Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Setting the Stage
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“It was a good deal.”
Professor Grad was well worth the money.
He had served as a smooth bridge, allowing Pernyan to secure the contract just as he wanted.
“We were the ones pleased to experience the prestige of the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.”
Pernyan and the Vice Chancellor took their respective copies of the contract and shook hands.
With this, the Sea Serpent’s carcass now belonged entirely to the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.
[1. Party A shall have priority rights to the sale of all academy vessels (including ships, warships, and cruise liners) for the next 20 years.
2. Party A shall sell certain byproducts of the Sea Serpent to Party B at a reasonable price.
3. Party B shall….]
The contract contained numerous clauses, but the gist of it came down to three points.
The academy would sell the Sea Serpent’s carcass to the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.
Furthermore, for the next twenty years, the academy would grant the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild priority rights for the sale of its vessels.
In return, the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild would provide the Sea Serpent byproducts required by the academy at a reasonable price.
‘Good. Everything I wanted is in there.’
The first point was a given, and the second was Pernyan’s demand.
The third was the condition the academy proposed in exchange for Pernyan’s demand.
‘The carcass of a mythical beast is most expensive when sold whole, without being dismantled.’
To buy the carcass at a high price only to sell the byproducts cheaply—normally, there would be nothing more foolish.
But now was the time to take one step back to pursue a much greater profit.
From the academy’s perspective, it was a gain, as they could acquire the byproducts cheaply in exchange for the seemingly unimportant priority rights on vessel sales.
‘They must be wondering why I’d want priority rights for such a small-scale business like ship sales.’
Pernyan, however, knew just how massive the academy’s naval vessel business would become, making it a far greater gain for him.
It was a reasonable deal where no one lost out.
“Excellent work.”
“What’s to work hard about? It’s not like it’s my first or second time making a contract.”
Having concluded the satisfying deal, Pernyan stretched his arms wide, loosening his stiff body.
“Now that the stage is set, all I need is Father’s permission.”
The reason he had specified ‘priority rights for sales’ rather than ‘exclusive sales rights’ was that he hadn’t yet received his father’s approval.
Until the incident occurred, there was no logical basis to convince his father.
Yet, giving up on a business that was a clear goldmine was something Pernyan’s temperament could not abide.
The result was ‘priority rights for sales.’
‘The best I could do without causing problems if things went wrong.’
It was, quite literally, just a priority right; there was no need to do anything immediately.
The next step could wait until after the foretold event transpired.
“What’s the status of the work?”
“The installation is complete.”
This meant the recording devices had been installed on the cruise ship that would serve as the stage for the Yacht Club.
With this, he would be able to monitor the Vile Breed’s every move.
“The staff list?”
“I’ve placed it in your office, but…”
“Is there a problem?”
“I couldn’t find anything particularly unusual.”
“Of course not.”
If they were so easily exposed, they wouldn’t be demons. They’d be morons.
These were the monsters who had brought the continent to the brink of destruction a thousand years ago. He could not afford to be careless.
“Well, we have a secret weapon on our side, though.”
A hero officially recognized by the prophecy book: Aint Armian.
‘I’m counting on you, Aint Armian.’
On you, on the prophecy book, and on the first emperor who foresaw this crisis and made preparations.
Pernyan’s role was simple.
Prevent Aint from seeing him as an enemy and assist him well to ensure a happy ending.
‘Because that’s how I protect my money.’
Protecting money with money.
“For now, let’s head to the ship.”
That was the Fallenberg way.
* * *
*Caw, caw—*
Seagulls soared over the beach. The refreshing sound of waves was accompanied by the thick, salty scent of the sea.
Pernyan stood on the deck.
An immense vessel, 80 meters in length and 18 meters in width.
It was a luxury liner, more akin to a cruise ship than a yacht, perfectly equipped for comfort and banquets.
This was the ship he had loaned out to curry favor with the nobles, the very thing that had stimulated their vanity and sense of authority, transforming a simple social club into the Yacht Club.
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s a waste. I paid a pretty penny for this, and it’s going to sink.’
The ship, sailing leisurely out to sea, would encounter a sudden monster wave.
Aint Armian, escaping the sinking vessel, would be washed ashore on a deserted island, where he would fight for his life against the Vile Breed trying to kill him.
That was the future the prophecy had revealed.
Since he had already foreseen it, he could prevent it if he wished, but Pernyan had decided against it.
‘For me to become Aint’s complete ally, he needs to know that I am aware of the demons’ existence, at least to a reasonable extent.’
That way, questions about how he knew, and suspicions of strangeness, wouldn't arise.
The best course of action was to get washed ashore on the same island as Aint and help him when he was attacked.
There was no better way to build trust than by overcoming a crisis together.
“Not bad. Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir. But may I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Where on earth did you obtain such information, Young Master?”
“I have a separate informant.”
“Was I not your informant, Young Master?”
“Just because you are the hands and feet doesn’t mean you know everything the head knows.”
Hyde nodded as if he had a rough idea.
“It seems there is a student at the academy who knows about the Vile Breed. And with a high probability, they are from the Dragon God Cult. Coincidentally, you are acquainted with the Saint, Jace.”
It was a complete miss, but for a deduction made with no information, it was the most plausible one.
Pernyan simply gave a vague nod in response, letting it pass.
“What’s important is catching the Vile Breed.”
“What do you plan to do after you catch them?”
“Find out. How they hid their identities, how they infiltrated, and what their objective is.”
Honestly, their objective was so obvious that there was little need for that.
In any case, the important thing was to follow the trail and capture the leader commanding the Vile Breed.
“With Aint Armian.”
“Why does Aint Armian come into this?”
“Are you suggesting I give him the Heart of a Saint Bird and not put it to use?”
“True, we must get our money’s worth.”
The Vile Breed were not demons themselves, but they worshiped demons and borrowed their power.
Naturally, it was a matter for the hero, officially recognized by the prophecy book and their natural enemy, to handle.
“Hm…?”
Just then, a commotion arose from outside the hull.
When Pernyan and Hyde went out, a guild employee approached them, breathing heavily.
“Young Master, I rushed over as soon as I heard you were here.”
“What is it?”
“A letter has arrived from His Excellency the Duke.”
“Oh, finally.”
A smile spread across Pernyan’s lips as he accepted the letter.
[I will cooperate as you wish.
I grant you the right to use the family’s facilities and artisans, and the funds to purchase the Sea Serpent’s carcass.
In return, you will explain in detail how you obtained the Mithril and Adamant.
And you will calculate the promised amount precisely, without an error of even a single gram, and adhere to the contract.]
[Frankly, I judge the naval vessel business within the academy to be unprofitable.
Nevertheless, if you believe it must be done, that it is a viable business, then go through the formal reporting channels and bring a more detailed report and assessment of its potential.
This matter is a business venture of the merchant guild, and you are not merely my son, but the branch manager of the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild’s academy branch.]
“…It’s done!”
The Duke was a man who believed that one should not even cosign a loan between parent and child, that financial matters must be kept strictly separate.
This matter, too, was not a son using his father’s people and facilities, but a transaction between one merchant and another.
He had to give up some Mithril and Adamant as payment, but it was not a bad outcome.
‘Looks like I can’t do anything about the naval vessel business for now.’
He couldn’t exactly say he had seen the future, so it was an unavoidable part of the process.
‘But the justification will present itself soon enough.’
Once the incident at the Yacht Club occurred, the academy would be startled into creating a naval combat course.
It wouldn’t be long.
“It seems His Excellency has agreed?”
“Yes. I’ll have to return to the estate during the break.”
Demons or whatever, during summer break, I’m locking myself in the workshop.
Well, that was for later. For now…
“I need to see Ruina Bercefe.”
It was time for the next step.
* * *
Perhaps it was because, for a merchant, a small miscalculation can determine a great loss or profit.
Pernyan Fallenberg was the type to prepare for everything meticulously.
His principle was that since the unexpected could always happen, no amount of preparation was ever enough.
A battle with monsters on the sea, the prophecies about the Vile Breed.
The unfamiliar battlefield of the ocean, a future that was gradually being twisted by Pernyan’s actions.
No one knew how the synergy of these two factors would alter the original future.
It would be nice if it were in a positive direction, but he had to consider the possibility of a negative outcome as well.
That was why.
“Ruina Bercefe, take this.”
“What is this?”
“An invitation to the Yacht Club.”
He handed the invitation to Ruina.
She was currently one of the most reliable cards Pernyan could trust.
A card that could sufficiently handle the situation, even if some unforeseen events occurred.
Of course, besides Ruina, Pernyan had several students who received support from his family, but the more cards one could play, the better.
“The Yacht Club… is that the one I’m thinking of?”
“That’s right. The one only the top 5% of the academy can enter.”
It wasn’t explicitly stated that only the top 5% could join.
However, since those lacking in ability or family background were not accepted, it came to be known as such implicitly.
Ordinarily, Ruina Bercefe was more than qualified to be a member of the Yacht Club.
She was the second-ranked student in the academy and a scion of the Bercefe family, one of the Electors.
Even if they were in partial decline, the foundation they had built over a thousand years had not simply vanished.
The reason she had been kept at a distance from the Yacht Club until now was entirely because of Pernyan.
‘I was trying to apply subtle pressure.’
Using her debt as leverage, he had intended to slowly drive Ruina into a state of desperation.
Blocking her from joining the Yacht Club was part of that plan.
“Why the Yacht Club all of a sudden? Weren’t you the one who kept me from joining?”
“…You knew?”
“Bella is a member of the Yacht Club.”
Right, he had forgotten.
Although she had shown a somewhat careless side in relation to the demonic energy, Bella Hohen was excellent in both ability and family standing.
“…If you dwell too much on the past, you can’t move forward.”
“I don’t think those are words you should be saying.”
“I’m giving you an invitation now, so shouldn’t that be fine? We’ve become partners, after all.”
Pernyan cleared his throat and offered the invitation again. Ruina glanced back and forth between it and Pernyan.
“There is certainly a clear difference in our relationship now compared to before. It’s not entirely strange for you to hand me an invitation at this point.”
“Right.”
“But I can’t possibly believe you’re giving this to me for no reason. What is it?”
“Does a person need a reason to treat another person well?”
“Isn’t it stranger when there is no reason?”
It was an irrefutable point.
“Could it be that you actually…”
“Absolutely not. I swear on my money, it’s not that.”
Pernyan shook his head firmly at Ruina’s narrowed gaze.
“If it’s not that, then there must be another reason.”
“I told you. It’s an investment in talent.”
“Do you really think I would believe that?”
Under her piercing stare, Pernyan finally confessed.
“I’ve found traces of the Vile Breed. It seems they’re planning to make a move at the Yacht Club.”
“……!”
“I’m planning to set a trap to catch them, but I thought it would be more certain with a trustworthy ally…”
“Your conversational priorities are wrong.”
Ruina cut Pernyan off.
“You should have started with that.”
“Does that mean you’ll go?”
“Of course.”
She took the invitation.
“I will never forgive the Vile Breed that infected Bella. Even aside from that, I have no intention of standing by while they plot something.”
“A fine attitude.”
Truly the mindset of one who would become a companion to Aint, the hero of humanity.
Reaching out to Ruina as soon as he confirmed the prophecy book had been his best decision.
“Ah, speaking of which, is Bella awake?”
“Bella? Not yet…”
To be unconscious for a whole day. Just how badly did that Jace burn her insides?
“How about having Bella join us? As the one who was directly affected, I imagine she’ll be quite furious when she wakes up.”
The more reliable allies, the better.
“…True, this is no longer someone else’s problem for Bella.”
After a moment of consideration, Ruina nodded.
She seemed to think that while it was one thing to drag a friend into a dangerous place, it was unavoidable now that she was already involved.
“You can probably handle it on your own, but if she refuses because she’s scared of the Vile Breed, try this.”
Pernyan suggested a line of persuasion.