Chapter 94: Joey Johansel

"Nice to meet you. I am Karyl from the Ravat Guild."

"Ah, the organizer of today's banquet. It's impressive to gather such distinguished nobles from the Three Kingdoms of Istria in one place... Your networking skills are truly admirable."

"It's nothing, really. Baron Beryl has been a great help." Karyl chuckled softly.

Indeed, although the Three Kingdoms were allied, getting nobles from different countries to meet wasn’t easy. Everyone here knew that they had lost interest in their rivalries thanks to Baron Beryl's conduct.

Hmm...

Karyl scanned Joey Johansel, then turned his attention to the people standing behind him.

Heather Myle, the eldest son of the Myle family who served as the chancellor of the Kingdom of Istan, and Raytas, the second son of that merchant from Tevanel, were among them.

Different nationalities and different ages, yet unlike the other nobles at the banquet, they all looked familiar to Karyl.

This man is interesting. He has some surprising ties to some heavy hitters.

In contrast to the chatty nobles inside, the few outside in the garden were much more prominent. All of them were competent heirs of their families. Although they weren’t necessarily successors, they were all distinguished figures in their own right.

The fact that I remembered them means they survived the fall of the Three Kingdoms.

Karyl's gaze sharpened.

On the other hand...These individuals might also have connections with the Wooden Cloud.

It was a possibility he couldn't dismiss. Initially, Karyl thought of the Wooden Cloud merely as a secret organization of the principality. But over time, he realized they were separate from the Lurein family, despite sharing the name.

I must get rid of my preconceptions regarding the principality. They need to be eradicated by the time I establish the empire, or they will become a major obstacle in the upcoming Oracle War.

Back then, the hordes of monsters swarming from the giant Pharel Tower had overwhelmed everyone. If a war among humans was added to that, complete destruction would ensue.

The organization might be bigger than I imagined,

Karyl thought as he looked at Joey Johansel and his companions.

"I heard you’ve discovered an elemental mine. That’s quite an achievement."

"It was just good fortune. As merchants, our job is to provide good products and make a profit."

"For a merchant, you have very keen eyes. Ah, I meant that as a compliment." Joey Johansel smiled at Karyl.

Karyl was curious about the true intentions behind those slightly narrowed, crescent-moon eyes.

I'll have Aidan investigate these people. They’re the most likely candidates.

"Why did you choose the Three Kingdoms? There are the principality and the Empire as well," asked Gio as they strolled through the garden, away from the banquet hall.

"You know I'm from Tatur. A free city between the Empire, the principality, and the Three Kingdoms. Geographically, it's both the most dangerous and the safest place."

"Haha, who here doesn’t know that?"

"And if one of those powers falls, it would be the most precarious place," Karyl said ambiguously. "I hope the Three Kingdoms continue to prosper, as a merchant and as someone from Tatur."

A brief silence followed Karyl’s words.

"It almost sounds like you’re suggesting that the Three Kingdoms are in danger,” Joey Johansel commented with interest.

However, the young men behind him didn’t seem as calm as him.

"If things continue this way, they'll surely perish."

With that, the warm atmosphere suddenly grew cold.

"You may be the host, but there are things you should and shouldn't say. If the people above us were to hear that, our heads would roll regardless of any deals.”

"Even if it's not from the higher-ups, we can't ignore those words. Just because the priest is here doesn't mean we can overlook it."

Yet, Joey Johansel reacted differently. "Is it because of the Empire?" Perhaps because he wasn’t from the Three Kingdoms, he took Karyl's words seriously.

"Somewhat."

It was a half-truth. In his past life, the Three Kingdoms self-destructed over a mana mine. Afterward, when Olivurn ascended to the throne, and the Empire declared war on the South, they were already weakened by their struggle over the mine.

Even now, under the current emperor, the Empire often shows signs of aggression toward the three kingdoms. If it weren’t for the Lurein Principality, the Empire would have attacked the three kingdoms a long time ago.

For the same reason, the principality was also at risk.

Ironically, the Three Kingdoms of Istria, which was relatively weaker than the Empire, had become the safest territory, despite its precarious position.

That laxity eventually led to that ridiculous self-destruction.

Luckily, Karyl's acquisition of the mana mine had temporarily averted the demise of the Three Kingdoms. Moreover, it had held off the Empire's advances.

Olivurn had an easy time attacking the Three Kingdoms because they had weakened themselves fighting over the mine.

By maintaining full control and supplying the elemental stones from the mine, Karyl had not only strengthened the Three Kingdoms but also created a barrier that prevented the Empire from advancing South.

This was the plan.

But Karyl’s meeting with Joey Johansel had made him realize that he needed to adjust his strategy.

He's heading to the Church soon. That means the secrets of the mana mine will be exposed.

Of course, once trade with the Three Kingdoms began, the Empire and the principality would eventually find out.

But one month is too soon.

When the emperor eventually went to the Church for recovery, Joey Johansel would become his direct physician.

Given his nature, he won’t just leave the mana mine be.

The Empire might seriously consider an invasion, perhaps even before Olivurn’s coronation.

"Everyone knows the Empire is eyeing the Three Kingdoms. But they also know it’s not easy to just invade."

Heather Myle clicked his tongue at Karyl’s words. To someone from the chancellor’s family, this was an unpleasant yet undeniable truth.

"If the Three Kingdoms fall, Tatur won’t withstand the storm either. And if the Empire gets the mine, so will the principality."

Joey Johansel's face hardened slightly at these words, and Karyl didn't miss that change.

"So? I don’t think it’s up to others to comment on the fate of the Three Kingdoms."

"I know it's presumptuous,” said Karyl, “but I happened to overhear a conversation about you going to the Church..."

Joey Johansel looked up at the terrace where Karyl had been standing earlier.

"..."

He heard me from all the way there...

He had long sensed that Karyl was no ordinary person.

Even if he's a merchant, if he's from the Empire, he must possess magic. He can’t be underestimated.

Trade and commerce had always involved traveling between countries. Indeed, some of the continent's famous merchant guilds occasionally boasted members with knight-level skills.

"If you’re going to the Church, might we accompany you?"

"!!"

Karyl’s unexpected proposal caught everyone's attention.

However, Joey Johansel quietly pondered on it, maintaining his gaze on Karyl.

A mere boy has reached such heights...

Joey Johansel was curious about Karyl in a different way.

It’s hard to believe. The head of Tatur's riffraff couldn’t possibly be this kid. There must be someone behind him.

Joey was oblivious to the truth.

I need to find out who.

"Very well,” Joey Johansel replied with a determined look. “The Church would be pleased to be acquainted with a guild that possesses a mana mine.”

Karyl and Joey Johansel were engaged in a subtle game of chess, trying to uncover each other’s intentions.

"Please inform Baron Beryl when you're ready to leave. I'll await your signal."

"May the light be with you."

"May the darkness lift from your path."

Joey responded with the Church's greeting, looking at Karyl with increasing intrigue.

"..."

Karyl turned around with a broad smile, but his face quickly hardened.

This is an opportunity.

Even though this chance had come about by accident, Karyl absolutely couldn’t let it slip. In fact, it wasn’t even by accident. He had searched for the mana mine and bribed Baron Beryl, and he had prepared Kammar and Suan Hazar to set up a guild.

Moreover, his confidence in dealing with the nobles of the Three Kingdoms stemmed from the military power he wielded in the South.

Indeed, Karyl had slowly crafted this opportunity through meticulous planning. This coincidence was merely a minor reward that had presented itself naturally.

I thought I’d never see your face in this lifetime... Seems I was wrong.

Karyl considered finding out the forces behind the Wooden Cloud an important task, but the journey toward the Church might yield even greater results, namely Emperor Titan Shutean.

It was just a feeling, but perhaps a private meeting with him could significantly alter the course of history.

***

Two weeks had passed. Karyl was busy moving about as he awaited a signal from Joey Johansel.

"I'll be on my way then.” Kamma, the organizer of the journey, displayed a remarkably tense expression as he spoke, despite his senior age.

"Don't be scared,” Dushala joked, causing him to blush.

"Quiet, you.”

"She's right, though,” added Karyl. “The guild's outpost in the principality is already set up by the lawless residents... Don't worry. You're going as Kamma of the Ravat Guild, not as a noble of the principality."

"I'll definitely secure the deal."

Karyl nodded. "That's the spirit. Right now, our only asset is the elemental stones. Even if they are incredibly valuable, relying on a single commodity isn't enough. The magical artifacts from the principality will be useful even in Tatur."

"I was once from the principality, remember? I still know some people there." Kamma tried to sound confident.

"Until you were stripped of your nobility and exiled for embezzlement, theft, blackmail, murder, and more."

"..."

Dushala still seemed to enjoy teasing Kamma.

"...I'll be back."

His face grew even darker, and Karyl chuckled.

"Take Suan and Mikhail with you. They'll be of great help and they’ll handle the matters I've previously discussed."

"Master, do I really have to go?" Mikhail asked reluctantly.

"Yes, you must."

Mikhail expressed his regret. He had barely managed to see Karyl ever since his return to Tatur, only when he occasionally greeted the members of the Guidance Mercenary Gang at the mana mine.

Mikhail had been mostly confined to the training grounds.

"I know you want to devote yourself to mana training, but that's why you must go. If things go well, going to the principality might elevate you more than staying under me right now."

"Is that so...?" Mikhail arched his eyebrow.

He's probably reached a wall that blocks him from ascending to the rank of sorcerer. If it weren't for Allen, I wouldn't have been able to overcome it either.

But since he hadn’t done it in a conventional way, Karyl couldn't assist Mikhail.

Allen tasked me with Mikhail's training, but unfortunately, it’s difficult to apply my knowledge to him.

Allen had managed to train Karyl because he knew both Arcane Techniques and traditional magic.

The magical knowledge he had imparted to Karyl was indeed vast, but Karyl himself was still unable to utilize all of it. It was like having the contents of a grand library injected directly into his brain.

A vast library was useless if one couldn’t go through its books—Karyl's knowledge had its limits. That was why he had come up with this plan. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't find a better person for the job.

"But be warned, the person mentioned in the note is quite difficult to deal with. Nevertheless, you need to recruit her at all costs.”

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Understood."

"This person will be your mentor."

"...What?" Mikhail looked startled by Karyl's remark.

"Serica Lauren,” Karyl said her name once more, as if to engrave it into Mikhail’s brain. "Bring her back."

Mikhail, who had been reluctant about the journey to the principality, suddenly felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

Knock— Knock—

That was when a soldier's voice echoed from the corridor.

"Sir, Joey Johansel from the Church has arrived."

"Hmm." Karyl nodded at the subordinate's words. "Good. It's time for me to leave."

He had estimated that it would take one month for this plan to be put in motion, but the news had come sooner. He clapped his hands lightly, as if to organize the situation.

"In three months, we'll reconvene here after everything is settled."

Everyone nodded.

Kamma was to handle the principality, Dushala was in charge of the Three Kingdoms, and Karyl himself would soon tackle the most difficult issues, namely the Church and the Empire.

Though their destinations were different, the goal was the same: establishing the invisible empire.

Having taken on the most important challenge in this life, Karyl opened his office door and declared, "When we meet again, much will have changed."