Chapter 49 - Volume 3 (2/2)
“…”
A cold silence fell on the plaza. Everyone lost their words when they heard such an unbelievable number come out from Isaac’s mouth. Anton quickly regained his senses and shouted back.
“W-what do you mean by that!”
Anton’s astonished voices were replied by Isaac’s calm voice.
“What do you mean? It’s the costs for all of the services Dogman used while we were waiting for the trial to start. I can’t let him stay here for free now, can I?”
“B, but that’s not the problem!”
“Then what is the problem?”
Isaac looked as if he truly didn’t know the reason behind Anton’s question.
“The hundred million Giga! That doesn’t make sense at all!”
“Well, let’s see. I’ve clearly stated in our laws that those who use New Port City’s goods and services without a ticket are subject to their costs being adjusted by the Lord himself. What can you do when I decide to sell my goods and services at a high price? You shouldn’t have bought it in the first place if it was too expensive!”
Everyone was at a loss for words. This was almost like the thief scolding his victims after getting caught stealing.
“You crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
“Why are you saying that to me? Dogman already signed the I.O.U because he ran out of money and wanted to buy with credit. Shall I show it to you?”
Isaac waved a stack of papers in his hand that was given to him by Soland. Anton looked at Isaac while gritting his teeth.
Tricking the great master was easier than taking candy from a baby, especially with his inferior mental state. He would have signed it without a care as long as those around him fueled his arrogance.
“I will say that the court session is over since you’ve paid your fine, but you still need to repay your credit. I’m not letting him leave until he repays it all. Huh? Wait a minute. What if he just gives up on everything in prison because he doesn’t have the money? Hm, I can’t possibly let him stay for free. What should I do…”
Everyone was sickened by Isaac, who seemed like he was thinking about the most pointless problem at this point. Isaac, on the other hand, seemed to come up with an excellent answer.
“Aha! It’s fine as long as he doesn’t sleep in my territory. Rizzly, make a giant steel cage and float it in the ca.n.a.l. Lock him in the cage until they pay up. That is beyond my district, so I wouldn’t need to worry about lodging fees. Huh? He might drown you say? Just make a small breathing hole too. Wait, no! The cage will need my metal, so I need to be paid for the cage itself too. Ha! What a problem. Is there a better way to solve this problem?”
“Are you asking to fight the Marquis over the death of some peasant?”
“Who says I’m asking for a fight? I’m just telling you to repay your debt. Well, I’m always open to readjusting the debt if you were to negotiate with me. If you’re open to negotiation, that is. Kukuku.”
It was Isaac’s revenge at the Marquis, who refused all negotiations because it would tarnish his pride.
“Isaac!”
All of the knights drew their swords at Anton’s shout. A murderous atmosphere overwhelmed the incredulous mood.
“I guess Marquis Duberon really is great after all. Drawing swords in preparation to rampage through the middle of a plaza like that. I wonder what Central will think if an army were to rampage through another city when it’s not for war?”
Isaac’s sarcastic comment made Anton and his knights flinch. Central’s biggest mission was to find and eliminate all possible rebellions. Killing Isaac wasn’t a problem for Anton, but if they gave Central reason to intervene, the Marquis would have no choice but to abandon Anton and the knights regardless of how much power he had.
Anton hesitated for a moment, which was enough time for the North Bears and Rizzly to shapes.h.i.+ft into their bear forms and surround Anton, while elves lined up on the rooftop with their bows drawn at the knights.
“Kyaa! It’s Mr. Frazer! You look amazing with that bow!”
“Look! It’s Mr. Mirvaden, the winner of the race! Kyaa! Look over here please!”
“Ang! Mr. Rizzly, you look adorable!”
Was it a mistake to involve the elves who worked in the Escort service too? All of the women in the plaza screamed in excitement when they saw the elves. The elves reflexively waved at the women in response, and the screams grew louder.
Even Isaac was confused when the atmosphere of the situation unexpected flipped on its head. Meanwhile, Anton sheathed his sword, and the knights followed suit after a delay.
“You will regret this.”
“Didn’t you say that last time? Hurry up and bring me the money to repay your debt. The longer you delay, the larger it will become.”
“Kihihi! Bring me more booze! I’ll drink everything you throw at me!”
Dogman still didn’t seem to understand the situation he was in as he continued to laugh and shout. Isaac asked a question as he watched Dogman’s behaviour.
“Is he acting like that because he’s drunk, or did he always have a screw loose in his head?”
“…”
There was no answer. All of the employees and hubaes had collapsed on the floor, too devastated to utter a single word.
“Huh? Why are you all like that?”
“Because now you’ve become an enemy of the Marquis.”
Isaac frowned as Soland gave him the answer.
“Who says I’m fighting him? I’ll make sure to release him as long as they pay up.”
“That’s how most fights break out.”
“Really now?”
Isaac smirked as he watched Dogman scream his throat away. He then promptly ordered Rizzly.
“Take that noisy fool somewhere else.”
With that, two North Bears grabbed each arm of Dogman and dragged him away. The knights flinched at the sight, but they held back from making any reckless actions and instead looked to Anton for orders.
Anton seemed like he was about to shatter his own teeth with the force he was gritting his teeth. He stared intensely at Isaac and then turned away.
“We will retreat for now.”
“But…”
“Stop! Do as you are ordered.”
Anton silenced the Knights with a single order. But just as he was about to lead the knights away from the plaza, he was called to by Isaac.
“Oi, wait.”
“Do you still have something you need to say?”
“Hm. It’s not much, but I think it’ll be nice for your order of knights to know about this.”
“…”
Anton folded his arms as if telling Isaac to try him. Isaac grinned and turned to Soland, who signalled his men that had been waiting at the edge of the plaza.
“Huh? What’s this?”
“Portraits?”
“There’s a number of them. Why is he handing these out?”
Soland’s minions handed out the portraits they had been working overnight to the people.
Many of the people muttered to each other wondering about the portraits, but the knights turned stiff when they saw the portraits. Especially when some of the minions handed out the portraits to specific knights with a giant, sinister grin despite having their faces covered behind their helmets. Those specific knights could only shudder at the sight. It meant they’d already figured out who they were and what they’d done.
Isaac savoured the taste of his cigarette as he waited, and once enough of the portraits had been handed out, he began to speak.
“The portraits you see now have been released throughout the Empire. The crime they have committed is a.s.saulting the Blue Roses of New Port City. Anyone who brings the head of any one of them will be given a hundred thousand Giga as a reward.”
Everyone lost their minds when they heard Isaac’s announcement.
“That’s nuts! He’s going to pay a hundred thousand Giga for some thugs that a.s.saulted a prost.i.tute or two?”
“Impossible! How much money does he have?”
While the crowd grew louder, the knights were growing more and more tense, and the direct culprits turned pale under their helmets.
“Blue Roses.”
All of the women, dressed in fine clothes with a blue rose etched into the left chest of their clothes, looked to Isaac.
“Do they call you filthy wh.o.r.es who sell their body for cash?”
The women’s faces sank at those words. Deep down, they knew it was a fact, but hearing those harsh words directly stabbed deeply at their hearts. They too had dreams, but the cruel reality simply grabbed at their feet and dragged them down instead.
“So what? Is there a problem? Raise your head. It’s not like you’ve committed a crime.”
Isaac’s calm voice lifted the faces of the women.
“What’s wrong with using your body to survive? I don’t expect you to have pride in your work. It’s not really honourable work in the first place. But don’t feel inferior about it either. Raise your head. For your survival! For your families! To escape poverty! You’ve abandoned your future as women and sold your bodies, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about it. Be confident. While I am here in New Port City! Anyone who treats you harshly just because you sell your bodies will be arrested and sent to the mines no matter their birth, and I’ll pay whatever is necessary to catch them if they ever escape.”
“…”
With Isaac’s speech done, each woman placed their hands on the shoulder of the woman next to them and bowed as they bent their knees. It was the greatest honour they could offer Isaac.
“It’s been a hundred years since I’ve last seen this.”
Lanburton quietly muttered to himself as he watched from afar. It was a salute that was both forgotten and known to everyone at the same time. It was the greatest salute one could do to another, no matter what race they were. Even emperors found it hard to receive such a salute from someone.
And it was given to Isaac by some of the dreamless, vengeful people of the slums who were overflowing with discontent at their society. A strange silence and an emotional mood began to set over the plaza, and Isaac shattered the mood completely.
“What are you still doing here? The court session is over! Drop the useless act and get back to work! Bring in that money!”
‘He’s not saying it out of embarra.s.sment. He truly feels nothing at what has happened.’
Lanburton used the elves’ innate ability, the eyes of truth, to look into Isaac. It was a great honour for one to receive that salute from another. But Isaac truly felt as if all of it was pointless.
‘This is why humans in this world and the other are so fun.’
Smirk!
Lanburton smiled as he moved his feet to volunteer for Escort service again, which became his hobby. Surprisingly, there were many women who found Lanburton to be their type, and he was quite popular among the ladies.
Urgent Report
We have confirmed that the great master Dogman, successor to Marquis Duberon is a type 4 invader.
Mental dysfunction observed due to incompatibility.
Requested to aid the Marquis in return for securing the type 4 invader.
Agreement made, armed intervention expected from the Marquis.
Altered project 401 abolished.
To continue following the original project 401.
Unable to protect Surveillance target 728.
To disregard target.
Addition. Prevent contact between type 4 invader and surveillance target 728. Prioritise the recovery of type 4 invader. If unable to stop them from meeting, permission to eliminate surveillance target 728 is granted.
In a dark meeting room where just enough light was let in to identify what was inside, there was a rectangular table with ten or so people seated at their place.
The person seated at the lowest seat looked to the person at the head of the table and complained.
“Why did you make this decision?! It is still possible to appease surveillance target 728.”
“The recovery of type 4 invader is a cover-up.”
“What?”
“We have confirmed that the ‘demonic’ turncoat has hidden itself in New Port City.”
“That’s…”
“Recovering the faith of the Queen is of higher priority than the life of a surveillance target. This was the only method we could use to not alert the turncoat. Arrest anyone who tries to leave New Port City in fear of war. Once the Marquis takes control of New Port City, send in the agents to search for the turncoat.”
“…”
“The Queen is doubting our abilities over the fact that the turncoat managed to infiltrate her laboratory. The Queen or the surveillance target; you know which is of more value to us, right?”
“…”
“Don’t bother yourself over this mission. In fact, why don’t you take a vacation?”
“Do you not trust me?”
“It’s to make sure our work is done thoroughly. This is an order.”
“… Yes sir.”
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