Chapter 400
Episode 400 – Countermeasures (3)
“Black Market?”
Italus, once known as the Iron-Blooded Merchant, couldn’t hide his surprise at Arthur’s reply.
“You’re saying you’ll hand over Aintrier to the Black Market?”
“Yes, that’s my intention.”
“…Why? They’re nothing like us.”
“What do you mean?”
“They operate in the shadows, dealing in secrecy. Who knows what kind of schemes they’re plotting?”
“I don’t trust them either. I’m simply using their greed.”
“Using their greed, huh…”
At Arthur’s answer, Italus stifled a groan as something similar came to mind.
The plan to abolish trade taxes and utilize merchants to gather outside information—That too had been a strategy to exploit merchant greed.
He had found that idea shocking and bold at the time,
but this time it was the Black Market.
How will the Black Market react to Arthur’s offer?
They’ll accept, no doubt.
An irresistible bait—If even the seasoned merchant lords had moved according to Arthur’s intent, the Black Market would be no different.
Truly terrifying…Even Italus, an expert at managing people, felt small standing before Arthur.
He let out a sigh of relief, thankful they were on the same side.
“What about the executives? How are they moving?”
“Executives?”
“I mean the Black Market’s leadership.”
“Oh, right…”
Italus recalled a report he’d received recently.
He had already been paying attention to the conspicuous movements of their key members.
The grand mansion built by the former Lord, Azonne, to host VIPs—Black Market executives had been visiting that mansion frequently, appearing to establish their base there.
When he shared this with Arthur, the latter nodded lightly.
“They must be feeling uneasy.”
The Black Market operated as a cell network. And with their leader, the Master, out of contact, the rest were likely sensing something was off.
This is the perfect time to strike…
Now was the best moment to shake their resolve. But they weren’t ready on their side yet, so Arthur clicked his tongue in frustration.
“Any word from Fenry?”
“She sent someone yesterday, asking for reinforcements. Said she’s short-handed.”
“Reinforcements? So that’s where the ghosts went?”
“Yes. Since Lord Lochter woke up in time, we were able to dispatch the ghosts to assist her.”
“A request for reinforcements rather than a wrap-up…”
Despite sending Fenry, Karl, and Natasha, the Black Market operation was progressing slower than expected.
If even the ghosts had to move, it meant the Black Market’s hidden warehouses were either far larger than they’d anticipated, or their search area was significantly broader.
At this point, all they could do was wait for Fenry’s report.
“I hope we’re not too late…”
The festival couldn’t be postponed. They had to complete their cleanup within the next two weeks.
While Arthur pored over a map, deep in thought, Italus cautiously asked,
“Um…”
“Go ahead.”
“Why the Black Market, specifically? For Aintrier, I mean.”
“Hm. First, for safety. Second, for information.”
“Safety…?”
Italus looked puzzled.
Information he could understand, but the Black Market didn’t have the military power to guarantee the safety of a major city.
Arthur looked away from the map, met Italus’ gaze, and explained slowly.
“I’m not talking about the safety of Aintrier.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the safety of the Alliance. More precisely, the safety of the World Tree. Aintrier will serve as a safeguard.”
“A safeguard… Don’t tell me you’re planning to abandon Aintrier?”
He was suggesting using Aintrier as a shield for the World Tree, so it wasn’t strange to interpret it that way.
Abandon it…?
In the worst-case scenario, that could happen. But the idea was to prevent such an outcome.
“That’s why the City of Vagabonds is important. The stronger that city becomes, the safer Aintrier will be.”
The two cities were connected by the Kenline River
and a rapid transport route known as the Ship Gridment.
That was why they were gathering both the World Tree’s army and Tobaron’s forces there—to rapidly deploy powerful reinforcements anywhere as needed.
To make that work, unity was essential.
Realizing the true meaning of the festival, Italus let out a dry laugh.
While he had been focused on his own potential profits,
Arthur had been seeing the bigger picture.
A massive event to unite various races and territories. It was all to strengthen the Alliance’s bonds.
As a merchant, his instincts told him: Soon, a bloodstorm would sweep through Hell Grime.
“This festival is… extremely important, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Critically so.”
Now was the time to stand beneath a strong tree when it rains.
Italus bowed deeply toward Arthur.
—
After meeting Italus, Arthur returned to his quarters, where Samuel was already waiting.
Sitting on the sofa, sipping tea served by a maid, Samuel clicked his tongue as he looked up at Arthur.
“Busy from the crack of dawn, huh. Don’t you ever sleep?”
“Well, I’m used to this lifestyle by now.”
“I couldn’t live like that.”
“You’ll be living like me soon, Sir Samuel.”
“…What?”
“Come on. The carriage is ready outside.”
Arthur took Samuel to a warehouse tucked in a corner of the castle.
“Presenting!”
Spotting Arthur from afar, soldiers saluted and quickly opened the warehouse doors.
Inside was a lavish eight-horse carriage—clearly one used by a lord.
Before approaching the carriage, Arthur stopped and turned to Samuel.
“This belonged to Azonne. It’s fully enchanted and more comfortable than most inns.”
“And I assume it’s only going as far as the Prime Root border.
Let’s hear the plan. What are you planning to do by opening a portal near Reruze?”
“Hit and run.”
“I thought we had a ceasefire with Prime Root?”
“There won’t be a war.”
“You’re launching a raid, but it’s not war…? That’s hard to follow.”
“The operation is a diversion. The goal is to tie them down near Reruze while the festival unfolds. Nothing more. Don’t overthink it.”
“…Hmph. What about the other portal entrance?”
“My room would be best.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going alone?”
“If the Sword Demon detects me, the mission will fail.
Only you and I will be moving on this operation.”
“Just the two of us? Then it must be pretty important.”
“Exactly.”
Samuel gave a dramatic nod, raised two fingers, and continued.
“Let’s call the down payment 2 million gold.”
“I thought you didn’t care about money?”
“You think my life’s only worth 2 million gold? This is a sacrifice, my friend.”
“Doesn’t look like a sacrifice at all…”
“So, you’re not paying?”
Samuel twirled his mustache as he stared Arthur down—
clearly unwilling to move until he got paid.
Arthur shook his head and handed over a prepared promissory note. A document guaranteeing 2 million gold.
“You’re always prepared. I like that.”
“I figured you’d try to haggle.”
Samuel snatched the note and read it with a satisfied smile.
Next to the carriage stood a coachman and several attendants.
Glancing at them, Samuel let out a sarcastic chuckle.
“Don’t tell me this is payback for raising the price?”
“These are the castle’s top-rated attendants. Is something wrong?”
“They’re all men!”
“What’s wrong with that? Were you planning to misbehave if they were women?”
Arthur glanced at the male attendants.
“Do your best to help Sir Samuel recover.”
“W-We’ll do our best!”
Feeling the weight of Samuel’s mood, the attendants bowed deeply, watching him carefully.
Once inside the carriage, Samuel locked the window—
clearly sulking about not getting any female attendants.
Arthur chuckled and said through the window,
“If this mission succeeds, I’ll introduce you to some elves at the festival.”
“Blue Rose women, famous even in Beneta…”
Click—!
The window suddenly flew open.
“You’d better not forget that promise, Arthur.”
“Two weeks, Samuel.”
“Two weeks. I’ll be waiting.”
Their eyes met. Then the splendid carriage rolled out of the warehouse and left the castle.
Watching it disappear into the distance, Arthur let out a quiet sigh.
Good. Preparations for Prime Root should be done before the festival begins.
—
After the meeting with Italus and sending Samuel off, it was already well past noon.
On his way back to his quarters, Arthur spotted Lochter training in the practice yard.
He was performing a peculiar exercise—swinging his twin blades with his eyes covered. And yet, his sword trajectories were flawless.
Papapang! Papang—!
Lightning-fast slashes.
Seems like he’s half a beat faster now.
For a swordsman like Lochter, half a beat was enough to land two more killing blows.
Now that he had gained the new ability of Reyna and Belin—
the shared vision of the twin blades—his swordsmanship had undergone a dramatic evolution.
Within a 3-meter radius around him, where his twin blades could reach, was now his absolute domain.
It was as if he moved with knowledge of what would happen one second later.
If he fought Richard again now, he could likely overwhelm him.
Though he hadn’t reached 6-star, he had broken through another wall.
After watching Lochter’s training for a bit, Arthur returned to his room.
It seemed like another sleepless night lay ahead.
Woof!
As he entered, Keros greeted him. Arthur tossed a chunk of meat into his mouth.
With the meat clamped in his jaws, Keros sat under Lily’s bed and began eating.
His wagging tail suggested he was in a good mood.
“You got your butt kicked by the Sword Demon, huh?”
At those words, the wagging tail froze mid-sway.
“Time to get revenge. Eat up and get stronger.”
Woof!
Keros’ tail shot up like a lightning rod, and he resumed eating with renewed determination.
Arthur’s gaze lingered on the horns protruding from Keros’ head.
After awakening into his true form under Lily’s Moonlight,
Keros’ horns had grown thicker and larger.
Still not the complete True Form, huh…?
A three-headed hellhound.
If the right opportunity presented itself, Arthur hoped he might witness that completed form.
And he believed that trigger would come from his summoner—Lily.
“You really are a sleepyhead.”
Arthur pinched Lily’s cheek.
Despite that, she didn’t stir at all.
Having burned through all her spiritual and mental energy fighting the Sword Demon, she had completely succumbed to the Curse of Sloth.
It seemed like this state would last a while.
As Arthur looked out the window, the sun was slowly setting.
Long shadows stretched across the floor beneath the warm sunlight.
The sound of Keros chewing.
Lily’s soft snores.
For some reason, being here brought peace to his heart.
Leaning into the golden sunlight, Arthur closed his eyes for a moment.
He no longer needed sleep, thanks to the Heart of the Immortal, but he still felt mental fatigue.
After moving nonstop for so long, he let himself rest briefly.
“Are you asleep?”
“…?”
“Some people are running around until their feet blister,
and others are just lounging around in bliss.”
“Do elf feet even get blisters? I’ve never heard of that…”
“Shut up.”
Creaaak—!
The window swung wide open, and a refreshing breeze tousled Arthur’s hair.
But instead of facing the wind, Arthur turned behind him.
Standing in the shadow behind him—
“You’re late, Fenry.”
“Let’s start with a punch, shall we?”
There stood a mischievous dark elf, clenching her fist.