Episode 9

'This bastard... Even when I praise him, he acts like this?'

Dwain gritted his teeth internally but managed to maintain a forced smile. The real discussion was just beginning, and he couldn't afford to ruin everything over a single remark.

"At a time when the family is struggling as much as it is now, 3 million gold is nothing short of a godsend. Thanks to your wit, Young Master, the family can finally breathe a little easier."

Good job. Now hand over the money... He phrased it diplomatically, wearing the practiced smile of an adult, but—

"Why should the family breathe easier? It's my money. Didn't you hear what Father said yesterday?"

The words of this spoiled brat sent Dwain's mind reeling once more.

'I had my suspicions, but... seriously?'

His face twitched, but now wasn't the time. Dwain struggled to keep his expression neutral. Twenty years as the MacLaine financial administrator had trained him well in maintaining composure—even when he wanted to scream.

'I need to coax him gently. Gently...'

But before he could say another word, his subordinates erupted in protest.

"This is outrageous, Young Master!"

"You intend to keep such a vast sum all to yourself?!"

"Have you lost your mind?!"

The delinquent's expression froze over in an instant.

"What the hell are you all doing?! Who gave you the right to speak so freely?! Get out, all of you!"

Dwain, whose face had hardened even more than Logan's, was the first to explode. His trusted allies had turned on him, leaving the administrators looking as though they'd bitten into something foul. Realizing their mistake, they could only retreat with the expressions of defeated soldiers.

'Administrator Dwain, the food supplies first—'

'No, the fortress walls—'

'The soldiers' equipment—'

Their pleading gazes, filled with desperate hopes, all turned toward Dwain—their last line of defense.

'I'll do my best.'

Alone now, Dwain saw them off with a resolute expression before closing and locking the door behind them.

"Hahaha. Young Master, my subordinates were terribly rude. They're not usually this lacking in sense, but given the family's dire circumstances... haha."

"The family's situation is that bad?"

'Perfect!'

Though his subordinates had acted thoughtlessly, they'd inadvertently set the stage. Struggling to keep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his fists from clenching, Dwain adopted a slightly sorrowful expression.

"You may not be aware, but the family owes nearly 3 million gold to Cooper's Bank. The annual interest alone is—"

"150,000 gold."

"...You knew?"

"Yeah. I heard it from Cooper's yesterday. Right after depositing 3 million gold."

Dwain swallowed hard as the delinquent casually waved the deposit slip in front of him.

"Well, that makes things simpler. The interest payment deadline is approaching, and if we can just settle that, the family's finances for the next few years—"

"It's harvest season, isn't it? You should be able to cover the interest. The principal will just roll over automatically."

'...How does he know all this? Even the family head isn't this familiar with banking matters...'

Dwain was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure. That wasn't the point right now.

"Haha. Managing a territory means expenses are always tight, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if you could just lend a little assistance..."

Without realizing it, Dwain's demands had already scaled back far from his initial plan of draining all 3 million gold.

"You want me to supplement the territory's operating funds?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

It's working!

Just as Dwain was about to cheer internally—

"Sorry, but no."

The calm, detached voice dragged his soaring spirits straight back into the abyss.

"What?! Why not?!"

Dwain shouted before he could stop himself.

The delinquent's murderous glare made his stomach shrivel, but for the sake of the family, he clenched his teeth. He couldn't let 3 million gold vanish into thin air without meaning.

"Excuse me? Why—why are you doing this? I thought you were opposing the family head for the sake of the territory?!"

"Yeah, that's right."

"See? That's what I—wait, what?"

"I'll use this money for the family. But not for petty operating expenses. We need to think long-term."

It wasn't the answer Dwain had expected, and it did nothing to soothe his near-exploding frustration.

'What the hell do you know about long-term planning?! Just hand it over to me!'

Suppressing the fury rising in his throat, Dwain took a deep breath.

"Long-term...?"

"Let's say I bail you out now and settle the debts. How much would that really change the territory's situation?"

"Well... the budget would stabilize, making financial management easier for at least a few years. It'd be a lifeline."

Logan let out a dry chuckle, amused at how perfectly Dwain's answer matched his expectations.

"And then what?"

"...Huh?"

"You'll just fall back into debt again. Right? We don't have any specialties, nothing to sustain us. It's a vicious cycle."

"Uh... well, that's..."

"I'm trying to break that cycle. So this money will be spent according to my plans."

'Huh? Is this really the same Grand Prince I knew? That delinquent?'

Had the Grand Prince always been like this? His calm, pointed critique of their fundamental problems left Dwain speechless.

Still, there was one thing he needed to confirm.

"Ahem. If—if I may ask... what exactly do you plan to do for the family? Could you share your plans with me?"

Dwain phrased it as politely as possible, treading carefully.

"No. You don't need to know."

Snap.

That single sentence pushed Dwain's patience to its limit.

For the family, my ass. This little shit is just mocking me now. No doubt about it.

"You little—"

Just as Dwain was about to lose his temper—

"I'll prove everything with results."

The unwavering crimson eyes forced him to grasp onto the last threads of his rationality.

"...I'll save it. No matter what it takes. No matter what I have to do."

The murmured words didn't seem directed at him, but the depth in Logan's gaze betrayed a desperation Dwain had never seen before.

'What's... going on?'

That look—more urgent than even his own worries about this month's budget.

'Why?'

What could possibly make the Grand Prince, who had earned this fortune despite being insulted, seem so desperate?

'He's... different.'

The way he pointed out the territory's fundamental issues—it was as if this wasn't the Logan he knew.

Seeing Dwain's conflicted expression, Logan smiled bitterly.

Though Dwain had come to take his money, he was still a loyal retainer of the MacLaine family, recognized by all.

And yet, there was so much Logan couldn't tell even him. The weight of that isolation pressed down on him once more.

But he didn't have time to wallow in such feelings.

'Since we're here, I might as well entrust Dwain with that task. Throw him a little money too...'

The idea was impulsive, but it didn't seem bad. So he voiced it immediately.

"Oh, right. There is something I'd like you to do for the family."

"...What would that be?"

"If you agree, I can spare some funds for the territory's operations."

Gulp.

"Please, go on."

"I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠need you to gather mercenaries in the family's name."

"...Mercenaries?"

"Yeah. Hmm... They don't need to be A-rank. Too expensive. Just ones who can ride horses. C-rank would be fine. At least 300 mounted C-rank mercenaries. Got it?"

The specifics made Dwain's expression shift instantly.

"Three hundred C-rank mercenaries?!"

Mercenaries were temporary hires—cannon fodder for emergencies like war.

E and D-rank mercenaries were little more than errand boys, used to pad numbers in battles. But C-rank and above were genuine fighters, capable of standing against trained soldiers.

And given their rough, unruly nature, gathering over 300 of them was no small matter—even for the MacLaine barony.

So Dwain couldn't help but ask—

"Why do you need mercenaries, Young Master? And so many?"

Logan couldn't tell him the truth—that he needed a private force since he lacked the authority to mobilize the family's troops.

'He'd never allow it.'

So he offered the plausible excuse he'd prepared earlier.

"I'm thinking of hunting monsters."

"Excuse me?"

"To gain real combat experience. It'll also help the territory's security."

"...Are you serious?"

Of course, it was a lie.

'Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Once the mercenaries are gathered...'

Despite his thoughts, Logan's expression remained shameless.

"If I tried hiring them privately, gathering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hundreds would take too long. So I'd like you to recruit them under the family's name."

It was the surest way to save time.

"That may be true, but..."

The logic was sound, but Dwain wasn't convinced.

And for good reason. Bringing an armed group into the territory—regardless of the reason—required the lord's permission.

But while Dwain agonized, Logan remained relaxed.

'He won't refuse.'

He was offering money and claiming it would benefit the territory. The man who'd come begging for funds couldn't possibly say no.

'If Father refuses, he'll persuade him.'

So Dwain's hesitation was entirely predictable.

"How much will you provide?"

Recognizing the implicit agreement, Logan smiled.

"100,000 gold."

"That's hardly—"

"Take it or leave it."

Logan's firm tone made Dwain's head throb.

"...If the family head doesn't permit it, there's nothing I can do."

"Then I'll take the money back."

"This is the Young Master's family."

"It's Father's family, but the money is mine."

Their gazes clashed fiercely—but only briefly.

The chronically cash-strapped administrator bowed his head first, sealing the deal.

After handing Dwain the staggering sum of 100,000 gold, Logan immediately prepared to leave the territory.

He hadn't been back from training for long, but this trip wouldn't take much time.

'A month at most. That should be enough.'

It had been part of his plan from the start—an absolute necessity. But of course, those around him didn't understand.

"Young Master, you're really leaving?"

"Yeah."

"But... why?"

"There are many reasons, but if I had to pick one... to make money?"

"Haven't you already made plenty?!"

"I need much more."

"What kind of—"

Rick was baffled, but Logan was dead serious.

In just a year, the territorial war would break out. In ten, the empire's war would follow.

What did the family need most to survive those whirlwinds?

The answer required no deep thought.

A powerful military—overwhelming strength.

And to obtain that strength, the most essential thing was... money.

Whether increasing foot soldiers, knights, equipment, or food reserves—everything required funds.

That was why Logan needed money.

Far more than what he currently had.

'The territorial war is one thing, but against the empire...'

He couldn't even begin to estimate how much would be necessary.

Which was why he had to leave now—to lay the foundation for securing those funds.

"The family head won't allow it."

But no matter how good his intentions, Rick was right—there was a problem.

Logan hadn't even undergone his coming-of-age ceremony yet.

And given his strained relationship with the family, any request to travel would be met with immediate refusal.

Rick's point was valid, and Logan acknowledged it.

"Probably not."

"Then—wait, what?"

"That's why I'm sneaking out."

"What?!"

If history remained unchanged, the territorial war was less than nine months away.

If he couldn't change things from within the family, he'd have to bring change from outside.

'Fortunately, there's plenty to do out there.'

It was almost strange that he hadn't thought of it sooner—after the broken engagement.

Logan knew far more about events outside the family during this period than those within.

'I was wandering the kingdom after being exiled.'

And the value of that knowledge was immeasurable.

If utilized properly, the 2.9 million gold in his hands could multiply exponentially.

'Of course, the immediate priority is preparing for the territorial war. So I need to hurry...'

He had to find ways to bolster their forces externally and return as soon as possible.

Naturally, no one else would understand his reasoning.

"What on earth are you thinking?! Running away now of all times?! How do you think the family head will—"

Rick, now on the verge of tears, was the prime example.

Just months after thinking his master had changed for the better, he was back to causing trouble—and this time, attempting to leave the territory.

'What am I supposed to do?!'

So he threw himself onto the floor.

"If you're going, take me with you! Otherwise, I won't—I absolutely won't let you go!"

Whenever Logan caused trouble, he was the one who had to clean up the mess.

With things already chaotic, he couldn't handle his master's disappearance on top of it all.

But Logan's mind seemed to be elsewhere.

"I'll leave a letter. No one will blame you."

"That's just what you think!"

"...What if I write it to Father directly?"

"Wh-what would you even say? You're not going to make him angrier, are you?"

"Of course not!"

If the family head allowed Logan's departure, that would be different.

But the next day—

"That little bastard strong-armed me for money and now this?!"

Rick found himself pissing his pants under the full force of the family head's murderous aura.

"Given the heartbreak from the broken engagement, I wish to clear my mind with some fresh air before returning.

—Logan."