NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 59.2
The trio sighed in unison.
Everyone in Arina’s office stood silently, their eyes fixed on the direction where Arad had disappeared.
A cold wind, symbolic of the North’s winter, swept past them.
***
Haven, the North’s Trade Hub
Unlike the past, the North had now become a must-visit destination for imperial merchants.
The reason was simple.
Because of Arad Salt.
Because of Arad Salt.
And… because of Arad Salt.
Sure, there were rare monster by-products and Magic Stones, but you could find those in other regions if you searched hard enough.
But Arad Salt was exclusive to the North.
That one product alone was enough to draw hordes of imperial merchants to Haven, the North’s major trading port.
Recently, the Northern regions outside of Haven had become increasingly unwelcoming toward imperial merchants and adventurers.
“Whaaat? You’re saying you don’t need porcelain?!”
On this day, the merchants from the Empire were met with another shocking development.
“What?! Are you people insane?! We’re offering you Eastern porcelain for just 1 gold coin each! Back in the Empire, it sells for 2 gold coins, but thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince’s decree, we’re offering it for half the price!”
But for some reason, the Northern merchants completely stopped buying porcelain.
Not “reduced” — they stopped entirely.
Zero. None at all.
“1 gold coin for this vase, and you’re not interested?”
The imperial merchants were baffled.
This was an incredibly generous deal, but not a single Northern merchant showed the slightest bit of interest.
‘These primitive, uncultured savages! As expected from these barbarians! His Highness, the Crown Prince, must be so frustrated. Trying to spread culture and civilization to these backwater fools!’
The imperial merchant cursed the Northern merchants in his mind.
“Alright, then. How much would it take for you to buy it? Name your price!”
He was now more curious than anything else.
Just how far did their stupidity and ignorance extend?
“Hmm… maybe 1 silver coin, and I might think about it.”
“YOU’VE GONE MAD!”
Hearing the Northern merchant’s absurd suggestion, the imperial merchant cursed out loud without meaning to.
“What?! You’re the crazy ones! Who’s trying to sell this ugly, plain, white bowl for a whole gold coin?!”
Not one to back down, the Northern merchant shouted right back, pointing at the vase.
“Here, take a look at what we use nowadays in the North!”
With a proud smile, he pulled out a blue porcelain vase.
It had a soft, radiant blue glow, and intricate Northern flowers were etched onto its surface.
“!!”
The imperial merchant’s eyes widened to the point of almost tearing apart.
First, the stunning, one-of-a-kind color captured his gaze.
Next, the design and patterns, distinctly Arcadian in style, captivated his heart.
“This… What is this?! I’ve never seen anything like it! Where did you get this?! I’ll buy them all! I’ll pay 2 gold coins each for the whole lot!”
The imperial merchant, in the blink of an eye, switched to a submissive, respectful tone, bowing his head toward the Northern merchant.
“……”
But the Northern merchant looked unimpressed. He casually tapped the blue porcelain vase against the side of his wagon.
Tap, tap, tap
A clear, resonating chime echoed from the porcelain.
Tang, tang, tang, tang
The elegant, melodic sound was unique to blue porcelain.
“AAAAHHH!! STOP, STOP! YOU’LL BREAK IT!”
Seeing the merchant nonchalantly bang the porcelain against a wagon, the imperial merchant screamed like a madman.
He looked at the Northern merchant like he was some kind of mystical beast.
“Wait…?”
Then, it hit him.
The vase wasn’t breaking.
It didn’t crack, chip, or even scratch.
“W-wha… what…?”
The imperial merchant’s mind couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
As realization dawned on him, his obsession with the blue porcelain became absolute.
He was prepared to sell his soul for it.
***
Bishop Trading Company — One of the Empire’s “Three Great Trading Companies.”
At the top of the company was Entir, a man with an extraordinary rise to power.
He was the third son of a fallen noble family, born into near poverty.
But now, he had become the head of one of the Empire’s greatest trading companies.
That alone was impressive.
But his achievements didn’t stop there.
Entir also married well.
Using his wealth and proven competence, he secured a marriage with the House of Havana, one of the most prestigious families in the Empire and a branch family of the Imperial Lineage.
His wife was no ordinary noblewoman, either.
She was none other than Marchioness Elisha von Havana, the Blazing Swordmaster, a legendary figure known across the entire continent.
Their marriage was considered a perfect match.
The Havana family, which had fallen into financial trouble due to failed business ventures, gained wealth and stability.
Meanwhile, Entir, who had wealth but no power, gained political influence and noble connections.
This marriage was described as “a tiger growing wings.”
And that wasn’t all.
Entir was also a political genius.
Using his wealth and his wife’s influence, he quickly took control of the Imperial social circles.
His position allowed him to bridge the gap between the Emperor, Crown Prince, and the Imperial Nobles.
Some people even referred to him as the “Shadow Chancellor.”
With overwhelming wealth, a prestigious in-law family, a beautiful and powerful Swordmaster wife, and the grandiose title of “Shadow Chancellor,” Entir was a man with seemingly nothing to envy.
Not the Emperor.
Not the Crown Prince.
Not even the Archbishops of the Church.
He had it all.
At least, that’s what people thought.
Until recently.
Happiness that had once seemed eternal.
The dream-like happiness shattered naturally, as if it was destined to happen.
“Why do I feel like these kids don’t look like me at all?”
Entir had always had an eye for detail, honed from years of watching people closely.
He had two children with Havana — a son and a daughter, two years apart in age.
To be honest, even when they were infants, he had a strange feeling.
Their features were too sharp and beautiful.
For a man like him, with average looks at best, his children’s appearance was too perfect.
And then there was their hair color and eye color.
Both children had the classic, defining features of Imperial Bloodline nobles — blonde hair and red eyes.
Entir, on the other hand, had dark brown hair and brown eyes.
There was no genetic link between them.
He tried to convince himself otherwise.
“They must have inherited their looks from their mother.”
After all, Havana was a beauty. She was known for her extraordinary appearance, even in a family full of good looks.
However, as the children grew older, began to walk, and started talking, he could no longer deny it.
No matter how he looked at it…
The boy looked exactly like Crown Prince Canbraman.
Not just a vague resemblance.
He was a carbon copy.
To be fair, many members of the Imperial Family had similar facial features, so this resemblance could be explained as a coincidence.
But Entir’s instincts screamed at him.
There was not a single drop of his blood in those children.
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