Harem Stealer: Reborn with the God-Tier Sharing System Chapter 481 - The Merchant's prowess

"The Merchant."

That name hit Noah's mind like a powerful punch to the head, causing his eyes to narrow automatically in deep focus.

From his easy posture, he moved to a more grave stance, tilting his head a bit as though he hadn't caught the words properly.

"The Merchant?" Noah repeated, angling his head a touch to the right while placing his hand thoughtfully on his chin. The ring on his finger began to shine.

For some odd reason, the name overwhelmed his awareness with an unfamiliar sensation. It felt as if he recognized it, but also as if he truly didn't.

Still, an aspect of it seemed ready to awaken certain recollections, though nothing came of it.

Noah sensed himself teetering on a brink, reaching out desperately to seize hold of something, yet only managing to graze it with his fingertips.

Irritation started to rise sharply within him.

'But memories of what sort?' Noah wondered to himself, his mind racing wildly in search of a reasonable cause for these feelings.

No past experiences in his thoughts were ones he wasn't completely certain belonged solely to him. The Prince truly believed no one could hide or add memories to his mind without his knowledge.

Yet if this held true, then perhaps what stirred in him wasn't memories at all, but another kind of thing...

But what else could it be?

"You look quite lost in thought, my friend," Light sliced into Noah's swirling ideas like a sharp edge, "Don't say you actually know The Merchant?"

The Soul Ruler shook his head right away,

"No. That's not possible."

Noah gave him a quick look, "Why do you say so?"

"You reside in the Universe of Primus, my friend Noah. The Merchant hails from the Universe of Ascendancy." Light explained, winking his single eye as if to dismiss it casually, "The sole method for you to learn of him would be if one of you traveled to the other's universe. Even then, it's highly improbable."

"Since if that happened, the Primus Universe would cease to exist with Him arriving there." Light continued, giving another casual shrug.

"Why is that?" Elira questioned, her brow furrowing just like Noah's and Yuki's, "Is he really that powerful?"

"Powerful?" The Ruler nearly chuckled, "The Merchant is oddly feeble for someone of his fame. By the light that burns me, even you two novices could take him down with sufficient effort."

Yuki and Elira's mouths quirked in annoyance. They held back, aware this wasn't the moment to react to the taunt.

"So what renders him threatening enough to eliminate a Principality?" Noah inquired, growing increasingly puzzled by the situation.

A Principality wasn't just any ordinary being.

Noah had recently learned that the Spirit World consisted of countless Principalities, perhaps hundreds or thousands.

Every Universe in the Waking Reality corresponded to a Principality in the Spirit World. And inside each Principality, Soul Rulers held supremacy over everything but the Principality.

One could scarcely fathom the immense strength such an entity might wield. And yet, this figure fell to someone Yuki and Elira could easily defeat?

Noah didn't belittle his wives - he wouldn't dream of it - but reality was that they couldn't accomplish such a deed.

"Think about his title." Light advised, "He's known as The Merchant. Combat isn't his forte, my friend, as you'll see. Actually, he's quite famous for despising it."

"However, there's one resource The Merchant possesses in vast quantities. Care to venture a guess?"

"Treasures." Noah replied.

"Exactly, my friend," Light agreed with a nod, "Extraordinary treasures capable of shattering an entire universe if required. But that's not all, my friend. The Merchant commands the largest number of followers and devotees ever documented."

His tone dropped, adopting a grave seriousness,

"And he boasts the greatest array of allies. Allies that span across other Principalities. So when I mention The Merchant slew him, my friend, I don't imply he wielded the blow himself."

"It signifies," Noah pieced it together, "that his followers or allies carried it out on his behalf."

"Or perhaps a combination of both." Light supplemented.

Noah grew quiet, his mind whirling with this fresh knowledge.

Nothing proved more irritating than opposing a foe surrounded by

numerous companions.

Particularly when those companions formed an entire formidable alliance of Principalities. It promised to be endlessly challenging, dragging on without end.

All at once, Noah realized he wasn't pushing hard enough.

He suspected few possessed advantages as great as his own. Yet here stood an individual capable of felling a Principality without so much as stirring.

Meanwhile, he struggled merely to reenter the waking world

where his followers faced massacre like helpless fowl on a feast day.

A sudden wave of unreasonable fury and outrage surged through Noah's

being.

His gaze sharpened, teeth grinding as he posed yet another query,

"What wrong did our Principality commit to provoke such retribution?" Noah's words came soft and even, yet laced with a suppressed strain beneath.

His wives sensed it at once, turning their heads sharply toward him, curious about his abrupt rage.

Light perceived it as well, but remained silent and responded,

"Nobody knows for certain." The Ruler stated, "Rumors abound regarding the motives, but nothing confirmed. Whatever I might share could steer you astray."

"Misinformation about a possible adversary is the worst kind."

Noah inclined his head, concurring with the point.

"Even so," Light went on, "There's one detail I can offer, friend. It's merely my view, so interpret it as you see fit."

"I'm all ears." Noah replied.

"You should understand that only a Principality can venture into another Principality from a different universe. We Soul Rulers lack that ability."

Noah, Yuki, and Elira nodded, urging Light to proceed with his words,

"And based on what I've gathered, our Principality seized something from the Ascendancy Universe."

"What-!"

"Don't press me on what it was, my friend." Light denied with a headshake, "I genuinely have no clue. But undoubtedly, it held great value to The Merchant for his allies to intervene."

"Can you confirm this intel?"

"As surely as my beloved will return to me."

"That doesn't reassure much, you realize?"

"Precisely the intent, my friend."

Noah let out a breath, rubbing his face as he mulled over the revelations.

The Merchant unsettled him in a peculiar way. Combined with his influence and networks, it intensified the unease.

Noah wasn't the type to measure himself against others, but suddenly he felt outpaced by this entity. Now he pondered the source of this competitive urge toward The Merchant.

'I am reality's own son. And yet I'm falling behind some trader?'

The very idea rang with irreverence. And that notion stirred an odd emotion within him.

A feeling absent for ages. Not since Elijah's passing.

Noah's eyes fluttered open gradually, then fixed on Light across from him,

"Light." Noah murmured, "I aim to become the Principality of the Primus Universe. Would you oppose me?"

Yuki and Elira stiffened, their eyes locked on Light.

The Soul Ruler stayed wordless for several moments, appearing to weigh the issue deeply.

The air grew heavy with suspense, building like an inflating sphere.

"I won't."

Light declared, and the strain evaporated in an instant.

Yuki and Elira eased up as well.

"Will you pledge loyalty to me?" Noah pressed further.

"We're friends, so aren't we linked already?"

"To formalize it. And one more thing - can you explain something?"

"What's that?"

Noah hesitated, breathing out slowly from his nostrils and lips, before saying...

"How can I ascend to Principality status in the shortest time?" Light's response struck quick as a thunderclap,

"The quickest path is to claim the Authority directly from the Origin Will of the Spirit World, ruler over all Principalities."

-End of chapter 481-