Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Episode 009 (1)
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Monglashe region.
As explained before, the Monglashe region was renowned for its steep mountains, cool climate, and calcareous soil that saw little rain.
That was why it was also famous for producing high-quality fruit wines—especially exceptional white wines.
How renowned? The moment words like "white wine" and "Monglashe" came up, names like Olivier Leflaire and Alex Gambal lined up in the boy's mind—famous winemakers from the region.
Because of this, Monglashe Village was a place the Jordic Family paid some attention to, even within their own territory.
However—
'The problem is the small-scale village producers and the negociants who roam between those villages...
Negociant.
In the vicinity of large cities, it was relatively easy to receive protection from guards or local militias maintaining public order.
But extending that reach to remote mountain villages was no simple task.
And the small-time negociants who traveled to those villages to buy and sell wine? No need to explain further.
Unless they hired escorts or traveled in massive merchant caravans, they had no real defense against bandits.
Moreover, there was a specific reason why bandits kept popping up in the Monglashe region from time to time.
'The terrain is so rugged and steep that bandits emerge periodically, like clockwork.'
Monglashe had long been infamous for bandit raids, thanks to its unique mountains and geography.
'And that's not all.'
Lately, even after repeated subjugation efforts, the bandits were reappearing more frequently.
It was definitely suspicious.
No matter how remote, this level of bandit activity within Jordic territory felt off.
As Kuhn finished explaining, one of the boys trailing behind him—Taylor Rosetta—frowned and spoke up.
"Are you saying... there might be someone backing the bandits?"
A fitting question from someone of a merchant family's bloodline—sharp as ever.
Kuhn nodded lightly at Taylor's query.
"I can't say for sure... but we should proceed with that possibility in mind."
Glancing back, he saw about thirty trainees huddled under thick cloaks like body wraps, following him.
Each boy had a small badge pinned inside their cloaks, symbolizing their affiliation with the Jordics.
It depicted a roaring lion's head with a long sword crossed vertically above it.
'Depending on the mission, we might wear the family uniform...'
This mission required stealth, so they'd simplified it to just the badges instead of full uniforms.
Once they arrived, shed the cloaks, and hid the badges, no one would suspect they were the Jordic-affiliated provisional knight order, the Lion Vanguard.
Eying them, Kuhn thought to himself.
'At least they're following orders well. Small mercies.'
Captain. Or rather, Vanguard Leader.
He'd half-expected it.
Such positions usually went to the top-performing trainees.
But...
What surprised Kuhn was how effortlessly he'd been appointed—no tests, no procedures.
'No proving ground, just handed down by the senior instructors' decision.'
Good thing he'd steadily built his reputation in Lion’s Den.
Otherwise, a mutiny mid-mission wasn't out of the question.
Of course, he couldn't relax yet.
'It's provisional, after all. Plenty of room for rebellion.'
Perhaps—
The senior instructors, or those above them, had even anticipated that scenario when assigning this mission.
As Kuhn pondered the behind-the-scenes of the task, some of the trainees behind him stared at his back with wide, moonstruck eyes—clearly stunned.
'They got the same briefing as us...'
'And from just that, he deduced there might be backers behind the bandits?'
Taylor Rosetta aside, Lua Silver gazed at the thoughtful Kuhn and clenched her fist.
'He's incredible.'
Memories of dismissing him based on his background had long been wiped clean.
The more she watched, the more impressed she was.
It seemed like a lightning-fast change in attitude at first glance, but it couldn't be helped.
Of course, denying admiration for a superior swordsman as a fellow blade-user would be a lie.
Pa-ba-ba-bat—
A few days after the Lion Vanguard trainees set out following Kuhn toward the operational area.
Finally, far in the distance, massive walls came into view.
Yellowish walls, characteristic of the hue.
It was the walls of Sashanyu City, one of Monglashe's major urban centers.
They were finally visible.
.
.
Before entering Sashanyu City, Kuhn inspected the Lion Vanguard members once more.
More precisely, he checked their assignments.
"Once we're inside the city, split into groups and scatter to gather intel."
Sashanyu was one of Monglashe's top three megacities. With all its bustle, they could pick up some bandit info just by mingling.
'Of course, pinning down their routes or hideouts won't be easy—they're ghosts in those mountains.'
With that in mind, Kuhn addressed Taylor Rosetta and the Silver siblings.
"Taylor Rosetta. Take a third of the group and check out the merchant caravans touring the Monglashe region. The intel you need is..."
Taylor responded swiftly.
"Routes big caravans avoid, or villages off the beaten path that still produce top-quality wine, right, boss?"
"Good."
Kuhn nodded and continued.
"Lui Silver, Lua Silver. You two each lead the rest and scout the small-time negociants staying here. Gauge their mood. Might get different intel from the caravans."
"Yes, sir!"
"Got it!"
Was it their first mission? The Silver siblings replied with fired-up voices.
Group One, Two, and Three.
Essentially, he'd divided the Lion Vanguard into three teams, with them as leaders.
"Alright, uh...?"
Lui paused mid-count on his fingers, realizing something odd, and asked Kuhn.
"Th-that means... what about you, Vanguard Leader?"
After assigning teams, Kuhn had no one left under him.
The boy still seemed awkward calling him "Vanguard Leader," even after acknowledging it. Kuhn chuckled softly.
"I've got my own task."
Mid-sentence, Kuhn turned his head.
Gazing at the tall clock tower poking above the yellowish walls toward the city's heart, he finished.
"Six hours from now, meet in front of it. Just the team leaders. We start moving after..."
"Each team books lodging for a day."
.
.
"Cleared!"
The guards' shout rang out from the gate.
Now inside the walls, Kuhn brushed off his clothes with the back of his hand.
His badge was already tucked away.
'So this is Sashanyu City.'
Entering the walls was straightforward.
It was a stealth mission, after all.
The provisional IDs from Lion’s Den were flawless, and they weren't here for anything illicit.
Behind him, blending into the influx of visitors, the Lion Vanguard members slipped through one by one.
'Now then...'
Leaving the gate area, Kuhn headed to a dim alley off the main avenue.
Step, step—
Just a short distance from the walls, and it already felt secluded.
Kuhn's eyes quickly scanned the alley.
Scribbled walls, shadowed nooks hidden from view.
Spots where beggars huddled.
His gaze searched intently, as if hunting for something.
Kuhn swept the alley with eyes that looked like he was searching for a clue.
His actions were practiced; his gaze flicked over the walls efficiently.
As he scanned, other thoughts surfaced in his mind.
Thoughts tied to his revenge.
...Captain!
...Captain, we found traces here—!!
Though he'd operated in the shadows, Kuhn had led a knight order.
Being on a mission stirred up old memories unbidden.
As bittersweet smiles crept in at those recollections,
Kuhn had already left the first alley, turning into a deeper one.
Step, step—
'Revenge.'
Unlike the strict oversight in Lion’s Den, he was free from the instructors' watchful eyes now.
Yet he had no reason to leave Jordic territory.
'It's useful enough.'
What he faced wasn't just Loberian Dun Bringer.
It was the Dun Bringer Family, dominating most of the south.
No family he could challenge at his current level.
In that light, his reborn identity wasn't bad.
'Even if I'm seen as a weakling exiled to Lion’s Den—'
Still, he was direct blood of the Jordic patriarch.
The Sword Emperor, Ernst Jordic.
Prove his worth, and support from the Jordics wasn't impossible.
'And perhaps...'
As Kuhn mulled his future plans,
Deeper in the alley,
A glint flashed in his eyes at some discovery.
'Found it.'