The Golden Uli and a Peculiar Request

Emerging from the mercenary guild, Domu’s gaze fell upon a remarkably opulent pig-drawn carriage, proudly waiting at the entrance.

Indeed, her eyes had not deceived her; it was undeniably a high-class, golden carriage, meticulously drawn by two stout, golden-skinned pigs.

While Domu had encountered numerous players who kept pigs as pets within the world of ‘Tears of the Goddess’, a pig-drawn carriage, however extravagant, was an entirely novel sight, even for her.

A deep reluctance settled over Domu; she simply could not bring herself to ride in a pig-drawn carriage, regardless of its lavishness.

“Powerful Lord Domu~ Allow me the honor of an introduction! This, you see, is a Golden Uli, a creature of such rarity it is almost unheard of across the entire Klaham Continent. Its might rivals that of a colossal bear, its swiftness matches a soaring cheetah, and most remarkably, it bestows upon its owner unparalleled fortune! And of course~ within the entirety of the Norachi Kingdom, only I, the sagacious and dashing Lord Tule, possess such an undeniable emblem of status!”

As if guided by a merchant’s innate intuition, Tule, sensing Domu’s momentary hesitation, launched into a proud exposition of the pig-drawn carriage before them.

“It is indeed a splendid conveyance, Mr. Tule,” Domu began, seeking a plausible excuse to avoid the pig-drawn carriage, “but if we all were to ride inside, would it not become rather cramped?”

“It’s perfectly fine, Big Brother!” Philly interjected, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at Phil. “Phil can simply run alongside us! Isn’t that right, Phil?”

“Ah… yes… yes, Lord Domu,” Phil stammered, immediately complying with his sister’s unspoken command, his eyes meeting Philly’s. “I’ve just had a rather hearty meal, so a good run will certainly aid my digestion!”

“Lord Domu! Please, don’t hesitate, come aboard!” Mr. Tule, already settled within the opulent interior of the pig-drawn carriage, extended an eager invitation to Domu.

“It’s quite spacious in here, Big Brother!” Philly assured him, cradling her small rabbit as she, too, stepped into the carriage.

With a series of contented grunts from the Golden Uli, the magnificent golden carriage surged eastward, leaving a young man trailing behind, maintaining a steady jog.

“Well, Lord Domu, what do you think? Isn’t this Golden Uli, this super luxurious sports carriage, remarkably stable? I spared no expense, commissioning the finest dwarf masters from the Dustless Alliance to craft it!”

“Ah, Lord Domu, might this be your inaugural visit to Morgan City?” Mr. Tule continued, his voice overflowing with hospitality. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would be honored if you graced my humble residence with your presence. I have an abundance of vacant rooms and would ensure your stay is nothing short of exceptional!” Throughout the journey, Mr. Tule regaled Domu with tales of Morgan City’s unique customs and incessantly reiterated his profound goodwill.

Domu, for her part, offered only noncommittal replies—a series of “Mm,” “How splendid,” and “Truly, Mr. Tule is exceptional”—to deflect his relentless enthusiasm. Though the distance from the mercenary guild to Mr. Tule’s estate was not considerable, his incessant garrulousness began to ache Domu’s head. She found herself increasingly bewildered by the sudden, inexplicable warmth of his overtures.

“I apologize, Mr. Tule,” Domu demurred, politely declining his invitation, “but I am currently residing with my companions from a mercenary group.”

“What a genuine shame,” Mr. Tule responded, shaking his head with a sigh of regret.

With a series of contented grunts from the Golden Uli, the opulent carriage finally drew to a stop. Domu felt a surge of renewed energy, eager to swiftly finalize the commission and then rejoin Dove and Soronna. She had attempted to telepathically contact Dove during the journey, yet the considerable distance had rendered communication impossible. A quiet concern lingered: had Dove been well-behaved in her absence today?

Alighting from the pig-drawn carriage, Domu’s gaze swept over the exceedingly lavish manor before her. The sprawling courtyard was a riot of vibrant blossoms, while a multitude of servants moved with industrious purpose throughout the estate. Domu found herself pondering the colossal financial investment required to sustain such an expansive property. Furthermore, the very notion that Morgan City permitted a merchant to establish an estate of this magnitude within its confines spoke volumes; it was abundantly clear that this portly man, Tule, commanded a rather distinctive status within the city.

By then, Phil, who had diligently run alongside the pig-drawn carriage, had finally reached the manor, now leaning heavily on his knees, gasping for breath. Philly, having gracefully disembarked, stood beside him, her expression a clear mask of disdain as she regarded her brother.

“Haha~ Lord Domu~ Welcome, thrice welcome, to my humble manor!” Mr. Tule exclaimed, spreading his arms wide and bowing slightly in a grand gesture of hospitality.

“Please, do follow me! Oh, and Philly, my dear, you and Phil will kindly escort my precious one to the dining hall for some delectable refreshments. I find myself with a matter requiring private consultation with Lord Domu alone!” With that, he turned and proceeded into the depths of the estate.

“Mr. Tule,” Domu inquired, trailing behind him, a flicker of curiosity in her voice, “is there a matter that necessitates such privacy? Why dismiss Philly and Phil if we are merely to discuss the commission?”

“Ha… haha~ Lord Domu, there’s no need to rush,” Mr. Tule stammered, a hint of awkwardness in his jovial tone.

“Ah, here we are, my private chambers! In truth, I have a rather delicate matter I wished to entrust to the formidable Lord Domu alone!” He approached an intricately adorned door, pushed it open, and disappeared within.

“If this concerns any act that would violate the tenets of justice, I must regretfully decline,” Domu stated firmly. Despite Mr. Tule’s obvious wealth, Domu prided herself on being a steadfast ally of righteousness, and felt compelled to lay bare her unwavering principles.

“How could you ever suggest such a thing, Lord Domu!” Mr. Tule exclaimed, his voice tinged with distress.

“In truth, this matter is somewhat… delicate to articulate, but only you, the formidable Lord Domu, possess the ability to assist me! And I assure you, it in no way transgresses the bounds of justice!” He appeared deeply conflicted. Upon entering the room, he sank onto a sofa, forlornly tugging at handfuls of his hair.

“Mr. Tule, please do not hold back,” Domu said, settling onto the sofa opposite him. Her gaze fell upon the distressed man, who was now tearing out handfuls of his own hair, and a pang of pity stirred within her. “If it lies within my capabilities, I shall certainly lend my aid.”

Wait… tearing out handfuls of hair?

Domu’s eyes meticulously scanned the strands of hair clutched in Mr. Tule’s hand. Then, her gaze drifted upward to his scalp, where a vast, barren expanse resembled a skating rink, encircled by a sparse, wire-like fringe. A profound sense of bewilderment washed over her.

“As you can plainly see, formidable Lord Domu,” Mr. Tule lamented, his gaze fixed upon the wig in his hand, as if mourning a bygone handsomeness, “I unexpectedly began losing my hair six months ago. The physicians have declared it a hereditary affliction, utterly beyond cure. What a tragic loss for this face, once so captivating and dashing, capable of enchanting all!”

A profound silence followed. Hearing Mr. Tule’s pronouncements, Domu found herself utterly at a loss for words. Her eyes swept over his corpulent face, the prominent, almost bulbous nose, and the small, bead-like eyes. Wisely, Domu chose to remain silent.

“Through the vast expanse of my intelligence network,” Mr. Tule began, his voice dropping to a somewhat bashful tone, “I unearthed an ancient, esoteric method. It is said… that the Balyaas Rabbit, the undisputed overlord of Velsen Forest, possesses a miraculous ability to regenerate hair… therefore…”

“Mr. Tule,” Domu interrupted, her gaze beneath her armor turning chillingly cold, “I believe I made it clear from the outset: should this endeavor involve any harm to the Balyaas Rabbit, I shall categorically refuse. Surely, you don’t intend to—to consume the little rabbit?”

“Absolutely not, never!” Mr. Tule quickly reassured her. “I revere my darling creature too much to ever consider harming it! In truth… it merely requires the Balyaas Rabbit’s yin…” His voice trailed off, becoming increasingly faint.

“A conspiracy?” Even with Domu’s heightened senses, she struggled to discern Mr. Tule’s hushed words. Could there be some intricate plot involved…?

“Actually… actually… one simply needs to obtain a single pubic hair from the Balyaas Rabbit when it is in a state of terror… that is all…” Despite his advanced years, Mr. Tule’s face flushed a deep crimson as he uttered these words.

A stunned silence. Domu was utterly incredulous; what bizarre request had she just heard? Mr. Tule, the prominent merchant of Morgan City, desired a single pubic hair from a rabbit…

“Because the Balyaas Rabbit possesses terrifying regenerative capabilities,” Mr. Tule explained, his voice now imbued with a fervent, almost self-indulgent excitement, “and when it experiences fear, its adrenaline surges. At that precise moment, the Balyaas Rabbit’s pubic hair gains an extraordinary power to stimulate hair regrowth! With it, I can reclaim my former glory—the dashing, utterly irresistible man who captivated countless maidens!” He had clearly succumbed to a vivid, self-aggrandizing fantasy.

“Formidable Lord Domu! Only you possess the power to accomplish such a feat!” Mr. Tule cried out, completely abandoning all semblance of dignity as he dropped to his knees, clutching Domu’s leg. “Grant me this wish, and I shall bestow upon you any amount of Is Coins you desire!”

“Please… please rise, Mr. Tule,” Domu urged, gently helping him to his feet. “I can certainly assist you. However, I am rather curious: for someone of your immense stature, possessing such a magnificent estate, surely finding a capable individual for this task would not prove challenging?”

“Th-thank you! Lord Domu! You are truly my savior!” Mr. Tule cried, tears of profound gratitude streaming down his face as he offered his explanation. “In truth, if the task were merely to slay the Balyaas Rabbit, I could readily employ many powerful individuals with my wealth. However, what I require is not the pubic hair of a frenzied Balyaas Rabbit… but rather, that of a non-frenzied one. This necessitates a demigod-level expert, one capable of subduing the Balyaas Rabbit using the [Weaklings Disperse] ability. Yet, despite my considerable fortune, those of demigod stature would undoubtedly scoff at mere monetary compensation…”

“Ah, I understand now, Mr. Tule,” Domu replied, considering the man before her. A thought sparked within her—perhaps this was an opportune moment to bolster her reputation. “I can certainly assist you in fulfilling your wish, but beyond the agreed-upon commission, I have one additional condition.”

“No problem whatsoever, Lord Domu!” Mr. Tule declared, thumping his chest with fervent assurance. “Whatever your condition, I, Tule, shall fulfill it without question!”

“I desire to forge a name for myself within Morgan City,” Domu articulated, “no… I intend to emblazon the title ‘Silver Reaper’ across the entire Klaham Continent. If Mr. Tule can aid me in this endeavor, then you shall forever be counted among my friends.”

Domu’s primary objective remained the expansion of her renown; perhaps Na’er, upon encountering this name, would seek her out. She chose not to directly request Mr. Tule’s assistance in finding Na’er for two reasons: firstly, a mere name was too vague—Na’er might have adopted another identity in this world; and secondly, Domu had not yet fully placed her trust in Mr. Tule.

“Just to make a name for yourself? Hahaha! With Lord Domu’s abilities, plus my resources and methods, it’s a piece of cake, absolutely no problem!”

Hearing that Domu’s request was merely to make a name for himself, this was far too easy for Mr. Tule, a great merchant. To be able to make a friend of a demigod-level powerhouse for this was simply too easy. It seemed that those two golden hooves not only brought him wealth but also incredibly strong good fortune!