Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Chapter 11 Cleanup Time (6)
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After discussing the future of Pratel City, Martin called Sien and Fritz Kahn aside separately.
The first to speak among them was Fritz.
“The Gustin family received illegal funding from the Brightner family. Even if it’s not enough to warrant exterminating their entire clan, the fact that they committed a crime is clear.”
“So? You’re saying we should punish them?”
“That’s the principle.”
“Vice-Captain Fritz’s opinion is certainly correct. But shouldn’t we consider that now isn’t the time to act rashly?”
Sien presented the exact opposite view from Fritz.
Martin and Fritz’s gazes naturally turned toward her.
“Several people who opposed the young master until recently are starting to show signs of submission. Elder Aren and Fejexs family head are prime examples. On the other hand, there are forces keeping their distance from the main house without openly showing it.”
As they were discussing important matters, Sien used formal speech.
Martin nodded as if to say, go on.
“The Bittenfeld family is in an ambiguous position, but honestly, the Gustin family could spark a rebellion or declare independence at any moment without it being surprising.”
“Then all the more reason……”
Fritz Kahn interjected, furrowing his brow, but Sien cut him off firmly.
“No. If we push them now, the family head’s opposition could rally around the Gustin family. The Bittenfelds would jump at the chance to join them, wouldn’t they?”
Martin summarized her opinion.
“So, you’re saying we shouldn’t touch the Gustin family rashly. Not until we’ve built up an ironclad justification so no one can help them.”
“That’s right.”
Martin thought her opinion made sense.
The Gustin family was the strongest among the five branch families.
Even so, they couldn’t stand alone against the main house, but the problem was Matthias von Gustin.
He had the ability to pull in other branches or elders whenever he wanted.
Even those who were inclined to side with Martin.
One wrong move, and the family itself could split in two.
‘It’s not time to fight yet.’
Conflict was inevitable, and he knew the day would come when they’d clash head-on.
But they needed to weaken the enemy’s forces as much as possible and strengthen their own before that.
A victory marred only by wounds held no meaning.
“Since the Gustin family came up, I have a question for you two.”
“Please ask.”
“What do you think about linking the drug farm incident to the Gustin family? Faking evidence is easy enough, and it’d make for the perfect justification.”
Martin had already decided against it, but he asked just in case.
However, their reactions weren’t favorable.
“Unless we can tamper with the Gustin family’s records, faking it would be meaningless. More people might side with the young master’s claims, but it wouldn’t be absolute.”
“I agree with Miss Sien. Didn’t the young master say it first? Matthias von Gustin isn’t careless. He’ll spot the logical flaws and use them to bite back at us.”
“Got it. Pretend I didn’t say that.”
When both opposed it, Martin completely abandoned the idea of falsifying evidence.
They already had one weakness on the Gustin family.
And he knew other ways to push them into a corner.
No need to overreach.
“In any case, nothing has changed about the Gustin family being the main house’s biggest liability right now. We need to uproot them when we can do it cleanly.”
“When that day comes, the White Dragon Knights will lead the way in dragging the traitors to ruin.”
“Sounds good.”
Fritz Kahn showed firm resolve.
Even if they were a branch family, there was no mercy for traitors.
Martin smiled faintly at his mindset.
“What’s our next destination, young master?”
This time, Sien asked the question.
“We’ll stop at several places, but the most important is Akella City, of course.”
“Whew. So it’s come to that?”
“What can we do? It’s a must if we’re heading to the imperial capital.”
Free City of Akella.
A city located at the border between the north ruled by the Adalbert family and the west with the imperial family at its peak.
Because of that, someone with no ties to either power was always appointed as mayor.
Neither the Adalbert family nor the imperial family could interfere there.
In truth, it was fair to call this place a true free city.
“It looks like a prosperous trading hub on the surface, but the reality is different. All sorts of illegal activities run rampant, and the black market is thriving. There are even whispers that they sell slaves officially banned across the continent.”
“It’s a nasty place.”
Martin fully understood Sien’s feelings.
Anyone upright would despise Akella City.
But they had to stop there this time, and not just because of its geography.
‘The current mayor is connected to Nicholas von Royce.’
He’d been obsessed with elevating his family to one of the three great noble houses for ages.
That’s why he married his daughter to Waldemar von Rustal.
In that sense, Akella City was the Royce marquisate’s bridgehead and forward base for advancing into the north.
It was no exaggeration to call it the biggest obstacle to northern unification.
They needed to clean it up to prevent the enemy from exerting influence in the north.
There was another reason to go as well.
‘It’s also a chance to get close to the non-humans.’
Elves and dwarves.
Races that formed the continent alongside humans.
But with small numbers and no control over dungeon entrances, they’d been pushed out by humans.
They’d retreated deep into remote areas, becoming hard to find.
Yet in Akella City, they were secretly traded at high prices.
Of course, in the illicit slave markets.
If he freed them and dismantled the slave trade?
It would be perfectly buttoning the first step toward allying with those two races.
There was plenty to do in Akella City.
The problem was that every task was difficult.
‘Plenty of obstacles besides the nobles.’
Another nickname for Free City Akella was the City of Desires.
Indeed, all sorts of underworld bosses lurked there.
The Assassin Guild of the Dark King they’d just dealt with had its base there.
Though he hadn’t been involved in the slave trade, most underworld groups had their fingers in it.
Besides him, there were swarms of others who’d interfere.
Collision was inevitable.
“Many factions will take notice of the young master after this move. We can’t operate in secret like before.”
“Probably.”
“And there’s another issue. Akella City basically bans knight orders from entering, right? Even under the pretext of escorting the young master, the knights’ movements will be restricted.”
“Well, we’ll just have to endure that.”
Having stirred things up, they’d face all sorts of interference and restrictions.
The underworld bosses and Akella nobles were just the type to do that.
But Martin had no intention of backing down.
He had to succeed for the family—and his own future.
“Then get some rest; it’s late.”
At Martin’s words, Sien and Fritz bowed and left the room.
Left alone, he took out a communication crystal orb from his subspace.
Wooong.
As he infused it with mana, a bright light bloomed from the orb.
Two figures appeared within it.
-We greet the young master.
-We greet the young master.
They were Lucas Hoffman, captain of the White Dragon Knights, and Philip Alrops, captain of the Golden Dragon Knights.
“I have tasks for you two. Captain Lucas, head to the Altair Forest. Captain Philip, go to the Lanens Mountains.”
Both locations were in the imperial north.
The former was famed for elves, the latter for dwarves.
But both were notorious for hating humans.
No northern faction had dealings with them, and only the Adalbert family had maintained regular contact.
‘A few hundred years ago.’
Contact had abruptly ceased at some point.
He’d met elves once before his regression, but that was it.
“I want you to convey my intentions there. If they don’t believe you, use the Adalbert family name. This time, I absolutely intend to……”
Martin issued his orders, and the two captains accepted.
The communication ended, but he still had one more call to make.
This one made him slightly—very slightly—nervous.
Because of who it was to.
But it was only for a moment, and Martin infused mana into the crystal orb.
Light bloomed, revealing a woman.
-This is our first direct conversation, even if it’s just communication, young master.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Martin greeted the First Princess, Claudia Alteria, calmly.
This was the truly important part.
* * *
Martin’s group stayed in Pratel City for another week.
To help stabilize the city under its new mayor, Sara Minehart.
Even without that, as a direct territory of the Adalbert family, it was only natural to look after it.
With Martin’s full backing, Sara officially declared the Brightner family disbanded.
Accordingly, Jürgen’s family was all chased off to his wife’s parental home.
The family’s knights, mages, and those deeply involved in the drug farms and tyranny received fitting punishments.
Some resisted, but it meant little.
The White Dragon Knights, led by Fritz Kahn, swiftly dealt with them.
In the end, the city fully regained peace.
No, the entire city brimmed with vitality from hope for the future.
“Thank you so much for your help. Thanks to you, I can work without worry.”
Sara bowed deeply to Martin and Sien standing in front of the car.
The two were her benefactors.
Without them, she never would have seen this day.
At Sara’s gesture, Martin lightly waved his right hand.
She straightened up involuntarily.
“How can the mayor of a whole city bow so easily?”
“Pratel City’s mayor is a direct vassal of House Adalbert’s family head. Isn’t it natural to show respect to my superior?”
“I remember you not being this eloquent when we first met.”
“Anyone meeting House Adalbert’s young master for the first time would react the same as me.”
Martin felt relieved seeing Sara not backing down even a word.
Becoming his direct vassal gave her a solid foundation.
But separately, she still lacked real military or political power.
Even with the voice of the people, it wasn’t enough as a mayor’s base.
But Martin, who knew her true capabilities, wasn’t too worried.
‘If it’s the Sara Minehart I know, she’ll handle the mayor’s role with ease.’
He was truly satisfied with acquiring such an excellent vassal.
Wooong.
Next, Martin opened his subspace, and a sword emerged from the spatial rift.
A longsword evocative of artwork, with a blue mana stone embedded in the hilt.
“Holy Sword Karadil. It’s enchanted to enhance physical abilities and mana. It was in the Brightner family’s secret vault—use it from now on.”
“H-Holy Sword…… It’s too much for me. At least someone who can use its unique ability should……”
“That sword will be the symbol of Pratel City’s mayor. So doesn’t it suit you to wield it?”
With “symbol” invoked, Sara had no choice left.
In the end, she reached out with trembling hands and gripped the hilt.
True to a holy sword imbued with great power, just holding it made strength surge through her body.
“I’ll have to train hard. At least enough to claim ownership of the sword.”
“With your talent, you can reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship at five circles.”
“Your words alone give me strength.”
“Then work hard. I have high expectations for you.”
“I’ll do my utmost not to disappoint.”
Sara replied in a calm tone.
Martin nodded, then boarded the passenger car.
Step, step.
Sien approached quietly and hugged Sara.
Sara leaned into her embrace as if waiting.
“We’ll meet again later…… or is that too cliché? There are warp devices in Barhain City and Pratel City, but we’re both so busy.”
“We might not meet easily, but we can always stay in touch, right? I have no intention of losing a hard-won friend over being busy.”
“Me neither.”
Sara answered spiritedly, and Sien smiled brightly.
They’d grown close rapidly while rallying the protesters over two days, becoming friends in the end.
Both treasured their new bond.
After exchanging farewells, Sien got into the driver’s seat.
The engine started, and the car headed toward Free City Akella.
Two vehicles carrying White Dragon Knights followed behind.
“Thank you so much, young master!”
“We’ll never forget this grace!”
As the vehicles departed, the citizens outside the gates raised their voices in unison.
It was the proper respect for the benefactor who’d freed them from tyranny.
‘Now it really begins.’
The past week had been easy.
With Martin nearby, everyone had been on their best behavior.
But now he was gone.
Even as mayor overseeing Pratel City, she was alone.
So she had to prove it herself.
That she was truly fit for the role.
‘I can do this.’
Hadn’t she overcome the hardest trials already?
She had no intention of yielding to this much hardship.
Sara Minehart, Pratel City’s first mayor, steeled her resolve like that.