Ch.57The Snake That Swallows Gold Coins (4)

I misjudged the situation.

Looking out the window of the swaying carriage, Dieta watched the scenery rush by. Heading toward a detached building far from the main mansion, she couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

‘I didn’t realize things were this rotten.’

The reason Dieta had come here willingly was because there was nothing to gain by opposing the Duke’s family, and because she trusted Ottoman. Of course, this trust was different from the kind one places in a reliable companion or partner.

It was trust in one of her own kind.

Trust in someone who had the same eyes as her, who could see the world through the same perspective… a fellow competitor. The Ottoman she knew was a cold-blooded politician and businessman.

Dieta had simply judged that such an Ottoman wouldn’t cut open the belly of a goose that laid golden eggs. In her view, the judgment Ottoman had made now was incredibly foolish.

‘Marriage arrangement? Valuing me highly? There’s much to gain?’

It was laughable.

She thought that person would understand.

Dieta Trading Company’s growth hadn’t stopped yet, and it was set to expand beyond Cambria to the outside world in the near future. When that happened, the value of Dieta herself and her company would be incomparable to what it was now.

Yet, at such a time, they wanted to replace the head of the company?

Dieta Trading Company revolved around Dieta herself; it was a company centered on her. There was no way it could run smoothly the moment she was removed. Projects would be suspended or frozen, and problems would inevitably arise.

‘It will fall apart quickly.’

Even if they poured in the Duke’s funds, it would take a long time to turn a profit. That meant losses. The Ottoman that Dieta knew wasn’t someone who would do something like this for immediate visible gains.

Had that person grown senile with age?

Had those bright yellow eyes gone blind?

Dieta let out a long sigh.

If she had known it would come to this, she should have torn up the letter when it arrived and taken a confrontational stance. The company would have taken a big hit, but… she would have had more options than she did now.

‘Did I overestimate Ottoman?’

With another sigh, Dieta looked out the window.

The carriage was gradually slowing down. It meant they had almost reached their destination. Dieta looked at her reflection in the window.

Tightly set lips. Cold eyes.

Her mask was intact. She was still holding onto her reason. Though her emotions were stirring, she could still suppress them. So she would make rational judgments rather than emotional ones. Even though the situation had deteriorated to the worst…

‘It’s not like I didn’t prepare.’

She still had hidden cards.

There was a way out.

She still had means at her disposal.

After all, the only reason they could swallow up a trading company like this was because Dieta bore the name “Albania.” If they had tried to devour an ordinary trading company in this manner, there would have been backlash.

‘Political criticism. Checks from hostile forces. And according to Imperial law…’

Dieta pieced together the puzzle in her mind.

She began to connect information about the Albania family, hostile forces, and the options she had left.

‘It’s okay. For now.’

Preparing for the worst of the worst is a merchant’s virtue. Dieta took a deep breath slowly. From now on, she would need to stay sharp. She could still turn things around.

Screech.

The carriage stopped, and the door opened. Outside, knights were waiting for Dieta. Knights assigned by the Duke under the pretext of being her escorts. Dieta knew they were merely supervisors in the guise of escorts.

Because her own knight escort, Passion, wasn’t here. The Duke had first separated Passion from her.

No one to trust, no allies. She was in the middle of enemy territory. Dieta stepped out of the carriage and looked up. Looking at the poorly maintained detached building of the family, the corner of her mouth twitched.

‘Ah.’

The place where her mother had hanged herself.

The scenes flashing through her mind were memories of her childhood spent in this cold detached building. Suppressing her stirring emotions, Dieta walked into the building.

2.

Ageshio Albania.

As a child of the Albania ducal family, he knew how to handle people. At least, that’s what Ageshio himself thought. What is the way to handle people? It’s simple. Just give them what they want.

The thing they desire most.

The thing they value most.

If you place that on the opposite side of the scale, balance is naturally achieved. Ageshio had enough power and wealth to grant what others wanted. The position of the first child of Duke Albania was by no means a light one.

“A knighting ceremony is certainly possible.”

So Ageshio Albania was confident.

“Since a knight’s status is somewhat influenced by the status of the master they serve, being a knight of a ducal family would certainly not be something to be ashamed of anywhere, wouldn’t it?”

He believed the adventurer standing before him wouldn’t refuse this offer. Didn’t this person admire knights? While the title of knight wasn’t insignificant, it was infinitely light for Ageshio, a child of the ducal family.

“Of course, my offer isn’t much.”

Ageshio spoke as if doing a favor.

After all, he was the one in the superior position here. It was Ageshio’s specialty to set a sweet bait that the other party couldn’t refuse, start with light demands, and gradually put shackles on their limbs.

Once they took the bait, it was over.

Ageshio continued speaking with exaggeration. The adventurer before him had both reputation and skill in this city. He judged that it wouldn’t hurt to have him under his control.

“Cooperate with me, maintain a friendly relationship while I stay in this city, and occasionally…”

But there was one thing he misunderstood.

Not everyone in the world moves according to a few gold coins, power, or titles. Even in a city full of adventurers chasing gold coins, there are outliers.

And Najin is an outlier among outliers.

He is an endangered species in this era, pursuing honor and pride, and stars. The characteristic of such outliers is that they often give responses that the other party couldn’t imagine.

“I refuse.”

Najin cut off Ageshio’s words.

Interrupting a nobleman’s speech was an act that violated etiquette. It might have been punishable by extreme penalties if not for being in Cambria. But Najin’s actions didn’t stop there.

Najin stood up from his seat.

Ageshio’s gaze, which had been on Najin, shifted upward. A situation was created where the child of the ducal family was looking up at a mere adventurer, and a mere adventurer was looking down at a nobleman.

“I’ve heard all you have to say, so I’ll be leaving now.”

Before Ageshio could continue, Najin turned his head. Despite not having the nobleman’s permission, he turned his back and walked away. Seeing this, Ageshio let out a laugh.

But even the knight standing beside him couldn’t laugh.

Ageshio’s escort knight, Phileon, widened his eyes. He had disliked the adventurer who held his head high in front of his master from the beginning. He had endured several times because his master had restrained him, but this clearly crossed the line.

A situation punishable by extreme penalties under Imperial law. Even in Cambria, there is a minimum level of courtesy that should be shown to nobles.

Boom!

Phileon took a step forward.

The footsteps from his burly physique were heavy. The office shook. Ageshio did not restrain Phileon as he stepped forward.

“You lowly, gold-blinded mercenary…”

He strode toward Najin.

The moment Najin turned his head to look back, Phileon reached out to him.

“Drunk on your own fame, you’ve forgotten your place. Does the Albania ducal family look amusing to you?”

Phileon grabbed Najin by the collar.

As he lifted him up, Najin’s feet left the ground. With a bang, Phileon pushed Najin against the wall and glared at him.

Unless his master intervened, Phileon intended to instill some manners into the arrogant brat before him. Sometimes a beating was the medicine for a beast living on its own conceit.

Watching this, Ageshio let out a smirk. This should establish dominance. Just as Ageshio was about to raise his hand to restrain his knight…

“Hey.”

Najin raised his hand.

He grabbed the wrist of Phileon, who was holding his collar.

“You struck first.”

“…What?”

A mercenary nobody speaking informally to a knight.

Before Phileon could get angry at this fact, Najin applied force to the hand gripping Phileon’s wrist. He twisted Phileon’s wrist and escaped from his grip.

“You!”

Just as Phileon frowned and was about to move, Najin’s foot was already touching his armor. A foot touching the plate armor covering his abdomen.

…When did he?

In a split second, a flow permeated Najin’s body. A momentary physical enhancement. Najin’s mana operation speed, which envelops his entire body with mana in an instant, is already beyond the level that an Expert can catch up to.

Phileon belatedly tried to draw up mana, but it was already too late.

Crack!

Najin straightened his bent leg and kicked Phileon in the abdomen. Phileon’s burly body floated in the air. An unexpected blow that he couldn’t prepare for. A critical blow allowed without drawing up mana.

Crash!

Phileon, whose body floated in the air, rolled on the floor, turning the office into a mess. The table and reception chairs shattered, making a loud noise.

“Ugh!”

Phileon, who crashed into and shattered a display cabinet, exhaled. The plate armor that took a direct hit from Najin’s kick was grotesquely distorted. Phileon slowly tried to get up, but he couldn’t maintain his balance due to the unexpected blow.

Ageshio’s eyes widened as he saw Phileon crash beside him. As he was startled…

Thump, thump thump…

The sound of knights rushing up the stairs, having noticed the commotion, could be heard. The knights who arrived roughly opened the door and entered to assess the situation. Phileon crashed and Najin standing upright.

Clang!

The knights roughly drew their swords and pointed them at Najin. Among the swords pointed at him, Najin merely had his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist. As if he could draw his sword at any moment.

“He attacked first.”

Najin said with an expressionless face.

“I don’t disrespect the authority of the Albania ducal family, but this is Cambria, the City of Opportunity.”

Show minimum courtesy to nobles.

That’s a recommendation, not a legal superiority. It’s just a recommendation from the Central Guild to avoid creating troublesome situations.

Of course, if he were a lower-ranked adventurer, he would have to bow his head before a nobleman and do his best to show courtesy.

But Najin is a green-ranked adventurer, and his promotion to red rank will be confirmed tomorrow. He is an individual whose identity is guaranteed by the Central Guild, and depending on the circumstances, he could receive protection from forces that respect the laws and special characteristics of Cambria.

That’s what it means to be a red-ranked adventurer.

“I merely counterattacked after being attacked.”

Even among the knights surrounding him, Najin didn’t shrink back at all. His eyes, looking straight at Ageshio, were asking a question.

Want to try more?

I have no intention of backing down either.

It was an incredibly arrogant attitude. Looking at this, Ageshio couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Of course, Ageshio could punish Najin right here and now by invoking the authority of the ducal family.

He could trample him, make him kneel, and take revenge.

But that would only lead to backlash. If word spread that the child of the ducal family who suddenly visited the city had forced a high-ranking adventurer to kneel through authority, it would be Ageshio himself who would be affected.

His position in this city would become awkward.

And very troublesome things would happen.

Did he plan this considering all that? If so, it’s truly surprising. With a laugh, Ageshio gestured to the knights. It was a signal to withdraw their swords.

“My knight, with excessive loyalty, has committed a discourtesy.”

Ageshio said, looking straight at Najin.

“Think positively about my offer. There’s still plenty of time.”

Najin didn’t answer.

Pushing aside the knights blocking his way, Najin walked out of the building. Watching him, Ageshio covered his eyes and burst into laughter.

He’s properly insane.

An adventurer who charges in without considering the consequences, like a wild dog that bites anything in its path.

“Even more desirable.”

Ageshio tapped the table with his finger. He’s a more interesting character than expected. Above all, the level of force he just displayed was overwhelming even to Ageshio, who was far from being a warrior.

He’s coveted.

He wants to make him his own.

Thinking of a method, Ageshio narrowed his eyes. If he doesn’t take the bait, he could just use another method.

3.

After leaving the trading company building, Najin let out a long breath. He wasn’t feeling particularly good. The words uttered by the seemingly rude blonde had grated on Najin’s nerves.

I can give you a knight title anytime.

If you want, a knighting ceremony is nothing.

Najin was very displeased with Ageshio’s behavior, speaking so lightly, as if doing a favor. If the other party hadn’t been a child of the ducal family, he would have thrown a chair and left long ago, but he endured and listened till the end.

“Sigh…”

Just as Najin was walking while letting out a long sigh, he sensed someone’s presence and turned around. There stood Passion, who seemed to have hurriedly followed Najin.

Dieta’s escort knight.

Just as Najin was about to ask where Dieta had gone, leaving that rude blonde sitting there, Passion handed something to Najin.

“This is a gift from Young Master Ageshio. It would be good to accept it as a sign of goodwill.”

Just as Najin was frowning and about to refuse, Passion spoke in a voice just loud enough for Najin to hear.

“19 o’clock. Eastern outskirts, Section 37.”

Najin narrowed his eyes and glanced at Passion. Passion left after saying just that, patting Najin’s shoulder a couple of times.

* * *

Time passed, and at 19 o’clock when the sun had set.

Najin headed to the appointed place. There, Passion, wrapped in a robe, was waiting for Najin. After confirming that there was no one watching, Passion led Najin deep into an alley.

“So.”

Najin opened his mouth.

“Why did you call me out separately? And what happened to Dieta, the head of the trading company?”

“I have something to say about that.”

Passion took a deep breath and removed his robe.

In the alley where the sun had set and light barely penetrated, Passion spoke under the flickering small lamp.

“Ivan.”

Najin’s alias. Uttering that name, Passion slowly lowered his posture. He bent his knees, bowed his waist, and lowered his posture until his bent knees touched the ground.

In an alley where trash rolled around.

Regardless of the dirty filth on the ground, Passion willingly let his knees touch the floor. Despite his armor getting dirty, he willingly knelt.

Passion is by no means a lightweight knight.

He doesn’t kneel or bow his head to just anyone.

He knows honor. He knows pride. He considers it an honor to protect his master, and he is a knight who never betrays someone to whom he has pledged loyalty. To repay the favor he received from Dieta’s mother, he volunteered to be the guardian knight of her daughter, Dieta.

Though he couldn’t protect her.

To protect her child at least.

Honor, pride, and loyalty. Which of the three values is held highest varies from knight to knight. And for Passion, the highest value is loyalty. For loyalty, he could throw away everything.

That’s why he knelt.

That’s why he bowed his head to Najin.

“Lady Dieta has fallen into a trap.”

His master has hidden cards.

Knowing this fact, Passion, who was forcibly sent to the adventurer city following Ageshio, couldn’t hide his anxiety. Because just before leaving the ducal family, he had overheard Duke Ottoman giving orders to his subordinate.

Ottoman giving the order to break and destroy Dieta. The subsequent order he gave to his subordinate.

In the face of that, even the hidden cards his master had prepared would become useless. Knowing this fact, he wanted to move immediately, but Passion couldn’t leave this city. Because the family’s knights were watching him.

“I must inform. Everything is a trap.”

He said, gritting his teeth.

“I know it’s an unreasonable request, but would you listen to my story?”

I’ll give everything I have.

Please listen to my story.