Chapter 23: Let’s Work Together (2)
Ultima, the head of the Ultima Trading Company, had earned the nickname “The Merchant of Fortune” for rapidly building a mid-sized company from aggressive investment strategies that many considered suicidal.
Rumors circulated around his sudden rise to prominence—some claimed he was a fallen noble from the Empire, others thought he was the reincarnation of Bluegon, the legendary merchant. But those in the know were aware of the truth: Ultima was from Absinthe, the lawless city.
However, even that was a fabricated identity. In reality, Ultima was from Liqueur, a place from which no one was believed to be able to escape. But the answer to how he had managed to leave Liqueur was in a secret deal with the Godfather of Liqueur. Ultima left Liqueur through some mysterious contract and was pretending to be from Absinthe as he worked as a merchant.
“W-woah, am I still drunk from the drinks I had last night?”
Slap!
Ultima wasn’t someone who lost his cool easily, even staying calm when he dealt with a marquis. But now, he was slapping his own cheek in disbelief.
To Ultima, Keter was a dreadful existence; he never wished to see Keter, even in his nightmares. Yet Keter—a presence more terrifying than the worst of nightmares—was walking straight toward him.
“Number Seventy-Eight. No, you changed your name to Ultima, didn’t you? Why the sour face? Aren’t you happy to see me?”
Number Seventy-Eight was Ultima’s former name. Hearing that name, one he never thought he would hear again, made Ultima dizzy.
This wasn’t an illusion, and it certainly wasn’t fake. The Keter standing before him was real.
“K-Keter. You! You!”