Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 149

149

If you’re a man, at least once…

“Impressive.

You guys really took a big bite.”

Until now, it was just a light caress.

Having experienced the new Murim [martial arts world] product called ‘Pulverizing the Root and Extracting the Marrow,’ Baron Gino smacked his ‘balls’ and exclaimed, so deeply moved that he confessed everything.

Most of the documents detailing the transactions and flow of money had been neatly organized.

Fortunately for Zion, he had kept a secret ledger until the very end, intending to use a ‘dragging down’ strategy rather than dying alone if things went awry.

‘As expected, most of the evidence and related parties had already been taken care of.’

Knowing how to exploit situations for profit, possessing decent execution skills, and even digging escape routes in advance for the future, showed thorough preparation.

Above all, Zion was impressed by the touching camaraderie of not wanting to die alone, no matter what.

Besides Baron Gino, two other baronial families and five baronet families were involved in this, each sticking a straw in and sucking away enthusiastically.

At this level, it was safe to say that almost all the nobles in the North were involved.

‘At least one baronet family didn’t participate in this.

Does that mean complete annihilation has been avoided?’

Whether they were ostracized or simply didn’t get involved out of minimal conscience, it was hard to say.

However, seeing Baron Gino and other northern families subtly checking that baronet family, it was clear they were wary of them reporting the North’s affairs to the central government.

‘Let’s address the issue with them later.’

For now, it was right to deal with the mess in front of him.

Not one, not two, but almost all the noble families in the North were involved in this.

They had brought serious danger to the nation to fill their own pockets, and they were secretly gathering military funds and private soldiers to exploit that danger as well.

Although they didn’t directly start a rebellion, they had caused a great danger to the nation and the royal family in the future, so what they had done was as good as rebellion.

Under the condition that their deeds wouldn’t be discovered, it would have been the best deal for them, but thanks to them, Hispaña almost lost the peace it had achieved and nearly started a war, losing many soldiers.

They harmed the country and benefited the enemy, so there was no doubt that they had committed a serious crime that could not be forgiven no matter what.

“…”

Kim Yoo-hyun’s face, after finally hearing all the facts from Baron Gino, was distorted like a demon.

His face was so terrifying that Zion almost said, ‘I’m sorry.’

The reason for his anger?

Wasn’t it obvious?

He wasn’t a person of Hispaña.

So, there was no way he would make such an expression out of loyalty or concern for the country.

The only reason Kim Yoo-hyun was angry at Baron Gino and his gang’s behavior was because they betrayed for ‘money,’ of all things.

That was the reason.

‘Is it true that the first love leaves the deepest impression, and the first betrayal hurts the most?’

The first person to betray Kim Yoo-hyun was a close friend he had made in Murim, and the reason that close friend eventually betrayed him was because of ‘money.’

He would have understood if someone had been caught and threatened, or if someone had been tempted to give power to avenge a grudge, but he easily sold his friendship.

That was how Kim Yoo-hyun was handed over to the enemy and suffered all sorts of hardships.

As a bonus, he lost all of his people who were just starting to emerge.

‘After that, Kim Yoo-hyun found the betrayer and made him swallow gold until he died.’

He betrayed for money, so he killed him with money; it was a very Kim Yoo-hyun-like idea.

After that, Kim Yoo-hyun extremely hated those who betrayed for ‘money.’

To the extent that, as soon as he found out that an enemy who had sided with him had been bribed with money, he would immediately beat them half to death without any information or anything.

In front of such a man, they caused this mess because of money, and on top of that, Jean and Eos sisters could have ended up fighting each other, so it was natural that Kim Yoo-hyun’s expression wasn’t good.

However, Zion, unlike Kim Yoo-hyun, fully understood Baron Gino.

‘What reason is more important than money?’

Even just taking a quick look, the amount was astronomical.

A tremendous level that even most great noble families would have difficulty handling in the short term.

Zion thought that ordinary humans would definitely fall for it if that much money was dancing and rubbing against them.

Furthermore, Zion was inwardly contemplating whether he would have wavered a little if that amount of money was dancing in front of him.

Of course, the risks of taking that money were too great compared to the benefits, so as someone who prioritized safety, he would have reluctantly given up and stepped back.

‘Money isn’t everything, but it’s the number one contributor to making life easier.’

Zion, who didn’t agree with Kim Yoo-hyun’s thoughts at all, shook his head and lightly tapped the cheek of Baron Gino, who had almost lost his mind.

“P, please spare me.

I, I’ll tell you everything.

P, please, just that…”

He had hoped, but as expected, his condition wasn’t good.

Even the strong in Murim would say it was amazing to endure Pulverizing the Root and Extracting the Marrow, but an ordinary human with nothing special about him had been thrown into that pandemonium for a full 10 minutes.

If he had been in a sane state of mind even after 10 minutes, Zion thought he might have given him some humane treatment, highly valuing his mental strength.

“What are you going to do now?”

Kim Yoo-hyun wiped his hands with the handkerchief Rishikita had given him.

From his point of view, he had thoroughly dealt with the most despicable guys, so he seemed quite satisfied, but his mood was still quite bad.

“Hmm.”

Zion stroked his chin and continued to look at Baron Gino.

It would be nice if he came back to his senses, but it seemed that the new Murim product that Kim Yoo-hyun had personally shown was too groundbreaking.

He was almost a wreck, drooling to the point that no one could call him ‘normal.’

“You should have done it moderately.

I didn’t know that confession method you mentioned was this powerful.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Where did you learn such a heinous technique?”

Knowing everything, Zion asked the question with the face and voice of a man who knew nothing.

Kim Yoo-hyun answered with a slightly bitter expression.

“…It’s a technique from a very distant place.”

“A distant place.

Is that your hometown?

Is it across the sea or something?”

“Maybe.”

Knowing that he could no longer return there, Kim Yoo-hyun extremely avoided talking about the previous world.

Even his martial arts teacher, Raido, didn’t know that part properly, and Lucia only barely heard about his past later.

Kim Yoo-hyun hated recalling the past that much, but Zion was planning to bring out his past stories little by little, starting now.

‘If I start unraveling the stories little by little, I can ease the wariness he still has, and reduce the psychological distance to this side, killing two birds with one stone.

Isn’t it time to admit it?

It’s much easier to have a reliable supporter backing you up than to suffer alone.’

Whether he knew his thoughts or not, Kim Yoo-hyun sighed once more.

However, he soon shook his head lightly and began to look at Zion as if asking about the future course of events.

“Baron Gino.”

“Kkeueueu…”

The reaction wasn’t very good.

Zion grabbed his shoulder, subtly put strength into his hand, and whispered softly.

“Do you want to experience the pain you just went through again?”

“Kkeua!

N, no!

S, save me.

Please save me!

“Answer the question properly.

Depending on your answer, the fun question and answer time may continue, or it may end here.”

Baron Gino now knew through his survival instincts what Zion meant by ‘fun question and answer time.’

As he nodded frantically, Zion gave a satisfied smile, lightly patted his shoulder, and asked the question.

“Is everything you just said true?”

“Y, yes.

Of course! It’s the truth without an ounce of falsehood!”

“The northern nobles made a choice that could endanger the entire country for their own benefit, hid it, and then tried to profit even more by escalating it into war.”

“Yes! That’s correct!”

“One more thing.

You have in your hands a document containing the list of those who participated in it, how much they profited, and all the information about those who made backroom deals.”

“Y, yes!”

At Baron Gino’s confirmation, Zion nodded as if satisfied.

“Then there’s enough evidence, we should have some fun.”

“Master?”

“Young Master Zion, what do you mean by that?”

Rishikita and Kim Yoo-hyun looked at Zion almost simultaneously, questioning him.

Even Baron Gino seemed a little curious about what Zion meant.

At that, Zion burst into laughter and pressed down on Baron Gino’s head, which was lying beneath him, and opened his mouth.

“Now that I have the information, I have to catch and kill them all before they run away.

If I delay unnecessarily, the smart ones will notice something strange.”

“Then, Master.

What are you going to do?”

At the knight’s question, Zion looked down at Baron Gino.

“Baron Gino.”

“Y, yes!”

“Is there anyone in the North who doesn’t know my name, Zion Claussen?”

“N, no! H, how could anyone, even in the North, not know the name of the war hero, the kingdom’s Morning Star!”

Certainly, going to the room of truth had made him a different person.

Good words flowed out as if he had honey on his tongue.

Perhaps if he went there just one more time, he would become a loyalist who would give his life for the kingdom, but unfortunately, that opportunity had already disappeared, so he would have to do it in the next life.

“Then, no one would suspect that I, the war hero, the kingdom’s Morning Star, came to your territory, and that you’re throwing a small party to celebrate my return to my homeland after completing a secret mission.”

“That’s right.

Ah, no!

Definitely! Of course!”

The northern barbarian tribes also needed time to end and sort out the deepening conflict between Kaltan and Aigiord, so they wouldn’t be able to turn their attention to the kingdom separately.

He had to finish cleaning up before that.

If he dragged his feet unnecessarily, the news that the north of the kingdom was shaking would be fully conveyed to them, and that would give those who were advocating for war with the kingdom, which had barely calmed down, a reason to rise up again.

Of course, Eos and Jean were there, but even if a small number of dissatisfied tribe members attacked the kingdom, the situation could change in an unusual way, so he couldn’t waste time.

‘Cast a dense net and catch all the loach bastards who stirred up the muddy water.’

Adding a little seasoning to it, if he subtly leaked the news that the talks with the barbarian tribes weren’t good, they would probably rush in, thinking it was a good thing.

What course the kingdom would take in the future, and what they, who were at the forefront, should do.

In times like these, knowing and preparing before others was the way to gain power and make money.

“What are you doing?”

“Yes?”

“Quickly gather all your friends.

Say you’re throwing a party to welcome me to your castle.

And subtly hint that I want to see you ‘northern nobles’ once.”

Baron Gino wasn’t an idiot, so they were likely to be guys who used their brains.

So, he had to put out bait that was so hot that they wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if they didn’t bite.

‘The war hero, the kingdom’s Morning Star, called them because he wanted to see their faces on the way back from completing his mission, but if they didn’t show up, saying, “Ah, I’m not feeling well,” it would be the same as openly saying, “I’m a suspicious person and I have a lot to be guilty about because I’m doing suspicious things.”’

At Zion’s words, Baron Gino looked up at the war hero blankly.

Suddenly a party, and gathering everyone.

His instinct screamed, ‘If you do that, we’ll all die together,’ but unfortunately, there was a grim reaper here taking him to the room of truth.

“Are you late to answer?

Shall we go one more time?”

To the room of truth.

As Zion pointed to the place where he had been experiencing the new Murim product, Baron Gino recalled the fear and pain that had been engraved deep in his bones and shook his head at an incredible speed.

He didn’t want to go to that place with that terrifying man, even if he died.

“I, I’ll do it.

I’ll do anything!”

“I’m glad you’re cooperating.

I didn’t want to see anyone die either.”

The smile that had only seemed bright until just now was now more chilling than the devil’s sneer.

As Baron Gino trembled, Zion chuckled and raised his head.

“Rishi.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Go and bring Vice Commander Schumacher.

He needs to know about this fact so he can play his part properly in the next play.”

The final decision-making power granted by King Edgar IV of Hispaña.

From the moment he was granted that, Zion could decide and act on almost everything according to his will.

Efforts for peace with the northern barbarian tribes, or even war, were all included.

And, the punishment of the kingdom’s nobles directly appointed by the royal family was also one of the possible things.

‘It’s not just a crime of deceiving the royal family and coveting wealth.

They did something that drove the country itself into the worst form of war, so it’s safe to say it’s treason.’

In the current situation, Zion Claussen is the one who can start a war without reporting to the royal family.

If so, removing a few nobles who committed serious crimes without the royal family’s permission was nothing.

‘They didn’t think their heads wouldn’t fly off while playing these tricks, did they?

So, let’s not be wronged.

It’s all good as long as you don’t get caught, but once you get caught, it’s a disaster, isn’t that the life of a bad guy?’

“Kids.

I’m not telling you to live only kindly.

How can a person only do good deeds?

You have to do bad things sometimes.

I’m not telling you not to do it, just don’t get caught.

What happens if you get caught?

Are you asking because you don’t know, you pathetic bastards.”

Recalling the story of Chief Warrant Officer, a sage of a different type from his father, Zion smiled sadly for the poor people who had unfortunately been caught doing bad things.

―――――――Afterword―――――――

Sage Chief Warrant Officer Sensei…