How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 118

130. It’s Just Business (2)

“I’ll get straight to the point. I don’t want to hear any other nonsense.”

Marquis Selond openly expressed his displeasure.

“I’ve heard about the cause of this failure. …Are you telling me you knew and hid it?”

[Wh, what are you saying! Isn’t the failure due to the incompetence of your people?]

“…What did you say!”

The Marquis shouted.

For a moment, it sounded like the other party swallowed a scream at the sound coming from beyond the artifact.

“The failure was due to an obstructionist that neither side had identified! Providing information was definitely a condition.”

[Hiek! My side definitely passed all the information to Lord Selond!]

‘Is he trying to deny it now?’

‘I would have come up with a more plausible excuse if I were him.’

‘Or… is this idiot really unaware?’

Marquis Selond felt a headache coming on.

‘Could it be that he doesn’t even properly grasp the situation?’

[What exactly are you trying to say?]

“…No, never mind. Now that it’s failed, there’s no point in talking about it.”

To be precise, badgering that idiot would only be a waste of time.

‘From the start, the Third Prince introduced him as someone to use and discard… but he’s even more useless than expected.’

More than anything, the very idea of selling out his hometown, where he was born and raised, for his own advancement was beyond comprehension.

And even his belief that we would obediently keep our promise.

A sigh escaped him.

Clearly, that idiot’s goal was to receive an imperial noble title and territory in exchange for betrayal.

As if that were even possible.

Even if it were to happen, he would surely be eliminated under some pretext.

“I won’t discuss the failure. …Oh, come to think of it, there’s one more thing I wanted to ask.”

[What is it?]

“According to the information, a merchant ship seems to have entered your port.”

To win this battle, they didn’t hesitate to do anything they could.

Within the Duchy, they had Nelvis, that idiot, carry out various tasks.

Also, they put pressure on neighboring countries through various connections, making most merchants reluctant to even approach the trade.

That’s why the Palzente Duchy should be in trouble for not being able to replenish the majority of its lost food.

There was a merchant ship that entered, ignoring that isolation.

[It’s just a petty merchant who doesn’t know his place. Hmph! He was nothing more than someone who couldn’t say anything when I raised my voice. Hahahahaha.]

“…Oh, is that so?”

He was truly speechless at how proudly he spoke.

He couldn’t even do the tasks he was ordered to do properly, yet he was going around raising his voice at some mere merchant.

According to the information, the name of the merchant who entered the port was Ailen.

“Ailen… Ailen… Hmm? Where have I heard that before?”

[What’s wrong? Lord Selond?]

“No, it’s nothing.”

It felt strangely familiar.

‘Like I’ve heard the name before? Is it a delusion?’

‘At least it’s not the name of a famous person.’

‘I’ve been carefully gathering information on the reputations of prominent figures in various regions.’

‘Especially recently, young upstarts with strange reputations have been popping up like mushrooms after rain in various places.’

‘I haven’t been negligent in the slightest.’

“…Ah!”

Then it came to mind.

‘Surely it was information I had received in a report?’

‘Why didn’t I think of it right away!’

‘If that’s the case, then it’s no wonder the plan failed!’

[What’s wrong?]

“…It’s nothing. More urgent matters have come up, so I can’t discuss this any further. Ahem! Let’s talk next time!”

Marquis Selond hurriedly turned off the artifact.

‘There’s no reason to deal with that idiot anyway.’

‘It might be better to give up around this point.’

‘If I say something unnecessary, my information might be leaked instead.’

‘Rather, I need to confirm the fact that has come to mind now.’

Marquis Selond hurriedly began searching through the bookshelf.

“Surely the report at that time… the report.”

‘It’s only been a couple of months at most.’

‘It won’t be difficult to find that report.’

Just as he was frantically rummaging through the bookshelf.

A man walked into the office with heavy steps.

“Lord Selond, there’s something I’d like to confirm… Lord?”

The one who walked in was Krold, the knight Marquis Selond trusted most.

And one of the Empire’s Aura Masters [warriors who can manipulate their life energy].

“Lord? What are you doing?”

“…I see. You at this timing. It seems it’s not just a simple coincidence.”

“Lord?”

He also found the document he was looking for.

It’s a document summarizing the incident two months ago when they smuggled some supplies needed for the war in Pelpuke.

“What’s going on?”

“Krold, I’m really sorry to ask you to recall a bitter memory, but let me ask you. Do you happen to remember the name Ailen?”

The expression completely disappeared from Krold’s face.

There was also the report he had just found.

The report listed the names of notable figures at the time of the transaction in Pelpuke.

One of them is Ailen.

Above all, the report on this boy was submitted directly by Krold after he woke up.

As a noteworthy figure who directly defeated Krold.

“…What exactly is this boy doing?”

“That boy seems to have gone to the Palzente Duchy.”

“…!”

At that moment, an unusual pressure was felt in the room.

Krold unknowingly unleashed the immense energy he had built up in his body.

“Calm down.”

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to hear that name again so soon.”

“I didn’t expect it either. …No, I should have been worried about this kind of thing from the moment you were defeated.”

“But what does it mean that this boy is in the Palzente Duchy?”

“That’s right. You probably don’t know yet. Listen for now.”

The Marquis told Krold about the failed kidnapping plan of the Princess.

It was due to someone’s intervention.

And the description and appearance are similar to that boy Ailen at that time.

Although there is no certainty, the Marquis placed a high probability that it was this boy’s doing.

“…Certainly, if it’s that boy, it would be difficult for them to handle.”

“You admit it readily.”

“The defeat at that time is a defeat.”

Krold readily admitted the defeat itself.

Although he didn’t wield his beloved sword, and he used mass-produced equipment to hide his identity.

Originally, battle is a place where you die from mistakes at that time.

The world is a place where brats who complain about lack of preparation are eliminated early on.

“You seem happy for some reason.”

As he noticed, Krold seemed to have a strange sense of excitement.

“…I’m sorry. It’s already something that will make the Lord uncomfortable…”

“Ah… is it a martial artist’s competitive spirit?”

“It might be similar.”

Krold readily admitted it.

He harbors a competitive spirit towards the boy who defeated him.

“By the way, should we eliminate that boy named Ailen?”

“Hmm, that’s not a good idea.”

Marquis Selond shook his head.

‘There’s a problem.’

The point is, who will strike that boy?

‘Maybe other knights would have a hard time.’

‘He thinks it would be easy if Krold stepped in.’

‘It would also be an opportunity to get revenge.’

The Marquis doesn’t think this friend will fail again either.

But there’s another problem.

“It’s not good to waste your stamina in such a place.”

Krold was scheduled to be deployed to the front lines as soon as his rehabilitation was over.

He can’t afford to have him do petty assassinations.

“I want you to focus on preparing to go to the battlefield.”

“…”

“Are you dissatisfied?”

“No. That’s a natural thing to say.”

Krold nodded as if he had readily understood.

In reality, he’s probably hiding his desire to get revenge right away.

The Marquis pretended not to know even though he knew.

Now is not the time to consider individual feelings.

The situation was not going smoothly anyway.

He was overjoyed when he first captured the Duchy’s first fortress.

But things haven’t been easy since then.

“There’s already a troublesome person on the battlefield right now. It would be difficult for anyone other than you to deal with him.”

“…I’ve heard. There’s an unknown silver-haired boy who’s active…”

“That guy is probably not from the Palzente Duchy either. Hmm… where do these guys keep popping up from?”

Recently, troublesome things have been popping up one after another on the continent.

The Marquis clicked his tongue as if he was really annoyed.

“Anyway, I want you to focus on preparing. If you stop that troublesome boy, the battle is as good as won.”

If we just capture the Duchy, it will be easy to not miss that Ailen.

“…I will keep that in mind.”

Krold declared that he would firmly carry out the order and then withdrew.

‘…But I can’t leave that merchant named Ailen alone either.’

The Marquis rested his chin on his hand and quietly pondered.

‘Even if there’s no possibility, is it better to poke at it?’

As he pondered the method, his gaze rested on the communication artifact placed on the desk.

‘Even if it’s useless, it will at least be a hindrance.’

* * *

Your actions have an impact.

As a result of your actions, a specific person is aware of your influence.

Acquired Influence Points: 10pt

Remaining Influence Points: 385pt

‘As expected, doing something gets you noticed, huh?’

The additional occurrence of influence.

Thinking about the meaning makes my stomach feel a little queasy.

If the kidnappers who escaped at that time told their master everything…

‘It’s about time they recognized my existence.’

I was considering that too.

Anyway, it’s too easy to find out my name from the moment I started activities.

It seems that personal information is public property in any world.

‘Anyway, as long as the Duchy doesn’t lose in this territory war, I won’t be in danger…’

‘Rather, it would be better to take this opportunity to watch and catch all the guys who targeted me.’

‘To that end, let’s hurry up and finish preparing for the delivery of the goods for which we signed the deal.’

“There’s no time. Carefully unload the cargo and load it in order, one by one.”

“Yes. We’re already working on it, so you don’t have to worry. I’ve warned them several times to be careful not to break a single bottle.”

The merchant who heard my order nodded greatly and ran out to convey my words.

The deal with Princess Elnia’s side was successfully signed.

Accordingly, we hurried to unload the goods that had been continuously loaded onto the ship.

At least until it leaves our hands and is completely handed over to the other party, we can’t let our guard down.

I watched the sailors and workers carefully lowering the boxes containing the cargo from across the window of the inn.

‘They’re doing a good job, so there’s nothing to worry about.’

“There was a time when I wondered what would happen if we couldn’t even unload that… It’s really going well, Mr. Ailen.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Malo took a long sigh as if she was truly relieved.

Unlike me, who had some confidence, the other merchants seemed anxious.

“I told you, it’s an unnecessary worry.”

“I’m really glad. To think that the Princess would personally arrange the deal. It’s all thanks to your usual conduct.”

“…Well, I guess so.”

‘Conduct? That’s right.’

‘Well, I deliberately intervened, so if that’s conduct, then it’s conduct.’

‘Deliberate conduct?’

‘But was there such a saying?’