Episode 40
Jik was bewildered as to why the Rangers, known as the guardians of the Northern Continent, had come to him.
“Could Abel have hired them? To eliminate me for allying with Kali?”
Jik focused on the unique shape of the swords the black-clad figures carried. They were kukris, the signature weapon of the Rangers from the Gorka Kingdom, located at the northernmost tip of the continent. These Rangers were renowned for their unmatched skills.
Their prowess was so exceptional that even the Central Kingdom paid a hefty price to employ them as mercenaries for critical missions.
Jik, having lived among the Gorka Rangers during his time in the Northern Continent, knew firsthand how formidable they were.
Facing off against a Gorka Ranger wielding a kukri, Jik tried to assess the situation.
“Why are the Gorka Rangers watching me?” he asked the black-clad figure.
The figure remained silent, merely pointing the kukri at Jik, waiting for an opportunity to reach the spear.
Jik blocked the path to the spear, ensuring the figure couldn’t escape.
Just then, something flew in through the window.
Thud!
A small ball rolled to Jik’s feet, releasing a thick, smoky mist.
[Mandragora root extract detected.]
[Inhaling the toxin will cause unconsciousness.]
[Your immunity to poisons negates its effects.]
Thanks to the immunity he gained from consuming the Hydra’s head, the toxic mist couldn’t harm Jik. However, he pretended to succumb, collapsing to the ground.
Once the mist cleared, two of the black-clad figures carried the seemingly unconscious Jik away.
The figures brought Jik to a dark, cramped room, seated him in a chair, and cuffed him. Once they confirmed he was securely bound, they left, and Jik slowly opened his eyes.
He checked the map and realized he was near a farm on the outskirts of Atlas, likely a safe house converted from a granary.
“A safe house owned by the Northern Rangers? It seems they have a different employer.”
Jik had feigned unconsciousness to gather information on why the Gorka Rangers were monitoring him. He had willingly walked into the lion’s den.
Just then, someone entered the room.
Feigning unconsciousness again, Jik felt a vial placed under his nose.
[Neutralizing agent for Mandragora root extract detected.]
It was an antidote for the toxic mist. Jik pretended to regain consciousness.
“Ugh…”
The man spoke to the awakening Jik.
“Jik Draker.”
Jik lifted his head, squinting at the man.
“Who is he?”
A middle-aged man with a stubborn look, wearing an eyepatch.
Jik recognized him immediately.
“Cliff Reinhardt?”
He was the owner of the Reinhardt Trading Company, destined to become one of the top ten trading companies on the continent.
Jik knew him from a past life.
In his previous life, Abel had extended his influence over major trading companies for war supplies, eventually targeting the Reinhardt Trading Company. Despite their neutral stance, Abel and the Empire sought to dismantle and seize their assets.
Cliff Reinhardt had risked his life to escape to the Northern Continent, passing crucial information. Jik had been the one to receive and deliver that information.
“Jik Murray. I trust you to deliver this safely.”
Jik had advised Cliff to seek asylum in the North, but he had refused.
“I wish to face my end in my homeland, Alencia.”
The future Cliff, prepared for death, overlapped with the present Cliff in Jik’s mind.
Cliff, noticing Jik’s intense gaze, spoke.
“You look at me as if you know me.”
Jik changed his expression and replied.
“I’m just curious about the fool who dared to kidnap a Draker.”
Cliff’s expression hardened at Jik’s words.
Jik realized the kidnapping wasn’t meticulously planned.
He decided to probe Cliff further.
“Why did you kidnap me?”
There had to be a reason for hiring the expensive Gorka Rangers to infiltrate his quarters.
If there was any connection to Abel, it would be advantageous to deal with Cliff Reinhardt here and now.
If the Reinhardt Trading Company’s resources fell into Abel’s hands, it would be troublesome.
Jik activated his mini-map to assess the Rangers’ positions and numbers.
“One in the room, one at the door, ten around the building. Judging by their presence, only those two are Rangers.”
Even if they were Gorka Rangers, Jik could handle them without leaving a trace if he used his full abilities.
Cliff gestured to the Ranger behind him.
The Ranger approached and unlocked Jik’s cuffs.
“Despite how things turned out, I want you to know this wasn’t my intention.”
Jik addressed Cliff, who had switched to a more formal tone.
“That’s rich. You break in and kidnap me, then claim it wasn’t your intention.”
Even in enemy territory, Jik remained unfazed, speaking casually.
Cliff was slightly taken aback by Jik’s demeanor.
Even seasoned knights would show anxiety in such a situation, but the young man before him showed none.
“Even at a young age, a Draker is still a Draker.”
Not all Drakers displayed such composure under interrogation.
Jik’s training as a hitman in the South, preparing for all kinds of interrogations and torture, made it possible.
If the Gorka Rangers had attempted a full interrogation, Jik would have responded differently, but Cliff’s reaction suggested a non-hostile approach.
Cliff finally spoke.
“Given the circumstances, I suppose some explanation is in order. You may have heard of me. My name is Cliff Reinhardt. I run the Reinhardt Trading Company.”
Surprisingly, Cliff revealed his identity first.
Jik, feigning anger, replied.
“Reinhardt Trading Company, huh? No matter how big it is, you have some nerve messing with a Draker. Whether you kill me here or not, the Drakers will hunt you down. You can’t escape them.”
Cliff’s expression hardened.
Even the head of a large trading company found it difficult to withstand the aura of a knight’s killing intent.
A Ranger stepped forward to restrain Jik, but Cliff raised a hand to stop him.
Cliff produced a document and handed it to Jik.
“Please take a look at this.”
Jik shifted his gaze from Cliff to the document, reading it slowly.
The contents were unexpected.
“Elena Stone?”
Elena Stone was none other than the mother of Liam Stone, who had become one of Jik’s subordinates.
The document detailed Elena Stone’s recovery from a disease known as the Red Flower Disease.
Jik wondered why Cliff had brought information about Elena Stone’s illness to him.
“It’s a disease that’s begun appearing in the southern regions of the Central Continent, known locally as the Red Flower Disease.”
Cliff looked at Jik.
“I learned that Elena Stone, the mother of Academy cadet Liam Stone, was gravely ill with this disease but recovered. Jik Draker, do you know anything about this?”
Of course, he did.
Elena Stone had overcome the disease thanks to a remedy Jik had sent her.
Jik replied to Cliff.
“I sent Elena Stone a remedy. So what?”
Cliff’s expression changed dramatically.
“So it was you, Jik Draker, who sent the remedy. How did you know about a cure for a disease that’s barely known?”
“I remembered a medicine I used to take for high fevers and thought it might work. It did. But why is the Reinhardt Trading Company investigating this, even kidnapping me?”
Cliff shook his head.
“As I said, that was never my intention. What I needed was simply…”
Jik interrupted.
“You wanted to find out about the remedy I gave Elena Stone?”
Cliff fell silent.
Jik studied the silent Cliff, trying to deduce why he had resorted to such extreme measures.
“Is there someone you urgently need to cure of the Red Flower Disease?”
It wasn’t a question but a statement of certainty.
Cliff realized Jik wasn’t an ordinary fifteen-year-old.
The situation had turned against Cliff.
Even if he wanted to negotiate, he would have to offer what the other party wanted from a much weaker position.
Jik spoke first.
“Cliff Reinhardt. Let’s make a deal.”
Having assessed the situation, Jik aimed to secure the upper hand.
Cliff responded calmly.
“What are the terms of the deal?”
Jik held up three fingers.
“If you promise to fulfill three of my requests, I’ll share the remedy with you.”
Cliff asked.
“I need to know what these requests are to agree to the deal.”
“I’ll make requests within the capabilities of the Reinhardt Trading Company.”
Cliff pondered for a moment before replying.
“If you agree to put the terms in a formal contract, I’ll accept the deal.”
Jik grinned and nodded.
“Of course. A contract is essential for any deal.”
When Cliff gestured, the ranger stepped outside and returned with paper and a pen.
Cliff took his time, meticulously drafting the contract.
Zeke read through the contract Cliff had prepared.
“Everything seems in order. But there’s one thing,” he said to Cliff.
“You need to tell me who exactly needs the cure for the Scarlet Fever.”
Cliff’s expression hardened noticeably.
“I can’t disclose that,” he replied, looking at Zeke.
“Then there’s no deal,” Zeke said firmly.
Cliff hesitated, realizing he had no choice, and slowly began to speak.
“I can only tell you it’s someone from the Alensia royal family.”
Zeke clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“If that’s all you’re willing to share, then we have no deal.”
Cliff clenched his jaw tightly before finally speaking again.
“Melissa Alensia.”
Zeke’s eyes shifted at the mention of the name.
“The first princess of Alensia.”
Alensia was currently embroiled in a conflict with the Rom Empire over control of the border region’s Join tribe ghetto. The kingdom was already unstable, with the monarchy and nobility at odds, and the Rom Empire was exploiting this by building a large military base near the border, eyeing the Alensian territory.
Melissa Alensia was a popular figure among the people, known for her effective public policies, in stark contrast to the frail and ineffectual king. There was a growing sentiment that if she ascended to the throne, she could restore the monarchy’s authority and end the internal power struggles with the nobility.
If Melissa Alensia were unable to inherit the throne due to illness, the already tumultuous situation in Alensia would only worsen.
Zeke asked Cliff, “Why is the Reinhardt Trading Company so eager to cure Melissa Alensia?”
“We were negotiating a major deal with the princess. If something were to happen to her before the deal is finalized, the entire company would suffer significant losses. We had to find a cure at any cost.”
In a previous life, the Reinhardt Trading Company had grown around the Alensia Kingdom, eventually becoming one of the continent’s top ten trading companies. Cliff Reinhardt had such a strong attachment to Alensia that he wished to die there, so it made sense that he was already wielding considerable influence.
Yet, Zeke still couldn’t understand why they had gone so far as to hire Gorka the Ranger to infiltrate the Draker clan’s domain. The current Reinhardt Trading Company had enough resources to buy the cure if it was truly urgent.
‘There must be something I’m missing,’ Zeke thought.
As he gazed into Cliff Reinhardt’s eyes, Zeke, who had become more adept at wielding mana through his mastery of the Elemental Sword, could sense emotions more keenly.
He read the emotions emanating from Cliff: desperation, anxiety, deep loyalty…
It seemed that saving Princess Melissa wasn’t just about the deal.
Zeke realized there was something more between Princess Melissa and the Reinhardt Trading Company. At least with Cliff, it was clearly more than just business.
Perhaps this deal could lead to something greater, Zeke mused.
He signed the contract Cliff had presented.
Cliff sighed in relief at Zeke’s signature.
Then Zeke spoke up.
“Alright, Cliff Reinhardt. Let’s start with my first demand,” he said, looking at Cliff.
“You need to hire me.”