Chapter 91: Was That Today? (1)
Hubert’s trembling voice, filled with disbelief, asked again.
“R-Really? You’re saying you’ve beco a lord… for real?”
“Yes. Through this war, Ferdium has taken over Digald County, and in recognition of that, I was granted Baron Fenris’ land as a fief. By combining three baronies, it now amounts to nearly half the size of a county.”
“Hah, to think you’re a lord now…”
Being a Tower Master ant that a baron’s rank was hardly impressive. However, if soone had gained both land and title, becoming a noble, one was naturally obliged to show proper respect.
But it felt a bit awkward to suddenly start being polite to soone with whom he’d been informal all along.
Had they t when the title was already in place, it would be different. But now, trying to show deference felt absurd.
“Ahem, well, in any case, congratulations.”
Although taken aback, Hubert reminded himself that a Tower Master was treated on par with a count, so he didn’t feel particularly diminished. He decided to continue acting as he always did.
But Ghislain wasn’t the type to let such things slide unnoticed.
He crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, putting on a smug expression.
“Although I’ve beco a lord, you may treat as you have before. I’m not so high-ranking noble like a count, and I’m still young, aren’t I? So, until then, feel free to continue as you always have.”
It sounded as though he was warning Hubert that he wouldn’t tolerate it if he continued acting like that once Ghislain beca a count.
Hubert, pursing his lips, replied with a smile.
“Sure, let’s keep things casual. Just like before.”
He could only hope that Ghislain’s title would stop at baron and go no further.
“Anyway, it seems we’ve truly ended up in the sa boat. Let’s work well together from here on.”
“You’ve made a wise choice. You won’t regret the decision you’ve made today.”
Ghislain extended his hand, and they shook hands.
While they might get caught up in a war, the Crimson Fla Tower didn’t really have any other options left.
Instead of withering away, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to take a gamble on this young man.
Even though everything Ghislain said couldn’t be taken at face value, hadn’t he still won the war with a bold strategy?
Though he still fud at the thought of that precious runestone being detonated, the re fact that Ghislain had thought of such a plan was impressive in itself.
Having secured what he wanted, Ghislain wasted no ti standing up from his seat.
“I’ll take my leave then. Do contact once the preparations are complete.”
“Understood. We’ll get ready at once. Take care on your way.”
As Ghislain left the tower, a strange smile spread across his face.
‘They may think it’s a gamble, but this is the only way to save the Crimson Fla Tower.’
In his previous life, the Crimson Fla Tower had collapsed, falling victim to the sches of the Scarlet Tower.
In the end, it was almost as if the Delfine Duchy had destroyed the Crimson Fla Tower themselves. After all, the one who had nurtured Delmud, the Master of the Scarlet Tower, was none other than the Delfine Duchy.
* * *
As soon as Ghislain returned to Ferdium, he quickly packed his things and gathered all of his people without exception. This included Vanessa, who had recovered to so extent, and the other wizards.
Ghislain looked around at everyone and spoke swiftly.
“Gillian, take the people and head to Fenris first. Leave the managent of the estate to the current administrator, and make sure to focus on security along with Kaor.”
Those who had expected to depart for Fenris Estate now were puzzled by the unexpected orders.
“Young Master… no, my Lord, aren’t you coming with us?”
“No, I have sowhere else I need to stop by. I’ll just take a few rcenaries with as an escort.”
“Where are you going this ti? Are you abandoning the estate entirely?”
“There’s sothing essential I need to do to manage the estate properly. I need to handle this first.”
“Where are you headed?”
“To Austern, in the Kingdom of Seiron.”
Seiron was a kingdom located to the west of Ritania. All he had to do was cross the southwestern border, skirting the long mountain range that extended down from Digald. It wasn’t far.
However, Austern wasn’t so borderland.
In fact, it was much closer to Seiron’s capital.
Belinda, arms crossed, stared intently at Ghislain, puzzled by his sudden statent. He wasn’t heading to the estate, but to a foreign country now? She had no idea what he was thinking.
Then, sothing seed to dawn on Belinda, and she exclaid briefly.
“Ah, Austern is famous for its gambling, right? Don’t tell you’re going there to gamble? You used to enjoy gambling a lot back in the day.”
At the ntion of gambling, the rcenaries perked up, their bodies stirring with excitent. anwhile, Alfoi and the wizards clicked their tongues in disdain.
Ghislain laughed and shook his head.
“No, I’m going to bring soone back with .”
“Who?”
“Soone to oversee the estate’s administration. There’s a brilliant fellow I know.”
“You’re entrusting the estate’s managent to soone from outside? You know soone there?”
“Yeah, soone I know very well.”
As he spoke, a strange sense of nostalgia flickered in Ghislain’s eyes.
Belinda’s expression turned skeptical. To her knowledge, Ghislain had never been abroad. It made no sense for him to have soone he knew well there. Truly, he was a man who seed suspicious no matter what he did.
“My Lord, didn’t you once imprison a man nad Lowell? You said you’d question him regarding the estate’s administration.”
“Ah, that guy can rot in prison a bit longer. He needs to pay for his cris. I’ll deal with him later, when I decide to take him out myself.”
Gillian nodded and then changed the subject.
“I’ll escort you to Austern. I’ve been there before.”
“You need to keep an eye on the others.”
“If we leave it to Toran, it should be fine.”
Toran was an older rcenary who had been following them since the Forest of Beasts incident.
‘Co to think of it, the two of them are about the sa age.’
It seed the two had gotten quite close after going through the war together.
If Gillian was saying so, there shouldn’t be any major problems.
“Alright, then let’s take just a few people with Gillian. If we bring too many, we’ll be stopped right at the border.”
“! Young Lord, I want to go abroad too!”
“We’re not going on a trip.”
“Then I’ll go to keep an eye on you, just to make sure you’re not having fun!”
Belinda quickly got up, saying she needed to pack.
Ghislain clicked his tongue but didn’t stop her.
When Belinda got like this, it was impossible to stop her anyway.
Following Gillian’s orders, Toran also began gathering the rcenaries.
Ghislain grabbed Vanessa and spoke.
“If anyone bothers you, make sure to tell . Don’t bottle it up. Got it?”
“Yes, yes. I understand.”
Vanessa responded, bowing her head deeply.
In truth, no one had mistreated her since the war ended.
Even Alfoi, who once picked on her, now cautiously avoided her, sneaking away whenever possible.
“Alright, I’ll see you in a few days then.”
“I’ll see you at the estate.”
Ghislain barely acknowledged the farewells and imdiately kicked his horse into motion.
Belinda, who had been packing her things, was startled and hurried to his side.
“Hey, what’s the rush? Did you have an appointnt or sothing?”
“I need to et the guy before he loses a hand. He’s got a bit of a situation.”
“Loses a hand…?”
“Yeah. He lives in the gambling dens, so you never know when it’ll get cut off.”
Belinda asked incredulously.
“You’re planning to put him in charge of administration? What if he gambles away the entire estate?”
“It’s fine. Despite everything, he’s a good guy.”
Belinda looked like she had a lot more to say, but she closed her mouth and simply shook her head.
“Except for gambling, he’s good at everything. Just watch. It’s only gambling that he’s bad at. Just that.”
Ghislain chuckled, confidently assuring her. A faint smile had already crept onto his face.
Because of urgent matters, he had delayed recruiting him, but now it was ti to bring him in.
‘I’ll see you soon, Claude.’
Claude had been his strategist in his previous life.
There had been no shortage of rcenaries under the King of rcenaries.
But Claude had been the one to lead and take care of them all. Who else could he trust to manage the estate?
That wasn’t all. During the war, he had devised brilliant, unpredictable strategies, making even enemy commanders covet him as the strategist of strategists.
Even though he couldn’t fight, he never held back his sharp tongue against the rough rcenaries, and he even clashed with Ghislain himself on more than one occasion.
But thanks to him, what was once just a small rcenary corps had managed to wage war against a kingdom for a full year.
“In his past life, that guy couldn’t fully utilize his abilities.”
No matter how brilliant his tactics and strategies were, there had been a limit to what he could accomplish with a rcenary corps that lacked a solid base of operations.
But things were different now. He had gained territory and was poised to grow his influence.
Claude had showcased his talents even in those harsh conditions. This ti, he would be able to make an even greater impact.
“Don’t waste your life in this lifeti on gambling again.”
In his past life, when Claude joined the rcenary corps, he had already lost one hand, and the tendons in one of his ankles were severed.
There had been reasons why he couldn’t help but cling to gambling even after ending up in such a state.
In that past life, it had already been an irreversible situation…
But this ti, I could resolve the issue before Claude got hurt.
* * *
After several days of travel, as soon as we arrived in Austern, I sought out the largest gambling house there.
The rest of the group, by now used to my tendency to act first without much explanation, followed silently.
[Kraken Ga Hall]
A large octopus sign blinked brightly above the entrance.
Just by looking at the expensive magic lights adorning the sign, it was clear how much money this gambling house was raking in.
This was the heart of Austern, the gambling city.
Belinda and the rcenaries looked around in awe. The area surrounding the lavish gambling house was lined with bustling taverns.
“Young Master! This place is amazing! It looks like the perfect place to have fun!”
Even Gordon, who had tagged along after hearing it was a gambling city, rubbed his hands together with a grin.
“Haha, just seeing the gambling house makes my blood boil. Shall I show off my skills for the first ti in a while?”
I shook my head and said, “Don’t bother. You won’t stand a chance here with average skills. They’re all swindlers.”
“How do you know that, Young Master? Have you been here before?”
“Well, I ca here once in the past.”
“You’ve always stayed in the territory. When did you even co here?”
“I have. A long ti ago.”
I had also co here in my past life to resolve Claude’s problem.
I couldn’t restore his already lost hand, but I had at least wanted to eliminate the cause.
While I was here, I decided to enjoy so gambling as a way to relax…
That day, the Kraken Gambling House was destroyed.
The Seven Strongest of the Continent—who could dare protest after getting scamd by the King of rcenaries and ending up completely crushed?
Even the Kingdom of Seiron had no choice but to let it slide.
Ghislain smiled as he recalled the fond mory.
“Well then, let’s go find that guy.”
Belinda nodded and asked, “Do you know what he looks like? Last ti, we had to search forever for Uncle Gillian because we didn’t know his face.”
“Just wait over there. He’s probably inside even now.”
In his past life, Claude practically lived at the Kraken Ga Hall.
When he ran out of money, he’d earn so petty cash by ghostwriting or teaching, only to lose it again as soon as he went back to gambling. It was a vicious cycle.
He’d said he lived there until the day he joined the rcenary corps, so if they waited around, he would eventually show up.
Ghislain and his group entered the ga hall.
Sothing about the atmosphere felt off.
People were murmuring here and there, while others were tidying up the place.
“Hmm, did a fight break out or sothing?”
As Ghislain muttered to himself, a man who seed to be a staff mber approached and gave a slight bow in greeting.
“Welco. May I guide you to a seat? Would you prefer the VIP room?”
The staffer must have assud Ghislain was a noble, judging from his attire and the people escorting him.
He had sharp eyes, fitting for soone working at a gambling den.
Ghislain glanced around and shook his head.
“The mood here seems off. Did sothing happen?”
“It’s nothing serious. Just a small commotion. It happens all the ti at a place like this.”
“Well, that’s true.”
It would’ve been stranger if there weren’t any fights in a place fueled by money.
Just as Ghislain was about to let it slide, he overheard so people at a nearby table whispering.
“That bastard Claude, I always knew he’d end up like this.”
“Think they’ll take one of his hands?”
“Of course. He ssed with the wrong person. You’ve gotta give it to him for having guts though. Haha!”
“Still, Claude wasn’t the type to pull cheap tricks. The guy’s educated, after all.”
“Hey, who knows what’s going on in soone’s head? Even if you’re educated, once you get hooked on gambling, that’s how it goes.”
Hearing the sa na they were looking for, Ghislain’s face hardened. He turned to the staffer and asked, “The person who caused the trouble… Is his na Claude? Looks sharp, but his eyes are like dead fish.”
The staff mber replied with a hesitant expression, “Yes, that’s him. Do you know him?”
“What kind of trouble did he cause?”
“He tried to pull a fast one on the leader of a notorious local gang and got caught. They just dragged him off.”
“By any chance… that leader’s na wouldn’t happen to be?”
“They call him Crank.”
As soon as he heard the na, Ghislain muttered in disbelief, “So it was today?”
Reviews
All reviews (0)