Chapter 200
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: The Ferrara Badge
Loan did not refuse.
He had received a letter of guarantee from Lazaros before leaving for Ferrara.
But it contained the Union’s official opinion that an envoy must be sent to Grafton for the Ferrara council’s formal approval, making it difficult to use at the present moment.
It also included a request to present a badge of cooperation to the member carrying the letter, which was rather embarrassing.
Fortunately, being swept up in a crisis had naturally resolved the matter, so he was simply pleased to receive such a valuable gift.
“Thank you…”
He didn't bother saying it was something he had truly wanted.
Captain Gordon personally pinned the insignia to Loan’s chest.
A guarantee that he could borrow the strength of the Ferrara army.
The weight of its meaning was substantial.
After repeatedly thanking Gordon, Loan stepped back to his place, and Commander Garcia reached out with his mechanical arm to pat Loan’s shoulder.
“The Responsibility Division will remain in Ferrara for the time being. We must find and eliminate the Nostra remnants, conduct further investigations, and focus on stabilizing the region.”
“Ah, yes.”
“If you leave like this, who knows when we’ll meet again. I suppose the research on my body will be delayed for a while.”
Loan felt a pang of guilt.
Although he had ultimately thwarted the enemy's plot, his influence had played a large part in Garcia’s current state.
He answered with a sense of responsibility.
“I will conclude the investigation swiftly and return to headquarters to look after you.”
“Good. That’s welcome news. I’ll collect all these black boxes remaining in Ferrara and bring them with me. Will they be of help?”
“Yes. I was actually about to ask for them.”
They were the tools that had played a crucial role in amplifying mana and fusing with the demon’s true form.
If he could analyze them, they would surely be useful.
Garcia smiled with satisfaction.
“Alright. I’ll make all the necessary preparations on my end so things can proceed quickly. To finish what I was saying earlier, for Vice Commander Richa’s sake, we need to be separated soon so a married couple can properly have…”
“Shall we stop there?”
Richa jabbed Garcia’s mechanical torso with her elbow, shaking her head briskly.
Then she spoke to Loan.
“He’s an impeccable commander, but in private, he’s still like a child. Don’t pay any mind to his strange remarks.”
“Not at all. I didn’t hear the rest, but weren’t you about to speak on the virtues a married couple should have for each other?”
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call them virtues…”
“Though I am still young and haven’t thought about it, I have seen in you two the true image of an ideal couple. You have been a fine guide for my life.”
“Hmm, well, if you see it that way, I suppose I should be thankful…”
Richa turned her slightly blushing face to the side and met Sienna’s gaze.
“He may be young, but he’s a good man. You’ve raised your junior well.”
“Raised him? Who raised him? He got this far on his own.”
“True, when you’re on missions together, you naturally influence one another. Anyway, you don’t have to look far either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You can’t be alone forever. In a few years, Loan will be an adult. I was just thinking there might be a chance for you, Sienna. Give it a shot.”
“Are you insane…”
Sienna immediately cursed at Richa’s inscrutable words.
Richa simply glanced back and forth between Loan and Sienna, cackling.
Commander Garcia didn’t mention the insubordination. It seemed he was only lenient with Sienna. Or perhaps he was wary of her.
And so.
Those who had shared life and death in a short time wished each other well with laughter.
“Stay healthy until we meet again, Commander.”
“Never forget the spirit of constant striving, Loan. In my day, even after finishing a major mission…”
“See you at the Union.”
“You be careful too, Sienna.”
Garcia and Richa watched the receding backs of Loan and Sienna for a long time.
Garcia spoke.
“Hmm… the Union looking forward to tomorrow. It feels a little unfamiliar.”
“It’s especially strange coming from that kid, Sienna.”
“It must be thanks to Loan.”
For them, who never knew when, where, or how their end might come, well-wishes and farewells were a luxury.
The Union’s long-standing tradition was to keep greetings simple to avoid leaving each other with emotional burdens.
Even everyday greetings were beginning to change.
On the road to Versa.
Ferrara had shed much of the anarchic state they had witnessed before.
Tents of Ferrara soldiers stood strong at major crossroads, and in the villages they passed, people were busy preparing for winter.
There was no chaos.
It seemed that annihilating the Basini family had been effective.
The Grave Alliance must now fully grasp the situation.
There were also notices posted everywhere, announcing the recruitment of soldiers for Ferrara.
It was clear their policy was focused on security and stability.
The costs would likely be covered by the territories and assets confiscated from the Basini and Nostra, as well as the wealth possessed by the Duke of Ferrara.
Perhaps thanks to that atmosphere.
It was hard to find fearful expressions on the faces of people they met on the streets.
The lives of ordinary people could change so easily depending on how a nation’s wealth was used.
“Captain Gordon must be a man of great renown. I didn’t expect things to stabilize so quickly.”
“He has such power, yet he didn’t try to seize it, choosing instead to help form a council. He is a man of profound depth.”
Marveling anew, Loan gently stroked the badge Gordon had fastened for him.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by someone like him.”
“You received it because you deserved it.”
“I feel like I’ve accidentally become a badge collector.”
Sienna, riding her horse alongside him, glanced at Loan.
“They’re all meaningful gifts, aren't they?”
“I’m grateful. To be honest, I really wanted it. The insignia of Ferrara.”
“Hm?”
“Ah… because Ferrara was empty, I mean.”
He mumbled an excuse.
He had spoken without thinking, but he couldn't yet tell Sienna about the Governor-General’s fledgling plan for a ‘new organization to connect the Union and the duchies.’
The specific information it contained was far too ‘dangerous.’
The fact that the Crown Prince was involved in the Schwerin invasion was information the Tower Masters had tried to protect, even by casting a spell of silence.
And now, he had obtained even more terrifying information.
‘The connection between the Ferrara subversion plot and the King…’
For now, it was a fact only Loan knew, and much of it was still speculation, but merely knowing it could put Sienna in a difficult position.
This wasn’t a matter of friendship.
Fortunately, Sienna took Loan’s answer in stride.
“You really are a badge collector, then.”
“…”
“In that sense, isn’t this trip to Versa an opportunity?”
“Pardon?”
“The Albre family isn’t the representative family of Versa.”
The other badges all represented duchies and autonomous territories.
The Albre family’s badge was merely proof that they had accepted Loan as an adopted son and would lend him their strength; it could not represent Versa.
“Hmm, that’s true.”
“We happen to be on our way to Versa. I thought there might be a chance to earn recognition from the Versa family.”
“That’s also true.”
He replied calmly, but it was already part of the plan.
Strictly speaking, the badge itself wasn't the goal, but rather the ‘insignia’ that held the promise of cooperation with the Union.
Still, there was something strange about it.
When he had first discussed with Director Lazaros how to request cooperation from Versa, Loan had suggested an approach from the angle of economic partnership.
Now, having gone through the Ferrara incident, the need to investigate the merchant guilds had arisen, and the connection felt strangely natural.
Just then, Sienna asked about Loan’s plans.
“I said I’d follow you because I can’t send you alone, but I’m curious what you intend to do. Do you have a plan?”
Seeing a fork in the road up ahead, he understood the intent behind her question.
They had to decide how to proceed to Versa, starting from this fork.
From their perspective, the right path was the land route, heading north before turning back down.
The left path led to the port.
They could take a ship and travel by sea.
Of course, they could change their route later if they wanted, but it would naturally be quite inefficient.
Besides, the Graves were likely plotting something somewhere even now, so they couldn't afford to be leisurely.
Lightly patting her horse's neck, as if eager to move, Sienna explained the directions to help with the decision.
“If the Versa family is our goal, the land route will be a bit faster. The sea route would take us up through Pobel or Redon.”
The Pobel family was Sophie’s root, but they had completely fallen after the incident with the Albre family.
It was now Albre territory, doubling as a Union branch.
Redon, located further north, also had a connection to Loan.
The Bella Merchant Guild’s main client was the Redon family. He knew the guild was also located within Redon’s territory.
He didn't know how the delivery accident involving the ‘Stone of Goetia’ commissioned by Redon had been resolved, but he might be able to get general information about the Versa merchant guilds through Bella.
If the guild was still around.
“Taking a ship would be better. Let’s assess the mood from the south as we move up.”
Having set their course, the two rode for several days and arrived at the western port of Ferrara.
There were quite a few Ferrara soldiers here as well.
As the port guard, they were strictly checking the identities of those coming and going by ship, but this didn't apply to Loan and Sienna.
The captain of the guard, who had approached them with interest, was startled upon recognizing Loan.
“It’s Lord Loan.”
“You know me?”
“How could I not? You have that badge.”
He was seeing the effects of the badge sooner than expected.
After being treated as heroes by the approaching guards and the port residents, Loan and Sienna were able to board a ship very quickly.
It was a temporary passenger ship, a repurposed warship owned by the Ferrara navy.
Due to the recent turmoil in Ferrara, civilian passenger ships weren't operating, so the military had stepped in to provide convenience for the duchy’s citizens.
“Well then, I wish you a safe journey.”
After thanking the guard captain for his kind service, Loan and Sienna boarded the ship.
Though unadorned, a comfortable and spacious cabin was prepared for them.
It was only one room with two beds, but it was a rare chance to rest.
All they had to do was wait for the ship to reach its destination without any problems.
A steward informed them that they would reach Versa in three days, though they had to detour around a strait with a very fast current midway.
Loan and Sienna sat facing each other on their beds, set a short distance apart.
As their eyes met awkwardly, Loan quickly spoke.
“Senior, I know the situation wasn’t ideal, but have you made any progress with the cultivation I taught you?”
“The *teacher* told me to cultivate even while moving.”
“Teacher…?”
“I followed your orders well. I ran without rest to chase after my teacher who flew away on an arrow, and I never stopped cultivating even then. It actually paid off later.”
“…”
Even if his mana depleted quickly, resupplying it would have been easier than before.
That was the reason he could arrive so fast, why he could sprint nonstop without any breaks.
“I’ve gotten used to it, but since we finally have some time, I plan to improve its efficiency a little more.”
“That’s good.”
“What about you? Have you adapted well to the new circulation path you found?”
“Yes. I’ve found the path, but I need to keep expanding it to make the flow smoother.”
“Then… let’s do it.”
Sitting in meditation on their respective beds, Loan and Sienna focused on their cultivation until dawn.
The heat they emitted was considerable.
A cabin with no heating system could become this warm.
Moisture from the humid air inside condensed on the window, gathering into droplets that trickled down.
A flush seemed to bloom on Sienna’s grayish skin.
Sensing Loan’s furtive glance, she exhaled a hot breath and rose from her spot.
It seemed she wanted to get some air. Loan followed her out.
“Huh?”
They both simultaneously held out their palms, catching what was falling from the sky.
In the pitch-black night sea, small snowflakes were slowly descending, vanishing in an instant.
Winter was fast approaching.