The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 94

80. Joey Johansel

“Pleased to meet you. I am Karyl from the Lavat Guild.”

“Ah, you’re the host of today’s banquet. To be able to meet the prominent nobles of the Istria Three Kingdoms in one place… your skills are truly remarkable.”

“It’s nothing. It’s all thanks to Baron Beryl’s efforts.”

Karyl chuckled softly.

Indeed, although the Three Kingdoms had formed an alliance, it wasn’t easy for nobles from different countries to meet.

Everyone here knew that it was thanks to Baron Beryl’s influence that each country no longer paid much attention to such formalities.

‘Hmm.’

Scanning Joey Johansel, Karyl examined the faces of the people standing behind him.

Heser Mile, the eldest son of the Mile family, who served as the Minister of the Istan Kingdom; Reitas, the second son of a capable merchant from Tvanel; and so on…

Although their nationalities and ages varied, unlike the nobles inside the banquet hall, everyone was familiar to Karyl.

‘Interesting, this man. He’s unexpectedly connected to influential figures?’

Unlike the nobles who enjoyed gossiping inside the banquet hall, the few outside in the garden were much more substantial.

All were capable scions of their families.

Even if they weren’t heirs, they were all outstanding individuals.

‘What I remember is that they are the ones who survived even after the Three Kingdoms fell.’

Conversely…

Karyl’s eyes gleamed as he looked at them.

‘It means these people might also have connections to Wooden Cloud.’

The possibility couldn’t be ruled out.

Initially, Karyl thought of Wooden Cloud as simply a secret organization of the Duchy.

But thinking about it, even though they shared the same family name, they were separate people from the Lurein family after a long time.

‘From now on, I need to break the framework of thinking only within the Duchy. They must be annihilated by the time I establish the Empire. If Wooden Cloud exists without that, it will become a major obstacle in the future Holy War.’

In a situation where just blocking the monsters pouring out of the giant tower of Pharell was overwhelming, if a war between humans were to break out, it would be a shortcut to self-destruction.

‘The scale of the organization might be much larger than I thought.’

Karyl thought as he looked at those with Joey Johansel.

“I heard you developed a property stone mine [a mine producing stones with unique magical properties]. You’ve done a truly remarkable thing.”

“It was just luck. The job of merchants like us is to provide good products and make a profit.”

“You have very impressive eyes for a merchant. Ah, of course, I mean that as a compliment.”

Joey Johansel smiled as he looked at Karyl.

He wondered what kind of light was in those crescent-shaped eyes.

‘I should have Aidan investigate them. They’re the most likely candidates.’

“But why did you choose the Three Kingdoms? There are also the Duchy and the Empire.”

As Karyl walked slowly along the garden path, he opened his mouth when they were some distance from the banquet hall.

“You know well that I am from Tatur [a free city], a free city between the Empire, the Duchy, and the Three Kingdoms. Geographically the most dangerous, but also the safest.”

“Haha, is there anyone among those present here who doesn’t know that?”

“And that it is the most precarious place if any of those three powers collapse.”

Karyl said with a meaningful expression.

“I hope the Three Kingdoms continue to exist. As a merchant and as a person from Tatur.”

At that moment.

Silence fell as he finished speaking.

“That sounds like you’re saying the Three Kingdoms are in danger?”

Joey Johansel said with interest.

However, the expressions of the young men behind him were not the same.

“At this rate, they will perish.”

At Karyl’s words, the atmosphere, which had been warm until just now, rapidly cooled.

“You, even if you’re the host of the banquet, there are things you should and shouldn’t say. If those above us heard that, your head would be gone, let alone any deals.”

“Even if it’s not the higher-ups, that’s not a word to be taken lightly. It’s not something that can be overlooked just because the priest is here.”

But Joey Johansel was different.

“Is it because of the Empire?”

Perhaps because he wasn’t from the Three Kingdoms, he surprisingly took Karyl’s words seriously.

“Similar.”

It was half right and half wrong.

In his previous life, the Three Kingdoms suffered near self-destruction over the Mana Stone Mine [a mine producing stones that contain mana].

After that.

When Olivant ascended the throne and the Empire launched its southern conquest, they were already on the verge of destruction due to the Mana Stone Mine dispute.

Even now, with the current Emperor ruling, the Empire was constantly showing actions to invade the Three Kingdoms.

If it weren’t for the Lurein Duchy, the Empire would have attacked the Three Kingdoms immediately.

But the same was true for the Duchy.

Thanks to that, the weak kingdoms of Istria ironically became the safest kingdoms.

‘That laxity ultimately led to the absurd conclusion of self-destruction as a method of destruction.’

Fortunately, Karyl’s purchase of the Mana Stone Mine had at least prevented the self-destruction of the Three Kingdoms.

And further, even the Empire’s offensive.

‘The reason Olivant was able to easily strike the Three Kingdoms was because he took advantage of the weakened national power due to the bloody battle over the Mana Stone Mine.’

By maintaining their full strength and further providing the property stones of the Mana Stone Mine, he would strengthen the national power of the Three Kingdoms to check the Empire and use them as a breakwater to prevent them from attacking the South.

This was Karyl’s original plan.

‘But…….’

The moment he met Joey Johansel, he instinctively knew that he had to revise his plan.

‘That man is going to the Order soon. If that happens, news about the secret Mana Stone Mine will be spread.’

Of course.

Once he started trading with the Three Kingdoms, it was true that the Empire and the Duchy would eventually find out as well.

‘But a month later is too soon.’

When the Emperor went to the Order for recuperation, Joey Johansel would become the Emperor’s personal physician.

‘With his personality, he won’t leave the Mana Stone Mine alone.’

Perhaps the Empire might launch a full-scale invasion even before Olivant ascended the throne.

“Everyone knows that the Empire is aiming for the Three Kingdoms. But everyone also knows that they can’t easily invade.”

Heser Mile clicked his tongue at Karyl’s words.

As a member of the Prime Minister’s family, it was unpleasant but on the other hand, it was a fact he acknowledged.

“If the Three Kingdoms were to perish, Tatur would not be able to withstand the strong waves. And if the Empire were to get their hands on the Mana Stone Mine… the Duchy as well.”

At his words, Joey Johansel’s face hardened for a brief moment.

Karyl didn’t miss that change.

“So? I don’t think it’s right for others to talk about the fate of the Three Kingdoms.”

“I know it’s rude, but I happened to hear Priest Joey’s words. You’re going to the Order… aren’t you?”

At his words, Joey Johansel looked up at the terrace where Karyl had been standing a moment ago.

“…….”

A considerable distance.

‘He heard my voice from there, huh…….’

He had already sensed that Karyl was no ordinary person.

‘Even if he’s a merchant, if he’s from the Empire, he has magic power. I can’t underestimate him.’

Trade and commerce were, after all, business that traveled to many countries. In fact, there were occasionally knight-level ability users among the famous merchant guilds on the continent.

“If you’re going to the Order, would it be possible for us to accompany you?”

“……!!”

At his unexpected proposal, the gazes of those around him were fixed on Joey Johansel.

However, he was still just looking at Karyl and thinking.

‘For a child who doesn’t even seem to be an adult to have reached that level…….’

Joey Johansel was curious about Karyl in a different sense.

‘Honestly, it’s hard to believe. There’s no way the master who integrated the thugs of Tatur and stands above them is such a small child. There must be someone behind him.’

If he knew the truth, he would have made a big mistake, but he had no way of knowing that.

‘I need to find out who it is.’

He said to Karyl as if he had made up his mind.

“Good. The Order will welcome getting to know the guild that owns the Mana Stone Mine.”

Hiding their thoughts from each other.

Karyl and Joey Johansel threw the first stone in a battle of wits to figure each other out.

“Please let Baron Beryl know when you are ready to leave. Then I will wait for your message.”

“May the light be with you.”

“May the darkness be lifted from your journey.”

Joey looked at Karyl, who was replying with the greeting of the Order, with even more interesting eyes.

“…….”

The face of Karyl, who had turned around with a full smile, instantly hardened.

‘This is an opportunity.’

Karyl thought that he should never miss this gap that he had accidentally created.

No.

It wasn’t obtained by chance.

He found the Mana Stone Mine, bribed Baron Beryl, and had Camma and Suan Hazar prepare to set up a trading company.

Also.

The reason he could treat the nobles of the Three Kingdoms so confidently was also because of the military power in the South.

An opportunity created by planning.

Coincidence was just one of the small rewards that naturally followed.

‘I thought I wouldn’t be able to see your face in this life either… I guess not.’

Finding the mastermind behind Wooden Cloud was important, but the journey to the Order might allow him to obtain something even more important.

That is.

The Emperor, Tyran Stean.

It might just be a feeling, but he had a feeling that a private meeting with him might greatly change the current history.

* * *

Fifteen days passed.

Karyl moved quite busily while waiting for Joey Johansel’s message.

“Then… I’ll be back.”

Camma, who had prepared for the journey, said with a look of nervousness on his face that was unlike his age.

“Don’t be scared.”

“Sh, shut up.”

He said, blushing at Dushala’s joke.

“She’s right. The residents of the lawless port have already prepared the stronghold of the Duchy… so don’t worry. You’re going as Camma of the Lavat Guild, not as a noble of the Duchy.”

“I will definitely make the deal.”

Karyl nodded.

“You have to. The only card we have right now is the property stone. Even if the value of the property stone is enormous, it’s not enough as a single item. The magic engineering products of the Duchy will be useful even in Tatur.”

“Still, I used to be from the Duchy. There are still people I know.”

Camma said, trying to be brave.

“Even before you were stripped of your nobility and exiled for embezzlement, theft, extortion, and murder.”

“…….”

Dushala seemed to still be enjoying teasing Camma.

“……I’ll be back.”

As his brave face turned tearful again, Karyl chuckled.

“Take Suan and Mikhail with you. Have the two of them take good care of Camma and handle the things I told you about before.”

“Master, do I really have to go?”

“Yes. You have to go.”

Mikhail expressed his regret at Karyl’s firm words.

It had been difficult to see his face since returning to Tatur. At best, he would occasionally greet the members of the Order mercenary corps in the Mana Stone Mine.

Mikhail spent most of his time in the training ground.

“I know you want to focus on magic training, but that’s why you have to go with me. If things go well, going to the Duchy might raise your level one step further than being under me in the current situation.”

“Is that so……?”

Mikhail’s eyebrows twitched at Karyl’s words.

‘He must have reached the wall he faces before rising to the ranks of a wizard. I wouldn’t have been able to cross that wall without Aln either.’

But it wasn’t a normal method, so Karyl couldn’t help Mikhail.

‘Aln entrusted me with Mikhail’s education, but unfortunately, the knowledge I have is difficult to apply to him.’

It was possible because Aln knew both esoteric arts and traditional magic.

The magical knowledge he had passed on to Karyl was truly vast, but unfortunately, Karyl himself was not yet able to fully utilize it.

Currently, it was like having the books of a huge library injected directly into his head.

No matter how many books are stored, Karyl’s knowledge was still limited, just like he wouldn’t know the contents unless he opened them.

That’s why the method he came up with was this.

No matter how many times he thought about it, he wouldn’t be able to find a more suitable person.

“But the person written on the note will be quite picky. But no matter what happens, recruit him to our side.”

“I understand.”

“Because he will be your teacher in the future.”

“……Yes?”

Mikhail said with a surprised expression at Karyl’s words.

“Serica Loren.”

He said again as if to engrave the name once more.

“Bring him back.”

Mikhail, who had been reluctant to go to the Duchy until just now, suddenly felt a weight on his shoulders.

Knock- knock-

It was then.

A soldier’s voice was heard in the hallway.

“A man named Joey Johansel from the Order has come to see you.”

“Hmm.”

Karyl nodded at his subordinate’s words.

“Good. It’s time for me to leave too.”

He clapped his hands lightly at the news that had come faster than he had expected in a month, as if to wrap up the situation.

“Three months from now, we will gather here again after finishing everything.”

At his words, the people nodded.

Camma was in charge of the Duchy, Dushala was already in charge of the Three Kingdoms, and now Karyl would head to the Order and the Empire, which were the biggest enemies.

The destinations were different, but the goal was one.

The completion of an invisible empire.

The moment he threw down the gauntlet of a lifetime, Karyl opened the door to his office and said.

“Many things will be different when we meet again.”