Chapter 124: New Life, New Relationships (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: New Life, New Relationships (2)
While the Dmitry estate was thrown into an uproar, Lauren Dmitry was facing a bewildering reality of his own.
Slam!
Right before his eyes, William was hurled to the ground.
The arrogant boy who had always looked down on everyone else was now staring up from the dirt, disheveled and pathetic, at the man who had tossed him.
"Apologize."
It was Roman.
Tears instantly welled up in William's eyes. He had never experienced such humiliation in his entire life.
Whenever people heard his family name, they scrambled to flatter him. Even when he acted like a tyrant, not a single person dared to call out his misbehavior. So how had things turned out like this? Desperate, William searched for his father with a pitiful gaze, but Count Castro, standing in the distance, averted his eyes.
The battle was already lost.
Having bowed his head to Roman, the Count couldn't overturn the situation now just to save his son.
Roman spoke again. "Say it now. If you cannot apologize sincerely, I will extract the price in another way."
"William! Hurry!" Count Castro roared at Roman's prompting.
In the end, William burst into tears. He scrambled to his knees before Lauren Dmitry—who still hadn't fully grasped the situation—and choked out a sob.
"...Lauren, I'm so sorry for bullying you all this time. You did nothing wrong, but I took my petty spite out on you. Please, please accept my apology. If you just forgive me this once, I'll drop out of the Academy and never show my face in front of you again."
He slammed his forehead against the ground. Now that his world had crumbled, pride meant absolutely nothing.
From a distance, the Academy students watching the scene unfold looked on in sheer shock. Among them was the student who had warned Lauren that Roman was in danger; he had never imagined things would turn out like this.
As for Lauren himself, he couldn't readily accept the reality before his eyes.
What on earth is going on?
His mind was spinning.
He had been told that Roman was in danger. That was why he had run all the way to ask their father for help. So what was this?
Is he apologizing to me because of Brother?
That was the only possibility.
Roman had appeared holding William by the scruff of his neck. Even though his eldest son was being dragged around like a dog, Count Castro merely followed with a grim face, unable to say a single word. It was a scene utterly unimaginable in the Capital. Contrary to his classmate's warning, Roman hadn't been in danger at all. Instead, he had completely overwhelmed the Castro family and brought William to his knees.
Only then did Lauren realize that his older brother's standing was completely different from what he remembered. Roman's words and actions carried such immense weight that even Count Castro didn't dare to stop him.
Perhaps because the overwhelming relief finally set in, a sudden lump formed in Lauren's throat.
...Brother.
Roman had gone to the Castro family alone for his sake. Even though he must have known it was dangerous, he had risked it all to stand up for him.
Count Castro spoke up. "On behalf of my son, I would like to apologize once more. I promise you, nothing like this will ever happen again. He will be submitting his withdrawal from the Cairo Academy immediately, so you won't ever have to see him. I am truly sorry."
The ill fate between them had finally come to an end.
But at that moment, Lauren suddenly realized with a jolt of panic what he had just done.
*
Lauren didn't know how to break the news.
After everyone else was sent away, Lauren, now alone with Roman, desperately tried to organize his thoughts to explain the situation.
"Lauren."
"...Yes?"
Roman beat him to the punch. Looking down at his younger brother, he spoke.
"I did not step forward today solely for your sake. The Castro family insulted Dmitry, and as a representative of this family, I felt it necessary to make them pay the price. Therefore, do not take the name of Dmitry lightly from now on. If you go around letting yourself be ignored and bowing your head, people will think Dmitry is a family of no consequence."
"I'm sorry," Lauren muttered, looking dejected.
Roman was right. They shared the same surname, yet Roman and Rodwell were highly respected even in the Capital. Feeling like he was the only one bringing shame to the family name, Lauren completely forgot what he had been trying to tell Roman.
"Raise your head."
The voice wasn't warm. It was cold, yet Lauren raised his head to look at his brother.
"Your name is Lauren Dmitry. I do not wish to see my younger brother suffer such treatment ever again. Therefore, study thoroughly to understand what power you possess and what you can do in the future. The Castro family belongs to the Central Government, but if they had known Dmitry's true strength, they would not have dared to treat you so lightly. Others will not recognize your power for you. Utilizing your own strength is entirely up to your own capability. If something like this happens again, I will not help you."
Though the words were spoken coldly, Lauren's eyes were filled with deep emotion as he looked up at Roman.
My younger brother.
Fixated on that phrase, Lauren nodded vigorously.
"I will definitely remember what you said, Brother. If the same thing happens next time, I won't just take it lying down."
Seeing his youthful determination, Roman let out a small chuckle.
It wasn't bad.
In the world of the survival of the fittest, brotherly affection was a luxury. But this life was different. Living a new life, Roman had no desire to repeat the horrific existence of his past.
I no longer wish to engage in a futile fratricidal war.
He turned his gaze and began to walk ahead.
Lauren hurriedly followed him, when suddenly, his father's actions flashed through his mind.
"Brother! We have to contact the family right now! If we leave things like this, there's no telling what Father might do!"
Even then, Lauren had no idea that the "what" would be the extreme choice of starting a war.
*
Count Castro returned to his residence.
Although the dazzling, luxurious decorations welcomed him, today they didn't feel like symbols of power at all.
"You absolute bastard!"
Slap!
The moment they stepped inside, he slapped his son across the face.
William was sent sprawling to the floor. Clutching his burning red cheek, he looked up at Count Castro with a shocked expression.
"...Father?"
"Don't you dare call me father! To think I raised a piece of trash like you as my own flesh and blood. Do you have any idea what kind of mistake you made today? Roman Dmitry is a rising star! Not only Marquis Benedict, but all the influential figures of the Cairo Kingdom are drooling to recruit him, and you went and harmed his younger brother!"
This incident had been witnessed by Count Fabius. Since even the Academy students had seen it, the rumors would soon spread across the entire Cairo Kingdom, no matter how hard they tried to suppress them.
"From now on, people will say that the Castro family is a bunch of fools who can't do a damn thing against Dmitry. The moment you, the eldest son of Castro, fell to your knees, our prestige plummeted to the ground."
There was no way to restore it. From the moment William crossed the line, this outcome was already foretold.
Thinking of how his reputation would plummet in high society, Count Castro felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
Damn it.
He was deeply worried about how Marquis Benedict would view this. If, as Count Fabius had suggested, the Marquis truly intended to make Roman his son-in-law, their long-standing relationship could crumble in an instant. Marquis Benedict was exactly that kind of man. The moment one made even a slight misstep at a crossroads, the Castro family could easily be pushed aside in the Central Government.
For now, he just wanted to cool his head.
After ordering a servant to drag his son out of his sight, Count Castro sank into the sofa and uncorked a bottle of wine.
A fragrant aroma wafted up. Just as he was about to take a sip—
"My Lord! We have received a communication from the Dmitry family."
"From Dmitry?"
At those words, Count Castro set his glass down, his face contorting.
*
Roman and Castro. The matter was already settled.
However, Baron Romero, completely unaware of the truth, was about to make a massive, belated move.
[Count Castro. I have heard that you laid hands on my son. The nobles of the Central Government may think us easy targets, but we will absolutely not sit idly by after your outrageous act of daring to touch a bloodline of the Dmitry family.]
Across the communication screen, Baron Romero's furious face was visible.
Count Castro's head throbbed. He was already suffering from immense mental shock, so why was Baron Romero picking a fight over a matter that was already resolved?
[Tomorrow morning, as soon as dawn breaks, we will formally request a Territory War with the Central Government. Furthermore, starting from this moment, the Dmitry Trading Company will halt all supplies related to Castro. We also intend to acquire all of your private debts remaining in the Golden Bank, even if we have to buy them at a premium. What do you think will happen then? I am well aware that your principal repayment date is just around the corner. It will place a massive financial strain on you while you prepare for war.]
He spoke without a single pause. Without even listening to the other party's response, the Baron poured out everything he had to say.
[And that is not all. From now on, we will contact every single faction hostile to the Castro family. We will fully fund them and tell them to use any means necessary to tear down your influence. Castro! I am well aware that you are a prestigious family of Cairo. However, even if Dmitry must pay a heavy price for this decision, I will make sure to watch your downfall with my own eyes.]
Baron Romero's threat was incredibly menacing. If his words became reality, the Castro family would be in grave danger.
This must never be allowed to happen.
Dizziness washed over the Count again. If his private debts were called in and their hostile factions gained power... just imagining it made it hard to breathe.
Even if they could gain the upper hand in a Territory War against the Dmitry family, they would inevitably crumble under the financial pressure, just as Baron Romero said. Besides, victory in a Territory War wasn't guaranteed in the first place. While typical noble families maintained no more than two hundred private soldiers, Dmitry's military power far exceeded the level of a mere frontier estate.
Moreover, if mercenaries like the Benjamin Mercenary Group joined forces with them, Dmitry could mobilize a force of over a thousand troops.
And finally, there was Roman Dmitry.
At first, he had only worried about Marquis Benedict's reaction, but the more he thought about it, the more formidable Dmitry's underlying strength appeared. If they went to war, even an influential figure of the Capital would have no choice but to fall into the abyss.
Roman Dmitry takes exactly after his father.
A fiery temperament that never looked back.
He had no idea what to say to persuade Baron Romero.
It was then.
[Release my son whom you are holding captive immediately. This is my final warning.]
Suddenly, Count Castro felt something was off.
Holding his son captive?
Realizing that the other party was operating under a massive misunderstanding, Count Castro spoke in a hurry.
"Baron Dmitry! You seem to be gravely mistaken. We are not holding anyone from the Dmitry family captive. It is true that my son wronged Lauren Dmitry. However, he has deeply reflected on his actions. My son even went in person, knelt, and apologized. The matter is already completely resolved, so why a Territory War all of a sudden? We have done our absolute best to make amends."
He revealed the truth.
At that, Baron Romero showed a look of utter bewilderment across the screen.
[...Is that true?]
The anger that had been erupting like an active volcano cooled down in an instant.
For Baron Romero, who had already completed all preparations for war, the reality that Roman had already extracted an apology from Castro was something he could not readily accept.