Chapter 24: To Judge People
Zw1chALIf one were asked the name of the most recognized merchant in the Arken Empire, most would mention the name Herman Pascal.QcjejVr
vWCBHerman Pascal.cNfdW
UHpA4STaking his own surname, he founded a trading company called Pascal, and he is a man who has been expanding it with the ambition of extending his influence not only within the empire, but throughout the entire continent of Serdes.OribT
E8rFq4He has three children, two sons and one daughter, and all of them grew up being called geniuses.PxSY
jN9But among them, the one who showed the most outstanding talent was the second son, Stephan Pascal.yKnNvLy
MSdgQqyAt that moment he was thinking the following.JCAsS
p5k‘If this continues like this, I will die without being able to do anything.’aqStoV2
Dxw4The reason was that the true struggle for succession had begun.UnitgmD
b3KsEwHe was a man with a commercial instinct comparable to that of Herman Pascal.DC31t
ylc0UMNIf he saw that something could generate money, he invested without hesitation, and even if the investment failed, he never regretted it, because he had an aggressive personality.WwvNuk
hzO5SvCHe wanted to prove his position solely with his abilities as a merchant.93GNss
GwFoJThat was why Stephan focused only on learning business sense under the guidance of his father Herman Pascal.1eoR
ZXGKBut when that same father initiated the board of the succession struggle, Stephan realized that Herman had not taught him something important.ECBvm
NmRT‘Charisma to dominate people!’9NN
tBRQJStephan lacked that decisive charisma that a merchant needs.oBWoFJ
gdTRzThe eldest son, Merchit Pascal, and the youngest daughter, Tilda Pascal.fLOJBat
IDQenCompared with the influence and charisma those two exercised, Stephan was nothing more than a simple extra among the crowd.aHL18V
tGEzXLacking presence, he inevitably kept falling further behind in the struggle for succession.50PAlBK
IykUWwIt was then that Merchit made him a proposal.bhSW0P7
hs1lm1“Maybe I will become the true successor, but you are better at running the trading company, so you should take charge of the company. I will only handle the company’s mercenaries that I manage. That way at least we can prevent our sister from causing any trouble. What do you think?”jv7qYge
iqLl1Merchit Pascal had achieved resounding success by entering the mercenary business under the pretext of protecting the trading company.OlO9
DKPLUNot only was he intelligent, but he had also hired an instructor who had once been a knight to train his personal combat.8CJ
AYlCIUAlthough Stephan lacked charisma, he was not an idiot.cL9f
Lk1bHY‘Take the company’s mercenaries and leave me alone with the commercial business? What nonsense.’bf8QI
Kp9No matter how much money moves people, nothing can compete with force.7pgmS
aJXPEven now he continued strengthening his military power. What would happen if he truly became the successor?7Ndw6l
tuxe4Wd‘The dog that catches the rabbit always ends up being boiled.’3pla9h3
oAptYHe could not join forces with Merchit Pascal.q5OU2ew
EXUfVZ‘Then should I ally myself with my sister?’upFNCy
b5LStephan let out a dry laugh at his own thought.NlaEYwS
Of1e4He would rather hang himself than do that.D5le
A3HvO‘That woman only thinks about seducing men, devouring other trading companies, and then swallowing them.’GUjuNsf
A9zdHis younger sister, Tilda Pascal, was engaged to another large trading company within the empire.Xi5c
Cw0Wh6SShe had inherited the extraordinary beauty of her mother, famous for her appearance, and had used it as a weapon to build numerous connections.FTOUZ7
vFSShe acted as if she were a pure and foolish woman, but inside she always carried a knife and was ready to stab someone.hi6bx
MumIOpiShe had traits of a sociopath.nZWd
CvDlIf there was something they both shared in their way of thinking, it was that under the sky two suns cannot exist.URci4od
3eKBPG7‘If I want to survive, I must defeat them both.’pwyW
bWj2But how?gbNcv
S1aFZUStephan had no connections.v3Opn
A6YhEven the directors belonging to Pascal only mentioned the names of Merchit and Tilda.3Fivwt
llm4AOAs if Stephan did not even exist.ROTl2v
wpKqcf“Ugh…”qziH
PDETMxLetting out a groan, Stephan collapsed onto the desk.mzIYMk
2xDjHe had to work, but he could not concentrate.sAxi
t7YThey say that even when the sky collapses a way out always appears, so why was he not given that opportunity?HfUn
dB81lAnWhile he was lamenting in that way,nndG
8mzDP“Excuse me, department chief. Are you there?”NN1N
A3wWzThe secretary opened the door and entered.Mq6efRl
eLXKP8GStephan quickly stood up and smiled as if nothing had happened.r8w2
gmR“What is it?”zx8l
nrhKN“An urgent report has just arrived. They say that throughout the entire empire they are requesting the same product and that we need to secure the supply.”ePmzcfM
83ffkQ“Supply? Are we in some season where something in particular is needed?”hp6hv
M1O8IfE“That is precisely why it is an urgent report.”kzxwdt
gttBf“I suppose you are right. What is it that they need?”gtUO
kLhZm“Well… it seems that wandering knights are requesting monster corpses.”BFD
R2r82i“What? Monster corpses?”FyZNzq
PNcIt was such a strange request that even among urgent reports it was exceptional.q9Kn
j3MTThere is a rumor that even having them nearby brings bad luck, so it is rare for monster corpses to remain intact.7H9J
YgHbhFN“Do we not have enough in the warehouse?”WG1Iy
1U7Of course Stephan was a man who did not follow the common sense of ordinary people.LYE
omLiIf something seemed capable of generating money, he preferred to store it first.Blly
YErbHe had judged that monster corpses could become a kind of spoils.xQG
O5Ar6Cs“Yes. We confirmed that there are around 150 bodies.”JQpTR
cRlh“Then sell them. What else is needed?”HYn5j
ERL6mz“Well… the quantity currently requested is several times greater.”2cBdoD
xPWrm“What? And why do they want so many?”1Jt
2q8Normally, if one captured about ten monsters it was already worthy of praise.2SrCeR
AXkoFVdEven if one did not receive a decoration, it at least served to leave a good impression.USI
kyt99W“I thought it might arouse your curiosity, so I investigated a little. I found this.”0l9
0HrsMHThe secretary showed him a copy of a poster.4RoB
v41“It seems that in the region of the far east they are selecting an official, and they say they are looking for brave knights capable of fighting monsters. If someone offers thirty monster corpses, they will grant the territory and the position that belonged to Tesalos Wolcher, who was recently executed that is why the wandering knights are placing orders.”IiB0m
1gs0“It is something tempting.”i23UF20
m3RThey are wanderers who live without direction, so if there is a possibility of receiving a territory and a title, it is normal that they would throw themselves into it.tVUxJUH
m5p8The place is in the far east, near the demon lands, but what does that matter?6puPbz
WYuO“Hmm…”joJZ
JVTStephan scratched his chin.8wQ4ht
BTS0EIHis eyes remained fixed on the poster.xJAOmHu
j4Sgu‘This clearly does not mean what it literally says…’H6on
UixAoSStephan began to make his mind work to interpret the hidden meaning of the announcement.8N8qcPG
LPgS‘Asking those types to bring monsters… could it be to gather at the same time people capable of hunting them?’WVYiGz7
G5UPerhaps they set thirty monsters as the minimum condition to carry out a selection, and then there is something more afterward.wXKSR
EEFFRx‘It can be interpreted that way, but let’s try to see it from another angle.’6UgI3N
318lBLStephan analyzed it using his merchant’s instinct.IeDG
WrvyAThey say that if you bring more than thirty monsters, they will give you a territory.wIsSxUj
1ZcZ‘It is clearly an unbalanced deal.’OdMi5
7YP1IgAlthough it was a difficult task, it was not a feat that deserved receiving an entire territory.QPge
A7ozAn excessive reward usually means one of two things.1HmPxu
vAkcPUEither the one who posted the notice is an irredeemable idiot.F3xLN
OiwJMk‘Or it is bait to attract people.’qvh
pyKWandering knights from everywhere will come to obtain a title.GXArj
wLXBKNLAnd what will they bring with them?akEHM
OzbTheir subordinates and monster corpses.dliBZ
yo0‘That means the Principality of Valdrova needs monster corpses.’Hed
SsYSHHere Stephan became completely stuck.dap
G2PAsking for monsters in a place where monsters abound everywhere?0RoV
SFegIt was like importing sand in the middle of the desert or fish on the coast.snE9O9R
iCr4L7s‘Will they try to manipulate the account books? Some kind of black market method? Price manipulation taking advantage of chaos?’c3w
uXpKrAmong those countless possibilities, if it was something that could be requested in large quantities and also announced publicly, there was only one answer.L1pH2S
yyDgLZe‘Research.’ZPL
x6rPKTFThey were conducting research that required a large quantity of corpses, and they were attracting people using an official position as bait.4nznkn
U7pOt‘Perhaps…’QE6f
h48dxIt could turn into money.YS7qGE
ednThe excitement was such that the dull gaze he had from the succession struggle began to shine.PTnKTD
Any“Are they already trading monster corpses?”1Lw
fRkc“Yes. The wandering knights are arriving in masses and are even fighting among themselves.”BsOPV
Hks“I understand. Tell the other trading houses to buy all the monster corpses they can. We will secure them first. Understood?”Vu8
7i60otE“Uh… can we really do that?”ClEK
A0x7LXp“Do what I tell you.”7aEBVE
lAoeI8Z“Understood.”McgWz
8T48“Then.”bgz
lE6TtYStephan stood up abruptly and took his coat.6OvZu3f
0tlludJ“Uh… where are you going, department chief?”P1bwbh
HnjR“I will travel for a few days. You said there was a wandering knight downstairs, right?”pEH4
wAE3kOp“Yes, but… chief?”0lINn
P94As if every second were precious, he ran out.Qof
dZnhLHi***WIin
P3i“Mwahahaha! Consider it an honor to accompany this hero, Robellus.”GHp1G
sdx0QJThe wandering knight called Robellus spoke with an arrogant smile.JMv
NuFNMHis manner of speaking was full of narcissism.R9NBH
Gh4GUTcStephan smiled awkwardly.Xg8jI9a
VKY“Ah, the honor is mine. Haha…”jva6J6I
yBRZPut“While you are with this Robellus, you will feel the security of being surrounded by the empire’s walls in every direction. Because this body of mine…”hJYdc
CDdJaAs soon as that speech began, Stephan sighed inwardly.y7k8Fb
9TGiE‘I truly have no eye for judging people.’K0vm4dZ
HTepAmong the ten wandering knights who had passed through the trading house, the one he had considered the best turned out to be this guy.S4ZyT6q
ynXWxXGDuring the two days of travel toward the principality he had not stopped boasting about his feats.G3e
jqlWhen he finished one story, he repeated it.9KhWDe
H66ZAnd when he repeated it, strangely some parts changed.AY3f4
qkXC2That meant he did not even remember his own stories properly.7N75sV5
IvQf0‘That is why I hate wandering knights.’MJROO
wQP6Wandering knights.3nuY
CSgRkyOf the stories that minstrels must memorize, eight out of ten are feats of wandering knights.9xcB4b
ybuTheir adventures and achievements make the heart beat and offer a kind of catharsis that breaks the monotony of daily life.0K18Cac
mm1Of course, that is only a fantasy believed by children who listen to those stories.PGdelsE
Cz90Stephan knew their true face very well.6SMATut
WTJ‘They call themselves wandering knights, but they are nothing more than bandits or thugs.’PhUzCOd
5V5They were groups armed with military training, but without any authority above them or clear affiliation.k5o
jzviA group of force that could turn into bandits at any moment.UR2Gji
heW‘In fact, several appeared every week asking for sponsorship.’aSIl4LP
uEID4FxThere were many who asked for money and an identity without even demonstrating their ability.LoNz8Yj
OVH46TSponsorship could serve to build connections, but he did not want to stain his network with that kind of garbage.TrAOrkP
zcL‘Besides, what would be the point?’FDAX
7owOThey boast that they would do anything to obtain a title, but when things become difficult they run away in their underwear.0UUGn
UXX6VhIf they wander around the world, it is for a reason.9fvdaUM
6Lt4Hiiiing!W9S
ng4“Eh? What is happening?”LkR
ObRWThe carriage horses began to lose control.wmgXik
QBAKpxUThey had smelled a dragon.kI5Ei1
PvoYoPThe horses of the principality were accustomed to that smell and did not get scared, but for horses from outside it was like jumping into fire.oJOwKs
sbRStephan gave advice to the coachman who did not know what to do.dmbv
PQd“Put the incense mask we prepared on them and they will move again. It is in that bag, put it on their snout.”6VBH
7cjDwzR“Ah, that? Understood.”HIO
lL5eThe coachman placed the mask with the incense sack on the horse’s snout.XFgCdAs
VzWmOnly then did it stop resisting and remain looking forward.6FznKr
h4dP8lHThe carriage, which had stopped, began to move again.yUo
ncOjY0Stephan raised his head and looked toward the sky.8F0
OeaJ5yThe solitary mountain known as the last bastion of the far east.OvW0Q
W6WOn top of it stood Valdrova Castle.n0eoYz
Qg0BgA castle built upon the place where a dragon incapable of abandoning its violent nature resides.yur
c9oGSdW‘The red dragon Valdrova.’lU5AIp
6xEH0QHe swallowed.oxu
70pSlNMA ruthless tyrant capable even of tearing apart the prince of the empire.gR8FN
sf5lMDA demon dragon who intends to dominate the world by absorbing all demonic energy.aky
NGGJT‘What kind of idiot agreed to become engaged to that dragon?’HSJH13
SN8YKAt the same time he thought.FSTP
FzyXWhat kind of person will that idiot be to me?etXqg
3Jln***tqlI0
67mnWhen Stephan entered Valdrova Castle, he observed the interior of the walls.brRm
wxuNHSince the announcement had been public for the wandering knights, many had already gathered.ptX
YEFH“Hey, do not cut in line!”20Wzyy
iEVkz4N“Hey, you! If you touch our monsters I will kill you!”9S3SRD3
tfc“Bastard, you are looking at me the wrong way!”Or7N
4IIlDMen full of energy were around their carriages measuring their strength.Qlolz
wNZMrJudging by their appearance, the armor was of completely different sizes and shapes, and it was also poorly maintained.FWsYLG
MZjxod‘Their subordinates look more like bandits than soldiers…’Xfax
pKoZBIn contrast, the wandering knights were extremely flashy.Ags
WYCpDpSome wore new equipment made by famous craftsmen to stand out.osG
eTqGOsSOne had even hired a minstrel to read his profile.xYgR
rtA24Another had left battle marks on his equipment to boast that he was a veteran knight.oQyH7
qjcbDd‘That one bought corpses in our trading house.’uebra7
8a5KgStephan remembered that he had bought thirty.9Pp
dcRIUAnd in his carriage he only carried thirty.uo2oKyv
tH8kAXyAll of them walked through the corridor with the elegant and refined appearance of true knights.UZis3
Hdy‘They are all pure appearance…’O7r
gOTLThey did not bathe, but they had put on excessive perfume.Kp9h
DgY3HCZThe mixture of smells was so unpleasant that it felt like he was going to vomit.pSeNh
ItDzqFinally they arrived at the banquet hall.DfZv
efnBThey had removed all the tables and left the center empty, so nearly fifty knights could remain separated without problem.MIVpBb
1oZ9R“By the way.”CUzXn3f
PoyRobellus spoke.jbgJEs
p8X“Have you ever seen the person who will become the owner of this castle?”HVUAy
VfqeAsking about another person instead of speaking about himself was a sign that he was nervous.9aIRqp
nUOmNStephan shook his head.IjJ4Bd9
NX2“I have not seen him, but they say he belongs to the Rosnova family.”Tit0O
Ihbc“Ah! The Rosnova family! The sword that protects the empire. But why was he chosen as the dragon prince’s fiancé?”9Sg
SU7Bv“They say he has a weak body. Besides, his eyes are blue and do not have the characteristic color of the Rosnova family, so the rumor of infidelity was almost certain. It seems the family sought an excuse to expel him and he accepted. Now he is the fiancé and the regent of the principality.”tNzZqF
ppXd“Oh… I see?”lo4
DWURobellus scratched his chin.M681uM
kMBM2In his eyes there was an ambition that clearly exceeded his ability.8sbowq
57l“Hmm… if a useless man expelled from his family can act as king by being a fiancé… then perhaps I could also occupy that place.”Lcw
NrfBThe words of a bandit came out freely from the mouth of a supposed knight.YaUd
Q6VKlXThey did not even seem to realize that they were saying that within that man’s own territory.BTo
Ckk1Al‘And to think this man belongs to a family of knights that was once called the sword of the Arken Empire…’IDr
qd7kW0He knew that the knights of the empire were in decline, but seeing something worse than the very bottom made him sigh.jRNNSTa
CoYMQBut Stephan was a merchant.7827zd
wNceTbHe knew that the sword is always closer than the law and that the appropriate words must be said in any situation.4phP
SjCCR“Haha… well, it could be.”nWXF
cLOIuiBEven when coming here, Stephan did not expect much from Perda.o8H7Od
D7UXIt was rumored that he had executed Tesalos Wolcher and subdued the lords of the far east, but rumors are usually exaggerated.kPEY9x
RPE0I2‘A man expelled from his family cannot do much…’ywwn
Q2r5eOuWithout expecting too much from Perda, he remained waiting for his arrival.Dyi
8KoP9D4And when the owner of this castle finally appeared, he realized something again.jsagCE
fAEThat he truly had no eye for judging people.Aq4dwWt
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