The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 173

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 173. Ties and Enmities (2)
The Raven Dung Merchant Company—a merchant guild I’d never heard of before.
And for good reason; it was a guild one could never forget once they’d learned of it.
What kind of ridiculous naming was this, anyway?
The Supervisor narrowed his eyes as he examined the characters written on the paper, but it was indeed no mistake.
The Supervisor burned the paper in an instant, then asked again.
“…What exactly does this merchant company do?”
“According to official records, there are no significant sales transactions. No primary products, no designated trade routes. Even their tax records are spotless, but….”
The Subordinate continued, lowering his voice further.
“They are reportedly sponsoring the elders of Langrit Tower.”
“The elders of Langrit Tower?”
“Yes, sir.”
Langrit Tower is the cradle of all mages across The Continent.
The elders there are shrewd operators with considerable influence across The Continent.
Naturally, they wouldn’t budge for mere pocket change.
At minimum, one would need to put several million gold pieces into each of their hands.
“Most of the elders of Langrit Tower are reportedly receiving sponsorship from the Raven Dung Merchant Company.”
That alone would require tens of millions of gold.
To procure such astronomical funds, how?
There was no legitimate path.
“We believe they are secretly selling Runesteel and using those funds to sponsor the elders.”
In other words, someone operating in the shadows.
Someone who possesses an unofficial distribution network capable of secretly selling Runesteel.
While accumulating vast capital and quietly building power and connections—
“We believe they intentionally leaked information to us.”
They had identified and approached our unofficial distribution network.
In short, someone whose intelligence capabilities cannot be underestimated.
“Do you know who the merchant company’s master is?”
The Subordinate then handed over another small piece of paper.
The Supervisor unfolded it slightly and examined its contents—
[Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound]
…What is this now?
It was an absurdly ridiculous name I’d never even heard whispered.
The Raven Dung Merchant Company name could be excused as a guild’s designation.
But this was a person’s name, was it not?
It was a naming convention used nowhere across The Continent. More precisely, it was a jumbled mixture of naming conventions from multiple kingdoms.
No matter how one argued it was merely a difference in pronunciation, what kind of name was this?
“What should we do?”
The Subordinate’s question reached his ears.
The Supervisor forced himself to shake off his reluctant feelings.
“Hmm.”
I fell into thought for a moment.
Rune Steel.
Such a precious and vital resource had to be secured at all costs.
But the Raven Dung Merchant Company, backed by the elders of Langritd Magic Tower.
And Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound, who possessed an unofficial distribution network capable of selling Rune Steel in secret.
Aside from his absurd naming sense, he was no pushover.
In other words, he was someone I couldn’t approach carelessly.
“I’ll report this directly to my superiors.”
The Supervisor left his seat quickly.
* * *
The bait had been taken.
After I leaked information about Rune Steel through the channels I’d identified with Market Reading [U], within days several brokers were detected moving covertly.
Movements to verify whether the Rune Steel information was genuine.
And movements to uncover the source of that information.
Various activities continued to be caught by my Market Reading [U].
In preparation, I borrowed the name of the Raven Dung Merchant Company instead of the Predator Merchant Company.
Though the Raven Dung Merchant Company was a phantom organization, since it was sponsored by the elders of Langritd Magic Tower, it could add credibility to such covert dealings.
My prediction proved accurate.
[I’d like to meet and discuss this. Nordal Harbor, after sunset.]
Contact came through.
It wasn’t direct contact.
They’d reached out through the communication channel I’d deliberately left open.
There was no name from the sender.
Purpose, location, time.
Only these three things remained….
“I wonder who’ll show up.”
Several figures came to mind.
I reviewed the information on each person, then stood before a mirror.
To them, I was the merchant lord of the Raven Dung Merchant Company.
Naturally, I couldn’t meet them in my current appearance.
“I could wear a mask, but…”
My ultimate objective was The Emperor.
That is, gaining access to the Imperial Palace.
A mask would provide immediate disguise, but eventually I’d have to remove it.
I couldn’t wear a mask even inside the Imperial Palace.
If I had to remove it eventually anyway, it was better to show my face from the start and earn their trust.
Therefore, I needed to change my appearance.
◆Activating fusion skill, Monomolecular Blade [S]!
I began the delicate ‘sculpting’ of my bones using Monomolecular Blade [S].
* * *
Along the coast of Caravana, the Nordal Harbor’s dock stretched in a long expanse.
Beneath the crimson sunset, the organization’s members waited for someone.
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
Until now, I had no idea who Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound was.
But it was predictable.
Just from that ridiculous name alone, I could imagine what kind of face they’d have.
Undoubtedly some arrogant goblin-like creature draped in all manner of gaudy ornaments, boasting as if they’d climbed from the absolute bottom to the very top entirely on their own.
And as expected.
“I am Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.”
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound was not human.
Skin without a single blemish.
Features perfectly arranged in place.
Hair whiter than snow itself.
‘This person….’
‘Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound…?’
How could a face so beautiful be called human?
Even the Elves, the race of beauty itself, could not compare to this.
Before Kim Fujiwara, even Elves became nothing but Orcs.
“I’ve come regarding matters of Rune Steel.”
That enchanting voice—oh my.
My mind was on the verge of becoming clouded.
-Let them through.
Had the voice from within come even a moment later, I might have found myself on my knees.
And so Kim Fujiwara entered inside—.
‘Geez… my heart just applauded.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, heart…!!’
The subordinates found themselves involuntarily persuaded.
* * *
In negotiation, beauty was an excellent weapon.
Therefore, since I was undergoing cosmetic transformation anyway.
I changed from an ugly face to a beautiful one.
‘I never expected it to be this effective.’
Yet the attention I was drawing far exceeded my anticipation.
“Gasp…!”
“…Huh?!”
Overwhelmingly so.
Every passerby stopped in their tracks, their breath catching.
In any case.
I deliberately ignored the cascade of attention.
As I ventured deeper into the chamber, a man seated in a chair came into view.
Sharp cheekbones and an impeccable posture.
Eyes deep and cold, as though all emotion had been carved away.
‘Who is this?’
I had never seen this face before.
“I am Corent Rashen, the Trade Union’s supreme director.”
Even with his title, no one came to mind.
‘Did I miscalculate?’
It was possible.
I subtly activated Predator’s Instinct [S].
Corent’s information materialized before my eyes.
==【Character Information】==
Name: Corent Rashen (Marzen Re Ordell)
Classification: Animalia, Mammalia, Hominidae, Human
Gender: Male
Age: 32
Traits: Polymorph, Contextual Comprehension [E]
…I knew this person.
Marzen Re Ordell.
Vice Director of the Empire Commerce Ministry Distribution Bureau.
One of the chief procurement officers who oversaw and managed the Empire’s military supplies.
Yet the face before me was not the Marzen I remembered.
‘Polymorph, then.’
Polymorph.
A transmutation spell that alters one’s appearance.
Similar to Transmogrification, yet fundamentally different.
Unlike Transmogrification, which scraped away entire genetic markers, Polymorph merely altered how the exterior appeared.
Because of this, Transmogrification could not be seen through even with Predator’s Instinct [S].
Thus, Avarus appeared not as Avarus, but merely as Evolutas De Veneron.
His genetic code itself was Evolutas De Veneron.
Memoria was, in a sense, similar to Transmogrification.
His genetic markers were perfectly identical to mine.
Yet he could not replicate Predation [S+] or Ian’s abilities.
Even setting aside Ian’s abilities, his failure to replicate Predation [S] meant he was not completely identical to me.
That was how I could identify Adrian Whitewolf (Memoria).
But regardless.
“I am Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound, proprietor of the Raven Dung Merchant Company.”
I sat across from Marzen with composure.
The light in Marzen’s eyes grew cold and distant.
‘So Marzen has made his appearance.’
…A bigger catch than I’d anticipated had taken the bait.
If The Emperor was a colossal whale, then Marzen Re Ordell was something akin to a great shark.
In other words, he was just as formidable an opponent to contend with—
‘It’s been a while since I’ve faced Marzen Re Ordell.’
I knew him intimately.
Likely, no one in the Allied Forces understood Marzen Re Ordell better than I did.
Marzen Re Ordell was extraordinarily rational.
A cold-blooded pragmatist who valued only efficiency and results.
Because of this, he appeared to have no weaknesses whatsoever—but that was far from the truth.
The more logical one is, the more vulnerable they become when their own logic is refuted.
The more rational one is, the more they crumble when their schemes are exposed and dismantled.
When circumstances unfold differently than their calculations predicted, when strategies and variables exceed their foresight—
“It seems wearing masks has become the height of merchant etiquette these days.”
Marzen Re Ordell would collapse easily.
* * *
“Even if that’s what you truly feel, you won’t even show your face? I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve stumbled into a theater troupe rather than a merchant company.”
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound laughed in a jesting manner.
But as they say, words can carry hidden barbs.
“Surely you’re not planning to perform a theatrical act before me?”
Marzen Re Ordell’s eyes wavered for a moment.
But he maintained his composure and spoke.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“If you truly don’t understand, then you’re a fool and not worth conversing with. But if you understand and are simply pretending not to…”
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound rose from his seat.
“Then I’ll take it to mean you have no interest in speaking with me.”
And without hesitation, he turned to leave.
“…Wait.”
Marzen Re Ordell stopped Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
His identity and the rune iron.
After rapidly weighing both values in his mind, he ultimately dispelled the Polymorph spell.
Crack, crunch!
The transformed bones and flesh returned to their proper places.
Deep reddish-brown eyes like aged wood gradually revealed themselves, along with dark silver hair.
It was a visage difficult to forget once seen.
“I assumed you were hiding an unsightly face, but you’re quite handsome, aren’t you?”
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound opened his eyes wide in genuine surprise.
Then he returned and sat back down.
Marzen Re Ordell revised his assessment of Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
Despite his ridiculous name, he was far from an easy opponent.
“Well then, shall we begin our conversation in earnest?”
…Appearance, psychological warfare, momentum.
I was losing on all fronts.
Dragging this out with such a disadvantage would be worse than not fighting at all.
There was nothing to gain from wasting time.
“I’ll be direct. I want to purchase Runesteel—”
“I refuse.”
A resolute answer.
A sharp rejection that didn’t even bother to hear the terms.
Which meant they had no intention of dealing from the start—
“The purity of the Runesteel ore I possess is 18.1%.”
“…What?”
Marzen Re Ordell’s eyes widened in an instant.
Runesteel at 18.1% purity? Was that even possible?
That made no sense whatsoever.
Before Marzen Re Ordell’s widened gaze, Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound thrust his arm smoothly into empty space.
‘A subspace spell?’
Subspace magic was an advanced spell requiring the implementation of hyperspace and quantum tunneling.
In other words, Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound was a skilled mage.
‘So that’s why he saw through Polymorph so easily.’
Soon after, Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound withdrew Runesteel ore from the subspace and handed it to Marzen Re Ordell.
“Take a look for yourself.”
Marzen Re Ordell carefully examined the Runesteel ore.
Keeeeng—!
His eyes gleamed with light for a moment.
Mystic Eye.
Marzen Re Ordell’s ability to read mana.
Through the Mystic Eye, he could perceive the mana dwelling within any existence.
“…!!”
He could confirm the purity of the Runesteel was genuine.
Because his Mystic Eye detected no information whatsoever.
This meant the Runesteel’s property of nullifying mana was manifesting, which in turn proved it was high-purity Runesteel at 18.1%.
“Such precious Runesteel cannot be distributed through your channels. I simply cannot trust them.”
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound spoke firmly.
Marzen Re Ordell narrowed his eyes.
“…What do you mean by that?”
“I’m saying I doubt whether proper confidentiality can be maintained regarding Runesteel distribution.”
“Confidentiality is absolute. It will never leak to the outside—”
“Then how did I find out about it?”
Marzen Re Ordell’s eyebrows twitched.
“I’m merely a merchant. Just a merchant with no special information network whatsoever.”
“….”
“So the distribution network’s secrets have been exposed to some mere merchant peddler… how thorough.”
Marzen Re Ordell found himself at a loss for words.
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
Nothing about him aligned with Marzen’s predictions or calculations.
It started with his appearance alone.
The ridiculous name had unconsciously painted an image of someone frivolous and sloppy in my mind… but the reality was entirely different.
Because of that, a pressure I couldn’t help but feel, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.
…Everything lay beyond the scope of Marzen’s foresight.
“You see, I don’t care for noise. In that regard, I handed over some Rune Steel to the Predator Merchant Company not long ago….”
The Predator Merchant Company, recently abuzz with night beer.
“That fool dumped it all onto the open market, and it became quite the headache.”
“….”
“Well, what can you do. It was my own fault for being tempted by monster meat.”
“….”
“But I must say, it did taste good. It was worth the trouble it caused.”
As if recalling that time, Kim Fujiwara smacked his lips.
“So that’s why I’m asking—could you perhaps procure monster meat? Lately, even the night beer establishments and such don’t seem to be selling it anymore-.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Marzen cut him off.
It was an attempt to seize control of the conversation.
But at Kim Fujiwara’s sly smile, my psychological defenses kept weakening.
“I’d like to conduct direct dealings.”
“Direct?”
Kim Fujiwara pointed upward with his finger.
He was indicating someone above Marzen.
Yet Marzen had previously identified himself as the ‘chief coordinator.’
In other words, Marzen was the highest authority.
Then why point to someone above him?
Kim Fujiwara knew there was someone else above Marzen.
Therefore, the meaning of that gesture was simple.
“You won’t deal with me?”
“Why would one use a goblin-slaying blade to hunt an ogre.”
* * *
Marzen sank into thought, his gaze turning cold and distant.
“Hmm.”
True to form, Marzen’s expression remained unchanged, unswayed by emotion—
“How presumptuous.”
…but I was scratched.
“Quite presumptuous indeed.”
…And it was a clean hit too.
But that was all.
There was no sign of emotional disturbance or wavering in his demeanor.
Marzen Re Ordell merely kept his gaze cold and steady, calculating the situation in his mind.
…In any case.
Nothing about him had changed.
‘That’s why he got completely played by Leon.’
No matter how much Marzen Re Ordell schemed, Leon’s absurdly broken Present Vision [L] read through every calculation and dismantled it all.
Therefore, to escape Marzen Re Ordell’s control entirely, one would need to possess Present Vision [L] comparable to Leon’s.
But I didn’t have that level of power.
Yet it didn’t matter.
After all, I’d just shattered Marzen Re Ordell’s plans and expectations through our conversation.
So now was the time to exploit his ‘true weakness.’
As the Special Forces Duke Commander, I had conducted countless covert operations—special warfare missions, intelligence operations, and sabotage.
Among those missions were neutralizing key Imperial Army facilities.
Infiltrating and destroying military warehouses and armories.
Cutting off supply routes, and so forth.
I had severed the Empire’s supply lines multiple times, burned military warehouses to ash, and systematically crippled Marzen Re Ordell’s entire logistics network.
Therefore, I knew his true weakness well.
It wasn’t sophisticated strategy and logic like Leon possessed.
Rather, it was someone for whom reason and logic held no sway.
Someone who moved on emotion and impulse.
Someone whose actions defied all logical and rational prediction—
“How much longer do you plan to sit here wasting my time with your scheming?”
Pure madness.
“If you’re so upset, why don’t you try taking it by force?”
And for that very reason, bound to me by a bitter, unbreakable enmity—
“You pathetic goblin scum.”
…The most quintessential Imperial Army officer, one who gnashed his teeth whenever he laid eyes on me.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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