A Genius Engineer's Legendary Territory — Growth (8)
The words hung in the air, heavy and final.
“Handing the future over to some brainless hotshot who’s blowing up right now? That’s just admitting to the world that you’re a complete idiot yourself. If I have to sink anyway, I’d rather back the guy who actually has principles and real ability.”
Selena couldn’t hide the sting that rose in her chest.
She had never met this youth before. It felt like half her entire life had already passed.
Yet the way he had said those words—those words that had been meant to praise her—somehow tore at her heart like nothing else could.
*Handing the future over…*
She didn’t know what he had seen in her. She only knew one thing for certain: this man was no ordinary genius. He was something different from every backwater that had come before him.
Her heart pounded. If she had only thought about crossing the Valces Mountain Range, she would have given up on the Pacific Merchant Guild long ago.
But now, it felt like it could rise up again at any moment and become the greatest guild in Blue Tide.
“Get out. Right now.”
“That action right now… is a mistake, Your Grace.”
Jack’s arrogant mask shattered the instant he realized the negotiation was over.
He shot up from his chair, jaw clenched, and stormed out of the reception hall.
Normally the threat of the Raven Merchant Guild’s retaliation would have him trembling with fear. But today, the Raven felt far less terrifying.
He had nothing left to lose. Knowing the Bladewin name was now behind the Pacific Guild, losing anything at all would be nothing compared to what he had already suffered.
“The atmosphere has changed, but the Rodria family still wishes to do business with us.”
Trade Representative Gilles had already stopped caring about the Raven’s fate. All that mattered now was the Bladewin name.
But…
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid we cannot do business with the Rodria family either.”
“Why? Why not?”
“The Rodria family did cooperate with the Raven Merchant Guild. How could I trust a family that once stood together with them when they turn around and issue me warnings the moment they leave?”
Gilles’s pupils trembled.
He had never imagined the conversation would end this way.
“Even though we traded only with the Raven, we have no connection to their crimes—”
“Is the Rodria family’s prestige really this low?”
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Did the Rodria family truly have no knowledge of the Raven’s reputation? The filthy things those backstabbers did behind everyone’s backs—did the Rodria family not know a single one of them?”
Gilles swallowed hard at the direct question.
The room felt like a dead end.
If he denied knowing, he would be admitting weakness. If he admitted knowing, he would be acknowledging their crimes.
Bladewin’s belief in principles gave him more than enough reason to refuse them.
Gilles steadied his thoughts in that split-second and nodded.
“I understand. I did not support their actions, however. We merely shared a temporary goal with the Raven. That is all you need to know.”
He rose from his seat.
“I will not trouble you further. But I hope you understand our sincerity. I was truly impressed by the Bladewin family. I would like to maintain a relationship with you in the future. This is our true intention.”
He placed a small silver token on the table and slid it across to Robon.
“This is the silver token that proves ownership of a Zephyr. A ring engraved with the same crest hangs on the ears of their horses. Follow that and you will find them. This is how the Rodria family authenticates their Zephyr. Among the ones we brought, this is the best. Even with your bikes, it should be sufficient.”
“I will not refuse such a gesture.”
Even though the value was enormous—enough to make anyone else think twice—Robon’s face remained completely expressionless.
Gilles clicked his tongue inside at the sight.
A Zephyr was worth at least a thousand gold coins, no matter how you looked at it. The one he had just given could easily fetch three thousand if haggled over properly.
They would not be surprised by Robon’s lack of reaction.
*He didn’t even blink at that amount… He’s truly extraordinary. At his age, already this composure?*
Even the head of a family would have been shaken by that sum. Yet a youth who had barely reached adulthood remained utterly calm.
The more Robon looked at him, the more impressive the man became. He had once thought the serious, prayer-like atmosphere of eldest son Gain Bladewin marked him as the future heir.
But perhaps the true heir of the Bladewin family was none other than this Robon Bladewin.
*Two should have been enough. I hope my own offer didn’t look too small.*
“That should be sufficient. I will take my leave.”
Gilles left the reception hall after cleanly withdrawing the deal. He had even given them a warm impression, so although he had lost a significant amount of money, in the long run he had gained far more than he had lost.
Everyone present—including Robon—admired Gilles’s composure.
“The Rodria family… They really know how to pick good people.”
“That Zephyr they brought is the best one. Their trade representative really has some guts. If it were me, I would never have given it away for free.”
Hector’s blustering drew Robon’s puzzled glance.
“You expected this too, Young Master Robon? Obtaining more than a thousand gold coins for a horse right here?”
Samuel’s follow-up question left him even more stunned.
“What? That Zephyr is worth over a thousand gold?”
Robon snatched the silver token off the table in shock.
“Yes, and that one is the finest among them. Even conservatively, it should be at least two thousand gold. Possibly two thousand five hundred or more.”
Robon stared blankly at the token as his jaw dropped.
Everyone else looked at him with utter disbelief.
*He really didn’t know?*
*Of course. Young Master Robon can stay this calm after receiving something that expensive.*
*He’s not going back to negotiate again, right?*
*Robon Bladewin… He really is someone you can trust.*
Did he even realize what everyone was thinking?
Robon’s image of the Rodria trade representative changed in an instant.
*He really is a good person. Two thousand five hundred gold… just how much is that?*
A farmer or miner might earn about two silver a month. Even a skilled blacksmith or carpenter could only average ten silver.
To earn two thousand five hundred gold, they would have to work more than four hundred years—and that was without spending a single coin.
He had grown a little desensitized from handling large sums recently, but Gilles had still gifted a Zephyr worth a fortune for free.
He could wipe that off his lips easily, but if he found the Rodria family again later, he would at least listen to their story, right?
Well, that was a thought for another time.
“Since the uninvited guests have departed, shall we begin the real conversation? Selena Kaders, Guild Leader of the Pacific Merchant Guild.”
It was time to draw the big picture for Bladewin’s growth.
That way, the farmers who once earned twenty silver a year would earn fifty. The blacksmiths would earn a gold each, paying more taxes.
“The Pacific Merchant Guild’s headquarters is in Blue Tide, correct? Let’s expand it there. Start selling Robon 001 as a lure item. Slowly build the market and then list the bikes at auction.”
Selena’s pupils trembled. She already knew exactly what would happen next.
“But there will be all sorts of opposition. They’ll also spread ridiculous rumors that we stole the bikes, that they’re fakes—”
“And the Guild Leader won’t be left alone by the Raven Merchant Guild.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Every single item was already being produced with the Bladewin seal embedded in it.
And…
“Wendy has just come of age. It’s time for her to take on missions outside.”
Robon had asked his father to send Wendy as Selena’s personal escort knight.
She would probably enjoy it. Riding a Zephyr while sightseeing would be fun. Plus, with her skill and the Bladewin name as guarantee, it would be solid protection.
“We don’t have that much money…”
“Don’t worry, Guild Leader! We’ll cover it with the money we’ve earned so far—”
“No. This is a service. After all, we’re taking all the sales profit anyway. We can’t afford any losses.”
With Wendy involved, there was no need to worry. As long as she didn’t buy something weird from another village with that money, everything would be fine.
“By agreeing to exclusive trade with us, the Pacific Merchant Guild will become the greatest in Blue Tide. In return, before this journey ends, you must bring us evidence of any trade accidents caused by the Raven Merchant Guild. Otherwise, our trade ends here.”
*
“Fuck! Shit!”
Jack kicked the Bladewin family’s wall repeatedly, cursing nonstop.
“You fucking brainless bastards! Principle? Go ask those wanderers who only have shit in their heads whether principle or money matters more! Even a stray dog on the street knows that!”
“What’s the matter, Captain Jack?”
A Rodria knight approached and asked.
Jack glared at him, then glanced at the battle horses and knights gathered behind the man.
“You worthless piece of shit…”
Unable to vent his rage, he strode over and kicked the body of the nearest battle horse with his foot.
“Kyiiiiiiieeeee!”
The sudden attack startled the horse into rearing and kicking back at Jack. The knight barely managed to grab him and pull him to safety.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
“Hey! Calm down. Whoa whoa.”
Another knight quickly calmed the horse and held Jack.
Jack, who had fallen on his ass, stared up at the knight with his face burning red.
“Captain Jack!”
“Shut up! Do you even know how much damage I’ve suffered because of you idiots?!”
Jack stood and unloaded his complaints, spittle flying.
“You wanted to sell that horse here and not a single one sold! Not one! And on top of that, you lost the horses and carriages because you were too weak!”
The knights’ faces turned to stone. Even though the air crackled with the threat of drawing their swords at any moment, Jack only flinched for a second because he knew they wouldn’t actually kill him.
“Have you finished talking?”
The atmosphere grew darker. Jack vented more insults, but gradually regained his senses and calmed himself.
“…So. What I’m saying is, this is not the time to be doing this. We shouldn’t be hanging around with these backwater people! We should be selling horses to another family and hurrying back to the Stens Coalition!”
His attitude shifted so quickly it bordered on being two-faced.
When he was about to explode with emotion, he vented everything; now he calmly dealt with the situation.
“I made a mistake just now. Sorry. As an apology, I’ll treat you to some expensive wine later.”
“…?”
When the knight was still at a loss for words, Gilles’s voice cut in sharply from above.
“You don’t need that. Go back to the Coalition on your own.”
Gilles’s gaze was colder than ever.
“What are you talking about?”
“Selena Kaders was right. In the end, you’ve become our family’s anchor.”
“What the hell do you mean, anchor?!”
“Shut your mouth! Because of your disgusting behavior, the damage our family has suffered cannot be expressed in words.”
Although he was only a trade representative, Gilles had once been a knight.
He wanted nothing more than to run the man through with his sword, but that would only make the situation worse. So he held back with all his patience.
He sent a thick wave of killing intent toward Jack.
“Consider this a favor that I’m not cutting your head off right here.”
“You’re blaming me for failing to sell the Zephyr?”
“Sell it on the way back to the Coalition. You can even stop at the Holy Kingdom on the way. But what we lost was far more valuable than that Zephyr. You still don’t understand.”
“Th-this is contract breach!”
“Contract? Do as you wish. But the Rodria family will not sit quietly either.”
Jack’s cheek twitched violently.
“You know how much money the Rodria family took from us? Do you think I’d just let you stay in that position when I go back?!”
“If you need to strip, strip. Just stop touching me all the time. The only reason I’m saving you right now is because you made me realize the Bladewin family.”
Jack’s expression was just as dangerous as Gilles’s. The veins in his eyes looked ready to burst.
“I’m leaving.”
Gilles led his knights out of the Bladewin estate first.
Jack had just lost the knights who were supposed to protect them. Now only the guild members and mercenaries remained.
“You bastards… Whether it’s Bladewin or Rodria, I’ll make sure you regret ever touching me.”
Swearing revenge, he left the next morning and recruited more mercenaries to escape Iron Hall faster than the Rodria group.
He planned to reach the Stens Coalition first and cause trouble.
But…
Squeeeak—!
Kwojck!
The moment they crossed the midpoint of the Valces Mountain Range, a bone arrow from the forest pierced the mercenary’s helmet and shattered his skull.
“Monster attack!”
“Snipers in the west! Take cover!”
Only about thirty-five mercenaries had been gathered to cross the mountain range.
They had thought they could easily handle the monsters.
But…
“You crazy bastards! You’re telling me to take cover?!”
A battle-hardened mercenary from Iron Hall spotted the bone arrow and immediately veered in a different direction.
“That’s a bone sniper! Black Cat! Shit. That bastard was definitely in Lostwood?”
“What? Black Cat?”
“Damn it… bad luck’s biting me.”
The Iron Hall mercenaries panicked and fled without even fighting.
“What the hell are you doing?! Come back right now!”
Jack shouted, but it was useless.
The mercenaries collapsed in an instant.
Squeeeak—! Crack—!
And one by one, the escorts fell.
“Hold on! Hold on as long as you can! Double the reward! No, triple! Just come back already!”
Even his desperate pleas received no answer.
In the darkness, a black cat the size of a tiger emerged. White bone spurs protruded from its tail and back.
“Grrrr…”
Jack trembled in terror, tears and snot streaming down his face.
“P-please… save me…”
As if enjoying his begging, the Black Cat slowly approached until it finally opened its maw right in front of him.
Kwaqddduk…!