Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Wiruan Merchant Group (2)
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Chapter 83
At my words about severing his head, he bowed deeply with a resolute expression.
“If you need my head, I will gladly offer it at any time!”
It seemed he had misunderstood my words as a test of his loyalty.
In truth, that was exactly the intent behind them.
Didn’t you say so yourself?
I spoke with a satisfied expression.
“You’re assisting the Governor-General’s Office with their operations.”
“Yes. We’re luring in those greedy Francia bastards and deploying them as slaves where manpower is needed.”
“Is your merchant group leading this overall?”
“Yes. While we have lines for recruiting under our own affiliates, we gather the recruits ourselves and then distribute them directly. If the Governor-General’s Office got directly involved, it could get messy, so we take the front.”
I nodded slowly.
Every word grated on my nerves, but there was no doubt this scum was in charge of these vile operations.
I reminded myself of the character for endurance and said,
“They must have a separate roster for them.”
“...I’m sorry, but could you tell me what this is regarding?”
Histeron’s eyes gleamed slyly. I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. I tossed him the bait he wanted.
“There’s someone I need to pursue. We have intel that he’s infiltrated as a slave. I won’t go into details.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
He bowed his head obsequiously like a eunuch. I had no idea what he thought he understood, but he’d interpret it in his favor.
If he could contribute to a matter important enough to involve a scion of the Bastis family, he’d naturally expect a reward—and a connection to the Bastis name.
To him, my presence was a golden lifeline.
I said,
“I want to see the roster with the slaves’ personal details.”
“Of course. If you give me some approximate conditions to narrow it down, we’ll compile it for you.”
“No, bring everything. From where and how they were recruited to where they were sent—every bit of recorded information.”
“...There’s a considerable amount.”
“Even so.”
“Ah, yes.”
My insistence on checking personally must have conveyed to him just how grave the matter was.
As if to confirm it, I continued,
“This is highly sensitive. No one must know we’re here. Keep even the servants’ eyes and mouths in check. If this goes well, you’ll receive a tremendous reward.”
“I shall obey!”
He slammed his forehead down as if about to kowtow. His loyalty toward me already seemed to pierce the heavens.
Having said my piece, I stood up immediately.
“Then we’re done here.”
“Yes! I’ll prepare the documents right away!”
* * *
When I returned to the room, Allen and Iriel burst in as if they’d been waiting.
“How did it go?”
Allen asked with anxious eyes. I leaned back on the sofa in the corner and said,
“How did it go? It went well, of course. You know we have five days of leeway now, right?”
All personnel, including those coming from other cities, would assemble in five days. Naturally, the purge would be set for then.
“During that time, make thorough preparations by contacting the Magnet branch members.”
“Yes, sir!”
The two nodded solemnly.
Everything had already been discussed on the way, so no further details were needed. With five days to spare, they could prepare slowly and without gaps.
Moments later, there was a knock.
Knock knock.
I had already sensed their presence, so I ordered them in. Through the open door came Histeron, accompanied by a burly, hairy man carrying a large box.
“The leader of the Wiruan Merchant Group, Histeron, at your service.”
He politely greeted me, Allen, and Iriel.
“You move quickly.”
I praised him for bringing the ledgers so promptly. A smile spread across his face—one that twisted my guts enough to make me want to lop off his head right then.
Histeron pulled out the rosters from the box he set down and gave a brief explanation.
“As you can see, the rosters are categorized by region, with dates marked on the covers. They detail names, origins, and destinations, so finding the information should be straightforward.”
I took one roster, skimmed it, and nodded.
Indeed, it was recorded in meticulous detail, just as he said.
“Good work. You may go.”
“Yes, then I’ll take my leave. Have a peaceful night.”
Click.
Once the door closed, Allen and Iriel immediately stood and examined the rosters in the box.
Iriel frowned the moment she turned to the first page.
Just from the number of people listed and the volume of books, it was clear they had conscripted thousands of Francia citizens. So many Francia people had fallen for their tricks and been dragged to battlefields and labor camps.
“...It’s here.”
Allen was staring intently at an open ledger. He must have found the name of Als, his close friend and Daisy’s brother.
“It looks like the labor camp Als was sent to is near Porsen Port.”
Allen pointed to a section of the roster and looked at me.
His wide eyes brimmed with desperation.
Because Porsen Port was our next destination.
What an astonishing coincidence.
He called my name piteously.
“...Lord Jenness.”
His eyes looked ready to well up, his mouth corners drooping.
Hating the sight, I nodded.
“We’ll probably have time to rescue him. So fix that pathetic expression. Acting like a three-year-old when you’re a grown man.”
Even at my sharp tone, Allen approached me gratefully.
“As expected of our Lord Jenness! You’re my true hero, you know that. I love y—”
Whack!
“Argh!”
I smacked the head of the fool walking right into it. Lately, drunk on love, “love” was constantly on his lips.
“Ugh... It’s because I like you, and you don’t even know my heart.”
Clutching his head, he pouted and shot me a glance.
Oh, really.
This punk—Daisy’s all “cute cute,” and now he thinks he’s actually cute.
Making that fresh-faced expression.
“Want me to shove it back in?”
“Gulp.”
As I raised my fist again, he quickly tucked his lips away.
* * *
Harab, the owner of the inn “Harab’s Dawn,” headed straight to his house next door after finishing his day.
“Ow ow, my back. Guess it’s my time to kick the bucket.”
Rubbing his back as he entered, a small shadow darted out to greet him.
“Grandpa!”
“Whoa, you scared me!”
Harab clutched his heart at Yuria’s sudden appearance. The girl blocking his path had cute orange hair.
Harab glared wide-eyed.
“You trying to kill me, girl?”
“Look at this!”
Ignoring him, Yuria thrust a white cloth at him.
“What’s this?”
“It was tied to the second street tree on Hilchen Avenue!”
“What?!”
Harab’s eyes bulged in shock.
This signal was the prearranged sign used by headquarters personnel to make contact.
It seemed people from headquarters had arrived.
“Th-then...”
In the current situation, its meaning was clear.
Yuria knew it too, which was why she was so excited and fussing.
“Yes! That’s right! The White Lion has come!”
He had finally arrived in the capital.
A dimly lit orange secret room.
There, including Yuria who found the white cloth, five people had gathered.
At the head sat Harab, an executive of the “Northern White Lion” and branch chief of the “Magnet Branch.”
“He’s finally here!”
Yuria couldn’t contain her excitement and kept making a fuss.
She wasn’t the only one worked up.
Everyone in the room was flushed, unable to sit still, chiming in one after another.
“He’s finally here!”
“I wonder what he’s like. I’m dying of curiosity!”
“My heart’s pounding so hard I feel like I’ll drop dead.”
Harab watched them quietly.
His own heart was racing like he’d cross to the afterlife any moment—what about theirs?
It was only natural they were making such a racket.
It was no one else but the White Lion.
Their interest in the White Lion burned like a furnace.
Sword Master of the “Northern White Lion.”
The man who single-handedly crushed the Governor-General’s elite Special Task Force “Grassland Jackals” and “Royal Knights.”
And that was just the beginning.
Countless people in Stis City had witnessed him rescuing Lordr Heiser alone.
His fame had arrived in the capital long before he did.
It was only natural to feel thrilled and hearts ablaze at the thought of meeting him.
Harab understood their feelings better than anyone, but for a smooth discussion, he needed to cool their fervor.
“You lot, quit the fussing. You’re driving me crazy. Someone would think we’d already won independence.”
“With the White Lion here, independence isn’t far off!”
Yuria shouted back defiantly.
Her eyes sparkled like they held the Milky Way.
If only.
Harab grumbled unnecessarily and spoke.
“Enough nonsense. You left the countersign properly, right?”
“Yes! Of course!”
“Never let your guard down. It could be an enemy trap. Recklessness could shorten your lives. I’ve got no regrets left, but you do. If you want to live to see independence, move carefully.”
Contacting the signal sender required multiple verification steps.
They had to reveal themselves gradually through agreed signals and approach cautiously.
This was the heart of the Francia Governor-General’s Office.
Extreme caution was essential.
They needed to rein in their excitement.
Though it didn’t seem likely.
“But why do you think he’s come to the capital?”
The skinny Ion’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
The short Pogret replied with a meaningful expression.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
All eyes turned to him.
He cleared his throat dramatically and whispered,
“He’s here to cut off Halent Barrein’s head.”
“You idiot!”
Harab angrily hurled papers from the table.
Rustle—amid the scattering sheets, Pogret yelled.
“Wah! What’s that for! Gone senile?!”
“What do you mean! Your empty lungs are full of hot air! You’re shoving the White Lion straight into hell! Is Halent Barrein just the village chief next door?!”
Under Harab’s bellow, Pogret protested indignantly.
“Then what, the Grassland Jackals and Royal Knights were just local punks he killed?!”
“You little—!”
“Everyone, calm down.”
The bug-eyed Fitzma soothed the furious Harab and barely salvaged the chaotic atmosphere.
“Branch chief, cool it too. We’ll meet him soon anyway. We’ll learn why he’s here then. Pogret, words like that could burden the White Lion.”
“Right! There are rumors he’s injured! Imagine the pressure!”
“I wouldn’t say it to his face.”
As even Yuria joined in, Pogret protested his innocence.
Meanwhile, Harab caught his breath, swallowed his anger, and continued.
“Anyway. Don’t get too carried away—be cautious now more than ever. Got it?”
Their meeting dragged on late into the night.
Yet the branch members showed no sign of fatigue, unlike usual.
How could they not be excited when the one igniting their aspirations was right around the corner?
To the Northern White Lion independence fighters—not just the Magnet branch—the White Lion was no different from the Leonir Lancers who would bring independence in their jaws.
How could they not revere him?
In their minds, Jenness was already being deified.