Chapter 5
6SQXeC“I must go to Pellenberg immediately.”X44n5B
5Dn“Right now, sir?”4MqIF
ApYF“Yes.”uYzUY
UdtwS[You’ve been possessed by a demon.]ahOsOwz
m3aEFcaThe Duke of Pellenberg’s reply had been short and concise. But that only made it hit harder.eknZ
n3ASo hard, in fact, that Fernan couldn’t stay still without doing something immediately.vuyeX
jQkoc“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?”6EoJhI
A9Lbw“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.”sK0wlR7
xp0nJjDA short answer. But even with just that, Fernan could already guess.VJokRJ
iNjFTu“If I waste time now, Father might excommunicate me.”lrMB
lGC95v“Surely not to that extent…”7ieoM1z
jrWThe servant, who had been shaking his head, went silent.yOwqH8W
5IA“Now that I think about it, it was a serious overstep. It was, essentially, directly going against His Grace’s will.”XxxffJ
IpEGMiIt could have been dismissed as the reckless overreach of an ignorant son.dP1c7
JhGejffPellenberg had the authority to make that possible, regardless of what others said.BZX
it0kBut even so, the process would inevitably stain the Duke’s reputation and trustworthiness.cAg7iH
DHIAnd for a merchant, breaking trust was a fatal blow above all else.WDMRH
Oy2U“To be honest, even I couldn’t believe you suddenly made such a decision unless you were under some kind of spell.”kE0ijiH
DtCzeHe was under a spell. Not from a demon or a devil—but from a Book of Prophecy.N7y1
Q6Papi“But didn’t you have a purpose behind your decision? If you explain it properly to the Duke, wouldn’t he understand?”ZGdW
mOj6g“…”Wvr8N
qsGkYCHe couldn’t say it.KZz79
8ZvZtTWhat would happen if he said he received a Book of Prophecies?wcP1e
eKEu‘At first, he’ll be curious and ask me to bring it.’LjP
6RN8The Duke of Pellenberg was an open-minded man, willing to do anything if it meant making money.fkr
jQpHowever, solid proof and thorough verification were essential.iZjHc
u158‘If I say it’s all in my head, he’ll just say I’m a deluded merchant dragging the family into ruin.’4o2
5bgSjOf course, he might give Fernan a chance and try to verify it, no matter how slim the possibility.1J9Uds
RFzBut most of the prophecy in Fernan’s mind involved events related to Aint Armian and the academy. That alone would never convince the Duke.KOTZY4r
Qh3f5Qk‘The only part mentioned outside the academy was…’B4oJHCf
PZ5Fernan bit his lip. A detail that had barely slipped by—but fortunately, it involved money.aV99
vm8p“There’s no choice but to take the risk.”1aXOr
Na6JPgThat’s investment.fyVVPya
O78You invest after thorough research and verification, but in this world, nothing is 100% certain.SR2f
nGZ8NPeople dress it up with the pretty word “investment,” but in essence, it’s just a kind of high-stakes gamble.1jyW1
iskKKrw“I’ve thought of a good method.”j4L
hkBKV3“May I ask what it is?”LdOy
0uvoZ“The pufferfish tactic.”2a8
eJW8vA“The pufferfish tactic…”dX6T6
jZzcP6rThe 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.4TAqD
eU3wx5O“You’re saying you’ll poison the Duke? That’s insane!”dOGdQLC
WlE“How did you even get to that conclusion?”it7D04
wBMTxse“If not that…”sLteR35
l6HThe servant hesitated.VujX
LheMp“Are you going to deceive the Duke?”BisJq
L7OeIjj“It’s not a bluff.”Fj7gaN
reC“Then what is it?”G9c7D
CNHC“Forget it. Just prepare a ship.”DeP
qhIY3m8Fernan deliberately avoided the servant’s gaze.t6vMsB
vn8mLo6***eLRgf
PJL4zT“The Young Master has arrived.”uy10
5In“Bring him in at once.”FR2Kg
36J“Yes, sir.”GGR
qYGvThe butler stepped out.8cFzX
NvmvCrunch, crunch.Ohc
imuThe hand of the man who had been signing papers halted. He turned to look out the window and saw his son exiting the carriage.gWbN
M5MLntHe looks sane. He’d thought his son was mad for taking some strange drug.xaVyB6
AsqZmnThat made it worse. It meant he’d tried to ruin the family with a clear head.atuKyPR
7Qlx4nFHe’s possessed by a demon. No doubt, he is possessed. That demon who killed the First Emperor must have returned.60l
EYMKd3There was no other way to explain why a man who had once been sane would do something so mad.iDozoH
YIuKnock, knock.qy0
TBp6H3“Duke, Young Master Fernan has arrived.”6Xr
M5NIYSnapped out of his thoughts momentarily, the butler opened the door.Y1o
WWChrcQThe 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.FIxvAlA
kAJVwaThe butler closed the door and stood firm.vbv
XQp9“I’ve come to speak with you, Father.”RwN
Ar44YPc“Then explain it to me.”seHpxn
AYZZfThe Duke murmured in a low voice, still absorbed by his paperwork.ljYc
VuY9rwAll 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.bBStZ
Vpq4What 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.cCR
86sB“I gradually interrupted Imperial support to deny it at the right moment, and made Bercheff borrow money from us.”g2g
qYC3owThe 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.mRCL
8Hx0eTTBut then his son ruined everything.lju9
yXrnzAm“That was our first and last opportunity.”sfX6c
Oo4XeGiven Bercheff’s latent strength, it was obvious such an opportunity would never come again unless the world ended.LGeOywj
tSLocjF“Why did you do it?”XJv0
CdLVs“I decided to make a better investment.”UVc
4oG“Better than a secret sword technique from a count’s family that has defended the Empire’s north for a thousand years?”khA9y
XFdMPM“…I can’t tell you.”w5TT
tKnMP“…Fernan.”OwQKAt
AW9J5The Duke’s hand froze. His frown tightened at the tone, like a crying child.9iSSdq6
NLsa4kM“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.”n02J6TV
Rxb9zj“I will return with much greater profits.”bXaLj
25p84wA“Can you guarantee it?”DOPc
1o3“Yes.”Zivpz
NW2aBut seeing Fernan’s resolute gaze, the Duke reconsidered somewhat.4JuvPe
vV3He knew his son better than anyone. He wasn’t rash. And if he acted this way, there had to be a valid reason.amDuKQ
rHmnThe Duke had raised him to be so. He realized his son was hiding something.aeH3oH
QllssTT“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?”VI1d
tMGK7y“…I still can’t answer that.”XfmMb8H
qME“Unbelievable. I never raised you to be so reckless.”FNO
4UyWhat could it be? The Duke increased the pressure, trying to probe his son’s thoughts. He saw Fernan stifle a groan.OeyEA
SHl0iP“Did you fall in love with Luina Bercheff or something?”0UiGGY
sEUCW8GHe tossed out the bait.Ln2pq
5wbIrz“No. I’m not foolish enough to throw away money blinded by love.”ywGuq
byd1l“Then why can’t you give me a reason after pulling off such a stunt?”0gMaU
yEO0z“The Arus Mountains.”uFfeB
oRMce“The Arus Mountains?”CzPg6
BF0gD“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.”W3kT48
IcenS“A mana-stone mine?”v5aJDG
tmGMana stones are minerals infused with mana—some of the most precious minerals. Naturally, they mean money. A lot.T4VGa
dnmPoIf what he said was true, this was a great opportunity. But it was hard to believe so easily.xh67
74rERl“You discovered something the Donets family didn’t discover?”08KONI
s850D“You know, I have a private intelligence network I operate.”0mvwKl
Uxmq“I don’t consider it superior to ours. They’re basically children playing spy.”EQ3xDm
vcPBY36“Well, children like digging in the dirt when they play. Sometimes, they get lucky and unearth a lost coin.”EWetvWP
flByFernan shrugged. His sly attitude was fitting for a merchant.coTjxgR
CpaV“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.”lWsf
Sf7LBi“So, what? You’re telling me to stop asking and take the bait?”dK9pME
Uwp“That’s not all…”2cjE
ovKqEkR“A mana-stone mine, huh?”t8N4V
rw2GTCHis tone was gruff, but he seemed pleased. A deal. When approached in business terms, it was right to respond the same way.5y8F
IDGwXq“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.”SVP20J
M4E“Thank you.”Ls4hck
ZXx1yQ“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.”3EZ
6OrDmmn“Yes, Father.”2tdE
4N3ZyY“Oh, and it’s late. Stay the night. We’ll dine together shortly.”A8t3
Wl2xiJ“Yes, Father.”nndf
d8ykHis son bowed and departed. The Duke turned to the butler and asked:CQzSAJ
nTlG“What do you think?”fjBiILL
Jrdm78“To steer negotiations with His Grace, he’s become quite the merchant.”ZvTy
6rx“Have you ever heard rumors of a mana-stone mine in the Arus Mountains?”gAfl1
Oho“No, sir.”TEcUDNT
TgzEp6“And Fernan knew something even the Black Turtle couldn’t discover?”07cZob
FlZZHoThis was the decisive reason the Duke accepted his bold proposal.RtBIRF
2FjThe 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.5qkOxE
FPW7“…It is certainly unexpected.”Z84
lH7aYjj“Yet, he is not the kind of fool to lie about something that could be revealed immediately just to get out of trouble.”6CCYC
pHrw9f“Indeed. The Young Master would never do something like that.”7jWjJi2
v0VeE“Also look into the Golden Pillar.”9mrVTyv
BqhxwS0The Golden Pillar was a personal intelligence network that Fernan Pellenberg had begun building since youth.kuF4
CYhU8The Duke believed he knew everything, but apparently he did not.qZt
ysdJriZ“Fernan is impressive—and a bit disappointing.”i2N
AUmSY“Apologies. I will restructure the network.”9Qo
OKB“Do so. But first, send someone to Donets County to inspect the Arus Mountains. Make sure the Viscount’s people don’t notice.”CpD
bStWpIF“Yes, sir.”hEnXU
Ef1The butler bowed deeply.oqsE727
U35“And find out about Luina Bercheff. I want every detail about how she managed to seduce an iron block like Fernan.”hm1ne
arRv“You mean Young Master is in love with Luina Bercheff?”tov
metrrLZ“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.”UAcwh
PaY“Rather than confess, he chose negotiation. Probably out of pride, or maybe because there was something else he couldn’t reveal at all.”CM7a
8O5nkaIIt was unusual for his son to offer a mana-stone mine simply out of pride.VUv9
7wydCQA youthful love affair might be sufficient explanation. In retrospect it seems trivial, but at the time it felt like the whole world.pvde5n
Z2PD“Yes, sir.”rey
lK0xxv3“Call Hyde as he leaves. I have questions for him.”JVlr4i
CbAOOHyde was Fernan’s assistant and close aide.CcTGY
Rc8g5VThe butler left. The Duke twirled his pen thoughtfully.SaT1idn
Qd8G1o4“Fernan has always been obsessed with minerals and their potential to generate great wealth.”hzR2Zq
b953He had scolded the butler but didn’t believe the Black Turtle’s intelligence had failed.0yATb
fYsThe continent was vast, and hidden mana-stone mines were plentiful. Even the Black Turtle couldn’t detect them all.6P2Q1qR
6emxPStill, he believed organizations only kept value when kept alert by pressure and constant expectations.Hpr7E
ZEq7“If the organization has grown beyond expectations in mining and minerals…”3kYlgR0
PT4Oy5The Duke’s lips curved slightly in amusement at his son’s unexpected growth.u9o6WI
nZ6H9“I won’t ask about the secret you’re hiding—at least, not yet.”sEPs1k
1A2sYoThis was a business transaction. If the returns suffice, there’s no need to dig further.IvQwf
O5kFg4All this was supported by the fundamental trust that Fernan would not harm the family.sqV
cdRyC0a“What could it be… something a man who loves money more than I would choose instead of money?”Oc6uC
Zms9MLove probably played a major role, but it couldn’t be the whole story.Skh2
tKi“I must discover that too.”M3X
5Q4RgHe had said he wouldn’t ask—but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t find out himself.LC5PL7T
1J0E***GQB
sqGkH“Did it go well?”4aiImJ2
akZFernan sighed in relief upon leaving the Duke’s study.07dKw
Hz1DrcThe mine is real. Father will no doubt accept the deal.4AP
w3BWDuke Pellenberg was practical. He would never refuse a pile of gold before him.eUV0w
Djb“It seems I’ve quenched the worst of the fire…”cy0hi
zrU4jHe felt like he’d lost ten years of his life. His father would surely investigate the Golden Pillar.29tyXP
1kmWZmmHe probably already had an inkling of everything, but this incident would make him wonder if there were parts he hadn’t discovered.77WhIt
xoY“To delay being discovered, I need at least to act as if I have something else going on.”vFp
pH8wTEverything beyond the bare minimum at the Academy had to be dispatched elsewhere.L2u17
VcASMake it seem as if activities were happening across the entire continent.T1i2
irGjexsMeanwhile, he would try to recall as much of the prophecy as he could and use it to plant more bait.Kxtw
DzFAIFamily matters could wait. For now, Aint was the priority. As soon as the semester began, a significant event would happen.Fkd00
QcINJ4Fernan grabbed his head, trying to remember the prophecy.2Jw
kuvxOn***uY1s
IQtyKxThe victor! It’s Armian!UDr9DL
0HTThe referee, after checking the condition of the fallen cadet, raised the flag to signal the end of the match.vfZ
khKD8At his declaration, the crowd erupted in cheers.yrk
0C5“He won!”luBTeoN
8bN7P“Aint Armian hasn’t been defeated!”Gs83jqf
iJWThe moment when Aint Armian truly began to shine.DfL4
2jB8“I need to see this for myself.”Lj41f
kFN1esdHearing about it later or following from behind wouldn’t be the same as witnessing it with your own eyes.Xdl2Ui
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!