Chapter 233

Chapter 233: The Merchant Guild of the Heavens

The Stormy Region remained a forbidden topic among inhabitants of the Sea of Clouds. As the Dragonkin Captain—who feared nothing but the Storms—once described, the Black Tempest resembled a ruthless Behemoth that had consumed countless lives and floating islands over centuries of relentless movement. To the people of the Sea of Clouds, it stood as an eternal calamity, a dark Grim Reaper haunting their hearts.

Reckless adventurers who publicly declared their intent to explore the Stormy Region were not only branded as fools seeking their own demise but also risked drawing lethal attention from shadowy factions.

Midi remembered a group from the Arad continent who formed the "Storm Explorers Guild" six months prior. Emboldened by their awakening, they’d launched with grand fanfare, backed by hidden nobles and merchant guilds. Their goal was clear: to escape the constraints of Midi and the Delos Empire while carving out new territories in the Sea of Clouds.

Ambitious, yet weak.

Before the Delos Empire could intervene, local factions struck. Every Skyship belonging to the guild met disaster. Only a handful of clerks stationed on low-altitude floating islands survived. Profits, territorial disputes, warnings to others—all traced back to their fatal mistake of challenging the Stormy Region taboo.

Though familiar with the Dragonkin Captain, Midi kept his inquiries light. If he needed deeper intelligence, he’d need a better pretext.

"Fine, fine. I don’t expect to enter the Stormy Region, but I’m keen on the Sea of Clouds’ history—particularly the legends of the Storms." Midi sighed dramatically, adopting a bard’s melancholy. "Don’t let appearances fool you. I’m a scholar. Back in Arad, I studied hidden histories."

"A scholar?" The Dragonkin Captain blinked. Scholars were supposed to be frail, robed figures who struggled with awakening—not someone who hurled harpoons farther than ballistae. Still, the Sea of Clouds thrived on secrets. If this traveler wanted to play scholar for Stormy Region knowledge, why not humor him?

"If you’re truly curious, there’s a place to gather information." The Captain leaned in. "Young friend, you know of the People of the Heavens?"

Midi nodded.

The Sea of Clouds wasn’t the heavens, but generations of People of the Heavens lived there. Just as the exiled Lightning Fire Wing tribe dwelled in Sky City, some celestial beings had settled below—a common occurrence across the skies.

Two rival organizations existed among them: the Blue Truth Sect and the Wanderer’s Guild.

The former had deep ties to the Stormy Region. In his past life, Midi had clashed with their members after entering the storms aboard a heavy armored cruiser. Old enemies, yes—but infiltrating them now would be futile. The Sea of Clouds branch was merely an outer shell, powerless over the sect’s core in the Stormy Region. Even if recognized, Midi could enter alone.

As an Awakened One of Extraordinary Awakening, he knew solo ventures into the storms were pointless without an army.

The Wanderer’s Guild? Their name said enough. Obsessed with returning to the heavens, they scorned the Sea of Clouds and dismissed humans from Arad entirely.

Humans here were rootless, adrift. In every field, they faced exclusion—mere flotsam in a merciless sky.

Just his racial identity alone was enough to bar Midi from entering this Guild.

Even if he got in, he probably wouldn’t obtain Stormy Region-related intelligence anyway.

As a reincarnator, Midi had frequently interacted with these two People of the Heavens organizations over the past year, but with poor results – hence his current disguise for solo intelligence gathering.

Noticing Midi’s gaze, the Dragonkin Captain grinned slyly. "You think the Blue Truth Sect alone holds the Stormy Region’s secrets? They’re not the only players."

"Please elaborate," Midi responded gravely.

The Captain coughed before continuing. "I’ve hunted whales along the Stormy Region’s edge for thirty years. You’re the first to shoot four six-winged whales in one go. That’s why I’ll share this: the Rothschild Guild also accesses the Stormy Region. Their Skyships haunt these borders."

"The Rothschild Guild?" Midi’s mind raced through past memories.

In his previous life during humanity’s seven-year Stormy Region campaign, Commander Midi had dealt with them strictly for supplies – fair prices, no connections. The Guild operated so discreetly he barely remembered them, except for their young, beautiful president.

But even without past knowledge, it didn’t matter. As an Awakened One of Extraordinary Awakening bearing the Dragon Sealing Sword, he could forge new paths.

"Should I pose as a guard?" Midi mused. His West Coast experience with Commercial Families taught him guards were essential for transporting goods – a perfect fit.

"You’re half-right," chuckled the Captain, clapping Midi’s shoulder. "To access Stormy Region secrets, you need face-time with Rothschild higher-ups. Prove your worth. Even whalers know this."

"Not just a guard, but guard leadership?" Midi grasped immediately.

"Exactly!" The Captain grinned. "Ever heard of Sky Arena?"

Rothschild Guild might control Stormy Region sky routes.

Leading guards might reveal those routes.

Sky Arena success might bring fame.

Possibilities abounded, but nothing guaranteed.

Midi didn’t mind. He’d expected little from a whaling ship captain – surface-level Stormy Region knowledge at best. Yet this gruff Dragonkin had given substantial clues.

Nothing related to the Stormy Region was simple. Not the region, not its people.

With this Rothschild lead, Midi was satisfied.