Free City Poznyu (4)
After passing through the city gates and arriving at the communal graveyard Madam Hari had directed him to, Calix spotted a ramshackle hut not far away, on the verge of collapse.
It was the very picture of a "witch's house from a fairy tale."
Calix approached cautiously and knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
"Anyone home?"
"I don't know who you are, but the door's open—come in if you want."
Not many people could afford such nonchalance outside the city gates, where monsters and bandits roamed freely.
He exuded confidence that no one could easily harm him, no matter who they were.
Calix pushed open the door and stepped inside, immediately taking in the sight of the hut crammed with all sorts of miscellaneous items.
Unknown herbs and dried animal corpses dangled from the ceiling in clusters, while boxes filled with mysterious stones and soil were piled up haphazardly everywhere.
In the cramped space where there was barely room to stand, an elderly man with streaked gray hair hummed a tune without even turning around.
He held a long ladle and stirred a massive cauldron in front of him. Wispy smoke billowed endlessly from the pot.
Calix nearly blurted out whether he was a real black mage.
Of course, he knew some information about him already, but seeing it in person felt entirely different.
"Ahem, pleased to meet you. I'm Calix Szczecin."
"Hmm, a noble, eh? Sorry, I'm out of touch with the world, so I wouldn't know how impressive you are just from your name."
His tone carried a subtle mocking edge.
But Calix knew of his eccentric personality and history of bizarre antics, so he let it slide.
"That's fine. My family isn't that renowned, nor do I hold any grand title. Even if I did, how could it compare to someone who walks the path of a magitech sorcerer?"
"Kuk! You've got a silver tongue, kid. Anyway, I'm busy, so I can't entertain your chatter. Get to the point, or I'll kick you out. Why are you here?"
Calix inwardly smacked his lips in regret.
In truth, he'd been diligently scanning the hut's interior since stepping inside.
To gain an edge in negotiations, he needed to figure out what Edirn wanted.
But Edirn showed no intention of giving him that time.
"I have a request. I'm planning to conquer a dungeon nearby and could use your help."
"A dungeon? If you mean one around here... you're talking about the Impalen Mountains dungeon, right?"
"Haha, that's one way it's known."
Only then did he set down the ladle and look at Calix seriously.
"It's been a while since I've seen a lunatic."
Krout's eye twitched faintly.
He wanted to call out the man's rudeness, but Calix's reference to him as a magitech sorcerer gave him pause.
Magitech sorcerer—a title for a Class 6 mage. On par with his own mentor, Russell.
In the Eren Continent, where strength equated to status, rashly intervening could even threaten Calix's safety.
As Krout forcibly calmed his boiling frustration, Calix struggled with his persuasion.
"I'll make it worth your while."
"Heh heh, what could you possibly offer? Money? That's only useful if you survive. Don't get cocky—go home if you value your life."
"Urgh..."
Calix felt his words failing him.
Of course, he had a separate plan to clear the dungeon.
But explaining it to someone else and getting them to buy in was another matter entirely.
No one had ever succeeded with that method before.
"How about this? If there's anything you need for your recent research, tell me. I'll procure it however I can."
"Hmph! Pursuing truth is joyful in every step. Don't even dream of stealing my happiness."
"But wouldn't substituting money for gathering materials yourself save you precious time?"
"These aren't the kind of materials you can buy with pocket change, so drop it."
"Still..."
"Hey! This is getting suspicious, kid. You from the Magic Tower? Sent to spy on my research?"
"Ugh, absolutely not. I'm just someone who needs a magitech sorcerer's help to conquer a dungeon. I only asked in case we could mutually benefit—please don't misunderstand."
The back-and-forth continued, but Edirn stubbornly refused any aid.
At this point, Calix wondered if the man had some trauma.
In the end, he returned to the salon empty-handed.
But the moment he arrived, Yurin rushed over and asked,
"You didn't get scammed out of your investment, did you?"
"What do you mean? He didn't seem interested in money at all."
"That's because I was worried he'd use it as an excuse to meddle... ahem!"
Yurin's reaction felt oddly awkward.
He'd gotten a similar vibe when she first mentioned Edirn.
She must have some bad history with him.
Calix pressed her in a low voice.
"What exactly happened?"
Yurin looked indignant.
"It's nothing big... When that old coot Edirn first settled here, I invested some money with him."
"And?"
"He ate up my money! Can you believe it?!"
Before Calix could respond, an outraged Krout bellowed,
"Unbelievable! Even if research funds are tight, swindling a kid's snot-rag savings?!"
Calix raised a hand to silence Krout, then asked calmly,
"You drew up a contract, right?"
"Of course! I'm thorough about that stuff!"
"Let's see... investment of 30 gold?"
Krout looked baffled. 30 gold wasn't pocket change for a child.
"30 gold? That's six years of my salary. How are you even still sane after losing that?"
"I'm not sane! My stomach hurts just thinking about it! And it's my money—I can spend it how I want. Got a problem, you broke old man?!"
"Ugh."
Krout was struck dumb, like a honeyed mute.
Calix tapped the contract in his hand and said,
"Want me to take this off your hands?"
Yurin shot to her feet and shouted,
"No way! I'll make that old coot Edirn work it off someday. With interest!"
Calix patted her head and replied,
"That's something only a powerless commoner could pull off. Against a Class 6 magitech sorcerer? Dream on."
"So there's no way to get my money back from a magitech sorcerer?"
"You didn't lend money—you invested for a share of profits, risking loss. If you were stronger and could force repayment, maybe. But you're not."
"Are you stronger than old coot Edirn, oppa? You didn't look it during training."
Calix took a factual hit out of nowhere.
"Ugh, I'm a noble with a territory and money to burn! What are you even saying to a kid...?"
"Ugh! Only a year older and acting all grown-up."
"Hey, I'm thirty—er, fifteen, technically. Argh!"
Calix beat his chest in frustration, then realized he was getting too worked up over a child.
"Ahem! Anyway, a capable merchant recognizes losses from failed investments and seizes any chance to salvage something."
Yurin bit her lip, fuming.
Even a genius like her lacked real-world experience—it showed.
Thinking a scrap of paper let her boss around a near-Class 6 magitech sorcerer was pure naivety.
Of course, on the Eren Continent, the line between investment and debt was blurry, inviting such misconceptions.
But strictly speaking, it still required backing from power to enforce.
'Meeting her before she fully matures as a merchant is lucky for me. In a few years, her value would skyrocket dozens of times. She'd have picked the Black Prince as a partner instead. And...'
Calix shook the contract in his hand and asked,
"To sign something like this, you must have records of what field he was researching in, and where the funds went, right?"
"......"
"Give it up. You won't get it back. I'll buy it for 50 gold. 67% profit in a few years isn't bad, is it?"
Yurin glared at him for a moment, fists clenched tight. She was seriously pissed.
"Fine, but let me watch from the sidelines."
"Heh heh, suit yourself."
Only then did Yurin dig out a thick stack of documents and hand them over.
Madam Hari, who hadn't known about this, looked shocked.
"Princess... I told you not to start ventures behind my back."
"You always say no for a million reasons."
"Sigh... Let's go. You'll need extra lessons today."
"Eek!"
After Yurin was dragged off again, Calix began skimming the documents.
It didn't take long to realize something.
Convincing him wouldn't be easy.
Unlike what he'd told Yurin, he had no intention of strong-arming Edirn with the acquired contract.
The odds of success were low, and it might breed resentment.
Moreover, nothing in the files jumped out as leverage for immediate help.
But after claiming the dungeon's reward, recruitment odds would shoot up dramatically.
'Guess I'll hit the dungeon first, then lure him in. Time to hire some mercenaries.'
Shaking off his regrets, Calix called to Krout.
"Come with me."
"Where to, my lord?"
"To hire mercenaries."
Calix addressed the escort soldiers with him and Krout.
"The rest of you, rest up and recover. No need to trail me around the city like a parade."
Their eager eyes turned to Krout.
He sighed in resignation and granted leave.
"Fine. Bathing or a couple beers are okay, but no brothels or gambling. Beer limit: two mugs."
"Aww—"
"Want me to schedule guard shifts too?"
"No, sir! We'll behave. Heh heh."
Leaving the delighted escorts behind, the two headed for the mercenary guild.
"Why hire mercenaries, my lord? Our knights and even the soldiers are far superior to average hires. They're the cream of Szczecin County's elite."
"Not enough firepower for the dungeon. No mage secured, so we need at least 100 combat troops."
"Better to bring more from the county, then... ugh, but other nobles might misread it as eyeing Poznyu."
"Yeah, that's the reason. Plus, I want to move quietly."