Chapter 49 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

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Chapter 49: The Strength of Resolve

 

 

"Why are so many outstanding figures showing up today? Wasn't that Isaac just now—the only son of the president of the Monro Trading Guild? I heard he was recently entrusted with escorting an important item to the Keira Empire. What's he doing here in the capital?"

 

"And Andrew, the young city lord of Tuden City—he's rarely seen in Saint Lanriel. Something major must be happening for so many influential figures to gather here."

 

The inn's hall buzzed with speculation as several tables of patrons joined the discussion, their voices overlapping in excited whispers.

 

"You're way behind the times. Of course there's a reason they're all here. Word has it that the royal court is about to recruit new dragon knights. Registration opens the day after tomorrow. That's an insider tip—not yet widespread, but it won't stay quiet for long. In the coming days, expect a flood of people from all across the Arslanka Empire to arrive. The ones you're seeing now are just the early birds with good connections."

 

The moment the cause was revealed, a new wave of chatter swept the crowd.

 

"The imperial court is recruiting dragon knights? But I thought they only held selections once every five years. It's only been three since the last one!"

 

"I've heard the dragon knight corps has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Maybe the court is investing heavily in them. Imagine this—when war breaks out, the skies filled with Arslanka's dragon riders. What a majestic sight that would be!"

 

"If only I could become a dragon knight too…"

 

That final line struck a chord with nearly everyone in the room. After all, what young man hadn't once dreamed of soaring through the skies on dragon-back?

 

"Dream on," someone scoffed from across the hall. "You think the imperial dragon knight corps is easy to get into? It's a brutal selection process. Just the age requirement alone would disqualify half of you, not to mention the physical and magical strength needed. To form a bond with a dragon and truly become a dragon knight requires exceptional talent in every way."

 

Though the tone was harsh, it wasn't wrong. In previous years, tens of thousands applied for the selection, but fewer than two out of every thousand were accepted. And this year, the recruitment was unexpectedly early—only three years since the last. The criteria would surely be even more stringent, and more applicants would be turned away than ever before.

 

"My dream used to be becoming a dragon knight," Elia said with a wistful gleam in his eyes, but it quickly faded into a sigh. "But I'm self-aware. With my abilities, I don't stand a chance."

 

"Are dragon knights really that amazing?" Ge Yan asked, understanding the sentiment. Before being inexplicably thrown into this world, he too had once held a dream—one that now seemed even more distant than Elia's. Thankfully, he was someone who could roll with the punches.

 

"Of course they are!" Elia nodded eagerly and launched into an enthusiastic explanation about how great dragon knights were.

 

The knight corps was one of the elite branches under the imperial army, and the dragon knight division stood at its pinnacle. Every dragon knight was selected through an extremely rigorous process, chosen from the most gifted individuals across the Arslanka Empire. Though many came from noble backgrounds, commoners also had a real shot.

 

Anyone who passed the selection and became a dragon knight would eventually receive a dragon to bond with—a prospect so tempting that even nobles were moved by it. For commoners, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rewrite their fate.

 

After all, even a warrior trained in both magic and martial arts might never have the chance to form a bond with a magical beast—let alone a dragon. But to become a dragon knight meant owning the very creature others only dreamed about. That dream was powerful enough to compel nobles and commoners alike to consider it a path of utmost importance.

 

Now, even with recruitment happening two years early and catching many unprepared, countless people were already preparing to join the selection. And this was only the first day—far more would soon flood into the capital.

 

Ge Yan and Elia had been lucky. Had they arrived just a few days later, there might not have been a single vacancy left in even the cheapest inns.

 

In fact, while they were still finishing their meal, Yami's Cottage had already filled to capacity.

 

More guests continued to arrive. Some, finding themselves without a room, insisted on staying anyway. One spoiled noble heir, in particular, was adamant about lodging there. The staff tried explaining, but he refused to listen. To him, staying at Yami's Cottage—a symbol of wealth and nobility—was a matter of pride. He couldn't stand the thought of others looking down on him. Even his guards couldn't convince him otherwise.

 

"I don't care! I'm staying here, and that's final!" the young master whined, firmly planting himself at the entrance like an immovable child.

 

The guards didn't dare manhandle him, standing off to the side with helpless expressions.

 

The inn's attendants looked equally troubled. It wasn't that they were unwilling to help—it was simply that there were no rooms left. After all, those who stayed at Yami's Cottage weren't short on coin. They came for the prestige. Even offering double the price wouldn't move any of the current guests.

 

"You two! Give me one of your rooms. I'll pay you three times the price!"

 

Ge Yan and Elia blinked in stunned silence at the young heir who had suddenly marched up to them. He stood there, full of arrogance and wealth, as if money could move mountains. They'd only been bystanders watching the scene unfold—how had they suddenly become part of the show? What twisted impulse had led this rich kid to pick them for his dramatic display?

 

Elia turned helplessly toward Ge Yan. He'd never been in a situation like this before.

 

Ge Yan calmly put down his bowl and cast a sidelong glance at the noble youth. "Do I look like someone who needs a few hundred gold coins?"

 

"So you're saying… your room's an A-grade suite?" The noble's eyes lit up, completely ignoring the implied insult.

 

That's what caught your attention? Seriously?

 

Ge Yan gave a slow nod. "It is. So what?"

 

"Perfect!" the young noble beamed. "I love A-grade rooms. Name your price. I've got more gold than I know what to do with."

 

"Master…" One of the guards tried to interject, clearly nervous that Ge Yan might take offense. After all, this was Saint Lanriel—here, even the commoners on the street might secretly be nobles in disguise. And a place like Yami's Cottage only raised those odds. But the young master didn't pick up on his guard's desperate cues and simply looked expectantly at Ge Yan.

 

By now, Ge Yan had the young heir figured out—this was someone raised in a gilded greenhouse, sheltered from the world, never having suffered the smallest of setbacks. Though his words sounded obnoxious, there wasn't a trace of malice in them. He was just naïve. With that thought, Ge Yan said mildly, "You're so insistent on staying here, aren't you? Fine. Let's see the strength of your resolve."

 

The young noble blinked. "My… resolve?"

 

After a brief pause, he untied the pouch from his waist and dropped it onto the table with a loud clink. "There are ten thousand gold coins in here."

 

Ge Yan lifted the pouch, weighed it in his palm—not that he could actually tell. Still, he had no reason to doubt the young noble's honesty over something so trivial. So he flicked his room token over.

 

"Deal."

 

Everyone nearby: "……"

 

Elia: "……"

 

Wait—what?! That actually worked?!

 

People around them stared at Ge Yan as if he were an alien creature. Some didn't know whether to scorn him for being so easily bought, while others were green with envy—he had just made nearly ten thousand gold for doing nothing.

 

The young master was overjoyed as he scooped up the room token. He didn't feel the slightest bit taken advantage of. Glancing at Ge Yan with admiration, he nodded approvingly and said, "You're alright," then pranced upstairs, utterly pleased with himself. If he had a tail, it would've been wagging sky-high.

 

The guard sighed. It wasn't worth it, not in the slightest. But seeing how happy his master was, he chose not to stir up more trouble.

 

Elia turned to Ge Yan with wide, sparkling eyes. "Jimmy, you're amazing."

 

Ge Yan leaned over and whispered, "Easy money. It's not like I'm joining the Dragon Knight selection or anything. Tonight, just share your room with me. I'll give you a fifth of the gold. That's enough to pay Rex back immediately."

 

"N-no, I can't. You earned that money yourself…" Elia shook his head vigorously. Even a fifth was two thousand gold. He couldn't take it.

 

"What do you mean 'can't'? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to give up the room so easily. Don't argue. It's settled." Ge Yan ended the conversation decisively.

 

After dinner, they headed back upstairs, unaware that from one of the private rooms on the second floor, two pairs of eyes had been watching them the entire time—until their silhouettes disappeared down the hallway.

 

"That one's interesting," said the muscular young man leaning by the window. "I thought he'd fly off the handle and flip the table, maybe throw a punch or two. Didn't expect he'd actually go through with it. No backbone, maybe, but that merchant-like sharpness reminds me a lot of you."

 

The speaker was Andrew, the young lord of Tuden City. A rare talent in both martial and magical arts, he looked even more formidable than most twenty-year-olds, but now he wore a teasing smile as he glanced at the man seated across from him—Isaac.

 

Isaac—son of the president of the Monro Trading Guild, the most powerful commercial guild in the Arslanka Empire—was no ordinary young man. He'd grown up steeped in the world of commerce and negotiation. And while his talent for cultivation was remarkable, his acumen for making money was even more formidable.

 

Isaac only chuckled at Andrew's remark. "And what makes you so sure he gave in because he lacked spine—rather than because he intended to earn that gold from the start?"

 

"Isn't it obvious? If he hadn't backed down, that rich brat wouldn't have let it go. If they'd fought, those two wouldn't have stood a chance," Andrew replied coolly. His sharp eyes had already assessed Ge Yan and Elia's strength—it wasn't anything to write home about.

 

Isaac didn't argue. "You really think a fight could've broken out here?"

 

Andrew fell silent, unwilling to admit the truth. After a beat, he muttered, "Well… they can't hide inside forever, can they?"

 

Isaac merely smiled, saying nothing.

 

"Fine, fine. You're right," Andrew finally relented, raising both hands in mock surrender under Isaac's steady gaze.

 

Isaac turned to the window, squinting into the sunlit streets beyond. He thought back to that young man—how he had clearly wanted to haggle but still managed to put on a show of calm dignity. The memory made him chuckle.

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