I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 826

Hashim turned to him in shock, while Sanford avoided his gaze, smacking his lips.

"I-it was goods I took on credit... to secretly sell on the mainland...."

Ian didn’t bother pointing out that it was still a debt; he simply let out a soft laugh and looked at Sanford with renewed interest.

This guy might be the one blessed by Lu Logis.

The fact that this gambling addict was still alive felt like a miracle. Everywhere he went, he seemed to rack up debt.

Misreading Ian’s gaze, Sanford rambled on unconvincingly. "Th-That doesn’t mean I was hoping he’d be dead! I just assumed he probably was!"

—Interesting fellow. I like him.

Yog’s amused whisper echoed in Ian’s mind as he shifted the cigarette between his fingers.

"It’d be better for you if he’s alive, Sanford. If you’re the one bringing reinforcements, he’s not going to start nitpicking over unpaid debts."

"Y-You’re right!" Sanford’s eye widened again, his voice coming a beat late.

A strange spark of life returned to his complexion, exactly the reaction Ian had been aiming for.

"Even if he survived, it wouldn’t be a hopeful situation... In fact, he might end up owing both you and me—"

"Then I’ll take it our destination is Villanueva." Ian cut him off with a chuckle.

Sanford immediately bowed his head. "Yes, Agent of the Saint."

"Fitting all those people on board won’t be a problem?"

"It’ll be close to capacity... but if we distribute them properly, it should be manageable."

"Good. Then all that’s left is for you to persuade the other captains."

"Of course, though, if I may... could you provide just a little... just a small portion of the promised reward as proof?" Sanford added cautiously, rubbing his hands together. His eyes flicked briefly toward Eliya, who was still drinking.

Ian’s eyes twitched slightly—not because of the request, but because a quest window had appeared before him.

[Into the Black Sea.]

The archipelago questline had finally begun.

Unaware, Sanford continued with a servile smile, "W-Well, it is a rather dangerous job, after all... To catch fish in rough waters, you need the right bait..."

"He’s not wrong. Even getting there won’t be easy," Elia added in agreement after lowering the bottle.

That alone made both Sanford and Hashim turn toward her.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You do know what state the Black Sea is in right now, don’t you?" Elia asked, blinking.

Sanford frowned more deeply.

"Stand up for a moment, Elia," Ian said, closing the quest window and turning.

Elia quickly rose and stepped aside.

"Lately, I’ve only been running between the mainland and the South, so I haven’t really heard much about that side—" Sanford trailed off.

Ian had bent down and opened the case with his Willful Grasp.

Gold coins and jewels gleamed brilliantly, reflecting the distant light from the encampment.

Sanford’s eye glazed over again, entranced.

"This should be enough," Ian said, pulling out a single ancient gold coin and a ruby before shutting the case once more.

Only then did Sanford blink, as if waking from a dream, and nod blankly. "Yes. That should be... enough..."

Sanford couldn’t take his eyes off the ancient gold coin and the large, finely cut ruby resting in Ian’s palm.

He swallowed and began to reach out, but Hashim cut in with a frown, "Shouldn’t you hear about the situation in the Black Sea first, Captain?"

That alone made Ian close his hand again around the coin and ruby.

As Sanford stared helplessly at Ian’s fist, Hashim lowered his head toward Ian and continued, "My apologies, Agent of the Saint, but this concerns all our lives. It’s not something we can overlook..."

"As you go deeper into the Black Sea, the waters grow unnaturally calm. Even the winds die out," Ian answered plainly. It wasn’t something he had intended to hide anyway.

Hashim’s eyes widened. "You mean... the waters near the Isles have become doldrums?"

"Something like that." Ian shrugged.

Elia, now seated back on the case, added, "As if it’s trying to shut out any approach from the outside."

"Lu Solar... dear heavens..." Hashim’s face went pale. It looked as though some dreadful memory had resurfaced.

That was when Sanford suddenly frowned and turned to Hashim. "We’re not charting a new route. It’s just the archipelago. What’s the problem?"

He turned back to Ian, eyes gleaming with ambition and greed, rubbing his hands together again. "You don’t need to worry, Agent of the Saint. It may take a bit longer, but even without wind, we can cross with rowers alone."

"I’ll lend a hand with that," Ian said, narrowing his eyes slightly.

It wasn’t just because he couldn’t fully trust Sanford’s confidence now that a quest had appeared.

"We’ve got plenty of strong arms on our side too."

It would make the perfect first task for the newly formed bond. Rowing required coordination, and it was brutal labor. If they rotated shifts, they wouldn’t even have the energy to fight each other.

Sanford glanced toward the shoreline, then slowly formed a sly smile. "I see... that would certainly help. Though I do wonder if they’ll listen to orders from me—or the other captains..."

"I’ll handle that part. You just make sure the other captains fall in line," Ian replied, opening his hand again and meeting Sanford’s eye. "If even one of them runs, I’ll hold you responsible. Hashim will be the new captain of your ship."

Hashim’s eyes widened in shock, while Sanford swallowed hard and answered, "Understood. There won’t be any issues."

Even so, he carefully reached out and accepted the coin and ruby, clasping them tightly in both hands.

"When would you like to depart?" Sanford asked.

Ian glanced at the docked ships before replying, "How long do your crew need to rest?"

"At least half a day."

"Then we leave tomorrow afternoon. Finalize things with the other captains and report back."

"Yes. Understood... but..." Sanford nodded, then hesitated, looking at Ian with a subtle, calculating expression.

"Would you allow me to personally host you on my ship, Agent of the Saint? It seems only proper."

Ian saw through his intent immediately: he clearly wanted to keep both Ian and the treasure away from the other captains.

"Fine. I’m more comfortable on a familiar ship anyway."

There was no reason to refuse.

As Ian nodded, Sanford lit up and quickly dropped to one knee again.

"I will serve you with utmost devotion!"

"You’d better. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Ian turned without another word, walking past Elia, who stood up as if she’d been waiting, and Mukapa, who bowed his head.

—There’ll be plenty of delicious ones there... I’m looking forward to it....

Yog whispered, but Ian ignored it. That wasn’t the only thing he ignored.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Hashim? Don’t tell me you’re still eyeing my position."

"Of course not."

"That’s what it looks like. Got a death wish?"

Even as he walked away, the low voices of Sanford and Hashim continued to brush against his ears.

"Why are you picking at me again... honestly."

"I’m telling you to get your head straight. As I said, this is a path guided by Lu Logis. Don’t forget that the goddess only smiles upon those who persist until the end!"

"You’re the one who should remember that most, Captain..."

However, the slight twist in Ian’s lips as he stepped onto the stairs wasn’t just because of their exchange.

The expanded campsite stretched out clearly before him.

Looks like they’ve already finished organizing.

Around the campfires, fairies and beastfolk sat mixed together. Even as they ate, some glared at each other as if they might kill on sight, while others acted as if the other side didn’t exist at all.

Ian scanned over them as he descended. Some were paired one-to-one, others one-to-two.

"This is surprising. To think the royal house and the Great Church have been tolerating heretics for so long, when it suited them."

Elia’s quiet voice came from behind. Ian glanced back at her, and she descended the steps with the bottle cradled in her arms, letting out a low chuckle.

It was clear she had no interest in the camp itself.

"You’ve never seen records about that, then?" asked Ian as he stepped onto the shore.

"None at all. If anything like that exists, it would be sealed in restricted archives. I don’t have clearance for those," answered Elia.

Then she whispered, "But even so, there’s no way the royal court and the Great Church would’ve just left heretics unchecked, relying only on local overseers. That said, His Majesty the Emperor and His Holiness the Pope wouldn’t have dirtied their own hands either. Nor would they have had the time to keep a constant watch over it."

Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly, the nearly spent cigarette between his lips; the reaction was not just because of her words, but the weight behind them.

"So they must have appointed a select few to manage and take responsibility for it. A handful chosen for their loyalty and faith—enough to carry out such a blasphemous and dishonorable duty in secret. And perhaps..." Elia, who had been walking alongside him, suddenly trailed off.

Ian glanced at her and exhaled a stream of smoke from his cigarette. "You’re thinking those chosen few might’ve gone on to form the Round Table Parliament?"

"That’s one possibility. I was thinking it might have originated that way," she replied a beat later, meeting his gaze.

Ian slowed his steps slightly, eyes narrowing further as she continued, "I’ve always wondered when and how they were formed. How they’re able to manipulate corrupted beings and demons from the shadows, and why there are no records of them anywhere..."

She hesitated again, tightening her grip on the bottle.

"And why even the Great One couldn’t fully uncover their true nature. But if they were created in secrecy from the very beginning, and granted that kind of authority—"

"Then it wouldn’t explain everything, but it would answer a lot of questions," said Ian.