Chapter 330 – Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll (2)
Until just yesterday, the Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll had still been listed in the Dark Sales catalog.
And it wasn’t just any listing—it was the hottest item, with a negotiation bid reaching 21 million gold.
The only reason that very item was now in Henry, head of the Everfell guild’s, hands… was because Azonne was not only the overseer of the Dark Sales but also the doll’s original owner.
One World Tree Leaf had gotten Henry the Kunta Doll.
So then—what could he get with the remaining leaves?
Gripping his fists tightly, Henry imagined the rewards and trembled with excitent.
“If I can just make the most of these, Everfell will rise again.”
Even when noble houses collapsed from the rise of new divine powers, Everfell had found an opportunity through the slave trade and soared.
Now, through the Kunta Doll and the World Tree Leaves, Henry dread of an even greater ascent.
“If I could assemble an elite force entirely composed of 4-stars…?”
With the right funding, they could even hunt 5-stars.
5-star hunts.
Henry liked the word hunt.
After all, Everfell was a house that made its fortune through hunting people.
“Preparation will be key.”
Pulling himself out of the sweet fantasy, Henry shut the secret vault.
He wanted to visit Lord Azonne again right away with the rest of the leaves—but Azonne was a dangerous man.
After a single transaction, Azonne had already discovered the leaves’ existence. If Henry went back too carelessly, he might get everything taken from him.
If he wanted to profit while staying safe, he had to prepare carefully.
“First, I need to convince the other guilds.”
To retrieve the elves from the three rchant guilds under Everfell’s umbrella, he would have to offer them the appropriate compensation.
Their relationships were built on mutual benefit, after all.
A satisfying price.
In the end, selling the leaves properly would resolve everything.
The objective was clear.
But there was no ti to waste.
“If the Lenon Guild makes a move first, I’m in trouble.”
They were the only other guild competing for the leaves, so Henry had planted spies throughout the Lenon estate.
Nothing had happened yet, but until he finalized his sale to the Lord, he couldn’t afford to lower his guard.
“Timing is everything.”
At the latest, he planned to return to Azonne by the end of the day.
“Hm?”
As he sat in his study, organizing his thoughts, a commotion erupted outside.
At first, he furrowed his brow, intending to ignore it—but soon, he clicked his tongue and stood up.
He heard a familiar voice from the window.
Windsor Everfell.
His one and only son.
Windsor had been paralyzed with fear after facing Alex’s overwhelming power.
But now that a day had passed, his typical arrogance had returned, and sha had replaced fear.
Though he was frustrated, he had no way to retaliate against Alex. He spent the whole day sulking in his room—until he spotted an elf through the window.
A familiar elf.
“That smug thing…?”
The very elf he had toyed with just yesterday was now standing boldly in front of the mansion, and that boiled his blood.
Elves had always been his playthings, slaves from the ti he was a child.
Looking around the front yard, he saw the elf was alone.
A perfect target to vent his humiliation on.
Windsor stord out of the room.
He stood in front of the elf.
The elf’s expression stiffened the mont he saw him. Windsor grinned.
“Lucky little elf.”
“You should be thanking for the rest of your life. If I hadn’t strung you up on the target rack, do you think you’d be standing here now? You’d be a corpse buried at the bottom of a pit.”
The elf clenched his jaw and gripped his bow.
Windsor sneered.
“What? You gonna shoot? If you try, what do you think will happen to your kin? Should I gouge out another elf’s eye like I did last ti?”
“Why… are you doing this?”
“This?”
“We’ve never done anything to humans. We only… wanted to go ho.”
“Well, live long enough, and you see all kinds of things.”
Windsor chuckled darkly, then growled at the elf.
“You arrogant slave. I never thought I’d see an elf daring to stand and talk to face-to-face in Everfell.”
“We’re not your slaves.”
“You got lucky and got away this ti, but you’ll be caught again. Always happens. Run, resist—it won’t matter. You’ll end up back here, a slave again.”
“No. This ti will be different.”
“Heh. That kind of talk stops once a collar’s around your neck.”
“I’ll rember your face. And next ti, when I get caught again—I'll skin you myself and play with your flesh.”
The elf lowered his head, and Windsor’s confidence surged.
This was how things were supposed to be.
No one could stand tall in front of him—except his father.
At least within the Everfell mansion, he was the apex predator.
Then, the elf quietly muttered,
“No.”
“What?”
“This ti is different.”
A single arrow had appeared in the elf’s hand.
Raising his head, he glared at Windsor and said,
“I’m not alone anymore.”
The elf’s gaze shifted behind Windsor.
A voice followed.
“This brat still hasn’t learned his lesson?”
“...?”
Windsor turned his head quickly.
The speaker was right behind him.
Standing casually—yet terrifyingly familiar.
"A-Alex!"
“Alex? What am I, your buddy?”
“Th-that’s not what I—”
“Wanna die? Get lost.”
Ignoring the trembling, pale Windsor, I stood in front of the elf.
The elf asked,
“How did the negotiations go?”
“Resolved successfully.”
“Then I…”
“You are hereby appointed as the supervising officer for the elf handover. However, you must follow Karl’s instructions without question.”
“I understand.”
The elf let out a long breath.
Then he glared at Windsor again and asked,
“Just now, that man threatened . What should I do?”
“Threatened you? Now that you’re officially under the World Tree Union’s banner, you have our backing. Do as you please. Just…”
I looked briefly at Windsor and smacked my lips.
“Don’t kill him.”
The mont I said that, the elf’s eyes flashed—and he surged forward.
Crack—
A bone snapped. Windsor’s leg bent grotesquely.
As the elf leapt and drove an arrowhead into his face, blood splattered.
“Ggeaaahhh!”
Windsor rolled on the ground, clutching one eye.
The elf wiped the blood from the arrowhead and walked up to .
“Did I take one eye?”
“A wish of your kin, I assu.”
“Well, just one eye… I suppose it suits him better. Looks good as a one-eyed mutt.”
The Everfell family’s only heir had lost an eye.
And yet, the conversation remained almost absurdly calm.
“How dare you…! What is the aning of this!?”
A furious shout echoed from within the mansion. Henry appeared with soldiers in tow.
As the soldiers helped Windsor and checked his condition, Henry’s face twisted with rage.
He glared at the elf like he wanted to kill him, then turned to .
“You’ve made a serious mistake.”
“The first mistake was your son’s. He threatened our designated supervisor—told him he’d kill him.”
“...Supervisor?”
“He’ll be overseeing the elf transfer for this deal.”
I pointed to the elf.
Henry bit his lip, swallowing his rage.
He could easily imagine what vile things Windsor must’ve said.
But his son had lost an eye. Even if the elf had backers, he couldn’t let this go.
“My son has lost an eye. I demand compensation.”
“Compensation?”
“You broke the trust first. Hand that elf over.”
“Oh, really?”
I let out a small laugh and pulled out the contract.
“Then tear this.”
“...What are you saying?”
“That elf will remain as the appointed supervisor for this deal. You can’t lay a finger on him. If that bothers you, tear the contract.”
“You’d abandon hundreds of elves over one?”
“I never said I’d abandon them. I’ll retrieve them—by any ans necessary. But it won’t be a negotiation next ti.”
Henry stared silently at the contract—then turned and sent Windsor inside.
His blood was boiling, but he wasn’t a fool.
If he broke the deal now out of emotion, it was all over.
By choosing his house over revenge, I knew I’d read him right.
Without Azonne’s protection, Everfell couldn’t stand up to the World Tree Union.
The confrontation subsided, but the atmosphere remained heavy.
Then…
“What’s with the mood?”
Karl appeared from the mansion.
I entrusted the remaining negotiations to him and climbed into the carriage.
“Make sure they haven’t hidden any elves. Search everything.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll search like my eyes are on fire.”
Karl replied confidently. The elf beside him also nodded firmly.
I gave a small nod.
Karl’s ticulousness and the elf’s determination to save his kin—
With those two, the elf handover would go smoothly.
The carriage began to move.
Henry stared daggers at the departing carriage.
If he could just get through this…
If he could seize power and opportunity…
“I swear…I’ll return this humiliation tenfold.”
He vowed to make the World Tree Union's non-humans crawl beneath Everfell’s boots.
“Excuse .”
“Yes, go on.”
Henry quickly composed his face and turned to Karl.
Alex had left this man as the official negotiator.
He must be soone important in the Union.
Henry studied Karl’s face carefully—then furrowed his brow.
“Who is this guy?”
There was no ntion of him in any report.
Bald.
Scarred.
One-ard.
With such a distinctive appearance, how could soone like him have no presence?
Who the hell was he?
Just as Henry pondered, Karl cleared his throat and asked,
“Now that business is done, can I ask sothing personal?”
“A serious question?”
“For , yes.”
“Go ahead.”
“Is it red?”
“...What?”
Henry stared at Karl and narrowed his eyes.
Red? What the hell?
“Ah, I ant your underwear. I made a bet with Alex.”
Henry’s face crumpled instantly.
***
The carriage brought to the Lenon Guild’s estate.
After Henry had t Azonne with the leaves, his attitude completely changed.
He even gave up 100 million gold to obtain the leaves.
Why? What was he after?
To get so insight, I had co to speak with Italus, head of the Lenon Guild.
The second-most powerful man in Aintrier.
If anyone knew Lord Azonne best, it was him—he might offer so useful advice.
And sure enough—
“Did you check the Dark Sales catalog this morning?”
“Pardon?”
With that single question, Italus cleared up all my confusion.
[Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll] – Sold
The bidding for priority negotiation had ended. The doll had been sold instantly.
I had a good idea who the seller and buyer were.
Seller: Azonne Vistas.
Buyer: Henry of Everfell.
Now I understood—
Why Everfell was so obsessed with the World Tree Leaves.
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