Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Return to Haswell
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The port city of Haswell, reached at the end of the voyage.
'Still buzzing with life, I see.'
The lord of the territory might have changed, but the unique vibrancy of a port city remained unchanged.
Streets filled with all sorts of races, and scenery reminiscent of old Europe.
"Nice."
Combined with old memories, it really felt like a proper trip.
Jeon walked the streets with a fairly happy expression.
That said, he wasn't wandering aimlessly without a destination.
After strolling the streets for a bit, Jeon soon set a direction and headed off.
As he walked, the building of the Imperial Bank's Celleron branch came into view.
'Ah, it's the Haswell branch now, huh.'
Anyway.
Passing the place where he first met Lena, he walked a bit further, and the spot he had visited almost right after arriving in the city unfolded before his eyes.
Bolton's merchant company building.
"Whoa, what? It's gotten a lot bigger?"
Bolton's merchant company had originally rented office space in a large building.
But upon arriving after a long time, not only the original office but the surrounding areas were now plastered with signs for Bolton's merchant company.
The number of employees must have increased too, as quite a few people were bustling between offices.
Jeon stood there for a moment, watching the scene like a spectator.
Thud.
"...What are you?"
Among the passing crowd, someone who hadn't noticed Jeon bumped into him and scowled.
"Ah, I'm here to see Mr. Bolton."
"...Director Bolton?"
"Ah, yes. That's right?"
At Jeon's words about meeting Bolton, the man eyed him up and down several times.
He had answered when asked, but the scrutinizing gaze was quite unpleasant.
Jeon returned the favor, looking the man up and down.
'A mage...?'
His eyes caught the blue pentagram logo on the man's clothes.
The logo he had seen during a street performance before.
'Pentagram Mage Guild, right.'
The memory of the street magic show had been quite vivid.
The guild's name was still fresh in Jeon's mind.
Anyway.
He didn't seem like an employee here.
Wondering what the guy was doing here, Jeon stared right back.
"Tch, Director Bolton says he's too busy every day to meet, but I guess he's wasting time on riffraff like you?"
"...Riffraff?"
The guy had bumped into him first.
Given the busy surroundings, Jeon had been willing to let it slide.
But the scrutinizing look and tone were really grating on his nerves.
'The guild had a good image too.'
The street performance had left a strong, positive impression.
But this guild member's caliber was sorely lacking.
"Hey, if you're really here to see Director Bolton, make sure to tell him this: Ignoring us in Haswell won't end well."
From his tone, it seemed he had come to meet Bolton directly but failed, or maybe the talk didn't go well even if they met.
'But why take it out on me?'
Jeon had nothing to do with it.
In short, he was minding his own business when this guy picked a fight, blaming him for no reason.
"If you have something to say, tell him yourself. Why pick on an innocent guy?"
Jeon scowled back at him.
"Ha! Now even brats are picking fights."
He started it, then accused Jeon of picking a fight. Classic deflection.
'Ruining my good mood today.'
The great mood from the day was evaporating because of this one guy.
"Hey, brat. I'm in a bad mood today, so shut up. One more word, and I won't hold back."
On top of that, the man bared his teeth in threat at someone a head shorter than him.
The sight was utterly pathetic.
"One word."
"...What?"
"I said one word. So what're you gonna do?"
Jeon looked up, meeting the man's glare head-on.
As if daring him to try something.
"You little shit...!"
The man gritted his teeth, reached for Jeon's thigh, and gripped it hard.
"I'll make you a cripple."
He then poured mana into his grip.
Normally, that would damage the muscles and truly cripple him.
"What are you doing?"
"Wh-what?"
But Jeon easily blocked the mana flow.
Shocked, the man looked at Jeon.
"Y-you, you're a mage?"
"And if I am?"
With that, Jeon grabbed the man's wrist—the one holding his leg—in reverse.
"My turn now, right?"
He then poured mana in wildly, just like the man had.
The man tried to block it with his own mana, but...
"Gah, graaaah!"
Jeon's level was far too high.
It wasn't just about mana quantity; it was about control.
Jeon's skill had exploded after inheriting Silvermont's will, beyond the man's resistance.
"W-wait! D-do you know our guild? The Pentagram Guild!?"
"I know."
"Th-then stop! Let go! Or our guild will...!"
Realizing he was outmatched, the man name-dropped his guild.
To Jeon, it was just pathetic bluffing.
"If you did wrong, apologize. Don't rely on your guild's name."
Jeon poured even more mana into the wrist.
"Graaaaaah!"
The man's wrist twisted grotesquely.
Bones weren't broken.
Just the muscles, disrupted by mana, contracting and relaxing wildly in a deformed twist.
"Wh-what? What's going on?"
"Over there—the Pentagram mage who came earlier is fighting someone?"
"That guy? But why's a mage rolling on the ground?"
The man's screams were so loud that busy employees finally noticed and looked over.
"Did you do wrong or not?"
"G-guh! I-I did, I did wrong! Sorry!"
"Tch, don't go picking fights recklessly from now on."
Jeon clicked his tongue at the groveling man and released the wrist.
Without proper treatment, that hand wouldn't even hold a spoon or fork anymore.
"Ugh, urk! Damn it!"
Still in pain from Jeon's mana, but burdened by the stares, the man scurried off without another word.
Then, someone who actually looked like an employee approached Jeon.
"Um... haven't seen you before. What brings you here?"
"Ah, I'm here to see Director Bolton."
"Ah! I see. Do you have an appointment?"
"Well... no, not really..."
Now he needed an appointment to see Bolton.
'Well, that Pentagram guy did say Bolton was too busy.'
He hadn't expected this scale; meeting today might be tough.
"Still, just in case—tell me your name, and I'll pass it along."
"Ah, would you? I'm Jeon."
"Yes, one moment!"
The employee confirmed the name and disappeared into an office.
'To grow this much in such a short time.'
He started as a small merchant with a few wagons visiting nearby villages.
Now he even had the title of director.
'He's got real talent.'
Jeon had a good impression of Bolton before, but his abilities exceeded expectations.
While Jeon waited, the employee rushed back.
"Ah, Mr. Jeon! Sorry for the wait. This way, please."
It seemed verified quickly.
Following the employee inside.
"Good to see you. It's been too long."
Bolton, seated at a desk in the corner, grinned in welcome.
He had cleared some piled-up documents and set a chair for Jeon.
Jeon sat and returned the greeting.
"Yeah, really been a while."
Jeon smiled back at Bolton.
"You've grown a lot taller since last time? And your face looks much healthier too."
"Ah, really?"
They had exchanged letters occasionally from Silvermont, but this was the first face-to-face.
Bolton was mildly surprised at Jeon's changes.
And for good reason.
Well-fed and rested in Silvermont, Jeon's gaunt face had filled out nicely, and puberty's growth spurt had him shooting up in height.
'Secondary sexual characteristics are starting too.'
A true growth storm.
Jeon himself felt his height changing daily lately.
"Mr. Bolton... you've grown a beard?"
"Haha, yeah. Clients treat me too young without it. Grew it to look more mature."
Bolton looked the same overall, but with a beard on chin and mustache.
As he said, it made him seem more adult-like.
"I heard there was a commotion out front...?"
"Ah, some guy bumped into me first and started trouble."
"A Pentagram Guild mage, right? Sigh, they've been a headache lately. Didn't expect you to get caught up."
"No harm done. Just soured my mood a bit, but I gave it right back."
Jeon waved it off casually to the apologetic Bolton.
"Still, I'll take some measures just in case."
"No need for that."
"I'm sorry you got involved because of me."
"Hmm, well, if you insist."
Despite Jeon's assurances, Bolton kept apologizing, so Jeon nodded reluctantly.
But he hadn't come to dwell on that.
Jeon quickly changed the subject.
"Your company has grown a lot. How'd you expand this much in less than a year?"
"Haha, has it? I'm buried in paperwork, so I don't feel it much."
Even if busy, not noticing this scale?
Jeon eyed him skeptically, and Bolton smiled sheepishly.
"These days, I even miss going on trade runs. Mergers, acquisitions—all paperwork. Can't even get out of this chair."
He really was swamped.
"Mergers too?"
"More like bundling small companies into a federation. Most trust me and follow."
That explained the rapid growth—consolidating small merchants.
Bolton as the head.
"Speaking of, with this size, my initial investment must have multiplied?"
After greetings, Jeon cautiously asked.
Various reasons for visiting, but seeing the growth, investment talk came first.
"Yes, quite a bit. At least... fivefold."
"Whoa."
Five times.
Even rarer than mooning coins in his past life.
'This is why people invest.'
He just put in money, and it grew on its own.
Finally succeeding at investing this life, after failing before.
"Want to withdraw?"
"No. Leave it. Actually, I'll invest more."
To Jeon, Bolton's growth showed no signs of stopping.
Travel and stay funds to White Tower covered by Silvermont's money.
Time to add personal funds.
"Then I'm grateful. I'll work even harder."
"Hey, I'm the one counting on you."
Before, just a fond old acquaintance.
Now, plus the perk of making money for him.
Felt closer to Bolton somehow.
"So, finished business in Langley?"
"Ah, yes."
"Staying in Haswell a while?"
"No."
"Where to next?"
At Bolton's question, Jeon brought up his second reason for visiting.
"Thinking of going to the White Tower."
"White Tower?"
"Yeah, but I don't know the way. Know anyone who could guide?"
White Tower was the goal, but path unknown.
Asking Bolton for an intro.
"Need to go soon?"
"No rush. Can take it slow."
"Hmm... White Tower, White Tower..."
No open war between White Tower and Luin Order yet.
Per Silvermont's will, still just underground maneuvers.
'Neither side knows the full picture yet—White Tower hasn't grasped Luin Order, nor Luin the Silvermont mages' alliance with White Tower.'
Mutual probing.
Helping was the plan, but no urgency.
"How about going with me?"
"Pardon?"
Unexpected response.
The big company director personally?
"Is that possible?"
Great for Jeon.
Enjoyed past travels chatting with Bolton.
But didn't want to burden the director.
"Yes. Been thinking of trading with the tower anyway. White Tower's not too far—perfect opportunity."
"Still, don't overdo it..."
"Haha, no strain. Visiting a major client personally is normal. Plus, desk-bound lately—getting antsy."
Bolton laughed heartily at Jeon's concern.
Made sense, and his expression screamed desire to escape the desk.
'...He's been struggling.'
Jeon accepted.
"Sounds good. Let's go together."
"Excellent. Trade run after so long."
Bolton nodded brightly too.
"Mind adding villages en route?"
"Like before—stopping to buy and sell?"
"Yes. Staying overnight anyway; route planned that way. No extra time."
"Sure."
Necessary stops for lodging.
Adjusting for trade? No big deal.
'Benefits my investment too.'
Profits good for invested Jeon.
Win-win.
Jeon agreed easily.
"I'll contact you when prep's done."
"Yes."
With that, Jeon left Bolton's company.
'Maybe head to that inn where we ate last time.'
Afternoon already.
Recalled foods from the inn with Lena.
'Called Celleron's Dawn—now Haswell's Dawn?'
Wondering the name change as he stepped out.
"Hey, you there. Hold up."
A voice called from a side alley.