Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Longing for Freedom (3)
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Martin and Sien moved to a mountain on the outskirts of Fra City.
Wooong.
As soon as they arrived, Martin twisted the space with Distortion of All Things.
The space split open, revealing a brown-haired woman—Sara Minehart.
Even drenched in cold sweat from pain, she glared at Martin and Sien.
"Drink this first."
Martin tossed her a potion.
Sara caught it and eyed it warily.
Martin chuckled and said,
"Why so suspicious? If I wanted to do something to you, I wouldn't bother with all this hassle."
Only then did Sara relax a bit and drink the potion.
Her wounds healed rapidly.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?"
"Martin Adalbert. I figure you've heard of me, right?"
"Cut the crap. The direct descendants of Adalbert have black hair and black eyes..."
Flash!
Before Sara could finish, Martin pressed the button on his artifact.
Light burst from his body, and soon his eyes and hair returned to their original black color.
That wasn't all.
Sien also regained her blonde hair and blue eyes.
"I'm Sien Eglit."
"It... it's really you!"
Sara shouted without thinking at the sight of them.
She too lived in Adalbert territory.
Of course she would recognize Martin and Sien.
Especially Martin—he was featured prominently not only in Real News from Bareahein City but also in the capital's Daily Times.
Even without that, information about him had long spread throughout the territory via various channels.
But she still looked at them suspiciously.
"...Why is the young master of House Adalbert showing interest in me? Shouldn't you be going after the head of House Brightner?"
"I will meet him eventually, but the time isn't right yet. More importantly, I'm curious about what's happening in this city. I saved you because I figured you'd explain the situation well."
"Explain? Does that mean you'll resolve it? Even though you're tangled up with House Brightner?"
"I'll need to hear the details first. But do you really think I'm scared of a family like Brightner?"
Sara stared blankly at Martin's relaxed attitude.
Pratelle, the mining city, was wealthy enough to be known across not just the North but the entire Empire.
Naturally, House Brightner, which ruled the city, held significant status in the North.
But that was nothing compared to House Adalbert.
'We risked our lives struggling.'
To escape House Brightner's clutches, she had crossed the threshold of death countless times.
She had watched numerous comrades sacrifice themselves in the process.
Yet here was this man treating that family like insects.
A profound sense of futility and doubt washed over her life.
But she quickly shook her head and snapped out of it.
'At least he can resolve all this.'
That much was clear, and Sara had no intention of letting the opportunity slip.
"I'm Sara Minehart. I lead the secret society 'Cry of Freedom.'"
"Cry of Freedom?"
Martin feigned ignorance despite knowing everything.
Unaware of his thoughts, Sara explained right away.
"It's an organization formed by people resisting House Brightner's rule."
"You've got guts. If what you say is true, you know that makes you targets for subjugation by us too, right?"
Martin asked with a smile.
But Sara didn't avoid his gaze.
Of course, she knew.
No matter the justification, resisting the rulers was treason, punishable by destruction.
Especially against a near-hegemon of the Alteria Empire's North.
She knew full well that one misstep could cost her life.
"You're right, young master—we are rebels. But we have no regrets. House Brightner's atrocities are that horrific."
"For example?"
"Casualties happen every day, but the current head of House Brightner has never provided compensation or medical aid. No, they're too busy falsifying records to claim no victims even exist."
Sien's expression grew serious as she listened quietly.
"I knew the territory's mood was poor, but not to this extent..."
"This is just the tip of the iceberg, Lady Eglit."
"This is the tip?"
"Anyone demanding compensation gets beaten by the guards. Those who openly rebel are sentenced to death and dragged to prison."
Sien and Martin fell silent.
Undeterred, Sara continued.
"We don't ask for much. The successive heads of House Adalbert have said it themselves: care for the territory's miners and factory workers. Is following that so hard?"
"...So you tried to topple House Brightner?"
"No. We never had that kind of power to begin with. We just wanted to make it known. That we're furious, and we hope things improve even a little."
"Whew. This is a real mess."
"Don't feel too bad yet, young master. There's one truly horrific thing left. House Brightner is running a massive drug farm."
"Th-that's a lie!"
Sien shouted instinctively in shock.
In contrast, Martin was thrilled inside.
'To think she knows this much.'
Exploiting citizens was a problem, sure, but insufficient as a pretext for subjugation.
Their close ties to House Gustin weren't public yet, making it hard to touch.
A drug farm was different.
Regardless of status, anyone cultivating or distributing drugs faced execution.
This was the perfect pretext to crush House Brightner and sever House Gustin's limbs.
As Martin steeled his resolve, Sien continued talking to Sara.
"A drug farm? In a mine?"
"There's a mine with an underground lake where they grow the drugs. The workers are all people already sentenced to death."
"They mark them as dead and put them to work."
"Exactly, Lady Sien. They're all severely addicted, so they can't escape or rebel. They just work until they die."
"How did you find out?"
"Many of our comrades were dragged to prison. We tried to rescue them and saw them being taken somewhere."
"You followed them?"
"Yes. We succeeded in reaching the drug farm and uncovered other truths too."
"There's more? What is this, an onion? Why does it keep peeling?"
"Tell me about it. Anyway, right now House Brightner is secretly distributing drugs to addict the miners. They're using drugs as an escape to crush their will to resist entirely. And it's working."
"Haa. Truly hopeless."
Sien let out a quiet sigh, and Martin nodded.
It wasn't surprising.
'The head there has been ignoring the main house since Father's time.'
Not to mention, someone like him who awakened his unique ability late wouldn't catch his eye.
Of course, things had changed now.
He had subjugated Valdema Rustal and shone in the recent monster wave.
But Jurgen von Brightner had profited from drugs for years.
Would he abandon a lucrative business just because one person stepped up?
'Not a chance.'
That made it all the better.
Now he could crush House Brightner properly.
"How'd you end up caught by House Brightner?"
"We held protests to expose all the truths. But they struck first. Our comrades scattered in the sudden ambush, and I ended up on the run."
After finishing, Sara caught her breath and turned to Martin.
She bowed deeply and politely.
"Please, young master. Help us."
"This isn't even a matter of helping or not. Right, Martin?"
"You're right, Sien."
"What does that mean?"
Hope flickered in Sara's eyes as she looked up.
Martin didn't ignore her wish.
"It's written in imperial law: regardless of status, those who cultivate or distribute drugs face execution. Even without that, leaving them be risks tarnishing the Adalbert main house. For my sake too, we need to deal with them as quickly as possible."
"Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
"It's just fulfilling my duty as young master. By the way, one thing I need to ask. Where's that drug farm?"
"I'm sorry. I don't remember the exact location. The tunnels are so complex..."
"Hmm. That'll take some time then."
"But it's not impossible."
"How?"
"Pratelle's mines are operated by different merchant guilds, so they don't know each other's tunnels well. But all the mines belong to House Brightner."
"So House Brightner knows all the tunnels?"
"Exactly. So..."
Sara closed her mouth.
She realized what she was implying.
It was essentially telling him to infiltrate House Brightner—far too dangerous.
"I said something foolish. I'm truly sorry, young master."
"I never thought that."
Martin replied lightly and looked at Sien.
"I'll be right back."
"It's still daytime. You sure?"
"No worries. Hiding is child's play for me."
"What about a map? Touch anything rashly and you'll get caught."
"That's handled too. I brought a camera."
"You... When did you even prepare that?"
"Just in case, and now it's useful."
"Your preparedness is insanely thorough."
"This is basic."
"If only you were a bit more humble. Anyway, I won't follow this time. Stealth isn't my thing like it is for you."
"Got it. Take care of Sara, then."
"Leave it to me. Go safely."
"Yeah."
Martin nodded and activated Distortion of All Things.
Wooong.
Space warped open, and his figure vanished before the two.
* * *
He clearly remembered the coordinates of the Brightner mansion and its surroundings.
After all, he had burned it down himself.
Among them, Martin headed for the clock tower near the mansion.
Wooong.
Space split, and Martin appeared at the top of the clock tower.
But no one saw him.
He had refracted light with Distortion of All Things to conceal himself.
On top of that, he completely suppressed his presence, erasing his aura.
Unless someone at his level or higher, no one would detect him.
'No one in House Brightner is stronger than me.'
Even the head, Jurgen von Brightner, was only 6th Circle.
He knew exactly how he fought from their direct clash.
'Still, better stay cautious.'
Caution never hurt.
Martin opened his subspace, pulled out a mask, and covered his face.
He inwardly praised himself for preparing various items.
With all preparations complete, he leaped toward the Brightner mansion.