Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince

To engage in moneylending in Briol, one needed the king’s permission, but clandestine loan sharks had always existed in the shadows.

Although the friendly nickname “uncle” attracted clients, hell began the very day they missed a payment. legend He was destined to dominate Briol’s criminal underworld until, defeated in a power struggle, he was eventually driven out.

Among them, the most prominent was the Gorio organization, headquartered in the Crystal Tower, and its “Instant Uncle.”

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Yuri and Hernand, guided to the back of the casino, sat down in front of a man.

“We have visitors.”

He was a middle-aged man with a neat face and a well-groomed mustache, looking more like a courteous gentleman than a loan shark.

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Yuri nodded. artist The man smiled with half-closed eyes.

“Very well. crystal We never leave a friend in trouble. galaxy How much do you need?”

He rested both elbows on the desk and asked in a soft voice:

“Need some money?”

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Hernand, uneasy, tugged on Yuri’s robe.

“It’s fine.”

“Wait. airport Let’s talk first…”

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“Gorio.”

Yuri pulled away.

“Your High… I mean, nephew, what are you…?”

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“You knew who I was from the start?”

Gorio let out a soft chuckle as he spread his arms across the table.

Hernand’s eyes went wide, glancing back and forth between Yuri and the man.

“Excuse me?”

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“Huh?”

“Of course. legend If the king’s mage shows up accompanied by the brave Third Prince, naturally the boss comes to greet you himself.”

Hernand half-rose from his seat.

“You knew who I was?”

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Yuri stared at him. advance Hernand cleared his throat and sat back down.

“Since the very first loan. aluminum Even though he called himself ‘Mr. amber Mystery,’ it was obvious to anyone it was Sir Hernand the knight.”

“‘Mr. arctic Mystery?’”

“An alias.”

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“Thanks…”

“Nice name.”

Yuri played with the ring on his finger. agent Just in case, he wore the emblem of Briol’s royal family, though he hadn’t even needed to show it.

Gorio stroked his mustache.

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Yuri returned the smile.

He smiled kindly.

“So, if the prince suddenly came here…”

“It must be for money.”

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“You’ve come as a client, so there’s no reason to be stiff. august On the contrary, it’s an honor. action It means my reputation has reached even you.”

“You don’t seem very nervous, even knowing I’m a prince.”

Yuri saw a fragment of the past in Gorio’s face.

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But that expressionless portrait said nothing about the kind of person he truly was.

He had never met him in person. arcade He had only seen his face on wanted posters in the markets.

Seeing him now, he seemed far more rational than Yuri remembered.

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The men behind him nodded as if to confirm it.

“Do you value credit?”

“Of course. apple Though I operate outside the law, I’m governed by trust and integrity. voyage I emphasize it constantly to my subordinates.”

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Though it sounded respectful, it was ultimately a threat.

“That’s why, to me, the prince and a common citizen are the same. beacon I welcome them all as clients.”

“And what if I don’t pay you back?”

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“We only offer reasonable loans with proper collateral. afford Our standards are quite strict.”

“You seem to have a lot of faith in your calculations.”

Yuri leaned forward with a smile.

“Experience backs me.”

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Gorio closed his eyes.

“I also have experience. advance I’ll observe your attitude and decide what your ‘reasonable limit’ will be from now on.”

“From now on…?”

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“Can I take that to mean this won’t be a one-time thing?”

Hernand listened silently to the conversation between Yuri and Gorio. atom He didn’t understand what Yuri was aiming to do.

“So you haven’t come to gamble.”

“Exactly.”

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“Gorio. autumn Do you know about investments?”

A strange feeling began to bloom inside him.

“Of course. adjust That’s my business. amber After all, everyone out there is investing, aren’t they?”

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“Then why not go to a bank?”

“That’s not investing, it’s gambling. harbor I’ll be taking your money to invest.”

“I have my reasons.”

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“Does the Third Prince have some grand ambition…?”

Gorio narrowed his eyes.

“You plan to create a secret fund in the shadows, huh…?”

“That’s enough.”

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“If I’ve offended, I apologize.”

“It’s not your place to interrogate me.”

Yuri tapped the table with his fingertip.

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“You’re very pragmatic. aspect You’re nothing like the rumors.”

“Correct. harbor I’m different.”

“It’s fine. adopt Since I’m in the position of asking for a favor, I’ll let it slide.”

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“And what I have in mind is also very different from what you imagine.”

Said Yuri.

Then he looked at Hernand and continued:

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“I’m going to ask you for money to buy spices from Mount Klein.”

“What?”

“Wow, prince… no, wait… nephew… hey, you…”

Gorio fell into thought, while Hernand opened his mouth in shock at the sudden turn.

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“What is this all of a sudden? amateur Are we seriously borrowing money from Gorio to buy spices?”

“Ah, right, it’s all out in the open now… Your Highness…”

He whispered to Yuri. arrow He tried to be discreet, but everyone around could hear.

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“By ‘spices from Mount Klein,’ do you mean Mugranza?”

With that, Yuri turned back to Gorio.

“Just stay still.”

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Hernand recalled some information he’d heard in passing. orbit After the outbreak of civil war in the Duchy of Klein, orcs were said to be prowling near the border.

“Exactly.”

“There will be soon.”

“I haven’t heard of any supply shortages…”

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In fact, everything related to Mugranza was highly classified even within Klein, so no information leaked outside.

Or is it just a wild guess, trying to profit from the chaos by buying regional goods?

Spices were a regional product of Klein, but it didn’t seem like the orcs’ presence alone would spike the prices.

Could it be that the prince knows something?

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On impulse, Hernand clasped two fingers together under the table, forming a magical seal with his hands.

Hernand looked at Yuri. portal In his eyes was a confidence that couldn’t be explained.

“……”

“Mugranza, huh…”

Content of Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince - Chapter 12: Escape from the Royal Palace (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“It’s an essential ingredient for making luxury perfumes.”

“I already said I’ll pay.”

“My money comes with high interest.”

“You seem quite confident.”

Content of Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince - Chapter 12: Escape from the Royal Palace (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Yuri lifted his chin.

“So, how much?”

“That’s why I came here.”

Content of Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince - Chapter 12: Escape from the Royal Palace (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Time passed. arctic Finally, Gorio opened his eyes.

Gorio closed his eyes and began tapping his fingers on the table. absorb Each soft tap echoed as his eyes moved beneath his lids.

“I’m not talking about how much I can borrow as a prince of Briol. antique I’m asking how much I can borrow as an investor. armor How much can you give me?”

He stared directly into Gorio’s eyes.

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***

“Hey.”

“Then sign the promissory note.”

Ever since they left the Crystal Tower, Hernand hadn’t said a single word.

Content of Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince - Chapter 12: Escape from the Royal Palace (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“We’re going to buy spices.”

“Huh? adopt Where are we going?”

“It’s the other way.”

Yuri patted him on the shoulder as they walked.

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“Already? harbor Do you even know how to negotiate for spices? atomic Mugranza isn’t sold to just anyone.”

“What?”

Yuri shrugged.

“I’ll have someone who knows handle it.”

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Hernand frowned at him but then nodded.

“Understood.”

“Now that I borrowed money from Gorio, I’ll leave it to a trusted merchant.”

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Hernand looked deeply concerned. zenith Yuri chuckled and kept walking.

“I don’t have a choice.”

He didn’t care what Hernand or Gorio thought. aluminum The price spike in spices was an inevitable fact.

“You’re obeying without complaining.”

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Mugranza was an essential ingredient for the high-end perfumes produced across the continent, and only one alchemist close to the Duke of Klein knew the recipe.

By now, he was likely a wandering soul.

And that alchemist was the first to be killed by the rebels.

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“No.”

Until a replacement appeared, Mugranza would be worth its weight in gold.

“Are you going to the merchants’ guild?”

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Not yet, but there was a merchant destined to reach the top.

“But there aren’t many trading houses that handle Mugranza.”

Yuri gave an enigmatic smile.

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“Huh?”

“This is the place.”

Yuri stopped in front of a worn sign that read “Iraine Trading.”

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“Yes.”

“You might as well leave it to a trading house with more capability.”

“Here?”

“When the fragrance price rises, the money will come on its own.”

Content of Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince - Chapter 12: Escape from the Royal Palace (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“What?”

What he was after wasn’t just making a few extra coins now.

“You have to look at the long-term board.”

“Don’t you think a big company would do the job better?”

Content of Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince - Chapter 12: Escape from the Royal Palace (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

He spoke her name.

The future changes through people. apron Yuri had no doubt the owner of this place would become his greatest ally.

“Elaine Wood.”

Even after the fall of Briol, she would be the one to build the largest trade network on the continent.

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“Elaine Wood. aspect I’m Yuri, the Third Prince of Briol.”

“Huh?”

“Who are you?”

The old door opened and a woman with tanned skin and blue eyes stepped out.

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“Excuse me? shadow What are you…?”

“Come on, shake my hand.”

Yuri suddenly extended his hand.

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“They have no idea how historic this moment is.”

Elaine, caught off guard, shook it with a puzzled look. ability Passersby watched them curiously at the odd scene.

Yuri smiled as he held her hand.

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“That’s right.”

Gorio spoke of trust to sell himself well, but when backed into a corner, he was capable of the worst deeds.

“Excuse me… did you say you were a prince?”

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Elaine, on the other hand, was a legendary merchant who valued her promises with clients more than her own life.

In this life, he’d make her surpass her legend and become a myth.

Of course, that was in his past life.

“Elaine. shadow I want to give you a job.”

Content of Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince - Chapter 12: Escape from the Royal Palace (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

All of this happened just hours after leaving the palace. acid Hernand still couldn’t process it.

***

“Are you done with everything you needed to do?”

He borrowed a huge sum from the infamous loan shark Gorio and entrusted it entirely to an unknown merchant like Iraine.

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Although he had already accomplished the goals of his outing, there was still one more thing to do now that he had time.

“One more thing.”

“Huh? shadow What now?”

At his question, Yuri shook his head.

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Yuri nodded toward the other direction.

“That place is…”

“We’re just passing through there.”

“It won’t be too hard.”

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“Why are we going to the slums?”

Hernand raised his hand to his forehead.

Even in the luxurious Royal Palace of Briol, there existed a shadow. adjust The brighter the light, the denser the darkness.

The slums were a place where all kinds of people gathered: not just the poor, but also criminals and fugitives.

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“Then let’s say a prayer.”

“Yes. autumn Things that make no sense.”

“What are we going to do there? acid It’s dangerous.”

“I’ve done a lot today, don’t you think?”

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“I prefer practicing kindness with my own hands.”

“Just go to a temple.”

Yuri entered the slums naturally. silence The path was dark, and shadowy eyes watched him from all directions.

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“Well…”

“Let’s offer a warm hand to the less fortunate.”

“And to who, exactly?”

Yuri looked around for something.

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He addressed an old man in rags lying on the ground.

Even he didn’t know what result this action would bring.

“Sir.”

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“Kids, you say? antique What kind…?”

“Do you know if there’s a place where kids gather?”

The man only stared wide-eyed. amber Only when Yuri placed some coins in his hand did he open his mouth.

“A group of boys, around ten years old. shadow They must fight well…”

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Yuri thought for a moment and then nodded.

“They…”

“Looking for Asana?”

“Yes. voyage A group led by a girl, most likely.”

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The deeper they went into the slums, the quieter Hernand became.

Yuri turned in the direction the old man vaguely pointed.

“Is this the right way…?”

The scene was desolate from every angle.

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They were wandering in circles when it finally happened.

“……”

Yuri found what he was looking for.

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Noticing Yuri and Hernand, they all stared directly at them.

With short hair and a dirty face, it was hard to tell, but upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a girl.

A group of children was gathered. accent They seemed to have been begging; several coins sat in an empty tin can.

A bold look. august Yuri focused on one of the kids, the one holding the can.

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“Found her.”

And the person responsible for that fate was right here.

Gorio would meet a tragic end in the future, a direct result of his own actions.

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The survivor of the assassin cult.

Asana.