Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: The Key Held by Priscilla of the Ice Garden
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“You know the demons lodged a complaint with Croesus over this, right?”
Olka had come to see Geon-woo.
It was because he’d been venturing into demon territory lately with the implant recipients, kidnapping high-ranking nobles at the viscount level and above.
They were gathering materials for jiangshi while also getting revenge for past grievances against the demons.
The side venture had yielded decent results.
That was why they’d protested to the influential figures in Croesus at a full demon assembly.
“I know. And I also know that most of those influential figures drew a line, saying not to drag the matter between our clinic and the demons into Croesus affairs as a whole.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What do you mean? The demons have always been our enemies—there’s never been a time they weren’t. What’s new?”
“But now they have a pretext to attack you directly. Croesus has basically washed its hands of protecting you.”
Croesus washing its hands of protection meant they’d turn a blind eye even if demons entered Croesus to go after Geon-woo.
That was why Olka had come looking for him, worried.
“It’s not like the entire demon race is going to march into Croesus. The only thing they can do is send in a small elite strike team.”
“That’s exactly the problem!”
“What problem? We started this knowing we could handle that much.”
For the clinic, the implant recipients gaining chaos mana was a major achievement, but Geon-woo himself had grown stronger too.
Thanks to that, his clinic had already made a name for itself as a force that couldn’t be ignored.
“But…”
Even so, Olka couldn’t hide her anxious expression.
“Don’t worry. You think one of the seventy-two race leaders is going to step up?”
“Huh?”
“I can handle up to a duke-class. Anything above that would be a race leader—and do you really think one of those would come into Croesus?”
“Ah, that would be pretty tough, wouldn’t it?”
“Very. If that happened, even the heavyweights in Croesus who are just watching now would have to roll up their sleeves.”
“I guess you’re right. It’d be hard to see a demon leader entering Croesus as just a personal matter.”
“That’s why I said not to worry. So, any luck on that other thing?”
Satisfied he’d eased Olka’s concerns somewhat, Geon-woo changed the subject.
“I looked into it, but… not yet.”
“Is that so? If even you don’t know, who should I ask…?”
“No, I’ll keep digging. Somehow.”
“I appreciate you putting in the effort, but we don’t have unlimited time.”
“I’m sorry.”
Olka bowed her head, looking ashamed.
What Geon-woo had asked her to find out was information on connecting a dimensional passage to a lower dimension.
She’d mobilized not just the Pheniel family but also all the new connections she’d built in Croesus this time around, yet she hadn’t produced any solid results.
“We have to link the passage we prepare here with the one opening from Earth. Otherwise, people coming from Earth will scatter randomly across this world.”
Geon-woo muttered darkly.
The people preparing on Earth were barely at the level of commoners in this world, if that.
If Earthlings scattered randomly here, their survival odds would be abysmal.
“Yeah. I really tried… I’m sorry.”
Olka bowed her head once more.
It was rare for Geon-woo to ask her for something personally, and she’d let him down.
Watching her, Geon-woo tossed out a casual remark.
“Looks like I’ll have no choice but to meet with Frixl after all.”
“Huh? Frixl?!”
At the sudden mention of Frixl, Olka snapped her head up.
Her eyes sharpened like blades as she stared at Geon-woo.
“While you were meeting Croesus’s influencers, Frixl reached out to me.”
“I don’t know why you’re bringing up Frixl.”
Olka’s voice brimmed with wariness and resentment.
“I don’t take everything Frixl says at face value either, but they claimed you seemed to be having other thoughts while schmoozing with Croesus’s big shots.”
“Other thoughts? What nonsense is that?”
“Like siphoning off my gains to feed your own greed?”
Geon-woo recited Frixl’s words in a calm tone.
“T-That’s…”
Olka’s face flushed with anger as if to retort, but she barely held back, her expression turning to feeble excuses.
The thought that Geon-woo wouldn’t grill her without evidence kept her outburst in check.
“Of course, I get it. We’re in a mutual aid relationship—no one’s supposed to take a loss. Pursuing your own interests isn’t a big deal.”
“T-Then…”
“But pushing aside something I specifically asked for? That’s a problem. Should I really trust that you’ve done your best?”
Olka tried to muster a defense, but Geon-woo’s following words cut sharp and cold.
“…”
She fell silent, gazing steadily at him.
His eyes meeting hers were impassive, giving no hint of his thoughts.
“You seem pretty disappointed.”
After a moment, Olka dropped her gaze to the table and spoke.
“I was trying to understand, but then Frixl said they could find what I’m after, and it pissed me off.”
“Frixl…”
“They said what I want is in a place you overlooked.”
“A place I overlooked?”
“The mistress of the Ice Garden.”
“You mean Priscilla has a way to connect to lower dimensions?”
“I wouldn’t know, but Frixl claims she does.”
“Haah.”
Olka let out a short sigh and clamped her mouth shut at Geon-woo’s words.
Olka had negotiated with Croesus’s influencers on Geon-woo’s behalf.
They’d compensated for the Theopoly Academy’s attack on Croesus, haggling over Geon-woo’s share of the payout.
She’d volunteered for the job herself.
Geon-woo had told her to prioritize building friendly ties with the influencers over raw gains, and she’d negotiated accordingly.
But in a few cases, she’d deviated from his policy—like her dealings with the Ice Garden’s mistress.
*Of all people, Priscilla.*
Olka had personal ambitions with Priscilla and had sacrificed their friendly relations to pursue them.
“Would you try once if I gave you the chance?”
Geon-woo asked, looking at Olka.
“Why say that?”
“Figured it’s polite to ask you first. We’ve built up some goodwill.”
“Hohoho. Or are you just teasing me?”
“So even if I offered, you’d say it’s impossible. My proposal sounds like a joke to you.”
Geon-woo sighed lowly.
He’d intuited that Olka had botched things with Priscilla.
“If you really mean to give me a chance, I’ll have to apologize again. I don’t have the standing to face Priscilla anymore. I’ve played all my cards.”
“Sounds like your relationship soured.”
He’d asked for friendly ties, and she’d made it worse.
It was only natural for Geon-woo to feel irked.
“Not good or bad—just no relationship at all. Yeah, exactly that line.”
“Isn’t that salvageable? You could reach out again.”
“You could, Geon-woo. Not me. Your line with Priscilla is that far, but mine with her is worse.”
“I get it.”
He understood now: Olka had ruffled Priscilla’s feathers chasing her own gains.
At least she hadn’t crossed the line into bad blood with him.
“What did Frixl say?”
Olka asked Geon-woo with an uneasy look.
“They offered to help.”
Geon-woo gave a curt reply to her question.
“Not a deal—just one-sided help?”
Olka eyed him suspiciously, probing for hidden motives.
“Frixl’s offering a little assistance, nothing major.”
“Is that so? But it’ll still change things big-time between you and me. That’s what Frixl’s after.”
“Pretty much.”
“Ah, so Frixl’s already succeeded.”
Olka realized the very conversation with Geon-woo was benefiting Frixl.
A distance had already crept in between her and him that hadn’t been there before.
“Nothing’s changing right this second. Take it easy and find a solution.”
Before parting with the downcast Olka, Geon-woo offered those consoling words.
* * *
“You’ve made quite the trek.”
“I didn’t expect sending a proxy would backfire. I never imagined that’d happen.”
“Everyone has their circumstances—it’s hard to account for them all. I understand.”
“Thank you. For making time like this.”
Geon-woo sat face-to-face with Priscilla, mistress of the Ice Garden.
Surprisingly, she’d readily accepted his visit request—thanks to Frixl’s introduction, it turned out.
“So, I hear you want something from me?”
“Yes. I’ve heard you receive tribute from lower dimensions.”
“That’s right. It’s not widely known, but true. Frixl mentioned your clinic is trying to connect to a lower dimension too?”
“I’d like to bring some people from my homeworld.”
“Coming here from a lower dimension is relatively easier than going there. Relatively speaking, of course.”
“Could you offer some advice?”
Geon-woo didn’t stand on pride before Priscilla.
If he could get help, why not?
“Sorry, but one-sided help is off the table.”
“Then a deal’s possible. There’s a reason you agreed to meet, after all.”
“Sharp, aren’t you? Good at reading the board.”
“So, let’s hear it. What do you need?”
Geon-woo straightened up, leaning back against the sofa, facing Priscilla squarely.
The posture of someone begging but negotiating boldly.
“There used to be a family called Henris long ago.”
To Geon-woo like that, Priscilla unexpectedly named the Henris family.
“What catches your interest? [Growth]? Or dominion rights?”
Geon-woo laid out two options before her.
“What do you think? Can’t that sharp mind of yours guess?”
“If you knew why I’m opening a dimensional passage to bring people from home…”
“Hohoho. I couldn’t put dominion rights on the scale. Correct. What I want is [Growth].”
“Be specific?”
“I’d like you to maintain continuous [Growth] in my garden.”
“Continuous… Until when? You know forever’s impossible.”
“No, it might actually be possible forever. You could grow the herbs your clinic needs in my garden.”
“Herbs?”
“Or anything else—my garden can cultivate it. Even magical beasts or monsters. Ah, with [Growth], the yield would skyrocket.”
“Intriguing. A very interesting proposal. If we balance the distribution right, it could be a win-win with no hard feelings.”
Geon-woo thought Priscilla’s offer wasn’t bad.
There could be issues down the line, but connecting Earth via dimensional passage would be upfront payment anyway.