Chapter 89
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Blood Ties (2)
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"Yes? Why are you here?"
Am I seeing things?
I rubbed my eyes and looked again.
There she was still, a lively girl who looked just like me.
She grinned brightly and answered.
"Why do you think? I missed you, bro, so I came to see you."
It's really her.
It's really Noah.
That smile, even the habit of tapping her left heel with the toes of her right foot.
A smile spread across my face.
"My god, it's been so long... no."
But I quickly schooled my expression back to neutral.
I couldn't welcome family with open arms after four years just yet.
There was a procedure to follow first and foremost.
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat and spoke.
"Please state your name, origin, and purpose of entry."
"...Huh? Bro?"
Her surprised voice.
Noah looked up at me with wide eyes.
"It's me, Noah! Your little sister! What's with the sudden formality? Do I have to go through immigration checks too?"
I replied stiffly.
"There are no exceptions at the border."
No matter who you are, everyone is equal at the border.
Family was no different.
Besides, after that unimaginable changeling incident, I had to investigate even more thoroughly if it was someone I knew.
Noah pouted at my resolute expression and answered.
"Noah Kell, born from our mom's belly, here to see my bro."
"Irresponsible answers may result in denial of entry."
"Fine, fine. From the Crossroad Kingdom, with my own barony."
"What is the purpose of your visit?"
"As you can see, I've sold everything in the south, wrapped up business, and I'm on my way back."
Behind Noah were eight massive wagons.
All belonging to the Kell Merchant Group.
"Hm."
I didn't know what business she'd done, but it must have been big.
"That good enough now? You gonna keep being all stiff like that? I'm hurt."
"One more thing."
"You're relentless. You're killing the happy reunion vibes."
Noah muttered like she was fed up.
But this was something I personally had to confirm.
"What was the name of the dog we raised as kids?"
I asked for info only the two of us knew.
The answer came instantly.
"Dondon and Moneymoney."
I dropped the act and pulled her into a tight hug.
"It really is you, Noah. I've missed you, sis."
"...Give me back my感動, you idiot bro."
She flinched in surprise for a moment, then her hands slowly wrapped around my back.
The warmth felt familiar once, but now a bit strange.
"...I've missed you. First time since I became Central Officer."
"How could you never come home even once, you fool? Do you know how shocked I was hearing about your trial?"
Short exchanges.
Enough to bridge the four-year gap.
A moment later, I pulled away from the hug and spoke first.
"If you've wrapped up southern business, does that mean you're coming home for good this time?"
"Nah? I'm heading straight to the western volcanic regions like this."
"You too?"
Has some damn ghost possessed the entire west?
Now it's dragging my family into it.
I let out a deep sigh.
"Because of the gold rush?"
"Sharp as ever. Your nose for business hasn't dulled."
She giggled and continued.
"I'll probably stay about a week, then head out."
"A week?"
I tilted my head.
Longer than I expected.
Passengers usually say they'll leave within three days.
Noah patted my tense shoulders.
"I've been away four months; I need a breather too. Plus, it's been four years since I saw you—gotta catch up on what you've been up to, right?"
"Time's tight. Don't get complacent. In a gold rush, time is life."
"That's for those fool miners. What are we gonna sell?"
I thought for a moment.
What goods would appeal to people heading west?
"Clothes, tools, hometown foods... stuff like that."
"See? Sharp as ever, bro. Hasn't changed a bit."
She patted the wagons behind her.
"Exactly. And demand for that stuff ramps up after time passes. When gear breaks, clothes tear, and homesickness kicks in. That's when we swoop in with southern goods—what do you think happens?"
The value of goods is set by people.
And people don't think about price when they desperately want or need something.
"They'll buy anything related to home, no matter the cost."
In other words, Noah planned to target southerners in the west, selling anything that stirred nostalgia.
"By the way, that's not all."
She pointed to the eight wagons.
"Twelve more coming in a week. Stuffed to the brim."
"Ruthless."
Pure admiration slipped out.
Her nose for money was still uncanny.
"You calculated it all for a week stay. Proper merchant move—seizing the opportunity."
"Learned from Dad and you. Crisis is opportunity, right? Can't let customers go without the merchant group."
Now I'd asked everything.
Identity confirmed, Crossroad Kingdom citizen so motives fine, destination clear.
"Very well. Your statements check out. Now, I'll inspect the wagons."
"Great~. Nothing to hide, so check every nook and cranny~."
Confident as ever.
As I moved to climb a wagon, something occurred to me, and I turned back.
"A week means you've got lodging sorted? Inns are full with the current situation."
"About that..."
She leaned in and whispered.
"Let me crash at your place for a few days, bro."
This was her real goal.
Peak season family free stay.
I answered immediately.
"No."
"Aw, why~!"
"Absolutely not. Go to the family home."
"Then who checks the wagons arriving in a week? Gotta verify goods right away!"
"I'll send someone."
"Huh? Remember Dad almost got scammed last time? Can't trust outsiders except family, mister. And..."
She glanced around and whispered.
"You're living alone anyway. Not married yet."
I fell silent at that.
True, not married. But not alone.
Who was home now?
'Erzena, Elaine, Hanna, and... Mnatsil and Al.'
What if my sister walked into a house with them?
A chill ran down my spine.
Those people held secrets more classified than Immigration Control Office intel.
Pandora's box.
One slip, and hell opens.
Plus, Noah was heir to a globe-trotting merchant group.
For a merchant where info is money and life, she'd spot those big names instantly.
I shook my head wildly.
"I'll get you the best suite inn somehow. Stay there."
"Hmm... Nathan Kell, famous for pinching pennies, splashing out big on me? Something's fishy."
"Nothing like that."
"Living with someone?"
Someone, yes.
One a temporary refugee, former Holy Church saintess.
One our kingdom's princess by royal order.
Another, no, one beastie stubbornly demanding I take her egg.
'...Absurd when I think about it.'
Why are these people in my house?
'Better move them all to the safehouse... oh, still under construction.'
The world was ganging up on me.
Noah's eyes widened at my darkening face.
"Gasp! No way—bro got a girlfriend!?"
I invoked silence.
"Whoa, for real. Wow... thought you had zero interest. Four years changes a lot. Maybe..."
She narrowed her eyes at my silence, then suddenly whipped her head aside.
Toward the Sensory Officers and Erzena peeking through the office window curtains.
Our eyes met, and they scattered in panic.
What are they doing instead of working?
"One of them in there?"
"..."
Silence again.
I stood stock-still like the frozen Border Guard Captain out front; Noah switched targets fast.
"Hey, mister."
"Yes, sir!"
Straight to my direct aide.
"Remember telling me earlier the Central Officer wouldn't associate with rude folks like you?"
"W-Well, that is..."
Ah, so that's why he reacted that way when I said sister.
"Who does my bro live with?"
Straight to the point.
"Right now... uh,"
Just before he spoke,
"Aide."
"Y-Yes."
"High official info can't be leaked."
"R-Right. Sorry. I have no authority to say."
Barely shut him down.
But Noah didn't give up easy.
"Ah~, that welcome hurt my feelings so bad I might file a complaint? Blocking a citizen from her own brother... abuse of power by officials against their own people?"
She switched to veiled threats.
"Currently at the Central Officer's residence..."
I countered.
"Aide. Thinking of discussing overtime pay with the Foreign Affairs Minister soon."
"...No one! Central Officer lives alone!"
Victory secured.
"I won't say another word. Sorry."
Veiled threats don't move people as well.
Sweet rewards do.
Merchant basics: hit their tastes.
Offer exactly what they want.
Threats backfire; promises lure easier.
I closed the entry file folder.
"Forgetting our family teachings. You have a ways to go, Noah Kell."
"Tch."
I smiled at her pouting, sulky face.
"Wait inside the office till wagon inspection's done. Welcome to the Crossroad Kingdom."
No matter how shrewd the heir to a world-trotting merchant group, she's still my little sister.
Beating big bro? Not yet.
Meanwhile, in the conference room doubling as a temporary recovery room.
The Sensory Officers and Erzena sat grimly around the round table.
"Alright, let's begin the 1st Emergency Round Table."
The Olfactory Officer announced solemnly.
Erzena spoke first.
"Who... is that woman?"
All eyes turned to the window.
Black hair and eyes like Nathan's.
Lively yet somehow sharp. The Olfactory Officer recalled her.
"No ordinary person. She noticed us watching and looked right at us. And calling the Central Officer aside... something's up."
The Gustatory Officer chimed in.
"Same black hair—easterner maybe?"
Easterner.
Erzena's face clouded at the word.
'Maybe just happy to see a compatriot.'
But shared origin wouldn't make her that friendly.
Erzena clearly saw the eye smiles and subtle signals no one gives without fondness.
The Tactile Officer raised suspicion.
"If same hometown, maybe childhood friend?"
Childhood friend.
A much stronger term.
Erzena's expression darkened further.
Her holy power thickened, viscous, after ages.
Still vivid before her eyes.
Nathan, who'd only talked calmly, suddenly pulling the woman into a hot embrace.
'Never that forward with me.'
Impossible without deep closeness.
Especially opposite sex—only with profound bonds.
'To me...'
Had he ever?
Thinking back, never except when she was the sow.
Despite much time together, physical contact nil.
Erzena gripped the chair arm tightly.
Lips pressed, she murmured softly.
'Me too... you... with you...'
Grievance.
Regret.
Indescribable weight on her chest.
Then, the Olfactory Officer, fed up, said.
"Hey, Auditory Officer. Eavesdrop on their relationship. Fastest way."
"Hmm~. One sec."
Curious herself, she pressed her ear to the window.
Her long elf ears twitched occasionally.
"Hm. Hm. Oh ho. Aha."
Erzena watched anxiously.
Then frowned in disappointment.
"Aw, what. Just the Central Officer's gir..."
She cut off suddenly.
Glanced at Erzena.
"...W-Why?"
Erzena feigned disinterest, but her hands were pale.
"What about Nathan... just acquaintances?"
The Auditory Officer grinned.
"Haven't seen in four years, missed him so much thought she'd die~?"
Erzena's lips quivered.
Holy power grew stickier.
Then—
Bang!
The black-haired woman flung open the door and strode in.
"Huh?"
"You can't come in here..."
Erzena spun, retracting her holy power hastily.
Her former saintess status couldn't leak to civilians.
The woman scanned the room, then addressed the frozen Sensory Officers.
"Hello, you must be the Central Officer's closest aides?"
"P-Pardon? Y-Yes, that's us..."
"I'm Noah Kell, sister of Central Officer Nathan Kell!"
Thunderbolt.
The room flipped at the unexpected intro.
"S-Sister!?!"
"That guy—no, the Central Officer has a sister!?"
Shock and awe.
But the most stunned was elsewhere.
"Y-You're Nathan's sister!?"
Erzena whipped around with a near-scream.
"B-But the Auditory Officer just said four years and..."
The elf, sly as an old fox, giggled at her.
"Didn't lie~. Never said what kind of relationship~."
"Y-You, Auditory Officer..."
Embarrassment, hurt, tangled emotions flushed Erzena's face to her ears.
But her lips trembled with relief.
And Noah, seeing Erzena's full self, was shocked too.
"N-No way... you..."
Dazzling sky-blue hair, golden eyes bright as sunlight.
Noah knew those features well.
"Saintess Erzena...?"
"Ah."
"Ah."
"Ah."
Only then did they realize they'd forgotten to hide her identity in shock.
Silence.
The Olfactory Officer muttered lowly.
"We're screwed."
Thus, one key figure Nathan desperately hid was comically exposed.