Ch.56The Snake That Swallows Gold Coins (3)

# The Mansion of the Arbenian Ducal Family.

A vast garden, a splendid building, and servants too numerous to count at a glance. Truly a grandeur befitting the reputation of a ducal family. Stepping out of the carriage, Dieta sighed in front of her family home that she was returning to after five years.

Family home.

The place where she was born and spent her childhood.

She felt not even a speck of the comfort and coziness one should feel upon returning home. For Dieta, this mansion held no particular memories. At best, only memories with her mother, but…

Those memories had long been forgotten.

When she saw her mother’s corpse hanging before her, all memories turned into nightmares. Dieta had cleared away all memories that made her depressed when recalled.

“Huu…”

Exhaling deeply, Dieta walked into the mansion. Unlike her brother and sisters who dragged along numerous retainers, Dieta was accompanied only by her guard knight, Passion.

She walked under the gaze of the servants.

* * *

“This way, Lady Dieta.”

Following the servant’s guidance, Dieta walked on.

Unlike in the past when she would bow her head and walk as if dead when wearing fancy dresses, now she was walking through the mansion’s corridor wearing her uniform as a guild master.

Not as Dieta Arbenia.

But as Guild Master Dieta.

Therefore, there was no need to bow her head. Walking thus, she arrived at the reception room. As the servant opened the door for her… waiting for her inside was the master of the Arbenian Ducal Family.

Ottoman Albania.

Dieta’s biological father and the head of the Arbenian Ducal Family. His eyes held the same bright yellow color as Dieta’s. After their gazes met briefly, Ottoman Albania smiled brightly.

“It’s been a while, Dieta.”

At Ottoman’s smile, Dieta inwardly clicked her tongue. Starting with an act right away. But there was no need to reveal her true feelings. Dieta responded with a smile and sat in the chair prepared in the reception room.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

“Yes. It’s been five years since you left the family? When you disappeared leaving only a letter saying you wanted to see the wider world, I was so worried…”

After a brief pause, Ottoman continued.

“But since you were with a reliable knight, and news came from Cambria that you were doing well, this father could rest a little easier.”

The image of a father worried about his daughter who had left home.

His tone was natural, and his expression equally so. But Dieta knew all too well that this was merely a mask.

She remembered Ottoman looking at her mother’s cold corpse with equally cold eyes, clicking his tongue and ordering, “Clean this up.”

And she hadn’t forgotten Ottoman’s eyes that had assessed her value as she stood beside him. Dieta nodded, still smiling.

“Yes, I’ve been living my best not to tarnish the Arbenian name. I’m honored that news of this has reached you, Father.”

“To have become a guild master in just five years, starting from the bottom, I’m truly proud of you.”

Ottoman smiled.

“I’ve heard much about the Dieta Guild, named after you. Though there are malicious rumors circulating that you are Arbenia’s abandoned child… how could I abandon you? You’re the only thing she left behind.”

Lies. Lies and more lies exchanged, along with false smiles. They conversed while both wearing masks. When the conversation had sufficiently ripened.

“The reason I called you today is none other than to commend your achievements.”

Ottoman Albania got to the point.

Dieta looked at Ottoman. She was on high alert, trying to understand the meaning behind each of his words.

“The guild you built after leaving home, built solely with your own strength rather than the family’s power, surprised me considerably. This deserves praise.”

This much was expected.

Dieta bowed her head. Why had he called her back to the family? After pondering on the way here in the carriage, Dieta had come to several conclusions.

The guild was sufficiently on track, and this was an achievement significant enough even in the eyes of the head of the Arbenian Ducal Family.

Dieta had proven her own worth. And Ottoman Albania assessed people’s value. In his eyes, Dieta was too valuable to be left alone, and if brought back, she could create even greater value as a talent.

‘So…’

He probably wants to create a connection between the guild and the Arbenian Ducal Family. Is he trying to correct the rumor about the abandoned child now and accept her as a family member? Of course, she didn’t make such a hopeful observation.

‘It’s bait.’

If it were Ottoman, he would create a connection with the guild, gradually take control of it, and eventually swallow it whole. Despite anticipating this, Dieta had still come here.

The reason was simple.

She was confident. Confident that she could handle such a scheme and use it as a stepping stone to elevate her guild even higher. She had come here with that determination.

“Unlike your siblings, you’ve achieved remarkable feats. It’s impressive at such a young age. Anyway…”

However.

“Do you know what your brother has been doing lately? Though he takes after me with his sharp mind and has secured a fairly high position, his experience and achievements don’t quite match up. It’s a pity that despite having talent, he lacks the achievements to be recognized.”

This was something she hadn’t expected.

Why was her brother being mentioned? Feeling a sense of dissonance, Dieta raised her head. There stood Ottoman Albania, looking down at her.

Those bright yellow eyes were cold as ice.

“Dieta Arbenia.”

Ottoman spoke her name.

“You are my child. A member of Arbenia.”

“…”

“You are not an abandoned child. You are a member of Arbenia. And family should help each other. They say blood is thicker than water, don’t they?”

Dieta understood the situation.

She grasped Ottoman’s intention. That’s why a hollow laugh escaped from the corner of her mouth. Ottoman Albania was saying:

Hand over the guild to your brother.

For the sake of adding a line or two to the resume of your brother who needs achievements… surrender the guild you’ve built over five years. That’s what Ottoman was saying.

“Duke, you are mistaken.”

Dieta said.

She addressed him as Duke, not Father.

“The guild is maintained under my management. It’s unlikely to run smoothly if someone else takes the position of guild master. Moreover…”

Dieta gave a sardonic smile.

“In the Duke’s eyes, is my value only worth that much? I’ve reached this position in five years. Aren’t you curious about how far I’ll climb in another five years?”

You are misjudging my value.

I’m not worth just that much.

As Ottoman said, Dieta had achievements. Because she had achievements, Dieta countered Ottoman. That this was a wrong judgment. That it was like cutting open the goose that lays golden eggs.

Wouldn’t it be better to create a connection with the guild?

Isn’t it your style to slowly take control?

Wouldn’t it be a loss for you to cut me off just to swallow one guild?

“You’ve grown a lot, Dieta.”

To Dieta’s words, Ottoman merely smiled. His mask remained solid.

“I’ve heard there are many marriage proposals for you. Many prestigious families want you. They probably value you highly for establishing a guild in Cambria.”

He doesn’t answer the question. He only tells what he wants to say. And as is usual with those who converse with Ottoman…

“They value you very highly. There are many things they’re willing to offer for a marriage proposal with you.”

Dieta, listening to this, came to understand Ottoman’s intention. Ottoman Albania assesses value. And he didn’t particularly look down on or disregard Dieta.

He had simply assessed.

Dieta’s value and its peak.

The guild Dieta had built was already on track. Her age was suitable for marriage, and her appearance had fully blossomed. This meant that both the guild and Dieta herself were at their highest value right now.

Sell when the value is highest.

That was the principle and common sense of merchants.

Ottoman Albania was both a nobleman and a merchant. He believed that politics was nothing more than doing business under the guise of justification.

“Do you remember the separate building where you lived with your mother? Wait there. Guests will be coming, and I’ll call for you separately.”

A separate building located at the edge of the territory, far from the family mansion. The place where her mother, who had lost her value due to facial burns, was exiled. Dieta knew well what that building was called.

Arbenia’s Cage.

A prison where those who had lost their value were exiled or kept from escaping. Dieta’s expression distorted as she read Ottoman’s intention.

2.

The second day of the exam also ended smoothly.

Leaving behind the examiner who had marked a passing score with an incredulous expression, Najin headed towards his lodging. As he walked, Najin shifted his gaze. A splendid carriage was passing through the parted crowd.

‘How ostentatious.’

-Perhaps a nobleman is passing by?

Najin narrowed his eyes to see the family crest engraved on the carriage. A crest with a snake-like figure. It was a crest he had seen somewhere before.

-Arbenia?

‘You know this crest?’

-Yes. In my time, there was someone who waved a flag with that crest on the battlefield.

Half-listening to that story, Najin rubbed his chin. Arbenia, Arbenia… As he mulled over the name, Najin let out a short sigh. He remembered.

Arbenia’s abandoned child.

When a ‘minor’ dispute occurred with a nobleman, the nobleman had definitely referred to Dieta in such a manner. So, had someone been sent from Dieta’s family? With that thought, Najin looked at where the carriage was heading.

The carriage was heading in the direction of the guild.

Eventually, the carriage stopped, and people got out. Four knights in polished armor, and a man in elaborate uniform who was escorted by them. Unlike Dieta, he had bright blonde hair.

The man walked towards the guild building, accompanied by knights. Following the four knights was a knight in shabby armor. A familiar-looking knight.

Dieta’s guard knight, Passion.

Click.

He suddenly turned around.

When his eyes met Najin’s, Passion’s gaze wavered. But only for a moment; gritting his teeth, Passion followed the man into the guild.

…It was the next day when the guild’s name changed from ‘Dieta’ to ‘Arbenia’, and a letter from the Arbenia Guild was sent to Najin.

3.

An invitation from the Arbenia Guild.

Holding the invitation, Najin headed to the guild. While the building itself hadn’t changed much, knights were guarding the stairs leading to the office. They made way when Najin showed the invitation.

Up the stairs to the top floor.

Unlike before, servants were bustling about on the top floor. There was no need for Najin to knock on the door himself; a servant who recognized Najin knocked on his behalf and opened the door for him.

Inside the office.

The brown-haired girl who always sat there and warmly welcomed Najin was gone. Sitting in the office was a blonde young man, with two knights standing by his side. One of them was Passion, who had been Dieta’s guard knight.

“Oh, an esteemed guest has arrived.”

The young man sitting at the head seat smiled.

As Najin stared blankly at the young man, the knight standing beside the young man glared.

“Show respect to Lord Ageshio. Bow your head in greeting and state your name.”

The knight looked ready to pounce at any moment.

Najin frowned at the knight’s stern command. As the knight was about to place his hand on the sword at his waist, seeing Najin’s distasteful gaze…

“Hahaha!”

The young man burst into laughter.

“Indeed, this is how a renowned adventurer in Cambria should be. Sir Phileon? There’s no need to be so strict. This is Cambria, the City of Opportunity. When in the city of adventurers, it’s right to follow their rules.”

He said with a laugh.

“I am Ageshio Albania. The first child of the Arbenian Ducal Family.”

“Green-ranked adventurer, Ivan.”

“Yes. I’ve heard a bit about you. I heard you maintained a good relationship with… my sister, the former guild master.”

Continuing the conversation, Ageshio flicked his finger.

“Please, sit down. If I look up at you for a few more seconds, Sir Phileon might break your knees to force you to kneel.”

The knight standing beside Ageshio.

Glancing at the knight who was glaring, he indeed looked like he might pounce at any moment. Najin exhaled briefly and sat in the chair in front of him.

“Well, the reason I called you isn’t anything grand. Having taken the position of guild master, I’ve been checking the ledgers and making adjustments… and I found quite a significant entry about you.”

A talent the guild invests in.

The investment part related to Najin was written directly by Dieta. Armor made from the skin of a Blood Troll, and numerous items that were scheduled for support.

Dieta’s assessment of Najin described him as ‘a talent who could aim for the White-ranked adventurer level’.

While he didn’t fully believe all the assessments, they were worth considering. In fact, rumors about the adventurer in front of him had reached Ageshio’s ears beyond Cambria.

“The protagonist of the Fallen Knight subjugation, I’ve heard a bit about you. Even the Knights of Atanga mentioned your name, so it would be strange not to know.”

Ageshio smiled with his arms crossed.

“As you can see, I’ve taken the position of guild master, but I don’t plan to stay at this guild for long. It’s just a temporary position for me. However, I don’t intend to be careless.”

He looked directly at Najin.

“Would you like to make a deal with me?”

“A deal, you say?”

“Yes. I’ll be staying in this city for a few months at most… but during those months, I plan to gather talents. It’s an investment for the future, and I need to boost my achievements.”

He extended his hand to Najin.

“You’re not a talent who should be in a city like this, are you? The Arbenian Ducal Family will back you. Moreover, you seem to admire knights…”

Ageshio Albania smiled.

“Knighting isn’t a difficult matter. If you accept the deal, I can arrange a knighting ceremony for you anytime.”