Chapter 129
dragon blood (4)
‘When is it?’
Selford and the others all drew their swords and aimed them at them.
A small old man stood by the door with his hands clasped behind his back.
Next to him, Marti was restless, not knowing what to do.
“Grandpa, if you go in like this… … !”
“I say I go to my house, but who is going to stop me from doing that? Isn’t that right, young friend?”
“Yes. You are right.”
Theo nodded calmly as he caught the old man’s gaze.
‘Vittorio Romelin… … . The head of Romelin and the ruler of the floating islands. I heard that he was originally a person with no presence, but he was such an expert?’
Selford and the others swallowed dry saliva. A cold sweat ran down my back.
In the meantime, they had never seen Vittorio’s face even though they were in Romelin’s mansion.
It was because he said that he had no time to meet other people because he had a lot of work because of martial law.
So I didn’t care too much.
This was a completely unexpected situation.
Moreover, the party was clearly standing guard with their senses sharpened to prevent the invasion of outsiders.
Even so, I ignored it and walked in naturally, and even listened to all the conversations we had here.
It is absolutely impossible unless you are a master with superior skills than them.
‘Yongmun Prosecutor Class… … No, maybe more than that.’
Then, another question arises here.
Why did a person with such skill only watch the atrocities of the Demon Slaughter Corps?
Does Theo know something?
Strangely, he didn’t show any sign of embarrassment.
“Looks like they’re having an interesting conversation, but I don’t know if I interrupted them. When I get old, I became curious because I couldn’t stand it. Hee hee.”
“no. If you’re Vittorio, you deserve to hear it.”
Theo said, looking back at Selford and the others.
“Could you all leave your seats for a moment?”
“Theo.”
“I don’t think there is anything to be concerned about.”
“Hmm. I’ll find out soon.”
Shelford looked at Theo and Vittorio anxiously before leaving the room with the other two.
The man with the black skull also left the spot without noticing.
“I thought it would be nice if we could share what we were talking about. Can I put a spoon on you?”
Vittorio leisurely walked around the room with his hands behind his back.
But Theo was not seduced by his mood.
‘I have to tell the story well from here.’
Theo knew Vittorio well.
A person who barely showed his value even though he was the president of a wealthy island.
Because of that, he was the worst leader who made the floating islands swept around by Troy Ban’s demonic hand.
Although this was the evaluation sent by the world in my previous life.
He was also the monarch who saved the Floating Islands from Troy Ban until the end and made them survive the Great War.
To be honest, I wonder if Heukseol was more wary of Vittorio than the financial power of the floating islands.
‘In addition, swordsmanship is at the level of a laurel swordsman. He’s also a ninth dragon level. I’m sure he won’t go easy on him.’
Therefore, Vittorio’s cooperation was essential in order to obtain the Floating Islands and the Shipping Federation.
It was the last remaining hurdle.
Theo opened his mouth slowly, gathering his thoughts.
“Should I take that as something that Romellin is willing to share?”
“Isn’t that what the Ragnar of the world is trying to do? If so, you think it’s better to be together than to go against it. of course.”
Vittorio’s eyes sank deeply for an instant.
“It would be a completely different story if he tried to do the same trick as Troyban.”
“Nope. I have no intention of doing that.”
“Whoops. Glad then In fact, I had no idea that Ragnar was interested in our floating islands. Aren’t they nobles who rarely come from the north?”
“I think you are thinking about it wrong. The reason Ragnar said he wouldn’t be is because Ragnar really has no idea what’s going on in the Floating Islands.”
“Hmm?”
Vittorio tilted his head, wondering what this meant.
Theo’s smile deepened.
“I did not come to represent Ragnar.”
“… … ?”
“I came purely as an individual.”
“… … That means.”
“It means that all of this is my own opinion.”
“… … !”
Vittorio’s eyes widened.
It was unbelievable.
Did he do it alone, without Ragnar’s support?
“Then what had Balmung?”
“This is what I retrieved during my mission. Then, with the help of Heukseol, he found out about what had happened in the Floating Islands and came to return it.”
“her!”
It was not something to pray for.
“You… … How old are you?”
“Fifteen this year. I will be sixteen in a month.”
“Then, the flowering ceremony was held?”
“It was this year.”
“This is nonsense… … .”
Vittorio remembered what he and his granddaughter were like when they were 15, who were called ‘geniuses’.
Wasn’t it just at the level of whether or not to use a sword on the sword?
Moreover, Ragnar unlocks his magic for the first time at fifteen.
That said, it’s been less than a year since you’ve held the sword properly, so you’re saying you’re showing that level of skill?
No, the performances and mentality that have been shown so far are not easy, but I started questioning whether a 15-year-old child could pull it off alone.
Isn’t this a level that can be judged in the category of genius or something?
‘No. I don’t think so. Rather, the story might work out better.’
Vittorio wiped his face with his hand and organized his thoughts.
He has met a lot of people over the years.
There were many geniuses among them.
And those geniuses had one thing in common.
That it should not be judged by common sense.
So Vittorio decided to treat Theo as an equal from now on.
“The foundation of the floating islands and the financial power of the Maritime Federation. Are you sure you need these? To become the family head.”
“I never said I would become a family head.”
“Don’t pull back. It doesn’t make any more sense if someone like you doesn’t have ambition. If you don’t want to reveal your true feelings, I’ll just take the spoon away.”
“no. Let’s keep talking.”
Theo chuckled at the insight of Vittorio, who had read his will to power with several clues.
Vittorio’s eyes shone intensely.
“Lomelyn has built and solidified numerous relationships over the past 400 years, not only in the empire, but also in intermediary trade with the rest of the world. Not to mention the enormous wealth accumulated through him.”
king of the sea.
That was another nickname for the Romelin family.
“If we put all this into your hands, what can you give us?”
pounding!
Theo suddenly felt his heart beating loudly.
Vittorio was asking.
-How far is your ‘real’ dream?
If it was simply holding hands to rule the floating islands, the deal they had made so far was enough.
Theo has the foundation of the floating islands, the financial power of the Shipping Federation, and the power of the Temple Knights in case of emergency.
Romelin would benefit from complete control of the floating islands, a monopoly on the shipping trade, and the support of Kriemhild’s successor.
Moreover, since Theo was about to leave the Floating Islands, it was something Vittorio would welcome as well.
But Vittorio was asking about the ‘behind’.
Depending on Theo’s answer here, the cards he would show would also change.
‘this… … That’s a real deal. It’s not just about taking care of each other’s things and ending it. The future can be together. A transaction armed with trust.’
Theo felt that somehow he had learned a trick from Vittorio.
“Northern trade monopoly. How is it?”
“Hoo.”
“Since we will pioneer the eastern part in the future, Romelin’s network of relationships will be able to reach deep beyond the sea and inland.”
“You talk as if you defeated Troy and Ban?”
“Because I am in Ragnar.”
“You are arrogant.”
“I’ve already won the Floating Islands by myself, so what’s the difference between war?”
Still, the arrogant answer seemed to please Vittorio.
“But didn’t you say it with your own mouth? You said you didn’t come to represent Ragnar? Can you promise anything like that?”
“It is not yet known to the outside world, but the Ceres Merchant Corps, which currently monopolizes the northern commercial district, has collapsed. You can take his place.”
“Still, I don’t think the northerners, who are as exclusive as we are, won’t welcome us?”
“Go with Bacchus. If it works in the form of a joint venture, it won’t be difficult.”
“If it’s Bacchus, isn’t it a sixth theory? Will they be willing to help us?”
“Yes. It will. Because the head of that place is my vassal.”
“her!”
Did you already have the head of the 6th family as a vassal?
Vittorio was no longer surprised.
Rather, it only grows more greedy.
‘I wonder if the reason I’ve been secluded is to meet this child.’
Vittorio now understands why Marti said he would know when he met Theo.
An opportunity to extend Romelin’s business not only to shipping, but also to the northern part of the country, which has remained uncharted so far, as well as to the deep inland eastern region.
And furthermore, a chance to join hands with a powerful person who wants to become the king of the north.
‘Soon the empire will be blown by a storm. Storms can capsize ships, but sometimes guide merchants to a faster and farther place.’
Vittorio did not know about ＜The Great War＞, but he expected that a great chaos would strike the empire.
then.
Wouldn’t it be necessary to ride on top of the storm rather than avoid it?
However, Vittorio only stroked his chin with his hand and gave no answer.
There was something I wanted to check a little more.
“Hey, would you like to film a play with me?”
* * *
The Dominion Capitol was crowded with lawmakers for the first time in a long time.
It was because of the order to call an extraordinary general meeting.
– Hmm! Again, half of the seats were empty.
-Aren’t all the spinolas and grimals smashed all night? I’m going to be crazy about the backseat there.
-It’s not like that, it’s because the temple knights caught all of them. They said they were all imprisoned for being guilty of this incident. Everyone will die.
-Since the captain of the guard has been disbanded, no one will be able to stop them. her!
-Ah, come to think of it, didn’t you have dinner with Mr. Grimal a few days ago?
-Yes, this person! Be sure to speak out! That’s because he begs to eat!
-Your son wasn’t asking for a job?
-Where are you catching the pod! There was no such thing as risking my name!
The downfall of Spinola and Grimal.
Many of the lawmakers had no choice but to have a connection with them, so they were afraid that their nose would be strangely pinched.
Even at this moment, the Temple Knights were shooting all over the Dominion with their eyes on, so the fear was greater.
-Rather than that, what should be the disposition of Kriemhild’s successor?
– I heard that you are a foreigner? That’s Ragnar too.
-You must be full of energy. how the hell does the world work ugh!
-Shouldn’t we retrieve it from Balmung?
-Of course you should! Balmung is originally a holy relic of our proud Venota and Dominion!
-cancer! To be a hero is to be a hero, and this is different.
-Anyway, the confrontation with Troyban is an unavoidable step, so it should be enough to give you enough strength.
-If you think about it in the first place, isn’t it thanks to us that the boy was able to gain that much power?
It is not for us to bow our heads; on the contrary, we should bow our heads.
This was the common opinion of Theo that members of the parliament had right now.
Contrary to the public opinion of the residents, they are the vested class in the first place.
Instinctively, they didn’t want to hurt their interests, so it was hard to be kind to Theo.
-But he’s obviously going to conspire with the president and plot something, so what?
-but. That’s a problem too… … .
Some even expressed concerns.
-It’s the only remaining maritime family, and it’s actually under the control of the Temple Knights, so it’s practically a dictatorship… … .
-Shh! noiselessly. so you can hear it
Some looked at the top seat of the Capitol and turned their heads sideways.
It was then.
– The President enters. Members of Congress, please stand up.
Vittorio cautiously entered the Capitol with Marti’s support.
The sound of swallowing dry saliva could be heard everywhere.
‘The Commander… … .’
‘Was he that big?’
In the meantime, it was Vittorio who had no presence under the pressure of Spinola and Grimal.
Now all the air in the audience was revolving around him.
It was unknown if this was Vittorio’s true form, or if it was because of the Temple Knights and Black Skull power that followed him.
– Everyone please be seated.
Vittorio sat in the president’s seat, followed by other members of Congress.
“The reason I asked for a gathering while everyone was busy is because the heir of Kriemhild has finally regained consciousness. In addition to hearing testimonies about the past, let’s discuss how to establish a relationship with our floating islands in the future. So I want to invite the heir here, but does anyone have a different opinion?”
it was still quiet
Rather, the eyes of the lawmakers turned to the entrance.
“I wouldn’t know if you didn’t. Come in.”
Awesome!
The door swung wide open and Theo walked in with majestic strides.
Balmung in one hand, Aegir’s helmet in the other.