Translator: AnubisTL
The sun blazed overhead, its rays striking the earth vertically.
The Estonian Great River flowed like molten silver, each cresting wave scattering golden sparks. Pine forests lined both banks, their shadows barely touching the water's edge before being swallowed by the shimmering reflections.
A merchant ship glided along the river, leaving a long, white wake in its path.
Its hull wasn't made of ordinary wood but of alchemically treated black ironwood, as sturdy as steel yet buoyant enough to float. Faint runes were etched across its surface, and heavy cannons and crossbows bristled along its sides and stern.
On deck, Nick leaned against the railing, his arm resting on the protective rune-carved barrier. His gaze followed the dancing sunlight on the water's surface.
The treasure ship—this vessel was his.
When Nick received news of the Ironforged Clan's migration, he was initially stunned, but he quickly sprang into action.
He poured nearly all his savings into acquiring a decommissioned warship, then refitted it into a merchant vessel. After recruiting sailors and crew, he navigated bureaucratic channels to secure the necessary permits for trade along the Estonian Great River.
From the land-based Thousand Serpents' Trace trade route, he had now shifted to the Estonian Great River.
This was undoubtedly a gamble, but it was also a new beginning. The treasure ship's cargo capacity far exceeded that of his previous caravans. If trade went smoothly, each round trip could yield several times the profits he had earned before.
Before long, he could recoup his entire investment, and this single merchant ship had the potential to grow into a fleet.
"What are you thinking about?" Maggie's voice came from behind him, carrying the characteristic cool detachment of a tiefling.
She handed him a glass of chilled mint wine.
Nick took a sip, savoring the refreshing taste. "The future," he replied, "our future."
By now, he knew exactly who his true masters were: dragons.
And not just one.
The juvenile dragons had killed nobles in the Duchy of Raymond, stormed the mine camp, and seized the celestial pool gems. These incidents had caused quite a stir, naturally reaching Nick's ears.
But instead of panicking, he felt a surge of excitement.
Building his own merchant guild, one comparable in scale to the Emerald Merchant Guild, had been Nick's lifelong dream.
Even at the peak of his career, that dream had seemed impossibly distant. But now, Nick sensed a glimmer of opportunity. His heart, which had grown sluggish with age, now pounded with youthful fervor.
Though Nick had never met the leader of the Ironforged Clan, he had observed their behind-the-scenes manipulations and concluded that this was an exceptionally intelligent and cautious member of dragonkind. Once fully matured, their potential would be limitless, and their ability to stir up turmoil in the Duchy of Raymond already hinted at their rising prominence.
By aligning himself with such a dragon, Nick saw an opportunity to reach heights he had never dared to imagine before.
Of course, opportunity came with risk, and the path ahead would not be smooth. But Nick had carefully calculated that the rewards of following this dragon far outweighed the dangers.
The treasure ship continued its journey under the scorching sun.
During the voyage, they encountered an underwater demonic beast, but the ship's guards and its own armaments swiftly neutralized the threat, allowing them to pass through the encounter unscathed.
As time passed, the treasure ship veered into a northern tributary.
Roughly an hour later, as twilight deepened, the treasure ship, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, dropped anchor and moored alongside the riverbank.
Cole directed the troll slaves in unloading cargo from the hold, meticulously checking each crate against the manifest.
Night gradually fell.
Clop-clop-clop—the rhythmic sound of hooves striking the hard-packed earth of the Borderlands grew louder.
A group of centaurs, each standing over three meters tall, emerged from the darkness, their strides powerful and steady as they approached.
Having communicated in advance via message stone, Nick wasn't surprised by the centaurs' arrival. Deep down, he was pleased by the juvenile dragon's caution.
The Ironforged Clan and the juvenile dragons were currently wanted fugitives.
Their monstrous followers, especially ogres and werewolves, were under close surveillance. Although the territory north of the Estonian Great River fell outside the wilderness garrison's jurisdiction, it was always wise to exercise caution.
Centaurs were not creatures of evil alignment.
With human-like upper bodies and intelligence rivaling that of humans, they possessed a temperament that was neither violent nor bloodthirsty, making them more readily accepted by the civilized nations of the Lothurn Federation.
Furthermore, the fact that the juvenile dragon had regrouped so quickly after migrating to his new territory just months ago, and had even recruited centaurs as his chosen, spoke volumes about his strength and wisdom.
Creatures like centaurs would rather die than submit to brute force. To have subdued them demonstrated the juvenile dragon's exceptional power and intellect.
Signaling his guards to remain calm, Nick's face broke into a warm, welcoming smile.
He stepped forward and executed a standard merchant's bow toward the centaurs.
"A small token of respect, though it hardly conveys my true regard."
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze settling on the Silvermane Centaur leading the group. The centaur's muscular physique stood like a sculpture under the moonlight, his silver mane rippling in the night breeze with a fluid, shimmering luster.
Nick presented a bottle of juniper gin with both hands. The amber liquid swirled gently inside, refracting a honey-like glow.
"This is a thirty-year-aged brew handcrafted by the dwarves of the Blackrock Principality, highly prized by nobles," he said, pausing deliberately to meet the centaur's sincere gaze. "Esteemed and valiant Centaur, may I ask your name?"
Silvermane chuckled deeply.
He accepted the bottle. "Call me Zachary."
With practiced ease, he secured the bottle to the ivory-inlaid leather belt at his waist, then drew a bone dagger from his tunic.
"A gift in return," Silvermane said, his voice carrying the centaur's characteristic resonance. "This dagger is carved from the tusk of a mammoth. The cloud patterns etched into it carry our clan's blessings for travelers, said to bring good fortune."
A flicker of surprise crossed Nick's eyes, quickly replaced by a radiant smile.
He accepted the bone dagger with both hands, his fingertips tracing the intricate patterns on the ivory. He tucked it into his tunic.
Unlike the cold, aloof werewolf sorcerer they had encountered earlier, this centaur was clearly more diplomatic.
In truth, as the hunting commander of the White Mane Clan, Silvermane was no stranger to dealing with merchant ships plying the Estonian Great River. He understood how to make both parties feel at ease during negotiations and possessed a natural talent for social interaction.
To anger the iron dragon and then earn its forgiveness was a testament to Silvermane's "wisdom."
After the initial pleasantries, the formal trade negotiations began.
The ship's crew swiftly unloaded the cargo.
Barrels of viscous black oil energy were carefully moved and stacked into small mountains.
Boxes of exquisite pastries and fine wines were placed together, their sweet caramel aromas mingling with the spicy fragrance of liquor in the night breeze. Precious alchemy tools were neatly arranged, their surfaces gleaming with iridescent hues under the moonlight.
The centaurs brought specialties from the Borderlands.
Heavy gray magnetite ore, its surface marked with natural spiral patterns, was packed into woven rattan baskets. Tanned hides of ferocious beasts were soft and thick, while their claws and fangs were sorted and bundled, their sharp edges still faintly tinged with the metallic tang of blood.
The most striking item was a chest.
When opened, celestial pool gems refracted azure light under the torchlight, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
These magic gems must have been plundered from the Duchy of Raymond's mine camp, Nick mused silently, his expression remaining impassive.
Though their origin was questionable, he had plenty of ways to sell them. It wouldn't be a problem.
While their subordinates tallied the goods, Nick and Silvermane engaged in casual conversation.
Silvermane expressed curiosity about life and culture beyond the Borderlands, particularly in the Southern Kingdoms. Nick patiently described the customs of the Lothurn Federation.
Both parties were articulate and knew how to maintain proper boundaries, and their relationship had grown considerably closer through their exchanges.
By the time the moon had begun its descent in the west, all the goods had been exchanged.
Nick lowered his voice, his tone a mix of anticipation and nervousness. "Zachary, besides the official trade, did he have any other instructions?"
Silvermane grinned, nodding slightly.
"Have your men stay put."
"Come with me."
Nick's smile widened at these words.
He instructed the crew of the treasure ship to remain anchored and wait, then approached the centaurs again. At Silvermane's signal, he awkwardly climbed onto the back of a centaur warrior and set off toward the northern Borderlands.
The centaurs moved with astonishing speed.
Despite carrying heavy loads, their hooves pounded the ground, leaving deep, uneven tracks. Even under the cover of night, they raced like the wind, their massive, muscular bodies combining strength and speed. However, comfort was not part of the equation.
Nick had no experience riding horses.
The relentless jostling turned his face pale, his internal organs feeling like they were churning inside him, and the landscape blurred into indistinct patches of color.
Without reins to hold onto, he had no choice but to brazenly cling to the muscular torso of the male centaur warrior, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist to avoid falling off.
(End of the Chapter)
------------------------------------------------------
- Read ahead up to Ch290 (DRAGON) on AnubisTL; free chapters up to Ch192.
- No sign-up required. Find CinderTL via Google search.
🎁 2nd Anniversary Grand Giveaway. 26 Slots. Details on the Site. ❗JOIN NOW❗
------------------------------------------------------