Chapter 74 (1/2)
Only with everyone’s efforts could Cordnell be pulled off of Isaac. Isaac, however, didn’t seem to mind Cordnell’s actions and spoke with a smile.
“I’ll overlook the fact that you grabbed at my collar, as I am a merciful ruler.”
Cordnell was shaking furiously at Isaac’s comment, and Kalden stepped out to speak in place of Cordnell.
“Do you know the procedures of forfeiting your n.o.ble t.i.tle?”
“Hm? Can’t I just say no?”
Kalden sighed deeply in response to Isaac’s answer.
“When the first in line of succession forfeits their inheritance, the candidate must officially announce their forfeit of inheritance and write a formal doc.u.ment with three members of the n.o.ble Court bearing witness.”
“I’d rather not go. Can’t I send someone else to do it instead?”
“There are too many past treacheries regarding inheritance. It’s one of the reasons why the number of hereditary n.o.bles has dwindled within the Empire. This is why you must prove that you have given up on the t.i.tle by your own will.”
“Geez. I don’t understand why people fight over something as petty as a n.o.ble t.i.tle…”
A mix of emotions welled up in the minds of everyone present when they watched Isaac click his tongue, as if he was a wise old sage looking down on the ignorant that were consumed by greed.
“And once you are done finalizing the doc.u.ments, you must partic.i.p.ate in the succession ceremony.”
“What! Why do I have to attend it when I’ve already given up!”
“It’s your last chance. Not only does the first in line of succession partic.i.p.ate, but a n.o.ble of higher rank, an agent of Central, and a military commander must also attend the ceremony. The inheritance is only truly forfeit when you remain silent throughout the ceremony. And once the ceremony is over, the agent of Central will ask one last time if the inheritance was forfeit out of your own will and not by blackmail or threats.”
“But won’t you end up lying to the agent if you are being blackmailed anyway?”
“If the agent of Central deems that the t.i.tle was forfeit because of blackmail, Central will immediately act. Even if the candidate does say it was out of their own will, if further investigations show that it was in fact due to blackmail that the candidate forfeited the t.i.tle, that n.o.ble family will be erased entirely. Such an act of deceit would be disgracing the n.o.bles and military commanders who attended the ceremony. Not even the Dukes within the Empire can oppose it if Central had taken action at that point. Ah, but the Dukedom of Pendleton is an exception.”
“That’s rather intricate.”
“That’s just how sensitive the inheritance issue is. It will bother you endlessly until it is resolved.”
“What if I stand my ground and don’t go?”
“The n.o.ble Court is a.s.sociated in this matter. They will kindly escort you if need be.”
The n.o.ble Court was an organisation made up of n.o.bles who put their lives on the line to keep the honour of n.o.bility alive. It had influence over the inheritance issue from start to finish, so announcing the forfeit of inheritance without attending the ceremony would be disgracing them entirely. They’d never let that pa.s.s.
“Ah, s.h.i.+t. I don’t even want to see the look of their faces…”
“Think of it this way. Count Milros and the Rondart Family won’t be bothering you anymore.”
“I guess you can put it that way.”
Isaac smirked in response to Kalden. He took out a new cigarette and inhaled the smoke deep into his lungs.
‘Is it all just a coincidence?’
The safest place for Isaac currently was New Port City. As long as he stayed here, no one could touch him. His term in office ending was an issue, but he was making preparations for it too.
But a problem he hadn’t considered suddenly appeared. And the situation had changed, which now forced him to leave New Port City. Was it all truly just a coincidence?
‘Now it is confirmed.’
The question that had been plaguing his mind ever since he escaped the mine – one of the many theories within his head – was now confirmed, but he still wasn’t sure about the reasoning behind it.
“Well, I guess I have no choice but to attend, since they’d go so far to invite me. Get ready.”
Kalden made a sigh of relief after seeing Isaac agree to the procedure.
“Yes. I will quickly make a team of escorts within a short notice.”
“A team of escorts?”
“Hm? Of course you need escorts. Were you planning to go alone?”
“Do I really need escorts?”
“… You have a point.”
Kalden couldn’t argue against Isaac’s reasoning. The effectiveness of Isaac’s protective gear was proven by the mine incident. Rumours spread that Isaac managed to survive thanks to the coat he was wearing, and people quickly inquired as to if they could purchase one for themselves. But once people got wind of its cost, the rumour quickly changed to proclaim that no man could possibly die wearing that after wasting so much money on it.
“That’s even more of a reason for you to have escorts. Everyone knows how much that coat you are wearing is worth. I’m sure there will be idiots out there who’d act before thinking if they see you walking around alone.”
Isaac was a walking treasure vault. His fas.h.i.+on style was what you’d expect from an ignorant rich man; it was impossible for him to avoid attention. Insignificant flies always flocked to center of attention, although their attempts would be like moths flying into the flame.
“But would there be idiots daring to touch a College graduate? When no one in this city could touch me?”
The syndicate bosses bitterly smiled at those words. The biggest reason why the syndicate bosses left Isaac alone was because he was from College. And that was the beginning of their downfall.
“Oh yeah, didn’t my sunbaes back in College say that they didn’t recognise my graduation? What happened to that?”
Isaac remembered the additional blow when the provincial war occurred. Everyone else smirked at the sudden mention of it.
“It just faded away as time went by. Even if the entirety of the College united in their attempts to make it happen, they couldn’t possibly speak out against someone who was acting on the Emperor’s orders. It just got buried under quietly.”
“So I’m still a College graduate right? Would there be anyone brave enough to touch me?”
Everyone nodded to Isaac in agreement. The greatest s.h.i.+eld Isaac had was the College. Just being hostile to Isaac was enough to have Central intervene. It may have been possible for idiots to pester Isaac and act like nothing happened if it didn’t work out if Isaac didn’t have this s.h.i.+eld, but the fear of Central would be enough of a deterrent to repel most people from trying to harm Isaac.
“But I must say, the situation is rather awkward. Kunette and Reisha have gone to College, and Rizzly took all the North Bears home, so there isn’t anyone left. I think I’ll need someone to do some ch.o.r.es for me. Any volunteers?”
“How about you ask one of the elves…”
“Take an elf with me you say? It’d be very interesting if an elf went traveling with me, huh?”
“…”
There was no answer. Kunette and Reisha were out of consideration in the first place, and the North Bears were also an exception since they weren’t here. But no matter what, an elf must not travel with Isaac. It was bad enough when those troublemakers were alone. If Isaac were to be fanning at their instincts from the side, who knows what kind of legends would be born from their trip to Gabelin alone. No, it’d be considered a miracle if the two could even arrive at Gabelin without getting sidetracked.
That meant that someone in this group had to volunteer but…
Everyone quivered at the horrors of imagining such a sight. To travel as just two for such a long time… what they would only see in nightmares would become reality.
“So who shall I take with me…”
Entertained by the reactions he was seeing, Isaac muttered and scanned the group one by one. The recipients were busy trying their best to avoid eye contact.
“Do you want to go?”
Kalden profusely refused by waving his hands about at Isaac’s offer.
“You already know how much work I’m currently tasked with!”
“Then how about you, Cordnell?”
“Who’s going to manage the finances then?”
It wasn’t just Kalden and Corndell, but all of the administrative body put up their excuses whenever their eyes met Isaac’s, stepping slowly backwards.
“It’d be so boring to travel alone….”
In truth, Isaac had no thoughts of having someone travel with him. All of this had just been a tease because he didn’t like the way they reacted. The fact that they were all suffering from overwork was one reason, but the biggest reason was that they might be unfortunate enough to end up dead just because they went along. At this moment, Trentor stepped up, his face crumpled as in a mix of emotions – almost as if he’d eaten something he shouldn’t have.
“Hm? What’s this? You’re volunteering?”
Trentor sighed when he received an odd look from Isaac.
“There’s no choice. Someone will have to go with you, so I decided that I may as well see the look of my family.”
“Were you from Gabelin?”
Trentor glared back at Isaac in discontent.
“Haven’t you read my resume?”
“There was a resume?”
“… I’m from the city of Danent.”
“Where is that?”
“Unbelievable! Shouldn’t you at the very least know the name of your home city?”
“Oh! Were you from the Rondart fiefdom?”
Seeing Isaac reply to his outburst with another question of curiosity, Trentor simply gave up on being angry and shook his head. Meanwhile, Isaac was trying his hardest to keep his laughter in check as he looked at Trentor. He had been speculating all this time, but seeing all the puzzle pieces match so perfectly gave him the a.s.surance that he was right.
“Then the rest of you are to go back to work. Trentor, get ready to leave.”
Everyone quickly left the rooftop as if their lives have been spared. The potential risk that they too might have to follow Isaac if they overstayed their welcome was a terrifying motivator for their hasty retreat.
“When are you planning to leave?”
“It’ll take a few days before Rivelia that damsel returns from Gabelin, right?”
“It’ll be about three days from now, since she’s already on her return journey.”