"Security here seems intense. Did themander get assassinated or something?"


    Ss''s mockery didn''t go unnoticed, and the guard''s face immediately darkened.


    "Watch your mouth, my lord," the guard warned.


    "Amoner shouldn''t be speaking to a noble that way," Ss retorted coldly.


    "But a soldier of the Veldyne family certainly can speak that way to a mercenary knight," the guard shot back, making it clear that a knight without connections had no business disrespecting a soldier with backing.


    Ss recognized the Veldyne family name, a name he''d heard before his return from an oldrade:


    "They were a well-regarded viscount family in that region, well-respected by many."


    Given the guard''s attitude, the family clearly held significant influence here—enough for amoner to challenge a noble openly. Puffing out his chest, the guard asked again, "I''ll ask onest time. What''s your business here?"


    The guard''s arrogant voice echoed confidence, as if he wouldn''t repeat the question again. When Ss nced over, he saw Henrik clenching his fists in frustration. Ss and hispanions were technically Henrik''s guests, making the guard''s behavior an insult to both them and Henrik. Ss''s voice turned icily calm.


    "Ss Corleone. Here on knightly duties."


    "Corleone? And just where might that be? Wait… Corleone?"


    The guard initially prepared to scoff, but he paused, eyes widening.


    "Don''t tell me… you''re from the Corleone family of the East?"


    "The same family founded by the dragonyer Leonik," Ss confirmed.


    The guard''s face turned pale. Realizing his mistake, he stepped aside, trembling slightly. "I… I apologize, sir! I didn''t recognize you!"


    "Just step aside," Ssmanded.


    The guard quickly moved out of their way, his earlier arrogance nowhere to be seen. Once they were inside, Henrik, looking surprised, turned to Ss.


    "Are you from a famous family?"


    "Fairly well-known. You haven''t heard of us?"


    Henrik scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "I didn''t get much education."


    In a world where most people lived and died in the viges they were born in, it wasn''t unusual formon knowledge across the continent to be unknown in certain ces.


    "Understandable," Ss said, shrugging.


    "Thank you for understanding. The inn is that way. If you need more guidance…," Henrik trailed off.


    "No, that will be sufficient."


    Ss parted ways with Henrik and headed toward the inn. The closer he got, the more his heart pounded. His old friend often talked about this ce, iming he took up the role of an innkeeper just to have something to do.


    "He should be here by now."


    As Ss reached the inn, raised voices echoed from within. It sounded like an argument. Ray stopped near the entrance and looked at Ss.


    "Should we wait a bit before going in?"


    "No, let''s see what''s going on."


    Ss pushed open the door. The voices he''d heard from outside grew clearer, revealing two groups at odds. One group consisted of the innkeeper and a few local men, while the other was a well-dressed man and his soldiers.


    "You call that a solution?" the innkeeper growled.


    "And why wouldn''t it be?" the well-dressed man shrugged.


    Furious, the innkeeper gripped the edge of a table. "With the food we have, people are on the verge of starvation already. You think five sacks of grain will help? Who would that even feed?"


    "That''s not my problem."


    "You little…!" One of the men lunged forward, but the innkeeper held him back by the shoulder. When the man backed off, still seething, the smug stranger raised his voice triumphantly.


    "This isn''t only the baron''s decision. It''s the wish of the Veldyne family as well."


    "And you think that''s something to brag about? Can''t even manage your own affairs, and you''re dancing to the tune of another family?"


    The well-dressed man''s face twisted in annoyance. Unable toe up with a retort, he turned away sharply.


    "Anyway, five sacks. Don''t expect any more."


    "Bastard!"


    "If you don''t like it, why not start a rebellion? If you have the guts, that is."


    The man strutted toward the entrance with his soldiers. Seeing Ss''s group, he smirked and called back into the inn.


    "Look, more guests! Fortunate, isn''t it? With them here, you can feed at least one more person!"


    The innkeeper shook with anger, and Ray and Toby frowned, having witnessed the insult. Though they didn''t fully understand the situation, it was clear they had been mocked and used. As the soldiers left, curses erupted from within the inn.


    "Bastards!"


    "Sir, please make a decision!"


    "Just say the word, and we''ll take them down!"


    "Enough!"


    The innkeeper''s shout silenced the men around him. Once calm returned, he looked toward Ss and hispanions.


    "Guests, we''ll talkter. Leave us for now."


    The men grumbled but retreated. Ss stepped closer, examining the innkeeper. Beneath his leather clothes, his muscr frame and grizzled beard made him look at least ten years older than he was.


    "Bjorn."


    Here stood Ss''s formerrade, the one he had once chosen as the rightful king of the North.


    "Shop''s open;e on in," Bjorn said with a nod.


    "Then we won''t decline," Ss replied, striding over to take a seat at one of the tables. The middle-aged men around seemed like they had more to say, but after a moment of hesitation, they moved back. Bjorn crossed his arms, his thick muscles bulging as he did.


    "Lodging or a meal?" he asked.


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    "Are you a noble yourself?" Ray inquired, noting Bjorn''s self-assured tone.


    Bjorn nodded without hesitation. "Bjorn Veldyne."


    "Veldyne?" Toby muttered, narrowing his eyes. "The man you were arguing with earlier also mentioned the Veldyne family, didn''t he?"@@novelbin@@


    Bjorn''s face grew bitter. "It''s a long story. I''ve had some… difficulties with my kin."


    Ray didn''t press further; it was impolite to pry into personal issues unless the other person chose to disclose them. Toby put down a ss of water with a huff.


    "Now then, is it a meal or lodging?"


    "Start with the price," Ss replied.


    "Lodging is three silver coins, and a meal is one silver coin," Bjorn said.


    "What?" Toby and Ray exchanged shocked nces at the steep price. Even for the high prices in the North, this was excessive. Bjorn averted his gaze, clearly aware of the ridiculous price.