Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 146

146

“Stop right there, are you cheating?”

A man who had been diligently writing something clicked his tongue and put down his pen with a frustrated gesture.

Looking at the documents filled with numbers, they seemed to contain something significant.

“Those barbaric bastards, as expected.

They squander everything in an instant after sucking up a bit.

That’s why they’re called barbarians, you stupid bastards.”

Viscount Gino scratched his head and muttered in an annoyed voice.

At first, he was just trading with those, frankly, uncouth people according to the will of the royal palace, but as time passed, it was like a gold mine falling from the sky.

Apparently, the barbarian tribes didn’t know the true value of the monster byproducts they brought.

That’s because monster byproducts are mostly used as magical ingredients.

However, the barren land of the North lacked mana, making it very difficult for mages who could handle mana to emerge. [Mana is the energy source for magic.]

Naturally, they couldn’t know how valuable the monster byproducts were, and this ignorance became a source of immense wealth for Viscount Gino and the northern nobles, who controlled the intermediate trade.

‘The stupid barbarian bastards madly catch and bring them, saying it’s profitable, so all we had to do was say that the quantity is large but the amount sold is similar, so the price has dropped.

In fact, when handing it over to the merchants, we sold it at an even higher price!’

It’s not that there weren’t managers sent from the royal palace.

However, the North is very far from the royal palace.

In other words, it wasn’t easy to control this place with just one or two managers, and blinding their eyes was as simple as using a few loyalists to stick by their side.

Or bribing them outright.

In that way, Viscount Gino and the northern nobles were able to accumulate enormous wealth in just two years.

But it seemed they had squeezed too hard, as news spread among the barbarian tribes that the number of monsters was decreasing.

Originally, they should have recognized the seriousness of the situation and taken action around that time, but the northern nobles were more interested in maximizing immediate profits than in long-term sustainability, so they further reduced the price.

In the end, their golden goose was depleted in just three years.

The greed of the northern tribes, who wanted to become a little more prosperous, and the greed of the northern nobles, who tried to profit by exploiting them, combined to bring about the worst possible outcome.

“Stupid things.

They should have lasted just one more year.”

The North has poor land and few visitors, making it very difficult to make money.

The reason they came to have this northern territory was simply because their ancestral home was in the North.

Viscount Gino could never give up the ray of light he encountered in this hellish land he couldn’t escape from.

‘For us, who have no power or influence, only wealth is the only thing we can wield.

I have to gather more.

More, more, more!

Even to prevent my children from living a life of being ignored because they are adjacent to the barbarian tribes!’

He had made a lot of money, but the expenses were just as great.

The money he had intercepted in the middle was not a small amount, so silencing and bribing people was by no means cheap.

If the trade with the northern barbarian tribes hadn’t dried up, he would have been able to increase his wealth without any worries, but the golden goose was about to die as he scattered the funds he had gathered.

But it seemed the world wouldn’t let him starve to death.

The northern nobles decided to exploit the fact that the relationship between the northern barbarian tribes and the kingdom had begun to sour again as a second chance.

If they made contributions in the war, their reputation would increase in the kingdom, and if they drove out the barbarians and expanded their territory, a county [A county is a higher-ranking territory than a viscountcy.] might be created in this area where viscounts were the highest rank.

Then, the most important question was who would be appointed as that ‘count’.

‘The kingdom has already endured a lot.

If the barbarian tribes keep provoking, they will choose war, and if that happens, the opportunity to make contributions will finally come.’

He had already received a report that a group of envoys had gone from the kingdom’s border to the land of the barbarian tribes.

No matter how much the kingdom wanted to make peace, Gino was sure that the barbarian tribes would never accept their hand in the current atmosphere, so Viscount Gino was relieved and hoped that the relationship between the kingdom and the northern barbarian tribes would be strained.

Although this worst-case scenario had occurred because of himself and the northern nobles, their own future was far more important than loyalty to the kingdom.

“Viscount, Viscount.”

Viscount Gino raised his head at the urgent call of the butler from outside the office.

When he asked what was going on, the answer came back that a guest had entered the territory.

It was not common for guests to come to the North, but if they had come to report that to him, the lord, it meant that they were no ordinary people.

And when Viscount Gino heard the identity of the guest, he was startled.

“It is said that Lord Zion Klauzen, the heir to the Klauzen Frontier, has entered the territory.”

“Klauzen?

No, why would the young lord from that far away place suddenly come to the North….”

Then, the pieces quickly fell into place for Viscount Gino.

If you were to name a rising star in the kingdom these days, nine out of ten would refer to Zion Klauzen.

Even in the North, his name was mentioned a little, so there was no need to say anything about the royal palace.

That man had suddenly come to the North.

Moreover, a group of envoys had secretly headed to the northern barbarians not long ago.

“···Was he a guest returning from the North?”

“That’s what they say.

He said he had completed his mission and wanted to take a break and have a serious discussion with you, Viscount.”

“Hmm···.”

As expected, Zion Klauzen was the one who had left to negotiate with the northern barbarians.

At that news, Viscount Gino shouted inwardly, “That’s it!”

He had heard that Zion Klauzen was a war hero.

Since they sent such a person to the North, wouldn’t the end be war in all likelihood!

That was Viscount Gino’s prediction.

Unable to hide his joy, Viscount Gino ordered the guest to be brought to the lord’s castle as soon as possible.

He neatly organized the transaction ledgers and documents he had and carefully stored them in a secret space in his room, then moved to the reception room to greet the guest.

‘A nobleman who shows behavior that doesn’t match his age, Zion Klauzen.

It may not be easy.’

He could roughly guess that he was no ordinary person from the rumors that had already spread throughout the kingdom.

But even if Zion Klauzen noticed, he had nothing to lose.

He had already eliminated all the obvious evidence since the relationship between the kingdom and the northern barbarian tribes had gone awry.

He had appeased and threatened the people involved to keep their mouths shut, and he had long since eliminated those who didn’t seem likely to obey.

‘It’s not for nothing that I’ve brought things this far.’

They can’t push him without any concrete evidence.

Moreover, he is a viscount directly appointed by the royal family, and even if he is the heir to the Klauzen County, he cannot be treated carelessly.

It would be different if one of the three dukes came up directly, or if a precious member of the royal family came directly.

In addition, there was no way that the angry barbarian tribes would have properly listened to what the kingdom’s envoys had to say.

Viscount Gino was well aware that the tribes were divided and fighting.

In this situation, even if he persuaded one, if the other said, ‘Screw you,’ and attacked the kingdom, the war would start right away.

“I used one hand very well.”

As expected, it was the work of Viscount Gino and the northern nobles.

They noticed that the relationship between the barbarian tribes was not very good, so they deliberately paid some tribes slightly more for their goods, and paid other tribes less than them.

They threw a spark between those who were already growling at each other, and how much they laughed as they watched them burn and clash with each other.

‘That became the decisive reason for dividing them into those who are friendly to the kingdom and those who are hostile!’

He had created many loopholes to escape, and there were enough corners to divert attention.

He would not have even thought of carrying out the major event without this much preparation, having chosen to satisfy his own selfish desires against the kingdom.

“Viscount.

Lord Zion Klauzen is entering.”

With those words, a group of people entered the reception room.

Viscount Gino, who was examining their faces one by one, discovered a familiar face that he had seen several times among them and sighed.

‘Even the vice-commander of the Schumacher Royal Knights?

Did such a big shot accompany him?’

He was a man who had started his life as a knight in the North, then went to the royal palace and was selected as a royal knight, and eventually rose to the position of vice-commander.

Since he had occasionally visited his hometown during his vacations, at least the nobles of the North knew that man’s face and name properly.

The commander of the Royal Knights never leaves the king’s side, so the vice-commander had no choice but to handle all important external affairs.

That meant that all the attention of the royal family was focused on that nobleman, Zion Klauzen.

‘···I should be as careful as possible.’

With that in mind, Viscount Gino greeted the handsome young man who had entered first.

“I sincerely welcome you to my territory, Lord Zion Klauzen.

I knew that an envoy had gone to the North, but I never imagined that you would go there yourself.

The kingdom’s war hero to this far North.”

With that said, Viscount Gino waited for the other person’s reaction.

He is a war hero, the darling of the royal court, and a man with a record of smashing the slave market.

He is only twenty years old, but he has accomplished more than most meritorious veterans.

Don’t let your guard down, there is no evidence that they can find anyway.

Showing an anxious appearance is like creating an opportunity to be seized by the neck.

He can’t collapse here in vain.

“Ah, Gino Viscount, I see.

Pleased to meet you, I am Zion Klauzen.”

However, when the handsome young man gave a bright smile and slightly bowed his head, Viscount Gino felt the wariness he had been holding on to crumble for a moment.

He wondered if there was any hidden agenda behind that bright smile.

That’s how powerful Zion’s expression was, enough to shatter the other person’s wariness in an instant.

“Please sit down.

You must be tired from your long mission.”

“Thank you.

It was actually a bit of a difficult journey.”

Viscount Gino sensed a darker undertone in Zion’s face as he said that, and he thought that things might not be going as he intended.

What reason would there be to have a hard time in the final negotiations with the northern barbarian tribes?

Of course, it would be war!

“I know very well that it is rude to ask you this, but as a northern nobleman, I am very concerned about the current situation, so I will take the liberty of asking you, Lord Zion Klauzen.”

“Tell me, Viscount Gino.”

“You must have discussed a solution to the current situation with the northern barbarian tribes.”

“···That’s right.”

“Perhaps, the result is···.”

At that, Zion let out a heavy sigh.

His expression also changed to a dark one in an instant, and if there were women in this place, they would have sighed together without realizing it and felt sorry for him.

Swish―.

Zion glanced back and nodded.

Then, Vice-Commander Schumacher and those who had followed him all disappeared, leaving only Zion and a man and a woman who appeared to be his escort knights in the reception room.

The atmosphere was such that they were about to have a very important conversation, and Viscount Gino couldn’t help but listen.

“It’s not good.”

“What do you mean it’s not good···.”

“It seems that a disaster will happen soon.”

As expected, war!

Viscount Gino forcibly suppressed his desire to cheer.

He had already extracted everything he could.

If they completely cleaned up even the northern barbarian tribes here, all the corruption committed by himself and the northern nobles would disappear, and if the kingdom’s northern territory expanded, the influence of this place would definitely increase, so it could be said to be killing two birds with one stone.

“In the end, the barbarian tribes have decided to wage an all-out war with the kingdom.”

Of course, he puts on an expression of regret and worry on the outside.

It’s a natural reaction.

Usually, when a war breaks out, the nobles of that area are the first to be attacked and suffer the most damage.

If the kingdom showed a reaction of telling the northern nobles to take care of it themselves, it would be a problem, but at least Viscount Gino didn’t think the royal family would make such a decision.

‘Zion Klauzen, the kingdom’s rising star, is here, which is clear evidence!

The kingdom’s will to intervene in earnest and thoroughly!

And the determination to show its power!’

There was no way they would call such a person from the Klauzen territory to the royal palace and send him back to the North just to use him as an envoy.

They must have given an order to make a major decision, and the decision he would make when he, who had come up to the North by order of the royal family, faced a bad result seemed clear to anyone.

“It is definitely a disaster for the kingdom and for us northern nobles.”

“Ah, there is no need to worry too much.”

Zion Klauzen smiled and waved his hand as if to reassure him.

Viscount Gino was inwardly hoping that the content of ‘Anyway, the kingdom will soon deploy regular troops and start the full-scale conquest of the North’ would come out of his trustworthy appearance.

But, the next words that popped out.

“There is no disaster for the kingdom.

It’s a disaster that only needs to happen to the northern nobles, to you.”

It was enough to completely shatter his expectations.

“What do you mean··· Ugh?

Ugh!”

Before Viscount Gino could even react, Kim Yoo-hyun firmly grabbed his neck and head so that he could not resist.

“As I said just now, it was a bit of a difficult journey.”

“Wh, what on earth are you doing!

Cough!”

“So I’m just going to push forward quickly.

Now, listen carefully and answer.

Maybe I did a lot of things that hurt my conscience.

Say anything if you did.

You just have to say anything quickly, Viscount Gino.”

“Kh!,

Wh, what kind of rudeness is this suddenly··· Cough!”

“Ah, yes.

Yes.

I see.”

When Zion lightly snapped his fingers twice, Rishikta, who was standing quietly next to him, crumpled a handkerchief and firmly stuffed it into his mouth.

So that no matter what sound he made from now on, it would not be heard properly.

After that, Kim Yoo-hyun covered all of Viscount Gino’s face with a black cloth again, and Zion put his feet on the table and chuckled as he looked at Viscount Gino, who was constantly screaming, ‘Ugh!

Ugh!’

“If you can’t think of anything, I’ll have to ‘work hard’ to help you remember.

Kim Yoo-hyun?”

“Yes, Lord Zion.”

“Take him away.”

Originally, humans are such that even things that didn’t happen come out smoothly when they are beaten.

So let’s take him away.

To the room of truth.

―――――――Author’s Note―――――――

Rishi’s illustration is out!

If it’s pretty, press recommend!