86. If You Don’t Go Along Peacefully
Before departing, they received a send-off from the Letiwood family.
Leticia also came to see off Eustia, despite her heavy body.
“Eustia, make sure to get along well with your husband. And act cute sometimes.”
“I’ll figure it out, so you just worry about your own health, Unni.”
“Your attitude is just too stiff, that’s the problem. Sometimes, at least, act cute in front of your husband…”
While Eustia was being lectured by her little sister, Sirius exchanged greetings with the brothers Andres and David.
“I’ve also decided to join the Black Tortoise Platoon. I want to make the southern region where our children will live more peaceful.”
“That’s a good idea, Brother.”
“I’ll be praying for your success in the West.”
As he was receiving words of encouragement from David, Andres spoke with a serious expression.
“Sirius, the West is a rough region. Honestly, it won’t be easy.”
“That’s what I’ve heard.”
“Honestly, I’d like to go and help, but… I don’t think I can leave the southern region right now.”
Andres is a key asset to the Black Tortoise Platoon in the south.
If the Alliance were to dispatch a powerful wizard to rebuild the southern branch, Andres would need to step up.
Moreover, Andres also has a role to play as the Lord of the Black Shadow Castle.
It would be difficult for him to travel around with Sirius.
“I’ll leave the south in your hands, Brother Andres.”
“Sirius…”
“I hope you’ll thoroughly eradicate the remaining evildoers.”
Andres smiled at his meaningful stare.
Although Andres normally works to maintain治安 as a member of the Black Tortoise Platoon, when necessary, he becomes a man in black and personally punishes evildoers.
“Well then, it’s almost time to leave. Let’s go.”
After exchanging final farewells, Sirius boarded the ship.
There were numerous cargo ships on the river preparing to depart.
They were a fleet newly assembled by the Azure Wave Nation’s ‘Southern Branch’, and they were fully loaded with cargo to be transported to the West.
They would follow the river to enter the western region.
“Alleyon, have you finished assigning the personnel?”
“Yes, I’ve assigned them so that we can properly guard all sides.”
Nodding at Alleyon’s response, Sirius turned and left.
In preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, the security of the Cheonrang Sword Group was further increased.
Now, not only did they have to be on guard against the Soojik, but also against the assassins of the Wind King.
“One thousand five hundred and sixty-one… one thousand five hundred and sixty-two…”
As the sound of Velide practicing the Three Calamities Swordsmanship could be heard from somewhere, the ship began to move.
Sirius checked the fleet as he walked around it, and then headed towards the cabin.
As he entered the small room, the smell of medicinal herbs filled the air.
“Verdian, have you finished sorting out the medicinal herbs?”
“Yes, I have finished.”
Verdian had used the medicine chest that had been brought in advance to sort out all the medicinal herbs.
The preparations for future research were complete.
“Then I guess we can start.”
Sirius sat down on a wooden chair.
Verdian also sat on a chair and faced Sirius.
“Let me explain the basic theory of elixir.”
“Yes, please do.”
Verdian had a serious expression.
She seemed determined to properly absorb the new knowledge that Sirius would teach her.
Of course, Verdian had not yet completely broken free from the brainwashing of the Poison King.
If the Poison King appeared right now, she might go to him.
However, Sirius intended to do his best to teach her.
There was no other way to rehabilitate Verdian.
If Sirius’ sincerity could reach her… Verdian would be able to play a big role in this world.
* * *
The journey to the west was relatively peaceful.
Suspicious people did not approach them, and even the Soojik did not attack them.
It seemed that the rumor of the destruction of the Shahit Soojik had spread among the Soojik.
There were even Soojik who came to them directly, scared out of their wits, and surrendered.
“We can almost see it.”
Sirius checked ahead from the bow of the ship with Justitia.
“Is that the city of Paramia, which serves as the entrance to the western region?”
“Yes, we will unload all the cargo there.”
Paramia was a commercial city of considerable size.
The abundant food resources of the southern region were transported to Paramia by river and then sent to various parts of the west.
“Sister Titania will be waiting for us.”
“…”
Titania Rigel.
The eldest daughter of the Rigel family and Justitia’s older sister.
She had been living in the west ever since she married into the Granz family, one of the leading noble families in the west.
“Justitia, can I go to Paramia before the fleet arrives?”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to check out the local situation in advance.”
The Phoenix King’s assassins or local Western forces could be waiting for the fleet’s arrival.
So it would be better for Sirius to arrive in advance and investigate.
“If anything happens, tell that person.”
“I understand.”
Sirius pointed a finger towards the mast.
On the mast, the Heavenly King sat cross-armed.
Even if someone attacked the fleet while they were away, the Heavenly King would deal with it.
“Then I’ll go first.”
“Yes, if there’s a problem, send a signal.”
After finishing his conversation with Justitia, Sirius used Lighten to leap.
Since he had heard the principles of flight magic from the Heavenly King last time, the duration of Lighten’s levitation had increased compared to before.
Like that, Sirius flew ahead and soon arrived at Paramia.
‘A bustling city.’
Paramia had the liveliest atmosphere out of all the cities Sirius had visited so far.
The scale of the city was smaller than the major cities in the South, but it was the first time he had seen a place as lively as Paramia.
‘The merchants also seem rough. Is this the West?’
Unlike the East or the South, the entire Western region was in chaos.
Numerous dark organizations were constantly fighting for power, and sometimes even prestigious clans participated in these fights.
From what Sirius had heard from various stories… the Western region felt similar to the Murim where Cheonrangmuje Baek Murang lived.
“……”
Sirius extended his senses in all directions as he looked around the city.
He needed to check if there were any powerful magicians hiding.
He felt mana equivalent to approximately 4th or 5th Circle in several places… they seemed to be executives of dark organizations operating in this city.
When he approached them to take a closer look, they didn’t seem like much of a threat.
‘There doesn’t seem to be anything to be wary of.’
It was safe for now.
After coming to that conclusion, Sirius entered a restaurant near the wharf.
There were about one or two hours left until the fleet arrived, so he planned to wait while having a meal.
“Your food is here.”
The restaurant was crowded, but the food came out quickly after he ordered.
It was a dish of wheat noodles boiled and stir-fried in sauce.
‘I wish I could eat this with chopsticks.’
Recalling his memories of eating noodles in his previous life, Sirius began his meal with a fork.
The restaurant wasn’t very clean, but the food tasted great.
‘There’s a reason it’s so crowded.’
As he was thinking that,
A middle-aged man who had entered the restaurant sat down at the seat opposite Sirius.
Sirius didn’t pay much attention.
The seats were scarce, and it seemed like the other guests were all sharing tables.
“Where are you from? You seem like an outsider.”
“…….”
Just then, the man who had finished ordering suddenly spoke to Sirius.
It seemed like he needed someone to chat with while waiting for his food to arrive.
“I’m from the South.”
“Aha, the South.”
Sirius responded flatly, and the man nodded.
“I heard the South has been quite rowdy lately.”
“It wasn’t peaceful.”
“Have you heard the name Sirius? They say he annihilated the Union branch and pacified the South.”
“…….”
Sirius paused his fork for a moment.
He never expected to hear his name here.
“There are rumors that he’s now heading to the West… Do you think that’s true?”
“As far as I know, it’s not false.”
“Oh my… Is he planning to stir up trouble in the West this time?”
The man clicked his tongue as he spoke.
“It won’t be easy.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Western Black Guilds aren’t pushovers.”
The man said in a prideful voice.
“The Black Guilds in other regions are cowards who watch the faces of the prestigious families, but the Western Black Guilds are different. If there’s someone they don’t like, they’ll kill them without hesitation, whether they’re the child or son-in-law of a prestigious family. And they have the skills to do it.”
“…….”
“Annihilated the Union branch? The Black Guilds in other regions would tremble just hearing about it, but the Black Guilds here aren’t like that. They’d just laugh it off.”
As he was chattering away, the man’s food arrived.
The man continued to talk even as he ate.
“If Sirius arrives in the West, he’ll have to figure out the atmosphere first. If he acts all high and mighty and starts poking around, he’ll be found dead within a few days.”
“…….”
“I heard he learned ancient magic somewhere and defeated even the most formidable sorcerers… But that was only because he fought them head-on, right? If the Western Black Guilds try to kill him by any means necessary, he’s done for.”
This man was really talkative.
Sirius had already finished his meal, but he continued to listen in order to grasp the local atmosphere.
“So what should Sirius do?”
He asked a question, wanting to hear more.
The man then spoke in a spirited voice.
“He should bow his head.”
“Bow his head? Is that what he should do?”
“That’s right.”
As Sirius kept asking questions, the man grumbled and said,
“If I were him, I’d first go to the Dusten clan that controls Palamia and introduce myself. I’d tell them that I plan to operate in the West from now on, so please take care of me. Then at least I wouldn’t get stabbed in the back in Palamia.”
“I heard it’s the Grantes family that controls Palamia.”
“Hey, but it is our Dusten gang that rules the back streets of Palamia.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Our Dusten gang.
Hearing those words, Sirius realized what kind of person the man was.
“So you belong to the Dusten gang.”
“Oops, I made a slip of the tongue. Everyone gets scared when they find out I’m a member of the organization, hahahaha.”
He didn’t seem to be bluffing.
In fact, the customers at the next table who had overheard the conversation had looks of fear on their faces.
“There are many organizations in Palamia, but we are the only Dusten gang recognized by the Black Iron Alliance.”
“Black Iron Alliance….”
“Even people from the south must have heard the name.”
Black Iron Alliance.
It is the largest dark guild alliance in the west.
A young and skilled man named Zephyros subjugated other dark guild organizations and formed a large force.
In the west, the Black Iron Alliance is said to have more influence than the Federation.
“If Sirius is fighting the Federation as rumored, the Black Iron Alliance may lend their strength.”
“So I should make a good impression on the Dusten gang in advance?”
“That’s right. Appearing favorable to Brother Dusten is the same as appearing favorable to the Black Iron Alliance.”
Muttering, the man stuffed all the remaining noodles on his plate into his mouth.
Then he patted his stomach with a satisfied expression.
“Later, when Sirius arrives in the west, watch that man closely. Whether he acts wisely or foolishly….”
With those words, the man got up from his seat.
Now that he had finished eating, it was time to end the conversation.
However.
“Ugh?!”
The man who was about to go outside let out a groan.
Sirius had suddenly grabbed the man’s bicep.
“Wh-what?”
The man tried to pull his arm away with a look of bewilderment.
But it didn’t budge.
“Where should I go to visit the Dusten gang? I would appreciate it if you could guide me.”
“Ah, guide you?”
“Didn’t you say you should greet me first?”
Sirius said in a flat voice.
“You advised me to do so, so I will follow your advice.”
“What…?”
The man looked at Sirius’s face.
And gradually, his face twisted.
“Surely not…!”
“Now, let’s go.”
Sirius dragged the man out of the store.
The man tried to resist, but Sirius’s strength was too much for him.
“I’ll have you say hello to your brother…… And ask him to introduce me to the Black Iron Alliance.”
If the western gangs refused to cooperate, he would let them know.
That Sirius Canisroot was an existence that was truly untouchable.