The Golden Crown Merchant Guild was renowned throughout the Holy Empire of Divinia for its vast array of networks rumored to be on par with the Royal Family, especially in terms of information gathering.
They offered a variety of services ranging from legalized slave trade to hazardous auctions. In addition, their massive influence extended to every possible institution within the holy empire as long as it was worth the investment and the risks.
However, if there was one thing the Golden Crown was known for—it was the nigh-perfect escort missions always guided by the veteran and powerful [heroes].
During its early days, the Golden Crown sometimes faced complications during escort missions. But then, as time passed by, as they established themselves to be trustworthy, just by seeing the [Golden Crown] insignia depicting a regal crown being cusp by two hands on either the horse-drawn carriages or the escort personnel's armor, no one would dare to even attempt banditry in their way.
Even insatiable hunger would make them hesitate to strike against the Golden Crown, which would only lead to their deaths, though at this point, sometimes quick death was mercy than living in an impoverished land.
'This is what I call safe passage.' I muttered, seeing from the carriage's window different sceneries as I traveled along the Golden Crown, which had major transactions and delivery to the territory adjacent to Eshu County.
From cold mountains, eerie forests, and scorching plains… it had taken a week or so until the carriage witnessed the outskirts of a worn-out fortress exuding a reckless abandon atmosphere.
Approaching the considerably enormous dilapidated city gate, where no soldiers were stationed anymore as though the city already turned into a ghost town, I bore witness to the sight of despair.
On the way here, I was informed by the coachman about what had transpired in the Eshu County, and the precise state of its citizens who had nowhere to go.
'What a mess.'
Being a naval intelligence officer in my previous life, I had heard and seen many things that no amount of readiness the public could prepare to swallow without it messing in their head.
My eyes darted around, their emotions inexplicable.
Was it pity?
Dead bodies scattered through the corners of the city.
Lifeless eyes were following the Golden Crown carriage, though hope was nonexistent in them.
A malnourished child lost their tears in front of their mother's rotting body, though death couldn't come fast enough to end their misery.
No homes were spared. Every infrastructure was utterly crushed by boulders as some flesh remained flattened underneath.
It was a land of no worth.
It was a land before hell.
"They seem to have a grudge, don't they?" I muttered, prompting the coachman leading the carriage to ask,
"Sorry, sir?"
"You said what happened here was due to territorial war. Yet the opposing power did not even claim the land but rather led it to ruins. I get that the Eshu County's surrounding was nothing but barren, yet even its people were abandoned to die."
Wouldn't it be better to feed them, and get them to work?
Every head would count.
Hearing my musings, the coachman, who resembled an old man in his early fifties, replied carefully,
"I have no words, sir. Even I was surprised by the Miss's direct request to escort you safely. I couldn't understand what value this land possesses for you to return as what remained of it is the smell of death that could drive anyone to insanity."
I listened to the coachman's logical words.
What worth would this place even have at this point?
It was inconvenient to return to. Everything was in shambles.
However, strategic-wise, it was the ideal place for me to put the plans in my head forward.
Barren land.
Filthy enough to be avoided by every traveler.
It was the perfect secluded territory that could be neglected for years to come.
"There's no need to understand. You can take it as my stubborn attempt to fulfill my obligation to salvage whatever remains." I chuckled.
Hearing my chuckle, the coachman, whose eyes were only focused on the uneven and narrow road, glanced at me for a moment with an inquisitive gaze—I could tell he misinterpreted what I had just said.
'So he's returning to the previous lord's manor to take every remaining wealth, if there's any left?' The coachman thought.
I didn't entertain what the coachman was thinking as I opened the window of the carriage, then screamed at the top of my lungs,
"To anyone who can hear me, come to the outskirts of the lord's manor. I will provide you with food, drinks, and medicine for free!"
It was at that moment that the coachman looked at me with bewildered eyes.
"S-sir, what-?"
"Just keep driving. Why? You thought the food and medicine I bought from your Master are for me? Or whoever's left in the manor?"
He was at a loss for words, sensing the forlorn gazes and frail footsteps gradually following the carriages.
I was generous enough to spend a few hundred gold for food and basic medicine from the ten thousand I received in exchange for the information I provided to Ravelle, the Golden Crown's Master—at this point, she was superficially an heir, but everything was already at the palm of her hands.
After an indefinite amount of time, we arrived in front of the manor.
It was a mansion with see-through fence-like walls that couldn't be climbed up, a considerably wide dark-hued steel gate, a miniature garden, and the elegant house itself.
In front of the gate, there were two well-equipped soldiers, if worn-out armor was considered well compared to the state of the citizens, who looked at the familiar symbol of the Golden Crown, causing their eyes to widen.
"G-Golden Crown?"
"W-why are they here?"
They were tensed, understandably so.
What could the largest merchantry throughout the holy empire had to do with this dying place?
Hearing them, I slowly opened the carriage in front, began my descent, and observed these two soldiers through the [Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell.]
Seeing their flustered face, I asked the calvary-like mercenaries who escorted us all the way.
"Unload the goods I bought. Then, you… and you, everyone inside the mansion, call them outside. I don't care if they're on the brink of collapse, just call them."
The two soldiers looked at each other; fear was in their eyes.
'It was something I already saw through Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell… their emotions.'
Just as my order entered their ears, the door from the manor suddenly burst opened, revealing two figures—a girl in tattered clothes, and a knight in shining armor.
It was suitable for some sort of romantic scenery.
But reality was cruel… as the knight dragged the girl by her hair.
Meeting my gaze, the knight chuckled,
"Hoho, who do you have here?"