Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Only Flies Are Gathering.

A quiet seaside village, and morning had arrived.

The sky was clear without a single cloud.

The red sun slowly rose above the horizon, dyeing the sea in a golden hue.

Swoooosh!

The waves broke the gold into tiny pieces.

“Alright, haul it up!”

“Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”

Dozens of fishing boats pulled up their nets while fishermen worked up a sweat.

A little beyond them was a sturdy breakwater blocking the waves, and past that lay a large harbor.

The wharf and huge warehouses stood there, with offices and residences behind them… Well over a hundred buildings with blue roofs and white brick walls, and between them neat stone paths bustled with people going about their business.

It was a place whose scenery itself evoked the true essence of the sea — the trading port of Mudside.

Along the stone path that ran beside the coastline, Hardin, Viscount Cobalt, four or five retainers, and Mikkelsen — who had joined as an escort — were walking together.

They had come to inspect Mudside early in the morning.

At that moment, Hardin, with his hands clasped behind his back, stroked his chin and slightly curled his lips into a smile.

“Ahhh! The scenery is great, the air is fresh. Splendid, don’t you think, everyone?”

“Ahem, it does seem so.”

“The construction… did end well enough.”

The retainers nodded, but with faces that seemed a little reluctant.

‘Why do they look like that?’

Hardin snorted through his nose and turned his head this way and that.

Everywhere he looked, the beautiful harbor city came into view.

It was impossible to imagine that this was the same Mudside that had been completely wrecked by the Sahagin.

The transformation was nothing short of heaven and earth turning over.

“Good, good…”

Ahhh, can everyone see this?

I, Varlach, built such a fine harbor.

With my bare hands, and this quickly, no less!

‘Yes, Daphne needs a harbor like this!’

The foundation of the family! The roots upon which to expand its influence!

While Hardin was nodding in satisfaction, basking in the joy of the newly opened port, it happened.

“Hey, Hardin.”

“What is it?”

“By any chance… has anyone come to make a contract yet? Whether merchants or nobles…”

Unlike the sun-bright Hardin, Viscount Cobalt’s face was heavy with clouds as he asked in a worried tone.

Hardin’s gaze turned toward the pier.

The pier — which should have been bustling with countless ships if the port were thriving.

But Mudside’s pier was so empty that only seagulls sat there in flocks.

Hardin patted his father on the shoulder.

“Haha! Don’t think too hastily. It hasn’t been long since we opened the port.”

“But… haven’t we been paying special attention to external promotion all this time? By now, we should have at least signed a few ships to contracts…”

When Cobalt sent him a troubled look, the retainers avoided his eyes.

“Ahem…”

“Yes, that is true.”

Anyone knew that just opening a port didn’t mean customers would pour in.

But still… from Malion to the retainers, everyone had been pouring in a great deal of effort long before the port even opened.

 Engelmann, you head to Windrun and make a request to the guild.

 Yes!

 Visitor, you’ll write letters with me. We’ll send out as many carrier pigeons as possible.

They had sent letters far and wide, distributed flyers in nearby free cities, commissioned guilds for promotion, and more…

They had done everything they could, and yet not a single ship had come in. It was enough to drive them crazy.

“Haaah…”

Viscount Cobalt let out several sighs in succession before speaking.

“This isn’t a simple problem. We need to sign a contract as soon as possible if the situation is to improve even a little.”

“What situation? Everything’s fine right now.”

Why so serious?

When Hardin shrugged his shoulders, Viscount Cobalt rested his hand on his forehead.

“Hardin, do you know how much it costs to maintain a harbor? Just the wages for the people working here each month…”

“Come on, it’s not like spending a few coins will bankrupt us.”

At Hardin’s lighthearted remark, quiet sighs escaped from the retainers’ lips.

‘Why is he so carefree?’

‘Does he not understand the situation right now…?’

At that moment, Viscount Cobalt rubbed his temple with his fingers and said,

“Hardin, just the monthly maintenance cost for this port is over 100,000 gold.”

“…How much?”

“I said 100,000 gold.”

Hardin frowned and asked,

“Wait, it’s not like the port eats money to survive, so how does it cost that much just to maintain?”

“Look, do you see the scale of this place?”

Viscount Cobalt extended his arm again.

The sight of the port, almost as large as the Daphne estate—perhaps even larger in some aspects—came back into view.

‘Hmm… I guess I did build it a little big.’

So, in short, it eats up a lot in upkeep?

While Hardin scratched his forehead, Viscount Cobalt’s tone grew even heavier.

“That’s not the only problem. This will cause an even bigger issue.”

“An issue? What now?”

Could there even be something else?

When Hardin tilted his head, Cobalt raised his voice.

“If things go on like this… how are we going to repay the money we received from Her Highness the Princess!”

“Huh? Why would we repay it?”

“Why else? We borrowed it, so we have to pay it back! It’s the Princess’s money—immediately, if possible!”

But unlike Cobalt,

‘What, that’s all?’

What’s the big deal…

Hardin let out a small laugh and waved his hand dismissively.

“Come on, there’s no need to pay that back.”

“What?”

“Yes, that’s how the contract was written. The repayment term for the debt is unlimited. So why would we pay it back early?”

For a moment, silence fell.

From Viscount Cobalt to the retainers, everyone stared at Hardin, blinking.

‘Is he being serious?’

‘…Young Master, please.’

No matter how you looked at it, this was the Princess’s money.

Even if she had agreed to extend the repayment indefinitely, that only meant she wouldn’t pursue it legally — it didn’t mean they shouldn’t pay her back at all!

Cobalt clenched his fist with a sigh.

‘We need to secure a contract quickly.’

If they couldn’t fill the port with ships, they’d be bled dry by the maintenance costs alone, repayment to the Princess aside.

While the atmosphere hung heavy, Hardin spoke in a light, almost exasperated tone.

“Why is everyone so worried? If we just wait a little, everything will work out fine.”

“And how exactly will it work out? Are you saying someone will just stroll up and hand us a contract if we sit here doing nothing?”

“No, not exactly… but something similar will happen.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

“Haaa… Hardin, this isn’t a problem that will fix itself just by waiting.”

While the two were still bickering,

“Ahem!”

“Hm?”

A rough cough came from behind, making almost everyone turn their heads at once.

There stood a group of people.

Two or three carriages and over a dozen riders were dismounting from their horses in a line.

A couple of armored knights who appeared to be guards, and several men dressed like merchants.

At the very front stood a middle-aged man with white hair and a beard reaching his chest.

He wore a monocle over one eye — the very image of a man who said, ‘I’m a merchant.’

Looking at Viscount Cobalt, he asked,

“Would you happen to be Viscount Cobalt?”

“That’s right, and you are?”

When Cobalt asked cautiously, the man gave a slight bow and laughed heartily.

“Haha! A pleasure to meet you. I am Bezar, chairman of the Red Ear Merchant Guild.”

“Bezar?”

“The Red Ear Merchant Guild?”

“By the heavens…”

In an instant, Cobalt and the Daphne retainers’ eyes widened.

‘What’s with the surprise?’

While Hardin was puzzled by the reaction around him, the monocled man continued.

“Yes. I heard the Daphne Viscounty had opened its port, so I came to see for myself — and what a beautiful harbor it is. It’s dazzling to look at. My heartfelt congratulations on the opening.”

“Ahem, thank you.”

When Viscount Cobalt replied while glancing around cautiously, the other man stroked his chin and continued.

“Haha, if you don’t mind, I’d like to discuss the usage rights for the harbor. Could you spare me a moment of your time? It won’t take long.”

“O-of course! I can give you as much time as you need!”

This—this is an opportunity.

Cobalt immediately answered and turned to the retainer beside him.

“Rohiten.”

“Yes.”

“Is Malion at the office right now?”

“He should be.”

“Then hurry and tell him — the Red Ear Merchant Guild is here, so he should prepare to receive our guests.”

“Yes, sir!”

One of the retainers quickly ran toward the harbor’s administration office.

Cobalt straightened his posture again and said,

“Ahem! Then please follow me. I’ll take you there right away.”

“Haha. Yes, thank you.”

As everyone began following Cobalt’s lead,

Tak!

“Hey, wait a second.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Hardin grabbed one of the retainers by the back of the neck to stop him, then pointed ahead with his finger.

“Who’s that guy?”

“Who?”

“Yeah, who’s that guy, and why did everyone look so shocked to see him?”

“You… don’t know the Red Ear Merchant Guild?”

“Of course I don’t, that’s why I’m asking.”

You… don’t know?

The retainer tilted his head before answering.

“It’s that major merchant guild that dominates the Free City of Windrun. If I’m not mistaken, in Luden Shire they’d rank in the top three.”

“Oh, so they’re that big of a guild?”

“Yes, so isn’t it more strange not to be surprised when the chairman of such a place comes here personally?”

Which means…

“So, they’re here to sign a contract, huh?”

“Most likely? This could be a very good opportunity. Just having a contract with the Red Ear Merchant Guild would be fantastic publicity!”

Hardin fell silent for a moment, thinking.

“An opportunity… An opportunity.”

“Young Master, what is it?”

At this point, a guild of that scale coming to find them?

“This… this feels like that thing.”

“What thing, sir?”

When the retainer asked back, Hardin hesitated for a moment, then let out a shallow sigh and waved his hand.

“Never mind. Forget it. Let’s just follow them.”

“Ah… yes.”

Hardin followed behind with a look that clearly showed he wasn’t entirely pleased.

---

A short while later, at the harbor administration office.

The tallest and largest building standing proudly in the center of Mudside… outside its wall.

“What are they even mumbling about in there? Speak up already.”

Hardin pressed his ear right against the outer wall of the office, frowning.

Nearby, Mikkelsen, who was standing guard, let out a deep sigh.

“Young Master, please stop. People are looking at you strangely.”

“Who’s looking?”

“Over there.”

Following Mikkelsen’s pointing finger, Hardin saw the guards from the Red Ear Merchant Guild staring directly at him.

They wore the exact kind of expression someone has when they’re looking at a suspicious character.

‘What are they staring at so intently for?’

Tch, I ought to poke their eyes out.

“Ahem! Well, when’s this meeting going to end? I’m getting stiff here.”

Hardin gave a fake cough, stretched his arms, then stepped away from the wall a few paces.

Dropping his shoulders, he muttered,

“I mean, they could’ve taken me along too.”

Inside the conference room on the second floor of the administration office, Malion and Cobalt were likely deep in talks with the Red Ear Merchant Guild about a harbor usage contract.

And the reason Hardin was stuck out here was because…

— Big brother, please don’t come.

— Huh? Why?

— We’re dealing with a merchant guild here. Merchants are thorough with their calculations. If you so much as push things the wrong way, even a deal that was about to go through could fall apart.

— What pushing? When have I ever done that? I don’t even know the meaning of…

— Ahem! Hardin, I think it would be best if we attended alone today. Why don’t you relax at a tavern instead? Here… will 300 gold be enough?

— Young Master! Please, just this once, listen to me! This is something we absolutely cannot mess up!

With both Malion and Cobalt desperately trying to stop him, what else could he do?

“I’m not some kid, you know. What trouble would I even cause?”

Honestly, this was too much.

Hardin grumbled and shook his head.

‘Does he seriously not know why?’

From beside him, Hardin could feel Mikkelsen watching him with a strange expression.

“You. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“No, seriously, why are you looking at me like that? What, do you have something to say to me too?”

“I said it’s nothing. Geez, could you stop pestering people?”

While Hardin and Mikkelsen were in the middle of their back-and-forth—

Bang!

“Chairman! No matter what, that’s far too much to ask!”

Viscount Cobalt’s voice rang out from inside the harbor office.

“Hm?”

What was that just now?

Hardin and Mikkelsen’s eyes turned to the second floor of the office at the same time.

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