Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135:
Victor drank the cold tea and massaged the bridge of his nose.
The ordinary-looking man sitting in front of him waited expressionlessly until Victor had emptied his teacup.
"Semia was captured."
"Yes."
He let out a short sigh.
The sense of relief that Semia had survived was greater than the frustration that the job had failed.
It was an assassination mission that he hadn't expected to succeed from the beginning anyway.
"The Count's reaction?"
"He requested help from his collaborators."
"The smugglers and pirates, you mean?"
"If the collaborators the Count could mobilize were only such low-quality folk, it wouldn't have been a problem in the first place."
The ordinary man answered calmly.
Well, the old snake wouldn't have only that many cards in his hand.
The smugglers and pirates were probably just the ones he could use most lightly.
"It means that Semia’s sacrifice was worth it."
"Is that what you call consolation in Leitche?"
Victor muttered as he noisily cleared away the empty teacup.
There was only one reason for approving the insane plan to kill Valheit at his own base.
It was to bring Valheit's organization to the surface.
Not just within the Empire, but all the organizations he had sown outside of it as well.
As long as the Emperor and Valheit were on the same side, time was not on Johann Geller's side.
Still, the Emperor, who moved within the framework of politics, was predictable, but there was no telling what kind of move Valheit would make.
Putting Northern Federation smugglers and White Continent demon pirates in a Duke's land was something only the Count could do.
'The problem is that we know nothing about that organization.'
The Three Blades were also aware that Count Valheit had a considerable force outside the Empire.
However, since he was also a frequent collaborator with the First Duke, and he slipped away like a loach whenever they tried to grasp his true nature, he was pushed far down the priority list.
The First Duke had ordered an investigation a few months ago after seeing the Count leaning towards the Emperor, but there had been no significant progress.
Criminals from the Northern Federation, barbaric demons from the White Continent, greedy Vestol merchants, insidious Leitche informants....
There were more than enough people suspected of being connected to Valheit, but they couldn't find any conclusive evidence of their connection.
"I'll say it again, our Ravens are willing to provide more information to the First Duke-nim at any time."
"I'll say it again too. Thanks, but I refuse."
"......"
The guest from Leitche remained silent again.
Victor tapped the empty teacup and fell into thought.
Certainly, with the help of the Ravens, they could easily obtain information about the organization Valheit had hidden away.
After all, these suspicious folk were also certainly Valheit's collaborators.
'That's why I can't trust them even more.'
The information the Duke of Leitche had given as a gift of cooperation was certainly helpful, but at the same time, it was extremely suspicious.
There were more than one or two instances where important parts were omitted or downplayed in the information given by the Ravens.
Especially in the parts related to the Ravens or Leitche.
'The old man also urged me never to make promises easily.'
The First Duke was also wary of this untrustworthy collaborator.
He didn't know the reason why he decided to join hands with him despite that, but Victor also agreed that they should receive as little help as possible.
"Was it Ivan? Or was it Rus?"
"...I've been using the name Ivan recently."
"Ah, right. Thanks for your cooperation. If there's any progress in the investigation, I'll contact you again through your subordinate in the Imperial Capital."
"Then I'll be on my way."
"On your way out, could you call the guy named Hugo who's probably slacking off outside."
As Victor smiled and waved his hand, he stared at the spot where Ivan had quietly exited and muttered to himself.
"Did he think I wouldn't recognize him just because he fixed his face a little."
Victor remembered the Raven spy who had introduced himself as Ivan.
He was a man who had worked for Vestol during the war.
He'd rather trust Valheit than a guy like that.
"Is something on your mind."
"Just thinking about old times."
Victor shrugged his shoulders at Hugo's question, who had arrived at some point.
"Tell them to track down Valheit's collaborators based on the data the Raven bastards gave us."
"Understood."
Hugo nodded and went outside.
It was a meaningless conversation, just repeating an order for a task already being done, but that wasn't the point.
Victor checked the note Hugo had placed in his hand.
A short line was written on it.
'Maintain contact with the old snake.'
***
A cold breeze from the lake swirled in the reception room.
Outside the shattered window, the ground of what was once a garden was overturned.
For security reasons, repairs would take over a month, but since I had to avoid bringing guests inside as much as possible, I decided to use the shattered reception room as it was.
"I heard about it, but I didn't think it'd be this busted. If ya want, I can bring my boys over and fix it for ya."
"I appreciate the thought. But there are security issues."
"We took this chance to clean up all the little rats, no, should I say little birds? Anyway, ya can trust us now."
Cesare grinned, making a throat-slitting gesture.
Though I was grateful, I shook my head for now.
"I clearly said I was fighting Johann Geller, so why did you touch Leitche."
"There's no one who doesn't know that the Duke and the Count's relationship went sour 'cause of the First Duke. I was just cleaning up in advance."
To be precise, it was because of the Commander, but I didn't bother to correct him.
If he knew the Commander was involved, he might react emotionally.
"Well, I always thought those Raven bastards hanging around were an eyesore anyway."
In the original novel, the relationship between the two was not good because the Duke did not authorize Cesare's 'business' in Leitche.
It was a setting that didn't matter much since Cesare died early on, but now that circumstances had changed, it helped in making a definite ally.
"I also asked the Duke for cooperation, so this is troublesome."
"Ha, are ya serious?"
"As if."
I answered Cesare's question with a similar chuckle.
It was a request for cooperation sent as a declaration of war, and the Duke had responded by sending a long letter of excuses and refusing, so there was no reason for me to be troubled.
"What are that old geezer Duke and the Duke up to? Besides raiding my businesses, that is."
"They're threatening the other Dukes or tailing us. It's not at a threatening level, but it is annoying."
Even though Semia was captured, the Three Blades moved even more actively without a care.
It was as if they had predicted Semia's capture.
The Ravens hadn't made any big moves, but according to what Regina had tipped me off, they were definitely supporting the Three Blades.
I didn't know the reason, but it wasn't to the level of providing lavish support.
"I'm hurt that ya say it's not a threatening level. My ambitious business is on the verge of ruin 'cause of them."
Cesare grumbled.
In any case, he was the one who had suffered the biggest loss so far.
Because the easiest targets were the criminal enterprises run by Cesare.
Of course, saying it was on the verge of ruin was an exaggeration.
All the raided places combined didn't even amount to 10% of the octopus legs he had spread in the Empire.
That's how deeply the Northern Federation's business was rooted in the Empire.
"I called you to discuss that matter. I can't ask for help and then just let you suffer losses."
"Now we're talkin'."
"There are a few places that could be profitable in the short term."
After the last Dukes' Council meeting, the Dukes who feared the investigation had become passive, but most of them supported Johann Geller.
Except for Chartra, who was a loyalist and didn't care, and Sicilienne, who remained neutral on this issue, it was safe to say that all of them, with only a difference in degree, shared Johann Geller's opinion.
This time, the targets were those riffraff Dukes.
Cesare, who had scanned the list I had prepared in advance, furrowed his brow.
"These are all just riffraff. To be honest, the underdeveloped ducal fiefs aren't profitable."
"That's right. Because I'm not asking you to go in for the money."
Cesare tilted his neck from side to side, and a cracking sound was heard.
Seeing him like this, it really hit me that he was a gang boss.
"These regions are suffering from various problems, big and small. Repeated famine, excessive taxes, endless hard labor, and even the slave trade."
"......"
At the mention of the slave trade, Cesare's slouched face hardened.
His expression was calm, but sparks flew in his eyes.
"These are all places that don't receive attention for the simple reason that they are a Duke's fief. Our goal is to let the Imperial Capital know what is happening in the lands of the Dukes."
Although the nobility still lived in splendor in the Empire, public opinion in the Imperial Capital and its surrounding areas had become important.
Because both money and political power all gathered in the Imperial Capital.
"Are ya sayin' to make an accusation? That's not really my area of expertise."
"I never said we would use such a timid method. I plan to go much louder. Didn't you buy an Empire newspaper company last time?"
"...When did ya find that out."
"What does that matter? The important thing is that we have everything we need. We just need an ember."
"Are ya askin' me to create an incident for people to bite and tear at?"
"If you strip away all the complicated political talk, then yes, that's right. You'll need to make a ruckus. To the extent that the Imperial Army has to be mobilized."
It's better for the Empire to step in than for a Duke to do it.
It was important to be seen that way.
Johann wouldn't give up over just that, but it could limit his options.
"What do I get out of it?"
"Of course, I'm not asking you to do it for free. His Majesty the Emperor is quite interested in the Northern Federation's gambling business...."
Before I could finish my sentence, Cesare stood up from his seat.
Huh?
Did he not like something?
I still have more carrots prepared?
"Hey, why are ya gettin' so serious over a little joke. I'll help ya even without somethin' like that."
"...?"
"There's no way I'd put conditions on killin' slave traders. Of course, I won't refuse what you've prepared."
Brushing off the dust from his hat, Cesare looked straight at me.
It wasn't a look of suspicion or anger.
"I've decided to bet my stakes on ya, Count. Just like I bet my stakes on the boss when I joined the Eight Council."
It took a little time to translate, but it seemed to mean he trusted me.
Trust?
Valheit?
"At times like this, ya can just say thank ya for trustin' me."
"Is that so?"
"I'll bring ya good news in a few weeks. Ah, and please be sure to tell the Emperor that the Northern Federation is very interested in that gambling business talk."
"I will."
Even after Cesare left the empty reception room, I sat in my seat for a long time with my eyebrows furrowed.
'Trust....'
I thought I had been building trust with those around me in my own way, but hearing someone openly say they'd trust me felt awkward.
Maybe it's because I've been living as Valheit for a long time.
It was a word I hadn't heard in a long time, but it didn't feel bad.
"Caw!"
As I was lost in sentiment, a grating sound brought me back to my senses.
When I turned my head, I saw a raven hopping around, not knowing what to do because there was no window.
Recently, I had been twisting the neck of every raven I saw, but this one was different.
Because there was a yellow band tied to its leg.
It meant it was a messenger sent by Regina.
When I took out the letter, a familiar handwriting greeted me.
To Count Valheit.
Til, except for the Count, do not open under any circumstances....