Chapter 77: Happy End (1)
After Aajen Clover returned in triumph with the Red Clover, the Clover Trade Company was buzzing with an unprecedented vitality.
It was understandable…
All the internal and external problems that had plagued the company over the past few weeks had been resolved at once!
And so flawlessly, without a single flaw!
“This is all thanks to Young Master Aajen… no, our official heir~!”
“Thank goodness both Nonohen and Aajen are safe!”
“Ah! Today is the youngest we’ll ever be!”
The Clover Trade Company’s staff bustled about, shouting with joy.
Even though they were busy moving goods nonstop, not a single one of them felt tired. It was simply pure happiness.
However, in the midst of the busyness, one worker, who had been diligently carrying boxes, glanced around cautiously and carefully spoke.
“But hey… doesn’t this feel kind of strange?”
“You feel it too, huh?”
Seeing their colleague nodding vigorously without a word, the workers cast curious looks into the distance.
“Here you go. This is a compiled list of all items scheduled for transfer to the Clover Trade Company’s warehouse.”
“……Wait a moment! Worker! Could you please be a bit more careful moving that? Those medicinal herbs are sensitive to shock; they’ll be ruined if you handle them roughly!”
“Unfortunately, we’ll have to discard this entire batch. Mohava fruits are too sweet and spoil quickly once they’re out of season.”
There, beings who clearly differed in appearance from regular humans or LAMPASians were hard at work.
And notably, all of them wore badges shaped like clovers on their chests.
“To think the day would come when the Clover Trade Company and the Magpie Merchant Group, once fierce competitors, would break bread together. A formal alliance, no less!”
“Yeah. Live long enough, and you’ll see anything, huh?”
“I heard they're even redesigning the badge soon — into a magpie holding a four-leaf clover!”
The beginning of all this went back to when Aajen Clover returned with the Red Clover.
Before the senior executives and all the staff of the Clover Trade Company, he presented the Red Clover, thereby firmly proving that he had the right to inherit the position of successor.
“Here, before the beloved citizens of the Batevil Kingdom and all colleagues of the Clover Trade Company gathered… There is an important announcement you must hear. Please, lend me a moment of your precious time.”
Drawing everyone’s attention, Aajen Clover explained the tragic events that had recently struck the Clover Trade Company.
The massacre of the merchant convoy due to mercenary betrayal.
The kidnapping and confinement of Nonohen Clover.
The attempted assassination of Aajen Clover…
He exposed the horrific truths behind these incidents and revealed the hidden culprits responsible.
Naturally, the primary culprit he named was the assassination guild Depicio, one of the so-called Five Great Villain Organizations.
And another organization was also implicated as an accomplice.
“Among the masterminds of this incident is my grandfather, Fitzmetz Magpie.”
It was none other than the Magpie Merchant Group. But what shocked people even more was the identity of the person making these revelations.
“I, as his granddaughter, bear the burden of guilt and responsibility… I bow my head in deep apology. I sincerely express my regrets to the victims of this incident. I am truly sorry!”
The one who accused Fitzmetz Magpie publicly was his own granddaughter, Enaka Clover! It was an unbelievable scene — a granddaughter publicly condemning her grandfather!
“I have here the evidence of the sinister plots concocted by my grandfather and the senior executives of the Magpie Merchant Group. First, let me reveal the list of masterminds and those involved.”
Without showing the slightest tremor, she spoke in a firm voice, revealing every detail and piece of evidence meticulously.
The Viewing Orb containing footage of Depicio’s ambush served as irrefutable proof.
“……As the granddaughter of a criminal, I feel I can barely hold my head up under the sky. But I humbly ask for your mercy. Most members of the Magpie Merchant Group had no part in these heinous acts. They were innocent, hardworking people who lived each day faithfully!”
Bang!
Suddenly, Enaka Clover dropped to her knees and struck her forehead hard against the ground.
“Please, I beg you! Forgive the innocent! They merely fulfilled their duties within the Magpie Merchant Group! I beg you!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
She smashed her head repeatedly against the cold stone floor, shouting in desperation.
“They are people who, despite being discriminated against as different races in this LAMPAS, never spared any effort to overcome the invisible barriers! Please…!”
She struck so hard that blood seeped out between her pale blue hair.
Watching Enaka’s pitiful and desperate figure, the members of the Magpie Merchant Group, who had just learned the horrifying truth about their organization, choked back tears.
They truly knew nothing. They had only gone to work, wishing for today to be better than yesterday…
‘Depicio? That brutal organization of radicalized outcasts? My God!’
‘Massacring merchant convoys, plotting assassinations…!’
‘What on earth was the guild leader thinking—!’
It felt as if invisible hands were squeezing their throats. It was suffocating.
And seeing Lady Enaka desperately throwing away her pride to save them… It was painful, it was grateful, it was heartbreaking.
What would become of them now?
“…….”
As the room fell into awkward silence, overwhelmed by the unexpected situation—
One person stepped forward. It was Aajen Clover.
“Stand up, Enaka.”
“But…”
“Come on. The ground is cold. Take my hand.”
Aajen gently pulled up the resisting Enaka, smiling bitterly.
“Enaka. Honestly, LAMPAS is still shrouded in invisible fear. The terror surrounding us is not just because of Geoma.”
Though Aajen did not state it outright, everyone understood.
King of the Beastkin, Balan.
Great Witch, Barbara.
The impact left by those legendary figures still weighed heavily on the people of LAMPAS…
Especially the Northern Continent, which had suffered the greatest harm.
“To be honest, as a pure LAMPASian, I don’t fully understand the hardships of different races or mixed bloods. I’m ashamed to admit it.”
Aajen spoke slowly, carefully choosing his words, like sifting impurities through a fine mesh.
“But even so, I am not so blind or deaf as to condemn the innocent.”
“……!”
“So you don’t have to go that far, Enaka. We all know very well that you and your people did nothing wrong.”
Looking directly into her quivering black eyes, Aajen gave a reassuring, gentle smile.
Enaka thought suddenly — How dependable he had become, so unlike before.
“Rather, I would like to propose a different alternative. One beneficial to both the Clover Trade Company and the Magpie Merchant Group.”
“……What kind of proposal?”
“In truth, our Trade Company has suffered immense damage, and surely the Magpie Merchant Group has as well.”
“So, the point is?”
Then, Aajen flashed a wide grin. Having spent much time with him in her youth, Enaka instinctively knew.
‘That smile… he’s plotting something again!’
It was the mischievous smile he showed whenever he was scheming something outrageous.
When they were younger, Enaka often got caught up in Aajen’s whims, and each time, it led to unimaginable results.
It’ll be fun, Enaka.
Like the time he gave away all the rice stocks as free bread for the poor right before a massive famine struck the nation.
Or the time he ran away secretly, only to return after discovering a new type of medicinal herb, which later helped the company amass great profits during a plague outbreak.
To Enaka, his actions had often seemed reckless, but they somehow always brought good fortune to the Clover Trade Company.
‘A-anyway…! He’s definitely up to something again!’
Usually calm and diligent, Aajen had moments when he completely flipped.
And now was one of those moments.
Enaka sensed an ominous premonition.
“Today, I have been officially recognized as the heir of the Clover Trade Company. Meanwhile, the Magpie Merchant Group, whose current head is now a criminal, will need to appoint a new leader. You, Enaka, are the most likely candidate.”
“I suppose… that's true?”
Enaka responded reluctantly, unable to comprehend why Aajen was bringing this up.
Until just now — the part where she knelt and he declared the Magpie members innocent — that had all been prearranged.
But this ‘proposal’ was something entirely new!
‘What are you scheming now, you rascal?!’
Enaka suppressed her fiery temper and waited for his next words.
“So how about forming an alliance?”
It was a truly groundbreaking proposal!
Currently, the Northern Continent’s commercial world was divided between the Clover Trade Company and the Magpie Merchant Group.
But if the recent incident became widely known, the Magpie Merchant Group’s reputation and trustworthiness would be shattered.
Meanwhile, the Clover Trade Company would enjoy an unparalleled golden age.
Rather than completely swallowing the weakened Magpie Merchant Group through acquisition…
Aajen Clover chose cooperation and coexistence.
“……Huh?”
“Haha! It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time.”
Seeing Enaka's wide-eyed, stunned expression, Aajen spoke softly.
“Imagine if our Clover Trade Company’s technology and capital joined forces with the Magpie Merchant Group’s creativity and designs… What wonders we could create. I’ve always dreamed of that future.”
“…….”
“What do you think? Of the alternative I propose.”
And that future— Was also the very dream Enaka had secretly longed for!
Her fingertips trembled slightly without her realizing it.
“So that we can learn more about each other, understand each other, and no longer fear each other.”
Aajen’s eyes curved gently as he spoke. So kindly.
“So that one day, we can truly forgive each other.”
“……!”
The words of someone who had suffered most through this ordeal.
Feeling an overwhelming rush of emotion, Enaka bit her lip hard. Then, she squeezed out her voice.
“Can you promise? Never to break it midway. The two sides must remain equals. Until the very end… together.”
“Of course!”
Grasping her hand tightly, Aajen gave a vigorous reply.
“You know it well — the Clover Trade Company stands for trust.”
“……Then, fine. Let’s do it. Let’s form an alliance!”
Thus, the alliance between the Clover Trade Company and the Magpie Merchant Group was born.
Just like when the Clover Trade Company itself first emerged —
Another unprecedented union had come into existence!
Amidst the resulting domestic and international commotion—
An even greater sensation was brewing — A group gaining global attention without exaggeration.
“By the way… do you know who just went up to the executive offices? I didn’t recognize them.”
“Oh~ those are the people who saved Young Master Aajen!”
“What—!? Those people!?”
That group was—
“The direct members of the Top Hunter of Yellow himself!”
It was Spero!