Cold Winter (4)
1:41 a.m.
Theo walked out through a side door that opened slightly in place of the firmly locked Winterer gate.
“The weather is cold.”
Theo pulled up the fox scarf that Cecilia had prepared for him separately and covered his mouth.
The first winter night wind I encountered after returning was equally cold.
“Oh, you’re finally here, our youngest.”
There were people waiting for such a Theo.
Shelford and Arin.
These two were the shooters that Julius had promised to give.
‘Evelyn said she was out of her mind because of the Dragon Gate Inspector promotion exam?’
Although I felt a little sorry, I hoped for a good outcome for her.
He had a good performance against Wolfgang and caught the attention of many experts, so it didn’t seem like it would be too difficult to get promoted.
“Have you been waiting for a long time? Sorry for the delay.”
“No, no, no. We arrived a little while ago. And you came ten minutes earlier than the appointed time. What are you sorry about?”
Shelford waved his hand lightly at Theo’s apology and asked faintly.
“But the destination is the Floating Islands Autonomous Territory? What kind of mission are you assigned to?”
“Hmm? Didn’t you hear anything from the captain?”
“He just told me to follow him and kicked my butt.”
“… … .”
That’s why Arin was just sitting there with a sad expression on her face, without saying anything.
Theo sighed lightly.
“I’ll tell you more details as we move along.”
“good.”
Whee!
Shelford whistled lightly.
Two dragons flew from the sky with their backs to the moon.
* * *
Theo and his party moved to the northwestern region over several days.
The coniferous forests typical of the north disappeared, plains appeared, and after passing several mountains, the weather began to feel a little warmer.
‘No. Is it true that the winters in the North are particularly cold?’
While Theo was thinking about this and that, a low area with a particularly low elevation appeared in the distance.
And beyond that, the horizon of blue waves came into view.
For a moment, I felt as if my heart had been lifted.
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“Whoa! It’s nice to see you even though it’s been so many years.”
Shelford looked back at Theo, exclaiming in admiration at the blue sight of the sea.
“Oh, by the way, Theo, is this your first time seeing the ocean?”
“Um, yeah, I guess so.”
“Huh? But there’s no reaction? Others are either surprised and say, ‘Wow, is that much water possible?’ or scared and say, ‘Where does that end?’”
Although there are several large lakes in the North, most of the land is covered with plains and forests, so many northerners die without ever seeing the sea.
So, it seems like he was expecting that kind of reaction from Theo too,
‘I used to live near the sea, you know.’
It wasn’t very surprising to Theo, who had memories of his past life.
Thanks to that, Shelford’s face looked quite dispirited.
“Do you think everyone in the world is just as excited as you are?”
At Arin’s snort, Shelford suddenly chuckled.
“Is there a friend who suddenly said they needed to go to the bathroom as soon as they saw the ocean? Or not?”
“… …Can you please shut up?”
“there is?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about for now.”
“does not exist?”
“You die.”
Crack!
Arin pulled out her sword and followed her partner to Shelford.
“Hahahaha!”
“Hey! Don’t stand there!”
Wedge-
As the two engage in an aerial chase, accompanied by Shelford’s laughter,
Theo gazed quietly at the blue sea with gently rolling waves.
The port city of Novaje, heading towards the floating archipelago, was visible.
Numerous large and small ships were anchored in the port, and various cargoes were coming and going, creating a chaotic atmosphere.
Workers unloading goods at the dock, auctioneers shouting and participating in the auction, fishermen rejoicing at the full catch, merchants sorting and packing fish, street vendors setting up their stalls, the sound of ships’ horns announcing departure, etc.
There was an intense atmosphere there that was completely different from the North, where people fought fiercely to survive in a harsh environment.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here.’
A gentle smile appeared on Theo’s lips.
In my previous life, I remembered the time when I had run away from Ragnar, left Winterer, and came here with the intention of starting a business.
‘I wonder if they’re doing well too?’
By the time they remembered their previous life when they were just children, the group had already arrived near Novaje.
Before entering the city, the group hid or put the wyverns on standby and changed into clothes they had prepared separately.
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“Since this mission is a secret mission, I must completely hide my identity. I will also move as secretly as possible. That is why I will be changing my identity to that of a wandering knight for the time being. Here is my identity badge.”
Theo gave separate identity cards to Shelford and Arin.
Shelford looked at the identification card with a curious expression.
“When on earth did you prepare something like this?”
“I prepared it for you in Heukseol.”
“You said you received a certificate of authenticity, was it true?”
“Did you hear such a rumor?”
“How important is that for a rumor to spread?”
“then……?”
“How did you know?”
“yes.”
“just.”
“… … ?”
“I just heard it?”
“… … ??”
The details of the proof of innocence were known only to Theo, Black Dragon, and Julius.
But how can you hear that just by sitting still?
Arin sighed deeply and shook her head next to her.
“Even if it’s hard to understand what this guy is saying, just ignore it. That’s because he’s always running around like a rat, picking up on things.”
“Oh my! A rat! There’s a really good word for it, luxury!”
“Is it a luxury to know the number of spoons and forks in Theo’s house? Are you a stalker?”
“… … ???”
Theo still couldn’t follow their conversation.
“So just skip it. If you try to understand this thing from start to finish, it will never end.”
“… … Ah, yes.”
Theo nodded with a trembling expression and entered Novaje with the two of them.
“So where should I go now? Should I just catch a boat to Benota?”
“No. I have somewhere to go before that.”
“where?”
“I’ll be there soon.”
“Huh? What?”
This time, Shelford tilted his head, not knowing English.
Bam!
Suddenly, one of the pedestrians walking down the street accidentally bumped into Theo.
“I’m sorry… … Aaaah!”
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Shelford and Arin were momentarily dumbfounded.
Because clearly the pedestrian was screaming with his hand stuck in Theo’s back pocket.
Theo caught it while he was trying to pickpocket it.
“Are you from Spinola?”
“Wh, what are you talking about! Let go of it! Hurry up and let it go!”
“I want to meet your superiors, how should I do it?”
Theo grinned, ignoring the pickpocket’s screams.
“This kid is real!”
The pickpocket took out the dagger from his bosom with a blushing face and swung it at Theo.
but,
Kkwadduk!
The captured guy’s right arm turns in the opposite direction,
“Ahhhhh!”
Theo kicked the guy in the stomach without blinking.
From the beginning, he had no intention of showing leniency to criminals.
Phew-
Degururur!
The pickpocket was lifted into the air and landed on the stall of a street vendor on the other side.
-Gyaaaah!
-It’s a fight!
-Guards! Call the guards!
As the surroundings become chaotic,
Theo kicked the pickpocket’s neck as he tried to get up, and knocked him back down.
“Ugh! Throat! Moo-ok… … !”
He looked down at the guy who was gasping for breath and smiled coldly.
“Where is your hideout?”
“Neck! Neck first… …!”
“Tell me where it is.”
Theo’s feet gained more strength.
The pickpocket pointed to a nearby bar with his hand, feeling that he might suffocate to death or break his neck if he continued like this.
“Hey, hey… … !”
“Are you sure?”
“That’s right, so please… … !”
Only then did Theo take his steps.
Kekeke!
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The pickpocket barely managed to get his breath back,
“Then I should take the lead?”
“Wh, what!”
Still acting recklessly, Theo grabbed her by the back of the neck and dragged her to the bar.
“Please, please, spare me! If I, y, keep getting dragged away like this, I, I’ll die!”
“You’re the one dying, not me.”
“Ah, no, you punk!”
Those gentlemen knights who seemed to be out to have fun without knowing anything about the ways of the world, especially one of them, tried to empty the pockets of a young master, and ended up in a really big trouble.
No matter how hard he tried to resist, Theo had already thrown the guy towards the bar.
Boom!
The pickpocket broke the door and rolled inside for a while.
The one whose axe was hanging down seemed to have already passed out.
-what!
-What kind of kid are you!
At the sudden commotion, all the customers and employees turned their gaze towards the entrance where dust was flying.
Srrrrung!
“Is this the Spinola branch?”
Theo stepped inside, lowering Drake’s blade.
* * *
By the time Shelford and Arin followed Theo into the bar, all the commotion had died down.
All sorts of broken weapons were strewn about the floor, and men who looked like back-alley criminals were screaming with their limbs twisted in grotesque ways.
Theo sat at one of the tables, looking down at them, with a relieved expression on his face after a long time of moving.
“… … Didn’t you say that this operation was to be as secretive as possible? Is it okay to make such a fuss?”
Shelford gave Theo a bewildered look.
Moreover, the name <Spinola> that Theo was looking for was far from a ‘secret operation’.
The capital of the Floating Islands Autonomous Territory.
A free city where the headquarters of the Maritime Federation and the Bankers’ Federation are located.
Benota.
This place has had an oligarchic system since ancient times, with three families taking turns in holding the office of prime minister.
-Haeun 3-ga.
It was usually called that.
Spinola is one such organization, originating from a criminal organization that brought together illegal immigrants and refugees to process the illicit profits generated by the shipping trade.
Although Yangjiro is now engaged in various vested interests business, it is still an object of fear for many people.
Of course, it was a very small force compared to Ragnar.
However, the money he touched while riding on the back of the shipping alliance and the influence he had around the world were absolutely not something to be ignored.
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So, if the pickpocketing organization I just touched was really a branch of Spinola, then it would be like stirring up trouble for no reason.
but,
“Rather, this is a very good way to move secretly.”
“What do you mean? Explain in detail.”
“The city of Benota may seem like a lawless place on the surface, but it is also a city that is thoroughly monitored. The eyes and ears of the three shipping lords are everywhere.”
Shelford could vaguely understand what Theo was trying to say.
“So we’re also susceptible to surveillance?”
“Yes. If Black Skull is one of the swords hidden by Venota as Black Snow speculates, then it will be even more difficult to investigate. It will only arouse unnecessary suspicion.”
“So, you’re trying to stick close to Spinola?”
“If you’re going to arouse suspicion anyway, it’s better to just arouse suspicion openly.”
Theo continued his explanation.
“Spinola is a kind of mafia family. If you have skilled swordsmen like us, they’ll naturally get interested.”
“If we can win their favor, it will be much easier to get into the center of Benota?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
her!
Shelford found himself laughing out loud.
I thought Theo’s plan was very thorough.
‘But isn’t this completely Heukseol’s mission method?’
They say the black dragon is so desperate to take Theo away.
It seemed like he had a great deal of talent.
‘I’ll just do what Theo says for this operation. If I just follow him around, it’ll end on its own.’
While Arin was listening to Shelford’s explanation belatedly and expressing admiration.
Squeak!
Thud, thud-
Someone was coming down the broken second floor stairs.
He was an old man carrying a cane.
Theo and his party’s gaze also turned in that direction.
“Oh, it looks like we didn’t greet our guests properly.”
“Are you the Spinola’s dog that runs this place? As expected from a criminal group, all of your subordinates are equally ugly.”
Theo decided that since he was already causing trouble, he would maintain an arrogant and cocky attitude during this operation.
But that look matched so well with his cold features that even Shelford and Arin, who were watching from the side, flinched.
‘That guy Theo, isn’t that his original personality…?
‘It was Theodosius Ragnar, after all.’
When they remembered that Ragnar was just being Ragnar, they both nodded in agreement, as if they understood why he was acting that way.
“… … ?”
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Theo, who doesn’t know English, just tilts his head.
How the bastard of the Return Sword Family lives
