Bargaining with the Deviant Count
Tolro, that bastard—if he didn't have a nose for business, I'd have killed him on the spot. Spouting nonsense like that without a care. The sad part is, it's all true.
Guess I'll hire him later and work him like a slave.
I turned down Tolro's offer. He threw out a pretty hefty sum, but I wasn't short on cash right now, and I had plenty on my plate.
Glancing at the sky, I saw the sun dipping below the ridgeline, painting it in sunset hues. Time to head back.
"Tournament registration's open till the end of the week, huh? Tch. Wonder what heavy hitters'll show up this time."
"Ghost Merc Bolonya, Sleepsword Driel, Redhead Jinx... Looks like all the local big names are coming out. Damn, maybe I'll sit this year out?"
"Then you'd have to wait another two years."
Overhearing the street chatter, it sounded like some event was going on. The festive buzz in the air must be from that.
I wanted to ask around, but laziness won out, so I just headed back to the inn.
After wandering outside for so long, Lady Benellia should've come to by now. Sure enough, when I entered the room, there she was—calmly seated in a chair, sipping tea.
"You're back to your senses, I see."
"Ah, Mr. Walker. Have a safe trip back?"
Her face was composed, but her voice lacked strength. She'd regained her cool, but the problem was far from solved.
Right now, Lady Benellia was probably racking her brains, desperate to figure out how to rescue her siblings. She took a delicate sip of the fragrant tea, set the cup down with elegant poise, and spoke.
"Looks like I'll have to go straight to them after all. Starting with Count Kengor."
A frontal assault? Not sure if that's smart or stupid. Count Kengor was the man who'd bought Agnes Benellia, the eldest son of the Benellia family.
Before Agnes, he'd picked up that hairy male sex slave too. Wonder if Agnes's holes were already worn out by now?
"Count Kengor's tastes run a bit... unique, but he's reasonable. I'll get my brother back somehow."
"I suspect that unique taste is the real issue here."
"Urgh...! It's late anyway, so tomorrow it is. Mr. Walker, could you help me one more time?"
Obviously, a count doesn't meet just anyone. If a commoner knocks on his castle or manor gates demanding an audience, the guards'll beat the crap out of them and toss them out.
And Lady Benellia's current status? Daughter of a traitorous house. She couldn't even enter or leave the city without my help.
"Understood, milady. Then tomorrow, I'll request an audience with Count Kengor in the name of Derek Walker, head of the Walker Merchant Company."
"Thank you. The Benellia family will never forget your dedication, Mr. Walker."
"You're too kind."
"It's not too kind—it's not enough. Without you, I'd already be a dead woman."
"I understand, Lady Isabel."
The moment dawn broke, I sent word to Count Kengor's villa. The letter introduced the Walker Merchant Company and requested a lunch meeting, with a gift of snow sugar included.
A white messenger bird returned just two hours later with a reply granting the audience.
Isabel and I arrived at the count's villa right at lunchtime, reply in hand. She'd disguised herself as my maid.
Shortened to fit from one of Luna's maid outfits, it looked natural enough. Luna had given Isabel a crash course in maid posture and mindset.
Count Kengor's villa lived up to his status—smack in Kegen's heart, it was massive and gorgeous, practically a castle unto itself.
Six four-story manors arranged in a circle around a grand fountain, with vibrant flowers filling the gardens. Crystal-clear garden stones blended beautifully with the blooms.
A butler named Takan, who introduced himself as the count's head servant, guided us inside. Of the six manors, the largest and most splendid was the one due south—the main residence.
Stepping inside revealed pristine interiors. If the villa gardens expressed beauty through colorful flowers and trees, the main house conveyed grandeur with its vast spaces and disciplined architecture. The airy openness felt refreshing.
Paintings and statues adorned every corner, mostly male figures. Takan explained each one as he led us.
"This is the famous Mirkelio's David. They say once you've seen it, no other sculpture matters."
"This armor belonged to Krakens, the legendary gladiator. It's the wooden sword Rudas he received after his final match. Legend has it he ended up with his surviving opponent's lover."
"His lordship's collection has many treasures, but if I had to pick the best, it's this: Murmur and Comb! A masterful double entendre of courage and vanity. The only painting by the clarinet virtuoso, Baron Squidward."
Art was fun yet baffling. We followed the butler to the second-floor parlor.
"I've been waiting."
Surprisingly, Count Kengor was already there ahead of us.
I might be a merchant, but I'm still a commoner. Nobles waiting for commoners? Rare as hen's teeth.
The count prodded the snow sugar jar on the table.
"Interesting stuff you've got. Come to think of it, I heard this sweetener's all the rage in Miles Kingdom."
I bowed first.
"Thank you for seeing me. Derek Walker, head of the Walker Merchant Company."
"Skip the formalities—I don't stand on ceremony. I'm a straightforward man."
With that, Count Kengor met my eyes... and flicked his tongue.
A massive shiver ran down my spine. This creepy fucker...
"You were at the slave auction that day too, weren't you? Felt it then, but you've got a fine body."
"Ahaha... You're too kind."
I averted my gaze from his. Awkward first impressions aside, business talk flowed surprisingly normally.
Our chat with the count was about foreign trade—of course, just an excuse to get this meeting.
"Your lordship, mind if we switch topics briefly?"
After some back-and-forth, I steered the conversation. I'd hoped for smoother, but his earnest business talk forced a abrupt pivot.
"What is it?"
"About the item you bought at yesterday's auction."
"Item? Rasey, you mean?"
So the hairy male slave's name was Rasey?
Not the one I cared about.
"No, Agnes Benellia."
At Agnes's name, the count smirked. I pressed on.
"Straight to the point: I want ownership of Agnes Benellia."
"Hm. You didn't even bid at the auction. Your maid there did, though."
He glanced at Isabel as he spoke. Sharp eyes—spotting her despite the outfit change.
"Trying to get your brother back, Lady Isabel Benellia?"
Isabel flinched at his words, tensing up. I kept my guard up too, speaking for the silent Isabel.
"When did you know?"
"I've got an eye for details. Suspected it at the auction, no certainty. But you showing up here? Confirmed it."
"That's awfully gentle for dealing with a traitor's runaway daughter."
My blunt tone drew a hearty laugh from the count.
"This mess? I find it regrettable too. Gotta be the second or third prince's scheming. Anyone with brains thinks the same."
He continued plainly.
"Everyone knows it's unjust, but no one steps up—protecting their own interests. Plenty of nobles backed the second or third prince in Dov Kingdom. Shows their cunning."
"The first prince is comatose now."
"Aye. Fracturing his faction. Better ditch the rotting rope for the rising sun. You know the princes are twins—second and third have just as much claim."
"So which side are you on, Count Kengor?"
A dagger of a question. But he deflected with a relaxed smile.
"Neither. Always kept distance from the palace. As a Dov noble, though, this is a shame. Relax, Lady Isabel—no plans to hand you to the capital."
This Kengor guy might not be so bad. Clearly no enemy of the Benellias.
"Your lordship, then could you release Agnes?"
"Hm. That's separate. Even free, he'd fall to the rebel-hunters. And with rumors I'm his buyer, handing him over without compensation invites suspicion."
"From the second or third prince?"
"Exactly. Neutral means enemy to all. They crush neutrals to build their power without hesitation."
Time to compromise. With the Benellia marquisate wiped overnight, Kengor house could be next.
"Your lordship! Please, return my brother Agnes!"
Isabel fell back on emotion over logic. Effective if his tastes were normal—but the count looked bored.
"For Agnes, my villa's more comfortable. Haven't had a guy click with me like this in ages. No plans to let him go."
Lust burned thick in his eyes. Flowery words aside, he just wanted to fuck Agnes, right?
"No way to change your mind?"
"Hm..."
To our desperate pleas, Kengor scowled, arms crossed. Then he relaxed.
"Fine. Pay the appropriate price."
"Appropriate price?"
"30 gold ought to do. Sell him for that, and I shake off any shady suspicions."
30 gold. Three times what he'd paid for Agnes.