To the Golda Plateau (2)

After patting the groveling warden's shoulder, Calix stepped inside, where a noisy shout echoed from the depths.

"You fucking dogs! You call this slop food? How long do you think I'm gonna rot in this hole? Can't even treat me right, huh?"

Calix let out a hollow chuckle at the bellowing voice from within.

"Ha! Complaining about side dishes all the way down in the underground dungeon. Unbelievable. How exactly do you plan to get out of here? Planning a jailbreak or something?"

Gidrus spotted the sudden arrival of Calix but remained unfazed. If anything, his tone was arrogant.

"Hahaha! You've finally come, young master. This lowly one has been waiting so long, it's been exhausting. I suppose the debt I owe you has grown even larger."

Calix was dumbfounded watching Gidrus eagerly sip the kimchi soup before the rice cake was even offered.

"What the hell is this nonsense? What debt do I owe a worm like you? You've got a hanging scheduled in a few days—maybe I should swap it for a thicker rope. Not sure if it'll hold your fat ass."

"Heh heh heh. I've served as treasurer in Szczecin County for over twenty years, you know. I think I know why you've come to see me. After all, I'm the county's chief treasurer."

"Were. Past tense."

Even at Calix's rebuke, he kept that smug grin plastered on his face.

"Heh heh. Isn't the young lord here because of the massive debt hanging over the county?"

Looking at Gidrus's greasy face, Calix felt a surge of irritation. He had zero intention of being played by this clueless piglet.

"Hey, warden. You must have a torture expert on staff, right?"

"Pardon? Y-yes..."

"Bring him here. Now."

"Pardon? Right here?"

"Do I look like I'm joking? I don't joke about torturing people."

The warden shivered under Calix's sharp gaze.

In truth, he'd just been humoring the young heir's whims until now. No matter how mature his speech, he was still just a frail pretty boy. Visiting the underground dungeon personally? Just some naive young master's capricious game, he'd thought.

But locking eyes with him sent chills down his spine. Only then did he truly grasp that this scrawny boy was the county's real power.

Rushing off to fetch the torturer, the warden frantically double-checked if he'd slipped up anywhere. And yeah, something did come to mind—the bribe from Gidrus.

"Damn it! Shit!"

He prayed desperately that the young powerbroker was the type to keep his word.

Only after the warden left did Gidrus realize the atmosphere had turned deadly serious. Lips trembling in anxiety, Calix addressed him.

"Piglet. I don't think a worm like you can handle much torture. So do your best not to disappoint my expectations. Who knows? I might be so moved I swap your hanging for a nice, slow Slowly Creeping Death."

Gidrus finally dropped to his knees, bursting into tears.

"Y-young master! Please, just spare my life! Please! Waaah..."

In truth, he'd bribed the warden for advance notice of Calix's visit and put on a show of bravado. Clinging to the strong was second nature to him—he had no spine for actual torture.

"What a disgraceful sight."

"I've committed a mortal sin! Waaah!"

"Then bash your head against the cell wall and drop dead. Need a hand?"

Calix grabbed his head, grinding it against the wall. Unable to shake him off, Gidrus flailed with his face pressed to the stone, yelling like a rapid-fire rapper.

"W-wait, young master! I-I have good info! Info that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can make a fortune!"

Calix's hand paused at the words "fortune." That was exactly why he'd come here—to deal with the county's crushing debt.

No harm in hearing him out first. An eternity seemed to pass in that brief silence before Calix's mouth slowly opened.

"Speak. How do we make this fortune?"

"The merchant Gerard Millers, who loaned money to the county, actually manages the Kosalin Viscountcy's secret vault! The family has been using him for years to evade taxes owed to the crown from their mines!"

"And?"

"W-well, if we report him to the royals..."

"What if he dumps the debt bonds at a discount before arrest? Say, to the Kosalin family?"

"T-that..."

As Gidrus stammered, the warden returned with a hooded man in tow.

"Young master! Got him. Shall we start?"

He was desperate. If Gidrus spilled about the bribe, it could sway the young lord's mood. Unfortunately, Gidrus reacted faster.

"Eek! Y-young master! Wait! Just wait! I know where his secret vault is!"

"Hold on."

"Yessir~!"

Calix pressed his foot down on Gidrus's head as the man clung to his pant leg.

"Spill it."

"The secret funds he manages for the Kosalin family are at least 100,000 gold. No doubt about it—twenty years as treasurer tells me so!"

"Fine. But how'd a worm like you find the vault's location?"

"W-well..."

"Shall we begin?"

The hooded man stepped forward. Gidrus's face drained of color as he blurted it out in panic.

"T-truth is, I tried robbing it once and failed."

"You? No way you tried it yourself."

"Someone convinced me to invest..."

"You funded thieves, huh. How much?"

"Th-three..."

"Three hundred gold? Is this bastard insane?"

"Three th-thousand..."

"Three thousand? Did you just say three thousand?"

At "three thousand gold," Calix's tone shifted to eerie calm. The warden knew what that meant—rage so intense it went cold. Inside, he was a volcano.

Just kill him! I'm rooting for you, young master!

Calix already suspected the answer but confirmed anyway.

"Three thousand gold is half the county's annual tax revenue. No way a lowlife like you scraped that together. Where'd the money come from?"

"I... uh..."

No need for his answer.

"You embezzled public funds."

"Kill me! If that magic crystal lock hadn't been there! Waaah!"

Calix paused ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at Gidrus's tearful outburst.

"Magic crystal lock?"

"Yes. They said replicating it would cost 2,500 gold..."

Not certain yet. Calix shelved the thought flickering in his mind.

"You're an idiot. You got scammed."

"Sc-scammed?"

"The thieves and Gerard Millers are likely in cahoots."

"N-no way... I scouted the secret vault entrance myself! Saw it open with the magic crystal! Installing a vault like that costs tens of thousands of gold!"

"Where is it?"

"Golda Plateau. Exact spot? They blindfolded me, so not sure, but definitely Golda Plateau."

"Golda Plateau, huh..."

Calix pulled up the map and checked the plateau's location. Spotting a map marker there, the picture started forming.

I think I get it... but need more info. Who knows that place well...?

After pondering, Calix turned.

"Warden!"

"Yessir!"

"I'm heading up."

"Right this way, sir."

"Young master? Young masteeeer!"

Ignoring Gidrus's desperate cries, Calix strode quickly from the dungeon. Then a sudden thought made him stop just outside.

"Warden."

Not even turning, Calix called him, and the warden felt his heart drop.

"Y-yes, sir?"

"I usually keep my promises. But this is tricky. How much should I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠overlook?"

"Y-young master! Kill me, please!"

The warden flattened himself on the ground, banging his head. But no reply came. Only after a long while did he peek up—Calix was gone.

His face flushed with rage.

"Gidrus, you son of a bitch! Couldn't hold your tongue? I'll show you hell!"

Calix smirked at the distant shout. Gidrus's suffering was plain to see.

A massive shadow fell over Calix as he exited. Looking up, a giant over 190cm tall, body wrapped in thick muscle, loomed before him. Despite the intimidating build, his face seemed rather honest—thick brows, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sharp features giving a handsome vibe, but droopy eyes softened it.

He wore leather armor reinforced with a metal chest plate; the insignia marked him as a senior knight of the Blue Lion Knights.

"What?"

"I'm Krout Salrim, young master. Regent Russell Naigel ordered me to escort you. Looking forward to serving."

"...Right?"

Calix glanced at the hulking knight introducing himself. Impressive character info floated beside him.

His stats are better than expected—why's the name so unfamiliar? Died early?

A level cap in the high 70s meant top 100 continent powerhouse potential. And A-rank military stats? Rare talent.

Suddenly, a name with similar stats came to mind.

No way...!

A demon who lived piously yet delighted in total annihilation, leaving no enemies alive.

'Herald of Death'.

Always bandaged face unseen even by his lord, the Black Prince.

Calix shook his head. The 'Herald' was gaunt and sinister. Hard to match this bearish muscleman. Crucially, Krout's eyes were too clear.

Calix decided to keep it simple.

Info's scarce now anyway—pointless to overthink. At minimum A-grade potential; good to have him around. Hell, might be lucky.

"Young master? Young master!"

"Hm? What is it?"

"What were you thinking so deeply? I called several times..."

"Nothing. What'd you need?"

"A merchant named Gerard Millers requests an audience."

"Gerard... Millers?"

That was the pig Gidrus mentioned—the one the county owed a fortune, manager of Kosalin's secret funds.

Something fun was about to happen.

"Let's go."

As Calix strode off briskly, flustered Krout stumbled after him.

"Huff! Y-young master!"

His long limbs flailing made him look like one of those inflatable wind dancers at the event entrance.

A big dumb oaf like that, the Herald of Death? Tsk, no way.