Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Something That Can Satisfy Everyone
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Klaus's eyes sparkled upon hearing the circus proposal.
It looked like various ideas were popping into his head.
Show business.
A new form of business that didn't yet exist in this world had clearly struck a chord with the con artist Klaus.
He was a man who made money through lies,
and show business was all about selling those lies at a premium price.
There was no way it wouldn't appeal to him.
"I'll prepare a show that satisfies everyone."
"That's what you need to do."
With that, I wrapped up negotiations with Klaus and left the underground prison.
Torsso, who had been following behind me,
suddenly spoke up with a hint of concern.
"You seem to be taking this venture quite seriously. But is it really okay to entrust such a task to a con artist like him?"
"That's exactly why I'm entrusting it to him. He's a con artist."
"Pardon?"
"He's the best in his field. A top-tier con artist."
It wasn't just about his skills.
I was confident Klaus would love this job.
"Do you know what the hallmark of a top-tier con artist is?"
"...Being good at lying? Eloquence, memory, charm—things like that."
"Those are just the basics for any con artist. What con artist can't lie?"
"Ah, you're right. So what's the real answer?"
I'm no con artist, so I don't know the 'true' answer.
But I knew the one described in the novel.
"A thirst for honor."
"Honor...?"
"A top-tier con artist makes the victim want to be deceived. They captivate them so thoroughly that even if the truth is shoved in their face, the victim finds it annoying or suspicious to acknowledge it. They have this desire to be remembered forever as a good person, an amazing person."
"..."
"Fooling someone to take their money is easy enough. Instilling fear through petty threats and narrowing their field of vision to extract cash—that's something anyone can do with a bit of training. Even a barbarian who can barely speak could pull it off if you dressed them up nicely and handed them a business card."
For example, voice phishing scams.
They don't require any special talent.
Just a dash of intimidation.
[Money is being withdrawn from your account. We've kidnapped your daughter. Your son committed a crime and needs hush money.]
People fall for these blatantly obvious scams all the time.
Fear narrows the mind that much.
But fear is fleeting and volatile.
The victim eventually realizes they've been had,
regrets falling for such a stupid trick, and blames themselves.
Even those around them criticize the victim.
You're an idiot for falling for it.
What were you thinking, getting duped by such obvious lies?
Why didn't you just stay calm and check?
That's how most scams work.
No brilliant rhetoric or creativity required.
Just abandon your conscience.
How easy it is to torment the weak.
"But sometimes, there are con artists who fear the judgment of others despite what they do. The ones who don't just take money, but hearts too. Those are the ones who rise to the top."
"...So, a conscientious con artist?"
"Calling it conscience is too generous for a mere scammer. It's often even more vicious. That's why I said 'thirst for honor.'"
A top-tier con artist wins hearts.
They leave as good people in memory.
They always play the 'good person,' infiltrating wealthy, closed-off societies,
gradually building trust within,
and at the critical moment, ask for money while saying things like:
[I want to help you.]
[I want to use my talents to make your life better.]
[I need your money to help you.]
A 'request' to devote themselves for your sake.
It's a deadly poison.
In truth, the money a con artist can extort through threats is limited.
Once the sum gets too big, people snap and retaliate,
and massive losses can snap them out of fear into suspicion.
But the money people spend 'for themselves' has no limit.
Greed has no brakes.
Someone whose heart is stolen by a top-tier con artist falls into the delusion that 'they care about me' and hands over unlimited funds.
And then,
when the scale grows too large for the mark to handle and anxiety creeps in,
the top-tier con artist whispers:
[Once this trouble is resolved, I'll repay you first.]
[Just trust me a little longer.]
[I'm sorry. I'm doing my best for you.]
From that point, there's no turning back.
They've either lost everything already or believe enduring a bit more will gain it all.
It's do or die.
No one chooses total loss.
They'd stake their soul to see the con artist's scheme succeed.
At this stage,
the 'con artist's business' and 'my business' are one and the same.
If torturing someone with unattainable hope is hope torture,
then this is a grotesquely cruel and vicious form of it.
Klaus is a vicious man.
His half-hearted malice and greed make him all the more toxic.
"That con artist has the talent to win hearts. He fears not being seen as a good person and craves the admiration of being seen as great. Tricking others was just the easiest way to use that talent. So, I'm giving him a chance to fulfill that desire."
"...I understand."
"Well, if he actually scams us, we can just throw him back in prison."
"Pardon?"
"I'm a con artist too."
If that happens, we can use House Riddle's soldiers and influence to 'physically' retrieve the scammer.
My slaves' workshops are already scattered across the territory,
and dispatched slaves are working in various houses where he might flee.
This is an information guild for you.
As the saying goes, in the martial world, you never make enemies of the underworld brokers.
.
.
.
.
By the time Klaus returned after settling his affairs,
the slaves sent from the Parkinson family had arrived at the mansion.
Klaus marveled at the slaves locked in cages.
"These slaves are even more grotesquely horrifying than I imagined. If they weren't caged, one might mistake them for monsters or demons."
The slaves were crammed into narrow cages fit for beasts.
Boxes barely big enough for their bodies.
When transporting slaves, merchants at least ensured minimal 'survival' to avoid damaging goods,
but these cages for defectives didn't even bother.
The only effort visible was maximizing space savings.
Even if the merchandise broke and refunds were demanded,
they were 'cheap' slaves not worth regretting.
"Can you use them?"
"The more grotesque and unusual the beast, the better it steals people's souls. A grotesque, unusual beast that even understands commands is perfect."
These were beings the masses feared as devils, monsters, cursed entities.
Some even said their deformities were contagious.
But Klaus was a con artist who exploited such fears better than anyone.
So he wouldn't cower at mere ugly slaves.
No. He might fear them inwardly, but he wasn't immature enough to show it.
After calmly inspecting the slaves' appearances, Klaus nodded and listed what he needed.
"I need noble attire. The most expensive and ornate. Tailored to these grotesques' builds, sturdy enough not to tear during rough movements. It might be best to hire a skilled artisan outright."
"House Riddle has an excellent workshop. I'll prepare them to make anything."
"Acrobats to teach tricks, clowns for makeup, etiquette instructors for manners."
"Bring every acrobat and clown wandering the streets to the mansion. For etiquette, there's a perfect candidate right here in the mansion."
"Tamers for handling monsters, charioteers skilled in various feats, pyrotechnicians for effects, musicians for the score."
"As a con artist, you know the right people. Bring them, no matter the cost."
"The nobles might find some of this quite rude. It could tarnish Your Excellency's reputation."
"Once."
I didn't know what this con artist would do,
but I trusted Klaus's thirst for honor.
"Just once, I'll stake the entire name and prestige of House Riddle to shield you from all backlash."
"Once is enough."
Klaus grinned.
True to a con artist who had fooled countless people,
it was an incredibly trustworthy smile.
Dozens must have fallen for that smile.
"After that, everyone will cheer when they see them."
"You really think it's possible? We'd be lucky not to get booed off."
"If they're throwing money while booing and jeering, isn't that just applause?"
Ah. What a reliable con artist.
Look at him picking words that perfectly suit my 21st-century capitalist sensibilities.
If that's a kind of blessing, it's a blessing.
"...If you'd been born into House Riddle, you might have become the head."
"Unfortunately, I'm just a lowly con artist. I have no talent for earning money myself. Only for taking others' money."
"That's the virtue of a merchant."
"Haha! Thank you."