Chapter 277 – Midros Autonomous Territory
The sky flashed, lighting up the dark forest in an instant.
At the very moment the vertical bolt of lightning struck the ground, a burst of blue light erupted.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!
A deafening roar, as though to tear apart the eardrums.
Under the immense light and heat, trees and grass were charred black and turned to ash, and the pooled rainwater evaporated without a trace.
Those nearby perished at the very instant they gasped for breath.
"What…?!"
A few Mages, who had sensed the unprecedented surge of magic power just before, quickly spun their minds.
With all their strength, they immediately computed spells to protect their entire bodies, but of course, it was useless.
Even the best defense did not buy them the slightest moment of time.
Thus, dozens of ambushers, lying in wait within the forest to either side of the highway, were annihilated.
The arrows and spells they had so carefully prepared were never even used once.
Not all of them died, however.
Farther from the point of impact were Oel and his group.
They had only been swept by residual lightning conducted through the rainwater, thus, they merely suffered burns to some extent and lost consciousness.
Six in total were captured alive.
Verden had fulfilled Padreld's request precisely.
***
"Ugh…"
The eyelids of Oel, who had been lying face down, twitched.
As his consciousness slowly surfaced, the very first thing that returned was the memory of right before he fainted.
The blinding light that filled his vision, the irregular blue waves.
The agony that tore through his entire body, as if shredding his flesh, was still too vivid. So terrible, he never wanted to experience it again.
Groaning, Oel struggled to move his stiff muscles.
Both arms and legs were bound, and worse, his body, paralyzed from electrocution, had yet to recover, making it nearly impossible to support himself.
After several attempts, he finally managed to raise his upper body.
His vision was still hazy.
"Here… wh… where…"
A dark, musty smell lingered in the air.
A faint vibration constantly trembled through the floor.
Straining his eyes desperately, he saw others lying unconscious.
Like himself, they were the men hired by the smuggler Homens.
Their limbs too were tied tightly with thick ropes, their mouths agape as they lay senseless.
Just as Oel tried to rouse them, a shadow fell over him.
"You woke up earlier than expected. Seems Sir Asher's hand was indeed well measured."
Padreld stood there, a sharp dagger clenched in his left hand.
Behind him, two escorts glared coldly with gleaming eyes.
Oel's eyes widened, tearing at the corners.
"Pa, Padre… ld…"
"I don't know who you are, but you recognized me instantly. Clearly I was the target. Still, you don't seem fully conscious yet. Tell me, how many do you see now?"
Padreld crouched and spread his hand.
A middle finger, adorned with a gray ring, wavered before his eyes.
Oel opened and closed his mouth, forcing out words.
"O, one."
"Your cognitive ability has mostly returned. That will do."
Padreld calmly extended his arm.
Pook. The dagger touched Oel's face. As the blade's tip pricked into his skin, a thin line of blood trickled down.
The heat of it, so starkly opposed to the cold of winter, made Oel flinch.
"I did hear smugglers were raiding each other lately, but I didn't expect anyone to actually come after me. How dare you."
"Th, that's…"
"A quick look over the corpses showed there were plenty of you. To be honest, had you charged desperately under this dark weather, even we would have suffered quite some damage. In that sense, you lot were unlucky. Especially since there happened to be a very, very dangerous person riding in my carriage."
A dangerous person? Who could that be?
At that thought, an image of the noble dressed in platinum robes flashed across his mind.
"Whatever the case, the result is no damage on my side, but my reputation has been thoroughly sullied by you people. I was paid a pouch of jewels, yet ended up requiring protection instead."
Padreld frowned slightly, pressing harder with his fingers.
The dagger, weighted by his body, slid slowly downward. What was a dot of blood became a line, three streaks running down Oel's cheek.
"Tell me, what is your name?"
"…Oel."
"Oel, from this moment you will tell me everything you know about this ambush. Who commissioned it, what the true goal was, who the participants were, all of it. Before my dagger slices open that thin neck of yours."
Padreld smiled with deadly malice.
For Oel, there was only one choice.
***
Padreld, who had gone to extract information from Oel, returned.
With practiced ease, he leapt down from his escort's horse and boarded the rolling carriage. From the far end, dripping with rainwater and blood, he removed his cheap robe and stepped inside.
"The interrogation ended quickly."
"He knew there was no use resisting, so it was easy. Besides, I happen to have some expertise in such matters. Life was quite difficult before I got here. Especially when I seized the smugglers' canyon, I was nearly at death's door."
Padreld sat down.
He laid the robe to the side and wrapped himself in a relatively dry blanket.
"Our attackers were former mercenaries and criminals, hired by multiple smugglers. The six Sir Asher captured were employed by one called Homens."
"Do you know him?"
"As a man in the same trade, I've heard the name. But I will hunt him down and erase him soon enough. Ahem, anyway, the Oel I just interrogated admitted he had been hiding in my canyon within the autonomous territory, waiting for me to arrive so he could strike."
Was there some important cargo involved?
At Verden's question, Padreld scratched his cheek.
"Well… truth is, I recently acquired a new product. By chance I had the opportunity, and I heard lately that there's demand for it in the eastern continent, so I smuggled it in. Cost me quite a bit, but apparently it sells for an outrageous price."
Padreld rummaged inside his robes.
He pulled out a piece of dried paper, no larger than an index finger.
Verden frowned.
"…Tobacco? As far as I know, that is only distributed in limited regions of the central continent."
"Yes, as you say, tobacco is produced solely in Gargant, the largest city-state in the central continent. It's a sedative, and also a kind of indulgence. But since continuous inhalation of the smoke causes side effects, it's a prohibited item."
The primary ingredient, Kaleim leaf, was a rare analgesic.
Its smoke or juice, once consumed, brought immediate calming effects.
However, it carried a degree of addictiveness, and long-term use placed severe strain on the body, ultimately weakening the organs themselves.
Such damage could not be healed even by the miracles of the Church of Luas.
Thus, the Church of Luas, the world's religion, restricted its production and trade to specific regions, while imposing strict bans everywhere else.
"To think you'd dare smuggle tobacco. If the Church of Luas discovers it, not just you but your entire canyon will be obliterated."
"Exactly. More than a few smugglers, bold enough to deal tobacco, were slain by paladins. But unlike those fools, I am neither reckless nor stupid. Here, take a look."
Padreld unfolded the dried paper.
Instead of the familiar green powder used for tobacco, a black powder was revealed.
"This is Gargant's newest product, Favor. By mixing in a special plant, inhaling the black smoke expands the blood vessels and increases blood flow, awakening the senses temporarily. For warriors, it accelerates the use of aura, and for Mages, it quickens the speed of spell computation."
"Does it really have such effects?"
Verden stroked his chin.
His gaze upon the black tobacco carried a trace of curiosity.
"It's similar to a kind of enhanced potion, I suppose. Portability looks good, but what about the side effects?"
"From what the rumors say, with repeated inhalation, the body deteriorates rapidly and irregular sensory distortions occur. The shorter the interval, the more severe the intensity becomes… in truth, the side effects are worse than ordinary tobacco."
However.
"The tobacco banned by the Church of Luas is a sedative. Favor, on the other hand, is a stimulant. They may look similar on the outside, but they are ab-so-lute-ly not the same thing. So even if the Church of Luas finds out, there won't be a problem."
Padreld smiled.
"In other words, it's legal. At least, until the Church of Luas establishes laws concerning Favor."
Maximize profit before the loophole was closed, then step away quickly.
If the timing was missed, the money could vanish into thin air, but Padreld was the most skilled smuggler in this region.
He had both the confidence and the ability.
"Still, I did try to keep it a secret, but it seems they caught wind of it… indeed, information is terrifying. No matter how much you try to hide it, it always leaks out sooner or later."
Padreld let out a sigh.
Protecting his property from thieves, who bared their greed like Goblins, was no easy task.
Of course, smuggling itself was also a high-level crime.
"Ah, by the way, are you interested in Favor? If Sir Asher has even the slightest thought, I could sell it to you cheap."
"Sorry, but I must decline."
Verden shook his head firmly.
He was only surprised by Favor's effects, but had no intention of consuming it. Any drug that damaged the body was utterly detestable to him.
And as an elemental Mage, Verden had never studied professional alchemy, so it wasn't suitable for research either.
Verden shifted his gaze.
While they were talking, the winter rain had ceased.
Beyond the dew-damp coachman's stone, the wide walls rising between shallow mountains came into view.
At last, they had arrived at the Midros Autonomous Territory.
***
The Midros Autonomous Territory signified both an independent domain, and a single city.
Padreld's transport convoy paraded down the wide boulevard. With modified carriages and dozens of men, it drew the eyes of citizens.
Verden peered through the gap of the carriage, gazing at the streets of the autonomous territory.
'The atmosphere is worse than I heard.'
A faint tension lingered over the entire street.
Those walking the main road showed signs of vigilance, while in the alleys to the side, groups with unsavory looks had taken up spots.
Eyes searching as though for prey.
Though the rain had stopped, the dark clouds remained.
With sunlight blocked, the entire scenery was filled with dull, lifeless gray.
"I've never seen a city this gloomy."
"It seems to have worsened while I was away. Honestly, my canyon looks more comfortable compared to this…"
Pushing aside the blanket, Padreld donned his robe.
"More importantly, I considered where Sir Asher should stay, but outside the Rainbow-hued Inn, no other place comes to mind. The other inns are all the same, overpriced with poor lodging. So I was thinking of renting out an entire building, what do you think?"
Renting a building.
"I leave that to you."
"Understood. I will see to it while handling my other tasks. In the meantime, it would be best if Sir Asher rests at my warehouse…"
"No, I'll move about separately for a while."
Verden intended to circle around the autonomous territory.
Following Padreld to the warehouse would mean nothing but waiting idly.
"Ah, then at least an escort…"
"Not necessary. And you'll be short on manpower yourself."
To store the smuggled goods in the warehouse, to imprison Oel and the other attackers, to gather his organizations in the territory, and to search for a suitable building — every single person was crucial.
'And as far as I know, there is no one in this autonomous territory capable of opposing Sir Asher anyway.'
From the beginning, the king of the underworld was not someone who needed protection.
Padreld's deliberation was brief.
"Thank you for the consideration. Later we'll come directly to escort you. As long as you're not in the back alleys, we can find you quickly."
Nodding, Verden rose.
Just as he was about to step outside, he glanced at himself.
'…Too conspicuous.'
Ainber, which always radiated brilliance, contrasted too starkly with the bleak Midros Autonomous Territory.
He quietly focused his mind.
Fwaaah.
The platinum robe shimmered into golden light, then vanished.
Ainber was an artifact bound to Verden.
Though its resistance against external impacts was now gone, its immunity to poison and its power to pierce illusions still functioned.
And whenever he wished, Ainber would instantly manifest to protect him. It was not called the Demon King's artifact for nothing.
With Ainber concealed, Verden wore a deep blue outfit.
It was the attire gifted by Conrad, the merchant he had once met in the Principality of Riviant. Surprisingly useful as everyday wear, Verden made good use of it.
Then, from subspace, he drew out a cheap robe and draped it over his shoulders.
Witnessing this series of events, Padreld cautiously asked,
"Sir Asher, just now, that was…"
"An artifact."
He declared it boldly, without hiding.
There was no one who could take it, nor did he intend to let it be taken.
"An, an artifact, the stuff of rumors…!"
Padreld breathed out astonishment, almost overwhelmed.
He had sensed a difference in class, but to think it was an artifact. In all his life, this was his first time seeing one with his own eyes.
'Then the staff, and that robe he pulled out of thin air, were also artifacts?'
So, multiple artifacts…?
As a smuggler by trade, the thought arose naturally. He longed to ask, but he swallowed it down along with his saliva.
Excessive curiosity was the fastest way to shorten one's life.
Verden stepped down from the carriage.
Padreld bowed politely at the waist.
"Then, we shall see you later."
Immediately after, Padreld added,
"Ah, if you happen to feel hungry on the way, you might visit the tavern in the north, 'The Fallen Wyvern'. The innkeeper there has a good heart and cooks well. In this territory, it is one of the few places run by a decent person."
"I see. I'll keep that in mind."
With farewells exchanged, Padreld's group departed.
Verden, hood pulled low to cover his face, looked around.
He had no real desire for leisurely sightseeing, but within this Midros Autonomous Territory, there was indeed one place that tugged at his mind.
'…There it is.'
One of the three spires erected in the distance.
The branch of the magic tower, bearing the emblem of Bohemirn, came into sight.
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