Chapter 48 - Seaport Landium 1 (1/2)

The port city, Landium.

It had a huge marina, packed with merchants that never stopped haggling. A city full of life, with several attractions and interesting places to visit

Lia laughed as she watched the crewmen unload a nearby ship.

“Mom, who are those people?”

“Huh? Oh, they are just sailors.”

Leifina was surprisingly good at raising kids. Although her cooking ability was atrocious, at least she wasn’t hopeless at other wifely duties.

“Wow, there are so many different races.”

Jung Sanghoon exclaimed as he admired the city’s diversity.

It went beyond just the skin color, as some people had very distinct physical features. As such, Woohyuk’s party didn’t even stand out.

“This city’s atmosphere seems to be one of freedom and diversity.”

By paying a tax to the crown, the city could enjoy certain freedoms. Although the law varied from country to country, in this city, if a slave managed to live here for 3 months without being caught, he was deemed to have earned his freedom.

Immigrants would flock to this city. There wasn't any authority that interfered in their everyday lives, so long as they did not infringe on the rights of others.

“What will you be doing now?”

“First, I’ll need to gather some information.”

In the past he hadn’t heard about anything special occurring in Landium.

His starting area had been a remote place in the Arpen kingdom, and it had taken him some time to make his way out.

40 years later he had naturally launched an investigation, but too much time had passed and they didn’t learn much.

“What should we do with these captives?”

“Bring them to the inn.”

Sending them to the labor camps would be the norm, but in such a case he would have to prove his identity, and he would rather keep a low profile.

Because there were so many criminals, their rules were very strict.

Woohyuk made sure his party managed to settle down at an inn, before striking out on his own.

‘Typically, in free cities such as this one the merchants would hold all the power.’

In Landium, Kaliss and Erica were the major powers. Although they had a partnership and ran the city together, they were also rivals.

For some reason, a dispute had arisen between them in the past, which led to a civil war that Kaliss’ side had won.

‘Isaac didn’t reveal everything.’

Even many years after the fact, he had been reluctant to speak publicly about the details that had occurred. No doubt because he had been involved in something shady.

Due to such a reason, he hadn’t been able to get the full picture. It was only later on, through his intelligence agency, that he was able to learn that Edward Teach had been involved.

Woohyuk had entered a tavern and placed his order with the middle-aged bartender.

The bartender took a look at his clothes, before handing him a beer mug and asking.

“You a mercenary?”

“Yes.”

Mercenaries were common in Landium, since there were a lot of opportunities with all the coming and going of merchants.

The bartender gave him a nod.

“It must be your day off.”

“My employer has been playing around in the red light district for the last few days.”

“Then he must be quite rich, since the prices in this city aren’t at all cheap.”

The bartender spoke with countless customers everyday, so he happened to know a lot. Woohyuk had struck up this conversation with him to find out if there was anything of use he could learn.

“Have you noticed an increase in suspicious looking people around here?”

“ Now that you mention it, there are more adventurers than usual which act strangely and have a weird accent.”

Considering the timing, they were most likely players that had just come out of the Canyon Battle and were exploring the city.

Still, he couldn’t jump to any conclusions.

From his past, he knew that it was sometime around now that the civil war had broken out in Landium.

“What about their appearances?”

“All different, some had worn out clothes like sailors, whereas others looked like high nobility, with colorful clothing.”

The problem was that they are all on the same side.

After learning all he could from the bartender, he placed a silver coin on the counter.

“I’d appreciate it if you keep today’s talk between just the two of us.”

Sooner or later someone would come searching for him.

The bartender gulped, then stealthily put the silver coin in his pocket.

He realised that Woohyuk wasn’t your everyday mercenary.

‘Edward Teach has no doubt already had his men infiltrate the city.’

Given the circumstances it felt like a safe assumption to make.

The pirate, better known as Blackbeard, was a cunning strategist that knew how to take advantage of the fear in men’s hearts.

No doubt, he would find a way to be hired by Kaliss or Erica.

As Woohyuk was taking a look around the tavern, an argument broke out among some of the clients.

“You bastard! What did you say?”

“Know your place, who do you think you are raising your voice at me?!”

Brawling in broad daylight.

The bartender glanced over and gave them a stern look.

“Just give it up, aren’t you a mercenary under merchant Erica? Somehow you look so weak. ”

“What are you talking about? Based on the bullshit you spew, you must work for Kaliss! ”

Clearly both factions were not on the friendliest of terms right now.

Ordering himself another beer, Woohyuk continued to listen in on the argument between these two mercenaries.

“Is it wrong? Erica’s faction is led by a young woman, so the mercenaries lack any military discipline.”

“Don’t speak such rubbish. Erica is much wiser than Sebastian, and has a good business sense.”

“Then why were your caravans raided not too long ago? And even by some no name bandits.”

Erica’s merchant caravan had been attacked by bandits and all of the goods were stolen.

Some of their employees had died and contracts were left unfulfilled. It had all been very damaging to their reputation.

“Those weren’t any ordinary bandits! Even our elite mercenaries were helpless before them!”

“Nothing but excuses. We are not afraid of you guys that follow a woman who has never even lifted a sword.”

Unable to retort, the mercenary that worked under Erica had reached his limit, and took a swing at the other guy.

As the fight began, spectators crowded around, betting on who would come out on top.

“Don’t you think blondie over there is the better fighter?”

No, I think I’ll pick the brown haired one.”

It was quite the pathetic showing since they were both rather drunk.

Eventually, the mercenary that served under Erica stumbled into a nearby table, as he attempted to duck an incoming swing.

Wajangchangchang

Food, plates, glasses, everything fell on to the floor.