Chapter 382
Chapter 382
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 382
Chapter Title: Intermission (3)
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The southern warriors had begun frequenting the free city of Drakal no coincidence.
Now that the wounds left by Balteon, the former great chieftain and member of the Oath of Reverse Heaven, were almost fully healed, it was time for them to venture beyond the confines of the south and take in a wider world.
Especially with the Northern Mountains expedition, led by the Church of the Main God, fast approaching.
For the Kalkos Tribal Federation, which had long maintained a closed-off stance, it was essential to gather more detailed information about the outside world in advance. In that regard, the free city of Drakal—strategically located at a transportation hub—was the perfect place for intelligence gathering and as a midway stopover.
'I really should pay another visit to the south sometime.'
Halle scratched the back of his head as he thought of Grand Sorceress Morna and Misty, who were undoubtedly bustling about in his stead right now.
With how busy he'd been handling affairs in the Strong World, he'd naturally had to neglect things here to some extent.
In truth, aside from his symbolic role as the Destroyer King, there wasn't much for Halle—a pure demolition expert who only knew how to smash things—to do anyway.
'Eh, they'll handle it just fine. They're all smart folks.'
All he had to do was support and trust them from behind the scenes.
After all, the true virtue of a king lay in placing the right talents in the right positions.
Halle nodded contentedly as he skimmed over the current status of the Kalkos Tribal Federation, visible through his Lord's Authority.
Thanks to his excellent personnel choices, there were no notable issues to speak of.
'Management really is best left to a professional CEO. If I meddle needlessly, it'll just complicate everything.'
He hadn't gathered capable people and handed over the entire organization to them for nothing.
What did he know, anyway—a guy who hadn't even finished high school properly because of his circumstances?
As long as he periodically checked that the managers and field operatives were doing their jobs, everything ran smoothly.
'And it's not like this is the only place I need to focus on. Perfect timing—they say preparations here are finally complete.'
Halle strode down the neatly maintained corridor toward the room of another slave... no, another talented individual.
He had just received word that a project he'd been waiting on for quite some time was finally finished.
He threw open the door to the tidy office without knocking.
"Hm? Ah! Come in, sir Halle."
Patrick, the executive director of the Mercenary Guild, who had been diligently reviewing documents, jumped up with a bright smile to greet him.
His expression was cheerful, but dark circles ringed his eyes, and he looked utterly exhausted and hollow-cheeked.
'...Impressive.'
Halle inwardly admired the sight of his subordinate, who was leading by example and burning himself out for results.
A voluntary slave this diligent—truly a gem.
It had been worth entrusting him with such heavy responsibilities, regardless of his Earthling origins.
"I've been waiting for you. You arrived right on time."
Even as he spoke, Patrick kept talking.
Because Halle had no prior foundation in the Mercenary Guild, certain matters had inevitably been delayed, but preparations to proceed were finally complete.
"Oh! Good work, Patrick! But you look like you've been through hell these past months. Your face is half gone."
"Ha... haha... Well, a bit..."
"Looks like you haven't been eating properly either. That's no good! A person needs meat to build strength. To celebrate, I'll treat you today! Uhahahat!"
For Halle, offering to buy meat personally was an enormous show of goodwill.
It meant giving up a portion of meat that could have been his.
As Halle lightly patted Patrick's back with his fingertips in brotherly encouragement, Patrick wobbled like an inflatable balloon man outside a grand opening, forcing a smile all the while.
'I wish he'd just let me rest and forget all this.'
He swallowed those unspoken words deep down his throat.
A short while later.
A single announcement came from every Mercenary Guild branch across the continent.
The pinnacle of mercenaries scattered across the world, the one who carried on the founder's will and had pledged to stand against the Immortal King.
A new Mercenary King had been born.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thanks to Patrick's behind-the-scenes maneuvering, no one opposed Halle's ascension to Mercenary King.
With a massive war looming, they couldn't afford to leave the symbolic position vacant any longer.
Of course, most guild executives weren't sincerely convinced by the outcome—they merely hoped he'd die fighting the Immortal King—but on the surface, everything proceeded smoothly without major friction.
"Congratulations, sir Halle."
"Looking forward to working with you!"
"Haha, I knew it all along. Who else could sit on that throne if not you, sir Halle?"
The title of Mercenary King had been used loosely before, but it wasn't a true kingship, so the inauguration ceremony was modest.
Drakal simply declared a festival with food and drink aplenty, and a small banquet was held for executives and honored guests.
Even that much would have been ignored and skimmed over if Patrick hadn't handled the preparations.
To Halle's personality, such tedious formalities were nothing but frustrating.
Dressed in his usual attire, tearing into meat with gusto while half-heartedly greeting well-wishers, Halle scanned the banquet hall.
'That said, since we're doing this, I'll milk every advantage I can.'
One such advantage was entrusting most of Drakal's supply shipments to the Hubert Merchant Association.
It wasn't a big secret that Halle had forged ties with Hubert, the association's head, back in Tarac, so it wasn't difficult at all.
It was practically a shakedown using his authority, but in this world, kickbacks and funneling contracts weren't points of criticism.
'Connections and lobbying are skills here too. And I'm technically a co-head of the Hubert Merchant Association.'
Thanks to that, the Hubert Merchant Association, based in northwestern Tarac on the Ion Continent, naturally extended its influence to southeastern Drakal.
Having already swallowed up the trade networks of the Thalia Kingdom in the west and the allied kingdoms, secured near-monopolistic contracts with the southern tribal federation, and expanded amid friendly relations with both the hostile Empire and Republic, the association was unstoppable.
"...Hm? This drink... it's quite unique. Fizzy yet sweet..."
"Ooh! Such a distinctive flavor. Where'd you source this liquor? We'd love to import it too... Ahh—Hubert Merchant Association? I've heard of them. They're the merchant group growing at a scary pace lately."
"Oh my, this tablecloth is made of some material I've never seen. So tightly woven and sturdy. Not an Elven Kingdom specialty, is it? How is it made?"
That magic was slowly spreading among Drakal's upper crust.
Not just conventional trade goods, but cola and fruit juices, wines and whiskeys, various fabrics and raw materials.
Earth-made products, unavailable anywhere else in Outerica and exclusive to the Hubert Merchant Association, reached out with tempting allure.
'Premium goods sell anywhere. Those possessed by vanity, eager to flaunt their uniqueness, can't resist this temptation.'
This held true even now, with war against the Immortal King on the horizon.
The Hubert Merchant Association's unchecked growth proved it.
If they hadn't known it existed, fine—but once peers started indulging, pride wouldn't let them lag behind; they'd jump on the bandwagon.
'And to get our goods, they have no choice but to cooperate with the Hubert Merchant Association.'
Bait of Earth luxury items and Northern Mountains minerals, backed by sticky connections through various avatars.
That was the driving force elevating the Hubert Merchant Association to the continent's top merchant group in name and reality.
Using the vast Dragon Lair—accessible anytime—as a transit hub made inter-dimensional bulk transport effortless, without needing many hands.
Plus, the old stringent customs, limited in importable items, now passed freely thanks to the Savior.
'Perfect. The karma accumulation rate is insane.'
In the Hubert Merchant Association's headquarters office in Tarac, Hubert nodded in satisfaction.
While raking in massive gold across the continent through business, that was mere pocket change.
What truly mattered was the enormous karma generated in the process.
Circulating Earth goods in this world created massive ripples and influence.
Of course, most items were luxuries for the elite, so their impact on the common folk—who made up the vast majority—was limited...
'But if I can properly popularize Earth's medicines too...'
Hubert tapped his pen on the paper, stroking his chin.
Hired alchemists were already testing compatibility for that very reason.
They couldn't recklessly distribute drugs and risk side effects unique to non-Earthlings.
'No need for advanced pharmaceuticals. Simple over-the-counter meds or vitamins alone would revolutionize society.'
This world's medicine relied heavily on the mystical.
Holy spells from priests, magic from mages, potions from alchemists.
The poor naturally struggled to access care, resorting to folk remedies little better than superstition.
"...Still, we must proceed with utmost caution."
Medicines weren't simple luxuries; they required careful handling.
The ripple effects would be immense if successful, but unforeseen accidents could arise.
And he couldn't supply them eternally anyway.
"Phew, alright, next up..."
As Hubert set down his fountain pen, having roughly sorted his thoughts.
"Are you Hubert?"
A stranger's voice flowed into his ear.
From the office where he'd been alone moments before.
"......"
Hubert's eyes narrowed.
Simultaneously, Clear Mirror Still Water and Hyper Sensitivity activated, stretching the surrounding time.
His senses expanded in an instant, sweeping every direction.
Yet no presence registered.
"Not bad. As expected, no ordinary merchant. But useless against me."
A mocking voice followed, as if seeing right through his actions.
'How?'
But Hubert's mind raced on.
Fueled by vast mental power, he rapidly assessed the situation in near-frozen time.
'This is the Hubert Merchant Association headquarters. No average intruder could breach it.'
The building was an impregnable fortress.
Magical barriers, alchemy, shamanic wards—child's play.
Formation-mimicking traps, instant-death poisons and pitfalls, curses.
And above all, elite True Blood vampires on 24/7 guard duty.
'Their leader is pinnacle-grade too.'
Earth and this world's power balance differed vastly, with system-boosted survivors from countless worlds converging there.
Earth had over a hundred estimated transcendents.
So many the term felt diluted, whereas Outerica had fewer than five—ten if you included dragons, but limits applied.
'A pinnacle-grade powerhouse here is practically human realm's strongest. To slip past their eyes and infiltrate...'
A transcendent powerhouse.
One even he—who knew Outerica like his palm—hadn't detected.
"Deep in thought, eh? Situation grasped yet?"
The alien voice returned, as if privy to his every notion.
Laden with eerie aura that cowed listeners, but immune to mental assaults, Hubert ignored the cheap trick and calmly replied.
"...Thanks for waiting. So, what brings you here unannounced? You might not know, but I'm swamped. People book weeks ahead just to exchange words with me."
"Hoo? Impressive indeed."
The foe marveled at his composure before a being who could claim his life anytime.
But no intent to dawdle; they cut straight to it.
Thud—
Something dropped onto the desk amid scattered papers.
Senses maxed, yet no precursor, no presence.
As if always there, a sudden object appeared.
Familiar to Hubert.
"Where'd you get this?"
He knew it well.
He'd distributed countless to local elites for business.
A premium lighter, all metal, one side engraved with English phrases and 'MADE IN USA'.
Evidently stylish here too; gentlemen loved it.
As idle thoughts crossed his mind, an invisible hand nudged the fountain pen on the desk.
Another Earth product, naturally.
Ergonomic Earth designs were most comfortable for Earthlings like him.
"You're an Earthling, aren't you?"
The foe had reached the same conclusion.
'Damn, Hubert's such an easy mark. Time to prepare countermeasures; this stings.'
Hubert offered no reply to the confident tone.
Just stalled, subtly activating his prepared means.
His top skill: Analysis.
Amplified by Limit Break.
Then—
Truths and causal flows filling the world, beyond his vessel's capacity, pierced his eyes in a flash.
Brain-melting pain relentlessly stimulated his Mind Hub.
But he couldn't afford distraction.
'...What is that?'
His limit-transcending vision beheld the imperceptible.
Human in form, but two horns protruded from the forehead...
No matter the angle, it was a devil's visage.