Aiden, who had never once expressed opposition to Jun’s opinion, expressed his negative opinion for the first time.
The reason was simple. This incident would not end with just one or two lives lost.
Politics and power.
When he was still in the imperial palace, Aiden understood better than anyone how terrifying the force behind those two words could be.
So many people had met meaningless deaths within that power structure.
Though Jun didn’t fully know Aiden’s past, he too had witnessed the darkness hidden within people’s hearts.
And that was why he instantly grasped what Aiden feared.
“Senior… to be honest, I’m afraid.”
“…….”
Jun listened quietly to Aiden’s words.
An ordinary mercenary leader would have brushed off Aiden’s concern with a laugh.
Charisma was the most essential quality in a mercenary leader, and keeping up morale meant dispelling any hint of fear among the troops.
But that wasn’t Jun’s style.
“I’m… afraid. The Gillen Merchant Guild is massive, even I know that much. But to confront an organization as powerful as that… just how strong are they?”
“….…”
“If that’s the case, this isn’t something the three of us alone can handle.”
It wasn’t just that the enemy was powerful; it was the fear of losing any safe ground to stand on in Blackout, where schemes and betrayals ran rampant.
“I have no idea how they’ll respond. I can’t even begin to predict it. But one thing is certain; they’ll crush us before we even get a chance to resist.”
But perhaps if they let it lie quietly here.
Or if they sought help somewhere, they might be able to ensure their safety.
If they didn’t and recklessly confronted the enemy, a large dark shadow might one day fall over Jun.
And if that happened…
“I don’t want to see you walk down that path, Senior.”
He had seen the fate of those who dared to oppose the powerful.
They met such a miserable end that they might have wished for death instead.
Jun knew well that Aiden’s concerns were not excessive.
Their opponent was an organization that had dominated Blackout for decades, and its Tower Master was a formidable seventh-circle mage.
Compared to Jun and his mercenary group, the opponent loomed like an insurmountable mountain.
“Aiden.”
“Yes, Senior…”
“I understand the kind of fear you feel. In a way, you’re right to be cautious. Those without power always have to keep their heads down.”
Challenging the strong without power wasn’t courage; it was recklessness.
Cold as it sounded, that was reality.
“But sometimes, people get scared too soon, not even fully realizing their own strength as they face fear head-on.”
Many overlooked that fact. They turned away, even when they knew.
Because standing up at all took courage.
“Are you saying that we actually have the strength to beat them?”
“I don’t know if we can win for certain. But I do know we have a chance. And if we back down now…”
—We’d lose the momentum to move forward.
If they had the means to resist but didn’t use them, they’d keep doing the same in the future.
“To move forward, we need various conditions in place. We need the eyes to recognize the means of resisting our threats. And we need the courage to stand up against them.”
The Volkatornic Magic Tower? Of course, they were strong. Compared to Jun and his mercenaries, they were vast.
But just because they were large and powerful didn’t mean they would last forever.
“So from here on, I’ll show you my own way of doing things.”
***
Time was important, but they couldn’t afford to act hastily.
Everything needed to follow the right process.
Fortunately, Chloe had come to her senses quickly by the following day.
“Sorry. It’s an urgent situation, and I took too long to pull myself together.”
“I’m not so cold-hearted that I wouldn’t understand at least that much.”
“…Thank you.”
Chloe gave a somewhat bitter smile. Her wounds hadn’t fully healed.
Surely, they hadn’t even begun to scab over.
But something was driving her to act.
It was anger.
“The people who died this time were the ones who trusted me and followed me from the surface. I have a duty to take responsibility for them.”
“…….”
“So I’ll be the one to settle their revenge.”
“Do you have a plan in mind?”
“It’s probably similar to what you’re thinking.”
Even if Chloe was part of the Gillen Merchant Guild, its true power lay aboveground.
So, to settle this, the strength of the merchant guild alone wouldn’t be enough.
“Power.”
“Power.”
They both spoke at the same time.
The enemy held considerable power?
Then, on this side, they would have to wield even greater power.
***
The commander of Black Forest Fortress Ginovan was busy managing the aftermath of the unexpected attack.
“It’s truly a relief that both of you are safe.”
“Thank you again for last time, Commander Ginovan.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Jun and Chloe both expressed their gratitude for Ginovan’s hospitality.
Thanks to Ginovan’s considerable efforts in handling the recent situation, the two of them were able to move more freely.
“Chloe, I offer my condolences for the tragedy that has befallen you.”
“Thank you for your concern, Commander Ginovan.”
“They say rain only makes the ground harder. I hope such a day comes for you as well. But I assume we didn’t meet here just to exchange pleasantries. Do you have something to ask me?”
With both of them pressed for time, Ginovan got straight to the point.
After all, didn’t the Gillen Merchant Guild suffer a major blow?
Until recently, it might have been of little concern, but in the past few months, Chloe had been involved in various matters within Black Forest Fortress, both large and small.
As a result, the aftermath of this recent attack was significantly impacting the fortress as well.
“There is a way to resolve this, but the power of the Gillen Merchant Guild alone won’t be enough.”
“Hmm… as expected. After all, this is Blackout. However, some progress has already been made on that front.”
Naturally, Baron Dortagon who oversaw Black Forest Fortress was treating this incident as a serious matter.
This wasn’t just any small issue; it involved the Gillen Merchant Guild, which had connections to none other than Count Mordenain.
Following Baron Dortagon’s swift orders, various pieces of information had been gathered.
“Arobatty Merchant Guild. Aren’t they the main culprits behind this incident?”
It was widely known that the Arobatty Merchant Guild had been actively hindering the Gillen Merchant Guild in the potion industry.
The investigation revealed that the explosion had originated from items stored in the underground warehouse of the Gillen Merchant Guild’s branch building, which belonged to the Arobatty Merchant Guild.
“I’m preparing a report to send to Count Mordenain. I hear they’re already making arrangements to dispatch an investigator from their side as well.”
“…So it seems.”
Jun’s expression hardened as the situation unfolded as expected.
“Yes, so until the investigation results are out, keep things as secure as possible. The two of you may need to appear as witnesses.”
“…But Commander.”
“Hmm?”
“If it turns out that the Arobatty Merchant Guild isn’t actually responsible for this incident, what would you think then?”
“What?”
Ginovan frowned, though not out of anger at the possibility of a misstep.
The current situation wasn’t something to be emotional about.
Since it was also related to the Mordenain family, it was necessary to be cautious.
At that, Chloe spoke up.
“Commander, according to what my sponsor and I have uncovered… Arobatty is merely a decoy. The real culprit lies elsewhere.”
“…You two have uncovered something again, haven’t you?”
Had anyone else made such a claim, Ginovan would have dismissed it lightly.
But the mage and the merchant standing before him had a way of seeing what others couldn’t.
“Tell me what you know. And what you’re planning.”
Ginovan too hoped for the current situation to be resolved.
After all, he had owed these two in various ways.
“First, please contact Count Mordenain.”
***
Count Albert Mordenain massaged his throbbing forehead.
“The Gillen Merchant Guild branch of the Black Forest was half-destroyed…”
He was the one who ruled the spatially separated Blackout in the name of the imperial family.
And so, he had to devote a portion of his life to the advancement of Blackout, but given the current state, that was no simple task.
Blackout has stagnated.
At some point, the factions within Blackout had stopped competing with one another.
In fact, signs of this stagnation had been emerging for decades.
Yet the reason previous administrators had hesitated to interfere with Blackout’s affairs was that the consequences of disrupting the current order were far too unpredictable.
They must have been afraid. Just like I am now.
But the difference between them and the count was that he had been presented with a small opportunity.
The Gillen Merchant Guild, the abandoned prince Aiden, and the appearance of Jun, who linked the two together.
His Majesty must have desired this outcome as well.
The forsaken crown prince had appeared in Blackout. A man who should have remained exiled had boldly set foot in Blackout of his own accord.
There’s no way His Majesty allowed this simply because of blood ties.
The count, who accepted it like that, decided to lend support to the Gillen Merchant Guild, which had a connection to Aiden.
If a new powerhouse like the Gillen Merchant Guild made an appearance in Blackout, the existing factions would likely start to feel a sense of crisis again.
Perhaps, then, this could introduce a small change to the stagnated situation.
This was the true purpose of the current auction.
He wanted the competitors of the Gillen Merchant Guild to stop feeling satisfied with their positions and strive to conquer this vast Blackout.
But who would have thought this would happen.
Yet from the very start, the plan had twisted. The Gillen Merchant Guild which should have been central to the plan had collapsed.
Did I rely too much on my own reputation?
Impossible.
On his shoulders rested the honor of the imperial family, so he could never allow himself to lower his standards.
“So then, how should I resolve this matter….”
A letter had already arrived from the Arobatty Merchant Guild.
It was a lengthy letter insisting they had absolutely no involvement in the recent incident and were deeply aggrieved by the accusation.
The count also planned to start a separate investigation into this.
“Let me get straight to the point. The culprit behind this incident is not the Arobatty Merchant Guild.”
Were it not for the request of a certain brazen mage.
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