Chapter 199
Chapter 199: The Master of the Trade Route (36)
Southern border city, Southton.
I stepped out from the building of the knights stationed there.
The high ramparts connected to a long flight of stairs.
As I descended the pure white steps, a swarm of people rushed toward me.
I knew exactly who they were.
The Daily Times.
The Imperial Newspaper.
Even Gold Morning was here.
They were seasoned journalists from the Empire’s most prominent news agencies.
The crowd that had gathered looked up at me and began firing off questions without pause.
“The interrogation is over—what was the result?”
“You’ve experienced your first investment failure. How are you feeling?”
Until now, everything I’d done in this life had been a string of successes.
Perhaps that’s why, the moment I lost the principal I had invested in Anes, the reporters swarmed like hornets.
“I was declared not guilty in the interrogation.”
First, I made it clear that I wasn’t a criminal.
From the beginning, I was closer to an undercover agent.
“As for the investment failure, I’m taking it more calmly than expected. People can’t succeed all the time, after all.”
I adjusted the collar of my dress shirt as I continued.
“I had hoped the new drug would bring relief to those suffering, but that hope was crushed by the vile greed of a select few. It’s deeply regrettable.”
This was the moment I had to clearly distinguish myself from them.
The reporters stared at me with fierce eyes, judging whether I was a predator to tear apart, or merely a victim.
So I opened my mouth with eyes full of sorrow.
“That’s why, through the Erian Foundation, we’ll be establishing a children’s charity for patients suffering from pneumonia.”
“But the Erian Foundation must have suffered considerable losses as well, and now you’re saying you’ll establish a new charity?”
The reporters asked again, dumbfounded.
A few even frowned in disbelief.
“It’s alright. Only my personal investment was lost. The foundation hasn’t suffered in any way.”
Not a single cent of company funds had been used.
I was investing in the patients solely with my own private wealth.
At that, the reporters glanced at each other and whispered.
“This new foundation will prevent corruption like this by publicly disclosing all profit structures and sponsorship details.”
I gestured to the knights’ building I had just walked out of.
Lud and Anton were still inside, under investigation.
I was the only one who had come out early because there was nothing left to examine in my case.
“I despise those who toy with people’s lives.”
“How do you plan to secure the investment funds?”
I was about to answer that I would accept donations and invest more of my personal wealth again.
But at that moment—
A voice called out from the direction of the building I had exited.
A voice that was once the most beautiful and cherished to me.
“We’ll be the ones to sponsor it.”
‘Echina…?’
I quickly turned my head.
And then, I saw a coachwoman dressed in stylish attire.
“Since we’re all gathered here, make sure to take this down clearly. I support Roger’s Erian Foundation.”
A Northern Grand Duke’s daughter so graceful, she remained elegant even in a hunting cap.
“Wait, isn’t that just a coachwoman? What is she saying all of a sudden?”
“No, look closer at her face. That’s definitely…”
The bewildered reporters peered at the woman’s face carefully.
And then, as the radiant sunlight reached even beneath her hunting cap—
Their lips fell open in astonishment.
Because the one who had come here…
Was none other than the Grand Duke’s daughter of the North.
199. Master of the Trade Route (36)
Southern border city, Southton.
I stepped out from the building of the knights stationed there.
The high ramparts connected to a long flight of stairs.
As I descended the pure white steps, a swarm of people rushed toward me.
I knew exactly who they were.
The Daily Times.
The Imperial Newspaper.
Even Gold Morning was here.
They were seasoned journalists from the Empire’s most prominent news agencies.
The crowd that had gathered looked up at me and began firing off questions without pause.
“The interrogation is over—what was the result?”
“You’ve experienced your first investment failure. How are you feeling?”
Until now, everything I’d done in this life had been a string of successes.
Perhaps that’s why, the moment I lost the principal I had invested in Anes, the reporters swarmed like hornets.
“I was declared not guilty in the interrogation.”
First, I made it clear that I wasn’t a criminal.
From the beginning, I was closer to an undercover agent.
“As for the investment failure, I’m taking it more calmly than expected. People can’t succeed all the time, after all.”
I adjusted the collar of my dress shirt as I continued.
“I had hoped the new drug would bring relief to those suffering, but that hope was crushed by the vile greed of a select few. It’s deeply regrettable.”
This was the moment I had to clearly distinguish myself from them.
The reporters stared at me with fierce eyes, judging whether I was a predator to tear apart, or merely a victim.
So I opened my mouth with eyes full of sorrow.
“That’s why, through the Erian Foundation, we’ll be establishing a children’s charity for patients suffering from pneumonia.”
“But the Erian Foundation must have suffered considerable losses as well, and now you’re saying you’ll establish a new charity?”
The reporters asked again, dumbfounded.
A few even frowned in disbelief.
“It’s alright. Only my personal investment was lost. The foundation hasn’t suffered in any way.”
Not a single cent of company funds had been used.
I was investing in the patients solely with my own private wealth.
At that, the reporters glanced at each other and whispered.
“This new foundation will prevent corruption like this by publicly disclosing all profit structures and sponsorship details.”
I gestured to the knights’ building I had just walked out of.
Lud and Anton were still inside, under investigation.
I was the only one who had come out early because there was nothing left to examine in my case.
“I despise those who toy with people’s lives.”
“How do you plan to secure the investment funds?”
I was about to answer that I would accept donations and invest more of my personal wealth again.
But at that moment—
A voice called out from the direction of the building I had exited.
A voice that was once the most beautiful and cherished to me.
“We’ll be the ones to sponsor it.”
‘Echina…?’
I quickly turned my head.
And then, I saw a coachwoman dressed in stylish attire.
“Since we’re all gathered here, make sure to take this down clearly. I support Roger’s Erian Foundation.”
A Northern Grand Duke’s daughter so graceful, she remained elegant even in a hunting cap.
“Wait, isn’t that just a coachwoman? What is she saying all of a sudden?”
“No, look closer at her face. That’s definitely…”
The bewildered reporters peered at the woman’s face carefully.
And then, as the radiant sunlight reached even beneath her hunting cap—
Their lips fell open in astonishment.
Because the one who had come here…
Was none other than the Grand Duke’s daughter of the North.
And then, I gave an order to the Holy Knights.
“You must be tired from waiting on the reporters. Would you kindly let them rest now?”
“Yes, Your Grace!!”
The Holy Knights very politely escorted the reporters away.
In response, the reporters, stumbling backward, insisted they just had one more question.
“You’re really quite immature, aren’t you? Why are you making things so difficult for Lord Roger?”
The Saint looked down coldly at the two Grand Duchesses.
In turn, they let out scoffing laughs and shook their heads.
“Feeling anxious now that we were the first to speak up?”
“A-Anxious? Not at all! We just thought it was time to share some information about Lord Eric.”
Eric’s sentence.
For now, I decided to focus on that.
“What happened to Eric?”
“It’s been officially confirmed that he was behind it all. He’ll probably receive a prison sentence.”
‘Perfect.’
A prison sentence would legally require him to resign from his position as CEO of Luton Construction.
With no more streams of income, he’d also have to sell off all his family shares.
“Congratulations, Roger. At last, even your final political opponent has fallen.”
The Saint extended her hand in a very formal gesture of a handshake.
I gladly accepted and shook her hand.
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to everyone here.”
“Is that so…? You’re saying it’s thanks to me?”
But then, at that moment—
Though I expected the Saint to remain all business, she let a faint smile curl on her lips…
And gently laced her fingers with mine.
“Then, may I ask for a little ‘help’ from you in return?”
“Of course. Please, just say the word.”
I forced a smile as I asked, and the Saint whispered very softly,
Let’s talk about that once we’re upstairs.
“……”
The two Grand Duchesses looked sullenly at the Saint as she stepped closer to me.
They muttered in disgusted tones.
“She’s no different than the rest.”
“Seriously. What about her even resembles a Saint…? The Empire’s future is grim.”
They sighed deeply and waved their hands in exasperation.
Their knights cleared a path for them, and with that, our passionate southern business had finally come to an end.
“Let’s head up now, Roger. My father wishes to see you.”
“My father too. Since both of them are already in Nord for the party, let’s visit them together.”
‘So that’s why the party got delayed—both Grand Duchesses sneaked off down here.’
Once we got back, I had a feeling I’d be on the receiving end of some intense glares from two giant men…
Still, I needed to report that I had dealt with Eric, so I had no choice but to go up.
“Understood. I have no further business in the south either. Let’s depart right away.”
「――――――」
The road back, winding up through the mountains.
At that moment, I thought I’d finally be able to return in peace.
But for some reason, in the back seat of the four-person carriage…
“Hey, Istina, doesn’t that Saint woman take terribly poor care of herself?”
“Right? She’s way too plump.”
“Oh my, why are you complaining to me about your own poverty?”
The three women were crammed together, forcibly squeezed into the seat.
And not just any seat—into the two-person bench directly across from me.
“If you're uncomfortable, can't one of you just sit next to me…?”
I asked with the most matter-of-fact expression I could muster, but the women, pressed shoulder to shoulder in the tight space, all rejected the idea at once.
“That’s not happening.”
“No way.”
“There’s an unspoken rule.”
‘Rule…?’
When I tilted my head with a sly, fox-like gaze, they waved me off, telling me not to worry about it.
“You just rest. You’ve worked hard going undercover.”
“That’s right, Roger. You’ll need to be in good shape to enjoy the party, won’t you?”
But how was I supposed to sleep with all of them staring holes through me from across the seat?
With an awkward smile, I poured each of them a cup of tea.
In the end, I only managed to fall asleep after a whole day had passed—deep into the dawn.
Perhaps it was because I had finally crushed my old enemy, and all lingering regrets had faded away.
For the first time in a while, I fell into a deep, restful sleep.
The three women across from me were the same.
All at once, they closed their eyes, each envisioning their upcoming schedule in Nord.
Outside the carriage, the hoot of an owl echoed through the countryside.
There were no inns along this rural road, so even the coachman had fallen asleep by the campfire he’d lit.
Though escort knights were present, they were stationed at a distance, resting at their own camp.
Thanks to that, the area around the carriage was deathly still.
So quiet, you wouldn’t even notice if someone launched a surprise attack.
――――――
A contract assassination group favored by some of the most powerful people in the Empire.
Dark Moon.
A place so deadly that barely any information about them was known to the public, teeming with assassins.
Rogues wearing masks—agents of that organization—began to gather around the carriage.
“Begin.”
“Yes.”
At the order of what appeared to be the leader, one man opened a pouch.
Then, he began to scatter a white powder into the air.
“……”
A sleeping powder that put anyone who inhaled it into a deep slumber.
The coachman’s eyes gradually closed, and he collapsed onto the fallen leaves, completely unconscious.
“They said not to kill him. Just ruin him enough so he can never take the successor’s seat.”
“Understood.”
Four rogues approached the carriage.
Each carried a chilling dagger designed to sever human nerves with precision…
And slowly, they opened the carriage door.
Aiming at the target inside, peacefully asleep.
But—
There was one thing they didn’t know.
The Saint and the two Grand Duchesses.
It was only natural for each of them to ride in their own carriage…
But just for today, they had all gathered in one.
“Who dares set foot here?”
The lioness of the Empire—an Imperial swordmaster.
Her blue eyes gleamed coldly, even in the dead of night.
“Sleeping powder? How adorably quaint.”
The Saint, possessor of the Empire’s greatest healing magic.
With serene grace, she brought her hands together, erecting a barrier against the sleeping powder.
“These are Dark Moon bastards, aren’t they? Who paid you off?”
The Empire’s top entrepreneur and strategist—the Western Grand Duke’s daughter.
She raised the small firearm she had developed herself with unwavering confidence.
“…?”
The assassins blinked dumbly at the living nightmare unfolding before them.
“This… This isn’t anything like the intel we got, Chief…”
They turned to stare blankly at the fox-like man sleeping so peacefully inside.
Apparently, his worth was far greater than they’d been told.
“W-We’re falling back—now!!”