Chapter 188 Meeting With The Royalty

Suzuka's astonishment continued to linger as she stammered in surprise, her words coming out in a rush, "But, but, but... you don't wear fancy gear and equipment. You look like an average adventurer. You live within the elite town walls, and you own a mansion. I assume you're jingling a serious coin as well. Why walk around with shabby gear, or better yet, why even be an adventurer? Surely, you didn't amass all those coins from a few goblin-slaying missions." 

Larry chuckled softly, a hint of mystery dancing in his eyes. 

"Well," he began, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, "I have my reasons, Helen. Let's leave it at that for now."

Suzuka couldn't help but feel that there was more to Larry's story than met the eye. She decided not to push the matter further, trusting that her friend had his own motivations and secrets, just as she did.

"As you wish," she replied with a playful grin, "Your secrets are yours to keep, Larry. But I must say, I'm looking forward to this meeting with the town ruler. It's not every day a low-life adventurer like me gets to step foot inside a luxury place like this."

Larry's tone grew more serious as he urged, "If you wish to meet the ruler, we mustn't linger. He's a man of great importance, and we wouldn't want to keep such a figure waiting, would we?"

 Larry led the way towards the grand palace, Suzuka at his side. As they approached the towering structure, they were met by the imposing presence of the palace guards, their uniforms adorned with the symbols of authority. These guards, though stoic, executed their duties with military precision. With a sense of formality, the guards recognized Larry, they exchanged a few words with him, confirming their appointment, and then courteously escorted the duo inside. 

Before stepping into the throne room, Larry offered Suzuka a final piece of advice. 

"Here we are," he whispered, his voice carrying a note of caution. 

"This is the throne room. When we enter, let's be on our best behavior. The last thing we want is to find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, alright?"

Suzuka couldn't help but let out a mischievous giggle at Larry's advice.

 "What? Do I look like David?" she said playfully. 

"Don't worry, Larry, I promise I'll be as well-behaved as a goblin in the presence of royalty."

Larry smiled and said, "Well, that did not make me less worried."

With that, they pushed open the ornate doors and stepped into the royal expanse of the throne room, ready to face the ruler.

The doors swung open with an impressive heft, revealing the grandeur of the throne room. At the far end of the room, beneath the soft glow of crystal chandeliers, sat a majestic throne. Upon it, regally adorned, was the ruler of Rockmine Town, a figure of authority draped in rich robes that seemed to shimmer with an inner light. To his right stood his trusted confidant, an elegant elf with striking, pointed ears - Valerius, the advisor.

Suzuka's keen eye didn't miss the distinctive elven features of the man by the throne, and she couldn't help but lean towards Larry and whisper, "Is the elf standing by the throne Valerius?"

Larry nodded subtly, his voice hushed as he replied, "Indeed, Helen. That's Valerius, the advisor to the ruler and the top executive of MIS of Rockmine Town."

As they approached, the ruler on the throne, known as Lord Thalen, turned his piercing gaze toward the guests. His face, marked with the wisdom of years spent in leadership, bore a royal composure. Lord Thalen had guided the town through prosperity and peril, earning the respect and admiration of his people.

With a nod from Valerius, Larry and Suzuka approached the throne, their footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. They came to a respectful halt before the ruler, their heads slightly bowed in respect.

Lord Thalen's voice, smooth and resonant, filled the room.

 "Welcome," he began, acknowledging their presence with a warm but measured smile. 

"I am Lord Thalen, ruler of Rockmine Town. And you must be the adventurer Larry had mentioned, Helen was it, yes?"

Larry, standing tall beside Suzuka, recognized the importance of this moment. He inclined his head respectfully and answered, "Your Grace, yes, this is Helen, a renowned adventurer known for her remarkable skills. We deeply appreciate your gracious invitation."

Suzuka, with a graceful curtsey, offered a warm smile and replied, "Indeed, my lord, it's an honor to be in your presence. And yes, Helen is the name."

Lord Thalen's eyes crinkled at the corners as his smile widened, a sign of genuine warmth.

 "Ah, Helen, Larry. No need for such formalities. Speak freely." he insisted.

 After a short pause, he continued, "I must say, your name is as beautiful and intriguing as your reputation. I've heard tales of your exploits, and I must say, they are quite impressive."

"Ah, yes," Valerius chimed in, his words flowing smoothly, "Your feats, I must admit, are quite remarkable indeed. Not even a year has passed since you graced our town with your presence, and yet, you've managed to draw attention to yourself in ways that cannot be ignored."

Valerius, known for his meticulous attention to detail, continued, "In the span of a mere few months, your standing within the guild has ascended significantly. Not only that, you've advanced your mastery over the magic box, with the potential to reach even greater heights. The fact that you've single-handedly dispatched high-tier monsters is proof of your exceptional prowess."

He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he recited her achievements.

 "Participating in the mission to rescue the kidnapped girls, and succeeding without any casualties, was a feat worthy of recognition. Then, of course, there was the Grand Minotaur tournament. While you may have ultimately met defeat, it was nothing short of impressive, not least because you bested the most accomplished magic box power user, our highest-ranked practitioner."

Valerius's tone grew more earnest as he came to the pinnacle of her accomplishments.

 "And, perhaps most significantly, you played a pivotal role in assisting Larry in the recovery of our valuable asset from those bandits. Your contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary."

The elf's gaze, though reserved, held a glimmer of respect as he concluded, "Your journey in Rockmine Town has been nothing short of remarkable, and it is with great anticipation that we welcome you into the presence of Lord Thalen the ruler of Rockmine town."

Thalen's laughter echoed through the grand chamber, a melodic sound that hinted at a ruler with a sense of humor. His eyes sparkled with warmth as he turned to Valerius, his trusted advisor, and said, "Thank you, Valerius. I could not have put it better myself."

Then his gaze turned back to his guest, "Indeed, we are deeply impressed by your prowess and the tales of your adventures that have reached our ears."

Valerius nodded in acknowledgment, his elven features composed but with a glimmer of pride. He had vouched for Suzuka's capabilities, and it was clear that Lord Thalen held his words in high regard.

Suzuka felt a surge of pride at the ruler's words, though she maintained her respectful demeanor, with Larry standing tall and resolute beside her. But Suzuka hadn't come here to listen to flattery; she had come to hear what the great ruler had to offer. 

Without beating around the bush, she asked, "Thank you for the compliments, Ruler Thalen, Valerius, but I assume I wasn't invited just to receive praise and be told how well I've done. So let's get straight to the point that matters; we can save the flattery for later."

Thalen, a man of humor and wit, let out a hearty laugh and replied, "Ah, a direct one, aren't you? I like that! Very well, let's get straight to business."

Lord Thalen, with an air of authority, extended his hand in a gracious gesture and said, "Please, explain to our guest, Valerius."

The elf advisor stepped forward with a composed demeanor. Valerius cleared his throat before launching into his proposal, his keen elven eyes darting between Larry and Suzuka as he spoke. 

"Of course, my Lord," Valerius began, his eyes reflecting a deep concern.

 "You see, Helen, the goblin threat is a constant menace to us all, a shadow that lingers over the land. Yet, I must admit, these creatures, as troublesome as they are, possess remarkable qualities. Their resilience, their ability to heal swiftly, their survival skills, and even their immunity to certain poisons are nothing short of extraordinary. They seem to endure, no matter the odds, in the treacherous forests that surround us. It's clear that they won't simply disappear from the dark forests that surround us."

Valerius paused for a moment, allowing his words to settle. He continued, his voice firm and resolute, "It was during my investigations that I stumbled upon a rather intriguing rumor. A goblin had managed to escape from the breeding farms and was not only fluent in our language but also surprisingly cooperative. Now, such cases are not entirely unheard of, but this one gave me an idea. What if we could utilize this goblin to locate and eliminate all the hidden breeding farms scattered throughout the land that are engulfed in corrupted magic? Extract every morsel of information from him and then use him to communicate with his fellow goblins, sharing vital insights into their affairs. We might even employ him as an undercover agent within other farms before dismantling them. This, Helen, would deliver a colossal blow to the goblin kingdom's military might."

With a smile and stern gaze, Suzuka asked Valerius, "Sounds fun and all but I still don't see a clear picture where I come into play."