Chapter 26
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: That Which Comes Suddenly
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Snore... snort... Snore, cough! Hooo...
'Ugh, so damn loud! Should I kill the bastard or let him live?'
A pig named Domos lay sprawled on the bed beside him, dead to the world and snoring away.
Henderson, who had been waiting all alone and bored out of his mind, lit up when Johann finally returned.
"You're back, Sir Alpha."
"Yeah. No issues?"
"None, but... do you really think Baron Avangardi will accept the proposal like this? The trade route isn't even complete yet—we've only just started construction..."
Henderson voiced his concerns, but he fell silent and watched as Johann raised a finger to his own lips, signaling quiet.
Johann carefully expanded his mana, enveloping the entire room in an aura barrier.
Then...
Crackle.
"..."
Johann approached the spot where his senses picked up an impurity.
It was the table cluttered with teacups. As he scanned underneath, something snagged on his hand and came loose.
"What's that?"
"A bug. Eavesdropping type."
"What?"
Crackle!
As Henderson asked, Johann gripped the bug tight and answered. Sparks flew from his fist for an instant, and he reattached the device under the table.
In that manner, Johann scoured the room, finding and destroying every hidden eavesdropping bug.
"That bastard Egar...!"
Henderson assumed Egar had planted them and ground his teeth in rage.
But Johann shook his head.
"It's probably not Egar."
"What? What do you mean...?"
"Egar's a merchant who climbed this high on trust alone. He's not the type to deal with people like a gambler betting on getting caught for loss or not for gain. That's just my guess, of course."
"Then who do you think it is, Sir Alpha? Who else in this manor could pull something like this besides Egar?"
Johann neither confirmed nor denied it.
But deep down, he was certain.
Someone in Egar's manor who could plant bugs without his knowledge.
Someone desperate for more information, even at the risk of installing them.
Someone who could easily pin it on Egar if caught...
All of it pointed to one conclusion.
'Empire Shadows are hiding here too, huh...'
He was just an upstart noble, still at the bottom rung.
Yet imperial spies lurked even here, watching everything.
"Whoever it is, the real culprit will come to light eventually. Anyway, what were you asking earlier?"
"Right, the trade route. We've only just begun construction— is it really okay to rush things like this? I doubt they'll use an unproven route so readily... And why are you looking at me like that?"
Henderson furrowed his brow as Johann stared at him with wide, startled rabbit eyes.
"You came up with that yourself, Henderson?"
"Come on... You think that snoring pig over there taught me? What do you take me for? I can think that much on my own."
"You're right. A seasoned merchant like Egar would've thought of it too. But we can't just sit on our hands twiddling thumbs until it's done. We can't let the viscounty's people starve to death first. Right?"
"Then isn't it even riskier? If Egar refuses, we'll be scraping by until the next harvest. No—we won't even last that long."
Johann fully understood Henderson's worries.
"I know. It's true the path isn't ready for wagons yet. But we can load packs on donkeys and horses just fine. We're just fixing up the route the Gurkan Orcs used anyway. Right now, Egar's informants are probably running themselves ragged verifying it, sweating bullets. That's what the three days are for."
Sure enough, as Johann said, Egar's intelligence network had mobilized every resource to investigate Hirobenkal Viscounty.
"In three days, the baron will learn the Gurkan Mountains trade route is really being built. Once the bridge over the gorge is done, it'll function perfectly—and bridges go up fast. The baron will know that too."
They'd mobilized masses of starving peasants ruined by the poor harvest as laborers.
Thanks to that, construction was proceeding at a blistering pace, like a tiger with wings.
They were covering wages with promissory notes for now, though.
If the trade route pitch failed, those notes would turn into daggers aimed back at Johann.
"So no problems at all?"
"No, there's one big issue left."
"What's that?"
"Safety. The threats in the Gurkan Mountains—we won't know until we go in and check ourselves."
"Ah..."
Passing through repeatedly wasn't verification.
"It has to stand up to crowds using it over long periods, moving slow with no issues—that's true verification. But that eats up time, money, and lives, so we can't do it now. That's why we offered tenfold compensation for any losses."
"Even so, crossing the Gurkan Mountains... can there really be zero losses?"
Johann smirked confidently at Henderson's earnest concern.
"Zero. Not a speck. I'd stake my life on it."
"Hearing you say that, Sir Alpha, makes me feel secure for some reason. Though of course, nothing happening for real is best. But will Egar buy it? The baron knows Domos's character well. If he thinks Domos will just play dumb even if losses happen, there's no reason to take the risk."
Johann shot Henderson an incredulous look, then stood and eyed him warily.
"Straight talk. You're not Henderson, are you?"
"...I am. For real."
Smirk.
"Kidding. Anyway, you're right—a contract's just paper. Even if I'm the proxy, the real owner is that pig. Egar will worry about that most. My guess is, in three days, he'll bring up notarization from House Crimford."
"Notarization from the earl's house... Ah, I see! With their seal, even Domos wouldn't dare scam anyone."
"Exactly. And that's the golden opportunity I've been waiting for."
"Huh? Why would the earl's house notarizing be...?"
Knock knock.
"Come in."
A maid entered at Johann's permission and bowed.
"Viscount Hirobenkal, dinner is ready. Allow me to escort you to the hall."
"Got it. Wake the viscount and get ready to go. Wait outside."
"Yes, sir."
The maid left and closed the door. Johann approached Domos and shook him awake.
Snore... whew... Snore, whew...
"Hey, pig. Get up. Time for dinner."
Prod. Thud!
"Gah! H-How dare anyone lay hands on me...!"
Domos tumbled off the bed from Johann's nudge with his foot. He woke in shock, looked around indignantly, and locked eyes with Johann.
"How dare? Wipe the sleep from your eyes, punk? Want me to do it for you?"
"Ahem! Already this late? Ugh, starving. Let's eat!"
Johann raised his hand, and Domos scrambled up, washed hastily, and got ready. The group followed the maid to the banquet hall.
"Kahahaha! No need for all this—you didn't have to go to such lengths, Sir Egar."
"How could I skimp when such esteemed guests arrive? We'll treat you royally today, Sir Domos. Hahaha!"
Egar's banquet hall was lavishly over-the-top, as if designed solely to fete Domos.
'My god... how much did all this cost...?'
Even Johann gaped at the massive platters of food.
Delicacies no commoner would taste in a lifetime filled table after table buffet-style.
A specially hired orchestra played soft melodies from one corner, setting the mood.
Local notables Egar had invited sat attending, shining a spotlight on Domos—which was why his grin stretched ear to ear.
'Planning to butter up Domos like this? Not bad. Perfect strategy for someone who loves flattery.'
Johann shook his head, offering silent praise and pity for Egar's futile efforts.
Egar could never dream Domos held no real authority.
"Ehehe! Ehehehehehe!"
Though seeing Domos revel in it grated a bit, loosening the reins occasionally wasn't bad.
'As long as it doesn't go overboard, let him have his fun today.'
"Um... Sir Alpha?"
'Hm?'
Johann felt a twinge of discomfort upon seeing who approached.
It was none other than Lilia.
But he greeted her warmly on the surface.
"If it isn't Lady Lilia. You look so different from our first meeting—I almost didn't recognize you."
"Right? It's weird, isn't it? The dress still feels awkward to me too..."
Lilia gave a wry smile and glanced at herself. Johann shook his head.
"Weird? If the girl I first saw was a vibrant wildflower, you're a rose in full bloom now. In my eyes, you're still strong and beautiful."
Whoosh!
Lilia felt her face heat up and quickly bowed her head.
'D-Did I lose my mind? Why am I acting like this?'
He was a mysterious man with a strange voice who hid his face.
And not someone she'd just met today, either.
"Did you need something from me?"
"Y-Yes? Oh, well..."
Lilia couldn't understand herself.
She'd only watched quietly from the side as he negotiated with her father, Egar.
Yet ever since the talks ended, her mind had been fixed on this man.
Even the dress she'd picked out and worn today—something she'd normally hate as much as her bridal lessons.
The oddness persisted at the banquet.
She'd stared at him blankly, then snapped to and found herself approaching before she knew it.
Of course, she had no real business. Flustered, she jabbed a finger anywhere and blurted something out.
"Th-that! That's why!"
'...'.
Johann followed her finger and scowled deeply.
Thank goodness for the mask right now.
She was pointing at the spot where men and women danced to the orchestra's tune.
"Ah..."
Lilia regained her senses and realized her blunder, but the words were out—she couldn't take them back.
'I-I'm insane! This makes it look like I'm asking Sir Alpha to dance first!'
Rejection here would be mortifying.
With family and local dignitaries all around, no less.
But apparently, she wasn't the only one fretting.
'What the hell is she thinking...?'
Johann sighed inwardly.
He couldn't embarrass Egar's only daughter and key to a major deal, so he extended his hand politely.
"I see. Lady Lilia, might you spare me a moment?"
"Th-thank you..."
'Whew... close one...'
Lilia breathed a silent sigh of relief and gently placed her hand atop his.