Chapter 21: Xavier’s Strange Adventure

Holy Star City is one of the major cities located in the western part of the Holy Empire. Thanks to its flat terrain, pleasant climate, and convenient transportation, it is a favored stop for merchants seeking to replenish supplies or trade new goods. It truly has the perfect combination of timing, location, and people.

Over time, this small city, built just over a hundred years ago, has become an essential trade hub connecting the western superpower—the United Kingdom of Humans. Its permanent population is close to a million, and with the influx of travelers, that number doubles!

Today, Mr. Xavier, President of the Merchant Association, just like any other day, has traveled a long distance carrying a shipment of scarce goods from the City of Courage, the capital of the United Kingdom, to Holy Star City.

Speaking of President Xavier, his journey in business can be described as legendary; at least, the word “strange” certainly fits.

About a year ago, the Xavier Merchant Association was merely a small trade group with just over a hundred members operating in the western part of the United Kingdom. Their business was far from the extensive reach it has now, extending beyond the United Kingdom and into the interior of the Holy Empire.

The turning point was a mysterious event.

At that time, President Xavier had just finished loading goods from the city of Cheryn in the western part of the United Kingdom and planned to head to the capital, City of Courage, to sell them. They took a well-trodden safe route that they had traveled numerous times. However, when they passed through a small town called Bawo, strange occurrences began.

First, several scouts sent ahead mysteriously vanished. Then, from a nearby camp just outside Bawo Town, over a hundred members of the Association also inexplicably disappeared!

While President Xavier and a few guards miraculously managed to escape unharmed, fear and despair quickly took hold. After all, an incident of such magnitude could easily bankrupt the already modest Association, leaving his over a decade of hard work in ruins.

But at that moment, two mysterious girls, who had just temporarily borrowed the Merchant Association’s carriage, stepped forward.

Even over a year later, Xavier still vividly remembers the figure clad in a white robe, petite yet radiating an aura of noble purity, alongside a similarly beautiful but formidable-looking blonde girl, cold and powerful.

What these two girls did remains a mystery to Xavier, but after they headed toward Bawo Town, within a day, the area known as the “Forbidden Zone” for the undead erupted in a cataclysmic divine punishment.

A pillar of white light shot up, completely obliterating the decrepit ancient city, causing countless spirits that had been trapped for over a hundred years to turn to dust overnight. Even though Xavier was several dozen kilometers away, the terrifying sight was enough to make his legs tremble uncontrollably, and he nearly sat down on the ground in shock, failing to stand for a long time.

Later, he learned from nearby city folk what had transpired in the Forbidden Zone. While he could not confirm everything, Xavier felt strongly that it was likely linked to those two girls who called themselves Vilyric and Xiao Guang.

Of course, being a prudent businessman, he kept quiet about these events and advised the accompanying guards to do the same.

After all, such unimaginable power could easily crush mere mortals caught in its waves, and self-preservation was the wisest course of action.

Even more astonishingly, shortly after this event, just as Xavier planned to shut down and sell off the Association to gather compensation for the many families that had come knocking at his door, a holy knight girl named Edwina appeared, bringing back the missing members from Bawo Town!

Xavier was both surprised and overjoyed; he immediately demanded an explanation. However, Miss Edwina insisted he not ask too many questions and repeatedly emphasized that this was a matter far beyond a mere ordinary person like Xavier.

With such a cryptic response, Xavier dared not pry further. After helping the beleaguered President account for the personnel, the Holy Knight soon departed.

Perhaps as fate would have it, during this encounter, Edwina seemed to notice the goods that had piled up and couldn’t be sold due to the incident. She left Xavier a letter of introduction, indicating that if he wished, he could sell his goods to a certain merchant group in town at fair market prices, at least allowing him to break even.

Edwina’s gesture was undoubtedly a lifesaver for Xavier.

After all, while most of the Association’s members had been fortunate to escape, the terrifying experiences they had faced with the undead and witnessing that blinding light had left many hesitant to continue the demanding life of a traveling merchant. Even the captain of the guards, Aornet, a former adept adventurer, chose to resign due to despair.

With many members leaving, funds were desperately needed to restructure and recruit new staff. Under pressure, Xavier decided to take a chance, carrying Edwina’s letter to the address she had provided.

He had no idea what awaited him. To his astonishment, it turned out that this holy knight Edwina was the daughter of the Cecelia family, one of the three great noble families of the Holy Empire!

The merchant group she referred to was none other than the renowned Cecelia Merchant Association, a world-class conglomerate with a history of nearly a thousand years!

Of course, what Xavier found in that city was merely a branch of the Cecelia Merchant Association.

Thanks to that letter of introduction, the Cecelia Merchant Association generously purchased all the backlog of goods from Xavier’s Association at a very generous price, alleviating his immediate crisis.

Afterward, Xavier quickly rolled up his sleeves, reorganizing the Association and establishing a partnership with the prestigious Cecelia family, enabling rapid growth, even achieving import and export dealings with the Holy Empire with their assistance.

Cecelia family became the Association’s primary partner in the Holy Empire, and recognizing their importance, Xavier personally led each shipment to ensure everything went smoothly.

This time was no different.

“Hah… I say, President, isn’t it alright to have a drink every now and then? We’re in Holy Star City now, not out in the wild! A little leisure helps maintain work efficiency, doesn’t it~”

A cute girl with brown hair tied in a neat ponytail, dressed in a black-grey coat over thin leather armor, slammed a wooden cup on the table with a “thud,” belching and smirking mischievously at Xavier across from her.

With several dishes nearly emptied in front of him, and the President, who remained silent, sighed and shook his head.

“I’ve said it many times, Sasha, this isn’t about safety. Unlike you warriors, the most important weapon for a merchant is their mind. I must keep my thoughts clear enough to seize fleeting market opportunities. Doing business… it’s not just about transporting goods you know.”

“So, drinks that dull the mind should only be sampled sparingly.”

   

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