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Chapter 55

Putting aside the power Councilor Pablo had as one of the thirteen councilors, he was also the captain of a Rank A expedition team and was a Transcendence Tier expert to boot. If there was ever a single clash, it would be Aquamarine’s crushing, one-sided defeat. If they wanted to compete with him, they either had to receive support from Bermuda on an organizational level or receive backing from the Magic Tower itself.

A question suddenly came to Leonard. “Was it okay to cut off Lucciano’s arm and kill his subordinates?”

“Yes, it won’t be a problem,” Frances replied, apparently having expected him to ask as much. “To Councilor Pablo, Lucciano is about as important as a lapdog. As long as he’s alive, he won’t even care. Though, I’ll admit that lack of attention is probably what made him an incredibly scummy bastard.”

“I see. So it doesn’t matter if someone knocks him around a little, but if he dies, it will be a heavy blow to the councilor’s reputation.”

“Precisely! Even though Lucciano is an illegitimate maggot he doesn’t give a damn about, everyone knows he’s his son. Someone as powerful as Councilor Pablo has to be careful about how they’re perceived by the people around them.”

Leonard had witnessed similar incidents in murim, so he immediately understood the potential consequences. There were even some sects who killed their own illegitimate children and blamed it on another sect to use it as a justification to attack them.

“Anyway, that’s why you have nothing to worry about. Councilor Pablo won’t want to retaliate against me over something like this,” she concluded.

It seemed as if there was something else Leonard wasn’t aware of, but Frances left it at that and kept walking.

As Leonard walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Marianne, Marianne whispered, “Politically, the lady holds a very precarious position in the Atlantis Maritime Alliance. Rather than acting as a counterbalance, she’s more like... a fuse. Left untouched, there won’t be any major problems, but if someone accidentally sets her off, it could cause a large-scale conflict.”

“And Pablo doesn’t want to take that big of a risk,” Leonard finished.

“Yes. No matter how powerful he is, his competitors in the Council will take advantage of the incident. But we can’t rely on her position too much. I’m sure you know why.”

“If she antagonizes everyone, the non-aggression pact could be broken. Is that it?”

Marianne only nodded in response. However, she was impressed by his incredible insight.

Are all members of the Cardenas family like this? Even if they train children in swordplay from a young age, that would barely be enough time to make them as powerful as Leonard. But they teach political theory and strategy on top of that? I suppose the prestigious clans of the Empire really are on another level.

Once again, Leonard had unintentionally misled her.

Leonard stayed close to the other two. He didn’t know where their destination was, but he couldn’t be going around on his own. People would be hostile to someone of an unknown affiliation and identity.

Frances seemed to read his mind. “We’re going to Bermuda’s headquarters first. They take care of all the business related to expedition teams.”

There, they would register his identity and affiliation, confirm Aquamarine’s return, and even submit their income report.

Frances frowned a little, suddenly reminded of the mountain of work she had to do. Even with Marianne’s help, they would have to bury themselves in work for three or four days to get everything done.

Having a good administrative system wasn’t always a good thing.

“Haa...” Frances couldn’t stop herself from letting out a long sigh, but she felt a little encouraged by the sound of the footsteps behind her.

She had been on her own, but she now had Marianne by her side, and it would be possible for her team of two to become three and more in the future. It would depend on her own efforts from there on out.

Yes. This is only the beginning.

Her steps grew lighter as they grew closer to Bermuda’s headquarters.

*

Bermuda, which essentially represented all the expedition teams, was one of the major entities in the Atlantis Maritime Alliance. Even its offices were grandiose, proof of their money and power. It was a hub for people.

Like a whirlpool in the middle of the sea, the outer walls revolved to prevent the inside of the building from being visible from the outside, and the building itself reflected sunlight and shone brilliantly. It wasn’t as tall as the Magic Tower or the tower where the Council convened, but it was marvelous compared to the nearby establishments.

“It’s very impressive,” Leonard whispered. Throughout his journey here, he had been shocked and delighted by many sights, but he was still at a loss for words.

Though the House of Cardenas far surpassed the Alliance in both military and fiscal power, they were frugal with their valuables and spending because they were a family of swordsmen at heart. In other words, they didn’t waste money on building more floors or renovating buildings when it wasn’t called for.

However, the Atlantis Maritime Alliance seemed to feel an obligation to flaunt its wealth to the world, so it created luxurious sights that were sure to be unforgettable to anyone who set foot in the capital.

“Well, at the end of the day, it’s nothing but a waste of money,” Frances said harshly. “Bermuda wasn’t this extravagant when it was first founded. There aren’t many people in high standings among expedition teams in the first place because we’re groups made up of renegades who have skill and talent. In other words, the organization was founded by people who don’t like being ordered around or being meddled with.”

Other than Arcadia, which was a meritocracy through and through, the rest of the continent didn’t take lightly to people who tried to bypass status with skill. Even before the Atlantis Maritime Alliance got its name, the expedition teams that gathered in the ocean had been made up of people who’d personally experienced such treatment. So, they created a coalition that allowed them to be without noble ranks and titles, at least out at sea. Bermuda was founded on the principle of refusing to bow to mere nobles or royal families.

“However”—Frances sneered and glowered at the lapping walls—“there aren’t many people who actually hate the existence of a defined social hierarchy, you know. They’re just frustrated with their own standing. What do you think expedition teams wanted once they obtained weapons, wealth, and power?”

It wasn’t difficult for Leonard to come up with an answer.

I suppose all people are the same.

He’d seen this many times in murim. Smaller sects created pacts or alliances, and the most powerful among them became the leader of a new prominent sect. Then, they would go on to plunder smaller factions as if forgetting their own origins. They blabbed about justice and equality, but that wasn’t what they truly desired.

“A new class system based on rank,” he stated.

“Ooh! How did you know? Did Marianne tell you?”

“You were complaining about it when we got closer to the dock, remember? You said that Rank A expedition teams don’t have to go through the docking procedure or something like that. Whether it’s true or not, the fact that you said it like that means there must be some kind of hierarchy.”

“But I could have been joking,” Frances pointed out.

“Satire has always been used as a way to criticize the flaws of an establishment. It isn’t uncommon for something to begin as a light joke and result in the creation of a manifesto.”

“Hmm, that’s right.” For some reason, she sounded pleased. “But it’s hard to describe in words just how blatant and superficial they are, you see. You have to experience it for yourself.”

“What do you mean...?”

“Here we go. Marianne, you too.”

“Please conduct yourself accordingly when we are inside Bermuda’s headquarters, my lady,” Marianne said, rubbing her temples.

Accompanied by her bodyguard and a confused-looking Leonard, Frances approached the main entrance. Shockingly, the door had no handle, but she wasn’t surprised or flustered. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out something resembling a seal. When she touched it to the door, an artificial voice sounded.

—Captain Frances von Okeanos of B-007 Aquamarine, identity confirmed. Connecting to Zephyros Hall.

At the very same moment, a highly intricate magic circle carved on the surface of the door began to glow, creating a tunnel that would lead to somewhere inside. Unlike the Peak Distance Spatial Portal, the tunnel was stable.

“Do you understand now, Leonard?” she sneered, unable to hide the cynicism in her voice. “The explorers of Bermuda have limited access to the building depending on their rank. Rank B teams can go to Zephyros Hall, while Rank C teams can only go to Eurus Hall. It’s similar for the other ranks.”

“And only the highest-ranking explorers can freely travel between all the floors, I assume,” Leonard said.

“Yes, that’s right,” Frances confirmed. The very same founders of Bermuda who wanted to escape the tyranny of the upper class now acted like aristocrats who kept their distance from the members of the lower class. It was hard not to laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Marianne tried to calm her down. “My lady, it’s time for work.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve always done this, haven’t I? I wear an unbreakable mask in front of other people. Let’s go.”

The three of them stepped into Bermuda’s headquarters.

Hm.

After only a few steps, their surroundings changed entirely. Leonard’s eyebrows shot up in shock. If it weren’t for feeling it with his five senses, he would have likely suspected that he was trapped in an illusion.

Orichalcos Hall. Notos Hall. Eurus Hall.

With each step, they passed a different corridor, each one more extravagant than the last, before they arrived at the fourth one. There were no more after that, as if they were blocked off from the fifth.

The moment they entered the fourth hall, another sound went off.

—Welcome, Miss Frances. We congratulate Aquamarine on its return.

They were now at their destination, Zephyros Hall. The people inside recognized Frances’s party and began to chatter.

“Aquamarine? Is that the princess?”

“It’s been a while since I saw them. Their voyage must have taken them pretty far this time.”

“Marianne is the only real fighter they have, so I’m impressed that they always come back alive.”

“You don’t know much about Aquamarine, do you? As long as they have their captain, they can sail around the Fourth Sea District as if it’s their backyard!”

“Really? I guess that explains why that bastard Lucciano is so jealous.”

Some sneered, some were sympathetic, and some were wary.

Leonard picked up on each individual reaction, making him reassess Frances’s position. Not everyone was hostile bums like Lucciano.

Inevitably, there was also a lot of talk about Leonard himself.

“I haven’t seen that one before. Figure he’s her concubine?”

“He looks the type. His body is well-built, and he looks like one of those white knights from the novels the nobles love so much.”

Perhaps it was because Lucciano had already made such disparaging remarks, but it didn’t make his anger well up as much. However, he would have likely unsheathed his sword if someone had called him a prostitute or something.

Either way, Frances and her party reached the counter without anyone bothering them. A beautiful, elegant lady was standing behind it.

The receptionist of Zephyros Hall, Clara, greeted them politely. “Welcome back to Atlantis, Captain Frances. How may I help you?”

“I’d like to submit Aquamarine’s mission report for approval and find some lodgings for the duration of our stay! Oh, and did we receive any potential new recruits?” Frances asked with a look of excitement.

Seeing how excited Frances looked and sounded, Clara became deeply ashamed. “I have put a lot of effort into advertising your team and sending out notices, but...”

“That’s okay! We can wait!” Frances reassured, making Clara feel a little better. “We’ve already found a new member, so I was hoping you could help me process him!”

“A new member?!”

The receptionist looked deeply shocked. Only then did she finally spot Leonard, who was standing behind Frances. For a moment, she could only stare at him blankly, but Bermuda receptionists were well-trained. She composed herself after a few seconds and cleared her throat.

“Um, may I have your name?”

Clara herself didn’t notice, but her voice was higher than usual. Though some explorers who’d known her for a long time ogled at her, no one was watching them.

Frances gave a small nod, and the boy stepped forward.

“My name is Leonard,” he said.

“Mr. Leonard... All right, I’ve added you in. Are there any particular areas you are currently training in?”

The people in the hall didn’t seem to have very high expectations, likely because he looked young. However, Frances and Marianne had mischievous smiles on their faces because Leonard had told them ahead of time.

“I am in the Second Degree External Force Tier. If you’d like proof, I can show you right here.”

“Pardon?”

In an instant, a heavy silence fell over Zephyros Hall.