The black-haired man replied immediately. "I will follow you Aurum, you saved me when I was lost. You became my friend and gave me a home to return to. And while that home might have lost its walls. I know we will find it once again."
Geo on the other hand rubbed his hair with his palm in annoyance. "Agh! I have a feeling this is again something that is going to be incredibly stupid! Whatever! While I am not as devoted as Lars, you did save me multiple times at the academy.
"Fine. I didn't have much of a plan anyway aside from getting money. Lead on Aurum, I won't always agree with you but I will try my best to make sure you don't do something completely moronic."
Getting the answers he expected made him happy. Aurum did a quick fist bump with Geo and patted Lars on the shoulder. "Then follow me." The trio approached Alan who sat on a nearby box with his hands on his face. His business had a really bad year thus the frustration and desperation started to mess with his mental health.
Hach who noticed the approaching scrawny youths blocked their path to Alan. "Stop right there. Who are you and why have you approached us?" Aurum came forward and started to introduce himself. "I couldn't help but overhear your little problem about not having a noble house to back you. I am in need of a way to go to the Frozen dew forest. Maybe we can help each other out?"
"It is incredibly suspicious, didn't your mother teach you to stop spouting lies boy? How can a random nobody have the backing of a noble." Hach through his years of guarding Alan learned of the plots and tricks people use to trick one into buying or trading something.
The odds that a solution to the problem you have to immediately appear is close to impossible, this meant only one thing. That the Insurance company purposely placed the requirement for nobles to sell the need for whatever wares this group of boys peddled.
To show his seriousness, Hach brought his two-handed ax to bear in a show of intimidation and force. However, the voice to speak next came not from the blond boy but from the master Hach protected.
"Hach, wait, golden irises, and blond hair, you are the bastard son of the former viscount Standar aren't you?" Alan who knew the power of information pieced together the bits and pieces from what he saw.
Unfortunately, right now the Standar are not even nobles anymore, and this made the merchant question the grand claims of the bastard in a condescending manner. "How can you help me when you aren't even part of the nobility? The Standar are finished boy after that scandal no one would trust your family with anything ever again."
Lars who wanted to rebut his claim got stopped by Aurum. "Indeed, right now my name and lineage can no longer be used as a guarantee; But what about him?" At the man's words, Geo came forward, his expression a mix of irritation, resignation, and anger.
"Red hair! You are a son of the Renacida! Forgive me, my lord! I do not know which among the noble sons you are. Your family is far too discreet. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
Due to the unique nature of the war family, internally Alan saw the hopes of being able to get the backing his expedition needed. 'This could work! The Renacida while poor wield unimaginable power as a war family despite being only a barony! Any of the three sons could be used as a guarantee!'
Fulgeo smiled wryly answering in a voice full of self-derision. "I am the fourth son, the one that left the family a year ago. My brothers are all in the suppression force sent to the west."
Hach, even though he never paid any attention to politics knew the Renacida, they were what every mercenary and adventurer aspired to become. "The Renacida has a fourth son? Are you an illegitimate bastard or something? How come I never heard of you?"
Accepting the insult Geo choose not to respond, as compared to the rest of his family he was mediocre at best; It is a fact that only he had zero accomplishments to his name. A father who led a company of adepts that won entire campaigns singlehandedly. A mother known as the "Burning Valkyrie" who fought in three separate wars undefeated.
Just the parents were amazing enough, add to that three sons, who had the monikers, "Red Brain of Valorious", "Berserker of Burning Blood", and "Knight of Scorching flames". You would already understand how revered the Renacida were.
Aurum tried to guide the conversation by highlighting the significance of Geo."While he might not have yet had his chance to enter the world stage, it is a fact that he is a Renacida. And as one of the few families who have yet to send an expedition to the Dominii empire, an eligible backer."
Hach interrupted to give his opinion on the matter, "Of course that would be the case, the Renacida do not squabble for money. They do so for honor. Plus they are poor as fuck! Where would they even get the money to finance an expedition?"
Alan after a few moments stood up and replied, "Alright, I'll bite, theoretically, the Renacida can vouch for me, and that would solve all my problems but why would they? Also, you would need to surrender proof as collateral. Besides the word of a fourth son does not hold much weight."
Aurum then attempted to show that Alan is focusing on the wrong stuff. "Does any of that manner? All you need is to leave the city and head for the Dominii capital. You are stuck at the door, and we have the key. Does how the insurance collect or who makes the guarantee matter?"
"Fair enough, a promise from the Renacida is worth its weight in gold. Fine I accept your terms what do want in exchange?" asked the merchant.
"Get us to the Frozen dew valley. The faster the better." Aurum replied. Alan who heard the son of Standar's reply thought for a moment. "Are your passports in order? Without them, the Valorious militia will not allow anyone to travel."
"None of us has left the empire yet. Plus right now I am the one responsible for a debt to Don Carlo so we can't even apply. But there is another group of people who can leave without passes."
"And who might that be? The church? I know what you are thinking off and it will not work. The people guarding the empire right now are from various battle harems, being able to sneak past a checkpoint is close to impossible."
"No, Slaves." Answered Aurum.
When Lars and Geo heard their friend's words, Lars adapted and thought about what life would be as like as a slave. Meanwhile, Fulgeo on the other hand grew resistant.
"Aurum, I said most of your ideas are stupid but this is beyond mere stupidity and is approaching the levels of insanity. You are asking Lars and me to sell our freedom all to follow the fortune from the seer hiding in the church we don't know is credible or not!?"
Hearing the debating of Aurum and Fulgeo, Alan then interjected. "Boy, it is illegal to turn a person into a slave, unless he is a criminal or he chooses to become one himself. It is obvious that the bastard doesn't intend to go through with your plan even if I do agree. Sort that matter out yourselves then come back here tomorrow. "