Jean Oberon.

The first time Raven saw him was when he headed to destroy the Troll King’s forces in the South.

Before the arrival of the demonic army, the united forces of the southern lords were struggling to keep bay the pushing waves consisting of thousands of monsters. But their pride did not allow the lords to ask for help from the imperial castle, and they instead asked for help from the southern temple. In response to the call for aid, the temple dispatched dozens of priests and paladins.

However, even with the additional support, it was not easy to destroy a near-undying army of monsters. They possessed superior strength and would quickly recover their stamina due to the influence of the Troll King’s power.

The monsters only started to be pushed back after the Arangis Duchy arrived, followed by the demonic army. Finally, after three months of long battle, the Troll King’s forces were pushed back all the way to the Great Forest of Assia, where the Troll King had initially rallied its forces.

The objective of eliminating the monsters had been achieved somewhat.

However, the southern lords became puffed up and began to shout for the complete annihilation of the monster army. The demonic army was eventually forced to remain and continued to wage war.

Just around that time, a wizard visited Yifran Castle, which was being used as the headquarters of the united armies.

The wizard’s name was Jean Oberon, and he stemmed from the depths of the Great Forest of Assia. The southern lords had never heard of his name, and they looked down on him when they heard of his origins.

Some priests and paladins even openly distrusted him.

However, wizards were very rare, especially those who were called ‘sorcerers’. Sorcerers were gifted by the heavens with attunement for mana. Thus, the leading members of the united armies had no choice but to accept Jean Oberon.

And after he became allied… Jean Oberon became a legend in his first battle.

“I have only seen him from afar, but I am completely sure. Jean Oberon, why is he in El Pasa…?’

Raven slightly clenched his fist as Jean Oberon walked along with an indifferent expression. After realizing his nervousness, Raven became startled.

But soon, he shook his head inwardly.

It would be strange to not be nervous when considering the magic that Jean Oberon had displayed in the Great Forest of Assia.

“Your Excellency, it has been a long time.”

Karl Mandy gave a bow to Count Cedric after nearing him.

“Lord Mandy. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

Even the Governor-General of El Pasa could not mess with Karl Mandy, so Count Cedric stood up and thrust his hand with a radiant smile.

“Say hello, Lord Mandy. This is His Excellency Duke Pendragon, Governor-General of Leus.”

Karl Mandy showed utmost respect at the words of Count Cedric.

“It is truly an honor to meet you, Your Excellency. Your fame is truly known throughout the entire empire. I am Karl Mandy.”

“Nice to meet you. It is rather my honor to meet the tycoon they call the Gold King of El Pasa.”

“You flatter me. I would not call myself a tycoon. I just happen to own a few small stores in El Pasa and in Drante.”

“A few small stores? You jest too much, Lord Mandy. I know you to possess a salt field in Drante, and own half of El Pasa’s merchant ships.”

In addition, even though Raven had not voiced it, he also knew Karl Mandy to dominate the commerce with his linen shops and loaning businesses. In addition, the tycoon also possessed a mine by borrowing the name of a noble who was in poverty.

A brief glimmer appeared in the eyes of Karl Mandy before disappearing.

“You know very well about a small-town merchant.”

“How could I not? There is a person who trades with my family that always grits his teeth when talking about you.”

Karl Mandy smiled and nodded at Raven’s words.

“You are referring to Dos. I am always losing money in Drante because of him.”

The Dos that Karl Mandy referred to in a friendly manner was Dos Giovanni. Raven had only heard of Karl Mandy through Vincent and Dos Giovanni.

“Anyways, I heard that he is doing very well in Your Excellency’s city, York Town.”

“He is an accurate and competent man. Thanks to Sir Giovanni, my city is doing better.”

“I see. Now that the sea is cleaner, I was thinking of visiting sometime soon as well. What do you think, Your Excellency?”

It could have been thought of as an ordinary formality, but Raven quickly caught on to the deep meaning.

Until now, most of the merchants from El Pasa heading to the mainland travelled through Leus. It was because it provided the quickest route, and it was the link between the central and western areas of the empire.

Most importantly, it was also the safest route as there were 7th regiment combat ships and galleys defending the waters of Merlade.

But now that Duke Pendragon and the 7th regiment had destroyed the pirates and the island orcs, there was no absolute benefit for ships from El Pasa to travel through Leus.

Even though Leus provided a faster route to reach the eastern and central parts of the empire, it was much more efficient to travel through York Town if one had business in the west.

In addition, the southwestern part of the mainland had its own attraction for business. The territories of the southwest, including the Pendragon Duchy and Seyrod County, were famous for producing high quality iron ores, gold, and crystals since ancient times.

Until now, however, only a small portion had been exported to the south via Leus.

One could directly travel to York Town in order to purchase iron ore, as well as various ironware made with the excellent smelting techniques of the Pendragon Duchy’s blacksmiths. However, due to the inland pirates and the island orcs in the sea, merchants in the southern port cities, including El Pasa, were unable to travel directly to York Town.

There were only a few merchants who owned several boats, and even they had no reason to change their routes to travel directly to York Town through the dangerous waters.

Therefore, most of the merchants would travel to Leus first, before travelling to York Town along the coast of Merlade.

But the situation was different now that the orcs and the pirates had been exterminated. Above all, Karl Mandy was a mogul of the south, a man who was the equivalent of Giovanni.

He was not just a small merchant that had to join hands with others to run one merchant ship. He alone could operate several ships at a time, and carry out big business in York Town or make direct deals with the Pendragon Duchy.

For himself, and for El Pasa.

“If it is you, Lord Mandy, you are always welcome. If you do not directly coincide with your friend Giovanni’s business, there are still plenty of opportunities. Besides, having you would be wonderful for our duchy as well. Most of all… right now, it will be great for both El Pasa and I.”

“Haha! My heart feels much lighter for the master of a duchy to welcome me so warmly.”

Karl Mandy gave a good-natured laugh.

However, unlike his casual tone, he was deeply impressed by the young duke.

‘I can see why that cautious Dos grabbed on to it right away. You want me to make a profit from doing business in York Town, but support you right now in El Pasa and the South?’

That was most likely the young duke’s intentions.

In the first place, he was the one who took the chance to express his gratitude and willingness to support the duke for the clean-up of the inland sea.

The Duke of Pendragon understood immediately.

Even though the words and actions of the two appeared to be superficial, a deep exchange of understanding was achieved.

The young duke was giving him permission to cross the sea directly into York Town to conduct business, but asking for support for the Pendragon Duchy, the 7th regiment, and the Governor-General of El Pasa in the South against the Arangis Duchy and the swarming lords.

More precisely, it would be ‘supply and munitions support’.

“I am glad you feel that way. Why don’t we set up a separate meeting afterwards and continue later?”

“Yes, that would be wonderful. Then I will be on my way to gather some friends to come with me across the sea to York Town. I will see you later, Your Excellency.”

Karl Mandy smiled, bowed, then started to turn around.

“No, wait a minute.”

“Yes?”

Raven’s words caused Karl Mandy to look up once more.

“I would like to ask you a question.”

“Please speak.”

“The old man over there, has he come with you, Lord Mandy?”

After turning his eyes to where Raven’s fingers pointed towards, Karl Mandy nodded.

“Ah, you mean Lord Oberon. That is right. He is a wizard who came to El Pasa four days ago. A sorcerer, in fact.”

“Hooh?”

Count Cedric widened his eyes in astonishment.

“As you know, sorcerers are very hard to find. I am having him stay in my mansion and teach my eldest daughter this and that.”

It was common for the rich like Karl Mandy to accept wizards and free knights as diners. It would allow them to boast of their wealth and power, and more importantly, wizards were excellent educators of children. This held even truer for sorcerers.

Unlike those who holed in a magic tower to learn a single kind of magic, sorcerers were born geniuses that mastered various fields of magic. They were usually referred to as wise men.

“So you did not know much about the old wizard until now?”

“Yes. His eyes seemed wise, and I had thought it would be perfect for him to teach my child in various fields, including magic. I requested him to stay in our mansion.”

“Well, I see. Would you mind if I spoke with the wizard?”

“Not at all. Please go ahead.”

After saying so, Karl Mandy gestured towards one of the guards standing behind him. The guard approached the old man and whispered in his ears. Then, the wizard turned towards Raven with radiant, star-deep eyes.

The gazes of the two men met in the air.

“…..!”

Raven flinched involuntarily.

It was a familiar sensation.

After being reborn as Alan Pendragon, he had felt such a sensation only twice.

It was when…

‘Great Aunt Attia… And when I first met Sol…’

He felt surprised and nervous at the same time.

He had never imagined receiving such a sensation from the magician he had seen from a distance in the past.

Soon, the guard returned with Jean Oberon.

The daughter of Karl Mandy was chatting with the ladies of El Pasa near her. When she noticed Jean Oberon’s movement, she followed the movement of her writing teacher.

‘Hm…’

She quickly realized that her teacher was headed towards where her father, the Governor-General of El Pasa, and the rumored Duke Pendragon were standing. Her eyes glimmered for an instant.

However, Raven’s eyes were fixated on Jean Oberon, so he did not notice the gaze of Karl Mandy’s daughter. Rather, it was Lindsay who noticed. After hearing of the old man’s identity, Lindsay had been curiously looking towards the direction.

‘That lady…’

When her husband had danced with countless ladies, she remained calm and indifferent. However, her heart sank when she noticed the gaze of Karl Mandy’s daughter. The way she looked at Raven was different from the other southern ladies.

Lindsay could not put it into words, but her woman’s intuition sent her a small signal.

“Lord Oberon, please say hello. This is His Excellency Count Cedric, the Governor-General of El Pasa, and this is His Excellency Duke Pendragon, the Governor-General of Leus and the lord of the Pendragon Duchy.”

Karl Mandy introduced the two men to Jean Oberon with a bright expression.

“…..”

Befitting his status as a sorcerer, Jean Oberon only gave a slight nod towards Count Cedric, the governor-general of El Pasa. However, Count Cedric was also aware of how great a sorcerer was, so he received the greeting with a smile.

Sorcerers could even afford to be arrogant in front of the emperor.

However, what happened afterwards surprised everyone, even Count Cedric.

After removing his gaze from Count Cedric, the sorcerer looked towards Duke Pendragon. Suddenly, he raised his staff to his chest and politely bowed with clasped hands.

“The one who receives the grace of the White Dragon… and is incarnated by the power of the two forgotten gods. Jean Oberon, pursuer of the truth and the path of the stars, greets you.”

“…..!”

Everyone was bewildered at the sight.

Naturally, it was Raven who was the most shocked.

The two forgotten gods that Jean Oberon had just mentioned – Raven instinctively knew that they were the gods mentioned by the Black Dragon Amulaht back in the mausoleum – The Dragon God and the Demon God.