Rise of The Abandoned Husband

The vibration of my phone pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen once more, reading about the upcoming duel between Broderick and Jackson Harding, before sliding it into my pocket.

Jackson was a legend, but after witnessing what Broderick had done to Bryce Blackthorne, I wasn't confident about his chances. Broderick wasn't just powerful; there was something unnatural about him, something engineered by the Veridia City Martial Guild for their own purposes.

"We'll be landing soon," the Man with the Mustache announced, peering out the airplane window.

After seven hours in the air, Downton City was finally coming into view. The evening sun cast a golden glow across the cityscape below, highlighting the unique layout of the coastal metropolis. Unlike the towering skyscrapers of Veridia City, Downton spread outward rather than upward, its buildings rarely exceeding five or six stories.

"It's warmer than I expected," Clara remarked as we disembarked, her small hand clutching the bag containing her mask.

She was right. Despite being the middle of winter, Downton City greeted us with a gentle, almost spring-like warmth. Palm trees swayed along the boulevards, and the scent of saltwater tinged the air.

"That's the Gulf Stream effect," the Man with the Mustache explained, suddenly animated. "Downton has one of the most stable microclimates in the country. Perfect vacation spot year-round!"

His enthusiasm was a stark contrast to his earlier terror when facing Clara's dark powers. I wondered if he was overcompensating, trying to pretend things were normal when they were anything but.

"We're not here for vacation," I reminded him, scanning our surroundings. "We have one week before the Ten-thousand-year-old Medicinal Materials appear."

I pulled out the map I'd received from the Umbral Covenant, studying the marked locations. The Whispering Caves were located beneath the city's oldest district, accessible only during specific astronomical alignments.

"There's some kind of beach banquet happening over there," the Man with the Mustache pointed excitedly toward the shoreline where dozens of tables had been set up on the sand. Lanterns swayed in the gentle breeze as elegantly dressed people mingled and dined.

"Can we check it out?" he asked, practically bouncing on his heels. "Could be a good way to gather local information. Plus, I'm starving."

I glanced at Clara, who shrugged indifferently. "Fine," I said. "But keep your ears open. We need to learn as much as possible about accessing those caves."

As we approached the banquet, something felt off. I activated my divine sense, letting it wash over the gathering crowd. What I discovered sent a chill down my spine.

Eighteen Grandmasters. Over twenty Military Marquises. And three individuals whose power signatures exceeded even my own.

For a supposedly ordinary beach banquet in a tourist city, the concentration of martial talent was alarming.

"Something wrong?" Clara whispered, noticing my expression.

"This isn't a normal gathering," I murmured back. "There are too many powerful martial artists here."

The Man with the Mustache had already grabbed a plate and was loading it with food from one of the buffet tables. "The seafood here is amazing!" he called over, oblivious to my concerns.

I scanned the crowd more carefully. Most of the martial artists were disguised as ordinary guests—businesspeople, tourists, locals—but their controlled movements and watchful eyes gave them away to anyone who knew what to look for.

Across the banquet, a young man in an expensive suit caught my eye. He held my gaze for several seconds before nodding to someone beside him. Moments later, a server approached me.

"Mr. Knight? Mr. Tenny would like to speak with you," the server said, gesturing toward a private cabana set apart from the main banquet.

I tensed. "How does he know my name?"

The server merely smiled politely. "If you would follow me, sir."

I signaled to Clara to stay close and motioned for the Man with the Mustache to join us. He approached reluctantly, his plate still piled high with food.

"I was just getting to the crab legs," he complained.

"Bring them," I said tersely. "We might need you to keep your mouth full and avoid saying anything stupid."

The cabana was luxuriously appointed with plush seating and a private bar. The young man who had made eye contact with me stood as we entered. He was perhaps in his early thirties, with sharp features and calculating eyes.

"Liam Knight," he said, not offering his hand. "Your reputation precedes you. I'm Guy Noble."

The name clicked immediately. Noble—as in the ruling family of Downton City.

"You're the lord's son," I stated rather than asked.

He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Indeed. My father has been lord of Downton for twenty years now. And you—" he gestured vaguely toward me, "—are the upstart from Capital City who's been making quite a name for himself."

I kept my expression neutral. "I wasn't aware my reputation had reached this far south."

"Oh, we keep track of all rising talents," Guy replied, pouring himself a glass of something amber from a crystal decanter. "Especially those who might have business in our territory."

The Man with the Mustache shifted uncomfortably beside me. Clara remained perfectly still, watching Guy with those unnervingly ancient eyes.

"And what business do you think I have here?" I asked carefully.

Guy's smile widened. "Don't play coy, Mr. Knight. It's beneath someone of your caliber." He gestured around us. "You've noticed the concentration of martial talent at this little gathering, haven't you? You're not the only one interested in what happens beneath our city next week."

So he knew about the medicinal materials. I shouldn't have been surprised; local authorities often had access to ancient records about their territories.

"I'm here on personal business," I said. "I have no interest in stepping on anyone's toes."

Guy laughed. "Everyone says that, until they realize what's at stake." He turned to look at Clara, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And who might this young lady be?"

Clara met his gaze unflinchingly. "No one important."

Something flashed in Guy's eyes—recognition? concern?—before he masked it with another empty smile.

"Well, Mr. Knight, I wanted to introduce myself personally and establish some ground rules. This is Downton City. My family's city. The martial artists you sense around you? They're all loyal to me. Your reputation in Capital City means nothing here."

His arrogance was palpable, but so was his power. I could sense the strength coiled within him, carefully controlled but substantial.

"I appreciate the welcome," I replied coolly. "And the warning. But I'm just here for a specific item. Once I have it, I'll be on my way."

Guy swirled his drink thoughtfully. "The Ten-thousand-year-old Celestial Grass. Yes, it's quite valuable, isn't it? Capable of advancing one's cultivation significantly when properly processed."

The Man with the Mustache nearly choked on his food. I shot him a warning glance.

"You seem well-informed," I said to Guy.

"It's my business to be informed about what happens in my city," he replied. "Just as it's my business to ensure that certain... resources... remain in the right hands."

The threat was thinly veiled. Guy Noble intended to claim the medicinal materials for himself or his family.

"And what makes your hands the right ones?" I asked, not bothering to hide my challenge.

Guy's expression hardened. "Look around you, Mr. Knight. I command eighteen Grandmasters, twenty-three Military Marquises, and three individuals who could give even you pause." He leaned forward slightly. "But more importantly, I understand this city's secrets in ways outsiders never could."

Clara suddenly spoke up. "The energy beneath this city is ancient. Older than your family's claim to it."

Guy's attention snapped to her, his eyes widening slightly. "What would a child know about such things?"

Clara smiled, a smile that didn't belong on a young girl's face. "I know more than you might think, Guy Noble."

The tension in the cabana thickened. I placed a protective hand on Clara's shoulder, worried she might reveal more than was safe.

"We're just passing through," I said, steering the conversation back to safer ground. "We'll respect local customs and authorities."

Guy studied us for a long moment before nodding. "See that you do. Downton City may seem like a pleasant tourist destination, but its depths hold dangers that have claimed many lives." He raised his glass in a mock toast. "Enjoy your stay, Mr. Knight. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon."

Taking this as our dismissal, we left the cabana and walked back toward the main banquet area.

"Well, that was intense," the Man with the Mustache muttered, finally setting down his now-empty plate. "Did you feel his power? He's at least early-stage Military Marquis himself."

"It wasn't just him," I replied quietly. "Did you notice the three individuals he mentioned? They're all at peak Military Marquis level or higher. That's an unusual concentration of power for a city this size."

Clara nodded solemnly. "There's something beneath this city feeding their strength. I can feel it."

Her words chilled me. If Clara—or whatever ancient entity resided within her—could sense something unusual about Downton City, it likely meant trouble.

"We need to find out more about the Noble family," I decided. "There's no way they could foster this many peak-form martial artists without some significant resource or secret."

The Man with the Mustache scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I might know someone who can help with that. Old contact from my treasure hunting days. Lives near the harbor."

"Good," I said. "We'll visit them tomorrow. For now, let's find our hotel and get some rest."

As we walked away from the beach banquet, I felt multiple sets of eyes tracking our movements. Guy Noble had made it clear we were being watched, but his arrogance might prove useful. People who felt the need to display their power so openly often revealed more than they intended.

"What do you think they're hiding?" Clara asked as we headed toward the hotel district.

"I'm not sure," I admitted. "But whatever allows them to cultivate so many powerful martial artists must be significant."

"The Ten-thousand-year-old Celestial Grass might be just the beginning," the Man with the Mustache suggested. "Maybe there's an entire network of rare resources beneath the city."

I nodded slowly. "Which would explain why Guy was so territorial. He's not just protecting one rare herb—he's guarding something much bigger."

The realization hit me like a thunderbolt. The Noble family hadn't just happened to establish themselves in Downton City; they'd chosen this location deliberately for whatever power source lay beneath it. And if that power source had helped create so many peak Military Marquises, it might be exactly what I needed to increase my own strength rapidly.

"Our mission just got more complicated," I said quietly. "But potentially more rewarding. If we can uncover the Noble family's secret, we might gain more than just the Celestial Grass."

Clara's eyes gleamed with that unsettling ancient knowledge. "The city sits atop a convergence point of ley lines. Energy has been accumulating here for millennia."

The Man with the Mustache and I exchanged concerned glances. How could she possibly know that?

"All the more reason to tread carefully," I replied. "Tomorrow, we start digging—figuratively speaking—into Downton City's secrets. For now, let's keep a low profile."

As the coastal city's lights began to twinkle in the growing darkness, I couldn't shake the feeling that we'd stumbled into something far more significant than a simple herb-gathering mission. Downton City's pleasant exterior concealed depths of power that might change everything—if we could survive long enough to harness them.