Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: The New Marquis
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The Bellaton Black Market.
Sera stood before Wang-sik, once again dressed in a revealing outfit. But as she saw Wang-sik's expression, her eyes narrowed.
“It seems I’ve matched your tastes today.”
Sera perched on the edge of the desk as if to show off, crossing her legs.
The black fishnet stockings enveloping her pale legs amplified her decadent charm.
As if sensing his gaze, Sera ran her red-painted nails slowly up her leg.
“Alright. I admit it.”
Sera was an intuitive woman. She had subtly changed her style each time she met Wang-sik, and today, she knew from his eyes that she’d succeeded.
“I win.”
With a victor’s smile, Sera sat on Wang-sik’s lap.
“Don’t push me away. I’m accepting this in place of a trophy.”
Sera lightly kissed Wang-sik’s cheek before slowly pulling back.
“Wasn’t it perfect?”
Wang-sik’s face had returned to its usual expressionless state.
“It was perfect enough.”
If only she wasn't a woman from Azelan.
He didn’t voice the thought.
“So there’s something more. Good. A man like you is worth the thrill of conquest.”
The word ‘conquest’ suited her well.
“Any other news about the Blood Fragment?”
“Unfortunately, no. There are no hints as to when I might find out, either. The only thing I can tell you is that there’s likely something in the Pool of Blood.”
Wang-sik had already anticipated that.
Unable to provide the information he wanted, Sera looked wounded in her pride.
“Meeting you always stirs up so many emotions in me.”
“What are you feeling now?”
“I feel sorry toward you and disappointed in myself. You truly are a cruel man. I can do so much, yet you obsess over the few things I can’t.”
Sera moved closer again, meeting Wang-sik’s eyes.
They were so close he could hear her breathe, close enough that a kiss at any moment wouldn’t have been surprising.
“How about asking for something I *can* do? I’m ready to accept.”
“I told you it wasn’t perfect.”
“You’re difficult.”
“Let’s talk business.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried you would just leave since we had nothing more to discuss.”
Sera smiled and stepped back, perching just her hip on the desk to best display her slender legs.
“This time, tell me something I can do.”
“A Gorgon’s Crystal Orb.”
At those words, Sera’s smile vanished.
Having seized the atmosphere, Wang-sik continued slowly.
“I know of a crystal orb of the same shape. The light inside is blue.”
“Where did you see it?”
“Am I obligated to tell you? This isn’t a place where sources are questioned.”
“Fine. Can I see it myself?”
“Not yet. I can get it, but that doesn’t mean I have it in my possession right now.”
Sera studied his expression for a moment. But no matter how she thought about it, Wang-sik wasn't the type to lie about something like this.
“What do you want for it?”
“The Magic Tower.”
A name even more shocking than the Gorgon’s Crystal Orb had been mentioned.
“All information on the Magic Tower.”
“That includes Grade 1 intelligence.”
“Then there’s no deal.”
“Oh, how disappointing. Shouldn’t a negotiation involve some give-and-take?”
Before Sera could approach again, Wang-sik spoke.
“This isn’t a negotiation. It’s an exchange. The Gorgon’s Crystal Orb for information on the Magic Tower. If either of us refuses, the topic will never be brought up again.”
His resolute words stopped her in her tracks.
She was always prepared, but not for this subject.
After a moment of contemplation, Sera’s expression suddenly changed, and she let out a soft chuckle.
“I always seem to lose to you.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Fine. I accept. But it will be all information up to this point in time. I will have no obligation to provide any intelligence gathered after this moment.”
It was a proposal that salvaged what was left of her pride.
“Good. We’ll meet again once the information is compiled. I’ll bring the item then.”
“Ten days should be enough. I’ll have it bound into a handsome book for you. Consider it a service.”
“I’ll wrap mine in fine silk, then.”
With the deal concluded, Sera approached to say her farewells.
She deliberately pressed her body against his and whispered in his ear with a sultry gaze.
“You can look forward to seeing what I’ll look like next time.”
Sera pulled away like silk sliding off skin.
***
Emperor Bartian was receiving a report from Bilton.
“A Giant’s Crystal Orb?”
“Yes. It seemed as if he just took whatever was there without much thought.”
He was listening to a report about Lennox Vega.
In truth, he hadn’t given Vega much thought since their first meeting. But today’s report concerning the 4th Princess, Orlina, had piqued his interest.
The Emperor wasn’t one to take a great interest in his daughters’ affairs or thoughts, but he never missed the royal family breakfast, held once every five days.
It was one of the few times they could see each other’s faces and speak personally.
Usually, the 4th Princess led the conversation and would even act charmingly toward him, whom everyone else found intimidating. But not today.
When he asked why she wasn't focusing on her meal as usual, the topic of Lennox Vega came up.
Upon hearing the name, the Emperor asked Bilton, who stood by his side like a personal secretary, about what had happened that day.
“When he saw the Blood Fragment, he looked as if he desperately wanted it.”
“Is that so?”
“Afterward, he met with the 4th Princess but showed little interest from the start. I was told he ended the conversation by saying this.”
Bilton recounted the fact without hesitation.
“That she wasn’t his type.”
“Heh heh heh!”
Bartian burst out laughing at the unexpected words.
Since it was rare for him to laugh like this, Bilton kept his mouth shut and waited.
Bartian’s laughter only grew louder.
“Hahahaha! What an incredible fellow. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“I am concerned the princess may have been hurt.”
“If she cannot conquer a man, then that is the limit of her abilities.”
Still smiling, Bartian asked Bilton.
“When is the title conferment ceremony?”
“Tomorrow. I hear Duke Rohan is hosting it on Your Majesty’s behalf.”
“I will attend the ceremony as well.”
The Emperor had personally conferred the title of marquis on a few occasions, so it wasn't particularly unusual.
“Will you be conferring the title yourself? Then I shall change the venue to the Imperial Palace.”
“No. The honor of a knightly house must be preserved. I will merely attend as an observer.”
“I will relay your words.”
Bilton bowed and withdrew.
The conferment of the marquis title upon House Lennox.
Wang-sik felt little excitement, but the event had a significant impact on the political landscape of the Azelan Continent.
Since the number of continental dukes had long been fixed at five, the rank of marquis was considered the highest attainable position among the aristocracy.
Of course, power varied even among marquises, but it was undeniable that the title, a step above count, held a special status.
There were exactly nineteen recognized marquisates in the entire continent, and House Lennox had finally become the twentieth.
Perhaps for this reason, there was much talk about this particular ceremony.
While House Lennox was indeed qualified, there were at least five other houses that had long met the qualifications.
The fact that they had been passed over in favor of Lennox carried heavy political implications, inevitably leading to much gossip.
—The Emperor is beginning to seriously check the Magic Tower.
This, ultimately, was the core of it.
By elevating Lennox Vega, his de facto enforcer, to marquis, he was adding weight to his efforts to keep the Magic Tower in check.
In any case, for various reasons, Duke Rohan’s estate was overflowing with people.
Once the Emperor’s attendance was announced, all five dukes changed their plans to attend in person, and even the marquises who had planned to send representatives donned their formal attire and showed up themselves.
Notably, the Hemian Temple sent two bishops and three high priests, lending their full support to Wang-sik, who held the position of Elder.
“My friend, in all my life, I’ve never seen so many people at a title conferment ceremony.”
“How many have you been to?”
“Hmm, five?”
“Isn’t that too few to make a judgment?”
“Having His Majesty and all five dukes in one place is one thing, but do you know what truly astonishes me?”
Leit was speaking with Wang-sik in his room on the second floor of the estate, just before the ceremony was about to begin.
“That so many women have come to a conferment ceremony. How is this possible?”
“Try looking like me.”
“I’m not exactly unattractive myself.”
“I know. But you’ve already chosen your path. And those women know it.”
He was already engaged to the very woman Wang-sik had helped, and the details were now being discussed.
“Focus on one, my friend.”
“What about you? Have you found one to focus on?”
“Unfortunately, no one here is my type. My tastes aren’t something I can find in a place like this.”
Realizing it was time, Wang-sik rose from his seat.
The title conferment ceremony proceeded without a hitch.
The problem arose after the ceremony was over.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but I need to escape.”
“Hahaha! So there’s something you can’t do! We should do this again!”
“If I do it again, I’ll become a duke.”
“It’s not as if you couldn’t do it.”
“True. I’m confident I could become a duke, but I’m not confident I can endure this.”
As he spoke, another person approached Wang-sik.
At the party held after the ceremony, he had already personally greeted over fifty people.
The problem was, there seemed to be no end in sight.
For now, it was the heads and children of various houses, but behind them waited a line of women with eyes full of desire.
‘Damn it.’
As he cursed inwardly, a stir went through the banquet hall.
The Emperor, who had been conversing with the dukes in a separate room, emerged. As everyone present bowed their heads, the Emperor spoke calmly.
“Everyone, raise your heads. I will be leaving now, so enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”
Hearing this, Wang-sik approached the Emperor with his gaze still lowered. As the guest of honor, it was his duty to bid farewell.
It was a natural procedure, so the Emperor thought nothing of it.
“Marquis Vega, do you have a request for me?”
The Emperor asked, expecting him to bring up the Blood Fragment. But Wang-sik said something entirely different.
“Please lock me in the imperial prison until tomorrow morning.”
“What?”
He asked again, a rare lapse for an emperor. Then, seeing the sincerity in Wang-sik’s expression, he burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! You always defy expectations. Very well. Follow me.”
“Thank you.”
And so, the noble who had just become a marquis that day followed the Emperor out of the banquet hall on the pretext of being taken to prison.
Once they were out of the hall, the Emperor stopped and asked.
“Is this far enough?”
“Thank you. I’ll hide for a bit before heading back.”
“You know where to draw the line.”
Wang-sik didn’t bother to reply. The Emperor then spoke, as if giving a warning.
“It’s fine to step on that line. I can smooth things over that far.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Having heard the answer he wanted, the Emperor turned and departed from Duke Rohan’s estate.
Wang-sik quietly watched the Emperor’s retreating figure.
‘It won’t take long.’
He was now acting as befitting Vega, the new marquis, but only one thought occupied his mind.
Wang-sik’s gaze turned back toward the banquet hall, from which music still drifted.
‘All of you.’
A world filled with enemies that he must kill.
That was what it meant to be on the Azelan Continent.