Chapter 11: Ragnar’s Hidden Strength (2)
Dagadak dagadak—
At the entrance leading into Ragnar Territory, a hundred horses were galloping at full speed.
Soon after, the Rapid Merchant Guild, which had come face-to-face with them, halted its advance.
“Whoa—”
Pan pulled on the reins and brought his horse to a stop.
Spotting Merchant Guild Head Tade, who had already come out of the carriage, he dismounted.
“It’s been a long time, Merchant Guild Head.”
“……It has been a long time, Commander.”
Pan showed a slightly surprised expression.
Partly because he had not received a proper explanation of the situation, but more than anything else, because Kyle was covered in blood, he had assumed that the Rapid Merchant Guild had suffered heavy losses.
Yet Merchant Guild Head Tade and the others looked neat and composed.
Of course, some mercenaries had bloodstains on their clothes, but overall, they were so intact that one could hardly tell a battle had taken place.
“What on earth happened? Seeing Young Master Kyle’s condition, I was certain there had been a major attack…….”
“……To be honest, I’m still rather bewildered myself.”
Pan nodded after confirming the confusion lingering in Merchant Guild Head Tade’s eyes.
Kyle must have stepped in and dealt with everything himself.
Just then, Seros appeared in a blood-soaked state and bowed his head toward Pan.
“You’ve arrived.”
“……Commander Seros.”
Pan addressed Seros as Commander and showed proper respect.
Anyone who used Blades, like Kyle, deserved due respect.
“This works out well. May we head into the territory first? I’d like to wash up for now.”
“Please do. The Ragnar Knight Order will take care of escorting the Rapid Merchant Guild.”
The Special Operations Unit members asked for leave and departed from the area.
Only then did Pan look at the line of wagons loaded with food and speak.
“Thanks to the Rapid Merchant Guild, it seems we can finally breathe a little easier.”
“Not at all. All of this was led by Young Master Kyle.”
“Still, if you hadn’t made the decision, Merchant Guild Head, none of this would have happened, would it?”
“Thank you for saying that. By the way, I heard that a considerable amount of Orc byproducts came out this time…….”
At Merchant Guild Head Tade’s question, Pan smiled.
“Did you think there would only be Orc byproducts?”
“……?”
“If you go to the Lord’s Castle and meet the Head of the Family, you’ll naturally find out.”
Merchant Guild Head Tade was not the only one who had been waiting for this day.
Pramo, too, had been eagerly counting down the days until the trade with the Rapid Merchant Guild would take place.
However, Pan turned away without explaining things clearly to Merchant Guild Head Tade.
“We’ll depart for now. Vice-Commander Akun, take charge of the rear.”
Merchant Guild Head Tade still found his words puzzling, but seeing Akun move to the rear with part of the knights put him at ease.
Only then could they finally enter Ragnar Territory with some peace of mind.
Thus, escorted by the Ragnar Knight Order, Merchant Guild Head Tade entered the Lord’s Castle and revealed a sorrowful expression.
A territory left in ruins.
Ragnar Territory had originally been a place of splendor.
At one point, it had even been called a city of art.
A place where highly skilled blacksmiths and artists resided.
But due to the monster invasion, that brilliance had faded away.
A sigh escaped through Merchant Guild Head Tade’s tightly pressed lips.
He stepped down from the carriage for a moment and took a closer look at Ragnar Territory.
Just then, Pramo, who had come out to greet them upon hearing that the Rapid Merchant Guild had arrived, looked at Merchant Guild Head Tade with eyes full of regret.
“I don’t even know how long it’s been since we last met. Have you been well all this time?”
At the greeting laden with many emotions, Merchant Guild Head Tade silently embraced Pramo tightly.
“It may be rude, but I am truly happy to be able to meet you like this, Head of the Family.”
“Merchant Guild Head…….”
“You can let go of your guilt over Reni now. I didn’t think it would take this long to convey that message.”
After Rai’s death, it was easy to imagine how much Pramo must have suffered.
The fact that he had endured that burden as the ruler of the territory and was standing here now seemed remarkable in itself.
Kyle, who had changed into neat clothing at some point, approached the two after their brief reunion ended.
“Head of the Family, the Rapid Merchant Guild workers will want to rest as well. Stop holding them here and bring them into the mansion.”
At Kyle’s words, Pramo nodded and looked back at Merchant Guild Head Tade.
“Please come inside, Merchant Guild Head.”
“Very well. But where should we put the food and daily necessities we brought?”
Pramo turned his head and called for Saphiro.
“Chief Administrator, put the food and daily necessities into the warehouse. By tomorrow, distribute all of it to the territory’s residents.”
“I will do so, Head of the Family.”
At Pramo’s instruction, Saphiro bowed his head and left his seat to carry out the task.
Once everyone except Saphiro entered the mansion, Elise was waiting with warm tea prepared.
“It’s been a long time, Merchant Guild Head. Have you been well?”
“Heh heh…… I heard news from afar. Congratulations on becoming Lady Gamo.”
“I don’t think my position has changed. I just see it as an extension of what I’ve been doing all along. In any case, I’m relieved to see that you’re healthy.”
Elise held Merchant Guild Head Tade’s hands with her own, filled with gentle warmth.
They had been like family.
But circumstances had driven them apart.
For Elise, simply being able to see Merchant Guild Head Tade alive like this was a meaningful moment.
The same was true for Merchant Guild Head Tade.
“I never imagined I would visit Ragnar Territory again alive. Isn’t this all thanks to Young Master Kyle?”
Merchant Guild Head Tade said this as he turned his gaze toward the seat of honor in the Head of the Family’s Office.
Normally, Pramo should have been sitting there, but now Kyle occupied that seat.
Even if Kyle was not the Head of the Family, he was now the most senior elder of the family.
Meeting Merchant Guild Head Tade’s eyes, Kyle finally spoke.
“You must want to rest, yet I’m sorry to keep you here. There are too many urgent matters that need to be handled immediately.”
“It’s fine. Now that I’ve come to Ragnar Territory, shouldn’t I help as much as I can?”
Kyle nodded and looked toward the door, as if waiting for someone.
Naturally, the others’ gazes also turned to the door, and before long, a knock was heard.
“My lord, it’s Aron.”
“Come in.”
Aron, who had recently returned from the Tylers Empire, entered the Head of the Family’s Office.
Kyle nodded at the sight of him bowing as he greeted them.
“What about the preparations?”
“We can start right away.”
At the confident voice, Kyle nodded.
Aron distributed the prepared documents to those present in the Head of the Family’s Office.
“The royal family of the Daon Kingdom abandoned the Ragnar Family. Since the royal family broke a long-standing treaty, it is time for Ragnar to abandon the Daon Kingdom as well.”
At Aron’s words, Pramo slightly furrowed his brow.
The Daon Kingdom had an inseparable relationship with the Ragnar Family.
It was not a liege–vassal relationship, but one in which they had always moved organically with the royal family on equal footing.
Pramo stared intently at Kyle, who wore an impassive expression.
“……Brother.”
“The royal family knew of Ragnar’s hardships and yet provided no help whatsoever. On the contrary, as if hoping Ragnar would become isolated, they mercilessly raised taxes on the northern territories. Why do you think that is?”
“I’m not a fool either. But it was because we maintained relations with the Daon Kingdom that Ragnar was able to endure at all. You know that, don’t you?”
Pramo himself was not fond of the current royal family.
He hated them enough to want to sever ties immediately.
However, the problem was that the north was a land of bitter cold.
In a place where farming was impossible, if ties with the Daon Kingdom were cut, Ragnar would inevitably become isolated.
Hearing Pramo’s reason for opposition, Aron nodded as if in agreement.
“I know that the Head of the Family’s thinking isn’t wrong. But would you look at this material?”
At Aron’s request, Pramo examined the documents he handed over.
“The Sinoah Slave Merchant Guild, the Daon Kingdom royal family. They are all connected. The Daon Kingdom wants to reestablish its relationship with Ragnar Territory.”
“……Are you saying that all of this is nothing more than an attempt at taming us, Sir Aron?”
“It goes beyond taming. The royal family’s ultimate goal is to erase the Ragnar Family and establish a new family in the north.”
At Aron’s firm voice, Pramo tightly shut his eyes.
Kyle, who already knew this fact, spoke to Pramo in a low voice.
“Of course, this doesn’t mean we’ll cut ties with the Daon Kingdom right away. Ragnar also needs time to prepare.”
“Brother, to be honest, I have no confidence.”
Only after hearing Kyle’s words did Pramo open his eyes and lower his head deeply.
He was afraid.
He feared that a wrong decision might put Ragnar in danger.
With a single misstep, the Ragnar Family itself could disappear.
Knowing exactly what Pramo was worried about, Kyle placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Didn’t I return?”
“……Brother.”
“The preparation period will be three years. It may become longer. But if we can’t break free from the Daon Kingdom’s influence, the Ragnar Family will collapse someday. Rather than that, we need to prepare to sever ties first.”
Pramo stared into Kyle’s resolute eyes and let out a deep sigh.
He rubbed his face repeatedly while thinking it over, but it was not a problem that could be decided so easily.
While Pramo remained unable to speak, Merchant Guild Head Tade stepped forward and asked Kyle.
“Young Master, then it sounds as though Ragnar can become independent if the food problem and infrastructure are resolved. Is my understanding correct?”
When Kyle silently nodded, Merchant Guild Head Tade let out a low hum.
“Are you asking the Rapid Merchant Guild to stake its very survival on Ragnar?”
“That is so.”
Only then did Merchant Guild Head Tade realize why Kyle had personally brought him all the way to Ragnar.
It was not simply to solve a food shortage by involving him in the territory.
Ultimately, it was to break free from the Daon Kingdom’s influence.
To do that, a merchant guild engaged in trade was essential.
Naturally, to trade, land routes or sea routes had to be secured.
As he pondered this, Merchant Guild Head Tade suddenly widened his eyes and looked at Kyle.
“Young Master, are you perhaps planning to reclaim the trade port that was taken by monsters?”
“As you expect. Reclaiming the iron mine is something that must be done no matter what, but above all, we need a port that allows movement toward the sea.”
“But all the northern seas are covered in glaciers. To create a route for maritime trade, we would first need to find a way to break the ice.”
Merchant Guild Head Tade’s expression gradually grew serious, but Kyle’s face showed no change at all.
“If we can create an icebreaker ship, it is more than possible.”
“The problem is the technology and the magic stones required for an icebreaker ship.”
A very long time ago, the Ragnar Family had once carried out trade via the sea.
It was to reduce the Daon Kingdom’s influence and to obtain food and necessary goods with ease.
But one day, the technology for icebreaker ships suddenly disappeared, and even the ships that had been built were all burned to ashes.
Even so, Kyle did not give up on maritime trade.
“We have already secured the technical blueprints to manufacture icebreaker ships. And the problem of magic stones will be resolved as well.”
“No matter how much you say, I can’t give you a definite answer. Since this is something that requires staking the Rapid Merchant Guild, I need certainty.”
At Merchant Guild Head Tade’s words, Kyle showed a faint smile.
“The Monster Mountain Range is a place that no one has ever conquered. A place where abundant resources and even minerals rare on the continent lie dormant, is it not?”
“……Do you believe there will be a magic stone mine as well?”
“There will definitely be a magic stone mine. I guarantee this by staking everything I have.”
Merchant Guild Head Tade rested his chin on his hand and closed his eyes.
After thinking for quite some time, he slowly raised his head and exhaled deeply.
“……I will trust you. However, I will make my decision after confirming the icebreaker ship blueprints.”
Kyle looked at Aron without saying a word.
At that gaze, Aron took out a tightly rolled piece of parchment and spread it wide across the table.
“These are the blueprints for the icebreaker ship. Of course, craftsmen capable of producing something this complex will be needed, but if the Rapid Merchant Guild Head handles that, I believe it won’t be a problem.”
Merchant Guild Head Tade let out a hollow laugh as he examined the blueprints Aron had spread out.
“How in the world did you obtain the icebreaker ship blueprints?”
“It’s a secret.”
Kyle gave a brief reply to Merchant Guild Head Tade’s question.
To explain how he obtained these blueprints, he would have had to explain every year he spent in the Tylers Empire.
For that reason, Merchant Guild Head Tade did not hear the full story, but it did not matter.
Shipbuilding was also an important matter for a merchant guild, so he knew more about production technology than those gathered here.
Above all, he felt certain that if it was Kyle, he could pull it off.
Merchant Guild Head Tade looked at the blueprints for a moment, then rose from his seat.
“I will invest everything the Rapid Merchant Guild has into Ragnar.”