About ten days had passed since Fernan Pellenberg sent Aint Armian with mercenaries to the north.
The first prince of the Kingdom of Esrin, Ferant Esrin, noticed that something strange was happening.
“Explain yourself in detail!”
As soon as he heard the messenger’s report, he sounded the alarm and gathered all his close associates. The nobles who followed him gathered at his villa.
“Yes, your highness. Currently, Viscount Balrotan has gathered soldiers, and some divisions have moved near Mount Hagal.”
“Mount Hagal…?”
“Yes. Moreover, Count Flaris has abandoned his territory along with his guards. He is marching north along the main road and, if he continues, will arrive directly at Viscount Balrotan’s domain.”
Count Flaris was the father-in-law of the third prince, and among the nobles who supported him, he was the most powerful. Indeed, he was the unifying point of the nobles backing the third prince.
For him to suddenly head to Balrotan’s territory could only mean a serious problem had arisen.
“Mount Hagal? What’s there?”
At a noble’s question, the messenger lowered his head.
“Apologies, your highness, I don’t know beyond that…”
“Could it be that some special mine was discovered in Mount Hagal?”
“But why cause such a fuss just for a mine? Especially in the current situation…”
“Exactly. Even if they say they’re being discreet, their haste is far too obvious. They’re not even maintaining proper security…”
While the nobles speculated, trying to guess the cause, Ferant already knew better than anyone the real reason.
‘It’s Aint. Aint Armian is the one who caused this.’
Mount Hagal was the place suspected of harboring the corrupted nests, and that’s exactly where he had sent Aint.
The problem was he didn’t know whether the commotion meant the operation had succeeded or failed.
Until he confirmed that, he couldn’t reveal anything — not even to his closest allies.
“For now, let’s send more men. We need to find out what they’re hiding.”
“Yes, your highness.”
The first meeting ended without concrete measures.
However, the suddenly reinforced security prevented spies from succeeding, and all Ferant could do was pray for Aint’s swift return.
But one day became two, then a week, then two — and Aint still hadn’t returned.
Even so, the blockade on Mount Hagal hadn’t been lifted.
“We failed again. They say all access to Mount Hagal is closed off.”
“Anyone who raises even the slightest suspicion is captured and tortured.”
“Count Flaris still hasn’t left Balrotan’s territory.”
“What the hell is in Mount Hagal…?”
They tried everything to discover the secret — to no avail.
The daily meetings grew increasingly fruitless. Ferant felt anxiety eating him alive.
‘When will you return, Aint Armian…?’
It had already been over a month since his departure. A whole month. A terribly long time.
‘Could it be he failed?’
No. If he still hadn’t returned, it could only mean he had failed.
And yet, the third prince and his followers continued acting nervously.
That could only be for one reason — because it was Aint Armian.
‘If they kill him, it’s a problem, but if they keep him alive, it’s also a problem… Could it be they’re holding him prisoner and have reinforced their defenses to hide it?’
In that case, what should he do?
His instinct told him to mobilize an army and head north immediately.
But even as a prince, he couldn’t move troops against a noble’s territory without a clear justification. That would amount to accusations of treason.
‘I can’t let them keep Aint captive. I have to rescue him and use that as an excuse to pressure Tulwin…’
At that moment, a messenger rushed in.
Ignoring the presence of the nobles, he ran straight to Ferant and whispered something in his ear.
Immediately, Ferant rose from his seat.
“Your highness? What has happened…?”
“This meeting is over!”
Ferant’s face lit up with joy.
Aint had returned!
***
Theater and opera were noble pastimes.
Many enjoyed them knowing in advance how the play would end.
“Sorry for the delay, your highness.”
“You took too long. What happened?”
“You’ll understand when you see this.”
Aint handed him a recording crystal.
Even just knowing that Aint had returned safe and sound made the ending clear, but Ferant couldn’t stop his heart from pounding as he watched the recording.
— Take my hand, we can join forces.
The most shocking part was seeing Tulwin trying to win Aint over.
The recording showed the overwhelming number of monsters and corrupted surrounding them. For a moment, Ferant even suspected Aint might have fallen under Tulwin’s influence.
“…Could it be…?”
“Please, watch until the end, your highness.”
Tulwin’s voice reached its climax.
— If you need support, I’ll give you support. If you need troops, I’ll give you troops. If you need money, I’ll give you money.
He promised to give all the kingdom’s resources. Ferant clenched his fist in fury.
Who did he think he was? No matter how much he wanted the throne, how could he talk about selling the entire kingdom?
Damn you, Tulwin…!
— So don’t take my brother’s hand, take mine. I’ll be king, and you’ll be emperor.
Nonsense! He wanted to scream and punch him right then — but he couldn’t.
Because at that moment, someone unexpected appeared before Tulwin.
— That’s a ridiculous absurdity, your highness.
“…Fernan Pellenberg?”
He was the one who shut the third prince up.
“Yes, that’s me, your highness.”
“How is Fernan Pellenberg here…?”
“I’m the one who asked him for help. Without senior, we would’ve been in serious danger.”
And that was supposed to explain it? Fernan should have been at the academy — why the hell had he shown up in Esrin…?
— Does Esrin have more money than Pellenberg? How dare you talk about money in front of Pellenberg, your highness?
Despite his surprise, Ferant kept watching. Tulwin had no response to Fernan’s words.
From how it looked, the scene should have been satisfying — but still, Ferant felt uncomfortable.
Because what Fernan said to Tulwin could also apply to himself — without Esrin, he was nothing too.
— It means you were arrogant and did something foolish.
Then the recording showed the battle.
“Ah, during the fight the recording isn’t clear due to magical effects.”
“…I see.”
Aint quickly explained, though in truth he had edited the recording to hide the involvement of Hakon Kaelin and Rob Kaelin.
“Incredible…”
The recording ended showing Aint defeating the beast named Rahnas, and Prince Tulwin being captured.
“To defeat Rahnas… Aint, you truly accomplished something great.”
“I’m deeply honored. Without senior Fernan’s help, I never would’ve managed.”
“I’ll have to seriously rethink what I think of Fernan Pellenberg. May I keep this?”
“Of course. That’s why I brought it.”
“Good. Then tell me — where is Tulwin? And where is Fernan Pellenberg? According to this recording, no one died.”
Ferant straightened in his seat. From the moment Tulwin Esrin was captured, a growing unease had begun to creep into him.
“Is it what I’m thinking?”
“Senior Fernan told me something. That some merchants don’t pay mercenaries after the job’s done. So certain mercenaries collect payment first — and then actually finish the job.”
“They hid it.”
Haha… Aint laughed awkwardly.
“Did I misjudge you? Or is it more that…”
“Yes, it’s true. That was senior’s advice. I told him that His Highness would never do something like that, but he insisted that it’s always better to be thorough in everything…”
Even after cutting the part where Hakon Kaelin and Rob Kaelin appeared, the rest remained intact.
The reason was clear—to make evident how close the relationship between Aint and Fernan Pellenberg was, and to show that behind Aint stood Fernan.
That way, no one could take advantage of Aint’s naivety.
“Where is Fernan Pellenberg now?”
“With the third prince.”
“And what else did he say?”
“He advised me to sincerely express what I desired.”
“And? What do you desire?”
“I… don’t understand complicated things.”
He didn’t know what to ask for that would bring the greatest advantage to Armian. He was learning, but he still had a long way to go.
That’s why what he wanted was the simplest, most direct, and safest.
“Money. I want money.”
Money.
Even though Fernan had already injected a considerable amount of funds, they were still loans he’d have to repay someday.
And the more money he had, the more time and soldiers he could maintain.
“How much?”
“About…”
As soon as he heard the figure, Ferant held his breath.
“Are you aware of how much money you’re asking for?”
“Your Highness, if it hadn’t been for me, Esrin would already be in the middle of a civil war. Compared to the economic losses, land devastation, and human lives that would’ve cost, can you really say this is too expensive?”
“……”
Ferant Esrin pressed his lips together in silence.
In truth, he didn’t plan to take advantage of Aint.
Aint was the rising hero in an era plagued by the corrupted. Making an enemy of him would’ve been an unforgivable mistake.
But he wasn’t willing to hand over more than what was fair either.
After all, Aint was a foreign noble. As a future king, he couldn’t become a fool who gave away the kingdom’s riches to another country.
“No matter how worthy, this is excessive. I’m still just a prince!”
“But you will become king. With proof that the third prince allied with the corrupted—and captured by your own hands—will any rival remain?”
“……”
“And remember, it’s senior Fernan who has the third prince in custody. I don’t know if he’d be willing to let Your Highness try to haggle.”
“Are you threatening me? You know very well that abducting and imprisoning a foreign prince is a serious matter.”
Ferant growled, but Aint smiled calmly, without blinking.
“Do you think this is the only recording?”
“……!”
“Before talking about abduction or imprisonment, it was the third prince who first tried to kill us by allying with the corrupted. Isn’t that more serious?”
“And if it’s argued that the problem was your intrusion into Esrin’s territory?”
“When it comes to exterminating corrupted, do borders matter? Besides, we prevented Esrin from falling into civil war. If you want to take this all the way, go ahead.”
At that moment, Aint’s eyes turned cold.
“It’s disappointing, Your Highness. I came all this way at your request, I risked my life… and even then, you say this to me.”
“That wasn’t my intention…”
The light in Aint’s eyes made him come to his senses at once.
‘What am I doing? After working so hard to build a good relationship with Aint Armian, and now that he’s helped me, I’m going to make him my enemy?’
Besides, even if the demanded sum was colossal, it was still cheap compared to having saved the kingdom from disaster.
“…Fine.”
He had no choice but to give in.
“But I can’t pay that amount immediately. I have to become king first, and even then I’ll need to deal with the nobles. The payment will have to be made in installments…”
“I understand. Then, why don’t we put it in writing?”
Aint pulled out a pre-prepared contract. Ferant noticed it bore the notarial seal of the Golden Turtle Guild and let out a dry laugh.
“…How meticulous.”
“They say it’s more efficient this way.”
“Even if it sounds like an excuse now, I never intended to take advantage of you. I wanted to reward you properly, but your request far exceeded my expectations.”
“I understand. I know I’m asking for a lot.”
And with that—
Aint firmly crossed out the initial amount.
“…What are you doing?”
“I don’t think Your Highness was trying to take advantage of me. I also value our relationship.”
Then he wrote a new figure. It was barely a third of the original.
“I don’t want this to cause further conflict. What do you say? I think I’m already making quite the concession in your favor.”
Even so, it was still a fortune. And worse, the nobles would surely criticize Ferant for giving in too easily.
But—
“…Are you really willing to lower it this much?”
“Of course. It’s just between you and me.”
“Thank you…! I truly thank you!”
Indeed, compared to the first amount, the reduction was massive.
“I’ll never forget this generosity!”
Ferant Esrin signed the contract, moved.
— And so, by answering as advised by Fernan Pellenberg, things ended up like this… In the end, he managed to take from a great kingdom its entire monthly budget.
It wasn’t that Ferant was a fool. He had accepted because Aint had saved the kingdom from a civil war and because, at that moment, Aint was indispensable.
— Poor Ferant Esrin. Once he ascends the throne, the nobles won’t leave him alone.
Gardner clicked his tongue, pitying him.
____
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