Chapter 621: Jadewell and BattleBane
CH621 Jadewell and BattleBane
***
"For a merchant company’s private quarters... there are quite a lot of trained individuals moving about."
Alex commented as the carriage rolled into the estate belonging to the Jadewell Merchant Company.
Udara responded calmly,
"The estate isn’t solely used by the Jadewell Merchant Company."
"In fact, even with their financial power, they wouldn’t be able to secure such a large property on their own."
"This estate actually belongs to the BattleBane Guild."
As she spoke, Udara gave a concise rundown of the intelligence gathered by her scout team.
The Jadewell Merchant Company was a mid-sized operation within the Hollowcrest Wildlands, with its primary base in BloodIron City.
Their specialty lay in acquiring goods —particularly alchemical products— flowing through the Wildlands, then distributing them across the continent.
Most notably, toward the Celahan Empire.
Interestingly, much like Eleanore’s shop, Jadewell maintained a close affiliation with a larger mercenary organisation within BloodIron—
The BattleBane Guild.
While not one of the absolute dominant powers in the city, the BattleBane Guild was far from insignificant.
It held a considerable voice within the Mercenary Union—
One of the most influential forces not just in BloodIron, but across the Hollowcrest Wildlands and Verdantis as a whole.
In truth, the Guild’s direct authority was concentrated within BloodIron’s local branch of the Union.
However, due to its importance in the larger association, the branch’s influence extended outward— thus granting BattleBane a level of reach that exceeded its apparent standing.
As a result, the Guild was widely respected.
And as one of its affiliates, the Jadewell Merchant Company benefited from both its protection... and its implicit deterrence.
Udara continued,
"Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to confirm the exact nature of the relationship between the two groups."
"All we know is that Lady Rosa Mercier has familial ties to the leader of the BattleBane Guild. But whether they are spouses, siblings, or distant relatives remains unclear."
Alex raised a brow.
"Why is that?"
"The Guild’s leader is something of an enigma," Udara replied. "No one outside the BattleBane Guild knows their true identity.
"That makes it difficult to verify her exact connection."
Alex considered this briefly.
"What if she’s the one actually in charge?"
Udara shook her head.
"Unlikely."
"While she clearly holds influence, the behaviour of the Guild members during our surveillance suggests otherwise."
Alex nodded slowly.
"Understood."
He glanced ahead as the carriage continued deeper into the estate.
"Well, if things go well, we’ll find out soon enough."
Alex glanced out the window as the carriage came to a halt before the villa entrance.
Baron Luth Belloc’s letter had laid out a path toward his goal. And the first checkpoint on that path was the BattleBane Guild.
However, approaching them directly was neither practical nor wise.
So instead, he chose to begin with the Jadewell merchant company.
’One step at a time,’ Alex reminded himself.
He stepped out first, then helped Eleanore and Udara down from the carriage.
Afterwards, he and Udara naturally fell in step behind Eleanore as the villa’s butler came forward to receive them.
Their positioning made it clear that Eleanore was the lead of their delegation.
"Lady Rosa has prepared to receive you over tea and pastries in the garden," the butler informed them after the exchange of greetings.
"This way, please."
As they began to move, Alex subtly signalled for the guards to remain behind with the carriage.
Only he and Udara would accompany Eleanore inside.
The butler gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod.
Alex’s move was a small gesture— but a meaningful one.
In a place like the Wildlands, such restraint could be interpreted as a sign of trust...
Or confidence.
Even within BloodIron City, where the major powers enforced a semblance of order, danger had not disappeared.
It had merely been pushed into the shadows.
A faint smile tugged at Alex’s lips as they walked through the villa corridors.
Whether intentional or not, the route they were led through offered a clear view of BattleBane Guild members training in an open courtyard.
For most, it would have been an intimidating display.
For Alex, it only stirred within him a sense of nostalgia.
It reminded him of Ashen Castle— of the day he transmigrated into this world, and he had been brought to the castle by his chief maid for the first time.
’How long has it been... five, six years?’ he mused. ’I’ve come a long way.’
Back then, watching a Fury knight cleave a training dummy from a distance had filled him with awe...
And a touch of fear for this new world he found himself.
Now, such displays barely registered with him. They had become too ordinary and familiar.
A part of him even itched to step into the yard to test himself.
’They look strong enough...’ Alex mused. ’Maybe they’d finally let me use that new power I couldn’t fully test back then...’
’The berserk humans fell too quickly... and I ran out of mana before I could push it further.’
A trace of battle intent leaked from Alex.
Then, he shook his head.
’No... not now.’
’We’re here to build connections— not embarrass their forces.’
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
What he didn’t realise was that his fleeting battle lust had not gone unnoticed.
The moment it surfaced, his newly formed All-Weapon Intent subtly resonated outward.
Below, the weapons in the hands of the BattleBane trainees trembled for a brief instant.
The warriors frowned, glancing down at their weapons.
For a moment, they wondered if it had been their imagination, but the identical reactions across the group told a different story.
Silently, their gazes turned toward the strongest among them.
The man stood still, eyes fixed on the distant corridor— The very path Alex had just taken.
Without a word to his men, he moved towards it.
—
Unaware of what had transpired, the butler continued his duty and led Alex and his wives into the garden pavilion.
The garden was breathtaking.
A vibrant array of flowers filled the space, each one more refined than the last.
Unlike the flora at their own mansion, these were closer to pseudo-alchemical plants— rare and difficult to cultivate.
Nearly impossible to sustain in a place like the Hollowcrest Wildlands.
’No wonder she chose the garden,’ Alex thought.
A glance passed between him and his wives.
They understood immediately.
This was a subtle flaunt (flex).
Maintaining such a garden required immense resources and expertise.
And combined with the earlier display of trained personnel, it was a clear message of power, wealth and influence.
’A demonstration of strength... and prosperity,’ Alex mused. ’At least she’s subtle about it. I’ll give her that.’
The butler quietly spoke with a group of maids.
Moments later, two additional seats were brought forward, placed beside Eleanore’s.
Just as they were about to sit, a heavy somewhat oppressive presence approached.
A middle-aged man strode into the pavilion, his aura was sharp with restrained battle intent.
He ignored the butler, and everyone else as his eyes locked onto Alex.
Then, suddenly he asked,
"Would you like to spar?"
***