Chapter 98: Chapter 98

Sokram went from buyer to buyer, binding them to the baby crows and offering the guided cultivation services that would start next month.

This continued until it was time to deal with the Frozen Root, Icewall, and Frozen River merchant groups.

First, they asked Sokram to explain in detail how the spell worked. Sokram had the impression they would ask for an Oath of Honesty, but they remembered he had already sworn one when the sale started.

Then, they thoroughly read the contracts, looking for any loopholes. Sokram realized that their behavior was influenced by the rumors that the Steelhearts had spread, so he didn’t mind.

But then the merchant leading the group from Frozen Root, the only group among them with more than five eggs, asked Sokram to bind one of the hatchlings and demonstrate the guided cultivation technique.

The merchant eyed Sokram with a gaze that narrowed, then flickered with disbelief, and finally settled into a hard, calculating glint.

His hand hovered near his coin pouch, poised to refuse payment, convinced Sokram would deny his request.

Even though guided cultivation was usually discouraged for newborn beasts, Sokram’s method was unlike anything his world had ever seen.

Thus, when Sokram accepted it promptly, they were all taken aback.

But Sokram, not caring for their reaction, only guided the merchant toward the formation without offering any further explanations.

Not because he didn’t want to, but because the quickest way to squash skepticism and doubt was by showing proof, and that was precisely what he was going to do.

As the baby crow cracked free of its shell, and the emphatic link was formed, Sokram stepped past the merchant’s eager hand, scooping the warm, wriggling creature into his arms before the man could reach it.

He knelt, gently setting the bird on the stable floor, then extended a palm to rest lightly on its soft, white chest.

Although they were hatchlings, they were still magical beasts and weren’t born like common birds that would come featherless out of the egg; instead, the baby crow looked like an oversized common crow with a white chest.

With a height of a little less than half a meter, covered by a sleek and thin plumage, the baby crow glanced at Sokram with curiosity, mirroring the merchant’s gaze.

This showed that the bond was working as it should.

Sokram then spoke with a calm tone, his gaze warning the merchant: "Try not to get spooked. Your bond with the crow is strong, and you will feel his core forming quite fast. But if he feels your nervousness, he might reject my mana and hurt himself."

“Core formation?” The merchant's eyes bulged, his jaw slack in disbelief.

"See the runic marks on that formation and over the eggshells?" Sokram pointed at the formation from which he retrieved the egg.

Some eggs still remained there, each marked with crimson-hued runic inscriptions of blood ink, pulsing with rich energy.

“That formation was not set only to expedite the hatchings, but also to lay the birds' foundations prematurely and make their core formation a lot faster.”

As a mage, he sensed the eggs gorging on the highly dense energy, a voracious pull that seemed to ripple from egg to egg. He stood, frozen, lost in the sheer impossibility of what he witnessed.

"Are you prepared? Can I proceed?" Sokram's calm and firm voice quieted the sudden tempest in the merchant’s mind, finally breaking his daze.

Yet, he still looked surprised, for Frozen Root City was the house of the renowned and world-famous Frozen Root Academy.

One of the ten academies in the Northern Continent that was backed by the Council of Magi, and the greatest among them.

And yet he had never heard of a technique that could bring the results Sokram just promised.

Proud of having graduated as a Magus from the prestigious Frozen Root Academy, the merchant prided himself on his knowledge.

Yet, looking at Sokram's formation, he couldn't decipher it at all; he could only tell it was working exactly as Sokram explained.

But knowing Sokram was only thirteen, as he discovered between conversations before and during the auction, he couldn’t fathom Sokram being able to create something so complex.

So to him, either the Grand Duchess or Lady Androny set it up for him, or the words about his family having found an inheritance in an ancient ruin were true.

“Sure, young dragon,” The merchant's tone was now much more respectful because even if he didn’t believe it was Sokram who set up the formation, Sokram had clearly mastered the complex spell that operated it to the point he was able to use it without supervision.

Once Sokram started guiding the crow's energy circulation, which he could easily do thanks to the insight he gained while healing the Crow King’s wife, the merchant was once again astonished because the crow only needed a single cycle before following.

But that’s when he heard Sokram say, "Their memory is amazing, but they still need periodic guidance because of their curiosity. They can deviate from the best circulation path simply to try new things. If you ever see him diverting from these pathways, bring him back here. This way, he won’t get uselessly stuck on unnecessary bottlenecks."

The merchant nodded, his eyes unfocused, his entire being tuned to the bird's tiny heart, his breath shallow as if afraid to disturb the magic unfolding.

There, it began as a flicker, no larger than a spark, but then pulsed, alive, like a second heartbeat.

Chaos swirled into form and a tiny bead of Chaos Energy pulsed into existence, then swiftly expanded, rippling outward like rings in a pond, transforming into a rapidly swirling vortex.

It was like watching months of painstaking cultivation compressed into a frantic, dizzying fast-forward, his own core tingling in empathic resonance.

And once the core was finally formed, a transformation happened.

The crow’s body grew, its feathers crackled like kindling as the crow’s bones elongated.

Its beak split the air with a snap, now curved as a scimitar.

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It went from less than half a meter to a meter and a half in a couple of minutes.

When its growth finally ceased, the crow stretched, its newly powerful muscles rippling under its sleek plumage.

A loud, triumphant caw ripped through the stable, a sound of pure, unadulterated joy that echoed off the rafters as it unfurled its massive, glossy black wings, each feather catching the light.

Jaws dropped across the crowd, a collective gasp swallowed by the sudden silence.

The merchants of Frozen Root, Icewall, and Frozen River gaped as the crow’s wings stretched wider than a man’s arms.

The merchant linked to the crow flabbergasted even more, especially sensing the crow's surging joy.

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by murmurs that rose like storm winds.

A merchant from Icewall crossed himself; another fumbled for a recording crystal.

The crowd, watching the demonstration from a distance, including the merchants of Eversnow, exploded in excited chatter.

“You said that each session would cost 5 golden crowns?” One of the merchants of the three groups asked in shock.

“Yes, but only after Tier 5. Since you bought yours through the auction.” Hearing Sokram’s words, the onlookers who bought the eggs for 500 gold started to regret their decision.

But the merchant of Frozen Root now could see that his investment was worth it.

He excused himself for a moment and went to a corner while taking a communication crystal, clearly intending to report what he had just witnessed. Newest update provıded by NoveIＦire.net

The leaders of the two other groups, too, excused themselves to contact the owners of their merchant groups.

Sokram barely hid the greedy grin tugging at his lips.

Once the merchant returned, he finally introduced himself, “My name is Wallace, I’m one of the three managers of the Starfrost Merchant Group, which belongs to the Barony of Starfrost in Frozen Root.”

The old mage handed Sokram a card with the Starfrost Family’s Sigil, “My employers are very interested in the technique you showcased, and are offering to buy…”

But even before the mage could finish it, Sokram raised a hand for him to stop, “The only services I’m offering are the guidance and the selling of tamed beasts. I’m not selling my techniques. But thank you for your offer.”

Wallace’s words faltered.

The stone in his palm grew heavier, and his voice vanished into a breathless pause, completely stunned by the flat refusal.

Sokram, unmoved, added, "If you want, I can delay the hatching of your remaining eggs until the end of this week. After that, I’ll have to hatch the eggs and do the contract bindings later. As for the guiding sessions, you can schedule them starting next month. Now, if there’s nothing else, please pay me."

Not only Wallace, but all the members of his merchant group, and the other two groups, were left speechless by Sokram’s bluntness.

Seeing their hesitation, Sokram gave Alain a subtle nod.

In a blink, the stable filled with the soft rustle of armor and the thud of boots as a ring of Androny guards, silent and menacing, formed around the three merchant groups, their hands resting pointedly on sword hilts.

“These gentlemen are going to collect your payments. Now, if you excuse me, I have more clients to tend to.” Sokram turned back, heading toward the formation, and called the next client.

It was only when the merchants saw that the group of guards surrounding them was the Androny family's main force that they realized they had made a mistake.

With Sokram not leaving room for further negotiations, they paid what they owed and left.

But before leaving, they informed Alain they’d return for the remaining eggs before the week’s end.

After they left, Alain approached Sokram between one of the rounds of bindings and, while handing him the money, asked him, “Why were you so decisive? Wouldn’t it be better to keep them as clients?”

Sokram’s tone was calm, but he didn’t bother hiding his disappointment with this situation. “People who work for nobles are often full of themselves. Would you enter someone’s house as a guest and ask them to sell their lifeline? I doubt Nana would ever give such an order, but would you?”

Alain shook his head and smiled at Sokram, “You truly are a mystery, young master. I’m sure my Mistress is proud.”

Alain patted Sokram’s shoulder and stood a few meters away, making sure no one would show his young master any disrespect.

After a couple of hours, Sokram had finished binding the last hatchling and was now in Oliver’s office.

The two of them sat on their chairs with silly grins plastered on their faces, giggling like drunken fools.

Checking the fortune inside the ring Sokram gave him after splitting the profits, Oliver couldn’t help but look at the boy with a deep sense of gratitude for how much his fate had changed.

Sokram, seeing the old man, who in his past timeline had gone through many struggles before dying tragically, so happy now, felt a deep sense of satisfaction filling his heart as well.

But Sokram still advised, “Don’t waste all of it in the Pavilion, alright? Save some for the rainy days.”

Oliver snapped out of it and met Sokram's gaze with a mock offended grimace, “To think my little brother thinks so little of me, that’s sad…”

But Sokram said nothing as he stood up to leave, “Remember, old man, this was only the first of many. But first, we should reform this place and hire more personnel. Hosting events like these is very tiring.”

“True, but not this time. I first want to enjoy this reward. Buy a house out of the slums, maybe even find a wife.” As Oliver spoke, his eyes became dazed again.

“Alright, that’s fair. On another note, I’ll be waiting for you every day after sunrise at my estate. You need to start cultivating properly if you want to live long enough to spend all the money will be making.”

Hearing that, Oliver showed a complicated expression, but Sokram could see through his worries, and added, “My grandmothers agreed to it, don’t worry.”

"That isn't it, boy. I feel like you became my benefactor instead of my business partner.”

Oliver scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward, “I feel kind of shameless accepting your goodwill like that, giving so little back, you know?”

Sokram stopped by the door, looked back at Oliver with a grin, and joked, “Maybe I’m just repaying the kindness I received from you in our past life or something, haha.”

But Oliver only shook his head at that, “The Doors of Rebirth are still shut tight, kid. The cycle of life remains a straight line until then.”

“Sigh…” Seeing that good humor wouldn’t work, Sokram appealed to logic, “See it as an investment. That artifact is something only you can use, old man. It’s bound to you, almost linked to your soul. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s an artifact with an ego, artificial intelligence, or even a spirit. But making you stronger ensures your survival and makes you more useful for the business.”

Sokram’s words hit the spot.

Oliver forced a frown, trying to act mad and offended by the cold logic in his words: "So, it’s all about the money? No friendship? No brotherhood? You greedy dragon!"

“Hahaha… You need to improve your acting skills, haha. See you tomorrow, old man, have some rest.” Saying that, Sokram left the stable and went back home.

But while Sokram celebrated, the Steelhearts were fuming.

First, the rumors they spread about Sokram were so easily rebuffed that it was shameful.

They lost face with some nobles they couldn't have.

The big sale was such an enormous success that it became the talk of the entire region among the merchant groups.

"Lady Androny's successor is as shrewd as she is," merchants began spreading within their social network.

But that was the least of their problems because they had been getting fewer sales in both their butcheries and stables.

Only the poorest of the independent hunters still rented or bought their flaky mounts.

And in the last couple of weeks, they had no tokens to exchange with the hunters.

Their family’s contribution to the city became almost null.

The butcheries had almost no clients anymore, mainly because Sokram’s butchery was selling good quality, first-rate meat at such low prices.

Lastly, the buying of the farmland had gone off the rails because Lady Androny was now supporting and protecting the farmers.

Their businesses were on the brink of bankruptcy.

Sandra refused to give up on the mission her father had given her because they would receive a great reward from Whiteland if Eversnow fell.

Whiteland wanted to have its own trading route with Dracony.

And that wasn’t all, they would also gain a lot of Frostaxe’s favor, being exempted from import and export taxes in their country.

Besides, if Eversnow fell and the founding families lost most of their economy and forces, they would have the means to convince them to abolish the law against slavery in the country.

This would make their illegal slave trading a principal income source, with no need for laundering the money that came from it.

But who would think that a thirteen-year-old would become such a thorn in their side?

It was as if Sokram was always ten steps ahead of them.

But Sandra wouldn’t be crazy enough to enter a war against the Androny family.

And with Sokram also being a Dracnakrid, one of the most respected families in Norwinter that finally managed to stand back up after losing so much, dealing with him was even harder.

The animosity Sokram had for them was widely known.

With the recent public squabble between them, if anything were to happen to him, they would be the primary suspects.

Her family's image, which was already poor, would be irreversibly damaged.

If that happened, King Lucien wouldn’t protect them like his father did.

Yet, the two Steelhearts brothers, Aaron and Adrian, disagreed with Sandra’s point of view and, ignoring their sister’s orders, were now once more together with Timothy and Kazzah, plotting something.