Chapter 59 - Volume 4 (2/2)

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“Why does it seem like you’re going to tell her everything if she asks?”

Isaac’s eyes narrowed, and Cordnell flinched as he looked away.

“That might be the case for me, but the bigger problem would be those in the administrative department. I’d bet that they’d confess to her even if she didn’t ask.”

Isaac grumbled as he clicked his tongue. But he wasn’t going to fault his hubaes for it. It was an obvious course of action on their part.

The most obvious proof of success was their t.i.tle. Both commoners and n.o.bles tried their hardest to rise up in rank. This was even more apparent to the commoners, and it was obvious the scale would be tipped toward Rivelia rather than Isaac, since being friends with the Pendletons would be a ma.s.sive advantage.

“Well, let’s not focus on that for now. All of the districts other than the Ceta District are mine, correct?”

“Yes. All of the rights have been transferred to you without any legal issues. But things will get complicated once your t.i.tle of Lord’s Representative is taken from you.”

“What happens after that is none of my business. You are to go and bring me the syndicate bosses, who are probably busy s.h.i.+tting bricks right now.”

It seemed the news of Isaac calling out for the syndicate bosses had spread, and Kalden carefully approached the rooftop.

“I thought you were busy. Why are you here?”

“I believe Lady Rivelia will arrive here around noon tomorrow.”

“s.h.i.+t, that’s quick. I understand you guys joining her side, but I’ll warn you to be careful.”

“Huh? Careful for what?”

“Everything you’ve embezzled. That stubborn damsel won’t let it go just because I ordered you to do it. In fact, it’d encourage her to look even harder. Make sure you consult with Cordnell to hide it properly. I will defend you if you get caught, but I won’t be able to do anything if she gets persistent.”

Kalden’s face paled at Isaac’s warning. He was happy that he’d get to work with her until now, but it seemed that there was going to be a greater danger than there ever had been. They’d been embezzling without a care until now, so if a thorough investigation were to start, there would be an insurmountable pile of evidence against him.

“W, where is Mr. Cordnell?”

Kalden quickly looked for Cordnell, realising the fire was now under his foot.

“He’s gone to bring me the syndicate bosses. He’ll be here soon.”

And just as Isaac finished his words, Cordnell could be seen coming up the stairs. But the man that followed Cordnell was someone Isaac had never seen before.

“…What the, who is he?”

“He says he’s the newly-elected boss.”

Isaac tilted his head and questioned Rizzly.

“Have I made an order to replace the syndicate bosses?”

“Not that I recall.”

“Right? I don’t remember making it too. Did you guys replace them?”

Isaac asked Kalden and Cordnell, and they also shook their heads, just as confused as he was.

“Hm, the news of replacing the syndicate bosses would have reached at least your level… Who told you to be the new boss?”

Isaac asked the kind, calm-looking man. He greeted Isaac with a smile and a soothing voice.

“It is an honour to meet you, Sir Isaac. I am Max, the new syndicate boss.”

Isaac took out a cigarette as he heard Max’s introduction.

“Did I ask for your name? I asked who told you to become the new boss.”

“Dinozo, Milena, and Axlon have requested me to take care of their syndicates as they retired.”

“Retired?”

Isaac asked, and Max simply gave a smile, as if saying, ‘you already know what I mean.’

“What about smarta.s.s?”

“It is regrettable that he managed to escape, but there won’t be anything he can do now that he’s lost all of his foundations. All of the districts have been taken over by us.”

“Hm, so the syndicates voluntarily united together? And the boss of this newly united syndicate is you.”

“Yes. In truth, it’s a waste of manpower to have four bosses for such a small city. I will manage the districts thoroughly as the new boss.”

“And if I were to refuse?”

Max simply shrugged at Isaac’s question.

“The three syndicate bosses are already in my hand. The public order will worsen significantly because of the clashes which will undoubtedly occur between my followers and the remaining followers of the old syndicates. But if you approve of my rise as the new boss, I’ll be able to clean up the area quickly. And you will need me too, Sir Isaac.”

“I will need you?”

“Yes. The retired syndicate bosses would only hinder you, providing the new mayor with reasons to put pressure on you. But I am clean of all criminal records, and unlike these filthy criminals, I am willing to sacrifice my life for you and your conviction, which is to bring salvation to the people of this city.”

“Conviction? Me?”

Isaac couldn’t stop himself from smirking at Max’s words and nodded.

“Well. I guess it doesn’t matter who the syndicate boss is around here.”

“I won’t leave you disappointed.”

“But you know that I bought over all of the districts that you own right? Those districts are my fiefdom now. But having the t.i.tle of a ‘syndicate boss’ doesn’t match someone who is managing my land, right? So I’m planning to change the t.i.tle to my ‘representative.’”

“A representative you say? I will sacrifice my life before tainting your honor, Sir Isaac.”

Max bowed in admiration, while Cordnell and Kalden looked to him in horror. They could understand saying it’s an honour to meet Isaac as an attempt at flattery, but speaking of not tainting Isaac’s honour when Isaac’s ultimate goal is to live his life in peace as he plays around all day without a care about honour? They began to think that Max was more bizarre than he first seemed.

Isaac silently looked at Max’s back as he still bowed to him, and then he asked Rizzly.

“You still have the armour we found right?”

“Other than the ones we are currently using in the shooting range, most of them require some service.”

The armor Isaac found as he cleaned up the Meta District made quite the profit. As settled in the negotiation between Isaac and Debora, most of the armour was delivered back to the Marquis, but those that had been too heavily damaged beyond repair were being reused at the magical artefact range as dummy targets.

“Doesn’t matter. I just need it as a formality, so bring me one of those.”

Rizzly wondered about the reason as he walked down the stairs to one of the storage rooms in the city hall.

“Hm? Why are you bowing to me like that? We’re closer than that. Stand up, stand up.”

Isaac kindly spoke to Max, who seemed incredibly touched by Isaac. Isaac pulled out a new cigarette and asked.

“Being my representative and administering my land is a very serious task. That means you will become my knight.”

“R, really!”

Max looked to Isaac with both surprise and excitement, while Cordnell and Kalden couldn’t hide their bafflement.

Only counts or higher up in the social hierarchy could give out knightly t.i.tles. Isaac didn’t have the authority to give out such t.i.tles as a Rank 1 Knight. Plus, his t.i.tle as the Lord’s representative was going to be taken away when his mission finished, so how could he possibly declare someone a knight?

It was an obvious lie which could be seen through with basic common sense, but the strange follower of Isaac seemed to be too busy being excited about becoming a knight.

Rizzly came up the stairs with a set of armour. There was worry on Max’s face, as the armour seemed incredibly heavy at first glance. Of course, he wasn’t sure if he even had the strength to wear it. Isaac simply gave Max a rea.s.suring smile.

“Does it look heavy? It actually is heavy. But thanks to the magic that’s imbued in it, it’s not heavy at all once you wear it.”

“R, really?”

“Sure! Do you doubt my words?”

“H, how could I even consider that?”

“Right? It’s an incredibly valuable set; you could get tens of thousands of Giga if you sold it. This is a present for you, who will be performing my tasks as my personal knight. Go, wear it.”

“Ohoh! Thank you!”

Isaac kept pus.h.i.+ng Max to take the armour, and with a look of grat.i.tude, Max began putting the armour on with Rizzly’s aid. The size of the armour didn’t fit him, and the helmet was so heavy that Max couldn’t even lift it by himself. But once he put it on, he felt as light as a feather. He touched the armour in amazement and began hopping in place, testing it. Isaac asked Max about the armour.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“I swear my loyalty to you with my life!”

Max bowed to Isaac once more, and Isaac got off his chair and approached him with his arm outstretched.

“Hey, like I said before, there’s no need for a bow. Now now. Come here, and look at the city with me.”

Isaac placed his hand on Max’s shoulder and brought him to the edge of the roof’s balcony.

“Now, look! For as long as you work for me, this city will continue to thrive.”

“Ahhh….”

Tears could be seen on Max’s eyes as Isaac spoke. Isaac continued.

“But you see, there are so many people around who wish to eat me alive. Even though you are my representative, meeting you in official terms could bring unwanted attention. So I want you to refrain from coming in contact with me as much as possible. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir!”

“Good. Rizzly will be taking care of you from now on. If you have any problems or any worries, go talk to Rizzly. He’ll take care of everything.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir Rizzly.”

Max bowed to Rizzly when Isaac finished speaking. Rizzly tilted his head, wondering if he should receive the greeting, when Isaac let go of Max’s shoulder and called Rizzly over.

“You come here too Rizzly, and admire the city. You two need to get along from now on.”

Isaac insistently waved at Rizzly to approach. He did, although unwillingly.

“Don’t just stand there awkwardly. Why don’t you pat him on the back to give him some rea.s.surance?”

Max seemed confused at Isaac’s words when a smile appeared on Rizzly.

“Sure thing! It’s a common thing to rea.s.sure newcomers. You heard that? Work hard!”

Smack!

“Eeh? Uh, huaah!”

Max, who had been standing at the edge of the balcony, lost his balance when Rizzly hit him on the back. As the law of gravity dictated, his body fell toward the ground as Max screamed.

Isaac apathetically looked down on Max, whose arms and legs were twisted in bizarre angles on the ground. He then turned his head to Kalden and Cordnell.

“I’ll give you one hour. If the syndicate bosses are dead, I want their bodies in front of me. You go with them too, Rizzly, and take your North Bears with you. There may be those who might resist us.”

“Can we kill them?

“I thought you weren’t bothered about killing people.”

“Huhu, just asking.”

“T, there are too many witnesses here! How are you going to manage this?”

Kalden screamed out, aghast, and Isaac simply spoke out regrettably.

“Sigh! What an unfortunate accident. To fall from the roof after being too excited from receiving some armour. But I’m sure he’s not dead yet, since it’s not that high up here. Bring him back up. Well, it’s too bad if he’s dead.”

“… Is it an accident?

“What else could it be then?”

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