrian to the back of the store. “Papa is going to be hearing about this, Saras. He’ll give you a stern talking-to. Now apologize to everyone for causing a scene, and disperse this crowd.”

“Y-yes, Ms Chavi,” Saras said, bowing his head low.

***

Adrian and Chavi made their way to a back office room, away from the rest of the store. There, she gave him an apologetic look.

“Saras is usually good at his job. I don’t know what got into him today.”

“It’s fine,” Adrian said, shaking his head. 

Chavi produced a bag of coins from under a desk, handing it over to Adrian. “Here. Your payment from the company.”

Opening it, Adrian counted out five silver coins and a few dozen copper. “This is… quite a lot, isn’t it?”

“Well, unfortunately, because of those who died during the expedition, the pool to be paid out per person was increased.” Chavi scratched the back of her head. She seemed almost unphased, talking about the deaths that happened back then, now.

Adrian nodded gratefully at her as he put away the pouch. “I appreciate you doing this for me, Chavi. And for doing what you did outside.”

“You saved my life— and you saved Aarush’s life too,” Chavi said, waving a hand dismissively. “I owe you that much.”

“Right…” Adrian thought back to Chavi’s two eccentric friends. One of them had been injured, during the time they spent down in the Silk Mines. “How’s Aarush holding up? And what about Kavi?”

“They’re both fine,” Chavi chuckled as she sat down on a velvet couch at the side of the room. “Aarush is recovering well, and Kavi is looking after him.”

“Do they live together?” Adrian asked curiously.

“You didn’t know?” Chavi tilted her head. “They’re half-brothers.”

That made Adrian pause. “They are?”

“Yep. Seeing them bicker all the time is almost cute.” Chavi smiled as she shook her head. “Although I wish they got along better.”

But they only argue because they’re interested in you, Adrian thought, mentally rolling his eyes. 

“Oh, and actually,” Chavi piped up as she tapped a finger on her chin. “I found out something interesting about the old man.”

That piqued Adrian’s curiosity. “You mean Neel?”

Chavi nodded. “That grumpy old man who was down with us in the Silk Mines, yes.”

“What about him?” Adrian asked as he narrowed his eyes.

“I found out he’s apparently one of War King Rhavin’s closest advisors!” Chavi said, practically exclaiming. “He even served as the previous king’s advisor— no wonder he’s so grumpy…”

Adrian paused when he heard that. “Seriously?”

“Yep.” Chavi smiled as she nodded. “I was surprised when my papa told me about that too…”

And Adrian closed his eyes, his mind racing, If that’s the case, then Neel can help me figure out how to deal with this Madam Chanda…

As the realization settled into his mind, Chavi also finished.

“...and that’s probably why he didn’t like me, because he disagrees with my papa’s business practices.”

“Chavi,” Adrian said, meeting her gaze.

“Yes?” She eyed him curiously.

“Where can I find Neel?” Adrian asked insistently.

Chavi gave him a helpless shrug in response. “Maybe you can find him at the Palace of Dorn?”

“And is that located at the Rhavin District?” Adrian pressed her even further.

“Yep.” Chavi just nodded.

“Thanks, Chavi. I’ve got to go now,” Adrian said as he drew back.

“It’s no problem— and visit me any time!” Chavi called out after him as he sprinted out of the building.

***

And as Adrian made his way out of the shop, a group of figures gathered at a nearby alleyway watched him go. They had heard about the ruckus that was caused within the main building of Dorn’s Armor And Weapons Trading Company. 

That was why they had come here. Because that human was their target. And they weren’t unprepared. They heard about what he was capable of, so they were more than ready for a dangerous brawl.

So they moved to intercept him. Before he could arrive at his destination.

To dispose of him once and for all.