Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Summer in the Providence Territory
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<Duke's Perspective>
Rex's declaration of slave emancipation split his territory right down the middle.
The central and northern regions, which weren't heavily reliant on slave labor, quickly accepted the new policy. But the south refused outright.
Especially in the southern areas where agriculture thrived on slave labor, the backlash was inevitable.
Sugar, cotton, wheat, logging, and so on.
The industry leaders, along with the lesser nobles, merchants, and market vendors who benefited from them, spearheaded massive protests in the south.
It was a situation that could easily escalate into war, much like in the history of some nations.
But the protests never turned into war.
"As of this moment, we have received orders from above: anyone supporting the slave system is to be deemed a traitor and executed on the spot."
With black flags fluttering, the Honor Guard glared with murderous intent. No one could muster even a semblance of a protest in front of them.
In the end, the plantation owners and local leaders had no choice but to unchain their slaves.
And just like that, the Providence Territory's population suddenly surged with people who hadn't even appeared in official records.
"Long live the lord!"
"Long live the Honor Guard!"
Thanks to them, the Providence Territory was suddenly filled with cheers from these newly freed commoners.
But even in that atmosphere, there were always those who couldn't let go of their slaves.
In a world where the average person knew murder was wrong but did it anyway, no one was going to listen just because the law changed overnight.
"The lord's not gonna come inspect all the way out here anyway."
The territory was vast, so some figured their remote areas would go unnoticed and brazenly broke the law.
When the Honor Guard approached with flags waving, they'd hide the slaves in warehouses, then drag them back out once they were gone—walking a tightrope all the while.
And this was precisely the time for the incognito knight Duke to shine.
"An incognito knight?"
When I proposed it, even the Honor Guard's company commanders tilted their heads.
As if they'd never heard of such a position.
And honestly, neither had I. I hadn't thought through how it would work without issues.
But I had a capable adjutant by my side.
"An incognito knight is a knight who receives the lord's special mandate and roots out corrupt local officials across the territory."
The adjutant explained it as if it were exactly my intention, stepping in for me.
Of course, the inspiration for this incognito knight role came from the secret royal inspector.
Not the real ones from Joseon history, but the dramatized version from the historical dramas I'd watched.
I had no idea if it could actually work in reality. I'd never considered it.
I just thought it sounded cool and threw it out there. The adjutant and Rex polished it up nicely.
"Incognito knights will receive a special token from the lord and secretly leave the capital to patrol the provinces. If they find any traitors violating the lord's decrees, they have the authority to act first and report later."
Once the adjutant finished his succinct explanation, the dark elf First Company Commander raised his hand.
"Understood. So how do we select the personnel?"
I pointed at him immediately, as if I'd been waiting.
"You and I."
"Pardon?"
"Do we need more manpower?"
Of course, the other companies would operate with multiple knights, but I only needed one company commander to assist me.
Still, the one I'd singled out didn't seem convinced.
"Why me, of all people?"
The gnome adjutant answered for me.
"My apologies. If I could, I'd love to smash those beasts who forsake humanity with my own hands, but at my age..."
Unfortunately, this gnome adjutant was one of the knight order's top non-combat personnel.
He didn't have much lifespan left—could go any day now.
I had to gallop across the territory, and I couldn't drag an elderly man like that along.
"My apologies. Because of my condition..."
The gnome adjutant fixed the dark elf with a stare through his white eyebrows.
Even I could read the meaning in that gaze.
—Do you really want me hobbling around the country at this age, assisting the company commander?
In fancier terms, it was pulling rank.
The dark elf company commander turned to look at the others.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The vampire Second Company Commander bared his fangs in a sneer.
Though it stung, the dark elf—who'd been outranked by him in company commander seniority for the past four years—lost the staring contest and turned to the Third.
The pale-skinned Third Company Commander replied indifferently.
"No such provision in the contract... but raise my pay, and I'll go."
The dark elf's face stiffened.
He clearly couldn't imagine what trouble that cynical human might cause if he tagged along as my aide.
In the end, by process of elimination, the dark elf naturally got the gig as my incognito knight travel companion.
"Haa."
I wanted to pat his shoulder like in my past-life army days, but it didn't fit my current image, so I pretended not to notice.
The dark elf company commander adjusted his glasses and flashed a professional smile.
"It's an honor to serve you."
"Looking forward to working with you, Sir Hedonius."
Feeling bad, I'd have to buy him lots of tasty treats.
<First Company Commander, Hedonius's Perspective>
While Duke shot him a sympathetic look, Hedonius scanned his comrades, filled with emotion.
'To yield such an honor to me...'
Over the past four years, a bond called loyalty had formed among them.
Though not bound by blood, the knight order was family, tied by unbreakable camaraderie.
'Mr. Clambel...'
Hedonius gazed at Duke's gnome adjutant.
Aware his time was near, the gnome was preparing to pass on his role as Duke's adjutant.
The commander and other company commanders knew this, which was why they yielded the honor to him.
Hedonius silently thanked them.
'Understood.'
If you give me this chance...
'I must live up to your expectations.'
Hedonius solemnly accepted the mission.
<Back to Duke's Perspective>
For the incognito knight mission, the company commander and I created new identities.
The least suspicious combo for traveling as a duo: a fallen noble and his old butler.
The dark elf company commander would play the fallen noble, and I'd be the old butler.
In my case, I removed my helmet and used illusion magic for fake wrinkles and white hair.
The company commander, whose face wasn't as well-known, bleached his skin and shortened his ears to pass as human.
And so, our journey began.
"Com..."
I shot a sharp glare at the dark elf, who almost called me "commander" out of habit.
He quickly corrected himself.
"Mr. Dominique."
"Yes?"
"No matter how I think about it, wouldn't I be better suited as the butler?"
His gaze, full of discomfort, landed on my wrinkled fake skin.
I glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then switched back to Duke's voice.
"No."
"Why not?"
Because if a dark elf called me "master" near a cotton plantation, it'd make me feel like a real scumbag.
...Half-joking, but the real reason was I just wanted to play the old butler hiding a past.
Of course, I didn't say that outright. Instead, I consciously flashed a kindly smile fitting my fake wrinkles and made an excuse.
"This way draws less suspicion."
People are wary of fallen nobles on average, but not their servants.
That meant they'd let their guard down around butler me and reveal more evidence.
Did my excuse land? The company commander nodded.
"I see. My judgment was poor, Mr. Dominique."
"Not at all, Sir Hyrudin."
I nodded, mindful of my new identity as Dominique.
The company commander seemed to embrace his role as Hyrudin too.
And so continued the journey of the fallen noble Hyrudin and his loyal old butler Dominique, who stuck by him to the end.
Hyrudin didn't forget his role and briefed our destination.
"Our first stop is Elisys, the trading city on the territory's border."
Elisys was in the southeast borderlands of the Providence Territory, a bustling hub trading goods with neighboring lands.
On the surface, its main industries were wheat and sugar.
But sometimes, people were mixed in with those goods.
"The markets and leaders in the southern cities mostly buy and sell slaves from outside through this hub. High chance they're still running slave trades here."
Of course, the markets weren't run by fools—they'd emancipated slaves the moment the law dropped.
But we didn't trust human conscience.
"We'll scout the black market first, then pull down the market head if the opportunity arises."
We didn't even consider the possibility of the market head being clean.
Whether secret inspector or incognito knight, their deployment implied some level of suspicion.
According to intelligence reports, Elisys was sustaining slave trades, just without hard evidence.
I confirmed his briefing once more and outlined the plan.
"For now, Sir Hyrudin, seek work as a fallen noble."
His face crumpled at my polite speech—so awkward for him.
I ignored it and pressed on.
"Meanwhile, I'll investigate the black market."
<Third-Person Perspective>
Trading city of Elisys.
Two men entered what had once been a slave trading firm, now rebranded as a labor agency.
"I am Viscount Hyrudin. I heard this was a slave trading firm. Still is?"
"..."
One introduced himself as the noble Hyrudin; the elderly man who looked like his butler stood silently beside him.
The labor agency's staff grew wary at the pair's arrival in this rough space.
In the heavy atmosphere, the agency owner—former slave trader—spoke up.
"What do you mean? We don't sell slaves anymore."
Irritation flashed in the noble Hyrudin's eyes.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"The lord banned slave trading recently. We've freed all ours and switched to legitimate job placements long ago. If you didn't know, you must be from out of territory."
"Tch. Why even ask?"
"My mistake."
The agency owner quickly sized up this Hyrudin.
'A wandering noble.'
In other words, an incompetent fallen noble chased out but too proud to let go of his status.
Not common, but a type he saw occasionally.
These types usually couldn't shake noble habits and needed slaves.
"Fine. We'll try somewhere else."
The fallen noble Hyrudin turned and exited the agency.
But the apparent butler didn't leave right away.
The old man offered the owner a silver coin with a disarming smile.
"My master is on edge from a long journey. Sorry for the trouble."
The owner's gaze flicked to the silver.
People have morals, but what crime has money committed?
"Ahem. Ahem."
The owner pocketed the coin.
Dominique glanced around before asking,
"Any other way to hire slaves or servants? We have to cross the territory, and regular hires won't cut it."
At the question, the owner flinched and waved his hands frantically.
"I said I don't sell slaves!"
"I see. My apologies."
Dominique feigned mild disappointment at the owner's horrified reaction and left without fuss.
Afterward, similar scenes played out at labor agencies across the city.
A hysterical fallen noble at agencies, politely apologizing for him: his refined butler.
By the end of the week, the duo had become infamous.
That's when a letter arrived for butler Dominique.
—Come to this location when the clocktower bell rings nine in the morning.
Dominique's lips twitched.
'They finally bit.'
Butler Dominique followed the instructions at once.
At the alley, another letter waited.
—Turn right at the abandoned warehouse ahead.
He followed that, and several more directives after.
Dominique reached a spot with no letter and waited for someone.
'The black market now...'
At that moment, he sensed killing intent dropping from above.
"?!"
The old butler leaped back on instinct.
Right after, a masked figure dropped from above and slammed a sword into where he'd stood.
Craaang!
The deep sword scar in the ground. The figure looked up and met Dominique's eyes.
"Dodged, huh. Not your average butler. Who are you?"
"Heh heh. If you want my identity, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
"No need. Trash like you still hunting slaves."
Hearing that, Dominique nodded slowly.
"You're with the vigilante group, then."
The masked figure neither confirmed nor denied, charging at Dominique.
Watching the assailant rush him, Dominique (Duke) sighed inwardly.
'Wrong fish took the bait.'