Chapter 56 - Volume 4 (1/2)

The reason Marquis Duberon’s family desired New Port City was simply for the money. The Marquis’s family was so inflated with pride and the honor of names that it transformed into greed and arrogance. They wanted something which no one else in the world possessed, and the order of battle knights was exactly that. It took almost ten years for this order of battle knights to be ready for battle, their swords and s.h.i.+elds sworn as the honorable protectors of Marquis Duberon.

All of the knights were selected when they were just children after being tested for their talent in battle. The family provided them with expensive but nutritious food and educated them in manners and every kind of culture. Their weapons and armor were crafted by the famous dwarves and tailored to each individual.

The process was arduous and painful. Funds ran dry as the project went along, but their pride wouldn’t allow them to give up on the project. They were like fools who bought a luxurious car beyond their means, unable to maintain it with only their a.s.sets and ability but taking loans in order to do so. They pushed onward out of fear of the sneering and mockery that they’d receive from those around them. The Marquis slashed the budget for their administrative body, raised taxes, and laid off employees. Their pride won out at the end, and they completed the project, although at a heavy cost. Everything else in the Marquis’s territory was in shambles. With their vault empty, the cracks in their administration began to expand. The biggest problem was that after emptying their entire treasury to create this order of knights, they had no purpose. Armies were organisations which only consumed resources, and the knights were perhaps the greatest examples. Providing a thousand knights with food, salaries, and equipment was a great burden on the Marquis, who was already drowning under heavy debt. They were playing a game of chicken; would the the order of knights disband first, or would the Marquis go bankrupt before then? But in this moment, a ray of hope appeared in the form of New Port City.

If they got their hands on New Port City, their coffers, which were as vacant as a desert, would be filled to the brim. They even had a good excuse, provided by their lost cause of a prince. They used all of their manpower and connections to force their claim on New Port City to go through while expecting fierce resistance. They were, however, met with cooperation from the government, which quickly responded to the Marquis’ demand.

Of course, there was a secret deal happening in a back room, and they had their suspicions as to why they wanted the lunatic of a prince. But they decided that giving up on an insane successor to maintain the strongest order of knights was worth the trade, regardless of the government’s aim.

It was very obvious that those within the Marquis’s territory would descend into chaos when they received the news that the knights, who were supposed to come back with the promised victory, were instead annihilated. Before they could recover from the shock of losing their knights, the Emperor’s decree made it clear that it was now impossible for them to gain New Port City and all that they were left with was an enormous debt. With no way out, the only option now was for the Marquis to declare bankruptcy.

“Honestly, having nothing to do is the best feeling.”

Isaac smiled, satisfied as he wasted his time drinking fruit wine and smoking cigarettes while basking in the sun on the rooftop. It was a scene bound to be the subject of ire of his hubaes and merchant employees, who were busy carrying out his orders and supervising the removal of the rubble in the Meta District. That didn’t include the refugees and the doc.u.ments, which needed to be processed in preparation for the new Mayor, who would most definitely work unlike Isaac. Sadly, they didn’t even have the time to witness Isaac’s laziness.

“Perhaps it feels ever more so because we were so busy until recently.”

The North Bears and elves were dealing with guests, whose numbers were beginning to return to their previous heights, and they enjoyed the streets of New Port City. Thanks to the Arc Royale’s surprise visit, they now had a fairytale-like story to boast about. The guests listened closely to hear about how the Arc Royale acted, which they’d never get to see in their lives, and the speaker would be encouraged to continue. The only people dying in work were the hubaes and the merchant employees.

“I know. I wish the rest of my life could be like today.”

As Isaac wished into the sky, Soland came up the stairs with a stiff face.

“What’s the problem? There’s no issue with taking over the districts right?”

“Yes. Most of the lands in New Port City were owned by Port City, but it was done so through the name of a representative in New Port City. So we simply made deals with these representatives, making it perfectly legal.”

“Make sure you give the actual owner of the land double the price of the land and clearly state that the land is sold. They can take that as a gesture of my generosity, since they won’t get anything if their representatives ran away with the money.”

“… Yes sir. We’re currently hard at work finis.h.i.+ng the ordeal in one fell swoop.”

“So did you come up here to give me this report?”

Soland hesitated for a moment before he continued.

“Well… There’s someone who’d like to see you.”

“Now they’re starting to ask you for a chance to visit me? You do know you’re risking your life for this?”

Isaac never approved of a meeting from those outside the city unless it was truly important or they were of special relations with him. It was an obvious course of action for Isaac, since most of these people were only aiming to take Isaac’s wealth in the form of requests, investments, or some special business projects.

Soland was also aware of the situation, but if he still decided to go ahead, it either meant that Soland had gone over his head or he believed it was significant enough to require Isaac’s attention. Although, just because Soland found it important, it didn’t mean Isaac was going to think likewise.

“Well, since it’s you who’s asking, I’ll show my face. Bring that person here.”

Isaac nodded in approval, but Soland hesitated again.

“Well… the person asked for a private meeting.”

“Hoh. So not only did that person ask to meet me but also told me to come to them? It must be quite an important person.”

“…”

Soland flinched at Isaac’s smile and began to doubt whether he was really doing the correct thing. But as someone who was in the know with Isaac, he could tell that there was nothing good that was going to come out of this meeting if it were to happen in public.

“Well, fine. I may as well pay them a visit since I’m bored. I’m looking forward to the meeting now. You do know I hate being disappointed, right?”

“…”

Soland led Isaac to Milena’s district. It was the same room where the syndicate bosses gathered for a meeting when Isaac first arrived in new Port City.

“Hohoho. Nice to meet you, hubae. You’re better looking than I thought. I am Debora Whiskus Duberon.”

“…”

As soon as Isaac entered the room, he was greeted by a woman with a warm smile. She was quite a beauty, with her exceptionally tall stature and sharp nose. Her elegant eyes and long thick hair were fiery red. Isaac couldn’t stop himself from looking down, where her plump bosoms were further highlighted by the design of her dress. But Isaac’s eyes quickly noticed the golden stars which shone brightly on her left chest.

“Well, well. I didn’t know you were my sunbaenim. It’s nice to meet you.”

The nine stars decorating her chest meant she had graduated from the College in just nine years. It was proof that she was talented enough to impact the world. Isaac expected the Duberon family to send someone, but he didn’t expect the delegate to be a woman. A genius among women who graduated from the College.

Debora seemed quite intrigued by Isaac’s reaction, locking their arms together and leading Isaac to a chair while staying right beside him.

“So what was the reason you wanted to see me privately?”

“Oh dear. You’re cutting straight to the point? It’s no fun when a man rushes things.”

Debora, who sat opposite to Isaac, crossed her legs, and her dress opened to expose her smooth legs and thighs.

“I get a little anxious when I hear the name ‘Duberon,’ you see.”

Isaac seemed unshaken despite Debora’s attempt to tempt him. Debora’s eyes shone, and she straightened her posture and looked straight at Isaac.

“I am having quite a headache. I’ve been warning those idiots in the main family all this time, but they still went ahead with the creation of that order of knights and ruined everything.”

“Should I say sorry?”

“Hohoho. No. In fact I am grateful.”

“Ho, it’s a relief to hear that I was of help.”

It was a mystery as to what Debora found funny, but Debora laughed. She then got up and sat on Isaac’s lap. She wrapped her arms around his head and whispered sweetly into Isaac’s ears.

“I want to take over the Duberon family. Can you help me?”

Isaac smiled at Debora’s blatant act of seduction. He reacted with a smile and placed his hand on her waist.

“Do I have the power to do so?”

“Hohoho, of course you do. With your help, I’ll be able to weed out the idiots in the main family and take the seat of the family head.”

Debora pulled Isaac ever closer as she whispered, and Isaac grabbed tightly at her waist with one hand while the other carefully caressed her smooth thighs.

“So what do you need me to do?”

“Hohoho. It’s so nice of you to be understanding. I’m really starting to like you.”

Debora laughed and gently bit on Isaac’s ear, and Isaac grabbed tightly at Debora’s thigh.

“I need money to clean up the mess those idiots at home made. A lot of money. Can you help me, hubaenim?”

“And what will I get in return?”

“I wonder? I’m in a bit of a hurry too. To the point where I wouldn’t mind a rumour that I sold my body. Well, I don’t care if the rumor happened to be true.”

Debora’s red eyes s.h.i.+ned.

“Hm… 6:4?”

“I think you’re being too cheap. 8:2. I’ll need at least that much to be able to boast about it back at home.”

“Dear me. I think that’s very difficult, considering I have multiple projects which require money too.”

Isaac rejected her proposal, and Debora placed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s on Isaac’s shoulder and seductively whispered into his ears.

“8:2. And you get to have me. How about it?”

Isaac smiled.

“Man. Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse.”

“Hohoho. So we have a deal?”

Debora kissed on Isaac’s cheek as an act of sealing the contract. She got off Isaac’s lap and began to excite Isaac with pa.s.sionate eyes.