Chapter 25

The two stopped after walking for a little while.
After passing shops owned by the Quantums Merchant House, they stood in a place familiar to Serpens.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I would come back here.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. You don’t really want to return to a place with bad memories.”
“You did a good deed and were treated as a criminal, so that makes sense.”
“That has nothing to do with the bad memories. The problem is that my money was taken.”
“…….”

Serpens looked around.
Toward the alley where the child he had saved a few days ago had been.
Fortunately, he didn’t hear the same ominous sounds as then.

Step. Step.

Then came the sound of people’s footsteps.
A fair number of people came out of a building and approached the two.

“A very precious guest has arrived.”

A middle-aged voice sounded softly.

“Welcome, Lord Lucas. Thank you for visiting our Quantums Merchant House.”

His voice was natural and smooth, like clear spring water flowing from somewhere deep.

“I apologize for the matter with the guards. That was the only way to bring you here, Lord Lucas.”

He was a blond man with an attractive, refreshing smile, and yet that smile felt out of place.

‘I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere…….’

For some reason, his face was familiar to Serpens.

“……Huh?”

The reason could be found very close by.

“Lucas. The person who took my money is that blond-haired woman behind that man.”
“…….”

Lucas glanced at the woman.
An angular nose and snow-white skin. Eyes shining with confidence.
Neat but expensive-looking clothes, and the attitude others showed toward her.
She was most likely a daughter of the Quantums family.

“Huhu. My daughter is quite beautiful, is she not? She has grown up well, both in appearance and ability, and I am simply grateful.”

The man, noticing Lucas’s gaze, spoke.

“…….”

Lucas didn’t answer, but the man smiled as if he didn’t mind.

“Haha. My introduction was late. I am the head of the Quantums Merchant House, Marl Quantums. How about we discuss the details inside?”

Serpens was uncomfortable in lavish spaces.

Inside Marl Quantums’ residence.
The room the boy had entered was luxurious to the point of extravagance.

Expensive jewels displayed here and there, splendid paintings and ornaments decorating the walls, and even a carpet soft enough for his feet to sink into.

It felt far too excessive.
The boy stroked the sofa he was sitting on with his fingertips and sighed inwardly.

‘Some people are in danger of freezing to death every night, while others live this lavishly.’

Serpens shook his head. Seeing this place made him feel as though he had lost where he belonged.
In the environment he had been born into, survival came first, and enjoying such excessive luxury was something he could not even imagine.

The boy tried not to look at the ornaments around him and listened to the conversation beside him.

“……By the way, I was quite surprised when I heard news of you, Lord Lucas. When you suddenly vanished three years ago, I thought you would never return.”
“It seems you know something about me.”
“I suppose I know a little more than others. I am a merchant, after all.”

Marl smiled softly and continued.

“On the day you came to have an audience with His Majesty the emperor, Lord Lucas, I happened to see you while inspecting my merchant house’s shops.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes. But I did not recognize you at a glance. If your steps had not been heading toward the emperor, I might still not have realized it even now.”

Just as he said, Marl had not recognized Lucas at a glance.

Three years ago.
When Lucas stopped appearing on the battlefield.
The people of the Oratio Empire had been gripped by anxiety at the news of defeats that reached them.

That the Sword Saint had died on the battlefield, or that he had received a huge sum of money and defected to another empire.
All sorts of rumors had passed from mouth to mouth.
Until then, the person called ‘Lucas Liberator’ had been known to the world only as the Sword Saint, and almost no specific description of his appearance was known.
Only the rumors that he used a greatsword and possessed strength beyond the limits of a human had spread.

‘I nearly missed a major figure.’

Marl had been able to recognize Lucas thanks to an old memory and a little luck.
When he had been a boy.
He had once visited the imperial court with Roy Quantums, the head of the merchant house at the time.

‘He told me to remember at least the man with the greatsword.’

Roy Quantums had told his son about the man named Lucas whom they had met there.
And as they left the imperial court, he had told him to remember that man, if no one else.
He had also told him that if a great crisis ever came someday, he should find that man.

Even now, over twenty years later, Marl Quantums still remembered and believed his father’s words in detail.
That was the kind of person he was.

“It is also true that I was unsure.”

Marl smiled and pointed to his neatly trimmed beard.

A lot of time has passed, and both you and I have changed a great deal, Lord Lucas.
“……Changed.”

Lucas mulled over Marl’s words inwardly.
Since five years ago, when he lost his family, he had begun growing out his hair and beard.
Because of that change, it was true that even fewer people recognized him.

“The Quantums family is impressive. Over the past three years, the number of people who recognized me could be counted on one hand.”
“Haha. Thank you. Excellent discernment and quick wit are essential virtues for a merchant.”
“……So. What did you want to say to me badly enough to mobilize the guards?”
“I have made a precious guest sit through too long a preface. Before making my request, I would like to speak of the compensation first.”
“Compensation?”

Marl looked toward the door and called someone.
Soon, a servant entered and brought a sheet of pure white paper and a pen.
He placed them before Lucas and spoke.

“Whatever you write on this paper, I will make it happen. Of course, only things the Quantums Merchant House can do.”
“…….”
“Please don’t look at me as if you are looking at a swindler. The things our merchant house can do are more diverse than you imagine. We could let you live the rest of your life without worrying about money, or we could find treasures handed down only in legends. Though it would take time.”

At those words, Serpens’s eyes widened for a moment, but he soon gathered himself.
Because he knew this was not a situation for him to interfere.

“Compensation is not what I want to know about.”

Lucas cut him off coldly.

“Please answer my question first. What did you want to say to me so badly that you went as far as mobilizing the guards, Mr. Marl Quantums?”

For an instant, Marl’s smile stiffened.
He was a man who had never lost his smile before street thugs, high-ranking nobles, other races, or even kings.
Such a man began to grow tense at the cold voice directed at him.

‘Petty tricks won’t work on him.’

After thinking for a moment, Marl asked.

“……Lord Lucas. Do you perhaps know someone named Muto Mariposa?”
“That is the first time I have heard that name.”
“Well, I roughly expected as much. That woman began becoming an obstacle around this time last year.”
“……I am sorry, but I do not do hired work like that.”
“What? Contract work? It’s nothing like that.”

Marl reached out and picked up the paper and pen placed before Lucas.
His hand quickly wrote something.
After a little time passed, Marl handed the written paper to Lucas.

“It has become a little long. Please understand that I am conveying it in writing, just in case.”

Lucas nodded and began reading the writing.

[ According to what I have heard recently, talk of rebellion has begun to be heard from inside the imperial court. I do not yet know the exact facts either. However, I am certain that it will be a rebellion for the selfish desires of high-ranking nobles. With the exception of a very small few, the people live in gratitude to the current emperor. A rebellion for selfish desire is bound to bring a bloodbath. As a citizen of the empire, as the owner of the Quantums Merchant House, and as a husband and father, I cannot tolerate such a bloodbath. Therefore, Lord Lucas, will you find that traitor? ]

Riiip-

“……!”

Lucas silently tore the paper.
In half, then in half again, and finally into even smaller pieces.

Then he handed the torn pieces to Marl and spoke.

“Please burn these thoroughly and dispose of them. This kind of writing itself can become the beginning of the bloodbath you fear.”
“But Lord Lucas! This information is reliable-”
“Enough.”

Lucas’s voice was firm.
If one judged by his tone alone, it clearly sounded like a refusal.
That was why concern appeared in Marl’s eyes.
But at Lucas’s next words, Marl’s expression brightened again.

“That woman named Muto Mariposa. Is she the noble causing the problem?”
“……! No. She is a noble, yes, but the reason Muto Mariposa is a problem is because she is a Sword Master.”
“A Sword Master?”
“Yes. She is a genius who reached the realm of Master at the age of twenty-three. She is also a woman who might become the empire’s new star in just a few years.”

Lucas searched his memory.
But the name Muto Mariposa was new to him.

‘Did he say last year?’

That made sense.
At that time, because of other matters, he had had no time to pay attention to the empire.

“I would think it is a good thing that the empire has produced a talent.”
“It would be good if she were a talent of the empire. But the problem is that she is someone else’s talent.”
“…….”

Silence lingered for a moment.

Seureuk.

Lucas slowly rose from his seat.
Marl looked up at him.
He showed a bitter smile.

“I leave it in your hands, Lord Lucas.”
“……Serpens. Let’s go.”
“Understood.”

Clatter.

The two left the room.

‘Please, let Father’s judgment have been right.’

Marl let out a long breath and leaned back against the sofa.
He had not lied.
Both outwardly and inwardly, cracks were forming in Oratio.

Catastrophe was approaching.
He simply didn’t know when that crisis would come, or in what form.
Therefore, whether they could overcome the crisis or not depended on one person.
How much Lucas would trust his words. Marl believed everything depended on that.

“What do you think? Do you think Lord Lucas will believe me?”

Marl asked the servant standing quietly.
The servant couldn’t answer.
What were the chances that Lucas would believe the claim that a rebellion was being prepared inside the empire?
Especially when those words had come not from the emperor or a noble, but merely from a merchant’s mouth.
It was a story even she, who had spent her whole life by this man’s side, couldn’t believe.

She could not speak the truth.
But she could not tell a lie either.
Desperation showed in Marl’s eyes as he looked at her.
Because she didn’t know how to deal with that pleading gaze, she remained silent.

“That was a difficult question. Well, it’s fine. We only need to make preparations in our own way.”
“I will have them prepared.”
“Please do.”