How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 157

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Episode 158

* * *

I left Sella in the cabin after she said she needed time to think.

Then, I called all the members of our group and arranged a dinner. Dining on a ship rocking with the waves was quite a unique experience.

Ruth, who was steadying a cup that seemed to have legs and was sliding around, opened her mouth.

“How did it go?”

To Ruth’s question, who was curious about Sella’s reaction, I shrugged.

“She seemed quite shocked. She’ll probably need time to accept it. It’s hard to believe.”

“What if she doesn’t accept it?”

“Well, I don’t think that will happen.”

“Really?”

“From our conversation, she seems to care deeply about her family. Apparently, most of the surviving members of the Riley family are struggling. It’s an opportunity to take responsibility for those family members, so I think she’ll accept it.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Of course, I added one more thing because I didn’t think that would be enough. I told her that Basarak might have been involved in the Riley family’s downfall.”

“Isn’t that not 100% certain?”

“As long as she’s motivated by revenge and accepts the offer, I don’t care about the truth.”

“……Sometimes, you’re a bit much, Young Master.”

“Shut up.”

At my dismissal, Ruth shut her mouth tightly.

Seeing Ruth like that, Ilia sighed and carefully opened her mouth.

“Did she readily believe that she is a descendant of Loongseon?”

“We can prove that easily enough, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“You mean you can prove it?”

“All the wealth of the fallen Flores family went to the royal family. The Flores family seal that Loongseon had is probably buried deep somewhere in the royal treasury.”

“Ah, there was a seal.”

“As it’s a family seal that only reacts to those who have Flores blood, it will be the most definitive proof.”

“That’s certainly true.”

“Anyway, Flores’ pardon is essential to the success of this plan. We have to go to Capital to do that, so let’s take care of it together then.”

“Understood.”

Nodding, I looked at Rihas, who was struggling to eat his soup with a face half-dead from seasickness.

“Rihas.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“You’re going to die if you ride a ship twice.”

“……I apologize for showing you such an unsightly state.”

“It can’t be helped since it’s your constitution. Anyway, you’re going to step down from the front lines for a while and take care of Sella.”

“Yes? You want me to take care of that woman?”

“She seems to have become quite rough while living as a mercenary.”

It was a short remark, but Rihas, being as bright as he is, easily understood my intentions.

“You mean to give her some polish.”

“Yes. Her family fell when she was too young, so she didn’t receive enough education. She might have to meet His Majesty the King, so she needs to have at least the minimum. If things go according to plan, she’ll be an important figure ruling the East in the future. Well, even if she rules, she’ll be nothing more than a puppet.”

“Understood.”

Rihas, who is friendly regardless of status and has received elite education from a young age, will probably take good care of her.

“By the way, how much time is left until the Founding Day celebration?”

“I need to check the details, but roughly about a month.”

“Time is tight considering the travel time.”

It seems that the time spent passing Hashunar’s test was significant. Of course, I can’t say I regret it considering the results I got.

Ruth, who heard the conversation between me and Rihas, put down her fork.

“So, is Capital finally our next destination?”

“Yes. We’ll hand over the ship at Frey Port and leave right away.”

“Understood. Capital, huh…… good.”

“We’re not going there to play.”

“Ah, of course.”

“Wipe the 침 [saliva] from your mouth and lie.”

Ruth, who was excited at the thought of enjoying the 풍류 [arts and culture] of Capital, tapped her fork with a beaming face.

“Anyway, then Dane’s first son will be officially visiting Capital this anniversary. Now that he’s been fully recognized as the successor.”

“No.”

“Yes? No?”

“Count Lindaier is coming from Windnest this time.”

Clatter!

Ruth, who dropped the fork she was tapping, opened her mouth wide.

“……The Count?”

“Yes.”

“Wh, why?”

“Why, because it’s all necessary.”

“Yes?”

Seriously, that dumb Ruth.

“Think about it. We’ve made the 판 [situation/game] this big, do you think the royal family will readily cooperate with us? What are they going to believe and take that risk?”

“……Ah.”

“At least we need to give them the perception that the head of Lindaier is in the background to have room for negotiation, right?”

Of course, persuading the Count is the priority before that.

“Is it like a guarantee?”

“Similar.”

“Did the Count allow it?”

“I have to get it now.”

“You seem so confident.”

“I don’t know, but if it’s my word, he’d believe me even if I said I could make 밀빵 [wheat bread] with 흙 [dirt], right?”

“Well, considering what you’ve accomplished so far…….”

Ruth, who nodded, pouted her lips and grumbled.

“By the way, the Count is coming to Capital in person, so it looks like we’re going to have a hard time.”

Ruth was already tired at the thought of showing a 군기-filled 모습 [disciplined appearance] 24 hours a day.

“You need to suffer a little.”

“Ah, aren’t you being too harsh? How 불철주야 [day and night] I am only thinking of you…….”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

The 모습 [sight] of Frey Port, which I arrived at after a tedious voyage, was still quiet and peaceful, unchanged from the last time.

But that will soon change. Starting with this deal, the influence of the Bluewind Merchant Guild will grow immensely.

“Young Master!”

As soon as I got off the ship, Leo, who had come to greet me at the pier, waved his hand when he saw me.

“Oh, Leo. How have you been? Have you been learning well?”

“Of course. I’m working hard. How have you been, Young Master?”

“Good.”

“By the way, are all these ships you brought, Young Master?”

“Yes.”

“Amazing. It’s the first time Frey Port’s pier looks so narrow.”

“Isn’t it all thanks to my ability?”

“You’re amazing!”

Behind Leo, who was raising both hands and shouting “Wow!”, a familiar face appeared.

It was Jess Orlean, who led the Bluewind Merchant Guild and received investment from me.

“Jess.”

Jess looked at my outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, and then firmly shook it.

“Welcome back to Frey Port.”

“Yes. It’s not polite to come empty-handed, so I brought a lot.”

“It looks like there are too few ships to say you brought a lot.”

Jess, who took the 농 [joke] as a 농 [joke], gave a faint smile.

“Anyway, you’ve really worked hard. With this scale, I can breathe a sigh of relief.”

“There’s something even more amazing.”

I gestured for Jess to come closer and whispered.

“All those ships belong to our guild.”

“Yes?”

“Ours.”

Jess’s expression was filled with embarrassment, probably because he thought I had borrowed them.

“Re, really? How did you do it?”

“That’s a trade secret. Anyway, I’ve properly increased our size, so it’s up to you to run it now.”

Jess, who 쭉훑어본 [scanned] the magnificently lined-up merchant fleet at my words, slowly nodded.

“I’ll do my best.”

“By the way, I have something to tell you.”

“If you have something to say…….”

“Shall we walk together?”

Jess, who nodded at my words, followed me to the side.

After leaving the busy pier where they were unloading cargo, I looked at the 철썩이는 [lapping] waves and opened my mouth.

“First, I have one thing to ask.”

“What is it?”

“To what extent are you trading with the eastern region?”

“The East…… you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Frey Port is a trading port located in the 중동부 [mid-east region], so of course, we have been trading with the entire East, whether big or small. We’ll put it aside for a while to sell 소금 [salt], though.”

“Really? That’s good. Don’t stop trading with the East, even if you have to put in extra effort.”

“Is there a reason to do that?”

“Yes. Because there’s something you need to do.”

“Something I need to do…….”

At the puzzled reaction, I took out the memo I had folded in my arms and handed it over, and Jess’s face hardened as he read it.

“……The East will be in crisis due to war, and soon someone will come to save it? What is this about?”

“Nothing more, nothing less. Just spread it in the East as it is written.”

“Are you telling me to spread 괴소문 [strange rumors] in the East now?”

“Do you also think this is a 괴소문 [strange rumor]?”

“No offense, but wouldn’t anyone think it’s a 괴소문 [strange rumor] if they heard something like this that only comes out in fairy tales?”

“Then there’s nothing bad about it.”

“Yes?”

“The more 허무맹랑한 [absurd] the story, the greater the ripple effect when it actually happens.”

“What are you talking about…….”

“Well, it doesn’t matter what you think, just spread it. You’ll be visiting all the major cities in the East as you trade, so it won’t be difficult.”

“Still, I think this is a bit dangerous. Isn’t this something that could be accused of 내란 [insurrection]?”

“That’s why you have to spread it carefully.”

“…….”

I patted Jess’s shoulder, who was embarrassed.

“Take your time and proceed with 여유 [leisure]. There’s no need to be too 급할 [hasty].”

Jess, who was about to say something at my words, suddenly shut his mouth. Then, after thinking about something for a while, he opened his mouth again.

“Do you think the political situation will flow according to the contents of this memo?”

“Well. What if it does?”

“If that’s the case…….”

Jess, who 흐렸던 [blurred] the 뒷말 [last words], nodded.

“If this is really true, we don’t have time to be doing this. Shouldn’t we be looking into military supplies right away?”

“Hmm? You believe it that easily?”

“I think about when you first invested in me.”

“Ah, that time?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, but I thought you were an 철부지 도련님 [immature young master] who was having 헛된 망상 [vain delusions] when you told me to buy 소금 [salt].”

“So is it different now?”

“Making the mistake of missing an opportunity is enough with one time.”

“Good mindset.”

Nodding, I took out the 증표 [token] that indicated the guild leader from my arms and handed it to Jess.

“This is…….”

“I’ll take responsibility. I’ll 임시로 [temporarily] entrust you with the authority, so you can use as much money as you want. Try to grow the business as you please.”

Jess’s eyes began to shine brightly at my 확신에 가까운 [near-certain] words.

Jess Orlean, who was called the 악마의 무기상 [devil’s arms dealer] from the novel in the first place.

If he is given 100% 확실한 [certain] information that a war will break out in the East soon?

‘It’s like giving wings to a tiger.’

There are enough ships now, and when we start selling 소금 [salt], the funds will be more than enough.

Under such conditions, Jess will be able to fully prove why he is called the 악마의 무기상 [devil’s arms dealer].

I think it will come back in gold as much as the weight of the 핏물 [bloodshed] flowing from the war.

“But Young Master. If it’s 확실한 [certain] information that a war will break out, is there a need to spread rumors? I think we can make a bigger profit if only we know…….”

I shook my head at Jess’s question.

“The order has changed. Spreading rumors comes first for me. The money I’ll earn from the military industry is just 부수입 [secondary income].”

“Yes?”

“It’ll take a long time to explain in detail, so let’s postpone it to later.”

“……I understand for now.”

“Yes. Again, remember that rumors are the top priority. It doesn’t matter whether people believe it or not, it has to spread throughout the East. It’s obvious, but the source must be kept confidential.”

“Of course.”

I nodded at Jess’s 확실한 [certain] answer.

“Good. By the way, what about the work I ordered in advance with 전서 [messenger pigeon]?”

“You mean the carriage and travel supplies? Yes. I’ve prepared everything. I’ve carefully selected a 마부 [coachman] who knows the 지리 [geography] to Capital and a horse with good 체력 [stamina], so you won’t have any discomfort on your journey.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve also rented a good 여관 [inn] just in case.”

“I appreciate the 성의 [thoughtfulness], but I don’t have time for that. I have to move busily.”

“It’s a shame you can’t rest comfortably even for a day.”

“What good is it for the 윗대가리 [boss] to be on the 현장 [scene] for a long time? The 실무자’s [worker’s] efficiency increases when they work comfortably without looking at the 눈치 [mood/reactions of superiors].”

Jess also gave a faint smile at my 농담 [joke].

“Ah! And please be aware that a 자금 요청 [funding request] may come soon.”

“You mean a 자금 요청 [funding request]?”

“They’ll probably contact you from the 하늘요새 [sky fortress] saying they need this and that. Then, please listen to everything without saying anything.”

“Ah, you mean the 하늘요새 [sky fortress]. Understood.”

It’s about time for the money to run out.

I suddenly wondered how things were going in the 하늘요새 [sky fortress].

I have to visit there too.

Anyway, I stretched, thinking about the 태산 [mountain] of things to do.

“I’m tired to death. There’s too much to do.”

“You’re going straight to Capital, right?”

“Yes. I have to go to Capital.”

Capital.

The heart of the kingdom that I’m visiting for the first time in a year since I visited it for the 개국기념일 [Founding Day] last year.

But this visit is definitely different from last year’s purpose, so it feels new in many ways.