-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Escaping the Royal Palace (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In Brioll, you needed the king's permission to run a legitimate loan shark operation, but shady back-alley lenders had always existed in the shadows, thriving on their own.
Among them, the largest was 'Uncle's Daily Loans,' backed by the Crystal Tower syndicate.
They lured customers in with the friendly name "Uncle," but the moment you missed even a single day's payment, hell began.
They were destined to rule Brioll's underworld as a major player until they lost a turf war and got pushed out years later.
"A customer has arrived."
Yuri and Hernando were led to the back of the casino and soon found themselves sitting across from a man.
He was a middle-aged fellow with a smooth face and a well-groomed mustache, looking more like a polite gentleman than a loan shark.
He rested his elbows on the desk and asked in a soft voice,
"Do you need money?"
Yuri nodded. The man grinned widely.
"Excellent. We never abandon a friend in need. How much do you require?"
Hernando fidgeted anxiously and grabbed at Yuri's clothes.
"Wait. Let's talk about this..."
"No need."
Yuri brushed off his wrist.
"Gorio."
"Your Majesty—no, nephew. What is this all of a sudden..."
"Do you know who I am?"
"Pardon?"
Hernando's eyes widened as he glanced back and forth between Yuri and the man.
The man spread his arms on the table with a laugh.
"Of course. When the king's mage shows up with the spirited Third Prince, even someone as lowly as me has to send the boss, right?"
"What?"
Hernando half-rose from his seat.
"You know who I am?"
"Yes. We've known since the first time you borrowed from us. You called yourself 'Mr. Mystery,' but anyone could tell it was Sir Hernando."
Yuri stared blankly at Hernando. He cleared his throat awkwardly and sat back down.
"Mr. Mystery?"
"A pseudonym."
"Cool."
"Thank you..."
Yuri fiddled with the ring on his finger. He'd worn the Brioll royal crest just in case, but there was no need to show it.
Gorio stroked his mustache.
"So, the reason the prince has suddenly graced us with his presence..."
He smiled slyly.
"Must be money, I presume."
Yuri smiled back.
"You're not even a little tense with a prince here."
"Why should I be? You're a customer. If anything, it's cause for celebration. It means my reputation has reached even the prince."
Yuri saw echoes of the past in Gorio's face.
He'd never met Gorio in person. He'd only glimpsed his severed head on public display in the marketplace.
It was hard to guess what kind of man he'd been from that lifeless, expressionless head.
The real Gorio seemed more rational than expected.
"You value credibility, do you?"
"Naturally. Though I operate on the fringes of the law, I hold good faith above all. I drill it into my men constantly."
The subordinates standing behind nodded in agreement.
"A prince or a common citizen makes no difference to me. I treat them all as valued customers."
It sounded polite, but it was a veiled threat.
"What if I don't pay you back?"
"We'll take proper collateral and lend only up to a reasonable limit. We have strict standards."
"Sounds like you're confident in your calculations."
"Experience has taught us well."
Yuri leaned forward with a smile.
"Same here. I'll be watching your attitude and deciding the appropriate limits for you going forward."
"Going forward..."
Gorio closed his eyes.
"So I can take that to mean this won't be a one-time deal?"
"Exactly."
"You're not here to gamble, then."
Hernando had been listening quietly to the exchange between Yuri and Gorio.
He couldn't fathom what Yuri was after.
A strange feeling welled up in his chest.
"Gorio. Do you know about investments?"
"Quite well. It's my business. Everyone out there is investing these days, aren't they?"
"That's gambling, not investing. I'm borrowing your money to make real investments."
"Instead of going to a bank."
"Special circumstances."
"Building a secret slush fund on the sly, eh..."
Gorio narrowed his eyes.
"Could it be the Third Prince has grander ambitions..."
"That's far enough."
Yuri placed his fingertips on the table.
"Interrogating me isn't your role."
"My apologies if I overstepped."
"Forget it. You're in a position to haggle, so I'll forgive that much."
"Pragmatic, aren't you? Quite different from the rumors I've heard."
"Yeah, I am."
Yuri said.
"My ambitions are far from what you imagine."
He glanced at Hernando before continuing.
"I'm borrowing from you to buy Klein spices."
Gorio fell into thought, while Hernando gaped at the unexpected turn.
"Whoa, Prince... no, nephew. Hey, man."
"What?"
"Oh, right. It's all out in the open. Your Highness..."
He whispered into Yuri's ear—or tried to. Everyone around could hear.
"What is this all of a sudden? Borrowing from Gorio to buy spices?"
"Just stay quiet."
Yuri turned back to Gorio.
"Klein spices... You mean 'Mugranja,' I take it."
"Right."
"I haven't heard anything about shortages..."
"That'll change soon."
Hernando recalled a snippet of intelligence he'd overheard. Orcs had been spotted prowling the borders since the civil war broke out in the Klein Duchy.
Spices were Klein's specialty. But orc border raids hardly seemed enough to drive up prices that much.
Besides, Mugranja matters were top secret even within Klein—no information leaked outside.
Did the prince know something?
Or was this just a casual hunch to stockpile local goods amid the chaos?
"..."
Hernando looked at Yuri.
Indescribable confidence shone in Yuri's eyes.
On impulse, Hernando crossed two fingers under the table and formed a hand seal with his palms together.
"Mugranja..."
"Essential ingredient for high-end perfumes."
"My money comes with steep interest."
"I'll pay it."
"You seem certain."
"That's why I'm here."
Yuri lifted his chin.
"So, how much?"
He stared steadily into Gorio's eyes.
"Not as Brioll's prince—what can I borrow as an investor?"
Gorio closed his eyes and tapped the table with his fingertips.
Tap, tap, slowly. Each time, his eyeballs rolled beneath his lids.
Time passed.
Finally, Gorio opened his eyes.
"Let's draw up the contract."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After leaving the Crystal Tower, Hernando was speechless.
"Hey."
Yuri tapped the shoulder of the dazed mage as he walked.
"Wrong way."
"Pardon? Where to now?"
"To buy spices."
"Right now? Do you even know how spice trading works? They don't sell Mugranja to just anyone."
"I'll have someone I know handle it."
"Pardon?"
Yuri shrugged.
"I borrowed from Gorio, so now I'll entrust it to a reliable merchant."
Hernando furrowed his brow at Yuri, then nodded.
"Understood."
"Coming along so obediently."
"What choice do I have?"
Hernando looked deep in thought. Yuri chuckled and kept walking.
What Hernando or Gorio thought of this didn't matter. The spice price surge was inevitable.
High-end continental perfumes all required Mugranja, and only the Klein duke's alchemist confidant knew the formula.
And he'd be the first killed by the rebels.
Probably a lonely ghost by now.
Until a substitute appeared, Mugranja would fetch any price asked.
"The trading company, then?"
"No."
"Few firms handle Mugranja."
Yuri gave a meaningful smile.
Not yet, but one would rise to prominence in the future.
"Here."
"Pardon?"
Yuri stopped in front of a shabby sign reading 'Ireine Merchant House.'
"Here?"
"Yeah."
"Shouldn't we go with a more capable firm?"
"Perfume prices will skyrocket. Money will follow."
"Bigger firms might handle it better."
"Think long-term."
"Pardon?"
He wasn't after a quick buck.
People changed the future.
Yuri had no doubt this merchant house's owner would become a major ally.
The titan of commerce who expanded relentlessly even after Brioll's fall, building the continent's top trading empire.
"Ireine Wood!"
He called her name.
The weathered door creaked open, and a woman with bronze skin and blue eyes stepped out.
"Who might you be?"
"Ireine Wood. I'm Yuri, Third Prince of Brioll."
"Pardon?"
"Come on, shake."
"What is this..."
Yuri thrust out his hand.
Ireine, standing there blankly, shook it hesitantly.
Onlookers glanced curiously at the odd scene.
Yuri grinned, still holding her hand.
"They have no idea how historic this moment is."
"If I may, you claim to be the prince..."
"I am."
Gorio had wrapped himself in talk of credibility, but turned to every dirty trick when cornered.
Ireine, by contrast, treated promises to customers like her own life—a legendary merchant.
Of course, that was her past life.
"Ireine. I want to entrust you with a job."
This time, he'd elevate her from legend to myth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Borrowing a fortune from the infamous loan shark Gorio and handing it all to an unknown merchant like Ireine.
This absurd chain of events had unfolded mere hours after leaving the palace.
Hernando couldn't wrap his head around it.
"You've seen enough for today, right?"
Yuri shook his head at the question.
He'd achieved his outing's goals, but with time left, he had one more thing he wanted to do.
"One more."
"Pardon? What now?"
"Nothing too hard."
Yuri nodded toward the distance.
"We go in there."
"That's..."
Hernando rubbed his forehead.
"Why the slums again..."
Even glamorous Brioll's royal capital had its shadows.
The brighter the light, the deeper the darkness.
Slums drew every sort of riffraff—poor citizens, criminals, fugitives, all crawling about.
"What's the errand this time? It's dangerous there."
"I've done a lot today, haven't I?"
"Yes. Utterly insane things."
"So let's give thanks."
"Just pray at a temple."
"I prefer direct charity."
Yuri strode casually into the slums.
The alleys were dim. Gloomy eyes watched him from everywhere.
"Let's extend a warm hand to the less fortunate."
"To whom, exactly?"
"Hmm..."
Yuri scanned around as he spoke.
What this act might bring, even he couldn't predict.
"Elder."
Yuri addressed a ragged old man sprawled on the ground.
"Know any place where kids gather?"
The man just blinked dumbly. Yuri pressed a coin into his hand, and he finally spoke.
"Kids? What kind...?"
"A gang of teenagers. Oddly good at fighting..."
"Looking for Asana?"
Yuri paused, then nodded.
"Yes. Led by a girl."
"Those kids..."
Yuri turned in the rough direction the old man pointed.
The deeper into the slums, the quieter Hernando grew. Miserable sights assaulted them everywhere.
"Is this the way...?"
As he paced in circles, unsure, Yuri spotted what he sought.
"..."
Several children huddled together. They'd been begging; a few coins rattled in an empty tin can.
They stared openly at Yuri and Hernando.
Yuri focused on the one holding the can.
Short hair, dirty face—hard to tell, but up close, it was a girl.
"Found you."
Gorio would meet a gruesome end for his crimes in the future.
And the one who'd bring him down was right here.
Asana.
The sole survivor of the Assassin Cult.