Chapter 81

Regina's tent, which was already tidy, was practically gleaming today.

Aside from the fact that the floor was dirt instead of tiles, it could have been compared to the meeting room at the headquarters.

“It’s a humble abode, but I hope you’ll understand. It’s a field camp, after all.”

Duke Leitche bantered as he swept his hand across the shiny tabletop.

Instead of replying, I just nodded and took a seat.

“You could at least give me an answer. Something like, this is good enough, or that it's truly so humble you can't stand the sight of it.”

“Can't we talk about that after we're done. Let's start with the important matters.”

“So cold. Though I suppose that is just like you, Count.”

The Duke grinned and plopped down onto a flamboyant chair that definitely hadn't been there yesterday.

“Before we begin, could you explain why we're all gathered here? I simply came to see my son, so why must I sit face-to-face with these bizarre things.”

Duke Leitche pointed a finger at Karl and Noah sitting next to me and scrunched his face as if he couldn't understand.

Despite the insulting words, Noah and Karl remained calm and unresponsive.

It was worth it to have given them a firm warning before they came in.

“I have no intention of bothering the Duke, who has come all this way despite his busy schedule. I have brought them here out of necessity.”

“Of course, you have. The Count would not have seated such things here without a reason.”

“There are two things I wish to discuss with you all gathered here. The treatment of the Duke's eldest son, Benjamin de Leitche, and compensation for the demon tribe.”

The wrinkles around the Duke's eyes twitched minutely.

He was feigning composure, but it seemed it was difficult to completely hide his anger.

“Is there something you don't understand?”

“To be honest, I don't know what you're talking about with either of them. Why must I go through the Count to see my own son? And what's this about compensating the demons? It's not like I've done anything wrong.”

It was the reaction I had expected.

He might be displeased, but he wouldn't be able to just storm out of his seat.

Because his opponent was Valheit.

“Please don't get excited, and let's resolve this one step at a time. First, let's talk about Benjamin.”

“I've already heard the gist of it from Regina. He's unconscious, I hear.”

“He is in a state where proper conversation is difficult. So even if you were to meet him now, you wouldn't be able to hear anything useful.”

“Does a father need a reason to see his son?”

The words were moving, but his voice didn't contain an ounce of sincerity.

He didn't even seem to be trying to hide it.

“I understand the bonds of blood, but Benjamin's well-being isn't simply a family matter, is it.”

“Was it?”

I smiled and waited for the Duke to speak.

I didn't know the specifics, but considering Benjamin's reaction in the River Troll village, Valheit and Benjamin were definitely connected.

There was no way the Duke didn't know that.

Since I knew nothing, I had to make the Duke speak first.

After a long staring contest with me, the Duke clicked his tongue.

“Right, right. I know. The Count also has the right to say a word or two to that fellow.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

No detailed information came out, but I couldn't ask any more here.

One wrong move and the Duke might find out that I didn't know much.

“I understand the shock must be great, having been captured by River Trolls. He'll need time to recover.”

“I'm grateful for your concern but what does that have to do with the Count? Are you planning to take him somewhere for treatment?”

“Yes, that's right. The Eight Council wishes to offer support for Mr. Benjamin's rehabilitation.”

“Ha, what a funny joke. To think Count Valheit would willingly offer to help another.”

The Duke brushed it off lightly.

But from the moment I mentioned treatment, the Duke must have realized this was no simple proposal.

Should I push a little harder?

“Ms. Regina, could you please tell us again in detail about Mr. Benjamin's condition.”

“He sustained various physical injuries while he was captured, but my brother's biggest problem right now is here.”

As if on cue, Regina pointed to her head.

Seeing the gesture, the Duke let out a short sigh and shook his head.

“What a foolish boy. He would have been much more comfortable in a Leitche prison.”

“Yes, Father, I'm sure he would have. However, my brother did have his reasons for making that choice.”

“What reason could a man who betrayed his father and then his country have. He's simply a fool.”

“Yes. He was a fool, just as you say. I suppose that's why he firmly believed that you would kill him, Father. And now that his mind isn't sound, he believes it even more strongly.”

“Persecutory delusions.”

The Duke clicked his tongue as he tapped on the desk.

He had probably realized why I was offering support.

“For Mr. Benjamin's recovery and to hear the full story, he will need stability for the time being. The presence of Duke Leitche will only hinder his treatment.”

“Those are harsh words. To say a father is an obstacle to his son.”

“That was not my intention. Please forgive me.”

I grinned and gave a slight nod.

With this, a plausible excuse was made.

“The Empire's medical care is certainly excellent, but what better medicine is there than one's homeland?”

Of course, the Duke had no intention of handing him over so easily.

The time for playing with justifications was over, and now it was time to apply pressure.

“I didn't know you had such sympathy for a son you've neglected for years.”

“I thought he would come to his senses on his own. Who would have known he was stupider than I thought and would get captured by River Trolls?”

Good.

The topic naturally shifted towards the trolls.

From now on, I had to press on without giving him a break.

“Wasn't it you, Duke, who sent those River Trolls to this swamp.”

“Hmm? Why would I?”

“Because you needed jailers to lock up your son.”

“Haha, what an imagination, worthy of the epitome of distrust. If I needed jailers to watch my son, I would have entrusted them to my own subordinates, not to demons, and especially not to trolls who are the very picture of stupidity.”

“I hear the time the River Trolls settled here in the swamp coincides with the time Benjamin fled to this place.”

I already knew he wouldn't admit it.

In that case, I had no choice but to present the evidence.

“Is that so? I have no interest in what happens in demon territories.”

“Then I suppose you also don't know that those River Trolls used subjugation magic.”

“Do I need to care what kind of magic the demons use?”

“Isn't the Leitche family famous for its subjugation magic?”

“It is. But there's no connection between the River Trolls using subjugation magic and our family. If you're going to be suspicious, you should start with my son. He had a talent for magic in his own right.”

“The River Trolls who caused the problem were dealt with by someone. Artificially, that is.”

“Perhaps there was some internal strife.”

I threw out a few more pieces of information that Ede had investigated, but the Duke's reaction was always the same.

In the end, it was all just speculation and circumstantial evidence.

“To suspect me with such conjectures, even for the Count, I feel a little, just a little, offended.”

“I didn't say it to offend you. I was merely seeking confirmation.”

“Then does this mean we're finished? May I go see my son?”

Looking at the slyly smiling Duke, I smiled back.

At my signal, Noah brought the machine in from outside.

Seeing it, a slight distortion appeared on the Duke's face.

“A gift? It's too crude for a gift from the Count.”

“You must know whose signature is written on it.”

“Professor Zain's signature. He has always been enormously proud, now and then.”

“It was discovered in the River Trolls' habitat. No, to be more precise, we caught someone moving it from there.”

The Duke's eyebrows twitched, and he shifted his posture.

“You should have told me that from the start. We've just wasted each other's time.”

“My apologies.”

“Regina, what did you do with the agents who acted on their own.”

“I dealt with them.”

“Hmm… as you should. We can't let those who can't even carry out a single order properly receive a salary.”

The Duke nodded his head with a satisfied expression.

His last words were tantamount to admitting the suspicions were true.

“Are you admitting it?”

“Well, we've both pretty much figured it out, so what's the point in hiding it? It's not like we're strangers. I pulled some strings to teach my son a lesson.”

“If that's the case, then wouldn't the Eight Council be better suited for his treatment than Leitche….”

“I refuse!”

The Duke cut me off cheerfully but firmly.

“I appreciate the Eight Council's concern, but this is a family matter, so there's no need for you to get involved. What you made was ultimately a proposal, not a command, was it not? It's not like you're the Commander. Even as a deputy, you're still just a deputy.”

The Eight Council is a loose organization.

There is no hierarchy among its members.

Except for one person, Anat.

“Of course. I have no such authority. Even as the Commander's deputy. That is why I brought up the second topic, the matter of compensation for the demons.”

If I couldn't command, I had no choice but to negotiate.

Fortunately, his frank admission of involvement with the River Trolls made things easier.

“No, I'm telling you I don't understand why compensation is being brought up when I've done nothing wrong.”

“These demon friends of mine will explain that well.”

I pushed my chair back slightly and leaned back comfortably.

The demon friends would do the rest.

“The surrounding demons have suffered numerous damages since the River Trolls arrived. From minor issues like trade routes to major ones like loss of life.”

“This is testimony we have received from the surrounding tribes.”

The Duke took the written testimony Noah handed him and passed it to Regina with a reluctant expression.

“It's just a matter between demons. I don't think Leitche would bear any responsibility for compensation.”

“That is correct. The Duchy of Leitche has nothing to do with it. The one who used the River Trolls and gave them orders must compensate.”

Noah said, looking pointedly at the Duke.

The Duke responded with a snort.

“Responsibility in the marketplace is something anyone can bear, but responsibility between groups and organizations, between organizations and organizations, I believe that is only possible when they are on the same level. I doubt the likes of demons have ever experienced such a thing, so they wouldn't know.”

“You are mistaken about one thing. This compensation is not being demanded of the Duke by the surrounding demons.”

“?”

“Lord Avantnik is raising the issue on behalf of the demons. As you know, Lord Avantnik and the Duke are equals. Within the Eight Council, that is.”

He was only reciting the words I had given him, but Noah's confident demeanor left the Duke momentarily speechless.

“…Is there a written demand from Avantnik himself?”

“He sent his first mate as a representative. Shall I call him now?”

“No, I don't think that will be necessary.”

The Duke glared at me and clicked his tongue.

He didn't seem to think that Valheit would have picked a fight without such preparations.

“What does he want?”

“The suspension of the pioneering project. It's a matter for the Duchy of Leitche, but it can be stopped at any time with a single word from the Duke, can't it.”

“I heard his pirate business has been going well lately, and now he's getting arrogant beyond his station. It's the end of days.”

He grumbled, but I could hear the gears turning in his head from here.

He would think it's premature to clash with another member of the Eight Council.

For now.

He would be more than willing to backstab him later, but that was still dozens of chapters away.

“You're proposing an exchange, Benjamin for the compensation plan, is that it, Count.”

“Rather than an exchange, we are offering to mediate. Wouldn't it be better to leave demon affairs to the demons?”

“I don't know when you started keeping demon minions, but well, you're not wrong.”

The Duke stood up from his seat and raised the corners of his mouth to an unnatural degree.

It was closer to a grimace than a smile.

“I don't want to get involved with that uncultured furball, so handle it well. I suppose I can see Benjamin later at the headquarters. Regina, you take care of the cleanup.”

Having imperiously dumped the work on his daughter, the Duke immediately walked out of the tent.

I grinned and waved at his back.

“I hope to see you again when the opportunity arises.”

“I look forward to it, Count. I'm also interested in this new side of the Count.”

I was about to add a few more words but closed my mouth.

Because the status window had blocked my view.

(Relationships)

Duke Leitche (2 / Worsening!)

(-) Annoyingly bothersome, unlike his usual self!

This much was to be expected.

Since I had thoroughly grated on his nerves.

What caught my attention was the notification icon on the Destruction Timer.

(Timer)

Valheit Death Probability: 41%

(+) Relationship with the Duke has worsened!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.