Chapter 396

Chapter 396
## Chapter 396

An Unknown Threat (2)

Tarak, a sprawling and lively urban center, hummed with the movement of an extensive population.

Amidst the rushing throngs of local residents, a trio composed of one male and two females walked at a relaxed pace, their tranquil demeanor standing out sharply against the frantic energy around them.

“…Just as I anticipated. Stories about the extensive leverage vampires possess in the western territories reached my ears before, but observing it directly is quite another matter.”

Lydia, the High Elf, murmured as her gaze drifted toward a dark side street.

A group of independent fighters, who had been aggressively pressuring a local merchant just moments prior, were currently being hauled into the shadows and receiving a harsh lesson in discipline.

In all likelihood, they would face a steep monetary penalty and be forced to provide blood donations before gaining their release.

Shifting her attention away from the alleyway, she took a bite of her butter-roasted corn, a local food item she appeared to thoroughly relish.

Beneath the concealment of her hood, her emerald tresses, linked to an elemental of the gale, drifted softly.

“This widespread compliance is likely a result of being so close to the Kingdom of Talia, an territory governed by the vampire race. The grand Kingdom Alliance has gained substantial backing from their forces. Furthermore, Tarak serves as the central hub for Hubert’s Trading Company, making it the focal point for mercantile interactions with the vampires.”

Isea offered her own deductions, her azure eyes flashing with arcane power as she observed their surroundings.

She carried a spit of seasoned grilled meat in one hand while balancing a container of an unidentified beverage in the other.

Chomp, chomp—

Gulp, gulp—

Moving in perfect synchronization, the two women consumed the local treats while simultaneously gathering intelligence regarding the municipality.

“…Isea, is that dark fluid truly as delicious as you make it seem? It did not suit my palate at all.”

“It is absolutely magnificent. I deeply regret not acquiring a larger supply during my previous visit. Oh, come to think of it, this is a relatively recent creation, is it not…?”

With an expression of utmost gravity, Isea stared down at the container she held.

The liquid was cola, a specialized item featured on the menu of ‘Dancing with Orcs’, an eating establishment managed by Hubert’s Trading Company, and a renowned delicacy within Tarak.

‘I was aware that Hubert’s Trading Company dealt in commodities originating from Earth… but achieving this level of distribution is truly remarkable. What sort of exceptional capability must that individual possess to manage logistics for these items on such a massive scale?’

She felt a wave of genuine respect for the anonymous Awakened person who was likely orchestrating the entire enterprise.

Naturally, these specific commodities had not yet achieved widespread availability among the public.

The inventory remained strictly capped, individual purchase quotas were enforced, and the financial cost was incredibly steep.

A single modest container of the dark beverage commanded a price equivalent to an extravagant, multi-course feast at a premier dining establishment.

However, such minor financial details meant absolutely nothing to Isea Pristine, the renowned Archmage of the Hero’s Party, a titled Countess within the Azerion Empire, and a trusted companion to Crown Princess Riley.

In fact, given that she was able to savor a luxury from Earth in this incredibly distant realm, she considered it an absolute steal.

‘Ah— This is pure bliss. It has been an incredibly long time since I last tasted cola.’

Letting out a satisfied breath, a joyful grin spread across Isea’s features as she savored the remaining flavor on her lips.

A total of nine years had slipped away since her arrival in the realm of Auterica.

The upcoming year would signify a full decade spent in this world.

To her, this cola—a definitive symbol of Earth—acted as a rejuvenating medicine, restoring her spirits after so many years away from home.

‘I ought to purchase a massive quantity to keep in reserve… yet the daily transaction caps prevent it. I truly wish to cross paths with the creator at some point.’

An individual wielding such a unique talent would undoubtedly occupy a premier position within Hubert’s Trading Company, the most dominant mercantile enterprise across the continent.

Because their true identity would be guarded with absolute secrecy, arranging an encounter would be an immense challenge.

It was entirely possible that Hubert himself was an Awakened individual from Earth.

‘Well, an opportunity is bound to present itself eventually.’

She possessed the option to unmask her true station to demand an audience… but as an active participant in the hero party currently executing a covert investigation of the urban center, she could not simply mingle with local high society.

Then, as she continued to nurse her beverage, consuming it in tiny measurements to prolong the experience, a sudden realization struck her.

“…Heinrich-nim, did you not mention previously that Hubert’s Trading Company maintains a tight alliance with the Main God Church?”

Walking a short distance behind the pair, Heinrich offered a simple shrug.

He had donned a standard set of unadorned plate armor covering him completely to mask his exceptionally radiant presence.

“Indeed, our organizations have been operating in tandem. Furthermore, Harley holds a stake as a co-owner of the enterprise.”

“…His capabilities exceed my initial estimations. Just how many distinct positions and honors does that man hold?”

A vital combatant of the Hero’s Party, the recognized Fighting King commanding the Kalcos Tribal Federation, the reigning Mercenary King of the soldier-of-fortune underworld, and a partial owner of Hubert’s Trading Company, the premier commercial entity on the continent…

Both Isea and Lydia felt a newfound respect for the startling multi-faceted nature of a man they had previously written off as nothing more than a gluttonous, laughter-loving eccentric.

“Regardless, we cannot permit ourselves to place absolute faith in anyone at this juncture. The true motivations of individuals remain entirely unpredictable.”

While her trust in Harley remained intact, she harbored reservations regarding Hubert’s Trading Company as a whole.

The alliance formed between him and Harley had occurred long ago.

Since then, his time had been entirely consumed by global travel alongside the Hero’s Party. It was impossible to verify if his old associate had crossed lines or transformed in the interim.

“To me, the most logical direction of inquiry points toward the vampire race. After all, they were categorized as malicious beasts until quite recently.”

“Mm, that argument holds weight. Prior to the ascension of Heinz, the Vampire King, their thirst for blood was entirely unmanageable. Similarly, the lycanthropes, who shared a comparable reputation, launched an offensive against our Elven Kingdom not long ago and were utterly wiped out.”

Stepping into the relative privacy of a nearby side street, they initiated their strategy talk, deploying a faint concealment field to isolate their voices and shield their deliberations from outside ears.

“Ah! Naturally, I recognize that Heinrich-nim played a decisive role in bringing them into societal acceptance… yet even if the Vampire King has consolidated their factions and steered them into civilized view, flawless governance is impossible. Stray vampires could easily be operating covertly in the darker corners…”

“My suspicions lean heavily toward Hubert’s Trading Company as well. Their authority over this metropolis is absolutely dominant. Should a crisis manifest, they represent the most probable origin point.”

The discussion centered primarily on the vampire population and the actions of Hubert’s Trading Company.

Given that their investigative efforts had barely commenced, this served merely as an initial exchange of theories… yet Heinrich found himself enduring a rather bizarre sense of discomfort.

He was, after all, Heinrich, the revered Saint of the Main God Church, Heinz the Second, the sovereign Vampire King, and simultaneously Hubert, the chief executive of the mercantile empire.

‘…In any case, my intention was to take some time off. I might as well play along with their assumptions. I can always introduce a few corrupted artifacts from the Demon World at a later time to satisfy the narrative.’

Multiple days had already elapsed since their arrival within the boundaries of Tarak.

Having replenished his strength through the enjoyment of local culinary offerings, Heinrich had been assessing the urban center alongside Isea and Lydia, with each operative monitoring a designated sector.

Naturally, their trio did not encompass the entirety of this operation, which had been set into motion by the decree of the Saintess.

The dedicated Inquisitors representing the Main God Church had made a silent entry into Tarak and were currently performing clandestine operations through the city’s underbelly.

However, the progress of their intelligence gathering remained sluggish, severely restricted by the massive concentration of the vampire population residing throughout the city.

The operatives could no longer resort to outright aggression against them, rendering their traditional strategies entirely useless and resulting in systemic paralysis and administrative blockades.

Compounding the issue, they lacked a clear definition of their target, operating only under the vague label of an ‘unknown threat’…

Historically, the Inquisitors had universally categorized the vampire race as mortal foes.

‘…Should I bring an immediate conclusion to this affair? Watching them squander their energy and time on a fruitless search is somewhat pitiable.’

As night began to fall, Heinrich sought out an isolated location and immersed himself in contemplation.

If the Saintess had truly detected an anomaly, it undoubtedly signified a genuine peril… but he was reluctant to sacrifice a highly precious relic to resolve the situation.

‘Well, a permanent fixture isn’t strictly necessary. I could simply infuse a temporary item with Hella’s divine arcane force to sustain it for a handful of days… ’

Right at that moment,

-“Saint-nim! The target has been located!”

…Lydia’s voice, sharp with immediacy and laced with panic, resonated within his consciousness.

-“The responsibility lies with the vampires! And Hubert’s Trading Company is involved…!”

The magical transmission collapsed into silence before her sentence could reach its conclusion.

‘The vampire race? And Hubert’s Trading Company?’

Heinrich’s brow furrowed in deep concern.

Simultaneously, Heinz the Second and Hubert, situated in entirely distinct sectors of the world, mirrored the exact same expression of alarm.

“Mula Brokoslak, launch an immediate assessment of the current events within Tarak and convey a direct briefing without delay.”

“All protective details, elevate to maximum defensive posture! Converge on the primary corporate facility! Initiate contact with every operational sector within Tarak and verify their current conditions!”

The temporary state of bewilderment dissolved instantly as they moved into active responses.

He was far from the only one mobilizing.

A sudden flash of brilliance erupted—

「Grand Blessing: Wings of Radiance」.

A pair of titanic wings composed of pure illumination, pouring forth a majestic, sacred resonance, manifested from Heinrich’s shoulders, shattering the common protective armor he wore.

A powerful stroke of the wings followed—Whoosh!

With a single explosive movement of his celestial pinions, he shot upward into the heavens.

Positioned far above the urban landscape, his amber eyes, flashing with the piercing intensity of an apex hunter, swept across the grid of paths below.

‘…In which sector are you located?’

The disturbance was not centered at the primary corporate facility of Hubert’s Trading Company.

He was currently receiving instantaneous status reports from Hubert, who remained physically present at that location.

His heightened perceptive faculties, supercharged by his holy alignment, scrutinized the entire metropolis, capturing every micro-detail and organizing the terrain data cleanly within his consciousness.

‘…A member of the vampire race, intertwined with Hubert’s Trading Company.’

His internal deductions proceeded at a frantic pace, his mind navigating a maze of possibilities.

He had never anticipated that the vampire collective would prove to be the source of the complication.

And to occur within Tarak, of all locations!

It represented an incredibly embarrassing failure of oversight on his part.

‘The analysis of my errors can wait for a later hour. My immediate priority is resolving this crisis.’

His cognitive processes accelerated exponentially, causing the movement of the external world to slow to a crawl… yet he could not squander even a fraction of a second.

Lydia Granwood held the rank of the second most powerful High Elf within the borders of the Elven Kingdom, standing on the precipice of becoming a transcendent being.

The reality that her communication link had been shattered by external force was an incredibly alarming indicator.

‘Just a moment more… ’

Fortunately for him,

…he possessed a specific technique designed precisely for tracking scenarios of this nature.

「Monarch’s Authority」, an inherent asset that granted him the capability to oversee the current health and status of his pledged followers.

While Lydia did not technically fall under the classification of a subordinate, being a peer and ally, he maintained an extensive network of actual vassals stationed throughout Tarak.

-Hubert’s Trading Company – Tarak Headquarters

He executed a rapid diagnostic of their operational statuses, linking his consciousness directly with his alternative physical manifestations.

‘…Pinpointed!’

At last, his search yielded a definitive result.

└Status: Peril (Extremely Critical State)

└Status: Hysteria, Terror

└Status: Deprived of Consciousness

└…

A cascade of system alerts manifested, rendering it undeniable that they were facing an existential crisis.

Furthermore, the geographical data provided was highly alarming.

└Location: Tulc Kingdom, County of Aonia, Tarak ??? ?? [View Detailed Coordinates]

The appearance of unreadable symbols indicated a spatial overlap, pointing directly toward a concealed pocket dimension.

‘…That is the destination!’

His celestial wings of radiance erupted with blinding intensity.

Then, transforming into a streak of light akin to a celestial body tearing through the night sky, he initiated a rapid descent.

Though he lacked the precise dimensional markers, the general physical location was entirely clear to him.

After all—,

└Name: Miropa (Under the Benefaction of Hubert’s Trading Company)

└Name: Aaron (Under the Benefaction of Hubert’s Trading Company)

└Name: Lafi (Under the Benefaction of Hubert’s Trading Company)

└…

…the identities of the individuals caught in the crisis were deeply familiar to him.

In fact, one specific name belonged to a person he interacted with on a daily basis.

└Name: Diana (Personal Assistant to Hubert)

A young woman who had arguably inherited the most unfortunate destiny within the entire realm of Auterica.

A mortal who had finally secured a glimmer of optimism following a lifetime defined by tragedy.

With features frozen in absolute severity, Heinrich drew his holy blade, a titanic beam of condensed light projecting outward from the metal tip as he plummeted toward a residential block reserved for the personnel of Hubert’s Trading Company.

He activated 「Spatial Slash」, cleaving through the structural fabric of reality along his path of descent.

Swish—

Cutting a path from the heavens straight to the earth,

…every element occupying that space was cleanly parted.

The atmosphere, the ambient noise, the light filtration…

…and the fragile energetic boundary that functioned to isolate this minor, hidden pocket dimension from the mundane world outside.

Kaboom—!

The localized reality shattered entirely,

…and the mundane, peaceful environment of the outer world was instantly replaced by a scene of absolute chaos.

An aged woman adorned with mystical body markings lay sprawled on the earth, coughing up crimson fluids, cradling an insensible young girl protectively in her arms, while a young boy stood nearby, his face drained of color and tracked with tears, alongside a gathering of local inhabitants clustered together, their frames wracked with tremors.

“Saint-nim!”

Lydia, who had been locked in a tense standoff with an adversary, let out a cry, her tone radiating immense comfort.

She had not dared to hope that his arrival would be so instantaneous.

Making contact with the solid ground, Heinrich slowly straightened his posture.

His majestic wings of radiance spread wide, casting a warm illumination over the wounded individuals, releasing a wave of energy that immediately began to soothe and mend their injuries.

‘…So that is the instigator.’

The holy champion directed a piercing, unwavering glare toward the individual responsible for orchestrating this devastation.

A young male child, scarcely past his initial decade of life, had his expressions twisted into a bitter mask of irritation as he stood over the form of the unconscious young girl.

That particular visage was one he recognized.

Not from a previous face-to-face encounter, but from an official bounty publication.

“I have located your position. Temiran McCleary.”

“Tsk! What in the world?! This situation is spinning completely out of control! Now an actual Saint decides to show up?!”

The youthful vampire, Temiran McCleary, spat out his complaints, his chosen vocabulary displaying a jarring level of vulgarity for someone of his apparent maturity.

He was the offspring of Kayla McCleary, the individual who had formerly held the title of Vice President within the Zepia Republic before vanishing from all records more than two decades ago.

Furthermore, he held the rank of the second chosen apostle of the dark deity bound within the depths of the void.