Unholy Player-Chapter 188: Forming Alliances Casually

Interesting, Adyr thought, watching the brief exchange unfold.

He had heard of Kharom not long ago, mentioned directly by Sevrak. A prodigy of the Umbraen race who reached Rank 2 at a young age. Sevrak’s grandson.

When Adyr first encountered Sevrak, his initial impression was that the man possessed immense strength, but also an untrustworthy disposition. Now, seeing how others treated the Umbraens, it wasn’t hard to understand why. Their kind clearly didn’t enjoy much favor beyond their own borders.

Not that it seemed to matter to them. Favor, reputation, diplomacy—none of it held weight in a world ruled by strength. With enough power, even enemies were nothing more than background noise.

Adyr made a mental note of their arrogance and recklessness as he turned toward the shop operated by the man of the aquatic races.

"Umbraens... Wherever they go, misfortune follows, huh?" He said casually, striking up a conversation.

His tone carried the weight of a personal grudge, as if he had his own reasons for disliking them, just enough to show empathy with the man.

The shopkeeper didn’t miss the implication. He let out a dry chuckle. "Heh. Barbarians, the lot of them. Sounds like you’ve had a taste of their filth too."

Adyr responded with a troubled look. "They threatened my kingdom not long ago."

The man’s thick, fish-like lips curled in understanding. "You look like you’re from Velari. Heard you’ve got a Rank 4 Spark problem, right? Let me guess—they offered help but wanted something you could never agree to in return?"

The issue with Velari wasn’t exactly a secret. News like that traveled fast across the region.

"Yeah," Adyr replied, keeping his tone friendly. "What about you?"

The man grunted. The gill slits on his neck flared wider, as if drawing in more air. "Those bastards tried to take over my shop not long ago. Act like nothing happened, then show up later and try to trade like we’re old friends. Their kingdom’s practitioners lean too hard on Sevrak’s strength—that’s the real problem."

Adyr understood the situation all too well. With a man standing at the pinnacle of Rank 4 backing them, it was only natural for the practitioners of that kingdom to grow arrogant, doing as they pleased, confident in the strength of a monarch who bore the title Dragon Rider.

"If this place didn’t belong to the Wandering Merchant’s territory," the man added, spitting on the ground again, "they would’ve already taken over half the shops here by force. That’s how bold they are."

Adyr sensed the fishman’s agitation. And with the conversation veering exactly where he wanted, he struck while the iron was hot.

He furrowed his brow, let frustration color his face, and lowered his voice to a whisper.

"What can we even do? They have the power to crush us. And worse, because of them, we can’t even grow strong enough to push back. Look at me. I can’t even sell my gear anymore. How am I supposed to gain the energy crystals I need to resist them?"

As he spoke, Adyr subtly released his newly strengthened Presence—a soft, non-threatening current, just enough to create a sense of familiarity. To pull the shopkeeper closer without raising suspicion.

The fishman’s eyes narrowed. He let out a deep sigh and gave a slow nod. "You’re damn right. Their strategy is obvious—suppress everyone around them so no one becomes a threat."

Then he looked Adyr in the eye. "Tell me, friend. We have a common enemy. That alone means I should help however I can. What are you trying to sell?"

Adyr smiled inwardly. The conversation was right where he wanted it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The fishman was already showing sympathy.

"I’ve got some equipment I salvaged from a kingdom with decent tech. I had hoped to use it to support the Velari practitioners—my people. But as you can guess, most of them didn’t survive against the Rank 4 Spark. Now all of it is just sitting in my hands. If I can sell it for even a fraction of its value, it’s enough for me."

He spoke with restrained grief, letting a note of mourning slip into his voice. Then, to emphasize his desperation, he added: "You know the Legacy Domain will open soon. I just want enough energy to push back—even a little—against those Umbraen bastards."

The Legacy Domain was currently the hottest topic in the market district, and the only reason the place was this crowded. Using it tactically made sense—and as expected, it worked.

The fishman let out a booming laugh, his thick lips parting as the gills on his neck flared open. He placed a hand firmly on Adyr’s shoulder.

"Friend, I understand your grief. Your loss. We can’t let Sevrak and his dogs dominate this event."

He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning Adyr’s face, drawn to a strange and growing sense of trust he couldn’t quite explain.

"I’m Maruun Aqua, from the Aqualeth Kingdom. I’m also a Rank 2 practitioner, planning to join the Legacy Domain expedition. Let me help you sell that gear. Let this be the start of our cooperation during the event."

Maruun Aqua? Adyr noted inwardly. The first name was unfamiliar, but the surname wasn’t. He had come across it recently in one of the books he’d been studying.

The Aqualeth Kingdom belonged to the aquatic races of this region—Ignis path followers, whose main stat was [Will]. In that kingdom, the name Aqua was reserved for royalty.

Which meant this shopkeeper wasn’t just some ordinary merchant. ƒreewebɳovel.com

In an instant, Adyr realized he’d done more than just find someone trustworthy to sell his equipment. He had potentially uncovered an ally for himself and for the Velari Kingdom.

Though Adyr knew the Aqualeths weren’t as powerful as the Umbraens, they were still far stronger than the Velari, whose strength had waned after losing countless practitioners over the years defending their kingdom from Colossith.

"Thank you," Adyr said with measured gratitude. "You can be sure I’ll repay your kindness whenever you need it."

"I know you will. Don’t worry," Maruun replied with another easy smile. "Come inside. Let me take a look at the equipment."

The fact that Adyr was from Velari—and, more importantly, an Astra path practitioner—meant something to Maruun. Those from Velari were known for keeping their word. And with Adyr’s subtle Presence at work, that trust had only deepened.

Adyr followed him without delay, stepping into the tent behind him. As an Ignis path practitioner, Maruun’s temperament showed in his brisk movements. Like many who lived by motion, patience wasn’t exactly his strong suit.

The interior of the tent wasn’t as grand or expansive as the shops in the main tent, but it was neat and well-kept. Numerous Sparks and materials from the water element lined the space, glinting softly under the filtered light.

At the center, a small pond sat still and clear. Frogs perched on floating leaves croaked in rhythmic intervals, creating a melodic ambiance. Below the surface, vibrant fish swam gracefully, their colors weaving a gentle, hypnotic dance. The entire space felt alive.

Adyr walked toward an open clearing within the tent. Without a word, he extended his hand and began unloading everything he’d looted from the Cannibal’s headquarters—old gear, his swords, even the sniper rifle Henry had once gifted him. He laid it all out, hoping to sell as much as possible.

Maruun’s eyes widened as he took in the unfamiliar equipment, clearly high in quality despite its foreign design.

"Friend... which kingdom did you say you got these from again?" He asked, visibly surprised.

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