Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Port Arrival (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The source of the horn blast was a black galleon moored far off at the docks.
‘That’s…?’
Even from a distance, the galleon—its hull and sails all uniformly black—looked enormous.
And as the horn blared, crowds of people began swarming toward it.
“It’s finally open!”
“Hurry!”
In an instant, the docks buzzed with activity.
As Yuri stood there dazed, watching it all, a voice came from behind him.
“You awake?”
Hearing that gravelly old voice made Yuri’s puffy face throb with pain.
He turned to see Johan chugging straight from a bottle.
*Gulp, gulp, gulp.*
“Khaha! Hits the spot.”
“…You turn me into a rag and you’re having the time of your life?”
“Be grateful you got off that easy after waving a sword in my face. Anyone else would’ve been toasting with their ancestors by now.”
“Ugh…”
Johan took another swig, using Yuri’s trembling as a side dish.
He wiped the red droplets from his lips and said,
“Follow me.”
“Where to?”
“Where else? You going to Yoram or not?”
As he spoke, Johan’s gaze landed on the black galleon.
Yuri blinked and asked,
“No way… that’s the ship to Yoram? For the trainee riders?”
“You think those folks would swarm like ants if they had nothing better to do?”
Johan nodded toward the crowd gathering to board the black galleon.
Yuri let out a quiet sigh of relief.
‘Phew… good thing I didn’t miss it.’
A little later and he would’ve been left behind.
While Yuri mentally patted himself on the back for waking up just in time, Johan trudged toward the galleon.
Afraid of losing him, Yuri hurried to catch up.
As they drew closer to the black galleon, snippets of conversation flooded Yuri’s ears.
“Young master, do your best!”
“Miss, stay healthy!”
“See you in five years!”
People at the docks waving goodbye.
“I’ll be back!”
“We’ll return!”
Faces full of confidence, tension, and all sorts of expressions as they boarded, one by one.
After watching the boarders for a while, Yuri tilted his head.
Finally unable to hold back, he raised his hand.
“Old man, question!”
“What now?”
Johan slowed his pace slightly, though he sounded exasperated.
Matching his stride side by side, Yuri stroked his chin, looking utterly puzzled.
“Old man, all those people boarding are the 50th Cohort heading into Yoram, right?”
“Pretty much.”
“Then… doesn’t something feel off?”
“What?”
“From what I’ve heard, only about twenty people make it through Yoram’s five years alive per year, right?”
“Not wrong. At most twenty or so a year.”
“So who the hell recommended all these people?”
Even at a glance, over two hundred had already boarded.
Including those still waiting, it had to be several times that number for this year’s new riders.
But given Yoram’s history of graduating only twenty to thirty per year, it didn’t add up that so many could’ve gotten dragon plaque recommendations.
‘If that many got recommended, it’d mean every graduate from the last ten years pitched in.’
It was nonsense.
At Yuri’s question, Johan snorted.
“Tch, you really don’t know how the world works.”
“Huh?”
“To you, what kind of people do they look like?”
Johan pointed at the boarders and the well-wishers.
Yuri’s eyes quickly scanned them again.
Well-wishers of all ages, men and women, young and old.
Prospective 50th Cohort riders, mostly teens or in their twenties.
All sorts, but Yuri spotted the common thread in one swift glance.
Without a second’s hesitation, the answer popped out.
“Golden goblins.”
“…What’s that?”
Yuri blinked at the counter-question.
“Huh? You don’t know golden goblins?”
“What are they?”
“Legend has it, long ago, there was this yellow goblin hauling around sacks of treasure. Catch one, and you’d be set for life. These days, it’s what they call rich suckers ripe for the fleecing.”
“Hoo? Why?”
“Bump into one on the street, they keel over. Or jump in front of their carriage, get a few scrapes, and boom—months of payout in one go. Get lucky, you’ve hooked a real mark!”
“…….”
Johan was speechless for a moment.
As his gaze narrowed suspiciously, Yuri averted his eyes and mumbled,
“…That’s what a mercenary buddy told me.”
“…Did you do it too?”
“Ehe! What do you take me for? I just listened to my mercenary buddy’s stories!”
“That sound like a ‘buddy’ to you? More like your self-harm extortion scam pal.”
“Nooo!”
Johan was convinced by Yuri’s frantic denials and shifty eyes.
‘This little shit… he did it. Definitely.’
What the hell had this fifteen-year-old been up to in his short life?
What storms had he weathered to get this street-smart?
‘Heh, my mistake. This kid knows the world too well!’
Just in all the wrong, shady ways.
Johan sighed inwardly and nodded.
“Well, the metaphor’s a bit weird, but you’re right. That’s what they call ‘rich kids.’”
“So?”
“There’re two ways into Yoram. One: dragon plaque recommendation from a graduate. Two: donation recommendation.”
“Donation recommendation?”
“Recommendation letter from a certified 7th Dan expert, plus a five-thousand gold donation. That’s the ticket. No exam—straight pass.”
“Whoa, five thousand gold?!”
Plenty of folks died without ever seeing a single gold coin, let alone a scrap.
Five thousand? Insane.
Yuri’s jaw dropped at the sum.
“Crazy… they’re dropping that much just to get in once?”
“You know the classic rich kid mistake?”
“What?”
“‘My bloodline, my kid—they’ve gotta have talent, right?’ That’s them.”
“Oho?”
“And sure, those kids get top teachers, drilled with rote training from the cradle… so they grow fast enough to fool you into thinking they’re gifted.”
“…….”
“But that injected growth crumbles when they face real talent. They won’t know what true genius is until they dive in and get their skulls cracked open.”
“Gotta learn it the hard way, huh.”
“Exactly. Heh heh. Yoram opens donation slots to fish out the rare real gem… and pocket some pocket change.”
“…Pocket change? They’re raking in gold bars.”
By the time Yuri’s doubts cleared up,
They’d reached the stern of the black galleon.
Johan stopped and opened his mouth with a solemn expression.
“Well, this is where we part. Though we’re splitting now, next time…”
“Yeah, got it. See ya.”
Before Johan could finish, Yuri waved dismissively and strode forward.
Johan, who’d been setting the mood, grabbed his shoulder in disbelief.
“Hey, you little punk. We spent over half a year together—least you could do is pretend to be a bit bummed!”
Yuri shot back sourly at the bellow.
“What? A guy who flies through the sky can’t sneak onto one island?”
“…….”
“You only sent me here ‘cause you’re sure you can slip in and out without getting caught, right?”
“…….”
“With your personality, you’ll be popping in constantly to mess with me—what’s to miss?”
All too true, leaving Johan speechless.
Yuri snorted and kept walking.
Then, as if struck by a thought, he smacked his left palm with his right fist.
“Oh, right! Old man, any must-know info for Yoram life from a 2nd Cohort senior?”
“…None.”
Yuri grinned at Johan’s wilted tone.
“Aww, butt-hurt? Want me to fake some reluctance now?”
“You damn brat, who do you think you’re talking to!”
“Touchy old coot who tried for a dramatic goodbye and bombed.”
“‘Touchy old coot’?”
“If you’re not, cough up what you know.”
*Tremble.*
Johan itched to smack him, but held back—didn’t want to prove the point.
With a long sigh, he answered.
“Sigh… Even if I wanted to, there’s nothing to tell. You ever hear anything about Yoram’s insides your whole life?”
Yuri pondered the question.
‘Yoram’s internal affairs…’
He’d heard it was an amazing place!
But specifics?
“…Come to think of it, nope.”
Not a peep about what went on inside.
Johan nodded at the reply.
“You think that’s random?”
“It’s not?”
“Graduates swear a secrecy oath on day one. No spilling the five years inside.”
“What happens if they do? How do they even know who talked?”
“Try it later. You’ll feel Yoram’s intel network—the world’s best. Oh, and why the Black Sword Legion’s extermination squad is called devils.”
“…….”
“And kid, I’m 2nd Cohort. You’re 50th! Forty-eight years later—who knows what’s changed?”
“Fair point.”
“So forget tricks. Just don’t forget what I told you.”
“What’d you say?”
“Your earring!”
“Oh, don’t take it out? Got it! I’ve heard that like ninety-nine times.”
“Then one more for a hundred. Your earring…”
“Yeah, yeah—don’t remove it until the mana core in my flesh condenses past the one in my spirit blood. Or I can’t circulate mana, right?”
“If you absolutely have to take it off, keep it safe. I’ll put it back later.”
“Why not teach me how? Do I need you just to pop an earring in and out?”
“Kid, if it was normal, how’d I patch your pierced spirit blood? There’s a proper way to activate it, and you couldn’t even if I told you. So shut up and do as I say.”
“Fine, fine, got it.”
Johan frowned slightly at Yuri’s half-hearted nod.
‘This punk, even when I worry!’
*Bwoooo—.*
The boarding horn blared again, urging stragglers.
Johan’s lips twisted slyly.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“What now? They’re calling to board—spit it out quick, old man.”
Yuri grew antsy as the line thinned.
Johan’s low voice slipped into his twitching ear.
“You… know exactly what that ‘Shari’ is?”
Yuri shrugged it off casually.
“Shari? A gem, right?”
“Gem, my ass.”
“Then what is it?”
Still staring ahead, uninterested, Yuri kept walking.
Johan flashed another sly grin at the round back of his head and spoke.