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[Translator - Prøks]
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Chapter 41: Rewards of the Wager (2)
Shing!
With a cold, metallic sound, the drawn sword was pointed at the viscount.
A brief but heavy silence fell over the surroundings.
No one dared to speak, and then,
The viscount spoke with disbelief,
"Are you doubting me? It seems you've gone completely mad. Do you have any evidence?"
It was an unexpected situation, but thanks to it, the atmosphere became even more heated.
The tension between the two groups was palpable, and everyone's nerves were on edge.
All thanks to Hamel drawing his sword.
Hamel, whether aware of it or not, simply asked back with an unreadable expression,
"Evidence?"
"Yes, evidence. Don't tell me you're accusing me without any proof? You didn't think I would just let this insult slide, did you?"
The viscount was full of confidence.
After all, he had left no trace of the request.
The one he had commissioned was the Pale Cord.
He didn't know why Hamel was still alive, but there was no way the 'Laughing Fox of Maron' would fail.
Even if, by any chance, he had been captured, those people would rather be torn to shreds than reveal their secrets.
But things didn't always go as expected.
"Of course not."
Hamel shook his head and turned to look at Benjamin of the Lawrence Trading Company.
Benjamin bowed respectfully and then brought someone forward.
A man in rags, bound in chains, was revealed.
This time, the steward's face turned pale, whiter than white.
'No way. But... how?'
The viscount's thoughts ground to a halt.
Meanwhile, Hamel continued without stopping.
He approached the captured man and said,
"Now, tell them."
"Uhhh..."
The man couldn't keep his eyes still, rolling around anxiously.
Hamel whispered softly to the hesitant man,
"Come on. Or will you come with me to my territory?"
"Ah."
The man's pupils dilated.
At the same time, his pants started to get damp.
His body trembled as if struck by lightning, and he shook his head violently, shouting,
"N-no! No! I'll talk! So please..."
"..."
Others frowned at the pitiful sight.
But the steward and the viscount couldn't believe the current situation and just gaped.
Wasn't this man a member of the infamous assassination group, the Pale Cord, the 'Laughing Fox of Maron'?
'What in the world happened...?'
He didn't look like he had been severely tortured.
But his terrified face looked haggard, as if he had aged decades.
Something was seriously wrong.
Starting with the mercenaries,
And now the assassin.
All the cards he had prepared were being thoroughly dismantled by Hamel.
Just as the viscount swallowed nervously,
"Who are you?"
"I-I am a member of the Pale Cord, the Laughing Fox of Maron."
"...!"
Everyone was shocked the moment the Fox answered Hamel's question.
Even Conrad was speechless, as if he hadn't expected it.
Hamel continued his questioning.
"Then who commissioned the request?"
At the question, the Fox raised a trembling hand and pointed at someone.
Everyone's eyes turned towards the person.
"N-no..."
The viscount's steward.
He stammered, flustered by everyone's gaze directed at him.
He had been trembling with anxiety for a while now and was sweating profusely.
Conrad, who had been watching him silently, stepped forward and asked,
"Viscount Ramsey, it seems an explanation is needed. Were you aware of this?"
"No, how could I be? I know nothing about it."
The viscount shook his head without a moment's hesitation.
The steward's eyes widened as he realized he had been abandoned.
"M-my lord! I..."
"Shut up!"
Just as the steward was about to speak, the viscount shouted like thunder and swung the hammer he was holding.
Crack!
With a crushing sound, yellow brain matter and blood splattered everywhere.
The popped-out eyeball rolled near the horse Hamel was riding.
"..."
A brief silence fell, and the viscount put down the hammer and smiled obsequiously.
"Baron Hamel, I apologize. I mismanaged my subordinate. I truly didn't know. I apologize."
Hamel simply watched the viscount silently.
The viscount, finally realizing what Hamel wanted, hurriedly added,
"Of course, an apology alone is not enough. I will forgive all the debt your family owes. Please forgive me."
"Alright. Let's do that."
Hamel nodded readily.
The viscount smiled brightly.
"Really? Thank you for understanding. Now that I see it, you have a manly side..."
"However..."
"...?"
Hamel interrupted.
Then he turned his gaze towards the Blue Mane Tribe behind him and continued,
"The compensation for the Blue Mane Tribe is separate."
"...The tribe?"
"Yes. Due to the request made by that steward, they have lost their home of hundreds of years and the god they served. They must leave their homeland and settle in a new place, so according to Imperial law, it is only right to compensate them."
At Hamel's words, Viscount Ramsey gritted his teeth.
To wash his hands of the matter and pretend he had nothing to do with the steward, some sacrifice was necessary.
Viscount Ramsey laughed awkwardly and nodded.
"Alright, I will. Will thirty thousand marks suffice?"
"No."
Hamel shook his head and replied calmly,
"You'll have to pay three hundred thousand marks."
"That's preposterous...!"
"The lineage of a tribe as old as the Empire itself was nearly severed. It's hard to see that as excessive."
Conrad, who had been listening silently, also nodded.
"I don't think it's unreasonable either."
"But three hundred thousand marks is three times my annual income!"
"Such values are often difficult to convert. If necessary, I'll summon a priest to oversee a trial."
At Conrad's reply, the viscount faltered.
"A trial... you mean..."
As the viscount mumbled, Conrad nodded as if it were obvious.
"A trial by combat. If Viscount Ramsey's claim is true, Batu, the God of War, will favor him."
Viscount Ramsey turned his stiff neck to look at Hamel.
As if he had expected it, Hamel nodded leisurely.
At his composure, the viscount's mind went blank as if he had been hit with a hammer.
The viscount recalled the fact that Hamel had defeated even a member of the Pale Cord.
'I was wrong from the start.'
He had thought Hamel was just a young lad who had luckily become the next lord after being a priest of the church.
A young priest who could, at best, catch monsters.
But he was wrong.
"I accept."
Hamel nodded with the same expressionless face as before.
That expressionless face felt unbearably terrifying.
Just how far had he been played by Hamel?
In the viscount's eyes, he was no longer a lucky young lad.
No, he didn't even feel human anymore.
His last remaining pride broken, he nodded weakly.
"...Alright. I will compensate for three hundred thousand marks. But I don't have the money now. Give me five years."
"I'll give you one year."
At Hamel's words, the viscount opened and closed his mouth as if searching for something to say, then nodded feebly.
His expression seemed empty, as if he had given up everything.
***
"Safe travels."
"May you be safe until we meet again."
After exchanging farewells with Conrad, Hamel and his party departed for their territory.
They had gained everything they sought.
Food,
People,
And even power.
'Dragon language...'
The dragonkin training method that Tarkasi had imparted.
Thanks to it, Hamel was able to learn dragon language.
It was a simple but effective technique from the Dragonkins who served Daeorycia, the Earth Dragon.
A technique to overturn the earth by borrowing the power of Daeorycia.
Currently, its limit was a radius of a few dozen meters, but if he gained power similar to a true dragon, it was a power that could cause earthquakes.
Of course, there were significant limitations to its use.
It was impossible in his current state and would require the power of dragon blood.
'The problem is that it's difficult.'
Hamel groaned softly.
He was fine for now, but the madness of the dragon blood would return someday, so he couldn't overuse it.
More importantly, he only had two bottles of dragon blood left from the mansion.
"I need to find a way."
Hamel muttered softly and shook his head to clear his worries.
It wasn't a problem that could be solved by worrying about it now.
Hamel did what he could do at the moment.
"Benjamin."
Hamel approached the trading company's carriage and called out quietly.
Benjamin opened the carriage window and poked his head out.
"What is it?"
"I have a favor to ask."
At Hamel's words, Benjamin nodded without hesitation.
Because of the debt he owed Hamel, he intended to help without considering his own interests.
But what Hamel said was completely unexpected.
"As soon as we arrive at the territory, please sell the food to us and head back to Sorn."
"Why Sorn...?"
"To purchase weapons."
"...!"
Benjamin's eyes widened, and he clicked his tongue.
He understood what Hamel meant.
Viscount Ramsey would start selling the weapons and armor he had prepared to repay his debt.
But there were no suitable buyers for such a quantity in the surrounding area.
Eventually, the weapons would become dirt cheap, and Hamel intended to buy them.
It was an opportunity to buy weapons cheaply and strengthen the soldiers of his territory.
"Did you set the deadline for one year with that in mind?"
"Since my life was in danger, I have to get compensated."
Hamel said with an expressionless face and added,
"We're short on cash in the territory, so I'll give you salt instead. I'll leave the details to you."
"I think I can make a significant profit."
With the money from selling the food to Hamel and the salt combined, he would be able to purchase a considerable amount of weapons.
It was expected to easily cover the losses incurred in the Sorn territory and then some.
"Thank you for this great opportunity. Apart from the agreed amount, thirty percent of the profit I make will be yours, Lord Hamel."
At Benjamin's polite offer, Hamel fell into thought for a moment.
As if it was too much of a burden.
But he soon nodded slowly.
"I won't refuse. My territory needs a lot of money."
"No, no. It's nothing. Haha."
Benjamin found Hamel quite amusing, as always.
He quietly cleaned his monocle while imagining himself next year.
It seemed he no longer wanted to remain as a leader of the Lawrence Trading Company.
"Lord Hamel... there's something I'd like to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"I've had a dream for a long time."
"A dream?"
Benjamin spoke with an expression full of passion that belied his age.
Hamel listened calmly to his proposal and fell into thought for a moment.
But it didn't take him long to make a decision.
Hamel nodded and extended his hand to his new contractor.
"I look forward to working with you, Merchant Leader."
This was the moment a new trading company under Heidern was born.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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