Lord of Caldera - Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Chapter 222

It wasn’t a matter of capability but experience. No matter how skilled someone is, they can’t handle a completely unfamiliar field well from the beginning.

Since Leon was the one acting as Ray’s representative, he had likely stirred things up.

“Well, it’ll all become clear when we reach the castle, won’t it? Let’s just ask him directly.”

“Let’s look around a bit more first.”

Hearing the story directly from the person involved is easy. But sometimes, experiencing things firsthand reveals different perspectives. Sylas decided to explore the territory a bit longer.

“This is beyond what I expected.”

Sylas looked around the auction house with admiration. The elven items were classified into various grades, and the starting prices varied widely depending on the grade.

“Now, this product is a spirit statue carved with magical energy by an elf! Thanks to the magic within, you’ll feel as if you’ve had a long, restful sleep even with just a short nap!”

The auctioneer was enthusiastically promoting the item in the center of the hall.

“It’s a high-grade item crafted by a veteran elven mage! The starting bid is 300 gold coins! Those interested, please place your bids!”

“Three hundred and twenty gold!”

“Three hundred and eighty!”

“Four hundred!”

Nobles from various regions raised their bids with fervor. The price continued to climb, soon surpassing five hundred.

After fierce competition, the spirit statue ended up in the hands of an elderly noble who had first called for 380 gold coins.

“Next up is a perfume crafted by an elven artisan! Though it’s a mid-grade item, the quality is superb! The bidding starts at fifty gold coins…”

“This is a bit risky. Should I have brought more money from the estate?”

“Damn it, I lost this time. I’ll have to wait another month.”

“Should I go to another estate? They might not have items as good as these, but I heard they have decent things…”

Noble heirs and representatives from various regions left the auction hall, muttering in frustration.

Their spending didn’t end after leaving the auction. As if waiting for them, merchants selling luxury goods from other regions had gathered outside the hall.

“Sir, how about browsing over here?”

“Though it’s not an elf-made item, this is a top-quality product crafted by human hands!”

Enticed by the offer, the nobles moved again, ready to open their wallets. While elven goods were indeed rare, there were also types of luxury items they didn’t manufacture at all.

Observing the scene, Sylas was impressed.

“Leon’s skill is beyond what I imagined.”

“Is that so?”

However, Ray’s tone, Leon’s older sister, remained cold. She seemed far from sharing Sylas’s admiration.

“I doubt he’s done much himself in this situation. All that’s happened is people have gathered and formed a market on their own, hasn’t it?”

“That’s part of it. Limited resources do tend to attract wealth. But even with that, he’s done well.”

Sylas counted on his fingers as he explained.

“First, he classified the elf goods into different grades. The elves themselves wouldn’t have done that, so it’s fair to assume Leon did.”

“Does that really count as an accomplishment?”

“It does. Even ordinary items from the elves look like decent merchandise once they’re labeled ‘mid-grade.'”

In short, while ordinary products might hold value to humans, they hold none for the elves. Once people realize that something is an everyday item for elves, its value can plummet.

It’s not the inherent worth of the object. Rather, it’s a matter of pride—the idea of clinging to something that elves see as mundane can seem laughable.

“It’s a matter of pride. But he managed to prevent the value drop by labeling it ‘mid-grade.’ It’s a bit of a deception, but it’s not a simple idea.”

“…That may be so.”

“Second, he shared trade goods with other territories.”

“That was part of the initial agreement, wasn’t it?”

If he’d hoarded the elven items excessively, other noble families wouldn’t have stayed quiet. Sharing the goods was necessary for self-preservation.

“True, but from what I’ve heard, he’s been quite generous. The amount he gave to just two other families is more than what’s here.”

“That’s surprising. I thought he was quite greedy.”

“He must be thinking of the future. Thanks to him, the monsters in the West have been all but wiped out.”

Those coming to buy elven goods were all wealthy. Naturally, even the dangerous West became somewhat safer with the strong escorts they brought along.

Some of the visitors likely had a heightened sense of security. Each time they came and went, they would have cleared out any monsters along their path.

If this happened across the four territories of the West, it would be no surprise. Toby stiffened at Sylas’s guess.

“Then that’s why we barely saw any monsters on our way here…”

“Thanks to those noble escorts. He made good use of them.”

Sylas had thought Leon had potential from the beginning, but his performance had been even better than expected. Ray’s face grew colder as Sylas gave his assessment.

Noticing the chill, Sylas gave Ray’s shoulder a gentle pat.

“Cheer up a little. Shouldn’t you be happy that your domain is prospering?”

“My apologies. I don’t get along well with my half-brother.”

“That’s exactly why you should be happier. His desperate work is a message for you.”

“A message?”

“A plea for survival.”

Leon surely knew how Ray felt about him. She had bullied him from a young age, later even using their mother as leverage.

And now, she possessed not only overwhelming power but also complete control over the Herning family estate. Securing an exclusive elven trade under Sylas was just an added bonus.

“The moment you say, ‘Leon’s a nuisance. I should just get rid of him and spread the benefits to other families,’ three families would tear him apart. Leon knows this well.”

That’s why he’s sacrificed his share, dedicating himself to Ray and considering the welfare of the entire West. He knows he has no idea what might happen if he stops working like a dog.

“In short, he’s saying, ‘I’m useful, so please spare me.'”

“…That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Right?”