Ch.116Revenge #6

“A spy! No matter if you’re a duke, such an absurd…!”

Thud.

I tossed a thick document at the man kneeling on the office floor, who was shouting in protest.

It was a report I had extracted, thinking the Assassin’s Guild might find it useful—and it was definitive evidence.

Helena had been quite satisfied with it, too.

The man, though angry, picked up the document from the floor and examined its contents, his face quickly hardening.

“Does this look familiar? Since you wrote this report, I suggest you don’t bother denying it.”

“T-this was merely to understand the flow of goods as a merchant…”

“Put away such nonsense. What reason would a merchant have to observe an elven village, let alone record military situations?”

The report contained detailed information about elven slaves, as well as visible military intelligence.

While it didn’t contain classified information that only insiders would know, it was quite thorough.

He probably just followed orders from his superiors, but his greed went too far.

He had created irrefutable evidence.

I deliberately spoke mockingly to the kneeling merchant.

“I intend to thoroughly investigate why your superior ordered such actions. So send a letter demanding he come to us immediately. That is, if you don’t want to die.”

.

In this world, to gather information, one must dispatch informants—spies.

In the continent or during the old dynasty, they were called “sejaek” or “ganja,” and they rarely got caught.

Since they appeared as ordinary people on the surface, they were difficult to catch unless someone was determined to find them.

But if one was determined, these spies could be caught.

Most of the time, they were left alone because much of what they discovered wasn’t particularly sensitive.

It would be too much trouble to arrest everyone gathering information that was accessible in daily life.

Moreover, even when caught, they were rarely executed immediately, and their networks were seldom dismantled.

Perhaps it was an implicit agreement among the continent’s powers, or perhaps because there was little to gain from making a fuss over a single spy.

I suspect the merchant before me, Leonard, is thinking along those lines.

“Hmm. It seems there’s been some misunderstanding…”

“Misunderstanding? We’ve long since uncovered all the connections to the report written by the man you secretly employed. Stop trying to weasel your way out with useless cleverness.”

I crossed my arms arrogantly and twisted the corner of my mouth.

I wanted to appear as if I was mocking and despising him, to reduce whatever composure he still had.

But he was a seasoned merchant, so it didn’t seem to have much effect.

“A mere merchant dared to act so boldly. Subtly provoking the kingdom’s nobles to pressure our duchy.”

“Hmm? I don’t understand what you’re saying at all. I simply came to clear up a misunderstanding.”

“Right. Without evidence, you can just deny everything and be done with it.”

Unlike the hearing, this time we have clear evidence.

That’s probably why this merchant bothered to travel all the way to Krauser’s duchy.

To clear up the “misunderstanding,” as he put it.

“As you know, our Imperial Trading Company travels throughout the continent. The kingdom is no exception. I did order someone to survey the duchy’s situation and determine what goods might sell. However, my subordinate misunderstood the order and…”

“And recorded unnecessary details, causing a misunderstanding? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly. Of course, my subordinate’s mistake is also my responsibility, so I’ve come to apologize.”

It was merely a misunderstanding.

But he would apologize for the mistake. Leonard clearly drew that line as he bowed his head deeply.

He even brought gifts, making his sincerity seem genuine.

On the surface, at least.

“Misunderstanding. A misunderstanding, you say…”

Helena, who had been sitting quietly beside me listening, muttered in a chilling voice.

It was so cold it sent shivers down my spine, enough to make Leonard’s shoulders flinch.

“Yes, a misunderstanding. A sad misunderstanding.”

However, when Leonard raised his head, his expression still exuded composure.

Despite his flinching shoulders, his nerve was admirable.

Few people could maintain such composure before an increasingly sharp-edged Helena.

Helena kept muttering the word “misunderstanding,” then suddenly drew her black aura and stabbed it between the man’s legs.

It happened so suddenly and quickly that he couldn’t react at all.

“Hup!”

Even for someone with nerves of steel, having an aura stabbed between his legs was terrifying enough to make him gasp.

Even I felt chills watching from the side—how much worse must it be for the one experiencing it?

Eyes like an abyss.

Those eyes that emerged whenever you least expected were enough to unsettle even a seasoned merchant.

The effect was amplified by the fact that a high-ranking noblewoman was behaving this way.

“Did you think we would have no choice but to accept your apology if you acted so brazenly?”

“I… wouldn’t think that. But what you’re doing now isn’t good for either of us. You could find yourself in serious trouble…”

“Trouble? Because I’ve messed with a successful Imperial merchant, or because the kingdom might take issue with it?”

“That’s ri—”

AAAAARGH!! Leonard’s scream filled the office before he could finish his sentence.

Helena had raised the aura in her hand and, without hesitation, stabbed it into Leonard’s thigh.

Only those who have experienced such pain could understand its severity, but fortunately, it didn’t seem to have pierced an artery, as the bleeding wasn’t too severe.

“If you had only targeted me, I might have compromised and let it go. But… do you know who you dared to involve, not knowing your place?”

“Ugh, uuugh!!”

Despite his painful groans, Leonard wasn’t showing much fear.

Perhaps his tumultuous life had made him accustomed to such crises.

Nevertheless, I could see a hint of fear in his eyes.

It was the look everyone showed when confronted with Helena’s madness.

“War? Fine. If all the Imperial bloodlines must die because of your arrogance before you understand your place…”

Helena muttered in an ice-cold voice.

She had been acting quite calmly until now, but facing the person who orchestrated everything, her suppressed madness was finally erupting.

She had been strangely calm for the past few days, but I never expected her to explode like this.

“W-what are you saying…”

“Isn’t it all your fault that Zion is in trouble? Even beheading you wouldn’t be enough to atone for that sin.”

Despite the confusing and precarious situation, it felt strangely familiar, like returning home after a long time.

Whether it’s because I’ve adapted to the madness or because I’ve gone mad myself, I couldn’t tell.

Squelch.

When Helena slightly moved the aura piercing his thigh, Leonard let out another scream.

It was a natural reaction to having an already painful wound twisted.

“If you thought you could escape with the flimsy excuse of having no evidence… that would be a grave miscalculation.”

“D-Duke… gaaah!!”

In such extreme pain, he seemed unable even to scream, only making continuous groaning sounds.

Blood dripped from the aura piercing his thigh, soaking the floor, and with each drop, Leonard’s complexion grew paler.

However, Helena continued speaking, unconcerned whether Leonard lived or died.

“First, I’ll wipe out the Imperial bloodline, and I’ll leave a letter. Saying it was all your doing. How will the Empire respond then? Will they seek revenge against me first? Or will internal strife erupt as they fight for the empty throne? I’m so curious I can hardly stand it.”

The Empire, true to its name, is vast and diverse.

It has more nobles than the kingdom, making its power structure more complex.

What would happen if all the imperial family members, the center of that power, were wiped out?

At first glance, it might seem absurd and dismissible, but if the person intending to do it is Helena, it’s different.

Though the Empire has one Swordmaster, since defense is at a disadvantage against offense, Helena’s plan might well succeed.

“T-that is…”

If she says she’ll do it, she will.

Helena in her madness was fully capable of such actions.

She had even considered going to war with Albus Killinear—what would stop her from launching a surprise attack?

Leonard seemed to recognize Helena’s sincerity, showing more fear.

Though not yet losing his reason, he was clearly cornered.

It reminded me of the saying that fists are closer than law.

But this should be enough.

I carefully embraced Helena’s shoulder and spoke.

“Helena. Put away your aura now. He understands well enough by now. Please.”

At my request, Helena nodded slightly and withdrew her aura.

This caused blood to flow freely from the hole, which was natural since the aura that had been plugging it was gone.

I quickly called someone to bring medicine and treatment tools, then applied medicine to the wound and wrapped it with bandages to stop the bleeding.

After all, I couldn’t just let him die.

“You’re a merchant, skilled in negotiation. But you must have realized by now that there are opponents with whom negotiation itself doesn’t work.”

I stared at Leonard, who was trembling from pain and fear, as I spoke.

Though he was trying to maintain his composure through reason, he seemed on the verge of breaking.

That’s how unstable his state was.

Though I had unintentionally delivered a dangerous retaliation, I thought it was for the best.

Threats only work when they’re properly executed.

“There won’t be a second chance. Before you leave, take all your planted agents with you. And lose your interest in the duchy. Also, if something similar happens again… you’d better plan to run far away and abandon everything.”

“…I understand.”

“Don’t even think about revenge. If you make such a move… then I’ll have a legitimate reason to cut off your head.”

Though he might not be thinking much now due to fear, that could change once he recovers.

So after delivering one final threat, I had him escorted out of the office.

With madmen, neither deals nor threats work.

Avoiding them is the best strategy.

It would be fortunate if the merchant thought that way.

.

Damn it. Damn it all!

Leonard limped back to his quarters and immediately pounded his fist on the bed, grinding his teeth.

Though he had experienced both sweet and bitter moments while running the Imperial Trading Company, he never expected to face such humiliation after reaching this position.

“Helena Krauser, that damned woman…!”

In the midst of swearing revenge with a face flushed red, Leonard’s complexion suddenly turned pale.

As if the bright red flush had been a lie, he even began to tremble slightly.

He had faced a Swordmaster’s killing intent up close and experienced extreme pain from having his leg pierced.

Moreover, Helena’s unfocused eyes had overflowed with a madness he had never seen before.

People fear what they don’t understand, and that described Leonard perfectly now.

The madness-filled behavior he had never experienced before was coloring him with fear.

And the perpetrator was a Swordmaster, second to none in terms of power.

He couldn’t help but be afraid.

“Crazy woman, crazy woman…”

As fear replaced his vanished desire for revenge, the only thought in his mind was to leave.

He couldn’t even consider reporting to the Imperial court with the pretext of harassment against an Imperial citizen.

He was afraid that Helena’s worst-case scenario might come true if he did.

He had simply been curious about the secret of keeping elves as slaves, thinking he could profit greatly if he uncovered it.

It was good that he had pursued this, but who would have thought the opponent would be so insane?

Leonard, realizing the vast gap between knowing something intellectually and experiencing it firsthand, burrowed into the bed covers.

As if trying to forcibly shake off his fear.