The increased presence of Southern Warriors in Drakal wasn't a coincidence. With the wounds inflicted by Valteon, a member of the Oath of Heaven's Defiance, nearly healed, they needed to expand their horizons beyond the Southern Tribes. The Northern Mountains expedition, led by the Priestly Order, was also approaching.
The Calcos Tribal Federation, long isolated, needed to gather information about the outside world, and Drakal, a hub of trade and information, was the perfect location.
'I should visit the Southern Tribes again.'
Harley scratched his head, thinking of Morna, the High Shaman, and Misty, who were likely busy in his absence. He had been preoccupied with Ganghwange. And as the Fighting King, his role was mostly symbolic, his skills limited to destruction.
'Well, they'll be fine. They're all competent.'
His duty was to support and trust them. A good leader delegated tasks effectively.
He checked the Calcos Tribal Federation's status through 「Monarch's Authority」, nodding in satisfaction. Everything seemed to be in order, thanks to his capable subordinates.
'Management should be left to professionals. I would only make things more complicated.'
He had gathered talented individuals and entrusted them with the organization's management for a reason. He hadn't even finished high school; what did he know about running an organization? It was much easier to simply monitor their progress.
'And I have other things to attend to. They said the preparations are complete, right?'
He strode through the pristine corridor, heading towards another one of his… assets. He had received word that a long-awaited project was finally finished.
He barged into a neat, organized office without knocking.
"Hmm? Ah! Welcome, Harley."
Patrick, the Guildmaster of the Mercenary Guild, stood up, greeting him with a cheerful smile, despite his tired appearance and dark circles under his eyes.
'…Excellent.'
Harley was pleased to see his subordinate's dedication, working himself to exhaustion for the organization's success. Such a diligent and self-sacrificing… asset. Appointing him, despite him being an Earthling, had been the right decision.
"I've been waiting for you. Perfect timing."
Patrick continued, explaining that the preparations for a task that had been postponed due to Harley's lack of connections within the Mercenary Guild were finally complete.
"Oh! Good work, Patrick! You look exhausted. You haven't been getting enough sleep?"
"Ha… Haha… Yes, well… a little…"
"You haven't been eating properly either? That won't do! A man needs his meat. Let me treat you to a celebratory feast! Ehahaha!"
Offering to buy someone a meal was a significant gesture of goodwill for Harley. It meant sharing his precious meat.
Patrick forced a smile, swaying slightly under Harley's friendly pats on the back.
'I just want to rest…'
He swallowed his words.
Some time later, the mercenary guilds across the continent announced the ascension of a new Mercenary King. The one who would carry on the legacy of the First Mercenary King and lead the fight against the Immortal King.
***
Thanks to Patrick's efforts, there was no opposition to Harley's appointment as Mercenary King. The symbolic position couldn't remain vacant with a major war looming.
While most guild executives hoped he would die fighting the Immortal King, they maintained a facade of support.
"Congratulations, Harley."
"We look forward to serving you!"
"Haha, I knew it. Who else could be our king?"
The title was largely symbolic, so the inauguration ceremony was a small affair. A festival was declared in Drakal, food and drinks were provided, and a small banquet was held for the executives and distinguished guests. Even that would have been skipped if not for Patrick's insistence. Harley found such formalities tedious and bothersome.
He ate his meat, casually acknowledging the guests who came to greet him, while surveying the banquet hall.
'Well, since I'm here, I might as well make the most of it.'
He had awarded the supply contract for Drakal to the Hubert Company. It wasn't a secret that he had a close relationship with Hubert, the company's representative, since his time in Tarak.
It was practically an abuse of power, but such practices were commonplace in this world.
'Connections and lobbying are valuable skills. And I'm technically a co-owner of the Hubert Company.'
This extended the Hubert Company's reach from Tarak in the northwest to Drakal in the southeast. They had already monopolized the markets of the Talia Kingdom and the Kingdom Alliance in the west, secured exclusive contracts with the Southern Tribes, and were expanding rapidly in both the Empire and the Republic.
"…This beverage is… quite unique. A refreshing, sweet, and fizzy taste…"
"Oh! A very distinct flavor. Where did you acquire this? We're interested in importing it… Ah, the Hubert Company? I've heard of them. A rapidly rising trading company."
"My, this tablecloth is made of an unusual material. Such a tightly woven and durable fabric. It doesn't seem to be from the Elven Kingdom. How is it made?"
Their reach extended even to the elites near Drakal. Not just their usual trade goods, but also products from Earth: beverages like cola, fruit juice, wine, whiskey, various fabrics, and raw materials, available only through the Hubert Company.
'Premium products are always in demand. The wealthy, driven by vanity, can't resist the allure of exclusivity.'
Even with the looming war against the Immortal King. The Hubert Company's success was a testament to this. Once the elites started using their products, others followed suit, driven by a fear of being left behind.
'And to acquire these products, they have to cooperate with the Hubert Company.'
The bait of luxury goods from Earth and rare minerals from the Northern Mountains, combined with his extensive network of connections through his avatars, had made the Hubert Company the largest trading company on the continent. And with the vast, easily accessible 「Dragon's Lair」 serving as a transit hub, transporting goods between dimensions was a simple matter. 「Savior」 also allowed him to bypass customs restrictions, previously a major bottleneck.
'Excellent. Karma is accumulating rapidly.'
Hubert nodded in satisfaction, sitting in his office in Tarak. The vast wealth he was accumulating was just a bonus. The real prize was the karma generated by his influence on this world through the introduction of Earth products. While most of his goods were luxury items for the elite, their impact was still significant.
'If I could introduce modern medicine…'
He tapped his pen against the paper, stroking his chin. He had already hired alchemists to test the compatibility of Earth medicines, wary of potential side effects.
'I don't even need advanced pharmaceuticals. Even basic over-the-counter medicines and vitamins would have a huge impact.'
Medicine in this world relied heavily on mystical powers: holy magic, spells, and potions. The poor had limited access to healthcare, relying on folk remedies.
"…I need to be careful."
Medicine wasn't a luxury item. He had to be cautious, wary of unforeseen consequences. He couldn't provide medicine indefinitely.
"Hah, now then…"
As he was about to continue his work—
"Are you Hubert?"
A strange voice spoke from within his office, previously empty.
"…"
Hubert's eyes narrowed. 「Clear Mind」 and 「Hypersensitivity」 activated, slowing down time, his senses expanding, scanning his surroundings. But he detected no presence.
"Impressive. You're not an ordinary merchant. But it's useless against me."
The mocking voice continued, as if aware of his actions.
'How?'
But Hubert's mind raced, analyzing the situation in the slowed-down time.
'This is the Hubert Company's headquarters. It's impenetrable.'
The building was a fortress, protected by layers of magical, alchemical, and mystical barriers, traps, poisons, and curses. And he had Pureblood vampire guards on duty around the clock.
'And their leader is a Master Realm True blood vampire.'
The power balance on Earth was different from other worlds. There were over a hundred Transcendents on Earth, while Auterica had less than five, excluding the hidden dragons.
'A Master Realm powerhouse in a place like this is practically invincible. To bypass their detection and infiltrate this place…'
A Transcendent being, unknown to him, despite his vast information network.
"You seem lost in thought. Have you figured things out?"
The voice spoke again, as if reading his mind. The eerie tone was meant to be intimidating, but Hubert, immune to mental attacks, replied calmly.
"Yes, thank you for waiting. So, what brings you here unannounced? I'm a very busy man. People wait weeks for an appointment."
"Oh? You're quite composed."
The voice seemed amused by his calm demeanor, facing an unknown, potentially hostile Transcendent.
But the intruder got straight to the point.
Thud
Something landed on his desk, filled with documents. He hadn't sensed any movement or presence. It had simply appeared. And it was something he recognized.
"Where did you get this?"
He knew it well. He had distributed countless such items to the elites. A metal lighter with English engravings and "MADE IN USA" on the side. It was a popular item among the gentlemen of this world.
An unseen hand nudged the fountain pen on his desk, another item from Earth. He preferred the ergonomic design of Earth products.
"Are you an Earthling?"
It seemed the intruder had reached the same conclusion.
'Everyone picks on Hubert. I should do something about this.'
Hubert didn't answer, stalling for time, discreetly activating his most powerful skills: 「Analysis」 and 「Limit Break」.
Then—
A torrent of information, beyond his current realm, flooded his mind: the world's laws, the flow of causality… A searing pain shot through his head, overloading 「Mind Hub」, but he couldn't focus on it.
'…What's that?'
He saw something he shouldn't be able to see. A humanoid figure with two horns…
A demon.