Chapter 66

Chapter 66

#66. Seeds from the North (1)

The massive, sprawling Main Wall that stretches across the Empire’s Eastern Wastelands is long and huge.

Naturally, it has some gaps here and there.

Even the alarm magics and barriers plastered all over the wall can’t cover every single tiny crack.

For mercenaries who never know what might happen next, these gaps are essential—especially when sneaking out war spoils or engaging in black market trades. If there isn’t one already, you gotta make one!

“What is this? Wasn’t this passage always this wide?”

“It’s almost wide enough for a carriage to squeeze through, boss.”

“Something feels off… How’re Hamel and Dane doing?”

“The bleeding’s barely stopped. But they’ll never be able to work as mercenaries again. Oh well.”

“Damn bastards! Looks like I’ll never work on the Main Wall again.”

“We should’ve killed those guys or chopped off their limbs, boss.”

“Crazy bastard, if we did that, we’d really get a bounty on our heads!”

Carpe gritted his teeth while checking on the two subordinates inside the carriage.

“Hamel, Dane, you alright? How does it feel to see your ancestors’ faces after so long?”

Inside the carriage were two Red Wolf mercenaries who had lost a leg and an arm respectively.

“Just leave us behind already…”

“Boss, it was fun while it lasted.”

“Shit.”

After confirming the pale faces of his subordinates, Carpe ordered the group to enter the gap.

“This feels sketchy, but let’s go in anyway. They’ll catch up soon from following our tracks.”

“Understood.”

Though it felt ominous, Carpe and his group of mercenaries decided to go through the gap since there was no other option.

“What the hell? Isn’t this gap too big? Was there an earthquake recently?”

“It feels way too deliberate for that…”

“Are there others using this passage for smuggling besides us? Damn rookies. They have no sense of moderation.”

“Still, lucky for us. We might be able to get through without unloading the carriage.”

She kept clicking her tongue as they entered the passage.

“The orcs are gonna freak when they find out about this. Tsk tsk tsk…”

“Should we report this to the Imperial Army?”

“Are you stupid? Besides, they’ll find out eventually by following our tracks anyway.”

Just as they were passing through the Main Wall via the gap…

“Hold it! There’s someone there!”

“You there! Who are you!”

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Carpe and the Red Wolves immediately drew their weapons, having sensed the presence of someone waiting for them.

‘This guy’s not ordinary!’

‘Is there an adventurer with this kind of skill?’

‘They must be the ones who widened the passage!’

There were five men dressed as adventurers, but it was obvious they weren’t normal adventurers just by looking at them.

“Mercenary King Carpe and the Red Wolves, right?”

Finally, the leader of the five men spoke.

“…You’re from the North?”

The thirty Red Wolves immediately figured out their identities from their accents, though their outfits and appearances were deliberately hiding their Northern origins.

“Yeah. We’ll be your guides.”

The High Knights of Frosthaven answered emotionlessly before leading the way.

“Just a sec, how did you know we’d be coming here?”

Carpe asked cautiously, not letting down his guard.

In response, the knight from Frosthaven pointed upwards.

Piiiiiiii—

A white Winter Hawk was soaring overhead.

* * *

Currently, it was extremely difficult for Imperials to operate freely in the North.

Unlike before, Imperial merchants and adventurers could no longer move freely throughout the entire Northern Region.

“Here’s proof that we’ve been paying taxes faithfully to the High City until now! So please escort us like before!”

“Impossible.”

“Why not!”

“There may be Imperial spies among your ranks. They’ve caused too many problems.”

“But we’re innocent! We have no connection to Imperial spies!”

“Regardless, you can only trade within Haven.”

“Fine! We’ll pay double the usual escort fee!”

“Still no.”

Only in Haven, the border between the North and the Empire, could Imperials move freely.

Imperial merchants would bring food, silk, clothing, and glassware to Haven, where Northern merchants would purchase these items and bring them into the North.

A situation unimaginable just a few years ago.

“The North’s porcelain! Is there more Northern porcelain?”

“For heaven’s sake! We’ll even pay extra, just bring more porcelain!”

“Not just the Empire, even the distant Kingdom Alliance is crazy about porcelain! The whole continent is obsessed!”

“The Rune Trading Company’s here! The Rune Trading Company’s here! Run!”

“Out of the way! We need to buy everything!”

However, at some point, the relationship flipped.

Now it was the Imperial merchants begging the Northern merchants.

They had to offer grain, silk, and clothing at rock-bottom prices just to obtain even a little porcelain.

In Haven, Northern merchants sold fur, magic stones, monster byproducts, Arad salt, and porcelain at high prices, while Imperial merchants resold these Northern specialties at exorbitant prices back in the Empire and the Kingdoms.

“So inconvenient! Too inconvenient!”

“We need more Arad salt and porcelain!”

“How do we get to the High City where porcelain is produced?”

But human greed knows no bounds.

Especially among merchants.

So Imperial merchants and adventurers wanted to return to the Northern Duchy, the capital of the North, and the High City like before.

But no one could enter.

“Our Northern lands have suffered too many incidents recently. We cannot trust Imperial merchants or adventurers anymore.”

“For this reason, we will no longer assist you in traveling beyond Haven into the North like before!”

Already infamous as a land of harsh cold, the North was even more barbaric than the Empire’s Eastern Wastelands.

No Imperial merchant dared to travel to the High City through the cold, monsters, and fierce Northern warriors with just a small group.

Some Sigma agents disguised as Imperial merchants and adventurers tried but none returned alive.

“What law is this?!”

“If there’s no such law, then why? And this is entirely justified. To you Empire bastards.”

“J-justified?! Are you speaking sensibly?!”

“Really? ‘People from outside the North are not allowed to gather in groups of twenty or more.’ Didn’t I hear that repeatedly when I studied in the Empire?”

“…”

“If you’re so confident, come into the North with just nineteen Imperial mercenary escorts? No safety guarantees.”

The official’s attitude openly suggested they would loot Imperial trading caravans.

The Imperials realized further discussion was pointless.

“Do you think the North will remain safe doing this?!”

“Oh~, when has it ever been safe?”

“Northern people won’t be able to operate freely in the Empire either!”

“They haven’t been able to properly operate for a long time, facing all kinds of discrimination, contempt, and persecution.”

“We’ll file a petition to the Imperial Court! Expel all Northerners from the Empire!”

“And try that. Then let’s see who suffers. If Northern mercenaries and adventurers leave the Empire for the Kingdom Alliance, who benefits?”

“…”

Back in the day, the North’s threats would have been met with derision.

Or perhaps joy that they didn’t have to deal with the cold and harsh Northern Duchy anymore.

But now, those threats felt annoying instead.

“What is the Imperial Court even doing?!”

“Eating away at taxes and bribes but can’t handle a single Northern barbarian tribe!?”

“With His Majesty dealing with external threats in the East and West, it would be truly troublesome to alienate the North further.”

“The current Regent Crown Prince seems rather inexperienced in many ways.”

“Shut up! He’s the future Emperor!”

“Damn…”

As the grievances and frustrations of Imperial merchants piled up…

“I’ll go myself!”

One man stepped forward to represent the Imperial merchants.

“Without any escorts or attendants! I’ll go alone to show our sincerity to the Northerners!”

That man was none other than Bishop Entaire, one of the Great Merchants of the Empire.

“Master, it’s dangerous!”

“There’s no reward without risk.”

“If anything happens to Master, what will we do?!”

“Well, my in-laws will be thrilled.”

“Wha…?”

Despite his employees’ pleas, Entaire headed north with a smirk.

Of course, he was actually half-napped by Valkyrie, but officially it was presented this way.

Two months and fifteen days passed.

The season shifted from early winter to late winter by Imperial standards.

Just as everyone assumed Entaire was dead…

The Bishop family of Havana was preparing his funeral and getting ready to devour the Bishop Trading Company…

“I, Bishop Entaire, have returned!”

The great merchant who walked alone deep into Northern territory had come back.

“From now on, we are no longer a trading company. We are a corporation!”

No one knew what he saw in the High City of the North.

“Just buy the large plot of land outside the city and start building structures. Start hiring staff! As long as the business keeps running smoothly, it’s fine. Preferably hire paupers or vagrants!”

But it was clear he had been greatly impacted.

As soon as Entaire returned to the Empire, he began making earth-shattering changes one after another.

What exactly did he see in the North, in the High City?

“Looking at the state of the company, your side of the family has been preparing quite thoroughly for some time. However, now that I’m back, the temporary management ends here.”

He quickly reorganized the Bishop Trading Company upon his return.

He stabilized the company that was about to be devoured and restructured it into the new Bishop Corporation system.

“Don’t want to? Not cooperating?”

During this process, some executives and branches influenced by the House of Havana showed signs of unrest.

“Then die.”

Using brilliant mercenaries and employees hired from unknown sources, Entaire easily dealt with the situation.

“Movement towards independence from the Southern Branch?”

For places too far away for Entaire’s reach, he didn’t resort to violence.

“Give them absolutely nothing—not a single piece of Northern porcelain or Mary’s Blessing. Same goes for Arad salt. Spread this message to other trading companies as well!”

Entaire had secured an almost monopolistic contract with Lenslet.

“Tell the Northern merchants in Haven not to sell goods to the companies on this list. They’ll understand—it’s an order from the High City.”

Essentially, the quantity and price of Northern porcelain, Mary’s Blessing, and Arad salt were now determined by him.

Entaire’s influence in the Empire became virtually absolute.

* * *

Solarsis, a major city in the Central-North region of the Empire.

The Central-North branch of Bishop Corporation, which might soon become the headquarters.

“Hehehehehe, hohohoohoohoo.”

Bishop Entaire clapped his hands joyfully as if he owned the entire world.

“That good, huh?”

An ambiguously gendered mercenary with brown hair and eyes looked at Entaire and asked.

“Of course! I’m incredibly happy right now. Seriously, I made the right choice not committing suicide. It’s been almost ten years since I last felt this kind of joy.”

“Right, for mercenaries like us, as long as our employer is happy, that’s all that matters.”

The somewhat androgynous mercenary chuckled.

‘Nevertheless, this is shocking. Elisha, I knew she liked men, but being involved with the Imperial Crown Prince…’

Carpe fiddled with the necklace maintaining his disguise while thinking.

Elisha von Havana, Viscountess.

Known as the Flame Swordswoman, a Swordmaster.

Someone Carpe, who operated in the South and West of the Empire for a long time, had a deep connection with.

Of course, it was purely a business relationship as befitting a mercenary, and they wouldn’t say they were particularly close personally.

Maybe they had a bit of rivalry?

“Hmph… Anyway, Mercenary King?”

“Shh! Don’t you know I’m being hunted by the Duke of Darkness!? Call me Phil!”

“Aaaah! Sorry! Phil.”

“What is it?”

“I heard you’re a swordsman on par with a Swordmaster… What level are your skills?”

“?!”

At this unexpected question from his employer, Carpe realized why he was asking.

“Don’t worry. That woman Elisha? I can definitely handle her. She’s way too rigid in combat.”

“R-really!”

“Yeah. Just because someone’s a Swordmaster doesn’t mean they’re all equally skilled.”

“What about the Duke of Darkness?”

“Impossible. When I first saw him at the Main Wall, I immediately understood. He’s not called the strongest of the Empire for nothing.”

“I see…”

“That’s why I’m hiding like this, right?”

Seeing Entaire’s mood swing from happiness to depression, Carpe continued.

“But don’t worry too much. Valkyrie… That old man’s on par with the Duke of Darkness. I could feel it when I met him in the High City last time.”

“OOOOH!”

“Besides, the Duke of Darkness is busy. He can’t leave the Main Wall just to kill some merchant. Especially when someone of that caliber moves, it’s hard to miss.”

“Thank goodness. Truly thank goodness.”

Entaire sighed deeply with genuine relief.

“Hmm! We’ll be moving to the outskirts of the city soon. Mercenary Phil, get ready.”

“Alright. Dane, Hamel!”

Knowing Entaire’s next schedule, Carpe called out to other Red Wolves.

“Hey Boss! We’re ready!”

Two mercenaries with different-colored prosthetic arms and legs responded immediately.

They had lost their limbs at the Main Wall but regained functionality through procedures in the High City.

“Let’s head to the First Factory on the outskirts first.”

The Red Wolves surrounded the carriage carrying their employer Entaire as they began to move.

By the way, the horses they rode were all top-grade steeds acquired at bargain prices from the Main Wall.

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