Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Master of the Underground
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"Regen."
As soon as they stepped into the alley, Jack pulled Regen deeper inside.
"Did you send your companions somewhere else?"
"Yes. Talking to Preton is something I can handle alone."
"Good. That was the right call."
Jack's expression was off. His eyes carried a hint of unease that lingered.
"Sigh... Regen."
"Yes."
"What the hell did you write in that letter?"
"The letter?"
"Yeah! When he read it, the house lord's face turned stormy."
Jack glanced around cautiously as he spoke.
"I'm no good at reading emotions from faces, but this time was different."
"How was it different?"
"Angry, I'd say. Yeah, that's it—pissed off."
"Hmm."
"What did you put in there? Weren't you on good terms with Preton?"
Jack saw Preton as someone whose emotions were impossible to read.
Yet the moment he read the letter, his face had hardened instantly.
Then he ordered Jack to bring Regen.
In a tone that clearly showed his irritation.
"You're worried?"
"Of course I am. To be honest... didn't I get into Delbach because of you?"
"Well, that's true."
If things went south between Regen and Preton, Jack's future in Delbach was far from secure.
That anxiety was bubbling over now.
Regen chuckled and patted Jack's shoulder.
"I'll make sure it doesn't come to that. Looks like the letter got through just fine, as you said."
"Sounds like you knew it'd piss him off and sent it anyway."
"Well, I figured there was no helping it."
An irritated Preton. Best to avoid that usually, but this time, there was no other way.
"Lead the way for now. Written words are prone to misunderstandings. Better to talk it out in person."
Truth be told, Regen had intended it a little.
It was a letter written after much deliberation.
'I have no idea how busy Preton is.'
He needed a way to make Preton drop everything and meet him.
So he added one line to the letter he was already writing.
'Something that would make Preton unable to hold back from seeing me...'
He'd poked at him a bit. Jack's reaction suggested it had worked perfectly.
Creak—
"Regen."
A building in the corner of the capital.
Plain and low compared to the others, they stepped inside.
"Long time no see."
A man with white long hair and a black coat. Preton looked at Regen.
"Have a seat. I figured you'd want an explanation about the letter."
His impression was as cold as ever, but this time, even his face was frozen solid.
'Guess I poked him good.'
Regen sat in the chair and gathered his thoughts.
This needed proper handling.
"Where should I start?"
It had to be worth creating this meeting.
* * *
"I'll take my leave."
Sensing the frosty atmosphere, Jack quickly excused himself.
Now only Regen and Preton remained at the table inside the building.
Preton stared at Regen before tossing the letter onto the table with a thud.
"At first, I thought it was just a check-in. Maybe even bringing a reply to the letter I sent via Chimihi."
Thud, thud.
He tapped the letter as he continued.
"Until the words 'luminescent fluid' showed up."
"......"
"The Peresian family's luminescent fluid. You're going to act as their sales agent? What the hell is this?"
Regen had never thought he looked so menacing before.
His features were actually close to the classic handsome type.
It was just that his emotions never showed in his eyes.
'Now I see why they call him the King of Shadows.'
There was a unique aura about him.
That subtle expression and gaze carried a pressure that made you shrink.
Regen felt a twinge of regret.
He'd expected this, but Preton's reaction was colder than anticipated.
'Did I pull too much aggro?'
As mentioned before, he needed a way to make Preton drop everything and come running.
It hadn't been that hard.
Regen, tempered by the DAT community, knew the drill.
'I already mastered how to make my posts stand out among countless others.'
A provocative title and content were essential.
And crucially, you had to bait them with something they'd react to.
Here, the luminescent fluid was that bait.
"Exactly what it says."
Regen opened his mouth calmly.
He needed to figure out why Preton was reacting so sensitively.
"I've already talked it over with House Lord Tollimba, and the contract's signed."
The letter had said he'd sell it to Preton personally.
"I don't get it."
"What's not to get?"
"Forgotten our deal already?"
Preton continued, staring at Regen.
"Regen. We've had a trading relationship. Giving each other what we want, one by one."
"Correct."
"We didn't sign a contract, but not meddling in each other's business is the proper attitude for traders."
"......"
"The Peresian family was mine for the taking."
That caught him off guard a bit.
He hadn't expected Preton to openly admit he was targeting the Peresians.
"Fine, blocking the hit on their daughter. But selling the luminescent fluid yourself...?"
"......"
"That's looking down on me. And I hate being made a fool of."
So he'd caught on.
To Regen saving Meriang and leading Chimihi to revive the Peresian family.
Otherwise, no reason to confess like this.
"Preton."
"Go on."
"If someone on the street begged you to save them, what would you do?"
But he wouldn't be fully convinced yet.
Chimihi's letter hadn't reached him.
'Meriang survived, and I ended up as Tollimba's sales proxy. So he's guessing.'
Time to plant some doubt.
"What if they offered a fistful of orichalcum as payment?"
"A fistful of orichalcum?"
"They claim their family has that precious ore and offer it as thanks. What then?"
"......What are you getting at?"
"I saved Meriang, and turns out she's from the Peresian family."
For a split second, Preton's eyes wavered.
Speaking with sincerity made it hard to discern truth from lie.
'Even I didn't suspect Preton until Meriang told me herself.'
"You're saying you didn't save her on purpose?"
"That's right. Then she invited me over, showed off the luminescent fluid, and even gave me one."
"So the luminescent fluid was extra payment after the orichalcum?"
"Yes. I asked how rare it was, and she said it's impossible to get unless you're connected."
"......"
"But she lamented she couldn't sell that prized possession outside."
"Go on."
"So I offered to sell it for her."
It flowed naturally, without fabrication.
Any awkwardness would give it away.
"And the first person I thought of was you, Preton. We're trading partners. I told her to deal with Delbach instead of others."
Preton began looking at Regen with a confused expression.
Perfect. The perspective was shifting.
'What was needed here was...'
A touch of drama.
"I thought of you first and came running, and all I get is baseless suspicion? Unbelievable."
An aggrieved look.
His voice rising gradually.
Regen appealed, building emotion.
"Is this what you call a trading relationship?"
Preton was at a loss for words.
The initiative had fully shifted to Regen.
Pushing hard based on assumption had backfired, leaving Preton speechless.
"A chance encounter, and I only took the reward that came with it...?"
Preton mulled it over before speaking abruptly.
"I see. The luminescent fluid thing was my misunderstanding."
In the end, he had no choice but to admit his mistake.
'That takes care of this part. Now...'
Regen took a steady breath, organizing his thoughts.
With Preton's admission, it was time to leverage it for what he needed.
"But, Regen."
"Yes."
"Meriang's letter reached Chimihi, and it's put me in a tough spot."
But Regen had to rethink immediately.
"Even for a coincidence, it's only right I hold you accountable."
As expected, the guy was tenacious.
* * *
"Damn it."
In the alley outside the building where Regen and Preton were talking.
Jack paced restlessly.
'I can't just stand still. Too anxious.'
More jittery than ever.
He'd finally landed a proper job.
One conversation could make it vanish.
Rustle, rustle—
He fiddled idly with the family emblem.
Useless except as ID with family members.
But losing it was another matter.
'Is this really shaking me up this much?'
Something felt off.
He was anxious, sure, but not to the point of trembling.
Yet his body screamed ominously for some reason.
"...Huh?"
In that moment, Jack felt a strange sensation and looked toward the alley's end.
Only then did he realize the tremor in his skin came from something external.
'Never felt mana like this before.'
Jack had low innate mana, so his sensitivity was poor.
But this time, it was unmistakable.
'Danger.'
Something dangerous lurked at the alley's end.
Rustle, rustle—
After hesitating while toying with the emblem, Jack finally moved.
If he identified the danger.
If it turned out to be valuable intel others missed.
'I can prove my worth to the Delbach family.'
His merchant instincts for info kicked in.
You never know. These spots often hide secrets.
'And if it's good stuff, I could sell it to that smug Regen for a premium.'
Might even help soothe Preton's anger if luck was on his side.
Then maybe he'd hear thanks from that shameless bastard.
Forcing his shaky legs forward, he approached cautiously.
'What the...?'
Reaching the end, Jack's eyes widened.
'...A man's turning into a dog.'
The distant figure blackened, then morphed into a small dog.
The dog sauntered out of the alley, blending into the crowd.
Mingling casually among the capital's people, it soon vanished from Jack's sight.
Jack muttered in confusion.
"Shapeshifting in the capital's a capital crime, isn't it?"
* * *
"Claiming the Peresian family. Taking their luminescent fluid. That was my original plan."
Regen nodded, looking at Preton.
"Your actions ruined it, Regen. That's why I can't accept your offer on the fluid."
He was no easy mark.
He laid bare the collapsed plan and demanded accountability.
"I'd love compensation, but since I never asked for your cooperation beforehand, I won't press too hard."
"If you're not pressing hard, that means you want something."
"Yes. What I want is... for you to stay out of the Peresian family from now on."
"What?"
"Just sit tight."
Preton continued, eyeing Regen.
"Then the Peresian mines will be mine. No deaths for Meriang or Tollimba this time, so nothing for you to worry about."
Unbelievable. He'd come to the capital thinking it was some errand.
'Persuading the capital's people to secure the mine's ownership.'
That explained the sensitivity.
Any move by Regen could derail his progress.
'Preton's face showed confidence.'
At least the other nobles were cooperating.
Regen pondered briefly before speaking.
"Preton, do you know this? The Peresian mines—ones producing orichalcum and luminescent fluid—aren't just one."
"W-What?"
At the serious words, Preton couldn't hide his shock, face paling.