Chapter 54: The Clover Trade Company’s Crisis (1)
Boreales, North Continent.
At its southernmost edge, the Batevil Kingdom was abuzz as usual.
"Did you hear? About the heir of the Clover Trade Company...!"
"No, not a thing. What happened that’s causing such a stir?"
Unfortunately... The noise was of the unpleasant sort.
Due to a string of grim news, the capital of Batevil, Skya, had fallen into a dark, uneasy mood.
"They say the caravan led by the Clover heir was completely wiped out last night! The broken wagons and corpses were piled into a mound like a mountain..."
"Oh… LAMPAS above!"
"Hmm? Wait. That’s strange. Don’t Geomas eat humans? But there were corpses left?"
It was a fair point. Geomas were monsters that fed on humans.
If a Geoma had attacked, there would’ve been nothing left—not a body, not a trace of blood. Nothing.
That’s why, when someone didn’t return home by nightfall, people simply assumed they had died—and mourned them in silence.
"It is strange. That’s why there’s even a rumor going around that it may have been orchestrated by a political rival."
"Hmm. Makes sense. After all, Aajen Clover hasn’t proven himself worthy of the position yet."
The Batevil Kingdom was known for its vast fields and fine dairy products, but its most prized treasure?
Undoubtedly, the Clover Trade Company. Its headquarters sat at the very heart of Batevil.
─Clover Trade Company.
Decades ago, a colossal organization had formed—an alliance of the Clover Merchant Group and over a hundred merchant guilds and artisan associations.
Using this unparalleled uniqueness as its strength, the Clover Trade Company came to dominate the commercial world of the North Continent and eventually gained influence across other continents as well.
Thanks to this, Batevil rose to prominence as the continent’s most active trade hub and economic center.
An unexpected but fortunate gain.
That’s why the people of Batevil paid close attention to the Clover Trade Company.
Even a minor shakeup in the company could affect their livelihoods.
"Now the other heir candidates have their chance. If the heir fails to prove themselves, they’re stripped of eligibility. …Well, unfortunately, he seems to have lost his life too."
"We still don’t know that for sure, do we? I heard some bodies—including the heir’s—weren’t found. Maybe he’s alive!"
"Oh come on. A pampered weakling with no combat skills? No way he survived that night!"
As the gossipers whispered, the man who’d first brought up the topic lowered his voice and leaned in.
"Ahem. I’ve heard a rather interesting lead, you know..."
"What kind of lead?"
"...Quit dragging it out and just tell us already!"
The slim-faced man clearly knew how to talk. With smooth delivery and a magnetic presence, he had them all hanging on his every word.
"Haha! Sorry! Time is money, I know. I promise it’s worth your while—come closer, everyone."
Then—shh!
He raised a finger to his lips, as if about to share a secret.
"This stays between us, okay?"
"Oh of course!"
"Not a word to anyone!"
Everyone knew full well that promise was meaningless. That the rumor would be all over town by nightfall.
The speaker knew that too.
—In fact, that’s exactly what he intended.
He wanted his words to spread through Skya and eventually all of Batevil.
With a sly glint in his cat-like eyes, the speaker continued:
"It clearly wasn’t a Geoma. There were no wounds, no signs of struggle… and the authorities still haven’t found a single clue."
He trailed off, and the crowd leaned in, hungry for more.
"Doesn’t it seem familiar? Remember the Felche Disappearance Case a while back?"
"Whoa! Now that you mention it…!"
"The pattern is kind of similar!"
That unprecedented incident had occurred just two weeks ago.
The Felche Disappearance Case also left no clues and remained unsolved.
Lowering his voice even more, the speaker whispered:
"It’s just a hunch… but don’t the two seem connected?"
He began elaborating, weaving a narrative with theatrical flair that had the listeners nodding and gasping in awe.
"...So here’s what I think. Maybe the heir is still alive somewhere—and maybe he’ll return to strike back at the scavengers trying to steal his rightful place!"
"Oooh!"
When the man finally finished, the crowd couldn’t stop talking.
"What on earth is going to happen now… I’m worried about the future."
"And the Clover Trade Company… They say the president’s still unconscious from the shock of losing his son."
"Let’s not be too pessimistic. Sometimes misfortune leads to opportunity! Don’t all great heroes and leaders emerge from crisis?"
As people whispered and speculated, none of them noticed—
The speaker who had been in the center of the crowd had quietly slipped away.
"This rumor’ll spread through the capital in a day or two~"
The moment he stepped into a dark alley, the older man’s figure shimmered—and changed form.
He became a young man with distinctive features.
"Nyang-nyang~♪"
Twitch!
A pair of black, pointed cat ears, a long swaying tail, and sharp yellow pupils—a feline beastkin.
Though small in stature, the laid-back yet untouchable air around him was unmistakable.
"Humans sure do love whispering about others, nyang~"
The beastkin giggled, then pulled something from his pocket.
A small, rectangular Nexion.
He was a Hunter.
"Mission complete, nyang~"
[…]
The beastkin placed a call via Nexion. The recipient answered immediately.
"Elwin-nim."
["Well done, Nero. Just as expected—excellent work."]
"Who do you think I am, nyang!"
The feline beastkin—Nero Chase—smiled with genuine pride.
["We’ll be arriving soon. Until then, keep monitoring that person and report their movements. Also…"]
Elwin continued:
["Please try to recruit her to our side as well. If done right, she could become a very useful piece in the future."]
"Got it! Leave it to me, nyang!"
With the call ended, Nero tucked the Nexion away, looked over his shoulder once, then vanished with feline agility—
Off to carry out the next part of Elwin’s mission.
Meanwhile, in the very center of Skya, stood a grand building.
A four-leaf clover made of stained glass shimmered atop the high roof, scattering sunlight and drawing every gaze.
—Clover Trade Company Headquarters.
The most iconic site in Batevil, and currently, the nation’s most talked-about institution.
Within the company, however, the mood was bleak.
Particularly inside the conference room, where executives had gathered in panic after hearing news of Aajen Clover’s death—the air was thick and suffocating.
"Ugh… What are we going to do?"
The elder merchants were deeply troubled.
Not only had Aajen’s caravan met disaster…
But worse—the company president, Nonohen Clover, who was also Aajen’s father, had collapsed upon hearing the news and remained unconscious to this day.
"With the heir dead… the company’s future is in jeopardy."
"Such a shame… Aajen was a fine young man."
"And it’s not just him. The president was already in poor health… That’s why he pushed for the succession ceremony. Now he’s lost the heir—and his son."
"He raised the boy alone after losing his wife early… You can imagine how precious he was."
The elders shook their heads and murmured words of worry and sympathy.
At least, on the surface.
"Ahem! But we can’t just sit around, can we?"
The truth was quite different.
"With the future uncertain… it’s time to choose a new heir!"
A pack of wolves, each hungry for their slice of power, had arrived.
"My great-grandson is quite bright, you know!"
"Pfft! He’s five! You’d need someone in their prime—like my son, who’s a jack-of-all-trades."
"Please. Have you heard of my grandson’s sales tactics? He just broke the sales record for ‘Grow Hair Grow’—that hair tonic."
But among these shameless men pitching their children and grandchildren as candidates…
"Now, I do agree—we need to select a new heir, considering the company’s dire situation. However…"
A calm voice cut in. A man with a cold aura and thin glasses.
"My daughter is still alive. Why bother looking for other candidates? Don’t you agree?"
"…Hrmm."
"Ahem, yes…"
To everyone’s shock, the moment the man spoke, the room went quiet.
He adjusted his glasses with satisfaction and turned.
"Right, Enaka?"
"……"
There stood a small-statured young woman—
Her name: Enaka Clover.
The second most promising heir after Aajen.
"Enaka?"
She didn’t respond to her father’s repeated calls.
Because right now, she couldn’t suppress the emotions boiling inside her.
So I get to be the heir… because he died?
Enaka had worked all her life to succeed the Clover Trade Company.
But every time, her scores, achievements, and results fell short of Aajen’s.
She was never chosen.
I had no complaints. It’s only right that the more capable person leads!
But now? Was she supposed to accept her lifelong dream as a consolation prize?
Not through her merit—but simply because the original heir vanished?
Unacceptable!
She clenched her teeth. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.
She had to do something to calm the explosive emotions within her.
BANG!
Suddenly, Enaka bolted out of the room.
"Enaka—!"
She ignored her father’s desperate call—and ran straight to the person she respected most: her grandfather.
"Nyang"
And from the shadows… a black figure stealthily followed her.