Chapter 352
Chapter 352
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 352
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Guard in a Count Family
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He glanced around, checking his surroundings, before finally flashing a faint smile.
"It was a conversation about medicinal herbs. I'm currently pushing forward with a herb cultivation business."
"Herb cultivation doesn't make the kind of money you'd expect, though."
"That's true if you think about it conventionally! But the herb cultivation site I found is special! Even the same herbs grown there have far superior effects compared to others."
"Does such a place exist?"
"It does! I can't tell you the location, but it definitely exists! My guess is that the land is filled with spiritual energy. You know, the kind where spirit herbs grow."
"...You've discovered an incredible plot of land. Wouldn't it be better to just sell it to the nobles?"
"Of course, I've thought of that! But the location is so deep in remote territory that cultivating there isn't easy at all. Plus, my calculations show I'd profit more by cultivating and selling the herbs myself."
Maykeld poured all his enthusiasm into explaining his herb cultivation business. What herbs he'd grow, the timelines involved, how he'd sell them—he was scamming with full zeal. With nobles who'd already invested crowding around, he had no choice but to be desperate.
"But wasn't the Maykeld family originally hunters?"
"Th-that's true. But do you know about our family? Earlier, you said you'd never heard my name before."
"I've only never heard the name Vassib Maykeld. I know a fair bit about the Maykeld family."
"Th-thank you, Baron. To think you'd remember our fallen house..."
Maykeld swallowed hard, hiding his tense expression. He probably never expected to run into a noble here who knew about the Maykeld family.
"Is Giold Maykeld doing well?"
"...My father passed away five years ago. He fell while climbing a mountain."
"I see. May he rest in peace. Why didn't you contact the surrounding nobles, then?"
"It's... complicated. The Maykeld family was already a shadow of its former self, and my father didn't want to reach out anyway. I only recently came to the city and started my activities. I set up a merchant company with the money I had... I kept telling myself I could do it..."
As he spoke, his initial tension gave way to regained confidence, and his tone grew forceful. The young nobles around him watched with sparkling eyes.
'Handsome looks and outstanding eloquence. An entertaining story that evokes tales of heroes.'
This guy was a natural-born con artist.
"Impressive."
"Haha. To receive such praise from Baron Pruckus, the true master of the Korea Merchant Company... Today is a truly wonderful day!"
"Listening to Baron Maykeld makes me want to invest too. Do you have any herbs from that cultivation site on you, by chance?"
He flinched briefly at my words but soon flashed a confident smile.
"Haha. I do. It's such a precious item... I always carry it with me. I was afraid I'd lose it if I left it somewhere."
"Would you sell me one? If I confirm it's truly superior quality... I'll invest 3 billion ner."
"3 billion...?!"
Not just Maykeld, but the nobles around us were shocked too. For those who hadn't even properly inherited their titles yet, 3 billion was an enormous sum.
"A-as expected of Baron Pruckus. To speak of such a fortune so lightly..."
Maykeld fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Wrapped inside the luxurious cloth was a medicinal herb. It was black. It looked like a charred tree branch.
"This is Black Saint. It's shunned for its dark appearance, but it's a miracle herb with positive effects on nearly every ailment. It's the main ingredient in universal antidotes."
"Ah... I see. I know of it. I'll pay 3 million ner. Is that alright?"
"You don't have to pay..."
"Nothing in this world is free. I don't have the cash on me right now to pay immediately, but I give you my word as a noble—I'll pay after the banquet ends."
I took the herb from Maykeld. I sniffed it. It smelled like any ordinary herb. I bit off a piece.
"...Ha."
"Baron, don't you feel the power?"
"Power? What power? You dare feed me this garbage? You con artist!"
The area gasped at my words. Maykeld, however, stayed calm. Without panicking, he stared at me steadily and spoke.
"Con artist?! What are you talking about all of a sudden?!"
"Playing dumb?! You've coated this herb with narcotics! To make me hallucinate that I ate a spirit herb the moment I tasted it! Herbs from a mystical land? It's not that you can't reveal it for business reasons—it's because it doesn't exist!"
"Baron Pruckus! Do not insult me! That herb was harvested from my cultivation site! Narcotics...? That's absurd! Do you think I don't see through your scheme? You want to frame me as a criminal and steal my herb fields!"
"I'm even doubting if you're really Vassib Maykeld! You don't resemble the recorded features of the Maykeld family at all!"
"Don't you see this ring on my finger?! This ring is proof that I'm the rightful head of the Maykeld family!"
Shouts flew back and forth.
From Maykeld's perspective, he couldn't back down even an inch. Doing so would mean admitting to the scam.
Impersonating a noble was a grave crime, as heavy as treason.
Our voices, louder than the music, echoed through the hall, drawing more and more nobles' attention.
"What's going on?"
"What disgrace in front of His Majesty... Tsk tsk. Most undignified."
"Wait. Isn't that the third son of the Pruckus family?"
"The third son of Pruckus... The one from the Korea Merchant Company?"
"Arrogant fool. Raising his voice in a place like this... Tsk."
"Do you know the man shouting at him?"
"Calls himself Baron Maykeld."
"Maykeld family...? Did such a house even exist?"
"Some fallen noble, I hear... What a disgrace anyway. If they're going to fight, they should take it outside."
"Heh heh. This is fun. I was bored with the usual banquet, but to think something like this would happen... More entertaining than the jester's jokes."
And finally, the commotion reached the ears of King Corocalis Rapelli.
Thud. Thud.
The Prime Minister Makellos, standing beside him, struck the floor with his cane. Though the sound was small, the power-sensitive nobles all turned to the king.
In the now-silent banquet hall, the king spoke.
"Baron Yujin Pruckus, Baron Vassib Maykeld. Both of you, come before me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Maykeld and I answered.
The nobles blocking our path parted sharply to either side, clearing a way to the king. Quite the spectacle.
Under the gazes of hundreds of nobles, I strode forward confidently, while Maykeld struggled to hide his cold sweat.
Thump thump thump.
I could hear his racing heartbeat.
I knelt on one knee before the king and prime minister, bowing deeply. The thoroughly tense Maykeld followed a beat late.
I glanced sideways to check on Ention. With the king intervening personally, he wouldn't step in. Though I bore the Pruckus name, I was a titled noble.
Ention regarded me indifferently, Elrain feigned composure but worry lingered in her eyes, and Zent smirked quietly. He was hoping I'd get screwed.
"Baron Pruckus, Baron Maykeld. Have you forgotten what day this is?"
"No, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty! This is Baron Pruckus—"
Our voices overlapped.
"Silence!"
The king scowled and bellowed. Impressive charisma for an old man. I shut my mouth quietly, while Maykeld trembled.
"Explain what happened. If it's a trivial matter, both of you will pay the price. Baron Pruckus! You first!"
"Esteemed King. Vassib Maykeld—no, this unknown impostor is masquerading as a noble. He's also spreading lies about mystical herb cultivation to borrow money."
"...Impersonating a noble?"
The king repeated, not because he misheard, but from sheer disbelief. The atmosphere among the watching nobles turned hostile. Impersonating a noble was tantamount to stealing their power—practically inciting rebellion against them.
"Baron Pruckus, explain in detail. I hope it's not a baseless claim."
"Of course, there is evidence. The Maykeld family is characterized by dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. Yet this man has black hair and light brown eyes. Clearly different. Moreover, the Maykelds started as hunters—a family that continued the hunter trade across generations despite being nobles. But this man is no hunter. His body shows no training whatsoever."
Some knightly nobles nodded. Those who'd reached a certain level could discern a soldier from a civilian just by looking at their physique.
"Baron Maykeld."
"I'm innocent! Your Majesty! My hair and eyes come from my mother! As for not being a hunter, our family trade ended with my father. He told me to pursue what I wanted! This ring and documents prove I'm the head of the Maykeld family!"
He handed over a ring and worn documents. Probably from when the title was first granted long ago.
"It bears the royal seal. These documents are genuine. Baron Pruckus, Baron Maykeld has proven his identity."
"Your Majesty. That doesn't prove his identity. He must have stolen that ring and documents from the Maykeld family—or killed them for it. Please send reliable men to investigate the Maykeld lands."
"Very well. Impersonating a noble is grave; I'll dispatch men immediately."
Maykeld quietly swallowed. He knew his life hung by a thread. But his eyes showed no resignation. He still saw a chance.
"Baron Maykeld. What of this mystical land and herbs?"
"That..."
Maykeld swallowed dryly and explained as he had to the young nobles. But unlike them, the king listened quietly with deep-set eyes.
"Hah..."
"Tsk tsk."
A few shrewd nobles realized he was a con artist. The king likely did too. Yet he didn't judge hastily and looked at me instead.
"Baron Pruckus. Evidence that Baron Maykeld lies?"
"Yes. This Black Saint is supposedly from his mystical land. But it's coated in narcotics—to create the illusion of vitality after tasting it."
"...Prime Minister. Summon the royal physician."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Maykeld broke out in cold sweat, trembling.
The physician arrived, examined the Black Saint meticulously, cut off a piece, chewed it, and revealed its nature.
"It's narcotics. A recently discovered drug called Olland. In sufficient quantities, it induces hallucinations."
"...The verdict is clear. Seize this con artist—no, Baron Maykeld—and imprison him! Execution after further investigation once the banquet ends!"
The royal knights grabbed Maykeld.
"Your Majesty! No! This is all Baron Pruckus's plot! To steal my herb fields! The narcotics on the herb—he must have applied them just now! Your Majesty! Please reconsider! Your Majesty!!"
Maykeld thrashed as he was dragged away.
"Your Majesty. Thank you for your wise judgment."
"No need. To think a noble-impersonating scammer waltzed into the palace... More absurd than infuriating."
"Your Majesty. Some have been victimized by this scammer."
"Indeed... Their losses must be returned. Those scammed by the con artist, step forward."
At the king's command, two young nobles hesitantly came forward.
"...Just these two?"
The king narrowed his eyes at the nobles. Of course, there were more than two victims. Yuria had said at least seven.
'...Vivi Heollis hasn't come forward either.'
I looked at Vivi Heollis. She met my eyes with trembling ones before bowing her head.
I could guess why the nobles weren't coming forward. Embarrassment. This incident would be gossip in high society for years—they'd be mocked for life.
The two who stepped up probably needed the money desperately.
'Maybe I'll pay Vivi a visit tonight.'
My gaze lingered on the bowed Vivi.