Ch.5656. Confirmation

“…Erick, wait, I have a proposal for you.”

It was right after the imperial palace came into view that Gwon Heejin, being dragged along helplessly, called out to me desperately.

I ignored him, not particularly wanting to hear whatever “proposal” Gwon Heejin had in mind.

“Just walk quietly.”

The imperial palace would be Gwon Heejin’s final destination.

It was far too massive to simply call it the Emperor’s residence.

This was because it wasn’t just a place where the imperial family and their servants resided, but the actual heart that effectively ruled the Empire. There were thousands of people working within the palace grounds, and the Intelligence Department’s personnel numbers weren’t even known.

While individual territories were ruled by lords, no lord existed who could ignore the authority of the imperial family.

The resources produced from the vast direct territories, along with the existence of the two major knightly orders and the Court Magicians who only served imperial commands, maintained the authority of the imperial family.

Even now, the presence of the imperial family remained strong.

‘No, in some ways, it might have grown even stronger.’

The lords who had suffered critical damage because of Cordana were all looking toward the imperial family’s purse.

According to the Finance Minister, over a hundred nobles had suffered “irrecoverable” damage. And half of them were lords with hereditary titles.

Their downfall meant that dozens of territories were facing financial crises. While territories with abundant resources might eventually overcome and rise again, it was a different story for territories that were barely self-sufficient.

If the imperial family hadn’t sent relief supplies using the money confiscated from the Prince? Countless territory residents would have already died.

‘Or before dying, they might have taken up pickaxes and pitchforks and attacked their lords.’

This was why the lords were prostrating themselves before the imperial family. It was also why they couldn’t bring up topics like monetary compensation.

However, just because imperial authority was solid didn’t mean the imperial family was at ease.

In fact, it was the opposite.

“I heard that even the head and deputy head of the Court Magicians occasionally operate communication crystals these days. Territories across the country are asking for help almost daily.”

“Erick, I really have a good proposal.”

“It’s not just the magicians who are busy. Some nobles, thinking that remote communication lacks persuasiveness, are coming directly to the capital by carriage. It’s hard to turn away nobles who’ve traveled in rattling carriages for over ten days.”

“Oh, shit. Just listen to me…!”

“The money confiscated from Matthias will likely be depleted in a few months… by next spring. Even though it’s over 51 billion, it’s still difficult to send relief supplies to dozens of territories. The funds going to the Academy are no joke either.”

“Hey.”

“They seem to be considering whether to include the money confiscated from you in that fund, but I think it might be difficult. The Demon Lord’s army doesn’t seem like it will remain quiet.”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

Gwon Heejin even stomped his foot in frustration.

In truth, I was just giving back to Gwon Heejin exactly what he used to do to me.

This was something I experienced often when I was Gwon Heejin’s sparring partner, essentially acting as his instructor, right after he was summoned.

Gwon Heejin would talk about incomprehensible things, and I would let it go in one ear and out the other.

There were times when I managed to overcome crises by utilizing fragmentary knowledge that I happened to recall from those half-hearted listening sessions. Short selling was one of them.

But I couldn’t deny that it was essentially one-way communication.

Just like how Gwon Heejin showed no interest in what I was talking about now—how the Empire was heading toward disaster.

I shouldn’t expect too much from someone who’s about to die, but what I was talking about wasn’t irrelevant to Gwon Heejin.

“You’ll soon have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…!”

“He probably already knows that you’ve lost your qualification as the Hero. I sent someone ahead.”

Gwon Heejin’s expression hardened. He probably knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t hear anything good from a meeting with the Emperor right now.

However, having lost the power of the Hero, Gwon Heejin had no strength to refuse.

The current Gwon Heejin was, honestly speaking, so weakened that he would inevitably be crushed if he were to engage in a one-on-one fight with the Emperor. While the Emperor didn’t particularly have any aptitude for swordsmanship, he had inherited good genes through generations, making his constitution inherently robust.

Gwon Heejin seemed to know this as he looked at me desperately, but I wasn’t his shelter either. Rather, it seemed like we should part ways at this point.

“I need to go now. Take him away.”

“Yes.”

I handed Gwon Heejin over to the guards and turned away.

Gwon Heejin stared at me intently, then spoke in an uncharacteristically subdued voice.

“Erick. Just one last thing.”

“What?”

As I pretended to listen for once, Gwon Heejin carefully gathered his breath before speaking.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“…”

“I understand why others are angry and acting out, but you of all people shouldn’t be like this. Instead of helping me even at the risk of your life, you’re leading the charge in oppressing me… isn’t that wrong? Just be honest with me.”

It was a question Gwon Heejin asked with a genuinely curious expression.

Why would he ask such a question? He’s not stupid, so he should know that I’m acting on imperial orders.

I was simply selected because, among those who knew about Cordana and the Hero, I was the one who wielded a sword best. Of course, I had more discretion than someone who was just selected.

But listening carefully, I could see why Gwon Heejin felt wronged.

“I gave you Cordana. 108 of them, just for leaving the party.”

His question was why I was repaying kindness with enmity.

Honestly, I could have just ignored him. Even the guards were looking at Gwon Heejin with disbelief.

However, I decided to answer the Hero’s question seriously.

In fact, I had once been curious myself. Why did Gwon Heejin give me 108 coins?

Of course, at the time I received them, I thought they were only worth about the value of gold (roughly 10 million Lyra), but Gwon Heejin already knew that Cordana would skyrocket. He had forcibly created a market by mobilizing even foreigners.

‘He could have just ordered me to leave the party, and I would have had a hard time resisting.’

Recently, I had come to my own conclusion.

It seemed like a good opportunity to confirm it with Gwon Heejin himself. After all, this would be the last chance to talk with him.

“Gwon Heejin, I think you probably wanted me to play a part in creating the market. That’s why you gave me Cordana.”

“…Yeah.”

“In the past, you brought in nobles from the Microssia nations and the Kingdom of Ether to prove the tradability of Cordana. If there had been someone in the capital selling Cordana at an appropriate price, the trading volume would have increased faster.”

I was suitable for such a role at that time.

A royal knight who had many occasions to meet nobles, and even had connections with the Hero. Above all, I was a commoner.

And not just any commoner, but one from a desperately poor family.

My parents had long passed away, and my siblings had scattered before they even grew up. I think it was during my first year at the Academy when I last heard that my brother, who had been living in a small territory in the southern border, was conscripted and killed by an orc.

Gwon Heejin probably couldn’t have imagined that I would stubbornly hold onto Cordana until it reached 380 million.

“…Let’s say that’s all correct. Then why didn’t you sell early on?”

It seemed I wasn’t wrong. Judging by Gwon Heejin’s blank stare.

“In the early days of the market, I was busy with external missions. I took on consecutive long-term missions that lasted more than 2-3 weeks. When I returned, the price had already jumped to over 50 million, and a guy named Bingo was whispering nonsense in my ear.”

“…”

“Thinking about it now, if I had sold during the market formation period, I might have tried to get more from you later. If I saw Cordana that I had sold for just 3 million or 5 million skyrocketing insanely, I might have struggled to maintain my sanity.”

“…Erick.”

“If that had happened, I might have been stoned to death in the square by now. Or maybe I would have been used as a throwaway card by you.”

Seeing that he didn’t say anything, it seemed like I had roughly guessed correctly.

‘Yes, so that was my purpose. He really was a smart guy.’

I didn’t feel an immense sense of relief for having escaped a crisis. After all, the reason I was standing here now was due to the oppression around me, the deportment I had been forced to learn since my Academy days, and “luck.”

Still, it was refreshing to have my questions answered.

“It doesn’t seem like something to talk about as a favor. Though I admit I’m a beneficiary. That’s why I’m working like crazy now.”

“Erick, wait.”

Take him away. As I gestured, the guards nudged Gwon Heejin and took him to “that place.”

Gwon Heejin seemed to look back at me occasionally, but I paid no attention.

Being human, I desperately needed rest. Of course, looking at the state of the capital, it didn’t seem like I would have days to sprawl out and relax anytime soon, but that’s precisely why I needed rest even more. On this occasion, I should take a day to thoroughly…

“Baron Wellesley. I’m sorry, but I have something to inquire about.”

Before leaving the grounds, a high-ranking official stopped me, saying they needed to resolve the issue of repurchasing for those who had participated in short selling.

Given how much the price had fallen, it would be fine to just buy from the exchange and fill it in, but they seemed curious if there might be a better method.

‘So this is how they see me.’

Strangely, a method came to mind immediately.

“How about utilizing the Cordana from the two commoners who were enchanted by the succubus? The investigation has just concluded, hasn’t it?”

“They do have about 70 coins. Are you suggesting we confiscate them without compensation…?”

“No. That could lead to controversy later. Even if they’re commoners who were used as tools by the succubus, we shouldn’t take their Cordana for free. The participants should repurchase at a price equivalent to the market rate.”

“Hmm. Even though it has crashed, it’s still a large sum for commoners. Won’t there be side effects?”

“Of course, I’m not suggesting giving them everything. If we give them about 2 million Lyra each as compensation, their entire families can spend the winter warmly. And the rest of the money can be used to purchase winter supplies for their villages.”

“Will they agree to this?”

“Of course they will. If they refuse, they’ll think they’ll be marked as collaborators with the Demon Lord’s army by the higher-ups.”

This was the best solution for handling the Cordana of commoners who had neither earned merit nor committed crimes. And it would also solve the repurchase issue for short selling participants.

The official said, “I’ll implement it as you suggested,” and immediately turned away.

Implement it as suggested. I watched his retreating figure for a moment before leaving the palace. There was nothing new to be surprised about anymore.

That afternoon.

News arrived that some of the Papal State’s clergy, who had been abstaining from food and drink due to spiritual exhaustion, had recovered their strength at an incredible rate and were rushing to the capital. To accommodate them, the palace confirmed Gwon Heejin’s execution date for two days later.

Regarding the method of execution, opinions were still divided.