Chapter 51: Casmak (1)

Chapter 51: Casmak (1)

The gentle waves that had washed up on the shore receded, leaving foam behind. The sea was calm.

Carlyn was looking at the coastline. His eyes were squinted due to the sunlight reflecting off the water.

At the age of eighteen, he had grown a little taller and his appearance had matured.

The salt-mixed wind swept through his hair. Carlyn was genuinely pleased by the sea.

This was the first time he had seen the sea in nearly six years, ever since he left Earth.

Gradually, islands came into view over the broad horizon. They were a part of the Western Archipelago he had seen in the game.

There would be more islands further ahead.

Carlyn, Ive secured accommodations. They also mentioned lunch. So, what do you think? Should we set out right away?

No. Weve just arrived today, so lets take it easy for a bit. Our schedule was two days ahead of plan, so lets rest today and start tomorrow.

Alright.

Toun Zaha stood beside Carlyn. The vast sea seemed to enter his chest.

It had been a while since he had seen the sea in the west. The depth of his feelings matched the years he had experienced.

He had been moving with the child who had saved his life two years ago, a journey of half a year.

Carlyn was the leader, and Toun Zaha was under his command.

Always prioritize Carlyns life, no matter the situation.

That was an order given directly by the Chief of Intelligence.

At first, he was taken aback. The child who had saved his life wasnt just seventeen years old.

But that perception changed with his first mission.

Over the six months since he turned eighteen, the judgment and situational awareness the child displayed left him in admiration.

Spies were broadly divided into three categories: field operatives, strategists, and those skilled in both.

Of course, rarely did someone only do one thing, but specialization was inevitable.

Specialized agents were not disrespected, but those who could rise high were the latter.

Carlyn excelled in both.

Thats why the present Toun Zaha fully resonated with the Chief of Intelligences intentions.

Is this your first time seeing the sea?

Yes.

They were on the western coast of the continent, to be precise, slightly north of the western region.

In the southern plains of the western region, adjacent to the Great Forest, were indigenous Westerners like Cedric.

Toun Zaha felt there was something odd in Carlyns laughter when he answered, but he didnt pay much attention to it.

Your awe is natural when you see the sea for the first time. Its a magnificent view. Its been a long time even for me.

How long has it been?

Lets see. Fifteen years? Seventeen years? I cant remember now.

Carlyn felt that Toun Zahas emotionless words carried the weight of his experienced years.

And with that amount of time, it seemed okay to ask what had happened.

What was the mission?

Hmm. Was it to assassinate someone? Or was it an observation? Im not sure. I only remember the sea I saw at that time.

It doesnt seem like it was a particularly difficult mission.

Thats right. If it had been difficult, I would remember it.

Toun Zaha shrugged his shoulders.

But what was annoying was for sure. Ive always disliked the west, then and now.

Carlyn chuckled softly. He could somewhat empathize with that feeling.

The western part of the continent, a place densely populated with a dozen or so minor kingdoms, experienced wars almost daily.

It had been a chaotic region where, over the years, when one kingdom disappeared, another would emerge.

In fact, there had been several times it almost unified. It was external interventions that prevented that.

The Empire and nearby kingdoms joined forces to hinder the unification of the west.

When someone gained the upper hand, the other side would support the opposing side.

Western unification would become another headache.

Moreover, the barbarians residing in the Western Archipelago were a problem. Well, not exactly barbarians.

In Earth terms, they could be likened to ancient Vikings.

With limited resources in the archipelago, they resorted to raiding neighboring kingdoms.

The chaotic situation in the West prevented any action against this.

Territories change even after a few years. Its a headache for someone like me.

But youre well aware of it.

Its annoying, thats why. You should reach my age and see. Its a pain.

Carlyn understood his sentiment. Even within the Haisen Intelligence Bureau, the West was the most avoided region.

There were just too many changes, and it was tiring.

Naturally, when taking on missions that required blending in with the locals, how much information had to be taken into account?

How did this complex regions history unfold? What were the sentiments of the locals?

Fortunately, this time he had come as a mercenary. There was absolutely no room for suspicion.

The current continent-wide mercenary force was under Godfathers command in the West.

He almost wondered if he had brought it up for no reason. He had prepared some excuses, but it seemed like something he could have done on his own.

Lets go for now. Ill look into it.

* * *

Toun Zaha had no trouble tracking down the whereabouts of Rodri, as it turned out.

He was more well-known than I had initially thought. Simply by giving a few coins to a wandering orphan in the market, I was able to gather information.

Anyway, the Casmak Rodri I was searching for wasnt the one I found. However, the connection was clear: Josh Rodri, the elder brother of Casmak Rodri.

The Rodri family.

A household of about 15 members, including both family and relatives, running a tavern by the docks.

I didnt expect them to be such a large family.

The reason the thugs mentioned the Rodri family was simple. Those who had been focused on fishing were now encroaching on their territory through recent smuggling activities.

In places already struggling with chaos and poor security, it was only natural for such factions to emerge.

The Rodri family were newcomers to such activities.

The situation seems promising.

I had come here to find potential individuals or groups for cooperation.

With Casmak Rodris presence, the Rodri family was sure to rise. I was confident about the future. The Casmak Rodri I had seen was alone.

Viewed from a different angle, this was an opportunity to build a connection with Casmak, potentially even a patronage if I could ensure the safety of his family in the future.

This mission might conclude faster than I had anticipated.

It shouldnt be a problem to persuade Toun.

These were individuals starting their own criminal organizations, believing in the power of Casmak Rodri.

But naturally, this fell within the expertise of professionals like us.

There probably wouldnt be much trouble in recruiting the Rodri family. There were no concerns from that direction.

After all, I knew Casmak, the ruler of the Western Islands.

He valued promises and loyalty.

Looking at the bigger picture, this was an opportunity to establish a connection with the practical ruler of the Western Islands.

I should meet with him before discussing this with Toun.

How should I approach this? Honestly, I hadnt even considered meeting Casmak in person.

A straightforward approach might be best, considering Casmaks character.

It took less than 10 minutes to locate Casmaks whereabouts. He was at a tavern owned by the Rodri family, drinking.

As the tavern doorbell jingled, the gazes of those inside fell upon me.

Casmak was seated at the bar. As I approached, the attention of the patrons shifted toward me.

At 22, Casmak appeared much younger than he did in the game. Of course, it was only his face that looked that way.

Despite being seated, Casmaks height of 195cm made him taller than me when I stood.

His long hair was tied back, reaching his shoulders. A tattoo adorned the shaved side of his head.

Casmak Rodri, right?

Why do you ask like that?

Im someone whos here to offer you a proposition that could benefit you. Im interested in discussing a business venture with you.

So, youre the one whos been asking around about the Rodri family.

Casmak smirked and leaned back, his hand resting behind him. The tavern buzzed with noise once again.

I was slightly surprised.

Was I attracting more attention in this neighborhood than I thought? Or perhaps, the kid could be connected to Rodris.

Leave, kid. This place isnt for little brats like you to play mercenary games. Its where the sea men unwind.

As I stared in silence, Casmak placed a hefty hand on my shoulder.

When youre in a better mood. Should I really consider someone who looks like theyre not even twenty trying to dig into our business and then suddenly wanting to talk about ventures?

I would think its natural to be curious.

Do we seem like a joke to you?

Well, I dont know about me, but arent you the one treating me like a joke?

Casmaks grip on my shoulder tightened. It was surprisingly painful, as if I was dealing with a boss-level character.

I grabbed his hand with my right hand, countering the strength. There was a brief moment of power struggle. Casmak seemed a bit surprised.

Youll have to listen to understand what I mean by those words.

Fair enough. I might have underestimated you a bit.

Casmak let out a wry smile, an intriguing expression on his face. I seemed to have passed the initial test.

An intrigued gaze swept over me.

Another round here.

Casmak signaled to the tavern owner while still in that position. Soon enough, a glass of strong liquor was placed in front of me.

His eyes gestured towards the glass. It wasnt a standoff or anything. As I lifted the glass and took a sip, the warmth flowed down my throat.

However, before that, I should confirm if youre even worth my time.

Consider me intrigued. How?

Im in the process of finding someone.

Casmak whispered in a lower tone, catching me off guard. I smiled and inquired. This was my area of expertise.

It wont take long. Whats the name?