My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 190

§ 190. Territory War? (2)

“Lady Amelia! We’ve finished preparing to leave!”

“Oh? Already?”

Amelia’s eyes widened slightly at the shout from outside the carriage.

She set down the pen she had been using to write documents and slowly stepped outside.

Her eyes widened again at the sight of the neatly organized supplies.

“You finished so quickly?”

“Well, all the goods were sold out.”

A soldier replied with a small smile. It was Jackson, the soldier in charge of escorting this trade mission, and one of Ruben’s most skilled soldiers.

He was also the soldier who represented Ruben in a duel against a trainee knight of the Royal Knights in the past.

Although he was defeated, considering it was a duel between a soldier and a knight, it was a testament to Jackson’s skill.

The trainee knight of the Royal Knights was no different from a regular knight.

Also, perhaps thanks to the duels with the Royal Knights since then.

His skills had improved even further, and he was a talent who would soon be promoted to a knight of Ruben.

Well, anyway.

“Moving empty boxes isn’t that difficult.”

It wasn’t every time, but almost every trade mission was like this.

All the goods brought for trade were sold out without exception.

Like a fisherman’s dream of a full boat.

So, for a merchant, they were achieving the opposite dream of an empty boat on every trade mission.

“Thank you. You make trading so easy.”

“It’s nothing. It’s our job. Rather, we’re more comfortable because Lady Amelia sells all the goods.”

“What did I do?”

“What do you mean? Lady Amelia did everything.”

And as Jackson said, Amelia’s role was crucial in selling all the goods.

Of course, it was true that Ruben’s goods were of good quality.

But without Amelia, it wouldn’t have been easy to sell out, no matter how good the quality was.

That’s because Amelia didn’t just sell goods.

She didn’t just open a stall and sell things wherever she felt like it.

Amelia first thoroughly explored the area she wanted to trade in.

And she thoroughly investigated the situation of each region and territory.

For example, she’d learn that the lord’s son of such-and-such territory will soon have a birthday.

Or that a big festival will be held in such-and-such village.

Starting with these major events.

She’d also find out that the noble lady of Territory A was embarrassed because her dress was torn at a party recently.

Or that the lord of Territory B choked while eating a cake and won’t eat it for a while.

She investigated all the trivial and insignificant rumors.

And she planned the trade mission based on that information.

Targeting the area where there would be the most consumption.

Or the area where there might be less consumption but more profit.

Thus, she released the most needed goods in the area at the most appropriate time.

Following the trade mission as an escort, one could only admire her.

Therefore, it was no exaggeration to say that Amelia’s trade mission plan did almost everything.

“What did I do? Ruben’s goods are so good that they sell well.”

Of course, the fundamental reason was that Ruben’s goods were good.

Among them, the most popular were soap and dwarf-made beer.

The soap that keeps the fragrance on the body without spraying any perfume.

The soap had become a must-have item for the nobles.

“Lady Amelia is so humble.”

“It’s not humility, it’s the truth. Above all, I couldn’t have planned this route without you.”

And this was true.

Even if she made a plan, timing it right was a separate issue.

To be exact, it was necessary to move quickly to meet the timing.

She had to go through the mountains full of monsters.

She sometimes had to pass through bandits’ dens.

And Amelia had also been threatened a lot.

She had encountered monsters.

She had been blocked by bandits.

But so far, there had been no major problems.

Because there were always Ruben’s soldiers as escorts for the trade mission.

And Ruben’s soldiers were not ordinary soldiers.

They were specialists who dealt with magical beasts almost every day.

Monsters were really no problem for them.

And the soldiers currently had combat power close to that of knights.

What problem would bandits be?

There were many times when they were threatened during the trade mission, but it had never been a problem.

“That’s what humility is. Anyway, everything is ready, so shall we leave right away?”

“Yes. Let’s do that. The lord said he’s in a hurry for gold.”

“Yes. Then I’ll deliver it right away.”

At Amelia’s words, Jackson turned around and left.

Amelia slowly scanned her surroundings.

The merchants moving busily.

The empty boxes that had been emptied.

The gold earned from it was a whopping 8.3 million gold.

600,000 gold more than the expected profit of 7.7 million.

What merchant group in the world can make this much profit in one trade mission?

Amelia could say with certainty that there wasn’t one.

In the past, even the Brahe Merchant Group wasn’t this good.

Even the Brahe Merchant Group, which has now collapsed.

“······”

Amelia’s expression darkened at the thought that surfaced unbidden.

Just recently.

The name Soren that appeared in Elan Dur’s ledger.

He was none other than the mastermind behind the downfall of the Brahe family.

And the fact that the name Soren was written in Elan Dur’s ledger meant… the downfall of the Brahe family was related to Elan Dur.

To be exact, it could be thought that Elan Dur was behind it.

It could be considered speculation.

However, Amelia’s father left these words at the end.

‘Amelia, there are things in the world that cannot be bought with money. Power that transcends money. I still don’t regret trusting people… but I regret not building power and influence…’

Power and influence that cannot be bought with money.

That might be… referring to Elan Dur.

“······”

Amelia’s heart grew heavier and heavier.

But Amelia quickly shook her head.

I mustn’t become weak.

I mustn’t collapse.

I’ve been through this kind of despair every time.

I can overcome it and move forward.

Above all, Amelia was no longer alone.

“Lady Amelia! I think you can leave right away!”

She didn’t have to do everything alone like before.

She could lean on someone when she was having a hard time.

She also had a haven to return to, where she could rest when she was tired.

Even if she fell behind. Even if she fell down.

There was also someone who would protect Amelia from the harsh storms of the world.

Someone who seems a bit clumsy, sometimes looks like a fool.

Sometimes… there are many times when I wonder why he’s like that.

But a man with a back that is more upright and wider than anyone else in the world.

So I could do it.

Someday. Someday.

I will be able to become the number one merchant group in the empire, surpassing the Brahe Merchant Group.

“Yes! Then I’ll leave right away!”

Amelia believed without a doubt.

Amelia answered energetically and went back into the carriage.

No, to be exact.

“It’s been a while, Amelia.”

I was about to go into the carriage.

A strange voice that I heard for a moment.

“Y-you are…?”

Amelia’s eyes widened.

#

Amelia’s widened eyes did not shrink easily.

“Why are you here…?”

Rather, her eyes trembled as she looked at the person in front of her.

Was Amelia’s appearance strange?

“Lady Amelia? Why aren’t you leaving…?”

Jackson approached and asked Amelia.

And tilted his head at the sight of the strange man in front of Amelia.

“Who… are you?”

He questioned the current situation.

The strange man smiled bitterly at Jackson’s question and said.

“Remington Crowd. The second son of the Crowd family.”

“The Crowd family…?”

I had heard of it.

A family that owns the empire’s largest granary.

Even Jackson, a commoner, had heard of the famous family.

But why is the second son of that family here?

Jackson tilted his head once again and asked Amelia.

“Lady Amelia. Do you know each other?”

“Of course, I know him well. We were once engaged. Isn’t that right, Amelia?”

However, the answer came from Remington, not Amelia.

And perhaps because of Remington’s answer.

“There were talks, but we never promised to marry.”

Amelia shouted, raising her voice.

That’s because they never promised to marry.

It was true that there were talks about the marriage.

But it was just talks.

It was only to the extent that the heads of both families said, ‘How about meeting once?’

In simple terms, they were just introduced.

However, Amelia’s father immediately called it off after seeing Remington’s character [his true nature].

On the other hand, Count Crowd clung to it persistently.

Amelia’s father refused firmly.

From the beginning, Amelia had no interest at all.

After the Brahe family collapsed, the story completely disappeared.

But now he’s saying such a thing…

Amelia shouted at Remington, raising her voice.

“What’s going on all of a sudden? No. Why did you come to me?”

“Why? I just stopped by to see your face because you looked so happy.”

“Then you’ve seen my face, so that’s enough. Please leave.”

Amelia passed Remington and started to move.

But Remington blocked Amelia’s path and said.

“Whoa, whoa. You can’t be so cold. I was once going to be your husband.”

“I’ll say it again. I had no intention of marrying you at all.”

“That feisty personality is still the same?”

Remington gave a bitter smile.

Amelia moved again and passed Remington.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be on my way.”

“Are you still next to that bum? He must be treating you pretty well?”

Remington kept talking, but Amelia didn’t answer.

“I’ll treat you better. I don’t know how that bum treats you, but I’ll be much better, especially in bed? If you don’t believe me, how about it? I can definitely show you tonight.”

The degree was getting more and more excessive, but Amelia still didn’t respond.

It’s not because you’re afraid of poop that you avoid it, but because it’s dirty [a saying meaning it’s not fear, but disgust that makes one avoid something].

Mixing words with that kind of man would only make her feel worse.

But right then.

“I’m not asking you now.”

Remington’s meaningful voice was heard.

And at the same time, a man blocked Amelia’s path.

Judging from the state of his armor, he seemed to be a knight.

He was also a knight that Remington brought.

And starting with him, around the trade carriage.

A large number of soldiers began to surround them.

Armor with a crow pattern drawn on it.

They all seemed to be soldiers belonging to Crowd.

“What… are you doing?”

“What do you mean? I told you I’m not asking.”

Soon, Remington strode up to Amelia.

And whispered softly in her ear.

“If you just follow me quietly, there will be no problem.”

The words stretched out like mucus.

It felt like a lump of filth was flowing down.

There was an unpleasant feeling that clung to the eardrum and could not be easily removed even if you tried to shake it off.

Amelia’s fists trembled.

And right then.

“I left you alone because you are a descendant of the Crowd family…”

Jackson, who had been silent, blocked the path between Remington and Amelia.

“Your actions seem to be a bit excessive. Young Master Remington.”

Then Remington’s expression crumpled.

“How dare a mere soldier…”

Remington swung his right hand, attempting to slap Jackson’s cheek.

Or, at least, he tried to.

*Thwack.*

Jackson caught his wrist.

Remington struggled to break free, putting all his strength into it, but he couldn’t escape Jackson’s grip.

“You, you bastard…! Let go of me!!”

Instead, the force binding Remington’s wrist only grew stronger, accompanied by a sickening crack.

“Keuk! I was going to spare your life if you had stayed still.”

In an instant, Remington snapped his head around.

And shouted at the Crowd soldiers surrounding them.

“What are you doing! Kill all these bastards!!”

With Remington’s command, the Crowd soldiers drew their weapons.

A thick, murderous intent filled the air.

This wasn’t a mere threat or intimidation.

They genuinely intended to kill.

“What are you doing!”

Amelia shouted at the sight.

“Do you think the Empire will stand by and watch you commit such a crime?”

Such blatant intimidation was, of course, unacceptable.

This was something only bandits or thieves would do.

Not something a nobleman should be doing.

No matter how strained their relationship was.

This was nothing more than a senseless act of murder.

But.

“Haven’t you heard the news yet?”

Remington simply smirked.

“What… do you mean?”

“I mean, Ruben [referring to Ruben territory] and Crowd [referring to Crowd territory] are currently engaged in a territory war.”

“What, what did you say?”

Amelia’s eyes widened.

She was hearing about the territory war for the first time.

If it was a territory war, then things were different.

A territory war was a war between two territories.

It was, literally, war.

Of course, even during a territory war, such outrageous acts were not entirely permissible.

No matter how unscrupulous the war was.

It was still a conflict between noble aristocrats.

Such vile methods were frowned upon even within noble families.

But this was also just a formality.

It wasn’t a problem under Imperial law at all.

Besides, if there were no witnesses, there was no proof.

“Kill all these bastards!!”

At Remington’s words, the Crowd soldiers moved.

They approached the merchants, brandishing their sharp blades.

And just then.

“Oh? Ruben and Crowd are in a territory war?”

Jackson’s voice sounded, as if he hadn’t known.

Looking over there.

As expected, Jackson was widening his eyes in surprise.

And only for a moment.

Jackson turned his head and shouted.

“Hey guys! Did you hear that? We’re in a territory war!”

At Jackson’s words, soldiers emerged from every corner of the carriages.

Soldiers who had been lying on empty boxes, pretending to sleep.

Soldiers who had been lazing around inside the carriages.

Soldiers who had been joking and laughing with each other.

Soldiers who hadn’t seemed to care about the Crowd soldiers.

“Haaah… I wondered why these bastards were throwing their weight around.”

“Oh? Senior. Does that mean we can kill them all?”

“No, don’t kill them. What fault do the soldiers have?”

Jackson shook his head and replied.

But.

“Senior. These bastards spewed trashy words at Lady Betty.”

Betty was a female merchant of the Ruben Brahe Merchant Company.

The owner of a rather beautiful face.

A frail woman who was trembling with fear on one side.

“What did they say?”

“They said she looked delicious, and suggested we not kill her.”

“They also said let’s share her together.”

“And also…”

“Okay, that’s enough.”

Jackson waved his hand as if he didn’t want to hear anymore.

“Just kill them by accident. No, don’t kill them, just cripple them. Make them live as cripples for the rest of their lives.”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers replied loudly to Jackson’s words.

The Crowd soldiers watched the Ruben soldiers.

“They’re just soldiers from a tiny territory…”

“They don’t know their place…”

The soldiers sneered and laughed.

Remington also sneered and simply turned his gaze away.

“What are you doing!”

He was just annoyed by the wrist that was still being held by Jackson.

At Remington’s words, the knight slowly reached for the hilt of his sword.

At that moment.

“That sword.”

Jackson’s voice reached the knight’s ear.

“Are you going to draw it?”

*Flinch!*

The knight flinched without realizing it.

The momentum felt from Jackson.

It was… not something that could be easily handled.

The knight couldn’t bring himself to draw his sword.

Perhaps he was frustrated with the knight.

“What are you doing! Kill this bastard right now!”

Remington shouted, flying into a rage.

And with that excitement, Remington’s pronunciation began to slur.

The aftereffects of his shattered jaw.

Perhaps because of that, Remington was raging even more.

The knight shook off the rising thoughts.

He was just a soldier from a tiny territory.

On the other hand, he was a knight who wielded aura [a magical energy that enhances abilities].

There was a difference between a soldier and a knight as great as heaven and earth.

So the momentum from before must have been a delusion.

The knight slowly drew the sword he was holding.

And just then.

*Clang─!*

A streak of blade grazed the knight’s neck.

Wide, open eyes.

And the knight’s collapsing figure.

“······?”

Remington tilted his head without realizing it.

Neither with his eyes nor with his senses.

He couldn’t see it, he couldn’t chase it.

He could only see Jackson, who had drawn his sword at some point.

“What, what is it…”

He couldn’t understand the situation.

Because the one who was collapsing right now shouldn’t have been the knight.

That knight was an aura user knight.

Moreover, he was a skilled knight reaching the advanced level.

So the one who should have been collapsing was Jackson, not that knight.

Jackson, a mere soldier from a tiny territory, should have been collapsing in that place.

But… but what was the scene he was seeing now…?

Moreover, it didn’t end there.

“Kkeuaaaack!”

Screams erupted from all directions.

Looking over there… the Crowd soldiers were being swept away.

Not the Ruben soldiers, but the Crowd soldiers were being swept away.

The numerical superiority of three times was meaningless.

It was just that the screams were amplified three times.

Soldiers with overwhelming skills could be seen in between.

“That’s… that’s just a soldier…?”

Not a knight?

“······?”

Remington’s head tilted once again.

There was no room to be surprised.

He just couldn’t understand the situation unfolding before his eyes.

At that moment, *thud.*

Jackson walked towards Remington.

Red blood was dripping from Jackson’s sword.

“Wa, wait a minute…!”

Remington finally came to his senses then.

He finally began to understand the current situation.

No, he still couldn’t understand it.

But he knew what he had to do.

He had to run away.

He had to get out of this place as soon as possible.

But how…?”

Remington gritted his teeth and shouted.

“I, I am the second son of the Crowd Marquis family…!”

Then Jackson’s footsteps stopped abruptly.

Remington smiled at the sight.

A territory war was a war, but it was still a war between nobles.

In short, nobles were always guaranteed their safety.

Even more so in cases like this, which were not formal territory wars.

Harming a noble was something that could not and should not happen.

“I have no choice.”

As expected, Jackson shook his head slightly.

Remington saw an opportunity to escape the situation at Jackson’s appearance.

The level of the soldiers was unexpected, but it didn’t matter.

Once the real territory war began, these guys would be nothing.

Remington gritted his teeth and hurriedly left the scene.

But.

“Where are you going?”

Jackson blocked Remington’s path.

A question as if asking where he was running away to.

“Yo, you just said you had no choice…”

“I only said I had no choice.”

Jackson tilted his head and continued.

“Who said I would let you go nicely?”

“The Empire won’t stand still if you oppress me?”

Remington shouted confidently.

Harming a noble was something that should not happen in any case.

Even more so if it was the second son of the Crowd Marquis family.

That was the privilege of a noble aristocrat.

Surely… that would be the case.

“Didn’t the young master just say it himself?”

Jackson continued.

“Ruben and Crowd are currently in a ter.ri.to.ry. war.”

Remington was able to realize that something was wrong then.

This… this wasn’t it.

This wasn’t in the plan.

Something… something seemed wrong.

A lot, very severely.

“Where is there a case where the leader of the enemy is simply let go?”

Something seemed to be very wrong.

#

Ruben located in the Forest of Darkness.

“What… is it?”

Cyan couldn’t understand what was going on.

Because the man in front of Cyan’s eyes right now.

“Ugh!! Ugh ugh!!”

The man was wriggling with his whole body tied up.

And it was a face that was in his vague memory.

“Ugh ugh!! Ugh ugh!!”

None other than Remington, the second son of the Crowd Marquis family, who was currently in a territory war with Ruben.

So, the letter about the territory war that was in his hand right now.

It was the second son of the Crowd Marquis family written in this letter.

In short, he was a key figure of the enemy.

But.

“Ugh ugh ugh ugh!!!!”

Why is that guy flapping around here?