Chapter 60: Fences with the Patron

At the beginning of February, carriages carrying nobles, foreign envoys, and wealthy merchants gathered one after another at the royal castle for the New Year’s celebratory banquet.

When a carriage stopped at the entrance, the driver announced, “Count-level guest, Mr. JC Grandis,” and the attendants respectfully opened the door. A servant dressed in formal attire guided him to the count-level guest waiting room inside the castle.

Chairman Grandis, accompanied by his attendants and maid, entered the waiting room and exchanged greetings with other count-level guests who had arrived earlier.

This banquet mainly featured the Armor Buffalo that had been presented to His Majesty the King, and the Chief Minister’s assistant had informed him that a pure-white Gray Fox would be displayed along the corridor leading to the great hall.

Straightening his posture, Grandis followed the summoned valet toward the great hall.

Walking past the taxidermy displays along the corridor, he saw the pure-white Gray Fox with his own name engraved on its pedestal, and felt a sense of pride.

As a count-level guest, he entered the hall through the count’s entrance, announced by the valet, “Mr. JC Grandis.” Glancing briefly at the area where the viscounts waited, he was relieved to see that the president of the Warrens Trading Company was not there.

Instead, in a corner where counts gathered, he noticed a vaguely familiar face. Although many nobles were acquaintances due to his business dealings, he could not recall exactly who it was.

“Chairman Grandis, it’s been a while. I hear you presented the Armor Buffalo at tonight’s main banquet.”

“Yes, I asked an adventurer holding an official identification to acquire it, and presented one to His Majesty.”

“You seem to have some quite competent people at your disposal.”

“Oh no, I was kept waiting a long time. The hunt only concluded near the end of the year. By the way, do you know that gentleman?”

Grandis indicated the man with his eyes. Lowering his voice, Chairman Borandil replied.

“He is the second son of Marquis Fleming, Mr. Olga Fleming, recently appointed as a count. His lands are said to be at the end of the Orvenne Road in Berna.”

“So the Marquis…”

“His eldest son, Mr. Allied Fleming, seems to have retired.”

Borandil whispered this, and although he had lost interest when he learned that the Warrens Trading Company had passed into other hands, if the eldest son had retired, then the current head…

Even if it were only a mistake of the head, demotion would be understandable, but with the eldest son retired, it indicates a rather serious misstep. Moreover, the count’s territory being in Berna effectively made him equivalent to a viscount, likely drawing the royal family’s ire.

Invitations to the spring banquet are sent to all nobles and wealthy merchants, and refusal after demotion would be seen as disloyalty to the royal family, so attendance is required, even if embarrassing.

It seemed pitiful to take the headship while bypassing the eldest son, so Grandis decided to remove him from the client list. 

“By the way, I hear you have sources for obtaining Chikki chikki Birds and Runner Birds?”

“Yes, an adventurer I entrusted with identification knows a master hunter of birds and arranged it.”

“I see. I had submitted a request, but there were too many applicants and long waiting lists. They’re not valuable enough to auction, and the numbers are limited, so it’s difficult to acquire them. Since rumors spread that adventurers brought in many birds, it’s become particularly hard to obtain them. Could you spare about twenty?”

After handing over the birds requested by Jaeger to the guild for the third time, Chief Holtz gave me a sealed note from Jaeger, saying it was for me.

Opening it, I found that Jaeger wanted my guild card number to transfer payment for the previous request, and also asked if I could supply 20 more birds.

I had accepted the request casually, but it seemed the client wanted additional birds… if it’s a wealthy merchant, maybe it came from someone they already had dealings with.

“Could you tell Jaeger that I can only accept it this one time?”

“Jaeger probably can’t refuse a request from his patron either.”

“Patron?”

“A patron is someone you’ve entrusted with identification and who takes care of you in various ways. They directly commission you and pay higher than the guild would. Depending on the person, some adventurers even become like their protégés.”

“And Jaeger?”

“He doesn’t seem that close. It’s probably a mutually beneficial relationship. Even so, there’s still a ‘fence’ established.”

Apparently, Jaeger also couldn’t say no when asked by his patron, and just passed on the message. For the Armor Buffalo, he hadn’t accepted the request because there was no earth mage for defense.

Handing over my guild card, they noted down my registration number and name separately from the appraisal sheet.

This time, the total was 4,436,000 Dara. While leaving it with the guild, I thought I might as well check the balance.

At the settlement counter, as I handed over the appraisal sheets, a foul breath blew from behind me.

Turning around, a grinning older man was peering at my sheets, making it impossible to check the balance.

“Do you need something?”

“Need something? Just settle and step aside.”

Annoyed, I decided to check the balance later at the commercial guild. I told the clerk I was leaving all the paperwork with him, signed the forms, and stepped away from the counter.

“Hey kid, don’t you have something to say?”

“Peeking at someone’s appraisal sheet… bad manners, huh? Or do you want me to say, ‘After you’?”

“Buhaha.”
“He says you have bad manners.”
“Peeking at the appraisal sheet—if it weren’t a kid, it’d be a duel for sure.”
“Well, he’s a kid, so he’s being underestimated.”

“You’ve got guts. How about a duel?”

“Bro, what’s up with that kid?”

“Yeah, thought I’d teach this cheeky brat a lesson…”

“Oh, I’m a mage, so I don’t do duels. Sorry!”

“This brat… so full of himself.”

“If you’re going to act tough, you better be prepared.”

“Bro, are you going to let this slide?”

“I’m too scared for a duel, but tomorrow morning I’ll be heading out from the south gate to earn money—care to join me in a hunt?”

“Whoa, he’s seriously picking a fight.”

“Who’s he with?”

“Don’t know these guys.”

“Peeking at your sheet from behind—probably just a wanderer.”

“Check out the size difference.”

“Yeah, but he claimed to be a mage—he must think he can win.”

“Where are his companions?”

“He’s solo, recently been around Chief Holtz’s place.”

“Kid, acting all solo—you’ll end up as goblin food.”

“Do you like goblins? I can introduce you tomorrow.”

The onlookers standing behind burst out laughing, and he turned bright red, trembling.

“Leon, wasn’t it? What are you doing?”

“Uh…who are you again?”

“I’m Gaines, the one who sheltered with Jaeger and the others in the rain.”

“And you are?”

“Part of the kid’s group?”

“Ah—so who are you then?”

Wait…this guy is radiating murderous intent just like Jaeger.

And the older men who were acting all tough were now trembling.

I envy the ability to radiate that kind of aura.

“I was just wondering what to do about this troublesome old man. Thank you very much.”

“You’re fine with it, huh?”

“Eh—no, I’m really scared.”

“I tried directing some of my murderous intent at you, yet you kept a calm face.”

“No wonder…I got a shiver down my spine.”

“That’s it? Well, if you’re free, let’s hunt together sometime.”

“Ah, I’m a bit busy right now, I’m helping out Holtz-san.”

“I see…well, see you around then.”

Oh, he laughed wryly and went off to the dismantling area.

Compared to that, the trashy old men…well, they sneaked away quietly.

I decided it was too much trouble to call them back and left the guild.

Since Jaeger had asked a favor, I decided to head out hunting again, sell the prey, and then visit the commercial guild to check my balance.

Exiting the south gate, I walked slightly toward the forest on the left, which meant that, starting from the west gate and going clockwise, I had covered three-fourths of the city.

As I walked, thinking foolishly about completing the last quarter as a “royal capital circuit,” I noticed someone calling my name.

Looking in that direction, I saw Nanga and the others waving as they approached.

All of them were holding short spears, and their expressions looked unusually bright.

“It’s been a while, but why are you at the south gate?”

“Leon hired us, gave us some prey, and our pockets got fatter, so we got ourselves proper gear.”

“And we decided to practice scouting too, watching Leon do it. But we need to practice in a safe place, otherwise it’s too dangerous.”

“As long as we still have money, we want to practice and improve our skills as much as possible.”

“I wanted to meet and thank you, but Leon hardly ever comes to the guild.”

“Besides, our main work is herbs, but Leon has VIP access at the dismantling area.”

“Finally, I can thank you. Thank you so much.”

They all bowed deeply to me, which made me embarrassed, and I ended up running away.

Checking the balance, work progressed smoothly for the sake of the excitement.

When I had roughly calculated before, there should have been over 15,000,000 Dara.

Since then, I had delivered birds four times, depositing over 4,000,000 Dara each time.

Even with a conservative estimate, there should now be more than 30,000,000 Dara saved, meaning the goal—clothes with the desired magic enhancements—was within reach.

Once I get those, I’ll be able to enjoy traveling through the skies, and I’m already looking forward to it.