Chapter 75

Niko Nereyades looked at the departing ship.

The Schwartz-Waren-class mana ship was cutting through the sea like crazy.

Niko, who had returned to the ‘Cheongnalchi’, fell into thought for a moment.

He could have followed if he pushed himself.

But did he really need to push himself?

He chuckled softly and began to row.

It was to return to Sillemol.

He was a fisherman who often let go of overly energetic fish.

“-Ugh. I'll be oozing pus today and tomorrow.”

Rowing the oar made his wound sting.

It was especially worse if seawater splashed on it.

His body was covered in long, scorched marks here and there.

It was the trace of my Ars, ‘The Heated Iron Bloodline’.

Even though it had only touched him for a moment, his skin had burned and shriveled.

However, Niko Nereyades's body was not weak.

His wound was already beginning to heal.

‘The Heated Iron Bloodline’ was painful, but it was not enough to leave a deep wound on Niko.

It might have been a different story if the fight had lasted longer.

“That's a shame.”

He rowed the oar, thinking of the departing ship and the kid on it.

Rowing in the opposite direction, it was already out of sight.

Even with his injured body, the Cheongnalchi was nimble.

“I was thinking of using my Ars for once and having a blast.”

The Whale of Hobel Bay briefly recalled old memories.

When was the last time he had used his Ars?

When he wiped out the pirate horde two years ago?

No, Bukenos had taken the boss's head alone.

Then seven years ago, when he cooperated with the 18th Legion?

No, he hadn't used his Ars even then. In that case…….

“…Has it been over ten years since

I used my Ars?”

He was surprised himself.

He was a warrior and a soldier, yet he had only fought battles that didn't even require his Ars, let alone his full strength.

He shook his head in disgust.

“I desperately want to retire.”

The enthronement of the new emperor was his hope.

The Great Emperor Continua had never approved Niko Nereyades's retirement.

How much effort he had to put in just to step down from the position of one of the Ten Great Generals.

He was determined to get on the bad side of the next emperor.

The Emperor's favor was now tiresome.

Since he had enjoyed his favor for over half a century, it wouldn't be disrespectful to say so.

No, come to think of it, hadn't he been unwelcome from the start?

He had even punched the Great Emperor's face, saying he didn't want to be one of the Ten Great Generals.

Has such a thing happened?

As he rowed, recalling old memories, land came into view.

The largest port in Hobel Bay, a lawless land completely cleared out.

The commotion had subsided, and soldiers of the 11th Legion were waiting for him at the port.

He calmly docked the Cheongnalchi at the port.

Soldiers rushed over and tied the ship with ropes.

Niko leaped onto land with his massive feet.

One of the centurions sent a respectful salute.

“You've worked hard, Commander.”

“Alcohol.”

“It's ready.”

Niko Nereyades had returned to his blunt manner of speech.

The excitement that had risen from his fight with me had already cooled and subsided under the weight and status of a Legion Commander.

He accepted the strong liquor and immediately poured half a bottle down his stomach.

The fatigue from rowing and the stinging pain of his wounds soon subsided.

Now, if he passed out, his wounds would disappear as if they had never existed.

“Load my oar.”

“Yes.”

Niko placed the large oar he used as a weapon beside him.

When the centurion gestured, twelve soldiers came running.

They grunted and moved the oar. Even though they were all strong men, they had to struggle.

Long, scorched marks from my iron bloodline were left all over the large oar.

Because some fearless bastard had challenged the Whale of Hobel Bay to a fight.

The soldiers clicked their tongues.

“Chief of Staff?”

“Right over there.”

At the centurion's fingertip, Bukenos, who was running towards them, was visible.

He seemed to have rushed out as soon as he heard of Niko's arrival.

The old fisherman, looking at his loyal subordinate, asked.

“Have all the nets been pulled?”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Anything special to report?”

“None.”

“You worked hard.”

Bukenos, the chief of staff of the 11th Legion, was an excellent man.

Niko had long ago delegated most of the Legion's full authority to him, which was a very wise decision.

“You seem a little excited.”

“I almost was, unfortunately.”

“Who was it? It wouldn't have been Kifkos.”

“I don't know either.”

He had only given a fake name.

Pasionus, he said, using a name that seemed like something out of the Hotus era.

Niko touched his beard.

“Then what happened to Kifkos's gang?”

“He got away.”

“Pardon? …Yes, I see.”

Bukenos did not ask any further.

Niko knew many of the chief of staff's outstanding qualities, but he particularly liked his quick wit.

He was a man who knew what to say and what not to say, what to ask and what not to ask.

“As you said, I will appoint Terddans Tellom as Kifkos's successor.”

“You should.”

The military enhanced drug Lahukala.

Horem Amrita was classified as a top-secret forbidden trade item simply because it was its raw material.

It was 46 years ago, right after the Great Emperor Continua ascended the throne.

Unfortunately, the biggest victims of this policy were the fishermen of Hobel Bay.

“The distribution of golden medicine must not be cut off.”

“Even though the raw material is expensive, we are always working to ensure that it reaches the fishermen at a reasonable price.”

Golden medicine was a drug that provided a bit of vitality and healing power and if consumed consistently, a slight increase in stamina.

It used Horem Amrita as a raw material, but unlike Lahukala, it was closer to a traditional folk medicine.

“It's a truly strange medicine. Drinking it makes you feel good and energetic, but it doesn't intoxicate you, and while its effects aren't strong, it's cheap instead, as if it was made for laborers from the start.”

“In my childhood, I met Horem's great-grandson.”

“Pardon? This is the first I'm hearing of it.”

“Horem was a fisherman's son and he watched his father suffer and die from overwork.”

“Ah, so that's why.”

Horem, who was said to have created Horem Amrita, was from Sillemol.

He wanted to give a gift to the fishermen of Hobel Bay, where he was born and raised and to lighten their burden, he created golden medicine.

That was over 200 years ago.

46 years ago, when Horem Amrita was forbidden, golden medicine was also forbidden.

The fishermen fell into confusion.

Golden medicine was an indispensable item for the fishermen of Hobel Bay to endure their arduous lives.

But to think that the trade of such an item would be forbidden overnight!

Therefore, Niko Nereyades, accepting the position of one of the Ten Great Generals, demanded of the Great Emperor Continua.

He asked to be allowed to secretly trade Horem Amrita and golden medicine.

The Great Emperor Continua readily granted permission with an unreadable smile.

Saying that they could do so as long as it didn't become too public.

‘46 years, was it? It's been a long time.’

Niko Nereyades had consistently, ever since then, secretly smuggled Horem Amrita and manufactured and distributed golden medicine to the market.

Even if it wasn't with the same sentiment as Horem, who had created Horem Amrita, wasn't it a good thing if the weary and struggling fishermen aged a little slower?

If they were going to grow old anyway, he wished they could enjoy the smell of the sea more cheerfully, and for longer.

“Anyway.”

Niko's eyes sank deep.

“Did you hear from your mentor?”

“I just received it. Here are the Security Bureau fortuneteller's school days records.”

“Hmm.”

He accepted the paper bag.

It was thick.

Niko examined the contents with sharp eyes.

The Whale of Hobel Bay soon hardened his face.

The wrinkles on his brow deepened and the hint of humor disappeared.

“……”

He examined the same page several times.

Had he misread it, was what he read true?

Niko Nereyades could not take his eyes off the document and asked.

“…You've already read it, haven't you?”

“Yes. I checked it first.”

Niko waved his hand dismissively.

With just a gesture, all the surrounding soldiers quickly retreated.

It was a signal that he was about to speak of things they should not hear.

“Bukenos.”

The old fisherman pointed a finger.

It was a document from the Imperial Academy, obtained through Bukenos's mentor.

At its beginning was the name ‘Amethus Aretion’.

“This Aretion, is he the Aretion I know?”

“He is, it seems.”

“Did you not know his surname during your school days?”

“He kept it very hidden.”

“Yes, it would be something worth hiding……”

Niko's words trailed off.

A look of agony was on his face.

It was a rare sight even for a chief of staff.

To think the Whale of Hobel Bay was agonizing.

“Honestly, my……”

He was dumbfounded.

He had thought that even after drinking Lahukala, seeing the kid who dared to match him, he wouldn't be surprised by anything for several years.

But what was this, to face such bewilderment on the same day?

“Can such a thing, be?”

He looked up at the sky.

This was why Niko loved the sea.

The things that fate, that the heavens, wrought were often completely incomprehensible.

Aretion, Aretion…….

Niko ruminated on Amethus's surname with a terrible expression.

Why was it so painful, even though it was just a name?

Something in his chest felt as if it was pressing down on his heart.

“Where is the Security Bureau's fortuneteller?”

“He is hovering near Sillemol with two subordinates.”

“Summon him.”

The Commander of the 11th Legion gave the order.

“I must see his face directly.”

***

Amethus had a sullen face.

“I didn't expect you to ask to see me, Commander.”

“I didn't expect it to come to this either.”

It was Sillemol.

He had told Shadi Shandor and Untes Ubias Uterbeum to rest at the inn.

Niko Nereyades wanted to meet Amethus alone.

“You know you are called the fortuneteller.”

“…I don't welcome it, but.”

“You might even come to like it quite a bit later.”

Niko smiled faintly.

Amethus was even more puzzled.

He was a man who had shown such a cold demeanor earlier.

It was hard to trust him even if he suddenly treated him gently.

Even more so if he was Niko, the Whale of Hobel Bay, renowned for his strictness.

“I had no intention of cooperating with you in any way.”

“Yes, it seemed so.”

“But my mind has changed.”

Niko blurted out.

“I saw a suspicious kid. Blonde hair and blue eyes, skilled in lying.”

“……!!!”

“He's the kid you're chasing, isn't he?”

Amethus's eyes widened in astonishment.

Such a kid was definitely the Fifth Prince Zionis.

As expected, he was alive and as expected, he had been chased right up to his doorstep (he had still forgotten that he had met Shion in the Rubeko Valley).

“He probably went to Mekeros, but should I inform the Imperial Family that I saw such a kid?”

“…Not yet.”

“Yes. I will forget about it in the future.”

“…I can only thank you for the valuable information.”

Niko smiled.

He was like an old man looking at his grandson.

“…But I am puzzled.”

The jade-eyed man was just bewildered.

“Why are you suddenly so cooperative?”

“I told you, my mind changed.”

“Then, why?”

“What if I say it's because of your jade-green eyes?”

Niko looked intently at Amethus.

The eyes of the man called the fortuneteller were a mysterious jade-green.

The old fisherman was deeply saddened, and then he smiled again.

It was because he had remembered a memory he thought he could never forget, but had somehow forgotten and lived without.

“Why didn't I recognize it at first?”

A long, long time ago…….

In the days when he was one of the Ten Great Generals, not even an adult, when he was just playing on the waves and sand…….

Niko's eyes crinkled.

“Your grandmother also had such beautiful jade-green eyes.”

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