Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 423

423. Transaction (1)

The carriage that Seongjin and his party rode ran non-stop since dawn, reaching a ruined village around noon. Perhaps this is the ‘Verdron’ mentioned by the coachmen.

“… “It doesn’t seem like a properly inhabited place.”

Masain said with concern as he looked at the desolate village landscape.

There were certainly no buildings left intact in the surrounding area. Broken bricks are piled up on roofless houses, and broken oak barrels are rolling around on weedy streets.

Only the vast scale of the ruins gives us an idea of ​​the prosperity and glory this place once had.

“Imperial people don’t know. The alcohol made in this town was so amazing… … .”

The coachman, who had remained silent until now, exhaled a puff of tobacco smoke and muttered.

The wagon she drove ran through the ruins and finally stopped in front of a large barn. Fortunately, it was the only building in the village that still had what could be called a roof.

Creak.

When I opened the crumbling door and went inside, I saw an elderly man standing under the sunlight that was barely seeping through the sparse roof.

“It is truly an honor that a precious person personally uses the Jayu Underpass.”

A polite greeting with a sociable smile.

Seongjin could sense that he was the one who ordered this entire journey. Just by looking at it, I could feel the majesty of being able to eat it anywhere.

Looking at his graying hair, the long scar across his cheek, and his rough, wrinkled skin, I thought he had gone through some pretty tough times.

Nevertheless, he had a somewhat light atmosphere that contrasted with his appearance. Although his clothes were neat, he looked free-spirited, and his bright eyes sparkled with a cheerful spirit that did not suit his age.

And he introduced himself to Seongjin and his group as the ‘general manager of the Freedom Underpass’ and the ‘head of the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front.’

“My name is Giovanni. “It’s nice to meet you here.”

alias.

Seongjin, who somehow had this thought, looked for signs of assassins lurking around him without much response.

‘Four, five… No, six in total?’

An unfamiliar sign of ‘Auror Concealment’ surrounding the barn.

Dasha doesn’t even make a faint trace, as if she doesn’t even dare to come near her.

“Lowering… … .”

With the assassins concentrated in one place, Owen and Martha could not have been unaware of their presence. The two people stood next to Seongjin, very nervous.

“I guess the atmosphere is a bit strange. What are you going to do now? new… Mores.”

After briefly giving a glance to Owen, who was whispering as if anxious, Seongjin looked at Giovanni, who had a rather relaxed attitude.

‘With this level of preparation, did you expect that you would be able to protect yourself enough in case of an emergency?’

Unfortunately, he made the mistake of not taking Seongjin’s power into account. Of course, if the conversation ends well, you will never realize your mistake.

“General manager? stripe? “You?”

Seongjin, who did not feel any need for introduction, asked Giovanni.

Of course, he also didn’t seem to particularly expect a self-introduction from Seongjin. This probably means that they already know their identities and have no intention of hiding it at all.

“yes. That’s right.”

“No matter how ‘special delivery’ it is, I didn’t expect the person in charge of the Jayu Underpass to come to meet me.”

Then Giovanni gently curled his mouth and smiled quite favorably.

“When you visited the entrance to the Freedom Underpass, one of my talented subordinates happened to be there inspecting it. I also happened to be in this area. Thanks to you, this event was miraculously accomplished. “I can only say that we were both lucky.”

At that moment, the image of a woman passed through Seongjin’s mind. She was a small woman who took over the ‘baggage’ from the gatekeeper and led them to the hay wagon without saying a word.

Could it be her? The author’s subordinate?

“… Honestly, I didn’t expect it. “I’m a little embarrassed because my plans are so different.”

“I apologize for that. Well, whatever the process was, what does it matter now? “It’s important that we turn this chance meeting into something more meaningful.”

“… … ,”

As expected, he is someone who gives off a strange feeling.

Just looking at the outside, you can feel the ravages of time, but his words and actions are like those of a young man, and his voice is as clean as a young man. There is a strange elegance to his behavior that doesn’t match his shabby outfit.

“If you are in charge, is this the headquarters of the Freedom Underpass?”

“It would be a bit unfair to call it a headquarters. Freedom Underpass is not an organization focused on one specific location. “It is nothing more than a loose web that immature people who dream of freedom of thought have voluntarily helped each other and woven little by little.”

“Still, there is a hierarchy, so there must be people in charge like you.”

“haha. Although I am the general manager, my job is insignificant. “It’s just about coordinating external forces and organizations or taking care of financing.”

… Isn’t that the real power of the organization? Why is this kid pretending to be nothing?

Perhaps noticing Seongjin’s grim expression, he awkwardly added an explanation.

“But I have to admit that this is one of the quite important bases in the Freedom Underpass. There are good roads in all directions. Do you know that Verdron was once the largest brewing village in Ortona?”

“That’s a fact I didn’t know.”

Seongjin answered roughly and thought for a moment.

Do you really want to go on about the fallen brewery and say it’s all the Empire’s fault?

‘He uses impeccable imperial language, but the author is probably Ortonain.’

Giovanni has already guessed the identity of the group, and refers to Seongjin as a ‘precious person’. Nevertheless, he insists on using the title ‘you’ rather than an honorific title.

then-

‘He may have been on the side of the Republic during the Ortona Civil War, or he may have a deep antipathy towards the Empire even if he doesn’t show it.’

Nevertheless, he went to the front of Seong Jin in person, going so far as to reveal his relationship with the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front. In other words, the author has a clear business with Seongjin right now, and it is most likely related to the ‘Blue Republican Revolutionary Front.’

‘Well, let’s hear it from myself.’

Seongjin decided not to waste any more time.

“Enough small talk, let’s get to the point, Giovanni. “There must be a reason why you brought us here right away, right?”

“Yes, it is.”

Giovanni stopped laughing and nodded seriously.

“I won’t talk around it. “I want to know the purpose of someone like you visiting this free underpass that only those who have been abandoned by the Empire visit.”

“why? “If you knew, would you help me?”

“To avoid organizational chaos, depending on the purpose… … .”

“Then I will gladly accept the help. We are trying to apprehend Giacomo Milo, who has been hiding here. Other than that, there is no other reason, and I have no intention of interfering with the operation of the Freedom Underpass. “You probably already guessed it, right?”

“… … .”

Giovanni looked a little shaken. I guess I didn’t expect Seongjin to come out so bluntly without even the slightest investigation.

“More than that, what I’m curious about from you is something a little different. Why did you tell us that you were the leader of the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front? “What does that have to do with this?”

“It didn’t mean anything. I just mentioned this in advance because the activities of the two organizations can never be separated. As you may have guessed, most of the members of the Freedom Underpass are members of the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front. In the first place, the origin of the Freedom Underpass was to help those who sought refuge in the Republic in pursuit of freedom of thought… … .”

When Seongjin glared harshly at him without answering, he eventually sighed softly.

“okay. Let me be honest. In fact, it would be more correct to say that I am now standing here as the ‘head of the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front.’”

Blue Republican Revolutionary Front. A transfer group that Seongjin has been supporting for several years with funds from an unknown source and in a way that he is not aware of.

Dasha started investigating a long time ago, but found nothing concrete so far, so she thought it was strange. It turned out that they were a group that mainly operated secretly in the northern part of the country through the Freedom Underpass.

“So, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a long time. “How on earth did you know about our organization and decide to donate such a large amount of money?”

Until a few years ago, the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front was a very small organization.

Although they were reaching out to the imperial capital to recruit members and raise funds, it was not easy for them to survive in the imperial capital where all kinds of subversive organizations were already operating in secret.

But a few years ago, large sums of money suddenly started coming in without any conditions. Based on these funds, the Blue Republican Revolutionary Front gradually restored the network of free underground passages and was eventually reborn as a strong organization capable of dealing directly with the Church of Penitence.

‘hmm. I thought they were the ones destroying the North along with the Penitent Church, so I tried to kill them all when I had the chance… … .’

Ironically, the support money sponsored by Seongjin, or Mores, was the cause of the revitalization of the Jayu Underpass.

“At first, I thought it was just a coincidence that you decided to support our organization. Even after the fall of the country, people who missed Ortona’s ideas and innovations created organizations that followed them.”

Among young people in the capital, investing in or supporting these organizations is sometimes considered a kind of romance.

So, even if an immature prince jumped on that bandwagon, it wouldn’t be considered too strange.

“But as I’ve been watching your recent actions, I’ve come to think that it wasn’t just a coincidence that you chose our organization.”

“Recent actions?”

“Bertrand & Lee.”

At that moment, Giovanni’s eyes took on an unusually sharp glow.

“Most people think that the top is nothing more than the business affairs of a wealthy prince. But anyone who knows anything about commerce would definitely have realized this. “All the projects you are conducting are actually aimed at encouraging refugees to settle down.”

Giovanni, who had said that much, asked again with a slightly serious expression.

“That’s exactly what I want to know. Aren’t you the prince of the empire? But why would you help people who have nothing to do with it?”

But Seongjin did not answer his question. This is because for a moment, Giovanni was distracted by the strange sense of discomfort he was showing.

“Let me ask you one thing too. So, are you saying that you don’t really like where we are right now? Rather than harming the organization you run, I think you are on the same page. “It’s definitely going to be a big help to refugees, right?”

“I don’t mean I don’t like it. Everything you do has a huge impact throughout Ortona. So, I must first know your intentions clearly-”

“No, that’s not it.”

Seongjin shook his head and interrupted Giovanni.

“You’ve been angry with me since a while ago. “Why on earth?”

“… yes?”

Giovanni asked in confusion. But when Seongjin spoke next, the expression completely disappeared from his face.

“Bertrand & Lee.”

“… … !”

“As soon as the story about our boss came out, your mood suddenly worsened. it is not so?”

Language is only the surface.

The tone of voice of the person saying that, the direction of gaze, the subtle facial expressions that appear for a moment and then disappear in an instant, and even the slightly agitated movements of the auror.

For Seongjin, who has an extremely sensitive sense of energy, no one can completely hide his true feelings that are revealed unconsciously. Especially in the case of ordinary people like Giovanni who have not entered Auror training.

“It’s better not to try to hide it. “It’s all visible on your face.”

At Seongjin’s point, Giovanni was silent for a moment.

“… There was definitely that problem too. Yes, it is.”

After some silence passed.

Finally, Giovanni opened his mouth, and for a moment, a fierce hostility that had been hidden deep in his subconscious flashed in Giovanni’s eyes.

“Actually, that’s what I was most curious about about you. “The business you run, why is its name [Bertrán]?”

* * *

Bertran is not a very rare surname on the continent. Did you say that the same castle exists in Brittany and southern Anatolia?

For example, we can choose Alain Bertrand, a famous actor from Brittany. It is said that he, who enjoyed great popularity in the Imperial Capital hundreds of years ago, built a large theater on one side of the Imperial Capital in his later years. And the name of the street where he mainly worked became Bertrand Street.

However, when it comes to the most famous Bertran on the continent, we have no choice but to choose him. The last sword of the East, General Gael Bertran.

Fortunately, Seongjin had something to say about that.

“That’s because our Logan is a big fan of General Bertran.”

“… yes?”

It seems like it was an unexpected answer. Giovanni’s expressionless expression cracks, and a look of embarrassment is revealed.

“As you know, the top representative of Bertran & Lee is Logan. But Logan considers General Gael Bertran his idol.”

“… … .”

“In fact, the reason our merchants are carrying out the Ortona economic revival project is because of him. “He’s completely crazy about Ortona.”

“… … .”

“Are you sure?”

Seongjin was confident. No matter what anyone said, he had the means to completely prove what he said.

“Logan really knows nothing about General Gael Bertrand. His family relationships, his relationships, his childhood… . “You even know what he liked for late-night snacks when he was alive, right?”

Where is that? He is also proficient in the Ortona language, and he uses Auror exercises and sword techniques only in the Ortona style. And he wields Gael Bertran’s beloved sword as skillfully as Gael Bertran.

If this guy isn’t a big fan of the general, then what’s the point?

“If I get the chance, I hope to be able to create a place with Logan with you someday. From the looks of it, you also greatly admire General Gael Bertran, and perhaps when you two meet, you can spend a very meaningful time talking about the same interests.”

For some reason, I can feel Owen and Masaine’s shocked looks in the back of my head.

what? why? what?

Oh, is it true? If you don’t believe me, you can ask Logan directly later!

fantasy,