Episode 934

The man counting gold coins in bundles suddenly tensed at an unexpected sound. He was Odel, the head of the Odelluk Trading Company, known for traveling all over Gaia selling goods and handling deliveries.

Knock, knock.

“Master.”

“What is it? Didn’t I tell you not to come around here?”

When he was counting money, his rule was that not even an ant could come near the room. Nervously, he slid his hand under the desk to grip the handle of a hidden dagger.

“A visitor has come.”

“A visitor? At this hour? A client?”

“No, two young men. They didn’t give their names.”

“What the hell? You’re telling me this is the time to be interrupted?”

In Lugerspell, crazy people were nothing new. Every day, dozens of drunks, addicts, and gamblers came begging for loans, groveling for money.

And now, just because two unknown guys showed up, they’re interrupting my counting?

“Well, it looked suspicious.”

“You little—wait right there.”

Odel hurriedly shoved the gold coins into the safe, planning to rough up his men and then get back to business. Just as he was about to close the safe, one of his men added,

“They said they were sent by Lady Arena.”

“…Who? Arena?”

Arena—the arrogant minister of the Magic Department. Odel hesitated, quickly tidied up the coins, and opened the door.

The first thing he saw was one of his men with a swollen face. Behind him stood two young men: a boy in a robe leading the way, and a slightly nervous-looking youth clutching a satchel, shoulders hunched.

“…What is this?”

Why did his man look like that? The man tried to hide his moist eyes, and Ian gently placed a hand on his shoulder before introducing himself.

“Though we came with Lady Arena’s introduction, there was some confusion as communication was difficult.”

“Ah…”

Those idiots! They must have failed to recognize a mage and handled things poorly. Odel studied the boy’s face beneath the robe carefully.

“Are you Ian Hadel?”

A strikingly handsome young man with platinum hair and pale blue eyes, carrying the unmistakable air of nobility. Among those sent by Arena, only one matched this description.

Ian smiled and nodded.

“Oh, you know me. As expected of a trading company head.”

“Knowing is money, after all. I apologize for my men’s rudeness. You said Lady Arena sent you?”

Ian nodded lightly.

Odel led them inside, biting his lip in puzzlement. His room was equipped with magic stones that would react if any magical energy was detected nearby, as a precaution against intruders. Yet—

‘It was completely silent. Did they break in without magic?’

That boy?

Odel made a mental note to question his men later and offered Ian the best seat on the sofa.

“Let me get you some tea. What would you like?”

“No need. We’ll be leaving soon.”

“Ah, understood.”

Odel motioned for his men to leave, and they quickly disappeared.

While Hans nervously clutched his satchel, Ian calmly surveyed the room.

“Planning to stay here a while?”

Judging by the entire building rented and the study set up inside, Odel smiled politely.

“I travel all over Gaia. Each place is valuable, so I try to handle as many matters as possible.”

“I heard you’ve been trading magic stones with the Magic Department for quite some time.”

“Yes, about twenty years, I believe. My father started the relationship with the former minister.”

“Is that so? A deep connection, then. I was rude earlier.”

Referring to the state of his men’s faces. Odel waved his hand, jumping to defend them.

“It’s my fault for not training them properly. Please don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you for saying so. Now, to the main point—”

Ian crossed his legs smoothly.

Though a small gesture, Odel felt an inexplicable pressure. Was it because he’d heard Ian was a genius mage? Or because he recognized his noble status? Odel had met all kinds of people traveling the world, but feeling intimidated by a boy like this was unsettling.

“You said you saw a member of the Black Shadow Guild?”

“Yes, well, not exactly saw, but suspected someone. I reported everything to Minister Arena.”

“I’ve been assigned a new investigation. I’d like you to tell me the details again. Are you busy?”

Busy? Even if he were, he’d have to say no. Odel forced a smile and laughed heartily.

“Oh, Mr. Hadel, please don’t say that. It wouldn’t make sense to say you’re busy in front of a busy mage.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Hans rolled his eyes, watching the exchange. There was a slight edge to Ian’s words… or was it just his imagination? Still, why was Ian so natural?

‘Nobles really are different.’

This wasn’t the Ian he usually knew. Even when he heard Ian had fought on the front lines as a mage and earned glory hunting monsters, it was hard to picture. But now, regarding business, he seemed like a completely different person.

Clearing his throat, Odel resumed what he had told Arena.

“So, the Black Shadow Guild isn’t like us traders. They’re more like information brokers.”

“Aren’t they supposed to be a problem-solving group?”

“Ah, yes. They use that information to solve problems, or so they say.”

Odel realized why this young man kept making him repeat what he’d told Arena.

‘He wants to compare.’

To see if what I told Arena was true, or if any parts were fabricated, or if I missed something.

Ian smiled knowingly, resting his chin on his hand, silently urging him to continue.

‘Persistent Magic Department types.’

Odel swallowed his frustration. Though they were his biggest magic stone clients, sometimes they were worse than street thugs—always trying to drive prices down under the pretense of helping Bariel.

“Ahem. I’ve only heard rumors, never met their leader. But once, the Black Shadow Guild approached us near the western region, proposing a magic stone trade for some weapon they were making.”

“What stones did you trade then?”

“Two crates of low-grade Borotal and a mid-grade—”

“Soyfer?”

“Ah, yes, Soyfer. Haha. Anyway, we sold three crates. My men went to pay and pick them up, and I think I saw the same guy here in the city.”

“Sharp eyes.”

“As I said, information is money.”

Odel, a merchant at heart, thought of his job less as selling goods and more as meeting people. Handling large sums of money, he knew that encountering the wrong person was a bigger risk than damaged goods. So, his ability to read people was finely honed.

“Where did you see him?”

“There’s a gambling den not far from here.”

“A gambling den?”

“Yes, it opens at night and closes at dawn. It’s the biggest in the area. All the crazies gather there.”

Ian glanced at Hans, as if asking if he knew the place.

“The one with the red-painted entrance?”

“That’s right.”

Hans had never been inside but knew of its notorious reputation. He cautiously asked,

“I remember it has several entrances.”

“Yes, yes. Since all kinds of gambling happen there, each entrance leads to a different game hall.”

“Which gambling den was it? What did he look like?”

“He had a large mole beside his nose, narrow eyes like this, and missing front teeth. His clothes were ragged, like most around there.”

Hans frowned slightly at Odel’s muttering. Though he no longer lived there, he found the description unpleasant.

Noticing Hans’s mood, Ian turned his gaze to Odel.

“Why the reaction?”

Odel was good at recognizing people but had his biases. Since Ian was a mage and came with him, he assumed this had nothing to do with Lugerspell. Ian shook his head, saying it was nothing.

“Do you know his name?”

“Ah, no. I don’t know that. But his appearance is distinctive, so you’ll recognize him immediately. Catch him and find out about the Black Shadow Guild.”

“Will do. Thanks for the help.”

“Oh, no need to thank me. I owe the Magic Department a lot.”

When Ian said he was done, he stood up, and Odel rose quickly to see him out. Just as Ian opened the door to leave, he suddenly turned back as if remembering something.

“By the way…”

“Yes?”

“I understand your trading company is quite large.”

“Yes, well, not to brag, but we’re not the kind to be easily beaten.”

“Then why set up your base in Lugerspell?”

“…?!”

Odel was caught off guard, speechless. Ian smiled faintly and stepped out.

“See you next time. I look forward to good prices and good goods then.”

“Ah, wait!”

Creak!

As Ian opened the door and left, the men standing outside bowed slightly in greeting. In an instant, the two were gone.

Odel scratched his head irritably, clearly on edge.

“Hey!”

He called over a subordinate whose face was bruised and swollen, demanding an explanation.

“What happened? If they’re mages, they should’ve handled it themselves.”

“Well, they were just kids, so I thought they were talking nonsense. They didn’t show any ID or even tell me their names. When I asked them to show some magic—”

“Show magic? At the middle of Rugerspell in the dead of night?”

And now, seeing the situation, it looked like they were conducting a covert investigation. They should’ve just given a brief report and let me assess the situation! What idiots.

Odel poured himself a heavy drink, trying to calm the fire burning inside him.

“Ian Hadel. That guy… he’s worse than Arena.”

“Huh?”

“Shut up and get lost.”

“…Yes, sir.”

The subordinate snapped his mouth shut and backed away. The two who had just left had already vanished into the darkness.

---

“Ian, what did you mean earlier?”

“About what?”

“Why they set up base in Rugerspell.”

“Oh, that.”

Ian pulled his robe tighter around him and followed Hans. As the alley narrowed, the crowd thickened, jostling them from all sides. Ian explained quietly.

“He’s a drifter all over Gaia, but how big a player do you think Bariel is? Among them, the Magic Department is a major force in the magic stone market. But instead of hanging around the palace or the central district where the big players are, he’s set up shop in Rugerspell—”

Ian lowered his voice every time someone passed by.

“That means he’s got some serious backers on this side of town.”

Illegal dealings. In other words, if you dig too deep, dirt will come out. Or maybe he’s hiding from something that keeps him from showing his face in the center—like a lawsuit or some other trouble.

Either way, the point was clear: he had to stay hidden in the shadows.

“So, just a little warning to be careful.”

Later, when dealing in magic stones, they might be able to get a better price or call in favors when needed. It was also a bit of payback for Hans’s earlier slip of the tongue.

“Oh, I see.”

Hans nodded, pleased to have learned something new. He gestured toward a building not far off.

“That’s the place.”

“Right.”

The crowd grew thicker. It seemed like everyone who planned to spend the night in Rugerspell had gathered. They were drunk on booze and the thrill of gambling, shouting and laughing loudly.

“Man, that guy’s a real tough nut.”

“Who? The redhead?”

“Yeah, even when he got beaten up, he didn’t flinch. I’m worried I might run into him next time.”

“Still, no way. He’s just got a strong constitution.”

Ian caught snippets of their conversation as he made his way toward the gambling den.