Rebuilding the Merchant Guild (1)
Beneath the temple's solemn hush, Lena retrieved the dagger she'd plunged into Kael. She murmured softly,
"It's all done."
Two figures then emerged from within the temple: the orphanage director, the Eight Elder. Trailing behind was the teacher, Lucy.
The Eight Elder adjusted his glasses as he gazed at Kael's corpse.
"Neatly done."
"Thank you."
Lena bowed her head at the elder's praise, though it didn't lift her spirits. She knew full well that a Black Raven elder wouldn't stir from his seat just to compliment her. If it were genuine praise, he'd have sent Lucy instead.
As Lena suspected, the Eight Elder's true intent lay elsewhere.
"So, what of the Phantom?"
The elder cut straight to the chase. What intrigued him wasn't whether Lena had handled her task well—it was the Phantom's existence. The Phantoms were the leader's direct secret guard, their information shrouded in mystery. Even the council of elders and the high committee knew little of them.
Yet a few days prior, a young noble named Ethan had visited the count's estate. Piecing together recent events, the Eight Elder was convinced Ethan was a Phantom operative. At Ethan's request, he'd dispatched Lena and Ray.
And sure enough, Lena and Ray had been thrown straight into the field.
"Yes, Elder. I'm sorry, but we learned nothing about young master Ethan. He hides himself thoroughly. Without your guidance, I would have taken him for just an ordinary young lord."
Lena reported everything she'd observed without omission. In truth, the Ethan she'd seen seemed utterly ordinary—no detectable power, no direct orders given.
She could only guess from his words and actions. Lena recalled what Ethan had said.
—It'll be tough at first. But if you keep up, I won't leave you wanting. Give it your all.
Those were his words when they first met. On the surface, mere encouragement—but Lena understood the subtext.
'Expect tough missions. Prove your worth to the Phantom.'
Above all, it was Ethan's single remark that had set this mission in motion.
—That just rubs me the wrong way.
After Priest Kael's examination, Ethan had said that, frowning deeply. That night, Lena and Ray had slipped out of the manor and headed to the temple. Their initial plan was merely surveillance, not assassination.
But Kael had crossed the line first, arbitrarily testing whether Ethan carried the Hartwell bloodline. And as the Eight Elder predicted, the result was clear.
"And we've confirmed young master Ethan has no Hartwell blood."
"The Phantoms indeed."
The Eight Elder nodded at Lena's report. She was a sharp girl, yet even she had been fooled by their acting. To the elder, the Phantoms were a fearsome bunch.
"No bloodline, no less. The Fire Tower must have pulled strings too."
The more he thought about it, the more impressive it seemed. Collapsing the magic stone mine to check the principality and empire, infiltrating the Hartwell count's family with Phantoms—it might herald the Black Raven's full-scale operations, starting with House Hartwell.
The Eight Elder turned to leave. If this was the leader's will, the council would move gladly.
As he departed the temple, Lena called out.
"What about the body?"
The Kael she'd killed was a priest. If word spread that a priest had been murdered inside a holy temple, all eyes would turn to Hartwell territory.
The elder paused, then replied.
"Leave it as is. The Holy Kingdom won't stir."
Lena flinched at his chilling smile.
Priest Kael's death turned Hartwell territory upside down, just as expected. Benedict Hartwell, the family head, bellowed at his retainers.
"What in the world is this! A tragedy in our territory—in a sacred temple, no less!"
The count bit his clenched lip. A priest murdered within the domain, inside the temple itself. This was grave. House Hartwell risked being branded heretics.
If the Holy Kingdom dispatched inquisitors, it would be a nightmare.
"Hmmm…."
His worries deepened. Inquisitors, called the Holy Kingdom's blades, held immense authority. Their arrival would unleash a purge of blood. Even as domain lord, he couldn't halt them—defying them might lead to his own execution.
Before Holy Kingdom inquisitors, even a count shrank.
"Edgar."
"Yes, my lord."
The count quietly summoned his head butler. Sitting idle endangered House Hartwell.
"Prepare letters to His Imperial Majesty and Grand Duke Hailstone."
He needed to inform the Arcadia Empire's emperor and the Hailstone Principality's grand duke, proclaiming innocence. They couldn't ignore it. If inquisitors found nothing here, they'd move to neighboring territories.
Benedict plotted his survival amid these preparations. But a letter soon arrived at the manor, rendering his efforts futile.
"M-my lord!"
Head butler Edgar rushed in, voice frantic. The count sighed.
"The Holy Kingdom…!"
He didn't need to hear it. Surely, inquisitors were being dispatched.
The Holy Kingdom wouldn't stand by for a priest's murder. Resigned, he awaited the rest.
"They've entrusted the investigation entirely to House Hartwell!"
"What?"
Stunned by Edgar's unexpected words, the count blurted,
"Is that true?"
The Holy Kingdom was officially stepping back—not fully disengaging, but trusting Hartwell's investigation completely. Relief washed over him. No inquisitors meant surmounting the crisis.
Excited, he ordered Edgar,
"Mobilize every knight in the manor at once! We must uncover the culprit behind this, come what may!"
While the count beamed, Lady Lavender was dying inside.
"This… this can't be!"
Pale-faced in her room, she trembled. Priest Kael's death wasn't directly her doing, but she'd committed a grave error: bribing him heavily for illicit deeds.
This is bad!
Her hands shook. What if her secret payments and summoning him to the manor came to light? Then one figure flashed in her mind: Ethan.
Could he be involved in Kael's death?
No way….
She dismissed it. If Ethan had the skill to kill a priest, he'd have seized the count's seat long ago. Gritting her teeth, Lavender prayed it would all blow over.
"Hah… tsk."
I clicked my tongue at the absurd news.
"A priest goes out like that."
It was about Priest Kael's death. A devotee had found his body.
Priests shouldn't speak carelessly, huh.
Rumors said his body was riddled with stab wounds—deep grudges, stabbed repeatedly. Of course, it had nothing to do with me.
So I lounged, sipping juice leisurely.
Not entirely unrelated, though.
A priest's death would likely draw the Holy Kingdom. Inquisitors were probable, but even that didn't concern me. If they came, I'd just order Black Raven.
Cross that bridge when it comes.
I handed my empty glass to Lena.
"One more, please."
"Right away, young master."
Lena was always impeccably polite. Sometimes overwhelming, but her loyalty warmed me.
"Thanks. The juice tastes extra good today."
Thanking her, I sank back into thought. The priest's death took a backseat to another matter: my second brother Bastel Hartwell's Golden Wing Merchant Guild.
It had nearly been wiped out by bandits recently. Fortunately, they'd recovered the stolen goods and were preparing reconstruction.
But I frowned.
"Daring to hit the Golden Wing Merchant Guild."
I'd planned to elevate House Hartwell via Bastel's business. Yet it crumbled prematurely. Someone thwarting my plans irked me.
Water under the bridge, though. No point dwelling—reviving it now wouldn't happen by complaints.
Moreover, this incident bolstered Bastel's position, benefiting me too.
Time to rebuild the guild fast.
Reconstruction needed Bastel's cooperation. Aid without it was useless.
And snag some shares while at it.
That was my aim: claim guild equity to expand influence.
Direct ownership would alert Bastel and the countess, prompting resistance.
Can't have that.
No need for fratricidal strife when unity was key. I'd hide my involvement, using a proxy.
And I had the perfect candidate.
Bella.
I smirked, picturing her. Fire Tower affiliate, master's direct disciple. Knowing me as Phantom, she'd obey.
Plus, a mage. Leverage her status to gradually swallow Bastel's guild—easy.
Build my own faction in the guild and family simultaneously….
Not bad.
A smile crept across my face. But I couldn't meet Bella myself.
I turned to Lena beside me.
"Lena, could you fetch Emilia?"
A bit early, but time to put Emilia to work.