Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Sitri Belstad (2)
The Seoris Union Trading Company.
A coalition of three major merchant groups and eight mid-sized merchant companies, starting with its main branch in Nevan and boasting over three hundred branches across the continent.
It had amassed enormous wealth, controlling 20% of the Empire’s logistics.
If they were to go on strike, the capital’s functions would be paralyzed for some time.
It was truly one of the wealthiest hubs not just in the Empire but on the entire continent.
Elvin raised a hand slightly, questioning Rudian’s proposal to take over such a union.
“There are two problems.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“First, you say we should take over the Union, but how? The only orthodox method is to acquire shares within the Union, which is practically a pipe dream.”
In terms of financial power alone, the Seoris Union Trading Company could easily defeat the Delphione Duchy in a head-on confrontation.
Even if the Kepler family joined forces, the result would remain unchanged.
“Second, if Sitri Belstad is truly a demon or someone connected to demons as you suspect, would such a woman enter the Academy without taking any precautions?”
“That’s true…”
Luciella and Maria nodded in agreement.
Elvin’s doubts were valid.
Asmodeus was one who schemed from behind the curtain.
She would surely use a proxy, whether it be the Third Prince or someone else.
“Your reasoning is sound, Senior.”
Rudian smiled faintly, praising Elvin’s insight.
“There’s no way she came here without taking any measures.”
The Seoris Union was not a single massive merchant group but a coalition of over ten.
Thus, the head of the Union couldn’t make decisions alone and had to gather the opinions of the ‘elders’ representing each group.
“No matter how skilled she is, she can’t devour the entire Union in a short time through conventional means.”
One of the demons’ mistakes was entrusting the Union’s affairs entirely to Gude for security reasons.
If Gude died, all their efforts would vanish.
To prevent this, the demons had turned Gude into a high-ranking vassal.
“They even granted him immortality, so they must have thought he couldn’t die easily.”
Gude’s misfortune was simply that his opponent was too formidable.
“Regardless, Gude is dead. To reclaim the Seoris Union, she would need to secure a majority among the eleven groups, which can’t be done in a day or two.”
Elvin, who had experience working in his family’s merchant group, shook his head.
“You’re right. Through normal methods, there would be endless negotiations beneath the surface, and only after those conclude would a general assembly be held to elect a new head. That would take at least two to three months.”
But Sitri had enrolled in the Academy less than a week after Gude’s death, disregarding everything else.
“Assuming Sitri has already resolved the situation, what method could she have used?”
“Force.”
It was Maria, not Elvin, who answered Rudian’s question.
“Crushing them with power, you mean?”
Rudian nodded calmly.
“Correct.”
Additionally, Asmodeus’s signature ability—brainwashing—likely played a role.
“The process of electing a head is purely behind-the-scenes. There’s no need to approach it conventionally.”
Brainwashing, coercion, persuasion…
As long as they could handle the aftermath, these three methods could resolve the situation swiftly.
“So our task is to free those oppressed by the demons and turn them into friendly forces?”
“No.”
“…No?”
At Rudian’s firm denial, Elvin’s confident expression twisted instantly.
“I said we’re taking it over. Freeing them won’t give us any shares, so we’d gain nothing tangible.”
“Then what do you propose?”
“To truly devour Seoris, we must take the Belstad family, its core.”
“……!”
“Wait! How can you take the Belstad family? Sitri Belstad is already there!”
“She’s an adopted daughter, not a blood relative.”
Yes, this was the critical point.
“Strictly speaking, Sitri Belstad’s inheritance rights were acknowledged only because there were no other relatives. With the Third Prince’s interference, ordinary people couldn’t even meddle.”
But here stood someone who was far from ordinary.
“……”
Under Rudian’s gaze, Luciella fell silent.
She knew exactly what Rudian’s look implied.
The Delphione Duchy was nominally aligned with the Third Prince.
Openly confronting the Third Prince to take the Belstad family would undoubtedly cause significant political backlash.
“If there are no relatives… we can create them.”
Rudian pulled out a ring from his pocket.
It was none other than the ring symbolizing the head of the Belstad family, left behind after Gude’s death.
A powerful justification to outmaneuver Sitri.
“Rudian Belstad. Doesn’t that sound plausible?”
“……”
“Ah, of course, I’m not claiming the Belstad family for myself. I’m merely a figurehead.”
Luciella and the others stared blankly at Rudian’s audacious scheme.
“Even with the family head’s seal, this is fraud…!”
“What’s stopping us?”
The Belstad family had no surviving bloodline.
Gude had sold his soul to the demons, exterminating both direct and collateral lines.
“In such a situation, even if a surviving relative suddenly appears, it won’t be an issue. Even if it’s blatantly fabricated.”
Rudian continued, looking at Luciella.
“With this seal and a credible endorsement from someone of matching prestige…”
“……”
Though the Third Prince cherished Sitri, he undoubtedly had his eyes on the Belstad family’s vast wealth.
The Delphione Duchy, officially supporting the Third Prince, would find its position awkward if it intervened here.
For Luciella, who hadn’t yet severed her ties to the Third Prince, this was no easy decision.
“Very well.”
“My Lady…?”
Contrary to expectations, Luciella, who seemed hesitant, instead brightened and raised both hands in agreement.
“I’ll persuade Father and the main family. The Seoris Union Trading Company… What a splendid gift it will be.”
“……”
The others present, sensing the volcanic fury burning in Luciella’s eyes, remained silent.
***
The Delphione Duchy’s involvement in the Seoris Union matter quickly reached the ears of all nobles in the capital.
“Rudian Belstad? Who is that?”
“A surviving collateral descendant of the Belstad family, I hear.”
“Didn’t the previous Baron exterminate all his kin?”
“But with the Delphione Duchy backing him, the truth hardly matters. Besides, he has the family head’s seal.”
The Belstad succession issue instantly became a hot topic among the nobility.
The nobles buzzed excitedly, declaring this the event where the Delphione Duchy would officially split from the Third Prince.
“It’s impressive they stayed quiet this long.”
“Even with Lady Luciella around, he flaunted another lover openly…”
“Did anyone not know? They just pretended not to.”
“I’m truly curious how the Third Prince will respond.”
The clash of titans captivated the aristocratic society, which eagerly watched how things would unfold.
***
“What is the meaning of this?!”
BANG!
Third Prince Roho Wilhelm von Morian erupted in fury at the news of the Delphione Duchy’s betrayal.
“Duke Delphione dares to do this?!”
“Please calm yourself, Your Highness.”
Sitri, standing beside the prince, gently soothed him, though she too was unsettled.
‘Luciella…!’
The Delphione Duchy’s sudden move was undoubtedly Luciella’s doing.
“I’ll go to Duke Delphione and demand an explanation!”
“W-Wait, Your Highness!”
Sitri hastily stopped the prince.
The other side had already acted—confronting them now would achieve nothing.
With the Emperor remaining silent, any visit would only result in humiliation.
If the Emperor intervened, things would be easier, but even Sitri couldn’t move him now.
“Your involvement will escalate the situation.”
At Sitri’s words, the prince’s expression crumpled.
“Then… What should I do?”
“Let me speak directly with this Rudian. If it’s a misunderstanding, we can clear it. Perhaps things will resolve smoothly.”
She remembered Rudian’s face and name.
Initially, she had approached him to gather information on Luciella.
A beneficiary of the Delphione Foundation, a squire to young lord Calline.
His background was confirmed.
A mere commoner with no notable lineage.
Assassinating him through underlings would be simple, but it would complicate matters.
‘I’ll just take him by force!’
Though not exceptionally handsome, his innocent appearance and youthful looks met her minimum standards.
‘Fine, if he wants the Belstad family, I’ll hand it over. After turning him into my slave.’
Sitri—Asmodeus, the Demon King of Lust—possessed the authority of ‘Lust.’
With proper effort, turning a human into a brainwashed, heat-crazed beast was trivial.
***
Sitri acted immediately.
Since they were both in the Academy, finding him wasn’t difficult.
“We meet again, Sir Rudian.”
“……”
Rudian met Sitri’s gaze indifferently.
“I had no idea you and I shared the same family.”
“The same family…”
He scoffed derisively, causing Sitri’s blood pressure to spike.
But drawing on her Demon King composure, Sitri smiled enchantingly.
“The succession issue has caused quite a stir. We shouldn’t fight like this.”
“True.”
Both claiming inheritance without blood ties, Rudian struggled to suppress a laugh.
Sitri stepped closer, her eyes gleaming slyly.
Subtle demonic energy emanated, enveloping Rudian.
“If you wish, I can yield the position of family head to you.”
“Hmm…?”
“But there’s a condition.”
As Sitri closed the distance, her eyes shimmered dangerously.
A hand infused with lustful energy caressed Rudian’s cheek.
“It’s not just the headship. Status, honor, wealth, pleasure… I can give you anything.”
Sitri was serious.
Of those she had turned into vassals using this authority, fewer than ten remained after crossing the Gate.
“Don’t you want Luciella? Don’t you want to ruin her?”
“……”
“If you become mine, I’ll make her your slave. That noble princess”
Rudian’s eyes wavered.
Mentioning Luciella caused visible turmoil—a displeasing reaction, but it sealed Luciella’s fate.
Without fail.
Confident he would sell his soul, Sitri was met with a single line:
“BULLSHIT, YOU’RE FULL OF IT.”