Chapter 32: Arthil’s Winter Wind

Sizzle, sizzle.

The Korean beef ribeye was grilling on the pan.

Choi Kangjoong grabbed the meat as soon as it was roughly cooked on both sides.

The inside was still raw, but it tasted better this way than being fully cooked.

“Did you come here to eat raw beef? Cook it properly before you eat. You’ll get a stomach ache like that.”

Yoo Haein scolded him.

Choi Jooyoung divided the well-cooked meat between Yoo Haein’s plate and his own.

Seeing him nibble slowly without eating much, Choi Kangjoong was certain something was deeply troubling him.

Still, his face brightened when the juices burst in his mouth.

Watching him, Kangjoong felt uneasy.

He wanted to hear about the problem and help solve it.

Placing some meat on Jooyoung’s plate, he gently asked.

Jooyoung hesitated, then ordered a bottle of soju.

Yoo Haein gave him a knowing look.

“Kangjoong’s an adult; he should know. He’s not a kid.”

“He’s just worried about us for no reason.”

“When else will you get to be worried over like this? And who knows? Kangjoong might just solve it coolly.”

Yoo Haein nodded.

“Did you lose a lot on stocks?”

“Not really. I sent some goods to the Elf side recently. But they say the cargo count doesn’t match, so it’s stuck under suspicion of smuggling.”

“That happens sometimes. But they hold you for that?”

“We explained it’s not smuggling, but they’re threatening to conduct a full inspection on every item.”

Jooyoung took a sip of soju.

“Even now, considering the cargo ship costs, labor, and all, it’s a big loss. If they keep it stuck for a long time during that inspection, who knows what will happen.”

“The costs must be enormous.”

“Exactly. They’re even charging berthing fees.”

“Isn’t the customs office asking for money?”

“We thought so, so we sent someone over. Want a drink?”

“No.”

“When will I ever drink with my son?”

“What taste does soju have anyway?”

“I’ve tasted the bitterness of life, so soju is sweet to me.”

Jooyoung joked, and Yoo Haein scolded him, asking what nonsense he was talking about.

Jooyoung frowned but swallowed the soju down his throat.

“Don’t worry. Even if there’s some loss, Yoonseo or I will cover it.”

“That’s enough. I’m not going to beg my kids already.”

Choi Kangjoong planned to sell a lot of Marsala stones and build another company if his father’s business failed.

“Which port is the ship stuck at?”

“Derraellan. It’s owned by the Derrael family, so nothing like this has ever happened before, but suddenly it did.”

“If it’s Derraellan, I think I can solve it.”

“How?”

“I told you, I’m friends with Iselin.”

Jooyoung burst out laughing.

He thought his son was trying to comfort him, even if jokingly.

“Right. One call from you would solve it.”

“Just wait. I’ll get it sorted quickly.”

“Now that Kangjoong said that, I feel the blockage lift. The meat tastes better, too.”

“Eat well.”

Jooyoung’s chopsticks moved faster.

Watching him, Kangjoong realized this was the first time he’d heard his father’s deep worries.

‘He must have silently endured it while I was holed up in my room.’

Was it only then?

His father’s shadow had begun long before Kangjoong was born.

‘Now that I’m out in society, I can be someone to lean on.’

He wanted to resolve this quickly.

After dinner, he packed a box of vitamin drinks and headed home.

“Won’t she say something if it’s too late?”

It was twenty minutes before 10 PM, the usual curfew time.

In Kangjoong’s imagination, Iselin’s voice would sound icy even at this hour: “It’s too late.”

“Let’s just try. I returned the Spirit Tree, so this much should be okay.”

After several rounds of mental rehearsal and deep breaths to calm his nerves, he pressed the button.

• It’s been a while.

A clear, youthful voice flowed out as if she had been waiting.

No irritation, just a glad tone.

“I have a favor to ask.”

• What is it?

“There’s a cargo ship stuck at Derraellan that can’t unload.”

• Shall I get rid of it?

The abrupt reaction startled Kangjoong.

“No, I want to check if the reason for it being held is legitimate. If it’s not, I want it freed.”

• If the cargo ship belongs to you, Outer, it should pass no matter the reason for detention.

“It’s not mine. It belongs to someone I know… Anyway, it’s important, so it needs to be handled quickly.”

• I will send my attendant immediately.

“Can your attendant handle this?”

• My attendant is a daughter of a high-ranking family, trained extensively for this position. She is both my secretary and adjutant.

“Oh, so it’s a high rank.”

• She’ll turn Derraellan upside down and then some.

“Then please do.”

• Is there anything else you need?

Kangjoong pondered.

Nothing else came to mind.

• How did things go at Hydra Sea?

“It went well. I even saw a strange orc and caught an immortal demon there.”

• Strange orc and immortal demon? I’m curious.

Iselin’s curiosity sparked, so Kangjoong recounted the story.

He had no one else to share these tales with on Dimension Net.

Iselin listened with intrigued interjections.

When the Dark Elf topic came up, she focused intently, remembering every word.

• Thank you. Once again, I receive Outer’s help.

“I didn’t really help.”

• The Dark Elves. Now that we know their purpose and strengths, we can take a favorable position in negotiations.

Kangjoong immediately regretted it.

This would put Dielka at a serious disadvantage.

• Don’t worry. I have no intention of disrespecting them.

Kangjoong was surprised.

He expected Iselin to say, “Get out of Marsala immediately!” to Dielka.

“Why not?”

• Because Dielka Nahrromel knows the Great Council’s secrets. If she returns with the legendary Death Spirit, the Great Council has only two possible reactions: accept her, or eliminate everyone involved.

“You can eliminate them?”

• I could, but I would oppose it, so it won’t happen. The Death Spirit is a great help against the increasingly strong demons. Therefore, the Great Council is likely to allow Nahrromel’s return to cover up their shame.

“Did they create the Death Spirit with that in mind?”

• Seems so. They’re not short-sighted Dark Elves.

Kangjoong glanced at his watch.

11:30 PM.

Almost two hours had passed.

He felt he was imposing.

“Time’s gone by so fast. I’ll hang up now.”

• That was fun. Goodbye then.

The light on the necklace went off.

Satisfied by the pleasant conversation with another person, Kangjoong smiled as he lay on his bed.

“The cargo ship will be handled well too.”

Iselin’s bedroom.

The room had nothing but the highest quality, bathed in a warm aura.

The atmosphere that made people smile flipped 180 degrees into an icy chill as the necklace’s light faded.

“Arthil.”

At Iselin’s low voice, an Elf silently entered.

She was the Elf who had ridden in the limousine with Kangjoong.

“Corruption and greed have seeped into Derraellen. Cleanse it thoroughly.”

“Yes, Princess.”

The cargo ship that had departed Earth and was under suspicion of smuggling was to be unloaded immediately. Compensation and an apology were to be delivered within a week.

“As the Princess commands.”

Iselin lay down, and Arthil left the bedroom.

With a face as fierce as Iselin’s, she headed for Derraellen.

Upon arriving at the port, Arthil summoned every person in charge.

Elves who had rushed over from home and those on duty stood rigidly before Arthil.

Emitting a chilling aura, Arthil reviewed the confiscated documents.

Those without problems were placed on the right, suspicious ones on the left.

As the stack on the left grew, so did the tension and fear among the officials.

“I heard smuggled goods were found. Where are the actual items?”

“The customs director confirmed and disposed of them.”

The head of port security answered.

Arthil sneered.

“Lying to me in person? Do you know who I am?”

“You are the attendant of Princess Iselin.”

“If I say Najamund, you’d know. My father was the police chief, and I’ve learned and seen much under him.”

Najamund was a famous place known to every Elf under Derrael family’s influence.

The port security director’s pupils trembled.

He had expected no problem.

The targeted trade company was a small one from Earth.

If they were pressured under the guise of smuggling, what could they do?

Elf connections were likely only low-ranking officials who had to obediently pay bribes.

They’d suck the marrow dry with straws, then move on when the company collapsed.

It was a common occurrence here.

Many wanted to trade with Marsala, and the authority of the port elves was sky-high for such people.

‘Where on earth did she come from? It can’t be Derrael. It must be Najamund. Then maybe we can smooth this over somehow.’

Not only the port security director but others involved thought similarly.

Use their connection with Najamund elves!

The stakes involved at the port made that possible.

But the Elf who sent Arthil was Iselin, who only thought of Derrael’s revival.

“Do you know Frigan Najamund?”

The port security director asked.

“My cousin. So?”

“He and I were classmates at the Knight Academy. We’ve done various things together and still keep in touch.”

It was a thinly veiled warning: stop or you’ll get implicated because your relative was involved in corruption.

Arthil, who clearly saw his scheme, sneered.

“We’ll have to punish him as well.”

“W-what did you say?”

“This is not Najamund’s business. It is Princess Iselin’s direct order to root out corruption and rot at the port.”

“T-the Princess…”

The port officials whispered, their faces drained of color.

“You’ve done a lot of bad things. If you confess now, I’ll spare your life.”

A biting tension filled the air like a bitter winter wind.

The port officials glanced at one another.

A gaunt Elf broke out in cold sweat and then knelt before Arthil.

“He gave all the orders!”

His finger pointed at the port security director.

“It’s over.”

“It’s finished…”

Arthil and the port security director thought silently.

The next morning.

Choi Jooyoung stayed awake all night and went to work.

Even after drinking, stress kept him from sleeping.

He tried to clear his hazy mind with strong coffee and sat at his desk.

His phone lay quietly on the desk.

“Will Manager Shin be able to handle it…?”

Shin Jeongcheol had boasted about having connections with high-ranking elves and left for Marsala, but Jooyoung didn’t have high hopes.

Knowing his boastful nature, those “high-ranking” elves were probably just mid-level port managers.

Riiing riiing riiing.

A call came from an unknown number.

“This area code is Marsala… Could it be that Director Shin succeeded?”

Jooyoung answered nervously.

• Hello, President Choi Jooyoung.

“Hello. Who is this?”

• I am Arthil, attendant of Princess Iselin. First, I apologize for the port managers’ attempt to extort money under the pretense of smuggling. I wish to offer my apologies.