Chapter 2
I had come to end this romance fantasy.
A vast ocean kingdom known as Nereida.
With countless islands scattered across the sea, it hardly qualified as a proper kingdom. Large islands each hosted their own estates.
These estates had long held powers that rivaled the king himself. The endless expanse of ocean made it impossible for the royal court to extend its influence everywhere. One such estate belonged to the Nelson Viscount. Its manor office.
“This damned estate is hopeless.”
A man sighed as he reviewed the documents. The lord was Read Nelson, the full title of Viscount Read Nelson. With no parents and only his younger brother Ivan, the problem lay right there with Ivan.
The Lady Loved by the Prince of the Sea
Otherwise known as Bawangsa. One of the male leads. “He’s been squirting out noble benefits left and right because of that wretched love triangle.”
Thanks to his influence, the Nelson estate had suffered for years. Most ends in a pirate raid ending because he couldn’t stop the brewing pirates. How did I know all this? Because I’m a transmigrator who was playing that very game. I knew exactly how the story would unfold years from now.
Sigh. It would have been nice if I hadn’t known. Bawangsa was a peculiar game with its own world rules. This world had no true continent. Every estate was merely a large island. Beyond that stretched countless medium and small islands scattered across the sea. As technology and resources developed, trade and industry would slowly advance. That background naturally produced hordes of pirates. “If luck is on my side, even a minor merchant could earn a lifetime fortune in one go.”
Among them were pirates who rivaled lords in strength. These pirates gathered, turned to adventuring, or simply preyed on neighboring estates. The Nelson estate suffered the most. Naturally, since the lord’s brother had been emptying the estate for the original female lead, Mary. “Still, before the game even started, I hoped it would be fine.” But sadly, the female lead and my brother had already met. Looking through every document left me stunned. The Nelson estate wasn’t even wealthy to begin with, and my brother was squandering it all. “This brat needs to be dealt with before things get out of hand.”
No time to adapt to this world or reality. Pirates could attack any day. I needed to stabilize the estate and prepare countermeasures. “Gather the vassals. Include the military commanders.” I ordered a staff member to summon them. The conference room had a long table. I surveyed them once. They seemed to sense the sudden call and my aura. They were tense. “As I expected, brother! I knew I could count on you!” Only one person said that. Excluding my younger brother, Ivan Nelson. “I honored your request! Mary is counting on it!” The vassals wore worried expressions. Helping other lands while the estate suffered. But as lord, I had no choice. I would have to tolerate it again. The damage would fall on the estate anyway. Just as I was about to sigh in the dark reality. “Ivan.” “Yes, brother! Leave it to me. I already have the entire list…” “None of that.” “…Eh?” Read answered coldly. “No additional support. All benefits given so far will be revoked.” “B-brother, what are you saying! You want to see me suffer!” Ivan shouted urgently. He had already told Mary everything. If I demanded the return of what he’d given her, how would his pride survive? “You said we help each other when times are tough!” “We don’t have the means to help others in our estate.” “If you keep this up, I won’t eat!” Ivan used his last resort. “How much do I have to trust you! This is a betrayal! Not just breakfast, but dinner too!” “…Ivan.” “It’s not just about us thriving. That’s how we help each other when we’re in trouble…” “Before I rip your mouth off, shut it, little brother.” Ivan fell silent. Not only from my words. The killing intent and fury rolling off me frightened him. “W-what is this?” “Is the lord speaking? That kind, kind Read lord?” Not even a criminal to his brother… The atmosphere spread quickly among the vassals. After confirming it, Read slowly spoke. “I, the lord, am disappointed in you all.” The sudden words made the vassals blink in surprise. Gathering them was already strange. Disappointment? How furious had the usually gentle lord become? “Raymond. Come here.” “Y-yes, my lord! Here I goheek!” Read launched a regular roundhouse kick. The old vassal, who had learned taekwondo as a child, couldn’t withstand it. Raymond tumbled across the floor after being kicked in the stomach. “G-gah! Whoa! Ugh!” Read relentlessly kicked the fallen vassal. “Isn’t this enough?” “Why not just say it?” All nonsense. “Hey, you bastard! The citizens are being plundered by pirates, and you’re embezzling military funds?” “Ah! Aaaah! Wrong! Wrong!” In the original novel, the conscience-ridden power holder admitted beating was the way to go. But for Raymond, it was shocking. No, it was shocking for every vassal. Read had been too kind, almost weak. Now beating them while cursing! Some were horrified. Some were too stunned to think. Some were relieved, finally saying the lord had changed. After the beating, Read, breathing hard, held out the documents. “Look at this. Raymond’s love letters to merchants claiming he helps other estates.” Read had good reason to be angry. Usually embezzlement was tolerated with a little kickback. This man hadn’t even bothered. On top of the “support” flowing to Mary, it was madness. “A potato turned into gold in Raymond’s house.” “Kyaah!” Read stomped on Raymond’s head with his foot. “That money should have become grain for the army, then navy to protect the estate citizens.” “S-s-save… Aaaah!” Each of Read’s words carried fury. “The estate citizens killed by pirates yesterday were killed by you. Do you understand?” “Kyah! I-I’m sorry… Sorry!” “Sorry won’t do. Military corruption in wartime deserves execution.” Read stepped away and told a nearby soldier. “Evidence of corruption is clear. Use him as an example. Cut his head, salt it, and hang him.” “H-heck! L-lord! S-save! Please save me!” “What are you waiting for? Drag him away!” The panicked soldier snapped to attention and dragged Raymond out. Everyone stared in shock at the scene. This drastic action from the gentle lord was unbelievable! Was he finally changing? Hope flickered in the vassals’ eyes. “And Ivan.” “E-err?” Ivan answered while trembling. Raymond’s embezzlement wasn’t the only issue. Ivan had a role in it. Ivan hadn’t expected Raymond to embezzle, but he had paved the way. “Your responsibility in this matter is not small.” “B-brother, I…” “But I can’t kill my own brother.” Ivan swallowed hard. He thought the words meant death unless he was the brother. “Admiral. You saw everything. You heard my story too?” “Yes!” “Effective today, Ivan enters the navy as a private. Roll as you wish until you pay your debt.” “…As a regular soldier? As the lord’s brother?” “You’re a criminal. No special treatment.” “Understood! I’ll do my best to become a man of the sea!” Ivan’s face turned white upon realizing the draft. “B-brother? Is this a joke?” No matter. The soldiers surrounding him received the order. “Hehe, come along, young master.” “Your skin looks so smooth because you’re still young.” “It’ll pass. You’ll grow to like it.” “Nooooo! Brother, save me! I was wrong! Aaaah!” …One might think he was being dragged to hell. The foolish boy just hoped to become human. “Then you all here have figured it out.” Read spoke while crossing his legs. He looked more like a king than a kind lord. “If you have any personal guilt, speak now.” The sea was harsh. To survive, one had to become rough. Naturally, many sea men were fierce. The same applied to lords ruling islands. Protecting the estate from pirates was the leader’s duty. A weak personality couldn’t guard the estate. In that sense, Read Nelson was a good lord, but not a great one. Too kind, he only followed his brother around. “I’ll save you.” But the Read Nelson before me was different. He executed embezzlers on the spot. He drafted even his brother into the navy. What else should he fear? “And on this opportunity, I will tell you all my goal and dream for the vassals.” Much would change ahead. The vassals felt it instinctively. “I will turn our Nelson estate into a land untouched by any pirate.” That way I can live peacefully. “I expect all of you to ‘naturally’ fulfill your ‘duties.’” **** Read first purged corruption and captured the vassals. He planned a massive change for the estate. To do so, he needed internal unity. One step was cutting support to Mary. “Finally, a breath of fresh air.” It cost the estate without any return. No reason to continue. But the ripple was huge. “Lord, there’s a problem with our business!” “Suddenly ending transactions…” “Shipping issues!” Bad news arrived like a storm. Read, finding the cause, chuckled. “Pedro, Robert, John, Lonny.” The male leads. The sea romanticists who would die for the princess. They rose to protect her. “Don’t worry. It’s all according to plan. If they cut ties first, we’ll be grateful.” Well, it was still funny. Even more so with the plans ahead.