Chapter 90: After-Party (1)
Chapter 90: After-Party (1)
The battle was over. The journey of Paladin Sonata and Living Armor Unit 2 had come to an end on the 10th floor of the Infinite Labyrinth.
In truth, we could have pushed further, but the financial loss was too great, so we chose to turn back.
Kuro was dead.
Whether it was Benia or Benice of the Virgin Scam didn't really matter; the point was that Kuro had died in the Infinite Labyrinth.
She was a mercenary-slash-slave I’d bought for a fairly large sum, yet she ended up dying after only a single expedition into the labyrinth.
However, no one offered a solemn eulogy for her death.
There was the fact that she was a slave.
Even as a slave, she had spent her final moments hurling curses at me.
And her actions leading up to that point weren't exactly the kind one could overlook, regardless of any mitigating circumstances.
Considering all that, Kuro was a woman one could judge as having 'died well.'
Kuro’s death.
I felt no sadness.
But out of basic humanity, I offered a moment of silence.
A moment of silence.
Silence over.
"Everyone, you did well."
At a table set up in a corner of the Lord's Castle Office, I gathered the knights and collaborators for a wrap party to celebrate.
"Through this expedition, I’ve realized one thing."
I clinked glasses with the members of the knight order gathered around the table.
"That people cannot be trusted."
I had been scammed by Charlotte.
"Unless a woman has definitively become mine, it is difficult to trust people easily."
I had been betrayed by Kuro, a slave I paid for.
"Trust is a vital element, especially in financial transactions. I cannot yet confirm whether Miss Charlotte, the leader of the Ninetails, betrayed that trust or not. Therefore, I will remain silent for the time being."
Benia had pulled a Virgin Scam.
But that was something the Infinite Labyrinth had uncovered.
Since there was a possibility that Charlotte had been deceived as well, I would let it rest for tonight.
"For now, it’s more important to celebrate our victory and release this pent-up excitement. However, the morning after tonight passes, I’m going straight to demand an explanation. Amy."
"Yes, Young Lord."
"Don't inform Sir Lambert in advance; just call him first thing tomorrow morning. If word reaches his ears... those Ninetails bastards might prepare for it."
The only maids in this room were the Head Maid and Amy.
Since I had stationed everyone I suspected of being Imperial plants outside, the information about me going to confront the Ninetails tomorrow wouldn't leak.
"A surprise inspection, then. Understood. I will handle it quietly so that nothing leaks out."
Neither of them had any particular ties to the Empire, so they had no reason to leak information even if I said I was going to crush the Ninetails.
In fact, since it would mean me being at odds with the Empire, they would likely keep their mouths shut, thinking it was a good thing for the Kingdom.
"Then, first, a toast to the two mages who worked hard for the successful operation of Paladin Sonata."
I picked up the wine and personally filled the glasses of Astarotte and Zenith.
"Ah. Since the occasion calls for it and I'm wearing a suit... let's try to set the mood."
My reflection in the mirror was that of a blond gentleman in a white suit.
I was feeling sentimental today, so I just wanted to spout whatever came to mind.
"With gratitude and love."
I hadn't exactly studied etiquette; I was just following my whims, but the two of them silently accepted their wine glasses.
"Um, Young Lord?"
"Yes, Mother?"
"If you fill the wine glass this much..."
Just as Zenith said, I had filled the glasses to over 80% capacity.
I knew.
I knew that wine was supposed to be poured just enough to pool slightly at the bottom of the glass.
But the drinking habits I was most familiar with were those of soju and beer.
"Mother. The amount of wine I’ve given is a reflection of my heart toward you both."
"What?"
"I filled them as much as I am grateful, as much as I am thankful, and as much as I love you."
"Ah..."
"Ahem."
The two of them scratched their cheeks as they took their glasses.
They seemed subtly disappointed that the glasses weren't completely full, but it wasn't time to fill them to the brim just yet.
Astarotte hadn't had sex with me, and Zenith hadn't had sex in the Sex Room yet.
"Don't worry about etiquette. This isn't some grand banquet hall; it's just a modest celebration among ourselves. Look. The spoils of this expedition."
I pointed to the pile of magic stones on one side of the table.
"For an expedition only to the 10th floor, isn't the profit quite substantial? Adding this to the Fermaton family coffers will be of at least some small help. Haha."
The amount of magic stones was staggering.
Compared to the total assets of the Fermaton family, it was a mere drop in the bucket, but for my private knight order alone, it was a massive haul.
Roughly converted, it was about 500 million.
"To earn this many magic stones from a half-day trip is quite an achievement. Serica. Is this considered a good haul?"
"It's above average—no, it's far more than usual."
"I see. Truly, seeing things like this makes me grateful for the Infinite Labyrinth. Where else could one obtain so many magic stones?"
Earning this much money in a single half-day expedition—who could possibly give up the Infinite Labyrinth, a land flowing with milk and honey!
And that was 500 million just from going to the 10th floor.
If we went further down, say to the 50th floor, the income would rise exponentially.
Though the danger would rise just as much.
"To the two mages who helped capture Paladin Sonata's signal, and to my knights who went directly into the Infinite Labyrinth with me. Thank you. Thanks to you all, I feel I’ve moved one step closer to my dream."
I picked up three magic stones.
"These magic stones you’ve gathered will be used as operating funds for our knight order. However, I don't intend to use all of them. My share, as Ruji Fermaton, is only this."
I took one small magic stone and two large ones.
"And 30% for the knight order's operating expenses. The remaining 70% on the plate is all yours."
"What?"
"Young Lord, what do you mean...?"
Everyone was aghast at the bombshell statement.
"Young Lord, that makes no sense. The magic stones the Fermaton Knights brought back all belong to the Young Lord! How could we...!"
"Laura."
I stroked Laura’s hair, silencing her complaints and the protests of the others.
"This is enough. I’ve calculated everything before dividing it. I will continue to distribute shares this way in the future. We are all in the same boat, after all."
"The same boat..."
A relationship where everyone had boarded the ship that was me.
Not everyone had boarded my ship yet, but they would soon.
"And this is a bonus."
I picked up two magic stones and flicked them toward Amy and Emma.
"This is for you two, who helped me focus on the labyrinth raid from the office. It's a bonus. I won't take no for an answer."
"...Young Lord."
"Thank you sincerely."
Emma and Amy bowed their heads deeply, expressing their gratitude.
Whether they were spies or whatever their true identities were, no one has a reason to dislike receiving a cash bonus.
Even an industrial spy would bow 90 degrees and say thank you if they received a 5-million-won bonus.
"Take a look at the rest of the distribution. I’ve divided it according to merit so that there are no complaints."
The shares distributed to the others were the same.
I handed out the pre-calculated expedition shares to everyone, and they all fell silent upon seeing them.
"Does anyone have a complaint? If so, speak up."
Complaints?
There was no way.
It wasn't just because it was difficult to speak up in this setting; it was because I had settled the accounts through rational and perfect calculation.
'This sort of thing is my specialty.'
The talent of a raid leader isn't just in combat command; one must also be skilled in personnel organization and resource allocation.
And fortunately, I was a man with quite a talent for such things.
Both as Ruji Fermaton.
And as the person I was before possessing Ruji.
"It might be a bit burdensome to receive magic stones instead of cash, but please understand. Now, everyone, cheers."
I raised my glass.
"I hope that in the future, just like now, everyone can return safely without dying."
Kuro?
The only ones I prayed for the safety of were my knight order and those working in the Fermaton Count's Castle who didn't cross me.
It wasn't the knight order that had betrayed me and stabbed me in the back.
Even if not everyone gathered here trusted me absolutely, at least they weren't the type to complain about 'Ruji using women to form a knight order and raid the labyrinth.'
Why?
"Listen well, everyone. I..."
I drained my wine glass in one gulp.
"I want to process these magic stones to create jewelry for my wife. So please, continue to cooperate with me. I want to scrape everything from the very bottom of the Infinite Labyrinth."
After shooting a quick glance at Laura.
"To the day I create earrings, a ring, and a necklace for my wife using very special gems that only appear in the Infinite Labyrinth—gems that don't exist in reality, perhaps the only ones of their kind in the world."
Clink.