Chapter 175: Welcome to Raksa County
Seeing Yuvika, the guard immediately stepped aside. As the only daughter of the Yugo Merchant House’s master, her word was enough.
"Welcome to Raksa County," the short-haired young woman greeted warmly.
"It’s been a while, Yuvika," Gara replied, extending his hand.
Yuvika greeted him with her face flushed red. "Come with me. I’ve already arranged an inn for you. Hilda from Alrova told me she’d be covering your expenses here. But she’s not the only one working with you, Sir Gara. Yugo House is, too. So please, don’t refuse our goodwill."
"Alright, then. I won’t hold back," Gara replied, making Yuvika brim with happiness.
With Yuvika’s carriage leading the way, they headed to the inn she had prepared.
After winding through the county streets, they arrived at a lodging house. Yuvika had clearly chosen well.
The location wasn’t far from the teleportation portal, yet it wasn’t in a crowded district either. Comfortable, discreet, and just right—especially for Gara, whose striking looks always drew too many stares.
Madha and Fian carried down three cloth bags from their carriage. The bags weren’t large but could hold enough clothes for the trip.
Yuvika didn’t question it, simply assuming they hadn’t brought much on purpose.
As she led them inside, Yuvika began discussing their plans. "In the capital, I haven’t arranged an inn for you, Sir Gara. My father owns a house there. It’s not in the city center, but it’s close to Gyakarta Academy."
"That might be too much trouble," Gara declined politely. "Staying in someone’s home when the owner isn’t around..."
"You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll be going to the capital too. I’m applying to Gyakarta Academy as well." Yuvika smiled shyly.
The two young men walking behind Gara immediately grew wary. Every time, it seemed Gara attracted new people who disrupted their time together. Still, they kept their silence.
"I really don’t mind if Sir Gara stays at my house," Yuvika insisted, almost as if she were the one begging a favor. "It would only be for one month, until the academy starts."
"I’d prefer an inn," Gara replied, still refusing. "I need a private room, one that no one can enter."
"If that’s what you’re worried about, you can rest easy. I’ll make sure a room is prepared just for you, and no one will be allowed inside while you’re there."
Seeing that the girl wasn’t about to give up, Gara finally nodded. Fian and Madha, however, did not look reassured.
"Oh, and besides me, Kevio will also be enrolling at Gyakarta Academy. Do you remember Kevio, Sir Gara? He’s the son of Uncle Keenan, the factory owner where Orman works."
Gara only responded with a nod, not particularly interested. Yuvika seemed to understand and dropped the subject.
"The items you ordered through Hilda have already been placed in your room. There’s also a package that just arrived yesterday from Falopo Town. It must have been sent on a fast horse, it actually made it here first."
Some of the things Gara had ordered were admittedly strange and uncommon, like heavy thick clothes. But Yugo House didn’t question such things. They would never pry into the affairs of a business partner.
And for Yuvika herself, there was no request she wouldn’t grant for her idol.
"Alright. Thank you, Yuvika," Gara said.
"Then I’ll leave you to rest. If you need anything, just call me through the crystal ring."
Gara was about to nod when he suddenly remembered the package delivered from Falopo Town.
"Could you wait in another room for a moment? There’s something I need to tell you," Gara said, looking at Yuvika.
The young woman tensed up instantly. "Of course. I’ll wait, Sir Gara," she replied, as if she were ready to wait decades if it was for him.
Gara resisted the urge to shake his head. He, Madha, and Fian slipped into their room.
Inside the inn chamber sat a neat stack of cloth bags—no doubt the warm clothes he had ordered. Beside them was a single wooden crate, sealed tightly.
With a swift cut of his water blade, Gara pried open the lid. Inside was a layer of fabric cushioning whatever lay within. Removing the top cloth revealed five small porcelain boxes.
He opened one. Nestled inside was a faintly glowing blue crystal. An Enhance Crystal.
The same crystals he had retrieved from the cavern earlier—now perfectly refined by Hilda.
Gara reached in and lifted it.
[Enhance Crystal – Earth Element Detected! Not Suitable!]
His brow furrowed. From the same source, he had already pulled two earth-element crystals. Was the enhance core only producing earth-types?
Moving quickly, he checked the rest. One by one. His expression gradually eased.
Three earth, one wind, and... one space type.
Yes—just like a wild card. Different from the others, but exactly the kind of element he needed.
He stored away the three earth-element and the space-type crystals back into the crate, keeping only one porcelain box.
Then, with a thought, he slipped the entire stack of cloth bags and the crate into his dimensional pocket, signaling Fian and Madha to help arrange everything inside.
With that done, Gara stepped out carrying the single porcelain box. Yuvika was still waiting.
"This is for you," he said, offering the box to her. "A gift of thanks—for the inn, and for the house we’ll be staying at in the capital."
Yuvika froze, eyes wide.
She quickly waved her hands. "No, Sir Gara, please—you don’t need to trouble yourself. Just having you agree to work with the Yugo House is already more fortune than we could ask for. I don’t need a gift."
"Take it." Gara gently caught her hand, and the poor girl nearly fainted on the spot. Her fingers were trembling so badly it was a wonder she was still standing.
Before her knees gave way, she snatched the porcelain box and hugged it tightly, as though it were the most precious treasure in the world.
"That’s an Enhance Crystal," Gara told her, his tone firm. "I’m giving it to you alone. Don’t pass it to anyone else—you’re the one who has to use it."
Yuvika nodded over and over, her smile spreading wide, cheeks flushing red as if she had just been handed a piece of eternity itself.
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