Vol 3 Chapter 14 (1/2)
Chapter 14
Chapter 3 Episode 14
Editor: mrtanen
Day 19th, 8th Month, the Year 2812, Western continent calendar: (Negotiation 2)
”You What do you want?”
The Earl who had been silent finally opened his mouth
He already had no intention to pretend and hide the truth The tone of his voice had changed co down at his opponent
He threay his pretentious ilance
The Earl then reiven the information to Mikoshi+ba Ryouma He was still unable to find the reason why she did not move on her own
Although such a juicy piece of infor the Earl down, she did not use it herself
And the person who received the information from her came to the Earl, and not the Royal family
(Which means, there's one possibility… Did he want to blackmail me?)
It was soaining information that could be turned into money
Although the man in front of the Earl was also a noblein It was norhtful and siold or power
(Fuh, stupid Do you think I will obediently pay you? No, rather, if I really gave you the money, ould you do then, huh?)
If Ryouma had really wanted to blackmail the Earl, he should have never showed his face directly Once a blackmailer let his identity be known, he would lose one of his strongest advantages
However, the Earl's expectation was betrayed by Ryouma's reply
”Let's see I want to make a trade with the Earl”
Despite receiving the Earl's cold gaze, Ryouma's voice did not falter
He faced the Earl head-on
”Trade? What do you want to trade? I thought for sure you would want to blackmail me”
Both the Earl and his wife stared at Ryouma ariness
With the way the atmosphere around them had become, the word ‘trade’ could be said to have had an element of extortion So the Earl's ears e as that
The same could be said of his wife
That hy the Earl and his wife kept looking at Ryouma with suspicion
”Blackmail, huh? I did think about it, but that is not what I meant If I were to do that, I'm sure your Excellency wouldn’t hesitate to cut me down”
In response to Ryourin
That was exactly what the Earl was thinking
After all, the threatened person should never lightly let off someone who threatened them Because if they did, the extortion would never end
Two times, three tis fro until he was robbed blind of all he possessed, be it riches or power
That hy the Earl decided that he would never bon to blackmail
Even if he were to hand over so the blackmailer
”I see To be able to understand that, for a man as once a commoner, you're not bad at all”
Five years had passed since the day he began to embezzle the salt vein
Although this secret was strictly concealed, there were a few people who ed to find out about it However, it never reached the ears of the Royal family because the Earl had swiftly dealt with thos
e ould disturb the clandestinity of his operations without mercy
The Earl hierous That hy he did it carefully and with no lack of ruthlessness
”Dear I' that Baron-sama wants to sell to us”
”Indeed Well then, Baron Mikoshi+ba What is the item that you want to sell?”
The Earl asked the question after hearing that his wife's curiosity had been piqued
His tone, although still condescending as ever, was now h-handedness and was no longer looking doards the former commoner
Right now, the Earl was dominated by his own curiosity The Earl wanted to knoas the thing that Ryouma wanted to sell for the trade
”Please look at this”
Ryouma pushed the prepared documents towards the Earl and his wife
”This is”
”This is a contract, right?”
”It is the contract regarding the transfer of the salt vein”
Following Ryouma's statement, the couple quickly confirmed the contents
”Indeed But”
”What does this mean? There's no money required for us to pay written in these documents”
The couple's doubts were natural
Since Ryou, he should have written the selling price, but there was no such thing on the documents
”I've coetting paid with money”
The Earl and his wife showed puzzled expressions after having heard this
”Then, what do you want froe?”
”I want the Earl to become my backer”
”What do you mean by that? I’ve already told you last time that I will help you as much as I can, haven’t I?”
Towards the Earl's words, Ryouhtly If that hat Ryouma really asked, it could be said that the Earl had already delivered
Certainly, previously, the Earl had promised to take a friendly attitude towards Ryouma and to assist him as much as he could
However, that was not the Earl's true sentiment
After all, he was being ordered by Queen Lupis to ed to do so in order to avoid possible attention towards his defalcation of the rock salt vein
So in the end, the truth was that the Earl did not genuinely want to help Ryouma At least until now
(I see Instead of pretending to be helping him, he wants me to truly help him, huh)
The Earl now understood Ryouma's wish
(Well, it's not like I didn’t want to help him at all Besides, co down orders, this man knohat courtesy is, especially the part where he did not ask for any money in return In addition, he see a former commoner)
Ryou his expression lifted up the corners of his mouth into a smile
(As expected, it was the right decision for old from him, huh? Well, he needs money to the point that he embezzles from the Crown after all That's why there's no way for hiement of the vein is already in his possession Even if the vein is sos to me, he's not someone ould compensate me even if I were to demand it of him)