SWNOVELXO Chapter 123 - The Bluebird (4)
Chapter 123. The Bluebird (4)
Jerry blinked in surprise at Yuri’s words and asked again.
“A group that buys and sells information about the Cradle? What’s that?”
His tone was so casual that anyone else would have believed he genuinely didn’t know.
But Yuri wasn’t fooled.
“Come on, you know what I’m talking about.”
“Well… I’m not sure.”
“Back then, you mentioned that the information was rated as ‘Upper Standard.'”
In the past, during the Dragon Plaque Change, Jerry had certainly said so.
[Ah, anyway, it’s information rated as ‘Upper Standard.’ It’s high-quality information, too valuable to dismiss as mere rumors.]
Yuri remembered the situation clearly.
But it seemed Jerry did not.
“Who did?”
“You.”
“Me? When?”
Jerry rolled his eyes as if he really had no idea, which made Yuri chuckle.
“You don’t remember?”
“Not at all… What are you talking about?”
“How can you forget our first meeting?”
“……”
“If you can’t remember, I’ll make sure you do. That sweet conversation we had during the Dragon Plaque Change.”
Crack, crack—.
Yuri approached, cracking his knuckles, causing Jerry to urgently raise his hands.
“I remember! I remember! You’re talking about that time, right? Of course, I remember!”
At Jerry’s shout, Yuri finally stopped and smiled faintly.
Seeing this, Jerry looked up at the sky, dazed.
‘Ha… I’ve really stepped into it.’
If he could turn back time, he wished he could return to the day of the Dragon Plaque Change.
If he could, he would have avoided meeting that damned guy altogether.
What kind of suffering was this, all because of one wrong choice?
Jerry felt utterly miserable.
And what made it even worse for him was—
‘Why does this crazy bastard always pick on me…?’
There were plenty of others, but that lunatic always chose to torment him.
It was enough to drive anyone insane.
But what could he do?
In this Cradle, ‘strength’ was everything.
Seniority advantage?
It was utterly useless in situations like this.
Why were the junior cadets unable to utter a word against the seniors here?
Because the seniors were stronger after rolling around for several more years.
That, conversely, meant…
‘If a senior is weak, they can be easily overpowered by a junior like this. My fate…’
Jerry sighed out his sorrow and opened his mouth.
“Fine… There’s a group called the Bluebird.”
As soon as Jerry spoke, Yuri’s eyes sparkled.
“Bluebird?”
“A group that deals in information, operated by the cadets. But it’s not just any ordinary information brokerage.”
“Then?”
“They do all sorts of miscellaneous things. They publish a monthly newsletter about the Cradle, deliver letters between cadets.”
“Oh?”
“But the most important business Bluebird does is arranging direct trades.”
“Direct trades?”
“If you want something, they find the person who has it and connect you with them. They do take a significant commission, but once you use their service, you’ll find it’s worth the fee.”
Yuri was impressed by Jerry’s explanation.
“A group that conducts such business is run by just a single cadet?”
Even just gathering and selling information was no small task.
But publishing a newsletter and arranging direct trades as well?
This was not something an ordinary group of people could manage.
Unless, of course, the Bluebird had a massive number of members.
Understanding Yuri’s doubt, Jerry nodded.
“Bluebird, along with the Original Association, is one of the most historic and traditional organizations in the Cradle.”
“What’s the Original Association?”
“A social club that only descendants of prestigious families aged 18 and over can join. It’s like a royal club created within the Cradle.”
“Hah? There’s something like that in the Cradle? What, did they come here to play?”
“Well, the Cradle is still a place where people live, and prestigious families keep pouring in, so it’s not strange for a royal club to form. Birds of a feather flock together, as they say. Anyway, that’s not the point right now, um… where was I?”
“You were saying that Bluebird is a historic and traditional organization.”
“Oh, right. Bluebird is not just a historic and traditional organization; it’s practically a private organization run by the Singh family.”
“What do you mean?”
“The head of Bluebird has always been a descendant of the Singh family. If there isn’t a Singh family member in the Cradle, they leave the position vacant until a new one arrives. So it’s basically their private organization.”
“Oh?”
“Well, honestly, if someone from the Singh family isn’t there, no one else could run Bluebird anyway. So it makes sense.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s how it is.”
“But listen.”
“…?”
“Where is the Singh family? Are they that famous?”
Jerry’s expression turned strange at that question.
“…You don’t know the Singh family?”
“Am I supposed to?”
“The Singh family! *The* Singh family!”
“And where exactly is *that* Singh family?”
“Have you ever heard of the Wise Family of the Silver Ring?”
“Ah! So that’s them?”
Yuri finally caught on.
The Wise Family of the Silver Ring.
This was a term used to refer to a family that had produced geniuses known as the Sages of the Silver Ring for generations.
They were known for their tremendous influence in various fields involving intellect, such as academia, strategy, tactics, and management.
Yuri had heard of them.
But it was his first time learning that their surname was Singh.
Seeing that Yuri understood, Jerry’s face relaxed in relief.
“Yes! That sage lineage is the Singh family! And who would dare touch Bluebird, an organization passed down and managed by such geniuses for generations? Even if they did, they wouldn’t have the capability to run it.”
“I see, so that’s why they leave the position vacant if there’s no Singh family member present.”
Nodding in understanding, Yuri grasped the situation.
‘If they’re truly of that sage lineage, it makes sense that they could run an organization like this within the Cradle. No, it’s possible only because they’re from the Singh family.’
A single prodigy can do the work of ten ordinary people.
And a single genius can do the work of ten prodigies, or even more.
Yuri didn’t know exactly how the Bluebird was run.
But if they were geniuses reputed across the continent, they’d likely find a way to manage Bluebird, using methods only available to the Singh family.
Satisfied with his understanding, Yuri shoved his hands into his pockets.
“So, how do I use this Bluebird?”
Jerry flinched at that question.
At the same time, his eyes reflected his evident conflict.
After much hesitation, he sighed softly and began to speak.
“…I’ll tell you, but on one condition.”
“What is it?”
“Promise you won’t cause any trouble there.”
“Why?”
“…Normally, when someone asks that, they just agree not to cause trouble. Why do you start with ‘why’?”
“I’ve never caused trouble. It’s just that trouble always happens around me. That’s not something I can promise, is it?”
“You conscienceless… bastard.”
“So, why?”
As Yuri cut him off and pressed on with an intense gaze, Jerry let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh… Bluebird operates strictly on a membership basis. New members must be introduced by existing members before they can become clients. But…”
“But?”
“…If the new member causes trouble, the existing client who brought them in has to take responsibility.”
Yuri burst into a bright smile upon hearing this.
“Ah, so if Senior Jerry takes me there and I cause a ruckus, Senior Jerry will have to take the fall for it, huh?”
“…Yeah.”
Yuri’s assessment was spot on.
It meant he fully understood what Jerry had explained.
Which only made Jerry more anxious.
‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell him!’
Was this what it felt like to have your soul mortgaged to the devil?
Jerry’s face looked as if it were rotting away, while Yuri seemed to become more refreshed.
“Just trust me, Senior Jerry!”
“…Would you trust yourself?”
“I’ll really behave this time! So let’s hurry and go to this Bluebird or Redbird or whatever!”
“…”
Watching the impudent junior with his arm around his shoulders, Jerry’s face twisted into a frown.
* * *
A short while later.
Yuri arrived at the destination, following Jerry, and asked, wide-eyed.
“This is it? Really?”
“Yeah, there are other locations, but this is the only Bluebird base I know of.”
“…Unbelievable.”
It was the highest praise Yuri could offer.
The place they arrived at together was none other than inside the arena.
Yuri and Jerry arrived at a certain compartment through the right corridor used by second-year students at the North Clock Tower.
Standing before the closed door, Yuri clicked his tongue in amazement.
‘An organization run by a single cadet is allowed to use the Cradle’s facilities? Just how good are they at negotiating?’
The fact that they were allowed to use a compartment in the arena was astonishing, to say the least.
While Yuri was marveling at this, Jerry showed off a little.
“You’re lucky. This is quite a special Bluebird base.”
“How do you know it’s special if you don’t know about the others?”
Jerry responded to Yuri’s mocking with a smile.
“You’ll see.”
With those words, Jerry knocked lightly on the door.
Tap-tap-tap—.
A peculiar rhythm.
Yuri immediately realized it was some sort of signal.
Soon, the door opened wide.
Click—.
Jerry stepped inside first, and
Yuri followed close behind.
As soon as he entered the room, he was met with the thick scent of ink.
Then he saw it.
Bookshelves lined up so tightly that only one or two people could barely pass between them.
Bookshelves that were completely packed with countless books.
As Yuri looked around the room with interest.
Screeeech—.
He heard the sound of wheels rolling from deep within the bookshelves.
And soon after, a voice followed.
“Wow, look who it is! Isn’t it Jerry Bee, the one who captured our goddess’s heart?”
At the cheerful female voice, Jerry sighed softly.
“Sigh, as expected of Bluebird, to know that already.”
“Anyone would know that, not just Bluebird. The rumor has already spread like wildfire among the 49th batch.”
Screech—.
With those words, a woman peeked out from between the bookshelves, hanging from a ladder on wheels.
Finally, Yuri could see her properly.
Thickly braided white hair and red eyes.
Her skin was pale enough to show her blood vessels.
Despite her cheerful voice, she had the sickly appearance of a beauty with an air of frailty.
But more than any of these features, it was her eyes that captured Yuri’s attention.
Red eyes.
But what made them even more special was the silver ring around her red irises.
‘A silver ring… Silver Ring? No way!’
Her unique, somewhat alien eyes.
Realizing that Yuri was staring, the woman blinked in surprise and turned her gaze towards him.
“Huh?”
She blinked repeatedly, seemingly startled.
Then her lips slightly parted.
“Ah!”
With a soft exclamation, she slid down the ladder.
Thud—.
When she landed on the ground, Yuri’s immediate impression was simple.
‘She’s small.’
He hadn’t noticed while she was hanging on the ladder, but seeing her up close, she was really short.
‘Is she even 150cm?’
While Yuri was gauging her height, she quickly ran up to him with little steps.
Then, she grabbed Yuri’s hand.
“I’ve been wanting to meet you sooo much!”
Her red eyes twinkled with excitement as she tightly held Yuri’s hand with both of hers.
“I’m Yulia Singh!”
“……?!”
Seeing the silver rings in her eyes, Yuri had suspected, but he hadn’t expected her to be a direct descendant of the Singh family.
Now he understood why Jerry had called this place a special base.
‘A base with a direct descendant of the Singh family?’
He didn’t know about the others, but this one was definitely special, just as Jerry had said.
With that realization, Yuri smiled and opened his mouth.
“Ah, I’m…”
But before Yuri could finish his sentence, a barrage of words shot out from Yulia’s mouth.
“Name: Yuri Holland, age: 16, took the certification test at Irons Territory, and became the Tenth Black Dragon Plaque Holder. The Dragon Plaque recommender is…”
Yulia hesitated for a moment, then turned away from Jerry and mouthed silently.
‘Indomitable Sword Johan Redner.’
Seeing her lip movements, the smile vanished from Yuri’s face.