Chapter 4: Self

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Su Ye remembered that his parents had once worked at Kaerton’s Dolphin River Restaurant, and Kaerton had personally begged his parents to stay when they were about to leave.

Kaerton was a Silver Warrior. Even though he hadn’t fought in many years, his abilities were far superior to that of a Bronze Warrior.

Kaerton managed several restaurants, and he loved to extend a helping hand to those in need. Everyone in the area knew of Kaerton’s name. He would try his best to fulfill the requests of the people who had connections with him whenever they asked.

Su Ye’s parents had once mentioned that he could go to Mister Kaerton if he encountered any trouble. His parents had also said that Kaerton was backed by a noble, and that his true influence was greater than anyone imagined.

All of the information Su Ye knew about Kaerton surfaced in his mind. He deliberated for a moment before he decided on Kaerton as his final candidate.

He didn’t make the decision because Kaerton was powerful or kind, though. Rather, Su Ye simply had something that would be attractive to Kaerton.

“But, before that…”

Su Ye took off the brown himation he was wearing and closely surveyed his body. There were no jade pendants, no birthmarks, no rings, no necklaces… There was nothing out of the ordinary.

He didn’t lose heart. He experimentally mumbled a few words, such as “System” and “Luck” softly to himself.

Nothing happened in the end.

Su Ye heaved a long sigh before he put his clothes back on.

“I can only rely on myself!” Su Ye concluded. There was a glimmer in his eyes.

Su Ye took a step forward, then stopped suddenly and thought for a few seconds. He placed his hands on the faint wound on his neck and put pressure on it fiercely. He let out a slight moan, but he didn’t stop until fresh blood had welled up.

After he felt that it was enough, Su Ye picked up the spellbook.

The white piece of paper became incredibly shiny, far more brilliant than bronze.

Su Ye used the mirror to look at the wound and traces of blood on his neck with satisfaction. He lowered his head and realized that his clothes weren’t dirty enough. He was just about to dirty his clothes when Kaerton’s image suddenly surfaced in his mind. Instead of dirtying his clothes, he actually patted them down forcefully and tried his best to make them cleaner. However, any keen eye would immediately notice that his clothes were not neat.

“Life ultimately forces me to employ schemes…” Su Ye heaved a quiet sigh. He took a deep breath and walked quickly out the door.

When Su Ye had taken a few steps, he turned his head to look back at the ash-gray building. His mind wandered to the murky living room and the three divine statues.

The expressions of the three divine statues were a blur no matter how hard Su Ye tried to recall them.

One does not look directly at the deities.

Su Ye walked faster.

After he reached the end of the street, Su Ye nonchalantly scanned the area and noticed two familiar faces.

They were two of the men who had stood behind Lawrence the other day.

Su Ye locked gazes with them for a moment, then continued to walk toward the Dolphin River Restaurant.

Su Ye ran through what he knew of the Dolphin River Restaurant as he walked.

The Dolphin River Restaurant was located at the intersection of the workshop district and the lesser noble sector. It was the most upscale of all of the restaurants Kaerton managed, and it could be reluctantly classified as a high-class restaurant in Athens. However, only the lesser nobles would visit the restaurant. There was no way the other nobles would come to a place like that.

Every employee in Dolphin River knew that Kaerton had always wanted to associate himself with influential nobles, especially since he was unable to advance in level after being severely injured. Su Ye’s parents had once said that Kaerton wasn’t a typical merchant, so he must have his reasons for conducting business in the way that he did.

The sun had already set behind the divine statue of Athena by the time Su Ye arrived at the Dolphin River Restaurant.

The Dolphin River Restaurant was located on Ninth Avenue, the most opulent street in the workshop district. One street to the west toward the city center was the area where the nobles lived.

In this world, nobles weren’t just men who had been chosen by luck or fate to rule over society; they were descendants of deities.

Deities were unlike ordinary humans.

There weren’t many people on the road. The door of the Dolphin River Restaurant was open and welcoming.

To the side of the door was a vertical signboard made out of beechwood. Thin silver lines outlined multiple elegant dolphins.

Two muscular men stood along the front wall of the Dolphin River Restaurant, each a dozen meters away from the door. They were observing the situation on the street.

The two men glanced at Su Ye, then allowed him to enter through the door of the Dolphin River Restaurant and into the wide main hall.

Su Ye saw two servers look toward him the moment he entered.

The two quickly scanned over Su Ye. A look of shock crossed one man’s face, while the other walked forward quickly as if everything was normal.

“Esteemed customer, do you require our service?”

Su Ye smiled and said, “Next time, it would be better if you asked, ‘What services do you require?’ Especially if you’re recommending wine.”

Without waiting for the server to react, Su Ye continued, “I am looking for the kind Mr. Kaerton. I have important business with him. If you cannot make the decision, feel free to ask your manager.”

The server hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Please wait for a moment.”

The server left the main hall quickly. Soon after, he returned with a middle-aged man who had a wide smile.

This middle-aged man was dressed in the same way as the two servers and the muscular gentlemen outside. They weren’t wearing himations that reached all the way to their feet like Su Ye, but instead, they wore short robes that fell to their knees.

The left sides of their upper bodies were covered diagonally by a shirt, revealing the right sides of their muscular chests and shoulders.

On his way there, Su Ye saw that people would either wear himations or these short robes that the servers wore. These robes were all loose, drapey, and of simple construction. The multiple pieces of fabric were all held together by a belt. It confirmed a statement Su Ye had once heard about the clothing of the ancient Greeks.

A hundred ways to wear a bedsheet.

“I didn’t expect my little Su Ye to have grown this much in the years since I last saw you!” The middle-aged man let out a jovial laugh.

Su Ye had completely forgotten the name of this manager. He smiled, then approached the topic directly, “I’m honored that you still remember me. I’ve come with an offer for Mr. Kaerton, an offer that would greatly enhance the fame of the Dolphin River. I believe that Mr. Kaerton would definitely like this piece of good news.”

The middle-aged manager said decisively, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to Mr. Kaerton.”

Su Ye nodded and followed the manager forward. He had successfully avoided the awkwardness of being unable to call the other man by name.

The middle-aged man sighed as he walked. “I’ve heard about what happened to your parents, my condolences. Your parents did very well after they left the Dolphin River. Who would think that they would meet with misfortune after borrowing such a large amount of money to expand their business…”

The two of them quickly made their way through the restaurant and arrived in the rear courtyard.

A skinny, jaundiced man with lifeless eyes stood at the door to the courtyard. He was also dressed in a short brown robe, but it hung across his bony frame in a different style. His upper body wasn’t bare but was instead covered in a short-sleeved shirt. He also wore a short cape on his back.

A short sword hung from his waist.

Su Yu recognized this man.

Bronze Warrior Hark. He was once a professional soldier, and he entered the army of the Acropolis after he got injured. Years later, he took on the role of Kaerton’s guard. According to the rumors of the employees in Dolphin River, Hark had killed at least a hundred people.

Hark turned his head slowly when he heard the footsteps of the two people. His skin was withered like old tree bark, as if all the water had been sucked out of his body. Su Ye immediately recalled the little that he had learned of magic. He guessed that Hark had either been severely injured by magic, or some accident had occurred when he was using a magic medicine.

Hark looked at Su Ye, then turned around and ignored him.

“Mister Hark.” The middle-aged manager lowered his head and greeted Hark when he walked past, then continued on into the yard.

“Mister Hark.” Su Ye similarly greeted the man when he passed.

Hark didn’t look at the two people again. He simply gazed at the sky above the yard, his eyes covered by the shadow of the rooftop.