Chapter 30
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Chapter 6. Slave Market
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30.
Chapter 6. Slave Market
The Kingdom of Atun lay to the west of the Kingdom of Adea.
In the past, relations between the two nations had been somewhat strained, but now they were allied countries bound by a non-aggression pact.
Trade naturally flourished along the borders of non-hostile kingdoms.
Olbaton was a trading city where a considerable volume of logistics flowed.
Duke Detoa, the supreme leader of the Grand Duke Faction, used this trading city as a key pillar of the faction's finances.
In a city with this much traffic, it wasn't strange for smuggled goods—banned by the kingdom—to pass through.
That was why the crown prince's side had been keeping a close eye on Olbaton for a long time.
'And we got caught red-handed in that situation.'
Eirana, staying at an inn on the outskirts of Olbaton, muttered to herself inwardly.
A few days after leaving the capital, Eirana had arrived in Olbaton and settled into the pre-designated lodging.
Though she had been granted permission for solo action through Ross's arrangements, she couldn't just charge into enemy territory alone.
Thus, she was set to make contact with someone from the Windsor side at this designated inn.
The contact date was still far off.
'Maybe I should do some personal scouting.'
With that thought, Eirana made simple preparations for going out and headed to the market.
She wore a hood and had two swords at her waist, but it didn't draw much attention.
As a trading city, it bustled not only with goods but also with people.
There were plenty of humans dressed like her besides Eirana.
She walked through the market looking bored, but in truth, she was surveying it with quite an intrigued gaze.
Eirana had visited many cities while traveling through the Kingdom of Adea.
Olbaton lacked the capital's flashy splendor, but as a border city, it had a distinctly exotic vibe.
Moreover, there were people speaking in a strangely unique dialect—none other than folks from the Kingdom of Atun, foreigners.
Their appearances were similar, but their atmosphere and temperament felt completely different.
"Hey, you there, young one. Take a look before you go."
Walking a street lined with street vendors, Eirana turned at the voice grabbing her.
There stood a street vendor who looked about fifty, his stall overflowing with goods.
"You seem like a traveler. Check out these potions here. A bit pricey, but their effects are guaranteed."
Potions made with alchemy magic had various effects.
They excelled at restoring stamina, or replenishing deficient mental power and mana.
Some healed wounds or cured poisons.
Originally an elven product, the recipe had spread to humans, making them widely used.
For reference, elven-made potions were extremely expensive.
Lower-grade ones weren't too bad, so travelers often carried them as emergency supplies.
Eirana glanced at the stall and said.
"Doesn't look so great."
"Huh? You're a girl?"
The vendor, hearing her voice, looked quite surprised before chuckling.
"Miss, you don't have much of an eye."
Looking at him, Eirana lightly raised her hand.
Suddenly, silver mana flickered in her palm and vanished.
Seeing it, the vendor's expression turned a bit startled.
"Still think I have no eye?"
"Tch. Impressive customer. Still, these are the best I can get. Not cheap junk."
Eirana smirked at his excuse-like words, picked up a wooden box with ten potions, handed over a gold coin, and said.
"I'm from out of town and curious about something. Has any expensive stuff come in lately?"
The vendor, beaming as he took the gold, tilted his head at her question.
"What kind?"
"Just expensive things. The big shot who hired me has a hobby of collecting flashy, rare, pricey items."
As Eirana tucked the potion box under her arm, the vendor clicked his tongue sympathetically.
"Tough job."
"Pays well."
Eirana shrugged.
"Well, lately it seems like a lot of logistics are heading up top."
"Oh?"
Eirana stroked her chin.
"Up top" meant the area where merchant groups dealing with nobles gathered.
As Eirana pondered, someone else wearing a hood approached, just like her.
"Wow, potions."
"Heh. Lots of lady customers today."
This one interested in potions was also a hooded woman.
At the vendor's words, she looked at Eirana and smiled.
"You're a skilled swordswoman."
Eirana gave a bored look at her amused tone.
"Eh, decent."
"That lady's a mage."
"A mage?"
The woman's gaze briefly touched Silver Fang and Black Fang before dropping.
"Weird."
Her lips curved gently as she said it.
Eirana, watching her, turned away from the stall as if uninterested.
The woman also lost interest in Eirana and eyed the potions.
- Is she human?
"Who knows."
Eirana pondered as she answered Silver Fang's question.
Merchant groups trading with nobles were generally large-scale.
Some were even directly run by noble houses.
They always had heavy logistics, but if even a street vendor found it odd, it meant more goods than usual were moving.
It might be linked to slave trafficking.
- By the way, why are you investigating personally?
Now Black Fang, who had been quiet, asked, and Eirana replied.
"Curious."
Eirana knew more about this kingdom's situation than even Windsor or Jedman thought.
Ross had briefed her not just on the operation but on the power dynamics and personnel involved afterward.
If she wanted, she could find the slave market's location solo.
- So you're gonna raid it?
Silver Fang asked in an excited tone, sensing something fun brewing.
"Too much hassle."
- Master says everything's a hassle.
Silver Fang grumbled, but Eirana ignored it and sank into thought.
She considered scouting the slave market's exact spot but shook her head lightly.
Moving to roughly pinpoint it was mere whim, not to charge in like Silver Fang hoped.
Besides, in this game, Eirana had no intention of using more power than Ha Yu-hyun once had.
As Eirana, she was curious how far her past life's accumulated strength would carry in this world.
- What're you thinking?
Black Fang asked as Eirana stood with arms crossed, gazing at the market scenery.
Chuckling at the question, Eirana looked up at the sky and said.
"Just reminiscing about the old days."
Afterward, Eirana's group stayed at the inn for a week.
And on the eighth evening since arriving in Olbaton.
A guest visited the room where Eirana was staying.
A man climbed through the open window without warning.
Eirana's room was on the third floor.
In normal circumstances, one might startle at the sudden intrusion, but Eirana, already aware of the man, didn't blink.
"Doing well?"
The man grinned and greeted her.
Narrowing her eyes at him, Eirana said.
"Assassin?"
At her words, the man—Calvin—shrugged nonchalantly.
From Eirana's perspective, he wasn't a welcome presence.
She had met her end in her past life due to an assassin ambush.
As Eirana eyed Calvin irritably, he asked.
"Just to confirm, you're Eirana, right?"
"Yes."
Calvin nodded satisfactorily at her answer.
Then he looked her up and down and whistled.
"Heard rumors, but didn't expect such a beauty."
The princess's beautiful and capable tutor was already the talk of the capital's social circles.
Of course, Eirana couldn't care less about her reputation built on violence.
"Let's talk mission."
Calvin chuckled at her words.
"First, introductions. Name's Calvin. Got direct command of this op from Sir Jedman."
'Not just a simple assassin?'
Eirana looked surprised at the mention of overall commander.
"This mission is raiding a slave merchant caravan."
She had heard from Ross, but officially, Eirana was unaware of mission details.
Eirana nodded at Calvin's briefing.
Looking at her, Calvin said.
"Including you, about 40 operatives, all elites."
Calvin continued seriously.
"Target is Golden Sky Merchant Group's main warehouse."
"House of Duke Detoa."
Calvin paused and stared at Eirana's spot-on guess.
To his gaze, she said.
"Think I lounged around for a week?"
"Hm."
Calvin nodded in understanding and continued.
"I'll command my subordinates, but for you, orders are to act independently. Sir Ross trusts you a lot."
He said it with interest.
'And her skills seem terrifying.'
Though retired from assassination, Calvin's instincts as a former killer tingled at the danger emanating from Eirana.
Thankful she was an ally, he handed her an earring.
"Communication magic item. It'll activate tomorrow night when the op starts."
Taking it, Eirana asked.
"Anything else?"
"Nope."
Conversation over, Calvin headed back to the window.
Then, as if it just occurred to him, he added.
"Oh, message from His Highness the Crown Prince. Expects great things from you."
With that, Calvin left.
The next morning, Eirana left the inn.
With solo action permitted, she needed no one's orders.
It was tantamount to permission to judge mission actions independently.
Convenient for Eirana.
Ross had used his influence to create this setup for her solo freedom.
As the deeply hooded Eirana wandered the city, killing time sightseeing, night fell upon the world.
Eirana entered the warehouse grounds of the large merchant group.
Just as she took position atop a tall building overlooking the entire grounds, the magic item Calvin gave her activated last night.
Along with it came Calvin's voice.
- Can you hear me?
"Clear."
- Good. Where are you now?
"Look behind you."
At her words, Calvin, on the rooftop of the opposite building, turned his gaze to her.
He asked in disbelief.
- Hey, miss. What the hell are you?
"From another world."
Eirana chuckled at his question and quietly overlooked the warehouse grounds.
Unbefitting a midnight warehouse area, the atmosphere was lively.
Officially, Golden Sky Merchant Group was hosting an auction event tonight, inviting major clients to the main warehouse.
So outwardly, it was a party for noble customers.
Golden Sky spanned trade even abroad, boasting immense scale and influence.
They donated hefty sums annually to the Adea royal family, other kingdoms' royals, and great nobles, their finances rock-solid.
Though only a baronet, their foreign clout rivaled a count's, and domestically matched a marquis house.
The merchant lord's family would soon rise to formal nobility.
That's why they bought influence with money.
'Which lets them partner with slave traders for human trafficking.'
Eirana clicked her tongue inwardly.
Noble invitees' carriages lined up.
The operation was simple.
At peak slave market time, raid the warehouse.
Secure evidence of the slave market, then mobilize kingdom troops and Duke Detoa's private soldiers in Olbaton to seal the city and arrest all involved.
Foreign nobles might walk via diplomacy, but domestic ones wouldn't.
The slave ban was a royal decree from the previous king. Defying it was treason.
All Adea nobles inside were Grand Duke Faction.
It would deliver a fatal blow to the faction.
As op start time neared, Eirana, monitoring from the rooftop, moved.
From the roof edge, she stepped forward as if a path lay in the air.
But stepping into void, gravity pulled her straight down.
Falling fast, Eirana landed lightly on the ground and walked on.
No sound despite dropping from height.
Watching Eirana vanish into an alley, Calvin, monitoring, stuck out his tongue.
'Where'd a monster like that pop from?'
Thinking she deserved Ross's endorsement, Calvin initiated the operation.