Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The Same Trick Twice
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Any method would do.
All that mattered was meeting the lord.
Then, just as he had with Count Rodin, he would sow discord.
He didn't have a specific plan in mind, but considering how terrible their relationship was, instigating a conflict shouldn't be too difficult.
And if he succeeded, he would travel back and forth between the two territories, instigating a domain war, and then pull out the moment it actually began.
“You're going to pull out?”
“There's no need to fight with them from the start. We can just watch from the sidelines and side with whoever looks like they're going to win.”
“Then what happens after the domain war is over?”
“That's when I kill them both. My business with them will be done, and I still have the 'Assassinate a Noble' quest.”
“…Gasp.”
Arthur gasped at Lee Shin's nonchalant reply.
A truly demonic plan that would ultimately betray them both!
Of course, it was a very Lee Shin-like idea.
“…Anyway, to do that, I need to build up my contribution points first. Let's head to the guild.”
“Yes.”
Having quickly formed a plan, Lee Shin immediately went to find the guild.
Since he had done this once before in Ampiri territory, the adventurer registration process went smoothly.
[You have completed adventurer registration in the Killaris territory.]
[Current Rank: D]
“Is there any way you could raise my rank a bit?”
“Your rank? No way. You have to go through the promotion evaluation first.”
“Would this perhaps change your mind?”
“What is this… H-Huuuh?!?!”
[You have bribed the administrator!]
[Warning! If this fact becomes known…]
“…Ahem, this isn't normally allowed, but seeing your sincerity, I'll make a special exception.”
“Thank you!”
[Your adventurer rank has increased.]
[Current Rank: A]
[You can now accept most of the quests available at the guild.]
With a bit of gold, his rank shot up to A right after registration!
This was only possible because the territory's administrative body was completely corrupt.
Thanks to this, Lee Shin could accept high-rank quests that awarded a large number of contribution points, just like in the Ampiri territory.
<Territory Quest (B) - Tax Collection>
<Territory Quest (B) - Arresting a Wanted Criminal>
<Territory Quest (B) - Riot Suppression>
‘…Even the types of quests are the same.’
The situation in both territories was identical, as if cast from the same mold!
There were so many similarities it was almost baffling, but in any case, it worked out well for Lee Shin.
This meant he could use the exact same methods he'd used in the Ampiri territory.
Lee Shin turned to his knights and spoke.
“Let's go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You know what to do, right? Just do the same as before.”
“…Yes, sir.”
* * *
Knock, knock.
“…”
“…”
“No answer.”
“Then break it down.”
“Yes, sir.”
At Lee Shin's command, the knights kicked the main gate with all their might.
Bang! Crack!
The severely worn-out door was torn apart like paper under the knights' combat boots.
The knights stormed inside, shouting menacingly.
“Come out!”
“This is an order! If you don't come out on your own, we'll drag you out!”
“…?”
In response, a resident with a grimy appearance cautiously emerged from inside.
He flinched at the sight of the numerous knights occupying the entrance, holding clubs stained with red, and asked.
“…Gasp!? W-Who are you…?”
“We're here to collect taxes.”
“What?!”
The resident was shocked by Lee Shin's words.
He soon shouted with an aggrieved expression.
“Taxes? What kind of nonsense is that!”
“Isn't it natural for residents of the territory to pay taxes?”
“I'm saying this because I already paid! They were collected just the day before yesterday.”
“When did I? …Ah, no.”
Lee Shin furrowed his brow, thinking the man was making excuses, but he soon realized what had happened and nodded.
‘Looks like someone else already collected them.’
After all, Lee Shin wasn't the only user in the territory.
If you assume another user received the same quest before Lee Shin, the resident's words made sense.
Or perhaps an NPC collected them.
Whatever the case, for someone already struggling, having some adventurer show up with a bunch of thugs demanding a second tax payment would naturally feel unjust.
‘…But that's not my problem.’
Since he planned to take over the entire territory later anyway, it made no difference to Lee Shin whether the money was in the residents' hands or the lord's treasury.
As long as he could meet his quota for now, that was all that mattered.
“Huh? What did you just say…”
“It's nothing. Anyway, are you saying you can't pay the tax?”
“That's right.”
“I'm telling you this now so you don't regret it later, but it would be in your best interest to just pay up without another word.”
“…Y-Your threats won't make money appear out of thin air!”
You might as well just kill me!
Lee Shin tried to apply a little pressure, but the resident stubbornly refused.
At this, Lee Shin obediently backed down.
“…Hmm. Fine.”
“…?”
“I'll be back later.”
The resident mentally raised a question mark at Lee Shin's unexpectedly easy retreat.
Normally, they'd hound you relentlessly to squeeze out the money, even if you said you couldn't pay…?
“Th-Thank you…?”
His resolve to die rendered moot, the resident bowed with a bewildered expression as the matter concluded.
…Unfortunately for him, however, Lee Shin hadn't actually backed down.
Quite the opposite.
“I'm going to pay a visit to the city guard.”
“Are we going too?”
“No. You guys stay here and guard this place. I'll be back soon.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lee Shin then went straight to the city guard and put a bounty on the man.
It wasn't a difficult task.
Here too, anything was possible with a bribe.
“By any chance…”
“A bounty? That's not something you can just request… H-Huuuh?!?!”
[You have bribed the city guard.]
[A bounty has been placed on the resident, John.]
[Warning! If the bribe is discovered….]
‘As I thought, it works.’
Lee Shin nodded in satisfaction.
Now, all that was left was to clean up.
* * *
“It's done.”
[Taxes Collected: 1,644,000/999,999]
[Wanted Criminals Arrested: 78/9]
[Riot Suppressed: 1/1]
Lee Shin completed all the quests in an instant.
He had even exceeded the requirements by a greater margin than last time.
It was thanks to his accumulated know-how.
[You have exceeded the quest limit!]
[Your notoriety greatly increases.]
[Your contribution points greatly increase.]
[Current Contribution Ranking: 7]
[Your contribution ranking is very high!]
[Your name will now be known among the high-ranking officials of the territory.]
His contribution ranking shot up to 7th place in an instant!
It was a slightly higher rank than the 9th place he'd achieved in the Ampiri territory.
“Excuse me…”
“Hm?”
The reaction was immediate.
Once again, a servant sent by the lord came looking for Lee Shin.
“Ah, I'll go right away.”
“Pardon?”
“Weren't you sent by the lord? I said I'll go right away.”
“Ah, I understand. Please follow me.”
Lee Shin followed the servant.
The Count was available to meet immediately, as if he had been waiting.
Count Killaim greeted Lee Shin favorably.
“So it's you? The one who stopped the riot in the territory.”
“That is correct.”
“Hah, that couldn't have been an easy task… Is there anything you desire?”
Lee Shin answered humbly.
“Haha, it was merely my duty.”
“Hmm. Well, it is your duty, I suppose.”
“…”
‘…His response is similar, too.’
“In any case, for what reason have you summoned me?”
“I have something to ask you. The truth is…”
The words that followed were identical to what he had heard in the Ampiri territory.
He said it was strange that a riot had suddenly broken out.
That something he wasn't aware of seemed to be happening in his territory…
“What do you think is the cause?”
Since the question was the same, Lee Shin's answer was also the same.
He said that the movements in a nearby territory had been unusual lately, and it seemed likely they had sent people to incite the riot.
“Count Rodin, that man?”
“Yes. In my opinion, I believe he may be preparing for a domain war.”
“…A domain war?”
Count Killaim tilted his head.
War, so suddenly?
Even though their relationship had always been poor, this seemed too abrupt.
But that thought was shattered by Lee Shin's next words.
“It's entirely possible. Given Count Rodin's greed…”
“…You're right!”
[Count Killaim is persuaded.]
[The Count is enraged!]
Bang!
“Rodin, that bastard dares to covet my territory!?”
“…”
“Tsk, I can't just sit here and take this…”
Fuming, Count Killaim uttered the same words as Count Rodin.
Listening quietly, Lee Shin interjected at the opportune moment.
“If we prepare for war now…”
“Rather than that, how about we do this?”
“Hm?”
“We give them a taste of their own medicine. Exactly what you suffered today.”
“…Aha!”
* * *
The conversation proceeded quickly.
Since it was a conversation he'd already had once with Count Rodin, there was nothing major to be cautious about.
“The problem is who to send…”
“I will go.”
“You will?”
“It's the best option. If you were to send a knight and they were captured…”
“Now that you mention it, that's true.”
However, there was one slight difference.
Lee Shin requested a little support from the Count.
“Support?”
“Yes. Would it be possible to borrow some soldiers? I don't need many.”
“Soldiers? If they were captured, wouldn't that also cause problems for us?”
“It won't matter. They're not knights; what secrets would mere soldiers know?”
“That's true. Hmm…”
The Count pondered for a moment before readily nodding his head.
He wasn't exactly sure what they would be used for, but he figured this level of support was acceptable.
After all, Lee Shin had volunteered for this dangerous role without being asked.
“Very well. I'll put in a word with the city guard, so you can handle it from there.”
[Count Killaim accepts your request.]
[You can now freely command a portion of the territory's soldiers!]
“Thank you!”
“Haha, I'll be looking forward to the results.”
* * *
After his conversation with the Count ended, Lee Shin immediately went to the city guard.
“I heard from the Count. You need soldiers?”
“Yes. How many can I take?”
“Twenty.”
“Hmm… I'll take them all.”
[20 soldiers have been requisitioned.]
[Warning!]
[A large number of contribution points will be deducted for each soldier casualty.]
The only reason Lee Shin had diligently gathered contribution points was to meet the lord.
But since he had already achieved that goal, the contribution points no longer had any meaning for him.
In other words, it was effectively a penalty-free situation!
This meant he could treat the soldiers as roughly as he wanted.
“…!”
At this, Jeong Yu-ra flinched and turned her head, looking at Lee Shin with an anxious expression.
She didn't say anything, but her expression alone revealed what she wanted to say.
‘What is he planning this time…?’
Instead of answering with words, Lee Shin showed her through his actions.
As soon as they were outside the territory, he drew his sword and said to the soldiers.
“I will now tell you your roles.”
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
“Prisoners.”
“Yes. …Wait, what?”
“…?”
A rather out-of-the-blue statement.
At this, several question marks appeared above the heads of the soldiers who had been listening intently.
A moment later, the first soldier to come to his senses cautiously raised his hand and spoke.
“…Uh, excuse me. I must have misheard you.”
“I doubt it. What did you hear?”
“You said, 'prisoners'.”
“Then you heard correctly.”
“…Huh?”
The soldier muttered blankly.
To snap him back to reality, Lee Shin kicked him in the stomach with all his strength.
Thwack!!
“Keoheok!?”
The soldier let out a single scream, clutched his stomach, and collapsed face-first.