Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Figurehead Mayor
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While his friends were all asleep, Wang-sik returned to the Ellat Grand Mansion.
―Welcome, My Lord.
As always, the ghost butler was waiting for him.
He slept at the mansion once every three days, and the bedroom managed by the ghost butler was always kept immaculately clean.
―Mold has proposed hiring an instructor.
Mold, who had been brought in as a private soldier, had practically nothing to do.
Wang-sik hunted monsters alone, and no one ever broke into the Ellat Grand Mansion. Even if they did, the butler, who had recently grown stronger, could handle most intruders.
And yet, his weekly wage was paid without fail.
His salary was comparable to that of a decent knight. He had even set up a patrol schedule for himself, but when that proved meaningless, he started training.
‘I want to be as strong as the Lord of the House.’
It had begun out of pure reverence. But there were limits to training among themselves, which was why he had requested an instructor.
“He must be bored. What kind of man is he looking for?”
―A man named Raymond. He is quite famous among mercenaries and has a connection with Mold. There was a request to receive a year's worth of his wages in advance to recruit him.
“He’s offering to pay the instructor’s fee himself?”
―Yes, My Lord.
“Interesting.”
Wang-sik sat on the bed, lost in thought for a moment.
“Tell him I’ll pay the instructor’s fee. And increase the number of private soldiers. Formally appoint Mold as commander and tell him to recruit whomever he wants.”
―What scale should we aim for?
“The scale doesn’t matter, as long as it’s a number Mold can handle. I’ll kill any troublemakers with my own hands.”
―Understood.
“As for their treatment, the butler can handle that.”
The ghost butler held most of the authority within the mansion and enjoyed the situation. He was meticulous in his work, so Wang-sik had no need to check on him.
―Then, for now, we will cap it at 50 men. The new recruits will be divided into three ranks to differentiate their treatment.
A count was permitted to have 50 private soldiers.
It was common for nobles to maintain more by classifying them as assistants or laborers, but a sudden increase could cause problems, so they would stick to the legal limit.
“Do that.”
Wang-sik entrusted the matter to the butler and lay down on the bed.
* * *
With Gong Yeong-ji’s return to school, the Mad Castle combatants were given a vacation.
They had been running nonstop for over 100 days, so it was time for a break.
“I’m going on a trip with Seon-yeong.”
“I’m just going to laze around at home. I won’t shower, and I’ll eat in bed. I’m not answering my phone, so you know.”
As everyone made their own vacation plans, Wang-sik decided to live the life of Vega. His intense focus on hunting in the Decartes Mountains had created a void in Vega’s life.
He hadn’t shown up at city hall for over three months, and his monster-hunting activities had ceased.
As a result, various rumors began to circulate.
“The most prevalent rumor is that you've reverted to being a wastrel. There are also rumors that you’re infatuated with a woman, and recently, some have even said you’re dead.”
A mercenary who had joined as a private soldier alongside Mold, known for his speed and skill in gathering information, delivered the report.
“But the overwhelming consensus is that you’ve gone back to your wastrel ways.”
He reported without a hint of hesitation. While other nobles might have been offended, Wang-sik appreciated this direct style of reporting.
“What about the Workers’ Guild?”
“The Mirje Trading Company is managing it well, so there are no issues. However, during your absence, the Denello family has started picking fights.”
“Denello?”
It took Wang-sik a moment to recall the name.
“Ah, them.”
They were the family from whom Wang-sik had taken the position of mayor.
Led by Denello Ispa, they were claiming joint ownership of the territory Wang-sik had reclaimed by pushing back the monsters.
Their reasoning was that it overlapped with their own territory.
“The mine in the Pregril region was originally Denello’s territory.”
“I was under the impression they couldn’t operate it because it was overrun by monsters.”
When operations cease due to monsters, an area is reclassified as uninhabited, and the family that reclaims it gains the operational rights. They lose their rights because they failed to properly fulfill their duty to protect their territory.
“The Denello family claims they were continuing their business there all along.”
“That’s a lie, of course?”
“Yes. But it wouldn’t be difficult for them to produce witnesses.”
The Denello family was also one with a long history. They had enough prestige and connections to be nominated for mayor.
“So they’re just looking for a fight.”
“It appears they will demand negotiations.”
Pushed out of the mayorship, Denello Ispa was using Wang-sik’s absence to mobilize his connections once again.
“And the Magnon family is also interfering in our affairs. For now, it’s just meddling.”
The de facto ruler of Ellat was flexing his power.
“This break has been a bit long.”
Vega’s life was important for his future plans. Just three months ago, his reputation had soared, but like all hot topics, it was now fading from people’s memories.
“It’s about time I gave them a shock.”
For the first time in a while, Wang-sik began to act as Vega.
The first thing Wang-sik saw at city hall was the startled expression on a guard’s face.
The guard managed to compose himself and offer a greeting, but as Wang-sik walked past, he was seen hurriedly making a call.
He was contacting the true master of city hall.
*Knock. Knock.*
Less than five minutes after he entered the mayor’s office, there was a knock on the door.
The man who entered without waiting for permission was Magnon Erte, the younger brother of the head of the Magnon family.
He had been appointed deputy mayor and had been acting as mayor in Wang-sik’s stead.
“What brings you here?”
“Is it strange for me to be here?”
Erte’s aggressive words were irritating, but he decided to tolerate it for now.
“Not at all, but you have been away for a long time.”
Erte, in his late fifties with a potbelly, made no effort to hide his displeasure.
“I’ll be away often in the future, so there’s no need to worry.”
Wang-sik used a pointedly informal tone. Erte looked displeased but couldn’t retort.
After all, Wang-sik was the head of a count’s family and the mayor.
“I want to know about Ispa’s corruption.”
“What are you planning?”
Erte asked back, his eyes full of suspicion. He had tolerated it once, but not twice.
Wang-sik stared coldly at Erte and spoke.
“Do I have to explain that, too? That wasn’t part of my agreement with the Magnon family. Should I make a scene over your behavior right now?”
As Erte hesitated to answer, Wang-sik delivered the final blow.
“As you know, I used to be a wastrel.”
Erte bit his lower lip.
He felt humiliated by Wang-sik’s attitude, but creating a problem over something like this would not please the head of his family. It wasn’t a matter concerning the Magnon family’s interests, and it was a request Wang-sik was well within his rights to make.
“I will prepare it.”
“Hurry up. I’m sure you don’t want me here either.”
Erte left the mayor’s office without another word and returned 30 minutes later to place a file in front of Wang-sik.
The file, about ten pages long, was evidence that the former mayor, Ispa, had used city projects to benefit his family.
But upon seeing it, Wang-sik spoke with a displeased expression.
“Is this all the relationship between the Magnon family and me amounts to?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just a relationship where you can toss a random file at me. Is that how I should understand it?”
“That is all there is.”
“Handing over a file like this might just end with our relationship being defined as such. But your claim that this is all there is… that will become a bigger problem when your lie is exposed. Can you handle that?”
Wang-sik was well aware of what the Magnon family was capable of.
The former mayor hadn't been able to put up a proper fight, and even the families who followed him had turned their backs. It was impossible that this was the only evidence they had. Like many nobles, Ispa had amassed a huge fortune while in office.
He must have been deeply corrupt, and the Magnon family would have investigated him thoroughly.
Yet they had handed Wang-sik documents on just one incident. Moreover, it was customary to overlook such minor corruption.
“Speak clearly. Is this the will of the Magnon family?”
Wang-sik spoke as if he were picking a fight.
“Do you think you have the right to make such a demand?”
In the end, Erte couldn’t hold back either. He believed Wang-sik had no right to demand anything from him.
“If you agreed to be a figurehead mayor, then stick to your role. That means doing nothing.”
“How insolent.”
Wang-sik’s eyes grew cold.
“I’ll just let you know that everything I do from now on is because of you. You’ll have to deal with the consequences yourself.”
“What can you possibly do?”
Erte had finally crossed the line, and Wang-sik smiled.
“Something very interesting is about to happen.”
Wang-sik patted Erte’s shoulder and left the mayor’s office.
That evening.
A warship armed with 20 cannons slowly docked at the Ellat Naval Base, its horn blaring. The first person to appear on the gangway lowered to the pier was a man so young he could have passed for a naval sailor.
Magnon Leonard.
As the youngest admiral in Ellat’s history, he was being careful with his every move, especially with marriage talks underway with a ducal family.
‘If I can form a connection with the ducal family, my position as the next head of the family is guaranteed.’
Marrying the daughter of one of only five dukes in the empire would not only secure his position as the family head but also allow him to climb even higher.
‘I could receive the title of Marquis.’
There were a few prerequisites, but the Magnon family could easily meet them.
Because of this, he had been managing his image, even avoiding the taverns he used to frequent.
But today, his butler was waiting for him at the pier.
“What is it?”
It was rare for the butler to come to the pier himself, so he couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding.
“Count Lennox Vega met with young master Maier.”
“What?”
Maier was his older brother.
The eldest son of the Magnon family. Had Leonard not become a naval admiral, Maier would have been the most likely candidate for the family headship.
“Why did Vega meet my brother?”
“I could not find that out. I only know that Count Lennox personally sought out young master Maier.”
“Vega went to him first?”
Something felt wrong.
“We’re going to Vega’s residence.”
Leonard headed straight for Vega’s grand mansion.
*Bang!*
Leonard burst through the door and demanded.
“Why did you meet my brother?”
Wang-sik, who had been drinking tea alone in the mansion’s study, calmly set down his teacup.
“Afraid I might have told him your weaknesses?”
“Are you trying to bring up a finished story again?”
“I thought it was finished. But someone from your family reminded me of it.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Instead of answering directly, Wang-sik said to Leonard.
“What do you think would happen if I were to declare war on the Magnon family right now, using the past as an issue?”
“Don’t speak so reck—.”
Leonard, who had raised his voice, trailed off. The look in Wang-sik’s eyes showed that he might actually do it.
“Are you insane?”
“Some worthless trash from your family drove me crazy. A man called the deputy mayor asked me this: What can you possibly do? He told me to just stay quiet if I’m a figurehead.”
Leonard could roughly guess what had happened. As the deputy mayor was his uncle, he knew his personality well.
Still, that didn’t mean he understood Wang-sik’s current actions.
“You met my brother over something so trivial? And you’re talking about a family war?”
“Something so trivial?”
Wang-sik rose from his seat and stood before Leonard. Faced with his presence, Leonard instinctively took two steps back.
“I’m just returning the favor. If I make a move, you become a figurehead. How does it feel to be a figurehead? Judging by your face, you seem quite angry.”
When Leonard couldn’t answer, Wang-sik smirked.
“We negotiated as equals. And we will continue to be equals. If you ever think you’re above me?”
Wang-sik’s smile deepened as he spoke the final words.
“I’ll just have to drag you back down.”