Chapter 88
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Blood Ties (1)
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The scene that greeted me when I arrived at work the next day was far more bewildering than I'd imagined.
"Hey, you there, newcomer—no cutting in line!"
"Spirits and fairies, please head to the open field! The Auditory Officer will handle your inspections over there!"
It was as chaotic as ever, at least.
Aside from the fact that the volcanic collapse had drawn in twice the usual number of disaster refugees, making it far more crowded than normal.
'This much is still pretty much business as usual.'
But there was something different...
"What is the purpose of your visit?"
"I'm heading west."
"West?!"
"To the volcanic zone—no, the ash wasteland!"
Not only were there throngs fleeing far from the volcano, but an equal number were heading right back toward the west.
"Hurry up and stamp it!"
"If we're late, someone'll snatch our spots!"
And they were hounding the inspectors and aides like they were being chased by something, to boot.
What stood out most was how every single one of them wore expressions brimming with anticipation and fervor.
And the man standing right in front of me now was no exception.
"Pleased to meet you. I am—"
"Anton Green, from the Mahalan Kingdom. Heading to the western volcanic zone."
"...Thank you."
The man breezed through the entry procedures in seconds flat.
I gave his outfit a quick once-over.
Straw hat on his head, baggy pants, calluses on both hands.
'Farmer.'
The faint whiff of manure and the dirt caked under his nails confirmed it.
But something felt off.
A small, rusted pickaxe dangling from his belt.
"Hm..."
I quickly scanned the other entrants nearby.
Hammers, pickaxes, shovels—mining gear clutched in hands or strapped to packs everywhere.
The Mahalan Kingdom had almost no mountains. Agriculture thrived there, but mining wasn't a big industry.
Yet every person in line—men, women, old, young, all races—was armed with mining equipment.
'Too coincidental. They all look ready to strike it rich.'
It was a rare sight, eerie even.
As if people who didn't belong together had banded for some forced purpose—
Suddenly, a term flashed through my mind.
'Another gold rush.'
Gold rush.
The phenomenon where rumors of something massive in a specific area draw crowds flocking to one spot.
It had happened exactly twice since I became an inspector.
Once when word spread of a diamond vein discovered in our Crossroad Kingdom.
And again when rumors flew that a massive bandit horde had buried their decade's worth of rare treasures somewhere in the north.
'What a mess both times.'
I still remembered the hellish fortnight of over 2,000 daily visitors.
Even tougher than the 3,000-pilgrim procession.
'We survived back then by chomping raw mandrake roots rushed over from Foreign Affairs.'
Looking back, it was absurd.
What world has a 'diamond' vein? Not gold, even.
'If there was one, the dwarves would've foamed at the mouth and mined it dry from the start.'
And no sane bandits would reveal their hidden loot's location.
But the truth of the rumors didn't matter.
No matter how much Intelligence or Immigration Control insisted to entrants that it was baseless nonsense, it fell on deaf ears—like echoes in the void.
It was a cry that never reached those blinded by the dream of overnight riches.
Hell, it even spawned rumors like "The Crossroad Kingdom's trying to hog the vein!"
"Yeah, things have been too quiet lately."
I chuckled wryly and stamped his papers.
They were all bound for the same place: the western active volcanic zone.
With an unprecedented event like the volcanic collapse, it was no wonder myths and legends swirled in the superstition-rich west.
But what was driving them to this perilously dangerous volcanic wasteland?
"You're all set. Welcome to the Crossroad Kingdom. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey."
"Thanks!"
"Ah, one more thing, if I may?"
I grabbed the man just as he turned to leave.
"What has everyone rushing west like this? I hear it's gotten extremely dangerous there."
"Inspector, you're way behind on the news. The dragon's dead!"
"...Pardon?"
Totally unexpected.
"Dragon... you say?"
How do you know about Mnatsil?
The farmer caught my expression and spoke with eager excitement.
"The western volcano collapsed because its 'something-or-other lord' died. And now treasure's spilling out of the dragon's old nest by the pile!"
"Ah... I see."
A gold rush thrives on rumors.
Plausible tales that ignite greed in people's hearts, drawing them in hordes.
Most are exaggerated or outright lies.
Unfortunately, the rumor spreading among these folks held a kernel of truth.
The dragon wasn't dead. She was crashing at my place right now.
But her existence was known across the world now, and so was the fact that she was no longer in the west.
A twisted truth was propagating.
"...Understood. You're free to go."
For some reason, I had a bad feeling another headache was brewing.
I suppressed the chill creeping up my spine and called out.
"Next!"
I had a line of entrants scarier than any anxiety to deal with first.
About five hours later.
"Neeeext..."
This was hell.
"Your name, origin, and reason for heading west, pleeeease."
"Millia Noken, from the Mahalan Kingdom. Treasure in the west—"
"Approved..."
I couldn't take it anymore.
Same words, same pace, same posture—for 300 straight minutes.
"Aide, I'm stepping out for a 10-minute break..."
I finally gave out before the entrants did and rose from my seat.
Heading straight for the recovery room.
- Creeeak.
"Erzena, you in?"
Was there ever a day I needed your holy power more?
But the recovery room looked like a battlefield triage unit.
"Nathaaan... come iiiin..."
Erzena was a wreck too.
Her cheeks were deathly pale, as if her holy power had been sucked dry to the bone marrow—heartbreaking.
The beds around her were packed with collapsed aides.
And between us, the Gustatory and Auditory Officers were slumped face-down on the table, out cold.
"Ceeeentral Oooofficer..."
"You two are resting too, huh."
"The Olfactory and Tactile Officers covered for us, so we just got here..."
Heroes of the reversal, felled by the brutal work environment.
- Thud.
I plopped down beside them and slammed my head on the desk.
"Haaaah... I thought we'd never see days like this after the pilgrimage."
"A gold rush, of all things. Never saw that coming."
The Auditory Officer muttered in response to my deep sigh.
"Normally, natural disasters just bring refugees, right?"
"Rumors about a dragon are circulating. They say the volcano's master died."
"Think it's true? The volcano's master... must be an ancient dragon. Even if it died, it wouldn't go out causing this chaos. It'd just wait quietly for its time."
Typical elf—long-lived race nailing the facts sharp as ever. I fell silent for a moment.
"...It's a bit shocking. A dragon? I thought those were just legends."
I played it cool quick.
'No need to tell others about Mnatsil.'
Better to stay silent on the dragon at the rumor’s heart.
The fewer who knew, the lower the risk of her egg getting exposed.
Thankfully, the Gustatory Officer glanced behind me and changed the subject.
"Speaking of, the princess didn't come today? That's why? A few days ago, controlling the entrants was tough in a whole different way..."
"True. She used to sneak around keeping people from breaking line. No wonder they're ignoring orders so bad."
The princess was home with Mnatsil right now.
- "Immigration Control Office? Never heard of it! Take me too! Dangerous? Then we'll bring the egg! No?"
Mnatsil's curiosity was off the charts—first thrill in her long dragon life, maybe.
The second she learned the three of us worked there, she threw a fit to come along.
So I'd begged Hanna and Elaine to keep her inside before leaving.
Of course, I'd explained to the newly reactivated Border Guard Captain too.
If he'd kept the princess's secret, he'd surely stay mum on the dragon.
"Who starts these rumors anyway?"
The Gustatory Officer looked utterly baffled.
"Like with the diamond vein— if it was real, they'd hog it solo, not spread it worldwide."
True.
The Auditory Officer answered.
"Something bigger's at stake."
"Huh?"
"The diamond thing was fake. Just a cart full of precious metals falling off a cliff. A transport company saw it and spread fake rumors to boom their business—scamming desperate miners with sky-high fares."
"Th-that's what happened!?"
She waved her hands emphatically and continued.
"And the northern bandits? Undeveloped land up there—the Scardi Empire bureaucrats spread rumors and colonized it for pennies."
That was the truth of gold rushes.
Deception and scams. Temptation.
"Gold rushes happen for a simple reason. Opportunists ignite human greed for their own ends. Moths to a flame, charging blind."
I laid out the harsh facts plain.
The Gustatory Officer pondered, then tossed another question.
"So... what’s the one who spread the volcanic zone rumor after?"
"Who knows."
The elf shrugged.
"Maybe something more valuable than treasure’s there. Or... just a lunatic."
"..."
Sharp insight.
"Something more valuable than treasure..."
I murmured it softly.
What could be more precious than treasure in a dragon's nest?
That's when it happened.
- Knock knock.
"Central Officer, there you are."
"I've been here less than five minutes."
No way break's over already.
But the aide shook his head, looking flustered.
"No, sir—you need to come to the open field quick."
"What's going on."
"Well... someone's insisting on seeing you..."
"Me?"
I thought for a sec.
Who'd want to see me now, and so insistently?
Minister, Director, Melanie, Mohaim, king's proxy, Reyes Margrave, Magic Academy head, Mnatsil...
Endless list.
"Did you get a name?"
"Says they won't talk unless it's you."
Why do these types show up every other day?
"Haaaah..."
No choice.
With a deep sigh, I hauled my leaden body up again.
If they summoned me specifically, I had to respond.
"Lead on. If they want to see me that bad, might as well show my face."
Whoever it was, I'd give 'em a thorough inspection today.
The moment I stepped out of the office toward the open field, a sharp voice rang out.
"Ugh, why's he taking forever? That old guy's not bluffing that he's here, is he?"
A bright, chirpy woman's voice.
The aide pointed at her with a weary look.
"That's her."
"..."
I turned silently.
The woman standing before a massive caravan line looked familiar somehow.
Black hair, mischievous dark eyes full of playfulness, light makeup—like a sleek black cat.
An aura too familiar to pretend ignorance.
"...Huh?"
I blurted it out dumbly.
Our eyes met.
"Huh? Oppa! Oppa! Nathan oppa!!!"
Her face lit up instantly, and she bolted toward me.
As the distance closed, her features grew achingly familiar.
"Hey! You look like you're doing great."
The woman who finally stopped before me—sharing my own distinctive looks—smiled softly.
But I couldn't reply.
I just stared down at her in shock.
Stunned by this utterly unforeseen arrival, I mumbled blankly.
"...Noah?"
Noah Kell.
Heir to the Kell Merchant Group that roams the continent, and my long-lost blood kin.
My little sister.
"I missed you, big bro."
Her soft laugh echoed across the field.
And behind her, the caravan bore our family crest on a flag fluttering in sync.