Wolves of Hader Chapter 141

I entered Baron Ud'l's mansion.

The baron was so overjoyed that he prepared a banquet. His family and relatives welcod warmly as well.

Ross, who had been busy organizing our house's newly increased assets, hurried over to Baron Ud'l's mansion. When he saw the size of the mansion, his jaw dropped.

"How much did you pay for this place? Just this mansion alone must be worth at least a thousand gold coins!"

"I didn't spend a single penny."

"Seriously? Did you con soone?"

"What do you an, con! Is that how you usually see your little brother?"

Ross chuckled and laughed.

"You traded with the empty houses in the two ports, didn't you."

I answered with a smile.

The castles in Kiris and Kali's territory are considerably large. In terms of value, it was like exchanging the two castles for six grand mansions. The places had been practically empty houses, but I sent in managers.

There was no need for us to live there, and no matter who was sent in as managers, there would always be extra rooms in the castles. anwhile, baron Ud'l and his relatives would get to move to these comfortable hos.

Urke also rushed over and enjoyed the banquet.

I'd felt concerned for Baron Ud'l, but the look on his face showed that all his burdens had been lifted.

"So, do you have enough capital for the business?"

"If it's not enough, I'll have to borrow. According to Young Master Roger, the prospects look promising."

"Promising is an understatent. The eastern coast is bound to develop massively, and you and your father-in-law have established yourselves in one of its main hubs. This will bring great profit to the rchant guild too."

Urke continued with a smile.

"Even our exchange sees countless investors coming and going. With carriages faster than ships, what do you think people will use? The sa goes for freight. You're going to make an enormous amount of money."

"There'll be no day or night for you."

"That's right. A branch is its own rchant guild. We'll gradually adjust the share ratios for the branch too. The rchant guild will provide support, so you just need to provide the funds and handle the managent."

"Is it possible to expand the branch as well?"

"All you have to do is suggest it. If you show your ability, you could be put in charge of every branch along the coast."

"Thank you, my lord."

"I'm the one who should thank you."

Urke and Baron Ud'l raised their glasses in a toast. Since we were sitting a bit off to the side, we simply lifted our glasses in response.

After drinking so wine, I spoke up.

"Elder brother and his wife will live in this house. Elder sister and Russell will take the house on the left. I'll live in the house on the right. I think it'll be good for the special forces and berserkers to take the two end houses on each side."

"We'll need to raise the fortress wall, won't we?"

"We should. I'm also planning to build a secret facility underground and open a passage in the basent of the left rocky mountain."

"That sounds great."

All six mansions are similar in size. It only makes sense for the head of the Hader family to live in the central mansion. The house in the middle is the largest too.

I should have moved into a mansion sooner.

With a five-story house, there's plenty of space, so I'm planning to fill it with various assets and equipnt. Johnny will live with , too.

/ / /

"Wow! My goodness!"

"Do you like it?"

"I really do."

"Family head, young lord. Thank you so much."

"No need to thank ."

Rozie and Russell were truly delighted.

Living in the castle was like sharing the sa house, so it must have been a bit uncomfortable for everyone— and Ross included.

Countless wagons arrived in front of the six mansions, busily transporting moving boxes. For the ti being, our assets were left in the fortress vault room—we focused on moving our belongings and equipnt first.

Ross and Jena were busy setting up their new ho as newlyweds, and Donnie and the berserkers were doing the sa. Since the group always had to move together, there was no better haven.

I entered my own house.

It was a bit empty, but I really liked the spaciousness and layout. Especially the largest room on the fifth floor.

I could see the plains from the window in my room.

There was even a luxurious bed that the baron had left as a gift. Not a reused one, but a newly purchased, high-end bed.

"Johnny, which room do you want?"

"I'll stay on one of the lower floors."

"Alright. By the way, do you know any reliable and talented mansion managers or chefs?"

"Yes, I have just the right people in mind."

"Bring them in. Three should be enough."

"But, well. They might refuse."

"Why?"

"They're refugees. They have plenty of experience, but they deliberately choose not to work as butlers. Once they beco a butler for a noble house, they believe they can never return ho."

"So, they used to be butlers?"

"No. They were retainers to a viscount's house."

"Let's go see them together in Mouk tomorrow."

"Yes."

Johnny left the room smiling.

Since I also had to visit the rchant guild to discuss business tomorrow, I planned to et them while I was out.

Once soone becos a house's butler, it's like burying their bones with that family. In other words, it ans if they beco my mansion's butler, they won't betray .

Johnny's prudence truly shined.

My house would soon be filled with precious items, so he picked people who wouldn't covet them.

/ / /

I walked along the pier, reeking of fish.

There was a fish auction going on in the fish market warehouse. After a bit of walking, Johnny pointed to a man.

"That's him."

A man in his mid-to-late thirties, loading fish onto a cart. Despite doing nial work, he held himself with dignity. I wondered if he had been a knight, but it seed he had been a retainer on the administrative side.

"You don't know which retainer he was, do you?"

"No. He's never ntioned it."

"But he's from your hotown, isn't he?"

"No, he wasn't. I was an orphan during the evacuations, and he and his family took care of . Until we boarded the ship, the viscount kept protecting the refugees."

"What happened to the viscount?"

"I suspect he died in battle."

It must have been a desperate escape.

"What was it like during the escape?"

"That was near the end of the nine-year war. Almost every kingdom had fallen, and the refugees had been forced to the southernmost tip of Verttern, with nowhere left to run."

"How old were you then?"

"I was seven when I boarded the ship. Our family lived in the southernmost count's house, so we didn't flee until the war was nearly over."

The army that destroyed the southern kingdom was the Geroz rcenary Corps. Tern wasn't directly involved. The collapse started with internal conflict among the southern kingdoms, stirred by Tern.

Now, puppet states have been established in the south, governed by governors appointed by Tern. The actual rulers of this colonial regi are the Order and the Geroz rcenary Corps.

"Go on. And then?"

"There were too many refugees and not enough ships, when the rcenary Corps staged a surprise attack. That's when the viscount held them off on his own, so we narrowly escaped."

"All by himself, without knights?"

"Yes. He fought alone. The other nobles and knights abandoned the refugees and ran."

Such a person's story was never told.

He should be rembered in history.

"So you reached here on that ship."

"Yes. The viscount was a very strong person, so they say it's likely he survived. That's why they're waiting."

I felt sothing strange.

Was this destiny at work?

I only wanted to hire so staff.

"And what about the lady?"

"She's over there, the one with the brown scarf."

Among the won cleaning fish at one side of the warehouse, there was a woman wearing a scarf. Despite her shabby appearance, she was beautiful.

"Now, let's go see the two daughters."

"Yes."

We left the pier and entered an alley.

It was a street lined with taverns and shabby eateries frequented by sailors and dockworkers.

Johnny stopped in front of one of those restaurants.

Inside, so sailors were eating, and a young girl was working with an apron tied around her waist.

"That girl?"

"Yes. She's two years younger than I am."

She was very pretty.

Johnny gazed at the girl for a mont.

"You like her, don't you?"

Johnny nodded shyly.

She was still so young, but I'm sure there had already been custors trying to flirt with her. Fortunately, it didn't seem like anything worse had happened.

"Does it bother you that she works here?"

"A little, yes."

"Let's go in."

"Um, it's just... No, let's go."

"What's making you hesitate?"

"I realized I was only thinking about my old self."

I entered the restaurant with Johnny.

The girl was startled and almost dropped her tray. It seed she liked Johnny too—her face brightened instantly.

"What brings you here?"

"Say hello. This is our young master."

"Hello."

"Nice to et you. Where should we sit?"

"Please take a seat over here."

We went and sat in a corner.

As the girl welcod us, the lady owner shot us a furtive glare. She seed displeased.

"Lana! Hurry up and serve the food!"

"Yes!"

The girl took fish stew from the kitchen to a custor's table. She quickly cleaned up empty dishes and wiped down tables before finally coming over to us.

"What would you like to order?"

"Fish stew, roasted potatoes, and so stir-fried vegetables."

"Yes."

Despite the way the owner treated her, the girl was bright and energetic.

"Hey! Where's my grilled fish?"

"Just a mont, it'll be out soon."

"Lana, how about pouring a drink?"

"Yes, sir."

"Hey! What are you doing asking a girl like her to serve you drinks? If you ca to eat, just eat your food."

The custor scowled.

"This is ridiculous. Yesterday you made her sit next to , telling her to collect pocket money. Why are you acting all high and mighty today?"

"When did I ever! What do you take for?"

I looked at Johnny.

He seed new here too; he looked flustered.

I called the girl over.

"Do you owe the restaurant anything?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"Three gold coins."

"Why didn't you pay it off for her, Johnny?"

"It's her parents' debt. The restaurant owner also owns the house they live in. If I pay it off for them, her parents will lose their job."

"Why?"

"The owner's husband is the Dockworkers' Guild chief."

Talk about power.

The lady owner ca rushing out.

"Haven't seen you in a while—think you can strut in here just because you've saved so money after running errands?"

"Auntie, that's not it..."

"Enough! Get out right now! I won't even charge you for the food, so take your friend and go! Don't co back again!"

"At least let us eat first."

"I said get out, now!"

The owner grabbed Johnny's arm and tried to pull him up.

She didn't dare to lay a hand on .

My clothes looked rather expensive.

It seed the owner wouldn't let Johnny pay off the debt because she wanted to keep using Lana. Having a pretty girl in the restaurant increases business, and when she grows up, she'll probably do worse.

"Johnny, bring her family to the rchant guild's canteen."

"Yes."

"What's this about? Who are you?"

We left the restaurant.

The lady owner chased after us.

"What gives you the right to take Lana away?"

"Her family will move out. They shouldn't have to pay back the debt either."

"What? Says who?"

"If you have complaints, take it up with Goose."

The owner was left speechless.

That's probably how it is for all poor people's lives.

I should open a school in Mouk.

So people can escape poverty.

/ / /

Lana's family sat in the restaurant.

It was probably their first ti ever visiting such a high-class place. They were once well-off, but...

"Johnny, order for everyone."

"Yes."

The couple looked self-conscious, bothered by the fish stench clinging to them. So custors wrinkled their noses, and the restaurant manager was fidgety, anxious because of my presence.

"You've had a hard ti."

"It's nothing. Johnny told us you wanted to hire us as butlers for your mansion."

"That's right. Would it be difficult?"

"Well... we already served another master."

"Are you confident he's still alive?"

"Yes. Our lord gave us repeated, strict instructions. No matter what happened, we were to co to Mouk. He said he'd co for us one day."

It's a trendous distance from the southern tip of Verttern to Mouk. Many of the ships must have landed in this continent's south, in the area controlled by the Tak tribe.

If they tried to go to Robe, the Geroz fleet would have been guarding the area. Entering via Yan would have been difficult too. With the Tak tribe in the south, only the eastern coast of the empire remained as an option.

"It's been ten years already."

"But we still want to keep waiting."

"If your lord survived his escape, he would've arrived already. Even if he fought his way through the Tak tribe after landing in the southern continent, he should have gotten here years ago."

The man fell silent.

"I think your lord must settle here now, as well. Work at my house, and when your lord cos, I'll let you go."

"Will you really?"

"Yes. I promise."

The food arrived, and we began to eat.

But there was sothing off about Johnny's accent.

Maybe they weren't from southern Verttern?

"There are many warm ports along the eastern coast. Did your lord ever say why he chose Mouk specifically?"

"He said he had a friend here."

"Who?"

"We looked for him as soon as we arrived, but there was nobody like that in all of Mouk. We only knew his first na, not his surna, so it was hopeless."

"What was the na?"

"He said his na was Gaz."

Both Johnny and I were stunned.

My father's na is Gaz.

Then...

"What is your lord's surna?"

The man answered.

"Viscount Drian."

Unbelievable.

To hear that na here.