Chapter 299
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: Golden Hand
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All the tasks in Merdaine were now complete.
The lich that had tormented the city for so long had met its true death, and the lich's master—the god of death who had been Saintess Eleanor's longtime nemesis—had also vanished.
On top of that, they had brilliantly fended off the nobles' surprise political assault, leaving no reason for them to stay any longer.
"Jun. I've been wondering how I should repay you when this moment came."
The White Whale Mercenary Corps had been at the center of it all.
Though bound by contract, they had accomplished far more than what the agreement demanded.
"Of course, per the contract, we've handed over various interests in Merdaine to the Gilenoi Merchant Guild, your sponsors... but that alone still feels insufficient."
The Saintess had investigated the White Whale Mercenary Corps thoroughly before taking on this commission.
"You're walking a grueling path that no one in history has ever trod. And it's not something you can just dismiss as mere coincidence."
As if the world itself had decreed their fate, endless trials kept befalling the White Whale Mercenary Corps.
"To you, the interests of Merdaine might not even matter much."
Jun was inwardly surprised by the Saintess's words.
'Not for nothing did she hold onto her position as Saintess.'
In truth, money no longer played a major role for the White Whale Mercenary Corps.
What they needed most was the power to confront the current crisis—or the impending catastrophe.
"Jun. This is my way of repaying you."
A small box engraved with the emblem of the Sun Church.
Even sealed tightly, the aura emanating from within was extraordinary.
"This is..."
"A holy relic."
"...!"
"Long ago, when our church was first founded. Lord Lars bestowed ten fruits upon us. This is one of them."
It's said that Lars left these words when he granted the humans fruits brimming with sun-like, immense energy.
-My friend once said that one fruit heralds the dawn, from two to eight mark the noon, and nine will repel the sunset. But the future of the last one remains unknown.
"They say the first fruit was used when divine power entered a human body. Seven more have been consumed over countless ages since. And the ninth... I used it recently."
In the final battle against the lich, the Saintess had consumed one of the fruits.
Which meant the fruit before Jun's eyes was...
"This final fruit. I'll give it to you, Jun."
"Can I really accept this?"
Jun wasn't one to turn down gifts, but as the Saintess had said, this was a holy relic that had sustained the Sun Church through burdensome eras.
The very last of ten fruits, no less.
How could he just take something like that?
"I've permitted it with my authority as Saintess."
"...You've given up a lot for this."
"Hehe, you have sharp eyes."
No matter how great the Saintess's authority within the church, the Pope held equal power.
But now that the Saintess had reclaimed Merdaine, power within the church would have shifted toward her.
She had ceded some of that power to the Pope in exchange for handing this holy relic to Jun.
"Hehe, no need to feel burdened. Truth be told, all the attention focused on me has been overwhelming. And... you know, right?"
"Yes. The Pope's strength will be essential for this crisis."
Just as reclaiming Merdaine had been the Saintess's mission, the Pope had his own duty.
To protect the church from external threats.
And recently, the Sun Church had been invaded by the nobles' faction, demanding a counterstrike.
In such a situation, bolstering the Pope's power wasn't bad for the Saintess either.
"It's a win-win. Power in our church exists to maintain order, not to climb to the top."
That said, she couldn't simply hand over power without reason—it might paint her as viewing the Pope as subordinate.
For the Saintess, this was the perfect scenario.
"And truthfully, we've received so much help from the White Whale Mercenary Corps."
The investigation team was currently under the Sun Church's protection, gearing up for a massive media campaign.
And absurdly enough, the most enthusiastic participant was Romnell.
Since his last encounter with Jun, he had spilled every dirty secret of the marquis like a changed man, including some fatal blows.
"No material evidence, but it'll still make the marquis's side shiver. At least it'll buy our church some time."
The Sun Church had invested decades in Merdaine. Losing those interests would have greatly weakened them.
In that sense, Jun had saved the Sun Church twice in a short span.
"So, please accept it."
"...Yes. Then I'll gratefully take it."
When she went to such lengths to justify the reward, refusing would be rude.
And so, the final day in Merdaine arrived.
The White Whale Mercenary Corps departed Merdaine after a grand send-off.
Their next destination was none other than the imperial capital, Emperorshield.
"We're not heading straight to Blackout."
"Any other stops?"
"Yeah. The Gilenoi Merchant Guild first."
"Captain always heads there when he's away. Got a lover stashed there or something?"
"As if. I'm all in for you guys."
"Hahaha! How embarrassing!"
"Eek."
"Haha..."
Bern slapped his knee laughing, Eleanor grimaced in disgust, and Aiden gave an awkward smile beside them.
Meanwhile, Maya seemed lost in deep thought.
A look she'd shown more often lately.
Jun watched her briefly before getting back to the point.
"As you all know, the biggest winners from this mission are the Gilenoi Merchant Guild."
The interests in Merdaine.
As the Saintess had said, they weren't something the group truly needed right now.
Though they'd succeeded in reclaiming Merdaine, restoring it to its role as the empire's main artery would take considerable time.
"And the benefits coming our way will be far in the future."
"Yeah, well. Even if we retire someday, owning land in Merdaine doesn't sound that great."
"I agree."
"Land in Merdaine! I'd rather get a new shield. This one's getting too old."
"... ."
Seeing no one cared much about Merdaine's land, Jun shared his thoughts.
"So, I'm thinking of selling a bit of our future benefits for the present."
"To the present, meaning the Gilenoi Merchant Guild?"
"Exactly."
No one knew how many years it would take for Merdaine to fulfill its role.
It might take decades to regain its past glory.
Since they didn't need such distant gains now, Jun planned to offload Merdaine's interests to Cloi at a fair price and get what they truly required.
"That's why I wanted to hear what you all think."
They were beyond mere money ties now, but with major interests at stake, discussion was essential.
Naturally, the comrades approved Jun's decision.
Closest to him, they knew he was preparing for an unforeseeable future.
With their permission, Jun sought out Cloi.
"Whoa... look at this. See? The photo came out killer."
In the lavish room of the Gilenoi Merchant Guild's Emperorshield branch, Cloi spread out a newspaper and spoke to Jun.
The paper featured a massive photo of Romnell.
Finger raised triumphantly, face fierce as if inciting a revolution, mid-speech.
In the few days it took Jun and his group to reach Emperorshield, the Sun Church had mobilized.
"Handled it cleanly again, huh?"
"When have we not?"
"Heh. Anyway, perfect. Absolutely perfect. Great before, but this is historic."
Unlike Jun, Cloi saw farther into the future.
And in her vision, Merdaine was indispensable land, with interests that were far from minor.
"Thanks to you, my standing on the surface has skyrocketed. More precisely, I've hit the ceiling."
What Cloi had shown in Blackout was potential.
Among the descendants of Golden Hand Gilenoi Jake, how much promise could the youngest deliver?
She had splendidly proven it with aggressive expansion and massive profits in Blackout.
But questions lingered about handling surface-scale operations—now thoroughly dispelled.
'She looks thrilled.'
Of course. Cloi had always craved recognition since they first met.
Surpassing all her siblings in mere years and reaching an unattainable height for them? No wonder.
'Perfect timing to bring it up...'
Flattery was key in negotiations.
With Cloi in high spirits, Jun planned to extract the most from her.
But had he hesitated too long? As Jun licked his lips, Cloi spoke first.
"What're your plans once you reach Blackout?"
"Hmm... lots to do."
"Lots?"
"Yeah."
He needed to visit the ancient tower the regressor mentioned.
Check the emperor's war progress.
'And talk to Lord Ranes.'
The achievement Ranes said would earn all mages' recognition—it was time to address that.
Not just for Ranes.
He'd play a major role in the coming imperial-Heavenly Sky Church war, with charisma to rally mages.
And above all...
'He's the only one who can counter Marquis Owen, current mage leader.'
The emperor was busy with the Heavenly Sky Church war, and while sorry to say, Dexter couldn't handle Owen alone yet.
Ranes could aid him.
They needed to shift mage leadership from Owen to Ranes.
'Plus head to the 8th layer.'
Though the emperor had started war with the Heavenly Sky Church, Jun didn't think he'd win.
Conditions were better than his past life, so he'd hold longer, but...
'He'll be outnumbered.'
The emperor would retreat eventually, needing reorganization if he survived as Jun hoped.
The White Whale Mercenary Corps must grow accordingly.
"You look deep in thought. Well, you'll handle it. But the situation's unstable lately. Even Owen Marquis, who's been lying low, is moving. Who knows when it'll reach you."
"True."
"So I prepared a separate gift."
"Gift?"
"Yeah. But what it contains depends on what you do with it."
Ah, a merchant's instincts were razor-sharp.
Cloi had read his intentions.
As Jun prepared to concede gracefully...
"Took you long enough."
A voice came from behind.
"Say hello. This is our guild's master."
Gilenoi Jake.
The Golden Hand.
The money god of the Gilenoi Merchant Guild stared at Jun with piercing eyes.