Chapter 36. A New Request (1)
After finishing the subjugation, Verden spent his time leisurely, going through the training he always did.
He had not yet received any message from Pale, so the payment had not been made. Not that he felt uneasy or worried. He himself thought that he had taken down the Roar Wolf in a very clean fashion.
He was confident it was more than enough to serve as proof, just as Pale had said.
It had already been six days since he arrived in Cohen.
Verden headed to the blacksmith. The thought of soon having Mahbat's Leather equipment in his hands made his heart pound. For a Mage, new and precious equipment was always welcome.
When he entered the forge, the blacksmith was chewing away at his meal.
Seeing Verden, the man wiped his mouth with his apron.
"You came at just the right time, I was just finishing my meal, come this way."
Verden followed the blacksmith further inside.
It was a space where various armor pieces, including full plate armor that a knight would wear, were displayed. The blacksmith pointed to one of the display stands.
A navy double-breasted vest and leather trousers, exactly as Verden had requested.
"It's been a while since I worked with something like this, so it took some effort. Though it's leather, it has excellent elasticity, so you won't feel any discomfort in movement. The thickness being a bit thin is its only flaw, however…"
The blacksmith picked up a sword lying nearby.
He then thrust it with force toward the vest. Yet it neither pierced nor even scratched the surface.
"This much, it can block easily. It also serves as an excellent shock absorber. Unless it's magic, it won't be damaged under most circumstances. As long as you dry it well if it gets wet, it'll last long enough to pass down to children or even grandchildren, that says it all, eh."
It was certainly a result worth the blacksmith's pride.
The material itself was precious, but the craftsmanship had enhanced its strengths further. With this, the money spent was not wasted at all.
Verden nodded in satisfaction.
"I am pleased, it seems I chose the right man."
"Haha, you flatter me. Ah, but there is a bit of a problem with the ring."
Problem?
"Here, do you see this small groove? Inside it, rust had formed badly, so I scraped it off. Looking closely, I found an elaborate pattern carved there. Maybe it's just a design, but from my experience, it might be a type of magic item. I waited to ask you first."
Verden received the ring.
When he enhanced his sight, he could see a star-shaped pattern, partly chipped away.
The structure of the ring was revealed.
The familiar pattern hinted that it was indeed a magic item, but its effects could not be discerned, as it was far too damaged.
'Now this is interesting.'
He had thought it was just an old ring, but it turned out to be a magic item.
"Can this ring be repaired?"
"Well, I don't know much about magic items… but as for restoring the pattern or appearance, that I can manage. Since it's so small, it will take some delicate work."
"Then please do so. I will cover the cost in full."
Magic items, unless completely shattered, retained their traces.
By connecting those fragments, one could sometimes uncover what effects it once had. Rarely, it could even return to its original form.
Of course, the chances of failure were very high, but it was worth the attempt.
"Alright then. I can't say how long it will take… but give it about two weeks before you come by again. There's also a chance I won't be able to finish it, so don't expect too much."
"Understood."
After entrusting the ring once more, Verden paid the price and collected Mahbat's Leather outfit.
When he tried it on, it felt light, almost weightless, and comfortable in every way. Looking in the mirror, it matched well with his dark navy robe.
He could even wear it as everyday clothing without issue.
"Not bad."
Satisfied, he returned to the inn.
There was no more business outside, so he intended to spend the rest of the time training to expand his mana circuits. For a Mage, constant effort was more than necessary.
With that in mind, he opened the door and stepped forward.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, a young girl came out from inside and bumped into Verden. The ice cream she was holding fell straight toward the freshly donned Mahbat's Leather.
Verden quickly activated his mana circuits.
With Telekinesis, he lifted the ice cream, and caught the girl before she fell. A swift and precise movement, leaving no excess.
The ice cream, floating in midair, slowly descended back into the girl's hand. An old woman standing nearby bowed her head slightly to Verden.
"Oh dear, I apologize, my granddaughter has been impolite. Aisha, hurry and apologize to the Mage."
"Yes, grandmother. Thank you for saving my ice cream, Mister Mage!"
"Ah-ah, first you must apologize for bumping into him."
A naïve young girl, and an old woman dressed in a worn, faded robe. Quite an unusual pair, unfitting for the bleak atmosphere of Cohen.
They seemed like outsiders from beyond the city, but it was nothing Verden needed to concern himself with.
"It's fine."
Verden answered briefly, and took the lift up to his lodging.
***
After receiving Pale's message that the payment had arrived, he went to the underground tavern beneath the slums.
"Here is the reward for the Roar Wolf subjugation."
A space surrounded by iron bars and glass.
From the other side of the glass, Pale passed a large sum of cash to Verden.
After deducting fees such as the brokerage commission, it came to about 22.78 million Elk. That was three times the original subjugation reward of 7.8 million Elk, thanks to the high-quality materials obtained from the Roar Wolf.
"Count Ladran was extremely pleased. Well done, Asher-nim."
Pale offered high praise.
That meant Verden had proven himself worthy of working with Gray, the group Pale operated. Verden immediately looked into the next request.
"If I were to select something suitable for Asher-nim's rank… this one should do."
Pale presented a wanted poster.
"Do you also handle bounties here?"
"It's the way of the times. As cities expand, populations naturally increase, and with that, criminals as well. It's too many for the state to chase down, and with the dangers beyond the city walls, Gray often handles them through requests. The principality has granted permission for this."
Chasing down criminals who flee outside the city is difficult. Even more so without information.
That is why information brokers play a vital role. Each one has their own information network. Rather than the state pursuing them, it is far more efficient to entrust the job this way.
Especially Pale's network, which was unmatched.
Spread like a spider's web across the principality, it operated day and night without rest. The speed of information it delivered could surpass even warhorses or a Third-Tier Mage.
In this field, there was no information broker in the principality who could rival Pale.
At that moment, Verden asked.
"Life or death doesn't matter?"
"It would be preferable if you could capture him alive, that is what the nobles usually prefer. Instead of bothering to drag him all the way here, we will send someone to pick him up. Naturally, we will also provide you with the fugitive's location."
In other words, all Verden had to do was catch the target. Of course, some tracking would be necessary, but for Verden, that was no issue. He could, in most cases, use mana detection to find even the faintest trace.
It was something he had already done several times before.
When Verden accepted the request, Pale gave him a small nod.
"Then I shall be counting on you."
***
Thus, after the Roar Wolf subjugation, he completed three more tasks.
Since Pale had given him precise location information, and the opponents had not been particularly skilled, they had been easy work. The rewards were not large, but they were sufficient for building trust.
Then one day.
"A new request?"
At Verden's question, Pale nodded.
"After reviewing Asher-nim's handling of previous tasks, I have decided you may advance one rank. To be precise, you have risen from the lowest, Rank 5, to Rank 4. Congratulations."
"I don't mind that… but isn't it a bit early?"
He had only completed four requests.
But Pale shook his head.
"The number of requests is a factor, yes, but what matters more is how the job is handled. That is how much we were impressed by Asher-nim's work. Especially with the Roar Wolf case. And, it would be wasteful to give another Rank 5 request to a Mage such as yourself. You know the saying, the right person for the right place."
In the end, it was a good thing for Verden.
There was no reason to press further doubts. Verden asked.
"So, what is this new request?"
"Before I tell you, you must understand, this is a matter requiring confidentiality. Once you hear it, there is no turning back. Will you accept?"
So, if he took it, he would have to take responsibility.
When he asked how much the reward was, Pale wrote the amount and showed it to him.
"…!"
It was far greater than he had expected.
"What kind of request is it?"
"Very well, please take a look at this."
Pale handed over some documents, then spread them in the air for easier viewing.
Most of the content was information regarding the Cohort Merchant Guild.
"The Cohort Merchant Guild mainly deals in spices, trading between the Principality of Riviant and the Kingdom of Estiria. The business is neither particularly large nor especially competitive, and my assessment is that it is just another of the many small-to-mid trade guilds you find everywhere."
But then.
"We have uncovered indications that the Cohort Merchant Guild has been involved in slave trafficking."
Once upon a time, slavery had been an accepted institution worldwide.
But as times changed, and the Church of Luas, which worshiped the God of Light, rose as a world religion, most nations abolished slavery. It was condemned as an affront to human dignity and rights.
The Kingdom of Estiria had attempted to stubbornly maintain slavery, but in the end, it had to abolish it due to diplomatic pressure. However, as that was only eight years ago, illegal slave trade still thrived within Estiria.
In the midst of this, the Cohort Merchant Guild was capturing people from various places, and selling them as slaves within the kingdom.
Verden spoke.
"A mere merchant guild dealing in slaves? If the Church of Luas finds out, they won't stay silent."
"Indeed, and Grand Duke Riviant despises slavery to the extreme. Some even say one of the reasons he declared independence from Estiria was precisely because of it. Either way, once this reaches the ears of the high lords, it won't end quietly. And the lord of the territory will also be reprimanded for failing to manage his domain."
"In that case… the client must be the lord himself."
"Correct. The client is Count Rodenmeyer. The request is to capture alive the head of the Cohort Merchant Guild, 'Luton Cohort'."
The routes along which the slaves were transported had already been discovered.
The count's house had secretly arrested those bribed by the guild, set men to track them, and laid traps near the borders, tightening the net to seize the slave wagons.
Maintaining secrecy was paramount.
It was critical to catch Luton Cohort before he sensed anything amiss, and cut off his escape.
But there were not just one or two slave wagons, and they moved separately.
Thus, Count Rodenmeyer decided that instead of stretching his forces thin and risking failure, he would hire mercenaries. Better to avoid trying to catch two rabbits and losing both.
"This time, Asher-nim will not be alone. You will be working with the 'Rowin Mercenary Corps.' Also, soldiers led by the count's knights will be waiting nearby."
"Even knights? For just catching a slave trader, that seems excessive."
"There are two reasons behind it. First, for impact."
Now that the information was beginning to spread, it would not be long before it reached the Grand Duke's ears.
So the count wished to make a grand spectacle of crushing them, to demonstrate to the duke that he was eradicating slave trade, using it as both example and appeal.
Count Rodenmeyer. He freed slaves, and destroyed slave traders.
That was the phrase the count wanted printed in the headlines. The political value to be gained from it could not be measured in money.
"And the second reason, Luton Cohort hired a mercenary corps years ago from another nation. Their leader, a man named 'Swindle,' is a former high-rank mercenary, with records of annihilating several rival mercenary groups. Including other high-rank mercenaries. If he is not out overseeing the slave transports, he will likely be guarding the guild master himself."
Pale took a sip of water, then continued.
"Count Rodenmeyer is a pragmatist. Though he ordered Luton Cohort's capture, his true aim is to disperse the enemy's forces, then use the confusion to let his own soldiers subdue them."
Because that would mean fewer losses, and lower cost.
If things unfolded as Pale predicted, there was a chance that the reward written in the request might not be paid in full.
"Indeed, the count asked that you capture Luton Cohort, Asher-nim. So if he can find even the slightest excuse, he will try to lower the payment. A sly noble, through and through."
In the end, the count intended to use Verden as a cheap shield.
'So that explains why the payment was so high.'
But that was only if things went as Pale suggested.
Verden asked Pale.
"If I capture him myself, there will be no problem, right?"
"Yes, I can assure you, as long as you fulfill the request, there will be no problem, no pressure. That is, of course, if you can manage it."
The opponent was a high-rank mercenary with years of experience.
Even if he was a Third-Tier Mage recommended by the Butcher, it was not an easy foe, that was Pale's assessment.
But naturally, Verden thought differently.
"Where is the location?"