Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Capital of Tharz.
“Master, that’s such a beautiful city!” Liu Mei’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the towering walls and grand spires of Aetheria City.

Ace followed her gaze, taking in the sight of the vast, bustling city before them. The sheer scale of it, the way its buildings loomed like silent guardians over the lively streets—it was impressive, he’d give it that.

But his arms were starting to ache.

“Alright, quick—get down already.”

Liu Mei gasped dramatically. “Master, no! You bad, bad!”

She clung to him like a stubborn cat refusing to be set down, burying her face into his robes.

After a full day of being carried around, she had completely reverted to acting like the child she truly was—stringing together sentences that made less and less sense, refusing to walk, and insisting on getting her way.

Ace sighed but didn’t push her off. Instead, he adjusted his grip and carried her straight into the city, the five-tailed snow fox perched lazily atop his head.

Aetheria was alive with noise. A sea of people filled the streets, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony—merchants hawking their wares, gamblers shouting bets, fighters boasting about their chances.

“Two gold says the Iron Claw makes it to the finals!”

“Hah! Iron Claw? He couldn’t even beat the Frost Serpent last year!”

“Frost Serpent ain’t competing this time, idiot. This year’s all about the Phoenix’s Wrath!”

Ace weaved through the crowd, ears picking up fragmented conversations about an ongoing tournament. His curiosity piqued, he spotted a man swaying by the side of the road, a jug of wine clutched in his hands.

Perfect.

Ace strode over and dangled a fresh bottle in front of the drunkard. “This is yours if you tell me about the tournament.”

The man blinked blearily at him, then at the bottle. Without hesitation, he snatched it up, uncorked it, and took a long, exaggerated swig.

“Haaah! Good shit!” he exclaimed, smacking his lips in appreciation.

Ace crossed his arms. “Well?”

The drunkard wiped his mouth, burped, then leaned in conspiratorially. “Ahh, the Tournament of Dragon and Phoenix? You came at a weird time, my friend. The whole damn thing got postponed!”

Ace raised an eyebrow. “Postponed? Why?”

The drunkard let out a wheezy chuckle, swaying slightly as he took another swig of wine. “The princess—hah! Well, the unwanted princess, that is—she up and declared she wants a dual partner. Says she’ll choose from one of the winners!”

Ace narrowed his eyes. “Unwanted princess?”

The man cackled, his breath thick with alcohol. “Ohh, you didn’t know? Guess you really are an outsider.”

He hiccupped, then leaned in as if sharing the kingdom’s greatest secret.

“That girl’s got royal blood, sure, but nobody wants her. She ain’t the golden jewel of the kingdom like her siblings. She ain’t got the talent, ain’t got the backing. Just some poor thing trying to make a name for herself before she fades into nothing.”

He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, sighing dramatically. “So, she pulled this stunt. Postponed the whole damn tournament just to find herself a so-called ‘dual partner.'”

His voice slurred as he mimicked a dainty, high-pitched tone, “‘Oh, I’ll choose from one of the winners!'”

Then, with a snort, he waved his hand dismissively. “Tch. As if any of those big shots would actually want her.”

Ace remained silent, absorbing the information. The unwanted princess, huh?

Liu Mei, still sitting in his lap, frowned. “That’s so mean… She just wants someone to like her.”

The drunkard let out another hoarse laugh. “Kid, in this world, wanting ain’t enough.”

Then, holding up his wine jug, he grinned. “But, hey, at least she’s got guts!”

“A princess can do that?” Ace blinked.

“Of course she can! She’s got royal blood, like I said.” The drunk man waved his hand dismissively, as if that explained everything.

Ace raised an eyebrow. “Wow. And here I thought people usually had a little more respect for their princess.”

The drunkard waved his hands frantically. “Hey, hey, keep it down! You tryna get me in trouble?”

He darted his eyes around before leaning in again.

“Listen here, outsider. This is Aetheria City, the capital of the Tharz Kingdom. There’s rules here, y’know. And one big rule is—you meet the king, you bring the finest dishes.”

Ace frowned. “Why?”

The drunkard hiccupped. “Because the king… he’s a darn glutton!”

Ace’s mind flickered to a distant memory—something Lily, his ever-so-helpful spirit bot, had once mentioned.

“Listen here, kid,” the drunkard slurred, leaning in conspiratorially. “I’m only gonna tell ya this ’cause you look honest.”

He tapped his chest, as if he were bestowing some great wisdom. Then, with a lazy grin, he held out his empty bottle.

“But first—another round. My throat’s dry.”

Ace sighed. He could see exactly what the man was doing, milking the conversation for free drinks. But honestly? It wasn’t a bad deal.

A bottle of wine barely cost a silver, while a boat that looked ready to sink at any moment had sold for fifty gold coins.

Yeah, the currency in this place made absolutely no sense. Best not to dwell on it.

Without a word, Ace flipped a gold coin into the drunkard’s waiting palm. “Fine. But in exchange, you tell us everything—every detail. And somewhere private.”

For a moment, the drunkard seemed pleased, rubbing the coin between his fingers like a cherished treasure. But then, unexpectedly, his demeanor shifted.

He hesitated. His drunken haze cleared ever so slightly, and when he finally spoke, his voice carried an odd weight of clarity.

“…No.”

Ace frowned. “No?”

The man shook his head, gripping the coin tightly. “Not this time.”

“Hey, old man! If you’re gonna say no, then give Master his coin back!” Liu Mei huffed, puffing up her cheeks in frustration.

The drunkard—who now seemed far more sober than before—let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, don’t be a fool. And what are you gonna do, little miss? Beat me up?”

“She very well might,” Ace said casually, smirking.

The drunk man raised a brow, clearly amused.

“Oh? Is that so?” Then, with a chuckle, he stretched his arms and let out a sigh. “Well, no need to get worked up. If you’re here to register for the tournament, you should’ve just said so!”

Ace narrowed his eyes. “You knew?”

“Of course! I’m the one in charge of the registration!” The man laughed again, tapping his chest proudly. “I just wanted to test the little one—she’s on the verge of reaching Gold Rank, isn’t she? A real wonder, that is.”

And then he murmured, “Even a fool would register their own child if they reached this level.”