Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Dragon Blood (4)
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‘When the hell did he...?’
Selphard and his companions drew their swords in unison, pointing them toward the doorway.
Standing there with his hands clasped behind his back was a diminutive old man.
Beside him, Marti was fidgeting anxiously, at a complete loss.
“Grandfather, barging in like this...!”
“Is anyone going to stop me from walking through my own house? Isn’t that right, young friend?”
“Yes. Quite right, sir.”
Theo nodded calmly, meeting the old man’s gaze.
‘Vittorio Romelin... Head of the Romelin family and ruler of the Affluent Isles. I’d heard he kept a low profile, but to think he was hiding this level of skill?’
Selphard and his group swallowed hard. Cold sweat trickled down their backs.
They had been staying at the Romelin estate all this time without ever catching a glimpse of Vittorio.
He’d claimed the state of emergency kept him too busy to meet anyone.
So they hadn’t paid it much mind.
But this was a situation they hadn’t anticipated at all.
Moreover, they had been standing guard with their senses sharpened against any intruders.
Yet he had slipped in undetected, as if it were the most natural thing, and overheard their entire conversation.
Something impossible unless the intruder was a master far superior to them.
‘Dragon Gate Swordsman level... no, maybe even beyond that.’
That raised another question.
Why had someone with such skill simply stood by and watched the Guard Corps’ atrocities all this time?
Did Theo know something?
Strangely, he didn’t seem the least bit rattled.
“You seemed to be having quite the interesting chat. I hope I’m not intruding. Once you get old, you can’t help but poke your nose into things that pique your curiosity. Heh heh.”
“Not at all. Someone like you, Lord Vittorio, has every right to listen in.”
Theo glanced back at Selphard and the others.
“Would you all mind stepping out for a moment?”
“Theo.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
“Hmm. Alright, then.”
Selphard alternated worried glances between Theo and Vittorio before leaving the room with the other two.
The Black Skull man slipped out discreetly as well.
“Why don’t we pick up where you left off? Mind if I join in?”
Vittorio strolled leisurely around the room, hands still behind his back.
But Theo didn’t let the man’s aura throw him.
‘I need to handle this carefully from here on out.’
Theo knew Vittorio well.
As ruler of the Affluent Isles, he had rarely revealed his true worth.
That made him the worst leader in his past life, allowing the isles to be tossed about by Troyvan’s schemes.
Yet he was also the lord who defended the Affluent Isles from Troyvan to the very end, ensuring their survival through the Great War.
No wonder even Black Snow had been warier of Vittorio than the isles’ wealth.
‘On top of that, his swordsmanship is Laurel Swordsman level. A Nine Dragon-grade powerhouse. Not someone to take lightly.’
To seize the Affluent Isles and the Maritime Alliance, Vittorio’s cooperation was essential.
He was the final obstacle.
Theo gathered his thoughts and spoke slowly.
“So, does that mean the Romelin family is willing to join us?”
“Isn’t this something the great Ragnar family is pursuing? Better to join than resist. Of course.”
Vittorio’s eyes darkened for a moment.
“That is, unless you’re scheming something like Troyvan. Then it’d be a different story entirely.”
“No. Nothing of the sort.”
“Heh heh. Good to hear. Truth be told, I had no idea the Ragnars were interested in our Affluent Isles. You lot hardly ever leave the North, after all.”
“You’re mistaken. I didn’t say the Ragnars have no interest because they truly know nothing about what’s happened here.”
“Hmm?”
Vittorio tilted his head, puzzled.
Theo’s smile deepened.
“I’m not here representing the Ragnars.”
“...?”
“It’s purely in my personal capacity.”
“...You mean.”
“This is all my own initiative.”
“...!”
Vittorio’s eyes widened.
It was absurd.
To shake off Troyvan’s clutches and even claim Krimhilt’s secret without Ragnar backing?
“Then the Balmung you had...”
“I recovered it during a mission. With Black Snow’s help, I learned what happened in the Affluent Isles and came to return it.”
“Ha!”
It was beyond belief.
“You... How old are you?”
“Fifteen this year. Sixteen in a month.”
“And your Awakening Ceremony?”
“This year.”
“Impossible...”
Vittorio recalled how he and his granddaughter—both called geniuses—had been at fifteen.
Just barely managing to coat their swords in sword aura, right?
Ragnars didn’t unlock mana until fifteen.
Meaning he’d held a sword for less than a year, yet displayed such prowess?
No, his feats and mental fortitude so far were no small matter. Could a mere fifteen-year-old really pull it off alone?
This went beyond genius.
‘No. Don’t think like that. This might make things smoother.’
Vittorio rubbed his face and collected his thoughts.
He’d met countless people over the years.
Many geniuses among them.
And they all shared one trait.
They couldn’t be judged by common sense.
So Vittorio decided to treat Theo as an equal in negotiations from here on.
“The Affluent Isles’ foundation and the Maritime Alliance’s wealth. That’s what you need, right? To become family head.”
“I never said I wanted to be family head.”
“Don’t play coy. It’d be more unbelievable if someone like you had no ambition. If you won’t show your hand, I’ll bow out.”
“No, let’s keep talking.”
Theo inwardly admired Vittorio’s insight, reading his lust for power from mere clues.
Vittorio’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
“For 400 years, Romelin has built and solidified vast networks through brokerage trade across the Empire and the world. The immense wealth from that goes without saying.”
King of the seas.
That was another moniker for the Romelin family.
“If we put all that in your hands, what will you give us in return?”
Thump!
Theo felt his heart pound.
Vittorio was asking.
—How far do your ‘true’ ambitions reach?
If it was just to rule the Affluent Isles, their deal so far would suffice.
Theo would gain the Isles’ foundation, the Alliance’s gold, and the temple knights for emergencies.
Romelin would get full control of the Isles, a monopoly on maritime trade, and Krimhilt heir’s backing. Mutual benefit.
And Theo would soon leave the Isles anyway, which Vittorio would welcome.
But Vittorio was probing deeper.
Theo’s answer would determine the cards on the table.
‘This... this is a real deal. Not just grabbing what each wants and calling it quits. One armed with trust, sharing a future.’
Theo felt like he’d learned a lesson from Vittorio.
“Monopoly on Northern trade. How’s that?”
“Oh ho.”
“With the East opening up soon, your networks can extend deep into the inland regions via sea routes.”
“Talking like you’ve already beaten Troyvan?”
“I’m a Ragnar, after all.”
“Arrogant.”
“I already took the Affluent Isles alone. What difference does a war make?”
Vittorio seemed to like the unabashed arrogance.
“But didn’t you say you’re not here as a Ragnar? Can you make such promises?”
“The Ceres Merchant Group dominating Northern commerce has collapsed, though not public yet. You can take their place.”
“Even so, Northerners are fiercely exclusive. They won’t welcome us.”
“Partner with Bacchus. A joint venture would work fine.”
“Six Snows, you mean? Why would they help us?”
“Yes. They will. Their family head is my vassal.”
“Ha!”
Already the Six Snows’ head as his retainer?
Vittorio was past surprise now.
His greed only grew.
‘Was my seclusion all these years just to meet this boy?’
Now he understood why Marti had said he’d know once he met Theo.
A chance to extend Romelin’s reach—not just in shipping, but to the mysterious North and deep Eastern inland.
And to ally with an aspiring King of the North.
‘The Empire will soon face storms. Storms capsize ships, but sometimes they carry merchants faster and farther.’
Vittorio knew nothing of the [Great War], but he foresaw massive chaos engulfing the Empire.
In that case.
Why not ride the storm instead of hiding from it?
But Vittorio merely stroked his chin, offering no reply.
He wanted to test one more thing.
“Care to put on a little play with me?”
* * *
The autonomous district assembly hall buzzed with councilors after a long absence.
An emergency session had been called.
-Hmm! Half the seats are empty, as expected.
-Of course. Spinola and Grimaldi got smashed overnight. They’re busy with cleanup.
-It’s the temple knights. Rounded them all up, blaming them for the fiasco. Thrown in jail. Everyone’s laying low.
-With the guard captain ousted, no one can stop them. Ha!
-Oh yeah, didn’t you dine with Grimaldi’s head recently?
-Hey now! Don’t go there! They kept begging, that’s all!
-Not asking for a job for your son?
-Where do you get that? I swear on my name, nothing like it!
Spinola and Grimaldi’s downfall.
Many councilors had ties, so they fretted over getting dragged down.
With temple knights swarming the district, fear ran deep.
-Still, what about the Krimhilt heir?
-Heard she’s an outsider. A Ragnar, even.
-Unbelievable. World’s gone mad. Ugh!
-Shouldn’t we recover Balmung first?
-Obviously! It’s Benoita and the district’s proud relic!
-Right! Hero stuff aside, this is separate.
-Facing off with Troyvan is inevitable anyway. Just lend some support.
-If you think about it, the boy got that power thanks to us, right?
We shouldn’t bow; they should.
That was the councilors’ shared view of Theo.
Unlike the public, they were the entrenched elite.
Instinctively protective of their interests, they couldn’t warm to Theo.
-But she’s colluding with the ruler on something. What do we do?
-Yeah, that’s a problem...
Some voiced concerns.
-She’s the last of the maritime three houses, and basically controls the temple knights. It’s a dictatorship.
-Shh! Quiet. Walls have ears.
Some glanced at the top seat, then looked away.
Right then.
-The ruler is entering. All councilors, please rise.
Vittorio entered the hall slowly, leaning on Marti’s arm.
Swallows echoed everywhere.
‘The ruler...’
‘Was he always that imposing?’
Once overshadowed by Spinola and Grimaldi, Vittorio now commanded the room’s air.
Whether it was his true self or the temple knights and Black Skulls behind him, no one knew.
-Be seated.
Vittorio took his throne, and the councilors followed.
“I called you all here despite your busy schedules because the Krimhilt heir has finally regained her senses. We’ll hear her testimony on recent events and discuss our future ties with the Affluent Isles. To that end, I’ve invited her here. Any objections?”
Silence.
Eyes turned to the entrance.
“None, then. Come in.”
Creak!
The doors swung open, and Theo strode in commandingly.
Balmung in one hand, Aegir’s helm in the other.