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Chapter : 43
Even as Adelhart sat lost in thought, the meeting continued. Roela’s eyes gleamed.
“That’s right! And if it’s Cyern… it makes sense that Grand Duke Kaisa would want to hide his identity. And doesn’t it make sense that we still haven’t found Kaisa and Milena? No Swordmaster has appeared there for a hundred years.”
“But we have no official contact with Cyern. How could we even approach them?”
Jenemiah raised a practical concern.
“It’s difficult to request official search cooperation, and going there privately is far too dangerous.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t find a way,” Roela said, her eyes shining. After feeling lost for so long, seeing a possible path forward was exhilarating. It was far better than blindly charging into nothing. They might finally hear news of Milena.
“We’ll send someone to Cyern.”
“What exactly are you planning, Roela?”
Adelhart asked, his face weary. His eyes, emerging from their reverie, were dark and sunken.
“I’m thinking… what I can do, what I’m capable of.”
Miles spoke after a pause, thinking carefully.
“What about using the Merchant Guild? There are a few people traveling through the Monster Sea when the waters are open.”
“That’s too slow. Could we even wait that long? And if another experiment happens before then? What would they do after eliminating Grand Duke Kaisa?”
Jenemiah shook his head, feeling a rising fear at his own words. Roela added,
“And can we even trust them?”
“So what do you suggest we do?”
Roela narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips together.
“The sea trade routes.”
“…Sea trade routes?”
“Use unofficial sea trade routes. Especially the ones smugglers use. They cross borders freely.”
There were those willing to risk their lives for money. Adelhart frowned and grabbed Roela’s arm.
“Roela.”
“Luckily, our Marquis family has multiple trading connections.”
“Roela!”
Adelhart tried to stop her, but Roela didn’t budge. Like most people who truly believe they’re on the right path, her ears were closed to objections. She wanted to see this plan through—and recover Milena.
Though she spoke as if for justice or the empire, deep down, it was longing for Milena that drove her. If there was any hope that Milena was alive, Roela was willing to cross the Monster Sea herself.
Miles said cautiously,
“It’s dangerous. Smugglers might demand anything.”
“Do we have another option?”
Roela’s firm tone left the three speechless.
“We don’t know how much time we have. We don’t know the enemy, and we don’t know what they want. Then we have to secure our maximum strength as quickly as possible.”
Jenemiah exhaled deeply.
“Miss Roela is right. It’s dangerous… but we have to try every possibility now.”
“Then it’s decided.”
Miles spoke softly,
“I’ll gather intelligence through the Merchant Guild. Miss Roela will investigate unofficial routes, and Jenemiah will continue the Poseidon-related research. We need to identify everyone who can access or manipulate Poseidon. Also, I know someone I can meet who might have knowledge.”
“And one more thing,” Jenemiah said seriously.
“This must be done in complete secrecy. If anyone finds out we’ve gotten a lead…”
“The people behind this will move first,” Roela finished.
“Those who tried to eliminate Grand Duke Kaisa won’t stay idle.”
Roela turned to look at Adelhart. He exhaled, as if he knew exactly what she was going to say.
“I won’t tell. You know I cut ties with the palace, right?”
Prince Adelhart shrugged.
“Be careful, Adelhart. That person must know you’ve been to Poseidon. They’ve surely been watching.”
It was fortunate, at least, that Roela’s identity was concealed in case of unforeseen situations.
“There could be enemies even inside the royal court.”
Adelhart nodded, fiddling with the watch on his wrist—the only remnant he had of the royal family. It was a gift from his childhood.
His thoughts deepened once more.
The next day, late afternoon.
Since the previous day’s meeting, Roela had been pressuring her father persistently. Many allies remained within the Marquis family, some with smuggling ships among them.
‘Father… are you really going to ignore this?’
‘Roela, if you meddle in something whose players we don’t even know, you’ll be in danger. Even now…’
‘Father, how can you give up on Milena?’
‘Roela…’
‘You said she was the savior of my life. That without Milena, you would have lost me, and mother too. But since Milena went missing, you’ve been half-hearted about it.’
‘Roela, I judged she could not survive in the Monster Sea. That’s the reality. Most would think the same.’
‘I don’t. If not me, then neither should you. So this time, help me.’
In the end, Roela persuaded her father. That’s why she was able to come here herself.
Roela entered a shabby tavern at the harbor, her hood pulled low. The air reeked of tobacco and alcohol. She spotted a man sitting at a corner table—the same sign her father had described.
A silver gauntleted man.
“I’m looking for someone who knows the sea routes.”
That was the signal. The man looked up at her, eyes suspicious above a face full of scars.
“Did your family send only you?”
His tone carried no hesitation.
Roela pulled a sealed envelope of bills from her pocket and placed it on the table.
“If this isn’t enough, I can give more. I’m not sent by my family alone—this is my choice, my deal.”
The man’s eyes gleamed.
“Where exactly do you want to go?”
“Cyern.”
For a moment, his mouth tightened. The tavern noise seemed louder than before. After a pause, he chuckled lowly.
“Cyern? Do you really think you can get there? Poseidon in Cyern isn’t even operating. Going there is suicide. Even planned smuggling ships have been canceled. No one will set foot in Cyern.”
“I’m looking for someone,” Roela said calmly.
“I’ll pay whatever it takes. Even more if needed.”
“I said money isn’t the issue.”
Roela didn’t flinch. She pulled out more stacks of bills and placed them on the table. She knew exactly how to move men like him. The man’s gaze greedily scanned the bundles.
“But money is always the issue for you, isn’t it? More than life itself. Right? You’ll sail, and you’ll bring me the person I’m looking for.”
Roela’s voice was firm, her eyes burning with stubborn determination—and obsession.
