Chapter 71: Austin Paureen

Four days ago, far across the expanse of the Western Continent, lay the vast and formidable domain of the Vraxen Duchy.

Ruled with an iron grip and unquestioned wisdom by the ancient Veraxes Ducal House, the Vraxen Duchy commanded the entirety of the continent’s Western region.

It was a realm where the atmosphere itself seemed saturated with spiritual essence—a land where magic thrived more vibrantly than anywhere else in the known world.

At the heart of this prosperous realm sat the capital:

The City of Gold.

As massive and awe-inspiring as the legendary City of Dragons, the Golden City was a masterpiece of architectural grandiosity.

Its towering white-stone walls were embedded with shimmering dust that caught the sun, casting a constant, radiant glow over its endless avenues, sprawling districts, and bustling plazas.

Dominating the city’s sky were four colossal structures that pierced the clouds

The Four Magic Towers.

There was the Knowledge Tower, a grand repository housing centuries of lost sorcery.

The Tower of Mysticism, where deep spatial and elemental research was conducted.

The Crimson Tower, home to the combat mages and battle strategists.

And the Golden Tower, which served as the absolute pinnacle of magic research and the administrative seat of the realm’s mages.

Together, these four towers stood as the supreme headquarters for Spirit Mages across the entire Western Continent.

Yet, more than that, they were physical monuments representing the absolute authority of the Golden Duke.

However, the Vraxen Duchy was far from a narrow-minded realm.

Much like the versatile Rynchester Duchy, which embraced both Spirit Mages and Sword Experts, the Vraxen Duchy never discriminated against those who walked the path of the blade.

Sword Experts wandered freely throughout the territory, granted total liberty as long as their intentions remained pure.

While Spirit Mages indisputably held the highest tier of power and dominance in society, they treated Sword Experts with profound respect rather than arrogance.

This rare harmony was a direct result of the Golden Duke’s benevolence.

The monarch had long decreed that every Superhuman, regardless of whether they wielded a staff or a steel blade, was a defender of humanity and a hero of the world.

In the bustling outer ring of the Golden City, a massive, heavily guarded merchant caravan made its way slowly through the crowded cobblestone streets.

Seated comfortably inside one of the primary, rune-reinforced carriages was a handsome young man with his legs casually crossed.

Dressed in luxurious, custom-tailored silk robes that screamed immense wealth, he held a freshly printed newspaper in his hands.

His vibrant emerald-green hair fell stylishly over his forehead, framing a sharp face with striking, deep cerulean eyes.

This was Austin Paureen, the Third Young Master of the legendary Paureen Merchant Group—the single wealthiest family and one of the top ten merchant agencies operating in the Eastern Continent.

Surrounding Austin, hanging out of the carriage’s open window with wide, sparkling eyes, were his younger twin brothers.

Mauri and Jauri Paureen.

Inheriting the family’s iconic emerald-green hair and cerulean eyes, the young boys watched the grand marketplace with beaming, exhilarated smiles.

The Paureen family had crossed oceans and continents for a single, pivotal reason: to finalize a historic, multi-million gold trade deal directly with the Veraxes Ducal Family.

And Austin had been entrusted to lead these delicate negotiations with the sole representative of the Duchy—the famous heiress, Alyse von Veraxes.

Austin exhaled a long, heavy sigh, folding his newspaper as his little brothers began tugging frantically at his silk sleeves.

"Austin! Look at that!" one of the twins shouted, pointing at a street vendor roasting golden, mana-infused beast meat over a aromatic flame. "It smells amazing! Stop the caravan! We want to try some!"

"Yeah, Austin! Please! Just five minutes!" the other twin whined, pouting furiously.

"No," Austin replied smoothly, not a single trace of hesitation in his voice. "We do not stop in the Outer City. We will eat once the caravan is safely situated in the Inner City."

"Why?!" the twins threw a coordinated tantrum, stomping their small boots against the mahogany carriage floor. "We’re hungry now! It’s just a market!"

Austin leaned forward, his cerulean eyes darkening slightly as he fixed his younger brothers with a stern glare. "Need I remind you young bloods of the dangers hidden in these crowded outer districts? Commoner zones are unpredictable.

Have you both already forgotten what happened to your cousin Caelia? She wandered off into an outer market just like this one, got kidnapped by rogue mercenaries, and our family had to hand over a hundred thousand gold coins just to bring her back safely."

The mention of the hundred thousand gold ransom instantly silenced the twins.

Their eyes went wide, and they quickly pulled their heads back inside the carriage, sitting up straight with docile, timid expressions.

Seeing his point hit home, Austin’s stern expression melted into a fond, gentle smile.

He reached out and patted both of their heads.

"Be good. Once we settle down, I will personally send our head bodyguard down here to buy out every single delicacy on that street for you two. How does that sound?"

"Deal!" the twins cheered instantly, their mood bouncing right back to pure excitement.

A few hours later, the caravan arrived at the massive, golden-embossed gates separating the Outer and Inner Cities.

The passage was swift and seamless.

The moment Austin presented the official, wax-sealed invitation letter sent directly by the Veraxes Ducal Family, the armored watchmen bowed respectfully and swung the massive iron gates wide open.

Rather than booking a high-end hotel, Austin demonstrated the absurd financial power of the Paureen Group upon entering the Inner City.

Without blinking, he purchased an entire sprawling, lavish mansion situated merely a few blocks away from the main Veraxes Estate.

Within hours, the Paureens had safely stowed their caravan, posted their elite guards, and settled in to await their official summons from the heiress.

Meanwhile, at the absolute center of the Inner City, standing amidst thousands of acres of private land, sat the magnanimous Golden Castle.

The ancestral seat of the Veraxes Ducal Family.

Deep within the castle’s private, sunlit botanical gardens, a striking young woman stood holding a silver watering can, gently tending to a bed of rare, glowing azure lilies.

This was Alyse von Veraxes.

Having returned from her diplomatic voyage to the Rynchester Duchy not long ago, the young heiress had been buried under a mountain of territory management.

In the absence of her father, the Golden Duke, the overwhelming weight of the Vraxen Duchy rested entirely upon her young shoulders.

It was no easy burden. Many conservative, older nobles within the court were deeply unhappy to see a young woman serving as the sole heiress to the grand Duchy.

During recent official council meetings, several veteran lords had attempted to intimidate, dominate, and push her into a corner.

However, Alyse was not a woman who could ever be dominated.

Brilliant, remarkably crafty, and a formidable First-Layer Spirit Mage Ranker in her own right, she had systematically dismantled her political opponents with sharp intellect and unmatched composure.

Right now, she was taking a brief, well-deserved reprieve.

A elegant, wide-brimmed brown sunhat rested atop her head, shading her delicate, fair face.

Her sleek, liquid-gold hair cascaded gracefully down past her thin waist, glistening brilliantly beneath the midday sun as a subtle, peaceful smile played upon her lips.

Step. Step.

The soft sound of footfalls crunching against garden gravel interrupted the quiet atmosphere.

A tall, completely bald figure dressed in dark, formal butler attire emerged from behind the marble pillars lining the garden.

The bald man stopped a respectful distance away, placing his hand over his heart and bowing his head deeply before his lady.

"My Lady Alyse," the butler spoke in a low, polished voice.

"The Third Young Master of the Paureen Merchant Group, Austin Paureen, has successfully entered the Inner City and established his residence. He awaits your summons to commence negotiations."