Chapter 537: The Governor
As Alystren and the rest of the crew entered through the mansion's double doors, they were greeted by a lined array of workers.
Ladies in black-and-white maid uniforms bowed their heads as they entered.
The smell of luxury filled the air, and the sparkling chandeliers, delicately hanging from the intricately patterned ceiling, glistened in their eyes with the pride of a peacock.
Velvet carpets sprawled across the marble floor, each step sinking into the plush fabric, silencing their footsteps.
The grand hall stretched far, its towering walls adorned with finely detailed tapestries depicting historical triumphs and legendary battles, their colors rich and deep as if freshly
woven.
To the left, a sprawling staircase of dark, polished wood and golden railings twisted upward like the tail of a sleeping dragon, leading to the mansion's upper levels.
The banisters gleamed in the soft light filtering through the tall, arched windows, draped in heavy crimson curtains, adding a sense of royalty to the ambiance.
Along the walls, tall vases filled with vibrant bouquets of roses and lilies emitted a faint fragrance that mingled with the rich scent of polished wood and the slightest hint of lavender. The faint echo of distant music floated from somewhere deeper inside the mansion.
In every corner, statues of warriors and mythical beasts stood frozen in time, their stone gazes locked on anyone who dared meet their eyes.
Every inch of the space seemed designed to inspire awe, as though the very walls whispered the prestige and power of those who called this place home.
Then a well-pronounced footstep began to shake the mansion.
Alystren's eyes darkened at the first step; his composure seemed to return just as the footstep began to resound.
Northern, who saw him steady himself in that moment, wondered how dangerous the approaching person was.
He wasn't surprised by the heavy steps; thanks to his excellent spatial awareness, he had already assessed the person's size.
But Shin and Ryan had no idea, which explained their shock as the man came into view.
The man's sheer size easily dominated the room. He was a tower, standing well over seven feet tall, with broad shoulders that seemed capable of supporting the weight of the world.
With each movement of his arms and legs, his muscles strained beneath his pristine white suit, which contrasted sharply with his silver hair and beard.
His features were chiseled like granite, his jawline sharp and his nose prominent, giving him a commanding presence that left no doubt about his authority.
He finally stopped before all the visitors, looking down at them, the sparkle of the chandeliers dancing on his neat, slicked-back hair, which hinted at his age but did nothing to diminish the raw power he exuded.
The man resembled a polar bear in human form, evoking strength, resilience, and a quiet but unmistakable danger.
"I greet you all. Welcome to my home."
Northern frowned tiredly as he heard the man's voice. The intensity of its thickness vibrated in his chest.
'I'm beginning to develop a certain disgust and displeasure for thick voices,' he thought. The man examined them all again with a cold, calculating gaze, carrying the same piercing intensity one might expect from a predator sizing up its prey.
He lingered in silence before his next words reached them.
"I wasn't expecting this, but since it's the Tharion Citadel, I can't refuse. I do owe you all a favor after all."
He said, letting out a wild, earthquaking laugh that made them shift subtly with unease. He abruptly stopped his thunderous laughter and tapped Alystren's shoulder with his huge hand. Under such a hand, Alystren's shoulder looked slender and fragile.
"It's been a while since I saw you, Alystren. The maids will see you all to your rooms. Enjoy your stay."
He tapped Alystren's shoulder gently again and then eventually turned around, walking back toward where he came from.
The whole crew watched him leave, awe evident in their eyes.
The boy, however, had his pale face flushed tomato red, and his eyes sparkled as he watched the man walk away.
'Is he a descendant of giants?' Northern wrestled with the question for a while, his cold gaze glued to the man's enormous back.
Then he turned to Alystren. "I'm sorry, who is that?"
The boy grimaced at Northern and yelled, "That's the governor, you fool!"
Northern's eyes widened slightly. He was shocked to his core.
All the time they had been walking here, he hadn't imagined the governor to be someone like this.
He had envisioned a governor as frail and weak, a mundane human-or at least a drifter who prioritized wealth over strength.
There was a stereotype about how people like him looked.
But this man looked nothing like a governor.
One of the maids, wearing rectangular glasses, stepped forward after the governor's
footsteps had faded and addressed them.
"Please follow me. I will show you to your rooms."
"And don't you dare come out until the day you leave this castle."
"Shut up, Darioyle," the maid commanded at once, and immediately, the boy went graveyard
quiet, composed like a musical note.
Northern glanced at them both, dazed.
"Please follow me," she said, her voice smooth, as if it hadn't just gained a fiery tone a
moment ago.
Northern gulped. 'I get it; I understand. These are the kinds of people you fear the most.'
Without further words, he obediently followed the lady up the stairs to their left.
The lady took them to the next floor and showed them to their rooms, which were ten feet apart along the same wall.
Northern entered the luxurious bedroom and took a moment to breathe in the view.
He glanced around with a small smile.
"Crap. I love the smell of luxury. I think I love antiques too."
He rushed over to the shelf on the left wall, his eyes sparkling as they scanned the series of
small statues and pocket watches displayed there.
An old painting on the wall depicted a bearded man riding a beast resembling a deer with
branched antlers.
'Ah, what's it called again...?' Northern pondered.
'Crap, whatever.'
He rushed over to the collection of paintings hung together on the wall that framed the
window.
The soft, large bed dominated the room, its brown-beige color inviting and warm.
He had never found himself loving a space like this one.
He opened the window and leaned against it, smiling pleasantly as he felt the garden breeze
brush against his hair.
Then he glanced down.
"Oh?"
A woman in a white shirt tucked into black trousers and knee-high boots was swinging her
sword, carefully calculating her paces.