🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 77
Her carriage ran for quite a while before arriving at the entrance of the long-distance teleportation gate.
“Magic… if you’ve got money, there’s no better place to live than here! How did I ever endure riding horses for days and weeks when something this convenient existed?”
Now, whenever she needed to travel far, she could freely use this place, commonly called a “Teleport Gate.”
Of course, that was only possible because she now had both wealth and the trump card that was Shan, the Mercenary King.
Not just anyone could use a teleport gate simply by being rich. And they weren’t installed everywhere either.
It required complicated procedures and a hefty sum, but for Shan, the Mercenary King, these gates were always an easy mode of travel.
When Lucy first learned that such a means of magical long-distance travel existed, she had once asked Shan:
“Shan! Why didn’t you tell me earlier that something like this existed? We didn’t have to go through all that suffering, riding horses for weeks!”
Even now, his answer back then left her dumbfounded.
“You never asked.”
Apparently, with Shan’s mercenary badge, he could freely use long-distance gates in any country across the continent.
Lucy only learned about this around the time Pablo Trading Company started gaining a foothold.
Even now, she still found it difficult to fully understand the way Shan’s mind worked.
When the carriage passed through the magical gate, they arrived at another gate about an hour away from the village of Urth.
“I’ve used it several times, but magic is always so fascinating! Once the company grows more stable, I should visit that Tower of Mages I’ve heard about.”
Lucy kept adding to the list of things she wanted to experience.
“Maybe I’ll even be able to befriend the handsome Master of the Mage Tower!”
As she entertained the delightful thought, the carriage stopped in front of Anna’s shop.
The tiny shop, always the same, now had a much livelier atmosphere than before.
“Welcome—oh! My lady!”
Anna ran out the moment she saw Lucy.
“Anna! How have you been? I missed you so much!”
It had been nearly a month since they last met. The two hugged each other warmly, as if they hadn’t met in years.
“How did the work you mentioned go this time?”
“I’m sure it will go well. This time, really, just get ready to count money! I’ll make sure you live in luxury.”
“My lady, you’re amazing! But where’s Shan… ah…”
Anna glanced around and spotted Shan, then let out a dry laugh.
As always, Shan was surrounded by women, looking completely helpless. He was truly consistent.
Whenever he came here, he stood idly by, guarding the shop. At best, he would sometimes man the counter when Anna nagged him into it.
“At least it’s a relief. He never says anything to the female customers who come just to see him.”
If he ever opened his mouth carelessly, he might break the hearts of those who admired him, and that would be troublesome.
“My lady, it’s a bit hectic here, so why don’t you head home first? Oh my, look at how gaunt your face has gotten! Tonight I’ll cook you a feast!”
Unable to resist Anna’s fussing, Lucy climbed back into the carriage.
Now Anna no longer had to walk that long distance every day.
She had two carriages of her own: one for commuting, and one set aside just for Lucy.
In just a year, so much had drastically changed—thanks to Bruno’s research constantly yielding success.
The eccentric inventor Bruno’s work had borne fruit much faster than expected with Lucy’s support.
She regularly sent him encouraging letters, urging him on.
Perhaps because of that, Bruno—once branded a weirdo at the Academy—was now earning fame in the Imperial Capital as a genius inventor.
Whenever Lucy described ideas inspired by the future knowledge she held, Bruno would skillfully bring them into reality.
One such invention was the voice modulator she had just used in her meeting with Duke Marcel Paul Miller.
Sometimes, using her ideas, he even created strange contraptions—but Bruno truly was a genius.
“It really feels like the time is almost here.”
Lucy leaned back against the familiar sofa in Anna’s mansion’s living room and muttered.
“Baron Diallo and Edwin… which one should I meet first, I wonder?”
The thought of meeting them again filled Lucy with excitement.
She couldn’t wait to see how their faces would twist when they saw how much she had changed, or when they fell into ruin.
Lucy was practically itching to go find them.
“Who knew having so many targets for revenge could be this enjoyable.”
She even hummed a cheerful tune without realizing it.
“You seem in an excellent mood today.”
“Of course I am. There are so many people I want to meet once I’m in the capital. Ah! Before that, there’s someone I need to meet in Tairen, too.”
Remembering suddenly, Lucy clapped her knee.
“Count Sinome must still be doing well, right? I should deal with him first.”
Her eyes glinted coldly as she stared into the air.
“I need information. More information.”
Information meant money. And faster, more plentiful information meant even greater wealth.
That was Lucy’s creed.
“Wasn’t the guild’s name Icarus?”
She recalled the leader of that information guild—the same one who once asked Bruno to make him a translation device for ostriches.
Lucy now felt it was time to meet him.
From what she had heard from Bruno, the Icarus Guild was located far from the Fujis Empire.
Once again, she would have to make use of Shan’s mercenary badge.
“It really is so useful…”
She coveted Shan’s badge far too much. Perhaps that was why her eyes kept boring into the inner pocket of his coat, where it must be hidden.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
Noticing her gaze, Shan actually took a step back, his expression showing uncharacteristic unease.
“It’s nothing. I just… want it, that’s all.”
At her ambiguous statement, Shan flinched, then gently covered his chest with both hands.
His face was as expressionless as always, but his ears were faintly red.
“Speaking of which, Shan, you must have heard of the Icarus Guild too, right? Do you know anything about its leader?”
Shan thought for a moment, eyes searching his memory, before shaking his head.
“I used their services a few times in searching for my younger sister’s whereabouts, but nothing beyond that. I don’t know much.”
Lucy nodded with a hint of disappointment.
The Icarus Guild—largest and most famous information guild on the continent.
According to Bruno, they were an organization that, for sufficient payment, wouldn’t hesitate to carry out even illegal work.
“So… kind of like an errand center?”
“Icarus has branches all over. It would be best to visit the nearest one and tell them you wish to meet the Guild Master.”
“Sounds like it’s quite a big organization.”
According to Shan’s knowledge, there was also a branch in Tairen.
So the very next day, Lucy set out for Tairen.
It had been a long time since she’d been there, and the nightmare of her past came flooding back.
By cruel coincidence, the Icarus branch was located near where Madam Rozel’s shop had once been.
“Madam Rozel… and Count Baton Sinome… I will never forgive you.”
Grinding her teeth, Lucy seethed with anger at the memory.
“So, you wish to meet our Master?”
“Money is no issue. This is an extremely important commission, so I want to discuss it directly with the Master. How do I go about meeting him?”
At Lucy’s blunt words, the staff member hesitated briefly, then nodded.
