Chapter 105

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Lucky]

Chapter 105

Bang!

A loud explosion echoed.

The man, who had been rolling around with a woman, sprang up in surprise.

"W-what the hell!?"

As he stepped outside, he saw thick black smoke rising from the direction of the village.

His comrade, who had been next door, also rushed out, startled.

"It’s coming from the village!"

"Damn it, just when things were getting good."

They hastily threw on their clothes and headed towards the village.

They saw the villagers descending towards them.

"Hey, Village Chief, who gave you permission to leave the village—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the man staggered to the side.

Splat!

His body was sliced in half, killing him instantly.

His comrade's eyes widened in shock at the sudden death.

But he too, met the same fate.

They were the ones tasked with monitoring Flovin Village.

They weren’t natives of the Sun Clan, just hired mercenaries.

That’s why their surveillance was so sloppy.

At that moment.

A priest in a certain temple was praying when he suddenly opened his eyes.

“The Oblivion Aura has vanished?”

The priest had been assigned the duty of maintaining the Oblivion Aura connected to the continent.

"If it's from the Hatzfeld side... Could it be Flovin Village?"

The priest frowned deeply.

The Oblivion Aura, which had been perfectly connected, was severed.

Even the energy from other areas became unstable.

“It’s a secluded place where no one should have discovered anything....”

The priest paused to sense the Oblivion Aura.

He thought perhaps it might reconnect.

But no matter how long he waited, the Oblivion Aura did not return.

After a day passed, the priest stood up from his seat.

"I should report this to the Bishop."

The priest moved swiftly.

He entered a grand temple, not the small shrine where he had been.

Many priests were praying inside.

At the very front.

He cautiously approached an elderly man with his hands clasped and eyes closed.

"The Oblivion Aura has been severed."

The old man slowly opened his eyes.

"Where?"

"Flovin Village in Hatzfeld."

"It's not one of our priests' praying sites, then."

"What should we do?"

"We must send followers to investigate."

"I'll take action immediately."

"There are many who defy the will of the gods."

"Those who defy the will of the gods will face divine retribution. Do not worry too much."

“But why are you here?” Kane asked.

“Oh! I’ve brought some incredible news!” Gillip’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

There was only one thing that made Gillip look like that: money.

* * *

The Temporary Headquarters of the black crow exchange.

Next to the mill stood a large building that hadn’t been there before. It seemed Gillip had built it while Kane was away. Though it wasn’t as lavish as the one in Philaec, it was still furnished with much more expensive items than before.

“You’ve been dealing with a lot of money, I see,” Kane remarked.

“All thanks to you, my lord. Hehe,” Gillip chuckled as he handed over a stack of documents.

“What’s this?” Kane asked.

“It’s the supply contract for KaraShi, of course.”

[Tl/N: Kane’s Jewellery brand.]

It wasn’t just one stack of papers; it was a whole pile of them—all transaction proposals. No wonder Gillip was so thrilled.

“The jewelry you created has taken the Fresia Empire by storm!” Gillip exclaimed.

“So, that’s why you’re sitting on a pile of money now?” Kane replied.

“Well, I’ve always had plenty of money, but these jewels have certainly helped,” Gillip admitted.

It was true. Gillip had always been wealthy. The underworld of Philaec was under his control, and he had amassed a fortune selling information. Gillip was wealthier than most nobles.

“So, are you excited because of these proposals?” Kane asked.

Gillip suddenly grabbed Kane’s hand, his eyes filled with desperation.

“Please, my lord, trust me and sign these proposals.”

“Why should I?”

“This is a golden opportunity. We might even surpass the TianCo brand!”

TianCo was a luxury brand that specialized in jewelry, furniture, and equipment. It was particularly dominant in the jewelry sector. Nobles of all ages felt it was a must-have brand, and even in Rehinar, there were TianCo furnishings. The brand was famous across the continent.

The idea of catching up to TianCo was indeed a rare opportunity.

“And if I refuse?” Kane asked.

“You can’t refuse!” Gillip shot to his feet, his composure slipping in his surprise at Kane’s suggestion. He quickly cleared his throat.

“Ahem, my apologies, my lord. I was just taken aback.”

“Why would you oppose it? I’m the supplier, and I said no.”

Kane observed Gillip’s reaction closely. He knew exactly what was going through Gillip’s mind. Using the black crow exchange’s information network, Gillip had heavily promoted KaraShi’s jewelry. As a result, the jewelry had gained far more popularity than anticipated, to the point where even the most stubborn nobles were begging to buy it.

‘He must have realized that this KaraShi jewelry could become a powerful weapon,’ Kane thought.

Why do nobles indulge in luxury? It’s to flaunt their wealth and status. That’s why so many people are obsessed with luxury items. In that sense, KaraShi’s jewelry perfectly met the nobles’ demands, making it only natural for them to be eager to get their hands on it.

“Currently, Rehinar’s sources of income are limited. As the territory develops, maintenance costs will increase. We’ll need to recruit more soldiers, and money will be in short supply. The only way to solve this is through the KaraShi supply contracts,” Gillip explained.

As expected of the leader of the black crow exchange, his calculations were spot on.

The revenue from grain produced on farmland was insufficient, and the same went for commerce.

Unless they sold elemental stones regularly, their profits would remain limited.

The taxes collected from the residents were far too little to cover the operating costs. Kane had been covering all these expenses out of his own pocket. But without billions of gold, Rehinar’s territory would eventually go bankrupt. Developing another source of income was crucial.

However, Kane didn’t grant Gillip what he wanted so easily.

“Do you think I’m saying no because I don’t understand its value?” Kane’s smile widened, and for a moment, Gillip felt a surge of anxiety.

'Damn it, where on earth does he keep getting his money from? Did he secretly hide a gold mine somewhere or what?' It was driving Gillip crazy. That unsettling smile—it wasn’t based on empty confidence. It felt as though Kane had some hidden ace up his sleeve. He acted as if losing all these supply contracts wouldn’t be a loss at all.

'Is this what it’s come to? Do I really have to stoop this low?' Gillip had a brief moment of self-pity but quickly dismissed it.

'No, this is necessary! These contracts are worth a fortune. Even selling premium information won’t bring in as much money consistently.' The profits skimmed from the distribution chain were significant. If Kane just signed all these contracts...

'I’ll be one of the wealthiest men alive. I might even gain a title like Count Dyer.' Every merchant’s ultimate goal was to emulate Count Dyer, a man born a commoner who became the first merchant to earn a count's title. He had even aimed for a marquessate—before Kane had killed him.

Despite his demise, Count Dyer remained a legendary figure among merchants. That’s why securing these supply contracts was a must.

“What do I need to do to get you to sign all these documents?” Gillip asked, his expression resolute. He looked as though he had staked everything on this moment.

Kane dropped a bombshell right in Gillip’s face.

“Give me your last resort—the Elemental Stone Mine.”

“The Mana mine, you mean?” Gillip replied cautiously.

“No, the Blood Mana Stone Mine. The one you’ve been hiding so well.”

[Tl/N: Mana stones that have blood mana in them. NOT Stars, stars are the rarest purest form of mana stone. These are obviously normal ones.]

Gillip’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the mention of the Blood Magic Stone Mine.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Lucky]