Chapter 301 – Did Not Leave in the First Place (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Big shot.

Every time they move, the continent fluctuates. If that’s the case, what happens if a big shot and a big shot encounter each other. Because even the continent is overwhelmed to contain them, there are not many cases where they welcome each other…….

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The Red-Eyed Clan, Dune.

The leader, Shahin Dune, looked at the blue sky. An intense aura was captured in his red eyes that could pierce through the essence. Whoa whoa, Shahin, who calmed his wild horse, opened his mouth.

“A dragon as a guest, huh. It is an extraordinary guest.”

Earth Dragon, Kudhanax.

Even among dragons, it’s Kudhanax who possesses a massive physique.

The King of All Things.

If it were an ordinary person, it wouldn’t be strange for their body to shrink back just by witnessing it.

Rather, Shahin spread his chest wide and let out a laugh.

“Are you saying you have truly returned, Oh Claudi!”

Such an attitude showed that Shahin was a big shot.

If Shahin was entering Claudi’s territory from the west.

In the south, there was the Master of Diamond Merchant Guild, Gamond Phil.

“Giddy up!”

There is the word Golden Merchant Guild.

It’s like a title attached to a grand merchant who sways the continent.

However, for Gamond Phil, even such a luxurious modifier was lacking.

It’s not just one or two.

Is this place really the devastated Arcana continent?

It was a procession that would make one doubt their two eyes.

Dozens of carriages heavily loaded with luggage.

The number of merchant guild guards escorting him was over ten times that.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that a territory was literally moving.

“Let’s see, let’s do the calculations. Assistant.”

Tap tap.

The Merchant Guild Master’s carriage plastered with diamonds.

His chubby fingers unhesitatingly tap the jewels embroidering the seat.

“Hmm…….”

Gamond rolled his brain while looking at the approaching territory of Claudi. Now that Claudi has returned to the Arcana continent……. Gamond visibly clenched his fists.

“As expected, shouldn’t we stick to Claudi for a big score?”

Diamond Merchant Guild.

Gamond did not appreciate the title surpassing gold.

Because it wasn’t a title he earned with his own abilities.

Gamond’s eyes twinkled with ambition.

‘It is time to prove my abilities, Gamond Phil.’

His predecessor, his father, always said.

That there is a time even for making money.

Business in a peaceful era?

Spices, gold mines, luxury goods…….

They earned a massive income, but compared to the wealth accumulated by the family, it was at a laughable level. At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to escape his father’s shadow even if he went on for a lifetime. For a more overwhelming profit, he had to ride the flow of a new era.

“Like right now.”

Gamond judged that right now was exactly the opportunity to multiply his wealth several times over.

The reason was simple.

Because a merchant’s perspective was far different from ordinary people.

Gamond speaks to the assistant beside him.

“Do you see it, the collapsed Arcana continent. It is to the point where it’s hard to believe there were numerous buildings in the past. However, everything depends on how you think about it. If it collapsed, shouldn’t it be rebuilt?”

Gamond’s plan was simple.

If Claudi has truly returned to the continent, the continent becoming peaceful would be a matter of time. What if they could monopolize the continent-scale construction business on the Arcana continent that regained peace?

“Diamond? No, we would be reborn as a great merchant guild that cannot be modified with mere minerals! Which means…….”

His eyes twinkled like jewels before he knew it.

“I will become a greater businessman than my father, of course, and all my predecessors. None other than me!”

Oh my, I got too excited.

Gamond calmed his excitement.

It wasn’t the stage to be certain.

Didn’t he fail to even check yet?

‘Indeed, does the returned Claudi have such an ability?’

Gamond did not live in the same era as Claudi.

Nevertheless, the reason he knows Claudi’s reputation is simple. Because the Diamond Merchant Guild could exist right now all thanks to Claudi.

Gamond spat out.

“Can you believe it, Assistant? That my arrogant father, who was strict, overflowing with confidence, and attributed all the credit only to himself. The fact that he was at a loss before the name Claudi.”

“……The previous Merchant Guild Master did?”

“That’s right. No, it probably wasn’t just my father.”

The dozens of times that came to the Diamond Merchant Guild.

Since he said it was none other than Claudi who led the era every time.

Nevertheless, Gamond was not optimistic.

‘Ultimately, the one judging is me.’

Claudi was exterminated.

Even if that survivor returned.

Could he immediately recover the massive reputation of the past?

He had to judge with doubts.

‘Even just the territory would be like that.’

Would Claudi’s territory perfectly remain?

How could that be possible.

Therefore, Gamond moved extremely calculatively.

“It is not right to make hasty conclusions, Assistant.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And if that is not enough, there is a need to take out insurance.”

The numerous carriages were a kind of insurance.

Considerable wealth would definitely be needed to set the Claudi family straight. Regardless of how much ability they have. Because putting the Claudi family in debt with merely this much money would be a not-bad business.

“Whoa.”

Just then, the coachman’s voice could be heard.

They must have entered Claudi’s territory.

Gamond opened the carriage window and looked outside.

“Let’s see…….”

And he doubted his eyes.

“……!”

What entered his vision was a mansion radiating a massive presence even at the edge of the horizon. Gamond felt a shock as if he was struck in the back of the head for a moment.

Because the mansion is more splendid than his own mansion?

No, a mansion more luxurious than the Phil family’s mansion decorated with various jewels does not exist on the Arcana continent. Unless it’s the legendary treasure island…….

However, Gamond murmured without realizing.

“……It’s beautiful.”

There are no aesthetic flaws to be found. Even without extravagant decorations, the beauty coming from its structure and shape is to the point of being indescribable in words. It was as if he was looking at a single sculpture.

However, the surprise was only the beginning.

“M, Master!!”

A voice heard from the lead carriage.

When Gamond poked his head out a little more, a giant statue entered his vision. To be exact, a living, moving statue was confronting the merchant guild guards.

The stone statue opened its mouth.

“You cannot enter the Claudi territory without an invitation letter.”

“……!!”

Only then did Gamond intuitively sense that he had made a misjudgment.

That Claudi were existences that couldn’t be judged by the common sense of the Arcana continent.

Hustle hustle!

Gamond quickly got off the carriage and pulled out the invitation letter.

What is needed to succeed as a businessman is tact.

And quick situational judgment like flipping the palm of a hand.

“The invitation letter is right here! More importantly, I apologize for being late. As you can see, I packed an incessant amount of presents to celebrate the return of the great family, Claudi……!”

*

South, East, North, West.

I looked at the stone statues guarding the paths leading to the territory.

The symbol of loyalty toward Claudi left by the 4 families.

Claudi’s invitation letter must have probably been delivered to the 4 families as well.

‘Of course, I don’t know if they will respond to the invitation though.’

Even if they were loyal employees in the past.

Now that a long time has flowed, aren’t they strangers to each other now.

More importantly, my circles consumed magic power to the point of becoming stiff after a long while.

“What matters more than the exterior is the interior.”

Incorruptibility.

Granfel, who realized that wealth and glory are fleeting, might not care much about what state the Claudi territory is in, but. I, Lee Ho-yeol, am not like that. It is the same in social life, and first impressions are important wherever you go, you see.

‘There is a need to show we are going strong.’

I had a purpose in the first place.

I shall use Claudi’s halo to win over allies!

To do that, there was a need to prove that Claudi’s halo is still radiant. Therefore, Granfel hosted the banquet he didn’t welcome.

Claudi’s mansion is the same.

[Aesthetics: High]

Displaying the aesthetic stat, the parts that could be restored through inversion magic were restored, and the parts that couldn’t be were rebuilt depending on Granfel’s aesthetic sense.

‘To think I would end up complaining about magic power while interfering with minerals.’

With the effect of the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge], even the exploration process was omitted.

Simultaneously, since it was one of the magic I used the most.

Even for me, who could call myself the founder if construction magic existed, restoring the Claudi family’s mansion was not easy.

First of all, its size was boundlessly majestic.

‘It was almost on the level of the Golden Palace.’

That wasn’t the end of it.

Its interior also had to reveal Claudi’s robust health.

Click─

Coming down the mansion’s stairs, what caught my eye,

Were the props showing off their presence with restrained luxuriousness.

If you ask where I got these from.

‘Where else but the treasure island.’

I brought them after paying a reasonable price from the Yusra Kingdom.

If I converted that into money…….

Wouldn’t gasp sounds come out hundreds of times over?

‘Though it doesn’t have much meaning.’

Actually, even if it’s tens of billions (won).

Compared to the rift clear reward money I acquired so far, it wouldn’t even be a drop in the bucket. Of course, if it were an ordinary citizen like me, it would be an astronomical amount that would frighten me just by looking at the bank account but.

“It is not bad.”

Granfel’s vessel simply has to be so wide, see.

Thanks to that, I returned to the Arcana continent with a packed inventory.

And it was now.

I faced Kudhanax who was ringing out my name loudly.

‘Did you really have to do that……?’

I couldn’t be more resentful but.

There’s an order to everything.

I’d have to ask about the patient’s well-being first anyway.

“Is your body intact, Kudhanax.”

“Thanks to your concern, there is no big difference, Oh Dark Dragon Lee Ho-yeol Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo. More importantly, when did you rebuild the territory again?”

When else.

It’s thanks to moving diligently as soon as I tore dimensions and stepped on the Arcana continent. However, since when does this damn bluffing easily admit to having suffered like a dog?

“I did not rebuild it.”

“……?”

“Since Claudi never collapsed in the first place.”

Seriously, even if you fall into the netherworld, your mouth will float on the water I tell you?

“Oh my……. I failed to notice that deep meaning.”

Kudhanax bowed his head as if he was ashamed.

You really don’t have to do that, man.

Since what deep meaning could there be.

Everything was merely due to Granfel’s high and mighty pride.

‘Even if everything about Claudi has collapsed.’

Because Granfel himself has not broken.

In the end, it meant that Claudi did not collapse to the very end.

Is it because I returned to the territory and shouldered the weight of the family head.

My chest, which was already spread wide open, feels even more upright.

‘I hope today goes by without a hitch, please.’

It was the moment I was concerned about the blabbermouth acting wildly from the start.

Kudhanax continued his words.

It was a story regarding his kin, the dragons.

“Unaxus conveyed his regards to the Dark Dragon. He said he wished to attend the invitation but expressed his regret as the situation was not favorable.”

I can understand his predicament without hearing it.

Unaxus was an Elder Dragon and the leader of the dragons.

Because he must be in the middle of finding a solution for his kin who swallowed the Fruit of Evil.

‘No matter what, he couldn’t have attended the banquet.’

The dragon to substitute for such Unaxus must have been Kudhanax.

Why did it have to be the loud-mouthed and loose-lipped Kudhanax.

I was just resentful, but after hearing the circumstances, it’s understandable.

‘Since the only one who lived a similar span of time as Unaxus is Kudhanax.’

……Anyway, thanks for making Claudi’s halo shine.

Even without that, in the real Mage Tower, the Healing School mages are making unceasing efforts regarding the Fruit of Evil. I was about to deliver some good news in my own way but.

……Thump!

A loud noise was suddenly heard.

“Hmm……?”

Kudhanax’s ears twitched once.

A state where the [Natural Enemy Relationship] did not activate.

It’s impossible to know the origin of a noise heard from afar.

However, it is a different story if that place is where my [Authority] reaches. No, beyond the [Authority] function being activated, this is the Claudi territory after all.

“I can guess.”

I understand.

Are big shots big shots for nothing?

Since their forces and sizes are massive, it’s a natural thing to clash when they encounter another big shot. However, as the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

“However.”

In this place, Claudi is the law.

“It is unacceptable in my territory.”

*

Shahin Dune of the Red Eyes.

“The piglet of the merchant guild has fattened up quite a bit.”

Gamond Phil, Master of Diamond Merchant Guild.

“Let’s see, I think it is not a bad proposal for you who are no different from barbarians? I’ve heard rumors that there is no problem even with just one side……. Sell it to me. The red eye of the Dune Clan!”

The warriors of the Dune Clan taking up their weapons and the merchant guild’s guards.

The two big shots blatantly tore at each other.

However, the murderous war of nerves didn’t last long.

Soon, a cold voice rang in their heads.

-Are you confident.

“……!!”

That moment.

-I am asking if you are prepared to cause a disturbance in Claudi’s territory.

The pressure applied to their mouths and bodies.

That was the 「Spirit Speech」 they had only heard about in words.

The two men only then realized the seriousness of the situation.

And they noticed.

‘Spirit speech……! To be able to exercise such a massive authority……!!’

There was no room for doubt.

On the Arcana continent.

That Claudi had returned.

“……Why would we fight on such a good day, haha.”

That the great family that made even big shots lower their tails had returned!