It was already close to midnight.
However, it seed that Neumann did not go to bed and was waiting for Arendt’s contact.
As he was holding onto the communication port for what seed like the umpteenth ti today, he soon heard the voice he had been waiting for.
– Sir Arendt, I was waiting as I thought you would contact soon.
“Lord Neumann, is this what I think it is?”
Neumann answered Arendt, who got straight to the point without any preamble, with a troubled voice.
– At this point, it’s just a guess. It seems there is a possibility that Count Eckhart and the East rchant Group have joined forces.
“Please explain step by step. How did such a conclusion co about?”
– Union Leader Henry and Vice-leader Arcus have requested information from an information dealer near the Union. Do you know this much?
Without waiting for an answer, Neumann continued.
– So we started investigating right away, and I was inford that one of the people who was spying on the Union had been going in and out of the East rchant Group. They said that sothing was not right.
“Was there a problem with the East rchant Group?”
– On the surface, there was nothing wrong. But…
From the way his voice trailed off, Arendt could guess what he was about to say next.
“You an it wouldn’t have been strange if a problem had occurred at any ti, right?”
– Yes, that’s probably the case. It’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but the leader of the East rchant Group was displeased with the idea of my independence as well.
“Hmm…”
The East rchant Group was Neumann’s family ho.
In “The Blue Knight of the Holy Sword”, Neumann was kicked out of the rchant group after failing to protect the East Safe, and founded the Neumann Group with the encouragent of Laius.
But now that Arendt intervened, things were different.
‘So you’re saying that twisting the narrative has brought things back like this?’
The East rchant Group must have felt like Neumann betrayed them.
The subtle pressure to keep him from leaving the group was in vain, as the guy who kicked the nest and left had now beco so successful.
“Please continue.”
– After sending the docunts to Sir Arendt, the main office also began its investigation. It turned out that recently, the East rchant Group and Count Eckhart’s family’s rchant had quietly entered into a contract.
“Quietly?”
– Yes, it was done secretly. I asked other rchant groups, but they all said they didn’t know about it. Maybe the East rchant Group reached out to Count Eckhart first.
Why did the East rchant Group even target the Khan Union?
Looking back, the answer was simple.
The Count needed to get Arcus back into the Count’s household, and the East rchant Group wanted to keep the Neumann rchant Group in check.
Although they each had their own goals, there was one obstacle they had in common.
It was Arendt.
‘But now it’s scary to touch .’
Because the Crown Prince is standing behind Arendt.
As he was thinking about that, Neumann’s complicated voice continued.
– And just recently, I confird that the East rchant Group purchased a building near the Khan Union. I guess they intend to open a store to check the Union.
From the perspective of the East rchant Group, Arendt’s frequent exchanges with the Neumann rchant Group must have been irritating.
Then ca the news that the eldest son of the Eckhart family had run away from ho and ford a union.
It was well known that Arendt and Arcus were at odds, but when Arcus chose to turn his back on his ho, the two naturally began to interact.
It would not have been surprising if, in the eyes of others, the brotherly relationship had been restored.
‘And the Khan Union is expanding its business by following the path already paved by the Neumann rchant Group.’
Arendt had little involvent in their business, but it did not seem to be of much interest to the East rchant Group.
So, the East rchant Group also ca to regard the Khan Union as a thorn in their side, and joined hands with Count Eckhart, who was looking for a way to bring his son back.
This was roughly the scenario that could be expected.
Arendt, having gathered his thoughts, leaned back on the sofa.
“So, to sum it up, you’re saying that two dirty, petty adults are joining hands to try to crush so kids who are just starting to settle down?”
– That… is not wrong, but…
Neumann muttered awkwardly at the explicit remark.
“The Count will get his eldest son back and deal a blow to the troubleso second son. The East rchant Group will get rid of the troubleso union, and then they will target Lord Neumann or the temple?”
Even if they attacked the Union, the imdiate benefits that would fall into the hands of the East rchant Group were not great.
Clearly, the deal between the East rchant Group and Count Eckhart would not end with just keeping the Khan Union in check.
Obviously, the ultimate goal was to reduce Neumann’s power.
The Khan Union was just the beginning.
– Yes, probably.
Neumann seed to have the sa idea and silently agreed.
Arendt thought for a mont and then said leisurely.
“This is a big problem.”
– I apologize for the inconvenience. It was sothing I should have taken care of… I will settle the matter with the East rchant Group, so don’t worry about it, Sir Arendt.
“What are you talking about? It’s not us who’s in trouble, it’s them.”
– Yes?
When Neumann responded with surprise, Arendt responded plainly.
“They don’t even know who they’re pointing their swords at right now.”
– Ah…
A short sigh escaped Neumann’s lips.
“Besides, the timing is a bit bad. If we’re not careful, things could get worse.”
– What do you an the timing is bad?
“It ans that the situation is not good enough to respond leniently to such pranks.”
Neumann paused for a mont and asked in a subdued voice.
– …Has sothing happened in the palace?
“I can’t say anything right now, but I can’t say it’s completely peaceful. Anyway, we need to sort this out quickly for the Khan Union to function properly.”
It was a vague answer, but it seed to convey the aning well enough to Neumann.
Neumann responded in a heavy voice.
– I understand. I must prepare myself. I cannot be a burden to Sir Arendt and the Crown Prince.
“How are you listening? I’m telling you, it’s them who are in trouble right now.”
But Arendt, as always, was indifferent.
“Do you know the saying, ‘throwing an egg against a rock’? Who do you think is the egg and who is the rock now?”
– Well…
Taking advantage of Neumann’s montary silence, Arendt quickly struck first.
“And think about it logically. Do you think I don’t care right now? You know better than anyone that most of my assets are in the Neumann rchant Group.”
Arendt added, leaning back on the sofa.
“More than anything, if we don’t stop them now, it’s obvious they’ll eventually co at directly. In that case, it’s better to nip it in the bud from the start.”
– Haha… those are truly Arendt-like words.
Only then did laughter return from beyond the communication port.
“What do you plan to do, Lord Neumann?”
– Yes?
Neumann was taken aback by the sudden question and asked back.
Arendt continued leisurely.
“You couldn’t have just sat back and watched this much information co out. You must have thought of so kind of counterasure.”
– Honestly, I’m not sure. If it were just , I would go directly and protest, but…
“Hmm.”
Neumann gave an uncharacteristically weak answer.
Arendt, who had been pondering for a mont, blurted out:
“That sounds good, going over and protesting.”
– Yes?
“Anyway, by now the East rchant Group’s Information Center would have probably gotten wind of sothing.”
A smile appeared on Arendt’s lips.
“So, why don’t you go and vent your anger and try to talk about sothing?”
– No, wait. Are you serious?
Neumann asked back, doubting his ears.
“Of course I’m serious. If it were up to , I’d want to march in there myself, but given all that I’ve done so far, I think they’d be on guard.”
– But if I do that, the leader of the East rchant Group will beco convinced that I am connected to the Khan Union… ah.
Neumann, who was asking again as if to confirm, stopped when he realized sothing.
– That’s your purpose.
“Yes, once suspicion turns into certainty, any kind of action will beco visible.”
Half-buried in the sofa, Arendt flipped through the docunts.
“It’s not our turn yet. Let’s just watch how far they can go with their tricks. Let’s cheer them on and clap while we’re at it.”
– And then?
“The mont they show any weakness, we destroy them.”
It was an overly simplistic answer, but Neumann understood the implications.
– So you an you’ll wait for the right mont and then take action, ensuring that this doesn’t happen again.
Since no problems had occurred yet, even if they tried to stop the East rchant Group, it would just fizzle out without a fight.
“That’s right. We need sothing more certain, so they can’t back out, no matter what.”
It was a coincidence, the contract between the Count and the East rchant Group was for sothing else, etc.
There were dozens of excuses they could co up with.
Arendt’s eyes cooled.
“So let’s put a stop to it so that they don’t bother us again.”
It was a sight that would have sent shivers down anyone’s spine, but fortunately or unfortunately, Arendt was alone in the room.
However, it seed that Neumann sensed a chilling aura through the communication port.
– Ah, Lord Arendt?
“Yes?”
– No, it’s nothing. But…
Neumann hesitated, then added cautiously.
– Are you okay?
Arendt raised an eyebrow at the unexpected remark.
“What could possibly be wrong? If you’re not keen on having conflicts with the East rchant Group, or if you have any other opinions, feel free to speak up. I’ll listen.”
After a mont of silence, a warm reply mixed with a smile ca from the other end of the communication port.
– No, that’s not possible. If you don’t mind, that’s fine. I’ll contact you again when I find out more information, so get so rest. It’s late.
Arendt swallowed a sigh and answered dully.
“Lord Neumann, please go to sleep quickly. You should also consider your age.”
– Haha, okay. Good night.
The light from the communication port that had been glowing dimly faded.
Arendt, who confird that communication was completely cut off, clicked his tongue and brushed his hair back.
“Unbelievable.”
Although he pretended not to know, he could guess what Neumann ant when he asked if he was okay.
It probably ant: Is it really okay to fight with your father like this?
Arendt, staring at the communication port with indifferent eyes, repeated what he had said to Neumann earlier as if talking to himself.
“What could possibly be wrong?”
He just collapsed completely on the sofa.
He had just returned from a mission and was starting to feel tired after using his brain all day.
As he relaxed and slowly blinked his eyes, a gorgeous ceiling ca into view.
It was a room he was now familiar with, but for a mont the luxurious wallpaper felt unfamiliar.
‘I guess there’s no luck with blood relations here either.’
Whether it was this fool of an apprentice knight or himself.
As useless thoughts began to quietly rise, he easily shook them off by closing his eyes.
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