My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 272

272. Unprecedented Power (1)

After emptying Karze’s treasure hoard,

all of Ruben’s manpower was dedicated to processing the loot.

There wasn’t much else to do until I could convert it into usable assets.

Despite the enormous size of the treasure, it was still just that: treasure.

I needed to turn these valuables into gold to actually use them.

In other words, Amelia needed to generate revenue to proceed with anything else.

So, regardless of gender or race, everyone was put to work in the commercial district.

Yet, the workload didn’t seem to decrease.

There was simply too much.

’10 billion gold…’

I wondered if such a sum could really exist in this world.

Sian had thought it would easily exceed several billion.

But he never imagined it would surpass 10 billion gold.

‘Well, it’s the treasure Karze collected.’

It was the hoard that a dragon, known for unparalleled greed, had accumulated for a thousand years.

Even if he only collected 100 million every 10 years, it would still amount to 10 billion.

Considering the dragon and the millennium, it was a somewhat acceptable amount.

《Kke-gok-dak.》

Still, it was an insane amount.

The Mobile Lord [referring to Sian’s in-game system], whose mind had broken along with Amelia.

But the usual maintenance notification didn’t appear.

Only that strange ‘Kke-gok-dak’ notification popped up.

It seemed like it was feigning unconsciousness, playing tricks…

Well, I don’t have the gold to cash in right now anyway.

Sian put his smartphone back into his pocket.

Then, he raised his eyes and looked straight ahead.

Sian’s office, located in the Lord’s Castle.

Three people were standing in the office.

The Chieftain of the Beastmen, Karis.

The Head of Ruben’s Intelligence Department, Diana.

The Chieftain of the Dwarves, Semir.

Karis was staring intently at Diana.

Karis’s eyes seemed to be asking how she was here.

It seemed Diana hadn’t said anything to Karis.

“It’s not related to my brother.”

Eventually, Diana stated calmly.

But Karis was still staring intently at Diana.

His younger sister, whom he had to let go a long time ago.

He could only meet her again briefly because of this incident.

Diana disappeared without a word.

No family reunion after a long time.

No farewell greeting.

Diana left without any of that.

But now Diana was standing right here in Sian’s office, so Karis couldn’t understand this situation at all.

So Sian gave a supplementary explanation.

“Diana is the head of Ruben’s Intelligence Department. As she said, it has nothing to do with the Beastmen. Of course, it’s not under Karis’s jurisdiction either.”

“That means…”

“It means she’s a citizen of Ruben, like Karis.”

Karis’s eyes widened as he looked at Sian.

Soon, his eyes began to tremble incessantly.

Diana… no, Luna was closer to a human than a Beastman.

As Karis’s younger sister, she was of the same Dragonkin lineage, but Luna couldn’t exert the power of the Dragonkin well.

The characteristics of a human were more pronounced than those of a dragon.

So she couldn’t fit into the Beastmen’s society.

She was always ostracized, unable to adapt, and always on the outside.

Even Karis’s intervention couldn’t solve it.

Luna was a woman who got along better with humans than Beastmen.

Eventually, Luna left the Beastmen’s society.

And Karis couldn’t bring himself to hold her back.

Because that would be the way for Luna to live more happily.

But he couldn’t let her go in his heart.

The pain of not being able to protect his sister was rooted in Karis’s heart.

And now, he might never be able to meet her for the rest of his life.

The pain of losing his family had always tormented Karis.

And now.

Although she could not become a member of the same Beastmen.

Perhaps she might never become the same Beastman for the rest of her life.

But as a citizen of the same Ruben.

She could live together within the same foundation of Ruben.

“…Thank you very much, Lord.”

Karis gave Sian a deep expression of gratitude.

“As you said, it’s not related to Karis.”

And Sian just smiled.

Soon, Sian turned his gaze and looked at Diana.

“So, I have a favor to ask of the head of Ruben’s Intelligence Department.”

“Tell me.”

At Diana’s nod, Sian immediately opened his mouth.

“I would like you to investigate Elan Dur’s background.”

“Elan Dur’s background…?”

“I mean Elan Dur’s behind-the-scenes manipulations. In addition to this incident with the Beastmen, I want you to investigate all kinds of criminal acts committed by Elan Dur that should not be revealed to the public, such as murder, corruption, embezzlement, etc.”

Elan Dur’s actions hidden from the world.

Sian was going to investigate and dig up all those actions.

And the reason was simple.

He couldn’t watch Elan Dur’s atrocities any longer.

『[Territory Quest] – ‘That Elan Dur, he’s such a bad guy!’

▶The truth about Elan Dur hidden behind the curtain.

Dig up the truth and reveal Elan Dur’s ugliness to the world!!』

-Reward: DLC Unlock.

.

.

It was none other than a territory quest.

It was also to clear this quest.

So Sian asked Diana for that information, but Diana didn’t answer easily.

She knew how dangerous it was to investigate Elan Dur’s background.

She didn’t have to go far.

Wasn’t Shadow Moon [a powerful information guild] pushed to the brink of dissolution because it touched Elan Dur the wrong way?

Even the Empire’s best information guild was just an information merchant in front of Elan Dur.

So what Sian ordered was not just touching a hornet’s nest.

It was something that could lead to the destruction of the family if done wrong.

“I understand.”

But Diana’s worries didn’t last long.

If it was Ruben that Diana had seen, he would be able to handle the aftermath sufficiently.

More than anything.

“We already have most of it.”

The background check wasn’t that difficult either.

“What?”

“Who do you think has been handling the things Elan Dur has been doing behind the scenes all this time?”

“Ah.”

Sian nodded as if he understood.

The Shadow Moon Guild, which was at the top of the underworld.

When Elan Dur committed his behind-the-scenes acts, he naturally used Shadow Moon.

Wasn’t Sian’s assassination request also carried out by Shadow Moon in the first place?

Of course, not all requests were made to Shadow Moon.

But a considerable number of requests were made through Shadow Moon.

“We have information that we have collected separately each time. However… we don’t have it now.”

“Does the fact that you don’t have it now mean that it’s in the underworld, Vener [referring to the criminal underworld]?”

Diana nodded.

“If you give me time, I will bring the information that Shadow Moon has collected.”

“Hmm…”

Sian hesitated for a moment, but there was really nothing to hesitate about.

“Do it.”

Sian nodded readily.

And he opened his mouth again as if it was a good thing.

“While you’re going to the underworld this time, bring back the regrets you left behind.”

Then Diana tilted her head.

Regrets left behind?

Diana kept tilting her head and asked Sian.

“Regrets… what are you talking about?”

“Isn’t there more than just information left in the underworld? For example, remaining guild members or… children you’ve taken in.”

Then Diana’s eyes widened.

The leader of Shadow Moon, Diana.

Shadow Moon was on the verge of dissolution, but it wasn’t dissolved.

Although the guild members were scattered, there were still those who remained.

There were those in that harsh underworld who were waiting for Diana to return.

Especially the children Diana had taken in.

The innocent children were still in the underworld.

That was Diana’s regret.

And it was a fact that she couldn’t bring herself to say.

But… but now…

“We’ll have to do a background check… well, I’m sure you’ll take care of it. Where else is there a more accurate background check than the Empire’s best information guild.”

Sian shook his head and continued.

“Just do a background check and bring them all to Ruben.”

Diana was speechless.

She really couldn’t say anything.

A moment of silence.

Eventually, Diana slowly opened her mouth.

“Diana.”

Not the name Luna.

A name that symbolizes the moon, hunting, and purity.

Diana’s silver hair contained moonlight.

“I am no longer the guild leader of Shadow Moon, but the head of Ruben’s Intelligence Department. So please speak comfortably.”

Diana bowed deeply to Sian.

“Then I look forward to working with you, Diana.”

Sian just gave a small smile.

“Okay, so this problem is solved.”

Sian slowly turned his gaze and looked at Karis and Semir next to Diana.

Karis was looking at Diana with surprised eyes.

There were several reasons, but it seemed like he didn’t know.

Things like Shadow Moon.

Karis didn’t seem to know what kind of life Diana had lived in human society.

And Semir…

He was making an expression that couldn’t be described.

Semir’s eyes looking at Sian were filled with many emotions.

And Sian knew the reason.

“I promised you. I promised to save her.”

At Sian’s words, Semir opened his mouth.

But it didn’t come out as a voice.

Another moment of silence flowed like that.

“I thought it was a promise… without a deadline.”

Semir’s quiet voice was heard.

“When the Lord promised to save Helen. To be honest, I thought it was a promise without a deadline. To be a little more honest… I thought it wouldn’t be fulfilled even if I waited my whole life. Until the moment my life ends.”

The life of a dwarf is longer than that of a human, but Semir was old.

Considering the average lifespan, Semir’s remaining life was at most around 30 years.

“Even if the Lord could save Helen someday. I thought I wouldn’t exist in that time.”

Even so, Semir said he would wait.

The time of the last remaining dwarf on the continent had stopped like that.

“There are various lives in the world, so I thought that one person. I thought that one person might leave a life that leaves waiting longer than life.”

Many emotions were swirling in Semir’s eyes.

And soon.

A small something began to form inside his eyes.

“Thank you… I am so frustrated that I cannot express this feeling in words. I am so frustrated with my foolishness.”

Semir bowed deeply to Sian.

“I give infinite thanks to the Lord. Really…”

And something clear and transparent fell to the floor from under Semir’s face as he bowed his head.

Seeing Semir’s appearance, Sian’s heart felt strange.

It wasn’t just Semir’s appearance now.

Semir and many other citizens of Ruben.

Whenever he saw them happy, Sian felt something tickling inside his heart.

Once a foolish son of a Marquis, a thug.

And now the Lord of Ruben.

What is this feeling that makes me feel embarrassed for no reason?

“Hey, don’t worry about that. I’m getting embarrassed for no reason, so raise your head, Semir.”

Even so, Semir didn’t raise his head easily.

Sian continued to persuade Semir, and after a long argument that wasn’t really an argument, Semir raised his head.

“By the way, Semir. I don’t know if you heard it earlier, but the Beastmen will now live in our Ruben.”

And only then could he start working in earnest.

“I don’t know about anything else, but I don’t know what to do with the Beastmen’s living quarters…”

The Beastmen who became citizens this time were nearly thousands.

Of course, they had to build new living quarters for them.

And building the housing itself was not a problem.

Because he could cash in.

The gold that Amelia would earn soon would make anything possible.

However, the point was that he couldn’t build housing indiscriminately.

In other words, it wasn’t just a matter of building housing.

It was the same problem as when he accepted the Dark Elves in the past.

The different races had their own way of life.

And it was a completely different way from humans.

Wasn’t that why the Dark Elves couldn’t adapt and were suffering?

So Sian had to turn Ruben upside down.

He had to create a new blueprint that improved the environment for the Dark Elves to live in.

And now.

“Certainly… I understand what the Lord is saying.”

Semir nodded calmly.

At that time, Semir also wrote the blueprint.

Semir knew that the same problem as with the Dark Elves had occurred.

So Sian was thinking of asking Semir for a new blueprint.

A blueprint for Ruben where the Beastmen could live together.

Of course, it would require a huge amount of gold…

Well, what does it matter?

Whether it’s initialization or whatever, he can just push it with cashing in.

But.

“If you’re saying you want me to write a new blueprint… you don’t have to do that.”

Semir said something unexpected.

Before he could think about what it was.

“Last time, when I was writing the blueprint again for the Dark Elves. I thought that the Lord… would bring them for some reason.”

“Bring them? Who…?”

“The Beastmen.”

Semir chuckled and continued.

“Of course, it was an absurd idea. Because the Beastmen disappeared hundreds of years ago. They are now only races that remain as records. Bringing those Beastmen as citizens. It was an absurd idea.”

But.

“The absurd situation is already unfolding before my eyes. The Dark Elves. And the World Tree was already absurd. So, even though I knew it was a foolish idea… I forced it.”

“That means…?”

“You only need to do a little modification work.”

Sian was momentarily stunned by Semir’s smiling answer.

Soon, Semir spoke again.

“However, I only prepared the space, but I didn’t apply the specific details. As the Lord knows, there are various races within the Beastmen.”

Dragonkin, Guikin, Kenin, Myoin, etc.

There were many races gathered within the Beastmen.

It was said that there were roughly as many animals in the world.

And each of those animals had its own environment.

“I couldn’t calculate each of their different living environments one by one. So, in order to apply those details, we need the help of the Beastmen.”

Then Semir looked at Karis.

“Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Of course… no, we should be asking you for a favor.”

Karis nodded as if it were absurd.

And Sian watched the scene.

In this case… there was no need to turn Ruben upside down.

There was no need to bother initializing it again.

In other words, he could save a huge amount of gold to cash in.

“As expected, Semir.”

Sian gave Semir a thumbs up.

“Compared to the grace the Lord has given me, it’s really nothing. If there is anything you need help with, please feel free to tell me. I will carry it out even if it costs me my life.”

Semir answered with a determined expression.

He was so determined that if Sian ordered him to die now, he would really commit suicide on the spot.

“There’s no need to risk your life. I’ll do such dangerous things, so Semir, just live happily with Helen for the rest of your life. Surely… you’re not thinking of making Helen a widow?”

Sian waved his hand and said.

And Semir just bowed his head deeply.

“So, Semir. Can I ask you for one more favor?”

“Give me an order, not a favor. I’ll do anything.”

Semir’s answer came back resolutely.

Sian made a ‘eek’ expression and opened his mouth.

“Can you handle a dragon’s corpse?”

Then, unlike Semir’s words that he would do anything.

Semir’s answer did not come back.

“…?”

Only Semir’s face with a question mark was visible.

“What… what are you talking about?”

It seemed like he didn’t understand Sian’s words.

Well, a dragon’s corpse out of the blue.

Even dragons were all extinct now.

No, even if they weren’t extinct, dragons didn’t leave their bodies behind.

The unity of soul and spirit.

This was the reason why dragons clearly existed a thousand years ago, but there was no trace of them left on the continent today.

But suddenly, can you handle a dragon’s corpse?

Semir’s question was only for a moment.

“That’s… no, no. It would be faster to show you directly.”

Sian slowly got up from his seat.

#

A golden creature of overwhelming size, nearly 100 meters.

But no sign of life was felt.

“Good heavens…”

It was really… a real dragon.

Semir couldn’t even think of closing his gaping mouth.

Only shock beyond shock was consuming his mind.

Sian looked at Semir and slowly turned his gaze towards Karze.

In fact, Sian had no intention of using Karze’s body.

Because he had already received so much from Karze.

And he didn’t want to desecrate Karze’s body.

More than anything, Sian didn’t need equipment made from Karze’s body, that is, dragon equipment.

First of all, with Noemi’s legacy, Soul of Dragon, Sian’s body was already no different from a dragon.

He even possessed the Dragon Heart, which could be said to be the identity of a dragon.

Sian was already no different from a complete dragon.

His skin itself was Dragon Skin.

His skeleton itself was Dragon Bone.

What was the point of adding dragon equipment here?

In the first place, the performance of transcendent equipment was better.

The Sword of Annihilation was better than a sword made of Dragon Bone.

The Armor of Immortality was better than armor made of Dragon Skin.

So Sian had no intention of using Karze’s body.

However, Karze’s thoughts were different.

Karze left a will asking Sian to use his body.

He asked him to leave behind that he existed in this world.

So Sian pondered over and over again.

And what he finally thought of was this.

Through the times of the present and the past, ancient and modern.

“I’m thinking of upgrading the soldiers’ equipment to dragon equipment.”

To make Ruben the strongest power in the history of the continent.

#

Elan Dur’s mansion located in Elan Dur’s Marquisate in the eastern part of the Empire.

Durak’s office located in such a mansion.

“Prepare to attack Ruben?”

Durak muttered and looked ahead.

And a woman with lily-white hair standing in front of Durak.

“Well, there’s also the incident with the Beastmen this time. We’ve already secured the relics, so there’s no rush…”

Rachel nodded slightly and answered.

“The family head would be in trouble if the imperial family intervened, right?”

Durak stared at Rachel.

A moment of silence followed.

In that silence, Durak stared at Rachel.

As the silence turned into boredom.

“Do you know why I listen to you?”

Durak spat out.

And a long silence followed.

In that silence, Durak stared at Rachel.

As the silence turned into boredom.

“Because our goals are the same.”

Durak slowly opened his mouth.

“Your help has been very useful so far. But it was only useful as a tool.”

Rachel didn’t say anything even at Durak’s words.

That’s because she knew the meaning of what Durak had just said.

In short, it meant to know your place and not act up.

It meant not to cross the line.

Rachel gritted her teeth inwardly.

Now that the plan has gone wrong and changed.

Now that Nurvia and Gulneria have disappeared.

Rachel could not resist Durak.

And Elan Dur held the knife.

And Rachel needed Elan Dur’s power.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Rachel finally opened her mouth.

“How is the release of the relics going?”

“Not yet. It seems to take some time because the power it contains is not ordinary power. But it will soon be completely released.”

At Rachel’s answer, Durak slowly turned his back.

The scenery of Elan Dur’s mansion visible outside the office window.

Chief Manager Lerit approached Durak, who was still looking out the window.

Durak opened his mouth while still looking out the window.

“Issue a summons order to all vassals.”

And Durak’s words followed.

“It’s time to erase Ruben from the map.”

Durak’s eyes were more sunken than ever before.