Chapter 117 (1/2)
“The Marquis delayed their compensation to the families of the fallen, you say?”
“Yes. With the war likely to drag on for a while, they are trying to stem their expenditures.”
“How long are they delaying it for?”
“They say they’ll make due on their payments once the war is over.”
“By then, everyone who’s struggling to make a living will be out on the streets! You think the Department of Administration will just stay put?”
It was paramount that compensation to the families of the dead was immediate. How else could they continue their livelihood. Not to mention, if the Marquis were to lose the war, all of its burdens would be s.h.i.+fted to the Count, and if the Count were to protest that its responsibility was entirely on the Marquis, months to years would be spent idly in the law courts, all while families of the deceased would be waiting helplessly. Therefore, the Department of Administration could not let this pa.s.s.
“Um… It may be because of us.”
“Why?”
“They cited the anonymous compensation through the Seven Grand Merchant Guilds as their excuse.”
“Tsk. It seems there’s always someone who tries to abuse the charity of others. Then again, this is one of humanity’s special traits. It’d be strange if it didn’t happen. But the Department of Administration wouldn’t have just accepted that pathetic excuse by itself?”
“It seems the Strategy had their hand in it too.”
“What meaningless hindrances…”
The Directorate of Strategy must have intervened in this, what with their lack of any friendly ties with Isaac. If the war was prolonged, they could dump all financial responsibilities on Isaac.
Even if Isaac was sitting on a fortune, he was bound to take a severe hit if things progressed this way. It was obvious what the Strategy’s intention was. A move to force Isaac into a blunder through recklessly. It’d be nice if it succeeded, and it wouldn’t matter if it failed.
“What shall we do?”
“You’d think they would reconsider at least once or twice before provoking me, what with all the history between us. Just how incompetent do they take me for? I was planning to stay on the line but sc.r.a.p that.”
“… What are you planning?”
Saints worriedly asked Isaac.
“Didn’t we receive a new guest from the Marquis as the Chief Promoter recently?”
“Yes. The troublemaker Viscount Aintz, youngest son of Marquis, arrived.”
“The youngest son? Ah! That dumba.s.s who botched the first battle? I guess even the Marquis is done dealing with his stupidity and decided to keep him in here. That’s going to make my job easier.”
“Shall I bring him here?”
“Hm? What could I possibly achieve by bringing him here? Tell Smarta.s.s to give him a very relaxing, luxurious stay. Let him enjoy everything. Alcohol, women, gambling, and more. You tell Smarta.s.s to keep that man so deep in debt he’ll have no choice but to reach out to his family for help, and Smarta.s.s will know what to do.”
“So you’re going to keep the Marquis in debt even if they win?”
“Debt? Debt exists to be repaid. Now that I think about it, all these Marquis’ have issues with their halfwits and numbskull sons. Is that why they’re high n.o.bles?”
TLN: This is a pun in Korean. 후레자식 is an insult meaning “ingrate” or “son of a b.i.t.c.h,” and the word for “Marquis” is 후작 (taking the first letter and combining 자식 into 작).
Saints didn’t comprehend the meaning in Isaac’s comment, but Isaac’s snickering clued Saints into the boring joke. Saint’s heart trembled, fearing another one of Isaac’s insane plots.
After their first deployment, Isaac stayed in New Port City, receiving information at his desk and only handing out orders. The agents seemed to follow his orders to the letter, likely because they didn’t want to see Isaac in such a frenzy again. They hunted those who were suspected as turncoats within the Count’s ranks and handed over all the supplies they stole to Saints.
Ever since what had happened in Marquis’ supply base, Rivelia watched and reported Isaac’s every move with absolute vigilance. But on rare occasions, she’d be spotted staring blankly into the air, worrying those around her.
Isaac didn’t care about Rivelia’s act and spent his time idly, handing out orders to his agents, who had been divided into three separate task forces. For the few missions significant enough to warrant his partic.i.p.ation, Isaac took Rivelia with him. And every time he did, countless civilians died alongside combatants, not even counting the ma.s.sive collateral damage.
The war between Count and Marquis had been prolonged. Everyone expected the war to end within a month despite its large scale, yet the war was at a fierce stalemate with each side neck and neck. Some began to worry at the state of war, but the public didn’t dare presume the presence of someone behind the scenes orchestrating this result.
“You’re telling me to complete the mission quickly? I thought I didn’t have a deadline on this mission?”
Isaac complained about the news Mazelan gave him.
-You think we aren’t aware of what you’re trying to scheme?
Isaac shrugged nonchalantly at Mazelan, who seemed colder than usual.
“You’d have to be a fool to not know, since I never bothered to hide it.”
-… Every single one of them are precious citizens of the Empire.
“About that. I’m not from around here, so I don’t have any attachment to them.”
-Isaac!
Mazelan shouted out furiously, and Isaac replied with a cruel smile.
“It’s not the innocent lives of the Empire you’re missing, but the waste of manpower from the deaths of the soldiers. Do the Empire’s n.o.bles not count as innocents here?”
-… Did you figure it out?
“I’d be a fool if I didn’t figure it out. In fact, isn’t this precisely the reason you guys left this to me?”
Mazelan let out a deep sigh before he asked.
-How much do you know?
“Really, do I even need to know about the intricacies? Especially when all I need to do is accomplish the mission?”
-Please cut us some slack. Even the Seven Grand Merchant Guilds are complaining.