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

Upon His Imperial Majesty’s arrival, 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 spacious, centered by a dining table where a hunched man was eating with ravenous intensity. Although he was now clean-shaven, well-dressed, and groomed, Leo Ray recognized him instantly as the same ragged Old Nick he had encountered previously.

His mental state had clearly stabilized, though the lamplight highlighted the deep furrows on his brow and the fact that his hair had turned almost entirely silver.

“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 hurriedly wiped his mouth and offered a respectful bow.

His reaction was only natural; he was a mere wandering poet, while Gael and Kelsey were high-ranking nobles of the Kingdom, members of the Three Great Aristocratic Families. The gulf between their social standings was vast.

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

“Old Nick, do you not realize you are in the presence of His Imperial Majesty? Kneel at once,” Gael interjected, stepping forward to provide a stern reminder.

“His Imperial Majesty?!”

Having only just recovered his senses, Old Nick was floored by the revelation. Despite his shock, he threw himself to the floor in fear, stammering a greeting: “Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty!”

“Rise. There is no need for such rigid formality; simply treat me as an ordinary man,” Leo Ray replied with a faint smile, gesturing for the poet to stand.

Kelsey then proceeded to introduce Ariel Watson and Grey Elder. As each name was spoken, Old Nick’s eyes grew wider, his mind struggling to process the information.

As both a citizen of the Coldflame Kingdom and a member of the Mercenary Guild, he understood the immense power these figures wielded. Finding himself in a room with such legendary figures of authority made him feel overwhelmed by the sheer privilege of the encounter.

In his state of disbelief, Old Nick cast a cautious, reverent look back at Leo Ray.

While he had never met Princess Ariel or Grey Elder in person, he had seen their Magic Portraits before. However, he had no memory of this young Emperor.

Yet, observing the deferential attitudes of Gael, Kelsey, and even the Queen and the Elder, it was obvious that this young man held a status above them all. To reign over both Coldflame City and the Mercenary Guild was a feat almost beyond imagination—even the Emperor of the Pals Empire could not claim such dominance over the Guild.

“Old Nick, the Human Clan has changed significantly since you were last aware; it has progressed far beyond your memories,” Kelsey said.

With a nod of approval from Leo Ray, Kelsey excitedly began to recount the current state of the world. She spoke with increasing passion, particularly when describing Leo Ray’s daring expeditions into the Outer Region.

Old Nick listened with his mouth hanging open, occasionally pinching his own withered cheeks to confirm he wasn't trapped in a dream.

The notion of someone uniting the entire Human Clan and bringing peace to the four seas was a feat usually reserved for the most exaggerated epic poems.

As a man who had spent his life singing of legends, he had never even conceived of a reality so magnificent and wild.

“That is enough, Kelsey. That should suffice for now.”

Noticing that Old Nick was beginning to tremble, looking as though he might turn to stone from sheer shock, Leo Ray cut the explanation short.

The old poet had only just regained his clarity; if he were pushed into another mental breakdown, it would be impossible to get the answers they needed.

“Old Nick, surely you wondered why you woke up in such comfort during this Trading Conference?”

Kelsey gave Leo Ray an apologetic smile before turning back to the poet. “It is all due to His Majesty’s benevolence. Without his intervention, you would likely have perished on the streets long ago. It was His Majesty who provided the rare Healing Magic Potions that restored your mind.”

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

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

“Stand up; it was a small matter,” Leo Ray said, helping the shaking man back into his chair. He then spoke directly: “Mr. Nick, the reason I needed to see you so urgently involves a crisis regarding the survival of the Human Clan and the Ten Thousand Clans.”

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

Panic and confusion instantly replaced Old Nick’s gratitude. “I do not understand Your Majesty’s meaning. Please, explain.”

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

Leo Ray summoned the Stone Spirit, Little Moon, who specialized in healing arts. He signaled her to be ready to steady the old man’s nerves before asking: “Mr. Nick, are you familiar with the term ‘Great Catastrophe’?”

“Great Catastrophe?”

Initially, Old Nick looked puzzled. Then, a flash of pure terror crossed his face as he gasped, “Your Majesty... do you truly mean *the* Great Catastrophe?!”

As the words left his lips, the color drained from his face. He seemed to be reliving a nightmare, and his limbs began to shake violently.

“Angel’s Touch!”

Little Moon acted instantly. Her small fingers traced a Golden Magic Circle in the air, casting a warm, soothing light over Old Nick.

Under the influence of the shimmering glow, the old man’s tension ebbed. He took a heavy breath and nodded slowly at Leo Ray. “To be honest... in my final memories before everything went dark, I believe I did hear that term.”

“Your final memories? Old Nick, are you referring to that mercenary mission with the elite squad?” Ariel Watson asked, her eyes brightening with focus. “What happened out there? Why were you the only one to return? What became of the others?”

Ariel had been by Leo Ray’s side throughout his journey and understood the gravity of the situation perfectly.

Gael, Kelsey, and Grey Elder all leaned in, their faces filled with a mixture of curiosity and dread.

Grey Elder was particularly invested. He had heard rumors of the incident years ago, but at the time, he had been busy patrolling the Sea Area on a mission for King West to find the origins of the Great Catastrophe. By the time he had returned to investigate Old Nick, the poet had already been taken into secret protection by Kelsey on Leo Ray's orders.

Now that the Mercenary Guild served Leo Ray, there were no longer any secrets between them.

“To answer Her Majesty... it all started with a contract I took. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and the Frost Orioles were singing in the trees...”

As his mind settled, Old Nick’s eyes grew misty, lost in the past.

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

Their objective was straightforward: clear out a nest of mutated Black Steel Spiders in a Magic Beast Cave located in the mountains near Viennas City.

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

Old Nick took a shaky breath and continued his story.