Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Unfair Contract (1)

#22

“You’re talking about the White Silver Pine Merchant Group I know right? By any chance a company whose name is subtly different like ‘Bek’ Silver Pine···”

“It is that White Silver Pine everyone knows. Hard to believe right. Since I only showed such a shabby appearance.”

Leodorn made a bitter smile.

Bran did not particularly deny it.

The White Silver Pine Merchant Group was a large merchant group that made a name not only in Valkeros but even in the capital.

There was a considerable distance from two shabby mules and an old wagon, and the old man driving it.

“However it is true. Will you look at this?”

Saying that Leodorn took something out from the back pocket of his pants.

It was a thin and flat metal plate like a real-world credit card.

On the surface made of pure silver a single straight pine tree was engraved.

Below it was written ‘White Silver Pine Merchant Group Managing Director, Leodorn Belmaier’

“This damn. It’s real.”

Bran’s eyes widened.

Too surprised a curse came out.

The proof plaque of the White Silver Pine executives also appears as an item in the game.

An item made by processing pure silver with magic embedded as a whole, truly suitable for an executive of a giant merchant group.

Leodorn shook his head as if complicated.

“Huu··· a symbol of the brilliant past. Although now the effect has run out and it’s useless for anything.”

“What happened?”

“I was framed by one of the same executives. I was covered with all sorts of crimes including accounting corruption. The merchant group lord believed me, but in the end I was expelled by a majority vote.”

It was something that could happen even in reality.

Kale was also listening to his words with clenched fists as if interesting.

Suddenly Leodorn gestured toward the cargo area.

“But an opportunity came to me too. It’s those guys right there.”

“Those boxes? What’s inside?”

“I can’t tell you now. Just I’ll say it’s my trump card that will overturn everything. If only that exists not only returning to the executives, but I can cause a big wind in the market.”

It was a voice full of confidence.

He seemed to know the reason he despaired so much when stuck in the swamp.

If he had known it would be like this should he have secretly opened it once?

He had thought it was at best dried fruit or salt.

“Anyway now I’ll say the main point. I am scheduled to attend the White Silver Pine Merchant Group general meeting held in fifteen days. Until then will you protect my safety?”

“You mean guard?”

“Yes. If the rumor that I returned to Valkeros spreads the guy who expelled me and his faction will surely commission assassination. I hired escorts by squeezing the nonexistent situation but··· as you also know Bran it didn’t go well.”

It was not a level of not going well.

Those two were fanatics who tried to offer the client as a sacrifice.

Leodorn clasped Bran’s hand.

“Please. I will never make my reward insufficient. With your skills I think this old man can put his mind at ease and devote himself to work.”

“Still there is professionalism, wouldn’t it be better to obtain in the city?”

“Valkeros is the headquarters of White Silver Pine. Even if I somehow gather money and hire mercenaries I cannot rule out the possibility they are the enemy’s subordinates.”

“That’s true.”

“Please think about it. If things go well nothing needs to be said, even if the meeting result is unsatisfactory I will greatly take care of your share.”

He was not lying.

There were wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, but fierce fighting spirit was burning in the pupils inside.

Fifteen days.

After pondering for a moment Bran opened his mouth.

“Um. As expected that long seems hard.”

“Huuuk!”

Leodorn froze.

Pitiful but nothing could be done. Bran had not come to Valkeros to play either.

Besides spec-up he had the mission of blocking the first event heading toward destruction.

However.

“Instead, I can introduce escorts suitable for the uncle.”

“Um?”

“A very reliable friend. The skill is of course certain.”

He could guarantee it.

Because it was information based on knowledge as a gamer.

Meeting him was also one of the goals of visiting Valkeros.

Leodorn sighed.

“Huuu··· if possible I wanted to ask you. Then will you introduce that friend?”

“Of course. Let’s go meet as soon as we enter the city.”

“Thank you. Of course I will reward so don’t worry.”

Leodorn smiled.

While traveling together for two months he felt it, he was a really decent grandfather.

Somehow dignity was felt in between living, to think he was such a big shot.

“Friend···.”

Kale muttered to himself while biting his lower lip but Bran did not hear.

They arrived in Valkeros only when the next morning came.

Beyond the wall the tip of the Steel Tower was visible.

In front of the giant gate peddlers hoping for entry were lined up in a row.

Kale’s eyes opened round.

“Th-that what? Monster?”

Bran moved his gaze following his finger.

A steel giant larger than an average wagon was pacing while holding a pillar-like spear.

Aha, seeing after a long time.

“Steel Sentinel. A magic golem that guards Valkeros.”

“Golem··· you say?”

“Yes. An existence created by the combination of Valkeros’s steel and the empire’s magic engineering. If you do nonsense those will come running with a thud and catch you.”

“Hiiik.”

The preemptively scared Kale hid behind Bran’s back.

The first time seeing it makes sense.

I was also shocked when I first saw it while playing the game.

“Don’t be scared. Usually people come. Those are ultimately preparing for emergency situations.”

“Phew··· I see. I should go carefully carefully.”

Kale sighed in relief.

He did not bother to say that later he might have a chase with them.

The line decreased faster than expected.

Under bright lighting like an interrogation room, the gatekeeper blocked the group.

“Stop. Please state your name and purpose of visit.”

“Leodorn Belmaier. I returned for trade.”

“Leodorn? Somewhere··· huk.”

It was then.

The gatekeeper who had been scanning Leodorn up and down opened his mouth in astonishment.

“My god, isn’t it Director Leodorn?”

“I was called that too.”

“As expected my eyes were not wrong. Really long time no see. But how···!”

The gatekeeper could not finish the words and was dumbfounded.

He doesn’t know when he last saw him, but there would be a considerable difference from then.

Leodorn instead of answering only made a bitter smile.

Fortunately the gatekeeper was not a person without any tact.

“E-excuse me. I received a lot of help from the foundation the director made. Thanks to that my daughter could go to university.”

“That’s a good thing. Can I pass now?”

“Aah, of course. The people behind?”

“They are my friends. Please introduce yourselves simply everyone.”

Leodorn gestured.

Bran and Kale stepped forward and revealed their identities.

“I’m Bran.”

“K-Kale!”

“Yes. Identity confirmation completed. All three may pass.”

The gatekeeper nodded.

The Steel Sentinel blocking the gate stepped aside.

Leodorn raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t it end too quickly?”

“Since it’s Lord Leodorn and his friends this much is sufficient. By any chance do you have the intention of causing an accident?”

“Hehe, no way. Thank you for the consideration.”

Exchanging light jokes, Leodorn pulled the reins.

The wagon exited the gate. The city’s lights poured over the three people’s heads.

Soon, confirming that Bran’s group had turned the corner and disappeared, the gatekeeper whispered into the transmitter on his collar.

.

.

.

“This is the north gate. Yes. Leodorn has returned.”

****

“Waaa, there are so many people···!”

“I also after a really long time. I didn’t know I would return to Valkeros alive.”

Kale admired.

Leodorn also muttered in a voice soaked in emotion.

An uncountable number of people were passing by them.

On both sides of the road old shops and bars, houses were disorderly positioned.

“This is nothing. If you properly enter the city you’ll faint.”

Bran smiled.

They were wandering the Wrought Iron District located right in front of the gate.

The place where the majority of laborers working in the Steel District stay.

Smoke was rising over the chimneys that rose from each house.

Laborers who finished night work were quietly downing beer in bars with doors wide open.

“Did you just finish too?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

The two men who finished the concise conversation clinked beer glasses.

The residential area where the laborers working in the Steel District, the most insignificant even in Valkeros, stay.

The purpose of the visit was to meet Leodorn’s escort before entering the city.

“By any chance may I ask about the friend who will be my escort? Even simple personal information.”

“Seeing directly would be best. The name is Ilark, a woman.”

“Woman?”

“W-woman?”

Leodorn frowned.

Kale’s ears perked up.

“I’m not discriminating, but still for making an escort it’s a bit··· isn’t it?”

“It’s fine. It’s not that kind of feeling the uncle thinks. If you see in reality you’ll be satisfied.”

“Hmm. I see. There must be a reason Bran recommends.”

Leodorn stroked his beard.

Anyway it was the look that it was a bit untrustworthy.

Looking forward to the reaction when seeing directly.

Approaching to the side, Kale carefully opened his mouth.

“Bran. Were you originally acquaintances with that person?”

“Uum, something like that?”

Bran scratched his chin.

At times like this it’s really awkward.

He can’t talk about the game, and since Leodorn is watching it’s a bit hard to make up that he only heard rumors.

Kale flinched his shoulders.

“Th-that’s sooo. An acquaintance before me.”

“I’ll introduce to you Kale too. A decent person.”

“······I don’t need it.”

“Acting expensive. Because you’re so shy you still haven’t had a relationship once.”

Bran clicked his tongue.

Kale pouted his lips without saying anything and turned his head with a whoosh.

Why is this guy like this again. I want to punch him once.

Walking about ten minutes like that, the street Bran had set as the goal came out.

“Here, it should be somewhere here so let’s look together.”

“Ooh, the banquet alley. Cheap and large amount so I often visited when young.”

Leodorn’s face brightened.

As he said old restaurants were lined along the alley.

Bran tilted his head.

“How does a former White Silver Pine director know that kind of thing?”

“What do you see me as this friend? Even so I was born and raised in the Wrought Iron District.”

“Oh, a self-made rich person.”

This was a bit admirable.

To think a White Silver Pine director is not from a gold spoon.

Well, a glimpse of it was visible in the appearance of screaming while trying to pull the wagon out of the swamp.

“Anyway seems a friend who likes eating. To be in the banquet street not the mercenary guild at this time.”

“Because it’s a person who needs a lot of energy. Please it would be good if not drinking with a side dish.”

“Um? Why is that?”

“The drinking habit is a bit bad. Should I say becomes bold, or becomes aggressive···.”

“Hehe, what did I think. If the drunkenness of a person eating sword rice is that much isn’t it the okay side.”

“No. It’s not that kind of problem···”

Just as Bran was about to say something.

Boooom-!!!

The wall of a restaurant that had been about ten steps ahead shattered and a large man popped out.

Fragments and dust scattered. People who had been coming and going expressionlessly fled in chaos.

“Aaak! Isn’t that the brain?!”

“C-call a doctor!”

“Uup.”

Screams rang out in the fresh morning air.

There were also those who retched or covered the eyes of the person next to them.

The man let out an incomprehensible groan.

“Ugegik. Geuee···.”

His face was deeply caved in enough to put cereal and eat.

Urine was flowing between the legs that were stretched out and convulsing.

Judging from the large sword worn at the waist it was presumed a mercenary.

“Hiiik!”

“Wh-what is this···!”

Kale and Leodorn were astonished.

They had no sense of who could destroy such a terrifying man.

Suddenly, a thoroughly twisted voice rang out from inside the hole the man had popped out from.

“Keuk, a guy who’s nothing··· picking a fight and acting crazy···.”

It was low but definitely a woman’s voice.

Bran spat out a curse.

“Fuck.”

The tone was familiar to the ears.

Moreover just hearing the voice it seemed there was a smell of alcohol.

Just as he was thinking today is not the day so should he come next time.

Boom!

The wall next to the hole the man had popped out from shattered, and a woman who seemed 2m tall walked out.

“Even so there’s no work so I’m dying··· can’t even eat comfortably?”

“Huff.”

Leodorn gasped.

A woman who was unconventional in every way.

Short and disheveled hair was red like boiling blood.

The top was boldly black bikini armor attire.

She had breasts larger than Bran’s head on one side, but because the remaining parts were much more amazing than that it did not catch the eye.

Violent muscles were covering the entire body.

‘Damn. She must bench 1200.’

More amazing than any muscle seen in reality.

The copper-tanned thighs were thicker than Bran’s waist.

The bottom was wearing crude shorts like some Paleolithic relic.

Bran knew that it was an item she made herself because it was hard to find pants that fit on the market.

But what stood out more than all of that was the giant reptile tail hanging below the legs.

If there is a tyranno beastman would it be that kind of feeling?

Crunch! Stepping on the man’s chest the woman shouted in a voice full of resentment.

“Are you looking down on me because I can’t fly despite being a dragon half-blood?! Even so··· keuk! Do I have to be insulted even by a fucker like you?!”

“P-please spare···.”

The man whose face had turned into a bowl sobbed.

Seeing blood on the woman’s fist it seemed the deed done not with a hammer or something but bare hands.

A trembling voice flowed from Leodorn’s mouth.

“Bran. Please say that woman is not it.”

“As expected the big shot of the financial world has good sense. That’s her.”

“God···.”

Leodorn’s face turned pale.

Clearing his throat, Bran gestured toward the woman.

“Miss Ilark. Let’s see me for a bit.”

“Uung? A cute human···.”

Meeting Bran’s eyes the woman downed a liquor barrel.

The appearance of holding a wooden barrel that seemed at least 20 liters with one hand and drinking was fatal.

Gulp! Gulp!

Beer that flowed down the chin was pooling between the abundant breasts.

It was clearly a lewd scene, but right now there was no one who felt that kind of emotion looking at her.

Only awe and fear.

Emptying the liquor barrel at once Ilark removed her mouth and smiled.

“Puhe.”

Her name is Ilark Zarheim.

A dragonblood one of the few on the continent who inherited the blood of the fire dragon Zarheim.

A major NPC of the Valkeros event, and a playable character of Return Road.

“Yes, pretty one.”

Heat was wavering through the gaps of the fangs pointed like a beast.

Crunch! Ilark who threw and smashed the liquor barrel looked down at Bran and growled.

“Who are you to call someone else’s name as you please and act crazy?”

The epithet that comes out in the character selection window is “Destroyer.”