Chapter 174

Episode 174

It wasn’t just his gaze that was sharp.

*Crackle!*

Two points of powerful aura shot out, binding my legs. It felt as if steel shackles had been clamped onto my ankles.

‘I wasn’t expecting a warm welcome, but this is a bit much.’

I wasn’t offended. Testing an opponent’s strength was a tradition in the north.

It was more like a new form of entertainment.

With ‘Automatic Combat,’ upgraded to the next level, already activated, I had various options.

The most straightforward approach was to unleash pure magic power and neutralize the aura’s force.

‘But a straightforward choice only yields a straightforward result.’

I made my decision.

I chose the most dramatic option. My body reacted instantly.

*Snap!*

*Crack!*

As I took a step forward, I heard a ripping sound.

My clothes and shoes were fine. What ripped were the Margrave’s aura binds.

I had broken free from the restraints using my own aura, without resorting to magic power.

The surroundings buzzed with murmurs.

‘These people are focused on the fact that I’m a magician. They must have underestimated my aura.’

It was a deliberate choice to show them that my aura was also strong, giving them a fresh shock.

But Finwinter, instead of being surprised, was smirking.

Jericho’s report didn’t mention any sadistic tendencies.

I calmly walked forward and bowed.

“O’Brien of House Walker, greetings to the Grand Duke of the North.”

“You’re quite skilled. I was hoping you’d kneel from the moment you entered.”

“How disappointing.”

The Margrave laughed heartily.

“Didn’t you like the northern tradition? Testing an opponent’s strength is a kind of rite of passage. Don’t take it personally.”

“That’s not the issue. I’m referring to the fact that you turned away Prince Chertan.”

Perhaps surprised by the sudden change of topic, the surroundings fell silent, and everyone’s gaze turned to the Margrave.

He was an honest man. His emotions were evident in his furrowed brows.

“I clearly stated, didn’t I? That I would treat you as a member of House Kalisto, not as an Imperial envoy. It seems you’re eager to be kicked out.”

“I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m speaking to you as the Plenipotentiary of House Kalisto. My words are no different from a message from Duke Kalisto himself.”

“What?”

“Please cease your actions that threaten the Empire and the Imperial Family. Everything you’re doing can be considered treason.”

Baldr, the eldest son, unable to stand it any longer, tried to approach me, but the Margrave stopped him with a gesture.

Freya, on the other hand, just stared at me.

Her eyes still held a glimmer of hope.

It wasn’t a bad thing that she, who I suspected to be a protagonist of ‘Queen Maker,’ was paying attention to me.

“Indeed… I heard the Inspector of the Lucius Inspection Unit was bold, and the rumors were true. To dare speak such words before me.”

“It’s advice from the bottom of my heart, so please consider it carefully.”

“Did you hear that we’re preparing for peace with the Nordics?”

“I did.”

The surroundings became noisy again. One by one, gazes turned towards Freya, accusatory.

“The Lucius Inspection Unit handles all information within the Empire. We’re well aware of your movements and those of the northern warriors.”

“Are you saying you spied on us?”

“We merely gathered information.”

A tense atmosphere filled the room. It was the situation I had hoped for, and I had no intention of backing down.

I decided to make a dramatic choice.

Revealing my plan at this moment, when the tension was about to snap, would be much more effective.

“House Kalisto understands the hardships of the north more than anyone. We could be considered allies, but you’re pushing us away, making it difficult to have a productive conversation.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. I came here to negotiate with you and everyone present.”

Finwinter fell silent for a moment. Freya must have told him about my plan.

It could be dismissed as a bluff.

Providing a completely new environment for everyone in the north was like a divine miracle.

“I heard from Freya. She said you have a grand plan that no one could imagine.”

“I dare say it’s a revolutionary plan that will allow everyone in the north to live like humans.”

“Let’s hear how grand it is.”

There were chuckles mixed with the Margrave’s words. Let’s see if they can keep laughing until the end.

“It’s called the district heating plan.”

“District heating? You’re not suggesting installing fireplaces in every house, are you?”

“Hahaha!”

Laughter erupted again. This wasn’t fun if their reactions were so predictable.

“We’ll install a large-scale hot water supply facility near the capital. We’ll build a heater using magic engineering technology and melt snow to create hot water. We’ll build pipes that minimize heat loss and connect them to every house in the capital. That way, all the spaces affected by the hot water will be warm. There are many possibilities.”

“…”

The laughter subsided.

This was a plan that only a magician could come up with. And it also required knowledge from the modern world.

Fortunately, there was a cheat-like power called ‘mana’ that could offset the limitations of thermodynamics.

“People won’t have to wear thick clothes, and depending on the situation, they might even be able to farm. The warriors of the north will be able to train freely without worrying about injuries.”

“…Many people live in this capital. Can you connect them all just by installing a hot water supply facility? It’ll take a lot of time and money.”

The Margrave was indeed different. The warriors, who had been dumbfounded, seemed to snap out of it at his words.

“The time issue can be solved with money. I plan to hire skilled dwarves from Plantier. If you grant the business rights to House Walker, that is.”

“How many do you plan to hire?”

“At least 500.”

Everyone’s reactions were priceless. Their eyes widened in disbelief.

Dwarves were a race that took pride in their craftsmanship.

Skilled dwarves demanded ten times more than human artisans. In other words, it would cost at least ten times more than the local market price.

Hiring not one, but 500 dwarves, was literally unheard of.

But I could do it.

“You look like you don’t believe me. It seems you haven’t heard of our family.”

“Even with support from House Kalisto, it seems impossible. What’s your motive?”

“A few months ago, there was a territorial war in Kalisto Dukedom. It was a war between our family and House Gerard. Haven’t you heard about the reason for the war? It was quite a famous story.”

Judging by the murmurs, most of them seemed unaware. But I could see it. The Margrave’s expression was becoming profound.

He knew.

In other words, he sensed that my plan wasn’t a bluff.

“I intend to invest all of our family’s capital in this project. Therefore, it’s not impossible. I’ve already sent people to Plantier to hire dwarves.”

“…Alright. I understand that your plan isn’t a bluff. But how do you plan to determine the heating costs?”

“Excuse me, but who is the scribe here?”

“It’s me.”

I asked the scribe, “If heating were available in all areas of Whitefield, how much would you charge for it?”

“It’s an unprecedented situation, so it’s not easy, but… If we base it on the cost of firewood and oil, we can make a rough estimate. Give me a moment.”

The scribe busily scribbled something on a piece of paper. I waited patiently.

“The annual heating cost would be approximately 500,000 gold. This is just a rough calculation. It will vary depending on the region and situation.”

“Do you agree with this calculation, Margrave?”

“I trust the scribe’s calculations.”

“Alright. 500,000 gold per year isn’t a large sum. We’ll waive the cost. Of course, House Walker will also cover all construction costs.”

“What?”

500,000 gold wasn’t a large sum for House Walker. It meant about 50 billion won in my previous life’s currency would be spent on heating every year.

But most of the project cost would go into infrastructure development, and after that, it would only require maintenance.

As for the mages to charge the mana storage, we could just requisition them from the Magic Tower.

“You’re saying you won’t charge us? Are you mocking me?”

“I’m saying we won’t charge House Whitefield, not that we’ll provide heating for free. I plan to bill the Imperial Family for the heating costs.”

“…!”

His expression was priceless. I was glad he was so honest.

“You and many others are working tirelessly for the Empire. It’s only natural for the Imperial Family to support you. I’ve learned something important from this incident. Empty promises only lead to dissatisfaction. I’ll also ensure that the Imperial Family provides the necessary magical personnel for the maintenance of the hot water supply facility.”

The Margrave couldn’t answer immediately.

I checked Freya’s expression. She had been staring at me blankly, but she averted her gaze slightly. She couldn’t hide her surprise either.

“Why?”

The Margrave finally spoke. He shook his head even after finishing his question.

“Even if the Imperial Family covers the operating costs, the construction of the facility will cost a fortune. What’s your motive for covering all those costs, not as House Kalisto, but as House Walker?”

“Kalisto has been helping Whitefield for a long time. It’s because we understand the importance of this place more than anyone.”

“Cut the pretense and be honest!”

The time had come.

I paused for a moment, choosing my words carefully.

“The person I serve wishes to win your favor, Margrave. House Whitefield is influential enough to affect even the Imperial Family.”

“The person you serve… Is it Grand Duke Hylix?”

“No. It’s Lady Lucia.”

The Margrave’s expression became priceless again. He stared at me for a long time, as if he couldn’t comprehend it.

I understood how he felt.

In the north, where survival was paramount, it might be different, but in the peaceful south, the eldest son usually inherited the family.

But the name Lucia must have confused him.

“Is Lady Lucia participating in the succession race?”

“The situation has become complicated. Currently, it’s a competition between Prince Romero and Lady Lucia.”

I gave one last push to the hesitant Finwinter.

“This is an opportunity to gain both justification and practicality. The north will become a livable land even without joining forces with the Nordics. I believe that this miracle will shine forever in the history of the Empire.”

The die was cast.

After a moment of contemplation, the Margrave spoke.