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Chapter 47
Kaspel.
A major city connecting the central and northern lands of Bertel. Along with Rodafel, it is called one of Bertel’s two “free cities.”
Millions pass through every year, with thousands of guilds and merchants concentrated here. Gold worth billions is traded annually.
“This is Kaspel,” Ariletti thought as she looked around the city, sipping her potion.
Compared to the quiet Hezeight territory, the streets were crowded like ants finding their own nests, each person busy with their own business.
“This is where the Hezeight success story will soon echo,” she thought.
Ariletti, Glenn, and Rasian walked through the city center toward the Ismail Trading Company.
They had arrived last night after a two-week journey, carrying new goods they had collected over the past month. After resting at their inn, they set out early in the morning.
The empty potion bottle rattled in Ariletti’s hand. Glenn tossed it into a trash bin for her.
“Teacher, aren’t you cold? Want to wear another coat?”
“I’m fine.”
Unlike the chilly northern winds even in summer, Kaspel in the central region was warm with strong sunlight. Even though it was early autumn, the sun felt sharp.
Their clothing was light. Ariletti wore a teal dress matching her eye color. Glenn wore a simple cotton shirt and pants.
Walking beside Glenn, Rasian wore dark beige suspenders with a hooded cape that covered half of his face.
“Blond hair and red eyes are symbols of the royal family,” Ariletti thought.
Only his nose and jaw were visible under the hood—a typical prophet-like outfit. Fortunately, many people in the city wore face coverings, so he didn’t stand out much.
“It’s been almost eight years since I last came to Kaspel, and nothing seems to have changed!”
Dunken, following as a bodyguard along with Lord Mion, looked around with a smile. Both were in casual clothes.
“Half the city was always under construction. Looks like they’re digging a canal this time,” Dunken said.
“Not a canal, a waterway,” Ariletti corrected.
“Huh?”
“In a few years, boats will be able to sail through here,” she explained.
Two days east of Kaspel lies the sea. Once the waterway is completed, trade with neighboring countries will grow.
The construction is huge and expensive, but once ships can pass, Kaspel will become one of the continent’s top port cities. Travel to neighboring countries will also be much faster.
“If they start sailing in two years, we need to prepare in advance.”
As they thought this, the group reached an alley slightly off the central square.
A crowd even bigger than in the square packed the alley. Above dozens of heads, a luxurious brass sign stood proudly:
[Ismail Trading Company]
[Pre-order of top-grade Hezeight ingredients in progress!]
“Thank you for coming such a long way, Teacher! And Lord and knights,” said Ismail.
Ariletti received gentle cheek kisses, happy to see him after months of being stuck in bed due to illness.
“We gathered plenty of restorative and detoxifying herbs from the south for you, Teacher. Consider it an advance payment,” Ismail said.
“Thank you,” Ariletti replied. The packages were neatly wrapped with ribbons and smelled of fresh herbs.
“Tanitula’s detox herb. Very useful,” she thought.
Ismail shook hands with Glenn and gave Rasian a warm look.
“This young master is new, isn’t he?”
“Yes, but his situation is complicated. Just call him young master.”
“Welcome, young master!” Ismail said, guiding Rasian around the trading company.
“Our business has done well, so we’ve renovated. We opened a new office near the central square for better access.”
“Where’s the warehouse?”
“Our logistics warehouse is on the outskirts. Recently, we bought this whole block, so now all rare Hezeight ingredients will be stored here. The old warehouse will hold less valuable items.”
“Good, we’re not late.”
“Exactly. We planned to move goods tomorrow and the next day. Once the sun rises, the square will be crowded, so we’ll load items at dawn.”
They had arrived just in time. Rasian’s foresight had helped them plan efficiently.
“Some customers will come tomorrow afternoon to pick up goods. Since you, Lord, are here, why not meet them? They are influential people in this area.”
“Who are they?”
Ismail showed the order list. Glenn’s eyes widened.
“Royal Medical College and Graduate School of Pharmacy? They placed an order here too?”
“Dr. Sergio wrote to his former professor to order ingredients for research, worth ten thousand gold. The academy is a regular customer, so this first deal will secure a decade of business. Excellent start, Lord!”
Glenn felt dizzy at the thought of earning ten thousand gold in one deal.
“That’s just the beginning,” Ismail continued.
“Also, Lusman Gemstones supplies us with rough stones. Last time, we sold ice from their stock along with the stones. Non-melting ice has value as a gem too.”
Lusman is the largest gemstone company in Bertel, serving nobles in the capital.
“So they’re subtly laying groundwork in the capital too?”
“Yes, ultimately aiming to open branches across the empire, like Liam Trading Company. Following your advice, Teacher Ariletti,” Ismail said.
“Our little princess?” Ariletti rolled her eyes.
Rasian muttered quietly:
“The academy and Lusman… all wealthy clients. If deals fail, their reputation would collapse.”
Right, reputation.
The priority wasn’t business expansion—it was preventing thieves in Kaspel from ruining everything.
“Ismail, tonight we’ll move the goods ourselves.”
“What? You and Lord will do it personally?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to… You just arrived. Rest tonight. We have a special security team for the Hezeight goods.”
“Keep the security team. We’ll deal with the thief anyway.”
“Thief?” Glenn asked.
“Yes. A thief.”
“Someone will attack at dawn?”
“Yes.”
Glenn frowned.
“Wait. How did you know, Ariletti? Did you use your power again? I warned you—one more unauthorized use, and you’d get a daily concentrated mandrake extract injection!”
“No!” Ariletti quickly pointed to Rasian.
“I didn’t use my power. The prince foresaw it.”
“I saw it in a dream, brother,” Rasian said hesitantly.
“Even if the chance is small, we have to check.”
Relieved, Glenn patted Rasian’s head.
“Should we have brought more knights for preparation?”
No, intentionally fewer were brought. Glenn and Dunken were enough—they could handle hundreds alone.
“Together, they could control 200 enemies,” Ariletti thought, grinning mischievously.
Rasian eyed her suspiciously.
“Why are you like that?”
“Excited.”
Thinking of meeting someone from her past life made her heart race.
This version simplifies language, removes extra descriptions, and keeps the story clear and flowing.
