Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Demon Dandelion (1)
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Before negotiating with Blake Gilbert, the Gilbert Baron, there were three things I absolutely had to remind myself of once more.
One. Jake Gilbert was Blake Gilbert's half-brother.
Unlike other bastards or half-siblings, these two half-brothers were known—at least publicly—to get along quite well.
Two. If Blake Gilbert died, the baronial title would pass to his son.
Kingdom law dictated as much, but his son was just a young child, not even of age.
Of course, kingdom law provided for a regent to act as lord proxy, but if the child was too young, the regent would essentially become the lord in practice.
Three. Jake Gilbert was ambitious.
Back when he was just a porter, I hadn't paid him much mind.
I'd simply dismissed him as some arrogant noble bastard playing adventurer in our party.
But now that I'd gathered information, things were different.
Jake Gilbert.
The kind of man someone desperately wished would just die.
"I've studied human society a lot more this time. And I realized just how politically dangerous Jake Gilbert, that bastard of yours, really is."
"......"
The baron said nothing.
His guard knight standing behind him glanced at the baron for a cue, but the baron merely blinked in silence.
"For a bastard to grow up like that in the territory is strange enough to begin with. And it's been years since the previous Gilbert Baron passed away, hasn't it?"
"It's already been seven years since I inherited the title myself."
"Seven years, and the bastard believes his half-brother stole the barony from him."
The baron's eyes twitched for a split second.
Just as I thought.
"That's probably how he sees it."
"......"
Eyes that had seemed about to flash with anger slowly relaxed.
Words carry nuance, so even without me spelling it out, he must have sensed it to some degree.
"So maybe he planned to take it back. Pretending to have no interest in the title as some adventurer, he never left the castle far behind while quietly building capital and connections outside. All the while, he acted like he was in the knight order, forging solid relationships with the knights."
"Did he tell you that himself?"
"Just speculation on my part. We know the bastard's past, but we never bothered figuring out the intentions hidden in it."
I lightly tapped the table with my hand to draw attention.
"One million gold."
An absurd fortune.
The knight's eyes went wide the moment I mentioned it.
"Not a bad price for freeing Gilbert's bastard, is it?"
"......"
We were talking about a single person's life, but even by our standards, it was an exorbitant sum.
"Do you want the bastard freed?"
"......"
"Then surely you've brought the one million gold?"
"......"
"If you haven't prepared the one million gold, we'll have no choice but to kill the hostage. Do you want the hostage dead?"
"State your demands."
The baron spoke with a hint of irritation.
"This back-and-forth Q&A feels endless, so let's get to the point. It's not exactly good to drag out talks with a demon."
"Fine. Then I'll lay it all out unilaterally."
I snapped my fingers lightly.
"I want a deal with you. We'll kill Jake Gilbert for you."
"......"
"You'll become a baron who lost family to vicious demons—your half-brother and bastard though he may be—but one known for his mercy."
"And what do you gain from that?"
"We'll announce it publicly like that, and I'd like you to close this place off, using it as a relay point for regular trades with us."
The knight's eyes bulged at my words.
"My lord!!"
"Quiet. Calm down."
The baron glared at the knight.
"he haven't killed Jake yet."
We had killed him, but if needed, we could claim he was still alive.
Even if the baron knew "Jake is dead" would benefit him, he instead insisted Jake was alive to rein in the knight.
'Abandoning the bastard to trade with demons must be a bit of a problem after all.'
Trading with demons.
Even a simple trade could cost a lord his head, let alone commissioning them to kill a politically threatening bastard.
"Worried about your public reputation, I see."
"......"
"Well. If you're the 'good man who cares for family and territory' who can't pay a million gold just to protect your image without wanting him dead, then for now, we won't kill him."
"You're not killing Jake?"
"Right. But we won't release him either."
I deliberately smiled beneath my mask.
Did the baron notice my lips curl and eyes crinkle?
"......Blackmail, then. What do you hope to squeeze out of us with it?"
"Glad we can communicate. We want people. Not specific ones—just an absolute number. Sacrifices, in other words."
"Sacrifices...."
"Adventurers entering the dungeon is great, but unfortunately, too many is a hassle for us too. Sometimes there's a surplus, sometimes a shortage. Rather than that, I'd prefer a steady supply of sacrifices, so here I am."
"......"
The baron fixed me with cold, sunken eyes.
"You want me to offer people here?"
"Something like that, but handle it 'unofficially.'"
"Unofficially...?"
"For example, declare the dungeon cleared and shut it down. Publicly say all dangers inside have been resolved."
The baron remained wary, but his body slowly leaned toward me.
"Then control it with signs like 'No Entry Except Authorized Personnel.' Passages to our side will open occasionally inside, but only at trade times with you."
I slipped my hand into my inner pocket.
The knight drew his sword on me, but I casually pulled out the glass vial and held it forward.
"What's this?"
"An aphrodisiac. Infused with the succubus yin energy that humans supposedly love so much."
"......"
"No poison or anything, of course. Though I wouldn't expect blind trust."
I hadn't expected him to accept it outright here anyway.
"One vial per person."
"Worth that much, this aphrodisiac?"
"Tested it on Jake Gilbert—he managed ten rounds easy."
"......!!"
There'd been no such test, but it was potent enough to deliver those effects in reality.
"We don't care who. Prisoners, slaves, heretics, enemies—whatever. Ah, but ideally young men and women. Old folks are trash even for us."
"......"
If I hadn't said that, would he have tried offering old people, claiming 'old folks count as headcount too'?
"This vial is Jake Gilbert's ransom. Consider it prepayment."
I deliberately pushed the aphrodisiac toward him across the table.
"One vial per sex session. Apply to your partner or yourself—either way, you'll end up biting and sucking until you both reap the benefits."
"......"
"If the deal goes through, no need for the million gold."
I phrased it like a generous concession, but the baron remained utterly silent.
"Let me sum it up."
First, how would it look publicly?
"Baron Blake Gilbert negotiates to save his half-brother Jake, but agonizes over the outrageous million-gold demand. Normally, he'd cave to demon blackmail and make the trade... but that doesn't seem to be what you want."
Therefore.
"After agonizing, the baron decides to gather the million gold but convenes a meeting with his territory's administrators and executives first. After heated debate, opinions unify one way or another—but when he returns to negotiate, the dungeon door has vanished."
I lightly brushed the dimensional door, like gray mist, with my hand.
"The baron learns he's been tricked by demons and expresses condolences. He doesn't know why we suddenly cut off talks, but hoping Jake Gilbert is alive, he stations knights at the dungeon and watches it for over a week. However...."
"The door... won't open."
I paused deliberately, and the baron picked up the line.
"Public interest fades, a funeral is held for Jake Gilbert, and the dungeon is banned as dangerous."
Not 'that'll happen,' but stating it as fact.
"Adventurers who peek inside will see nothing, and the knights managing the dungeon will keep vigilant watch to prevent any more victims like Jake Gilbert."
He continued as if declaring that's exactly what he'd do.
"And someday, when I come to this dungeon...."
"Gray mist will unfurl just like today, and I'll appear like this."
"......"
"Drag convicts to some 'execution ground' or buy slaves and send them here—up to you. Ah, heretic worshippers would be ideal."
"One question. What do you plan to do with the humans, using them?"
"Well, for starters—food?"
"......"
The baron's face openly twisted at "food."
"Don't misunderstand. We will devour them, but not literally biting and tearing."
"Then...?"
"We'll make them sex slaves."
".......?"
Gilbert Baron tilted his head in momentary confusion, as if questioning if the word matched what he knew.
"Sex slaves. Sex slaves."
"......"
"Don't overcomplicate it. Just think about what you need."
I rose leisurely.
"One day enough to decide? Hm?"
"......I'll consult the bureaucrats at the lord's castle. About the million gold."
Gilbert Baron rose as well.
"Jake Gilbert must be alive until we meet here again. Demon Dandelion."
My name was Azazel, but I just waved lightly over my shoulder as I turned and crossed into the mist—
"......"
returning to the Vampire Legion's dungeon.
'Bastard.'
Finally.
'He won't resist the aphrodisiac. Whether he plans to use it himself or not, it'll fetch value either way.'
When I'd glanced back slyly, the baron's eyes had definitely been on the vial.
'He can't jump into a demon trade recklessly yet. But he'll make the deal in the end.'
Not humanity versus demons.
A deal between the Gilbert Barony and the Vampire Legion—'factions.'
'Win-win if we both turn a blind eye.'
And the link would be none other than the aphrodisiac.