Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Variables Are Familiar
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Merang gazed at Regin with a peculiar expression.
“……Delbah—the family that tried to kill me, right?”
The tension she’d shown back on the first floor of the Tower subtly peeked through.
Just like in that moment when she’d first felt the brush of death.
‘And now, on top of that……there’s this vague anger too.’
Who could stay calm knowing someone was out for their neck?
“Tell me what I need to do.”
“Hmm.”
“Tell me how to make those bastards bow their heads before me.”
It was different from the immature look in her eyes he’d seen before.
Merang stared at him with an expression that burned for vengeance against them.
Regin shook his head and continued.
“It’s not something we can do right away. For now, I’ll discuss this with the family head.”
“…….”
“Don’t worry too much about it. Delbah won’t be able to touch Peresian easily anymore anyway.”
“……You think so for real?”
“Yes.”
Regin nodded with a serious expression.
“They won’t be able to target you like before.”
If it had been a mine producing only Orihalcon, the Delbah family would probably still hold the upper hand.
Their puny wealth wouldn’t stand a chance against that.
Slosh—
As he poured the glow fluid back into the cylinder, Regin thought to himself.
It was different when you had overwhelming funds, not just some mediocre wealth.
“I can’t promise a betrothal, but I can make a vow. I won’t let Peresian be targeted lightly like before. Me included.”
At this point, Regin could do the math clearly.
He needed to keep Peresian as it was now and maintain ties with them.
Then, he planned to use them to properly raise Manannan and Apelion.
‘I’ve got more to talk about with the family head now.’
It meant he wouldn’t be leaving today with just orange jam.
* * *
After packing the cylinders and Orihalcon, Regin met with the family head, Tolimba, again.
Tolimba had been waiting in the study inside the manor.
He continued the conversation with Regin, his face grave.
With Merang absent, Regin could speak more frankly too.
“……So my younger brother might have joined hands with the Freton family head.”
“That’s the situation, from the circumstances.”
There was a need to explain the Peresian family’s position a bit more objectively.
From what Regin had heard, it was none other than Tolimba’s own little brother who had sent Merang to Chimihi.
His full blood brother, no less.
“It’s a position with no one I can trust……but getting stabbed in the back by your own brother doesn’t sit well.”
Regin gave an awkward smile.
It was his own full brother who had targeted his daughter.
Of course, Freton was behind it all, and who knew what deals had been struck in the process.
Maybe his brother had been coerced into it.
But no matter the reason, the fact remained: his full brother had betrayed him.
Regin couldn’t even imagine the depth of betrayal Tolimba must be feeling.
Grip—
Tolimba clenched the armrest of his chair tightly.
It was to keep from crumbling under the emotional shock and to think about what needed doing.
The family head himself couldn’t afford to break.
But maintaining his expression wasn’t easy; for a moment, a sorrowful look crossed his face as he regarded Regin.
“You truly have no thoughts on a betrothal?”
“…….”
“This is a request from me as family head, but also as a father asking about his child.”
“Are you worried? About Merang.”
“Of course. I can hold this position somehow while I’m alive. But when I’m gone…….”
“I have no intentions for a betrothal, but I did make a promise. Even if Merang ends up alone, nothing will put her in danger.”
Tolimba understood, flashing a small smile.
“Thank you for saying that much, at least. It puts my mind at ease.”
“Well, the best thing would be for Peresian to find stability soon. Wouldn’t it be best if you protected the family yourself?”
“That’s true.”
“I noticed earlier you had quite a lot of glow fluid. The cylinder you gave me was just a portion, right?”
“Along with the Orihalcon, it’s one of the specialty products from our mine.”
“Tolimba.”
“Yes.”
“How much more glow fluid can you harvest?”
“Well, the estimated reserves in the mine are about five times what we’ve extracted so far in cylinders.”
That was plenty.
Regin nodded and continued.
“You should secure more glow fluid cylinders.”
“May I ask why?”
“I get the feeling the Freton family’s goal isn’t just Orihalcon.”
“They might be after the glow fluid too.”
“Then you could use that as a bargaining chip, no?”
“……Bargaining?”
“If it were me, I’d start setting up proper sales channels for the glow fluid right now.”
“…….”
Tolimba stared as if to say go on. Regin continued in a calm tone.
Just like when he’d persuaded Nuada.
And like when he’d pushed Chimihi into a choice inside the Tower.
Regin blended the information he knew with what the other side wanted.
“If you register it with the merchants’ guild and sell it officially, even Delbah won’t be able to touch it easily.”
“……Glow fluid does have decent demand. You could make a fortune in a short time.”
“Exactly.”
The reason Delbah could target Peresian was their unclear foundation.
They weren’t a family with a long history to begin with.
Tolimba’s father had held the mine in the family name, and when Tolimba inherited it, he’d nearly sold it off dirt cheap.
‘Then they discovered Orihalcon in the mine. They traded it with the West, who needed it back then, and that’s how the family started growing.’
They’d suddenly amassed wealth no ordinary merchant could dream of.
With those funds, they expanded their territory and poured money into western expeditions.
The West had always been a headache, so the kingdom needed funds from folks like Peresian too.
Their interests aligned perfectly, earning them the viscount title and noble status.
‘Viscounts are seen as proxies for earls anyway, so there wasn’t much backlash since it felt like a deputy role.’
That fact must have stung the Delbah family the most.
They were the ones who’d tried to buy that mine earlier.
“The day we received our noble title, Delbah must have had their eyes on us.”
Tolimba chuckled bitterly, reminiscing.
A self-mocking smile. Maybe he was only now realizing the signs had been there from back then.
“To be honest, we have been trying to sell the glow fluid. But we’re struggling to find solid buyers.”
“Hmm.”
“People buy it out of curiosity from the rumors, but no one knows its real value. Not even us. We don’t know how to use it properly.”
“That makes sense.”
“That’s why raiders aren’t the only ones after it. They don’t want to pay……just snag a sample or two.”
Regin broached the subject lightly while watching Tolimba.
“Or you could sell it to them.”
“Pardon?”
“No other family, but Delbah targeted the mine because they knew its value.”
When the Orihalcon was discovered, the glow fluid had come out at the same time, he’d said.
Regin was certain.
Delbah had been after the glow fluid from that point on.
‘That explains future events naturally.’
Otherwise, there’d be no accounting for when they unveiled that new elixir to the world.
Recalling those details, Regin pressed on.
“I’ll broker a deal with the Delbah family for you.”
“……!!”
Selling to the very people targeting you? Tolimba couldn’t nod easily amid that vague discomfort.
But on the other hand, he calculated it could be a successful trade.
His pride wouldn’t let him step forward himself, though.
“I’ll act as a neutral broker, take only a mediation fee, and handle all the transactions.”
If someone else stepped in, he could pocket the money without facing them.
And Regin was offering exactly that.
* * *
“…….”
After the conversation wrapped up and he’d packed even the orange jam, Regin left the territory.
Tolimba watched him go from the window and muttered.
“Truly a shame.”
He’d first heard about Regin from Merang.
Then, through dealings with informants, he’d learned Regin was no ordinary explorer.
And when he found out Regin was Nuada’s disciple, Tolimba had no more reason to hesitate.
‘I thought arranging a marriage with Merang was the right move.’
Even as viscounts, Peresian had almost no support base.
It felt like they’d bought the title with money under special circumstances.
Tolimba knew they lacked any faction to protect them.
Becoming nobles had bred jealousy among merchants, so even old friends couldn’t be trusted.
‘That’s why I tried to marry her off based on rumors alone. I thought he’d protect her. His background and skills would form our foundation.’
That vague notion was why he’d invited him here.
But after meeting Regin face-to-face, his thinking shifted a bit.
……It wasn’t enough to just marry her off moderately. He should’ve somehow gotten Regin into his grasp.
‘His mind works on a whole other level.’
A hollow laugh escaped him.
It was like Regin knew how to play people. On par with someone who’d spent half a lifetime as a merchant like himself.
“He could’ve made it big as a merchant too.”
It seemed like he knew exactly what the world wanted……and how to get it.
That’s why it stung so much.
That this grand proxy proposal had ended in failure.
Rustle—
‘Still, I’ve tied a decent connection at least.’
His gaze shifted to a single contract document.
The trade agreement he and Regin had drawn up before Regin left.
[Glow Fluid Revenue Brokerage Fee]
After much deliberation, he’d written it.
Even knowing Delbah wasn’t to be trifled with, Tolimba somehow felt expectant.
If Regin was as exceptional as he seemed……
‘Delbah will get swept up and lose control to Regin too.’
The corner of Tolimba’s mouth curved up slightly.
As a former merchant who’d handled vast sums, it was a sensation he hadn’t felt in ages.
No different from the thrill of placing a big bet.
* * *
‘A bit disappointing I can’t meet Freton right away.’
The day after talking with Tolimba.
He’d contacted Freton through Jack, but the timing didn’t align.
Freton was currently in the capital.
‘So meeting Freton gets pushed back a little. Probably around when the First Wave starts.’
Finishing before the First Wave would’ve been ideal, but luckily, it wouldn’t impact their deal much.
The First Wave mainly hit commoners harder than nobles anyway.
Plus, the Delbah family had deep ties to the black market for generations.
‘Even if they take a hit, they can recover losses by spinning the black market again.’
That’s why he hadn’t forced a meeting with Freton.
It wouldn’t change much after the First Wave either.
He immersed himself in scroll-making until evening.
Developing new types was tough, but with current materials, mass-producing standard scrolls was feasible.
‘I need to stockpile them bit by bit like this to prep for the next expedition easily.’
This time had driven it home: the more scrolls, the better.
Utility scrolls versatile for many uses proved more valuable than expected.
Once made, you’d find ways to use them.
Back in DAT days, making too many was a headache since you couldn’t carry them all.
Now, with inventory, he could make as many as possible without worry—just slip them in.
“Solid.”
Pat pat—
He grinned, checking the piled scrolls.
He’d nearly drained his mana, sweat beading on his skin, but the quantity filled him with pride.
After finishing the scrolls, he left the association and headed to one house.
Nuada’s place, no less.
“You spent the whole day making scrolls?”
“That’s right.”
Nuada, waiting at home, smirked and continued.
“You didn’t forget there’s a festival tomorrow, right?”
“Of course not.”
The western festival was finally here.
Truth be told, that’s why he’d come to see Nuada early.
He’d meet Nuada tomorrow for the festival anyway, so he could’ve waited……
‘But I knew coming a day early would let me get the attendee list.’
Slide—
“Perfect timing. I’ve got a ton of people to greet tomorrow, Regin. Could you help?”
Hiding a smile, Regin took the list Nuada handed him.
It was packed with names of people Nuada needed to greet.
‘Even a grand mage can’t remember them all.’
He could recall memories with magic, sure.
But that might come off as rude to the other party.
Hence the list to memorize ahead—and for Regin, a golden chance to check participants.
“Not hard at all. It’s the same document Manannan and I wrote up.”
He lied smoothly while scanning the list.
Hoping the attendees matched the game closely.