"If it's Joshua's villa... Are you referring to the secret villa that lady Luna mentioned to you last time?"
"That's right, Sir Kashmir. It's a place I've been thinking of raiding at some point anyway."
Joshua had dozens of private villas, but only five were classified as secret villas or safe houses.
-My elder sister's trip to the Black Sea is also good news for me. Please take this opportunity to find out what kind of missions our father and the former Black Knights were performing there, and why our father's Runcandel is so obsessed with the Black Sea.
-Okay. It's the first time our father takes anyone to the Black Sea who isn't his comrade. So, I'll bring you news that satisfies you. In return, tonight, you have to sit with me and tell me the stories you've experienced outside all night long.
Before leaving for the Black Sea, Luna told Jin about two of the five secret villas.
It was the information that she found out after receiving a request from Jin to 'find out about Joshua' during the Holy Kingdom incident.
"Are you suggesting we attack it right now?"
"I would love to, but Kuzan and Yulian haven't returned from the southeast of Mitel yet."
The dragons couldn't join in on the attack on Joshua's secret villa. If a dragon intervened, there could be a problem if any survivors were left among the enemies.
Since the Black Dragon was the guardian deity of the family and the Silver Dragon was unofficially wanted by Vermont, so they could not attack Runcandel.
"And I need to confuse him, too. Let's show him a little bit of how I'm struggling to get money. While suing him, once his secret villa is exposed, I wonder what expression he will make."
"But young master, the possibility of us actually struggling is high. The Seven Colored peacock leaders are already meeting with the Vermont contacts… Frankly, I don't want to use the Imperial family's money."
"I understand, Sir Kashmir."
"Of course, if the situation doesn't improve, I'm willing to bow my head to the Imperial family. The Emperor… if I demand it, he will definitely give an enormous sum of money."
There was no way he would choose to lower his pride to the Imperial family who had exiled him. Kashmir was prepared to abandon his pride as a good leader should, but he did not want to use that final resort unless absolutely necessary.
Jin also hoped that Kashmir wouldn't have to endure such humiliation because of him.
"As for money, I'll try to get some, so don't worry. Strawberry, no. As Gilly said it's still impossible to beat Joshua in terms of financial power, I'll prevent the city from going bankrupt."
Kashmir placed his hand on Jin's shoulder, looking both moved and apologetic as he smiled.
"I am ashamed, young master. It seems like I burden you with too much every time."
"What are you talking about, Sir Kashmir. The problem originally started because of me. Don't think like that. Rather I should apologise."
"No, Young master Jin didn't do anything wrong…"
"You guys are just playing around like kids. Both of you are at fault. So, how do you plan on getting the money?"
"You are a dragon. Do you have any hidden wealth?"
"No, I don't. Even if there was, would it still be there at the storm castle where Runcandels lives, which used to be my hideout?"
"In that case, you'll have to sell your vomit and scales. They'll sell well as perfume and armor materials."
"What!?"
Then, Gilly burst into laughter.
"It's a joke. Don't be so flustered. First of all, we need to borrow some money. Start the business that I put off."
"What kind of business?"
"The business prepared by my friends from the Gold Snow tribe. I must move busily, it's hasn't been a long since I went on vacation, so I can't leave the Garden of Swords for too long."
***
The next day, Jin arrived at Vermont, once again disguised and with a fake identity to enter the country. He dyed his hair white and dressed up like an aristocratic artist using Gold Snow Tribe cosmetics.
'It seems like I have to keep hiding my identity even after becoming a flagbearer.'
In his arms, he held a porcelain vase wrapped in the finest silk.
- Do you really need to take it? It's something I'm pretty fond of though.
- There is a place where I need it.
- Can't you take anything else? That's an art piece is over 1,500 years old and can't be valued...
-Hey! you're also a dragon guardian, right? What's the role of a dragon guardian? The thousand-year contractor need this, so give it to him. Come on, haha. Kid, where do you plan on using this? How about smashing it in front of her?
- Let me give you a beating, little brother.
A while ago, when Jin visited Misha's bar called "Tent," she noticed that the interior decorations were extraordinary. The top-class bar was strictly operated by membership, and the owner was a dragon who had lived for over 3,000 years with exceptional aesthetic sense. Among the decorations were ancient art pieces that even most archaeologists had never seen.
[T/L:- 장막 - means High-end bar, also tent, curtains, veil.]
Jin demanded the porcelain vase that was located in the spot Misha treasured the most (her bed) and had seen it from a glance.
'I wanted to use it at a better time, but I have no choice. This is not bad either. Thank you, Miss Misha.'
Jin had requested it in case he needed it when he found this place.
"We have arrived, Sir."
"Keep the change."
After paying the fare and getting off the carriage, a towering castle soon came into view.
This place, where dozens of guards dressed in shining armor guarded in every direction, was the Hairan clan's ancestral home.
Sword Emperor Castle. (劍皇城)
It was a name that was arrogant yet convincing, fitting for the home of most famous swordsman in Vermont.
Jin, who had been gazing up at the castle for a while, approached the gate.
Contrary to the intimidating castle, the guards were surprisingly kind to Jin as they welcomed him.
The Hairan clan, as seen from Dante's character, also had a good image externally, similar to that of the Zipfel clan.
"What brings you here?"
"Oh, I'm a craftsman named Paul Gray Mick. I've come to deliver the pottery that Sir Dante ordered a while back."
The guards glanced at the pottery Jin was carrying, then nodded as if they understood. This was because it was common for Dante to request pottery from time to time.
"This friend will guide you. Please go to the reception room and wait."
"I must deliver it directly to Sid Dante."
"I cannot guarantee that little patriach Dante will come out himself. However, it is inevitable as the little patriarch is busy with work. Please don't take it the wrong way."
The guard almost smiled when he referred to Dante as the young patriarch.
[T/L:- 소가주 - young patriarch/little Patriarch(小家主)]
Jin know that Dante had took the hard way before the regression, but experiencing it in person is completely different feeling.
"I don't dared to think such a thing. I came without prior notice because it was finished faster than expected. I'm grateful for your hospitality."
"You're the most sensible artist I've ever met."
Jin followed the guard into the reception room inside the castle.
Today, there was only one person who came to see Hairan, and the vast reception room felt empty.
Jin had succeeded in getting in. However, he was unsure if Dante would recognize the name "Paul Gray Mick". If he didn't understand, Jin would have to approach him in another way, which could be troublesome.
Jin stood still and waited for some time, talking with the gatekeeper.
About 30 minutes had passed.
Thududududududududu...!
Jin heard footsteps running from the corridor outside the reception room.
"Ji, no. Where is Paul Gray Mick!?"
Dante hastily corrected himself after reflexively calling for Jin. As soon as he appeared, the gatekeeper respectfully saluted him, and Jin lowered his head as if he had seen his superior.T
"Well, um. Ahem! I've been waiting too long for this masterpiece. You should go back now."
"Yes, young patriarch!"
As soon as the gatekeeper disappeared, Dante hugged Jin tightly.
"Jin! How can you come here without even letting me know? And how long has it been? Have you been well? You've gotten stronger since I last saw you!"
His familiar, playful voice that Jin hadn't heard in a long time.
"Slow down, Dante. You seem a little taller."
"I grew about an inch. You noticed that."
Although he had grown, Dante was still much smaller than Jin. It was an inevitable result of his congenital bone structure.
But Jin could immediately tell how much training Dante had done during the time they hadn't contacted each other.
'At age of 19, he became young patriarch, and his swordsmanship had reached a level that could not be described as anything less than a genius. He's still putting in ten times the effort of others.'
It was impressive. He wanted to open up a bottle of alcohol, but he didn't come here today to do that.
"Dante, I have a request."
"Oh, anything. What is it?"
"Can you lend me some money?"
Asking for money straightaway after meeting for the first time in over a year and a few months meant that this friend was clearly not a good friend.
But Dante thought that if it was Jin, it would be fine. It means that even if Jin ask for something bigger than money, Dante would listen to it.
"How much do you need? Ah, while we're at it, I should pay back the money I borrowed from you when I escaped from the Holy Kingdom, and I'll make sure to pay you an enormous amount of interest."
"About 300 million gold coins."
"I see... Wait a minute. Say that again."
"I need 300 million gold coins."
Dante felt cold sweat on his back for the first time in a long while. Three hundred million gold coins was an enormous amount of money, even for the young patriarch of Hairan.
"Did Runcandel ask you to collect a bounty of 300 million for appointing you as a Flagbearer?"
"No, it's not that. Can I get it?"
"Even I need to get permission from my grandfather to use such a large amount of money. However, I don't have enough justification to ask my grandfather."
Jin removed the silk that wrapped the pottery.
"What do you think about saying that it's for this pottery?"
Dante was not particularly skilled in art, but he recognized that Jin's pottery was not an ordinary object.
It was due to his grandfather, Ron Hairan, who was a pottery enthusiast and had been admiring top-quality pottery in his study and workshop every day.
However, even if it was an exceptional pottery, could it be worth 300 million gold coins? Dante had his doubts.
"A few years ago, I was curious about who shook my grandson's heart."
A new voice came from beyond the reception room.
Ron Hairan.
Hairan's patriarch, and the thrifty knight who competed the longest against the genesis knight Chiron Runcandel. It was his voice.
"I never thought it was a scammer like this. 300 million gold coins? Were you silently listening to such nonsense? I'm disappointed, Dante."
"No, Grandpa. He is not a scammer, I'll explain..."
Shling...!
Ron drew his sword from his waist. Then, the aura that escaped the scabbard caused a slight earthquake in the reception room in an instant, and the air was distorted.
"Besides, that guy has the dirty smell unique to Runcandel."
"Grandfather!"
"I won't kill you. Instead, I'll take one of your arms as a lesson. Don't ever show your face in front of Dante again."