Chapter 144
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: The Merchant's Desperate Plea
"......!!"
Wiping the cold sweat trickling down his forehead, Zidanta's face flushed beet red with surging shame, but he didn't utter a single retort to Paon's question.
Both things Paon had pointed out were undeniable truths.
If the Lichtenauer family declared they were selling only twenty carts' worth, it was right to respect that will.
Even if someone like him rebelled, there was already a line of people desperate for the earth dragon's byproducts.
And one more thing.
Even if he harbored dissatisfaction with that decision, snatching the carts away from Paon... was impossible.
Zidanta, backed by the might of the vast Kan Empire, had thus far enforced the empire's will countless times in major diplomatic dealings.
But this time, he keenly felt that his opponent was on an entirely different level from any before.
An overwhelming force capable of slaying a monster from myth.
Setting aside Zidanta himself, the Karaunas who had accompanied him—ostensibly as his escorts but truly to check on Paon's condition—were the Kan Empire's elite, in no way inferior to any of the Lichtenauer family's regular units.
And Paon had subdued them simply by drawing on his aura.
'Is that truly human? Even the Grand Duke couldn't perform such a divine feat...!!'
Zidanta could be certain of at least one thing.
The Grand Duke's other directive.
'He ordered me to confirm whether Paon was injured from his battle with the earth dragon... but regrettably, the Grand Duke's prediction seems off the mark.'
How could someone injured pull off such an absurd miracle...!!
And the envoys from other continents, who had watched the clash between Paon and the Kan Empire with keen interest, began rendering their own judgments.
"Well, well... The guildmasters said the western sea routes had gone quiet, so I hoped the Marquis Paon had suffered a fatal wound like those damned lizards. It seems the gods still don't wish to reveal their sanctity to the southern continent just yet."
Archbishop Yohan gripped the cross in his hand and made the sign of the holy cross.
"...Thanks to that fool Zidanta, we've quickly confirmed one of our objectives in coming here. It's fortunate... but a bit disappointing, Prime Minister."
Ordine, captain of Paradium's delegation, whispered the same thoughts into Adrian's ear.
Ordine, the young tiger of the northern continent.
He had absolute confidence in his sharp eyes.
Prime Minister Adrian Martinel was a man far removed from martial affairs, so His Majesty had entrusted this mission entirely to his judgment.
And through his own eyes... the notion that Paon might be broken was utterly ridiculous conjecture.
Yet for some reason.
"......"
Adrian merely adjusted the monocle over one eye and gazed at the scene with an enigmatic look.
The banquet hall's atmosphere turned awkward after Paon and Zidanta's little incident, making it impossible to continue discussions on the earth dragon byproducts.
Though the talks fizzled out without further progress, the delegations' backlash was minimal.
Paon had revealed fewer byproducts than expected, so they needed time to ponder the conditions for outbidding rivals anyway.
Besides, most felt that witnessing Paon's divine might firsthand made a one-day delay insignificant.
Some had prioritized gauging Paon's condition over the byproducts from the start.
Achieving that goal on the very first day in the martial clan left no room for complaints.
"Man, what was the point of all this anyway..."
As they returned to their quarters after the banquet, Ralph stretched with a grumble.
After delivering the earth dragon byproducts to Megalovria and returning, he'd been dragged straight to the banquet without proper rest... so his mood was sour.
"Hey, Captain. We wrapped up another mission perfectly... How about we hit up a group dinner for old times' sake?"
"Oh, Ralph. Didn't know you could come up with a decent idea now and then."
"Yeah, for Ralph, that's impressive."
"Helena, your sharp tongue scares me sometimes..."
"Hmm, a group dinner..."
With the Latent Dragon Squad's mood upbeat, Ian stroked his chin and considered positively.
'Might as well.'
They'd rushed to the banquet without dinner, only for things to sour completely.
Not a single squad member had gotten a proper meal down.
"Alright, let's go. Where to?"
"For our squad's dinner, it's gotta be 'Moon's Resting Haven'! Last time, those Red Death jerks crashed and ruined our meal, so this time we'll finally eat our fill!"
Ralph, thrilled at Ian's approval, shouted and took the lead.
"Tonight, no interruptions—we'll eat comfortably, just us!"
Sizzle!!
Juicy meat hissed temptingly as it cooked.
True to the renown of Moon's Resting Haven, the meat was top-quality.
Without the Red Death Squad's interference like their first visit, they could just relax and enjoy the perfectly grilled cuts.
"......"
"......"
Yet not a soul in the Latent Dragon Squad touched the sizzling meat.
Silence hung heavy, but gazes burning with fervent hunger bored into them from behind, prickling their napes.
"...Should we go talk to them? Maybe ask if they need something from us."
Unable to stand it, Dane suggested first.
"...No way. Just no. My gut from all these years says whatever that guy's got to say to us... it ain't gonna be quick."
Ralph shook his head vigorously in opposition.
"Then what? Keep burning the meat like this? We gotta eat soon!"
As the squad members bickered, Ian let out a small sigh and finally stood.
Scrape!
Step, step.
He slowly approached the table where the old man stared at them.
"You've been watching us since earlier. Do you have business with me, by chance?"
"Ah, my apologies. I meant to wait quietly until you finished eating. Seems this old fool has disturbed you."
As Ian spoke, the old man—who'd been barely eating—scrambled up and bowed toward him.
"How could we eat with you staring so intently? Felt like we'd choke."
"D-Did I stare that much? Sorry about that."
The old man flushed with embarrassment and apologized.
"Forgive me. I was so eager to speak with you that my feelings showed on my face. How unlike me..."
The old man berated himself, but anyone—not just the Latent Dragon Squad—would have noticed upon seeing his expression.
It brimmed with desperate longing.
And crucially... even if he'd hidden it, Ian would have recognized him instantly.
Ian had met this old man in his previous life.
Thus, it was inevitable.
Though the squad eyed the food with desperate faces, Ian couldn't ignore the old man's plea.
"This'll take a while. Shall we move somewhere else?"
For the old man, it was exactly what he'd hoped for—no reason to refuse Ian's offer.
As the old man and Ian headed upstairs, only the Latent Dragon Squad remained, staring at the cooking meat.
"...Think it's okay if we eat first without him?"
"...Nah, can't do that. Captain's clearly off to work."
"But the meat's already done."
"......"
"......"
After a brief silence, the squad unanimously grabbed their forks.
Starving with one less mouth to feed—it'd be a sin not to eat.
"I'm Hiren, who runs the small Creep Merchant Group in Crohoka. It's an honor you spared me your time, Young Lord Ian."
Hiren bowed politely, shifting from his earlier deferential tone outdoors, and Ian returned the gesture.
"Calling the renowned Creep Merchant Group of the northern continent 'small' is too modest."
"You know of our group?"
"Of course. It's a venerable merchant house active since the Alexandros Empire days."
Ian hadn't recalled at a glance during the banquet, but the familiar face prompted him to dig through his memories, uncovering Hiren's identity.
During the Alexandros Empire era, he'd seen Hiren and other guildmasters at Stion's merchant invitation event—so it was only natural to remember.
But the discrepancy between Hiren's appearance back then and now had thrown him off.
'Over twenty years have passed; of course his face changed...'
Merchants, especially heads of major houses like Creep, shared common traits.
Having amassed wealth, eaten well, and received fine care, they typically had robust builds that aged gracefully without much change in features.
Ian recalled Hiren from Lucas's time as particularly plump and prosperous.
But now... Hiren looked so gaunt it was hard to believe he was the same man.
'What on earth happened?'
Ian felt curiosity about Hiren's ordeal from the stark change, but Hiren saw it differently.
"Heh..."
To know even a mere merchant house's details in this distant land—unlike the rumors, it proved Ian's breadth of knowledge was no small thing.
"Grateful as I am for your high regard of this old man's group... that's all in the past now."
His admiration was short-lived as a bitter smile tugged at Hiren's lips.
"It seems news from the north hasn't reached the south yet. Leviathan... that cursed sea serpent devoured all our trade ships long ago. Embarrassing to admit... but that's why our house has declined sharply."
Though a sore point rarely shared with outsiders, Hiren revealed his merchant house's weakness without hesitation.
Exposing vulnerabilities first to a potential partner was taboo for any merchant.
'Lies won't win this man's heart.'
Hiren still vividly remembered the moment their eyes first met.
His instincts screamed it.
Nothing would work better than approaching this young man with complete honesty.
"Leviathan... you say?"
Ian couldn't shake the sense of wrongness at Hiren's words.
The great beast of the North Sea, Leviathan.
Contrary to its savage reputation, Leviathan wasn't inherently ferocious or aggressive.
Some Crohoka plains warriors even revered it as a sea guardian deity.
It was monstrously strong, true—but never one to attack humans unprovoked.
It knew well the threat of enraged humans banding together.
"Yes. I first thought it a mistake when our ships were wiped out... but it happened repeatedly afterward. We changed routes over and over... yet that damned monster kept hunting our ships. As if it held a grudge against us..."
Ian felt the dissonance grow as he watched Hiren grind his teeth in recalled rage and fury.
"...Didn't you tell Emperor Siegfried? With the Dufer Empire's navy and fleet, they could easily drive off a Leviathan."
Leviathan had once fled half-dead from a fleet including Lucas and the beastmen during the Alexandros Empire days.
Reluctant as he was to admit it... it didn't add up for the successor Dufer Empire to lack that capability.
Especially under that Siegfried Dufer.
"I wouldn't know. They just keep repeating 'subjugation failed.' As a mere guildmaster, I can't exactly call out the Dufer Empire's incompetence."
Hiren gave a self-mocking laugh, as if thinking, 'The Alexandros Empire wouldn't have been like this,' then addressed Ian.
"So, the impudent request I have for you, Young Lord... if you hold any authority over the earth dragon byproducts, I beg you to grant distribution rights for the northern continent to this old man. Since you've heard of us, I'll tell you—we were a house with quite the tradition before Leviathan struck."
Hiren continued in a pleading tone.
"I know to you we must seem like fools who keep losing cargo to Leviathan, but just one crate of earth dragon scales. One crate in my hands... and I swear I won't disappoint you."