Chapter 5

“I must go to Pellenberg immediately.”

“Right now, sir?”

“Yes.”

[You’ve been possessed by a demon.]

The Duke of Pellenberg’s reply had been short and concise. But that only made it hit harder.

So hard, in fact, that Fernan couldn’t stay still without doing something immediately.

“The entrance ceremony you’ve been so looking forward to is in two days. Didn’t you say you’d attend to personally observe the new students?”

“Listen carefully, Hyde. Everything has its time. A time to buy and a time to sell. A time to make money and a time to spend it. Everything is about timing.”

A short answer. But even with just that, Fernan could already guess.

“If I waste time now, Father might excommunicate me.”

“Surely not to that extent…”

The servant, who had been shaking his head, went silent.

“Now that I think about it, it was a serious overstep. It was, essentially, directly going against His Grace’s will.”

It could have been dismissed as the reckless overreach of an ignorant son.

Pellenberg had the authority to make that possible, regardless of what others said.

But even so, the process would inevitably stain the Duke’s reputation and trustworthiness.

And for a merchant, breaking trust was a fatal blow above all else.

“To be honest, even I couldn’t believe you suddenly made such a decision unless you were under some kind of spell.”

He was under a spell. Not from a demon or a devil—but from a Book of Prophecy.

“But didn’t you have a purpose behind your decision? If you explain it properly to the Duke, wouldn’t he understand?”

“…”

He couldn’t say it.

What would happen if he said he received a Book of Prophecies?

‘At first, he’ll be curious and ask me to bring it.’

The Duke of Pellenberg was an open-minded man, willing to do anything if it meant making money.

However, solid proof and thorough verification were essential.

‘If I say it’s all in my head, he’ll just say I’m a deluded merchant dragging the family into ruin.’

Of course, he might give Fernan a chance and try to verify it, no matter how slim the possibility.

But most of the prophecy in Fernan’s mind involved events related to Aint Armian and the academy. That alone would never convince the Duke.

‘The only part mentioned outside the academy was…’

Fernan bit his lip. A detail that had barely slipped by—but fortunately, it involved money.

“There’s no choice but to take the risk.”

That’s investment.

You invest after thorough research and verification, but in this world, nothing is 100% certain.

People dress it up with the pretty word “investment,” but in essence, it’s just a kind of high-stakes gamble.

“I’ve thought of a good method.”

“May I ask what it is?”

“The pufferfish tactic.”

“The pufferfish tactic…”

The pufferfish is a type of fish known for its deadly poison and its ability to puff up by sucking in air or water when threatened.

“You’re saying you’ll poison the Duke? That’s insane!”

“How did you even get to that conclusion?”

“If not that…”

The servant hesitated.

“Are you going to deceive the Duke?”

“It’s not a bluff.”

“Then what is it?”

“Forget it. Just prepare a ship.”

Fernan deliberately avoided the servant’s gaze.

***

“The Young Master has arrived.”

“Bring him in at once.”

“Yes, sir.”

The butler stepped out.

Crunch, crunch.

The hand of the man who had been signing papers halted. He turned to look out the window and saw his son exiting the carriage.

He looks sane. He’d thought his son was mad for taking some strange drug.

That made it worse. It meant he’d tried to ruin the family with a clear head.

He’s possessed by a demon. No doubt, he is possessed. That demon who killed the First Emperor must have returned.

There was no other way to explain why a man who had once been sane would do something so mad.

Knock, knock.

“Duke, Young Master Fernan has arrived.”

Snapped out of his thoughts momentarily, the butler opened the door.

The son—whom he hadn’t seen in nearly a month—entered slowly. He didn’t seem especially nervous. Rather than demonic, he seemed like someone holding an ace up his sleeve.

The butler closed the door and stood firm.

“I’ve come to speak with you, Father.”

“Then explain it to me.”

The Duke murmured in a low voice, still absorbed by his paperwork.

All the nobles of the Empire knew: if the Frontier Count collapsed, the northern front of the Empire would fall. Support was ongoing, and Bercheff was rebuilding.

What once seemed like pouring water into a bottomless bucket no longer was. The Bercheff family was making gradual progress, and now they only needed time—just time.

“I gradually interrupted Imperial support to deny it at the right moment, and made Bercheff borrow money from us.”

The interest was meant to delay their recovery and ultimately prevent them from paying the principal. Once the situation had developed sufficiently, he planned to demand their secret sword technique in exchange for the debt.

But then his son ruined everything.

“That was our first and last opportunity.”

Given Bercheff’s latent strength, it was obvious such an opportunity would never come again unless the world ended.

“Why did you do it?”

“I decided to make a better investment.”

“Better than a secret sword technique from a count’s family that has defended the Empire’s north for a thousand years?”

“…I can’t tell you.”

“…Fernan.”

The Duke’s hand froze. His frown tightened at the tone, like a crying child.

“This isn’t a polite request. You’re not the heir right now; you’re a criminal and a scoundrel who attempted to squander the family fortune.”

“I will return with much greater profits.”

“Can you guarantee it?”

“Yes.”

But seeing Fernan’s resolute gaze, the Duke reconsidered somewhat.

He knew his son better than anyone. He wasn’t rash. And if he acted this way, there had to be a valid reason.

The Duke had raised him to be so. He realized his son was hiding something.

“Then I ask again. Where does that confidence come from? What did you invest in, and what is the origin of your faith in it?”

“…I still can’t answer that.”

“Unbelievable. I never raised you to be so reckless.”

What could it be? The Duke increased the pressure, trying to probe his son’s thoughts. He saw Fernan stifle a groan.

“Did you fall in love with Luina Bercheff or something?”

He tossed out the bait.

“No. I’m not foolish enough to throw away money blinded by love.”

“Then why can’t you give me a reason after pulling off such a stunt?”

“The Arus Mountains.”

“The Arus Mountains?”

“In the western mountains of Arus, within the dominion of the Viscount of Donets, there’s an undiscovered mana-stone mine. It’s quite large. In the long run, it should be enough to offset some of Bercheff’s losses.”

“A mana-stone mine?”

Mana stones are minerals infused with mana—some of the most precious minerals. Naturally, they mean money. A lot.

If what he said was true, this was a great opportunity. But it was hard to believe so easily.

“You discovered something the Donets family didn’t discover?”

“You know, I have a private intelligence network I operate.”

“I don’t consider it superior to ours. They’re basically children playing spy.”

“Well, children like digging in the dirt when they play. Sometimes, they get lucky and unearth a lost coin.”

Fernan shrugged. His sly attitude was fitting for a merchant.

“Recently, a typhoon sank a ship from the Donets Merchant Fleet. Their finances are precarious. If we exploit that vulnerability, we have room to maneuver.”

“So, what? You’re telling me to stop asking and take the bait?”

“That’s not all…”

“A mana-stone mine, huh?”

His tone was gruff, but he seemed pleased. A deal. When approached in business terms, it was right to respond the same way.

“If what you say is true, it could offset the damage you’ve caused. For now, I’ll investigate and verify if you’re telling the truth.”

“Thank you.”

“This will take time, so for now, return to the Academy and focus on your studies. I’ll call you again when I have results.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Oh, and it’s late. Stay the night. We’ll dine together shortly.”

“Yes, Father.”

His son bowed and departed. The Duke turned to the butler and asked:

“What do you think?”

“To steer negotiations with His Grace, he’s become quite the merchant.”

“Have you ever heard rumors of a mana-stone mine in the Arus Mountains?”

“No, sir.”

“And Fernan knew something even the Black Turtle couldn’t discover?”

This was the decisive reason the Duke accepted his bold proposal.

The Pellenberg Duchy possessed vast intelligence networks across the Empire (and even the continent), but they had never heard of a mana-stone mine in the Arus Mountains.

“…It is certainly unexpected.”

“Yet, he is not the kind of fool to lie about something that could be revealed immediately just to get out of trouble.”

“Indeed. The Young Master would never do something like that.”

“Also look into the Golden Pillar.”

The Golden Pillar was a personal intelligence network that Fernan Pellenberg had begun building since youth.

The Duke believed he knew everything, but apparently he did not.

“Fernan is impressive—and a bit disappointing.”

“Apologies. I will restructure the network.”

“Do so. But first, send someone to Donets County to inspect the Arus Mountains. Make sure the Viscount’s people don’t notice.”

“Yes, sir.”

The butler bowed deeply.

“And find out about Luina Bercheff. I want every detail about how she managed to seduce an iron block like Fernan.”

“You mean Young Master is in love with Luina Bercheff?”

“He’s not the type to invest without motive. And if there is one, he never hesitates to express it. However, despite investing, he couldn’t explain why. That only means something else clouded his judgment.”

“Rather than confess, he chose negotiation. Probably out of pride, or maybe because there was something else he couldn’t reveal at all.”

It was unusual for his son to offer a mana-stone mine simply out of pride.

A youthful love affair might be sufficient explanation. In retrospect it seems trivial, but at the time it felt like the whole world.

“Yes, sir.”

“Call Hyde as he leaves. I have questions for him.”

Hyde was Fernan’s assistant and close aide.

The butler left. The Duke twirled his pen thoughtfully.

“Fernan has always been obsessed with minerals and their potential to generate great wealth.”

He had scolded the butler but didn’t believe the Black Turtle’s intelligence had failed.

The continent was vast, and hidden mana-stone mines were plentiful. Even the Black Turtle couldn’t detect them all.

Still, he believed organizations only kept value when kept alert by pressure and constant expectations.

“If the organization has grown beyond expectations in mining and minerals…”

The Duke’s lips curved slightly in amusement at his son’s unexpected growth.

“I won’t ask about the secret you’re hiding—at least, not yet.”

This was a business transaction. If the returns suffice, there’s no need to dig further.

All this was supported by the fundamental trust that Fernan would not harm the family.

“What could it be… something a man who loves money more than I would choose instead of money?”

Love probably played a major role, but it couldn’t be the whole story.

“I must discover that too.”

He had said he wouldn’t ask—but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t find out himself.

***

“Did it go well?”

Fernan sighed in relief upon leaving the Duke’s study.

The mine is real. Father will no doubt accept the deal.

Duke Pellenberg was practical. He would never refuse a pile of gold before him.

“It seems I’ve quenched the worst of the fire…”

He felt like he’d lost ten years of his life. His father would surely investigate the Golden Pillar.

He probably already had an inkling of everything, but this incident would make him wonder if there were parts he hadn’t discovered.

“To delay being discovered, I need at least to act as if I have something else going on.”

Everything beyond the bare minimum at the Academy had to be dispatched elsewhere.

Make it seem as if activities were happening across the entire continent.

Meanwhile, he would try to recall as much of the prophecy as he could and use it to plant more bait.

Family matters could wait. For now, Aint was the priority. As soon as the semester began, a significant event would happen.

Fernan grabbed his head, trying to remember the prophecy.

***

The victor! It’s Armian!

The referee, after checking the condition of the fallen cadet, raised the flag to signal the end of the match.

At his declaration, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“He won!”

“Aint Armian hasn’t been defeated!”

The moment when Aint Armian truly began to shine.

“I need to see this for myself.”

Hearing about it later or following from behind wouldn’t be the same as witnessing it with your own eyes.