Translator: CinderTL
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The cool sea breeze drifted gently from the direction of the harbor, and under the blue sky and white clouds, Frand Port was as prosperous as ever.
The city presented a vibrant and lively scene. The sunlight sparkled on the shimmering sea, and countless ships, like giant beasts, slowly sailed into the harbor, their sails crisscrossing and masts standing like a forest.
The dock was bustling with noise and activity. Workers busily loaded and unloaded cargo, and treasures from all over the world were piled up like mountains. Spices, silk, porcelain, gold, and silver glittered temptingly under the sunlight.
In a tavern in the port district, languages from various places intermingled. Merchants haggled loudly, sailors told tales of distant lands, and the air was filled with the salty sea breeze and the scent of alcohol.
Behind the bar, the tavern owner, Clement, cradled a glass of beer, leisurely rocking in a wicker chair. His belly had grown even larger than a few years ago, and a few more wrinkles had appeared on his forehead. In truth, he didn't need to be here; the staff could handle the customers. But Clement loved the noisy, bustling atmosphere of the main hall. Drinking beer and listening to the tall tales of travelers from all over was his greatest pleasure after lunch.
As he grew slightly tipsy, Clement suddenly recalled that afternoon ten years ago.
Back then, he also ran a tavern—or rather, an entertainment venue that doubled as a tavern and a brothel. But secretly, he had another identity: he was an informant for the pirate leader "Eel" in Frand Port, using his business to gather intelligence for the pirates.
TL/N: Referring to chapter 116.
Later, for some reason, his dealings with the pirates were discovered by the Alden Navy.
That afternoon, a few naval officers caused a commotion in one of the private rooms. When Clement went to handle the situation, he was immediately pinned to the ground as soon as he entered. The officers closed the door, gagged him, and strung him up, beating him until he confessed to colluding with the pirates—back then, the Earl's enforcers were that straightforward and brutal, though things had improved in recent years.
Under the threat and unbearable pain, a terrified Clement quickly agreed to cooperate with the Alden Navy. From then on, his tavern transformed from a pirate intelligence hub to a naval intelligence hub.
The pirates were unaware that Clement had switched sides. The false intelligence he provided played a significant role in the navy's successful eradication of the "Eel" pirate gang.
Given Clement's contributions after his defection, Lord Paul Grayman, who was still an Earl at the time, decided to commute his punishment to probation. After all, having served as a pirate informant for so many years, some punishment was inevitable—his tavern would continue to gather intelligence for the navy, and he was forbidden from leaving Frand Port without permission.
Over the years, his tavern had expanded several times in size. However, due to the "Custom Reform" in Alden Town and the annual high-intensity crackdown on vice, the tavern's former special services were forced to shut down. The women, under the city hall's arrangements, either found work or married, leading normal lives. Clement's tavern became a simple establishment offering food and lodging.
Thanks to its prime location and steady stream of customers, the tavern continued to serve as a naval intelligence hub. The navy even paid a handsome annual fee and helped deal with troublesome patrons, making Clement feel like he had secured a powerful ally. He was determined to continue serving the Alden Navy.
He had long since completed his sentence and had witnessed the dramatic transformation of the port city from a small harbor town into a bustling metropolis with a population of over a hundred thousand. Whenever he thought about the city's changes, Clement felt a sense of pride.
He had helped the Alden Navy eradicate the lawless pirates, removing a stumbling block to the city's development—those dark days of serving the pirates and being beaten into submission were buried deep in his memory, something he never wanted to recall.
For some reason, today he found himself thinking about that afternoon when he was beaten.
A loud clang interrupted Clement's reminiscence as the tavern door was pushed open. A cold gust of wind blew in, making Clement shiver.
He rose from his chair and saw a cloaked figure standing at the entrance, slowly walking toward the bar. Under the candlelight, the figure's nearly six-foot-tall frame cast a long shadow on the floor.
Clement stood up, intending to personally attend to this guest.
The shadow of the cloak obscured the person's face, but a cool voice emerged: "A room for the night!"
It was a woman.
Clement replied, "Respected guest, it's fifty copper coins per night."
As the woman reached into her pocket to fetch the money, Clement couldn't help but glance at her hand. It was as white as jade, with long, slender fingers.
'She must be a beauty!' Clement, with his experience in the special services industry, was confident in his judgment.
"She must be a beauty!"
Suddenly, a voice echoed in the hall, perfectly mirroring Clement's thoughts.
Clement frowned and saw a drunken man staggering to his feet from a table, stumbling toward the bar.
The drunk stopped by the bar, turned to his equally inebriated companions, and shouted, "Hahaha, you'll have to pay for my drinks for five days straight!"
"Win the bet first!" his drunken companions jeered, raising their glasses.
The female guest turned around, and the drunk, known as Haus, suddenly grabbed her cloak and yanked it off.
The woman's appearance was instantly revealed.
The first thing people noticed was her long, silver-white hair, cascading like a waterfall down to her waist, with tiny ice crystals seemingly clinging to the ends, shimmering under the light.
When their eyes moved to her face, everyone's hearts skipped a beat. Her complexion was pale but exquisitely beautiful, like polished white jade. Her eyes were ice-blue, resembling the frozen depths of a thousand-year-old lake.
Her figure was striking, likely that of an adventurer. She wore black leather armor that clung tightly to her well-toned body, with a narrow waist that flared out into graceful curves, making one want to reach out and hold her.
The drunk who had pulled off her cloak stared at her, stunned by what he saw.
Just as everyone was marveling at her beauty, the woman standing quietly in front of the bar suddenly raised her hand.
In an instant, everyone in the tavern felt a chilling cold descend upon the room.
(End of the Chapter)
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