Chapter 65

The combined fleet, having successfully defeated Tospol, returned to Fasa, singing a song of victory.

Although they didn't gain any particular wealth, everyone was happy just with the fact that they had defeated Tospol.

Of course, not everyone was like that.

The Levonan dwarves looked at me with a sense of awe at the fact that I had summoned the legendary deep-sea monster.

It was known as a legend that a monster lived in the depths of the Golden Sea, but they had never thought it would be possible to actually summon it.

“They're not in awe, they think you're crazy. Please don't distort the facts, Young Master.”

“Phew. Theo. A genius is often misunderstood.”

“Kruk, you crazy bastard.”

“……”

The gazes of the mercenary company members, who had almost been swept away and killed by the giant monster, were very sharp.

It was a gaze that had no trace of respect.

I saved them all from being killed by Tospol, you bad people.

The only one who was excited was Eleonor.

She said something about making sure to let posterity know about today's events.

I think people will just treat today's events as a fantasy novel if I tell them.

Anyway, when we returned to Fasa with Tospol's head, there was an explosive reaction in the city as well.

“The most notorious ogre Tospol among the pirate captains of the Golden Sea was executed by a new mercenary company?”

“This is unbearable!”

“The Black Company is invincible, and Leon Gryph is a god!”

That's right.

It was an era without a national consciousness but with a community consciousness.

That alone was enough to make a kind of national pride explode.

The people of Fasa's shoulders rose to the sky as if they themselves had become the emperor.

In line with that, the Fasa government declared a week-long festival.

A hideous new decoration appeared at the port, and the citizens, overcome with excitement, danced and sang.

At the government building, a banquet was finally held for Admiral Gian.

The city hall employees, who had been biding their time, did their best to decorate the banquet hall.

However, the banquet here had the difference of being a bit more insidious than the citizens' one.

“Now that Tospol is gone, the sea routes of the Golden Sea will be stable in the future.”

“Let's take this opportunity to spread our Fasa's influence throughout the sea.”

“We will all become rich.”

“Khehehe.”

Oh my, look at that gloominess.

Who would want to be a part of that?

I tried to escape to the side of the pretty young ladies, avoiding the sight of the middle-aged men discussing business.

But unfortunately, that attempt ended in failure.

Randolfo had blocked my path.

“Captain, it's better not to go that way. Mother is watching.”

“No, why! You're so mean!”

As Randolfo said, Matriarch Costanza was participating in the banquet and casting a watchful eye.

That alone was enough to know that my leap for love would end in failure.

Damn it, is this the extent of my abilities as a strategist?

To think I would feel a wall in a place like this.

“Give up. It seems mother has her heart set on you as a son-in-law. If you approach them, the young ladies will avoid you first.”

Randolfo, who had whispered that new information, disappeared into the garden with the arm of a pretty girlfriend he had newly made at the banquet.

Just you wait, grind.

They say the sister-in-law who stops you is more hateful than the mother-in-law who hits you.

When I return to the mercenary company headquarters, I'll have to push a lot of work onto Randolfo.

But that was that, and this was this.

I had no choice but to accept my fate and walk towards the side of the old men.

Then, Mayor Rapacio and Admiral Gian quickly linked their arms with me from both sides so I couldn't escape.

“Oh, Sir Gryph! Welcome. Since a new person has come, we must pour new wine.”

“Our captain will surely drink well too, right?”

“I hear Sir Gryph commands monsters, let's see how well he can drink.”

Stop it, you drunkards!

I want to be with pretty young ladies, not smelly old men!

But at the old men's strong persuasion, I eventually had to swallow my tears and drink from the bottle.

Yes, let's eat and die.

“A toast to the friendship of our two countries!”

“May this friendship last for a long time.”

I made eye contact with Admiral Gian and clinked bottles instead of glasses.

Admiral Gian smiled slyly.

I don't know what he's thinking inside.

He's probably plotting something, right?

After dealing with the old men's antics for a long time, it was when I was about to rest.

Someone else approached me from the side.

My memory was faint, but it was definitely someone on the list of important figures.

“You are from the Corsini Family.”

“Just call me Albe.”

The middle-aged man smiled in a friendly manner.

Of course, he still just looked like an Italian mafia member.

The Corsini Family was a noble family in Fasa, an investor in the mercenary company, and on the list of business partners.

And we had had a little…… friction before.

I greeted the opponent politely.

“This is probably the first time we're seeing each other like this. Isn't that right?”

“It probably is. I believe you have met my representative many times.”

Then Albe's expression twitched in a bad way.

It seemed a bad memory had come to mind.

In fact, this was the first time we had met.

When I first landed in Fasa, I was immediately transferred to the Signori Family, at the investment briefing, I only saw his face from a distance, and when there was friction over the thieves' guild issue, I had negotiated with the Corsini Family (by force) through Eleonor.

“I am very happy that your business is doing well, Sir Gryph. Considering when you first appeared in this city, it is a tremendous development.”

“Of course, it is. But it would be more correct to say our business. Because the mercenary company works for Fasa.”

“Haha. I haven't forgotten the fact that I invested. Anyway, thanks to your activities, the city's honor is rising day by day.”

The main point should be coming out soon, but I couldn't get a feel for what this man wanted to say.

Why was he approaching me now after being quiet all this time?

“We're both busy people, aren't we? It seems better to speak directly rather than beating around the bush. Do you happen to need my help?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Please speak.”

“It's about the captured cargo.”

Albe made a very displeased expression.

“Personally, I feel that the captured cargo that comes up for auction is not distributed fairly. I mean, the choice cuts are being given to a specific family. If Sir Gryph helps with that part, we can share a friendship.”

I smiled slyly.

You've come to the wrong address.

“Sir Albe. That is not under my jurisdiction. It's under the city hall's jurisdiction. I think you should inquire with Mayor Rapacio.”

“Sir Gryph, your respectable growth is not only thanks to the Signori Family's help. I hope you haven't forgotten that.”

“Of course, I haven't forgotten. But you are making me flustered right now.”

“I didn't know you would be so uncooperative.”

Albe looked into my face, then turned his body and left.

I stood in my place for a long time, trying to understand the conversation we had.

As I analyzed the conversation, I suddenly found something strange.

The Corsini Family was a noble family.

Basically, most of their assets were in real estate and not related to commerce.

Rather, there was a tendency to consider investing in commerce a shameful thing.

It was strange that such a person would specifically mention the captured cargo.

There were two possibilities that came to mind.

One was that the Corsini Family was expanding its business now that the sea route was stable, and the other was that they were plotting a scheme to win me over.

Then what Albe was really after was probably the Signori Family.

I let out a hollow laugh.

“Friendship, my ass.”

A friend who only comes when needed is not a particularly strange thing.

Because that's what social life is like.

But this blatant plotting was not welcome.

“I'll have to meet Selvi later and have him put a tail on him.”

***

As much as they had been active in the war against the pirates, the officers of the mercenary company were naturally invited to the banquet.

A few who had talent went to dance with the young ladies of Fasa, and those who had no intention of doing so sat down and chatted.

Among them, Selvi was the latter.

Because he was in charge of building the information organization behind the scenes, much of Selvi's existence was hidden.

So there were almost no people to talk to.

In the first place, Selvi himself was not a sociable person.

As it happened, Ishmael remained as a drinking buddy next to him.

This Eastern heretic had a rare gentle personality in the mercenary company, so he was a good match for Selvi.

The two quietly sipped their drinks and watched the banquet.

Selvi was filled with emotion as he watched Leon skillfully converse with the high-ranking officials of the city.

Ishmael was puzzled to see Selvi looking sentimental.

“Kruk, what's wrong?”

“It's about our captain. Isn't it such a waste?”

“Kakat? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“No, think about it. He's not being treated as well as his skills deserve.”

“……Kruk. Are you drunk?”

It was a difference of opinion between a person who had volunteered for the adventure and a person who had been forcibly abducted.

Ishmael was also very satisfied with his current job, but it was not comparable to Selvi's satisfaction.

But Selvi's current job satisfaction was very high.

The work was a bit much, but other than that, the Black Company was the best workplace.

Besides, since he could make use of his talents, his satisfaction was immeasurably high.

“Think about it. In the court of the Duke of Aquitaine or on the grasslands of Caledonia, could I even get a taste of such an exciting adventure?”

“Kakat, I've never been to either of those places. I don't even know what they look like. The Duke's court must be very splendid, right?”

“Yes. But it's nothing compared to this place.”

“……?”

To Selvi, the Black Company was a wonderful place.

But there was one thing he was disappointed about with the current mercenary company.

And that was that Leon's abilities were a waste to be playing in such a small pond.

An idea stirred in Selvi's mind.

“I'm going to take this opportunity to let the world know our little mercenary captain's name.”

“You'll regret it. It'll just increase the work.”

Then a gloomy voice was heard from behind.

Selvi was startled and turned around.

There, Eleonor stood with dead eyes.

“Pardon? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“It means that Sir Gryph will surely become great even if you don't go out of your way to plot things. So don't make work.”

“Still, wouldn't it be better to have assistance?”

“I don't know, I've warned you. You're walking into a disaster yourself.”

Selvi looked at her with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Has my sister finally gone crazy?’ Ishmael resolved the question from the side.

“Kruk, he's confirmed for overtime today. He's behind on his work.”

“Ah.”

“Hmph. You kids.”

Eleonor snorted and was about to leave somewhere with a wine glass.

Then Theo appeared from the side, took the wine glass, and gave her a coffee cup instead.

“What, Theo?”

“Sir Eleonor, the captain says you have to work today too, so you can't drink.”

“Ha. I'm a Phoenix Knight. No one treats me like this anywhere I go.”

“Yes, please work hard tonight too.”

“……”

Theo skillfully sent Eleonor back.

Selvi shivered with an unknown sense of foreboding.

Somehow, it seemed like a scene he had seen many times somewhere.

“Ah, this isn't the time for this.”

Having come to his senses, Selvi began to prepare a plan to put his idea into action.

“The people of the world still don't know our captain well. His fame will rise with this incident, but the speed at which the rumor spreads is a separate issue. And how far it spreads is also the key.”

As he worked in the information line, Selvi knew the importance of rumors well.

And he also knew how much could change with just one's fame.

If he had to work anyway, wouldn't it be good if he did well, Leon did well, and the workplace did well?

“Kruk, why do crazy people keep joining the mercenary company……”

Ishmael, who had heard the explanation, clicked his tongue.

Of course, it was a thought that Selvi would not normally have had.

He might have even said he was crazy.

But now that he had witnessed Leon summon a monster from the sea, it was different.

The moment the monster leaped out of the sea in front of the Kresven Archipelago, Selvi's world completely changed.

It was a moment sufficient to be fascinated by the adventure that Leon led.

“I wondered why my sister Eleonor followed Leon, but there was a reason for it.”

“Kruk, didn't you see the scene just now? It doesn't seem like you hurt your head. How about going to see a doctor tomorrow morning?”

Selvi pretended not to hear and drank his wine.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.