Chapter 224: Golden Hand

At this moment, Regis, Killian, Pandora, and Eldrin were being guided by Vesper down the stairs from the floor where Aurum’s office was located.

"As Sir Aurum mentioned, he’s instructed me to take note of any requests you may have."

Vesper said as he led the way, "You may think about them as we go. For now, let’s head to Equaria Inn, where we’ve already made arrangements for your stay as our honored guests."

Regis and Killian walked with relatively serious expressions, listening attentively.

Pandora, meanwhile, remained quiet, her face neutral as she followed the group.

She observed the people they passed along the way with silent curiosity.

"Hey, old man. Where were you earlier?" Regis asked.

Eldrin chuckled, "I decided to step out. I figured you’d need time to go over your quest report with Aurum."

"However..." He paused, glancing back in the direction they had come from.

"I have a feeling now might not be the right time to bring up anything else with him."

Thwack—!!!

It was at that moment that a sharp slap echoed down the hallway.

"What was that?" Killian asked, his voice laced with caution.

Vesper closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled, "It’s nothing. It likely came from Sir Aurum’s office."

"Did he hit Aurelia?" Pandora, who had remained quiet until now, was the one to voice the uneasy question.

Vesper glanced at her and gave a small smile, "Rest assured, he would never do that."

"Then what was it?" Regis asked, frowning.

The smile on Vesper’s face shifted into something more awkward, "Most likely... it was the other way around."

He knew the kind of man Aurum was— and after hearing many stories about his daughter, it was not hard to imagine what was happening behind that door.

"..."

An awkward silence settled over the group as they continued walking.

After a few moments, Eldrin was the first to break it, "Aurelia, that little lass, has always had quite the fire in her."

Soft giggles and warm smiles spread through the group as Regis, Killian, and Pandora relaxed, reassured that their friend was safe.

Catching a glimpse of them from the corner of his eye, Vesper allowed himself a small smile.

’You’ve made good friends, Young Miss.’

***

Back to the present...

’I still didn’t expect them to give me a special grimoire and a record of the current situation in Harmonia.’

Regis muttered inwardly as he sat by the window of their room in Equaria Inn, his blood red eyes reflecting the bustle of the city streets below.

Harmonia was alive—carriages rolling, street vendors calling out, citizens of different species moving with purpose.

The city had a rhythm, a pulse of wealth and motion.

Two days had passed since their meeting with Aurum, and yet the conversation still lingered in his mind.

He glanced toward the desk nearby, where a box sat slightly ajar—the contents partly exposed: a gleaming grimoire, its cover etched with golden runes, and a sheaf of documents bound with red string.

He recalled the moment it was given to him.

It was that same night, after they had finished settling in.

A knock came at the door.

Creak—

"Sir Regis." Vesper had entered, his posture as composed as always, holding the box with both hands. "Before I take my leave for the evening, I was instructed to deliver this to you."

Regis blinked, "A box?"

"It contains two things. First, a record of Harmonia’s present state—political alignments, major players, recent movements. Second, a grimoire. One of the special ones, not distributed lightly."

"...Why give me something like this?" Regis asked, brows furrowed.

Vesper placed the box on the table, then straightened, "You expressed the desire to send a letter to the Grava Familia. If you intend to correspond with nobility—let alone a ducal house—it would benefit you to have leverage. Knowledge is power, after all."

"You may consider it as Sir Aurum’s expression of gratitude."

He had said that with a slight smile before adding, "Also, if you’re planning to stay in Harmonia for a while, this will help you adjust more quickly."

Regis studied him in silence for a moment, then gave a short nod, "Understood. I appreciate it."

Vesper bowed. "Should you have any additional requests, do not hesitate to inform the staff. They’ll relay it to me."

And with that, he had left.

Knock— Knock—

At this moment, the knocks that sounded on the door made Regis came to his senses.

’It must be Killian and Pandora.’

He thought as a smile bloomed on his face.

In the past few days, they had spent every morning in a relaxed manner and ate breakfast with each other.

Creak—

"Let’s go eat breakfa—"

Regis was unable to continue what he was saying, as what greeted his sight was Vesper, with Killian and Pandora behind him.

"What’s happening?"

He asked as he slightly tilted his head.

"Sir Aurum has invited the three of you for breakfast."

Regis glanced at the silent Pandora and Killian, who only shrugged his shoulders.

Then, without further ado, the group exited the Equaria Inn.

As they walked among the streets of Harmonia, the wonder in their eyes still had not disappeared.

"No matter how many times I see this sight, I think I won’t get enough of it."

Eldrin commented, to which the others agreed silently.

The ongoing constructions across various parts of the city appeared to be progressing steadily. Even more striking was how the citizens, despite their differing races and backgrounds, seemed to coexist in harmony.

The lively chatter, the shared stalls, the effortless mingling of cultures... it was the kind of peace Regis had only read about.

It did not take long before they reached their destination: a large house nestled in one of the quieter parts of the city.

Though its size and design were impressive enough to suggest affluence, it was still just that—a house.

Grand, but not ostentatious.

There were no towering walls, no armed guards, no overwhelming display of wealth.

Certainly not the kind of estate one would expect from the leader of the wealthiest merchant organization in Harmonia, a man known by the moniker "Golden Hand."

Regis raised a brow slightly, "This is his house?"

"Yes."

Vesper replied without pause., "Sir Aurum dislikes excess when it comes to personal matters."

With that, he stepped forward and opened the modest iron gate with a soft creak.

"Let us enter."

Inside, the courtyard was peaceful.

A few maids were tending to the garden, trimming hedges, sweeping the stone path, and watering the flowers that bloomed in subtle hues of gold and violet.

There were no guards stationed outside, nor any sense of urgency or tension.

Just the quiet serenity of a well-kept home.

Vesper gave a small nod and a warm smile to the maids as they passed by.

The maids returned the gesture with polite bows before continuing their work.

As they entered the house, although it was to be expected, Regis and the others were still surprised by the simply furnished interior.

There were no chandeliers on the ceiling, nor grand paintings hung on the walls.

Rustle— Tink— Thud—

’Why is it so quiet?’ Regis thought.

Aside from the occasional sounds coming from the dining area, they could not hear any voices.

’Are Aurelia and Aurum outside, perhaps?’

After a few more steps, they reached a modest dining area with the kitchen just nearby.

However, what greeted their eyes caught them completely off guard.

It was none other than Aurum and Aurelia, both wearing serious expressions on their faces.

The two of them were donned in pink frilly aprons over their outfits as they busied themselves in the kitchen.

Aurelia was holding a piping bag filled with cream, carefully decorating what looked like freshly baked muffins, still releasing a light steam.

Meanwhile, Aurum stood over large flames, tossing a pan with practiced hands, going so far as to flambé it.

Sweat trickled down their temples as they acted like they were in some sort of cooking competition.

"This is unexpected..."

Killian muttered under his breath, prompting the others—and even Eldrin—to chuckle quietly.

Vesper smiled as he gestured toward the dining table.

"Well, you see, Sir Aurum has always had a fondness for cooking. Before founding the Midas Merchant Organization, he actually started out as a cook. His culinary skills were what first earned him the title of Golden Hand."

Regis, Killian, Pandora, and even Eldrin listened with interest as they took their seats at the table.

"Is it alright that we didn’t greet them?" Eldrin asked, absently stroking his beard.

Vesper glanced toward the father and daughter, still engrossed in their work in the kitchen.

"Well, even if we spoke up now, they wouldn’t hear us. It’s better to wait until they’re finished."

After a few more minutes, Aurum and Aurelia finally finished cooking and noticed the group already seated at the dining table.

Aurum took two towels and handed one to his daughter. "Go wipe up first before helping me set the table."

"Okay, Dad!" Aurelia replied cheerfully as her father gave her a fond ruffle on the head.

Meanwhile, Aurum carried over two trays filled with a variety of dishes and approached the table.

"I’m sorry—I didn’t notice you’d already arrived."

He said with a warm, friendly tone.

The smile on his face was relaxed, and he looked as though he was enjoying himself more than he had in a long time.