Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2571: 1417: Lord and Wandering Poets (Part 2)

Upon the arrival of His Imperial Majesty, the two battle maids were visibly moved. They immediately dropped to their knees in salutation before respectfully pulling open the suite doors at Kelsey’s silent prompt.

Stepping inside, Leo Ray surveyed the room.

The suite was quite expansive. At the dining table sat a hunched man eating with desperate hunger. Despite his clean clothes and neatly trimmed beard, Leo Ray recognized him at once as the previously tattered and filthy Old Nick.

His mental state had clearly stabilized, though the lamplight highlighted his nearly silver hair and the deep furrows etched across his brow.

“This humble one offers greetings to the Guild Leader and Miss Kelsey!”

Alerted by the sound of the group entering, Old Nick scrambled to his feet. He wiped his mouth of grease and offered a respectful bow.

It was a natural reaction; he was merely a common wandering poet, whereas Gael and Kelsey were high-ranking nobles of the Kingdom, members of the Three Great Aristocratic Families. Their social standing was worlds apart from his own.

After performing a formal salute with a hand over his heart, Old Nick’s inquisitive gaze shifted toward Leo Ray, who stood at the front. “And who might this young lord be?”

“Old Nick, do you not realize you should kneel before His Imperial Majesty?”

Gael moved forward quickly to offer a stern reminder.

“His Imperial Majesty?!”

Having only just woken up, Old Nick was floored. Despite his confusion, he dropped to his knees in a panic, trembling as he addressed Leo Ray: “Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty!”

“There is no need for such stiff formalities. Treat me as you would any other person.”

Leo Ray offered a faint smile and a nod, gesturing for the man to stand.

Kelsey then proceeded to introduce Ariel Watson and Grey Elder. The names left Old Nick dazed, his mind struggling to process the information.

As a citizen of the Coldflame Kingdom and a registered member of the Mercenary Guild, he understood the immense weight these names carried. He never imagined that upon waking, he would find himself in the presence of so many figures of supreme power. The sense of privilege was overwhelming.

In his state of shock, Old Nick’s fearful yet curious eyes drifted back to Leo Ray.

He had seen the Magic Portraits of the Fifth Princess Ariel Watson and the Mercenary Guild’s Grey Elder before, even if he hadn’t met them in person. However, this young Emperor was a complete mystery to him.

Yet, observing the deferential behavior of Gael, Kelsey, and even the Queen and the Elder, it was obvious this young man held a status above them all. To reign over both Coldflame City and the Mercenary Guild was almost inconceivable; even the Emperor of the Pals Empire did not hold authority over the Guild.

“Old Nick, the Human Clan has changed since your time. It has progressed far beyond what you remember.”

With Leo Ray’s silent permission, Kelsey excitedly began to summarize the current state of the world. She grew more animated as she described Leo Ray’s exploits in the Outer Region.

The tale left Old Nick’s jaw hanging. He kept pinching his weathered cheeks to confirm he wasn’t trapped in a dream.

Uniting the entire Human Clan and bringing peace to the four seas was a feat unheard of, even in the most exaggerated epic poems!

As a man who had spent his life singing of legendary heroes, he had never even dared to imagine a reality so magnificent and wild.

“That is enough, Kelsey. That will do.”

Noticing Old Nick was beginning to freeze up from shock, his limbs starting to shake, Leo Ray cut her off.

The old poet had only just regained his senses. If he were driven to madness again by this news, it was anyone's guess when they could have a real conversation.

“Old Nick, are you not curious why you are here at this Trading Conference?”

Kelsey gave Leo Ray an apologetic smile before turning back to the poet. “It is all because of His Majesty’s benevolence that you are in such comfort. Without him, you would still be a beggar on the streets—or more likely, dead. He even provided rare Healing Magic Potions to ensure your mind recovered.”

“It was His Majesty who saved me? Such kindness...”

Old Nick’s face flushed with emotion. He knelt once more before Leo Ray. “I thank Your Majesty for saving my life!”

“Stand up. It was a small matter.”

Leo Ray helped the trembling old man back into his chair and spoke directly. “Mr. Nick, the reason I needed to see you so urgently involves a matter concerning the survival of the Human Clan and the Ten Thousand Clans.”

“What? Why would Your Majesty say such a thing?!”

Confusion and panic instantly gripped Old Nick’s face. He stammered, “I do not understand Your Majesty’s meaning. Please, tell me more.”

“The truth is shocking, but it is the reality we face.”

Leo Ray summoned the Stone Spirit, Little Moon, who was a specialist in healing. He signaled her to be ready to calm the man’s nerves before continuing. “Mr. Nick, have you ever heard the phrase ‘Great Catastrophe’?”

“Great Catastrophe?”

Initially, Old Nick looked blank. Then, his expression twisted into pure horror. He gasped, “Your Majesty, are you referring to *the* Great Catastrophe?!”

As he spoke the words, the color drained from his face. He looked as though he were reliving a nightmare, his body shuddering violently.

“Angel’s Touch!”

Little Moon moved instantly. Her small fingers traced a Golden Magic Circle in the air, bathing Old Nick in a soft, warm radiance.

Under the influence of the golden light, the old man’s tension began to fade. He took a heavy breath and nodded slowly at Leo Ray. “To be honest... in my final memories before losing myself, I believe I did hear that term.”

“Your final memories? Old Nick, are you talking about that mercenary mission with the elite team?”

Ariel Watson’s eyes sharpened. She pressed, “What happened out there? Why were you the only one to return? What became of the others?”

Having traveled with Leo Ray, Ariel was fully aware of the stakes involved.

Gael, Kelsey, and Grey Elder all leaned in, their faces full of concern and curiosity.

Grey Elder was particularly interested, as he had heard rumors of this incident years ago.

At that time, however, he had been busy in the Sea Area near the Human Clan, working on a vital mission for King West regarding the origins of the Great Catastrophe. He hadn't been stationed at the Guild then.

By the time he had returned to investigate Old Nick, the man had already been hidden away by Kelsey on Leo Ray’s secret orders. Now that the Mercenary Guild served Leo Ray, there were no more secrets between them.

“In answer to Her Majesty... it all started with a contract I took. It was a beautiful, sunlit afternoon. I remember the Frost Orioles were singing in the trees...”

His mind finally steady, Old Nick’s eyes grew misty as he drifted back into the past.

That day, after being invited by his comrades, Old Nick had packed his medical kit and joined the squad as their healer.

The goal was straightforward: head to a Magic Beast Cave in the mountains near Viennas City to wipe out a nest of mutated Black Steel Spiders.

“The mutated Black Steel Spider is known for its tough shell, but it is only a Tier 2 creature. Our team had two veteran Tier 3 mercenaries. It should have been a routine job...”

Old Nick took a shaky breath and continued his story.