Chapter 120 (2/2)
Isaac clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Hm? Tsk tsk tsk. You’re still mistaken. I told you. It’s not the Pendletons. How come you and your men always come to the same answer? Or is that what seems obvious at first?”
“… I want to know the truth.”
“You really want to know?”
“…”
Wolfgang’s eyes met with Isaac’s, and Isaac clicked his tongue in disappointment before taking out a new cigarette as he answered.
“The truth tends to be cruel. It’s not the Pendletons. It’s Central.”
That sentence was enough. Count Wolfgang closed his eyes when the growing suspicion in him was confirmed. When he opened his eyes again, he looked eye to eye with Isaac.
“We were destined to lose.”
“Just for your solace, know that we too struggled to prop up those incompetent buffoons up until the end..”
“I thank you for your compliment.”
Wolfgang replied with a smile, as if the weight on his shoulder had lifted the moment he gave up everything.
“You were just unlucky. If it wasn’t the Lichten Family, everything would have turned out like you wanted. You just picked the wrong enemy.”
“Is that so. What’s the relations.h.i.+p between Marquis Lichten and Central?”
“The n.o.ble families descended from ex-Central agents created what’s called the ‘Pure Blood Confederation,’ and Lichten is one of them.”
“Isaac!”
Marquis Lichten frantically shouted out when Isaac revealed Central’s secret without hesitation. Annoyed, Isaac glared back at Lichten.
“Oi, old man, it’s rude to b.u.t.t in someone else’s conversation. Shut him up you guys. And you shouldn’t call out your superior’s name so casually.”
“…”
The Marquis flinched and stepped back in face of Isaac’s cold stare. Even if the Pure Blood Confederation was closely related to Central, they could just as easily be put down like Count Wolfgang if a Director of Central wished so.
“To think I’ll see that man not even squeak in terror like this. A great present you’re giving me before my death. I a.s.sume your rank is that much higher than his.”
“Central’s Director of Security.”
“Directorate of Security? First time I’ve heard it.”
“Because this is our first mission.”
“I see… But even if this is Central’s work, killing civilians to achieve your mission is abuse of power.”
“What’s a few civilian deaths to the destruction of an entire countdom?”
“You have a point.”
Count Wolfgang nodded in agreement, and he looked back at his men. Those who understood their conversation wore infuriated expressions, while others still wore a look of frustration, still not knowing what it meant but unable to ask the others to clue them in.
“I have a request.”
“Say it.”
“… Let my daughters live.”
Isaac looked behind Wolfgang, and Lady Elena held Laila and Julia firmly when she felt Isaac’s gaze was on her. Though she was a branch family, Elena knew well as she herself was a n.o.ble. Central did not risk their secrets from leaking. So they would kill everyone in this place.
Isaac felt keen interest when he saw Laila stare relentlessly at him without letting a single drop of tear escape her eyes, as if she wanted to engrave Isaac in her memories. Isaac approached Elena.
“No!”
Wolfgang’s men tried to stop Isaac, but they had no choice but to stop when Isaac’s agents raised their crossbows. Isaac smiled as he ignored Laila’s gaze.
“Would you like to make a deal?”
“W, what?”
“You can live. Because it’s difficult for me to deal with your family, which is under the protection of the Pendletons.”
“…”
“But even if you do, you are just a branch family of a Viscount. You will no doubt be poorly treated once you go back home.”
Isaac was right. A lady of a branch family, a widow who was married off to a n.o.ble line that had collapsed to ruin. A troublesome baggage that would no doubt bring political issues. There was no reason for her to be treated nicely.
“W, what do you want from me?”
Elena quivered as she responded, and Isaac spoke sweetly, like a devil seducing its victim.
“You are aware that the rights to your land are in my hands right? Die with your husband today. Then, in accordance with our contract, the rights to the land will pa.s.s on to your children. I promise you this as Central’s Director of Security. I will let no man or woman dare to try taking advantage of your children—regardless of their goals—until your children come of age.”
Returning the rights to this land to the official heir? It was an offer they couldn’t refuse. Elena’s body trembled as she felt her two children’s warmth in her arms.
“On whose will? This war is my victory! Transactions of the rights over territory are not allowed during war!”
The Marquis, who was astonished by Isaac’s claim that he owned rights to Wolfgang’s territories, threw a tantrum at Isaac’s declaration to pa.s.s the territory to Wolfgang’s children.
After everything Lichten had done to barely sc.r.a.pe together this victory, the Marquis would go bankrupt immediately if they gained nothing from it. Isaac clapped his hands as if he’d just realised something.
“Ah! I forgot. Lady, it won’t be the Countdom.”
The Marquis let out a sigh of relief—but only to be in dismay afterwards.
“I will return it to them as Dukedom, after I absorb the Marquis’ lands too.”
Everyone inside the room looked at Isaac dumbfoundedly while Marquis Lichten’s face twisted, the veins on his forehead popping.
“Absorb my lands you say? On whose wis.h.!.+ You think you can do whatever you want just because you’re the Director of Central?! The other Directorates won’t stand for this!”
Annoyed by the Marquis’s constant pestering, Isaac spoke out in irritation.
“There’s nothing wrong in the legal sense, you see.”
“How is there nothing wrong?! You made transactions of territory during war!”
“Ah. That is a problem in legality.”
The Marquis boasted triumphantly, but Isaac replied nonchalantly at the Marquis.
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