Chapter 39 Part1 (1/2)

<chapter 39.=”” new=”” party=”” member=”” -=”” 1=””>

”1,500 bottles of Kerr Century label red wine? How's that even possible? After the last ma.s.s release, there were only a few dozen bottles found across the Empire.”

News of the auction spread quickly. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo would've considered it a success if news of the auction had spread to the hundreds of thousands of people in Kuroa's Glory, but he had miscalculated.

Was it due to the Sun G.o.d religion's help? In just two days, the lord and all the n.o.bles had become aware of the auction, and by the fourth day, news of the auction had spread to the nearby cities.

”But the master sommeliers already took a look at them. Moreover, the Sun G.o.d religion is backing it, so there's no way they'd lie.”

”The Sun G.o.d religion is really particular about their wine due to the pope. If they're willing to sponsor this auction, then... Wait a sec. They're transporting 1,500 bottles of wine and are backed by the Sun G.o.d religion. Who exactly are they?”

”Lawrence. I've never heard of him before, but it seems like he's quite skilled.”

”Hmm. He's probably being manipulated by the Sun G.o.d religion, rather than being skilled. If the auction goes well for them, then the other religions will feel uneasy.”

Kerr Century Wine had a lot more influence on the surface than Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had expected. Rumors had spread far and wide across the Magic Empire through the use of nimble-footed merchants and a communication line. At the same time, people quickly became aware of Lawrence, the Sun G.o.d religion, and the hero Kay as well.

”Don't be surprised by what I say next. I hear that the Kerr Century that they're selling... was created after the fall of the Underground Empire.”

”Wait, that means...”

”It means the Sun G.o.d religion has procured a Kerr Century Winery! But how?”

In the official announcement, Lawrence had procured the Kerr Century Winery's facilities and techniques, but the rumors were misrepresenting the facts.

They thought that, perhaps, the Sun G.o.d religion had access to the Underground Empire and that the Underground Empire may not have fallen. Most snorted at these rumors, but there were some who actually took the news to heart.

It was nothing more than suspicion without a shred of evidence, but because of this distortion of the facts, it practically guaranteed that the rumors would spread even further, causing the high ranking officials to take action. Not only that, but the other religions became curious... Ultimately, the size of the auction, as well as the partic.i.p.ants had swelled to an enormous size.

”I did want the high ranking officials to take notice of me, but if this goes on, playing a dual role may become impossible for me.”

'Can't you just leave it to the merchants you signed a contract with? You planned on using them as your proxy from the start.'

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo anguished, but then, he heard Jin's voice through the a.s.similation skill. Though he was tied outside of his lodgings, his voice could still be relayed through the a.s.similation skill.

”A proxy, huh... They're too weak.”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo pondered seriously. Of course, Lawrence could easily pull back for safety reasons and use the merchants as his proxy, but he wasn't sure whether he could find people he could trust enough to talk in his place.

'How about asking the Sun G.o.d religion?'

”I can't let them take over anymore. No matter what others think, we have to take the reins. So...”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo briefly thought about it and soon made a decision. He'd already considered this before. It would be such a waste to not use the Heaven Door's Key. Couldn't he just bring a trustworthy human to the surface?

'A human you can trust... Kratia?'

”Kratia would be really happy, but she's in the middle of special training with Prince, so she can't leave. I'd rather not bother her right now.”

Although they were acting separately now, he contacted her once every week. He had left the Huginn's Eye to her, and she was simultaneously studying magic and the artifact.

'Ah, that's right. Then who? ...You're not going to ask Retadane, are you?'

”Why would she even come up? You never know when she'll blow.”

'It looked like you guys really got along.'

Why was this happening? For the past few days Jin seemed to be in a good mood, yet his voice was turning melancholy again. Did he hate Retadane or something? Lee s.h.i.+n Woo tilted his head and refuted him.

”No way. There are only two choices for her. I either reform her and use her as an ally, or I take her out before something goes wrong. The whole reason I even talked to her was because of that decision.”

'Really...?'

”Yeah, so don't worry about her too much. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to get closer to that psychopath though...”

'Then it's fine.'

Jin replied as though a burden had been lifted. It seemed like he'd misunderstood, thinking that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo actually trusted Retadane. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt relieved, and Jin took that time to ask another question.

'Wait a sec. So who are you going to pick then? You wouldn't pick Lloyd.'

”There's only one person that'll work. Ye Jin Jin.”

'Ah, that's right. Jin Jin. Yeah, she'd be fine.'

Jin must've completely forgotten about her, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo acted like he didn't notice.

”It's easy to deal with Ye Jin Jin. She trusts anything I say, and she knows about our ident.i.ties, so we don't need to hide anything from her.”

'Remember. You shouldn't say that a woman is 'easy to deal with'. Don't treat her pure love and faith in you as a tool.'

”M-My bad.”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo politely apologized in response to Jin's sound reb.u.t.tal and requested a private chat with Ye Jin Jin. If she wasn't fighting or sleeping, then she would immediately...

[Ye Jin Jin: Yes, Mr. s.h.i.+n Woo!?]

”Fast...”

[Ye Jin Jin: Your voice is still so cool!]

Yeah, that's why he didn't want to contact her first. She'd definitely met him when he was a skeleton, so he couldn't understand why she liked him more and more. Maybe she was romanticizing Lee s.h.i.+n Woo in her imagination more and more, so her feelings had grown. Well, that's what he a.s.sumed at least.

Her feelings were so clear that even Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who was no expert in relations.h.i.+ps, could tell how she felt about him. However, those feelings were incredibly burdensome to him, as he felt no s.e.xual desire. A part of him was uneasy at the thought of meeting her, and the other part hoped she would snap out of it when they actually met again.