Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: A Calculated Provocation
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The next morning.
A man arrived at the grand mansion.
He was a clerk from City Hall, and also a member of the Magnen family.
“The deputy mayor sent me.”
The clerk placed a thick stack of documents on the table.
“These are the documents you requested. Please review them, and if you have any questions, I will be happy to explain.”
It was the evidence of the Denello family's corruption that Wang-sik had requested.
Leonard must have gone and raised hell last night.
His uncle was no pushover, but how Leonard had persuaded him was none of Wang-sik's concern.
What mattered was that Leonard feared him.
‘Hm.’
The evidence the Magnen family had secured was enough to report the Denello family to the Imperial Palace immediately. This alone was a testament to their power.
‘They must be investigating me as well.’
It was a certainty that needed no confirmation. And for Wang-sik, who had much to hide, it was his greatest concern.
‘It’s time to deal with them.’
They were never meant to be partners. His mind made up, Wang-sik looked at the documents before him and spoke.
“They’ve certainly been lining their pockets.”
Their illicit gains were countless, but the most decisive among them was tax evasion.
They had manipulated the taxes collected in the city of Elatt to reduce the amount owed to the emperor.
This was a crime severe enough to warrant the stripping of their noble title. While the scale wasn't large enough for that to happen, it was undoubtedly one of the most sensitive issues in the empire.
“This should be interesting.”
Wang-sik said, loud enough for the clerk beside him to hear.
Seeing the smile on Wang-sik’s face, the clerk was struck with a sense of unease.
‘He’s plotting something.’
He was suspicious, but Wang-sik had no obligation to explain.
“Reporting them to the palace should clear this up neatly.”
Closing the file, Wang-sik thanked the clerk for his trouble, a clear dismissal.
As the clerk left with an unsettled heart, Wang-sik summoned the ghost butler.
“You can leave the mansion now, can’t you?”
—For about two hours within Elatt, yes.
“Find out what’s being said at City Hall.”
—Understood.
The butler, having grown stronger, was breaking free from his constraints. While he could still only exert physical force within the Lennox mansion, he could now see and hear things beyond its walls.
Seemingly intrigued by the new mission, the butler immediately followed the clerk.
An hour later, the butler returned and reported just what Wang-sik had expected.
—The deputy mayor is furious, but he hasn't made any particular moves.
“Is there any chance he’ll side with the eldest son?”
—Even if he were so inclined, he would move with caution.
Interfering in a family's succession battle means staking everything you have.
He wouldn't act on anger alone.
Lost in thought for a moment, Wang-sik asked the ghost butler.
“What’s the most common reason for a war between families?”
—Matters of vested interests. While there are various superficial reasons, the core of it is always to seize the opposing family’s profits.
“Right.”
—Is this because of the Denello family? You said you would end it by reporting them to the palace…
“That’s too boring. And I don't gain anything from it.”
His words about reporting them had been for the city clerk’s benefit.
Wang-sik had no intention of ending things so easily.
—That may be so, but…
Wang-sik gave an order.
“Summon Mold.”
The butler vanished, and shortly after, Mold stood before Wang-sik.
As a former mercenary, he didn't offer a grand greeting, but he showed his respect by standing straight and lowering his gaze.
“I officially appoint you as the Captain of the Guard for House Lennox. Butler, see that he is treated accordingly.”
—Understood.
Having already been informed, the ghost butler accepted immediately.
“Thank you, my Lord. I will do my utmost to serve you.”
“Then here is your first order.”
Mold waited for the command without so much as a twitch.
“From now on, you will respond aggressively to any disputes at the Pregril Mine.”
“By aggressive, do you mean we are to use force?”
“That place is clearly our family’s territory. No matter what reason the Denello family uses to provoke us, you are to treat it as an invasion of our domain and respond accordingly.”
“In that case, I’ve heard it’s permissible to kill the intruders. Of course, I’ve also heard it rarely goes that far, but this is a matter that could easily escalate into a war between our families.”
Mold looked at Wang-sik, seeking to understand the true purpose of the order. But Wang-sik showed no sign of wavering.
“The moment we find the slightest pretext, we will bring down House Denello. Do you understand your role?”
“I understand.”
“Your role ends there. I will handle the rest.”
“We will also prepare diligently.”
Mold was brimming with motivation, but that wasn't what Wang-sik wanted.
“Do you think you can be of any help in my fight?”
“Th-that is… My apologies.”
“I will provide the instructor you requested. Discuss the details with the butler. You must use every means available to grow stronger. If you wish to be of even the slightest help.”
“I will take it to heart.”
After Mold departed, Wang-sik immediately questioned the ghost butler.
“If a war breaks out with the Denello family, how many other families will side with them?”
—They are a family with a long history, but in the event of a war, no other family will cooperate with them.
“None?”
—Under normal circumstances, they would rush to cooperate, but you have already shown them your power, have you not? They will be reluctant to engage in a physical conflict. Even if a war between families were to break out, they would more likely resort to political pressure.
“Hm. That’s not what I want.”
—How far do you wish to take this?
“Magnen.”
—Pardon?
The ghost butler couldn't help but question him. He had never expected to hear the name of the most powerful family in the east. Moreover, it was the Magnen family that had provided the documents on Denello lying right before them.
“Since I’m the one who fattened them up, it’s my right to devour them.”
Regardless of the ghost butler’s feelings, Wang-sik intended to use Denello to draw out Magnen.
—There is one way.
“A way?”
—Before I tell you, may I ask one thing? I must be certain before I can speak.
The ghost butler needed assurance.
He could overlook a conflict with Denello, but if Wang-sik was targeting Magnen, he could not simply stand by.
Defeat would mean the permanent eradication of House Lennox.
But Wang-sik’s expression soured at the question.
Seeing his face turn ice-cold, the ghost butler felt an instinctual sense of crisis.
Shhhk!
A chain shot out and wrapped around the ghost butler’s neck.
He instinctively tried to escape, but it was impossible. The power imbued in the chain exerted perfect physical force, even on his spiritual form.
“It seems my good treatment has made you forget your place.”
—My, my apologies.
Despite the apology, the chain began to tighten its grip on the butler’s body.
His soul wavered like a ripple in water, then finally began to crack like shattered glass.
—F-forgive me!
The ghost butler cried out, as if squeezing out all his strength. Still, the chain did not stop.
—P-please…
His consciousness faded as his body began to dissipate.
Annihilation.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the chain vanished.
—*Gasp. Gasp.*
The ghost butler fell to the floor, trembling. He didn’t even dare to lift his head to look at Wang-sik.
“Do you think you’re irreplaceable?”
—No, my lord.
Even in his hazy state, the ghost butler answered immediately.
“Your value is predicated on your obedience. Understood?”
—I will never forget!
When Wang-sik offered no further reprimand, the ghost butler pulled himself back up.
His body still trembled, but he had something to say.
—As things stand, a war between families would likely end with just House Denello. As I said, they will be wary of our military strength.
War between families is a last resort.
That is why Denello provokes us at the mine. They have no intention of letting it escalate to war.
In fact, it was safe to say that such minor provocations never led to full-blown wars.
The ghost butler began to say what he had intended to before the warning.
—However, there is a business venture in which several families are entangled. The Manatree Logging Camp.
“Manatree Logging Camp?”
—Yes. Half of the manatrees used to create magic scrolls are located in the Rudel Forest, and the rights are currently divided among five families, including Denello.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
—The original owner of that forest was our House Lennox.
This was news to Wang-sik.
“Seeing as you didn't mention it before, I assume it was a legitimate transaction?”
—No. The ownership of Rudel Forest was entrusted to City Hall when the previous lord became mayor, under the pretext that its profits would be used for the development of Elatt.
“So the former head of the house donated it to make his son the mayor.”
—That is correct. But on paper, it was explicitly an entrustment, not a donation.
“Then why does Denello have it?”
—When a Denello was mayor, the Magnen family took the lead in converting it into their own business right. The profits at stake were enormous.
“So there’s room for a dispute.”
—Indeed. However, it is not certain whether this will be enough to draw in the Magnen family.
“It will be. Send an official notice to the Denello family tomorrow.”
—What shall we request?
“Demand they return not only the ownership rights, but also all the profits they’ve made so far.”
—They will never agree to it.
“That’s exactly what I want.”
—I will prepare it.
The butler no longer argued. He now understood his role perfectly.
But just as his trembling form was about to disappear, the butler seemed to remember something and reappeared before Wang-sik.
—If we are to face all the families involved in this business, we will need a family to back us up.
“Why?”
—With Magnen as an opponent, the political pressure will be immense. We could be defeated before the fight even begins.
The Magnen family wielded that much power.
“You should rest now.”
As the ghost butler’s quivering form vanished, Wang-sik sank into thought in the silence.
‘Magnen…’
It was the family most deeply connected to Vega.
‘My chance is now, while they’re underestimating me.’
To outsiders, it would seem like an impossible plan. That was precisely what Wang-sik was aiming for.
Only then would they respond.
‘I have to create a situation where they have no choice but to fight.’
There was no need to wait for their decision. A plan to draw in even Magnen had already formed in Wang-sik’s mind.
A very simple and easy way, at that.
‘All that’s left is to secure some backing, is it?’
He recalled the ghost butler’s final words.
A family with enough political power to stand up to House Magnen.
‘There is one person.’
Wang-sik recalled a figure he had buried in his memory.
One of the five ducal houses in the empire.
Among them, the House of Duke Rohan was a family of knights traditionally loyal to the emperor.
Because they valued chivalry so highly, their wealth was not as great as that of the other dukes, but their fame and honor far surpassed them.
They were one of the emperor's most trusted families, and even the imperial family had to treat them with courtesy.
Indeed, it was a famous tale that a member of the imperial family who had disrespected Duke Rohan and resorted to violence was stripped of his status and exiled.
The family with the mansion closest to the Imperial Palace in the capital.
Wang-sik went there.
Seeing the palace in the distance, rage boiled within him, but for now, he had to endure it.
“Lennox Vega. I am here to see Lord Rohan Leit.”
He announced his visit to a soldier standing like a statue in full armor at the mansion's entrance.
Due to family tradition, the gatekeepers here wore armor one would expect to see on a battlefield.
“Do you have an appointment?”
The soldier, recognizing he was addressing a nobleman, asked politely.
“No. If it is an inconvenience, please tell him I will simply return another time.”
Perhaps because it was rare for a noble to be so courteous to a gatekeeper, the soldier politely asked him to wait and went to deliver the message.
A short while later, a man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties crossed the modest garden and bowed to Wang-sik.
“Please, come in. He is waiting for you.”
Having been granted entry, Wang-sik walked into the mansion, recalling his encounter with Rohan Leit.
It was at the first social party he had attended.
Annoyed by the women approaching him, he had passed them off to another man.
The man who, at the time, had mistaken Wang-sik's actions for help.
He was Rohan Leit, son of Duke Rohan and a member of the Imperial Knights.
The fact that he was willing to meet him without an appointment meant he still remembered that first impression.
‘Now then, shall I try to win over this prude?’
Wang-sik smiled as he stepped into the mansion.