The Extra Prince Sets Out To Conquer The World

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here too.”

Philidrion Rotulus, the parrot beastman wearing a deeply pulled hood, smirked as he looked at the huge ancient building in the center of the city in the distance.

At his smile, the girl with golden hair tinged with a deep blue hue walking next to him asked.

“Have you been to Vahanad before?”

At her question, Rotulus lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“I was hired by archaeologists in the past to escort them. The pay was quite substantial.”

“Oh my, so that’s why you became my escort this time.”

At the girl’s question, Rotulus nodded.

“That’s right. Of course, I’m only half a guide, and the ones actually escorting Lady Amelie are the holy knights.”

As Rotulus said that, he glanced at the knights following behind, wearing armor faintly flowing with divine power.

“Hoho, I still believe in your skills, Sir Rotulus. You are none other than the ‘Mercenary King of Five Colors’ whose name resounds throughout the continent.”

Rotulus was one of the Nine Kingdomless Kings, the Mercenary King.

“Hahaha. Mercenary King is just a title that sounds good. If you know the nature of mercenaries, you wouldn’t be able to attach the title of king to them.”

Mercenaries were those who sold their military power for money.

As a type of business, they valued trust, but there was also an overflow of those no different from ruffians since anyone could become one.

It was an industry where it was natural for yesterday’s comrades to face each other with spears and swords, trying to kill each other for money.

“You’re being modest. I may be an outsider to the mercenary industry, but I still know the rumors that circulate. Your mercenary group is famous for accomplishing tasks that are nearly impossible.”

Although he said it was an empty title, the prestige and respect Rotulus held were not false.

Not only the members of the Five Colors Mercenary Group, who had him as their leader, but also numerous mercenaries showed respect to him.

Amelie knew that if Rotulus put his mind to it, he could dominate the mercenary industry and truly reign like a king.

At her praise, Rotulus scratched the back of his head as if embarrassed.

“How could I have achieved that alone? It’s thanks to the efforts of the vice-captain and members who run the mercenary group in my place. I’m too ignorant to even have the capacity to run an organization.”

At Rotulus’s modesty, Amelie smiled brightly. If he had truly wanted to reign like a king, he would not have received the current respect and reverence from the free-spirited mercenaries.

“Rather, I think that aspect makes you all the more deserving of being called a king.”

“Ahem! Let’s stop with this embarrassing talk and enter the city to rest. The clown fellow said he would take care of the cumbersome preparations, so let’s wait leisurely until the work begins.”

As Rotulus quickened his pace in embarrassment, Amelie followed with a giggle.

“Let’s go together.”

****

“Entering the ruins, how does Yuan plan to enter the ruins?”

At Yard’s question, I ate the last piece of bread, sipped blended tea to cleanse my palate, and answered.

“I’ve thought of both legal and illegal methods.”

The legal route was the only way to enter by obtaining permission from the ruins management office and officially entering. On the other hand, there were quite a few methods for the illegal route.

“I don’t think the legal method will be possible in just a day or two, right?”

At Jade’s point, I nodded.

“Since the ruins are important, the management will likely be strict.”

I touched my royal identity card and the Wiesel Count’s guest card given to me by Dalanta.

In fact, there was a way to force things through with power among the legal methods, so the time could be shortened as much as desired.

However, officially, I was in a missing state, and it was burdensome to sell the names of the Blantzbarg Marquis family or the Wiesel Count family.

“Then are we sneaking in at night?”

At Gilbert’s question, I shook my head.

“No. I’m considering that as a last resort.”

This world was a place where all sorts of magic and mysteries were rampant.

Naturally, the management office was also prepared for tomb raiders trying to sneak in undetected by the eyes of the guards.

The royal magicians and soldiers occupied the safe zones inside the dangerous ruins and blocked those without entry permits from using the safe zones.

Moreover, walls were installed at intervals along the excavated passages, so without a permit, one would have to take a long detour or be blocked entirely.

It was bothersome, but since we didn’t know what might happen inside the ruins, we needed to obtain permits somehow to take proper rest.

“Oppa, even if they put up walls, wouldn’t we be able to break through them unless they’re exceptionally strong? I think it would be sufficient to avoid guards at the safe zones too.”

At Silua’s opinion, Precia, Jade, and Gilbert also nodded in agreement. At that opinion, Yard shook his head.

“No. That ruins site won’t be left so carelessly since many valuable things have been excavated.”

Abassel also agreed with those words.

“The walls and defensive magic installed inside were contributed to not only by the high-ranking magicians of the magic towers but also by the sages of the Eight Magic Sages. In particular, I know that the Sage of Ten Thousand Soldiers and teacher greatly contributed to the defensive techniques.”

Geor and Jaeorin had a hand in it. Those two weren’t missing from any major events. Well, that’s how they built such a reputation.

“The countermeasures against intruders will be absent once you pass the entrance area of the ruins, but without a permit, you might experience hell while passing through that entrance area.”

At my words, everyone nodded.

“If it’s to that extent, it would be more comfortable to enter with a permit.”

“Young master, how do you plan to obtain the permit?”

Precia asked as if convinced that I would definitely obtain the permit. At her question, I pondered for a moment.

“If it can be bought with money, I should buy it.”

Purchasing a permit with money was an illegal act.

There were roughly two ways to buy it with money.

Still, I should consider the case where it can’t be bought with money.

“For now, I’ll try to obtain the permit, so let’s divide the members and prepare to enter the ruins first. Abassel, purchase the magical tools and magic stones necessary for exploring the ruins from the Vahanad branch of the magic tower. I’ll let you know what must be bought.”

“Understood.”

“Silua and Jade, go around the market and buy anything that looks like it came from the ruins or has magic imbued in it. There will be quite a lot hidden.”

Since we came to the ruins city, we should obtain as much as we can. When I told them the places mentioned in the novel, the two nodded.

“Gilbert and Precia, buy plenty of camping equipment, excavation equipment, and preserved food.”

Precia, who had learned about various situations from Horazon, would definitely obtain supplies more reliably than me. I sent Gilbert together to learn from Precia.

We also needed at least one porter since using the subspace bracelet was too conspicuous for such an expensive item.

“Understood. But what will you do, young master…?”

At Precia’s question, I smiled brightly and answered.

“I will move with Yard to obtain the permit.”

At my answer, Gilbert said to Yard.

“If something happens, I will rush over immediately.”

“Haha, that’s reassuring.”

“Of course! I am the young master’s guardian knight!”

No, aren’t you all going too far? You’re acting as if I’m going to cause an accident!

Well, I wasn’t planning on not causing any at all though.

********

As everyone left the inn according to my instructions, Yard and I went out to the streets.

“You said you would buy the permit, but do you know where it can be bought?”

At Yard’s question, I took out the temporary VIP card of the Twilight Guild.

“Do you know the Twilight Guild?”

“I know. It’s the Twilight Queen’s black market merchant group, right? I occasionally used it too, but is there a branch here?”

I was curious about how the Twilight Guild, which conducted illegal transactions, usually informed their customers about their branches, but I decided to let go of the trivial curiosity.

“Of course. They’re probably in most major cities, right? And there’s no place easier to obtain excavated items than here. The branch scale will be quite large.”

The Vahanad branch of the Twilight Guild was right next to the national facility managing the ruins, as the proverb goes, ‘It’s darkest under the lamp’.

The luxurious high-end dessert shop bustling with customers was the Vahanad branch.

As we entered the shop, a waitress smiled and asked how many people.

“Six people. The others will come later. Ah, one of them is a big eater, so could you guide us to a room?”

The contact keywords were ‘three times the number of visitors, big eater, room’.

“Yes, you said a room, right? I will guide you right away. Is it alright if the seats are ‘by the window’?”

“No. I’d like it to be ‘quiet’.”

“I will guide you to a quiet seat.”

The waitress guided us to a small room on the 2nd floor, and after waiting for a while, a knocking sound was heard from the ceiling.

“I have visited the Twilight Guild.”

The last keyword had to mention the Twilight Guild to prevent any unforeseen coincidences.

At my answer, the ceiling opened, and a woman in a suit climbed down the ladder.

“Thank you for visiting our branch. I will check your VIP card.”

Was my contact keyword for VIP only? It seemed they managed it separately since it was a branch in a major city.

I immediately took out the temporary VIP card, and after checking the card, she took out catalogs in four colors from her bag and sat across from me.

“Verified. I am Julia, the assistant branch manager of Vahanad. How may I assist you?”

At her question, I smiled brightly and said.

“I would like to purchase a permit to enter the ruins.”

At my words, Assistant Branch Manager Julia’s expression hardened.

“I apologize, but the ruins entry permit is not prepared as a product.”

“Money can make anything possible. Isn’t that your company’s motto?”

At my words, she slightly bowed her head.

“…You are correct, but even if we don’t have ‘stock’, it will take a long time for us to obtain it. Even if we try to obtain it as quickly as possible, you will have to wait for about half a year. If that’s still acceptable, I will sell it to you.”

Half a year, even if I pour money into it, it will take at least 2 months. I don’t have the time to wait that long.

“Then let’s ‘rent’ instead of purchasing.”

There’s no way the Twilight Guild doesn’t have permits.

Since the ruins in the city center were a golden goose, they must have prepared a way to sneak into the goose’s nest while avoiding the owner’s eyes.

At my request, she smiled.

“You are no ordinary customer. Indeed, we don’t have any for sale, but it’s not like we don’t have any for rent.”

“You have a long tongue. I don’t like beating around the bush. Are the ones for rent also sold out?”

She heavily nodded at my speculation.

“That’s right. We have secured a total of six permits. Three of them are being used by our guild’s excavation team inside the ruins, and the other three are on long-term loan to external excavation teams.”

“I won’t be using it for that long. When will your guild’s excavation team come out?”

At my question, she shook her head.

“Once an excavation team enters, they stay inside the ruins for at least half a year. According to the schedule, their return will be in 4 months.”

4 months. That’s enough time to obtain a permit through the legal regular route, completely plunder the ruins, and leave the city without it being strange.

Then let’s change the direction slightly.

“Then can I purchase the locations of all the permits outside the ruins and within this city?”