Chapter 20: The Carrot and the Whip
CSF7fTt“Is this a demonic beast?”4UKP
eYlZed looked at something with a disgusted expression.qgP
87hAEJLIt was the creature the soldiers of Count Consilus had brought.2IC0E
eEaThe demonic bear was confined inside a thick stone sarcophagus.A6l
7MMsFirmly chained, its joints twisted and sealed so that, even if it regenerated, it could not exert its strength.0rI
NNneIt was completely neutralized.UaW
1OZ1qAI“That is right.”ArBN
ZW3N“It is the first time I have seen a demonic beast. Since I have never had to deal with them, I did not know they were so repulsive.”5esG
E67w“You speak like a noble lady.”s2Rph
DsgJJj“Well, even if it does not seem so, I was raised with quite a bit of luxury. On the dragonspawn side…”ylmYm
64hJAs he uttered that word, Zed showed a bitter smile.5b1
tEwjhThen he looked at Perda.UmDVu
v4T3“So, why did you call me?”H6WEMvu
tvj4t4“To work as an assistant.”mFq9PpL
0r37W“Does it have to do with that bear?”sUv6g
3mZrPerda tilted his head toward the creature.vmKf0
iohve9“…What do you intend to do with that?”dH1j9
nnd“Even tied up like that, it is still growing. It seems harmless now because we have put a brake on it, but within an hour its heart will beat again.”FGjz
Tonb“I see…”Fvi0
yjI7Ux“And if it senses a threat to its life, it will grow several times faster than normal.”7NJB
YFxCxsd“And then?”33ttAV
VZLhDPPerda sliced the air with his index finger.I5ZZ
UV1“Every three hours you must cut its flesh. Tendons and nerves included.”8dYl0
e5O4sHe patted him on the shoulder.JtwF
nvpkC5r“You will do it.”eCiNpnn
9B4iv“…Every three hours? And how am I supposed to sleep?”yQjV
ufn5Perda answered calmly.OtATdC
GnVy“They say the faithful in the south pray every three hours. Without missing a single day.”EXKprEB
ogiq“But I am not from there. Speaking humanly, how am I supposed to do that?”exo4dY
2C4HZ0“If they can pray every three hours, you can too.”n1Z
2A8“Could I not take turns with the maid?”glM
R8HZl“I already told you she is not my loyal servant. If you can convince her, I will not stop you.”PTxx3
YCwRk2Zed closed his mouth.FxMM
ZBJbqNot even he, who believed he could seduce women with ease, wanted to meddle with a dragonspawn.47fDx
Ik0GLF“Do not worry. It will not be forever. Only until Vernell obtains results.”pFEl
0nL61x“Until he obtains results? How many days will that take?”yi3CxcL
JJfSX“It could be months.”Yge
3rL446“Months…?”ThjOd07
CsoMA hollow laugh escaped him.bof99
8VECutting a beast every three hours for months?RNwRKQ
QQS— Grrrk… grrk…zWxEJ
7f8iBThe bear exhaled with a nauseating sound.W12nD
x3w“You recruited me for this?”R26p0Ho
ExnYT“If not for this, then for what?”HW2www
gCuThv“Fine… alright. Only until the research is finished?”46PjWdE
qEof5PC“Of course.”U7U
iOU5“Ha, I appreciate it.”MgQe
HE6hCUvBut his eyes burned with fury.fSr
Vra6They turned reddish, shining intensely.MYe2f
jozWhat future awaited Vernell, not even Perda knew.dBp2s4
Mwm1FtAnd he did not care either.BwTqA3g
wWqufnLet him deal with it.bXHmj6
cOli2k***teJw
rJDuTwo days later, a horse returned to Valdrova Castle.gO5
tkkqPwVernell had survived mana burnout under the care of Count Consilus.2Vn
NPI6RZp‘Today I am not the same as yesterday.’10Fqwzy
U2qHe felt euphoric.oSEQl
NWaHe believed that experience had elevated him.sCpLUN
ewSH‘From now on I will stake my life on this research.’QztJllc
Y2bIf he wanted power capable of changing the world, he had to strive accordingly.2Nad
fKdgACAbandon his comfort and burn his own body if necessary.Btrq
FocAs he left the horse in the stable, he saw a man in front of the door.7hjFgu
ubWGCAside from Ruri and Perda, it was the first person he had seen in the castle.QiXERv
E4FdnGq‘How handsome…’iHC
XgnRlBrown hair tied back in a ponytail, tall, flawless even to male eyes.vakIz39
dvIPHe approached when he noticed the man smiling at him.PIY
7zPTsUp close he perceived something.4fMb
RTYWkZM‘He looks tired…’H0r
vucyHe had pronounced dark circles under his eyes.N2dK9D2
sXuomQm“Nice to meet you. I am Zed.”pBEn3x
Pa2tHe smiled brightly.14smDP
d9Y“N-nice to meet you. I am Vernell.”b85d7
hm7IU“Yes, I have heard about you. How old are you?”S25TY
v6u5“Twenty-seven…”KVjqG0x
9Ete“Ah, older than me. Then I will call you hyung.”bPn85xR
bxM“Ah, yes…”Qgd
CRqz“Let us go to the laboratory, hyung.”wbqdzjK
xQqrZed guided him.4oAOF
dd9‘Someone that handsome calling me brother!’VnGqc
JkSPIPerhaps after adversity came reward.UQri
RthzAfter enduring the bear and brushing against death, now he was being treated with respect.rAyTy2
gQlQ8The resentment he had felt upon arriving disappeared.4tBD
hkFvw“Here is the captured bear.”Ul6T
hZzfC“Ah, yes. It is alive and well cared for…”U5UHLzc
FcC“Of course. Who do you think took care of it?”OGkX
qQB8“You, Zed? Thank you.”2tA6e4
zw4i“Ha, it is nothing.”Mr3Op
HO49JW7Zed dragged a chair.9Qvge0
I2tW25uRrrrk.YS3Y
sTHu4The sound echoed like that of an executioner in hell.0Pb
UIO1wHe placed it in front of the entrance, sat down, and crossed his arms and legs.BrHNg6V
nC91xCBlocking the exit.GX0aJ
MtuKSH“Go ahead. Begin.”Pcp62Ex
Dy6It was not figurative.4k16
t4F“Excuse me?”8wEgz
Q3U52v“The research. Let us not waste time.”r0v
wpXe7SIn the candlelight, his dark circles looked even deeper.RXQn
KBkqOjP“Thanks to your research, this younger brother must wake up every three hours and, with this dagger—”qAJz
IKTClang!yXMF2A
jOD“H-hah!”Ql3
btB“—cut that bastard every single time.”p5CSqj
vJGLK“I-I… I am sorry…”79yM1
v9F2vE“Oh, there is no need. If you need anything, whatever it may be, I will bring it to you. So devote yourself to researching without worry.”BX7R
NwdvIn Zed’s eyes a blazing hell burned.nZvu
mJEErtTThe dagger embedded in the table exhaled an icy chill.anB
lBk“And sleep? Does one sleep after dying?”mqs
xMtxdYmIn Vernell’s mind a single phrase echoed.2NRBhx
qjzgbJnWhat is done is done.V1pWqOi
Dqz***nXSAsD4
JV2An army advanced along the main road.2a0ieJ
XxLkuKAt the vanguard rode two knights, and just behind them waved the banner bearing the family emblem.STSjcvQ
JQ9xIn the center of the formation, surrounded by soldiers, a luxurious carriage advanced slowly.o3psw6R
OIHLBaron Giyot was on his way to fulfill official matters.oWyWm3
bG8tHis destination was Valdrova Castle.u21b0uA
LwQj0PsEven from afar the fortress could be seen, situated on the slope of a solitary mountain in the east.py6B46I
URcMxfb“Uuugh…”8gfq
Bjhh2Baron Giyot’s stomach twisted.by16
a1lRayThe closer they came to the castle, the worse he felt.aE4Q
S9CFr“Damn it… My father said I would never have to go to that place… all lies…”FSM8H
8Cks“My lord, breathe deeply.”8BwfZX
TDD9eUu“Yes… deeply… Huu… I, third son of House Giyot, cannot be frightened by this.”NXXV
3mx7H3“That is right, of course!”Wkqn
olXMThe baron took a deep breath.v1ru8o
wWlrAlthough now he was fat and clumsy, in his youth he had been a knight.HlD
HXMoCEWThat said, one who had never set foot on a battlefield.8p82yV
9DdsWithout feats or medals, it was natural that he would end up relegated to a frontier barony.hWuQpn
eUPUt“Do not be so frightened just because he is the fiancé of that damned red lizard. House Giyot has solid connections! Blood is thicker than water!”qro
IOp1“B-but that bastard even killed someone from House Wolter…”AEc
qNXdd“House Wolter did not cause trouble afterward, did they? In fact, it would not have been strange if they had disappeared. They will not dare to touch House Giyot.”oJl1
U56ITz“Right? Yes… it must be so…”Gro
WTXHe tried to hypnotize himself with his servant’s words.r6J
wwOVMYdBy then, the carriage had already entered the castle.RVDgvG
w9XRXUThe door opened and a red carpet was laid before him.cXtdmSG
SpWHNIn the middle stood a small maid with silver hair.FZsZ
OKZA dragonspawn of Valdrova.fLe8eI
oGw“Welcome.”GtW
HmM“Y-yes.”0jWnMxJ
uFPg8u“This way.”kCik
h06FdPiRuri led the way.dTET
ni0juBaron Giyot walked along the red carpet accompanied by his closest knights.B87
OJhThe place was well maintained, without a gloomy aura.2zp0
XHrKGAgBut the absence of administrators and soldiers unsettled him even more.dQHgmYX
7W5pIIt was like walking toward the stomach of a leviathan.FFTmv7w
SjaB8‘Do not think about it. Do not think…’dT37noG
X1zwA massive door rose before him.2vItJt
4E7Carved with the exploits of dragons.5VfD
LLCBAt human eye level it clearly read.yCVLo
xVJ— Revere before the primordial flame and the lord of power.50T
gUhpfYThe door opened.bjCZWQR
ujcA man rose to receive him.BvDEgMg
xK0The baron trembled.3KF8
tJ6nap“It has been a long journey.”KLswP
0mbDAL0Gray hair and blue eyes.qw1U9
KK6AYLooking into them was like gazing into a deep, bottomless lake.9hM7HZ
zFYCmPerda Valdrova.VOigy3
MVZ5l“You are sweating a great deal. Was the journey difficult?”K6b
l077FhE“N-no… ha, ha…”5UgK
k6P2UUf“Then it must be lack of exercise. You should lose some weight. Obesity shortens life.”z2Wl
knQvL“Thank you for your concern for my health.”ijxU
yim“Take a seat.”PDp
YsJVXPerda made him sit across the table.anz7b
mL98wUNThe baron’s sweat did not cease.2IZo94t
C8Fmh“You must be having a hard time in the eastern frontier.”VOnoq
5J5s“It is nothing compared to the burden your highness carries! Ours is insignificant!”TAvye
j7d“That is right. Yours is insignificant.”imT
HR2bEThe tone changed.zPFL
CFvQThe atmosphere as well.sFPl
5FIG1VSThe baron understood.QNPXv
EXKHe had fallen into the trap of his own words.8mZ
vMxZ“I did not wish to verify it, but upon becoming regent I took greater interest in certain matters. So I reviewed your documents a little.”s8DaY
NPy2Tap.5VA
iRzHe placed the file in front of him.FkT7wn
yhKrsNP“There are many indications of forgery.”FKBl
7waKalGiyot’s Adam’s apple moved with difficulty.y9I5Ek
XGZ93jHe wanted to protest, but he could not.20V
0qj8Perda continued.Py0b
mdcjjWt“There are too many inconsistencies. Do you know how much disappeared in total?”3zYfy
qFKQqhHe pointed to the figure.cDAb5pa
vJPQ9wI“3,000 golden.”YiTX
oBu9Golden, the unit used to count gold coins.6qxCPa
XAYp10“It says here that you swallowed three thousand coins that the peasants might never touch in their lives.”sGUVhB
thgmp25“I-I did not write that…”fFI
y5kaJx“Of course not. With that elegant handwriting anyone would say I wrote it for you.”3FAnn
SmWQfIt was obvious.zDg9e
bt7q6F4“You kept a portion and distributed another to your subordinates to turn them into accomplices. What you truly took may not reach three thousand. But that is how nobles are—the more luxury, the heavier the neck that must bear it.”Csyjz6
EArvPerda moved on to the next document.sv2InK
CDMP7“Charges embezzlement, falsification of official documents, improper conduct…”YP2EmB
2Wn4r7dWith each word, the baron seemed to age a year.Kd4vE
fAqE“…According to imperial penal code, depending on the severity, the minimum fine is 10,000 golden…”Oj2
C053QjThe blue eyes pierced him.B7B0Rk
jAQYpiu“And in the worst case, you may be executed and hanged at the castle gate.”vjNyL
JYBjVaThe image of Tesalos Wolter’s end crossed his mind.bOYui
xHGlSThe baron fell to his knees, pale.s8qIr
DJEV“Mercy! It will not happen again! Never!”AqGe5Ke
Xsn7ot“Hm.”kYzK
kKnUXPPerda stood and patted his shoulder.QYcR
vugk5AR“Listen well. I am not telling you to stop.”I0Ly
C0G6“Eh…?”WOiO0v5
q9KFb“I do not care if you fill your belly. I am not interested in how much you have taken.”1CDJK
KepUC“T-then, why…?”zlAnI
CLjDMvM“What concerns me is capability.”6Ys
LzUMB“C-capability?”fN9do
Yjc9rf“I prefer someone a little dirty but competent over someone clean and useless. For the common good, a slight deviation does not concern me. I do not care if you eat well or if you roll around with a prostitute named Rosemary.”d7V
wz80WHe leaned in and whispered.df6Cbf
ka05Zk“Prove your competence. Resolve the food problem and the demonic beast issue soon. Bring stability to the people.”qMy
gJA0IdHe waved the documents lightly.goB
spv3Q0j“Otherwise…”1ug95
XddT“This official document might by chance reach the imperial capital. The emperor, of course, and also your parents and siblings would learn of your irregularities. And then a fierce race would begin to see whether the imperial executioner arrives first or the knights of your house to cut your neck. Do you understand?”7Mlz
PAucgG“Y-yes, I understand! I will prove it without fail!”2jLc
lg67J“Good. That concludes it. You may leave.”GQrsH8
VphiPOBaron Giyot left hastily, like someone who had just removed his head from the guillotine.Jd5k
8h64Perda, with a satisfied expression, marked Baron Giyot’s name on the audience list.h307h1
zdM‘It is definitely convenient to have someone who thinks for me.’0O02RMO
pz9Q2No matter how elevated his level as an archmage had been, he was not an expert in such tedious administrative work.8h7
vUAoTo point out where and how money had been used required related knowledge and experience, and Perda had neither.9YMDu
YfEThe one who had been his brain in this matter was none other than Morida.B2KtEr
66twrA girl who appeared naive, but carried a universal library in her head.XSN
fNUFPerda had given her this instruction.omjO
TCoyW— From now on review everything listed in the account books and reports. Summarize any part that does not add up. And, based on the imperial penal code, also calculate the possible sentence.gQM9FjM
BatIToIMorida nodded and began rapidly reviewing the contents of the books.4tSKbGE
0d49Fliiip—!QcEzq
Tr9oShe read at an absurd speed, as if she were only pretending to turn pages.6pmju
jquVA task that would have taken a week for several people, she resolved quickly.7tcUCy
eFfThus she documented the irregularities of fourteen territorial lords, one by one, and Perda met with each of them based on those reports.oWbr8e
kYUvZSB‘The irregularities themselves do not concern me.’erzb
IfHQ4DJust as there is no fish without smell, there is no noble without corruption.g0W5d
oty8OIf they are not competent, he will simply remove them.7E9yaS
OG5EitThey only had to prove they did not occupy their position by mere inertia.j5r
U2CdxcJ“With this, even Baron Giyot left crying like a child.”RYDAPCW
pYeSaid Ruri, who had been observing in silence.W9zmmS
9az0a3“There are about five left.”fh71Ft
BecME“Are you going to become a tyrant merely by instilling fear?”iB915w
Nj4v“Only fear? This is the first time I have used the whip.”fb2
rA6n7ZX“The whip…?”8WUUzQf
e4sqK8Y“The carrot and the whip. The key is to alternate them.”AQa5E
lmWm5IiRuri recalled the events she had experienced with Perda and tilted her head.AXP71
HBHoXo“Until now you have only used the whip harshly.”Vijn8F
CTlPRw“Oh, really?”u6rmKC
Gtlv“Yes. You seem determined to crush them with fear. Or perhaps you have grown so accustomed to pain that your threshold has risen.”0Mr
brVY“Hmm…”HIUa
RCEoPerda had not realized at all that he was only using the whip.fRYYY3
XNezo“It does not matter.”ia2
48zEven if, as Ruri said, he was only using the whip, he had no intention of offering the carrot for now.xrvL
EYFER“They have been useless donkeys who have only consumed the carrot from the granary. Should I not make them work?”Ke4u
KVneZAT“That is also true.”iUOE
gf5dWW9Ruri nodded.qR8uN
Fk1Perda Valdrova.Mxo
Dz4E8sMToday as well he wields the whip diligently for the development of the grand duchy.jzE5R
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