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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: A Visit
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Fame.
It wasn't worth a single coin, yet in some cases, it was priceless.
An Awakened One of a certain level could command a higher price based on their reputation, and for a noble, fame itself was power and authority.
It was why the most promising rising stars in Odobaekryeong were called the Paljongyungma.
And it was why countless nobles spared no expense or effort to join their ranks.
"So, you think I'm Dion Unlight…"
But just as fame brought benefits, infamy brought loss.
In that sense, Naru's statement was not just reckless, but utterly astonishing.
The White-Masked Young Master had gained renown by passing the Calamity Princess's bridal contest, and he was a man of high standing, rumored to be from one of the Baekdaesega.
To suspect that such a man was, in fact, the shame of House Unlight, the greatest laughingstock in all of Odobaekryeong…
It was an offense for which even a noble could be struck down on the spot without a word.
"That's quite a wild guess."
"It's merely a logical deduction."
"Hmm, in what way?"
"For one, it's the rumors about your origins, Young Master."
But Naru did not back down from his opinion.
He simply explained his reasoning with confidence.
"If you were truly from one of the Baekdaesega, Young Master, you'd have little reason to hide your identity."
"Couldn't it be to avoid interference from my siblings?"
"Even considering that, it's usually more advantageous to reveal one's family name."
"And the only Baekdaesega scion with a reputation so foul that the 'usual' logic doesn't apply is the shame of House Unlight?"
"Not necessarily, but the probability is high."
The direct descendants of the Baekdaesega were already well-known.
It was rare for a new talent to emerge so suddenly, and even rarer for one to have a reason to hide it.
Besides…
"Above all, the dark elves are clear proof."
"How so?"
"Are you aware that a mass disappearance of dark elves recently occurred in Soma Castle?"
"Something like that happened?"
"Yes. And while it's not a widely known fact, Young Master Dion's personal maid is a dark elf."
"…"
"I believe this is sufficient grounds for my speculation. What do you think?"
Elves were a rare race.
Dark elves, who still maintained tribal units, were particularly scarce. Thus, the origin of the dark elves, now residents of Waryong Estate, was all but certain.
Naru stated this matter-of-factly, his gaze shifting to the veiled dark elf maid standing behind Dion.
Dion watched the boy for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.
"Whether your fantasy is correct or not, you certainly seem to be well-informed."
Gihyeong City and Soma Castle were distant territories.
They were so far apart that one had to pass through numerous gates, castles, and cities to travel between them.
And that was with the two territories being relatively closer now; at the wrong time of year, the journey could take months even using the gates.
In that sense, Naru's intelligence network was truly extraordinary.
Not only had he obtained information from Soma Castle that even neighboring nobles were likely unaware of…
But with just a few scant clues, he had shattered the common-sense notion that the White-Masked Young Master couldn't possibly be the shame of Unlight and had arrived at Dion's true identity.
And so, with an intrigued expression, Dion asked.
"So, what's your reason for wanting to provide me with information?"
"To put it simply, I'd like to form a mutually beneficial relationship with you, Young Master."
"Mutually beneficial?"
"Yes. You plan to use Waryong Estate as a base for a mercenary business to build up your forces, don't you?"
Parsha narrowed her eyes.
Indeed, turning Waryong Estate into a mercenary group was a goal Dion had established long ago.
Of course, it had sounded like a pipe dream when she first heard it…
But with Dion becoming a high-ranking Awakened One and acquiring over thirty slave Awakened, the plan had become a realistic possibility.
He had already proven their considerable military strength by capturing countless bandits and wanted criminals.
Above all, Awakened Ones were valuable in any territory, so he could earn a great deal of money just by dispatching them on a temporary basis.
There was just one problem.
"In that regard, what you need most right now is a broker to bring you work and information."
Just because one had the ability to work didn't mean jobs would simply fall from the sky.
Other nobles could get introductions through their family connections, but that was a method unavailable to Dion, who was hiding his identity.
This was especially true since he had no support base near Gihyeong City.
That was why Dion hadn't stopped at selling off bandits but had gone on to hunt wanted criminals as a form of advertisement.
It was all to attract those who possessed the information he lacked.
"We can fill that role for you."
"And in return, I lend you my strength when you need it?"
"Yes. Our Guild is short on Awakened… especially high-ranking noble collaborators."
Nobles looked down on commoners, considering only Awakened Ones to be of any use, but the lower classes were everywhere.
Unlike the noble houses of Odobaekryeong, which were bound by blood, there were also organizations of commoners united by their respective professions.
The Haomun of Mudoryeong.
The Japsinjeon of Oedoryeong.
The Scramble of Gidoryeong.
The Imaemangnyang of Yodoryeong.
And the Guild of Madoryeong.
Though they had few Awakened Ones, they had a great many commoners.
And unlike the nobles, who were tied to their territories, their sphere of influence covered the entirety of Madoryeong, allowing them to gather information from various cities.
Cooperating with them would be of great help.
As Dion listened to Naru's explanation, tapping his fingers on the table, he eventually nodded.
"It's certainly not a bad proposal."
"Right?"
"But that doesn't mean I have a reason to join hands with you."
"Pardon?"
"The Guild's information network may be wide, but it's not as deep as the nobility's, is it? That's why you came to me, of all people, instead of any other perfectly respectable noble."
"B-But…"
"Besides, I have other options."
"Other options?"
"Marriage."
Marriage was the most conventional means of securing alliances and connections, regardless of whether one was a noble or a commoner.
Besides, he already had a fiancée candidate, so why would he need to partner with the Guild?
As Dion asked this playfully, Naru blinked for a moment.
Then, as if he had just remembered something, he glanced nervously at Dion and spoke.
"Um, if you're referring to your marriage with the Calamity Princess, I think that might be difficult."
"Why?"
"You know that rumor that was the cause of the bandit attacks on Waryong Estate?"
"The one about me being a fraud?"
"Yes."
Although it had turned out to be a blessing in disguise, that was only because Waryong Estate's strength had been greater than imagined.
A mediocre territory would have suffered considerable losses from the bandits, and in the worst-case scenario, the entire estate might have fallen.
Naru discreetly revealed the source of the rumor that had caused the entire incident.
"The one who spread that rumor was, in fact, the Lord of Nakrang Castle."
***
Nakrang Castle.
Within a massive tent in its deepest sanctum, an orc was sipping from a cup.
His body was several times larger than that of other orcs, and with a white beard, the old orc set down his uniquely shaped cup.
He watched intently as a handmaiden refilled it, then spoke abruptly.
"So, you're saying Waryong Estate still stands strong?"
"That is correct."
"Khahaha, I see."
The beautiful woman, distinguished by the blindfold covering her eyes, knelt politely across from him.
Hearing Pandora's reply, Urk, the Lord of Nakrang Castle, nodded.
"Your judgment is as sharp as ever."
"My trivial insight is nothing compared to yours, Father."
"Enough with the false modesty. Even I had my doubts when I heard your incitement had failed."
"…That, too, was due to my own shortcomings."
"No, it's more likely that the young master is cunning enough to deceive even you."
*Crunch.*
Urk grabbed a roasted chicken from the side, chewed it whole, and let out a low laugh.
"To think he possessed such strength, yet told you he was so afraid of mere bandits that he planned to flee."
A noble's honor was as precious as his life.
Moreover, it was in the nature of men, especially young ones, to boast, even if they had nothing to back it up, in front of a beautiful woman.
To act as if he would run, only to capture and sell all the bandits, then hunt down wanted criminals to display his might…
His military power was one thing, but his cunning was truly befitting a great noble.
Chuckling, Urk drained his cup and spoke.
"In any case, this is not bad."
"We still have no proof that the White-Masked Young Master is a direct descendant of the Baekdaesega."
"That makes it even better. If he is not from the Baekdaesega, it will be all the easier for us to approach him."
"…"
"In that sense, Pandora, you are to become more intimate with the White-Masked Young Master."
"Intimate enough to discover which family he belongs to, you mean?"
"Yes. If it is determined that the White-Masked Young Master would be an asset to our family, I do not mind if the relationship becomes deeper."
Urk said this leisurely.
The Baekdaesega were the true rulers of Odobaekryeong.
Even high-ranking nobles had to be cautious about forming ties with them, but there was no issue with Pandora approaching him on a personal level.
The White-Masked Young Master and Pandora were already connected through the bridal contest.
Above all, it was only natural for a young man and woman to grow closer as they showed interest in each other.
There was just one problem.
"And what should I do if he is deemed not to be an asset?"
What should be done if the White-Masked Young Master turned out not to be from the Baekdaesega, or even if he was, was judged to be of little help to Nakrang Castle?
Urk did not answer Pandora's question immediately.
*Thud.*
He simply set down his empty cup and retorted.
"Is there a need to ask?"
"…No."
"If you understand, then you may withdraw and rest. The matter of the White-Masked Young Master can be dealt with after this hunting festival is over."
"Yes, Father."
After bowing politely, Pandora rose and left the tent made of bone and leather.
Urk's sunken eyes followed her retreating figure for a long while.
He reached to his side.
Fondling the cup made from the skull of the previous Lord of Nakrang Castle…
Who had met his end at Pandora's hands, his eyes grew deep.
***
"I already knew that."
"…Pardon?"
*Blink.*
"Y-You knew that rumor was the work of the Lord of Nakrang Castle?"
"Wouldn't it be stranger if I didn't?"
"…"
"In the first place, there can't be that many people who know we have elves in our territory, right?"
The dark elves had practically fled to complete their migration.
Both Arsha and Dion had done their utmost not to leave any trace that could be followed.
Even in Nakrang Castle, to which Waryong Estate was attached, few knew of their presence.
…Except for the soldiers who checked the gate traffic, or the Kortel family, who could access those records.
And among them, the one who could pull such a blatant stunt was obvious.
"It's only natural for a prospective father-in-law to test the thief who dared to take his territory, isn't it?"
"I-Is that so…?"
Perhaps the common sense of nobles was different from that of commoners.
Watching the unsettled Naru, Dion narrowed his eyes.
"So?"
"Yes?"
"Is that all the Guild knows about that rumor? You don't know his real intentions?"
"…Real intentions?"
"Hmm… I see. So you don't know."
The boy wore an expression of blatant disappointment.
Thanks to this, Naru lost the confident air he'd had until now, his eyes beginning to dart about in panic.
Dion spoke at a relaxed pace.
"Unfortunately, if the Guild's information network is only at that level, I don't see much value in cooperating."
"Wha-?!"
"In that sense, I think a little test is in order."
"A-A test?"
Perhaps because he'd heard something he hadn't expected.
To the boy with wide, startled eyes, Dion asked with a beaming smile.
"—How much do you know about the hunting festival being prepared at Goemokjang?"