Chapter 108: Are You Trying to Scam Me This Time?

Charad Turner, the branch leader of the Eye of the Moon in the Clarman Branch, spoke cautiously.

“Do you know what happened in Hasein before?”

“I know the general gist.”

“That makes things easier. Recently, similar incidents have been occurring in several territories. It seems the actual owner should step in for management purposes.”

“You mean I should handle it personally?”

In Hasein, Zolav Kelter, the branch leader of the Eye of the Moon, had embezzled a large sum of money.

It had been quiet for a while after that incident, but now, other greedy individuals had started to appear.

However, due to his status as a prince, Raion found it difficult to step forward directly in the current situation.

“It’s a necessary matter. Would it be difficult for you?”

A faint smile flickered on Charad’s lips for a brief moment.

Raion, who barely caught that, sensed something strange.

‘What’s his real intention? He doesn’t seem genuinely worried. Besides, I can sense multiple presences around the area.’

Even when he entered the Blue Sunset earlier, there had been more people than he expected.

He had thought it strange, but brushed it off at the time.

“I’ll make separate preparations for that matter.”

“The situation is urgent. Or, how about temporarily transferring ownership of the goods? Our Eye of the Moon can handle ownership management on your behalf as an agent.”

“An agent?”

“Normally, we would charge a fee for such services, but since you’re a special-grade client of the Eye of the Moon, we’ll offer it as a courtesy.”

The more he listened, the more suspicious it sounded.

‘This feels exactly like one of those voice phishing scams.’

Before returning to the Phalon Continent, Raion had once received a similar call back in 21st-century Republic of Korea.

That made this situation even more absurd.

“I don’t think I’ll need such benefits. I’ll discuss that matter separately with Regina Foster of the Royal Capital Branch.”

As Raion began to rise from his seat, Charad’s expression hardened.

It was the face of someone realizing his plan had gone awry.

“Sit back down.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Sit quietly, Your Highness Raion Canel.”

He had pinpointed Raion’s true identity exactly.

At those words, Raion narrowed his eyes.

“Isn’t it against protocol to blabber about a client’s information? And your tongue seems to be about half the proper length.”

“Shut your mouth and sign this instead.”

A parchment contract was placed on the table.

It stated that all goods distributed under the name Raion Dragonia would have their ownership delegated to an agent.

In truth, “delegation” was just a disguise—it was no different from transferring full ownership.

Charad had summoned Raion precisely for this.

“I’m curious how you even knew I came here.”

“Your information always reaches us through our Eye of the Moon. And since you’re a prince, you’re someone we must watch more closely than anyone else.”

Information was constantly delivered by the Eye of the Moon informants spread across each territory.

There was no way Raion could keep tabs on every single one of them.

“I guess I really let my guard down this time…”

He hadn’t expected something like this to be waiting for him.

Feeling a slight tension at the back of his neck, Raion didn’t show it outwardly.

“If you just sign quietly, we’ll let you leave safely, Your Highness.”

“And if I refuse?”

It was the same question as before.

Charad frowned deeply.

“Do you think we won’t dare do anything just because you’re a prince?”

“And if you do?”

“I was hoping to wrap this up quietly, but it seems that’s impossible now.”

Clack!

The door burst open, and two large men entered.

They were the same ones Raion had seen when he came into the Blue Sunset earlier.

“I was planning to end this quietly too… but I guess that’s not an option now.”

“…What?”

Just as Charad spoke, Raion’s sword sheath moved in a blur.

Thud! Thud—!

The two large men approaching from the sides had their heads knocked sideways by the sheath.

Thump! Thump!

“……”

It all happened in an instant.

The sight of the two men collapsed on the floor left Charad dumbfounded.

“You said you were tracking me—didn’t you bother to find out what I’ve been doing lately?”

“H-how… You were supposed to just be disguised as a knight…”

Charad had heard of Raion Dragonia—a Swordmaster and an S-rank Adventurer.

But he had never believed the information was true.

He’d simply assumed it was a convenient lie to make the prince’s movements easier.

“To think someone like you is a branch leader of the Eye of the Moon. Ridiculous. And your trickery is laughably shallow.”

“Isn’t anyone out there? Get in here, now!”

Bang—!

More burly men rushed in, just like the ones before.

They glanced at their fallen comrades for a brief moment before surrounding Raion.

There were six of them in total.

All of them looked like they were used to fighting, and they approached slowly.

“If you wanted to covet someone else’s possessions, you should’ve at least come prepared…”

When Raion first realized Charad’s plot, he had actually felt a slight expectation.

But now, his eyes held nothing but contempt as they locked onto the men.

“Get him!”

Charad shouted.

The men snorted and moved in closer.

“I was a little nervous at first, but…”

Shiiing!

At last, Raion’s sword was drawn.

His arm moved like it vanished, slashing in every direction.

Swish, swish, swish—!

Sharp trails of wind carved through the air.

“W-what the—?”

“What just passed by?”

The approaching men suddenly froze.

They could feel something missing around their necks.

At that same moment, their clothes split apart into ribbons and fell away like dust.

“Argh―!”

“My clothes!”

“Damn it, did I only cut their clothes by mistake?”

In the end, only Raion’s regret lingered.

Because of his swordsmanship—so fast it was invisible—the men immediately covered their vital parts with their hands and fled.

Raion was left alone in the room.

“When did that bastard run away?”

It seemed he had vanished the moment the others rushed in.

Raion immediately stepped out into the hallway.

Apart from the men who had just escaped, others were standing along the narrow corridor.

‘Did they think they were being thorough in their preparation? I’d better finish this quickly.’

If things got too noisy, news of the incident might reach the Lord of the Clarman Territory.

Of course, the Lord of Clarman had close ties with the Arenvatz Ducal Family.

However, that didn’t mean everyone under his command shared the same connection.

If word reached Duke Alito Kright’s family, it would only cause unnecessary trouble.

Step. Step.

With each step, Raion’s sword moved at blinding speed.

Swish! Slash!

Thud! Thud-thud-thud—!

“Gahk!”

“Urk!”

“Keuh―!”

Several harsh impacts echoed through the corridor.

The sight of the men collapsing to the floor caused those standing behind to step back, their faces turning pale.

They had realized they were no match for Raion.

“This is a waste of time. I’d better wrap this up quickly. And I still need to have a word with that woman.”

He meant Regina Foster, the branch leader of the Eye of the Moon at the Royal Capital Branch.

In a way, this whole mess had happened because of her management failure.

Raion’s lone advance continued afterward.

The men Charad had prepared fell one after another, until the floor was littered with groaning bodies.

Following Charad’s traces, Raion soon reached a large open space.

It looked like a training hall used by agents of the Eye of the Moon.

“As expected, you did make some preparations.”

Inside the space were Charad and two other men.

In truth, Raion had sensed their presence from the very beginning.

He had only pretended not to know, watching to see what Charad would do.

Then one of the men stood up and spoke to him.

“S-rank adventurer. Swordmaster Raion Dragonia. Or should I say, Prince Raion Canel?”

The two men were S-rank mercenaries—Parcian and Harold.

At Parcian’s remark, Raion tilted his neck slightly with a faint crack.

“You even prepared this welcoming party for me?”

“So you’re an S-rank adventurer and a Swordmaster at such a young age. No wonder you’re so arrogant.”

Both men looked well into their forties.

Naturally, as S-rank mercenaries, they possessed abundant experience and skill.

To them, Raion was just a youngster who had gained power through talent alone.

“We’ll see who’s the real novice here.”

“What a joke. Did you really call us here just to deal with a brat like this, Charad?”

At that question, Charad—standing behind them—quickly opened his mouth.

“Don’t underestimate him! He took down my men in an instant!”

“That’s something we could do easily as well.”

Once one reached the level of a Swordmaster, even one’s movements became fundamentally different.

Both Parcian and Harold were experts who had achieved that same realm.

“You two are Swordmasters as well! Then do something about him!”

“If that person hadn’t sent us ahead, who knows how this might’ve turned out.”

“Call it foresight, perhaps. So, shall we go together?”

At Harold’s suggestion, Parcian tilted his head.

“Are you seriously asking if two of us need to take on that kid?”

“Overconfidence is always dangerous. That’s precisely why he sent us here.”

“Well, that’s true. But he’s just a rookie who barely stepped into the Swordmaster’s realm. No matter how talented he is, he’s nowhere near our level.”

The two men spoke sharply while Raion stood before them.

Seeing that, Charad seemed to relax a little, straightening his bent back.

“Either one of you, deal with him already!”

“Hold on. How do you want to handle this?”

“If you’re confident enough…”

Harold extended a hand forward.

At that, Parcian drew two daggers from the holsters on his waist.

Shing―!

‘This might not be so easy.’

Through Specific Analysis, Raion had already gauged their abilities.

Both their dagger technique and swordsmanship were at level 10—the realm of a master.

Considering their age, their combat experience was likely immense as well.

“You’re going first?”

“Calling your elders ‘you,’ huh? Did the royal family of Canel forget to teach manners?”

“Asking royalty for manners? That’s rich.”

Their verbal sparring continued, neither side backing down, until Parcian snorted.

“So the royal family of Canel teaches wordplay before swordplay, I see.”

“Your tongue seems just as sharp. Did you learn dagger arts with your mouth?”

“I was thinking of going easy since you’re a prince, but you’re really asking for it!”

“Guess we’ll find out which of us needs the lesson.”

Enraged first, Parcian tightened his grip on the daggers and released his aura.

A blue light flared over both blades, blazing fiercely.

After all, his opponent was also a Swordmaster.

At their level, rashly confronting an aura user could end the fight in an instant.

“Judging by the color of your aura, you’re quite skilled.”

Parcian’s aura was at the point of shifting from blue to pure white.

That meant he was on the verge of reaching the upper level of a Swordmaster.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep