Ch.7777. Exchange

When the Beast King was rampaging through the Demonic Land, in the Kingdom of Microssia.

Today, Iclit was once again focused on the task of destroying the kingdoms.

Though collectively called kingdoms, each country, even each island, had slightly different interests. After all, there were over 60 inhabited islands.

Iclit judged that to torment these kingdoms, it wasn’t enough to simply guide them toward economic exploitation by the Empire.

‘Most islands have no dependence on the Empire. Some islands have nothing for the Empire’s nobles to exploit even if they wanted to.’

So Iclit decided to treat each country differently. The information provided by human collaborators was a great help.

“There’s a country called Turias. Its gold mining output is nearly zero, but it has a high proportion of farmland, earning it the nickname ‘bread factory’.”

Upon hearing about such a country, Iclit decided to give it special treatment. He made a pact that they would never face demon invasions, on the condition that the king personally hoarded a certain number of Cordana.

This would infuriate other countries trembling in fear of the Tetrad.

‘And it will give the Empire’s nobles justification to hate the kingdoms.’

Yet the king of Turias couldn’t refuse Iclit’s offer.

Currently, every kingdom lived in fear of wyverns that could appear anywhere, anytime, carrying Bynessa of the Tetrad.

When offered protection under these circumstances, they had no choice but to accept, even knowing it might be poison.

‘It’s almost disconcertingly easy.’

While smoothly carrying out this work of division…

News of the Beast King’s rash actions in the Demonic Land finally reached her ears.

The high-ranking demon accompanying Iclit exploded with anger.

“They lost so many troops and gave up dozens of prisoners to a single human guerrilla unit they couldn’t stop? And then took out their frustration in the Demonic Land?”

He condemned the Beast King, saying the lizard must have lost his mind.

But Iclit took it in stride.

This wasn’t because she’d grown lax from staying in the sunny kingdoms. Nor was she surprised that the Beast King had wiped out dozens of demon beasts. After all, that’s why he became one of the Tetrad in the first place.

Iclit remained calm because she had confirmed the existence of humans, specifically humans in the Empire who were using their wits.

Of course, she had suspected this before.

The day of the short selling when her kind’s assets were helplessly stripped, the Empire’s quick response after the counterfeit Cordana were distributed, and now this wedge driven into the Beast people’s precarious position.

The identity behind these actions seemed to have finally emerged.

‘Erick Wellesley.’

It was a name she’d heard repeatedly since beginning intelligence activities on the imperial capital.

However, she hadn’t realized he was a human who employed strategy. This wasn’t simply because he was a Master; opinions about Erick Wellesley were divided.

Nobles who were watching carefully, hoping to propose marriage to Erick Wellesley.

Nobles who gnashed their teeth, saying Wellesley alone was prospering while others wailed.

And humans who simply said they envied him without much thought.

But thanks to today’s events, Iclit could be certain. She had learned that Erick Wellesley was the one who had made the pact with Beast King Leoneo regarding the hostage release.

The demon beside her still viewed Wellesley as merely a swordsman.

“The most powerful among the humans who infiltrated the border is Lufus Waynelight. He’s the human who fought the former Tetrad member Nevanaha for over half a day and survived. His position is also high…”

“That human wouldn’t use such divisive tactics. He doesn’t have the brains for it.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Actually, during the previous Emperor’s reign, I participated in an operation to assassinate… or ruin Waynelight. It was decades ago.”

“And?”

“All attempts failed. Waynelight himself continued living without even realizing he had nearly been targeted. That’s the kind of human he is.”

“…”

The one using his head was Erick Wellesley. Circumstances pointed to no other conclusion.

Identifying the enemy didn’t mean gaining the upper hand.

However, she could at least get a sense of what needed to be done after bringing down the kingdoms, and how to extract wisdom to offer to the Demon Lord.

“Will His Majesty ultimately provide the gold?”

“Yes. His Majesty has determined it’s not yet time to abandon the beast people. They make a good shield.”

Since they promised, they had to give it. And since the Beast King said he would retrieve it personally, it would be difficult to play any obvious tricks. Iclit decided not to add her opinion.

She needed to finish with the kingdoms first.

Even now, Bynessa of the Tetrad was crushing what little resistance remained in the kingdoms.

Her opponents were dozens of renowned dragon hunters from across the kingdoms.

Though they were strong enough to dare challenge a Tetrad member, it was impossible for them alone to face the Tetrad when most kingdom states had already compromised. No one would help them.

‘Once they’re annihilated, the kingdoms will essentially be an empty house.’

The situation was essentially one where a single Tetrad member had subjugated all the kingdoms. It was remarkable, even if it was due to exploiting weaknesses.

Even more remarkable was that among the kingdom citizens, it was now openly said that they hated the Empire more than the Demon Lord’s army. This despite knowing full well that the Empire had no means to respond to this type of invasion.

Iclit thought she would likely be able to leave the kingdoms soon.

***

After waiting about two more days, the Beast King announced he would pay the ransom for the hostages.

The location for exchanging gold and hostages was the same place where he and I had met previously.

‘So they got fleeced after all.’

This was the extent of Beast King Leoneo’s standing in the Demon Lord’s army.

A card too valuable to discard, yet impossible to accept as a true member.

From the Demon Lord’s army’s perspective, providing the gold was a wise decision. At this rate, the beast people, isolated between the Empire and the Demon Lord’s army, would likely go berserk from stress.

That frenzy wouldn’t necessarily be directed at the border command. They might charge into the Demonic Land, prepared for annihilation.

I headed to the meeting place with minimal troops to receive the ransom. Of course, I brought the hostages too. Promises must be kept.

At first, I thought the hostages would resist, but…

“These are orders from the king you follow.”

With these words, the beast people quietly accepted their bonds and followed our instructions. Their loyalty was admirable.

Behind that beast person followed several wagons. Naturally, these were carriages meant to carry away the gold provided by the Demon Lord’s castle.

One-third of the Demon Lord’s castle’s gold reserves.

I couldn’t know exactly how much it was, but the Demon Lord’s army, having fought humans for countless ages, was unlikely to be poor. They would have an instinctive desire for gold, and gold was quite useful for magicians too.

“…To think the day would come when we’d receive ransom from the Demon Lord’s army.”

Those were the muttered words of my senior Garland, who was riding beside me, seemingly dumbfounded.

He seemed to find it bizarre that we were receiving ransom and releasing beast people, rather than exchanging prisoners.

And I found it more strange that Garland could find this bizarre. What’s weird about paying ransom when the Demon Lord’s army is even counterfeiting Cordana?

“Um, Lord Wellesley.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“I can’t do that. But I have one question. Everyone knows that the use of today’s ransom depends on you… but how much gold does the Empire need to resolve this chaotic situation? I’m suddenly curious.”

It seemed like a sincere question.

This gentleman had recently left House Tomen. I hadn’t asked for details, but it was likely related to the aftermath of the Cordana incident. I roughly knew how people viewed the Hero’s pursuit team now.

However, I couldn’t offer him a positive outlook.

“Senior, among the nobles driven mad by Cordana, provincial lords are more numerous. Court nobles and imperial branch families are relatively calm.”

“Why bring that up suddenly…?”

“Nobles in or near the imperial capital typically spent only as much gold coin and bullion as they had deposited in bank vaults. Many may have lost their fortunes to Cordana, but there’s room for recovery someday.”

But provincial nobles, when short on gold while purchasing Cordana, often mixed in promissory notes signed by their house financial officers.

Notes issued based on their house’s ‘reputation.’

This became more frequent after Cordana prices exceeded millions. It’s difficult to keep gold coins and bullion piled up in the imperial capital.

“Looking back now, it seems insane, but at the time, no one thought it strange. No one even knew why it was a problem.”

While this repeated, the economic structure had become deformed.

Houses that had spent non-existent gold coins (probably thinking they could recover it by selling Cordana) had suffered irreparable damage. It was no wonder so many nobles had become ghosts at the exchange.

“At this point, investment losses aren’t the issue anymore.”

Dozens of domains had seen productivity plummet while lords were fixated on Cordana. This exposed the domain residents to danger.

When several goblins swept through a village, that year’s harvest would immediately decline. I had experienced this once in my childhood. When a few strong men got injured, it felt like the entire village became poorer.

One might ask what the imperial capital had been doing all this time, but the imperial household traditionally didn’t interfere with individual domains except for the border command.

‘Even I’m only now starting to get a sense of the situation.’

Garland looked somber after hearing my words.

After that, no more conversation passed between us.

It wasn’t that we’d forgotten to speak while lamenting the broken Empire; it was because the ransom brought by the Beast King had caught our attention.

“…That’s a lot.”

An exclamation of amazement from someone unknown.

Since most of it was in boxes, the exact amount was impossible to determine. It probably wasn’t even in the standard format of the Empire’s common currency.

But I had no intention of criticizing anyone for making a fuss.

Next to the neatly stacked boxes stood an imposing gold statue of a Hero (obviously not Gwon Heejin) displaying its grandeur. I could recognize it by the model of the holy sword.

A sculpture modeled after a Hero who must have been active at least several hundred years ago. I couldn’t imagine why they had kept such a thing in the Demon Lord’s castle.

In any case, I had no intention of declining. Gold is gold, after all.

“Release the hostages.”

The beast people, freed from their bonds, bared their teeth at us before immediately sprinting away. They didn’t even look back.

What remained in their place was gold.

And a lot of it.