The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 339

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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 339. The Hidden Hand
VIP Status.
VIP Status referred to those who received the highest honors within Langritd Magic Tower.
They disregarded standard procedures.
They possessed the privilege of direct audience with the highest authority and priority access to all magical support they required.
Therefore, a VIP who had come to Langritd Magic Tower.
Even if they had entered the forbidden chamber, they could not simply be turned away.
“…Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound?”
Elder Senior questioned in return.
Soon, a voice emanated once more from the mana orb.
-Yes, that is correct.
Elder Senior’s wrinkles deepened.
He pressed his lips firmly together, sinking into profound contemplation.
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
…It was a name he had never heard before.
Wait—was that even a person’s name?
The naming sense was so abysmal it had shattered through the earth and plummeted straight to the core.
And they claimed VIP Status?
Elder Senior furrowed his brow and asked.
“…What manner of person is this?”
VIP Status was not a qualification one could obtain carelessly.
Over the years, countless efforts had been made to obtain VIP Status at Langritd Magic Tower.
Numerous kingdoms, guilds, organizations, and more.
Those who could be called the true powers of the Continent had attempted it repeatedly.
Yet only a select few had ever obtained VIP Status.
Noble rank alone was insufficient.
Even royal authority proved worthless.
Before the renown of being the cradle of all mages on the Continent, neither royal authority nor noble rank held sway…
-A merchant who operates a trading company.
Merely a merchant operating a trading company?
A merchant guild master who did nothing but shuffle ledgers and gamble with money held VIP Status at Langritd Magic Tower?
Elder Senior’s wrinkles deepened further.
“What is the name of this merchant guild?”
-A trading company by the name of Raven Dung Merchant Company.
Elder Senior found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Was that truly the official name?
What was this naming sense—from the person’s name to the company itself?
Faced with such abysmal naming sense that had plummeted to the core, a sigh escaped before words could follow.
Elder Senior’s expression twisted sharply.
“Send them away at once—.”
I had barely finished speaking when it happened.
“Wait, hold on!”
“But surely they qualify as a VIP guest, do they not?”
Two Elders spoke urgently.
So hastily that they even pushed their chairs back and stood.
Elder Senior tilted his head in puzzlement.
When had these heavy-bottomed old men become so energetic?
Had they eaten something good this morning?
Elder Senior slowly surveyed the two Elders.
Then the two Elders exchanged glances without a word.
“Ah, well, you see….”
“That is to say….”
Soon one Elder cleared his throat and spoke.
“According to our internal standards, arbitrarily refusing a VIP guest is, well… a measure permitted only in extremely exceptional circumstances….”
Another Elder followed up.
“Still… shouldn’t we at least hear what their business is… or so I would suggest.”
Elder Senior spoke firmly.
“Langritd Magic Tower is currently sealed. I judge this situation falls sufficiently within those exceptional circumstances.”
“W-well, that may be true, but….”
The two Elders could not hide their bewilderment.
Which is why the voice that came next.
“Still, merely hearing the situation wouldn’t be… inappropriate, would it?”
This came from a different Elder.
Wrinkles of confusion formed around Elder Senior’s eyes.
What was wrong with these old men today?
These fossils who normally nitpicked every single agenda item that came up.
These stubborn old fools who would send things back if a single word was ambiguous.
These ancients who chanted “there is no precedent for this!” like a magical incantation whenever anything new was proposed.
But what was this now?
Why were they suddenly so lenient about VIP guest regulations?
Elder Senior quietly observed the atmosphere of the conference chamber.
Looking at it this way… it wasn’t just one or two.
Elders who said little but whose eyes gleamed with urgency.
Elders who pretended to busy themselves while straining to listen.
And Elders who fidgeted as though sitting on thorns.
“Ahem…!”
“Cough!”
Nearly every Elder gathered in this conference chamber was watching for signs.
In that moment.
Elder Senior’s eyes gleamed with understanding.
‘…Money changed hands.’
Given this atmosphere, well.
It wasn’t a pittance.
At minimum, in the hundreds of thousands.
And if anyone were to stuff that kind of money into someone’s mouth.
“W-well… surely it wouldn’t hurt to hear some basic information for the sake of judgment… ahem.”
“Oh, quite right. Ahem.”
“Kim Fujiwara… no, I mean to say-.”
He was essentially no different from my master.
* * *
The outer regions of Langritd Magic Tower.
Far across my field of vision.
The tower that soared high into the sky shimmered before my eyes.
Yet I could not approach it.
The rumors of its sealing were no lie.
Countless Barrier Spaces spread in all directions.
Thus the passages that should have bustled with visitors lay desolate.
The central entrance was completely sealed.
The Barrier Spaces inscribed along the outer perimeter monitored every blind spot without gaps—.
‘If I play my cards right, I might be able to slip in undetected.’
Somehow, infiltration seemed possible.
None other than my half-mana nature.
Though I had evolved into a Perfect Organism, my half-mana trait remained unchanged.
I still could not sense or manipulate mana.
Thus I would not trigger the Barrier Spaces.
Most detection-type magic operates on the premise of mana reactions.
But my body?
It rejects mana itself.
Therefore, even if I touched a Barrier Space, it would not activate.
‘I should prepare a concealment ability beforehand.’
I sat in the waiting room, combining the genetic information of the Perfect Organism in various ways.
At that moment.
I heard the guards of the Magic Tower whispering.
-Is that seriously a human face? That’s insane…
-He’s even more handsome than the Holy Kingdom’s Saint…!
The voices sounded strange.
It seemed they had cast a sound-blocking spell.
But it could not escape the hypersensitivity of the Perfect Organism.
In any case.
I was not Adrian Whitewolf at present.
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
The merchant lord of the Raven Dung Merchant Company, and the very man who had bribed the Elders.
I completed the concealment ability I’d been crafting and settled in to wait with unhurried patience.
‘They’re not making a decision right away.’
They couldn’t simply cast me out immediately.
Conversely, that meant.
They couldn’t hastily admit me either.
‘Is it because of the Elders I didn’t manage to buy?’
Unfortunately, I hadn’t managed to bribe all the Elders.
It was simply impossible in practical terms.
Therefore, the unbribed Elders.
And the bribed Elders.
They were split into two factions, locked in debate over whether to let me in or not.
‘In the end, it all comes down to what decision the Supreme Elders make.’
Because they were literally the Supreme Elders.
More precisely, the wielders of supreme decision-making authority.
No matter how much the other Elders squabbled, once supreme authority was exercised, it was over.
The problem was that I hadn’t managed to bribe the Supreme Elders either.
They were simply impossible to approach.
But.
‘By now, I should have handled it.’
It wasn’t a major concern.
* * *
Empire District 4, Commercial District.
At its heart stood the Distribution Ministry Headquarters.
The massive map covering the front wall was densely inscribed with trade routes, supply chains, and logistics lines spanning the entire Continent.
Beneath it, on an elegant desk, sat a nameplate.
[Empire Commerce Ministry Distribution Bureau Director – Marzen Re Ordell]
Marzen reclined deeply in his chair.
In his hand rested a small, black magical artifact.
It was an unofficial communication stone sealed with rigorous security magic.
Marzen channeled mana into the communication stone.
After a moment.
Light flickered as the stone responded.
Marzen drew a deep breath and spoke.
“This is Marzen, Director of the Empire Commerce Ministry Distribution Bureau.”
Then, from beyond the communication stone.
A low voice emerged.
-What is your business?
“I wished to inform you of a VIP guest who will be visiting Langritd Magic Tower.”
-A special VIP guest, you say?
“His name is Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound. Should he arrive, please grant him immediate passage.”
The response did not come at once.
A prolonged silence stretched between us.
Then the communication stone’s light flickered.
-…That is impossible.
The tone from beyond the stone had shifted.
In other words, whoever was receiving this communication was no mere administrator.
One of the Magic Tower’s highest decision-makers.
One of them, precisely.
Marzen swallowed hard and spoke.
“Impossible, you say?”
-Indeed. The Magic Tower is currently sealed. We cannot permit any visitor whatsoever—.
“Can you take responsibility for that?”
-…Responsibility?
“Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound is the guild master of the Raven Dung Merchant Company and is currently negotiating a rune steel contract with our Distribution Bureau.”
-…And?
“Should that contract fall through, can you assume responsibility?”
The breathing from beyond the stone grew heavy.
A brief silence followed.
Then the voice returned.
-…What does the Distribution Bureau’s rune steel contract have to do with Langritd Magic Tower?
“That question sounds rather like asking what Langritd Magic Tower has to do with the Distribution Bureau.”
-….
“If Langritd Magic Tower can procure materials independently, bypassing our distribution network entirely… then you may disregard this matter.”
-…Is this a threat?
“A recommendation.”
-…And if I refuse?
“Then you must accept the consequences that follow.”
-…Consequences?
“Let me be clear. This rune steel contract was personally spearheaded by the Frost Empress herself.”
-…!!
Shock reverberated through the communication stone.
The Frost Empress, distant yet present.
Anyone who understood the weight of that name would react precisely as he had.
“I’ll give you five minutes.”
Silence descended.
And the answer came in less than a minute.
-…I’ll handle it immediately.
Click.
The light from the communication stone went dark.
Marzen remained frozen in place for a long moment.
His hands were drenched in cold sweat.
His tightly clenched lips trembled ever so slightly.
After all the hardship, I had finally reached this position—Director of the Distribution Bureau.
But how should I put it.
It wasn’t nearly as prestigious as I’d imagined.
No, it had prestige, but maintaining that prestige would require a few more necks to spare.
“…Should I resign right now?”
Marzen seriously considered it.
* * *
The upper levels of Langritd Magic Tower.
The Elder Council Chamber, where the Tower’s critical matters were decided.
This supreme decision-making body was always solemn and austere.
But not today.
The Elder Council Chamber was absolute chaos.
“The Tower is not currently in a sealed state!”
“The principle is that no outside visitors or any form of communication whatsoever is permitted!”
Elders who invoked principle in their resistance.
“That’s not closure—that’s isolation!”
“Do you truly believe this is necessary?”
“What about external relations? Who takes responsibility for all the connections we’ve built?”
Elders who countered with flexibility and pragmatism.
The two factions’ opinions clashed fiercely.
The sound of fists slamming on the table.
The thunderous crash of chairs being hurled across the room.
Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, one Elder burst out accusingly.
“External relations be damned! It’s not about external relations—you just want to line your pockets!”
“What, what did you just say?!”
“Am I wrong? Allowing outsiders during a sealed period! You’d never do it without money!”
“You’re accusing me of bribery!!”
“Accusation? It’s not an accusation—it’s reality!”
Before the words even finished, mana erupted.
Crackle!
Powerful sparks burst through the air.
“Take back those words this instant, or—!!”
“Why? Did I strike a nerve?”
“How dare you insult an Elder with such crude language!”
Mana surged even more violently.
“I won’t tolerate this any longer! You will relinquish your position as Elder today!”
“Ha! Who do you think you are to say such things!”
The Conference Room had escalated beyond mere argument—it teetered on the brink of outright conflict.
Then, in that instant.
Uuuuuuuuung─!!
A tremendous vibration resonated through the Conference Room.
The mana orb positioned at the center overheated, blazing crimson.
Every Elder froze in unison.
…They all understood precisely what this meant.
A suffocating silence descended.
Elder Senior, seated in the chair of authority, cautiously extended his hand.
He pressed the communication stone.
Magical runes blossomed in the air.
In that moment, the mana throughout the entire Conference Room extinguished at once.
A heavy, oppressive stillness settled over them.
No one spoke.
Even the Elders who had been flushed with anger moments before remained utterly motionless.
Then, after a brief pause.
“…Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound. Permission to enter granted.”
Elder Senior, seated in the chair of authority, spoke.
* * *
The uppermost level of Langritd Magic Tower.
The heart of the Magic Tower itself—the domain where the three Supreme Elders dwelled.
Within the enormous crystal sphere embedded at the center, the figure of a man could be seen treading deliberately through the Magic Tower’s corridors.
A strikingly handsome man.
Indeed, his visage was striking enough to fuel rumors that The Saint of the Holy Kingdom had disguised herself as a man.
One of the Supreme Elders watching this figure muttered through gritted teeth.
“…So, they’ve accepted him after all.”
“Accepted is hardly the word. More like they were forced into it.”
“Which is precisely why it’s infuriating.”
Silence fell.
Presently, the Supreme Elder who had spoken of his displeasure muttered in exasperation.
“But Kim Fujiwara? Why would that man with such an absurd name suddenly visit the Magic Tower? And at such a critical juncture, no less?”
“Hmm.”
“The timing is far too convenient to be mere coincidence.”
“Indeed.”
“Could he have come knowing something? About the Tower Master, perhaps—”
“Enough.”
Another Supreme Elder’s firm interjection cut off the words.
“Now is the time to guard our tongues.”
“…Understood.”
A moment of silence.
The Elder who had spoken resumed his words.
“Regardless of what that man knows, he is someone touched by the Empire’s influence. As long as he is connected to the Empire, he will not obstruct our plans.”
However.
“It seems we should investigate what his true purpose might be.”
The three Supreme Elders’ eyes gleamed with intensity.

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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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