Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: A Man Must Experience It Once
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"A man must experience it at least once."
"Impressive.
You've really sucked it all dry."
What had happened until now was mere patting in comparison.
Viscount Gino, who had experienced the martial world's novelty of bone marrow extraction, slapped his own butt in admiration. Deeply impressed, he soon confessed everything.
He said most of the documents detailing the transactions and money flows up to that point had been neatly sorted out.
Fortunately for Sion, right up to the very end, there remained a secret ledger he'd kept—not to die alone if things went south, but to drag others down with him as a drowning ghost.
'As expected, they'd cleaned up almost all the evidence and involved parties.'
Not only did he know how to turn the situation to his advantage, but his execution was solid, and he'd even prepared an escape hatch for the future.
What impressed Sion most was the tear-jerking camaraderie of never dying alone, even if it killed him.
Excluding Viscount Gino himself, two viscount families and five baronet families had all dipped their toes in, sticking straws in to suck it dry with glee.
At this level, it was safe to say virtually every noble family in the North was involved.
'At least one baronet family stayed out of it.
Does that mean they've avoided total annihilation?'
Whether they'd been ostracized or held onto a shred of conscience, he couldn't tell.
But seeing how Viscount Gino and the other northern families had kept that baronet house in check, knowingly or not, it was clear they'd been wary of them reporting to the center.
'We'll deal with that later.'
For now, he had to handle the steaming pile of shit right in front of him.
Not one or two, but nearly every noble family in the North had taken part.
To fill their own pockets, they'd brought grave danger to the nation and were secretly amassing military funds and private soldiers to exploit it further.
They hadn't directly started a rebellion, but what they'd done would pose a massive threat to the nation and the royal family down the line—it was tantamount to treason.
From their perspective, under the condition that they wouldn't get caught, it was the deal of a lifetime. But thanks to them, Hispania had nearly lost the peace it had painstakingly achieved and come close to starting a war that would cost countless soldiers' lives.
They'd harmed the nation to benefit the enemy, a crime so heinous that no punishment would be too severe.
"..."
Kim Yu-hyun's face twisted like a demon's after hearing every detail from Viscount Gino.
It was so terrifying that Sion nearly blurted out, "Sorry!" on instinct.
Why was he so furious?
The reason was obvious.
He wasn't from Hispania.
Loyalty or concern for the nation had nothing to do with it.
Kim Yu-hyun raged at Viscount Gino and his cronies for one reason alone: they'd betrayed everything for nothing more than 'money.'
'They say your first love lingers longest, and your first betrayal stings the hardest.'
The one who'd first betrayed Kim Yu-hyun was a close friend from the martial world. Turned out, that dear comrade had stabbed him in the back for—money.
If it'd been blackmail or revenge bait, he might've understood. But he'd sold their friendship for chump change.
As a result, Kim Yu-hyun fell into enemy hands and endured all sorts of ordeals.
He'd even lost all the people starting to gather around him.
'Later, Kim Yu-hyun tracked that traitor down and made him swallow gold until he died.'
Killed with the very money he'd betrayed for—very Kim Yu-hyun of him.
Ever since, he'd despised anyone who betrayed for money.
To what extent? The moment he learned an enemy defector on his side had been bought off, he'd beat them half to death on the spot, intel be damned.
In front of a man like that, they'd stirred up this mess for cash—and nearly made the Zhan and Eos sisters draw blades on each other. No wonder his face was so grim.
But unlike Kim Yu-hyun, Sion fully understood Viscount Gino.
'What could be more important than money?'
Even a rough glance showed astronomical sums.
Amounts even great noble houses couldn't touch in a short time.
If that much money danced and rubbed up against you, Sion figured any normal person would cave.
He even wondered if he'd waver a bit himself.
Of course, the risks outweighed the gains, so safety-first Sion would regretfully back off.
'Money isn't everything, but it's the top contributor to a comfy life.'
Shaking his head at Kim Yu-hyun's mindset, Sion lightly slapped the cheek of Viscount Gino, who was practically out of his mind.
"P-Please spare me.
I-I'll tell you everything.
P-Please, just that..."
He'd half-expected it, but the guy's state was rough.
Even martial experts struggled to endure bone marrow extraction; a run-of-the-mill human tossed into that hell for a full ten minutes?
If he'd come out mentally intact, Sion might've respected his willpower enough for humane treatment.
"What do you plan to do now?"
Kim Yu-hyun wiped his hands with the handkerchief Rishika offered.
He looked satisfied at having crushed the most loathsome bastards but clearly in a foul mood overall.
"Hmm."
Sion rubbed his chin, staring at Viscount Gino.
If only he'd snap back to normal. But Kim Yu-hyun's personal demo of martial world innovation had been too groundbreaking.
Drooling like a vegetable, no one would call him 'sane.'
"You should've gone easy.
I didn't know your confession method was this brutal."
"Sorry."
"Where the hell did you learn such a vicious technique?"
Pretending total ignorance despite knowing full well, Sion asked in an innocent tone.
Kim Yu-hyun's face soured ever so slightly.
"...A technique from a far-off place."
"A far-off place, huh.
Your hometown?
Across the sea or something?"
"Probably."
Knowing he could never return, Kim Yu-hyun avoided talking about his old world.
Even his martial arts master, Raido, didn't know the full story, and Lucia only learned later.
He hated dwelling on the past that much. But Sion planned to coax it out bit by bit, starting now.
'If he starts opening up, it'll ease his lingering wariness and close the psychological gap. Two birds, one stone.
Time to admit it: having solid backup beats suffering alone.'
Oblivious to Sion's thoughts, Kim Yu-hyun sighed again.
But he soon shook his head lightly and looked to Sion, as if asking about next steps.
"Viscount Gino."
"Ugh..."
Not much response.
Sion grabbed his shoulder, squeezed, and whispered.
"Want to feel that pain again?"
"Argh!
N-No!
S-Spare me!
Please!"
"Answer straight.
Depending on your reply, we might continue our fun Q&A session—or end it here."
Viscount Gino now knew exactly what Sion meant by 'fun Q&A'—pure survival instinct.
As he nodded frantically, Sion smiled in satisfaction, patted his shoulder, and asked.
"Everything you said up to now—is it all true?"
"Y-Yes!
Absolutely!
Not a single lie!"
"The northern nobles risked the entire nation for their gain, covered it up, and planned to profit more from the ensuing war."
"Yes!
Spot on!"
"One more. You have documents listing all participants, how much they sucked dry, and their backroom deals."
"Y-Yes!"
Sion nodded approvingly at the confirmation.
"Then we've got solid evidence. Time to play for real."
"Master?"
"Young Lord Sion, what do you mean?"
Rishika and Kim Yu-hyun asked almost in unison, staring at him.
Even Viscount Gino seemed curious.
Sion chuckled, pressing down on the viscount's head where he lay prostrate.
"Now that we have the intel, we grab them all before they bolt. Can't let sharp ones catch on if we dawdle."
"So, Master—what's the plan?"
At the knight's question, Sion looked down at Viscount Gino.
"Viscount Gino."
"Y-Yes!"
"In the North, is there anyone who doesn't know the name Sion Klausen?"
"N-No!
The war hero, the kingdom's Morning Star—impossible, even in the North!"
A trip to the truth room had worked wonders. Honey-sweet words flowed now.
One more, and he'd pledge his life to the kingdom. Too bad that chance was gone—next life, maybe.
"Then, if the war hero and Morning Star holds a modest party in your territory to celebrate completing a secret mission and returning home—no one would suspect a thing."
"Exactly!
N-No, definitely!
Of course!"
Even the northern barbarian tribes needed time to sort out the deep rift between Kalta and Aigior.
They wouldn't eye the kingdom yet.
Clean house first.
Dragging feet would spread rumors of northern instability, giving war hawks reason to rise again.
Eos and Zhan notwithstanding, a few disgruntled tribesmen attacking could escalate things badly. No delays.
'Cast a tight net, stir the muddy water, and scoop up every last loach.'
Sprinkle rumors of a botched barbarian summit, and they'd come running.
What move would the kingdom make next? What should those at the forefront do?
In times like these, knowing and preparing first meant power—and profit.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Huh?"
"Round up all your friends quick. Say you're throwing a welcome party for me at your castle. And drop a subtle hint that I'd like to meet the 'northern nobles.'"
Viscount Gino wasn't dumb; his cronies weren't either—they had their schemes.
Dangle irresistible bait to keep them from sleeping.
'The war hero and Morning Star wants to meet on his way back from a mission, and you say, "Sorry, I'm not well"? That's admitting you're guilty of shady shit.'
At Sion's words, Viscount Gino blankly looked up at the war hero.
A party? All of them?
His instincts screamed, "Do that, and we all die!"
But the grim reaper to the truth room sat right there.
"You're slow. Shall we take another trip?"
To the truth room.
Mentioning the place of his martial ordeal made Viscount Gino relive the bone-deep terror, shaking his head furiously.
He'd rather die than go back with that monster.
"I-I'll do it!
Anything!"
"Good call cooperating. I didn't want to see anyone die."
His once-bright smile now chilled more than a demon's sneer.
As Viscount Gino shivered, Sion laughed and looked up.
"Rishi."
"Yes, Master."
"Fetch Vice-Captain Schumacher. He needs to know for the next act."
The final authority granted by Hispania's King Edgar IV.
From that moment, Sion could decide and act on nearly everything.
Efforts for peace with northern barbarians—or war.
Punishing nobles appointed by the crown directly? Fair game.
'Not just deceiving the crown for loot.
They nearly dragged the nation into the worst war. Straight-up treason.'
In the current situation, Sion Klausen could start a war without reporting.
Removing a few traitorous nobles without permission? Piece of cake.
'They had to know stunts like this could cost heads.
No crying foul.
"Get away with it, golden; caught, broke." That's the bad guy's life.'
Kids.
I won't say live righteously.
No one does only good.
Sometimes bad's fine.
Won't stop you—just don't get caught.
Caught? You asking 'cause you don't know, you punks?
Recalling his father-figure chief priest's wisdom—different flavor from Dad—Sion smirked for these poor fools caught red-handed.