Weapon seller in the world of magic

The masked man paused right at the entrance, one foot still outside, as if the threshold itself demanded a second thought before crossing, and in that brief moment, his eyes shifted slightly to the right, catching a strange sight that most would have ignored.

Four figures.

Hooded.

Still.

Wrapped in blankets like beggars trying to survive the cold.

Yet something about them felt... off.

Too still.

Too quiet.

Too aware.

A faint unease brushed past his mind, but he did not linger on it, because hesitation, especially here, could be more dangerous than ignorance. So he stepped fully inside, the wooden floor letting out a soft creak under his weight as the door closed behind him with a dull thud.

His voice came out louder than necessary, as if it was meant to be heard not just by Kiara, but by anyone who might be listening from the shadows.

"Miss Kiara, I am from the Sky Clan. My master sent me to collect the weapons, and this is the list he provided."

The scroll slid across the counter with a soft scraping sound, the parchment brushing against polished wood, while behind him, Alucard pulled the shutter down fully, the metal rolling into place with a heavy, final clang that sealed the space.

Kiara did not even glance at the scroll.

Instead, she nodded slowly, her expression calm, almost casual, as if she had been expecting this exact moment.

"Is it Mr. Philip?" she asked, her tone light, as though recalling an old acquaintance. "It has been a while since we last met."

The masked man stiffened for the smallest fraction of a second, the kind of reaction that would escape most eyes, but not hers, and then he shook his head.

"Not exactly. It is from the Clan Lord."

"Is that so..." Kiara murmured, and then her gaze shifted, landing on Alucard just as he was about to secure the final latch.

"Wait."

The boy stopped immediately, turning around with alert eyes.

"Yes, Miss Kiara?"

Kiara rose from her seat, her movements unhurried, and reached into her inventory before placing five gold coins into his hand, the metal glinting under the dim light as it clinked softly.

"I will have to postpone the dinner," she said, her voice carrying a hint of apology that felt genuine. "Take this, eat something good, and rest well. Consider it a bonus for today."

Alucard blinked, surprised, his fingers tightening around the coins as warmth spread through his chest, not just from the money, but from the respect behind it, something he rarely received in his previous life.

"Thank you, Miss Kiara," he said, bowing slightly before leaving without another word.

The door shut.

The space grew quieter.

Heavier.

Kiara stepped forward and pulled the shutter down completely, sealing off the outside world, and when she turned back, her gaze sharpened, her posture shifting ever so slightly.

She folded her arms across her chest and leaned lightly against the counter.

"Alright," she said.

Her voice dropped.

"Prince Veyne."

A pause.

"There is no need for the mask anymore."

The air seemed to tighten.

The masked man slowly reached up, his fingers brushing against the edges of the clown mask, and for a moment, he hesitated, as if weighing whether to continue the act or abandon it.

Then—

He removed it.

His face was revealed.

Shock flickered across his features, his brows drawing together as he stared at her. "How did you know it was me?"

Kiara’s lips curved faintly.

"Let’s just say..." she said softly, her eyes holding a quiet glint, "I have special eyes."

The man chuckled in return. "Is it not because you fell for my charming face?"

Kiara was slightly taken aback, but before she reacted, the man became calmer, "just a joke. Anyway..." He looked around and then commented, changing the topic, "Many things have changed, it seems."

Kiara nodded and then picked up the scroll, finally opening it with a smooth motion, the parchment unfolding with a soft rustle, her gaze scanning the contents briefly before she tossed it back onto the counter without much care.

Meanwhile, Icarus continued to speak.

"Not just inside," he said, glancing around once more, his eyes taking in the layout, the weapons, the subtle changes in structure. "Even outside, the situation feels... different."

Kiara gave a small shrug as she turned and began walking deeper into the store, her steps light but purposeful.

"What can I say?" she replied casually. "Some people refuse to leave me alone."

"You are too beautiful and quite dangerous to be left alone..." Icarus commented with a chuckle again, earning a raised eyebrow from Kiara.

Is this guy starting to flirt with me? She wondered.

Icarus walked forward, his boots brushing softly against the floor as he moved, his gaze occasionally shifting toward corners, shadows, details that others might miss, his instincts still alert despite the controlled environment.

"So," he said after a moment, his tone lowering slightly, "why did you call me here?"

A brief pause.

"Is this about House Drake... or something else?"

Kiara did not stop walking. "It is about your order," she said plainly. "The Emperor offered me a deal. If I delay your order for eight weeks, he will grant me certain conditions."

Icarus halted mid-step.

The movement was sharp.

Unexpected.

"What?"

His brows furrowed deeply, tension rising in his chest as he stared at her back.

"You accepted?"

His voice carried a hint of disbelief.

"So, you called me here just to cancel everything?"

Kiara stopped.

Then slowly turned.

Her expression remained calm, almost amused.

"Cancel?" she echoed lightly. "Why would I throw away 200,000 gold coins?"

A small pause.

"I do not cheat my customers, and neither do I have love for this Empire."

She gestured forward.

"Come."

Reluctantly, Icarus followed again, his thoughts unsettled, his mind racing through possibilities, risks, and hidden motives, until they reached a chamber where the air itself felt different.

He stopped.

Weapons.

Rows and rows of them.

Some familiar.

Many not.

His eyes widened slightly as Kiara began introducing them one by one, her tone steady, her words simple but filled with quiet confidence.

"This is a rocket launcher."

She picked it up slowly, letting him see the structure, the weight, the design.

"This is a grenade launcher. It is an exclusive weapon. You need at least one hundred thousand gold coins in transactions to unlock it."

She moved along.

"This is the M99."

"These are sniper rifles."

"These are assault rifles... AK-47, AK-103, G36, AR-15..."

Each name landed like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples through Icarus’ thoughts, his gaze shifting from one weapon to another, measuring, imagining, calculating.

Then she stopped at a simple bottle.

"This is a Molotov cocktail."

She lifted it slightly.

"It looks simple, but the liquid inside is not. It contains nitroglycerine and other flammable compounds. Once thrown, it will ignite instantly. But..." she added, her tone turning slightly firmer, "it depends on the user’s strength and control. One mistake, and it can harm your own people."

Icarus swallowed slowly.

He didn’t understand half of the words she said, and couldn’t remember their names either, as she continued to recite them like a poem, but Icarus sure could see the scale of potential in this new set of weapons.

Then Kiara spoke again.

"I promised the Emperor that I would delay your current order for eight weeks," she said calmly. "But I never said anything about new orders."

Silence followed.

Then—

Her voice lowered slightly.

"So here is my suggestion."

She stepped closer.

"For now, put your current order on hold. I will keep twenty percent as an advance. The rest remains with me."

She raised a finger.

"With that balance, you can place a much larger order."

Her gaze locked onto his.

"And I will fulfill it."

A pause.

"You can settle the rest after you reclaim your kingdom."

Icarus stood still.

Thinking.