Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 170

170

Is this really the South?

“Welcome, Young Master Zion Claussen.”

Zion visited the Haines Merchant Guild ostensibly for trade between the guild and the Claussen territory.

Helen, the guild leader, greeted him with a subtle but distinct smile, a warmth she didn’t often extend to others.

Zion didn’t quite grasp the reason, but those who regularly assisted Helen noticed the slight change and exchanged subtly curious glances between her and Zion.

“Have you been well?

It seems as busy as ever here.”

“Hehe.

Even if I’m busy, can it compare to you, Young Master?

I heard rumors that you headed somewhere else as soon as you returned from the North.”

“You seem to have fished out information from somewhere again?”

“There’s that, and also, as you instructed, I was carefully watching the South when an incident occurred. I immediately suspected you would head there, Young Master Zion.”

Helen said this and suggested they talk in a private room prepared for him.

Zion nodded and followed her into the guild leader’s office.

“More importantly, I received your request.

The goods heading to the Claussen territory, specifically the food, were redirected to the North, as you asked.”

“Yes.

To be precise, it’s a gift for the northern barbarian tribes.”

“…Is that alright?”

Helen asked with concern.

Her worry was quite valid; in this world, food was a crucial weapon and, in essence, power.

If they continued to provide food to the northern barbarian tribes, and the tribes suddenly started a war, it would be seen as aiding the enemy, an act punishable by death.

“I already secretly reported this matter when I was in the North.

Above all, there’s no disagreement that the barbarian tribes have been harmed and become more aggressive due to the foolish actions of the kingdom’s northern nobles, so they deserve appropriate compensation.

However, if the kingdom officially bears that burden, there’s the issue of pride, and the barbarian tribes might think they are superior, so I decided to give it as a ‘gift’.

So, you don’t have to worry.”

“…In that case, wouldn’t you be at a financial loss, Young Master, if we only consider the monetary aspect?”

“Perhaps.

But overall, there are benefits too.

Business isn’t always about taking only visible profits, right?

It’s more accurate to see it as an investment for the future rather than a loss.”

At Zion’s words, Helen nodded slightly, studying the man before her.

Frankly, Helen still didn’t fully understand Zion’s true nature.

Until just a year ago, Zion Claussen was rumored to be nothing more than a spoiled young master coasting on his family’s name, or even a reckless fool.

Then, suddenly, that man transformed and is now hailed as a war hero and the kingdom’s rising star.

Even more surprising, it wasn’t just a facade created by public praise.

‘An investment for the future rather than an immediate loss…’

Even she, a seasoned merchant, couldn’t help but hesitate when faced with an immediate loss.

Even she, who judged money matters more rationally and coldly than anyone else.

But Zion cleanly redirected the trade money he was supposed to receive to the North without any conditions.

It wouldn’t be so bad if it were for trade, but it’s just a gift.

“…Then I will also consider what I did as an investment for the future, and as a gift for you, Young Master, I won’t charge you separately.”

“Hmm?”

“The news from the South, I mean.

Right after the incident, I focused more on gathering information than running the guild, and I was able to collect quite a bit.”

At Helen’s words, Zion exclaimed, “Oh ho.”

As expected of her, who used to assist the radical pointy-eared bastards [derogatory term for elves], she seemed to have a fairly extensive information-gathering network even now that she had cut ties with them.

‘It’s just a guild, but the amount of information they gather is comparable to the royal palace.

Wow… Money really can do anything, huh?

Hail capitalism, damn it.’

Buying information that could be useful, and also buying those who are close to information with money.

Parallelly using threats and even greater persuasion, she continues to increase and spread informants until she reaches the desired information.

This is why Zion was trying to bring the Haines Merchant Guild, and Helen, over to his side.

“You are probably aware that pirates are rampant.”

“Yes.

The meetings at the royal palace were all because of that.”

“Their appearance was too fast.

I thought we had wiped them out cleanly, but they gathered sailors and even ships too quickly.”

As Zion nodded, Helen began to tell him about the current situation, which Zion couldn’t have known because it only existed in the novel’s setting.

“Recently, there have been unsavory incidents at Nudia’s port cities and naval bases.”

“Unsavory incidents?”

“They’re keeping it quiet, but it seems ships or warships have been hijacked.

But the strange thing is, even if it’s reported, it’s all blocked at a certain point, and instead, rumors spread that they are in poor condition and undergoing dismantling.”

“…The reality?”

“Even if I don’t know other things, one thing is certain.

A warship that wasn’t built long ago has disappeared.

And immediately after, pirates reappeared in southern Hispania.”

He knows that the reappearance of the pirates involves the fairies and fanatics who are followers of the Celestial race. [Celestial race: a group of powerful beings often associated with magic and divine influence]

But it was news to him that Nudia was also involved, and if Nudia was secretly helping them nationally, it would be a major setback.

“Is Nudia backing them?”

“I don’t think so.

Even if they did, giving away their own warships would endanger their own coastline.

In my opinion, someone is pulling strings within Nudia.”

At those words, Zion rubbed the back of his neck as if he roughly expected it.

At this point, Nudia’s royal family has almost been taken over by fairies and Celestial race followers, and nobles who have noticed something strange are struggling to drive them out.

Perhaps the part that Helen found out was also an act of secretly embezzling Nudia’s national assets without Nudia’s knowledge.

“Do you know anything about the pirates’ base?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have information on that part.

No matter how much I try to bribe them, I need to make contact to do anything, but it’s hard to even find a shadow.”

“That’s true.

They mainly operate at sea in the first place.”

It was Zion’s reaction that he fully understood.

Helen smiled at that and immediately opened her mouth.

“But, it’s not like I have no information at all.”

“Hmm?”

“I told you I was gathering information up to Nudia, right?

A name that was constantly emphasized there was discovered, so I secretly investigated it.

And as a result, I was able to infer that the man was somehow involved in the pirates’ reappearance.”

At Helen’s words, Zion’s eyes flashed, and he looked at her expectantly.

Seeing his eagerness, she felt a little better and cleared her throat.

“I was originally going to give you the information for free, but seeing how happy you are makes my merchant instincts come back to life, Young Master.”

“Oh dear, I made a mistake in front of the guild leader.

Alright, how much do you want?”

“Hmm… I wonder?”

Helen smiled slightly and deliberately tilted her head, stalling for time.

‘Why is this woman suddenly like this?’ He was about to worry if she was really going to ask for a lot of money.

“The Myo Eun tribe girl, ah.

She must be fully grown by now.

Is she doing well?”

“Lia?”

“Yes.

That’s how I remember her.”

“She’s doing well, right?

Should I say she’s doing too well?”

As she became an adult, the unique temperament of the Myo Eun tribe became much stronger.

She only shows a soft and gentle side in front of her mate and her allies, but even if a slightly unfamiliar person appears, she immediately makes a wary cry and is ready to throw a cat punch right away.

For reference, if you get hit by Lia’s cat punch now, you might experience a terrifying event where your skin is torn off.

“And that… the demon too is doing well.”

“If you’re talking about Lilith, yes.

But why are you suddenly asking about that?”

‘I was just curious, and envious.’

Helen reflexively tried to answer that way, but she shut her mouth tightly and shook her head.

Looking at the man who seemed not to care at all while having those whom the humans of the continent wanted to keep as far away as possible right next to him, Helen suddenly felt that even she might be able to do it a little, but Helen hardened her heart, saying she should never do that.

“I’m just curious.

I mean, you’re just an ordinary human, Young Master, but you’re living with a demon and a beastkin [humanoid with animalistic features] next to you without any problems.”

“If they were the type to cause accidents, I wouldn’t have brought them with me in the first place.

Above all, they are women who are a great help to me.”

“…What about me?”

Zion looked at Helen with a ‘Huh?’ at the question that suddenly came in.

Of course, Helen herself didn’t even know that such a question would come out of her mouth, and she was flustered.

“What did you just say?”

“Ah, it’s nothing!

I just made a mistake…”

The woman, who didn’t show a single emotion when they first met and was just cold, was gradually revealing her emotions from some point on.

In particular, the time when she saw Lia, hugged her, and cried was the most shocking time for Zion.

‘Thinking about it, Helen is currently at the peak of her womanhood when viewed from a human perspective.’

So, she was kidnapped when she was still a girl and suffered all sorts of terrible things.

Afterwards, she was abandoned by the Kashgar family and her own people, and she suffered again.

“You’re the same, Helen Haines.”

“Yes?”

“You were helpful.

I’m saying it very clearly.

It’s too insignificant to call it gratitude, but I’ll treat you to a meal, so make some time if you hear the news that the pirates in the South have been dealt with.”

At Zion’s words, Helen stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding.

Then, she suddenly grabbed her head and shook it off before opening her mouth.

“Jack Sparrow.”

“Jack Sparrow?”

“He seems to be the leader of the pirates who have resurfaced this time.

At first, his name was mentioned quite actively, but at a certain point, it disappeared.

It’s not that he died and disappeared, but rather, it’s as if you can’t call that name carelessly anymore.”

“Is there any solid evidence that he’s a pirate?”

“At first, he worked as a captain of a Hispanian merchant ship, and then he served in the navy.

However, he was dismissed from the navy and even punished due to a conflict with his superior, and he became penniless.”

“There are enough grudges.

But that’s not enough.”

As if she knew he would say that, Helen mentioned the part about Nudia’s warship disappearing earlier.

“One of the newest sailing ships has also disappeared.

But there is information that he was seen near that warship shortly before it disappeared, and there is also news that those who were on guard duty nearby frequented bars with him.”

“…It’s suspicious.

A guy who was loitering around the newest type of sailing ship.”

If he was a guy who coveted even the newest sailing ship, then the probability that he was the boss was very high.

Because a fast and sturdy ship was recognized as the best weapon at sea.

“Is there anything more detailed?”

“It seems like they’ve erased their past actions without anyone knowing, so I’m having a hard time.

What’s certain is that he’s from the kingdom and is a man in his late 30s.”

“Hmm.”

“And he always told those around him to call him ‘Captain’ when they called him…”

“Wait a minute.”

At that moment, a flash of light flashed in Zion’s eyes.

It felt like he had just heard something incredibly important.

“Helen, what did you just say?”

“Yes?

Ah.

A man from the kingdom in his 30s…”

“No, no.

Not that.

What did he say after that?

What did he tell them to call him?”

“Are you talking about that part?

He told them to call him Captain, Captain.”

At those words, Zion felt something sweep through his brain.

‘Am I just reacting sensitively?

Could it just be a simple coincidence?’

“…No.

This is not just a coincidence.

There’s definitely something there.”

Although it was later, there was one person who always told them to call him ‘Captain’ when they called him.

Because even his name was not known, Kim Yu-hyun and other readers called him Captain.

‘Seven Wings.’ [Seven Wings: a group of powerful antagonists]

Yes, one of the Seven Wings was definitely called that instead of his name.

With the word ‘Captain’.

“Helen.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“It seems like you’ve caught a big one.”

“…Yes?”

“Think of something appropriate for the price of a big fish.”

Except for Trisha, he had almost given up on the Seven Wings because even their real names had never been revealed.

Zion was happy to think that he might be able to break one of those wings soon.

―――――――Author’s words―――――――

Recommendations are always welcome!

I hope you have a great week!

Be careful of the coronavirus, be careful of the heat wave, and even be careful of typhoons now…

Ha…

There are too many things to be careful of…!