Sword of Salvation-Chapter 86: - Moskvallha Empire

ALMOST four weeks had passed since Mariel left Iresvilea. He was now within the territory of the Moskvallha Empire, specifically in the northern part of Western Continent. He had entered their land two days ago.

Mariel walked slowly along the extended coastline. He no longer needed to run—the city’s outline was clearly visible.

His destination was Vallhamoza, the empire’s northernmost city. It was the only port city in the world that also served as the capital of a nation. Its location at the edge of the continent made it highly secure from land attacks, which was why there were no protective walls surrounding it.

Although not the largest port in the Western Continent, it was still quite busy. Mariel could see numerous ship silhouettes offshore. Some were moving toward the port, while others were sailing away. The number of ships docked at the piers was also considerable.

In less than an hour, Mariel had reached the city’s outskirts—the outermost residential area. The settlement was only a dozen meters away from the shoreline. From the numerous salt ponds in sight, he deduced that the residents were salt farmers.

Mariel only stopped briefly to eat and gather information. After that, he continued his journey.

He didn’t obtain much information—nothing of importance, at least. Even though it was on the city’s outskirts, the settlement was no different from a village. The people also distanced themselves from political affairs.

Mariel only truly entered the urban area when night fell.

A bar was the first place he visited. There was no better place to gather information. More than that, he had yet to succeed in trying some wine. Mariel wanted to try it now. As the said, unfulfilled desires would accumulate into burdens.

As soon as he obtained a glass of the reddish-purple liquid, Mariel immediately approached one of the tables. This time, he wouldn’t seek an informant—ordinary citizens would suffice.

"Ah, gentlemen, this seat is empty, right?" Mariel asked the three men seated around a square table. However, he sat down in the vacant chair without waiting for their response.

The three men, who were relatively the same age, only stared at Mariel without answering. Their eyes seemed to question who he was. Their expressions suggested that a bar was no place for someone under seventeen.

"In exchange," Mariel continued, "I’ll pay for everything you order. You also don’t need to worry. Even though I look like a teenager, I’m already twenty-one."

Their expressions and gazes changed instantly. They quickly nodded and welcomed him. One of them even slid a bowl of peanuts toward him. Even if Mariel hadn’t lied about his age, he was certain they wouldn’t have cared.

"My name is Mariel. What are your names?" he asked with a friendly smile. "You look about eight to ten years older than me. But there’s a saying that everyone sitting at the same table is equal. It’s fine if I treat you as if we’re the same age, right?"

His question was met with laughter. One of the men guessed that Mariel was the child of a wealthy merchant, which explained his politeness and educated demeanor. Another assumed he was a noble in disguise. Meanwhile, the last man simply laughed at his friends’ speculations.

In the end, all three nodded, indicating they didn’t mind being considered his peers.

Mariel didn’t waste the opportunity. He started the conversation by mentioning a rumor about the imperial family—a rumor he had fabricated himself. From there, he guided the discussion in a way that led them to unconsciously reveal the information he sought. Mariel executed his plan flawlessly.

From their words, he learned that Emperor Zalestino ruled the Moskvallha Empire with an iron fist. He held absolute power. No noble dared to oppose him. If the fifty-two-year-old emperor made a decision, it had to be carried out perfectly. If he prohibited something, it had to be obeyed without question.

Emperor Zalestino had eight wives and fourteen children—eight of whom were daughters.

He had yet to decide on a successor after stripping his eldest son of the crown prince title due to incompetence. However, the majority of the nobility supported the emperor’s second son, Prime Minister Viertino. Meanwhile, the lower-class citizens sided with the emperor’s fourth daughter.

According to the three men, the emperor’s fourth daughter was the closest to the people. Among the fourteen possible heirs, none truly possessed the same level of compassion and fairness as Athenia Moskvallha. The three men in front of Mariel preferred that the fourth princess inherit the throne.

When Mariel shifted the conversation to rumors about war, the three men immediately showed their frustration. Not at Mariel, but because the rumor he had fabricated was not mere nonsense. Moskvallha Empire was ambitious about conquering the Kingdom of Denland. Once Denland was under their control, they would set their sights on Mangolla.

Mariel also brought up the behavior of the nobility. Unsurprisingly, those of high status were not much different from those in Neiracia. The three men openly expressed their hatred toward them. They even joked about wanting to violate the wives and daughters of nobles as revenge for the treatment they had suffered.

Mariel asked if they had wives or children. They denied it. The three of them were too busy with work to think about such things. Instead, they satisfied their desires through prostitutes who worked in exclusive inns. They even invited Mariel to leave the bar and join them in visiting their favorite courtesans.

Mariel outright refused. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

There was no way he would let a sex worker defile him. If he wanted to experience what people considered the ultimate pleasure, he would try his luck with Celinee, Lasyana, Celinee, or even Delphia. And if he ever decided to be with another woman, he would have to be in the same category as those four.

The three men simply laughed at Mariel’s blunt rejection. They were not offended. They understood that Mariel had the kind of face that would make most women think twice before turning him down. He didn’t need to pay for prostitutes like they did.

The three men thanked Mariel for the drinks and bid him farewell, leaving the young man alone at the table surrounded by four chairs.

Mariel was about to leave as well after a few minutes. He needed to find an inn before carrying out his plans. However, his intention was immediately put on hold when he noticed someone entering the bar.

It had been some time since Mariel had left Agarentha, but he had not forgotten what he had done there. He had left Oz’s fate in Nico’s hands. That man had said nothing about the decision he had made, and Mariel had no interest in asking.

So, seeing a man named Oz enter the bar was a minor surprise.

However, Oz did not seem to notice Mariel. He walked straight to the bartender, ordered a glass of beer, and then took a seat at the edge of the bar, facing away from Mariel and the entrance. He drank alone, completely ignoring the noise of the bar.

Mariel rose from his seat and approached the bartender. He ordered a glass of water while also paying for the three men’s drinks and the wine he had consumed. Then, Mariel sat beside Oz.

Oz didn’t even glance at him. The man was entirely lost in his own thoughts. Mariel didn’t mind. He let the silence linger for a while.

"How many One Eye branches have you destroyed?" Mariel asked after nearly five minutes of waiting.