‘When did he get here?’
Selperd and his group immediately drew their swords, directing them towards the man at the entrance.
A small, elderly man stood there, hands clasped behind his back. Next to him, Marti appeared nervous, fidgeting anxiously.
"Grandfather, you can't just barge in like this...!"
"Who would dare stop me from walking through my own house? Isn’t that right, young man?" the elderly man chuckled.
"Yes, quite right," Theo responded calmly, nodding as he met the old man’s gaze.
‘Vittorio Romelin... the head of the Romelin family and governor of the Floating Archipelago. I’d heard he was an unassuming man, but to think he was such a formidable master...’
Selperd and the others swallowed hard, a cold sweat running down their backs. Despite staying in the Romelin estate, none of them had seen Vittorio’s face before. The excuse had been that he was too busy dealing with martial law to meet with anyone.
But this was far from what they had anticipated.
Not only had he bypassed their tight security, entering with ease, but he’d likely overheard everything they’d been discussing.
Only someone with an immense mastery of skill could have managed such a feat.
‘He’s on the level of a Dragon Slayer... or perhaps even beyond.’
This brought up a new question: if Vittorio possessed such power, why had he watched passively as the Ghost Slayers terrorized his people?
Did Theo know something? His expression remained calm, showing no sign of surprise.
“You seemed to be having an interesting conversation. I hope I’m not interrupting,” Vittorio remarked with a wry smile. “Curiosity is hard to resist in old age.”
“Not at all, Lord Vittorio. If it’s you, you naturally have the right to listen,” Theo replied, turning to his companions. “Could you all give us a moment?”
“Theo...” Selperd began.
“There’s no need to worry.”
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“Alright, if you say so,” Selperd relented, glancing between Theo and Vittorio with concern before leading the others out of the room. Even the Black Skull man quietly left, sensing he was no longer needed.
“Now then, perhaps we could continue our conversation. Mind if I add my own spoon to the pot?” Vittorio strolled leisurely around the room, hands still clasped behind him.
But Theo wasn’t swayed by the older man’s relaxed demeanor.
‘I need to navigate this conversation carefully.’
Theo was well aware of Vittorio’s background.
He was a ruler who, despite his title, had done little to display his value, allowing Troivan’s influence to run unchecked in the Floating Archipelago. In his previous life, public opinion had painted Vittorio as the worst kind of leader, but he was also the man who ultimately protected the Archipelago from Troivan, ensuring its survival even through the Great War.
No wonder even the Black Snow considered Vittorio more dangerous than the Archipelago’s wealth itself.
‘Not to mention his swordsmanship—he’s as skilled as a Sword of the Moon, and perhaps even on par with the Nine Dragons. He won’t be easy to win over.’
To gain control of the Archipelago and the Shipping League, Theo needed Vittorio’s cooperation. Vittorio was the final obstacle.
After collecting his thoughts, Theo spoke slowly, “So, should I take it that Romelin is interested in joining us?”
“If it’s something a Ragnar intends to pursue, it may be wise to go along rather than oppose it. Though, of course...” Vittorio’s eyes darkened, “if you plan on following in Troivan’s footsteps, this conversation will end differently.”
“No, I have no such intentions.”
“Good,” Vittorio nodded. “Honestly, I never thought the Ragnars would take an interest in our Archipelago. You rarely leave the northern territories, after all.”
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. When I say that the Ragnars have no interest here, I mean that they’re entirely unaware of anything happening in the Floating Archipelago.”
“Hmm?” Vittorio tilted his head in confusion.
Theo’s smile deepened. “I didn’t come here on behalf of the Ragnar family.”
“...?”
“I’m here solely on my own accord.”
“...Are you saying...”
“I’ve acted independently in everything that’s happened here.”
“...!” Vittorio’s eyes widened in shock.
It was an unbelievable claim.
Could Theo really have dismantled Troivan’s influence and reclaimed Kriemhilt’s relics—all without support from his family?
“Then, the Balmung...?”
“I recovered it during a mission. When I learned about the events here, I decided to come to return it, with help from the Black Snow.”
“What!” Vittorio scoffed, barely able to process this revelation.
“How old are you, exactly?”
“Fifteen. I’ll turn sixteen in a month.”
“Then, your awakening ceremony...?”
“This year.”
“Unbelievable...”
Vittorio recalled what he and his granddaughter were like at that age. At fifteen, they had only just begun to grasp the basics of swordsmanship. For a Ragnar to wield such power in less than a year after awakening...
No, this was beyond what could be explained by sheer talent.
‘No, I shouldn’t think of him in ordinary terms. Perhaps this will make things easier.’
Vittorio took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts.
Over the years, he had encountered many people. Some of them were geniuses, and he had learned one universal truth about them: they defied conventional logic.
With this realization, Vittorio decided to regard Theo as an equal, as a potential partner.
“You want the Archipelago’s resources and the wealth of the Shipping League, don’t you? To become the head of your family?”
“I never said I was aiming to be head of the family.”
“Don’t play coy. A person like you without ambition would be stranger still. If you don’t intend to reveal your plans, I’ll simply retract my offer.”
“No, please continue,” Theo replied, silently impressed by Vittorio’s insight, having deduced his ambitions from just a few clues.
Vittorio’s gaze grew sharper.
“The Romelin family has spent over four hundred years establishing connections through trade across the Empire and beyond, creating a network and amassing great wealth.”
The title “King of the Seas” wasn’t given to Romelin lightly.
“What, then, do you have to offer us in return for putting all of this in your hands?”
Theo felt his heart beat a little faster.
Vittorio was asking him, *how far do your ambitions really go?*
If this were a simple agreement to rule the Archipelago, the terms they’d already discussed would suffice. Theo would gain control of the Archipelago, access to its wealth, and command over the Temple Knights for emergencies. In return, Romelin would gain complete authority over the Archipelago’s trade and the loyalty of Kriemhilt’s successor.
Moreover, Theo would be leaving the Archipelago soon enough, so Vittorio wouldn’t see him as a lasting threat.
But Vittorio wanted to know more, probing for a vision that extended beyond these immediate benefits.
‘This is a true partnership, built on trust and a shared future.’
Theo felt as though he was learning a valuable lesson from Vittorio.
“What about exclusive northern trade rights? How does that sound?”
“Oh?” Vittorio’s eyebrows lifted.
“I’ll also be expanding into the East, so Romelin’s network can extend beyond the seas and reach deep into the continent.”
“So, you talk as if Troivan is already defeated.”
“I am, after all, part of Ragnar.”
“Bold words.”
“I’ve already won in the Archipelago. A battlefield wouldn’t be much different.”
Vittorio’s approving smile hinted that he liked Theo’s audacious response.
“Yet, didn’t you say you weren’t representing the Ragnar family? Can you really promise such things?”
“It hasn’t been publicly announced, but the Ceres Trading Company, which monopolized northern trade, has collapsed. Romelin can take its place.”
“Even so, northern traders are famously protective. They won’t exactly welcome us.”
“Partner with the Bacchus family. Forming a joint company with them will make it easier.”
“Bacchus...? Isn’t that one of the Six Snow Clans? Why would they support us?”
“They will. Their head happens to be my vassal.”
“What!”
Theo had a head of one of the Six Snow Clans as his vassal?
Vittorio was no longer shocked; he was intrigued, and his ambition had only grown.
‘Maybe I’ve spent all this time in seclusion just to meet this boy.’
He now understood why Marti had told him that meeting Theo would reveal his worth.
This was an opportunity not only to extend Romelin’s reach into the previously inaccessible northern and eastern territories but also to align himself with a future ruler of the north.
‘Soon, the Empire will face turbulent times. Such storms have the power to sink ships, but they also carry the potential to propel traders to far-off lands.’
Though Vittorio didn’t know of the coming Great War, he had foreseen the upheaval approaching the Empire.
He would need to harness the coming storm instead of avoiding it.
But before committing fully, Vittorio had one more test in mind.
“Would you be interested in performing a little play with me?”
---
The Autonomous Assembly Hall was buzzing with lawmakers for the first time in a while.
An emergency general meeting had been convened.
“This place is half-empty.”
“Well, Spinola and Grimal were all but wiped out overnight. Those who remain must be overwhelmed with the fallout.”
“No, the Temple Knights arrested most of them, apparently. They
’ve all been thrown in prison to answer for the recent crisis. Now, everyone’s just looking out for themselves.”
“Didn’t you have dinner with Lord Grimal a few days ago?”
“Hey, you... you’re bringing that up now? He was the one who insisted on meeting me!”
“Did he try to get a job for your son?”
“Enough! I swear, I didn’t do anything like that!”
With Spinola and Grimal’s downfall, many lawmakers were worried about being implicated in their affairs. At this very moment, Temple Knights were reportedly searching every corner of the Archipelago for collaborators, fueling their fear.
“So, what will we do about the successor of Kriemhilt?”
“I heard he’s an outsider. And a Ragnar at that.”
“Ridiculous. What is the world coming to?”
“We need to retrieve Balmung first.”
“Of course! Balmung belongs to our Venota and the Archipelago!”
“Certainly. While he may be a warrior, that’s a separate matter.”
The sentiment among the assembly was clear. The legislators were the entrenched elite, prioritizing their own interests over the common people’s, and they weren’t inclined to view Theo favorably.
“But what if he aligns with the governor?”
“That’s the real problem...”
Some expressed unease.
“The Romelin family is the only one of the Big Three left, and they have near-total control over the Temple Knights. It’s practically a dictatorship...”
“Shh! Quiet. He might hear us.”
Some glanced at the Assembly’s highest seat, quickly looking away.
Just then, a call rang out.
“The governor is entering. Lawmakers, please rise.”
Supported by Marti, Vittorio entered the Assembly, moving with deliberate grace.
The sound of lawmakers nervously swallowing echoed through the hall.
‘Is that... the governor?’
‘Was he always that imposing?’
In the past, Vittorio had been overshadowed by Spinola and Grimal’s presence. But now, he commanded the room’s attention, almost as if he were the center of its very atmosphere. It was difficult to tell if this was his true demeanor or if the authority of the Temple Knights and Black Skull magnified his presence.
“Please, be seated.”
After Vittorio took the governor’s seat, the lawmakers followed suit.
“Thank you all for gathering despite your busy schedules. I’ve called this meeting because Kriemhilt’s successor has regained consciousness. I intend to hear his testimony and discuss our future relationship with him and the Archipelago. If there are no objections, I’d like to invite the successor in now.”
Silence reigned.
If anything, the lawmakers’ attention was fixed on the entrance.
“Without objections, bring him in.”
*Creaaak!*
The doors swung open, and Theo strode in with purpose. In one hand, he carried Balmung, in the other, Aegir’s helmet.
The Hall of the Archipelago awaited Kriemhilt’s successor.