Chapter 42: Uninvited Guest (2)

Based on what I had seen of Anonymous999’s posts on the Anonymous Bulletin Board so far, the reason Anonymous999 had come all the way to Winter Castle seemed all too clear.

The traces left by Aichuwong.

Until just a while ago, it was nothing more than a trap Aichuwong had intentionally set, but now a new user had barged in, searching for that trace which had truly become a legacy.

This series of events inevitably gave me some food for thought.

‘Should I have stepped in myself?’

Until now, I had barely posted any articles or comments on the Anonymous Bulletin Board, except for question posts to earn money.

This was true even for the post where Anonymous999 showed interest in the Orb of Winter.

It meant that I had maintained, as they say, the status of a lurker.

It was because I judged that I had nothing to gain from being active or drawing aggro on the Anonymous Bulletin Board, and in fact, thanks to that, I had gotten by uneventfully without any major incidents until now.

However, as I had already experienced, the users on the Anonymous Bulletin Board were not people from another world, but clearly a place where people living in the same world as me had gathered.

Naturally, if I ignored what was happening here, whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, the aftermath would inevitably reach me in the end.

What I was about to experience now was probably the price for that disregard.

‘But even so, it’s probably right to think it’s too late to move now.’

It was true that this situation occurred because I didn’t act, but rushing to act now was even more dangerous.

Anonymous999 said he would arrive at Winter Castle soon.

In that case, there must be a visitor coming from the outside soon.

Since Winter Castle itself had a fairly closed environment, an outsider was bound to stand out somehow.

It seemed like a good idea to find out about that first.

‘This itself could be a trap, but I still can’t ignore it.’

With the precedent of Aichuwong, it was revealed that users didn’t just use the Anonymous Bulletin Board for good purposes or for posting junk.

Some posts also have a specific purpose.

That’s why Anonymous999’s post could also be a trap, but if I ignored that again, I would once again pay the price for that disregard.

Stay still, or move.

What I had to choose was as good as decided from the beginning.

It was then.

-Hurry!

-Bring more carts!

-Everyone, move!

For some reason, it was noisy outside.

Thinking that what was to come had finally come, I also hurried my steps out of the barracks.

As I left the barracks, a commotion was happening at the South Gate.

People who looked like merchants were unloading the luggage piled high on their wagons, holding boxes in their arms, undeterred by the cold that seemed to freeze their breath.

The soldiers in Winter Castle were also helping them, receiving the luggage and organizing it in one place.

“Hansen! Not that way, over there!”

“Yes, I understand!”

I casually approached the Guard Team Leader who was shouting with veins popping on his neck at the scene.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, it’s you.”

“It’s been a while.”

The Guard Team Leader recognized me and acknowledged me.

After the last mission, perhaps because Edric had spoken quite well of me, the Guard Team Leader treated me quite cordially, and we actually ended up exchanging greetings when we passed each other.

It meant we weren’t on such terms that I would be ignored for asking this level of question.

“I hear you’re being called the Mage of Thunder these days? It feels like just yesterday you came to Winter Castle…… Truly amazing.”

“It’s just an undeserved reputation.”

“Haha, just as I thought, not like a mage. Sir Edric also said you weren’t like a mage.”

“That aside, what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing much…… Just that the Pegasus Merchant Guild has just arrived.”

“The Pegasus Merchant Guild?”

Pegasus Merchant Guild.

As a merchant guild that uses the winged horse, Pegasus, as its symbol, it was one of the merchant guilds I knew.

The Pegasus Merchant Guild was a huge merchant guild that was active not only throughout the Empire but also led trade with other nations.

What did it mean that the Pegasus Merchant Guild had shown up here at a time like this?

“It’s the regular trade.”

“Ah…….”

With just that word, I could understand why the Pegasus Merchant Guild had come here at this particular time.

Winter Castle Kreutz was a place where all sorts of supplies produced in the Empire were consumed, but at the same time, it was also the Empire’s largest production site for demonic beast materials.

Demonic beast materials, though they vary depending on their condition or grade, mostly held considerable value, and at the same time, Winter Castle Kreutz always needed a lot of supplies.

A place with a lot to sell, and a lot to buy.

It meant there was no way that merchants, who could smell money like ghosts, wouldn’t catch the scent of such an attractive client.

‘It can’t be a coincidence.’

Anonymous999 was not a fool.

He was aware of the possibility that there might be other users, including Aichuwong, inside Winter Castle, and that’s why he likely chose to use the Pegasus Merchant Guild rather than visiting Winter Castle alone as a traveler.

What this meant was clear.

“Tsk.”

Unfortunately, the uninvited guest who had come to Winter Castle was not alone.

***

Winter Castle Kreutz, contrary to its appearance, was not very exclusive toward outsiders.

It couldn’t be helped, as in the first place, there were almost no travelers who came all the way to the northern region, which had a harsh cold climate and was adjacent to the Demonic Realm.

Even the users playing World of Justice Online didn’t favor the north as a region, so naturally, the north was closer to a welcoming atmosphere rather than being exclusive about the visits of outsiders.

“We welcome everyone from the Pegasus Merchant Guild.”

Upon the visit of the Pegasus Merchant Guild, none other than the lord of the castle, the Margrave, personally stepped out to welcome them in Winter Castle Kreutz.

Considering that the Margrave usually hardly ever showed himself even within Winter Castle, it was an amazing event.

“Ooh, the Margrave himself has come out!”

“Is the person over there the Margrave?”

“Ah, come to think of it, you might not know. That’s right. He is the lord of Kreutz, Lord Henrik Boltzmann, the Margrave.”

“Henrik Boltzmann…… the Margrave?”

“Hmph…… Even if it hasn’t been long since you enlisted, don’t tell me you didn’t even know Margrave’s honorable name?”

It was my first time seeing the Margrave, but this allowed me to be certain of one fact.

‘As expected, he’s different from the Margrave I knew.’

The Margrave of Winter Castle that I had known was an old man with graying hair named Margrave Albert Boltzmann.

On the other hand, the Margrave Henrik Boltzmann who had just appeared was completely different from the Margrave I knew.

“Who was the previous Margrave, by any chance?”

“Hmm? Ah, that would be Lord Albert Boltzmann, the current Margrave’s grandfather.”

Should I say, as expected.

Just like the information I got from the bulletin board before, the current time point was long after I had fought the final battle with the Destruction Dragon.

It meant that enough time had passed for that robust Margrave, even if his hair was graying, to die and for quite some time to have passed since.

‘Hmm.’

If I got the chance, it seemed it wouldn’t be a bad idea to find out about the current Margrave, Henrik Boltzmann.

It seemed I would have to stay in Winter Castle for quite a long time, anyway.

‘That aside…….’

I shifted my gaze back to the Pegasus Merchant Guild.

The prestige of the Pegasus Merchant Guild could be seen just from the fact that the lord of Winter Castle himself had stepped out.

Although Winter Castle was a place where war occurred daily, to commemorate this trade, the lord of the castle himself opened the storehouses and held a grand welcoming ceremony.

Alcohol and meat were distributed to the 4th Special Task Force as well.

Not just the few pieces in the stew we usually ate, but meat at a level where we could truly eat until our stomachs burst.

Nevertheless, the reason I couldn’t purely enjoy this luxury was probably because of Anonymous999’s posts, which were still being consistently updated.

-Anonymous999 : I’ve arrived, but… this is where it gets hopeless

-Anonymous999 : Did Aichuwong really die? Does anyone know what happened?

Anonymous999’s visit to Winter Castle, which I was already close to certain about, had now changed to a certainty.

Anonymous999 was inside Winter Castle right now.

As one of the companions of the Pegasus Merchant Guild.

“Hmm.”

The biggest problem was, as expected, that I didn’t know what kind of person Anonymous999 was at all.

Whether he was someone who purely came aiming for the Orb of Water as his purpose suggested, or someone who was also aiming for the Ascension Stone Fragment that Aichuwong would have had.

Or if he was a person with yet another purpose.

As of now, I didn’t know any of it.

But in this situation, what if Anonymous999 found me first?

The result would be unknown.

Therefore, there was only one stance I had to take.

To blend in just like the scenery of Winter Castle.

As if I had been a soldier here from the beginning, but a little awkwardly, like a criminal who hadn’t been dragged to Winter Castle long ago.

That was the most basic attitude I had to take right now.

‘If there’s one thing I’m concerned about, it’s that rumors about me have been circulating quite a bit within Winter Castle recently…….’

Since there was nothing I could do about that part, I decided to watch for now.

If, in the worst-case scenario, Anonymous999 found me, I would also have to make some kind of decision.

***

After the grand welcoming ceremony and the exchange of supplies were finished, the Pegasus Merchant Guild did not return right away but set up a huge camp inside Winter Castle.

It meant they intended to trade not only directly with Winter Castle but also with individuals such as the territory’s residents and soldiers within Winter Castle.

In fact, whether an agreement had been reached with the lord, the Margrave, on that part, related guidelines were handed down within the 4th Special Task Force as well.

“The Pegasus Merchant Guild will be staying within the castle for the time being. If you wish, you may trade with them personally. No, it is actively encouraged.”

At that, Conlan spoke awkwardly.

“Hmm, what…… What if we don’t have money? I’m broke.”

“Hmm? Wasn’t the salary just paid? It should have been a considerable amount.”

“……I spent it all.”

At Conlan’s words, who was avoiding his gaze, Edric chuckled as if he understood.

“Well…… nevermind your personal affairs, don’t worry about that. Fortunately, they said they also accept barter. They said they would give good prices, especially for demonic beast materials.”

“Even if they give good prices for demonic beast materials, I don’t have anything right now.”

“Don’t worry about that either. While the Pegasus Merchant Guild is staying in Winter Castle, a large-scale demonic beast subjugation operation will take place. This is a matter directly ordered by the lord, the Margrave.”

A demonic beast subjugation operation at this time…… It was an order with a truly clear intention.

Well, even so, this wasn’t really a bad thing for the soldiers in Winter Castle either.

Winter Castle was a place where everything was lacking.

No matter how much unconventional support it received from the Empire, it couldn’t completely meet the supplies consumed in Winter Castle.

The only thing that could be called abundant was the materials obtained from catching demonic beasts, and fortunately, those held quite high value.

Enough for a huge merchant guild like the Pegasus Merchant Guild to lift their heavy backsides and come directly to the border with the Demonic Realm.

Thanks to this appropriate alignment of interests, the presence of the Pegasus Merchant Guild also became a good opportunity for the soldiers in Winter Castle.

Since Winter Castle couldn’t supply everything the soldiers needed, they would probably be making appropriate use of an opportunity like this.

Edric spoke.

“If you all also wish to participate in the demonic beast subjugation operation individually, you are welcome to. Ah, for reference, the 4th Special Task Force has the right to independent operations, so it doesn’t matter much if you act individually.”

Somehow, Edric’s words felt strange, so I spoke.

“Aren’t you going, Captain?”

“I have something else to do. I may not look at it, but I’m quite a busy man.”

Edric chuckled as always.

“Hmm, then should we just go by ourselves? There’s no need to tag along somewhere else, right?”

At Conlan’s words, Albino sneered.

“Why would I think of going with you?”

“Hmm? You’re not going? Then nevermind. What about you two?”

Conlan asked towards me and Alicia.

The principle of action I had decided on at this point was to blend into the scenery of Winter Castle.

Naturally, the answer was set.

“I’ll go too.”

“Me too.”

As both I and Alicia agreed, Conlan nodded.

“Alright, then the three of us can go.”

At that, Albino blinked and looked at me and Alicia once each, then soon moved his lips.

“……I shall also grace you with my presence.”

“No, we don’t particularly need you.”

“If you insist.”

This bastard, it seems he’s gotten a little more shameless while I wasn’t looking?

“Then is everyone going?”

“Looks like it.”

Conlan laughed heartily and spoke.

“Alright, let’s go earn big.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep