Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: The Reckless Mage
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Aiden, who had never once opposed Jun's opinions up until now, voiced a negative stance for the first time.
The reason was that this incident wasn't something that would end with just one or two lives lost.
Politics and power.
Having been in the Imperial Family, Aiden knew better than anyone just how terrifying the might contained in those two words could be.
How many people had perished pointlessly within that world.
Jun didn't know much about Aiden's past, but conversely, he too had experienced the evil hidden within people's hearts.
So he immediately understood what Aiden was worried about.
"Senior... Honestly, I'm scared."
"......"
Jun listened quietly to Aiden's words.
A typical mercenary captain would have brushed off Aiden's concerns with a laugh.
The most important virtue for a mercenary captain was charisma, and they had to boost the morale of fearful squad members, even if it meant forcing it.
But that wasn't Jun's style.
"I'm worried... The Gilenoi Merchant Guild is a massive organization that even I know about. But whoever dares to target it... how strong must they be?"
"......"
"Then this matter isn't something the three of us can handle alone."
It wasn't just fear because the enemy was strong.
In this Blackout rife with conspiracies and betrayals, what terrified him was losing a place to entrust his heart.
"I have no idea how they'll come at us. I can't even predict it. But one thing is certain. They'll crush us before we can even think of resisting."
But if they quietly buried the matter here.
Or if they sought help somewhere, they might be able to protect themselves.
If they rashly confronted the enemies instead, a massive, ominous shadow might loom over Jun in the future.
And if that happened...
"I don't want to see you walk down that path, Senior."
Those who opposed the powerful met horrific ends, ones so gruesome they'd sooner wish for death.
Jun knew Aiden's words weren't mere overblown worry.
The opponents were a group that had dominated Blackout for decades, and their Mage Tower Lord was a 7th Circle powerhouse.
Compared to Jun and his mercenary corps now, they were like towering mountains.
"Aiden."
"Yes, Senior..."
"I know what kind of fear you're feeling. In a way, you're the wise one. Those without power must always bow their heads."
Defying the strong without power wasn't courage—it was recklessness.
It was cold, but that was reality.
"But sometimes, people cower in preemptive terror at the fear right in front of them, without even knowing their own strength."
Many overlooked that fact. Even knowing it, they turned away.
Because resisting itself required courage.
"Are you saying we have the power to defeat them?"
"I don't know if we can win for sure. But there's definitely a possibility. If we back down despite that..."
—We'd lose the drive to move forward.
If they had a means to resist but didn't use it, they'd do the same in the future.
"To move forward, we need various conditions. Eyes that can discern ways to resist threats against us. And the courage to stand against them."
The Volcanic Mage Tower? Of course they were strong. Their influence dwarfed Jun and his mercenary corps endlessly.
But being big and strong didn't mean they'd last forever.
"So from now on, I'll show you my way."
The situation was urgent, but they couldn't act rashly.
Everything had its procedures.
The silver lining was that Cloi regained her senses the very next day.
"Sorry. In this urgent situation, I took too long to come around."
"I'm not so cold-blooded that I can't understand that much."
"...Thank you."
Cloi smiled somewhat bitterly. Her wounds hadn't fully healed yet.
They probably hadn't even scabbed over properly.
But there was a force driving her to move.
It was anger.
"The people who died this time were ones who trusted me and came from the surface. I have a duty to take responsibility for them."
"......"
"So, I have to see their vengeance through to the end."
"Do you have a plan in mind?"
"It's probably similar to what you're thinking."
No matter how deep Cloi's ties to the Gilenoi Merchant Guild ran, their true power lay on the surface.
Thus, resolving this incident with just the guild's strength wouldn't suffice.
"Power."
"Power."
They spoke the word in unison.
The enemy wielded great power?
Then they needed to mobilize even greater power.
Jinovan, the commander of Black Forest Fortress, was spending his busy days handling the sudden terrorist attack.
"It's truly fortunate that both of you are safe."
"Thank you for your help last time, Commander Jinovan."
"We're receiving your assistance thanks to you."
Jun and Cloi both expressed their gratitude for Jinovan's warm reception.
In fact, thanks to Jinovan's efforts in various ways regarding this incident, the two could move more freely.
"Cloi, my condolences for the tragedy that befell you."
"Thank you for your concern, Commander Jinovan."
"I've heard that land after rain hardens. I hope such a day comes for you too. Now, this meeting isn't just to exchange well-wishes amid our busyness. Is there something you want to ask me?"
Both sides were pressed for time. Jinovan cut straight to the chase.
And it was no small matter—the Gilenoi Merchant Guild had suffered greatly.
Previously, it might have been different, but over the past few months, Cloi had been deeply involved in various aspects of Black Forest Fortress.
Thus, the aftermath of this terrorist attack was greatly affecting the fortress as well.
"We have a solution for this incident. However, it's impossible with just the power of our Gilenoi Merchant Guild."
"Hmm... That's to be expected. This is Blackout, after all. But things are already progressing on that front to some extent."
Naturally, Baron Dortagon, who oversaw Black Forest Fortress, viewed this incident as highly important.
It wasn't some rabble—it involved the Gilenoi Merchant Guild, connected to Count Mordenaen.
Under Baron Dortagon's swift orders, various pieces of information had been gathered.
"Arovati Merchant Guild. Aren't they the culprits behind this?"
It was widely known that in the potion industry, the Arovati Merchant Guild was fiercely checking the Gilenoi Merchant Guild.
Moreover, the investigation revealed that the explosion originated from Arovati goods stored in the basement warehouse of the Gilenoi branch building.
"We're preparing a letter to report to Count Mordenaen. I hear they've already prepared to dispatch investigators."
"...As expected."
As the situation unfolded as anticipated, Jun's expression hardened.
"Yes, so stay on standby as much as possible until the investigation results come out. You'll need to testify as witnesses."
"...But, Commander."
"Yes?"
"What if the Arovati Merchant Guild isn't behind this incident?"
"What?"
Jinovan furrowed his brow. It wasn't anger at them barking up the wrong tree.
This wasn't a matter to get emotional over lightly.
With ties to the Mordenaen family, caution was essential.
That's when Cloi spoke up.
"Commander. From what my sponsor and I have uncovered... Arovati is just bait. The real culprit is someone else."
"...You've dug up something again."
If anyone else had said that, Jinovan would have dismissed it lightly.
But the mage and merchant before him had eyes that saw what others couldn't.
"Tell me what you know. And your plans too."
Jinovan wanted this incident resolved just as much.
Plus, he owed these two in various ways.
"First, please contact Count Mordenaen."
Count Albert Mordenaen massaged his throbbing forehead.
"The Gilenoi Merchant Guild's Black Forest branch has been half-destroyed..."
He was the one ruling Blackout—spatially severed from the world—in the name of the Imperial Family.
Thus, he had to contribute part of his life to Blackout's development, but the current state of affairs made it far from easy.
'Blackout has stagnated.'
At some point, the factions in Blackout had ceased their fierce competition against each other.
In truth, these signs had begun emerging decades ago.
Yet previous overseers had hesitated to meddle rashly in Blackout's dynamics, fearing they couldn't predict the changes if the current system collapsed.
'They must have been scared. Just like me now.'
But the difference was that a small opportunity had come to the Count.
The emergence of the Gilenoi Merchant Guild and the exiled imperial Aiden. And Jun, the link connecting them.
'This must be what His Majesty desires too.'
The discarded crown prince had appeared in Blackout. Someone who should never leave his exile had walked in boldly on his own two feet.
'His Majesty wouldn't permit it just for the sake of blood ties.'
Accepting this, the Count had backed the Gilenoi Merchant Guild, which was connected to Aiden.
If a new powerhouse like the Gilenoi entered Blackout, the existing factions would regain their sense of crisis.
That could bring small changes to the stagnant situation.
That was the true purpose of this auction house event.
He hoped the Gilenoi's competitors wouldn't settle for their positions and would seek to conquer more of vast Blackout.
'But to think something like this would happen.'
Yet the plan had gone awry from the start. The central Gilenoi Merchant Guild had crumbled.
'Did I overestimate my own reputation?'
No way.
The honor of the Imperial Family rested on his shoulders. He couldn't afford to belittle himself.
"So, how should we resolve this..."
A letter had already arrived from the Arovati Merchant Guild.
It was a long missive claiming they had no involvement whatsoever and were extremely wronged.
The Count planned to investigate that separately.
"To get to the point, the culprits behind this incident are not the Arovati Merchant Guild."
If not for the request of one reckless mage.