Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Blade is Sharpest When Hidden. (3)
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"It's just a joke,"
I quickly comforted Jack, whose face had darkened abruptly.
"You're doing great. You saved the guild members with that nose of yours."
"Ah......"
Jack's cheeks flushed red. He bowed his head sheepishly.
Soon, the eyes of the three, each assigned their roles, turned to Elice. Elice licked her dry lips as she stared at me.
"Elice, you......"
I tapped the table with my finger.
"From now on, you'll take the front stage as the guild leader."
Thud.
The four of them looked as if a boulder had dropped into their chests.
"But......!"
Dexter tried to protest immediately, but Elice stopped him. Jack looked terrified, and William quietly bit his lip.
The recent raid had already planted unease in the guild members' hearts. Especially, the risk of pushing Elice to the forefront was immense.
A tense silence cut through the room.
"I know what you're all thinking,"
My calm voice broke the silence.
"But stepping out front isn't necessarily dangerous."
I crossed my arms and let out a long breath.
"In fact, it's protecting Elice."
The guild members, including Elice, still looked skeptical of my words. To convince them, I continued explaining.
"First off, all the guys involved in the last incident are dead. The Mare Guild won't be chasing us for a while."
My tone was steady, but a subtle chill laced it. Jack flinched slightly, sensing it.
"Besides, the Harvest Festival is starting soon, so they'll be too busy. More than that, they won't have time to focus on anything else soon."
Because they'll soon realize the anomaly with the Summer Sword Cadenza. With the supply of specialty goods dwindling, they'd be swamped nonstop.
"And this building's location. No guild, not even the Imperial Knights, could raid it quietly."
"Ah."
Dexter slapped his knee.
"You're right. Security here is top-notch. And it's always bright day and night."
"We'll bolster the armed forces too. So security's not an issue."
The guild members' faces, which had brightened with understanding,
"And now, we're not running a guild anymore. We're operating a merchant group."
Filled with doubt again as soon as I finished.
"A merchant group......?"
"Yeah, Elice. It's a necessary step for you and my goals."
Elice's face twisted oddly.
"I don't see what that has to do with this."
"What means did the Barnes Family and Mare Guild use to accumulate wealth?"
"Processing specialty goods into luxury items...... Ah!"
Elice's blue eyes flashed.
"So, as you mentioned before, you plan to dismantle their business foundation."
"Exactly. Elice, you'll appear in the capital dazzlingly as the leader of a massive merchant group."
"Me...... as the leader."
Elice clasped her hands tightly, as if it hadn't sunk in.
"It'll look like a merchant group on the outside, but we'll run the guild from behind. Like the Ardante Family."
I chuckled and snapped my fingers.
"A guild's power comes from funding."
"As expected of Master......"
Elice looked at me with eyes full of admiration and respect.
"Come up with a name for the merchant group."
"Yes, understood."
"For now, focus on procuring goods and decorating the interior. Buy everything top-grade, not inferior to any other merchant group."
"Yes, Master!"
Elice replied energetically. She had always loved spending money, then and now.
"Oh, but there's one concern."
"What is it?"
"Excluding Jack, the guild members' faces are somewhat known. Even if we start a merchant group like this, it won't completely erase traces of the Vendetta Guild."
I already had a plan for that.
"For now, William and Dexter, disguise yourselves. Use dyes and tools to easily change your appearances."
"Yes."
"Understood."
William and Dexter replied without objection.
"And Elice, you......"
Elice watched me intently, then soon flashed a meaningful smile.
"I'll handle it soon, so don't worry."
"......Mm. Understood for now."
Elice tilted her head but nodded.
"Alright, then. Let's get to our tasks. Time's short."
I clapped to rouse the guild members. As they stood awkwardly, I called out to Dexter.
"Dexter, stay behind."
Dexter rolled his eyes then hurried over.
"Did I do something wrong......?"
"Nah."
I gripped Dexter's shoulder and grinned.
"There's someone you need to bring."
❖ ❖ ❖
Clop clop, clop clop.
The two horses trotted busily.
"Wow."
Melina sat on the coachman's seat behind, eagerly taking in the surroundings.
"People here, people there too."
Ovest Territory wasn't densely populated. So these bustling streets full of people felt so foreign.
Moreover, the passersby's clothes were so colorful, and the buildings lining the sides were so tall and splendid.
The scenery of the capital Magiore completely captivated Melina.
"You're gonna catch flies in your mouth."
A rebuke came from beside her.
"-!"
Melina blushed and quickly shut her mouth. Then she glared sideways.
"I wasn't gaping that wide."
"Drool was dripping."
The chuckling man's name was Dexter. He said Abel had sent him to fetch her.
"You really are from Young Master Abel?"
"Yeah, that's why I picked you up on time. You said you'd come on the Grande Merchant Group's carriage, right?"
"I did."
Melina huffed and turned her pouty face away.
"The only teenage girl with reddish-brown hair on the Grande Merchant Group's carriage was you. No mix-up possible."
Dexter snickered and changed the subject.
"The road here wasn't too rough?"
"Oh, yeah. Everyone said this trip was oddly peaceful."
Melina's face softened as she chattered on.
"Strangely, the bandits around the capital have gone quiet. Raids have noticeably decreased, they said."
"Hoo."
"Plus, large merchant groups hire lots of mercenaries. No issues."
"Carriage travel isn't easy though. Takes a long time to get here."
At Dexter's words, Melina shrugged.
"True, but the joy of heading to the capital outweighed it. I had distractions to pass the time."
"Distractions like what?"
"Oh, that......"
Just as she was about to answer, the carriage slowed gradually. Melina swallowed her words.
"Already here?"
"Yep."
She couldn't help but be surprised at Dexter's reply.
"This is......"
It was a street lined with splendid buildings. Towers scraping the sky, walls of gleaming white marble.
Even Melina, ignorant of capital culture, could tell this was the epitome of the latest trends.
Creak.
The carriage stopped.
Melina looked ahead where it halted and was awestruck. The tallest building on this street awaited her.
"We're here? This place?"
"Yeah. Come on, get down."
Dexter got off first and offered his hand. Melina hesitated briefly, then grabbed it and jumped down from the coachman's seat.
"Let's go."
Dexter picked up Melina's luggage and led the way. Melina followed cautiously behind.
"Young Master Abel is really here?"
"Yep."
Dexter flung open the door, and
"Wow."
Melina forgot her doubts and gasped in admiration.
Chandeliers adorned the ceiling, their light dazzlingly dyeing the floor. Walls and floors lavishly used in premium ochre marble shimmered brilliantly.
However, with furniture and items yet to be placed, it felt excessively spacious.
"This one, yeah. Better place it in the center to draw attention."
"Then centering on this spot......"
A man and woman were conversing in the middle of the hall. They pored over a large sheet of paper, seriously exchanging opinions.
"The flooring should be finished soon."
The man was a middle-aged one with neatly combed-back white hair. His sturdy build belied his age, and the white gloves with black suit suited him well.
"Good. Walls are done, so just hang the curtains and we're set."
The middle-aged woman facing him had grayed blonde hair. A prim beige dress covering up to the collar suited her perfectly.
"Where should we move this?"
Laborers carrying a huge glass case approached them. The woman looked around and pointed to one side.
"Over there by that wall."
"Yes, understood."
Watching them, Melina guessed the woman outranked the man. And this space seemed designed for 'selling' something.
"Oh my."
The woman, about to look down again, spotted Dexter and Melina.
"I'm back."
Dexter bowed his head slightly as he approached them. The woman acknowledged his greeting and immediately addressed Melina.
"You're Miss Melina, right?"
Her voice was soft and kind.
The moment their eyes met, Melina instinctively knew.
'This is the one.'
The person who sent her the letter.
The letter from Abel conveying to come to the capital with the commissioned items.
Not just the content, but the handwriting had nagged at her. Neat and precise—clearly a woman's script.
'Phew, good.'
A strange relief washed over her.
Truth be told, Melina had wondered the whole way who owned that handwriting. If Abel had someone ghostwrite it, they must be close, right?
But the woman she met was elegant yet seemed quite older. The wrinkles on her refined face couldn't be hidden.
'Not someone special to Young Master Abel, then.'
Melina sighed in relief, then jolted in shock.
'......What am I even thinking? So what if they are special?'
Whoosh, her face suddenly burned.
"Miss Melina?"
The woman was waiting. Melina shook her head vigorously and replied quickly.
"Yes, hello!"
The woman smiled warmly, as if finding Melina adorable.
"Nice to meet you. Was the trip too tiring?"
"Yes, it was tough, but manageable."
Melina answered, then rolled her eyes around.
"Um, where's Young Master Abel?"
"Oh, Master is upstairs."
"Master......?"
Melina was baffled. The woman's way of addressing Abel carried a subtle pride.
Meanwhile, the woman had been chatting with those around.
"I'll escort Miss Melina up. Her luggage......"
"I'll handle it."
"I'll take it."
Replies came from both sides simultaneously.
"Dexter."
The middle-aged man shot Dexter a stern look, but Dexter didn't budge.
"This is my job, right? Master designated me personally. You've got your own work, bro."
"Sigh, fine."
The stubborn-faced man yielded immediately at "Master." The woman, who had watched with a smile, stepped in.
"We can't leave the first floor empty anyway. Mind the laborers for me."
"Understood."
Unlike with Dexter, his attitude was extremely polite. The woman smiled gently and turned.
"Shall we go up?"
The three slowly climbed the stairs. Passing the second floor lined with rooms, they went straight to the third.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Dexter, carrying Melina's bag, turned the corner and vanished. The woman watched his back, then spoke to Melina.
"Come on? Master is waiting."
She led Melina to the room at the very end of the hall.
Knock knock.
The woman knocked and announced inside.
"I've brought Miss Melina."
After a brief wait, a familiar voice came from within.
"Let her in."
It was Abel's voice.