Chapter 40
Episode 40
"...Excuse me?"
"Purchase one million gold worth of food supplies monthly and send them to Tesron and MacLaine Castle."
"One million gold? Every month?"
"Yes."
"But... what for? Do you plan to feed the entire territory's population by yourself?"
"Just do it. Arrange suppliers who can sustain purchases for at least a year."
"Good heavens. You're serious. I never took you for someone who cared so deeply about the common folk."
Logan chuckled at Philip's remark.
Caring for the people?
Truthfully, it was simply necessity.
The chronic food shortage in MacLaine Castle wouldn't be resolved until next year at the earliest. Though they had acquired Tesron Plains, Tesron Castle itself barely produced enough surplus to sustain its own population. Combined with MacLaine's barren lands, they were still operating at a deficit.
Moreover, it was early summer—the winter reserves had dwindled, and the next harvest was still far off. This was the precarious period right after the spring famine, when starvation deaths in MacLaine Castle wouldn't even be surprising.
The labor of the territory's people would be essential for his future plans, so preserving their strength was non-negotiable.
But buying food is only a stopgap measure.
A more fundamental solution was needed for the long term.
"Enough chatter. Get moving. Is there a problem?"
"N-No, not at all! For a contract lasting over a year, many merchant guilds would jump at the opportunity. Bulk purchases could even lower costs."
"Then proceed accordingly. I'll dispatch Imporic immediately—prepare your business affairs until he arrives. The mercenary band will escort the shipments, so get acquainted with their captain..."
After giving Philip detailed instructions, Logan sought out Nox once more for another request.
"...You want me to locate these individuals?"
"Yes."
"With just names and a couple of physical traits? You're not even sure if these are their real names, and their whereabouts are unknown. You're asking me to scour the entire continent? This is..."
"Can you do it or not? That's all I need to know."
"Ugh... I'll need a 100,000 gold advance. And I can't guarantee when I'll find them."
"Contact me the moment you confirm even a single one. I'll be in MacLaine Territory."
"Mind if I ask why you're looking for them?"
"Of course I mind."
"..."
"I'll pay another 100,000 gold per confirmed lead—provided the information is solid. So work fast."
"Underst—"
SLAM.
"Tch. Rude bastard."
Nox's bewildered mutter echoed through the empty doorway, but Logan was already sprinting toward the western gate.
Even as he ran, his mind raced.
The unaffiliated Transcendents of the future. I must recruit them.
But as Nox had implied, locating them wouldn't be easy.
Those who reached Transcendent status yet remained unaffiliated had their reasons—each carried their own story. The names Logan knew might even be aliases.
But there's no alternative. I'll have to wait.
His priority was strengthening his house.
If worst came to worst, he needed to grow strong enough to wage war against the Empire without them. And even if he found them, he had to prepare for the possibility of rejection—extreme measures included.
Especially that bastard who mainly worked as a mercenary for the Empire...
The more he dwelled on these complexities, the more restless he grew—despite everything currently going smoothly.
Then, realization struck.
Why am I rushing like this?
"Slow down. There's still time. It's fine."
Logan steadied his breathing, muttering to himself as he consciously slowed his pace.
Feeling impatient when everything in the capital had gone better than expected was problematic.
Obsession. I need to clear my head, even briefly.
The moment he acknowledged this, his steps noticeably relaxed.
Now, it was time for a far more critical negotiation.
To regain some composure, he lifted his gaze to the distant sky.
Just as he began finding his balance—
"...Damn it."
A massive tower loomed in the distance, instantly dragging his thoughts back to business.
The Magic Towers...
Magic Towers originated as gatherings of mages pursuing the same path—organizations where practitioners lived and studied together.
True to their name, they boasted towering structures that showcased both their magical prowess and influence.
Though mages themselves were rare, making even the largest factions mere hundreds strong, their concentrated numbers granted them military-grade combat power.
However, most mages dedicated themselves to research rather than battle, rarely venturing beyond their laboratories.
Lower-ranked mages, in particular, relied heavily on mentors and thus seldom left their towers.
As a result, finding a mage in backwater territories like MacLaine was nearly impossible.
Hard to find, and picky even when you do.
Unless it was a national-scale war or a territorial conflict involving major houses with their own mages, encountering them in battle was rare.
In the Grandia Kingdom's capital, Gran, five such towers stood.
And Logan's destination was one of them—the Earth Magic Tower in the capital's western district.
Jingle-jangle.
A towering seven-story structure with an earthen hue.
The first floor felt eerily desolate, its vast 300-pyeong space nearly devoid of people.
The reception desk, marked by a rock emblem, was so far from the entrance that it took considerable walking to reach.
Behind it, a young man in a tawny robe—proof of his affiliation—dozed off, chin bobbing.
Ahem.
Tap-tap.
"Gah!"
Roy, the Earth Magic Tower's apprentice mage, jolted awake at the sudden voice.
"My apologies, honored guest!"
He reflexively bowed deep, though internally, he was screaming.
Damn it, damn it!
Most tower visitors were nobles—either purchasing artifacts or placing commissions, their spending being the towers' primary income.
The funds high-ranking mages poured into experiments were astronomical, leaving the towers perpetually strapped for cash.
Especially now, with the tower's finances strained, offending a noble visitor could spell disaster—
Huh?
When Roy raised his head, the sight defied expectations.
Sturdy but worn boots, greaves, and similarly aged armor.
The flame crest emblazoned on the half-plate mail was unfamiliar, and the face looked younger than his own brother's.
Roy instantly knew.
This guy's a nobody.
The weight of his earlier mistake lightened, replaced by condescension.
"How may I assist you?"
Probably some bumpkin noble visiting the capital.
No way someone dressed like this has appointments with high-ranking mages.
He must be here to gawk—one of those idiots who thought the Five Great Towers displayed artifacts like a museum.
And their excuses were always the same.
"I came to see some magic scrolls..."
Roy suppressed a smirk as his prediction proved correct.
Keep a straight face.
"Magic scrolls start at 1,000 gold for 1st-Circle, 2,000 for 2nd-Circle, 5,000 for 3rd-Circle, and 10,000 for 4th-Circle. Which would you like?"
Magic scrolls—one-time-use items allowing non-mages to cast spells—were miracles with equally miraculous price tags.
Roy expected the rube to stammer excuses and retreat.
But the response shattered his assumptions.
"150 Collapse Magic scrolls."
"...Pardon?"
The man's pupils dilated.
Collapse Magic—a 4th-Circle earth spell capable of demolishing dozens of square meters of rock in one go, depending on the caster's skill.
Its long casting time and obvious tell made it useless against living targets, rendering it impractical for warfare.
But for other purposes—
Perfect for construction.
Logan intended to expedite mine development and solve another territorial issue with them.
"As I mentioned, Collapse Magic scrolls are 10,000 gold each. You're buying 150?"
"Yes."
"...If you fail to pay after placing such an order, the consequences will be severe."
The apprentice's thinly veiled threat earned an internal sigh. Logan had no patience for this.
"It's Collapse scrolls I want. If you can't handle it, bring someone who can."
He pulled out a Copperth-certified bank statement—a magically secured, unforgeable document.
"Gah!"
Roy's face paled at the 4 million gold figure stamped on it.
"150 Collapse scrolls at 1.5 million gold total. Quite the sum—can you take responsibility?"
The apprentice's complexion turned ashen.
"M-My apologies! Such a transaction exceeds my authority..."
The condescension from moments ago had vanished without a trace.
Logan smirked at the trembling hands.
"Then fetch someone who can take responsibility."
"Y-Yes! P-Please wait! I'll return immediately!"
The apprentice scrambled upstairs. Moments later—
Clatter-bang!
An elderly mage tumbled down the steps after him.
"Wh-Where is— Ah, there!"
The man—frail-looking but with shrewd, darting eyes—hurried over, beaming. His salt-and-pepper beard suggested age, but his slippery demeanor felt anything but venerable.
"My deepest apologies for the delay! I am Redios Grater, Tower Master of the Earth Magic Tower. Might I ask which house you represent?"
His bow—directed at someone who looked half his age—was effortless.
But the introduction stunned Logan.
The Tower Master?
1.5 million gold was substantial, but equivalent to merely half a barony's annual budget.
He'd heard the Earth Magic Tower was struggling financially, but—
The master of one of the Five Great Towers personally rushing over for this sum?
Yet the overwhelming magical presence radiating from the man—the five distinct Circles pulsating from his core—left no doubt.
A 5th-Circle mage. Undoubtedly someone who could hold elder rank in any tower.
Their situation must be direr than I thought.
Suppressing his surprise, Logan bowed in return.
"Logan MacLaine."
"...MacLaine?"
Bafflement flickered across Redios's face before he awkwardly laughed it off.
"My apologies! My ignorance has caused offense. Please, follow me—let us discuss this comfortably in my chambers."
The deference from the master of one of the Five Great Towers felt surreal, but Logan saw no downside.
A counterpart's weakness is my advantage.
He smiled faintly and nodded.
"Just a minor territory in the southwest. No need for concern—though rest assured, my purchasing power is genuine. You needn't doubt me like your apprentice did."
"Ah... Haha. It seems our apprentice made a mistake. My apologies—I'll reprimand him sternly."
"No need. It was nothing."
"Your magnanimity is appreciated. Now, please follow me."
Despite his words, Logan's momentary glare at Roy was razor-sharp, freezing the apprentice in place.
The Tower Master's unpleasant demeanor matched his appearance, but that wasn't Logan's concern.
Tch. Serves you right.
For now, closing this deal took priority.
Can the Earth Magic Tower even meet my demand? Hmm.
For his construction plans, the Tower of Flame's 4th-Circle Explosion scrolls would have been more effective.
But Explosion Magic was classified as combat-grade, making it far pricier than other spells of the same tier. Bulk purchases would also draw unnecessary attention.
Hence his compromise—Collapse Magic, and the Earth Magic Tower.
Well, it's not like they're the only tower.
Though mages specializing in a single element were more proficient, the royal tower's Class mages could produce similar items.
If needed, I can split the order.
And judging by the atmosphere, he might secure far better terms than expected.
With a faint smile, Logan followed Redios.